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Tag: Nyesom Wike

  • Wike felicitates with Muslims

    RIVERS State Governor Nyesom Wike has urged Muslims to emulate Holy Prophet Mohammed (SAW) by imbibing the ideals of sacrifice exemplified by the Prophet.

    In a Sallah message, the governor said Eid-el-Kabir is a season of love, peace, friendship and sacrifice.

    He urged Nigerians to embrace religious tolerance, which he said would promote peace across the country and enhance national development.  Wike assured Rivers State residents that his administration would work with the security agencies to ensure that all citizens celebrate the Sallah in peace and harmony.

    Read Also: We’re ready to tackle insecurity, says Wike

    The governor congratulated the Muslim community in Rivers State on the Sallah celebration, saying his administration would continue to partner with them to further develop the state.

    He thanked the Muslims for their consistent support for his administration.

     

     

     

  • Controversy trails arrest of notorious cultist Bobrisky in Rivers

    CONTROVERSY is trailing the announcement by Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, that the Nigerian Army has arrested Bobrisky, a notorious cultist in the state.

    Wike during a security meeting with leaders of Rumuolumeni Community at the Government House, Port Harcourt, yon Friday, announced the capture of Bobrisky, an alleged mastermind of dastardly killings in Gokana Local Government Area of Ogoniland.

    But a source at the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, debunked the claim, challenging the governor to parade the criminal to validate his claim.

    The governor, during the announcement said: “The army has captured Bobrisky of Gokana. I will pay the bounty that I promised to the Nigerian Army. Anyone who generates insecurity in Rivers, I am ready to pay any amount to ensure the arrest of that person.”

    Governor Wike called on community leaders to provide information to the State Security Council on criminals in their communities to frontally reduce crime in the state.

    He described Rumuolumeni as one of the flashpoints in the state where criminals had been using the waterway as a getaway point. Wike urged the community leaders to cooperate with the Rivers government to check the activities of cult groups and insecurity in the area.

    On the issue of road construction, Wike assured the people of the area that key roads in the community would be constructed by his administration.

    Read Also: We’re ready to tackle insecurity, says Wike

    He stated that at the end of this month, contractors would be mobilised to commence work on the selected roads.

    The governor said: “Key roads in the area (Rumuolumeni) have been primed for construction. I urge you to have confidence in us that we will continue to develop the area.”

    Wike reiterated the proscription of youth groups in Rivers State, stressing that any youth body that plans to operate must first be profiled by security agencies.

    Rivers Commissioner of Police, Mustapha Dandaura, said almost all communities in the state had been overrun by cultists, declaring that security agencies would not watch and allow the situation to degenerate. He hailed Wike for donating vehicles and other equipment to the security agencies to fight crimes, while assuring that security agencies would intensify the battle against crimes, to achieve results.

    A source at the 6 Division, Port Harcourt,debunked the governor’s claim, saying: ”Let me confide in you that Bobrisky has not been arrested. I do not know what Governor Nyesom Wike intends to gain by lying and misleading members of the public. Since Gov. Wike insists that Bobrisky has been arrested by his army, not the Nigerian Army, let him parade Bobrisky on Saturday (today), Sunday or Monday.

    With the lie by Governor Wike and the press statement by his media aide, Bobrisky will escape from Nigeria or he may go underground. The truth remains that Bobrisky has not been arrested.”

  • Security foils #RevolutionNow protests in Osun, Rivers, Kano, Kwara, others

    SECURITY agencies on Monday foiled the #RevolutionNow protests in many states.

    In Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, security agents defied a downpour to man strategic places in the capital city, especially the Isaac Boro Park, near the State House.

    Governor Nyesom Wike on Sunday warned against the protest, directing security operatives to foil it and arrest participants.

    There was no gathering of any kind and business activities went on as usual in the state.

    As early as 6 a.m., policemen took over the main gate of the Isaac Boro Park in Mile One, Diobu, Port Harcourt, the usual take-off point for most protests in Rivers.

    Shortly after the policemen’s arrival, the downpour started, forcing them to move into the six Toyota Hilux patrol vans parked under the flyover, directly opposite the park. The heavy rain was still on, as at press time.

    In Benin City, the Edo State capital, and other towns, there were no protests. The Oba Ovoranmen Square, the city centre that served as a rallying point for previous protests, was empty.

    Residents went about their daily activities. A news conference scheduled by some activists in the state was called off after a call from Abuja. Security was beefed up around Benin City and major streets.

    In Ondo, the protest also failed. Business and social activities went on smoothly in Akure, the state capital. Security agents were deployed to strategic areas of the Akure metropolis.

    At the M.K.O Abiola Democracy Park, close to the main market, Oja Oba, officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and some plain-clothed men took charge.

    Policemen and NSCDC men were stationed at the Mobil Roundabout, Alagbaka, Shoprite, Oda Road, NEPA Roundabout and Isikan Roundabout. Several police vans patrolled major streets.

    Ondo State Police Command spokesman Femi Joseph, a Superintendent of Police, said the state Commissioner of Police, Undie Adie, ordered policemen to be on red alert.

