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The current political dispensation from 1999 to 2022 has produced many members of the National Assembly in 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.
Many lawmakers from Rivers State have graced the hallowed Chambers of the senate, many of them have defected from one political party to the other. What has remained constant is their zeal to serve their country in one capacity or the other as most 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 machinery after serving out their terms at the senate.
City People Magazine Port Harcourt Bureau Chief, EMEKA AMAEFULA +234(0)8111813069 here reveals a list of Senators who have served in the National Assembly from 1999 to 2022.
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 of a multi-billionaire Henry Mac-Pepple, founder of ADAMAC Oil & 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 included Petroleum. He was the Vice Chairman Industry Committee, Water Resources, Education, Social Development and Sports and Federal Capital Territory. In 2002, he was appointed the Senate Chief Whip. He presented 7-Bills by October 2002, which distinguished him as one of the most active members of the senate.
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 with several Bills that he initiated and in the Senate. He was 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 a member to many committees including Drugs and Narcotic, Health Committee, Chairman of Petroleum Committee. He won a re-election in April 2003 and by 2007 he was a popular governorship aspirant in the PDP’s camp. On 2nd July, 2009 he died in Abuja from asthma attack.
JOHN AZUTA MBATA
Among the class of 4th Republic Senators in 1999, John Azuta Mbata, an indigene of Eneka town in Ikwerre Local Government area of Rivers State stood out. He is a son of the 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, and well-focused was elected senator in 1999 and re-elected in April 2003, on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) representing Rivers East Senatorial District. He was the acting Senate President at the period of impeachment. He was once the Chairman of Board of Directors FB ASSETS MANAGEMENT LTD. He bought over Monier Construction Company as he became Chairman and CEO of the firm. Senator Mbata is a graduate of University of Ibadan and holds a Master’s of Science degree M.Sc. and Doctorate degree Honoris causa from University Glendale USA.
OSINAKACHUKWU IDEOZU
He was first elected into the Rivers State House of Assembly. He later got elected into Federal House of Representatives representing the 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 umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party. He later studied for his Master’s of Business Administration, specializing in Finance and Banking at University of Port Harcourt. In 2008, he got another Master’s degree in Environmental Management from Enugu State University of Technology ESUT. In 2010 he earned another Master’s degree from University College of London. Born on 27th of July, 1967, in 2007, he was appointed Accountant-General under a 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 senator, representing Rivers South East Senatorial District in 2003 at the age 37 on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He left the senate in 2011. Born in Luwa in Ogoniland in February 1966. Today, he runs a multi Oil & 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 opposed to the 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. The health facility is 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) and was elected into Federal House of Representatives. In 2013, he joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State. He represented Ahoada West-Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Federal Constituency. His elder sibling, the late Godspower Umejuru Ake, was an astute politician and a former State Chairman of PDP in Rivers State. This clever politician, while in the Federal House of Representatives was among the lawmakers, who proposed 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 as Senator, representing Rivers West Senatorial District. She runs Brookstone International Secondary School, an upscale private secondary school. Abua/Odual Local Government Area indigene born on 19th February, 1962 by a top politician in Eastern region, Enugu. She was brought into political limelight when she served a former first Lady of Rivers State, Justice Mary Odili on The Adolescent Project (TAP) until she was elected a Member Federal House of Representatives for Abua/Odual-Ahoada East Federal Constituency for more than two terms. She is currently a serving Senator, representing Rivers West Senatorial District on the platform People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
MAGNUS NGEI ABE
He has been in politics since 1999 to date with his early entry as a member of All Peoples Party (APP). The platform he used to win election into Rivers State House of Assembly from where he defected to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and emerged a Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly. He became Commissioner for Information, during Governor Peter Odili’s second term from 2003 to 2007. He is a 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 senate in 2011 to 2019. Born on May 24th, 1965, by a clergy manturned 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 Governor of Rivers State come March 11th, 2023.
ANDREW UCHENDU
This astute businessman turned politician was once a boat driver, running a canoe business to earn a living. He worked hard and elevated himself after acquiring education that elevated him to become Risonpalm Oil Estate 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 Special Adviser on Infrastructure by former Governor Peter Odili until 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 on the platform of PDP. Senator George Thompson Sekibo had aspired to be elected as Rivers State Executive Governor in the 2022 PDP Gubernatorial Primary election.
BARRY MPIGI
With his grassroots political participation as an elected Chairman of Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State since the 4th Republic when he made its debut, Bari Mpigi is someone, who has risen to become a serving Commissioner in Rivers State under Dr. Peter Odili. He was elected a member of the Federal House of Representatives before taking up a seat in the Senate, representing 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.
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