₦airaland Forum

COVID-19: RIVERS OPENS MARKETS FOR BUSINESS

*Rumukwurushe (Oil Mill) and Oginiba Slaughter Markets remain closed

*Churches now to operate 50 percent of their hall capacity

*Local Government Chairmen to enforce COVID-19 compliance in their LGAs

Rivers State Government has announced the re-opening of all markets in the State with effect from Tuesday, August 18, 2020 from 7a.m and close at 6p.m daily.

Governor Nyesom Wike who announced this in a state-wide broadcast today said that Rumukwurushe (Oil Mill) and Oginiba Slaughter Markets still remain closed.

He stated that as the markets resume business, they must operate in strict compliance with the established protocols on wearing of face masks, washing of hands and maintaining social distancing.

The Governor said government lifted the ban placed on markets to increase the tempo of economic activities in the State.

"Market managers must provide for hand washing and use of sanitizers for everyone at the entrance of every market, ensure wearing of face mask and maintaining social distancing.

"Any market that opens to the public and fails to comply strictly with these protocols shall be closed down. The market managers shall be prosecuted while the contravening shops shall be forfeited to the State Government without notice.

"Similarly, Churches can now hold services with 50 percent of their hall capacity provided the leadership can enforce wearing of face masks and washing of hands at the entrance by worshippers.

"The ban on outdoor sports activities at the Port Harcourt Club, Golf Club and the Port Harcourt Polo Club is also lifted.

"Members of these clubs must also comply with the established COVID-19 protocols or risk another closure.

"In addition, all night clubs, cinemas, bars and in-service restaurants remain banned until further notice. The established restrictions on public burials and weddings are also still in force.

"All Local Government Chairmen are hereby directed to ensure strict compliance with the protocols in their respective Local Government Areas.

"We also call on the security agencies to support the State Government to fight against the spread of this disease by enforcing the wearing of face mask in public places and maintenance of physical distancing throughout the state.

"Government has increased the State's capacity for surveillance, contact tracing, testing and treatment of positive cases in line with the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), oil and gas companies that provided PCR laboratories.

"We are also considering the request for approval and certification by some private laboratories to provide sample collection and testing services," he said.

Governor Wike stated that with the available data on COVID-19 cases, the measures put in place by the State Government are impacting positively on the efforts to control the spread of the virus.

He stated that even though the State presently stands as the fifth most impacted State in the country, there has been a steady drop on the number of new positive cases within the last seven weeks.

According to the Governor, the State can move to a higher level of increased spread if residents do not change their deviant behaviours.

"The deviant behaviour of residents and visitors to the State to comply with the basic COVID-19 rules inspite of repeated appeals from me, NCDC and other well-meaning persons is quite unfortunate.

"We therefore appeal to all residents to exercise due sense of responsibility by complying with the established protocols on wearing of face mask, use of hand sanitizers and maintaining social distancing," he said.

Governor Wike commended the medical personnel and volunteers who have continued to render selfless services to check the spread of the virus.

He also thanked individual and corporate donors who have supported the state and said their names would be published soon.

On the dissolution of the Taskforce on Illegal Motor Parks and Street Trading, the Governor said the decision was taken because the members took the laws into their hands.

While urging motorists and traders not to go back to their old ways, the Governor announced that a disciplined Taskforce would soon be reconstituted.





Paulinus Nsirim
Commissioner for Information and Communications

August 17, 2020

Picture:

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, in a state-wide broadcast today at Government House, Port Harcourt.

That would mark the beginning of their end

I think, she was later exonerated of all the financial allegations

Even when he know he can't win

Yes, Man Utd fans can analyse football very well, unlike Chelsea fans

Chii59:
So? What difference does it make?

You see, when woman build a house, they tend to exert much power and influence over you in the house than when it's built by ur father.

