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Tag: Rivers state

  • Rivers: Pro Fubara Lawmakers Screen Eight Commissioners Nominee Today

    Rivers: Pro Fubara Lawmakers Screen Eight Commissioners Nominee Today

    Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly led by factional Speaker, Victor Oko-Jumbo, will today, screen eight commissioner-nominees presented to them by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

    In a letter on Monday, the assembly’s Clerk, Dr G, N Gillis-West invited the nominees to appear before the House, according to a letter obtained by our correspondent on Tuesday.

    The screening is expected to commence by 10 a.m.

    The letter, titled ‘Public Announcement,’ read, ‘The Rivers State House of Assembly hereby invites the following commissioner-nominees for screening and confirmation as members of the Rivers State Executive Council.”

    It listed the nominees as Charles Beke, Collins Onunwo, Solomon Eke, Dr. Peter Medee, Eloka Amadi, Basoene Benibo, Tambari Gbara, and Dr. Ovy Chukwuma.

    The clerk further said the nominees are to appear before the House at the State House of Assembly auditorium, Admin Block, Government House, Port Harcourt, the state capital.

    “The nominees are expected to come along with 12 sets of their Curriculum Vitae and the originals and photocopies of their credentials,” the letter added.

    Investigator News gathered that this is the second time the House of Assembly loyal to Fubara will be screening commissioner-nominees since it emerged as a parallel legislative house.

    Last week, the Victor Oko-Jumbo-led assembly screened and confirmed Dagogo Iboroma, SAN, as a member of the State Executive Council, and he was consequently assigned a portfolio as the new Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

     

  • Rivers State lnherited Huge Debt From Wike’s Administration.

    Rivers State lnherited Huge Debt From Wike’s Administration.

    …..Says projects commissioned by last administration were not fully funded

    Emmanuel lkpeama

    The Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has decried the substantial debt burden inherited from the previous administration of Nyesom Wike, saying that most of the projects commissioned in the state were not fully funded.

    Governor Fubara stated this during the commissioning of the Aleto-Ogale-Ebubu-Eteo Road, also known as Old Bori Road in Eleme Local Government Area of the state.

    He said the contractors who handled the affected projects are returning for outstanding payments,as he did not give an estimate of the debt.

    Fubara went further to state that he was compelled to speak out after being pushed by his opponents, while expressing his intension to appear for project commissioning project with “white paper” detailing project funding.

    The Governor who has been on news headlines for the past few weeks clarified that his administration has not engaged in conflicts with the federal government, rather it has received full support, although challenges persist due to the interest of an insider.

    He justified the presence of Alex Otti at the commissioning, citing a commitment to aligning with progressive figures.

    Making his remark,the Governor of Abia State,Alex Otti commended Fubara for the job he is doing in Rivers State, while describing Fubara’s style of goverance as true leadership, noting that true leadership is service to the people, and not to a few interest.

    Otti said having served in the administration of Peter Odili and Rotimi Amaechi, Governor Fubara came prepared. He believes Fubara cannot be distracted by the political instability in Rivere State.

    He asserted that power belongs to God and no human being has the capacity to give power, except he can also give life.

    The reconstruction of the Old Bori road will provide an alternative to the dilapidated section of the Eleme axis of the East West road.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Wike to Fubara: I Regret Supporting You As Governor,Slams Governor’s Camp

    Wike to Fubara: I Regret Supporting You As Governor,Slams Governor’s Camp

    ……Urges supporters to pursue peace

    Emmanuel Clement

    The Former Governor of Rivers State and Minister of the Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said supporting Governor Siminalayi Fubara as Governor of Rivers State was a mistake he made and would correct it at the appropriate time.

    Nyesom Wike stated this on Saturday at the grand Civic reception held at Ogu-Bolo in honour of Chief George Thompson Sekibo to celebrate his 20 years of service at the National and 36 years of his life in public service.

    The FCT Minister insisted he made mistakes in his judgement of Fubara and asked the people of the LGA and political family to forgive him, noting that at the appropriate time he would correct the mistake insisting that he would continue to make his detractors angry so they would keep making mistakes.

    Wike said: ” I want to say this clearly, in life we have made a mistake. I have made a mistake. I own it up and I say God forgive me. I have said all of you forgive me. But we will correct it at the appropriate time. I am a human, I am bound to make a mistake. So forgive me for making a wrong judgement. So nobody should kill”.he stated.

    The Former Governor also responded to some developments and actions from the camp of Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara, on the ongoing political crisis in the State stating that no injunctions obtained at 2am or 4am would stop the law and due process from taking its course in the state,as he maintained that he would continue to maintain peace in the state, while calling on his supporters to pursue peace.

