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Page 2 Mixed Grill
Oyigbo Council To Partner With RSG On Education…As It Inaugurates
Students’ Body
By Jeo Kalu
The Oyigbo Local Government Council says it would do everything
within its resources to encourage her youths go to school in line
with the Rives State government education policy.
The Vice Chairman of the Council, Hon. Innocent Ajaelu stated this
week during the inauguration of the Caretaker Committee of the
National Union of Oyigbo students NUOS in his office at Afam, the
council headquarters.
He made it known that education is the bedrock of every individual
and indeed societal development and urged the Oyigbo youths to avail
themselves of the opportunities offered by government in this
regard.
The Vice Chairman reminded the students body Caretaker Committee
that they were children of circumstance and charged them to do all
within their power to assist the council sanitise the Students’
Union body within three months and conduct a credible election to
usher in a substantive executive.
Hon. Ajaelu however, warned the CTC members not to see their
appointment as a money making avenue but an opportunity to serve
their colleagues and the council.
“In any case the council would not hesitate to drop any of you found
wanting in the course of your service”, he noted.
The Vice chairman who also doubles as the supervisory councilor for
education charged them to among other things identify genuine Oyigbo
students,
identify areas to improve the students’ welfare and encourage youths
to go to school.
He also promised to provide all the facilities needed by the CTC to
enable them succeed in their assignment and used the opportunity to
dissolve the former students’ union executives while charging the
CTC to take possession of all the Union’s properties.
Hon. Ajaelu declared that the council will rely on the CTC to pay
bursary awards to genuine Oyigbo students in the tertiary
institutions.
Those who were inaugurated included Evans C. Ubani-president,
Stephen Nwaeke secretary; Chimgozirim Okija, member;
Miss Elizabeth Ukanwa, member; and Aaron Zimizi, member; others were
Daniel Nnamdi Okorie, member; Inglish Akara, member; Chinagorom
Nwankwo, member; and Ifeanyi Nwagbara, member.
In his response on behalf of his colleagues, the NUOS CTC president
Mr. Evans Ubani thanked the council for the confidence reposed in
them and promised not to disappoint them.
In a chat with newsmen shortly after the ceremony, the supervisory
councilor for education disclosed that the Oyigbo LG council has
embarked on vigorous campaign to ensure that the youths of the area
are re-focused on the need for education and made to shun all forms
of restiveness and criminality.
On the situation of education standard, Hon. Ajaelu, himself an
educationist said the standard is gradually picking up especially
with the declaration of emergency in the sector and the lifting off
of the salary burden from LG councils by Governor Chibuike Rotimi
Amaechi.
On examination malpractices, the vice chairman said the cankerworm
has reduced drastically due largely to the encouragement of the
state government and the step-up campaign against it.
“You know it takes the tripod of parents, students and the teachers
to commit the crime but with the improvement of facilities for
learning and teaching as well as on teacher’s welfare, there is no
reason for it and the development will be in the public interest”,
he noted.
Hon. Ajaelu used the opportunity to commend his boss, Hon. Prince
Precious Oforji and his team for the developmental stride in Oyigbo
which he noted was unprecedented.
He however did not agree that it was because the council boss did
not have a god-father, that enabled him achieved this much.
Ajaelu said there was nothing wrong in one having a god-father or
role model but that it all depends on the kind of character the god
father is made off, “is he the selfish type that will not allow the
improvement of his peoples welfare”.
In any case the council vice chairman pointed out that his boss is
focused on what he wants to achieve for the Oyigbo people and would
shun any distraction on his way, and used the opportunity to drum
support for the administration.
He also used the opportunity offered by the press interview to
express his heartfelt gratitude to the state Chief Executive for
according to him “teaching us all especially the politicians that so
much can be achieved by any determined politician at the same time”.
Adding that “Governor Amaechi makes us feel that the last eight
years in the state was a waste” and urged all including the
opposition parties to support the administration to achieve more in
the public interest.
From The States
Committee On Emergency Comes On Board (FCT)
Stories Paschal Agbada and Wilson Ucehndu
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Adamu Aliero
last week consulted a 23-man emergency management committee that
will support his administration on issues relating to safety and
emergency management.
The Committee to be chaired by him has been challenged to design a
master plan that would usher in an easy and workable approach to all
emergency developments within the FCT.
According to Adamu Aliero, the constitution of the committee is in
tandem with that of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)
Act, No. 12 of 1999 as amended by Act 50 of the same year which
mandated the 36 states and the FC to constitute such bodies.
