A faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara has confirmed eight commissioner-designates as members of the State Executive Council.

Fubara earlier sent the names of the nominees to the House led by the factional Speaker, Victor Oko-Jumbo, for screening and confirmation.

The Assembly screened the nominees during their sitting at the temporary legislative chambers at the Administrative Block of the Government House, Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

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Two former Commissioners, Dr Peter Medee and Eloka Tasie-Amadi, who served under the immediate past administration of Nyesom Wike as Energy and Works Commissioners respectively were asked by the House to take a bow and go.

The other six nominees were asked a few questions by the pro-Fubara lawmakers and were consequently confirmed as commissioner-designates.

In his remarks, the Speaker, Oko-Jumbo, charged the commissioner-designates to contribute their quota in moving the state forward and assist the governor in delivering the dividends of democracy to the people.

He advised the governor not to be distracted but to continue his good works and pledged the House’s support to make him succeed.

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He stated, “Those that are supposed to bring the dividends of democracy to our people. As a legislature, what we can do is to ensure that we create an atmosphere where His Excellency will do more.

“While we commend His Excellency for his numerous achievements in office, we also use this opportunity to call on His Excellency not to be distracted. We call on him to remain focused on the mandate that Rivers State’s people have given him.

“We also call on him not to be biased. He should continue to deliver the dividends of democracy to our people.”

Speaking to newsmen after the screening, the Leader of the House, Sokari Goodboy, commended the governor on the calibre of people sent to the House for screening.

“Today, we held our sitting and in the Order Paper, we had the screening of eight commissioners and we know too well that the executive arm of the state needs to be filled and we are happy and proud of the nominees,” he said.

Far-famed Osogbo-based Ifa priest, Chief Ifayemi Elebuibon, on Tuesday, demanded recognition for African Traditional Religion, saying such official recognition from the government has been long overdue.

Elebuibon spoke in Osogbo at the official unveiling of an N200 million Idin Ileke Temple, a place of worship by traditionalists in the Atelewo Area of Osogbo.

The edifice, which is to serve as a place of weekly worship and other ceremonies for the adherents of different deities, has a hall with solar panels and designated places for placing atonement.

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The adherents are to meet at the hall on Saturdays for service.

Elebuibon said ATR remains the most enduring, a uniting cord binding Africans together long before the advent of religion on other continents of the world.

He said, “The Federal Government must recognise that the African Traditional Religion is our only means of cultural identity. Besides, if it is properly recognised, it can generate revenue in billions of dollars for the country’s economy.

“This building is the first of its kind in the country. It is our moderate contribution to traditional religion with a view to enriching our heritage as a people.”

Speaking on behalf of the building committee, Ogundeji Elebuibon, said funds were raised for the project through voluntary donations by the traditionalists in the state and some of their apprentices across the globe.

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Elebuibon, who served as the Treasurer of the committee further said, “We raised funds for this project through donations by adherents of traditional religion in the state and beyond. We have godchildren all over the globe and they all contribute money and send to us.

“We spent about N200m on this project and the construction work was completed within 22 months.”

Speaking on the temple’s significance, he said, “This project is significant. With this kind of place of worship, we won’t lose more members to Western religion. It is important for us to have a place where we can worship Olodumare. It will keep our members together. We have our worship on Saturdays from 10 am to 12 pm.”

The PUNCH had reported that Elebuibon urged Kwara Muslims and Isese devotees to allow peace reign in the case involving activist Adegbola Abdulazeez, a.k.a. Tani Olohun.

Abdulazeez was arrested on August 16 in Ibadan and transferred to the Kwara State Police Command for allegedly insulting the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, and some prominent Muslim clerics.
PUNCH

A Bayelsa State High Court sitting in Yenagoa on Monday ordered the Department of State Security to pay N300 million in damages over the illegal arrest and detention of a youth activist, Collins Opumie, for over two years.

Opumie approached the court in 2022 to seek redress, demanding N9.0 billion in Suit number YHC/324/2022 as damages over his detention following a petition by the Nigerian Agip Oil Company.

In his ruling, the presiding judge,  Ebiyon Charlie, declared that the claimant was forcefully imprisoned and should be awarded N300 million as compensation.

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Reacting to the judgment, the claimant, Opumie, said he was satisfied with the judgment as his right was trampled upon, and he was denied medical attention during the period of his incarceration.

“I am happy even when all our expectations were not met. I thank all those who stood by me, the traditional rulers and my lawyer, for standing for the truth”.

In his statement of claims, he had accused the DSS in Yenagoa of allegedly abducting him at the instance of NAOC in Gestapo style, physically and mentally torturing him, tying up and throwing him into the boot of a vehicle, and taking him to Abuja like a common criminal without the knowledge of his family and access to medical care.

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He had also prayed the court to declare that his arrest, torture, and subsequent detention without proper food and medical attention and access to family members for two years for false imprisonment and malicious prosecution were illegal.

He had sought an “injunction restraining the 2nd and 3rd set of defendants from further harassing or attempts to arrest and detain the claimant at the instance of the 1st set of defendants.”