KRISTINA REPORTS

> ▪Sympathises with victims and calls on the State Government to Intervene Swiftly. The vibrant and result-oriented Federal Commissioner of the Public Complaints Commission, Rivers State, Hon. Marshall Israel and his team visited the site of the burnt D-Line Fruit Market which occurred on Thursday, September 28, 2018, to inspect the extent of damage, sympathize with victims and urge the State Government and other relevant agencies to intervene swiftly by providing the much needed relief to the victims of the sad incident. Hon. Israel expressed shock over the incident and deeply sympathized with those affected by the inferno. He described the incident as a sad occurrence and pleaded with the people to take heart while assuring them that he will do everything within the powers of his office to ensure swift intervention from the government and other relevant organisations. "Indeed, I am gravely worried and pained at the sight of this incident, it s

L-R: Inye Marshall Harry, Tonye Dele Cole, Oji Ngofa, and Ojukaye Flag-Amachree at a party event.  The frontline aspirant for the Degema/Bonny federal constituency seat on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Inye Marshall Harry says his primary focus when elected to represent the constituency would be to pursue advocacy that would improve the lives of the people and enhance their economic wellbeing. Harry, who at the moment is the preferred choice for majority of the party’s delegates in Bonny and Degema Local Government Areas, in a chat with Kristina Reports in Bonny Island on Saturday, September 29, 2018, said issues affecting the people of the area would be mainstreamed at the Green Chamber. He enumerated implementation of the local content laws in the employment system by multinationals operating in the area, engagement of indigenous firms in the allocation of opportunities in the oil and gas sector, sustainable constituency projects as some of his priorit

Larry Allison The time to go beyond political rhetoric and face the task to transforming Rivers State into an industrial hub and first choice tourist destination has come and the people of the state should brace up and take advantage of the 2019 governorship election to achieve this. This was the position of an aspirant for the position of Rivers State Governor come 2019 on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Larry Tamunotonye Allison when he declared his intention to contest for the position.   Allison, who hails from Bonny Local Government Area, said he took the decision after deep thought, wide consultations and conviction that he owes God, the state and country the duty “to offer visionary leadership and to create opportunities for all our people”. The accomplished Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) certified, Hewlett Packard accredited integration specialist with over 20 years progressive experience in software development, de

R-L: Chairman, Bonny Integrated Recruitment Centre, Aladiokuma Hart, Bonny Kingdom Free-To-Operate (FTO) Committee Team Lead, Richard Abbey, Leader,Bonny Youths Federation, Simeon Wilcox, former CTC Chairman, Bonny LGA, Cyril Hart, and Deputy Leader, BYF, Edward Pepple   BONNY YOUTHS' RESPONSE TO THE BASELESS ALLEGATIONS BY ONE MR JASPER JUMBO REGARDING THE BONNY-BODO ROAD AND BRIDGES PROJECT We, the Youths of Grand Bonny Kingdom, hereby register our absolute commendation to the Federal Government of Nigeria, and Nigeria LNG for the BONNY-BODO ROAD AND BRIDGES PROJECT which would positively impact the Bonny people and the entire Niger Delta. We are excited by the socio-economic benefits and opportunities that will come with this project. We also use this opportunity to appreciate the Amanyanabo of Grand Bonny Kingdom; His Majesty, King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, JP, CON Perekule XI, Amanyanabo and Natural Ruler of Bonny Kingdom and the Bonny Chiefs’ Council, w

For those who know him, his astuteness, pungency, humaneness, sagacity, and versatility endear him to virtually everyone he interacts with from the commoners to elite. Though soft-spoken, George Fubara Tolofari , a former member of the Rivers State House of Assembly and former Commissioner for Transport, who commands a strong following across political divides, elucidates on politics, governance and trending issues in the polity with panache, dexterity and forthrightness.  In this interview with Kristina Reports Editor-in-Chief, Godswill Jumbo, Tolofari, who is the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bonny Local Government Area, takes more than a cursory look at unfolding developments in the political space, his party’s quest to oust the current occupant of Brick House, Port Harcourt, and the candidates they intend to field for both the House of Assembly and House of Representatives positions, among other issues. Enjoy the excerpts:   Kristina Reports: As we keep wa

CSP Ahmed Ibrahim Kamba Synergy between the security agencies in Bonny Local Government Area and other stakeholders has helped in no small measure to improve security in the area as its prepares to host inbound investment projects such as the train 7 plus project of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), the Bonny/Bodo road project, and deep seaport. Ahead of these projects there was already an upsurge in the population of the area consequent upon which the attendant security challenges seem to be assuming an upward trend. But with a functional and robust synergy between the Police, Army, Navy, Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), among others and the local government council led by the Chairman of the LGA, David Irimagha, the Amanyanabo of Bonny Kingdom, His Majesty, King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, Perekule XI, CON, the Bonny Council of Chiefs, heads of multinationals in the area, amongst other stakeholders security

As the clamour for the restructuring of Nigeria gathers momentum and with politicians factoring it into their campaign narratives, critical stakeholders across the country, especially the Niger Delta region have also added their voice to the agitation. This time, a former caretaker committee chairman of Bonny Local Government Area, Cyril Hart, giving a refreshingly unique perspective, posits that those communities on which shoulders the burden of Nigeria’s economic sustenance rests should be accorded commensurate attention in terms of infrastructural development, social interventions, and political stakeholdership.  In a speech he delivered at his installation as a Warisenibo (House Elder) in the Captain Hart Major House of Bonny Kingdom in Rivers State, Hart submits that Bonny Local Government Area, as host to Nigeria’s economic behemoths – Shell, NLNG, Mobil, etc – has in recent times boosted the nation’s coffers with more than twice her foreign reserve and more than quadruple

