RSHA MEMBERS RECEIVE CERTIFICATE OF RETURN FROM INEC

INEC today issued Certificate of Return to the Rivers State House of Assembly members that were elected on the 19th of March, 2016.
Congratulations our Representatives!

Read More

PRESS STATEMENT FROM ORGANIZERS OF OCCUPY NIGERIA SEASON 2!

PRESS STATEMENT FROM ORGANIZERS OF OCCUPY NIGERIA SEASON 2!

This is to inform the general public that there will be a peaceful and peoples organized protest in the city of Port Harcourt next week Thursday April 14, 2016.

This protest is aimed at driving a strong citizenship position against the inability of the Federal government to address the burning perennial fuel scarcity, zero MGW/total lack of electricity amidst increased tariff, incessant/fraudulent bank charges on poor Nigerians among other serious economic matters.

In furtherance to these areas, the protest will serve as a platform to proffer a lasting solution to this untold hardship by Nigerians which has resulted in incalculable losses, shutting down of businesses, increase in crime and criminality, mass job losses, lack of any economic policy direction by the Federal government, lack of projects among others.

We believe the government has exhibited gross ineptitude and incapacity in its dealings. Thus, it has continued to play the blame game on the past Goodluck Jonathan administration as a coverup to its failures which is a betrayal of its promises to Nigerians during the campaigns and elections that brought it to power.

Thus the attitude of a travelling President in a travailing country can no longer be acceptable. Therefore we want to use this mass protest to creatively challenge and engage the government on what Nigerians want and how they want their future to be like.

Some of our major objectives are:

1. To pressure government to solve the biting petroleum and power problems without any further delays or excuses.

2. To press home the demand for a quick review and investigation of the fraudulent/incessant bank charges made against the banking public.

3. To demand for a practical/ working economic policy direction by the Federal government as a way of reviving this current economy that is almost brought to a halt.

4. To exercise citizenship rights towards ensuring that government binds itself to do the bidding of the people.

5. To put government on check and challenge it legally, lawfully, peacefully, creatively and pro-actively in its program for the masses, particularly in line with the promises it made on party platform on its way to power.

6. To drive and motivate an active and conscious citizenship participation in governance. Hence, to give the citizens a VOICE and SAY in the activities of government,

The protest which is tagged OCCUPY NIGERIA SEASON 2 will involve people from various civil society organizations including Civil Liberties organization, NANS, market women groups, student unions, Labour, Social media activists and several other professional bodies and interest groups.

SIGN:
FOR OCCUPY NIGERIA SEASON 2.

Livingstone Wechie
Co-Facilitator

Read More

I WILL DILIGENTLY IMPLEMENT THE NEW RIVERS VISION DEVELOPMENT BLUEPRINT -Governor Wike

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that the state government will diligently  implement  the  New Rivers Vision  Development  Blueprint  to ensure  that  the people  of  the  state  feel the impact of  good  governance. 

Addressing the  closing  session  of the two-day  retreat  for Top government  officials  at Onne Multi-Purpose Centre on Friday,  Governor  Wike  said  that  government  functionaries  have been  equipped  with  the  relevant  strategies  to contribute  meaningfully  to governance. 

He noted that having surmounted  the  initial  challenges  posed by the failures of  the  immediate  past  administration, his administration  has already started the implementation  of  projects and programmes  aimed at empowering  the people. 

He said: " This retreat has been  helpful to  top government  officials.  In six months,  we shall return  to  evaluate  the  progress made as a result  of  renewed knowledge  based implementation  of  programmes. 

"This administration  is centred on the pursuit  of  the best for the people  of  Rivers State.  All programmes and projects are targeted  at improving  the  living condition  of  the  people "

He directed public  officials  in the state  to be transparent in their use of  resources  as they will be  held to account  at the  appropriate  time.

Former Head of  Service  of the Federation, Professor Dapo Afolabi in his paper titled: "Understanding the imperatives of Cooperative Relationship in Public Service " urged public officials to always avoid friction in their interaction  if they  want the state to grow. 

