Author: Emmanuel Obe

…Johnson says state’ll sink into ‘unimaginable crisis’ Rivers State Government has warned of catastrophic consequences if the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly goes ahead to impeach Siminalayi Fubara and Ngozi Odu as the governor and deputy governor of the state.The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Chief Joe Johnson, handed down the warning on Monday at a press conference he called to respond to notice of impeachment served on the governor and his deputy by the House of Assembly.The commissioner said despite the governor’s sincere determination to implement the judgment of the Supreme Court, which recognized the Amaewhule faction of the…

Prof Isaac Zeb-Obipi, whose supposed appointment as the incoming Vice-Chancellor of Rivers State University has been well celebrated in the media has distanced himself from the celebrations.In a disclaimer, which was published on his Facebook page, Prof Zeb-Obipi said he has not received any communication on the appointment.He therefore urged people to discountenance the appointment.He said, “I have received several calls and messages today, congratulating me on my purported appointment as the Vice-Chancellor of the Rivers State University. I am unaware of any such appointment. I therefore dissociate myself from such publications.”The story of Zeb-Obipi’s appointment became widespread as the…

Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi has been named the new Vice-Chancellor of Rivers State University.He takes over from Prof. Nlerum Okogbule, whose five-year tenure runs out on March 5, 2025.Zeb-Obipi, who until his appointment was the Director of the Information and Technology Centre of the university is a professor of management.His appointment was made by the Governing Council of the university after a rigorous process of selecting a new Vice-Chancellor.The Governing Council relied on the University Law No. 4, 2017 of RSU to examine the application of all 15 professors that applied for the post, leading to the emergence of Prof Isaac…

Following the directive by the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, to the 23 local government chairmen in the state to hand over to heads of their respective local government administrations, the outgoing Chairman of Eleme Local Government, Chief Brain Gokpa, has handed over the affairs of the local government to the Head of LG Administration at Ogale headquarters of the local government.At a brief ceremony on Monday, Gokpa urged the HLGA to ensure that the local government secretariat project is funded and that the evacuation of waste is sustained. The HLGA thanked Chief Gokpa for taking good care of…

Veterans of the Niger Delta struggle have publicly defended the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) and its Administrator, Dr. Dennis Otuaro, against allegations of corruption by a group of disgruntled former agitators.In an open letter to President Bola Tinubu, the veterans state that the PAP and Dr. Otuaro have significantly improved the lives of former agitators and contributed to greater security and increased oil production in the region.They highlighted their own role in establishing the PAP in 2009 and emphasized their commitment to its success. They refuted claims against Dr. Otuaro, stating that the program’s financial practices are transparent and legitimate.The…

Former militant leader and prominent Niger Delta youth leader, Osaanya B. Osaanya, has alleged that campaigns against NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, are being orchestrated by those promoting a “core Ijaw agenda.” Osaanya claims that these individuals, primarily from Bayelsa State, are unhappy with Ogbuku’s appointment, believing that someone from a “core Ijaw” local government should have been chosen instead. He further suggests that their anger is fueled by Ogbuku’s performance and alignment with President Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda.” Osaanya criticized this “parochial and primitive mentality,” arguing that it has hindered Bayelsa’s development. He insisted that any attempt to…

Target Segibo, Chairman of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area (LGA), has expressed deep concern over the severe impact of a recent oil spill at Obololi. Segibo attributed the leak to a pipeline operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) and criticized the company’s lack of responsiveness to the challenges faced by its host communities. Following an on-the-spot assessment, Segibo described the pollution as extensive, noting that the community’s only water source has been heavily contaminated. He explained that the leak, which occurred on Sunday, originated from a ruptured underwater pipeline laid in 1973. The Chairman lamented SPDC’s neglect…

Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) and Bayelsa government are collaborating to conserve the biodiversity of Taylor Creek Forest Reserve in Yenagoa Local Government Area. According to a press statement by Mrs. Gladys Afam-Anadu, Shell’s Media Relations Manager, Shell and Bayelsa recently inaugurated the Gbaran Biodiversity Action Plan (Gbaran BAP). Afam-Anadu said more than 150 people from Taylor Creek Forest Reserve communities have been trained in alternative livelihood skills to reduce exploitation of resources at the forest. The trainees acquired skills in aquaculture, beekeeping, goat rearing, snail and cassava/plantain farming and grasscutter technology and were given packs to…

The National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) has said that it has received a report of an oil spill incident at Obololi, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa. The leak from the 16 inch Nun River-Kolo Creek pipeline has been discharging huge volumes of crude oil into River Nun and impacting adjoining areas. A statement signed by Mr. Chukwuemeka Woke, Director-General of NOSDRA made available on Thursday in Yenagoa to reporters stated that incident was being investigated. Woke explained that the agency got a report of the incident on Monday and convened a Joint Investigative Visit (JIV)…

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has explained that in the heat of political crisis staged against his administration in 2023, he committed to improving the welfare of Rivers workers in order to have a well-motivated workforce to achieve the goals of the Rivers First mantra. The Governor stated that the resultant industrial harmony has now become unprecedented as workers feel more valued, supported, and resolved to be more productive on an increased efficiency and profitability scale. Governor Fubara gave the explanation while inaugurating the one-storey twin-building Labour House constructed by the administration of Governor Douye Diri, in Yanagoa City,…