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Tag: Rivers re-run election

  • US, UK, EU, France worried over Rivers re-run election

    US, UK, EU, France worried over Rivers re-run election

    Developed countries have expressed concern over Saturday’s re-run election in Rivers state.

    UK, US, French, and EU Heads of Mission in Nigeria in a Joint statement Friday called on the leadership of all political parties and their supporters to allow for peaceful election.

    They urged party leadership and their supporters not to use or incite violence.

    Paul T. Arkwright – British High Commissioner to Nigeria; W. Stuart Symington – United States Ambassador to Nigeria; Denys Guaer – French Ambassador to Nigeria and Michel Arrion – EU Head of Delegation to Nigeria all signed the statement.

    The envoy stressed that the leaders of all parties are accountable for the actions of their members and

    They also encouraged INEC and the security forces to perform their duties responsibly and impartially.

    They also urge all parties to respect the electoral process and raise any grievances peacefully and through official channels.

    The statement reads: “We note with concern the rising tension in Rivers state ahead of elections on 10 December. We call on the leadership of all political parties and their supporters in Rivers state to allow elections to go ahead peacefully.

    “We encourage INEC and the security forces to perform their duties responsibly and impartially. We urge all parties to respect the electoral process and raise any grievances peacefully and through official channels. We stress that the leaders of all parties are accountable for the actions of their members and we encourage them to urge their supporters not to use or incite violence.

  • Rivers re-run election: Slain corps member buried amidst tears

    Rivers re-run election: Slain corps member buried amidst tears

    The youth corper who was killed during the re-run election in Rivers State, Samuel Chukwudumebi Okonta was Friday buried amidst tears in his hometown, Illah in Oshimili North council area of Delta State .

    Relatives, friends, youth corpers and officials of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) sobbed uncontrollably when the remains of the late graduate of political science were lowered into the grave.

    The slain corper was posted to Yobe State last year for his primary assignment, but was redeployed to Rivers State, his birth place for primary assignment until he was engaged as ad hoc staff by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the re-run election.

    He had submitted the result of the election in his polling unit to the INEC and was returning home in the same village where he was serving before he was shot along with two others who survived.

    Elder brother of the deceased, Ify Henry Okonta at the funeral service at Holy Family Catholic Church described Dumebi as a rare gem, focused and down to earth person adding that Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers State had promised to rebuild the NYSC secretariat in Port Harcourt and to rename it after his late brother as a way of immortalizing him.

    The casket bearing the late corper arrived in their family house at Ogbe Orji in Illah at about 11.20am from Port Harcourt Friday in an ambulance with registration number Abuja: RSA 414 A accompanied by officials of NYSC in Rivers State led by  Mrs. Juliet Ibianuka, Assistant Director Corps Welfare who was also represented the state coordinator, Mrs. Ngozi Nwakeleji.

    The head of NYSC delegation from Abuja Mrs. Rhoda Kaka Kwaka who represented the Director General of the Corps Brig. Gen Johnson Olawumi, Delta State co-ordinator, Mrs. Olive Essien Etukudo, and Corps members, Delta state resident Electoral Commission Banitor Kpagih and other INEC officials received the remains of Samuel Okonta.

    Highlight of the burial was a novelty football match by Illah Footballers Association (IFA) at Omorka model primary school, to honour one of their own Dumebi  who was twice the best player of Steven Keshi football competition in 2006 and 2007 .

    Keshi former super Eagles coach is a native of Illah, and according to the chairman of (IFA) Barr. Nelson Okomma, the late corper was a valuable footballer in the community.

    In his homily at the funeral services at Holy family Catholic Church Illah Rev. Father Henry Ogonwa advised youths not be discouraged by what the elders are doing in the country but rather to use their potentials to change the course of events.

    The cleric who condemned a situation where people want to become leaders at the expense of lives of others noted with sadness that “our brother has become a victim  of political class”, charging those who occupied public offices and knew they can no longer serve to give way rather than sitting tight.

    He called for the immortalization of the late youth corper who died while on national assignment.

