Bayelsa Guber: Tables turn for Dickson as Jonathan supports Sylva, dumps PDP

As the December 5 governorship election in Bayelsa State approaches, Dickson is not a happy man as indications emerge that the wife of the former President, Patience Jonathan, has thrown her political weight behind the candidacy of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Governor of the State, Timipre Sylva.

It was gathered that in a meeting convened by Mrs. Jonathan recently, in Otuoke, she read the riot act to members of her group, asking them not to support the re-election of the incumbent governor, Hon Henry Seriake Dickson.

Enigma Reports learnt that the former First Lady prefers Dr. Weripamowei Dudafa, ex-presidential aide to the immediate past president, Goodluck Jonathan and Commissioner for Local Government under Sylva.

It was gathered that Mrs. Jonathan directed members of her political group to support the aspiration of Sylva.

According to those present during the meeting, when some persons reminded the First Lady that the former president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan had openly declared support for Dickson, she told them that Jonathan won’t support Dickson when the chips are down.

Among those who attended the meeting, it was learnt were a former acting governor of the state and chairman of the defunct Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) in Bayelsa State, Hon Werinipre Seibarugu, Dr. Dudafa; former Commissioners for Transport and Sports, Mrs. Marie Ebikake and Hon Ebikitin Diongoli, a female politician, Mrs. Remi Kuku and a host of others.

 

WE LOST IT, WHILE WE HAD IT; NIGER DELTANS IN VIEW.

By Samuel Benedict Jumbo

The Bible is one comprehensive book that surpasses any human understanding despite the controversies surrounding its compilation. For instance, 1 Timothy 6:10, elaborates how the love of money can lead many into diverse kinds of evil and the betrayal of one’s conscience.

 

Once upon a time in history, we, the people of the Niger Delta region, were known around the world for agitating for the control of our resources having been marginalised for a long period of time. We fought, cried, lamented and got crucified many at times which caused the international community to sympathize with us and joined, maybe not directly, the campaign of “allow them control their resources or better still, develop the Niger Delta region”.

Vandalising oil installations in the creeks of the Niger Delta was a way of drawing Federal Government’s attention. Somehow, at the point when government and the world began focusing on us, the narrative changed. Obviously, when the value of a thing is not known, abuse is inevitable.

Using Bonny as a case study, this change saw the emergence of “Okoloma Ikpangi”. This resulted in the initiation of our youths into cultism. Pregnant women were raped, little babies thrown into the sea, fathers were forced to make love to their daughters at gunpoint (what an abominable act by those who claim to be fighting for the Niger Delta), innocent blood spilled on the shores of our sea and so on so forth.

The question then was, “who are these people fighting for?” Same can be likened to the Boko Haram of today who kill themselves claiming to be fighting against Western education...

Believe it or not, this cry caused Obasanjo to orchestrate the famous merger of Yar'Adua and Jonathan in the 2007 Presidential bid to run the nation. The merger that combined minority and majority which many never dreamt of happening but then, it did and as God will have it, it came to pass.

Our Ijaw leaders were carried away by the euphoria of excitement when in 2011 Jonathan was elected the President of Nigeria. Instead of strengthening the struggle for the control of our resources, they rather got involved in the transfer of Ghana-must-go bags, flying in and out of the country, entering Abuja day in day out. Prophets kept prophesying depending on the largeness of their bank accounts, little or nothing was heard from them about the struggle.

When Orubebe staged his infamous drama at the National Collation Centre, Abuja during the announcement of the 2015 Presidential Elections results he understood what was about slipping away from us. He didn't shout because he wanted to, but because he knew we never utilised our opportunity and against our thinking, he imagined we may never have a second chance. No! Not with former President Jonathan. Then he became sober.

Jonathan himself realised this and simply conceded defeat. In one of his campaign lines, he said "I know I've not really done anything for the people of my region but vote for me this second coming and I'll make heaven come down for the Niger Deltans". Which means that we were left in the dark all through the years our Son and In-Law led us as President. Little wonder the controversial but wise Obasanjo made a statement of recent "Jonathan has denied the people of his region the opportunity to get to the apex of Power anytime soon".

No doubt that Jonathan himself is a good man who allowed himself to be used by those he surrounded himself with. However, it takes both a good and a bad man to lead Nigeria at this point in time” (Obasanjo, 2013).

WHO OWNS NIGERIA?