    He said: “So don’t worry yourselves. We won’t give money to anybody to go and buy arms to kill anybody. I have maintained peace and I want to beg all you to continue to maintain peace.

    Nobody will tell me that I can’t live in my house or go to my house. But all of you should maintain the peace. Follow law and sue process..we will get to the end

    “As you see me I stand straight. I think well. I came with senator Magnus Abe. I work with people that have brains. On politics, when people with brains agree they disagree. Those, who don’t know what to do but said they would bring me down, who born them? They are nowhere. When you are in charge, you are in charge.

    “Everything will calm down. All these people running around, they would come down. Boma worked for his appointment, he showed loyalty and commitment and that is why God placed him there. Don’t worry.

    “Let me also advised you, forget about how they abuse us. You must be alive for people to abuse you. If you are dead, will they abuse you? At the appropriate time when the results will be announced, we will know who is who. We have defeated them severally.

    “Some.of them ran to Abuja but when I went to Abuja, they ran back here. Have you not seen the way Abuja is moving? No amount of propaganda can help you. Ogu people have shown loyalty and I want to thank you”.

    Reflecting on his political journey, Wike said: “In 2014 to 2015, we didn’t have anybody. I came here and you said you would work for it and you worked for it. We had nobody in government. Did we not win? What are you afraid of?

    “While in a government I had a problem, I had a federal government that was hostile to me, did we not succeed? They are giving excuses. If you know you. When somebody cannot do something, say you cannot do it.

    “At the appropriate time, people will speak of the projects in the state. They will tell you who did what. It is not people who come now and claim what they didn’t do. Ogu continue to support your people, your politicians have done well. Sekibo has done well.

    “Don’t mind these buccaneers, I know how to handle them. Leave them for me..they have been my children. I will continue to handle them. Let’s work together”.

    The former governor added: ” It is not easy to be in power and begin to give excuses. You continue to run away from promises you made to people. Look at all the council chairmen, the assembly members, these were people I spoke to for the interest of all of us.

    “They all responded but today somebody said they are nobody. Will you accept that? Assembly people sat down in their various constituencies. You never brought a dime. I never knew you were rich that your father was a managing director of shell before and now you are paying their school fees. It is unfortunate, the governor submitted.

  • Gov Fubara Relocates House Of Assembly To Government House, Using Executive Order

    Gov Fubara Relocates House Of Assembly To Government House, Using Executive Order

    Emmanuel Clement 

    Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has ordered immediate temporary relocation of the sitting of the State House of Assembly to the Auditorium, Admin Block of the Government House, Port Harcourt.

    The order is contained in the State’s official Gazette, Executive Order of the Rivers State Government 001-2023.

    According to the governor, the decision was taken because the current House of Assembly complex in its present state is unsafe and constitutes a threat to the lives of the staff and the lawmakers.

    This is coming few hours after a Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt granted an interim injunction restraining pro-Wike speaker of the state House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and 24 other members from parading themselves as legislator

    The court’s decision stems from an exparte order filed against the pro-Wike lawmakers by pro-Siminialayi Fubara speaker Victor Oko Jumbo and three others.

    The governor’s gazette reads, “The On the 29th day of October 2023, a fire incident occasioned by unknown persons burnt and damaged the hallowed chambers of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

    “That the Hallowed Chamber of the Rivers State House of Assembly in its present state is unsafe and constitutes a threat to the lives of the staff and the Honourable members of Rivers State House of Assembly and Thus not conducive for the business and proceeding of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

    “That it is expedient to carry out urgent repairs, renovation, and reconstruction of the burnt an damaged chambers of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

    “That it is further reasonable to ensure that the business and proceedings of the Rivers State House of Assembly are not impeded and frustrated.

    “Now therefore, I Sir Fubara, the Governor of Rivers State this 30th day of October 2023, Pursuant to the powers vested in me under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) hereby ISSUE, ORDER, AND DIRECT that all proceedings and business of Rivers State House of Assembly shall temporarily take place at the Auditorium, Admin Block, Government House, Port Harcourt until the repairs, renovation or reconstruction of the chambers of the Rivers State House of Assembly are completed.”

  • Breaking News: Rivers Assembly Clerk Disowns Victor Oko Jumbo As Speaker, Says Martin Amaewhule Remains Speaker

    Breaking News: Rivers Assembly Clerk Disowns Victor Oko Jumbo As Speaker, Says Martin Amaewhule Remains Speaker

     

    …….Hon Jumbo,Hin Sokari and Hin Orubimie remains Suspended by the House -Clerk

    Emmanuel lkpeama.