Harping on the need for such a committee, Aliero noted that the
imperativeness of such a committee need not be over emphasized as
the FCT deservedly should have a functional and dynamic management
team always ready to tackle emergency issues like the 2006 ADC air
disaster that claimed several lives.
CLO Rejects Result Of Rerun Election( EKITE)
One of the numerous Human Rights Organizations in Nigeria, the Civil
Liberties Organization (CLO) has added its voice to that of many
others that has condemned and rejected the outcome of the Ekiti
State rerun governorship election results.
Quoting the President, Titus Mann, “The Civil Liberties Organization
rejects the results of the rerun governorship election in Ekiti
State as released by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“There is no credible, acceptable reason, legal or otherwise for the
inclusion in the tally of the results from Idi-Osi ward, which the
Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) had earlier refused to accept
following acts of violence.
Titus Mann, noted that Mrs. Adebayo (REC) initially had reasons to
question the authenticity of the results from Idi-Osi ward and as a
result refused to accept those results upon which she declared that
no condition should she go against her conscience and against her
Christian tenets by succumbing to undue pressure to release the
results that were not duly signed by accredited party agents and, in
fact collated at the police station.
“That this latest and blatant rigging took place when Federal
Government (FG) was busy telling the nation that it had placed
prefixed legislation before the National Assembly for electoral
reform shows that the FG, INEC and PDP are not sincerely committed
to the electoral reform”, he said.
According to Mann, the issue of electoral reform being touted by the
FG may just be a diversion adding that he stands by any action to be
initiated by Dr. Kayode Fayemi of the Action Congress (AC) in order
to reclaim his mandate.
“We declare that the minimum acceptable basis for any meaningful
electoral reform in Nigeria is the wholesale adoption of the report
of the Justice Lawal Uwais’ Committee recommendation on electoral
reform”, he concluded.
Unity Bank: Northern Govs Take Away Equity Shares (KADUNA)
A resolution by the Governors of the 19 Northern States under the
aegis of Northern Governors’ Forum, (NGF) to take away their
investments in the Unity Bank in form of equity shares has been
reached.
The Communiqué issued over the weekend after their quarterly meeting
held at Late Gen. Hassan Katsina House, Kaduna was read by the
Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Niger State, Dr. Muazu
Babangida Aliyu.
The Communiqué praised the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN for its
cooperation towards the process of taking away of the state
governments equity shares in Unity Bank.
Gamzaka, a newly established Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for the
exercise was tasked by the NGF in collaboration with their various
Commissioners of Finance to dialogue with the management of Unity
Bank to initiate the most amicable manners towards the divestment
process.
Also a committee to examine the Land Reform Bill and the
implications for the North was set up by NGF to work in tandem with
Prof. Akin Mabogunje led Federal Government Committee.
A report on the recapitalization of the Northern Nigeria Development
Company, (NNDC) was equally received while a white paper committee
was also reconstituted.
In the committee were the Secretaries to the Governments of Bauchi,
Kebbi Zamfara, Kogi, Plateau and Yobe States.
A workable document or recommendation is expected from them by the
governors for consideration within one month.
Taraba Gets New Infant HIV Screening Centre (TARABA)
A new infant HIV testing centre has been established in Jalingo,
capital of Taraba State.
The center which is in form of a laboratory is for the early
detection and diagnosis of HIV infants between 6 weeks and 18
months.
Located at the Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo, the Taraba State
Commissioner for Health Mr. David Tikon said the laboratory which is
to be inaugurated today will serve the needs of the citizens of
Taraba, Adamawa, Bauchi Borno and possibly neighbouring Cameroon.
In the inauguration today, the Governor, Danbaba Suntai and Murtala
Nyako of Adamawa State will be on hand to make statements.
According to the Governor, the establishment of the centre was made
possible through a partnership negotiation between Adamawa, Taraba,
the Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo and the United States Government
with a funding support from United States Agency for International
Development (USAID).
The Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre Jalingo, Dr.
Idris Bacasa, who commended USAID for the immeasurable support in
estabishing the centre, called on women and mothers from the North
East geo-political zone not to down play the importance of the
laboratory as it will enable them ascertain the status of their
babies early enough. Dr. Idris added that knowing the status of
their babies early enough is important since it will give the sero-positive
ones the rare opportunity to survive as they will start early to use
the Anti-Retaivial Therapy (ART).
I Do Not Have Governorship Ambition (~Bankole)
 Dimeji Bankole, Speaker of the House of Representatives over the
weekend denied insinuations making the rounds in political circles
that he is clandestinely mobilizing forces for the Governorship seat
of Ogun State.
The Speaker maintained that becoming the governor of his state
amounts to demotion having risen to become the fourth citizen of his
country.