Is it the mother that built the house? Before I would know what to say

But can't overrun boko haram and other bandits in ur state. Reckless statement

I told people, this man look unprepared

Otuamaka:
I've been a runs babe all my adult life and I can't make 1% of these guys earnings... Mtcheew, this life no just balance... nawa ooo

Maybe, u no dey run well

SmartPolician:
Sorry to disappoint you; That's not the reason the figures dropped

NCDC said some of their staff are not working at the moment, so they have reduced test capacity.

It will still increase when they resume

Why are they not working?

These ministers no get sense at all. How can you tell this kind of lie?

Ok

edoairways:
Delta state

Little "Success" in Edo state comes to mind. See how ppl dey take become famous

Ex - NDDC? They should be careful o

So, what's there again to enjoy? A whole 13 years?

This one na movie or what?

We have a lot of problems here facing us - bad roads, poor power supply, insecurity and the chief of them all - corruption. So, if anyone doesn't like it (BBNaija), change channel, it's never the only channel to watch anything

If the world would still be in existence by then

Corruption fighting back

Are they going to reopen the case?

MrALIVE:
So many people can read but can't comprehend ..the case was struck out because of non-appearance of the plaintiff.

Very scary injury. May his soul rest in the perfect peace of our Lord Jesus Christ

What would now happen to them after the choice has been made?

Except Cross River state

PaChukwudi44:
Lol these fight is very much bigger than Magnus Abe.You know nothing John snow

Worgu Boms is of the camp of Magnus Abe

I see Amaechi losing the leadership of APC to Magnus Abe. Time shall tell

I no wan make anyone thief my manifestoes

Jokers

Evil woman

This is serious.

Compels party to allow Abe’s loyalists participate in congresses



By Davies Iheamnachor – Port Harcourt
A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has declared Hon. Igo Aguma, the Acting Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in the state.

The court also compelled the party to allow all members of the party loyal to Sen. Magnus Abe, who purchased from for the congresses of the party in 2018 to take part in the process.

Justice George Omereji gave these rulings in two separate suits brought before him by Dele Moses and 9 others and Igo Aguma, a chieftain of the party, on different matters in the crises rocking the party in the state.


Aguma had sought the court to declare the Caretaker Committee brought by the National Working Committee of the party as void, and declare him to head the affairs of the state by virtue of his position as the National Delegate and Statutory member of the party.


Omereji in his judgment after the submissions of the claimant’s counsel, Echezona Etiaba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, declared that Aguma had the locus standi to approach the court, adding that there was the issue of injustice and violation of the civil right of the applicant.


On issues of jurisdiction as raised by the defendants, Omereji held that the court has the right to entertain the matter to see whether the rights of the claimants have been violated, adding that defendants have not established that the claimant has no locus standi and had provided no evidence to show that he (Aguma) did not exhaust all the avenues in the party before approaching the court.

He also ruled that the suit was not an abuse of the court process, because he only requested that the APC rules should be followed, noting that the claimant being a former member of House of Representatives meets the requirements of a statutory member.


He ruled that no section of the APC constitution prohibits the statutory members of the party not to carry out the duties of the State Executive Committee in their absence, noting that in the case such lacuna that will warrant the setting up of the Committee by the national body of the party has not arisen because there was still the State Executive Committee of the party in the state.

He held: “It is my view that the appointment of the caretaker of the Committee without the inclusion of the national delegate and SEC is a violation of the party’s constitution. All the National Convention Delegates and State Executive Committee members should be part of the caretaker Committee.”


He noted that the tenure of the caretaker committee of the party elapsed in September, noting that the continuous stay of the caretaker Committee is null and void, even he described it as fatal.

Omereji, who granted all the prayers of the claimant, Aguma, held that the decision of the court should be given immediate effect to enable the second party to rebuild itself.

On the matter brought by Dele Moses and nine others, Omereji held that only those who purchased the form to participate in the annulled Congresses of the party in the state should participate in the Congresses to be rescheduled by the party.


The judge granted all six prayers of the applicants, ruling that the court can interfere in the internal affairs of the party when the party constitution is not followed.

