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COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF AN EMERGENCY MEETING OF RIVERS ELDERS AND LEADERS FORUM HELD
19 DECEMBER, 2023 IN PORT HARCOURT, RIVERS STATE.
Rising from an emergency meeting of Rivers Elders and Leaders
Forum held 19 December, 2023 in response to the intervention
and directives of the President, Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the
current political crisis in Rivers State.
We recall that in our communiqué of 17th and 18th December,
2023, we urged Mr. President to intervene in the political crisis in
Rivers State, for which we commend his prompt intervention
between Chief Barr. Nyesom Wike, the Honourable Minister of the
Federal Capital Territory and Sir Siminialayi Fubara, the Executive
Governor of Rivers State but we are at a loss as to whether his
intervention has solved the problem or escalated it.
A review of Mr. President‟s directives for the resolution of
the political impasse in Rivers State showed that:
1. That the directives contravene the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which Mr. President swore to
uphold at all times. The directives unilaterally suspended the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by virtue of an attempt to reverse a court order recognizing Rt. Honourable
Edison Ehie as the speaker and directing that the remainder of members of the House of Assembly constituted the quorum for legislative business.
2. That the directive also contravenes the hallowed doctrine and practice of separation of powers, particularly as it affect the responsibility of the judiciary. CAN MR. PRESIDENT OR THE EXECUTIVE ARM OF GOVERNMENT OVERRULE THE DECISIONS OF COURTS OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION?
This portends executive rascality which undermines our constitutional democracy, rule of law and good governance.
3. The directives to the parties were one sided in favour of Chief Barr. Nyesom Wike, the Honourable Minister of the
Federal Capital Territory and at the detriment of the Governor, Siminialayi Fubara and the good people of Rivers
State.
4. In the eyes of the law and due process, as evidenced by the Rivers State High Court decision, that the Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule and his team has ceased to exist in the state House of Assembly having defected to another political party, and therefore cannot be reinstated and remunerated through the back door.
5. It is the duty of the Executive arm of Government to provide accommodation for legislators in a constitutional democracy as exemplified by the FCT Minister with respect to the
National Assembly. It is therefore, hypocritical to suggest, that the Rivers State House of Assembly under Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule could
sit anywhere of their choice, whereas in Abuja, it is the FCT Minister, on behalf of the executive arm that provides
accommodation for Federal Legislators. The very reason why the FCT Minister was referred to as the “LANDLORD OF
ABUJA‟ by Mr. President at the presentation of the 2024 budget.
6. The directive to re-present the budget passed and signed into law is a clear attempt to ridicule and denigrate the office of the Governor and the good people of Rivers State including the Judiciary.
7. In Public Administration parlance, a person can exit service either by resignation, sack, voluntarily retirement or death. It is therefore preposterous for the President to direct that the people who have exited service for personal reasons be re-absorbed.
8. The Forum enjoined all responsible citizens of Rivers State to rise up in this our moment of truth, to salvage the soul of Rivers State. Our fathers fought for the creation of Rivers State, we will stand to defend it. “When injustice and
criminality become law and a way of life in the polity, resistance becomes a duty”.
9. Finally, the Forum condemns in its entirety, the directives for the resolution of the political crisis in Rivers State. Nigeria is a constitutional democracy where only the courts can order
the reversal of acts done or carried out under the provisions of the law.
Therefore any resolution or directive that intends to undermine the principle of separation of powers and the rule of law is unacceptable, null and void and will be resisted, using all constitutional means at our disposal.
Long live Rivers State and her People.
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The communique was read by former Rivers State Governor, His Excellency, Chief Rufus Ada George.
By Favour Bibaikefie
From a bold idea in ancient Greece to a breathtaking feat of engineering, the Corinth Canal in Greece stands as one of the world’s oldest and most fascinating man-made waterways.
Stretching over six kilometers and flanked by towering cliffs rising more than 80 meters high, the Corinth Canal cuts across the Isthmus of Corinth, linking the Gulf of Corinth in the northwest with the Saronic Gulf to the southeast. This narrow waterway dramatically shortened sea travel, saving ships a 320-kilometer detour around the Peloponnese peninsula.
According to a recent post from the BBC’s Daily Factfinder, “Before the canal was built, ships were forced to make a long journey around the Peloponnese peninsula, adding 320 kilometers to their journey.”
But the concept of bypassing the peninsula is far older than the 19th-century construction of the canal itself. The origins of the idea date back over 2,600 years.
“Around 600 BC, Periander, founder of the Cypselide dynasty of Corinth, had the ingenious idea of transporting ships overland, using a kind of railway, the diolkos (parts of which can still be seen today), along which ships were pulled on wheeled carts across the isthmus,” the Factfinder post states. This remarkable method was used for centuries, up until around the 9th century, when ships simply became too large for the system.
