*As Gov. Wike hands over more titled document to chairman, Council of Legal Education, Chief Ngige.

Rivers State governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has reemphasised that the Dr. Nabo Graham Douglas Campus of the Nigerian Law School in Port Harcourt has been provided to be a self sustaining institution in Nigeria.

To achieve that mandate, Governor Wike, on Monday, handed over the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) of adjoining property to the campus acquired by the Rivers State government to the Chairman of the Council of Legal Education, Chief Emeka Ngige, SAN.

The presentation was made when Governor Wike conducted the Chairman of the Council of Legal Education, Chief Emeka Ngige, SAN, together with the Director General of Nigeria Law School, Prof. Isa Hayatu Chiroma, SAN and other dignitaries round structures within the Law Campus that are completed and ready for formal handover.

Governor Wike said the acquisition of the adjoining property to the campus will enable the operators of the campus to use them for sundry commercial and revenue generating activities in order to meet the financial needs of the Law School in Port Harcourt.

“We are using this opportunity to present the Certificate of Occupancy of the property we have acquired and paid for by the Rivers State government for the Nigerian Law School, Dr. Nabo Graham Douglas, Port Harcourt Campus to you (Chairman).

“We are giving the property to you for the purposes of making some revenue to run this campus. Whatever revenue derived is to be utilised for this campus alone.

“Very soon, the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and the Director General will meet to prepare a Memorandum of Understanding. It will ensure that you won’t take revenue from here to subsidise for other campuses. Any money you make here, put it here in this campus.”

Governor Wike also told them that with the construction work on all the structures in the campus now completed, the state government awaits the Council of Legal Education to choose a date when they desire the campus be formally handed over to them.

In his response, Chairman of the Council of Legal Education, Chief Emeka Ngige, SAN noted that they were on inspection of the facility and are amazed at what they have seen.

“17th July 2021 was when we came for the foundation laying ceremony and His Excellency promised that this project will be delivered in one-year. Behold, today is June 27th, not up to July yet and he had delivered.

“Recalled that when we were doing the ground breaking ceremony, His Excellency promised that every month he will give this campus N10million for four years, and will be given in advance, that is about N480 million to run this institution.

“When I learnt that he had acquired adjoining property; houses, shopping malls and other business facilities for the Law School to rent out to raise revenue to run this institution. I can tell you it is unparalleled.”

On his part, the Director General of Nigerian Law School, Prof. Isa Hayatu Chiroma described the Dr. Nabo Graham Douglas Campus in Port Harcourt as the best and mother of all Law campuses in Nigeria.

“On behalf of the Council, we are very grateful for a promise made and promise kept. This is the turning point in the history of legal education in Nigeria.”

During the inspection of the lecturers quarters in New Government Residential Area in Port Harcourt, former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Onueze C. J. Okocha, SAN, said governor Wike is a performer, who keeps promises and has delivered the Dr. Nabo Graham Douglas Port Harcourt Campus that is tastefully constructed and furnished before the record time he set for himself.

Also speaking, former President of the Nigerian Bar Association. Okey Wali, SAN, noted that Governor Wike has done this to show that he is a lover of democracy and for promotion of the judicial system in Nigeria.

The Rivers State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor, SAN, described the project as historic and iconic because there is nothing like it across the country. He said Governor Wike has provided it as a commitment to advancing legal education in the country.

June 25, 2022

Press Statement

Your Incitement Cannot Save Oyetola- PDP Mocks Abdullahi Adamu

…Says APC Jittery Over Adeleke’s Popularity

The National Chairman of the fizzling All Progressives Congress (APC), Sen. Abdullahi Adamu should know that his resort to incitement in the forthcoming Osun State Governorship election cannot save the colorless, rejected and sinking Governor Gboyega Oyetola from inevitable defeat in the July 16, 2022 poll.

The PDP describes the statement by the APC National Chairman as reckless, irresponsible and shows the level of APC’s aversion to peaceful electoral process and disdain for the democratic right, freedom and sovereignty of the people of Osun State to freely and peacefully choose their leaders.

It is pertinent to remind Abdullahi Adamu that election is not a warfare! Directing his party members to “go down to the trenches” in the Osun State Governorship election and brazenly asserting zero tolerance for election defeat cannot find accommodation within the ambits of the law.

Abdullahi Adamu’s comment further confirms that the APC is in mortal fear of Senator Adeleke’s soaring popularity, realizing that Governor Oyetola is no match for Senator Adeleke; a blunt reality for which the APC National Chairman has now become frenetic.

It is distressing that the APC has become so chaotic in the pursuit of its territorial occupation agenda that the National Chairman views the Osun State governorship election as a warfare in which the people must be conquered.

More provoking is Abdullahi Adamu’s brazen assertion that the APC has no apology for such an irresponsible, reckless and offensive “posture” against the sensibilities of the people of Osun State.

Nigerians clearly observed the nerviness and dread of defeat written all over the APC National Chairman’s face while inaugurating and threatening the APC’s National Campaign Council on Osun Governorship Election not to come back crying in defeat; a fate that already awaits the APC on July 16.

Abdullahi Adamu should know that the Osun State Governorship election is not about incitements, issuing of threats and grandstanding as a ruling Party. He must understand that this election is a referendum on the monumental failure of the APC in Osun State and that the people are solidly behind Senator Ademola Adeleke in their resolve to liberate themselves from the stranglehold of the incompetent, vicious and inhumane APC administration in Osun State.

Governor Oyetola in the last four years, displayed unparalleled incompetence in governance and ran the most ineffective and clueless administration in the history of Osun State.

