The Rivers State government has honoured distinguished indigenes who have contributed to Rivers development and service personnel who died in active service in defence of the state.
The honours were bestowed on the awardees by the state governor, Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday during the State Honours and Awards 2018 at the Alfred Diete Spiff Civic Centre, Port Harcourt.
Among those who received the honours on Tuesday was the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Uche Secondus; Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani; and a former President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Mr Okey Wali (SAN).
The three men of them alongside 17 others received Distinguished Service Star of Rivers State (DSSRS).
Governor Wike said the service personnel honoured by his administration were those who died in active service between 2015 till date.
He explained that the personnel were drawn from the Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Navy, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigerian Army, Police, and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
“We are honouring those who lost their lives in the course of securing our beloved state. It is because of their sacrifices that we are seated here today. They laid down their lives to fight criminality in this state. These are true heroes,” Wike said.
He further pledged that the state government would support the families of the deceased their respective services.
The governor also recognised a voluntary selfless traffic warden, Mr Friday Opurum, saying the recognition was to encourage others to invest their time and resources to develop the state.
He also honoured President of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Mr Honour Sirawoo, while some prominent Rivers indigenes were recognised posthumously.
Responding on behalf of the awardees, Mr Secondus commended Governor Wike’s efforts towards developing the state, as well as appreciated the fact that those honoured were selected from all levels of the society.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Rivers State Honours Advisory Committee, Mr Ferdinand Alabrabra, said that the honourees were chosen because of their service to Rivers State.
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