This is one question many have failed to answer, and some who dare answer it, sectionalize the ownership of the nation. Until Nigeria is divided into two, three or thereabout, the Nation belongs to all of us (Hausa, Igbo, Fulani, Yoruba, and if you like the Ijaws).

This was what we as Niger Deltans (minorities) failed to understand. Instead of appealing to the conscience of those who constitute majority as long as this nation will continue to be one to vote us back into power, we sectionalised the campaign processes using brotherhood as a yardstick instead of campaigning as brothers from same Nation. What then do you expect the Northerners to do? Abandon their own?

One of us went as far as stating that "He'll champion the fight to divide Nigeria if former President Jonathan fails at the polls". What arrant rubbish? Now, where is he and others who boasted of using dynamites to destroy Nigeria?

I know where they are. Go to Abuja, you will see them lobbying to meet and congratulate Mr. President, commending every smile and fart of his. And when he refuses to give them the usual Ghana must go, they will re-turn, inciting hate in the heart of youths and surprisingly some of our elites to constitutes nuisance and disturb the society.

Since we've misplaced our priority as a people, I think and will suggest we champion the #BRINGBACKOURGIRLS campaign so as to undo Mr. President. We had the opportunity, but failed to utilise it rather waiting for a second chance. Like the Dettol advert says "If I don't take care of my child, who will?

My simple prayer is that God should avail us again the opportunity we had sooner than we expect. But to this end, your guess is as good as mine.

 

Samuel Benedict Jumbo, a graduate of International Relations from the Osun State University and Personal Assistant to the Chairman, Bonny Local Government Area, wrote in from Bonny.

49 PDP Senators Declare Support For Buhari

The forty-nine Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers in the senate led by Minority leader, Godswill Akpabio have declared their support for President Muhammadu Buhari.

“The PDP senate caucus reiterates its support to Mr President Muhammadu Buhari and his quest to bring about a greater Nigeria,” Akpabio said.

“The PDP senate caucus, despite its formidable strength, has resolved to offer only credible opposition that would lead to the building of a better Nigeria. The caucus will give him all the needed support to ensure his success as president.

“But the PDP senate caucus notes the crusade against corruption undertaken by the APC-led federal government and hereby declares her support to rid Nigeria of corruption. The caucus is not happy with the current trend that seems to suggest that the war against corruption is selective and targeted at PDP stalwarts and states.

“The current war lacks transparency, fairness to all and appears to be aimed at political adversaries. It is on this ground that we condemn in particular what is happening in Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Abia states where election umpires are daily arrested, their families and associates hounded, and judicial officers involved in election tribunals intimidated and questioned using trumped up petitions bordering on corruption.

“Yet, these officials were part of the 2015 elections that produced President Buhari, an election adjudged to be generally free and fair by the international community.”

Akpabio also alleged that the Department of State Service (DSS) was being used to wreak havoc on PDP-controlled states.

“The PDP senate caucus is worried, alarmed and shocked by the recent development in our polity where the DSS is now involved in electoral matters,” he said.

“A situation where officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Rivers state, Akwa Ibom and Abia states (all PDP states) are daily being arrested, detained and questioned on politically motivated corruption allegations is worrisome and spells doom for our democracy unless the trend is reversed.

“Reports reaching the caucus has it that INEC officials are being forced by the DSS to produce falsified documents to support APC candidates cases before the tribunals.

“This is abominable and unacceptable. Mr President and all well-meaning Nigerians must intervene to preserve the independence of the tribunals and that of INEC.”

While reiterating the pledge of the PDP to provide constructive opposition to the APC government, Akpabio urged the president to treat all Nigerians equally.

Women Protest Continued Detention of Gesila Khan

Scores of women from states in the Niger Delta on Thursday protested the continued detention and harassment of the Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs. Gesila Khan. The women who protested in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, said the incaceration of Khan was an affront to mothers and women, alleging that men of the Department of State Security had been harassing the REC.

The protesting women, under the aegis of the Niger Delta Women for Peace and Development, however, appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in the matter before it was too late.

The women, armed with placards with inscriptions, ‘Buhari! Don’t allow DSS violate right of women’, ‘The detention of Khan is a war against Nigerian Mothers’ and ‘Free Khan Now or Face curses from Nigerian Mothers’ condemned the arrest and detention of Khan.

Leader of the group, Mrs. Grace Amabo, said the continued detention of Khan was creating a bad image for the Buhari’s administration.

