Eze commends the Appointment of Dame Cookey-Gam into FHA Board

 

... Encourages other party stakeholders to keep faith as more appointments are coming to Rivers APC

 

Erstwhile National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New People’s Democratic Party (nPDP), and chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has expressed delight over the appointment of Rivers-born, Dame Aleruchi Cookey-Gam, into the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) Board, to deploy her wealth of experience garnered over the years in public service to the development of decent and affordable housing for Nigerians, in line with the aspiration of the APC-led federal government and the desire of the Nigerian people.

 

In a bid to redouble his administration’s drive to achieve and set a suitable living benchmark that meets globally recognized standard of propriety for ordinary Nigerians, President Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday approved the constitution of the Board of Federal Housing Authority (FHA) for a period of three years.

 

While Sen. Lawal Shuaibu, from Zamfara State, was reappointed Chairman of the Board, Dame Aleruchi Cookey-Gam was appointed member alongside Modestus Umenzekwe, Anambra State; Mumini I. Hanafi, Kwara State; Adamu Maina Dadi, Yobe State; Eng. Adamu Ismaila, Adamawa State; Barr. Zubairu S.N, Nasarawa State; Chinyere Anokwuru, Abia State; Yinka Ogunsulire, Ondo State: Veronica N. Shinnaan, Plateau State and Olajumoke O. Akinwunmi, Ogun State.

 

In a statement made available to media houses in Port Harcourt, Chief Eze said the appointment of Dame Aleruchi Cookey-Gam is a reward for steadfastness and unflinching loyalty to the course of justice and all that is good for humanity.

 

Describing her as an astute, resolute, result-oriented, visionary and egalitarian leader, the party Chief said as first female Rivers State Attorney-General, Cookey-Gam made efforts to ensure the speedy and manifest dispensation of Justice which is the constant preoccupation of the judiciary, and as pioneer Sole Administrator of the Greater Port Harcourt Development Authority (GPHDA), she brought the Amaechi’s concept of a new city to address the issue of population explosion in Port-Harcourt, into reality with visible projects such as the Sports Village which houses the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, International Bus Terminal, New Rivers State University, an internationally acclaimed Specialist Hospital, etc

 

“A round peg in a round hole. Aleruchi Cookey-Gam pioneered the Amaechi urban renewal project in Rivers State through the Greater Port Harcourt Development Authority which Governor Wike in his usual characteristics strangling to death. The Ibifirinwangibo of Opobo Kingdom is suitable to handle this assignment perfectly for the greatness of Nigeria” Eze vouched.

 

Her landmark feats during her tenure as the most outstanding and best ever Secretary to the Rivers State Government, (SSG) are still very visible even to the blind till date.

 

With the appointment, Chief Eze said the hopes of loyal party members have once again been strengthened that the indefatigable leader of APC, South South and Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi is not relenting until hardworking and dedicated party members get their due within record time.

 

Congratulating Cookey-Gam for the deserving call to serve, Eze said her personality teaches the virtue of steadfastness, loyalty and commitment to the political ideology to which one subscribes.

 

Eze commended President Mohammadu Buhari and the Transportation Minister, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi for the opportunity given a Rivers daughter to serve the nation in that exalted capacity.

 

“May God continue to bless President Buhari and his son the Minister of Transportation for always ensuring that Rivers State is never left behind in crucial key appointments”.

Lagos-Ibadan Rail Line: Amaechi, a Personification of Service - Eze

 ...Congratulates Nigerians, Hails Buhari for His Faith on Transportation Minister

 

Erstwhile National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New People’s Democratic Party (nPDP) and Chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has joined the lengthy roll of Nigerians and Nigerians in the diaspora, aliens and diplomats alike, who have felicitated with the President Mohammadu Buhari/APC-led Federal Government for the giant strides it has continued to record in critical areas of governance especially, the revival of the nation’s moribund rail infrastructure, covering a country mile and traversing the nook and cranny of the Nigerian territory and choreography.

 

Recall that President Buhari, Thursday, June 10, 2021, inaugurated the commercial operations of Lagos-Ibadan railway project at the Mobolaji Johnson Railway Station, Ebute Metta, Lagos.

 

In a statement made available to media houses in Port Harcourt, Eze said the efforts of the Transportation Minister, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, in driving the Buhari administration’s policy on infrastructural development is selfless, worth commending and cannot be overemphasized.

