Cover Story

Chairmanship Legal Battle: End Of The Road For Omehia's Boys

…As Court Declared Them Illegal Contenders - By Okechukwu Geoffrey

The judiciary has again restated its earlier decisions that  both Celetine Omehia and all those who approached or gained access to power during his short-lived tenure in Rivers State did that through the back doors and will not in anyway be favoured by the judiciary which is the last hope of the common man. Just few days ago in the state's capital city (Port Harcourt), the Justice Peter Agumagu-led panel in the state high court fired the former Local Government Chairmen who purportedly contested and won during the illegal government of Sir Celestine Omehia as the court ruled against them and described all their activities then as totally illegal and out of place. It would interest you to note that these crop of Chairmen from the 23 Local Government Areas of the State took the Amaechi government to court challenging its decision to conduct fresh elections at the LGA levels knowing fully well that they were there already as alleged. However, the most laughable thing about  the chairmen's action was that they acted ignorantly upon knowing that the nation's apex court had declared their master (Celestine Omehia) unqualified to sit as governor of the oil rich state instead they listened to their so-called godfathers who deceived them to continue with the case.

Information reaching this publication has it that these Chairmen almost withdrew  every kobo in their bank accounts with the hope that the court would rule in their favour. But from what we have gathered, they could hardly go for their three square meals right now as some of them are planning to make a u-  turn since in politics if you cannot beat them you join them. Meanwhile, shortly after the judgment in Port Harcourt, the ALGON Secretary in Rivers State Chief Emeka Nwoke advised them to forget the past and join hands with the Amaechi-led government in order to move the state forward. The ALGON Secretary who described Amaechi Government as God-sent maintained that fighting each other would not do the state any good rather they should all sheath their swords and embrace peace.  At Ahoada East Local Government Area, the beam checks revealed that the Council Chairman Chief Cassidy Ikegbidi hailed Justice Peter Agumagu for allowing justice to take its course in the case and called on the aggrieved ones to support the present government which he said was made possible by God not man. At Ikwerre, Emohua, Obio/Akpor, Phalga, Asalga, and in fact all the 23 LGAs the stories were the same as the incumbent Chairman lauded the judiciary for displaying supremacy once more and called on all to come together.         

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Amaechi Expresses Gratitude To Judiciary …As CJ Celebrates Quadruple Thanksgiving Service - By Joe Kalu

The Ndu family of Elelenwo Community in Obio/Akpor LGA of River State over the weekend in Port Harcourt had cause to roll out the drums in celebration of what they termed their Royal Diadems. According to the programme of events, the Rivers State Chief Judge, Sir, the Hon. Justice Ichechi Nwenenda Ndu, OFR had just clocked the diamond age of 60 years and having  been conferred earlier in the year with the prestigious national honour of Officer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (OFR) by President Umar Musa Yar'Adua. The occasion was also used to mark the conferment of Knight of Saint Mary (KSM) to his wife, Lady Ngozi Chituru Ndu by the Anglican Church, as well as the presentation and launching of a book “The Role of Judiciary in the Nigerian Democratic Process” written in honour of the CJ. Speaking at the occasion which took place at Hotel Presidential Port Harcourt, His Excellency, Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi poured encomiums on the CJ and the Nigerian Judiciary as a whole, saying that it was only this arm of the tripod government with its tremendous powers that is capable of rescuing Nigeria from tyrants. Amaechi once more asked the CJ to convey his gratitude to the national body of the Judiciary for being a veritable instrument for God in exposing the limitations of man in his struggle to reclaim his mandate, adding that though the level of betrayals he experienced then was very painful, but that he had long forgiven everybody nevertheless, he said that the experience will always serve as a guide to him.

To demonstrate the regard he has for the Judiciary, the governor said he granted the sector what he called “complete financial independence”. On the Hon. Justice Ndu, the governor commended him for his strong character, saying that he has actually achieved more than any other person around, and promised that the state government will still honour him appropriately in due course in appreciation.  He used the opportunity to congratulate the CJ for turning 60 but hinted that he might go down in record as the longest serving Chief Justice in the state. Earlier in his remarks, the chairman of the occasion and immediate past Deputy Governor in the state, Sir G.T.G. Toby thanked God for what he described as ‘a quadrupled barrel celebrations’, which he noted came as a dint of hard work. He commended the CJ's strong character and carriage, admitting that it takes very few persons to withstand the temptation of office, like the CJ. “He is eminently qualified for the honours”. Toby pointed out that Justice Ndu has positioned the Rivers Judiciary so well that it is a pride of every Rivers person and urged him to cling unto those qualities that has kept him glued to his friends and admirers. Earlier in the church service at St. Mark's (Anglican Church) Elelenwo Deanery Port Harcourt, Rt. Rev. I.C.O. Kattey had sermoned on the need to be faithful with God, adding that the family was indeed reaping from the faithfulness of their Grand father Rev. Canon, Ndu of blessed memory.

