MEET RIVERS STATE SENATORS WHO HAVE SERVED IN THE RED CHAMBERS— WHERE ARE THEY NOW
The current political dispensation from 1999 to 2022 has produced many members of the National Assembly of the Red Chamber and the Green Chamber and Rivers state has 3 senatorial districts and 13 Federal House of Representatives with 32 members of Rivers State House of Assembly all have contributed in advancing development in Rivers state and in Nigeria in general.
It is pertinent to take a cursory look in retrospect about those lawmakers who have graced the hallowed Chambers of Nigerian senate and where they are currently. With the political parties’ realignments in the country many of the senators must have defected several times from one political party to the other. What has remained consistent is their zeal to serve their country in one capacity or the other since the majority of them completed their political mandate in the Senate. Some of them are doing well in their different endeavours while others cannot rejig their political swag after serving in the National Assembly as Senators of the Federal Republic.
THE EAR WITNESS Publisher/Editor-In-Chief, EMEKA AMAEFULA +234(0)8111813069 here reveals the list of Senators from Rivers state who have served in the National assembly from 1999 to 2022 in the present 4th Republic. READ ON.
ADAWARI MACPEPPLE
The astute lawyer and businessman, Barrister Adawari Mac-Pepple hails from Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers state. He was elected in 1999 to represent Rivers South East senatorial district which he completed in 2007. He is a relation to Nigeria’s multi-billionaire Henry Mac-Pepple founder of ADAMAC Oil and Gas and other subsidiaries. He runs a successful Legal chamber along Emekuku street D/Line area of Port Harcourt. Currently he is the Chairman of manufacturers association of Nigeria MAN Rivers state Chapter. While serving in the Senate he was appointed into Committees which include Petroleum, and Vice Chairman Industry Committee, Water Resources, Education, Social development and Sports and Federal Capital Territory. In 2002 he was appointed as senate Chief whip. He presented 7-Bills by October 2002 which distinguished him as one of the most active senators.
He is a recipient of the Distinguished Service Star award DSSRS by Rivers state Government.
DR. SOALA IBIAPUYE MARTYNS YELLOWE
This Russian trained Neuro-Psychiatrist Senator Soala Ibiapuye Martyns- Yellowe dominated most plenary debates in the Senate from 1999 to 2007 when he attempted to emerge as Governor of Rivers state. He was an excellent Lawmaker in the Senate with several Bills that he initiated and moved while serving as a distinguished Senator. Born on 12th November 1945 in Bakana in current Degema Local government Area of Rivers state. Before his election in 1999 into the Senate he was Chief Medical Director CMD of the Psychiatric Hospital Rumuigbo Port Harcourt Rivers state. As a senator he was appointed as a member to many committees including Drugs and Narcotic, Health Committee, Chairman of Petroleum Committee. He was re-election into the Senate in April 2003 and by 2007 he was a popular Governorship aspirant in the PDP Governorship election which he never got elected. On 2nd July 2009 he died at Abuja over an Asthma attack.
JOHN AZUTA MBATA
Among the class of 4th Republic Senators in 1999 John Azuta Mbata a native of Eneka town in ikwerre Local government Area of Rivers state. He is the son of late business mogul Sam Mbata a renowned servant of god who brought Full Gospel businessmen Fellowship to Port Harcourt. Born on 3rd January 1960, Distinguished Senator John Azuta Mbata tall, cool headed, hefty looking and well-focused was elected as senator in 1999 and re-elected in April 2003 under Peoples Democratic Party-PDP representing Rivers East senatorial District. He was Senate President Extempore at the period of impeachment. He was once Chairman of board of directors FB ASSETS MANAGEMENT LTD, he bought over Monier Construction Company as he became Chairman and CEO. Senator Mbata is a graduate of University of Ibadan and holds a Masters of Science degree M.Sc. and Doctorate degree Honoris causa from University Glendale USA.
OSINAKACHUKWU IDEOZU
He was first elected into Rivers state House of assembly from where he got elected into Federal House of Representatives for Abua/Odual-Ahoada East Federal Constituency. This First-Class Estate Management graduate from Rivers state University of Science and Technology Nkpolu-Orowurokwo, Port Harcourt was elected Rivers West Senator from 2015 to 2019 under the platform of People Democratic Party. He later studied for masters of Business administration specializing in Finance and Banking from University of Port Harcourt. And in 2008 he got another Masters Degree in Environmental Management from Enugu State University of Technology ESUT. In 2010 he earned another Masters Degree in Polic Policy from University College London. Born on 27th of July 1967, in 2007 he was appointed Accountant General under former Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. Currently he is a businessman.