Amabo said the arrest was an affront to issues of gender equality and women’s rights.

She said, “The continued arrest is an affront to Nigerian women and the Niger Delta people.It also violates the right of women in public office as enshrined in the Beijing Convention on Gender Equality.

“Her continued incarceration by the DSS in Abuja is biased, selective and having tribal connotations to witch-hunt and blackmail our revered daughters who has meritoriously served the nation.

“In spite of the affirmative action by the Federal Government granting 35 per cent women participation in politics and public governance has not yielded result as the case of Mrs. Gesila Khan, the REC of Rivers State is a clear testimony to the gang-style raid against women in public service.

“The selective persecution of Khan immediately after the All Progressives Congress government was sworn-in at the federal level of governance revealed that it was a script that was already written down for execution.”

Also speaking, Secretary of the NDWPD, Mrs. Ruth Ibiama, noted that despite the sincere efforts by the aggrieved politicians to move their objections to a constitutionally established Election Tribunal, some politicians were engaged in dropping the name of President Buhari.

She said through the development, they tried to ambush the expected verdict of the tribunal using the instrument of power and other inordinate means to achieve their evil intention.

APC lauds President Buhari's momentous decision on UNEP Report implementation

Wednesday, August 5, 2015 President Muhammadu Buhari approved and directed several immediate actions to fast-track the long delayed implementation of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) Report on the environmental restoration of Ogoniland.

The reaction of Rivers State Chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, is that this is a confirmation of our earlier position that President Muhammadu Buhari means well for the Niger Delta as a whole and Ogoniland in particular. It further gives credence to the saying that a good friend is by far better than a bad brother.

For 6 years that President Goodluck Jonathan was in the saddle as President of Nigeria with full executive powers, he blatantly ignored the UNEP Report for the cleaning of Ogoniland. He carried on as if Ogoniland was not part of the Niger Delta. But today, just 68 days into his administration, President Muhammadu Buhari has demonstrated that with strong will, love and honesty of purpose, nothing is impossible to achieve.

It further goes to show that the modest contribution to the development of the Niger Delta so far had been championed by those outside of the region. Such efforts include the establishment of the Niger Delta Development Commission [NDDC] by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Ministry of Niger Delta midwifed by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua of blessed memory.

Most significantly, the development underscores and justifies the purposeful and visionary leadership of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, Senator Magnus Abe, Dr. Dakuku Peterside and all those who staked everything to ensure that our people belong to the main stream of Nigerian politics of the present era.

The APC is convinced that history will generously accord pride of place to President Muhammadu Buhari and our courageous and visionary leaders whose audacious decision to lead us into the APC has now brought succour to Ogoniland, just as it will bring to the entire Niger Delta.

We most profoundly thank Mr. President for this invaluable and inestimable gesture.

 

Chris Finebone

State Publicity Secretary

PETERSIDE HAILS CLEAN-UP OF OGONILAND BY BUHARI

…describes action as courageous

Dr. Dakuku Peterside, All Progressives Congress, APC governorship candidate in the April election in Rivers State has commended President Mohammadu Buhari for his courage in fast-tracking the long expected implementation of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) on the environmental restoration of Ogoniland in Rivers State.

Peterside who spoke in Abuja, the nation’s capital, expressed happiness over the president’s many actions that would eventually address all environmental issues in Ogoniland. According to Peterside, this move obviously is historic and promises to ameliorate other challenges facing Ogoniland.

“Once again, Mr. President has demonstrated that he is a man of honour.

During his campaign stops in Rivers State shortly before the election, he promised our people that his government would look into the UNEP Report and the challenges facing the people of Niger Delta. Less than three months into his administration, the President has already taken a giant step in this regard. He is indeed a man of his words.

“Our people in the region know that this is a president we can trust because of his antecedent and track record. By this action,. Mr. President has rekindled hope and brought a major relief to our long-suffering people.

“We know that it can only be better. I therefore urge the entire people of Niger Delta region to rally round this president as he works tirelessly to return Nigeria on the path of honour and greatness. Our region is on his mind, therefore we must do everything possible to support this administration.

Any reasonable person will be wary of Wike’s presence in judiciary corridors —Finebone, Rivers APC spokesman

Publicity Secretary of the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chris Finebone, in this interview with DAPO FALADE, insists there was no noble intention behind Governor Nyesom Wike’s visits to the office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN). Excerpts:

 

You alleged that the recent visits of Governor Nyesom Wike to the Chief Justice of Nigeria was clandestine, how so?