The pipe organ donated by the Ndu Family to the church was thereafter unveiled by the governor to the admiration of all. The only lesson taken from the Bible book of prov. 8:1-11 was read by Dame Ngozi Ndu, JP, FCIPA. Highlight of the occasion was the cutting of the CJ's 60th birthday cake and that of the entire family as well as the book lunch. Dignitaries from all walks of life who attended the occasion included the Bayelsa State Chief Judge and her husband the Hon. Justice Kate and Patrick Abiri as well as the book reviewer Hon. Henry Odien Ajumogobia SAN, Minister of State for Energy.

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State Of Emergency On Educational Sector, A Good Omen ~ NUT - By Joe Kalu

The Nigerian Union of Teachers NUT, has described the state of emergency recently declared by the Rivers State Governor on the education sector as a good omen for teachers and  indeed educational development in the state. Speaking with newsmen in his office in Port Harcourt, the State Chairman of NUT, Comrade Chief Chris Oruge (JP) said that the implication was that the state governor will vote and inject more money into the sector having identified it as a sick arm, in the education sector of the state. Comrade Oruge who is also the state chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress NLC recalled that before the emergence of this administration, education was on the verge of collapsing. He noted that there was infrastructural decay, lack of equipment to work, low staff morale as well as the  inability of the Local Government Council to implement the 15% salary increase to the primary school teachers. He made it known that to compound the teachers' woes the councils which had the misfortune of carrying the heavy burden of the primary school education did not have enough resources to cater solely for them despite the fact that it was their constitutional responsibility to do so.  “What the constitution said at the fourth schedule is that LG shall participate in the running of primary education. This does not mean in any way taking full responsibility.”

The NUT chairman went ahead to illustrate his stand point, “total revenue of councils from the federal allocation was N1.9 billion while the total salary of primary school teachers was put at N1.1 billion leaving little or nothing for other development projects. He explained that when governor Amaechi's attention was drawn to this obvious reality, he had no alternative than to declare a state of emergency in the sector, and subsequently took over responsibility of primary school education which of course gladdened every body's heart in the state. To demonstrate his resolve to better the lot of teachers, the Chairman disclosed that Governor Amaechi ensures that the Finance Commissioner extracted the teachers salary this month before any other statutory financial need. Chief Oruge disclosed further that apart from the revalidation of teachers exercise that is currently going on at the Head Service Office to ascertain the actual number of teachers in the state, releasing funds for teachers' retraining workshop and the awaited outcome of the Education Implementation Committee headed by the Deputy Governor, he said Governor Amaechi has ear-marked the sum of N200 million as a revolving fund for car loans for teachers. “Teachers reward is no longer in heaven as we used to hear, because we don't know how many of us who would make heaven: Oruge enthused”.

However, he said that in as much as the highly motivated teachers are ready and willing to reciprocate the state government gesture, efforts should be made to provide good working environment, provide working materials as well as to strengthen and energise the supervisory and inspectorate departments of the Ministry and Board to monitor the teachers as they perform their jobs. The elated NLC Chairman used the opportunity to officially invite his Excellency and indeed the general public to this year's World Teachers Day coming up on Monday October 6, 2008 to enable them show their appreciation to the State Chief Executive for his kind gesture towards the sector. On the looming crisis emerging from the public schools taken over by the missionaries, the NUT boss said he was happy over the development which he noted the NUT had foreseen and warned against but which fell on deaf ears. Chief Oruge maintained that the missionaries especially the contemporary ones have nothing better to offer not even the morals they professed other than greed for money. He made it clear that the hand over of schools to the mission was a big mistake but advised the Govt. to adopt a wait and see attitude for it to be convinced of the NUT's stand on the issue. Oruge stressed that the public schools have more qualitative teachers than the private or missions schools and that they will bring out their best now that they are motivated and threatened to withdraw all their staff to expose the missionaries who he noted cannot pay their staff  adequate salaries as motivation inspite of their exhorbitant charges.

“I tell you, they cannot compare favourably with the public schools in all ramifications adding that the onus lies on parents to make their choice of schools for their children”. On the Niger Delta issue, the NLC boss said the Federal Govt. was not serious in developing the region, adding that the Niger Delta Ministry was only an avenue for people to make  money. “If  the 3rd mainland bridge in Lagos can be constructed to link the mainland with island why can't our riverine communities  be so connected within a short period”. He queried. He further asked about the so much publicized master plan of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC for its implementation if FG is serious to develop the region.  We have envisioned the genuine agitation of the Niger Delta people on the plank of total control of their natural resources so as to be able to  redress the identified neglect and environmental degradation.  “Let us be allowed to control our natural resources and pay tax to the Federal Government otherwise what happened in Warri, Delta State will be replicated in Port Harcourt Rivers State, if things are not properly done” he warned. Chief Oruge was not however comfortable with the activities of some criminally minded youths who he noted appear to be derailing the struggle and advised the Government to consider the services of the Special Anti Robbery Squad of the police to the Joint Military Taskforce whom he accused of not doing enough to contain the situation.                  

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