Fubara To Probe Wike, Other Past Administrations In Rivers

Rivers State governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has hinted of plans to set up a judicial panel of inquiry to investigate how the affairs of governance were conducted in the state before he assumed office on May 29, 2023. Fubara gave the hint on Monday at the swearing-in of Mr Dagogo Israel Iboroma, SAN, as the new Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of the State at Government House, Port Harcourt. The governor said he was bringing the Attorney-General on board at a critical time that there were lots of legal matters that needed to be tackled, with bravery and courage. Fubara did not, however, say what will be the scope of his investigation of the past affairs of the state, whether it’s the immediate-past administration of Governor Nyesom Wike or others since 1999. He said, “So, my brother, Dagogo Iboroma, you are going to be the brand new Attorney-General of our dear State. SSG (Secretary to the State Government) give him his letter, he is the Attorney-General. “Why are we bringing you at this very critical time? We have a lot of issues around us. We believe that you are not going to be the one that when they send service to you, you go and file “nolle prosequi” or you go and file one thing that would kill us here. “Let me also say this, you have a big task. We will be setting up a judicial panel of inquiry to investigate the affairs of governance. So, brace up, I am not going back on it. “Please, defend us. We know that you are going to defend us because your record is clean. You are a gentleman and peaceful. You are not a noise maker. People like you are endowed, and they have the fear of God.”

I Inherited N359bn Debt From Past Administration –Gov Alia

Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia on Sunday disclosed that his administration inherited the sum of N359 billion as debt from the past administration in the state. Alia disclosed this at an interdenominational church service to commemorate Nigeria’s 63rd independence anniversary. The church service was organised by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Benue State Chapter, at the Methodist Cathedral, South Bank, Makurdi. The governor, who is a Catholic priest, said that in spite of the debt burden, he was determined to reposition the state by providing an enabling environment for businesses to thrive. “God has accomplished his work, and it is now left for us to make our state and nation to work. I am here to make things work. “What we inherited was nothing to be proud of, but we will do what will make us all proud. I inherited over N359bn debt,” he said. He regretted that the state lost billions of Naira worth of agricultural produce and other property to herders’ attacks on farmers. He said that the farmers must be supported to do their job well. Alia said that the condition of rural dwellers following incessant herders’ attacks and fuel subsidy removal had become worrisome. He said that his administration would find ways to support farmers by providing seedlings, fertilisers and other forms of support to enable them to work effectively in the coming farming season. “My colleagues call me the governor of the richest state in Nigeria and I agree with them because we have numerous mineral deposits, we have the best yams and soyabeans, among others. “We will create billionaires in the state through our farms. We have everything it takes to do it.” Alia ordered the immediate end to illegal mining in the state. “The foreigners illegally mining gold in Kwande, Logo, Konshisha LGAs and other places in the state should desist from it immediately. This is an order,” he said. He said that God blessed the state and the entire Nigeria abundantly and it was left for the leaders to make things to work. He decried the spate of kidnapping and other criminal activities in the state, pledging to tackle them. The governor said that the future of the state lied in the hands of the youth, adding that his administration was training 10,000 youths in information technology for improved digital knowledge. Alia gave the assurance that his administration would not accommodate corruption and nepotism. The governor appealed to Benue sons and daughters to support the state in any way they could.