His lamented the attitude of some Nigerian politicians who are
interested in positions and offices but pretend that they were urged
by their people to contest lobby or vice for such posts.
Hon. Bankole who was received by some politicians at the
Presidential Wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja later flew
into Lagos aboard a presidential aircraft on a journey to pay homage
to Oba Okunade Sijuade, Ooni of Ife and another popular Traditional
Ruler also in the South West. The Speaker was accompanied on the
visit by nine other members of the House of Representatives
including Hon. Bethel Amadi Chairman Committee on Aviation.
Ngige’s Former Adviser Joins Guber (ANAMBRA)
A former adviser to the former Anambra State Governor, Dr. Chris
Ngige, 49 year-old Chief Okey Muo Aroh has joined the guber race in
Anambra State.
As the tenure of the incumbent Governor Peter Obi expires by March
next year, a lot of politicians in Anambra State have signified
interest in replacing Peter Obi’s seat who himself is equally
interested in retaining it for a second tenure.
Aroh, who is of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was a former
Local Government Chairman in Idemili Local Government Area and has
recently written a letter to stakeholders in the State where he
stated ...”I have decided to offer myself as a willing instrument
for collective and purposeful leadership that will reposition
Anambra State in the comity of developed states in Nigeria.
Chief Okey Muo Aroh decried the slow pace of development in the All
Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA)-led Anambra State under Peter Obi
and felt time was ripe enough for him to showcase his leadership
qualities.
According to him, the total collapse of infrastructure and
non-existent of utilities in the state has necessitated his desire
to join in the race under his party’s (PDP) platform and if given
the chance he says...”I will definitely make the desired change”.
Page 7 News
Greater PH Board Inaugurated
By Chris Jonah
Governor Chibuike Amaechi last week inaugurated a 15 member board of
the Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority, charging them
to speed up the state’s development process and that of the new city
as people of the state are eagerly waiting for its take off.
Amaechi informed the members of the board that the success or the
failure of his administration depends to a great extent on what they
do with the development of the new city and advised them to be
committed.
He told the board that their appointment is the most important his
administration has ever made, adding that the “legacy the people of
Rivers State expect the government to leave behind is not only about
road construction in the old city or urban renewal, but also the new
city”.
“I believe that the legacy they expect me to leave behind would be
the new city as well as the changes and reforms we are carrying out
in the areas of education and health, therefore you have a very
important function to perform in this administration” Governor
Amaechi said.
As he commended the board members for accepting to serve, he warned
against ethnicity, saying that they were not appointed to represent
their ethnic interest or local government area, but to represent and
serve the state to achieve the goal.
He also warned that anyone caught engaging in nepotism and ethnicity
would be removed and replaced with another person because only those
that are statesmen enough to push the project forward would be
retained.
The state governor assured that his administration is prepared to
fund and keep its own part of the obligation of building new Port
Harcourt Greater City but urged the board to explore other means of
funds from outside as a lot of developers are indicating interest.
Governor Amaechi advised the board members to set up a task force
that would check and stop the operations of those buying and
erecting structures indiscriminately in the areas mapped out for the
new city to avoid distorting the master plan.
The members of the board include Chief Ferdinand Anabraba
(Chairman), Mrs. Aleruchi Cookey-Gam (Administration), Mr. Okey
Owhonda Duru Kogbara, Chiosom Lenard, James Fuaye Fika, Gabriel
Egbunefu, Emma Akpa, Mrs Harty Obige and Ndubuisi Okere.
Nevertheless, the Commissioners for Justice and Attorney General,
Urban Development, Land Works and Environment are statutory members
by law.
In his responds on behalf of the board members, the Chairman, Chief
Ferdinand Alabraba, thanked the Governor for finding them worthy to
serve on the board and pledged to do all within their power to
actualize the vision.
He noted that over the years, Port Harcourt City has been over
stretched leading to facilities not been able to meet the ever
increasing population in the city and promised that the board
members would take concrete steps to implement the vision behind the
Greater Port Harcourt City Development Master Plan.
NSE Inducts Woke, Others
By Okechukwu Geoffrey
 The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) last Saturday at the Banquet
Hall of the Hotel Presidential Port Harcourt inducted the Executive
Chairman of Emohua Local Government Area Chief (Hon) Chukwuemeka
Woke and seventy six others into the professional body of engineers.
In an interview with newsmen shortly after the induction ceremony
the Emolga Chairman expressed joy for the honour accorded him
pointing out that his induction into the professional body of
engineers will afford him the opportunity to attend every meeting,
seminar and workshop of the body as it will also pose a great
challenge to his administration at the local government level and
promised that all infrastructural facilities in the area would
conform with the engineering profession standards.
