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Tag: Chris Finebone

  • Jubilation in Rivers over Appeal Court ruling

    ……as APC, Cole, campaign organisation say they’ve been vindicated

    There was jubilation Monday in Rivers State, especially in Port Harcourt and its environs, on the ruling of the Court of Appeal for stay of execution of the judgment of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt on fielding of candidates by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Shortly after the appellate court in Port Harcourt, presided over by Justice Ali Gumel, granted the stay of execution of the judgment of Justice Kolawole Omotoso of the Federal High Court in the Rivers state capital, members and supporters of APC and its governorship candidate, Pastor Tonye Cole, trooped to the streets of Port Harcourt and its environs to celebrate, defying the heavy rain.

    Rivers APC, through its Publicity Secretary, Chris Finebone, declared that the main opposition party had been vindicated by the decision of the Court of Appeal, which stayed the execution of the nullification of all primaries of the APC and also restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from fielding the candidates in the February 16 and March 2 elections.

    The main opposition APC in Rivers said: “We have always said that the wheel of justice may grind slowly, sometimes annoyingly slowly, but surely justice comes ultimately. We believe that Monday’s judgment has vindicated APC in Rivers State.

    “Now, anyone who has carefully and painstakingly followed our pending matter at the Supreme Court, especially during the last sitting before the apex court reserved ruling, will easily and safely conclude that our victory at the Supreme Court is only a matter of time.

    “The key issues of representation and jurisdiction, which Justice Chiwendu Nwogu (of Rivers State High Court, Port Harcourt) deliberately overlooked in tailoring his judgment to fit into a predetermined purpose, and yet bandy it as a consent judgment, will be completely deconstructed by the excellent legal minds on the Supreme Court bench. In this particular case, the end will justify our dogged efforts as we shall, once again, prevail by God’s grace.

    Read Also: Peterside Idah begs youths over Rivers state elections

    “All Rivers APC faithful should remain resolute, as we are set to recover all that Satan has battled so hard to take away from us. INEC, by today’s Appeal Court ruling, should by now be reinstating our candidates’ names on the ballot, in line with the status quo before the pronouncement by the Federal High Court of Justice Omotoso.”

    Cole, a pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) and a co-founder of Sahara Group, in his reaction to the ruling, expressed gratitude to God on the victory.

    Governorship candidate of APC in Rivers said: “I just want to take a minute to thank the Almighty God for his grace upon us all. I know without Him, this would be totally impossible. We were up against it. We still are, but our God who has been with us throughout this journey, will see us to the end.

  • Rivers APC uncovers plot by Wike, other PDP members to destabilize Ward Congress

    The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) states that it has uncovered a plot by Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, other members of his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and their collaborators to destabilize today’s ward congress of the APC, asking Wike to address his bad governance.

    It noted that the PDP plotters were colluding with some members of APC to cause confusion, declaring that they would fail.

    Rivers APC, through its Chairman, Chief Davies Ikanya, yesterday in Port Harcourt, expressed optimism that the ward, local government and state congresses of the party would be peaceful.

    Wike earlier asked all APC members in Rivers to work towards a peaceful and successful congress, devoid of rancour, while urging them to be law-abiding and maintain the peace in the Niger Delta state.

    Rivers governor asked all hoteliers in the state not to allow their hotels to be used to foment  trouble, as was the case during the party’s last congress, when Novotel Hotel on Ken Saro-Wiwa (formerly Stadium) Road, Port Harcourt was allegedly negatively used by some persons, leading to the misconception across the country that Rivers state was in crisis.

    Wike, while speaking on Friday at the Government House, Port Harcourt, during a courtesy visit by retired military and para-military officers of Ogoni extraction, claimed that the illegal use of operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (F-SARS) and military personnel to cause rancour ahead of today’s ward congress of the APC in the state had vindicated him.