The forthcoming primaries to choose the flag bearers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area of Rivers State appear to be a time bomb waiting to explode. This is due to the alleged manhandling of the chairman of the panel for the primaries, who is also a chief in the Ogu community, by a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly (names withheld). Trouble ensued when the screening panel allegedly refused to compromise the process by disqualifying some aspirants considered not to be loyal to a former First Lady (names withheld), who reportedly calls the shots as to who gets what in the party. The said aspirants, who were reportedly regarded by party faithful as very popular and more likely to win the polls for the party, were said to be allegedly being propped up by some party chieftains whose interest were allegedly not in line with those of the ‘powers that be’. The PDP had directed that the processes for the primaries leading the emergence

Rivers State won laurels again as a 13 year old Kalabari born pupil of Vine International School, Port Harcourt, Miss Fafaa Tekena-Lawson emerged the maiden Port Harcourt The African FutureTrust Model United Nations (TAFMUN) Ambassador for 2018. Fafaa Tekena-Lawson hails from Buguma in Asari-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State. She won the keenly contested competition where senior secondary students from some of the best schools across the country participated. Aside holding the TAFMUN Ambassador title for one year, she will be given a Lufthansa air ticket and partial scholarship to participate in the National High School Model United Nations (NHSMUN) Conference at the UN Headquarters in New York. According to the United Nations website the Model United Nations (MUN) the conference (a catch-them-young initiative) is a forum that gathers international students to deliberate on today’s common world difficulties and challenges that all countries are increasingly affec

By Ubong Inyang, Calabar Former Minister of Culture and Tourism, High Chief Edem Duke has expressed delight with the state of affairs in the University of Calabar, saying the institution is a shining example to other Universities in the country. High Chief Duke stated this when he paid a working visit on the Vice Chancellor of UNICAL. According to him, the institution has taken its pride of place among the comity of varsities in the country, adding that the developmental strides of the current Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Zana Akpagu speak volumes. The former Minister said the serene environment, orderliness, peace and tranquility enjoyed by the University Community is as a result of the dexterity, ingenuity and intellectual acumen of the current leadership of the institution. Duke said, I am delighted with the state of affairs of the University. “Before now we were worried about the level of security and insecurity on campus but presently we have noticed that

Since his emergence on the political scene in 2015, Abinye Blessing Pepple has been living up to the sobriquet of “The Vocal” ascribed to him by his teeming supporters, majority of whom are youths like him. He has remained a strong voice in advocacy for Rivers people, particularly, his constituents from the hallowed chambers of the Rivers State House of Assembly where he represents Bonny constituency to every other fora he has had opportunity to speak on. In addition, one of his key advantages is street credibility, which he enjoys across his constituency. In this interview with the Editor-in-chief of Kristina Reports, Godswill Jumbo, he outlines his achievements, postulates on what development trajectory for his constituency should be, and assures his constituents that should they sustain their confidence in him come 2019 election, he would continue to justify their faith in him. Enjoy the excerpts:  Kristina Reports: It’s been about a year and six months since you were through

The senator representing Rivers East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Andrew Uchendu, has advised his Rivers South East counterpart, Senator Magnus Abe, to go back home and find a solution to his political problem.  Uchendu, Acting Chairman, Senate Committee on Public Procurement, gave this advice yesterday in Abuja while reacting to a statement by Abe, that he (Uchendu) reneged on his promise to spend only one term in the Senate.  He said: "I understand that my good friend, Senator Magnus Abe, made some remarks concerning me over the radio. It is regrettable and sad.  "I think Abe is getting too desperate with his ambition. In the pursuit of his ambition which he is entitled to, he must learn not to be quarrelsome. "As a candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2015 election in Rivers East Senatorial District, I pledged that I will run for only one term. One term is made up of four years.  "Nigerians know

In an apparent show of distrust for Matthew Seiyefa, the Bayelsa born acting Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), President Muhammadu Buhari today appointed a replacement for him.  In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Garba Shehu, Buhari named Yusuf Bichi as the new Director General of the DSS Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had in a swift reaction to the seige on the National Assembly last month by DSS operatives sacked the former DG DSS, Lawal Daura, directing him to hand over to the next most senior officer in the service, who happened to be Seiyefa.  Speculations were rife that the President upon his resumption after his vacation in the United Kingdom would reverse Osinbajo's decision. Lawal hails from Daura like Buhari.  There were alleged fears in security circles that going into an election year with Seiyefa, a Bayelsan like former President Goodluck Jonathan was high security risk that may result in a repeat of the

As the date for the 2019 general election draws closer, the race is getting more interesting with its associated drama unfolding on a daily basis in the Degema/Bonny federal constituency where the two main rival political parties are gearing up to outwit the other by clinching the slot for its candidate. The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are the two dominant political parties in the area with equal share of political heavyweights in their ranks. Currently, PDP’s strongman, Randolph Brown occupies the seat in the House of Representatives. His two predecessors, Tonye Longjohn and Sokonte Davies, though in PDP while in office, are now chieftains of the APC. An unwritten understanding between Bonny and Degema Local Government Areas has seen the slot swing every eight years in both directions. Degema LGA through Davies just did its eight years after Longjohn’s tenure. The APC, which lost the election to PDP in 2015, was now bent on gr