The Players;

Name: SEN. MAGNUS NGEI ABE
Date of Birth: 24th of May, 1965 (49years)
LGA & Senatorial District: Gokhana, Rivers South East
Marital Status: Married
Current Political occupation Senator ,Rivers South East (Senatorial District)
Political Party All Progressives Congress

BIOGRAPHY
Distinguished Senator Magnus Abe, born on the 24th of May, 1965 in Nchia, Eleme; had his early education in Gokana at the St. Peters State School, Yeghe and Boys State School, Okrika and rounded up Primary Education at Bedwell Primary School with Merit in his FSLC exams.

He then proceeded to St. Patrick College, Ikot-Ansa,Calabar and later came back to Rivers State at Akpor Grammar School, Ozuoba to complete his Secondary Education with his WASC Examination.

He defined a career path by bagging a LL.B (Hons) and defined a professional career path when he was called to Nigerian Bar in 1987.

Senator Magnus started working as a Pupil State Counsel for the Federal Ministry of Justice, Lagos. He went into Private Legal Practice as a Junior Partner with Okocha & Okocha, Manuchim Chambers and rose to a Managing Partner with Etim-Inyang, Abe all in Port Harcourt.

He has served in different roles such as Member Youth Day Committee on anniversary of the creation of Rivers State in 1992, Member Bye-laws Drafting Committee - NBA, Secretary Dinner/Welfare Committee - NBA, Secretary Grande Council of Nigeria.

He joined active Politics in 1999 and was elected into the Rivers State House of Assembly where he served as a Minority Leader. He loyally served as Commissioner of Information between 2003-2007.

With the new administration of Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, he was called to serve his fatherland as the Secretary to Rivers State Government. He resigned to join the race for the position of a Senator representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District.

As a result of his loyal and proven effective leadership skills, The Executive Governor re-appointed him as the Secretary to Rivers State Government.

In order to respect the rule of law, he resigned again to enable him meet the INEC standards to contest for the Office of the Senate, Rivers South East Senatorial District.

He won the election overwhelmingly and has since been sworn in as a Distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Senator Magnus enjoys his relaxed moments by Reading, Travelling, Playing Lawn Tennis & Golf.

2.
Name: HON. PETERSIDE DAKUKU ADOL
Date of Birth: 1970-12-31 (44years)
LGA & Senatorial District: Opobo/Nkoro, Rivers South East
Marital Status: Married
Current Political occupation Rivers,Andoni / Opobo / Nkoro (Federal Constituency)
Political Party All Progressives Congress

BIOGRAPHY

In Nigeria’s House of Representative, Dakuku Peterside has earned a reputation as a charismatic and disciplined leader, creative and hardworking legislator who is broad minded with strategic insight. He brings integrity, compassion, pro-poor perspective and intellectual dimension to bear in tackling tough national issues. His loyalty to friendship and bridge building skills are remarkable.

Hon Peterside is widely respected as an achiever and a strong voice for the House on national issues. He is a regular commentator in Nigeria’s leading media outfits.

In his home state, Rivers he is respected as one of the most result oriented, meticulous, consistent, trustworthy and God fearing political leaders. In all public offices he has held he has brought innovation to bear and made remarkable impact that has endeared him to his fellow compatriots. He is a role model and mentor to several young persons, who look upto him for inspiration.

He has at various times turned down at least fourteen chieftancy titles, several honourary doctorate degrees and awards rather believing in the people as a reason for service.

Dakuku Peterside, Amaopusenibo of Opobo kingdom was elected to represent Andoni/Opobo-Nkoro area in the House of Representatives in 2011.

In the House he serves as chairman of the strategic Petroleum Resources (Downstream) committee that oversees the management of the key driver of Nigeria’s economy (Petroleum Industry). Dakuku also serves in the House most important committees of Anti-corruption, National ethics and values; Drugs, Narcotics and Financial crimes; Co-operation and integration in Africa, Electoral matters; Industry; Communications and Works.

He is a well known champion of reform and strengthening of institutions as key to unlocking development potentials.

Outside the chambers of House of Representatives he is an international Resource person on oil and gas matters and a leading leadership/management scholar and speaker. Dakuku speaks in conferences around the world. He is respected as an Authority in corporate political strategy and Business-Govt interaction in Nigeria.

Prior to being elected to the House of Representatives, Dakuku served twice as Rivers State Commissioner for works (2007-2011) where he anchored Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s phenomenal transformation of Roads and Infrastructural landscape of Rivers State; He concurrently served on the Board of Greater Port Harcourt Development Authority (GPHCDA).

