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Reactions As Fubara Nullifies Wike’s Recruitment Into Rivers Varsity

Published

2 years ago

July 22, 2023

Governor Siminialayi Fubara cancellation of recent recruitment concluded by his predecessor, Chief Nyesom Wike, into Rivers state owned Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Port Harcourt, has thrown over 1700 affected staff in disarray and stakeholders are reacting to it.

Fubara’s administration in a statement by the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Prince Chinedu Mmom announced the cancellation, citing irregularities and disobedience to directives by management of the varsity.

The statement read, “The Government of Rivers State has observed with dismay, the inconsistencies/irregularities and flagrant disobedience to the directives concerning just concluded recruitment exercise at the IAUE, Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt.

“Therefore, the recent employment exercise conducted by the management of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt is hereby cancelled.

“All appointment letters issued and received are hereby nullified and affected persons directed to return the letters to office of the Registrar of the institution, other employment related properties such as ID Cards in their possession to office of the Head of Service, Rivers State immediately.

“A proper and credible recruitment exercise shall be conducted in due course.”

Stakeholders react

Enerfaa Georgewill, Chairman, Rivers Civil Society Organisations, RIVSCO, said, “For us in the civil society space, we are vindicated to the extent of the irregularities cited by the government. We agree with those who say the process should be reviewed.

“The incumbent governor merely echoed what we said at the time of the exercise. Rivers people cannot forget we raised the red flag promptly enough over the impunity of nepotism, favouritism and the flawed processes on the employment at the time.

“It happened first at the Rivers State University (RSU) and government kept deaf ears to the alarm raised before same happened at the IAUE. Nothing to cheer about the government just waking up from her slumber now.

“We are however opposed to sweeping termination of appointments by fiat. We believe a committee of competent persons should be empaneled to review the process. Those with genuine qualifications should have their employment ratified and those who fall short done away with.”

Darlington Nwauju, Spokesman, All Progressives Congress in Rivers said, “The cancellation of the recruitment at IAUE is a confirmation of the deceit we have always warned Rivers people about.

“Now, in one breath, you claim to be consolidating and in another breath, you choose to discontinue and discredit, meaning consolidation was trumpeted in order to hoodwink Rivers people.

“In a state where the unemployment rate is high up there, one can only imagine what becomes of those who got these jobs on merit outside of political or ethnic considerations.”

Zik Gbemre, Coordinator, Niger Delta Peace Coalition, said, “It’s a bold move. However, aside the impunity in unilaterally nullifying the entire process at the detriment of those who may have earned their employment genuinely, why punish the innocent and turn blind eye on the real offender?

“The school management which the state government accused of irregularities and disobedience to directives is the real offender here. They should be the first to be sanctioned and we didn’t find that in the government statement.

“Besides, even Wike should have questions to answer. If there were irregularities, the former governor, authorised it, because he approved the recruitment in defiance of alarm raised by stakeholders over the irregularities.

“We hope he (Fubara) reviews the process in fairness to those who may have merited their employment. We are talking about throwing persons already engaged for months back into joblessness.”

One issue, the government fiat is coming with a new Vice Chancellor (VC), Okechukwu Onuchukwu, at the helms of the IAUE. Prof Ozo-Mekuri Ndimele under whose administration the recruitment was done had exited office after serving out his tenure.

The development has seen the incumbent VC come under heavy knocks for allegedly instigating the said nullification of the employment.

“He had followed up the government’s directive last swiftly with sack of Deputy Registrar, Establishment of the institution, Emmanuel Kalagbor and Deputy Director, ICT, Emmanuel Aburutou.”

But this disposition has seemed ironical because one of the major talking points on this saga has been that some of the irregularities cited by government happened under the current VC.

Dismissing some of these claims in a statement signed by the Deputy Registrar/Public Relations, Ngozi Okiridu, the IAUE said, “It is not true staff hired by the immediate past VC Prof Ozo-Mekuri Ndimele were fired as soon as Prof Onuchuku came on board.

“Over 85% of those employed by Prof Ozo-Mekuri Ndimele are still at the university. Universities like any other institutions, organizations, agencies are guided by laws, rules and regulations and IAUE is not an exception.”

The affected, working without pay for the past eight months, were about being paid the backlog of salaries when the government announced the cancellation of their appointment.

News

Coordinator, Edo First Lady Office, Majority Leader, Rights Lawyer, Others Bag 2025 Leadership Award

Published

7 hours ago

December 20, 2025

Editor

The Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, Edo State, Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo Anani; Majority Leader, Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Jonathan Aigbokhan, and human rights lawyer, President Aigbokhan, alongside 27 others were on Friday , December 19, 2025, honoured with the 2025 Leadership & Development Award.

In his welcome address at the event with the theme: ‘Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders: Innovating for a Sustainable Future,’ Team Lead, Leadership and Development Initiatives, Dr. Sunny Duke Okosun, said the initiative was to recognise and celebrate the outstanding contributions of individuals and organizations that are shaping the future of “our world.”

Okosun, who said the awardees were not just selected for award sake, noted that “our awardees have demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, and commitment to making a positive impact in their respective fields. Their stories will inspire us, their achievements will motivate us, and their dedication will challenge us to strive for greatness.”