He noted  that building areas of cooperation  between  Commissioners, Permanent  Secretaries  and other political  appointees creates room for faster implementation  of  programmes  and policies. 

A Former  Federal  Permanent Secretary,  Ambassador John Gana  urged public servants to work within approved code of conduct  to ensure  productive governance. 

Simeon Nwakaudu

Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor, Electronic Media. 

8th April,  2016.

Read More

ACCEPT THE REALITY OF YOUR POLITICAL LOSS, GOVERNOR WIKE TELLS AMAECHI , APC

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has advised former Governor of the state, Rotimi Amaechi, to accept the reality that his political party lost the rerun elections and allow the state government focus on the rebuilding of the state.
Governor Wike said that the responsibility of reviving the state after the immediate past administration failed to use the three trillion naira (N3trillion) that accrued to the state under its watch is enormous.

Declaring open a retreat on strengthening capacity, efficiency and service delivery for sustainable development for top government officials at Onne Multi-Purpose Centre on Thursday, Governor Wike said that the administration has deployed resources and expertise to correct the failures of the Amaechi administration.
He said: "I call on the former Governor and leader of the APC in the State to accept the reality that the re-run elections has woefully been lost by his party and that Rivers people have, again, overwhelmingly re-affirm their confidence, trust and preference for the PDP.

"Therefore, spare us the agony of unnecessary hostility and allow Rivers State to move forward in peace and security. We expect you to use your high office and connections to attract meaningful development projects to the State as I did during my time; not senseless and unpatriotic distractions. Enough is enough.

" All of us are aware of the sorry state of things in Rivers State before May 29 2015. Between October 25 2007 and May 28 2015 over three trillion naira accrued from all revenue sources to the State. Yet, they did nothing tangible with that money to develop the State. Instead, they squandered and diverted most of this money into private pockets through bogus and ill-fated projects. "

The governor noted that all key projects initiated by the Amaechi administration were either abandoned or not executed at all.
He said: "Let’s briefly look at the records since they live in denial. The visible projects initiated by former Governor Amaechi during his eight years in office include: the Karibi Whyte mega Hospital project, the Greater Port Harcourt Project, the new Rivers State University project; the RSSDA over-seas scholarship scheme; the mosquitos eradication scheme, the Adokiye Amiesemaka Stadium project, the 500 primary schools project, the 23 mega secondary schools project, the ill-fated less than 1.5kms monorail project, and the dualization of some inner city roads.

"However, none of these projects was realized before they left office despite spending billions and billions of naira on them. For example, the Karibi Whyte Hospital was not just abandoned at the foundation stage, it turned out to be a big scam on Rivers people. The Greater Port Harcourt project existed mainly on paper without any tangible progress. The Adokye Amiesimaka stadium was abandoned half completed, while not even a stone was laid for the proposed new Rivers State University.

"Furthermore, the mosquito eradication project was another huge scam, just as the secondary school and overseas scholarships scheme were misconceived, fraudulent and unsustainable. In addition, they sold off three of the State’s four independent power plants initiated by the Governor Odili administration to cronies and diverted the proceeds to private ends.

"The narrative is not different in their much-flaunted education and health projects. Their own project audit before they left office reveals that out of 498 primary schools they initiated, only 116 were completed and the rest abandoned. Similarly, out of the 23-mega secondary schools they initiated, only one was completed, the rest abandoned. Throughout the eight years, no public secondary school was rehabilitated, while all the general hospitals were willfully abandoned to rot and decay. I challenge the former Governor to controvert these facts in a public debate."
He said despite inheriting a badly governed state, his administration hit the ground running, initiating critical projects and programmes that have revived the economy of the state to the benefit of the people.

The governor said: " I made it clear from our first day in office that we didn’t run for the office of Governor for the fun of it. We ran to restore hope to our people; provide first-class public infrastructure, tackle insecurity and make Rivers State a preferred destination for local and foreign entrepreneurs.

"We promised to build a new Rivers State where our people will be secure in a well-managed government that cares about how we serve our people; secure in a justice system that protects the rule of law and delivers equitable justice; secure in a prospering economy that works for everyone; a Rivers State where our children have equal access to first-rate education regardless of background; a Rivers State that is secure in a healthcare system that is accessible, qualitative and affordable for everyone. "
He pledged that his administration will continue to work for the benefit of the people translating the New Rivers Vision into reality within the specified time.