Before serving as Rivers State Commissioner of works, he served as Executive Director of Development and Leadership Institute (DLI) between the year 2005 and 2007, Senior Special Assistant to Governor of Rivers State on Works (2003-2005) Chairman Opobo-Nkoro LGA (2002-2003). As LGA chairman he was declared the most outstanding chairman by the then State Governor of Rivers State. He previously served as Special Assistant to Rivers State Governor on Youth and Student affairs and concurrently as a member of Board, Centre for Black and African arts and civilisation (CBAAC), A Federal Government arts and research establishment.

A native of Biriye, Opobo Kingdom. Dakuku attended Okrika Grammer School (OGS), University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, University of Port Harcourt, Georgia State University Atlanta and is also an alumnus of Harvard-Kennedy school, University of Harvard.

He earned degrees in Medical Laboratory Sciences (Haematology), Business administration (Management) and certificates in leadership and Project management respectively. He has attended several oil and gas courses globally.

The Honourable is a member of Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM), fellow of Institute of Management Consultants of Nigeria (IMCN) and member, Institute of Medical Laboratory Sciences of Nigeria.

Dakuku is married to Elima, a lawyer and they are blessed with three children, Soba, Belema and Miebi. He is a committed Christian who believes his relationship with Jesus Christ is what gives meaning to life.

Name: Reynolds Bekinbo Dagogo-Jack, OFR
Date of Birth: 4 December 1957 (57years)
LGA & Senatorial District: Akuku Toru, Rivers West
Marital Status: Married
Current Political occupation None
Political Party Peoples Democratic Party

BIOGRAPHY

Reynolds Bekinbo Dagogo-Jack, OFR (born 4 December 1957), popularly known as Beks, is a Nigerian civil engineer, technocrat, public servant and politician. For over thirty years, Dagogo-Jack has been active in both the public and private sector, especially in areas of government/public administration and project management including engineering, construction and manufacturing.

On 5 September 2012, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan reconstituted the twin Presidential agencies instituted as special purpose vehicles to fast-track the implementation of the national electric power reform program: the Presidential Action Committee on Power (PACP) and the Presidential Task Force on Power (PTFP), appointing Dagogo-Jack to serve as Chairman of the PTFP and also a member of the PACP. Dagogo-Jack had been with the PTFP from its inception in June 2010,[6] serving as a Senior Special Assistant to the President and also Senior Performance Monitor for the National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP). In this capacity, he led the special team that supervised governmental and private agencies managing over four hundred power infrastructure projects covering gas, generation, transmission and distribution projects.

On 29 September, 2014, President Goodluck Jonathan conferred on him the prestigious Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR).

Dagogo-Jack is from Abonnema, a riverine community in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State. He was born into the illustrious Dagogo-Jack family. His parents are Chief Karibi Jim Dagogo-Jack, Iju VIII of Abonnema & Mrs B. K. Dagogo-Jack. His elder brother, Chief Sumner Karibi Dagogo-Jack, was the former Nigerian Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, while his immediate older brother, Dr. Samuel Dagogo-Jack, a renowned US-based internist, was named 2013 Internal Medicine Physician of the Year[8] by the United States National Medical Association.

Dagogo-Jack was educated in Nigeria at the University of Benin, graduating with distinctions in hydraulics and advanced structures with a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering in 1980. In 1992, he completed coursework for a Masters degree in Business Administration from the University of Lagos, Nigeria. He bagged his First School Leaving Certificate in 1969 from Bishop Crowther Memorial School, Abonnema, and his West African School Certificate in 1974 from Baptist High School, Port Harcourt, both in Rivers State, Nigeria.

Dagogo-Jack is a chartered Civil Engineer and registered to practice Engineering by COREN (Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria). He is also a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers. He attended a host of advanced management and professional courses in both the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston and George Washington University, Washington D.C.

He is married to Honorable Justice Harriba Dagogo-Jack of the Rivers State Judiciary.They have four kids and two grandchildren. His hobbies include golf, squash and books on political history and development.
Career
Downstream Oil and Gas

Between 1982 and 1989, Dagogo-Jack worked in the downstream petroleum industry, starting from Unipetrol (now Oando Plc) and ending with Elf Petroleum. Serving variously as District, Divisional, Operations Engineer and Manager, his work scope covered the full gamut of downstream petroleum business such as retail outlet development and maintenance, product supply and logistics, production of lubricants and general district sales management.
Public Service
Aviation

Dagogo-Jack served as the Special Assistant (Technical) to the Honourable Minister of Aviation (Alabo T. O. Graham-Douglas), from 1989 to 1992, and was directly involved in the development of the Nigerian airline license and libralisation policy, the reform of the national aviation management agencies and the comprehensive rehabilitation of the then three Nigerian international airports (Lagos, Kano and Port-Harcourt), and served as a Director on the Board of the Nigeria Airports Authority (now Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria – FAAN).
Privatisation and Reform of Public Enterprises