The Team Lead, while expressing his organisation’s
commitment to identifying, recognizing, and empowering leaders who are making a difference, said “we also look to the future, recognizing that the leaders of tomorrow will be those who innovate, collaborate, and prioritize sustainability.”

Okosun, who congratulated the awardees on “your outstanding achievements,” stressed: “Let us continue to inspire, motivate, and challenge each other to be the leaders we need for a brighter tomorrow.”

In her keynote address, Anani described the theme of the event as timely and profound, stressing that “it speaks directly to the urgent need to prepare our present and future generations with the skills, values, and mindset required to navigate an increasingly complex world.”

The Coordinator, who noted that “a sustainable future demands leaders who are conscious of the environment, committed to social inclusion, and driven by economic responsibility,” challenged: “Leadership in our time must go beyond titles and positions; it must be anchored on service, innovation, integrity, and a clear vision for sustainable development. Leadership empowerment begins with education, mentorship, and opportunity.”

She added: “When we invest in our young people by equipping them with knowledge, encouraging creativity, and providing platforms for growth we are laying the foundation for enduring progress. Innovation, in this context, is not limited to technology alone; it also includes innovative thinking in governance, entrepreneurship, social development, and community engagement.

“A sustainable future demands leaders who are conscious of the environment, committed to social inclusion, and driven by economic responsibility. It calls for leaders who can balance progress with preservation, growth with equity, and ambition with compassion. As a society, we must therefore foster innovation that addresses real challenges, creates jobs, strengthens communities, and improves the quality of life for all.”

Guest Speaker at the event, Prof. Festus Olise, described leadership as a curse to Nigeria, adding: “Year in, year out, we elect leaders into leadership positions yet our problems persist.”

Majority Leader of the Edo State House of Assembly who happened to be one of the recipients, thanked the organisers, stressing that it is a challenge for him to do more for his people.

“I have done much for my constituents since I was elected, but the award will spure me to do more. Leadership is about catering for the followers, and this is a role I have been playing to the best of my ability.”

News

Delta Speaker Advocates Strict Legislative Protection Of N’Delta Environment

Published

8 hours ago

December 20, 2025

Editor

The Speaker of the Delta state House of Assembly Hon. Emomotimi Guwor has advocated for more stringent legislations to protect the Niger Delta environment against violators, especially multinational and local oil companies.

He lamented that these multinational and local oil companies have turned the Niger Delta environment to dumping sites with the pollution of oil exploration and exploitation.

Guwor spoke at the 2nd annual Ijaw media conference 2025, organized by the Ijaw Publishers’ Forum, IPF in Delta State.

According to him, this will curb further damages of the Niger Delta environment, thereby saving the environment for future generations.

The Delta state speaker, who was represented by a former Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Chief Emma Amgbaduba, noted that environmental neglect and social injustice were key drivers of unrest in oil-producing areas.

According to him, ”fishermen and farmers are in acute hunger and hardship due to the polluted rivers and degraded farmlands have pushed many families into hardship, threatening livelihoods that once sustained entire communities”

He warned that unless urgent steps are taken to protect natural resources, the human cost of oil exploration would continue to deepen poverty and insecurity in the region, with consequences for the national economy.

Guwor emphasized that host communities must demand strict compliance by international and indigenous oil companies with global environmental standards and the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

He noted that environmental neglect and social injustice were key drivers of unrest in oil-producing areas.

Guwor urged residents to take ownership of environmental protection in their communities, while acknowledging ongoing efforts to curb crude oil theft, which he said has worsened pollution and economic losses.

The Speaker stressed that peaceful coexistence within communities remained critical to restoring confidence, attracting investments and improving living conditions in the Niger Delta.

News

IPF’s Conference: Igali Seeks Approval Of License For Locals To Operate Modular Refinery

Published

9 hours ago

December 20, 2025

Editor

The National Chairman of Pan Niger Delta Forum,( PANDEF) Amb. Godknows Boladei lgali, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to approve license for Niger Delta sons and daughters who have the requirements to operate modular refineries as it is done in the US and the Western world.

Dr. Igali who was the keynote speaker at the 2025 Ijaw Media Conference made the call on Wednesday December 17, in Warri.

He stated that the operation of modular refineries was for the best interest of increasing the growth of the nation’s economy as well as to create a sense of belonging to the people that own the crude oil and gas.

He said that it is important for the people to properly manage their God-given resources towards the welfare of humanity rather than being destroyed in the name of illegal oil bunkering.

by government security agencies thereby resulting in pollution and degradation of the environment they lived in.

He asserted that most of the raw materials used by industries are deposited in the Niger Delta region, especially crude oil, Gas, palm oil, rubber, cotton etc, stressing that the region will continue to be relevant in Nigeria because of her natural wealth.

He affirmed that Niger Deltans should think of sustaining its natural resources as well as safeguarding its environment for today and the future generations.

He urged the people to be more focused on education and professional skill acquisition, stressing that with the right education and skills, the scholars can invent new things that will better the society.

Igali also commended the Presidential Amnesty Programme Coordinator, Dr. Dennis Otuaro for his good works, while urging him not to be distracted by critics rather, he should continue sending “our sons and daughters abroad to acquire more skills and come back home to develop the Niger Delta region.”

He also urged Niger Deltans to sustain the existing peace, stressing that without peace development cannot strive in the communities.