 

 

It is not in contention. You must have heard the response of the governor through his aides. Perhaps you have also heard the CJN’s account of what happened on the two occasions Wike visited. So, I don’t think it is still within the realm of speculation. We, the APC, Wike and the CJN have confirmed that the visits took place. In fact, everybody agrees that he paid the visits, but [it has not been established] whether he met the CJN or not. I think we believe the account given by the aides of the CJN; it tallied with what we have.

The governor’s media aide, Simeon Nwakaudu, claimed his principal’s visits to the CJN had to do with state matters, particularly the re-appointment of the acting Chief Judge and the acting President of the Customary Court of Appeal. Why did you infer that the visits were beyond that?

 

 

Yes, they were beyond that, because he [the governor] himself initially said that one of the reasons he went there was to thank the CJN for appointing the Chief Judge of Bayelsa State to swear him in. But his spokesperson played down that admission by the governor and that has raised some questions. For us, that aspect of Wike’s response, which came instinctively from him, says so much. What is the relationship between appointing the chief judge of a state to swear in a governor and you going to thank him? Is it a personal thing? Is it a personal favour? It is not a favour; it was an organ of the state doing its work. So, for us, going to thank the CJN remains curious.

 

 

In any case, we do know, and we are saying, that the major reason he claimed was behind his visits to the CJN is a facade, because we understand how government works. We do not expect a governor to be a courier or to be rendering courier service and then be carrying a letter or going with the word of mouth to discuss the issue of the re-appointment of an acting Chief Judge and acting President of the Customary Court of Appeal. That is a simple administrative thing. The governor, when it is necessary, only directs an aide or even the Attorney-General to raise a memo and send to the National Judicial Council (NJC) and do follow-ups. I mean, if you know the tenets of government, the governor should not be running such an errand for himself.

 

 

Is there anything wrong in a governor visiting the CJN?

 

 

Yes, let us look at the aide of the CJN who said clearly in a publication that the governor, on a second visit, was intercepted by officers of the Supreme Court and that after he [the governor] was asked the purpose of his visit, they [the officers], with all courtesy, told him that it was improper for him to do that. The judiciary has already said that it was wrong and that they do not always want visits from governors, especially those who have cases pending in courts or tribunals.

 

 

Again, you specifically said the visit had to do with ongoing case at the tribunal regarding the governorship election in the state, do you have any evidence?

 

 

Yes, and I repeat that. All it requires to know about somebody is only a little investigation and then you can make up your mind. The governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, is somebody who is very comfortable moving around the corridors of the judiciary. I say this with all sense of responsibility and respect.

 

 

If you cast your mind back to the former Governor Rotimi Amaechi matter, I am sure you read where he [Wike] claimed that he was the one who did all the leg work, consulting with judges, bailiffs and all those who matter behind the scenes in the judiciary. He said openly that he was the one who mid-wifed everything that made Amaechi governor. We all know that he is good at doing all those things. But within our judicial system, which is still battling with credibility problem, if a man is an expert in moving behind the scenes, you can conclude that most of the things he does behind the scenes are not noble; they are questionable.

 

 

Again, you will remember the role he played in the taking away of the structure of state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from former Governor Amaechi. So, with all these antecedents of the governor [Wike], when he goes around the judiciary corridors, any reasonable person should be wary of that. You don’t expect that we will say all that we know in the public domain, but I can tell you that his reason for personally going around to talk with the CJN was nothing noble.

 

 

Since you said that Governor Wike went behind the scene to do ‘leg work’ for former Governor Amaechi, will you not agree this might be payback time; that he [Wike] might be paying back his former boss in his own coin?

 

 

There is no justification for wrongdoing. The leg work he did, he alone is claiming the glory. If he did them right, the glory will remain his. If he did good things in a wrong way, it is also his. Now, payback time in terms of what? Nobody sent him. Nobody would have sent him. For example, if I say ‘go, get me the car key outside the gate,’ and you go and bring me the key, I don’t know whether you went to the gate and paid somebody to get the key. I don’t know whether you got to the gate and sent some other person to get the key. For me, you chose to go and get the key. I do not see how I should be held responsible for what you did out of your own volition to achieve the purpose of bringing the key, which is legal. But you can go and get the key in an illegal way, outside of my knowledge. I should not be held accountable for that. So, I do not see how this should be payback time.