From 1992 to 1994, Dagogo-Jack served as Deputy Director and later as the Special Assistant to the Chairman of the Technical Committee on Privatisation & Commercialisation (TCPC, now Bureau of Public Enterprises) the Late Dr. H. R. Zayyad, fully involved in the preparation of reform packages for the National Electric Power Authority (later Power Holding Company of Nigeria), Nigerian Telecommunications Limited, Nigerian Ports Authority and Federal Mortgage Bank. During this period, he also served as Secretary to the Nigerian Airways Privatization Sub-Committee (The 'Air Nigeria' Project).
Management of Assets and Liabilities of Newly Created States

In 1996, Dagogo-Jack was appointed a Member of the Federal Government Special Committee for sharing the Assets and Liabilities of two pairs of newly created States: Sokoto/Zamfara and Bauchi/Gombe.
Public Infrastructure Planning and Development

Dagogo-Jack served as Honourable Commissioner for Works and Transport in Rivers State[10] under the military administration of Colonel Musa Shehu, from 1997 to 1998, and was mandated to complete several infrastructural projects mostly to upgrade the facilities in Port Harcourt to enable it cope with the accelerating increase in the urban population.

In 2007, Dagogo-Jack was again appointed to serve as the Honourable Commissioner for Transport in Rivers State,[11] and was saddled with the responsibility of transforming the state-run transport company (Rivers Transport Corporation) from its moribund condition into a viable self-sustaining enterprise, and developing a comprehensive transport policy reform agenda for the PortHarcourt metropolis which in part provided a two-year roadmap for transiting the urban mass transport system from the "Okada" culture to more a more integrated urban mass transportation system.

Power Sector Reform
2010–2012

As Senior Special Assistant to the President monitoring the National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP),[12] Dagogo-Jack established an aggressive project monitoring, facilitation and reporting system which led to the commissioning of the first turbine unit at Olorunsogo power plant and other equally critical transmission projects after years of frequent project slippage.
2012–2014

Dagogo-Jack was part of the team whose initiative resulted in the raising of a $500m transmission capacity expansion facility from the Chinese EXIM Bank.[13] Under his supervision (and with close collaborative efforts of the sector agencies), Nigeria recorded the highest ever power supply so far delivered through the national grid of 4517MW on December 2012.

He was a chief facilitating agent in the delivery of all the factors which culminated in the successful handing over of all the sold Federal Government Generation and Distribution companies to the new private sector owners in 1 November 2013 and took the power sector reform to an irreversible threshold.

On 27 May 2014, President Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR, appointed Dagogo-Jack as Co-Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Emergency Committee on Gas-to-Power, "charged with the responsibility to fast track the gas to fire plants revolution."[14]

Name: Prince Tonye Princewill[/b][b]
Date of Birth: 4 January 1969 (45years)
LGA & Senatorial District: Asari Toru, Rivers West
Marital Status: Married
Current Political occupation: None
Political Party: Peoples Democratic Party

BIOGRAPHY
Tonye Princewill (born 4 January 1969), is a prince of the Kalabari Kingdom of Rivers State in Nigeria. He is a Nigerian politician and businessman with interest in both upstream and downstream oil and gas, information technology, environmental waste management and aviation services .

Early life[/i]
Prince Tonye Princewill was born in the UK to the family of King (Prof) T. J. T. Princewill, the Amanyanabo of Kalabari Kingdom of the Amachree Dynasty of Rivers-State. Tonye Princewill's father was a Professor of Medical Microbiology before he became a monarch.

[i]Education
Tonye Princewill started his early education in the United Kingdom, before returning with his parents to Nigeria. In Nigeria, he was enrolled at Hillcrest High School in Jos from 1976–1980. He then attended Federal Government College (Port Harcourt) where he obtained his West African Senior Certificate/ General Certificate of Education O'Level in 1985. He took his BSc in Petroleum engineering at the University of Port Harcourt. He did a Master's degree in Mineral Resources Engineering at the Imperial College London. Tonye Princewill also holds a PRINCE 2 Project Management Practitioner Certificate from the United Kingdom.

