The Rivers state police command has come out to state categorically that they're are not aware of any curfew imposed by Governor. Amaechi. So it now leave us with one question : who will enforce the said curfew? Is it TIMARIV? Issues that partain to curfew is not something a governor can unilaterally impose without consulting the security apparatus in the state. Mean while, in my area in the heart of Port Harcourt, beer parlour are open for business with night revelers having a swell time. My governor is indeed suffering from post-election humiliation trauma.

As an Okrika man I really must point out that the Kalabari people are sui generis and are noted for having a very rich cultural heritage that has stood the test of time. But one aspect I think the kalabari council of Chiefs should take a dispassionate look at is the expensive bridal ritual that is associated with getting married to a kalabari woman.

I remember with nolstagia when my uncle got married to his kalabari wife. My uncle spent close to N2 million in the traditional marriage. Henessy was bought for each of the chiefs numbering close to 28 in number. And the kalabari people have a system whereby a father and all his son's could be a chief in one House, unlike the oKrika system where we only have one chief that heads a war canoe house.

Symphony007:
if you don't even know where lee meaba is from, there is no need continuing this discussion.

My friend, Lee Maeba is not from Andoni LGA. As a practicing politician who hails from Rivers state am in the right position to correct you when you're not getting your fact right. For purpose of putting fact in perspective kindly click on the below link http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Maeba

Symphony007:
tele ikuru has no clout or followership in andoni local government area, he was virtually unknown till he was picked as deputy governor, people like meaba lee control andoni politics not inconsequential tele.

Did I hear you say people like Lee Meaba is the one controlling Andoni LGA? For clarity sake, Lee Meaba doesn't hail from Andoni but from the Ogoni axis of Rivers state. Please do not equate Tele Ikuru as a lighter weight with no capacity to pull strings in his LGA. Holding such assumption will amount to committing a political blunder. Tele definitely has his own supporters who will defect with him to the PDP. Don't also forget that by virtue of his position he was automatically the leader of APC in Andoni LGA.

Billyonaire:
Amaechi is shaking, and he is shocked, cos Ikuru will sing at the right price. All the stealing he has been doing will be aired. That's why the Driver General is playing low key. He dares not attempt to move for impeachment, cos that will be his instant end.

Impeachment is out of the picture. There is no Chief Judge in Rivers state. So even if Amaechi rubberstamp Assembly initiates impeachment move it will all amount to naught.

Engr. Tele Ikuru's defection to PDP is long expected given that he has been rendered sterile politically by Amaechi's henchmen. I never even envisaged that Tele will follow his Boss, Amaechi in defecting to APC in view of the fact that his cousin(Uche Secondus) who brought him to the political limelight and ensured he was made commissioner and later deputy governor is a strong and committed member of the PDP. Tele's seeming defection will surely ignite tremble in the fold of APC in Rivers state and will dwindle their fortune in clinching the governorship position in the forthcoming election.

‎enhorabuena en su boda

Tashaamania:
Why would a man earning 50k per month be thinking of marriage?
Does he even love his unborn kids?

Thinking of getting married by December this year. Earning N65k at my present job in PH but is hopeful of securing a better job soonest. My reason of wanting to get married is to have a companion and not necessarily to start rearing children with my future wife. Looking at the possibility of starting the process of having kids in two years time.

So to your question, people have varied reasons for getting married. And life itself is all about planning and prioritizing your need. Life is progressive and as such you don't expect that N50k salary to be static do you?

It is a Quantity surveyor that is in the right position to give a rough estimate on the cost implication of erecting any building structure. So let's advice the op to contact one.

acidtalk:
ONLY professional Architects, Builders, and Engineers should contribute.

A breakdown on the various building stages and costing should be given.

I am from Rivers state and a card carrying member of APC. I can confirm that Jonathan will win Rivers state resoundingly. Do not forget that the Ijaws in Rivers state constitute close to 55% percent of the voting strength. The Ijaws will not leave Jonathan and vote Buhari. Mark my word, Buhari will lose Rivers state.

Buhari the serial loser. Coming back to receive the final smackdown by GEJ.

Boko Haram will soon meet its waterloo. Kudos to the Nigeria Military for a job well done.

Koroaso:
How do we tame a "MANIZER" ??

Hahahaha. Is there any word like "womanizer" in the english dictionary? The word womanizer I think had it's origin in Nigeria. The appropriate word that best describe a man who take delight in having several female sexual partners is "philanderer"

Awotan in Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State called a “drone”, was reported to have crashed into a building at Omiremi Quarters in the community, leaving a crater on the roof of the building, just as aviation sources confirmed the object as a United States’ drone on an espionage mission in Nigeria.

