WHY WE DEPLOYED OUR MEN AT RIVERS STATE ELECTORAL COMMISSION OFFICE – POLICE
The Rivers Police Command on Tuesday denied sealing the office headquarters of Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission in Port Harcourt
Spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, made the clarification in reaction to publication by some online platforms that the office of RSIEC was sealed by the police.
According to Iringe-Koko, the police officers seen at the RSIEC office were deployed to the place on the directive of the Commissioner of Police to protect the facility against any attack during the ongoing nationwide protest.
She further advised journalists to always verify their facts before publication.
SP Koko also revealed that there is no iota of truth in the allegation published in some social media platforms that the police assaulted and beat up some protesters.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared that it is in total support of the conduct of the local government elections in Rivers State on October 5, 2024.
The party has also stated that it is participating in the elections, and has, indeed, submitted the names of its candidates for the various positions.
The party made its position known in a letter to the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), INEC headquarters, Abuja, titled, ‘Re: Position of the Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) on the forthcoming Local Government Election in Rivers State vis-a-vis the judgement in suit no. FHC/ ABJ/987/2024.”
A statement signed by Chairman, APC Rivers State, Chief Emeka Beke, and State Secretary, APC Rivers State, Hon. Sam Sam Etetegwung, in Port Harcourt, on Tuesday, recalled that following an attempt by some members of the National Working Committee of the APC to displace the duly elected State Executive Committee of the party in Rivers State by purporting to have dissolved the executive committee and replaced same with a caretaker committee led by one Chief Tony Okocha, the elected State Executive Committee approached the High Court of Rivers State in suit no. PHC/3592/CS/2023 (between Sam Sam Etetegwung and Abdullahi Ganduje & Ors), and suit no. PCH/3735/CS/2023 (between Chief Barnax Ezeboy Enyi & Ors and All Progressives Congress & Ors).
The statement noted that in a judgment, the High Court of Rivers State presided by Hon. Justice S. H. Aprioku affirmed the validity and subsistence of the Beke-led executive committee until 2025.
It further added that the court also set aside the purported caretaker committee of Chief Tony Okocha, and declared that the duly elected State Executive Committee (as led by Chief Emeka Beke) is the authentic leadership of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State.
The statement also stated that the party was aware that the Federal High Court presided by Hon. Justice Peter Lifu delivered a judgment in suit no. PHC/ABJ/ CS/987/2024.
It further stated that it is equally aware that on the 4th day of September, 2024, the High Court of Rivers State presided by Hon Justice I. P. C. Igwe in suit no. PHC/2696/ CS/2024 between Action Peoples Party (APP) and Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission had given a judgment compelling the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to proceed with the local government election scheduled for 5th October, 2024 or any other date of its choice.
It noted that the judgment, being first-in-time to the latter judgment in FHC/ABJ/CS/987/2024, takes precedence, cognisance of the fact that when two equities are equal, the first in time prevails.
According to the statement: “We, however, hereby notify you that Chief Tony Okocha, who filed that suit purportedly as ‘Chairman, Caretaker Committee’ of the All Progressives Congress, Rivers State chapter, is an impostor and totally unknown to the Rivers chapter of the All Progressives Congress. He is neither the chairman nor is he a leader in any capacity whatsoever.
“He (Chief Tony Okocha) does not also have the authority of the leadership of the party in Rivers State as constituted under Chief Emeka Beke, to file or maintain the said suit on its behalf.
“We are equally aware that on the 4th day of September, 2024, the High Court of Rivers State per Hon Justice I. P. C. Igwe in suit no. PHC/2696/CS/2024 between Action Peoples Party (APP) and Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission has given a judgment compelling the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to proceed with the local government election scheduled for 5th October, 2024 or any other date of its choice.”
It further urged the public and institutions to discountenance the rantings and antics of Tony Okocha and his cohorts, and fully participate in the October 5 local government election in the state.
NORTH IMPOVERISHED BY ITS POLITICAL LEADERS FOR OVER 40 YEARS – DOGARA
NORTH IMPOVERISHED BY ITS POLITICAL LEADERS FOR OVER 40 YEARS –DOGARA A former Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has attributed the North’s current state of backwardness to its leaders. He also urged Nigerians to support President Bola Tinubu in transforming the nation through the tax reform bills currently awaiting the endorsement of the National Assembly. Dogara spoke as a guest speaker at a town hall meeting for Christian leaders in northern Nigeria. The event, themed “Church and Society: Tax Reforms and Matters Arising”, addressed issues surrounding governance and development. The former Speaker lamented that Arewa political leaders mismanaged opportunities to lead Nigeria for over 40 years, leaving the region plagued with poverty and underdevelopment. According to Dogara, northerners should resist the temptation to blame President Tinubu for the North’s current plight. He emphasised the need to unite in supporting the tax reform bills, which he said were designed to bring transformation to the North and Nigeria as a whole. “We are all northerners, and it should be made clear that President Tinubu or the South is not our problem. They have not come to cheat the North. That is out of the question. Some are claiming that Yoruba people are getting appointments, but let’s reflect. We ruled this country for over 40 years when northerners were in power. What did we achieve? The North remains the same, impoverished by our own leaders,” Dogara said. Speaking on Value Added Tax (VAT) and federal allocations received by states, Dogara asked, “We have had so much, but what did our governors do with the resources? They squandered them instead of investing in meaningful development.” He also cited the Ajaokuta Steel Industry, initiated by the Shagari administration, which was 98 per cent completed but was later allowed to deteriorate. “The project was almost finished, yet it was left to rot,” he said. Dogara urged northerners to support President Tinubu’s efforts to transform the country through the tax reform bills currently in the National Assembly. Meanwhile, the Executive Director of Christian Awareness Initiative of Nigeria (CHAIN), Reverend Joseph John Hayab, stated that the organisation was established in 2007 to provide platforms and opportunities for Christians to explore effective ways of participating in Nigeria’s national life, particularly in areas related to spiritual, social, and economic growth. Hayab urged Christian leaders to deliberate on the issue of tax reforms currently being considered by Nigeria’s legislative arm.