Career[i][/i]
Tonye Princewill started off his career with Royal Dutch Shell as a Reservoir and Well-site Petroleum Engineer. He also worked briefly with the UK's Oil and Gas Regulatory Agency, the Department of Trade and Industry. He was the Chief Technology Officer of Panasonic in the United Kingdom; and served at the Global Asset Management desk of Citibank. He later moved into private business and established the Riverdrill Group of Companies (Nigeria) where he is chairman. His business interests include oil and gas, information technology, aviation services and consulting.
onye Princewill's political career started when he was nominated as the gubernatorial candidate of the then Action Congress for the governorship of Rivers State in 2007.[1] He was supported by the then former Vice-President of Nigeria and the AC Presidential candidate in 2007 elections, Atiku Abubakar and former Governor of Lagos and National Leader of ACN, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. Tonye Princewill's campaign attracted significant grassroots support. He lost the election under contested circumstances to the People's Democratic Party's (PDP) candidate, Celestine Omehia.
Prince Tonye Princewill and Former Britain's Prime Minister, Tony Blair

Tonye Princewill launched a legal challenge against the newly elected governor shortly after the election results were released. He offered evidence to prove to the electoral tribunal that the election was rigged. In a newspaper interview, he alleged that Celestine Omehia offered him a Naira 1.5 billion (approximately USD 10 million) bribe to withdraw the case before the tribunal, which he rejected.[2]

Following a Supreme Court decision to replace Celestine Omehia with another People's Democratic Party candidate Rotimi Amaechi, he withdrew his case at the tribunal following a local party decision of the Action Congress in Rivers State, a move which drew criticism from his supporters. Tonye Princewill said in a report that "we took the decision at the time that the enemy of your enemy is your friend," noting that he was in battle with Celestine Omehia and his 'godfather', Dr. Peter Odili, the former governor of Rivers State, when Rotimi Amaechi was installed by the court.

Tonye Princewill later led members of the opposition parties in Rivers State under the banner of the Forum of Organized Opposition Political Parties (FOOPP) to form a unity government with Amechi's administration.[5] Tonye Princewill's support of the Amaechi's government received mixed reviews. Some viewed it with scepticism, while others saw it as necessary for the development and stability of Rivers State. His announcement in 2010 that he was returning to the People's Democratic Party was controversial and weakened opposition in the state.
Tonye Princewill remains in the People's Democratic Party and has focused political and humanitarian causes in the State.[7]

In 2013, he joined the management committee of People's Democratic Movement (PDM), the founding movement behind the People's Democratic Party, where his serves as the Director of Organisation.
After several months of speculation on his political future, Tonye Princewill indicated his interest to succeed Rotimi Amaechi, the current governor of Rivers State, in 2015.[9]

He has since engaged in several public and People's Democratic Party debates. He stated that the crises rocking the People's Democratic Party in 2013 are normal in the context of conflicting regional agendas and tensions between these agendas and national interest.[10]

On 10 April 2014, he announced on Info 92.3 (Port Harcourt) the formation of an Exploratory Committee to explore the viability of his candidacy of running for governor of Rivers State.
Public Affairs and Engagement
Tonye with victims of flooding

Tonye Princewill writes about confronting corruption, infrastructure development, behaviour change, security, health, academic advancement and ethnic harmony in his weekly column in the Vanguard newspaper[12] As a leading advocate of youth empowerment in Nigeria, he has expressed concern about the use of youth in Nigeria, particularly during elections, for violence and thuggery.[13]

Tonye Princewill's public engagement is diverse. Following the heavy floods that ravaged parts of Nigeria in 2012,[14] he organised relief activities for Niger Delta communities through the Princewill Trust.[15]

He has launched several initiatives to support Nigerian youth, rural women, orphans and widows.[16] In June 2012, Tonye Princewill sponsored Nigerian youth delegations on tours to Dubai and Ghana to learn about entrepreneurship, governance, leadership and self-development.[17] In January 2013, in celebration of his 44th birthday, Tonye Princewill released a documentary titled "Man. Mentor. Maverick" in which he speaks about his vision of equal opportunities for all.[18]

Tonye Princewill is an advocate for open government and effective public service delivery using modern technology.[19]

This has earned him the nickname, the "Digital Politician."

Tonye Princewill sponsored several baseline studies in 2013, covering the state of education, environment, and health in Rivers State. In education, research showed that a large number of Model Secondary and Primary Schools were not finished and had been abandoned.[21] The management of oil spillages in Rivers State, a catalyst for youth restiveness, was seen as ineffective across local governments in the State. Survey respondents reported that funds which ought to have gone into cleaning and sanitisation of their communities were diverted by local officials. These findings also support press reports about corruption in government allocations to oil producing areas.[22] In the area of health, there is widespread disenchantment about the lack of improvement within the sector. Weak health service delivery in Rivers State is forcing many patients to seek medical attention at unregulated traditional medicine shops. Challenges associated to HIV/AIDS, the lack of qualified health professionals, and unfinished health projects, are serious concerns among respondents. These findings substantiate reports in the press that raise questions about the efficacy of funds injected into the sector by the Rivers State administration.