The Chairman who said he had not jettisoned his professional calling
maintained that he would continue to hold engineering profession in
high exteem since according to him he will definitly retire back to
the profession after his political career and thanked the Nigerian
Society of Engineers for finding him worthy for the honour.
The Emolga boss also promised to leave a landmark achievement after
his tenure.
Earlier in his address to mark the year 2009 1st Quarter Dinner of
the NSE, the Chairman Nigerian Society of Engineers Port Harcourt
branch, Engr. Bateim Max Harrison Ogariawo said it has been the
cardinal objective of past and present administration of the branch
to enhance the professional development of engineers in Rivers State
and beyond which according to him necessitated the organization of a
symposium on the “effect of corrosion on engineering facilities” on
the 26th of March 2009 Eminent lecturer was Engr. Dr. A.A.Ujile of
RUST while a technical evening held on the 22nd of April 2009 had
Engr. Anizoba of Federal Controller of Works Port Harcourt who
delivered a lecture titled “Problems of infrastructural development
in the Niger Delta region” with road construction as a case study.
He pointed out that programmes such as technical visits, workshops
and seminars have been scheduled at different times in the remaining
part of the year and advised the inductees to ensure that they work
in tandem with the rules and regulations of the body.
He therefore congratulated them on behalf of the branch for their
success at the exams and charged them to see the induction as only
the beginning of a journey to reclaim engineering for engineers for
the technological advancement of the country.
The Chairman also used the forum to announce that three
distinguished engineers from the branch were elevated to the
fellowship grade at the 2009 General Conference in Bauchi and they
were Engrs.
Lasbry Amadi, B.T.D. George and Sam Nwankwo.
The ceremony which had people from all walks of life in attendance
also had the who is who in the engineering profession in Rivers
State present.
Meanwhile, the Port Harcourt branch has congratulated former
chairmen of the branch Engr. (Prof) Y.O. Beredugo and Engr. F.C.
Ogolo for their recent achievments.
Beredugo was given a national honour of the Officer of the Federal
Republic (OFR) by the President while F.C Ogolo as the 10th chairman
of the branch completed a three year tenure as the Executive
Secretary of the Nigerian Society of Engineers at the headquarters
in Abuja and has come back to join the branch.
It would interest our esteemed readers to know that the inductees
have passed different grades of professional interviews before being
inducted.
CAN Attributes Northern Violence To Religious Intolerance
ByWilson Uchendu
Violence in the Northern part of Nigeria has been blamed on
religious intolerance by major religious groups in the region as
well as deceitful policies of injustice, subjugation and inequality
allegedly being perpetrated by the leaders of the 19 Northern States
and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
Christian Association of Nigeria CAN, the umbrella body of all
Christians in the country disclosed this at the weekend in a
statement it presented to the 19 Northern Governors’ Forum.
The paper presented by the leaders of the Association in the North
Arch bishop Peter Jatau, the Catholic Arch bishop of Kaduna, Elder
Saidu Dogo, Chairman and Secretary respectively highlighted a pot
pourri of problems encountered by Christians in the region to
include, disallowing the broadcast of Christian programmes in some
state-owned mass media, revoking the certificate of occupancy of
some lands belonging to some Christian groups, destruction of
churches at the slightest provocation, and preventing Christian
teachings in some government schools.
Also the vituperations of some Muslim clerics against Christians,
converting minors forcefully, mandating Christian girls to wear
Hijab were equally cited by CAN as some of the militating factors
against them.
The statement read in part: “Given the increasing tendencies towards
weakening and crippling of the heterogeneity of the Northern Society
and given the heightening violence of mutual suspicion and an
unhealthy existing and escalating communication gap, this initiative
is a welcome idea on the basis that we mean business. It is
imperative on us to note from the onset that the fundamental
problems that is wrong with the North is a question that borders on
equality.
In order words, do those who call themselves Northerners see
themselves as having equal rights and access to justice, freedom of
workshop, land, etc”.
The statement further read: peace is one of the dearest treasures
cherished by man in every age. It has no frontiers.
There is no separate Christian peace, Muslim peace, Hindu peace or
Buddhist peace etc. Peace is understood as the tranquility of order
that is based on justice and marked by respect for rights of others
in our social relationship”.
The Association disclosed that neither the Muslims nor the
Christians can effectively develop the North on their own and
therefore called on both religious bodies to work harmoniously
towards building a virile Northern region sustained by the
foundations of equality and justice.
