₦airaland Forum

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Y_FYYQfl_A?si=93JDcWgkng8xWJVN

Congratulations to Elkanami Warriors

The fa cup rally in the city of Maiduguri huge crowd welcome their darling elkanemi warriors

Here’s a video showing the culprit, Mr. Josiah Preye during the protest with core loyalists of the F.C.T Minister, including Hon. O.K Chinda, Hon. Martin Amaewhule, Chief of Staff to the F.C.T minister Hon. Chidi Amadi, former Chairman of Obio/Akpor LGA Hon. George Ariolu etc


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7G18kzOf-d4?si=hVRhtNVVqJpOEdj0

Wahala

WE'RE NOT FIGHTING ANYBODY, GOV FUBARA TELLS SENATE C'TTEE

•Accuses Pro-Wike Protesters Of Attempts To Bomb Hotel In PH

•Shames Detractors Calling For State Of Emergency

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has clarified that he is not fighting anybody but rather defending the State against predators, and protecting supporters of the interest of Rivers State against those who feel that they own the life of others.

He also has asserted that the failed attempt to detonate an explosive device at the Hotel Presidential, a five star hotel in Port Harcourt, was a deliberate ploy to strengthen the call for a state of emergency by haters who want to undermine the State to achieve their evil plans.

Governor Fubara made the assertion when he received on courtesy visit, a delegation of the Senate Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation, led by its Chairman, Senator Orji Uzo Kalu, to Government House in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.

The Governor explained that some youths were hired to engage in a protest to demand for extension of tenure of former local government chairmen who have served out their statutory three-year tenure.

Governor Fubara said the protesters and their sponsors were aware that some honourable members of the National Assembly were guests at the Hotel Presidential, which is why they attempted to detonate an explosive device near the facility in order to give reason to support the call for state of emergency when the matter is raised at plenary but they failed.

He said, "As a matter of fact, let me tell you, I know of everything that is happening. Yesterday (Tuesday), they (protesters) were aware that you are in the State. So, there was an attempt to create serious problem.

"In fact, there was a plan to detonate dynamite at the Hotel Presidential because you people were there. But this God that we serve, it happened that the man who was trying to do it, detonated it but just few seconds after, it blew his hands off."

Governor Fubara asserted: "The idea was that as you were hearing state of emergency, it will be so that by the time they finish, when you return to have your sitting tomorrow (Thursday), the debate will be from somebody from this State who called you people to tell you not to come. He will now raise issue of state of emergency, and say after all, distinguished colleagues saw it happen while you were in Rivers State, that you saw what happened.

"But you see, when you are with God, even your own child who is planning evil, will go and tell somebody that, God is with this man because he is clean, this is what my father is planning. That is what is keeping us in this State."

The Rivers State Governor wondered why it seems that the law is silent or inactive to take its course over offenders because somebody appears to be bigger than the law on the agitation, because there is nowhere in the country were tenure elongation for former local government chairmen has been an issue.

Governor Fubara clarified that he is not fighting anybody but rather defending the State against predators, and protecting supporters of the interest of Rivers State against those who feel that they own the life of others.

The State Chief Executive pointed out that there is no Governor in Nigeria who can take 10 percent of the abuse railed at him by former local government council chairmen.

Governor Fubara said he has taken those insults and attacks in his strides without going hard at the purveyors because their plan is to distract him, stressing that he has remained focused on delivering good governance and democratic dividends to Rivers people.

He said, "Where on earth can tenure of local government chairmen be elongated. You were a former Governor, was it tried in your time. Even those of you that are Senators here, even in your own states, has anyone tried this before?

"Is it that the Constitution that governs Nigeria is different from the one that operates in Rivers State? These are the very pertinent questions we should ask.

"Why should it be that when it comes to the case of Rivers State, the law is always silent? Is it that there is somebody bigger than Nigeria? That is the question I want you to go back with."

Governor Fubara insisted: "I tell you, we know everything that is happening, and you know it, everybody knows it. We should be bold enough to look at the face of people and tell them the truth.