Name: Lee Ledogo Maeba
Date of Birth: 01 February 1966(48years)
LGA & Senatorial District: Khana, Rivers Rivers South East
Marital Status: Married
Current Political occupation: None
Political Party: Peoples Democratic Party


Lee Ledogo Maeba is a Nigerian politician who was elected senator for the Rivers State South East constituency on the People's Democratic Party (PDP) platform in April 2003, at age 37, and was reelected in April 2007.[1] As of 15 March 2004, Maeba was a member of the Pan-African Parliament.[2] He was a member of the Committee on Trade, Customs and Immigration Matters, one of the Ten Permanent Committees of the Pan-African Parliament.


Maeba was born in February 1966. He obtained a BSc Degree in Technology from University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt. Before becoming a senator he was a Justice of the Peace and a State Party Vice Chairman.[1] He is married to Mrs. Aya Maeba, who also is from a family of politicians. In a May 2009 survey of senatorial performance in the 6th National Assembly, ThisDay noted that he had sponsored several bills related to oil exploitation, and gave him an "average" rating

Name: Nimi Walson Jack
Date of Birth: 14th November 1963 (51years)
LGA & Senatorial District: Akuku Toru, Rivers West
Marital Status: Married
Current Political occupation: None
Political Party: Peoples Democratic

The Honourable Nimisoere Walson-Jack is a lawyer; criminologist; civic educator, pro-democracy, human rights and civil society activist. Over the years, Nimi Walson- Jack has masterly combined legal practice with stints in the academia, public service, politics and civil society. He is a public policy contributor and analyst, an acclaimed publisher. He has written numerous articles and columns for newspapers and magazines. He was the General Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association, from August 2004 to August 2006. He served as the Commissioner for Public Affairs and Civic Education at the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission between November 2007 and November 2011

A former Commonwealth Scholar, Walson-Jack holds a master of Economics degree in Criminology, Criminal Justice and Police Work. Trained by the governments of the United Kingdom and the United States of America, he is a dynamic speaker with a wealth of knowledge about democratic development, deliberative democracy, public administration, organizational development and public law education.

Walson-Jack's unique experience across these sectors gives him insight into emerging cross-cutting trends and developments. He is a recognizable face at many international conferences and programmes. He is involved as a trainer in facilitating teacher – training workshops on civic and public law education on the African continent

Identified by a national magazine in 1988 as one of the 100 leaders of the next Republic to watch, Hon. Nimi Walson-Jack has continued to build up community work and leadership experience. He has been honoured by various organizations for services to the legal profession and humanity

In 1985, after one year of outstanding service, he was honoured as the Best Corps Member in Cross River State, and was also awarded the President’s/NYSC National Honours Award for outstanding and meritorious service to the country. It is on record that he is the first lawyer in the country to win this award. In 1994, he was awarded the Distinguished Alumnus Award of the Federal Government College, Ikot Ekpene, Old Students Association, Lagos Branch, and in 1996 was appointed an Ambassador of Goodwill for the State of Arkansas, USA. The Nigeria Junior Chambers honoured him with The Outstanding Young Person of Nigeria Award in the same year. In December 2002, he was honoured by the Center for Civic Education Calabasas, California, USA, with a leadership Award for Dedicated Service and Commitment to Education for Democracy in Nigeria.

Born on 14th November 1963 at Owerri, Imo State in Nigeria, Nimi grew up on the shores of Oguta Lake and the rural grasslands of Bori-Ogoni in the Niger Delta Region of Southern Nigeria. A native of Abonnema in Rivers State, Nimi who is the third child among six children, accompanied his mother; Madam Caroline Walson-Jack popularly referred to as “Adaiyi” and called Sister by both children and relations, around the State in her tour of duty as a Nursing Assistant.

A product of public schools education, after the civil war, he commenced his Primary education at Bakana, in the present day Degema Local Government Area where he lived with his uncle Pastor Eneba Walson-Jack who was then a teacher. He later went to Bori, where he attended Khana County School, now State School I Bori in Khana Local government area. He spent brief moments at St. Andrew’s School, Sangana Street, Mile 1 Diobu and St. Marks State School Elelenwo.
It was in St. Mark’s he learnt that passing an exam did not depend on one’s position in class but the scores made. In the terminal exam he came 4th with a score of 48 and was classified as failed. That was the first and last time he failed. He would later return to Bori where he graduated from Primary School.
He got admitted into Federal Government College, Ikot Ekpene, in 1974, the second batch of the institution without sitting for the National Common Entrance but was drafted in based on the high scores he made at the State Common Entrance examination.