Considering the registration number, TX 5803, inscribed on a black battery under the craft, a source said the space craft must have taken off from  NASA base in Texas in the US, stating that the battery attached to the spacecraft powered it and enabled it to move around so that it could do the bidding of those who sent it.

Though many aviation sources told Sunday Tribune that the object could be a device used in espionage, another source, however, believed that the craft was a “nondescript aviation device”.

It will be recalled that the United States of America has, in recent times, come under attack by other countries for spying on their activities which may have confirmed the discovery of the spacecraft in Ibadan.

The craft, which was said to have dropped down from the orbit, flew into a toilet in the house of Ashipa of Awotan, Chief Tajudeen  Adetoro, a few minutes after his grandson, Afeez  Adewale and daughter-in-law, Adikat, left the toilet where they had gone to answer the call of nature.

According to Chief Adetoro, the mysterious aircraft forced itself into the toilet through the roof making deafening sound, saying it could have killed Afeez and his mother, if it had met them in the toilet.

The spacecraft, with a product number QR X30, has four stands and a rounded compartment housing its engine. It has a dry cell battery, USB drive, a censor and cables, while each of its stands has a two-way roving fan mounted on them.

The residents of the sleepy community told Sunday Tribune that the object was not a toy due to the fearful noise it made and the way it flew about, adding that it could be an explosive.

“When it flew out, we rushed after it and it was found hanging on the antennae of our neighbour…making a terrible noise and emitting heavy smoke,” Chief Adetoro narrated.

He said they ran for safety on hearing the loud bang made on the roof of their house only to discover that the object had entered the toilet hitting its wall in an attempt to exit.

Information obtained about the object from the internet revealed that it shares similarities with a device called Walkera QR X350 GPS which is sold for roughly $500.

Though the product description on it is not intelligible, Sunday Tribune learnt that it could be a remote-controlled transmitter that gives no signal when in the air, but which is used for gathering information.



FOR Afeez Adewale, a 16-year-old boy, sheer luck saved him and Adikat, his mother, from being sent to their early graves a few minutes after they left the toilet in their house, last Sunday, at Omiremi Quarters, Awotan, Ibadan.

Afeez had gone to the toilet to answer the call of nature not long after his mother had come out of the same toilet only to hear a loud bang on the roof of their house, specifically the toilet.

The object was said to have forcefully fallen on the roof of the toilet breaking through and shattering its asbestos.

According to the Asipa of Awotan and landlord of the house, Chief Tajudeen Adetoro, it wasn’t long after Afeez and his mother left the rest room when they suddenly heard a frightening sound on the roof of the toilet.

Chief Adetoro, who is Afeez’s grandfather, said it was God that saved the mother and son, saying the source of the drone-like object was unknown.



“We were in panic; we were almost dead when we heard the sound suddenly and all of us scampered for safety. It was after a few minutes that we thought that hiding in the house was not the solution but to find a way to get the object out of our house due to the horrible and disturbing noise it was making that my son and I fearfully moved to the scene to know what it was.

“When we got there, we stood a little away looking at it from a short distance. It was then we saw it clearly and it was seriously struggling making a frightening noise in its bid to find an escape route. As it was struggling, it was hitting every angle of the toilet walls forcefully shrieking and trying to exit the toilet.

“It was during the struggle that it escaped through the same point it gained entry. When it flew out, we rushed after it and it was found hanging on the antenna of our neighbour. It hung there making a terrible noise and emitting heavy smoke. I think in the process of struggle to get it out, it lost one of its components, a stand. I asked my son to climb the facial board to remove it.

“When he brought it down, it was heavy and there were so many red illuminating lights all over it blinking every second,” the chief narrated.



He said when the material had been removed from where it was stuck so that they could examine it thoroughly, the object repeatedly tried to fly away.

“It  was then I asked my son to remove some of its compartments to render it inactive. We removed the battery, its censor, among others. At that time, everybody in the neighbourhood had gathered to see the wonderful object,” he added.

Chief Adetoro said they initially thought it was a mere toy but after a close look, it was discovered that “the material could be a bomb, more so that ever since we captured and incapacitated it nobody had come looking for it because we initially felt that it was one of the toys parents bought for their children for Christmas and New Year.

“Also, when we considered the manner with which it got in and exited, we felt that the object was being monitored and controlled from somewhere. After careful consideration and examination of the compartments of the object we thought it could be an explosive.

“When nobody from this community came to claim it, we concluded that the object was more than what we thought it to be; it must have travelled a long distance,” Afeez’s father said.

The Chief Imam of Awotan Central Mosque, Sheik Abdulai Adesina, and a woman who are both neighbours of Chief Adetoro confirmed the incident, saying “the sound of the object was highly terrifying and fearful.”