    The Clerk, Rivers State House of Assembly, Dr Emeka Amadi, has said there was no change in the leadership of the assembly, stating that Rt. Hon.Martin Amaewhule remains the Speaker, while Rt. Hon. Dumle Maol and Hon. Major Jack remains Deputy Speaker and Majority Leader respectively.

    In a press release signed by the clerk Rivers State House Of Assembly titled ‘A disclaimer by the Rivers State House of Assembly,’ issued on Thursday night, Amadi said apart from the seat of Khana Constituency II which was declared vacant because of death of the member who represented the constituency, no other seat has been declared vacant.

    He went further to state that Hon. Victor Oko Jumbo, Hon. Sokari Goodboy Sokari and Hon. Adolphus Orubimie Timothy were suspended on the 30th of October 2023 pursuant to the Rules of the House and their suspension is yet to be lifted and they cannot lay claim to be officers of the House.

    According to the statement,it reads“The attention of the Rivers State House of Assembly has been drawn to reports in the electronic and print media that there was a leadership change in the Rivers State House of Assembly today, the 8th day of May 2024. As the Clerk of the Rivers State House and one who administered the Oath of membership and office to all members and a custodian of all records of the House, I write to state the following:

    “That there was no change in the leadership of the House today and Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule DSSRS remains the Speaker of the House while Rt. Hon. Dumle Maol DSSRS and Hon. Major Jack DSSRS remains Deputy Speaker and Majority Leader respectively.

    “That apart from the seat of Khana Constituency II which was declared vacant because of death of the member who represented the constituency, no other seat has been declared vacant.

    “That there is a subsisting judgement of a court of competent jurisdiction in Suit no. FHC/ABJ/CS/1613/2023 in which the Court among other orders” granted an ORDER OF INJUNCTION restraining the Governor of Rivers State (11th Defendant) whether by himself or by his agents and or hirelings or in any manner howsoever from impeding or frustrating the Rivers State House of Assembly under the leadership of the 2nd Plaintiff as the Speaker of the said House in the performance of their functions including holding of meetings and the transacting of the business of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

    Read also:Breaking News: More political crises in Rivers As Another Factional Speaker Emerges

    “That the House is still conducting legislative business in line with the Standing Orders of the House and the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as altered.

    The clerk therefore urge the good people of Rivers State and the Nigerian Federation to disregard any discountenance arising from any media report purporting any recent change in leadership of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

    It will be recalled that the factional Speaker, Victor Oko Jumbo,representing Bonny Constituency, who is said to be the new speaker for the entire 32-member Assembly, was said to be elected at 10am during plenary on Wednesday.

    Oko-Jumbo who is one of the loyals to governor fubara was led to the plenary with the original mace of the Rivers State House of Assembly by the Sergeant-at-Arms, David Wariboko, who managed the last sitting of the Martin Amaewhule-led Assembly in the same position.

  • Gov Fubara Inspects Kalabari Road 

    Gov Fubara Inspects Kalabari Road 

    …….Says Govt is People Centered 

    …Visits Assembly Quarters

    Emmanuel lkpeama.

    Ahead of his one year anniversary in office as Governor of Rivers state,Governor Siminalayi Fubara on Thursday inspected the Emohua-Tere-Ama road and expressed satisfaction with the completion of the 23 kilometers road.

    Addressing newsmen shortly after the inspection at Tere-Ama junction, Governor Fubara noted that governance is all about the people, and that has been the focus of his administration.

    The governor said he visited the road to see the extent of job done on it, saying that it was added among the ones to be commissioned for his one year anniversary and from observation only the lighting system is left.

    “We inherited this road and the greater chunk of the cost was borne by us, so we feel justified to add it to our project to be commissioned for the good of the people.”

    “This road used to be very bad, with lots of criminal activities including kidnapping. So, putting it in order, you can see the man hour saved. Before now, it takes 30 to 45 minutes to drive from Emohua to Tere-Ama junction, but it just took us 15 minutes to be here now.”he stated .

    Fubara noted that the people will be better for it as the road will make life easy for them and that is the responsibility of a government that should be seen as working.

    “It is not about me, it is not about giving glory to me as a person, because I am just a vessel that God is using to provide succour to the good people of Rivers State and especially our dear people of Kalabari extraction.”

