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The Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused Governor Nyesom Wike of lying against the Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, a former Rivers governor.

Wike at the weekend alleged that Amaechi administration’s spirit of demolition destroyed the foundation of basic and secondary education in the state, claiming that his administration inherited a rot of unimaginable proportion in the sector.

APC, yesterday in Port Harcourt, through Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media and Public Affairs Consultant to Rivers Chairman of the party, Davies Ikanya, declared that the collapse of the education sector under the watch of Wike was unacceptable, unfortunate, condemnable, wicked and unjust.

The party said, “The total collapse of the education sector of Rivers State was further showcased and buttressed by the Rivers State students of secondary school cadre in the very heart of Port Harcourt, when they decided last week to take their destiny in their own hands by taking to the streets to protest lack of teachers and classroom blocks in their schools, insisting that they be relocated to the model secondary schools built by the administration of Amaechi, which Wike has kept under lock and key, as they would no longer be able to continue to study in unfavourable environment.

“Wike, who has abandoned education in Rivers State, on February 10, 2018 in Port Harcourt, donated a whopping sum of ?500 million to a university owned by a former Rivers governor, Dr. Peter Odili, thereby continuing to squander Rivers State’s money, through disbursement of public funds to his party chieftains and cohorts, while the future of our children remains bleak and mortgaged.

“Rivers APC notes with great sadness that the rot in our educational system could get to this disgraceful level that secondary school students in Rivers State had to embark on public protest, while Wike continues to demonstrate his hatred for Amaechi by keeping the model secondary schools built by Amaechi under lock and key, thereby jeopardising the future of our dear children.

“We have not forgotten how Wike wickedly stopped the overseas scholarship scheme instituted by Amaechi to assist indigent and bright children of Rivers State to have a better future, thereby forcing most of these students studying abroad into prostitution and other criminal acts in foreign countries. The protests and pleas by some of the students in the streets of London fell on deaf ears.”

The main opposition party noted that Amaechi, within the first three years as governor, set the state on the path that made it a world-acknowledged state in education by declaring an emergency in the sector and completely took over the payment of salaries of primary school and junior secondary school teachers, from the councils.

It observed that Amaechi’s government initiated and targeted 700 model primary schools and within four years, about 250 were completed and inaugurated.

Rivers APC added that Amaechi’s government, within the first three years, also built 24 model secondary schools across 23 local councils, which were well structured and equipped with modern educational, recreation and boarding facilities, with standard accommodation for teachers, with one of them inaugurated by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, while 13,200 teachers were employed for primary and secondary schools.

BIG STORY

FCC Staff, Commissioners Pass Vote Of Confidence On Dankaka; Blast Those Seeking Her Removal, Say They’re Agents Of Darkness

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Some staff and Commissioners of the Federal Character Commission (FCC) have passed vote of confidence on the Chairman of the Commission, Dr Muheeba Dankaka.

Some of the staff and Commissioners who spoke with our correspondent on Monday, 25 September, 2023 described the administration of Dr Dankaka as the best ever in the Commission.

“She has brought innovation into the running of the administration and she has made staff welfare one of her major priorities. I’ve been here for years and I can testify that she’s the best Chairman I’ve worked with,” a junior staff at the headquarters of the Commission said.

According to another staff, Dr Dankaka has instill discipline on the staff and gave them sense of belonging which has lifted the morale of the staff.

“She’s not only our Chairman but also a mother who protects and encourages us,” the staff said.

One of the Commissioners who spoke with this reporter described those calling for the removal of the Chairman as agents of darkness.

According to him, those fighting Dr Dankaka are doing so because she has stopped them from selling job slots.

“These are the cabals selling job slots in the Commission. They’re attacking her because she dismantled their gang,” another Commissioner said.