At Ikot Ekpene, he recalled that he had good teachers, who were well motivated to teach and that there was also motivation for learning. Teachers had proper accommodation and cars. The school had games facilities. According to him, at the time, disco (dancing) was on the curriculum and compulsory. It was at Ikot Ekpene he taught himself Badminton and won a bronze medal at one of the editions of the Cross River State Sports Festival

Like all students he had his moments of truancy. He used to jump the fence to go watch football. He was in Dramatic Society, Literary and Debating and often featured in the Schools Literary and Debating Club where he was the toast of many girls at the Federal Government Girls’ College, alabar. As the head of the Press Club he was responsible for the Press Notice Board, in which students had absolute freedom to publish news about happenings in the school

It was in this capacity he imbibed the value of speaking and writing the truth at all times. His love for chicken dates back to his days at Ikot Ekpene where it was served as a meal as of right. At Ikot Ekpene he had the opportunity to build relationships with friends from across the country and religious affiliations through which he learnt a lot about cultures and the diversity and wealth of the Nigerian Nation.

In 1979, he graduated with Distinction and passed the West African School Certificate Examination, passed the JAMB exam and secured admission to study Law at the University of Ife, Ile Ife, then Oyo State, now Osun State.

To be able to attend the University, his mother had to pledge her wrappers to borrow N300 to pay his fees and provide for meal tickets. Incidentally, he was here again, a part of the 2nd batch of candidates to take the JAMB Exam and recalled that preparation for the exam started on the Monday after the first batch took the exam, a year ahead of the exam proper

In Ife, he had friends from Rivers State like Owhonda Okechukwu, Chizi Leslie Michael, Eyinnaya Nwauche who were his class mates. In addition to the 3 meals, he recalled that he was cooking 3 other meals and ate six times daily. During long vacations, Nimi and his friends were involved in community service by way of teaching Secondary Schools students subjects in which they had no teachers or for which they needed to prepare in advance for their school work and exams; efforts that eventually helped to improve the students performances in their academic work.

While at the University, Nimi was a students’ union activist who championed the shaping and implementation of policies beneficial to the students. He was a member of the Students Representative Council, President of the Law Students Association and Member of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS). He and his friends took interest in recruiting and sponsoring male and female students activists who had the leadership potential into student union offices. In the University, they had a working relationship with human rights activists like Femi Falana now a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. He graduated with a Bachelor of Laws Degree, 2nd Class Honours, Upper Division



Nimi would not have attended the Nigerian Law School without the help of Mr. Nimi Jim-Jack, an uncle he discovered by random search of the telephone directory of all Jacks in the Lagos area. After several calls and even speaking with a foreigner, he got to call Mr. Nimi Jim Jack who turned out to be a relative of his. It was Mr. Nimi Jim-Jack who then provided him with accommodation that afforded the young Nimi, the opportunity to attend Law School. During his Law School days he was instrumental to organizing what has now metamorphosed into a permanent Students Representative body at the Nigerian Law School.

This arose from the burial of Late Nabo Graham Douglas, the then Chairman of the Council of Legal Education. Hitherto there was no forum to enable the students participate in the burial. So it was an opportunity to get the students organized and effectively show representation at the funeral.

He was called to the Nigerian Bar as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in August 1984. Upon graduation and on the day he was called to the Bar, Nimi resolved that he was never going to tell a lie and he was not going to die poor. 30 years after this resolve, his life is a marked reflection of a man of sound character.

Nimi Walson-Jack began his legal service career with the mandatory national service at the Ministry of Justice, Uyo, in `then Cross River State. As a Youth Corper, Nimi who was already engaged in public legal education and service through which he also did some pro bono cases, used his legal training to encourage citizens and businesses in Uyo to pay their taxes. After one year of outstanding service he was honoured as the Best Corps Member in Cross River State, and was also awarded the President’s/NYSC National Honours Award for outstanding and meritorious service to the country. It is on record that he is the first lawyer to win this award.

On completion of the national service, Nimi established solo legal practice in Bori, the heartland of the Ogonis, Eleme and in Sagbama in present day Bayelsa State. His law firm was the first to be established in these areas. He used this remarkable platform to play a historic role. He ensured easy access to the courts, and most importantly justice for the people. To acquire the requisite tutelage, he was affiliated to the law firm of G. A. Graham-Douglas SAN & Co on Potts Johnson Street, Port Harcourt.

In those days, Nimi recalled that there was 12 hours of electricity supply daily and chlorinated pipe-borne water provided by the Rivers State Utilities Board at Bori. The warmth and friendliness of the people was matchless. Tribe and tongue didn’t matter at the time. People from other parts of Rivers State and Nigeria went to attend Birabi Memorial Grammar School (BMGS), Bori, Marian High School, Bane, and St. Pius College (SPC), Bodo. He also devoted time to contribute to public legal education, in addition to providing legal aid services to the indigent under the legal aid scheme of the Legal Aid Council, which was also extended to Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State.