This is why the people of Osun State are determined to kick out Governor Oyetola and elect Senator Ademola Adeleke who, in any event, defeated Governor Oyetola fair and square in the September 2018 Governorship election.

The PDP therefore cautions Abdullahi Adamu to retreat and rein in his thugs, political terrorists and band of riggers as they will be stiffly resisted by the people.

The PDP also urges President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately call the APC National Chairman to order and advise him to accept the imminent defeat that awaits Governor Oyetola and the APC on July 16.

Signed:

Hon. Debo Ologunagba

National Publicity Secretary

Press Statement

Akeredolu Constitutes Board of Ondo State Pension Commission

Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu,SAN, has constituted the Board of the Ondo State Pension Commission.

The Governor has equally approved the appointment of Dr. (Mrs) Anthonia Smart as the Part-Time Chairman of the Board.

The Appointment is to further deepen the Governor’s commitment to the welfare of pensioners and consolidate the gains already recorded in line with the Ondo State Pension Reform Law, 2014 as amended.

The new Chairman is expected to work closely with the Director-General of the Commission, Mr. Jaiyeola Olowosuko, and other members of board.

Governor Akeredolu congratulates Mrs Smart, charging her to give her best to the service of the state.

Signed:

Richard Olatunde

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Ondo State.

June 27, 2022.

ESTABLISHMENT OF STATE POLICE IS THE SOLUTION

The press statement released by the Ministry of Information of the Zamfara State Government on the need for citizens to arm themselves for self-defense, among others, confirms the pervasive loss of confidence in the current security arrangement the Country. It signals a situation of near- capitulation on the part of the security agencies centrally controlled by the Federal Government. It portends great danger for the polity.

It is a sad commentary on the increasing inability and impotence of the Zamfara State Government, and other States, to protect their citizens in the wake of relentless and mindless assaults by terrorists and bandits. It suggests a total lack of trust between that State Government and Federal Government on one hand, and the helpless and hopeless situation in which the people have found themselves concerning the security of lives, on the other. The stark reality confronting the people of Zamfara leaves the Government with no esoteric option than to lean heavily on the current arrangement.

The Government and the people of Zamfara State have been pushed to the wall. The feeling of despondency is pervasive in the land. We must, however, advise caution. The directive of the State Governor to the Commissioner of Police to issue licenses to qualified citizens to bear arms in the defense of their immediate environments and the State in general is commendable. But the NSA and Inspector General of Police may have to issue license to possess a certain category of arms. No such licenses have been issued to individuals since 2007 while those which existed had been revoked. Therefore, this directive, attractive and compelling in the current circumstances, may be stifled by existing federal arrangement.

The Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, commends the boldness of his brother Governor, Bello Matawalle, in his bid to confront the security challenges in his State, adopting a pragmatic approach. The Governor notes, with great concern, the continued refusal by the Federal Government to grant licenses to security outfits, run by some States, to bear sophisticated firearms capable of restraining, effectively, acts of criminality and brazen impunity with commensurate responses.

The deliberate policy of the Federal Government to deny exigent regional security outfits of the rights to bear firearms, when it is evident that the security agencies in the country are overwhelmed and distracted by centrifugal forces, is a major factor, among many, exacerbating the current security challenges in the country. A federal system of government cannot be administered as if the country is a unitary colony, controlled, rigidly, at the centre, while the constituent units are treated as mere outposts.

This fact, coupled with the logic of divergence and rapid growth in population, imposes no other practicable measure on the managers of this country, including our legislators, than to accept the inevitability of the establishment of a State Police.

DR DOYIN ODEBOWALE

SSA, SPECIAL DUTIES & STRATEGY

ONDO STATE GOVERNMENT

Press Statement

Akeredolu Issues Executive Order On Compulsory Installation, Use Of CCTV Devices

Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has signed an Executive Order for the compulsory installation and use of Close Circuit Television (CCTV) devices in all public and private institutions in the state.

This becomes imperative in the light of the increased spate of insecurity in the country and the need to ensure security of lives and properties in all public and private institutions and centres throughout the state.

The executive order shall be enforced at all religious places of worship, financial institutions (of all kinds), event centres, supermarkets, educational institutions (Schools), Hotels/Motels, Guest House, inns, Restaurants, Clinics and Health Centres, eateries (of all kinds), recreation or vehicular parks and other places regularly used by the public.

“Pursuant to Section 176 (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which vests in the Governor of Ondo State the Chief Executive powers of the state, the Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, hereby issues the following Executive Orders:

1. That the owners, occupiers, managers and operators of public/private institutions within Ondo State shall mandatorily install, use and maintain CCTV devices and other secret cameras to monitor and keep surveillance on the daily activities in their premises and especially monitor the ingress and egress of people/vehicles at the said places, venues and centres.
2. That the installed CCTV devices apart from capturing all activities at the public/private institutions must also have data storage hardware and data stored therein should be made available to security agencies whenever it is required.

iii. That public/private institutions shall employ and maintain well-trained security personnel who shall man the entry and exit points to their various facilities/premises.

1. That where necessary, the owners and occupiers of public/private institutions shall erect a well fortified perimeter fence with a security post at the entry and exit points.
2. That this Executive Order shall be enforced by all security agencies particularly the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ondo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun) and the Department of State Security Services (DSS).
3. That violators of this Executive Order shall be prosecuted in accordance with Section 203 of the Criminal Code (Cap. 37) Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria.

Signed:

Richard Olatunde

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Ondo State.

June 25, 2022