    He noted that the series of statements released by APC stakeholders on the illegal activities of F-SARS personnel, ahead of today’s congress should draw the attention of all well-meaning lovers of democracy, alleging that if security agencies could be negatively used during a party congress, Nigerians should expect electoral mischief, masterminded by security agencies in 2019.

    Rivers governor said: “In an ordinary party congress, over a platoon of soldiers and more than 200 F-SARS personnel have been handed over to one man (apparently referring to Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, a former Rivers governor). The operatives are to protect just one man, while other people are left without protection.”

    Wike also claimed that conflicts during elections were usually generated by overzealous security agents, detailed to manipulate the process, assuring that his administration would continue to invest in the promotion of security of lives and property across Rivers state.

    The main opposition party in Rivers, however, said: “Information unearthed by the APC confirms that the group that will destabilise today’s ward congress of our party, collected a huge sum of money from Rivers governor, with the sole purpose of discrediting the congresses through wild allegations against leaders of the party, especially the leader of the party in Rivers State and the Southsouth zone, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the Minister of Transportation, and Rivers Chairman of APC, Chief (Dr.) Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, among others.

    “Details of the plan seem to have been rolled out already, as the group has gone on air to accuse the transportation minister of hijacking materials for the congresses, an accusation that exposes the ignorance of the group and makes absolutely no sense at all.

    “Whereas, the APC is working hard to fully expose the full dimension of the plot and the evil people that are hell-bent on destabilizing our party’s congresses. We urge party faithful and the general public to ignore the well-known antics of Wike, other PDP members and their collaborators within and outside the APC, who have sold their souls for blood money. We are re-assuring all APC members of strict adherence to the guidelines of the party’s congresses and not to be distracted by anyone or group, under any guise.”

    Rivers APC also stated that members of the party and the general public must refuse to be deceived by the agents of doom working for Wike, who, according to the main opposition party, were to employ diverse means to destabilize the APC, in fulfillment of the agreement between them and their sponsors.

    While also speaking, the Rivers Publicity Secretary of APC, Chief Chris Finebone, declared that the party found it disgustingly hypocritical for Wike, who could not ensure good governance in the state, to extend a piece of advice on peaceful conduct of congresses to the APC, while the dust generated by massive violence and mayhem that characterized the recent PDP local government primaries across Rivers was yet to settle.

    Fine bone said: “We believe that the unsolicited advice by Rivers governor is a script from his dubious and irresponsible politics to divert attention from the massive criticism of the unbridled violence, killings and destruction of property during the PDP primaries by well-meaning Rivers people and Nigerians.

    “It would have been far more important if Wike had preached peaceful primaries to his party men and women. It would have been quite needful if the Rivers governor walked the talk by not planting the seed of imposition, discord and deceit in his party, which eventually led to the kind of unprecedented violence that marred PDP’s primaries. That surely would have been a more practical means of preaching peaceful congresses.

    “APC believes that Wike is jittery that at the end of its congresses, peace-loving Rivers people will have the opportunity to compare the activities of PDP and APC. The Rivers governor fears that people of the state will so easily confirm that PDP members are the people responsible for the political violence in Rivers State, against the peaceful disposition of the APC members. It is this fear that has propelled Wike to embark on offering his tainted advice. We say to him, physician, heal thyself.”

    Rivers publicity secretary of the APC also urged right-thinking Nigerians to ignore Wike’s allegations against soldiers, F-SARS personnel and Amaechi, describing the Rivers governor as a drowning man, who definitely needed help, having been unsure of his re-election and vice-presidential ambition in 2019, in spite of producing the National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, an indigene of Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers state.

  • Wike playing politics with Benue Killings – APC

    Wike playing politics with Benue Killings – APC

    The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused Governor Nyesom Wike of merely playing politics with his Wednesday’s N200 million donation to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Benue State, while Rivers people are wallowing in abject suffering.

    It expressed shock that whereas victims of killings and criminalities in various parts of Rivers state were licking their wounds and wondering where help would come from, but their governor was busy donating money in another state, creating the impression that all was well in Rivers state.