    Earlier the governor visited the Rivers State Assembly Quarters, to undertake on the spot assessment condition of the structure for a possible rehabilitation work to restore it status and make it liveable,adding that with the emergence of a new speaker there are few things that may be required to make the place conducive.

  • Breaking News: More political crises in Rivers As Another Factional Speaker Emerges

    Breaking News: More political crises in Rivers As Another Factional Speaker Emerges

    The political crisis in Rivers State has taken a whole new twist as some members of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara elected the member representing Bonny constituency, Victor Oko-Jumbo, as their Speaker.

    The factional Speaker, Victor Oko Jumbo, representing Bonny Constituency, who is said to be the new speaker for the entire 32-member Assembly, was said to be elected at 10am during plenary on Wednesday, in line with the Standing Order of the House, thereby signaling the total collapse of the peace deal brokered between the parties by President Bola Tinubu, returning all involved in the impasse to the trenches.

    Oko-Jumbo was one of the four lawmakers loyal to Fubara in the wake of the political crisis in the state.
    They had at the time of the crisis elected Edison Ehie as the speaker but the latter later resigned from the State Assembly, and was appointed the Chief of Staff to the Governor.

    It was not clear how many lawmakers were present during the plenary that produced Oko-Jumbo as speaker.

    Oko-Jumbo was led to the plenary with the original mace of the Rivers State House of Assembly by the Sergeant-at-Arms, David Wariboko, who managed the last sitting of the Martin Amaewhule-led Assembly in the same position.

    The emergence of the Bonny-born politician as the factional Speaker of the State House of Assembly came barely 48 hours after Fubara declared that the majority 27 members of the House, who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), as non-existent.

    Oko-Jumbo in his acceptance speech thanked the members for electing him as the new Speaker sequel to the resignation of the former Speaker, Edison Ehie.

    He called on the Executive and the Judiciary, as well as the public to disregard every law purportedly enacted by the Amaewhule-led Assembly, describing it as an exercise in futility.

    “You will agree with me that after the House last sat on the 13th of December, 2023, and adjourned sine dine, there has been an avalanche of legislative rascality perpetrated by the 25 former members of the 10th Rivers State House of Assembly, led by the former Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule.

    “These former members, being fully aware of the provisions of Section 109(1)(g) of the CFRN 1999, defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Party (APC) on the 11th of December, 2023.

    “Consequently, the Rt. Hon. Edison Ogerenye Ehie-led Assembly, on the 13th of December, 2023, wrote to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), declaring the seats of the 25 lawmakers vacant in line with Section 109(1)(g) and (2) of the CFRN 1999.

    “My distinguished colleagues, there are a plethora of cases pending in our courts further to the defection of the former lawmakers,” he said.

    “All laws, plenary sessions and actions taken by the illegal House members are hereby declared void and a nullity in the eyes of the law by virtue of the judgment of Lord Denning in the celebrated case of MacFoy v UAC (1961) 3 All ER 1169.” Oko-Jumbo emphasised.

    He said, “Furthermore, this House would want to most respectfully urge and call on His Excellency, the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, DSSRS, to desist forthwith from further dealings with the 25 former lawmakers, in whatever guise.

    “Those members are merely floating and do not have any landing ground or anywhere to berth their ship since their defection to the All Progressives Congress on the 11th of December, 2023.

    “This House is the legally and constitutionally recognised House of Assembly by virtue of the defection of the other members, and is ready to receive correspondences from and work with His Excellency, the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara. Distinguished colleagues, let me thank you once again.

    “I know I can count on your unalloyed and unwavering support as we work with His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara in moving our dear Rivers State forward in promoting the progress and welfare of the state.”he stated

    It will be recalled that when the governor played host to a delegation from Bayelsa State political and traditional leaders who visited him at Government House, Port Harcourt, on Monday.

    He had said: “Let me say it here, those group of men who claim that they are Assembly members, they are not existing. I want it to be on record.

    “I accepted that peace accord to give them a floating (soft-landing). That’s the truth. There is nothing in that peace accord that is a constitutional issue. It is a political solution to a problem. I accepted it because these are people that were visiting me and we were together in my house.

    “These are people that I have helped in many ways when I wasn’t even a Governor. Yes, we might have our disagreements, but I believe that one day, we could also come together. That was the reason I did it.

    “But I think it has gotten to a time when I need to make a statement on this thing, so that they understand that they are not existing. Their existence and whatever they have been doing is because I allowed them to do so. If I don’t recognize them, they are nowhere, that is the truth.”the governor submitted.