When the object was examined, it is made up of components such as a dry cell battery, a censor housed by a white case, a USB  (memory card) drive and a panel that is well cased as well as lots of cables.

According to Chief Adetoro, the community had informed security agents about the incident and called for investigation on it, noting that if left unravelled, it would be difficult to douse tension and erase fear among the residents of the community who now believed that they were being targeted for attacks.

The object, Sunday Tribune investigation revealed, has since been handed over to security operatives.

http://www.theparadigmng.com/?p=11717&utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter#

Hey Mr. Man, the Rainb0w h0using pr0ject is privatE sector drivEn as it is financed by First Bank PLC. The only stake thE RSG has in that projEct is thE land that was provided to First Bank PLC. It will rEally be mislEading if that is addEd as an achivement of CRA.

Abagworo:

Whichever way we look at it the cost of paying compensation for demolished houses in Port-Harcourt alone surpasses everything in Akwa-Ibom by my estimates. Ada George road had over 500 houses demolished and compensation of roughly 20million. That amounts to about 10billion Naira. Its is same story with Rumuola, Okporo, Old Aba Road, Olu Obasanjo Road, Elekahia Road and NTA Road. Another consideration is the quality of the Roads and not painting. All the Amaechi Roads were built with only sharp sand and they had to dig 5 to 10 feet off the old road and refill. In some cases like that of Olu Obasanjo they were cast with concrete and steel. The entire D-Line has received new drainages and pavements, so has old Port-Harcourt township, Trans-Amadi and Oroazi/GRA. Work is ongoing in several places till this moment. Go to Mother-Cat linking Amadia-Ama and notice the new Rainbow town which used to be a slum. We have about 10 units of 30 storey buildings springing up there. Three have crossed 20 storey as I write. The Port-Harcourt-Eneka-Igwruta Road is ongoing as well and has reached advanced stage. Woji is also ongoing though at early stage.

The road to Opobo was concEived and hatched by Dr PEtEr Odili led administration and was at 40% complEtion bEforE 0dili b0wed 0ut f0m thE saddlE. Many 0f Amaechi's aclaimed achievEments in road construction werE projects he inhErited from his predecessOr.

Abagworo:

You are the one dreaming. Amaechi has almost completed road to Opobo. What achievement of that sort infrastructurally can you attribute to Akpabio? He only constructed roads outside the city where there was little or no compensations, then painted the roads. What else?

Nigerian Christian leaders have joined their Cameroonian counterparts to condemn the recent clampdown on Pentecostal churches in Cameron.

President Paul Biya had ordered the closure of 50 churches, many of which originated from Nigeria.

Pastors in Bamenda and Douala had on Wednesday marched against the government’s order.

Reacting to the development, the Chairman, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Lagos chapter, Apostle Alex Bamgbola, asked Biya to reverse the order or face God’s wrath.

He said closing the churches down was tantamount to closing his life and career if he failed to reverse the order.

Bamgbola said, “Since I read about the development in the dailies, I have been praying for Biya. I ask him to reverse the order or be ready to face the anger of God.

“Quote me, Biya cannot get away with this just like the biblical King Nebuchadnezzar.”

A former General Overseer, Foursquare Gospel Church, Nigeria, Rev. Wilson Badejo, said since the churches were formally registered to operate, Biya should have gone through the proper channel to correct whatever wrong he had noticed.

Badejo said, “It is wrong for him to summarily order the closure of churches. That is the spiritual heartbeat of the country. They are harmless institutions. I call on him to reverse the order.”

Badejo said the Christian community in the country should have a dialogue with Biya before taking any action against him.

Corroborating his view, the founder of Evangelical Ministries, Bishop Stephen Ogedengbe, said Biya was heading towards wrath by closing down the house of God.

He said except he reversed the action, he should prepare for the implication of his action.

“We are seeing the manifestations of the end times. African leaders are playing God. Biya should not only look at the negative incident he referred to for shutting the churches, what about the many good things that people have benefitted from the churches?

“I just want him to know that this will not stand. Churches in Nigeria are already praying against the move,” he said.

Biya had declared the Pentecostal churches as illegal and posing security threats.

He cited the collapse and death of a nine-year-old girl during a prayer session in a Pentecostal church in Bamenda as a further reason for his action




http://naijagists.com/president-of-cameron-paul-biya-closed-down-50-nigerian-churches/

The Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt yesterday annulled the Justice Biobele Georgewill Judicial Commission of Enquiry probing the July 9 and 10 fracas in the state House of Assembly.

The court branded the commission of enquiry unconstitutional and ordered it to stop sitting forthwith. Besides, it restrained the governor and the state's Attorney-General for themselves and as representatives of the government from receiving, accepting or howsoever implementing any report or recommendation from the judicial commission of enquiry.