    Rivers APC, through its Publicity Secretary, Chris Finebone, yesterday in Port Harcourt, stated that lofty as Wike’s gesture seemed, what he only succeeded in doing was classical and wanton display of primitive hypocrisy of the worst type.

    The main opposition APC in Rivers said: “Beyond the highly politicised, self-serving and half-hearted visits to Omoku (in Rivers State, where 23 innocent worshippers were massacred on New Year’s Day), Wike has completely ignored the killings in various parts of Rivers State, especially in the local government area of his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman – Andoni (Prince Uche Secondus).

    “The Rivers governor has neither mentioned nor visited Ajakajak and other Andoni villages, where many persons have been gruesomely killed. Why has Wike not gone to visit victims of killings in Rivers State and donate to their welfare, but chose to travel to distant Benue State to display crass duplicity? APC demands an answer from the Rivers governor.

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    “Quite disappointing to the APC is that some prominent Rivers indigenes (some of whose people are being killed in Rivers State) joined the Rivers governor to Benue State and even prayed at the graveside of the victims, while their own people are being killed in Rivers State, without any intervention by Wike and his government.

    “We believe that the only purpose for the Rivers governor’s ego trip to Benue State is mainly to score cheap and pedestrian political points that have no value whatsoever to Rivers people. He (Wike) is only working in line with his belief that he is the de facto leader of PDP. Our people consider the current doling out of N200 millions of Rivers money as part of the billions of naira Wike is spending to sustain and exercise control over his political party – the PDP.”

    Rivers APC also called on well-meaning elders and opinion leaders of the state to prevail on Wike to refrain from playing Robinhood with Rivers money, but to use the commonwealth of Rivers people to give the citizens meaningful development and not the superficial projects he had been deceiving the people with.

    Having openly donated money, the main opposition APC equally called on the Federal Government and its security agencies to keep an eye on Rivers governor, in order not to donate “other things” secretly, given that reprisals were already happening in Benue state.

  • 2019: Rivers accuses APC of plan to undermine 2019 elections

    2019: Rivers accuses APC of plan to undermine 2019 elections

    The Rivers state Government (RSG),  yesterday accused the All Progressives congress ( APC ), led Federal Government (FG),  of concluded plan to grant amnesty and pardon to the 32 cultisted who were declared wanted by the state security council last week. 
    The State commissioner for Information,  Emma Okah,  a Lawyer made the allegation a news statement in Port Harcourt,  the state capital yesterday. 
    Okah quoted security intelligent report at their disposal as saying that the essence of the amnesty was to woo the people into the APC party with the view of using them to format trouble at 2019 general elections. 
    Okah said, “The Rivers state government had earlier accuses All Progressives Congress ( APC ), in the state of has approached the 32 cultists who were declared wanted by the state security command for the purpose of ensuring their membership and in return grant them protection and liberty. 
    “The Rivers state government today in receipt of credible intelligence to the effect that the the Federal Government has concludes plans to grant amnesty to these 32 cultists who were declared wanted by the security in council of Rivers state. 
    “Details of this intelligence which we gathered indicates that the Fedetal Giveenmentbis granting the said cultists amnesty for the purpose of undue electoral advantage in the forthcoming 2019 general elections.”
    He accused the FG of continuous efforts to undermining the efforts of the state government in exterminating violent crimes in the state but maintained that the plots would not deter the government in restoring peace into the state. 
     “In our view,  this action is not a surprise to us,  because we have repeatedly said it that some of these excesses of the Federal government are frustrating the fight against violent crime and criminality in our state.” he said. 
    “In particular, We have accused the Federal Special Anti robbery squad (F-SARS),  of not just being involved directly in perpetrating violent crimes in Rivers state but also are aiding and abating such crimes in the state.
    “The activities of SARS in this regard have not ceased. This share development coming at the time they stated is winning the war against culrism and kidnapping therefore become a major set back and a ploy to undermine security in Rivers state, and bring to not,  the enormous financial resources we have committed to the issue of security in the State. 
    “Sadly, each time we recorded success in the promotion of security in the state,  the Federal Government and her agent take deliberate steps to sabortage the security of the state at the instigation of some unpatriotic sons of Rivers state who are serving at the centre.” 
    He called on various bodies and groups to save the soul of the state from the antics of APC, insisting that the 32 persons will not be delayed from the crimson list until they have answered to their crimes. 
    “We therefore call on the international community,  civil society organizations and well meaning Nigerians to ….act to compromise the security of Rivers state for ungodly political gain by the APC -led Federal Government. 
    “For the avoidance of doubt,  the Rivers state government will continue to work closely with the security agencies in the state”
    In the swift reactions,  the state Publicity Secretary of APC, Chris Finebone said, “The simple truth is that since federal security forces killed Don Waney, Gov. Wike’s personal security architecture has suffered irredeemable damage. 
    “He is making very desperate attempts at changing the well known narrative that Don Waney and the PDP worked for the other. Those of you in the media know better. Gov. Wike and his officials are making desperate attempts at misleading ongoing investigations concerning those who sponsored, funded and protected Don Waney all these years. 
    “They know those the investigations will lead to, hence the desperate attempt to divert attention, but it is too late. Calling APC or the Federal Government simply confirms that the Rivers State governor and his men are at their wit’s end. 
    “We have said it over and over that Gov. Nyesom Wike cares little about giving good governance to the people of Rivers State and that is why he is perpetually in election mode. 
    “Instead of condemning Governor Wike, we empathise with him, because we believe that he needs help desperately. Gov. Wike is a victim of a flawed political leadership recruitment system, but unfortunately, Rivers people are the losers for it. It is sad.”he concluded. 
  • APC, PDP disagree on Wike’s defection plan