The success of the young Walson-Jack in his rural legal practice was so inspiring that the National leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association invited him to share his experiences with other lawyers at the NBA National Law Week in Lagos; a privilege for the then young lawyer. Nimi Walson-Jack returned to the Obafemi Awolowo University (formerly University of Ife) to study for a Master’s degree in Law in 1987 where he was appointed a Junior Trainee Fellow.



In 1988 when Nigeria decided to write a new Constitution, Nimi Walson-Jack was appointed by the Federal Government of Gen. Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida to represent youth and students interest in the Constituent Assembly. His track record obviously spoke for him. In the Constituent Assembly, he was the youngest member as he was barely 25 years old at the time and shot to instant limelight when he was beamed on national television as the spokesman of the South-South caucus. It was in the course of this service that he met a lady, Didi Otobo, introduced to him by his cousin Ine Jacks (now Mrs Nnadi). The elegant lady he fell in love with at first sight, who at the time was Didi Otobo, is the 8th of 14 daughters and 3 Sons of the traditional ruler of Tombia in Ekpetiama clan, Bayelsa State, who is now Dame Didi Walson-Jack mni, his wife of 25 years.

Nimi and Didi were married after a very short courtship at the St. Cyprian’s Anglican Church, Port Harcourt, on 6th May 1989 at a colourful but modest wedding ceremony. The marriage is blessed with 2 biological children and tens of godchildren across Nigeria. The first daughter, Sotonye Didi Walson-Jack is a Cardiff University Law graduate, and holds a master degree in International Commercial law from the same university. She is currently pursuing her passion at the International Fashion Academy, France, where she is studying for an MBA in Fashion Business. Their son, Nimisoere Junior Walson-Jack is in his final year of a Bachelor degree in Law and Politics at the Cardiff University, Wales, United Kingdom.

At the conclusion of the Constituent Assembly, Nimi served as Special Assistant to Alabo Tonye Graham-Douglas, the then Minister of Social Development, Youth & Sports, and later Minister of Aviation. In this capacity, he was a member of numerous federal government delegations including that to the Supreme Council of Sports in Africa meeting in Mauritius. While at the Ministry of Aviation, he attended courses and obtained a certificate in Aviation Law and Management from the International Aviation Management and Training Institute held in Bali, Indonesia

He later resigned to take advantage of a Commonwealth and Foreign office scholarship for a Masters degree in the United Kingdom in Criminal, Criminology and Police Work at the University of Wales, now Cardiff University. His first daughter Sotonye was born there. Upon graduation, he got employed as a Law Officer, in the South Glamorgan County Council, Cardiff in Wales; a job from which he resigned to join the Ada George/Odili administration that had just won the governorship election.

In the Chief Ada George administration, he was appointed Special Assistant to Deputy Governor Dr. Peter Odili, an office he shared with Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, now Governor of Rivers State. Walson-Jack was later to become the State Legal Adviser of the National Republican Convention (NRC). While in service, he was the Director Presidential Nomination Conference of the National Republican Convention (NRC). He later served as Secretary Local Organising Committee, Rivers State Sub-Seat for FIFA Junior World Cup (Nigeria ’95), which was truncated by the coup of 1993.

Following the military coup d’etat by the late Gen. Sani Abacha in 1993, which brought an end to the civil rule, he joined the human rights and anti-military movement, which successfully saw to the exit of the military from politics and return to democracy in Nigeria.

In course of the struggle in 1996, he was chosen by the American Government to participate in the Young African Leaders Programme in the United States of America. The programme exposed him to the workings of a democratic society, shaped his worldview and prepared him for civil society development work. The Centre for Responsive Politics, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) was established by him as a result of his American experience. On the platform of this NGO, the citizenry was sensitized, mobilized and educated for democratic governance

Speaking about the works of Walson-Jack, Robert R. La Gamma, Executive Director, Council for a Community of Democracies in the USA, said:

“... there are as many forms of democracies as there are democratic countries. Those forms take into accounts a country’s culture, history and traditions. They are coloured by non-formal institutions such as that of Nimi Walson-Jack in Nigeria. What has impressed me most about my own experience in Nigeria was the incredible profusion of Nigerian non-governmental organizations that pressure on a series of military governments to cede power to civilians through elections.” (Pocantico, New York, June 29, 2000).

