The Presidency has said President Bola Tinubu will not take sides in the ongoing political crisis rocking Rivers State.

Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Nyesom Wike, his predecessor who is now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have been at daggers drawn.

Although Wike influenced the emergence of Fubara, the duo fell out less than six months after the governor took charge of the state.

Tinubu had intervened in the crisis, making both camps to sign a peace accord. However, they returned to warring path after few weeks.

The crisis reached its height when a Rivers High Court restrained lawmakers loyal to Wike from parading themselves as members of the state assembly.

Speaking during an interview on TVC, Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, said anyone with the belief that the President would take their side in the political crisis would be disappointed.

Ngelale insisted that Tinubu won’t allow any attempt to frustrate the Rivers government.

He said: “I believe that anyone who believes that by their actions, whether it’s from the Federal level, State level or the legislative branch in the State or the executive branch in the state;

“…if they are banking on Mr. President to take sides on this matter, they’re mistaking and they’ll be disappointed. Mr. President will not do that. What he will do is to ensure that everybody has what they need in order to work.

“He will also ensure that any attempt to frustrate the operation of the Rivers State Government from conducting its affairs in a way that it would benefit the Rivers people, that’s obviously not going to be allowed by this President or anybody else. So, I think there’s a need for all stakeholders to understand that Mr President won’t take sides.”

Hard times await those dumping refuse indiscriminately in parts of Enugu capital city as the state government has imposed a fine of N50,000 against any person caught in the act.

Already, the government has mandated a special sanitation taskforce that will commence operation in the city with effect from Monday, May 13, 2024.

This was contained in a public service announcement issued  by the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia in Enugu on Sunday.

The government expressed its determination to ensure a clean and hygienic environment and promote the healthy living of the people.

It reads:

ENUGU STATE GOVERNMENT

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT*

Enugu Gov’t begins enforcement of ban on indiscriminate dumping of wastes

The Enugu State Government hereby reminds the general public of its determination to ensure a clean and hygienic environment and promote the healthy living of the people.

In this regard, Government hereby announces that it has started enforcing the ban on indiscriminate and random dumping of refuse and disposal of unbagged wastes.

Defaulters will be arrested and fined fifty thousand naira (N50,000). A Special Sanitation Taskforce will patrol the state starting from Monday, May 13, 2024 to arrest offenders.

Those in the habit of throwing or dumping refuse from moving vehicles, in our waterways, on our roads, or in our market places are hereby warned to desist immediately or face the consequences.

Everyone should please inform their families, children and neighbours that dispose wastes early in the morning that all wastes must be bagged using ESWAMA-approved bin bags and disposed properly.

Also, all sorting by recycling companies should move to the landfill at Ugwu Onyeama. Anyone seen sorting plastics and other materials from waste dumps in any part of the city will be arrested and made to face the law.

Be guided accordingly.

Signed:
Professor Chidiebere Onyia
Secretary to the State Government
May 11, 2024

The House of Representatives has pledged to intervene in the physical restructuring and improvement of infrastructure such as roads and electricity in Ugbo-Oghe slum, a suburb in Enugu.

Ugbo-Oghe slum settlement is located in the Abakpa axis of Enugu East Local Government area of Enugu State.

The House made the pledge on Sunday when two of its members, Prof. Paul Nnamchi of Enugu East/Isi-Uzo Federal Constituency (LP) and Rep Sunday Umeha of Udi/Ezeagu Federal Constituency (LP) visited former occupants of 8 Akpugo Street, Ugbo-Oghe, where fire gutted a bungalow.

The bungalow was inhabited by over 50 residents with two persons sustaining serious fire-burn injuries.

The property went up in flames on April 26, 2024, following what an eyewitness said was caused by a power surge that reportedly started from the ceiling of the house but had no rescue from the emergency agencies, largely due to the inaccessibility of the property in the slum.

The federal lawmakers inspecting the burnt house

One of the residents of the burnt building, Mr Chika Odo, said that even though he was not around when the fire incident  occurred , his wife told him it was caused by the fluctuation of electric current in the afternoon of the fateful day.

Odo said that his wife told him: “NEPA has been flashing light constantly all afternoon before they noticed smoke coming out from the roof.”

Speaking during their visit, Rep Nnamchi described the inferno as carnage, but thanked God that no life was lost, adding it would be difficult for the occupant to recover their losses due to their low economic status.

Addressing on how to improve on the slum structure of Ugbo-Oghe, Nnamchi said that, “the bane of our national planning is that we don’t take care of our population increase, we produce kids who will also have kids tomorrow and so we need to have a long term plan.

“20 years ago we had fewer people living around here but today we have over 50 people living in this burnt apartment alone, so it’s about planning. But I also think that the Federal Fire Service has just recruited and would be able to step up its services.

“The town planning authority should also look at it but it also involves that the community should give them support because nobody likes his property to be demolished. We need to have clear access to this axis for security, safety and every other thing.

“This place also needs solar power and we are planning to do a bit of that soon but in some areas here, if you put a pole it will prevent entrance of vehicles. So in due course we’ll think along with this community to plan because they are also our own people,” he said.

According to him, where you will have issues is when you do not decide with the community and you go along, but when they are involved, they will be leading in the project.

He said that the people would only agitate if they are not part of the plan because “change is difficult and will always be resisted.”

“The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has visited here but on our own side we are trying to see what we can do. Some lost their certificates and we can’t provide that but we’ll do our best to ensure that the impact is not as deep as it would have been if nobody came to their rescue.

“We ask them to take heart and take it easy in order not to enter into another problem, whatever has happened has happened and life must also continue and we must also ensure that their lives continue.

“It’s about the well-being of the people and that’s why we were elected. Most of these people voted for us but now it’s not only about voting, it’s about good governance; it’s for everybody, for the community, whatever we can do to ensure that the community feels represented.

“We’re here to show them support and tell them that whatever affects them has affected us. We will also return to know how they are faring and how the community is also doing,” he said.

Speaking, Rep Sunday Omeha, the House of Representatives member for Udi/Ezeagu Federal Constituency, said that the Labour Party is the people’s party through which the people made their will for them to represent them at the green chamber.

“Hence the inferno affected all the representatives of the people,” he said.