Omereji held that democracy would be effective in the country when the parties have internal democracy, noting that the suit by Moses and others is justiceable.

He ruled that all the candidates and those excluded in the cancelled Congresses are automatic to be allowed to participate in the process.



Reacting to the court judgment, Aguma, noted that the ruling has given the party opportunity to make peace, noting that the party is bigger than any individual.

Aguma promised not to compromise the confidence reposed on him in piloting the affairs of the party, adding that peace would be restored in the party.

However, counsel for the defendants, Mr. Emenike Ebete, said the decisions of the court on the two matters would be challenged at the Court of Appeal.


He noted that there were a lot of grounds where the court erred in its decisions, adding that the judgment would not survive tested at the appellate court.

Compels party to allow Abe’s loyalists participate in congresses



By Davies Iheamnachor – Port Harcourt
A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has declared Hon. Igo Aguma, the Acting Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in the state.

The court also compelled the party to allow all members of the party loyal to Sen. Magnus Abe, who purchased from for the congresses of the party in 2018 to take part in the process.

Justice George Omereji gave these rulings in two separate suits brought before him by Dele Moses and 9 others and Igo Aguma, a chieftain of the party, on different matters in the crises rocking the party in the state.


Aguma had sought the court to declare the Caretaker Committee brought by the National Working Committee of the party as void, and declare him to head the affairs of the state by virtue of his position as the National Delegate and Statutory member of the party.


Omereji in his judgment after the submissions of the claimant’s counsel, Echezona Etiaba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, declared that Aguma had the locus standi to approach the court, adding that there was the issue of injustice and violation of the civil right of the applicant.


On issues of jurisdiction as raised by the defendants, Omereji held that the court has the right to entertain the matter to see whether the rights of the claimants have been violated, adding that defendants have not established that the claimant has no locus standi and had provided no evidence to show that he (Aguma) did not exhaust all the avenues in the party before approaching the court.

He also ruled that the suit was not an abuse of the court process, because he only requested that the APC rules should be followed, noting that the claimant being a former member of House of Representatives meets the requirements of a statutory member.


He ruled that no section of the APC constitution prohibits the statutory members of the party not to carry out the duties of the State Executive Committee in their absence, noting that in the case such lacuna that will warrant the setting up of the Committee by the national body of the party has not arisen because there was still the State Executive Committee of the party in the state.

He held: “It is my view that the appointment of the caretaker of the Committee without the inclusion of the national delegate and SEC is a violation of the party’s constitution. All the National Convention Delegates and State Executive Committee members should be part of the caretaker Committee.”


He noted that the tenure of the caretaker committee of the party elapsed in September, noting that the continuous stay of the caretaker Committee is null and void, even he described it as fatal.

Omereji, who granted all the prayers of the claimant, Aguma, held that the decision of the court should be given immediate effect to enable the second party to rebuild itself.

On the matter brought by Dele Moses and nine others, Omereji held that only those who purchased the form to participate in the annulled Congresses of the party in the state should participate in the Congresses to be rescheduled by the party.


The judge granted all six prayers of the applicants, ruling that the court can interfere in the internal affairs of the party when the party constitution is not followed.

Omereji held that democracy would be effective in the country when the parties have internal democracy, noting that the suit by Moses and others is justiceable.

He ruled that all the candidates and those excluded in the cancelled Congresses are automatic to be allowed to participate in the process.



Reacting to the court judgment, Aguma, noted that the ruling has given the party opportunity to make peace, noting that the party is bigger than any individual.

Aguma promised not to compromise the confidence reposed on him in piloting the affairs of the party, adding that peace would be restored in the party.

However, counsel for the defendants, Mr. Emenike Ebete, said the decisions of the court on the two matters would be challenged at the Court of Appeal.


He noted that there were a lot of grounds where the court erred in its decisions, adding that the judgment would not survive tested at the appellate court.