Page 10 News
Beware Of Sycophants … Graham Douglas Warns Amaechi
By Okechukwu Geoffrey
Elder statesman and one time Minister of Culture and Tourism, Alabo
Graham Douglas has warned the state Governor Rt. Hon, Rotimi
Chibuike Amaechi to beware of those he described as sycophants if he
must succeed. He gave the warning at Government House recently
during a luncheon organized in his honour by government to mark his
70th birthday.
Douglas who expressed joy for the honour done him also hailed the
Amaechi-led government for the on-going development in the state and
prayed God to guide him in all his endeavours.
Alabo Graham Douglas also appealed to Rivers people to support the
present government and shun any act capable of slowing the pace of
development in the state.
In his speech at the occasion the state governor Rt. Hon. Chibuike
Amaechi described the elder statesman as a worthy son who had served
the state meritoriously and advised leaders in the state including
youths to emulate the good life of Graham Douglas.
The State Chief Executive also used the occasion to thank other
elder statemen like Graham Douglas, Ombo Isokariari, Albert
Horsefall among others for accepting to serve in the present
administration in the state and promised not to disappoint the
people and lauded them for all their numerous contributions.
Meanwhile, a call has gone to Governor Amaechi to checkmate the
activities of some officials of the government ministries as a
handful of them are hell bent in running the present administration
down.
A source which refused to mention the ministries involved disclosed
that some of the information read on the pages of newspapers
(especially the local tabloids) were being master minded by them.
The source however maintained that these persons were highly
favoured during Omehia’s five month illegal government and reminded
the governor that this yet to be identified persons cannot do
anything to better the lot of his administration and called for
thorough investigation in some of these ministries as a way of
fishing them out.
MOSOP: Mitee Relieved Of Presidency
By Paschal Agbada
 The closely knit Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP)
has set the united people of Ogoni into splinter groups following
the organization’s sudden decision to “usher in a new and fresh
group of leaders in its rank and file to champion its affairs.
This decision which has tilted the status quo in the organization
has not gone down well with a good majority of the people as they
claim that Mitee has been doing a good job.
However, those very close to the inner workings of the organization
allege that the leadership of MOSOP appears to have compromised on
the peoples hard stand on issues relating to oil drilling and
exploration in the land.
According to this group, the leadership whose arrowhead is Ledum
Mitee, has been in secret agreement with the government of the day
to overlook the thorny issues espoused and contained in the Ogoni
Bill of Rights, which is a document that categorically enlists the
rights and demands of the Ogoni people regarding oil exploitation
and drilling since Shell left their land.
This allegation, grave as it is has thrown up a lot of questions
leading to otherwise very quiet and conservative members of MOSOP to
question the sincerity of the leadership and which has led to both
the challenge on Mitee and a new election.
A splinter group in Ogoni land led by Celestine Akpa Barie and which
goes by the name Ogoni Solidarity Forum OSF is one of the groups
challenging the sincerity of the Ledum Mitee-led MOSOP.
Consequent upon these series of challenges and voices of dissent in
the land amongst such splinter groups as OSF, activities culminating
in an election was held between the 10th and 15th of April and at
the end Ledum Mitee lost the leadership position to Goodluck Diigbo.
Akpa Barie noted that one of the issues that worked against Mitee
during the election amongst other things was his sit-tight tendency
which rubbished every effort by other aspiring members.
His words: “We want to flush out those who want to sit tight
forever, those who will not practice what they preach. We campaigned
against the third team ambition of former President Olusegun
Obasanjo, but we don’t want to relinquished power even in our own
local organizations when it is time to do so.
“MOSOP constitution has only two terms of two years each. But Mitee
has been there for over 14 years.
What is he doing there? If the constitution says two years per term,
is he the only person in Ogoni land? Did every Ogoni person die with
Ken Saro-Wiwa in 1995? Should he continue to be life president of
the organization because he was the only one that survived the hang
man? Very sound Ogonis are still out there, who can move the
organization forward and run it better that he is doing?
“We have removed him. There was an election in Ogoni land after
which a new leadership emerged. Diigbo was elected the new
president.
Diigbo, a very close confidant of Ken, was President, National Youth
Council of Ogoni People, an arm of MOSOP during Ken’s time. In fact,
Diigbo was the first person to be declared wanted by the Federal
Government in 1994 and he too would have been hung, but for his
providential migration to Canada”.
In his vituperations against Mitee, Akpa Barie had stated that Mitee
was alleged to be tinkering a facilitation towards resumption of oil
drilling and exploitation without government taking a due recourse
to the Ogoni Bill of Rights.
Quoting him: We want to avoid a situation where oil companies would
come back without addressing the demands of the Ogoni people as
enshrined in the Ogoni Bill of Rights. Ledum is already talking
about negotiating with new oil companies. We don’t want to hear that
now.
