Rivers son presents US Purple Heart award to Gov Amaechi

An illustrious son of Rivers State and United States Marine Sergeant (Dr) Ledum Dennis Ndaanee, today formally presented his Purple Heart award to the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, at Government House, Port Harcourt. 

The award was handed to him in November, 2007 by former United States President, George H.W. Bush.

Making the presentation, Marine Sgt. Ledum Ndaanee, who described the award as an honour to the people of Nigeria and Rivers State in particular, said he was overwhelmed representing the country in the US Marine Corps.

“I decided to come home and present this award to my State Governor. It’s really an honour serving in the US Marine Corps and I feel overwhelmed representing my country, Nigeria and the people of Rivers State in particular,” he declared.

Ndaanee, a machine gunner who survived an explosion during the Iraq encounter with the US, noted that Nigeria had brave and best brains in the United States, saying “I am proud of my country, especially Rivers State.”

Receiving the award on behalf of the Governor, his deputy, Engr. Tele Ikuru, commended the recipient, Ledum Ndaanee for bridging honour to the people of Rivers State in particular and Nigeria in general.

“I congratulate you for making us proud in the United States where many think that we cannot excel in anything,” Ikuru said, adding, “that a son of Rivers State is a hero in the US is great”.

In an interview with newsmen shortly after the ceremony, Sgt. Ledum Ndaanee, who hails from Luekue Town in Khana Local Government of the State said he joined the US Marine Corps in September, 2004.

According to him, the award was presented to the dead and the wounded, pointing out that he was the only living and the first African to be so honoured by the US Government.

“I consider myself lucky and I thank God for being alive to receive the Purple Heart, the highest US military award to war heroes”.

He advised Nigerian youths to have faith in God as there are windows of opportunity awaiting them, saying “I never knew I would be where I am today”.

SEMINITARI, DAWARI GEORGE, 4 OTHERS SWORN IN AS RIVERS COMMISSIONERS

Mrs. Ibim Seminitari, award winning seasoned female journalist and communications expert, and Dr Dawari George, immediate past chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Rivers State, were among six new Commissioners sworn-in yesterday by Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, Governor of Rivers State at Government House, Port Harcourt.

Sworn in with Mrs. Ibim Seminetari, who until her new appointment was the Publisher of the weekly magazine, Business Eye, and Dr. Dawari George,  are four former Commissioners who were in the last dissolved cabinet, Felix Nweke, of Youth, Joseph Poroma, Social Welfare and Rehabiliattion, Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, Special Duties, and Marshal Uwom, Housing, respectively.

The Governor Amaechi charged them to render selfless services and be transparent in their dealings with the people.

“The only reason why you were appointed is for service, and it must not conflict with any other interest”, Governor Amaechi said, and explained that government office is not a place where people come to share money but to deliver services. Use public money for public purposes not for private use”, he declared.

According to him, “the state lacks basic infrastructure, therefore we all require concerted efforts to develop it. It is not time for funfair, but time to serve, and make the people of Rivers State happy”, the Governor said.

The State Chief Executive said the state has the potentials to be a model in the country and urged the new Commissioners to discharge their duties creditably.

He warned that he would not hesitate to remove any one found wanting in the discharge of his duties, emphasizing that they should not give him the opportunity to dissolve the cabinet another time.

Governor Amaechi cautioned the Commissioners to make open the processes of contract awards to the public, and maintain an open door policy to enable the people have access to their offices.

One of the Commissioners, Mrs Ibim Seminetari, who spoke with newsmen after the swearing-in, said her vision is in line with the commitment of the State Governor to ensure the development and progress of the state.

This brings the number of Commissioners in the state to 26.

MRS. AMAECHI CHARGES LGA CHAIRPERSONS ON RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Wife of Rivers State Governor Dame Judith Amaechi has charged wives of Chairmen of the twenty three local government areas to initiate sustainable programmes capable of eradicating poverty among the rural populace.

Dame Judith Amaechi stated this during a meeting with wives of Chairmen of the twenty three local government areas c of Rivers State at government house Port Harcourt.