Justice Iyayi Lanmikaran, in granting the two reliefs sought by the applicant, Mr. Victor Ihunwo, one of the five anti-Amaechi members of the State Assembly, held that the executive has no right to dabble into the affairs of the legislature under the 1999 Constitution.

The panel was set up by Governor Rotimi Amaechi to probe the fracas which was sparked when the five assemblymen who were on suspension stormed the House to impeach Speaker Otelamaba Dan Amachree and install their own speaker in Mr. Evans Bipi.

The attempt was resisted by the majority of the lawmakers who are on the side of the governor in the crisis that has polarised the PDP in the state.

Justice Lanmikaran also faulted part of the commission's terms of reference which, according to her, infringes on criminal issues that ought to be handled by regular courts.

Counsel to the commission, Mr. Olusola Dare said: 'It's the court's decision; we have accepted the judgment.

'The Judge has delivered her judgement. Everybody is bound by the judgment.

'The only thing applicable now is for us to decide the next line of action. We accept the judgment for now.

He said he would consult with his clients first to know whether the case would go on appeal.

The applicant, Ihunwo, lauded the court's judgment and said 'God has vindicated me.'

Restating his reasons for going to court in the first instance, Ihunwo said:'Chibuike Amaechi, governor of the state, is an interested party. So, as an interested party, he cannot be a judge in his own case. As a result, we know that we cannot get any good judgment from the panel he has set up.

'Some members of the panel are somehow related to him, e.g Agbaraosimili who has total loyalty to the chief of staff and the governor.

'This matter concerns the legislative arm of government and on no account can the Executive come in to settle our internal wrangling.

'It behoves on us to settle our matters by ourselves, and by this judgement, God has vindicated us.'

Asked if the PDP crisis could ever end, he said: 'I can't say that we, the five law makers loyal to Evans Bipi, are not ready for peace. What has happened today is a proof to the world that we are ready for peace.

His counsel, Dike Udenna, said: 'The incident we are talking about happened in the hallowed chambers of the Rivers State House of Assembly. By the doctrine of separation of power, the legislative arm of government is different and distinct from the executive arm. The Executive cannot now rise up to set up an enquiry to investigate the internal workings of the other arm of government.'

The State's Attorney General and Commisioner for Justice declined comment on the verdict.

The Obuah faction of the PDP in the state lauded the ruling with Mr. Jerry Needam, Special Adviser on Media to the Chairman, Hon Felix Obuah, saying the nullification of the commission has 'vindicated the position of the party that the setting up of the Commission ab initio was ill-intended and had no other motive than to witch-hunt perceived opponents of Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi who is also a party in the crisis.'

The party hailed the courage displayed by the judiciary to 'insist on the truth and the fact that Gov Amaechi who was physically present at the scene of the incident and fully took part in the fracas cannot deny being part of the crisis and therefore cannot turn round to investigate the matter in whatever guise, as that would amount to a breach of natural justice to be a judge in one's own case.

'We are happy and wish to express our renewed confidence in the Nigerian judiciary to uphold justice in the face of intimidation and wanton display of power.

'Particularly noteworthy is the recognition of the fact that the state legislature is a separate arm of government as significant as both the executive and the judiciary and must not be hijacked by either of the arms.'

It wondered why individual members of the dissolved commission of enquiry accepted to serve in such a body 'which it described as a tool for indictment of opponents and probably, also aimed to rubbish the hard earned reputation of the members of the panel.'

A member of the House of Representatives from the state, Chief Andrew Uchendu, however expressed shock at the court's decision.

Uchendu, Chairman of the House Committee on Public Service Matters, said the state government reserved the right to look at the logic and basis on which the ruling was made and decide if it should accept or appeal the ruling.

Wanosike Samuel, Secretary-General of Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI), which has the Minister of State for Education Nyesom Wike as patron, described the ruling as a testament to the fact that the judiciary remains the last hope of the common man.