 

He said Amaechi’s display of rare dexterity in public administration has continued to break new grounds and discover and open up opportunities for Nigerians to sustain their livelihoods in the face of the harsh economic realities of the times, and called on those on whom the responsibility of leadership is saddled especially, in the public sector, to brace up and take a clue from the Minister.

 

The party Chief said aside priding itself as the first double-track standard gauge rail in West Africa, the 156km Lagos-Ibadan rail project is renowned for its peculiar status as the first Nigerian railway line to be started and completed by the same administration, since 1960.

 

With a holding capacity of over 6,000 passengers, Eze said the Ebute Metta Station, known as the Mobolaji Johnson railway Station, is the largest in the West African region.

 

Describing the feat as another milestone in the drive of his administration to revitalize the railway system and establish it as a choice mode of transportation for both passengers and freight, Buhari pledged his administration’s commitment in ensuring that priority is given to modern railway system as a transportation backbone that can transform industrial and economic activity in the country.

 

Reeling out the benefits of the Lagos-Ibadan corridor as well as other on-going railway projects across the country, President Buhari said the project establishes what he described as an end-to-end logistic supply chain in railway transport within its short corridor, Lagos – Ibadan, as goods to the hinterland would now be transported by rail directly from the Apapa port Quayside straight to the Inland Container Depot located in Ibadan from where it can be distributed to other parts of the country.

 

Lamenting the challenges posed to the nation’s economic growth by absence of strong and effective infrastructure, the President said in addition to other other ongoing railway projects, his administration has embarked on the completion of the outstanding segment of the Lagos – Kano railway, which is Ibadan – Kano.

 

He emphasized that the Lagos – Kano railway project when completed will link the Kano – Maradi line at Kano and a rail link from the Nigeria southern ports of Lagos to Maradi in Niger Republic will be achieved.

 

‘‘The connection through rail would position Nigerian ports as the choice for import and export business of the people of landlocked Niger Republic”

 

The project, Buhari said, would be beneficial to the economy through employment from new business opportunities and wealth creation.

 

Expressing delight that his directive to the Federal Ministry of Transportation and Ministry of Finance on reaching financial agreements with appropriate co-financiers to partner with the Federal Government for the development of the Ibadan – Kano railway was yielding results, President Buhari noted that Ibadan-Kano project would have a connection to the Tin Can Island port as well as the West – East Coastal rail line from Lagos to Calabar linking Onitsha, Benin, Warri, Yenagoa, Port Harcourt, Aba and Uyo.

 

‘‘From the beginning of this administration, railway infrastructure development has been given the priority it deserves and various milestones have been reached, right from when the Abuja – Kaduna railway was flagged-off for commercial operation in 2016 to this Lagos – Ibadan railway project being commissioned today for full commercial operation,’’ he said.

 

Commending the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, for his drive and tenacity in achieving the milestone recorded today, the President praised the ‘‘wonderful team in the Ministry’’ for a job well done.

 

“It is noteworthy to state that work commenced on the project in March 2017 and test-run commenced around December 2020 and today, what seemed a dream has come to full materialization under Buhari and Amaechi”, Eze said.

 

Similarly, Chief Eze hailed Buhari and Amaechi over the official launch of assists under the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure, also known as Deep Blue Project in Lagos.

 

The project which is the first integrated maritime security strategy in West and Central Africa is aimed at tackling the incidences of piracy, sea robbery, and other crimes at sea. With three categories of platforms to tackle maritime security on land, sea, and air, the deep blue project was jointly initiated by the Federal Ministry of Transportation and Federal Ministry of Defence, and being implemented by NIMASA the to secure Nigerian waters up to the Gulf of Guinea.

 

The land assets include the Command, Control, Communication, Computer, and Intelligence Centre (C4i) for intelligence gathering and data collection; 16 armoured vehicles for coastal patrol; and 600 specially trained troops for interdiction, known as Maritime Security Unit comprising personnel from the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Nigeria Police, and Department of State Services. The sea assets include two Special Mission Vessels and 17 Fast Interceptor Boats. The air assets comprise two Special Mission Aircraft for surveillance of the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ); three Special Mission Helicopters for search and rescue operations; and four Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.

 

Eze said Amaechi has manifestly justified the confidence reposed in him by  President Mohammadu Buhari and Nigerians and called on Nigerians to continue to support the Amaechi as more dividends are set to be delivered.