"I am not fighting anybody. If I am fighting, people will know that I am fighting: My pattern will change. What we are doing is to defend ourselves. We can't just fold our hands. Only a tree will be standing and somebody will come and cut it off.

"It doesn't happen as a human being. If you know that danger is coming, you shift. What we are doing is just to protect ourselves. So, Distinguished Senators, I am not fighting anybody."

Governor Fubara further said: "Somebody thinks or some people feel they own life. I don't own life. The person who own life is God. What we are doing here is to serve the people of Rivers State because God has given us this opportunity.

"It doesn't matter the channel the opportunity came from. But the most important thing is God, and nobody takes the place of God in anything," he added.

The Governor told members of the committee to factor in the interest of Rivers State as they recommend the privatisation and commercialisation of public companies, saying that when the State buys stakes in such companies, it can be protected and supervised to be viable.

"I will also appeal to you that in this process of privatisation, anything that has to do with our own State here that needs to be privatised, the Rivers State Government will be interested.

"Because you can't come here and own our property when we have the resources to have shares or to acquire some portion of it.

"So, as a committee, if there is anywhere you can support us; if they is anyone that is still available, let us know, and let us get the details so that we can own it.

"It is only when we own it that those assets can be protected. It is only when we own it, that is when those assets become viable to the State, and also become viable to the Federal Republic of Nigeria," he noted.

In his address, Chairman, Senate Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation, Senator Orji Uzo Kalu, said they were in Rivers State to carry out oversight duties on some projects under their purview.

Senator Kalu, who is the member representing Abia North Senatorial District, commended Governor Fubara for his love for peace, determination to offer quality governance and keep pace with providing the right climate to engender economic growth to all residents in the State.

The Senate committee chairman also urged the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to shealth the sword, and call his supporters to order as a commitment to fostering peace and putting the interest of the State above all considerations.

He said, "I want to admire Your Excellency, your Deputy and your team for the good things you are doing in the State, but it is good to have peace.

"I want to thank you because you look like a very peaceful man. Your face shows a peaceful man. Your laugh shows a peaceful man. So, I want you to continue in that manner of peace. There is nothing like peace. Let people who are eating with this problem stop eating from it.

"We know that politics has taken its shape. We commend you for what you are doing for the people of your State. I will continue to ask you to focus on the job.

"Leadership is a very big burden. It is not a sweet potato. It is not anywhere where you can see rice and beans. On the street of Rivers, everyone is saying that the Governor and the former Governor are quarreling.

"We want to plead with you, continue to be holding your people back because if your people demonstrate like the other people, we will have a state of anarchy, and it is not good to have anarchy.

"I want to plead with you to abide by the rules of the land. I plead with you to abide by what the Constitution says. I plead with you to also abide by the decisions of the Judiciary. Wait for every judicial interpretation and act on judicial interpretation," he added.

He pledged the readiness of the committee to work with the State Government to achieve mutually beneficial goals that will advance the interest of all Nigerians, adding that the hardship in the land was already enough burden that leaders need to concentrate efforts to address to promote growth and prosperity for all.

The Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Adaeze Oreh, is calling for the arrest of any patient with injuries suspected to be caused by explosives

Sad coming from FCT minister

Southern Governors Back Fubara On Tenure Of Local Govt Chairmen In Rivers State

Governors of the southern region of the country have declared support for the position of Governor Siminalayi Fubara on the tenure of local government chairmen in Rivers State.
Speaking on the political upheaval in Rivers State based on the tenure of local government chairmen, the chairman of the Southern Governors Forum, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, said it was unconstitutional for anybody to extend the tenure of constitutionally elected public servants.
He argued that the law is very clear on the tenure of elected officials, and when the tenure expires, there is no need to extend it by whatever means.
Speaking against the backdrop of the decision of the Rivers State House of Assembly to extend the tenure of the local government chairmen in the state, but which was refused by Governor Fubara, who then went ahead to appoint caretaker chairmen, Abiodun in an interview with a national television said it would be a dangerous precedent to extend the tenure of local government chairman.
Speaking on behalf of other Governors from the region, Abiodun said if tenure extension is allowed, then it will become a reference point in the future and such is capable of truncating democracy in Nigeria.
“When your tenure has expired, it stands to reason that your tenure has expired.
“It is not up to the governor of that state or anybody else to extend the tenure of the local government chairmen.
“The collective position of the governors is that it would be a dangerous precedent and an abuse of the democratic ethos for the tenure of an elected local government chairman to expire and for anyone to imagine that their tenure can be extended by one day.
“I think that puts that matter to rest. If that is not the case, that becomes a precedent, a reference point, and the thing is that somebody will ask for a tenure extension.
“Our democracy has evolved and we should not do anything to truncate the process.”

