The Chairman of Rivers State Palliatives Committee, Ambassador Desmond Akawor has said that the 16800 bags of rice sent to Rivers State by the Governors’ Forum as part of measures to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal were distributed equitably to the 23 local government areas.
Speaking in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt recently, Ambassador Akawor said after allocating 50 bags to each LGA, 850 bags that remained were reserved for the Physically Challenged and would be delivered to the Ministry of Social Welfare for distribution.
Ambassador Akawor noted that it was rather unfortunate that some uninformed and attention -seeking individuals could loose sleep over his appointment by Governor Siminialayi Fubara to head the Palliatives Committee, saying that those who complained about his headship had little or no knowledge of his pedigree in public service.
“First of all such issue can only come from those who have negativity in their mind. Sometimes people politicized for the sake of trying to create a particular big picture or for the sake of trying to get themselves identified. If I may ask, where does the Palliatives come from? Does it come from non politicians? The palliatives come from Governors’ Forum. Governors’ Forum are they politicians or non politicians”, he queried.
The Chairman of the Palliatives Committee said members of the committee, comprising critical stakeholders do not have any political affiliations, bias or consideration in the discharge of their assignment.
“So the Governor in his own wisdom considered me as somebody who should head the team to distribute Palliatives in the state. And we had a clear mandate that the team should be made up of Traditional rulers, Civil Society, NLC, TUC, Joint Negotiation Council. So far we have done a good job. We don’t need to blow our trumpet, we don’t need to talk about our pedigree, our personality and our integrity. We spelt out those that should receive the palliatives, not people like you and me “, he insisted.
While explaining that the inclusion of Local Government Chairmen on the committee was for logistics reasons, Ambassador Akawor said the materials meant for each local government area would be transported by the Chairmen, insisting that distribution of the items were orderly and successful with documented video evidence.
Answering a question on the recent visit by IPAC members to the Chairman of Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RISIEC, the IPAC chairman said the visit was to congratulate the RISIEC leadership and inform them of the need to kick start political activities ahead of next year’s Local Government Ellection.
“As IPAC members we also made an appeal to have a level playing field when the race is on”, he added.
Commenting on the ruling of an Abuja High Court, presided over by Justice Eyang Ekwo, Ambassador Akawor said the verdict had put to rest threats of dissolution or suspension of the State Exco by the National body, disclosing that with the ruling, his Exco would remain in office until May, 2024.
“When we felt that the stories are going back and forth and people were threatening each other, we had to approach the Court to ensure that those who are not happy with the decision we took at the presidential election, those who are not comfortable with it, we went to court to ensure that nobody threatens our position and the Court has made pronouncements that our team will remain in office until the end of our tenure in May and that we have the right to choose our Lawyers to represent us in any matter “.
He said his leadership was not aware of the existence of a parallel Exco in the party, adding that they were not aware of any judgement which affirmed a parallel Exco as they were not party to the suit and were not served.
The State PDP Chairman disclosed that the visit by Rivers Stakeholders to President Bola Tinubu was to thank him for the appointment of illustrious sons of the state into key positions in his administration.
Paul Deeyah
SA Media to
PDP Chairman
Rivers State.
2/10/22
The Chairman of Rivers State Palliatives Committee, Ambassador Desmond Akawor has said that the 16800 bags of rice sent to Rivers State by the Governors’ Forum as part of measures to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal were distributed equitably to the 23 local government areas.
Speaking in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt recently, Ambassador Akawor said after allocating 50 bags to each LGA, 850 bags that remained were reserved for the Physically Challenged and would be delivered to the Ministry of Social Welfare for distribution.
Ambassador Akawor noted that it was rather unfortunate that some uninformed and attention -seeking individuals could loose sleep over his appointment by Governor Siminialayi Fubara to head the Palliatives Committee, saying that those who complained about his headship had little or no knowledge of his pedigree in public service.
“First of all such issue can only come from those who have negativity in their mind. Sometimes people politicized for the sake of trying to create a particular big picture or for the sake of trying to get themselves identified. If I may ask, where does the Palliatives come from? Does it come from non politicians? The palliatives come from Governors’ Forum. Governors’ Forum are they politicians or non politicians”, he queried.
The Chairman of the Palliatives Committee said members of the committee, comprising critical stakeholders do not have any political affiliations, bias or consideration in the discharge of their assignment.
“So the Governor in his own wisdom considered me as somebody who should head the team to distribute Palliatives in the state. And we had a clear mandate that the team should be made up of Traditional rulers, Civil Society, NLC, TUC, Joint Negotiation Council. So far we have done a good job. We don’t need to blow our trumpet, we don’t need to talk about our pedigree, our personality and our integrity. We spelt out those that should receive the palliatives, not people like you and me “, he insisted.
While explaining that the inclusion of Local Government Chairmen on the committee was for logistics reasons, Ambassador Akawor said the materials meant for each local government area would be transported by the Chairmen, insisting that distribution of the items were orderly and successful with documented video evidence.
Answering a question on the recent visit by IPAC members to the Chairman of Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RISIEC, the IPAC chairman said the visit was to congratulate the RISIEC leadership and inform them of the need to kick start political activities ahead of next year’s Local Government Ellection.
“As IPAC members we also made an appeal to have a level playing field when the race is on”, he added.
Commenting on the ruling of an Abuja High Court, presided over by Justice Eyang Ekwo, Ambassador Akawor said the verdict had put to rest threats of dissolution or suspension of the State Exco by the National body, disclosing that with the ruling, his Exco would remain in office until May, 2024.
“When we felt that the stories are going back and forth and people were threatening each other, we had to approach the Court to ensure that those who are not happy with the decision we took at the presidential election, those who are not comfortable with it, we went to court to ensure that nobody threatens our position and the Court has made pronouncements that our team will remain in office until the end of our tenure in May and that we have the right to choose our Lawyers to represent us in any matter “.
He said his leadership was not aware of the existence of a parallel Exco in the party, adding that they were not aware of any judgement which affirmed a parallel Exco as they were not party to the suit and were not served.
The State PDP Chairman disclosed that the visit by Rivers Stakeholders to President Bola Tinubu was to thank him for the appointment of illustrious sons of the state into key positions in his administration.
Paul Deeyah
SA Media to
PDP Chairman
Rivers State.
2/10/22