“The new leadership has secured a court injunction at Bori High
Court restraining Mitee from parading himself as MOSOP president.
Beam Checks gathered that in an election conducted recently, Diigbo
had pulled almost 98 percent of votes cast by delegates drawn from
other groups under MOSOP.
Meanwhile, Mitee has not made any comments on the development but it
was really confirmed that a High Court in Bori gave an injunction on
April 29 stopping Mitee from answering or representing MOSOP as
President.
Aduba Warns Police Against Brutalizing Civilians
By Okechukwu Geoffrey
 The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Iyke Aduba has
warned men of the police force in the state to henceforth stop
molesting, intimidating and brutalizing innocent citizens
unnecessarily.
The Deputy Commissioner who gave this warning during a meeting with
all the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) from the 23 Local
Government Areas of the state said time has come for men of the
force to begin to make members of the public see the police as their
friend and not enemies pointing out that only true and genuine
relationship can give the civilians the guts to disclose any
information to the police adding that the police cannot record any
success if it continues to live like cats and dogs with the public.
He therefore, charged all the Divisional Police Officers in the
State to ensure that men of the force in their various divisions
operate in accordance with the laid down rules.
He however assured members of the public of the force readiness to
protect lives and property urging the public not to hesitate in
giving the police relevant information that will lead to unraveling
the activities of miscreants in the state.
The public has also been advised to call any of the police numbers
when ever the need arises as the police is ever ready to respond but
warned that the police will not also hesitate to deal severely with
any civilian found wanting.
Meanwhile, some Rivers people who spoke with our reporter on the
recent instruction given to men of the force in the state commended
the Deputy Commissioner for such a bold step but expressed doubt if
policemen in Rivers State can adhere to the order. The people who
spoke under conditions of anonymity also appealed to the
Commissioner of Police Bala Hassan to warn his men against tasking
the drivers to pay N20 before they will be allowed to pass freely on
the road.
Over fifty DPOs from the state attended the meeting.
RSG News
Dame Amaechi Demands Rural Information On Cancer
By Chris Jonah
 The wife of Rivers State Governor and Founder Empowerment Support
Initiative (ESI), Dame Judith Amaechi has advocated the
establishment of a Cancer Enlightenment and Sanitization Unit in all
health and community centres in rural areas.
Dame Amaechi made this proposition while reacting to plans by the
nation’s First Lady, Hajia Turai Yar’Adua to establish a N60 billion
cancer centre in Abuja.
In a statement by Mrs. Amaechi in Port Harcourt signed by her Media
Assistant Dike Bekwele a major challenge facing the crusade is lack
of proper enlightenment and sensitization across the grassroot
areas.
“I want to commend the initiative of Lady Hajia Turai Yar’Adua for
imitating the establishment of an international cancer center in the
bid to check and improve natural health care in our country” she
opined.
She decried that over 89,000 Nigerians have lost their lives to
cancer, “the report presented by the relevant institutions recently
revealed that over seven million people lost their lives globally in
2007, while 89,000 Nigerians died few years ago. We must endeavour
to intensify education and sensitization campaign to rural
communities to safe guard local women from pre-mature death” she
stressed.
Dame Amaechi attributed most critical cancer cases to late
dictation, saying this informed the decision of her pet project ESI
to donate the cancer screening machine to health institutions in
Port Harcourt.
She commended Hajia Turai Yar”Adua for a noble cause towards
alleviating the suffering of cancer patients, especially the women
who are more vulnerable.
No Contract Awarded For A Second Niger Bridge ~Minister
By Wilson Uchendu
The Minister of Works and Housing, Dr. Hassan Lawal over the weekend
urged some gullible Nigerians who make use of the aged Onitsha-Asaba
Bridge and who had been deceived by the past administration of
Olusegun Obasanjo into believing that a second Nigeria Bridge is in
the offing to disregard such insinuations.
The Minister maintained that since he assumed duty four months ago,
he has repeatedly searched for contractual documents regarding the
proposed bridge but none has yet been found.
The Minister rather suggested during his tour of Federal Road
Projects in the South East that there is a very serious need for a
second bridge as the one in existence was built over 50 years ago
and had been over-used.
Dr. Lawal therefore asked the Governments of Anambra and Delta to
liaise with the Federal Government to facilitate a legal process for
the award and commencement of the second Niger Bridge Project which
he decribed as a national issue affecting the lives of every
Nigerian.
In his remark the Governor of Anambra State Mr. Peter Obi recounted
how his administration had in different fora made several appeals to
the Federal Government without being listened to and wondered how a
project could be flagged off by a government without awarding the
contract.
