Mohammed Shosanya

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara has inaugurated the newly elected Local Government Chairmen who emerged following Saturday’s council elections in the state.

Speaking after the inauguration at the Rivers State Government House in Port Harcourt, the Governor said that the emergence of new local government leaders marks a new beginning for the state.

He thanked President Bola Tinubu for being a true democrat in the manner he handled the recent happenings in Rivers State.

He appreciated the PDP governors, the leadership of the party, the stakeholders and the entire people of Rivers State for their support.

“I must appreciate the president of the federal republic of Nigeria for being a democrat. Without his support we won’t be here today. Even in the face of the situation that confronted us, he still gave us all the support. So, I thank him on behalf of the good people of Rivers State.”

He declared that he remains a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), despite supporting the Action Peoples Party (APP) whose chairmanship candidates won 22 LGAs, while the  Action Alliance (AA), won one LGA.

He said: “Am so happy that the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum is here to witness this swearing-in ceremony. I want to assure you that I still remain a member of the PDP.

“Desperate situation requires desperate measure. We were confronted with a situation where the local government of the state was heading to doom. And the truth about it is what we did was to salvage the local government Council.”

Governor Fubara,who charged the new council Chairmen to see their new positions as an opportunity to serve the people, also tasked them on development of their various LGAs and run a peaceful, all-inclusive, transparent and accessible government.

He implored them to key into his government’s mantra of promoting peace, love and offer purposeful leadership at the grassroot as well as delivering people-centered projects and programmes.

He also accused supporters of the FCT Minister, Chief Nyesom Wike of planning to disrupt the peace of the state by staging protests across the state on Monday, urging the new Chairmen to remain peaceful.

He said:”When they set a low standard, we will set a very high standard. We are not going to go their ways, we are not going to confront or fight anybody, we will continue to use the means of peace and ensuring that this state and it’s assets, and the federal government tax are protected.

“We are not going to be party to any breakdown of law and order in the state, because we know quite alright that if there is breakdown of law and order here, Nigeria will suffer. And is why our maturity must be high.

“I am charging you to be peace loving. Am aware that they are mobilizing twenty people per unit to go and confront you tomorrow, when you resume in your local government headquarters, but please, if they are coming with violence, avoid them, because the peace of this state is too important to us.

“It is on a public notice, everybody knows what they are planning, but please, follow my approach. At the right time, you will always will if you are patient and calculative,” he advised.

The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC),had earlier in the day, issued certificates of return to the newly elected local government chairmen.

RSIEC’s Chairman, Retired Justice Adolphus Enebeli, after issuing the certificates to the council chairmen, declared the results for the councillorship elections in the 319 wards of the State.

Justice Enebeli, in his declaration, said the Action Peoples Party won in 314 wards, while the All Progressives Congress, APC, BOOT Party, Labour Party, Social Democratic Party, and Young Peoples Party won one Councillorship seat each.

Meanwhile, some political stakeholders in the state have commended the peaceful conduct of the polls, as a former governorship candidate of National Rescue Movement (NRM), in Rivers State, Sobomabo Jackrich, said the elections went peacefully despite the negative impression created in some quarters prior to the election.

Jackrich said: “As you can see the election is going on peacefully as against the negative impression created by some persons as you see the place was peaceful and the people came out to vote candidates of their choice”.

He used the medium to advice Governor Siminalayi Fubara not to be deterred by the threats and distraction which took place in the state prior to the election, urging the Governor to continue to do what is right for the entire state and not a section.

On his part, the immediate past Caretaker Committee Chairman of Asari-Toru Local Government Area, Hon. Orolosama Peter Amachree,

He commended the peaceful conducts of youths and voters in the area who came out peacefully to cast their votes in the absence of the Nigerian Police who backed out of the election.

He faulted the police for allowing itself to be used by politicians against the collective interest of the people they were supposed to protect. Adding that the election was even more peaceful with the absence of the police.