Sim Fubara is in charge 💪 😊

Former Chairman of Nigeria Copyright commission in Abuja ready to serve Gov Sim Fubara in Rivers.

Ladies and Gentlemen meet Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja, a lawyer with specialisation in Legislative Drafting and Law Reform.

Currently a senior lawyer at a federal government Institute in Abuja.

Formerly, a law lecturer/Managing Editor at the Faculty of Law, University of Port Harcourt.

A teacher and trainer of Judges and staff of the Rivers State Customary Court of Appeal

He was the former Chairman of the Nigerian Copyright Commission, Abuja.

He also authored and co-authored several law books including a book about the Courtroom trial of King Jaja of Opobo in 1887.

His PhD in law degree at the University of London was sponsored by the Rivers state Government.

He is an expert in law (Legislative Drafting) and ready to serve Rivers state as a consultant for Review of the Laws of Rivers State 1967 to 2024.

South Africa move to joint top in Group C after beating Zimbabwe in a group that includes Nigeria.

Nine African teams will Qualify for the World Cup in 2026, one will go to the play-off tournament


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hObB1pA6vyU?si=EH8dDOwyIw54VvYT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csr-du7Eywo?si=OqlBZViqA9XXViRb

TEXT OF PRESS BRIEFING BY DAGOGO IBOROMA, SAN, RIVERS STATE ATTORNEY-GENERAL AND COMMISSIONER FOR JUSTICE ON MONDAY, JUNE 10, 2024

Gentlemen of the Press

• As Hon. Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and 3rd defendant in SUIT NO DHC/20/CS/2024, my attention has been drawn to a recent judgment. This suit did not seek to declare the seat of Martins Amaewhule and 26 others in Rivers State House of Assembly vacant.

• The suit of the claimants was struck out for want of locus standi and jurisdiction and also for being an abuse of court process which robbed the trial court of jurisdiction to adjudicate on the matter.

• There is misleading news circulating in social media, print and electronic media that Martins Amaewhule & 26 others are members of the Peoples Democratic Party and the Rivers State House of Assembly.

• As you all know, Martins Amaewhule and 26 others defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress on the 11th Day of December, 2023 and stated that much in affidavit evidence deposed to by Martins Amaewhule for himself and on behalf of 26 others in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/1681/CS/2023 before Hon. Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division. The Suit is still pending in court.

• By section 272(3) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, it is only the Federal High Court that can determine whether Martins Amaewhule and 26 others are still members of Peoples Democratic Party and also members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. This much was held by the trial court.

However, you will recall that these is a subsisting order of interlocutory injunction in Suit No.
PHC/512/CS/2024 restraining Martins Amaewhule and his co-travelers from further parading or presenting themselves as law makers in Rivers State pending the determination of the substantive suit, which has not been appealed against till date.

• We urge the public to disregard the news presently making rounds in social, print and electronic media to the effect that Martins Amaewhule and 26 others have been declared as members of the Peoples Democratic Party and the Rivers State House of Assembly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbZqUnivRzs?si=Qwpa_PEpvc9ZX4fu

The Ogonigba women community requests that Hyper City return their land (trans Amadi Slaughter

Rivers Economic investment is Ongoing

More

BFIG group is the preferred bidder for the smelter but RUSAL said that it had secured judgement from the London Court of Arbitration that ALSCON was properly privatized.