'The judiciary has always stood by the people of Rivers State and has always come to their rescue. We are happy and we congratulate the entire people of the state for this well delivered judgment,' he said.

http://www.thenigerianvoice.com/nvnews/122081/1/rivers-crisis-court-sacks-amaechis-commission-of-e.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=tnv

Are you disappointed by the posts and comments you read on the Internet and social media? Do you think that some people are using the Internet to spread hate and venom? Are you concerned that the Internet is being abused? If you are, you are not the only one. I write this piece to address the topic of manners and rules of conduct online.
Recent reports have shown that there is an estimated population of 45 million Nigerians, who  have access to the Internet, and the number is increasing. Nigerians are also one of the top users of Facebook and twitter in the world. We have about 5 million Facebook users. Social media websites have now replaced TV, radio and newspapers as major source of news and information, especially among young people. People can now use their phones or computers to connect with friends and strangers across the globe, and access news and information. This was unimaginable just a decade ago. The internet has transformed the way we do things. It has democratized access to information and facilitates easy communication. It has become a vehicle for enhancing participation of citizens in public and democratic discourse.
The number of on-line newspapers is increasing and even the traditional newspapers are also using the Internet and social media to reach out to readers. People who read news on-line can now with a click share the news with thousands of their friends, and respond to the news by leaving comments, and most of these comments are not moderated. Unlike the traditional print media, the Internet gives us an opportunity to comment as soon as an event happens without cooling period. Research has also shown that there is a connection between Internet anonymity and Internet civility. People will say all kinds of things if they know it cannot be traced back to them.
Some people now hide behind their computer screen to write all sorts of unimaginable things. They underestimate the impact of what they write online. Internet community, however, just like the real-life  community in which we live has its rules of decorum. There is friendship, respect, humility kindness and care. In many ways,   the Internet reveals our true character and what we think. For example, if you don’t insult people when you meet them in person,   why should you insult the people you meet online?
A review that I conducted recently have shown  an alarming increase in hate speech, inflammatory comments, and incitement to religious and ethnic hatred on the Internet. If you go through what people are posting on various social media platforms, blogs and online groups, you will see and hear comments, pictures and videos that hurtful, harmful and promote hatred and incite harm. Hate speech and cyber hate messages, we must understand, breed violence. This comes in various forms like use of “False facts,” “flawed argumentation,” “divisive language,” and dehumanizing metaphors.”
Instead of using the Internet to create friendship, socialize and learn from each other, it has become a tool of propaganda and dehumanizing each other. Instead of using the Internet to engage our leaders and communicate our needs and demands, we are using the Internet to insult them.
Consequently, a majority of politicians in Nigeria pay little attention to what you say on the social media. If you cannot insult your leader face-to-face why should you insult him online? Instead of making us wiser and tolerant, the Internet is making some people more intolerant and bigoted.
 Based on my experience as a long-term Facebook and Internet user, I propose the following as a guide for enjoying and making good use of
the Internet.
 Why you should be civil on Internet forums?
 ·The internet is a real space.
 · Protect your Internet reputation
 ·Your employer or potential employer may be online monitoring what you are doing (many people lost their jobs because of
abuse and misuse of social media)
 · Your friends parents and your in-laws may be on facebook—watch what you say.
 · The people you are insulting may be reading what you write.
What you should keep in mind
 · News is news and commenting on it won't change what happened. If you want something in the news to be corrected write a letter
to the editor.
 · Know that the people you are dealing with are also human beings. They have feelings and can get offended by your actions.
 · Before you write something bad understand that what you write will always be on record and can be used against you.
 ·You don’t have to comment if you don’t have anything useful to say. Silence is golden.
 ·Know that your sarcasm or jokes may be misunderstood, be ready to clarify and apologize if others are offended by it.
 · Avoid reading comments if you don’t want to read offensive words. People say crazy things in the comment section.
 ·Never make comments without reading the article or post you are responding to. Say things only if they are Helpful, Necessary
or Kind.
 ·There are only less than 5% of Nigerians on Facebook. (Facebook is not the end of the world)
 Dos
· Use your name
·Treat others as you would like to be treated.
 ·If you write a comment that people find offensive and inappropriate. Be a gentleman or lady and delete the comment. If people find your comments offensive feel free to apologize or explain.
 Don’t
 ·Don’t write on the Internet what you cannot say
in person.


http://mobile.saharareporters.com/article/manners-and-rules-conduct-internet-aminu-hassan-gamawa