Rt. Hon. Orolosama Peter Amachree also used the medium to call on President Bola Tinubu to wake up and call the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike to order before it is too late. Adding that Wike is trying to overshadow both the president and the IGP.

Also commending Governor Fubara for ensuring the peaceful conduct of the elections, the Paramount Head of George Ama in Buguma, HRH, Datonye Igbanibo George, thanked the Governor for the enabling environment as well as creating a level playing field for all candidates.

He advised all the chairmen across the 23 LGAs of the state, who emerged to be transparent to their people and use the resources of the councils to serve the people by providing basic amenities for them.

  Mohammed Shosanya

Nigeria must key into global financial inclusion and the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) must lead in the awareness that may help Nigeria achieve this,Yusuf Mamman, Nigeria’s former ambassador to Spain,

Mamman,who is also the chairman of the 2024 Annual General Conference of GOCOP said this at Reverton Hotel in Lokoja, Kogi State capital.

Besides,Maureen Chigbo, GOCOP President, has charged new members to join in the task of ridding the online media space of fake news.

The 8th annual conference has the theme, “Nigeria: Tackling Insecurity, Power Deficit, and Transitioning to Digital Economy.” The keynote speaker is His excellency Liyel Imoke, former governor of Cross River State, while Gov Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State is chief host.

In his opening remarks, the former ambassador said Nigeria cards rarely get recognized abroad, regretting that this has led to many hardships.

He said the global financial system has gone cashless and Nigeria must be integrated, saying failure to get integrated could lead to what he called cyber balkanization.

He admitted that Nigerian youths spend huge sums on data, but wondered if this huge spending ever goes to seeking knowledge.

He added:“There is knowledge out there on the internet where people can learn most things to improve themselves, but we must be sure that is where the huge data being poured into the internet by Nigerian youths is going to.

“There is what I regard as the biggest university in the world; ‘University of Youtube’. This has caused a huge transition in every aspect of life”.

He noted that many technologies including the Post and Telecommunication (P&T) system and photography have since transited to new techs.

According to him,IT has caused quantum leaps which he said have also brought threats in the form of misinformation. His worry thus is how Nigeria can safeguard morality and reduce sensationalism.

To GOCOP, the former Ambassador pointed to availability of multiple platforms. He urged GOCOP to find a way to embrace them to be relevant in the industry.

He said GOCOP must find how to transit from online journalism to a kind of media convergence system where Youtube, he said,is king.

He urged Nigerians not to wish online space away, saying; “If you don’t want to get wet, don’t get into the water.”

He said the digital media world is now about ‘like, comment, and share’.

He commended the GOCOP members for sustaining the journey for eight years now, and recalled the early days of GOCOP.

He said the new media is opening new frontiers and this is opening new opportunities and challenges.

Speaking,the GOCOP President who commended the host government, past presidents of the Guild, said the fight against fake news has persuaded GOCOP to enthrone strict membership screening as well as the ombudsman system.

GOCOP, she added, has also joined the national media industry ombudsman system to escalate cases that may be beyond the GOCOP.

Some GOCOP partners delivered goodwill messages.

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) was represented by the Corporate Communications Division through Teleola Oyeleke,who commended GOCOP for sustaining the Guild, saying it was evidence of the seriousness of the members.

He said: “We regard you as one of NCDMB’s critical stakeholders. That is why the board has been partnering with this organization. We are glad to partner with you both as a group and as individual publishers.”

He implored GOCOP to continue to support local content development, saying Nigeria is leading the drive in Africa.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) was represented by Dr Omoniyi Ibietan, Head of Media Relations, who said the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Commission, Dr Aminu Maida, held GOCOP in  high esteem.

He said the digital space and role of online publishing were critical and now a reality. “You are important, not just for popularizing the NCC but for opening the democratic space. We are improving investment and productivity of the nation. That is why constructive ideas are always welcome to the NCC.”