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Fubara swears in Caretaker Chairpersons for Rivers LGs

Published

2 weeks ago

June 19, 2024

Fubara swears in Caretaker Chairpersons for Rivers LGs

Rivers Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Wednesday morning, swears in caretaker chairpersons who will take over the running of the 23 local government areas of the state amidst tight security.

The Governor had on Tuesday forwarded the names of the nominees for appointment as caretaker chairpersons and members to the three-man Victor Oko-Jumbo-led faction of Rivers House of Assembly loyal to him.

The Governor said in the letter read by the Clerk of the House, G.M. Gillis-West that the appointment of the committee members was to avoid a vacuum in the administration of the LGAs following the expiration of the tenure of the elected chairmen on Monday.

Consequently, the lawmakers had invited the nominees for screening as early as 8 am on Wednesday.

The lawmakers confirmed the appointment of the caretaker committee chairpersons and their members, thus paving the way for their swearing in by the Governor.

The Speaker, Victor Oko-Jumbo had read out the names of the caretaker committee members after reading a letter from the governor.

The swearing-in was being done against the background of the crisis in the state over alleged refusal of some of the outgone local chairpersons to vacate office at the end of their tenure. The local government chairpersons claimed their tenure has been extended for six months by the Martin Amaewhule faction of Rivers Assembly.

However, Fubara had on Tuesday directed heads of administration in the 23 local government areas to take over from the elected council chairmen.

Speaking on Tuesday after a security meeting in Port Harcourt, Fubara said there is no provision for tenure elongation for elected Local Government Chairmen in the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as Amended).

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”The law on local government tenure is unambiguous. The court clearly affirmed the position of the law.

“The law is the law, there is no extension of the local government tenure in it. The court says so,” he said.

However, the he police confirmed that the two people were killed in Omuma LGA during a clash between supporters of Fubara who wanted the outgone chairpersons to immediately vacate office and their own supporters.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Grace Iringe-Koko, who confirmed the killings, said an investigation was ongoing to apprehend the culprits and bring them to justice.

Iringe-Koko said in a statement that the two were killed during a bloody clash between supporters of two political groups at the council headquarters.

She said the police had now occupied the council secretariats to forestall violence.

The statement reads: “Following the breakdown of law and order in the various local government council secretariats in Rivers State where supporters of the two political factions clashed over the tenure of council chairmen, a case of death was recorded at Eberi-Omuma, Omuma LGA, where a police officer and a vigilante were killed.

“To forestall more bloodshed and prevent a further breakdown of law and order, the police have taken over all the 23 council secretariats and some critical government infrastructure in the state.

“Conventional police officers and anti-riot police officers have been deployed to these facilities.
“While urging all groups and individuals to be law-abiding, the Command also warns anyone who intends to cause mayhem as we will not hesitate to impose the full weight of the law on them.

“We also wish to ask the law-abiding residents and visitors in the state to go about their lawful businesses without fear. We are resolved to carry out our constitutional duty of protecting lives and property.”

See the names of the caretaker chairmen appointed by Fubara below:

Abua/Odua LGA – Madigai Dickson

Ahoada East LGA – Happy Benneth

Ahoada West LGA – Mr. Daddy John Green

Akuku Toru LGa – Otonye Briggs

Andoni LGA – Reginald Ekaan

Asari Toru LGA – Orolosoma Amachree

Bonny LGA – Alabota Anengi Barasua

Degema LGA – Anthony Soberekon

Eleme LGA – Brain Gokpa

Emouha LGA – David Omereji

Etche LGA – John Otamiri

Gokana LGA – Kenneth Kpeden

Ikwerre LGA – Darlington Orji

Khana LGA – Marvin Yobana

Related Topics:Caretaker Chairpersons Featured Rivers LGs

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Fubara nominates caretaker chairmen for 23 LGAs, transmits list to State Assembly [FULL LIST]

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Pro-Fubara lawmakers vow to challenge appeal court verdict

Published

9 mins ago

July 5, 2024

Trends Admin

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara

Pro-Fubara lawmakers vow to challenge appeal court verdict

The faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Victor Oko-Jumbo, says it will challenge the verdict of the Appeal Court which declared Martins Amaewhule as the authentic speaker of the house.

Oko-Jumbo, the Speaker of the assembly’s faction loyal to Gov. Siminalayi Fubara, disclosed this during a sitting of the house in Port Harcourt in Friday.

It would be recalled that the Appeal Court on Thursday, set aside a decision of the Rivers State High Court which declared that Martins Amaewhule and 24 other lawmakers were no longer members of the assembly.

The appeal court held that the Rivers State High Court had no jurisdiction to entertain issues relating to the decampment of lawmakers.

Oko-Jumbo said that the assembly strongly believed that the appeal court was in error by declaring that a state high court could not hear such matter.

”I remain the authentic speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, there cannot be two houses of assembly in any state, not in Rivers,” he said.