According to a statement by Dike Bekwele, her media assistant, Mrs. Amaechi stated that the improvised situation among the rural populace is very worrisome adding that the government programmes would be a success if it impact positively on the lives of the people.

“The poverty situation within the rural community requires urgent and drastic action, we must tackle it on all fronts, and bring government to the door steps of the rural dwellers”.

The Rivers Governor’s wife who recently empowered women through public transportation challenged the chairpersons to initiate similar programmes that have capacity of sustaining rural economy of the people.

“Please it is on record that we have ladies driving cabs, while some have become entrepreneurs after our soap making training programmes. You can replicate this effort in your locality or initiate suitable programmes that can sustain the economy of the people”.

The governor’s wife said she wants the rural dwellers to benefit in the ESI Lady cabbies, because most female drivers today have become economically independent and can cater for their family.

“I have directed that some forms for the ESI lady cabbies be distributed at the rural areas to enable them benefit from it. Please it must not be politicized, let the qualified and capable hands benefit, while I charge you to initiate your ideas in this regard and complement your husbands effort”.

The governor’s wife warned that she will not support chairpersons who are insensitive to the plight of the rural populace.

TEARS, TRIBUTES AS BONNY MONARCH BURIES COUSIN

It was a gale of tears and tributes as the remains of Princess Catherine Secondus Pepple was laid to rest at Bonny Island in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State at the weekend.

Late Princess Catherine Secondus Pepple is cousin to the Amanyanabo of Bonny Kingdom, HRM King Edward William Dappa-Pepple, who is also the immediate past Chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers.

Commiserating with the Amanyanabo of Bonny, the immediate past Leader of the Bonny Youth Federatiion (BYF), Mr. Ibifubara Willie-Pepple, commended the sterling qualities of the late Princess, saying she was a woman of strong character while she was alive.

Mr. Willie-Pepple, who is also the Chairman of the Rivers State Movement for Good Governance, a civil society organization, said Princess Secondus Pepple epitomized the ideals of womanhood and described her as a woman who fought for what she believed in.

He prayed the Lord to give the King and the people of Bonny community the fortitude to bear the great loss and for the repose of the soul of the deceased.

On his part, the Chief and Head of Jumbo Major House of Bonny, Chief Horace Oko-Jumbo, said the Jumbo community deeply regrets the loss the Amanyanabo has suffered through the death of his cousin, Princess Kate Secondus Pepple, and prays that God would imbue him and the royal family with at this trying moment of grief.

Speaking, the Chairman, Bonny Council of Chiefs, Chief Reginald Abbey-Hart, prayed God to accept the soul of late Princess Catherine Secondus Pepple, saying she was a woman of truth who stood for the truth during her lifetime.

Chief Abbey-Hart, who is also the Chief and Head of Hart Major House of Bonny, described the late Princess as a good person, adding that she was full of knowledge of Bonny history, tradition and culture.

The funeral ceremony was attended by dignitaries from all walks of life including top government functionaries, captains of industry, the traditional institution and members of the royal family.