Since Nigeria’s return to civil democratic rule, Hon. Walson-Jack has been actively involved in legal practice and programmes geared towards the sustenance of democracy in the country. In Nigeria’s current democratic exercise, Hon. Walson-Jack was an influential member of the Transition Monitoring Group, a coalition of over 170 civil society and human rights groups committed to civic education, democratic norms and election monitoring. He coordinated elections observation activities in the six states of the Niger Delta area of Nigeria. He is also the Vice President of Civitas International, a global consortium of civic educators and the Founder and Executive Director of Public Education Works Initiative (formerly Centre for Responsive Politics), a non-governmental organization.

As a lawyer, he is an active member of the Port Harcourt Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association. He is best remembered for his pioneering works as a member of the human rights committee in the hay days of military dictatorship and secretary of the Seminars/Publications committee. He organized the boycott by lawyers of the special tribunal to try Ken Saro Wiwa. In 2004, Hon. Walson-Jack achieved a national feat when he was elected General Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association; the first non Lagos-based Lawyer to be so elected. It was to the credit of his administration, that the secretariat of the association was moved to Abuja, a campaign promise that was kept. He also served the Bar Association in other capacities; as a member Body of Benchers, General Council of the Bar and Board Member Legal Aid Council.

Nimi’s obsession is with continuing legal education, public law-related education and the emancipation of women. To fulfill his dream he published LAWFAIR, the first newsmagazine of the legal profession in Nigeria. He is also involved in the publication of the first-ever Directory of Lawyers in Nigeria. His interest in law publications extends to Law Review and Reporting. He was an active member of the Editorial Board of the Rivers State Law Review Committee, which produced six volumes of the Revised Edition of the Laws of Rivers State, Nigeria. He was also a member of the Rivers State Law Report Committee.

Since 1996, Nimi Walson-Jack has worked closely with the leadership and members of women groups to uplift the welfare of women and children in society. He has participated and contributed to policy issues and legislation aimed at dealing with the evils that subjugate and oppress women in Nigeria.

Nimi has literally travelled all over the world as he is regularly invited to workshops, seminars and conferences; facilitate or conduct trainings, or speak before audiences around the world as a keynote presenter and expert panelist on a wide range of topics, including:

The state of Nigeria’s democracy and strategies for development.
Building citizen engagement through public deliberation.
Strategies for engaging public officials and policymakers, Administration, Management, and Public Policy

Some of the countries he has visited include Indonesia, Singapore, Netherlands, United States of America, France, Italy, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Switzerland, Germany, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar, Mauritius, Senegal, Mali, Ivory Coast, Republic of Benin, Togo, Ghana, India, Kenya, New Zealand, Portugal, Jordan, Egypt, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, and Dominican Republic.

Hon. Nimi Walson-Jack has published a book entitled Drug Trafficking and The Law in Nigeria. Nimi Walson-Jack is a Lay Reader of the Anglican Communion and not surprisingly, his hobbies include singing hymns. He is a member of the Full Gospel Businessmen Fellowship International. He has served as a Director of Publicity of the Port Harcourt City Chapter and is currently the President of the Yenagoa Eminent Chapter. He was the chairman Bori District Amateur Football Association.

He is happily married to Didi Walson-Jack, an Alumnus of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, a former Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Bayelsa State, a Director in the Federal Civil Service, and currently the Chief of Staff Bayelsa State Government House, Yenagoa. They have two children, Sotonye (Soso) and Nimi Jnr. Together they enjoy traveling, and playing scrabble and badminton.

Name: Barrister Nyesom Wike
Date of Birth: N/A
LGA & Senatorial District: Obio Akpor, Rivers East
Marital Status: Married
Current Political occupation: Minister of State for Education
Political Party: Peoples Democratic Party

Dakuku Peterside or Nimi Walson Jack

@OP, Sen. Magnus is from Gokana lga and not opobo/nkoro.

Where is Julius Agwu on the list? Or the list isn't complete

Where Julius or is he too small to be noticed?

Dust nyesom wike n let him support any candidate, the person will win. Let him go for senate instead. I support an ogoni candidate....lee meaba.

Any candidate but Nyesom Wike

MAJOR LANCELOT ANYANYA (Rtd).
My dear Rivers people, this is Major Lancelot
Anyanya (Rtd). He is an Andoni-IJAW Rivers Man
from Ataba Community of Rivers State. He is the
Director General or should I say; Chairman of the
"National Oil Spill Detection Response Agency
(NOSDRA)".
From the look (picture inset and
without being told), you can see he as well Young.
To be honest, there is nothing bad or ugly that
has been said about him. Just that, some say he
is a "newcomer", which to me is immaterial if he
has the magic wand to take us to Uhuru. Without
much ado, he is also in the Guber race for the
Rivers 2015 Governorship under the People's
Democratic Party (the PDP).
Constitutionally, he is good to go from all I know.
Academically he sound enough to lead as well
(just hear him talk),

THIS IS THE MAN