    He however enjoined all to pray for Nigeria in other to protect the lives of its citizens.

  • Rivers APC consoles NYSC on death of corps member

    Rivers APC consoles NYSC on death of corps member

    The members of the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have paid a condolence visit to the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Johnson Bamidele, on the unfortunate death of a corps member, Okonta Samuel Dumebi, during last Saturday’s legislative reruns.

    The corps member, who was an ad hoc member of staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), was an orphan from Illah, Delta State, but killed on March 19 in Ahoada West LGA of Rivers state, during the elections.

    The APC’s delegation to NYSC, which was led by the Rivers governorship candidate of the party during the April 11 last year’s poll, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, was received by the Director, Corps Welfare, Mrs. Rhode Kwaki, other directors and staff of the NYSC.

    Peterside, who is also the Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), stated that the APC members from Rivers state were at the NYSC’s headquarters in Abuja to condole with the DG and other officials of NYSC, as well as the family of the deceased.

    The APC chieftain (Peterside) said: “We are pained at this irreparable loss and more pained that it happened in our dear state. It is a shame on our country and we feel that sense of loss like you. Our prayers are with you and the family of Okonta Samuel Dumebi.”

    The NIMASA boss also berated the Rivers Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, for threatening INEC officials before the March 19 elections, which he insisted led to the avoidable death of the orphan, describing the corps member as a victim of Wike’s hate speeches and viciousness.

    The deceased was also described as a young man with dreams and patriotism, who demonstrated his desire to contribute his quota to the development of Nigeria, assuring that the country would remember him for a long time to come.

    Peterside, a former member of the House of Representatives, also promised that the APC in Rivers would join hands with the NYSC to bring an end to the recurring violence and deaths of young Nigerians, insisting that elections should not be avenues for people to lose their lives.

    Kwaki, who represented the DG of NYSC, stated that officials of the corps were saddened by the gruesome murder of the young man.

    The NYSC’s director also lauded the APC’s delegation for the visit, stressing that the officials were now encouraged by the support and show of solidarity by the politicians.

    The Rivers APC Chairman, Chief Davies Ikanya; the deputy governorship candidate of the party in the April 11 last year’s election, Asita Honourable; and some faithful of the party were part of the delegation.

  • Arrest, prosecute all political killers – Lawmaker

    A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Oluyinka Ogundimu has reiterated the need for all political killers to be arrested and prosecuted to forestall future occurrence.

    Ogundimu, who is the Chairman House Committee on Finance, gave this advice while speaking on a programme organized by the Lagos State House of Assembly Correspondents Association (LAHACA) designed for lawmakers to give account of their stewardship.

    It would be recalled that a serving youth corps member, Dumebi Samuel was killed during Rivers re-run that took place on Saturday 19the March.

    Samuel was attached to Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) as an Ad-Hoc staff but was killed during the election.

    A similar incident also happened at the lawmaker’s constituency, Agege constituency in the last general elections where a youth, Eyitayo was gruesomely murdered by political thugs.

    Ogundimu who was reacting to incessant political carnages, stated that “he is already working with the state Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode on how to forestall future occurrence and also bring perpetrators of previous killings to book.”

    He disclosed that there were plans in the pipeline for the youths in his constituency, adding that the young ones in the society would have to channel their energies to sports.

    The lawmaker however pointed out that in trying to encourage the youths to take part in sports, it must be an effort for them to earn income rather than just exercising themselves.

    While commenting on the relationship between the executive and legislature in the state, Ogundimu said “the relationship between the two arms of government should not be the kind that we have between pepper and eyes.”

    He explained that the state House of Assembly has been known for effective oversight, saying that that was done through monitoring and corrective measures.

    “We are doing our monitoring, we don’t have to be confrontational; we still get them corrected where it is necessary. When we blow the whistle, it serves as corrective measure. There is no arm of government that can work in isolation,” he said.

    In his comment on the new law on Employment Trust Fund in the state which is meat to create enabling environment for job creation, the lawmaker stated that the N25bn which would be pumped into the economy of the state for a space of four years would be adequately monitored.