He stressed that the nation would expreience a socio-economic
catastrophe if the bridge collapses and commended President Umaru
Yar’Adua and the Works Minister for the support and concern which
represented a departure from the status quo.
Dr. Ray Chaludhuri, Technical Director of SETRACO, the company in
charge of the maintainance of the bridge said that erosion has
threatened the pillars of the bridge as the River Niger had over the
years changed course because of the inability to dredge it as well
as the vandalization of some parts of the bridge.
Towards the termination of his administration, it would be recalled
that former President Obasanjo flagged off the purported contract
for the building of a second Niger Bridge.
Swine Flu: No Outbreak In Rivers State …Commissioner
By Paschal Agbada
The Commissioner for Health Rivers State, Dr. Samson Parker last
week came on air to debunk the news making the round that there has
been an outbreak of the HINI virus otherwise popularly called Swine
Flu.
According to the commissioner, people living around the Elelenwo
area in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area where there is a pig
farm had seen symptons they ignorantly suspected to be swine flu and
had raised alarm pleading with government to send health experts to
come and investigate the cases.
However, Dr. Parker has come on air to allay their fears.
“We have no record of that. We have carried out our investigation,
there is nothing like that here.You cannot just say there is an
outbreak of swine flu.
“As far as I am concerned, till now, I have not seen, I have not
heard, we have our own public health department doing their
surveillance for swine flu”, he said.
The Commissioner stated that as a preemptive measure that his
ministry and government had alerted all health centres to report any
person with symptoms like that of the flu so that the ministry would
swing into action.
“We are looking out and we have not got anyone. Our public health
department has been on alert investigating all flu like cases
reported in our hospitals and we have not recorded any case of swine
flu in Rivers State”, he said.
Chieftaincy Crisis Destablises Rivers Community
By Wilson Uchendu
Umuechem Community in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers has
witnessed a spate of violence and destruction threatening the
prevailing peace and harmonious co-existence in the area.
Beam Checks gathered over the weekend that the crisis was induced by
a chieftaincy tussle over who occupies the throne of kingship of the
community.
This led to the creation of different opposing camps in the
community with each camp on the other’s throat and leading to the
displacement of many residents in the area.
Investigations revealed that some people have actually lost their
lives as a result of the clashes between youths of opposing camps
who are hell-bent on ensuring that their sponsors occupy the
prestigious throne of the land. Amadi Ebe Chukwu an easy going
farmer in the troubled Umuechem Community told Beam checks that live
is no longer “sweet” for them.
“Government should please intervene in this crisis before it gets
out of hand”, he said.
Mrs. Rita Abbey the Rivers State Police Relations Officer confirmed
the incident when contacted and said that the police is dealing with
the situation as there is no cause for alarm.
However, she did not say if there were loss of lives but maintained
that police is searching all nooks and crannies of the community to
ascertain if there is casualities or not.
Also in a related development, Bodo youths in Ogoni land have
theratened to prevent Gitto Construction, an Italian Company
handling the construction of roads in the area from doing their work
for allegedly destroying their farm lands, and roads in the process
of construction.
Some youths spoken to by our reporter said that the Italian firm is
insensitive to their plight as their farm lands which serve as the
only means of livelihood according to them were being destroyed.
Efforts by Beam Checks to get the reaction of the Italian firm
proved abortive as the Project Engineer was said to be out of town
as at the time of filing this report.
Page 13 News
Flight Operations For S/South Region
By Chris Jonah
The South-South Governors Forum says it would establish a
trans-regional flight operations services that would serve
exclusively airports within the south-south region.
Speaking at the end of the forum meeting last week at Uyo, Akwa Ibom
State, the Chairman of the South-South Forum, Governor of Cross
River State, Senator Liyel Imoke disclosed that the Governors agreed
to focus more attention on robust infrastructure development of the
region and to embark on other key projects that would be of mutual
interest to the people and states of the region.
Senator Imoke said the governors meeting was a follow up to the
Calabar Economic Submit last month, adding that it was a huge
success and maintained that the resolutions of the economic submit
would be implemented as contained in the communiqué.
The Cross River State Governor said the governors meeting, also held
discussions with the Professor Pat Utomi Led Submit Central Working
Committee (CWC), which she said has been mandated to work out the
details for the implementation of the initiative, as envisioned by
the six governors of the region.
Among those present in the meeting were the host governor, Chief
Godswin Akpabio, Akwa Ibom State, Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi,
Rivers State Governor, Governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel
Imoke, and Comrade Adams Oshimhole, Edo State Governor.