 

 

It appears that you are afraid that the governor may thwart or influence the outcome of the petition at the tribunal...

 

 

No, no, no. If you know the antics of a man and you are in contest with that man and begin to see a semblance of what he easily resorts to or what amounts to his character, you will be wary, but that would not amount to fear. It is about self-preservation. I don’t want to allow this person to have his way because I know how much evil he can do and so I have to checkmate him and let the world know that he is up to his game again, which may negatively affect the outcome of what we have on hand. So, it would be stupid of me to keep quiet and watch a man I am in contest with repeat his negative antics.

 

 

If you nurse no such fear, what are the chances of your party at the tribunal?

 

 

If you check the way applications are being made by both parties, you will see that it is only one side that does not want the matter to go on and that is PDP and Wike. There is only one side that is introducing delay tactics of all types. It is PDP and Nyesom Wike. There is only one side that is introducing all kinds of unimportant motions and it is them. There is only one side that wants the matter to move on and that is APC. For example, if you say you won an election and I said ‘no, I should have won it but you stole it’ and I am asked how and I said, ‘okay, by the time we see the process or see the materials, we will determine whether you really won it or I won it,’ why are you worried? Why should Wike be worried that I want an independent umpire to look into the materials used for the election? Why did it take him so long to argue that we should not be given access to look at the materials?

 

 

This would take you straight to the Solomon judgment in the Bible about the baby and two women. If you won the election and you are convinced that you won it, you should not wait for me to ask that we look at the materials. Wike made so much effort, through his lawyers, to argue and insist, even when court granted an ex parte that we should have access to the materials. All kinds of collaborations among the [Independent National Electoral Commission] INEC, PDP and Wike and their lawyers had been made to make sure that we did not have the access. But the question is: why? You say you won an election then you should be the first to be willing to allow an inspection of the materials. So, this says a lot; it gives you an unspoken answer.

THE BLOODY THIEF RUNNING EFCC AS CHAIRMAN; DOLLARS AND POUNDS SOUND MAKES HIS EARS STAND

Fresh trouble is brewing in Nigeria’s anti-graft police where some senior police officers on secondment to the agency are poised for a showdown with the agency’s boss, Ibrahim Lamorde.

While some senior police officers are threatening to expose Lamorde’s many shady deals over his move to send them back to the police, some other operatives are accusing the agency’s deputy head of operations, one Aminu Ado Aliyu of leading a powerful cartel that extorts money from suspects.

It was gathered from one of the top officials of the agency that “we are ready to spill the beans and expose Lamorde’s many corrupt acts because he has finished using us to extort money from suspects and now wants to dump us by going to the IGP secretly to request that all police officers who have spent five years in the agency be transferred back to the police. We wont allow him to use us to get rich and now dump us.”

The senior police officer regretted that “many of the officers who had stayed above five years were returned to the police especially the corrupt ones when the former chairman, madam Waziri came newly. The same Lamorde brought all of them back in 2012 when he was appointed Chairman. But now he just woke up to say we have to go back after he has broken the rule himself and used us for various deals. We will expose him for the world to know who he is.”

In another encounter with an operative of the agency, the officer described Aminu Aliyu in unprintable words. According to him, Aliyu “heads a cartel. He’s a Mafia. He’s evil. I worked with him briefly from 2012 to 2014. He’s cunny and very sadistic.

“He’s popularly called ‘Boko Haram’ by operatives for his sadistic manner of approach to everything. He’s the deputy head of operations. He heads a cartel in EFCC that specializes in extortion from Yahoo boys. The crop of fraudsters that swindle people online. He works very closely with his friend and business partner, ‘’Alhaji Gay’’. The Alhaji operates from Abeokuta to Ibadan and Lagos looking for Yahoo boys. Once he identifies them, he alerts Aminu. Aminu has his own henchmen within the Commission that will carry out the arrest and subsequent extortion. Aminu takes cars and cash and other assets in exchange for the freedom of these Yahoo boys.

“He has more than 1000 cars that have been sold through car dealers or still in his possession. He believes that if you can’t part with these items, you must go to jail. This applies to all other manner of detainees. There are numerous examples of suspects he’s had dealings with that will come up against him if there is an investigation.

