Fubara - NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA

Lydia Beshel
Mar, Thu, 2025

Oil production: Rivers Govt. donates helicopter to Air Force

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Donation

By Desmond Ejibas

Gov. Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers has announced the donation of a helicopter to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) as part of the ongoing efforts to increase Nigeria’s crude oil production.

Fubara handed over the refurbished Agusta AW139 helicopter to NAF at its 115 Special Operations Group base in Port Harcourt.

He stated that his administration had fully supported President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to boost crude oil production beyond two million barrels per day before December.

According to him, the state government has also provided significant logistics to security agencies to safeguard lives, property, and critical oil assets in Rivers.

“This Agusta AW139 helicopter, which has been out of use for years, is part of my administration’s commitment to supporting NAF’s operations in Rivers and the Niger Delta region.

“Furthermore, backing President Tinubu’s efforts to increase crude oil production is beneficial to us; if oil production rises, it will generate more revenue for Rivers State,” he said.

Fubara added that, in addition to the helicopter, the state government was currently resurfacing the Air Force base runway to facilitate seamless flight operations.

“We want to be remembered as an administration that paid serious attention to the security of lives and property of our people.

“The support we have provided to our security agencies is a demonstration of our commitment to ensuring a secure Rivers State and Nigeria,” Fubara added.

The governor appealed to the Air Force leadership to deploy the aircraft for surveillance operations, particularly within the state and the wider the Niger Delta region.

Receiving the helicopter, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Hassan Abubakar, expressed gratitude to Fubara for collaborating with NAF to enhance security in the state and across the country.

He noted that the Air Force had over the years, consistently received logistics support from successive administrations in the state.

“This is evident in the construction of essential infrastructure, including perimeter fencing, residential blocks, and a VIP lounge.

“More recently, Gov. Fubara approved the rehabilitation of the runway and aprons here at the 115 Special Operations Group base,” he stated.

Abubakar emphasised that the helicopter would be deployed for tactical airlift operations, search and rescue missions, and disaster relief efforts.

“With its advanced avionics, high-speed capability, and versatility, the helicopter will enhance our ability to conduct rapid response missions and humanitarian operations.

“The addition of this aircraft to our fleet further underscores our commitment to safeguarding the lives and property of Nigerians,” he added.

Abubakar further disclosed that NAF had initiated comprehensive training programmes for Air Force pilots, engineers, and technicians to ensure the optimal utilisation of its fleet.

He also stated that the Air Force had begun strengthening its maintenance infrastructure to ensure the sustainability and serviceability of its aircrafts.

He reaffirmed that NAF remained committed to collaborating with other security agencies to combat illegal bunkering and all forms of criminal activity.

According to him, through enhanced surveillance, precision air strikes, and joint task force engagements, NAF will continue to protect the nation’s vital resources and maritime domain. (NAN)

Edited by Jane-Frances Oraka

Wike, 27 Rivers lawmakers not APC members – APC Chairman

Philip Daniel Yatai
Oct, Thu, 2024

Politics

Wike, 27 Rivers lawmakers not APC members – APC Chairman

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By Angela Atabo

Dr Tony Okocha, Chairman of the All Progressive Congress(APC), in Rivers, has said that FCT minister Nyesom Wike is not a member of the APC.

He told newsmen on Thursday in Abuja that the 27 Rivers lawmakers currently in a bitter political struggle with Gov. Siminalayi Fubara were also not members of the APC.

“People say Wike has decamped to the APC. They also say that the 27 lawmakers currently fighting with Fubara have defected to the APC.

“I need to make this clear to everyone. Much as I wish to have them in my fold, none of them has agreed to join us.

“I am the one that should know if they did. But, clearly, they have not.

“What the lawmakers did was a political gimmick.

“I tried to woo them, but they kept vacillating and did not.

“To defect, they must go to their wards, register and get their membership cards. None of them has done that,” he said.

Okocha was particularly categorical in declaring that Wike would not leave the PDP.

“Wike will never leave the PDP.

“He has always said that PDP made him what he is. He has always said that he would remain there.

“He is an ardent believer in PDP. He is not likely to leave that group,” Okocha said.

He, however, said that Wike is a member of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“In Rivers, I am 001 in APC, but in the Renewed Hope Agenda, I am 002. Wike is 001,” he explained.

He also spoke on Wike’s influence on Rivers’ politics

“Wike has done so much for Rivers, so he is strong.