It wasn’t until the modern era that this ancient dream was fully realized. “In 1882, work began on the Corinth Canal, mostly by hand, and was completed 11 years later in 1893,” notes the post.
Today, the canal measures about 6.4 kilometers in length and features an 8-meter-deep channel of water. Though too narrow for most modern commercial vessels, the Corinth Canal is still in use and continues to draw visitors from around the world.
“The canal is a popular tourist attraction; large ships are towed through the canal by small tugboats, a fascinating sight to behold,” adds the post, originally shared by the Facebook group Weird, Wonder and Amazing Things, with photo credit to DronEye.
Beyond its practical use, the Corinth Canal remains a symbol of human innovation across the ages—proof that even the oldest ideas can shape the future when combined with determination and engineering skill.
Credit: Weird, Wonder and Amazing Things (Facebook group)
By Divine Perezide
Renowned Nigerian elder statesman and respected southern and middlebelt leader, Chief, Sen. (Dr.) Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, will be laid to rest on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in his hometown of Kiagbodo, located in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State.
This announcement was made on Saturday by Penaowei Clark, the first son of the late Chief Clark, during a press briefing held at the family’s Kiagbodo residence. He was joined by prominent family members and traditional rulers, including the Pere of Ngbilebiri-Mien Kingdom, HRM Prince Samuel Akpomiemie Fuludu (Ogiogio II), Professor Collins Clark, and Chief Ebikeme Clark, Delta State Commissioner for Riverine Infrastructure and Development.
The burial programme, which will span over a week, will commence on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, with a public lecture at the NAF Conference Centre & Suites in Abuja, starting at 11 a.m. According to the family, the series of events are designed to honour the legacy of the late national icon and will conclude with a thanksgiving service on Sunday, May 18, 2025.
Chief Clark, born on May 25, 1927, in Erhuwaren, Ughelli South LGA of Delta State, passed away on February 17, 2025, at the age of 97. He was widely recognized for his lifelong advocacy for justice, equity, and development, particularly in the Niger Delta region. Remembered as a tenacious leader and a statesman of remarkable stature, his influence extended across political and socio-economic spheres.
The itinerary of the burial events includes a valedictory session at the Senate Chamber on Thursday, May 8, and a day of tributes at the NAF Conference Centre on Friday, May 9, at 3 p.m. On Saturday, May 10, a wrestling contest will take place in Yenagoa, alongside a service of songs at St. James’ Anglican Church, Asokoro, Abuja, at 5 p.m.
Sunday, May 11, will feature cultural festivities such as a boat regatta and masquerade performances in Port Harcourt and Yenagoa. A candlelight memorial is also scheduled for that evening in both Abuja and Kiagbodo.
On Monday, May 12, a commendation service will be held at the National Christian Centre in Abuja, followed by a valedictory court session at the High Court of Justice in Warri. Later that day, the late elder statesman’s body will be flown to Yenagoa for another commendation at Ijaw House, before heading to Warri for a lying-in-state and onward journey to Kiagbodo for a night vigil.
The final funeral rites will be conducted on Tuesday, May 13, beginning with a lying-in-state and commendation service at Edwin Clark University, Kiagbodo. This will be followed by the funeral service, interment, and a reception.
The burial programme will come to a close with a thanksgiving service on Sunday, May 18, in honour of a man whose life was defined by service, leadership, and an unwavering commitment to the betterment of his people and country.
By Divine Perezide
As the nation prepares to bid farewell to one of its most esteemed elder statesmen, Pa. Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, members of the INC National Burial Committee saddled with the responsibility to coordinate burial burial ceremony have intensified efforts to ensure a dignified send-off. On Friday, April 4, 2025, the committee, led by High Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs and the INC President, Prof. BenjaminOgeleOkaba, paid a courtesy visit to the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.
The visit took place at the governor’s private residence in Port Harcourt, where the committee briefed him on the arrangements being put in place to honour the late Ijaw nationalist. High Chief Lulu-Briggs, serving as Chairman of the committee, emphasized the importance of unity and support from regional leaders to give the late icon a burial befitting his stature.
Accompanying him on the visit were Professor Benjamin Okaba, President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), and other prominent figures from the Ijaw community. The engagement forms part of a broader series of consultations and collaborations with stakeholders aimed at mobilizing support for the funeral rites.
Pa Clark, whose life and work have left an indelible mark on the Ijaw Nation and Nigeria as a whole, is being celebrated not just for his political activism, but also for his lifelong commitment to justice, equity, and national unity.
The burial committee is expected to continue its outreach efforts in the coming weeks as the countdown to the final rites begins.
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