Sir (Chief) Tony Okocha KSC, DSSRS, JP, the Leader/Chairman of the Caretaker Committee (CTC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has commended Governor Siminialaye Fubara, the Executive Governor of Rivers State, for heeding to the call by the APC in Rivers State to convene a meeting of the State Executive Council (SEC), to make room for a government of the collective, as against dictatorship and totalitarianism.
He made this commendation after the SEC meeting presided over by Governor Siminialaye Fubara yesterday, Tuesday – 26th March, 2024, at the Executive Council Chambers of the Government House in Port Harcourt.
Recall that the APC in Rivers State as the leading opposition political party in the State has been in the forefront of advocating for the meeting of the State Executive Council, to make room for healthy debates, and inputs, by members of Council, for the development of Rivers State.
In his commendation, the Rivers APC Leader/Chairman said that the APC in Rivers State will continue to provide useful clues to the Rivers State Government, and continue offering constructive criticisms for the enthronement of good governance in Rivers State without caring ten hoots, whose ox gored.
He added that SEC meeting is very important to State Governors and the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
It is so crucial that a Governor or President, delegates his power to preside over SEC/FEC to his Deputy/Vice.
Speaking further, the Rivers APC Chairman added that although it took the Governor up to three (3) months to heed to the consistent call for a SEC meeting by the Rivers APC, the APC in Rivers State still commend him, irrespective of the delay in heeding to the call.
“In any case, we still commend him for giving heed to the advocacy for Government of the collective as against dictatorship and totalitarianism”, Sir Chief Tony Okocha, the Leader/Chairman of the CTC of the Rivers APC submitted.
Though he stated that the latent motive for the SEC meeting after many months, is for the Governor to be careful not to be caught in the web of another possible veto, following the amendment to the principal procurement law of Rivers State, which hitherto allowed sometimes 100% payments to contractors and suppliers doing business in the State.
In the new amendment, the Rivers State House of Assembly, puts a seal of 20% as mobilisation to cure the possibility of contractors running away with State Government money.
The Governor was this time smart enough to convoke the SEC Meeting to approve and award a road contract of over 80 billion naira knowing that after 30 days, upon refusal to assent to the bill, the Legislative will latch in on section 100 (1~5), to override him.
He commended the Rivers State House of Assembly headed and presided over by her Speaker, the Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule who in her 127th Legislative Sitting on Tuesday, 26th March, 2024, passed a Bill for a Law to amend the Rivers State Public Procurement (Amendment) Law No.1 of 2021 and other related matters.
He argued that the bill when passed into law, will engender discipline in contractors and suppliers doing business with the Rivers State Government.
Amb. Vincent Gbosi,
Special Assistant on Media to the Chairman,
Caretaker Committee (CTC),
All Progressives Congress (APC),
Rivers State.
27th March, 2024.