However, in an attempt to enforce the judgement of the Supreme Court, BFIG group led by its President, Chief Reuben Jaja and representatives of the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) visited the ALSCON plant but were denied entry by RUSAL

It was gathered that when the BFIG delegation arrived, the ALSCON gate was securely locked and mounted by a combined team of the police and army officers.

It took several hours of persuasions for officials of ALSCON to allow just one representatives of BFIG to go in and hold talks with the Russians while the rest of the delegation waited in the scorching sun for more than four hours.

Fielding questions from journalists after the long wait on Thursday, lead counsel to the BFIG group, Chief Patrick Ikwueti (SAN), said they were in ALSCON, after a meeting with the Attorney general of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi, to begin the enforcement of the Supreme Court judgement

He said, “We are here because following the last Supreme Court judgement over the ALSCON matter, the one that was given on the 26th of January, 2024, we had a meeting with the Attorney General of the Federation and the BPE and we agreed on a number of things we have to do to fully enforce the Supreme Court judgement given on ALSCON since 2012, and part of what we agreed was that we should have a visit to ALSCON facility here in Ikot Abasi.”

Ikwueto said though the BFIG representatives had limited access into the premises, the company is satisfied that ALSCON actually exist in terms of physical building, adding however that he does not know the actual state of the plant.

ALSCON Managing Director, Dmitriy Zaviyalov had claimed during a media interaction with journalists in Uyo that ALSCON and the Nigerian Government had agreed that the last court of arbitration would be the London Court of Arbitration.

“You should understand that in our agreement with the Nigerian Government, it was agreed that the last court of arbitration would be the London Court of Arbitration,” Zaviyalov had said.

But reacting to Zaviyalov’s claim, Ikwueto said that the Supreme Court in it last judgement had underscored that that agreement was in itself a contempt of the court.

“While we were in court in 2004 and 2006, the Russians purportedly signed an agreement with BPE. That agreement was signed while the matter was still pending before the court.

“But the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 2012 was specific that there was an order of injunction perpetually restraining the BPE from negotiating, selling or transferring ALSCON to anybody.

“So, the arbitration that you are talking about was based on Shared Purchase Agreement (SPA) they claimed to have signed in 2006 while the matter was pending in court.

“The Supreme Court in it last judgement on 26th January, 2024, underscored that the agreement was, in itself a contempt of the court” Ikwueto stated.

Our correspondent reports that the youths of Ikot-Abasi LGA had earlier on Saturday morning staged a protest to register their grievances against the Russians for locking the gate against BFIG group.

The protesters displayed placards with various inscriptions expressing their happiness over the Supreme Court judgement which declared BFIG group winner and preferred bidder for ALSCON.

Source:
https://dailypost.ng/2024/05/18/supreme-court-judgement-bfig-moves-to-take-over-alscon-plant-from-rusal/

Following a January 2024 Supreme Court judgement, BFIG corporation has begun the process of taking over the moribund Aluminum Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON) in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State from its current operators, RUSAL.


It would be recalled that the apex court had, since 2012, ruled that the BFIG group is the preferred bidder for the smelter but RUSAL said that it had secured judgement from the London Court of Arbitration that ALSCON was properly privatized.

However, in an attempt to enforce the judgement of the Supreme Court, BFIG group led by its President, Chief Reuben Jaja and representatives of the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) visited the ALSCON plant but were denied entry by RUSAL

Some Ikot Abasi youths accuse Rusal and Russians of deliberately vandalizing some critical component of the ALSCON plant.

The ALSCON plant has the potential create jobs and opportunities for Nigeria locally and international

Many youths of Ikot Abasi are asking Russian company Rusal to respect the Supreme Court of Nigeria ruling to vacate the ALSCON plant for the preferred bid winner

Nyesom Wike lives like King Nebuchadnezzar

Mr Mistake:

I made a mistake supporting Aminu Tambuwal for the PDP ticket in 2019. I made yet another mistake in 2021 by supporting Senator Iyorchia Ayu as PDP National Chairman. And, most recently, I made a mistake in 2023 by supporting Sir Sim Fubara as my successor.