“He’s violent too. He once slammed the heel of his shoe on the eye of a detainee. I doubt if the detainee will ever see properly with that eye again. Some suspects have not been charged to court since 2011, because they refused to ‘’play ball’’ with him.

“Once he hears dollars and Pounds sterling is involved in a transaction, he must have a bite or the suspect won’t go home for a long time. He never investigates. Under him, the deplorable conditions of the cells have worsened. In 2013, it was manageable but he believes a suspect has no right to any kind of comfort.”

What Wike Can Learn from Amaechi

By Adebiyi Adedapo

Nigerians will not forget in a hurry how former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Ameachi, changed the face of education in the state for the better. The future of every nation depends on qualitative education; hence the demand for quality education cannot be overemphasized.

Among the developmental strides of the Rotimi Ameachi-led administration, the turn-around in the education sector was key, due to its strategic importance in developing the future generation and creating better citizenry for  the society.

 Ameachi’s government was so passionate about the sector that the state was awarded the book capital of the world by UNESCO (the first of its kind in Nigeria).

Bangkok team, the 2013 holder of the title, UNESCO’s World Book Capital,  formally handed over to the Nigerian city of Port Harcourt on April 23, 2014, making the hundred year old city, the first in Sub Saharan Africa, and the second in the entire Africa, after Alexandria, Egypt (2002).

Port Harcourt was chosen on account of the quality of its programme, in particular its focus on youth and the impact it will have on improving Nigeria’s culture of books reading, writing and publishing to improve literacy rates.

Rivers State, like some other states in the oil rich South-south region has its fair share of societal vices, ranging from militancy, armed robbery, kidnapping, prostitution etc.

Perhaps the then Ameachi-led administration realized the impending danger of negative civilisation for its immediate environment and the nation at large, and chose to address the latent problem through a strategic and sound educational policy.

The achievement of this objective was anchored on the construction of schools with provision of ICT Labs which are well stocked with computers, Libraries, auditoriums, well-landscaped and secured environments, equipped playgrounds, with a classroom not exceeding 30 pupils, for thorough supervision. The state’s education sector during the Rotimi Amaechi era witnessed an unprecedented revolution, the milestone recorded was anchored on the peoples’ ownership of the process that delivered quality and affordable education.

The former governor who acknowledged the importance of imbibing noble ideas in the minds of young people, placed more emphasis on Early Child Education (ECD) i.e primary and junior secondary education.

During Amaechi’s eight years reign, the state government commenced construction of 750 model primary schools to replace the collapsing structures he inherited,  more than 500 of these schools have been completed and in use.

 He also increased the ECDs from a little above 400 to 728, at the same time increased the number of Primary Schools from 700 to 947, a feat commended by the Universal Basic Education (UBE).

It is worthy of note that primary schools with ECDs recorded a significant increment from 360 to 710. There are 18 standalone ECD centers in Rivers state, giving it a far lead in the South-south zone - only Delta state achieved a similar feat with about four centers.

Ameachi did not stop at erecting structures and facilities to encourage more pupils enrollment in schools, his policy ensured that learning and examination ethics were inculcated into the psyche of the pupils.

This necessitated various skills development programmes for teachers in the state, the immediate up-skilling of teachers with the University of Cambridge teachers’ certification in collaboration with the British Council , renovation of schools  staff quarters and Ministry of Education zonal offices, and taking over the responsibility of paying primary school teachers from the local governments were indeed laudable efforts.

No wonder, the Rivers State Examination Malpractice Index stood at 13.09% towards 2015, compared to the 34% as at 2007.

 Establishment of Rivers State Education Quality Assurance Agency, inaugurated in 2013 with the mandate to monitor, supervise and evaluate standards for establishment and performance of both public and private schools in Rivers state was also an important dimension of the educational programme of the Amaechi-led administration.

The agency was as well saddled with the task to oversee the management of both public and private primary and secondary schools in the state, with a view to having it conform with minimum standards for better education in the state. Even an increase in total primary school enrolment and net enrolment of 269,059 and 235,978 respectively, amounting to over 35 per cent improvement couldn’t affect delivery.

During this period, the enrolment in ECD centers rose to 40,344 from total enrolment of less than 30,000 during the pre-Amaechi era. Furthermore, the state recoded commendable strides in Junior Secondary school enrolment; it increased to 125,294 from a pre Amaechi figure of less than 70%. Rivers received an award as the best UBE state.