According to a female Commissioner, those who allegedly wrote petition to the President are afraid of their shadow. “They’re the same people that sent petition to the House of Representatives, but they can’t even wait for the House report before allegedly sending petition to the President. What are they afraid of? They’re liars, just looking for anything to hang on,” she said.

Our correspondent observed general contentment among staff and Commissioners at the FCC and their general chorus was: “Dr Dankaka, we’re proud of what you’re doing. You’ve our support”.

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Impeached Ogun LG Chairman Wale Adedayo Arraigned, Remanded At Correctional Centre

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Wale Adedayo, the impeached chairman of the Ijebu East Local Government (LGA), has been arraigned by the Ogun State Police Command on a two-count charge for allegedly publishing an alleged false story about local government funds diversion by the state government.

This follows a petition filed by the state government over the alleged zero allocation and diversion of local government funds by the state government, an allegation which has been denied by the government.

Adedayo, who was arrested by the police on Monday, has since been arraigned at the Customary Court 2 in the Isabo area of Abeokuta, the state capital.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge proffered against him.

The counsel to the defendant, Kayode Akinsola, prayed for the court to grant his client bail, promising that the defendant would not jump bail if granted and would honour all conditions attached to the bail application to which the prosecuting counsel, Olaide Rolly, did not object.

Delivering her judgement for the bail application, the presiding judge, A K Araba, admitted the defendant to bail of N2 million and two sureties with landed properties, among others within the jurisdiction of the court.

The case has however been adjourned till October 20 for the next hearing while the defendant has been remanded at the Ibara Correctional Centre in Abeokuta.

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BIG STORY

Senate Screens Acting CBN Governor Dr. Cardoso, 4 Deputies Today

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The  Senate will today (Tuesday) screen the acting Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr Olayemi Cardoso, for confirmation into a substantive capacity alongside four nominees for the positions of CBN Deputy Governors, to steer affairs of the apex bank in the next five years.

The Red Chamber, which is returning from its two-month annual vacation, has also scheduled the screening of two additional ministerial nominees by  President Bola Tinubu for Tuesday, October 3, 2023.

The Media Office of the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, disclosed this in a statement on Monday evening.

While the National Assembly was on break, the President appointed the duo of Dr. Jamila Ibrahim and Ayodele Olawande as Minister of Youths and Minister of State for Youths respectively.

Tinubu also approved the nomination of  Cardoso as the new Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria pending his confirmation by the Senate.

Last week, Cardoso resumed as the CBN governor in an acting capacity pending his screening and expected confirmation by the Senate.

The statement by the Senate Leader office said, “Dr. Cardoso will be screened alongside four deputy governors: namely Mrs. Emem Nnana Usoro, Mr. Muhammad Sani Abdullahi Dattijo, Mr. Philip Ikeazor, and Dr. Bala M. Bello.

“Besides, the Senate has scheduled to screen the ministerial nominees – Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim and Mr. Ayodele Olawande, respectively designated as Minister of Youth and Minister of State for Youth on October 3.”

Meanwhile, the Senate also pledged not to disappoint Nigerians as regards the appropriation of the 2024 budget.

Speaking on the agenda of the Red Chamber ahead of its resumption, the Senate spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu,  emphasised that the revitalisation of the economy was top of its priorities.

Adaramodu said, “Soon after the resumption, the appropriation process will commence.

“The 10th Senate will not disappoint Nigerians; we’d ensure that we do what is expected of us because we are in a peculiar time when all hands must be on deck and Nigerians are eagerly waiting to see us do the needful to save Nigeria from the economic troubles we are currently experiencing and that permanent solutions are proffered.

“We’d ensure that appropriations are targeted at deliverables that can enhance a good life and good living of Nigerians and we are going to ensure that those that are approved are delivered to the latter and that quality services are given to Nigerians so that we can realise the goals of the Nigerian project so that we can ensure that life is more abundant to everyone to Nigerians.”

Adaramodu said the Senate expected the President to send the budget soon.

 

Credit: The Punch

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