“In the next 10 years, Wike will continue to influence the political direction in Rivers.

“It will be difficult to uproot him.

“Aside from his many projects scattered throughout the state, he has touched people’s lives directly. Such people will always be behind him,” he said.

He described Wike as a politician that could identify with every good cause irrespective of political party.

“Once the cause is good and will give him a platform to serve his people, Wike will be part of it,” Okocha said.(NAN)

Edited by Philip Yatai/Ephraims Sheyin

Gov Fubara’s judicial panel a witch hunt – Rivers APC chair

Philip Daniel Yatai
Oct, Thu, 2024

Politics

Gov Fubara’s judicial panel a witch hunt – Rivers APC chair

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By Angela Atabo

Dr Tony Okocha, Acting Chairman of the All Progressive Congress(APC), in Rivers, has described the Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up to investigate the burning of local government offices as “an attempt to witch hunt”.

“The Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the bombing of Local Government offices is just a witch hunt.

“The governor merely wants to use it to deal with his perceived enemies,” Okocha told newsmen on Thursday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN), reports that Gov Siminalayi Fubara recently inaugurated the Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the arson, killings and destruction at various local government council secretariats in the state.

The seven-member panel, which has one month to conclude its assignment, has Justice Ibiwengi Minakiri as Chairman and Mrs. Inyingi Brown as Secretary.

It is expected to investigate the attacks and burning of local government councils’ secretariats on October 7, 2024, shortly after newly elected local government officers were sworn in.

Okocha, while faulting the governor’s action, said that there was no sincerity in it.

“The said election itself was illegal and, thus, a nullity.

“The governor has said that he knows the people that attacked the local government secretariats.

“If he knows the people, why not just ask the Police to arrest them? Why is he setting up a judicial commission of enquiry?”.

Okocha said that he would take the probe seriously if it is stretched to include all issues of arson that the state had suffered in the past.

“If the governor really wants justice, the terms of reference of the commission should be all-inclusive.

“All issues of bombing should be probed. The House of Assembly bombing should be probed.

“We also want the bombing of the APC State headquarters to be probed. We do not want selective probes. We want to see genuine search for justice.

“Let’s have a full package that involves all cases of arson. That is the only way the Rivers government can do justice,” he said.

On whether he would appear before the panel if invited to do so, Okocha said he would appear before it “if it will probe all incidents of arson in Rivers”.

“Yes, I will appear before the panel if all cases of arson in Rivers are included in its assignment,” he said.

Okocha regretted that the state had become “a Rivers of trouble”, and blamed the situation on “the man who should protect everyone”.

“The governor is supposed to be the chief law officer, but he has failed in that crucial task.

“We have a valid court judgement that stopped the local government election.

“It is that judgement that stopped the Police, security agencies and INEC from participating in the elections.

“Strangely, in spite of all, the governor went ahead with the elections. So, clearly, it is a nullity.”

On the cause of political upheavals in Rivers, Okocha declared that “Fubara is fighting himself”.

“The governor is fighting himself; the APC is only beginning to get strong now.

“We used to be just a social club as we have never won any election in Rivers.

“The PDP won the governorship seat in addition to the three Senate slots, the 12 seats in the House of Representatives and the 32 state assembly seats.

“So, it is one party fighting itself. The party was elected to serve, but what we are being served is trouble,” he fumed.

He said 14 people aspired to govern the state on the PDP platform, but Fubara, “the least of them”, got the ticket and became governor.

“It means he was favoured over others. People were ignored in his favour and they are angry. Those are the people fighting him,” Okocha said.

The APC chairman expressed optimism that Fubara’s squabble with his party would favour the APC in 2027.

“As the crisis festers, there is no project to Fubara’s name. He has not done anything to the Rivers people in close to two years.

“As a virile opposition, we are taking the governor on many issues.

“We want to demarket him so that we shall win the seat in 2027,” he said.

Okocha said that peace would have returned to Rivers State if Fubara had listened to President Bola Tinubu’s counsel.

“When Rivers was about to get burnt, President Tinubu stepped in to broker peace.

“He suggested that all court cases should be withdrawn and the Budget be re-presented before the House of Assembly.

“He also suggested that members of the House of Assembly should be given access to state matters.

“I recall that Fubara agreed and told Mr President that peace was priceless while terror was senseless, but we got a different thing when we returned home,” he said. (NAN)

Edited by Philip Yatai/Ephraims Sheyin