George Thompson Sekibo
Encyclopedia
George Thompson Sekibo is a Nigeria
n senator who represents the People's Democratic Party
(PDP) in Rivers State
. He became a member of the Nigerian Senate in 2007.
, 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 term.
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.
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n senator who represents the People's Democratic Party
People's Democratic Party
People's Democratic Party could refer to:* People's Democratic Party * Eelam People's Democratic Party * Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party * People's Democratic Party * People's Democratic Party...
(PDP) in Rivers State
Rivers State
Rivers State is one of the 36 states of Nigeria. Its capital is Port Harcourt. It is bounded on the South by the Atlantic Ocean, to the North by Imo, Abia and Anambra States, to the East by Akwa Ibom State and to the West by Bayelsa and Delta states...
. He became a member of the Nigerian Senate in 2007.
Background
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 TechnologyRivers State University of Science and Technology
Rivers State University of Science and Technology is a University in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. The University has staff strength of 3,000 and a student population of 17,000.-History:...
, 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 term.
Senate career
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
Rotimi Amaechi
Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi is a Nigerian politician, who became Governor of Rivers State in June 2007. He was previously Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly from 1999 until 2007....
was potentially causing tension between the Okrika
Okrika
Okrika is a port town in Rivers State, Nigeria, capital of the Local Government Area of the same name. The town is situated on a small island just south of Port Harcourt, making it a suburb of the much larger city....
and Ikwerre
Ikwerre
The Ikwerre are one of the many ethnic groups in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. They are generally considered a subgroup of the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria, although a few consider themselves a separate ethnicity. The Ikwerre are said to be descendants of long-distance traders from...
communities by his ultimatum to the Okrika community to produce warlord Ateke Tom
Ateke Tom
Ateke Tom is the leader of the Niger Delta Vigilante, an ethnic Ijaw militia in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. In August 2007 following days of gun fights between various militia groups and security forces in Port Harcourt, Ateke Tom wrote to the Governor, Celestine Omehia, requesting for...
. 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
Umaru Musa Yar'Adua
Umaru Musa Yar'Adua was the President of Nigeria and the 13th Head of State. He served as governor of Katsina State in northern Nigeria from 29 May 1999 to 28 May 2007. He was declared the winner of the controversial Nigerian presidential election held on 21 April 2007, and was sworn in on 29 May...
, 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
Goodluck Jonathan
Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, GCFR, BNER, GCON is the 14th Head of State and current President of Nigeria.He was Governor of Bayelsa State from 9 December 2005 to 28 May 2007, and was sworn in as Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on 29 May 2007. Jonathan is a member of the...
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
All Progressives Grand Alliance
The All Progressives Grand Alliance is a political party in Nigeria. At the last legislative elections, 12 April 2003, the party won 1.4 % of popular votes and 2 of 360 seats in the House of Representatives of Nigeria and no seats in the Senate...
(APGA) with 13,605 votes.