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What I am doing will strengthen the immigration act and civil defence act,senate have given a nod to it – Senator George Thompson Sekibo

What I am doing will strengthen the immigration act and civil defence act,senate have given a nod to it - Senator George Thompson Sekibo

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What I am doing will strengthen the immigration act and civil defence
act,senate have given a nod to it – Senator George Thompson Sekibo
…the creation of Nigerian civil defence corps has been advantage to
the country, so you cannot just come and scrap an agency created by
the law.
… The civil defence are protecting critical national assets the same
thing with the immigration.
By Prince Adeboye omoboye
Senator George Thompson Sekibo CON is a Nigerian senator who
represents the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State. He
became a member of the Nigerian Senate in 2007.
George Thompson Sekibo was born on 1 April 1957 in Ogu Town, Rivers
State. He obtained a B. Tech Architecture from Rivers State University
of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, and a M. Eng. in
Environmental Engineering from the University of Port Harcourt, Choba.
He was Chairman/Prefect in some Local Governments in the Rivers State
area from 1988 – 1989. He was the organizing secretary of the
Democratic Party of Nigeria in Rivers State in 1997 – 1998, Special
Adviser on Projects and Special Adviser on works to the Governor of
Rivers State 1999 – 2002.
George Thompson Sekibo was elected to the National House of
Representatives for the Ogu/Bolo/Okrika constituency of Rivers State
for the 2003 – 2007 terms.
George Thompson Sekibo was elected to the Senate in 2007 as a Senator
representing Rivers East. His 2007 election was disputed, but in
December 2008 was upheld by the Court of Appeal. He was appointed to
Senate committees on Niger Delta, Gas, Federal Character &
Inter-Government Affairs, Environment, Downstream Petroleum and
Commerce.
In January 2008, Sekibo raised concern that the Rivers State governor
Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi was potentially causing tension between the
Okrika and Ikwerre communities by his ultimatum to the Okrika
community to produce warlord Ateke Tom. He advised the governor to use
his legal security apparatus to apprehend Ateke. However, in July
2009, Senator Sekibo affirmed his support for governor Amaechi.
In January 2009, Senator Sekibo voiced the strained relations between
the senate and president Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, raising a point of order
when the president did not formally inform the senate that he was
proceeding on a two-week vacation, and on that basis questioning
whether the senate should recognize Vice President Goodluck Jonathan
as the acting president.
As chairman of the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals Sekibo severely
criticized the Solid Minerals Ministry for failing to release $10
million granted by the World Bank to assist artisanal miners in the
country. In February 2009, Senator Sekibo sponsored a probe into
misuse of the Development of Natural Resources Fund (DNRF) and related
funds operated without National Assembly (NASS) approval. In April
2009, Sekibo’s Committee on Solid Minerals said that Julius Berger
Nigeria may have been illegally exporting granites from quarry sites
in Ebonyi State.
In May 2009, a row broke out when it was revealed that ten Senate
members had been on an all-expense-paid trip to Ghana, with the
implication that they were being influenced by Petroleum and Gas
producers. The members were referred to the Committee on Ethics,
Privileges and Public Petitions for investigation following a point of
order raised by Senator Sekibo.
Sekibo ran for reelection as Rivers East Senator on the PDP ticket in
April 2011. He won with 198,414 votes, easily defeating Lasbry Amadi
of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) who gained 58,182 votes and
Chigozie Orlu of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) with 13,605
votes.
In an interview with Prince adeboye omoboye of nassnews, Senator
George Thompson Sekibo expressed his optimistic decision to serve
Nigerians regardless of tribe with the bills he sponsored in the
senate.
A bill for an act to amend the Immigration Act 2015 to make provision
for the mode of appointment of the Comptroller-General of immigration
and for other related matters therewith, 2022
And
A bill for an act to amend the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence
Corps Act Cap N146 LFN 2010 to make provision for the mode of
appointment of the Commandant-General of the Corps and for other
matters therewith, 2022