NULGE, HEALTH WORKERS CLASH OVER N4M

The stage seems set for a showdown between the 23 Local Government Councils in Rivers State and the State chapter of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) on the one hand and the State chapter of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria over the embezzlement of about N4 million belonging to health workers in Rivers State. 
Reports reaching enigmareports reveal that due to perceived marginalization and lack of adequate representation of their interests in NULGE, health workers in the country under the aegis of Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) sought leave of the Nigeria Industrial Arbitration Court (NIC) to unionize health workers in the 774 local government councils in Nigeria and be independent of NULGE. 
The Industrial Court granted this leave through its verdict in the suit No. NIC/19/95. NULGE would have none of that and challenged the verdict but the court reaffirmed its stand on the issue in suit No. NIC/9/2001. The matter later went to the Supreme Court where the apex court upheld the decision of the industrial court and also ruled that community health practitioners under the aegis of the Association of Community Health Practitioners of Nigeria be part of the MHWUN in suit No. SC/210/2005.  
During this time the check-off dues deducted at source from the salaries of health workers by the local government councils and paid into the coffers of NULGE was ordered to be held in a suspense account pending the determination of the various litigations on the issue. 
On the strength of the Supreme Court verdict the Rivers State chapter of the Medical and Health Workers Union requested the retirement of the check-off dues including the arrears into the union’s accounts but was rebuffed. The arrears so far amount to N332,131,345.00 being check-off dues for the period between June 2001 and December 2008 for the 23 local government councils and N25,548,565.00 for the period between January and July 2009 bringing the total sum to N357,679,910.00. 
Consequent upon this the health workers sought the intervention of the State Government in the matter. 
A reliable source, who prefers anonymity, said the Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, through the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ken Chikere, upon the advice of the Chairman, Local Government Service Commission, Chief Ephraim Owoh-Etete, directed the council chairmen to abide by and implement the decision of the apex court and release the accrued check-off dues to the health workers union in their respective councils. 
Contrary to expectations that this directive would have been complied with and the issue long concluded, the health workers’ union was yet to see the check-off dues instantly raising questions as to why the said monies have allegedly not been released. 
In a reaction to this development, the Chairman, Local Government Service Commission, Chief Ephraim Owoh-Etete, in a letter dated 8^th April, 2009 and signed on his behalf by one Barr. R.R. West, directed the council chairmen, through their heads of local government administration, to “implement the decision of the (Supreme) Court and (the) directive of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Rivers State,” warning that “you will be personally held responsible for failure to implement the directive of His Excellency.” 
Furthermore, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Hon. Magnus Abe, through a letter signed on his behalf by one Sir Joe Akpa and dated 17^th July, 2009, advised all parties in the issue to “please abide by the advice of the Hon. Attorney General in order to maintain and ensure peace and industrial harmony…across the State.” 
Worried by this recalcitrant attitude of the council chairmen and NULGE on the issue, some aggrieved health workers have threatened to drag the State branches of the Association of Chairmen of Local Governments in Nigeria (ALGON), and NULGE to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Code of Conduct Tribunal, saying “this is a case of barefaced fraud involving funds belonging to us.”

ACF TASKS POLITICIANS ON PEACE IN NIGER DELTA

Efforts by the President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua administration to foster peace in the Niger Delta region and thus bring about sustainable development in the area needs the support of politicians in the region, the Arewa Consultative Forum has said.

Coordinator of the forum in Rivers and Bayelsa States, Alhaji Musa Saidu, who stated this a chat with newsmen in Port Harcourt, expressed appreciation for the efforts of the federal government and the Rivers State Government to bring peace to the troubled region.

Decrying activities of unscrupulous politicians whom he accused of benefiting from the crisis in the region and thus worked surreptitiously and fervently to undermine the success of the amnesty programme, he expressed optimism that the issue of militancy will be resolved.

Alhaji Saidu debunked rumours about the insincerity of Governor Chibuike Amaechi regarding the amnesty programme, saying politicians who were not comfortable with the aftermath of the amnesty programme were behind such rumours.

“People are saying Ateke will not surrender his arms, and Governor Amaechi is not sincere, but I want to say that all that is false. All those accusing Amaechi and carrying such rumours are liars. They are politicians who are afraid that if Ateke exposes his sponsors they will be implicated,” he said adding “instead of providing jobs, they provided guns, now they are afraid”.

Calling on the government to “initiate policies that will alleviate the suffering of the masses,” the ACF chieftain said “the amnesty will work when there is sincerity and justice,” and commended the Governor Amaechi administration for its achievements in education and health and security.

“Amaechi is a Governor that has tried, God brought him to do good in Rivers State but he needs support. Amaechi has brought peace in Rivers State,” he stressed, urging politicians to allow the will of the people to prevail in the forthcoming 2011 election, saying “2011 will be a very tough year but only politicians who have performed will be re-elected”.

On the ASUU strike, Alhaji Saidu called on the federal government and striking lecturers to put the interest of the poor masses first and amicably resolve the issue.

“The interest of the poor masses should be considered. The children of the politicians are schooling abroad so it does not affect them. They should see to it that the issue is amicably resolved,” the ACF chieftain said.