    APC, PDP disagree on Wike’s defection plan

    The leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State have disagreed on the move by the state governor-elect, Chief Nyesom Wike, to join the APC.

    The Rivers State Publicity Secretary of the APC, Chris Finebone, on Thursday in Port Harcourt, disclosed that there was a subterranean move by Wike to jump defect to the party.

    The Rivers Chairman of the PDP, Chief Felix Obuah, however, dismissed the APC’s claim, describing it as malicious, baseless and a mere wishful thinking of propagators of such falsehood.

    Wike, a former Minister of State for Education, was declared winner of the April 11 governorship election in the state by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), while the governorship candidate of the APC, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside, has concluded arrangements to file a petition at the state’s election petitions tribunal in Abuja.

    Finebone said Wike’s move to defect to the APC was aimed at obtaining the cover of the ruling party in the state and avoid a judicial dethronement.

    He said: “Wike’s latest move comes as no surprise to those who know his antecedents. Having back-stabbed his mentors like former Senator John Mbata in the past and more recently Governor Chibuike Amaechi, he would only be living true to the unreliable ally that he has grown to be.

    “Wike’s history is replete with sabotage and dual personality, often unstable among peers. So, we are not surprised at his latest move to dump the PDP and join the APC. Such a move portrays him as unstable in relationship, having at several instances, bitten the finger that fed him. He thinks that by hiding under the canopy of APC membership, elders of the APC will prevail on Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside, the governorship candidate of the party at the April 11 election, to abandon his quest for justice.”

    Obuah, however, claimed that it was most unthinkable that the governor-elect who is also the PDP leader in Rivers State, was considering dumping the party for the APC, saying doing so was like preferring hell, which the APC allegedly represents, to paradise.

    He said: “Rivers State is a PDP state, as demonstrated in the just-concluded general election and cannot be betrayed by the leader and holder of its mandate, who has given all he has to ensure the party is not killed by self-seeking individuals, the bulk of whom make up the membership of the APC in the state.

    “Rather than do that, the governor-elect, Chief Wike, will do all within his powers to deliver on his electioneering promises to the people to ensure they are not disappointed and to strengthen their support and belief in the PDP.”