Nassnews: Officially, kindly introduce yourself?
Senator George Thompson Sekibo: I’m Senator George Thompson Sekibo,
Commander of the order of Niger. I represent river state Senatorial
district River state.
Nassnews: How did you come into politics and how was growing up like?
Senator George Thompson Sekibo: I was born by a peasant fisherman and
a house wife. Incidentally, in 1968 I lost my father on my 11th
birthday. That was the day my community was evacuated by the Biafran’s
troupes. We were in camp for 1year 8 months and then we came back and
life has to begin again. My mom was a poor widow; he saw the military
burry her husband alive, the agony was on all of us.
Growing up, it wasn’t a rosy life. I was never a politician and no one
ever thought I will one day become a politician and come to the
senate. They see me as a very quiet and reserved person.
After that military rule and we entered the democratic rule, my people
especially Kings in my community wanted someone as a chairman in that
local government so they were looking for a young man without blemish
and by the grace of God at age 30 I won the election as council
chairman in 1987 December.
From that time till now, it has been from one political step to
another. I worked and served Dr. pijeme as governor. I worked with
Governor Ameachi when he was the executive Governor of Rivers State
and am now working with chief Bar. Nyensom Wike as Governor. I think
it’s just God. I was in the House of Representatives for just one
tenure and am making my 4th tenure in the senate. Before my 4th tenure
in senate I have contested about 7 elections. Somehow the court will
nullify my election; again I will go back and to the glory of God I
have been committed to the people of Rivers state and the people too
are committed to me whenever I beckon on them to go back.
Nassnews: How did you come into politics and how was growing up like?
Senator George Thompson Sekibo: I finished my degree program in 1985.
After service I came back in 1986 in July and a freelance architect, I
moved from place-to-place building houses for people and supervising
projects in the site.
A man from my place saw me on site and invited me to his house and
told me they wanted me to contest for local government chairmanship
position. I was a politician and they promised to tutor me and I ran
away for like a month while they were waiting for me in my house. As a
freelance architect I had small money but wasn’t sufficient to run for
a big position like that, there were support here and there. What gave
me an edge was that I was the student leader, I was exposed to the
people and when they needed the person to represent them in the
chairmanship position, they brought me.
At that time, I was 30 years old and I was the second youngest person
contesting in the whole country. Because I truly served my people it
gave me the background, I was able to go for 4 terms. I abandoned the
house of reps to come for the senate position because my people saw
some level of integrity and humility in me and I have been able to go
for 4 terms.
Nassnews: what instigated this bill? Because you said the bill should be amended
Senator George Thompson Sekibo: First of all, the creation of Nigerian
civil defence corps has been an advantage to the country. They have
been playing some of their functions defined for them so you can not
just come and scrap an agency created by the law. Before you scrap out
an agency, you have to come through a bill to scrap it. It can’t be a
presidential fiat because that agency was created by the parliament
and as an agency, they will definitely have their weakness and ours is
to strengthen the law.
So, what am doing is to strengthen the immigration act and civil
defence act and senate have given a nod to it. The senate will screen
whoever the president appoint. So, the purpose of this act is to
strengthen the immigration and to strengthen the civil defence act.
The civil defence are protecting critical national assets the same
thing with the immigration.
Nassnews: what are your achievements so far and what are your agenda for 2022?
Senator George Thompson Sekibo: I have achieved a lot. I have brought
in several bills, I have brought in several jobs, I can’t mention one
by one. At constituency level I have reached out to them very well.
Last week I awarded postgraduate scholarships to many of students
We trained and gave materials for the people to work on their skills.
Over 100 bicycles were given to my constituents. And by the 18th of
this month am commissioning a building for alumni of a university.
Very soon I will be commissioning a 1.4kilometer road. I have given
grants to over 2000 widows.
My agenda for the people cannot be determined yet because it’s through
the budget that you determine your projects.

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