     

     

  • Insecurity: Channels TV Reporter In Rivers State Kidnapped In Port Harcourt, N30Million Ransom Reportedly Demanded.

    Some gunmen on Thursday night kidnapped the Channels Television reporter in Rivers State, Mr. Joshua Rogers.

    It was learnt that Rogers was abducted by the assailants at about 9 pm on Thursday close to his residence at Rumuosi in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

    Rogers was said to be returning from an official assignment in Government House after a trip to Andoni for an event when the incident happened,as he was reportedly driving his official Channels Television-branded car when the hoodlums accosted and kidnapped him at gunpoint.

    The gunmen have contacted his wife and demanded a ransom of N30 million for his release, according to reports Channels TV has yet to release an official statement but his cameraman has confirmed the incident.

    When calls were put to the State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Grace Iringe-Koko on Friday morning, she neither confirmed the abduction nor denied it.

     

  • House Of Reps: lawmakers kick against illegal extension of Rivers LGAs

    House Of Reps: lawmakers kick against illegal extension of Rivers LGAs

    .….Mobilises for NASS takeover, lawsuit to stop legislative rascality

    Emmanuel Clement 

    Members of the opposition parties in the House of Representatives under the aegis of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) on Friday vehemently kicked against the level of impunity being perpetuated by some lawmakers who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), who allegedly extended the tenure of the 23 Chairmen of Local Governments, whose tenure is expected to end in a few weeks.

    The CUPP Spokesman, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, who spoke on behalf of the federal lawmakers during a press briefing held in Abuja, condemned in strong terms the grand plan by the embattled members of the River State House of Assembly to override Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s veto without sending the controversial bill to the Governor for assent.

    Hon. Ugochinyere, who described the passage of controversial legislation as a recipe for chaos and lawlessness, argued that the purported tenure elongation of the Rivers State Local Government Chairmen is “legislative rascality and a coup against democracy that is dead on arrival.”

    While condemning the flagrant abuse of the legislative process that cannot be enforced, the CUPP spokesman maintained that the ugly development is an “invitation to anarchy and an attempt to sabotage the presidential peace accord signed by the embattled lawmakers with legitimacy questions.”

    Hon. Ugochinyere, who reiterated the CUPP stance against the development, urged the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately conduct a bye-election for the replacement of the lawmakers who defected from the PDP to the APC in breach of the provisions of the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

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    He further said: “Assuming without conceding that the Rivers House of Assembly sent the law to the Governor, the Governor has 30 days within which to assent to the law or withhold his assent, and it can only be at the expiration of the 30 days that the House of Assembly can adjudge that the Governor has withheld assent and not earlier.”

    He described the move as legislative rascality and a coup against democracy that is dead on arrival. “Illegally extending the tenure of local government chairmen just a few weeks to the expiration of their tenure is an abuse of the legislative process that cannot be enforced. It is the height of legislative rascality and a coup against democracy that is dead on arrival,” he stated.

    The opposition parties’ spokesperson further stated that the plot was a deliberate invitation to anarchy and an inglorious attempt by the Rivers lawmakers to sabotage the Presidential Peace Accord.

    “These Rivers Assembly men are truly acting like people and do not hold the sacred mandate of the people. Otherwise, they should have known that this plot was a deliberate invitation to anarchy and an inglorious attempt to sabotage the Presidential Peace Accord. We hereby call on the President to call them in order to avert a total breakdown of law and order in the state.”

    About two months ago, the same group of members with a questionable mandate purported to have amended the same local government law. Less than two months later, they are purporting to amend it again. They are now clearly playing Ping-Pong with Rivers State laws.

    Ikenga Ugochinyere further questioned, “How could the agenda of people who call themselves lawmakers in a state be to strip the Executive Governor of their state of all executive powers, and they are comfortable with it? If they attach any value to the lives of the people of Rivers State, they would support the governor of Rivers State to succeed, for the benefit of the people, rather than support anything that would undermine him and set him up for failure, including instigating anarchy.

    “Every reasonable and right-thinking citizen of Rivers State should rally around the governor to ensure he succeeds and brings the dividends of democracy to the people. The rate at which the Martin Amaehwule-led House of Assembly is moving and trying to ignite violence in Rivers State should tell the police that these are most likely the persons who set the House of Assembly Complex ablaze, and because they got out of it, are now willing to set the entire state on fire,” he noted.

    While acknowledging that the ongoing legislative crises rocking the Rivers State House of Assembly have created constitutional crises, he disclosed that CUPP is already mobilising towards the National Assembly to take over the activities of the Rivers State House of Assembly in line with extant provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).