Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike will today swear in Justice Daisy Wotube Okocha as the state’s Chief Judge (CJ).
A statement yesterday by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu, said the ceremony would hold at the Executive Council Chamber of Government House in Port Harcourt at 10am.
All invited guests are expected to be seated at the venue of the swearing-in by 9.30 am.
Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh has finally laid to rest rumours that he does not see eye-to-eye with his former assistant in the Eagles Austin Jay-Jay Okocha when he said; ‘’yes, I hate Jay-Jay’’.
A reporter had asked him to clear the air on rumours that he does not see or stay in the same room with the former playmaker of the Super Eagles. The hall was like a graveyard when he made the pronouncement. He looked round and explained further. “I hate Okocha because anytime we play Tennis, he beats me.
We played at the weekend at Sheraton Hotel and he defeated me’’. He made light of the rumour that started after he was appointed coach of the senior national team. Many still believe that Okocha stabbed Oliseh in the back when he accepted the captaincy of the Eagles to the 2002 World Cup.
‘’We’re the best of friends and we played Tennis at the weekend’’, he emphasised. Okocha is currently the Chairman of Delta State Football Association and Chairman of NFF’s Study Group.
Speaking on the Eagles, Oliseh said that he was going to make the Eagles to play team football combined with individual talents. ‘’If you remember our victories in 1994 and 1996, it was based on individual talents. But we do not have such individual talents again. What we need to do is to play collectively. That is what obtains in Germany and Spain. It’s a lot of hardwork. We’re here to do our best’’, he added.
Battle ready soldiers have reportedly taken over the Adokie Amiesimaka Stadium, located in Igwuruta-Ali in Ikwerre Local Government Area, ahead of President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign rally in the stadium.
Jonathan is expected to be at the presidential rally of the Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers on January 28.
While the state government refused to approve the application from the state PDP for the use of the Adokie Amiesimaka Stadium for its presidential rally, soldiers reportedly took over the place on Friday night.
Tony Okocha, Chief of Staff to Governor Rotimi Amaechi, described the action of the PDP and the Presidency, who might have directed soldiers to forcefully enter the stadium, as criminal.
Okocha called for calm and promised that the matter would be reported to the international community.
Details later…
• He is epitome of Humility and selfless service – Ikanya says
Chief of Staff to the Rivers State Governor, Chief Tony Okocha, has empowered over 65 women in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area as part of his efforts to put smiles on the faces of the womenfolk in the state. Okocha, who is the All Progressives Congress (APC) Leader in Obio/Akpor, sponsored a two-week training for the women in various skills such as bead-making, sewing, catering, decoration and hair dressing.
At the graduation ceremony held at the council headquarters at Rumuodomanya, the beneficiaries, six from each of the 17 wards, including the non-indigenes group, were presented with certificates of participation and various equipment with which to set up business.
In addition, Chief Okocha on behalf of APC also presented vehicles to party supporters in the 17 wards of the local government area, as well as to the APC non-indigenes group, so as to facilitate their movements.
Congratulating the beneficiaries, an elated Chief Okocha said the large crowd of party members that turned out for the event underscored the readiness of Obio/Akpor people to embrace change. He urged them to work towards a landslide victory for APC during the 2015 general elections.
The Chief of Staff charged the women to use their newly acquired skills to create small businesses and employment opportunities for others. According to him, “Our literacy strength is about 5%, while 95% are only interested in what to eat. That is why we have decided to empower our people in diverse entrepreneurship skills including hat-making, bead-making, cake-making, etc, so that they can provide food for our people.”
Commenting on APC’s recent loss during the Ekiti governorship election, Chief Okocha said: “Let me assure you that the circumstances in Ekiti are different from that of Rivers State. Rivers State is for All Progressives Congress, APC. We must protect lives and property in Rivers State by providing basic security equipment for the security agents. Any government that is incapable of doing that will be voted out in the 2015 general elections.”
Also speaking, the National Deputy Secretary of APC and Chairman of ALGON in Rivers State, Hon. Orji Ngofa, described the empowerment by the APC in Obio/Akpor as a connection of governance to the people at the grassroots. “This,” he said, “is governance in action. Today, the APC in Obio/Akpor has shown that it has higher ideas to power in the area. Continue to support your party, APC. Don’t relent in the struggle; that is the only way truth can overcome those challenges.
“The only reason why PDP wants to take over power is to oppress us. You must not be intimated. Obio/Akpor is our collective wealth. Support APC in Obio/Akpor; it cares for the people and with a kind heart. I will take this message to the National Secretariat because APC is well represented in Obio/Akpor. The party will continue to empower you with skills. We are proud of what our leaders are doing in Obio/Akpor and we will eventually take this noble venture to all the 23 local government areas and we assure you, Rivers State will be better.”
On his part, the State APC Chairman, Dr. Davies Ikanya, described Chief Okocha as epitome of humility and selfless service and commended him for making women and youths in Obio/Akpor become productive, adding that their votes must count in the 2015 general elections. The party chief urged the beneficiaries to spread the message that APC is the only party with the interest of Rivers people at heart and the only party that deserves the support of the people.
In his speech, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Obio/Akpor Council, Hon. Lawrence Chuku, assured that plans are underway to ensure that APC sweeps all the 17 wards in Obio/Akpor during next year’s elections. Hon. Chuku warned detractors to allow the Governor Chibuike Amaechi administration to continue to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of the state.
Also speaking, the Chairman of APC in Obio/Akpor LGA, Hon. Solomon Ikeguru, urged party supporters and beneficiaries to make judicious use of the opportunity, and to ensure that dividends of democracy impact positively on the people of the area.
Highlights of the event included the inauguration of the Elders Advisory Committee and appreciation of the first one thousand women that arrived the Obio/Akpor Council Secretariat before the start of the event.
The relevant pictures of action are attached
Super Eagles Captain, Austin Jay Jay Okocha has said Coach Stephen Keshi should be held responsible for the lame approach the team adopted in the goaless draw against Iran last night.
Speaking as an analyst on Supersport after the match, Okocha said, “Keshi should be held responsible for the way the team played. Before the match he said African teams are tactically not disciplined and he did not bring anything new to the table.“His changes were poor. He took out Moses and brought in Ameobi. I think that was a wrong change.
“We saw how Osaze came in and showed a lot of creativity. That is the kind of thing we expected. Iran match would have been our strongest point but we missed it.”
Meanwhile, Coach Stephen Keshi has said that the Super Eagles did their best to defeat Iran.
Speaking moments after the match, Keshi said that “I wanted victory in this match, in fact, I want to win all the matches but this is football, that even when you dominate a game, you still don’t get the resultt