 

Emphasizing the need for Nigerians to imbibe the culture of protecting public infrastructure, the party Chief said it is grossly subnormal for countrymen, who should be proud patriots to engage in acts of vandalism, destroying critical assets and frustrating the efforts of government in putting the country on the right track.

 

Princewill congratulates Prof Benjamin Okaba on his emergence as INC President

 

A frontline APC chieftain in Rivers State, Prince Tonye Princewill has joined all well-meaning individuals and organizations to congratulate Prof Benjamin Okaba on his emergence as INC President and the National Executive Council, NEC of the Ijaw National Congress, INC the apex socio-cultural organization of the Ijaw ethnic nationality.

 

Mr Princewill in a statement said, “your victory in the April 30, 2021 election, swearing in and your stepping forward to speak up on national issues of real concern to our people could not have occurred at a more opportune time than now, with the country facing deeply troubling challenges to the economy and insecurity.”

 

The statement reads: “Your emergence as president is particularly remarkable as an affirmation of your acceptability among Ijaw people, having won the 2019 election before it was unfortunately aborted.

 

“I extend commendations to the Electoral Committee ELECO, ably chaired by highly respected Professor of Geodesy, Alabo Dagogo Fubara for delivering credible electoral outcomes recorded through e-voting that marks a definitive departure from past elections marred by rancour resulting often in litigation.

 

“I take note of the successful participation of Ijaw delegates in the United Kingdom, European and North American Diaspora in the pre-election debates and elections, in response to the yawning desire for full participation by our Diaspora Ijaws in INC affairs. This success enabled by technology, demands deeper exploration of the possibilities for credible elections, by the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC to address the troubling gaps in national elections and age long demands by the Nigerian Diaspora for voting rights wherever they may reside.

 

“Congratulations also to the Committee of Ijaw Traditional Rulers and Elders, CITRE headed by His Majesty, King Alfred Diete Spiff for successfully steering the entire process that has translated to the return of the INC to visibility and voice of note on Ijaw and Niger Delta affairs ending about eight years of troubling absence.

 

“I wish to recommend deeper collaboration between the INC, socio-cultural organisations across the country, professional bodies and the political leadership to work out appropriate responses to the challenges facing our peoples and country to navigate to safety, stability and prosperity.

 

“Congratulations.”

Itsekiri Nation backs FG, honours Godswill Akpabio

 

·      Makes case for NDDC Plum Job

 

·      Wants East West Road project extended to Warri-Benin Road  

Youths in Warri Kingdom on Friday night commended the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, for his commitment to the cause of the region.

 

‘’We should all take a cue from this outstanding statesman and driving force behind the reinvention of the Niger Delta region’’

 

They also said that Akpabio had come to work, serve and make the Niger Delta region great.

 

‘’The Niger Delta region is progressing steadily’’

 

At a ceremony organised to honour Akpabio in Warri, the youths critically assessed Akpabio’s performance and scored it excellent.

 

 Speaker after speaker hailed Akpabio for the multiple dividends of democracy, his efforts to revolutionize the Niger Delta region and uplift the lot of his people.

 

The youths expressed satisfaction with the level of performance of the development agency and the on-going NDDC forensic audit.

 

The event drew who-is-who in Warri Kingdom and many youths and elders from other parts of Delta State.

 

Chairman of All Itsekiri Youth Associations (AIYA), Dr. Omatshola Sagay, praised Akpabio for making the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) more responsive and accountable to all its principal stakeholders.

 

 ‘’Chief Godswill Akpabio is a pragmatic and visionary leader who thinks ahead of his people. He is the best thing happening in the Niger Delta region’’.

 

The Itsekiri youths and elders who spoke in one voice urged youths in other parts of the region to give peace a chance, which they said was necessary for development of the oil and non-oil producing communities in the Niger Delta region.

 

‘’Everybody in the Niger Delta region, irrespective of his/her status or political leaning should join hands with President Muhammadu Buhari and Chief Godswill Akpabio in the onerous task of moving the Niger Delta region forward’’

 

They described the seven-day ultimatum to President Muhammadu Buhari and Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio to constitute the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) or face a major breakdown of law and order in the Niger Delta by certain people as ridiculous.

 

The youths suggested that current moves to inaugurate a substantive Board for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) should include the consideration of someone from Itsekiri nation.