PREAMBLE
The problems that engulfed the Niger Delta region between 2003 and 2007 has its roots in the crisis in parts of Rivers State in 2003/2004 that pitched leaders of several local militias and cult groups against one another in a supremacy battle. The turbulence was such that residents of the State could not move from one community to the other or from one part of Port Harcourt to another for fear of being victims of the needless carnage between the warring groups. Despite, the intervention of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in October 2004 in what became known as the ‘first Amnesty programme.The crisis eventually spread to other States of the Niger Delta and assumed a different dimension that took the ‘second amnesty programme’ and the determination of the Rivers State Government insistence on the enforcement of law and order to bring it under control. One of the major casualties of the 2003/2004 mayhem was the Nigeria Police Force whose officers and men suffered death, humiliation and lost morale because at some point during the crisis, the police failed in the discharge of its duties and eventually became victims of their inactions.
With this benefit of hindsight, I have since assumption of office as Governor of Rivers State treated the security of lives and property as priority. The Rivers State Government under my watch invested massively in training, equipping and providing logistics support for the Nigeria Police and other law enforcement agencies to enhance their capacity to discharge their duties.
It is in furtherance of this that I write to bring to your attention certain developments in Rivers State that are undermining the security of lives and property of residents, dwellers and businesses.
For purposes of this communication it may be necessary to restate the following obvious but critical facts.
1) Rivers State is one of the 36 States of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
2) It is the largest on-shore oil producing State and the headquarters of Nigeria’s hydro- carbon industry. It is also home to Nigeria’s only Oil and Gas Free Zone as well as several off- shore oil and gas fields. In addition, Rivers State hosts multinational Oil and Gas Companies, Shell Petroleum Development Co (SPDC), MOBIL, AGIP, CHEVRON and many others.
3) Rivers State is the second largest economy in Nigeria after Lagos State.
4) During the inglorious days of militancy, Rivers State was the fault line and bore the brunt of the Niger Delta militancy wars. Those scars are still very evident.
5) The Nigerian Constitution recognises the Governor as the Chief Executive of the State.
CONSIDERATIONS
1) On February 13, 2013, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu was posted to Rivers State as the 31st Police Commissioner in the State. His predecessor Mr. Mohammed Ndabawa had served in the State for barely nine months before his replacement with Mr. Mbu.
2) I was sworn in as Governor of Rivers State on October 26, 2007.
3) I have worked with four Commissioners of Police prior to Mr. Mbu’s posting to Rivers State during which period Rivers State witnessed a steady decline in insecurity and a gradual return of peace to our State.
4) Mr. Mbu is the fifth and present Commissioner of Police in Rivers State since I became Governor. Prior to him, I had worked with Mr. Felix Ogbaudu, Mr. Bala Hassan, Mr. Sulaiman Abba and Mr. Mohammed Ndabawa.
5) Regrettably, since after his assumption as Commissioner of Police in February 2013, the security situation began to deteriorate due largely to his approach to the discharge of his responsibility as Commissioner of Police.
6) Mr. Mbu, shortly upon assumption of office began to withdraw police security attached to principal officers of the State for reasons that were different from those given by the Assistant Inspector General of Police of Zone 6 during a visit to me. Police security attached to the Governor, the Speaker, the Attorney General and key judicial officers were withdrawn without prior notice or justification. This was followed by a daily redeployment of divisional police officers and heads of departments who understood the security dynamics of the State and had held their offices with great commendation.
7) A review of the posting and deployment of Divisional Police Officers in Rivers State within the last three months, can attest to this fact.
Mr. Mbu then proceeded to undermine the security structure which the State Security Council had put in place and which had proven to be most efficient in the last six years. Specifically, he immediately terminated the joint police/army patrol, which had been used as a formidable strategy to check violent crime of kidnapping, armed robbery and car snatching in Rivers State.
9) All efforts to make him understand the peculiar security challenges in the State that had necessitated the integrated approach to security in the State were rebuffed by him.
10) While still making efforts to persuade Mr. Mbu to appreciate the peculiar challenges of the State and adopt a cordial working relationship, which the State had enjoyed with his predecessors, Mr. Mbu began to exhibit conducts consistent with partisanship in the discharge of his official duties.
11) The following evidences partisanship:
15/4/2013:
Justice Ishaq U. Bello of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory gave the most talked about and challenged judgment where he assumed jurisdiction and declared Bro. Felix Obuah as Chairman of PDP Rivers State.
The same day, the Commissioner of Police (COP), Mbu Joesph Mbu despatched five (5) troopers and over 25 policemen to takeover and seal the State PDP Secretariat and prevented Chief G. U. Akeand other members of his Executive Committee from entry into the building, even to take their personal effects.
(Note that the police was not a party to the suit and was not specifically charged to enforce the judgement, not being the Sheriff of Court).
19/4/2013:
The Commissioner of Police Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu addressed a Press Conference/Briefing where he said among others: “we are supposed to obey the court judgement. We are here to enforce the law. For now, judgment has been given and we stand by that judgement until there is a contrary order. Anybody or group of persons that attempts to cause tension in the State will be dealt with ruthlessly”
Note: The Police were not party to the suit.
22/4/2013:
Rivers State House of Assembly suspended Obio/Akpor Local Government Council Chairman and councillors based on a petition bordering on allegations of financial impropriety and other fraud related allegations. The suspension was in accordance with the Rivers State Laws.
23/4/2013:
The Caretaker Committee led by Mr. Chikaodi Dike was constituted and sworn in.
06/05/2013
Groups of hired thugs and ex-militants, wielding and brandishing dangerous weapons invaded the Rivers State House of Assembly and sacked the members from the premises, preventing them from seating.
Note that the Rivers State Police Command Headquarters is almost opposite the Assembly Complex. The Commissioner of Police and his officers were in the Police Head Quarters and were unperturbed, allowing the thugs and hoodlums to conclude their actions. The Policemen attached to the Assembly watched, unconcerned until the siege was over.
22/4/2103 and 07/5/2013