LEE LEDOGO MAEBA
This Ogoni born politician and businessman, Senator Lee Ledogo Maeba was elected as Senator representing Rivers South East Senatorial District in 2003 at the age of 37 under the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. He left the Senate in 2011. Born in the sleepy town of Luwa in Ogoniland. February 1966. Today he runs Multi Oil and Gas company Limited where he is the President and founder. Senator Lee Ledogo Maeba is a staunch member of PDP since its formation in 1999 to date. Today he is among the top-notch Presidential campaigners for Atiku Abubakar in Rivers state. This former political ally of the incumbent governor of Rivers state Nyesom Ezenwo Wike who is opposing the emergency of PDP national chairman Senator Iyorchia Ayu. He is founder of Lee Maeba Diabetes care Centre which is dedicated to the care, education, nurture and treatment of people living with diabetes which is being managed by Senator Lee Maeba Foundation.
WILSON ASINOBI AKE
The Erema town in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni born politician Wilson Asinobi Ake is your everyday community man who is a fighter and loyalist to his people of Rivers state. He started as a founding member of Peoples Democratic Party PDP as he was elected into Federal House of Representatives before in 2013, he joined the founders of All Progressives Congress-APC in Rivers state. He represented Ahoada West-Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Federal Constituency. His elder sibling Late Godspower Umejuru Ake was an astute politician and a former state chairman of PDP in Rivers state. This clever politician was while in the Federal house of representatives was among the lawmakers who dealt with the Bill on Niger Delta Development Commission-NDDC. Later in his political career he was elected into the Senate representing Rivers West Senatorial District from 2007 to 2015. Currently he is a supporter of senator Magnus Ngei Abe who is a gubernatorial candidate of Social Democratic party-SDP in Rivers state.
BETTY APIAFI
Pretty and smart looking Rivers state born Betty Jocelyn Okagua-Apiafi is a retired banker, an Economist, Educationist and a serving politician as Senator representing Rivers West Senatorial District. She runs Brookstone International Secondary School, an upscale private secondary School. Abua/Odual Local Government Area native born on 19th February, 1962 by her father who was a top politician in eastern region Enugu. She was brought into political limelight when she served former first Lady of Rivers state Justice Mary Odili’s The Adolescent project-TAP until she was first elected as Member Federal House of Representatives for Abua/Odual-Ahoada East Federal constituency for more than two terms. She is currently serving as Senator representing Rivers West senatorial district under Peoples Democratic Party-PDP.
MAGNUS NGEI ABE
He has been around politics since 1999 to date with his early entry into party politics as a member of All Peoples party-APP which platform he used to win election into Rivers state House of Assembly where he defected to Peoples Democratic party PDP and emerged Leader of the Rivers state House of Assembly. He became Commissioner for Information during Governor Peter Odili’s second term in office from 2003 to 2007. The 1987 Law School graduate is from Gokana Local Government Area. He became Secretary To Rivers state Government in 2007 until he was elected into the Nigerian senate in 2011 to 2019. Born on May 24th 1965 with his late father a clergy turned politician who was elected into Rivers state House of Assembly.
Today, he is a governorship candidate of Social Democratic Party-SDP as he defected from APC to realize his ambition of being elected as Governor of Rivers state come March 11th, 2023.
ANDREW UCHENDU
This astute businessman turned politician was once a boat driver peddling the canoe to earn a living after he worked hard to elevate himself after acquiring training in academic attainment that elevated him to occupy Risonpalm Oil Estate as General Manager. He was elected into the Federal House of Representatives representing Emohua/Ikwerre Federal constituency for more than two terms. When he joined APC in Rivers State he contested for the Rivers east senatorial district and won. Until he was unable to participate in the 2019 election for a second term in the Senate. Senator Andrew Uchendu is an ally to Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.
GEORGE THOMPSON SEKIBO
This Ogu/Bolo Wakrikese born politician is a trained Architect who has done so well in the development of his people in Rivers state.
He was first appointed by former Governor Peter Odili as Special Adviser on Infrastructure until when he was elected into Federal House of Representatives where he remained for more than two terms until he got voted into the Senate representing Rivers East senatorial District where he served for two terms under PDP. Senator George Thompson Sekibo had aspired to be elected as Rivers state executive Governor in the 2022 PDP Gubernatorial Primary election but he failed to realize that dream of his.
BARRY MPIGI
With his grassroot political participation as elected chairman of Tai local government Area of Rivers state since the fourth Republic made its debut, Bari Mpigi is someone who has risen to have become a serving Commissioner in Rivers state under Dr. Peter Odili. He was elected as a member of the Federal House of Representatives before taking a seat in the Senate for Rivers South East Senatorial District. He is a strong political ally of Nyesom Ezenwo Wike who he has been following diligently. He looks forward to returning to the Senate for a second term come 11th February, 2023 General elections for President and National Assembly.