Sad

Guess who?
Fct minister or Governor?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GStrbH3DKI?si=5Esr5uIHrRVTSdHb

A high court sitting in Port Harcourt, presided over by His Lordship, Hon. Justice Charles N. Wali, has issued an Order of interim injunction restraining Martin Amaewhule and his co-travellers from parading themselves as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly or from meeting/sitting at the Auditorium of the House of Assembly Quarters located off Aba Road, Port Harcourt, or any other place whatsoever to carry out or purport to carry out the legislative business of the Rivers State House of Assembly, as their legislative seats have been declared vacant pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.

Gov Fubara should immediately provide a place for the three(3) constitutionally recognized RSHA members to start functioning...

RIVERS ASSEMBLY: NEW SPEAKER EMERGES, DECLARES ACTIONS OF AMAEWHULE-LED FACTION VOID

The Rivers State House of Assembly has at its sitting held on Wednesday, May 8, 2024 elected Rt. Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo representing Bonny State Constituency as the new speaker.

The House further declared all actions taken by the members of the factional Assembly led by Hon. Martin Amaewhule as void and a nullity in the eyes of the law and further called on Gov. Siminalayi Fubara to stop dealing with the former lawmakers who lost their seat following their defection.

While addressing the house the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Oko-Jumbo said his emergence was in pursuant to the resignation of Rt. Hon. Edison Ogerenya Ehie and in line with section 92(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended.

He thanked his colleagues for the confidence reposed in him assuring that he will continue to work with them to move the state forward.

The Speaker noted that after the House last sat on December 13, 2023 and adjourned sine dine, there has been an avalanche of legislative rascality perpetrated by the 25 former members of the 10th Rivers State House of Assembly, led by the former Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule.

Rt. Hon. Oko-Jumbo emphasised that the former members were aware of the provisions of section 109(1)(g) of the CFRN 1999, and following their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on December 11, 2023, Rt. Hon. Edison Ogerenye Ehie who then became the Speaker on December 13, 2023 wrote to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), declaring the seats of the 25 lawmakers vacant in line with section 109(1)(g) and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, stressing that there are numerous pending cases in the courts over the defection of the former lawmakers.

He therefore stated that, "All laws, plenary sessions and actions taken by the illegal House are hereby declared void and a nullity in the eyes of the law by virtue of the judgment of Lord Denning in the celebrated case of MacFoy v UAC (1961) 3 All ER 1169, which held that "you cannot put something on nothing and expect it to stand."

Oko-Jumbo quoted further, "If an act is void, then it is in law a nullity. It is not only bad, but incurably bad. There is no need for an order of court to set it aside. It is automatically null and void without more ado, though it is sometimes more convenient to have the court declare it to be so. And every proceeding which is founded on it is also bad and incurably bad. You cannot put something on nothing and expect it to stay there. It will collapse."

The Speaker directed the Executive arm, the Judiciary and general public to disregard every law purportedly enacted by the illegal Assembly as they all amount to nothing but an exercise in futility.

"Furthermore, this House would want to most respectfully urge and call on His Excellency, the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminilayi Fubara, to stop dealing with the 25 former lawmakers, in whatever guise."

"Those members are merely floating and do not have any landing ground or anywhere to berth their ship since their defection to the All Progressive Congress on the 11th of December, 2023. This House is the legally and Constitutionally recognised House by virtue of the defection, and is ready to receive correspondences from and work with His Excellency."

He assured of the house unalloyed and unwavering support to work with Governor Siminalayi Fubara in moving Rivers State forward and in promoting the progress and welfare of the State.

Addressing newsmen after the sitting which held at 10:00am, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo called on all Rivers people to join and support the government of Sir Siminalayi Fubara as the house is ready to give its best for the service of the state

On his part the Chairman of the Business Committee of the House, Hon. Sokari Goodboy, assured of the house commitment to the advancement of the state and are ready to support the speaker. He urged Governor Siminalayi Fubara not to have anything to do with the former members of the house in order not to attract the wrath of the house.

Also in a twist, the Assembly Sergeant-at-arms, Mr. David Wariboko whom Martin Amaewhule-led factional Assembly allegedly suspended was seen performing his duties with the Assembly under Rt. Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo.

- Gist Report