Under Amaechi,  at the Senior Secondary school level, the performances of students during WAEC exams was outstanding. The state repeatedly ranked between 3rd and 6th since 2010 nationwide, while in 2013, Rivers state recorded over 58 per cent pass rate compared to the national average of 25 per cent.

This could be the governments rewards for employing about 13,000 teachers in one day, and provision of school uniforms and learning materials to teachers and pupils, which are just normal responsibility of any purposeful government.

 In addition, the Rivers State Sustainable development Agency (RSSDA) in partnership with United Nations Institute for Training and research (UNITAR) encouraged technical education at the tertiary level, both within the country and abroad. 309 Rivers students studied in Malaysia while 95 studied in Russia. 28 students attended a technical school in Germany and 8 out of the 28 were retained as instructors.

Furthermore, there was equipment of vocational schools -  They were equipped to handle four departments/vocations.

The administration sustained the Rivers State Scholarship Board with 1039 Nigerians at the undergraduate in different universities across Nigeria, 301 beneficiaries at Master’s degree level and 209 at PhD level, while 154 candidates enjoyed scholarship overseas at the undergraduate level,  44 at Master’s degree level and 6 PhD candidates.

When Amaechi assumed power in 2007, he lamented that the educational infrastructures in the state were in extreme decay and begging for urgent attention. The then governor rolled his sleeves, brought on board men and women of supreme administrative qualities and immersed headlong into the muddied waters of education in the state. After eight years of unparalleled investment, the administration delivered to the people one of the most comprehensive, functional and qualitative educational system in the history of Nigeria.

It is however imperative that the current governor, Nyesom Wike, consolidates on the solid foundation laid by his predecessor. The governor should differentiate clearly between politics and governance and allow younger citizens of the state enjoy even better dividends of democracy during his administration.

Governor Wike will no doubt make an indelible mark if he ensured completion of uncompleted projects initiated by the last administration.

 The then Rotimi Ameachi-led administration will be fondly remembered by the people for his determination to change the phase of education in the state, and the sustained legacies.

Governor Wike has the opportunity to outshine this feat as a former Minister of Education. To do that, he must channel his energy to productive sector rather than engaging in unnecessary battle with his predecessor.

Assets declaration: Buhari, Osinbajo yet to complete process

Two months after assuming office, President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo have yet to present themselves to the Code of Conduct Bureau for verification of their assets as required by law.

This is despite the fact that they had promised to make the details of their assets declared to the CBB public only after the verification exercise.

But two months after the private declaration of their assets, SUNDAY PUNCH has learnt that the first and second citizens had yet to present themselves for the verification.

Section 3(a) of the Third Schedule of the nation’s 1999 Constitution, which is reproduced in section 3(b) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act confers the power to verify the assets declared by the public officers on the CCB.

The Presidency had said until the CCB completed the verification, the President and the Vice-President would not make the details of their declared assets public as they promised during electioneering.

The Chairman of the CCB, Mr. Sam Saba, confirmed to our correspondent in an exclusive interview on Thursday that both President Buhari and Vice President Osinbajo had yet to show up for the verification.

According to him, the verification of the assets declared by a public officer involves two stages, which are conference and field verifications.

Under the conference verification, the public officer is expected to present documents such as statements of bank accounts, receipts and evidence of vehicle registration relating to the declared assets before a committee inaugurated by the bureau.

After the conference verification, the officers of the bureau and the public officer will agree on a convenient date when the CCB’s committee will visit the locations of the assets for physical inspection.

Saba stated that none of the two stages of verification had commenced with respect to the assets of the President and the Vice President.

Upon further inquiries, the CCB boss said the verification would commence “any moment from now”, adding that “we are waiting for when it is convenient for Mr. President and his Vice for us to go and do it.”

The CCB boss, who said the verification of assets of governors and deputy governors who were inaugurated on May 29, 2015, was ongoing, also disclosed the bureau was collaborating with the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit to aid the verification of the financial standings of public officers.

He said, “There is cooperation between us and other anti-corruption agencies. We have even signed memorandum of understanding.

“For example, if the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has a case that involves any public officer, they (EFCC) request for the forms (completed assets declaration form) from us and we give them, the same thing with the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, including the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit and when we need help we also ask them.

“I have just said that we should draft a letter to the NFIU requesting for the financial profile of the outgone governors and the incumbent ones so that we can make comparison in our verification exercise.”