The governor noted that his administration will sustain sound development principles and the pro-people accountable application of resources to enhance the development of the state.
He said: "Let me re-affirm the determination of our government to make Rivers State secure, peaceful and prosperous through public and private sector participation. Although the glorious fruits of the transformative process we have started would take some time to fully manifest, there is no doubt that we are making steady progress with the lean resources at our disposal, despite the disruptive distractions from the bizarre opposition that has taken partisan politics to the point of terror."

In his opening remarks, Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Chief Kenneth Kobani stated that the retreat was organised to equip top government officials with knowledge to assist the governor achieve his development goals.

The Retreat had as resource persons the following: Prof Ibrahim Gambari, Prof A.O. Afolabi, Prof Bob Osaze, Ambassador SM Taribo, Dr Ita Ekpeyong, Mr Emeka Ezeh, Ambassador John Gana, Prof Christiana Okoji, Dr Egem Odey and Ferdinand Agu .
The governor, his Deputy, Commissioners, Special Advisers, Special Assistants, Permanent Secretaries, Members of Boards and Commissions are participants at the retreat.

Simeon Nwakaudu,
Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor, Electronic Media.
7th April, 2016.

Read More

NIGERIA IS TODAY MORE DIVIDED, SMELLING - Prof Pat Utomi

One year after he had supported the process that brought Buhari and APC to power, this is his gloomy submission:

"I think Nigeria today is actually more divided than it was two years ago. The spirit of Nigeria is much challenged today. That is simply failure of leadership

"But Nigeria came out and align with the opposition and for the first time, an incumbent was removed

"That was why I said it was a classic opportunity for good leaders to bring everybody into the house. But that did not happen

"What happened was the old hegemony game started. People cornering some­thing, excluding that person, pushing that person and they just couldn’t get it together

"So everybody was urinating into the house and the house is smelling. But if everybody was inside the house, urinating out­side, we would be erecting an edifice going forward. It was purely a case of leadership failure".

Now, after the reggae of APC propaganda and we are in the moment of the blues of our sad truth, is there any disagreement with this view?

Credit: WORDSHOT

Read More

Nigerians poorer under Buhari, APC’s ‘change’ was a scam – Shekarau

Former Minister of Education, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, says citizens are not happy with the current administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to him, almost a year after assuming power, the change mantra preached by the All Progressives Congress, APC, has turned out to be a ruse.

Shekarau spoke yesterday while addressing supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at his residence in Kano after the constitution of a 44-man sub-committee.

“It is unfortunate that the APC has failed to address the abject poverty among Nigerians,” the former Kano Governor said.

“Those promoting the change mantra have now ended up rewarding electorates with hunger, poverty, illiteracy and embarrassing queues at our filling stations.”

Appealing to Nigerians to give the PDP another chance, Shekarau described the APC as congregation of political opportunists.

“We are still waiting to see when Nigerians will start enjoying the change the APC promised. It is almost a year now after it took over power.


“The first quarter of the year has already passed without a working budget for our dear nation,” he said.

Read More

Nollywood Actress, Ibinabo Febrisima Granted Bail

Nollywood actress, Ibinabo Febrisima, has been granted bail by the Court of Appeal. .

The actress was recently slammed a 5-year jail term by the Court of Appeal in Lagos after losing an appeal over the death of one Dr Giwa Suraj who she allegedly killed in an auto accident along Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lagos, 10 years ago.

Justice Jamilu Yammama Tukur of the Appeal court said he was granting the actress bail pending the determination of a suit filed by her at the Supreme court.

According to several sources, the Appeal Court, sitting in Lagos, said it was granting the actress bail pending the determination of an appeal filed by her at the Supreme court. According to reports,

Ibinabo Fiberesima was granted a bail of 2 million naira but with strong condition and she is expected to present two sureties of like sum residing within the jurisdiction of the court. The sureties must both be property owners in Lagos state.

Read More