On both dates, the Okirika Local Government Chairman, Barr. Tamuno Williams appeared on Channels Television in Lagos to talk about the PDP judgment and the crisis in the State.
09/05/2013
Two days after the Television programme, the Commissioner of Police ordered the withdrawal of the Mobile Policemen attached to the Okirika Local Government Council and the orderly attached to the Chairman of the Council.
Note: Okirika LGA is one of the most volatile LGAs in the State, and is a security flash point. Peace had returned to this LGA but in recent times, there have been renewed cult activities and a couple of cult related killings
10/05/2013
The Commissioner of Police addressed a press conference in his office at Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, where he accused me of bribing and paying The Nation Newspaper to attack and cast aspersions on him, and demanded an apology from me and the Newspaper.
11/05/2013
The Security Details attached to Chief G. U. Ake were withdrawn by the Commissioner of Police, following a solidarity visit to Chief Ake by the LGA PDP Chairmen.
12/05/2013
Two Civil and Human Rights groups – the Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (IHRHL) and the Human Rights Alliance – demanded Mr. Mbu’s immediate removal for lying against the media organisation, The Nation Newspaper and for accusing it of slanting its reports against the Rivers State Command on the crisis in PDP, Rivers State. Anyakwee Nsirimovu, IHRHL’s Executive Director and Ken Atsuwete, a Port Harcourt based lawyer, spoke for the groups and called on Mr. Mbu to apologise to The Nation Newspaper and to me over the allegation.
12/05/2013
Hon. Justice H. A. Nganjiwa of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt ordered the Police to vacate the barricade at the Obio/Akpor Council Headquarters to allow the Caretaker Committee Members and Council workers access into the Council and to provide security for the Council. The Commissioner of Police publicly announced that the Police will not withdraw from the Council, making it clear that he would pick and choose which court orders to obey.
14/05/2013
The Commissioner of Police ordered a complete withdrawal of the Policemen from the Council, contrary to the order of court which clearly stated that it should provide security to the Council, this paved way for criminal activities in the council. His decision to withdraw the Policemen was neither communicated to the Caretaker Chairman nor the Council.
Same day, within 30 minutes of the withdrawal of the Policemen, the power generating house at the Council was set on fire while policemen attached to Rumuokoro Police Station watched unperturbed. It is important to mention that this Police Station shares boundary with Obio/Akpor Council Secretariat.
As soon as the power house was set on fire and documents carted away from some offices, the Police returned and sealed up the premise. The Obio/Akpor Council remains sealed up to date with the police in occupation of same notwithstanding the order of the Court.
On the same 14/05/2013, an aide to Chief G. U. Ake was murdered at Erema, in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA.
Note that both Chief Ake and Bro. Obuah hail from the same LGA as the murdered aide.
17/05/2013
The Commissioner of Police summoned the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Dan Amachree to appear before him on Monday, 20/05/2013. This was following an open letter written by the Speaker to President Goodluck Jonathan to wade into the political crisis in Rivers State. The Commissioner of Police said the Speaker and Tony Okocha, the Chief of Staff, Government House were invited for further questioning following their outcry about a plot to assassinate me and my principal supporters in the State.
He stated that no court will save them.
20/05/13
Mr. Mbu addressed a press conference during which he referred to me as a tyrant and a dictator. His specific comments were “Our Governor is very tyrannical, he is a dictator. He wants everybody to say yes sir to him and I said I will not say so. I am a professional.”
22/05/13
Immediately after the departure of the AIG and Mr. Mbu from my office, an invasion of Government House and major streets of Port Harcourt by a group led by prominent militia leaders – Ateke Tom and Solomon Ndigbara wearing branded T-Shirts and openly displaying weapons led to a blockade of Government House. In consequence of this invasion, a visiting team of Distinguished Senators led by H.E. Ike L. Ekweremadu, Deputy President of the Senate were unable to leave the Government House through the entrance and had to leave through an alternative exit.
26/06/13
Mr. Mbu directed his men to restrain over 500 people from the Orashi region from paying a courtesy call and solidarity visit to me at Government House. Port Harcourt, which led to a near crisis.
09/07/13
Following intelligence reports, security was enhanced within and around the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex. At about 09.00 hours, Mr. Mbu invited some of the personnel and directed that the security formations should be demobilized. In consequence of this failure of security at the instance of Mr. Mbu, hoodlums invaded the Premises and Chambers of the House of Assembly. The attendant fracas led to injury to persons including members of the House. Upon the receipt of this information, I went to the Assembly Complex with my security details to rescue members of the Assembly. Thereafter, the House proceeded to sit and conduct its business for the day. Further information reaching me in the presence of Mr. Mbu necessitated my inviting him to accompany me to the Assembly Complex, which he declined. On the advice of my security, I stayed back and directed that they should monitor the situation.
DECISION SOUGHT
The Nigerian Police is a people’s police and should not be seen to be partisan. One of its ideals is to show respect to constituted authority and support the Chief Executive’s effort to protect lives and properties.
The actions and comments of Mr. Mbu have shown that he is unwilling to support me to protect lives and properties of everyone in Rivers State. He has compromised our regular Security Council meetings leading to reluctance on the part of other members to speak up during the meetings and therefore rendering the meetings ineffective.
Besides his disparaging comments and discussions of security matters with scant regard for decorum, he has destabilized the security apparatus in the State thereby supporting the return of some of the key actors in the cult wars that engulfed the State from 2004 up till 2007.
Sir, it has become evident that Mr. Mbu is not desirous of assisting us in our quest for a crime free and peaceful Rives State. It is also evident that he lacks the appropriate mien and disposition required of such a highly placed officer of the law and is unable to appropriately perform his functions as Commissioner of Police in Rivers State.
I would therefore wish to respectfully request for his re-deployment from Rivers State in the interest of the people of the State and to restore the confidence of the people of Rivers State in the impartiality of the Nigerian Police.
While we commend your efforts at ensuring that you reduce insecurity in our country, we look forward to your prompt action.
Please be assured of our utmost regard.
Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, CON
Governor, Rivers State.
cc:
His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR,