He further said that the seats of Martins Amaewhule and 24 others lawmakers were validly declared vacant by the then speaker, Edison Ehie.

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“On Dec.13, 2023, their seats were declared vacant following their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress on Dec. 11, 2023.

“That declaration by the then speaker, Edison Ehie has not been set aside by any court in Nigeria,” he Oko-Jumbo said.
The factional speaker further said that the assembly secured an order restraining Martins Amaewhule and the 24 other lawmakers from parading as speaker and members of the assembly.

Oko-Jumbo said that the decision of the appeal court only dwelt on jurisdiction, and did not look at other critical issues such as their decampment to another party.

“The Court of Appeal did not make any declaration that Martin Amaewhule and 24 others did not defect from the PDP to APC. It did not also make any declaration that they are still members of the house.

“In spite all their pretences, Martins Amaewhule and the 24 others are no longer members of the Rivers State House of Assembly as we speak,” he said.

Meanwhile, during the sitting, the Oko-Jumbo-led assembly considered two bills, which were also moved through first reading.

The bills are, the Rivers State Emergency Management Agency Bill, 2024, and the Rivers State Transport Company Reform Bill, 2024.

Pro-Fubara lawmakers vow to challenge appeal court verdict
NAN

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House of Reps summons Women Affairs minister over N1.5bn diversion

Published

15 mins ago

July 5, 2024

Trends Admin

Minister for Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye

House of Reps summons Women Affairs minister over N1.5bn diversion

The House of Representatives is investigating allegations that the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, under its minister, diverted N1.5 billion meant for contractor payments.

The House Committee on Women Affairs launched the investigation in Abuja in response to contractor petitions regarding non-payment of contracts.

The committee’s chairman, Rep. Kafilat Ogbara, stated that the ministry initiated new contracts not included in the 2023 budget.

She went on to say that while owing contractors, the ministry issued new contracts in 15 states of the federation, which she said was not included in the 2023 budget.

According to her, ”money for contractors has not been paid and money has been diverted, so how do you pay these contractors?”?

She stated that the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission and other related offences are currently investigating the ministry’s overhead release of N1.5 billion in November/December 2023.

According to Ogbara, the petitioners also claimed that the ministry had purchased seven tricycles for an Abuja military barracks.

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She claimed that the ministry signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the American University of Nigeria, Yola, to fund the Chibok girls’ education expenses for seven years.

Mr. Aloy Ifeakandu, Director of Finance and Administration in the ministry, stated that he merely followed formal directions from his superiors and that the records are available.

He said, “I resumed at the ministry in September 2023; I wouldn’t know what happened before I came.

“The individual contractors have their files; they can be traced, as at the time I took over, there was no balance in the vote.”

Mr. Gabriel Aduda, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, exonerated himself, stating, “In 2023, we had a total budget of N13.6 billion, while the total release was N3.4 billion.”

According to him, this represents 25% budget utilisation, with an unpublished balance of N10.2 billion.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation confirmed that the N1.5 billion had been released to the minister.

Meanwhile, the committee has asked Uju Kennedy-Ohaneye, Minister of Women Affairs, to appear before it on Tuesday, July 9.

The committee also directed the ministry to halt all contract processes in 2024 until the situation is handled, while requesting a dedicated account for the Chibok girls and the MoU.

House of Reps summons Women Affairs minister over N1.5bn diversion

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Senate orders probe into $5.792bn Mambila hydroelectric power project

Published

8 hours ago

July 5, 2024

Trends Admin

Mambila hydroelectric power project

Senate orders probe into $5.792bn Mambila hydroelectric power project

The Senate on Thursday mandated its standing committees on appropriation, power and finance to probe into the entire Mambila Hydroelectric Power Project (MHEPP) transactions from 1999 to date.

The Senate also appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to include the project as one of his major “legacy projects” in the country.

The resolutions were sequel to a motion sponsored by Senator Manu Haruna (Taraba Central) and co-sponsored by a former governor of Gombe State, Senator Danjuma Goje; former Senate President Ahmad Lawan and 26 other senators.

Senator Manu argued that the federal government through the federal Ministry of Power had signed a contract with a consortium of Chinese Contractors comprising CGGC, SHC, and CGOC in 2017, to construct the 3050MW Mambila power plant in Taraba State.

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He, however, lamented that the project had not been completed since then.

Contributing, a former governor of Gombe State and former Minister (State) for Power and Steel, Mohammed Danjuma Goje (Gombe Central), appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to break the jinx by making the power plant functional in the interest of the nation.

Senator Goje lamented that despite the huge benefits that Nigerians stand to gain from the plant if completed, the project has suffered a setback sequel to legal issues surrounding it.

He said, “I give my full support to this very important motion that is meant to change the economic landscape of Nigeria.

“Unfortunately, despite the obvious and glaring importance of this project, it has suffered so many setbacks. We hope Mr President, Bola Tinubu will break this jinx by ensuring the take-off of this important project.”