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RIVERS State Governor, Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, in a very interesting interaction with some journalists, speaks about his family life and his administration's policies on education, power and health. He also comments on the Waterfronts controversy. The governor, however, declined comments on his recent altercation with the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, when she visited the state. GBENGA ADERANTI, Assistant Editor, was there. Excerpts:
             
Many Nigerians have expressed displeasure at the condition of Nigeria at 50. What do you have to say to this?

I know Nigerians are not too happy. I went to a Shell party and said that I bought a shirt in America, which I intend to wear from time to time, with the inscription 'I love my country, the problem is the government.' I believe that most Nigerians are not happy with us, because at this stage of our development, we are still battling with electricity. We're still battling with deregulation of the oil industry. We are still battling with mass transportation. We are still battling with water. There was cholera outbreak in most parts of the country recently. We should be able to provide primary health care. The question the people are asking is: what then are we celebrating? Are we just celebrating the mere fact that the country exists? But those who are working with us should be happy that they are working with us.

'I staked my mother's life to chase out criminals' -Amaechi recalls

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PRESIDENT of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Alhaji Mohammed Abdullahi has given non-registered practitioners in the industry up to July 2011 to meet all requirements for the profession or face prosecution.

Abdullahi read the riot act last Sunday at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Lagos for Accelerated Certification Training programme (ACT), a crash programme of the institute with Ogudoro Leadership Trainers and Management Consultants for non-registered practitioners in Nigeria.

NIPR to prosecute non-registered practitioners

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Fresh facts emerged yesterday on why the Rivers State Government (SSG) Governor Rotimi Amaechi, reinstated Mr. Magnus Ngei Abe as Secretary to the state government in spite of his resignation on September 20, to pursue his senatorial ambition.

The Nation
gathered that Thursday's judgment of a Federal High Court, Abuja, which held that Amaechi's tenure would expire on May 29 next year, led to the recall of Abe, who is seen as a political strategist and an ally of the governor.

Amaechi was inaugurated as governor on October 26, 2007, based on the landmark judgment of the Supreme Court a day earlier, which sacked his cousin, Sir Celestine Omehia.

Delivering judgment in the suit filed by the former Legal Adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, Chief Cyprian Chukwu, Justice Abdullahi Kafarati, declared that Amaechi was not entitled to stay in office beyond May 29, 2011.

Amaechi's lead counsel, Chief Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), indicated that the judgment would be appealed, but in order not to take chances, in view of the nature of Rivers State's politics and the formidable opposition against him, the governor decided to reinstate his bosom friend, Abe. Amaechi intends to seek re-election as governor in 2011, which according to his senior aides, will be to continue with his transformation agenda.

It was also learnt in Government House, Port Harcourt that the governor does not want to lose both Abe and his deputy, Tele Ikuru, an engineer, to the senatorial race at this crucial period.

Abe and Ikuru had indicated interest in representing the Rivers South-East Senatorial District, currently being represented by Senator Lee Maeba, who also has the ambition of returning to the Senate.

Why Amaechi reinstated Magnus Abe as SSG

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SOLDIERS in Abia have killed some kidnappers attempting to escape to the neighbouring Rivers State, the Special Adviser to Abia state governor, Captain Awa Udonsi has said.

He said the soldiers shot the kidnappers who were trying to flee in to Rivers state from Ukwa West area of the state through Eberi Omuma river.

Speaking with journalists in Umuahia while receiving the keys of 20 vehicles given to the police and the army who are now based in the state for their operation, Udonsi said that most of the kidnappers have been arrested and handed over to the police.

Soldiers kill fleeing kidnappers in Abia

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Despite moves by the National Universities Commission (NUC) to resolve the lingering crisis at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, workers of the institution announced over the weekend that they would begin an indefinite strike beginning from this week.



The workers of the institution decided to embark on indefinite strike for non-payment of their three months salaries. At an emergency meeting of the congress with Senior Staff, Non –Academic Staff, in attendance, the workers lamented over the hardships encountered without salary in the last three months.

The union noted: "the hardships have not only adversely affected our families, but we are also demoralised."

LAUTECH workers begin indefinite strike

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Speaker of the House of Representatives Dimeji Bankole says he will devote his resources to humanitarian projects after leaving office next year.

Bankole spoke in Durumi-Mpape village, Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) at the weekend when he commissioned a health post donated by a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Tabitha Cumi Foundation.


'I'll devote my resources to humanitarian work'

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THE National and State Houses of Assembly have betrayed Nigerians by failing to curb the executives' extra budgetary expenditure, Managing Director of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), Mr Chima Ibeneche, said at the weekend.


Lawmakers have betrayed us, says  NLNG boss

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Peter Diamond and Dale Mortensen of the United States and British-Cypriot Christopher Pissarides yesterday won the 2010 Nobel Economics Prize for work on why supply and demand do not always meet in the labour market and elsewhere.



The prize highlights one aspect of a policy-making problem which has bedevilled governments of advanced countries since the oil shocks of the 1970s: high unemployment which has risen even higher because of the global economic crisis.

US, British labour specialists win Nobel Prize in Economics

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FOR many Nigerians in New York, United States, it was momentous. The weather was friendly, good enough for the colourful show, the yearly Nigerian Independence Day parade, at the weekend.



Nigerian songs filled the air. The Yoruba gangan (talking drum) throbbed as young women swayed their waists. The spectacle brought memories of the famous Calabar Carnival in Cross River State.

Abia indigenes in US to kidnappers: enough

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A presidential aspirant, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Monday said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is dividing Nigeria along ethnic and religious lines over the 2011 polls. To

2011: PDP is dividing Nigeria, says Ribadu