United States (US) President, Barack Obama, has said terrorism will likely rear its head in countries lacking  democratic tenets. Obama stated this in Soweto, South Africa, while interacting with Young African Leaders. The US President said it was his strong belief that terrorism is more likely to emerge and take root where countries are not delivering for the people and where there is social conflict underlining frustrations that have not been adequately dealt with.

Obama said: “So, there is need to build that institution called responsiveness in governance and in democracy. Those things become defence mechanisms against terrorism.

“If you have a country that has high illiteracy rate you are going to have these problems. This is also a problem in the US, not only in Africa. That is why I want to push the US Congress to improve early college education.

“Across the border, we are having a rethink on education and workforce strength and one of them  we want to do is to partner with Nigeria in identifying with whether we can train teachers by incorporating technology into the education process,” Obama said.

President Obama also said the US would like to build African capacity, noting that the US wanted the African Union and other regional organizations to send in peace keepers.

“We can provide advice and training, and in some cases, equipment. That is what we can do, but what we won’t do is to stand by and watch our embassies being attacked. So, we need countries to work with us in order to do away with some of these things,” he said.

 

http://sunnewsonline.com/new/cover/only-good-governance-can-stem-terrorism-obama/

Cameroonian authorities have announced the release of water from Ladgo dam to residents of Makurdi, Guma, Agatu, Giwer and other affected areas in Benue State who are now in panic.
The Executive Secretary of the State Emergency  Management Agency (SEMA), Mr Adikpo Agbatse, had announced on state radio during the week that the Cameroonian authorities would release  water from the dam  during the weekend and enjoined the people in vulnerable areas to be on alert, particularly, when the volume of water from River Benue begins to rise.
Saturday Tribune went round vulnerable areas in the capital city when this was announced as some residents expressed their fears and called on the state government to immediately provide a comfortable place for them.
A woman who lives at New Garage area, one of the worst hit last year, told Saturday Tribune that the family is already planning to relocate to the eastern part of the country to avoid the experience of last year.
According to her, “someone called my husband this morning and informed him of the radio announcement of the repeat of the flood incident anytime from now.
Immediately we heard this, we decided to send our children to the village to prevent them from experiencing the flood of last year as we were stranded in a room that looked like a cubicle when the flood sacked us from  here.
Also,  Mr James Atser, who lives along Gboko road, one of the devastated areas last year, said that there was little he could do since he could not remove his house from the area, but called on the state government to make available a better place for people who may likely be displaced by the flood.
The SEMA boss who spoke to Saturday Tribune said that Cameroonian authorities had sent alerts to the affected states, warning that it would release water from her dam this weekend, adding that they had released some, penultimate Thursday.


http://tribune.com.ng/news2013/en/news/item/15467-panic-in-benue-as-cameroon-releases-water-from-dam.html