 

Warri Kingdom is the highest oil producing area in Delta State.

 

They also urged Buhari to extend the construction of the East West Road to Warri -Benin Road.

Ubani and Nwokwu secure major legal victory against National Assembly's bogus salaries and allowances

 

Judgment was delivered today the 4th of June, 2021 in the Suit of:

1.         Monday Ubani

2.         John Nwokwu

 

AND

1.         Attorney General of the Federation,

2.         Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission,

3.         The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

4.         The House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

5.         National Assembly Service Commission

 

The Plaintiffs approached the Federal High Court, Lagos to challenge Constitutionality of the bogus remuneration and allowances of the members of the National Assembly.  Since the inception of democracy in Nigeria in 1999,  Nigerians have been demanding to know how much their Representatives in the National Assembly collect as salaries and allowances, the members of the National Assembly have kept that information as a top secret. However, in March 2018 one of the Senators – Senator Shehu Sani in an interview  revealed that each Senator receives the sum of N13.5 million monthly as running cost, in addition to N750,000 monthly consolidated salary and allowances. Another online publication further revealed that each Senator is entitled to the sum of N200 million annually as constituency project allowance.

 

Being aggrieved by this revelation, Mr. Monday Onyekachi Ubani proceeded to the Federal high Court alongside another legal Practitioner – Mr. John Nwokwu to challenge the constitutionality of this bogus amount of money collected by the members of the National assembly monthly and annually. The case was handled by Joseph Igwe Esq. led by leading Human Rights lawyers,  Mr. Femi Falana, SAN

 

The National Assembly filed a defence denying ever collecting such amount of money, however they

failed to disclose to the Court how much they collect. The National assembly Service Commission also filed a defence denying being the one that approach and pay such amount of money to the members of the National Assembly. They also challenged the locus standi of the Plaintiffs to institute the action against them, and also contended that the Plaintiffs have no cause of action against them, urging the Court to strike out the suit.

 

In a well considered judgment delivered  on the 4th day of June, 2021, Hon. Justice Chuka Austine Obiozor,  first dismissed the preliminary objections of the National assembly (sued as the 3rd and 4th Defendants) stating that the plaintiffs have locus standi to institute the action  citing the Supreme Court case of Centre for oil Pollution Watch v. NNPC. The Court held that public spirited individuals (Tax payers) has sufficient interest in ensuring that public authorities submit to the rule of law and that no public authority has power to arbitrarily or with impunity break the law or general statute.

 

On the substantive suit, the Court declared that:

1.         The 3rd, 4th and 5th Defendants ( The Senate, The House of Representatives and the National Assembly service Commission)  have no power, close or semblance of power and cannot determine, direct, command and/or instruct the 2nd defendant (Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission) or any person howsoever, to make, determine and/or fix the salaries, wages, remuneration, running cost or allowances of the 3rd and 4th Defendants.

2.         The 2nd defendant is the only body responsible for determining the salaries, remuneration and/or allowances of the National assembly or political office holders.

3.         In line with Section 32 (b)(d) of part 1 of third schedule of the Constitutional of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, the 2nd Defendant should forthwith downward review and fix the salaries, remuneration or allowances of the 3rd and 4th Defendants to reflect the economic realities in the country.

4.         The 5th Defendant cannot or have no power whatsoever and howsoever to fix, determine or allocate the remuneration. Allowances, salaries, emolument or monetary value/s to the 3rd and 4th defendants.

The Court recommended that since the Members of the National Assembly has denied collecting the jumbo remunerations and allowances, the EFCC should look at their books and if it is found that they truly collect such amount of money, they should be prosecuted.

 

Similar case was filed by SERAP and assigned to the same judge who held that whatever decision is reached in Messrs Ubani and Nwokwu’s case in Suit No FHC/LA/CS/690/ 2018 should bind on them.

 

Akpabio: An Uncommon Courage in a Time of Fear

 Dateline Delta State: Senator Godswill Akpabio, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and supervising Minister of the Niger Delta Development Commission stormed the state in an unscheduled visit. The man popularly known as The Uncommon Transformer for his exceptional feat in the transformation of Akwa Ibom State from a relatively unknown state to a wonder of the world in a 21st Century Nigeria, within the eight years of his government had depicted a rare courage to walk into the Lion's Den at the time most of the Government officials have scampered to safety in the face of the heightened insecurity in the country.