Saba also stated that any public officer found to have made false declaration of assets after the ongoing verification exercise would be prosecuted before the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

“Definitely it will go to the tribunal, because it will be a breach,” he said.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, however told our correspondent on Saturday that President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo are not required to appear before the Code of Conduct Bureau for the verification of their assets.

Shehu said verification of assets is based on intelligence and is expected to be done discreetly by the bureau.

He said it is only when the bureau finishes the verification and discovers any discrepancy that it can revert to the President and Vice President.

The presidential aide urged Nigerians to be fair to the two officials, who, he said had declared their assets on their own and also promised to make the declarations public within their 100 days in office.

He said, “Nigerians should be fair to the President and the Vice President. There is no requirement for them to appear for verification.

“It is an intelligence exercise that should be done discreetly.

“They have declared their assets and have also promised to make it public within their 100 days in office.

“People should not sensationalise this issue unnecessarily.”

Saraki seeks Emir’s help on Buhari

In his efforts to make peace with the Presidency over its distaste on the composition of the senate leadership, Senate President Bukola Saraki, has resorted to seeking the assistance of emirs and traditional rulers, SUNDAY PUNCH has learnt.

 

Bukola Saraki
Nigerian Senate President

In realising this objective, the senate president, has sought the help of the Emir of his home town, Ilorin, Kwara State, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, an aide of the emir told our correspondent.

 

President Buhari, since the inauguration of the 8th Senate on June 9, has reportedly been shunning Saraki whose emergence and that of his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu of the Peoples Democratic Party did not go down well with the leadership of the All Progressives Congress.

 

According to the emir’s aide who spoke on condition of anonymity, the senate president has requested some prominent traditional rulers in the state led by Sulu-Gambari, who is also the Chairman, Kwara State Council of Traditional Rulers to intercede on his behalf with Buhari.

 

It was gathered that the monarchs had wanted to meet with Buhari but could not as a result of the President’s visit to the United States and his recent visit to Cameroon to seek for regional collaboration against Boko Haram.

 

The aide also told our correspondent that this would not be the first time Sulu-Gambari had interceded on behalf of Saraki concerning the senate presidency.

 

According to him, the Emir of Ilorin before the emergence of Saraki as the Senate President had sent a team of emissaries to the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, with a view to getting the former Lagos State governor soften on his stand against Saraki’s ambition to occupy the exalted position.

 

Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari
Emir of Ilorin, Kwara State

He said Saraki is now more worried with the resolution of the leadership tussle in the House of Representatives, where the Speaker, Alhaji Yakubu Dogora, after meetings with Buhari and other APC stakeholders acceded to the party’s decision and announced Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila as the House Leader.

 

The aide added that Saraki was in Ilorin at the weekend, adding that the Senate President would continue with his mobilisation for prominent stakeholders to smoothen the relationship between him and Buhari.

 

But in a telephone interview with our correspondent, the spokesperson for the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Solihu Mohammed, said though he could not confirm Sulu-Gambari’s mediatory role between Buhari and Saraki, the Emir had been playing unifying roles for the sustenance of the nation’s democracy.

 

Mohammed said, “I am not aware that Saraki has approached the emir to smoothen relationship with the senate president and the president of the country.”

Wife of world’s richest man fetches water in Malawi

Wife of the richest man in the world, Melinda Gates, was pictured on Saturday carrying on her head a bucket of water fetched from a village in Malawi.

Net worth of the United States’ billionaire Bill Gates, according to Forbes magazine’s annual list of the world’s billionaires, stands at $76 billion.

The billionaire’s spouse, who described herself as “philanthropist, businesswoman, mother, passionate advocate for women and girls,” posted a photo of herself with a 20-litre bucket of water on her head alongside two other Malawian women, walking on a dirt road.

In another picture posted on her Instagram page, she was seen doing the dishes in a Malawian village.

Describing her experience, Gates said on her Facebook page, “During my stay in Malawi, I joined the women collecting drinking water. I carried 20 litres and it was tough. Meanwhile, Chrissy (middle) is carrying about 40 litres. Many women do this every day.”

She has been described as one of the world’s famous social activist “who is trying to serve the people in ignorance.”

In June, wife of the US billionaire met with Malawian President Peter Mutharika at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe. The agenda was to discuss the promotion of safe motherhood and maternal health in the country.