    He stressed that before the House passed the Bill, there was an improvement in comparison with the Security Trust Fund, saying “we made sure that the executive sent the administrative guidelines before passing the Bill.”

    He added that there is also a standing committee of the House that would carry out the required monitoring of the Employment Trust Fund to ensure that the money is judiciously expended.

  • Police did not favour APC in Rivers re-run-IGP

    Police did not favour APC in Rivers re-run-IGP

    Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase Tuesday debunked allegations that the favored the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) during last weekend’s National and State Assembly re-run elections in Rivers state.

    The IGP who exonerated the police in the violence that greeted the Rivers re-run maintained that the Police discharged its duties professionally.

    He spoke to reporters in Abakaliki during his one day working visit to Ebonyi state police command.

    He said: “It is not the police that ignite violence; it is the political class that ignites violence. All we do is to ensure we secure a conducive environment that can allow law abiding citizens to cast their votes in any election.

    ‘’The situation in Rivers has nothing to do with the Police; it has something to do with the political class.

    ‘So, the police was neutral in the Rivers re-run and nobody can accuse us of bias or complicity or conniving with politicians or political party to frustrate the election’’, he said.

    He called on police officers to be thorough in their investigation and make friends with members of the public for effective community policing.

    He maintained his stand on dismantling of road blocks and warned policemen to avoid negative acts that can portray the police in bad light.

    On the Ebonyi/Benue/Cross River boundary disputes that have claimed many lives, Arase noted that efforts are being made to restore normalcy in the disputed areas.

    Earlier, the Commissioner of Police, Peace Ibekwe Abdallah the state has witnessed a reduction in criminal activities since She assumed office in September last year.

    She attributed the development to the overhauling and strengthening of the crime prevention strategies of the command.

    “Whereas a total of eleven kidnap cases were recorded in 2015(Jan-Sept), the three cases of kidnap recorded in the command from September 2015 till date were successfully investigated. The kidnap suspects were arrested and victims rescued without payment of ransom,” CP Abdallah said.

  • 6, 880 corps members for Rivers rerun the elections

    The Director-General of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier-General Johnson Oluwumi has appealed to security agencies, politicians and community leaders in Rivers state to ensure the protections of Corps members deployed in the state for the rerun National and state House of Assembly rerun elections Saturday.

    The appeal was made by The Director, Corps Welfare, Micheal Ahile who represented Brigadier Oluwumi in a security meeting in Port Harcourt, the state capital ahead of the Legislative Assembly elections.

    The DG said 6, 880 corps members have been trained by INEC for the elections.

    He warned that the youths should not be held responsible for any delay in the elections, especially the late arrival of electoral materials or any other thing, and should be protected and not attacked or intimidated by politicians, their supporters and community residents, for faults that are not theirs.

    The Brigadier said, “NYSC has mobilized 6, 880 Corps members for the election. The youths who have already been trained by INEC on the roles in the elections are reportedly going to serve as Presiding and Assistant presiding officers in the polls.

    “The corps members are not politicians, INEC or contestants/candidates. They are here on national assignment and they have been deployed on national duty, and therefore we want to appeal to opinion leaders, politicians, political leaders and their supporters not to intimidate or expose them to any form of violence during the elections.

    “The government of Nigeria decided that Corps members should be part of the electoral process because of their level of education, their neutrality and the fact that they represent the most organized set of the Nigerian youths.

    “The involvement of Nigerian youths in electoral process has gain national and global acceptability and commendations and encouragements.

    “I therefore appeal that they be protected. “If election materials did not arrive to any polling unit on time, it is not the fault of the corps member, if the card reader develops faults and somehow malfunctions, it is not the corps member trying to manipulate it to the advantage of one political party or the other; community leaders and politicians should please take note of this facts.

    “More importantly, the duty of corps member ends at the time he/she finishes and submits result sheet at the polling unit, they are not to be held for the collation of results,” he appealed.