 

It was the sudden break of grave silence by Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo who goes by a sobriquet, Tompolo, where last week, he issued a 7-day ultimatum to Senator Godswill Akpabio, to constitute a substantive Board for the running of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.

 

Tompolo is leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND and also the Chief Priest of the Egbesu Deity, according to Wikipedia. He was very much around the corridors of power under President Jonathan, after late President Umaru Yaradua granted Amnesty to all the Niger Delta militants and Agitators for Justice and Equality.

 

Though he was later declared wanted by a Court and that forced him back to his creek, he had jolted the public when he suddenly raised his voice against what his group considers the unconstitutional running of the affairs of the Commission by a Sole Administrator, where the Act establishing the NDDC clearly states otherwise.

 

Tompolo may have spoken but he obviously is not alone. He spoke in the voice of an Agitator, not withstanding that he chose a familiar path of threats to the safety of oil workers as well as others but it was definitely the hands of other highly placed interested Nigerians who have continued with their agitation to steal the region's allocations dry through the Management of the Nddc.

 

When the video of Akpabio's visit hit the media space, it became a subject of controversy as some section of the reading public condemned his decision to parley with a man wanted for alleged infractions through phony contracts as well as threats to the oil sector. Others booed and clapped as they watched the humiliating speech by the President of Isoko Youths Assembly, Comrade Amos, who exhibited nothing but a flagrant disrespect for the visiting Minister and his Chief Host, the Governor Okowa of Delta State, who was represented by his Deputy. This was in the presence of the highly revered Traditional Rulers who probably may have lost control over the recalcitrant youths or are are in active connivance with them, for obvious reasons of fear or interest.

 

While the rest of the audience continued as cheerleaders to the not too palatable speeches in support of Tompolo's threat and ultimatum, the man who represented the Federal Government, Senator Akpabio maintained his mien, reserving his displeasure and exhibiting an uncommon deportment.

 

The former Governor who has been under sponsored attacks since his appointment as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, under whose control the juicy Commission had since come under, would have chosen to either raise his voice in anger or worse still staged a walk-out in the mannerism akin to most influential public officers, but he listened with rapt attention as Tompolo's representatives hit the gavel, insisting that the 7-day ultimatum stands.

 

It is rather bemusing to read a section of the youths and leaders not represented nor in attendance at the stakeholders meeting urge Akpabio to go back to Abuja and constitute the Board without recourse to the President's directives that the Forensic Audit must be completed before a duly appointed Management Board would be inaugurated. It is an effort in futility for President Buhari to seek to salvage the people of the region from the shackles of deliberate underdevelopment by a cabal that have undermined the region through a continuous filtering of the resources allocated for the oil rich region.

 

The people seem not to be concerned anymore about the quest to ascertain why the region does not evidence the monies that have been sunk in there through a Commission that has run aground for 20 years. Not even a befitting Corporate Headquarters could be completed 14 years after until the emergence of Senator Akpabio as supervising Minister.

 

While many condemn his August visit to the creeks of the Delta, in consultation with the stakeholders, probably to explain that by the end of July, the Forensic Audit would have been concluded and the report made available for implementation by the President, it is expedient to commend Akpabio's bold steps to the hotspot at a time there is an increased security concerns in the Eastern part of the country. Where he to have remained docile and stayed aloof, Nigerians would have again gone for his jugular, if there was an outright breakdown of law and order. The number of gunboats and security men at the venue of the meeting would have been immaterial, if the killing of security men in the East is anything to go by.

 

This uncommon courage to navigate through the troubled waters of the Niger Delta reflect a no-snobbery mentality nor an ego-polishing leader who has seen it all in terms of power, affluence and fame. Rather it shows a great but scarce attribute known as humility which is rarely seen amongst the high and mighty in Government.

 

Relative to other government officials, Akpabio may not have gloried in victory over the ultimatum given by Tompolo and his associates, but he definitely has accomplished a noble task, treading where others feared. Only a man who is at home with his people, can dare to take the battle to the snake-infested creeks, win or lose.

 

The timely decision to try to nip in the bud another wave of insecurity in the fragile Niger Delta is a decision not to run away from his fears but have the courage to confront that could blossom into a full-scale war.

 

This is the untold truth of the uncommon walk into a waiting bomb.

 

Written by Chief Obiaruko Christie Ndukwe, a sociopolitical commentator, analyst and columnist based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State