Cross River To Be Delisted From Oil Producing States
By Wilson Uchendu
Indications appear over the weekend that Cross River State may no
longer be accorded the prestigious status of an oil producing state
and therefore may cease to be a member of the Niger Delta
Development Commission, NDDC.
This development followed a memo which was sent to the office of the
Accountant General of the Federation by the Revenue Mobilization,
Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) last week suggesting that
the state should cease to benefit from the 13 percent derivation
Fund from the $1.5 billion excess crude oil account accruable to the
oil producing states of the NDDC.
This is an aftermath of the state (Cross Rivers) losing over 76 oil
wells to Akwa Ibom State which naturally made it a non-oil producing
state. But Cross Rivers State had earlier challenged the decision of
RMAFC at an Abuja High Court.
However, Beam Checks gathered that the implications of this loss by
Cross Rivers which may set the state back to the tune of N36 billion
this year is already being felt.
A Commissioner in the cabinent of Gov. Liyel Imoke who spoke to Beam
checks under conditions of anonymity said that Cross Rivers has
already lost over N3.3 billion in February alone as a result of the
non-payment of the month’s derivation fund.
Our source said: “Cross River gets over N2 billion as its share of
the 13 percent derivation fund while all the local governments in
the state, 18 in all, get about 1 billion but we (Cross River) are
going to suffer huge financial loss if nothing is done about it.
Coupled with the current global economic meltdown, our state may
become one of the poorest but I am assuring you that we going to
recover all the 76 oil wells wrongly ceded to Akwa Ibom as that is
the only solution that can pull us out of this quagmire.
Other ugly incidents which this delisting exercise might cause
include the non-realization and non-implementation of this year’s
budget of N106.6 billion proposed by the State Governor Liyel Imoke
because a projected revenue of about N51.9 billion expected from the
Federation Account would be reduced tremendously.
The handing over of the Bakassi Pennisula to the Republic of
Cameroon Beam Checks gathered is one of the major circumstances
leading to the ceding of the oil wells to Akwa Ibom and therefore
the possibility of amicably setting the issue politically appears a
forgone conclusion.
However, Theo Onyuka, Chairman of the Labour Party in the state said
that the political leaders and traditional rulers from the state
contributed immensely to their current plight because they refusd to
intervene when Bakassi is being ceded to Cameroun by the Obasanjo
administration.
He said that the then Governor and members of the National Assembly
from the state in their selfish bid to secure their political
ambitions did not fight to prevent that act of ceding Bakassi
penminsula to the cameroon.
FG Policy To Enhance Quality Of Education Underway
By Jeo Kalu
The Federal Government of Nigeria, FGN is coming up with an
educational policy that if implemented will not only enhance
standard but improve the quality of schools certificates.
A federal Inspector of Education Mr. P.O. Onwuemena dropped this
hint in a chat with our reporter in course of his monitoring the
on-going West African Examination Council, WAEC exam at the Sony
Memorial College, Diobu Port Harcourt.
He used the opportunity to commend the Minister for Education, Dr.
Sam Egwu and his team of seasoned educationists for according to him
doing a good job to improve the sector.
On his findings so far, Mr. Onwuemena said the atmosphere is
comparatively calm and encouraging.
“Especially in this Sony Memorial College the students are working
on their own to some extent, though there could be occasional
distraction but I have asked the invigilators to sit up”, he stated.
On the checking of examination malpractice, the Inspector said it
was a gradual process but that the enlightenment campaign against it
is catching up, with the people.
One of the supervisors in the school Mr. Badibo U.J. during the
Geography papers disclosed that the school has no problem especially
with the reduction in the allocation of students, to a particular
centre.
He said the facilities and sitting arrangement of students have
improved.
Admitting that examination malpractices is a cankerworm that is
threatening the educational sector, he pointed out that of all the
factors involved the parents, students, supervisors and the
government, that the government contributes more to the menace.
“The government is going about renovating schools without bordering
over the teachers welfare, they may be tempted to enrich themselves
at any given opportunity during examination.
In his own contribution, the principal of the school, Mr. Ajor
Sylvanus Lucky said they are doing everything within their power to
achieve the goal of eradicating exam malpractice in accordance with
the orientation given them by the Rivers State Commissioner for
Education and Zonal coordinator.
“We are making sure that every segment is sanitized. The students
are properly seated according to their numbers on the desk and the
appropriate time kept”, he stated.
However, Mr. Lucky opined that the government should step up efforts
in providing adequate facilitates like science apparatus, books
desks and classroom blocks especially to the private schools.
“Government should try to assist the private school proprietors who
have been struggling all alone in the partnership to improve
educational standard.
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