    He said: “We have a good number of our men in strategic areas of the metropolis. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) and Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) commanding are in the streets with our men, monitoring the situation.

    “It is the right of every individual citizen to protest, but the manner and the lexicon they (organisers) are using ‘revolution’ depicts forceful takeover of a legitimate government in power. No security agencies would allow that to any groups to attempt to overthrow the government. A forceful takeover is no longer fashionable all over the world. No country would allow that.

    “The only means of change now is through the ballot. That’s why the proposed protest was condemned by many Nigerians. That’s why we are going to resist any vestiges of revolution.

    “We are on the ground and ready. We are not leaving anything to chance because Omoyele Sowore is from this state and surely he would have some of his supporters here. We would not allow that in our state.

    “This is not acceptable. It is tantamount to treason and we all know the consequences. They should dissipate their energy on better things. They should not make any attempt in Ondo State because we will deal with them decisively though within the ambit of the law.”

    Poor response in Southeast

    There was a poor response to the call for protest in the Southeast.

    The Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Osita Okechukwu, attributed the poor response in Enugu to the Igbo quest for president in 2023.

    Okechukwu spoke with reporters shortly after a meeting with Wawa Farmers Association in Enugu.

    He described the call for nationwide protest by Global Coalition for Security and Democracy (GCSD) led by Omoyele Sowore as unpatriotic.

    “Methinks our people are aware that 2023 is the date we are waiting to elect Nigeria president of Igbo extraction. That’s why they didn’t participate in the protest. All one hears from the people one discussed within the meeting with WAWA Farmers Association was their anger over incessant killings like that of Rev. Fr. Paul Offu.

    “Instead of protest, they are urging Mr President to overhaul the security architecture and upgrade the security infrastructure. They cried that insecurity is hampering their farming activities,” Okechukwu said.

    All quiet in Kano

    The protest did not hold in the ancient city of Kano. Business and commercial activities went on as usual.

    Many residents were not even aware of the planned protest. Security men were drafted to beef up security at strategic flashpoints of Kano metropolis.

    Also, several police vans, including that of the armed, patrolled major streets in Kano.

    The spokesman of the Kano State Police Command, DSP Abdullahi Haruna, told this reporter that the Commissioner of Police Ahmed Iliyasu ordered policemen across the state to be on red alert.

    He said: “As I am talking to you, as you can also observe, Kano is peaceful, our men have been drafted to strategic areas to monitor the situation.”

    Police brutalise 70-year-old, arrest 10 protesters in Osun

    The police on Monday brutalised a 70-year-old poor woman, Sariyu Akanmi, during the protest in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

    She was hawking fufu where the protest was going on. The police hit her with the butt of their gun, kicking her on the floor while trying to throw her inside their van. But the intervention of some people around prevented them from arresting the woman.

    The police also arrested ten of the protesters. Tear gas canisters were thrown at reporters covering the protest.

    Men of the State Security Service and the Police prevented members of the Coalition for Revolution in Osun State from protesting against alleged suffering of Nigerians under the Mohammad Buhari administration.

    The protesters, mainly students of the Obafemi Awolowo University, the Federal Polytechnic, Ede, the Osun State Polytechnic, Iree and other public tertiary institutions in the state, gathered at Olaiya junction in Osogbo, the state capital around 9.00 am to sensitise Nigerians about the “deplorable conditions prevalent in the country under the watch of the President Buhari.”

    The protesters called for a revolution to stem the tide of a spate of joblessness, insecurity, hunger, modulated workers salary and “fraudulent implication of the Contributory Pension Scheme in Nigeria.”

    For hours, security agents, including the SSS, the police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps kept the students under watch and did not allow them to move out of Olaiya junction.

    Some of the students, who used the Public Address System to speak to passers-by, demanded the unconditional release of Omoyele Sowore, the convener of the Revolution Now movement.

    Calm in Kogi, Anambra

    There was no protest in Kogi State. Aside from the early morning rain, normal business activities resumed around the capital, Lokoja. People went about their daily chores.

    Many residents were unaware of the call for the protest march by the NigeriaRevolutionNow group. There was no unusual deployment of security agents.

    Anambra State police command deployed over 50 patrol teams in the state. They moved around the state.  There was no protest in the state. Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Haruna Mohammed said the Command was ready for anybody or group that would try to disturb the peace in the state.

    Commissioner of Police John Abang directed the deployment of policemen both in plain clothes and uniform to patrol all the roads in the state.

    Mohammed said: “The state is not involved in the protest, but what the Command has done is to take proactive measure in case of any disturbances from some miscreants.

    “Anambra has been a quiet place and the Command will like it to remain so. But if anyone tries to be smart, the person will face the wrath of the command.”

     

    Police disrupt sporting activities in Ilorin

    Some heavily armed men of the Kwara State command yesterday stormed the state’s stadium complex to disperse athletes on training.

    The police were ordered to block the stadium gate over speculation that the facility would be used for the pro-revolution rally.

    Police spokesperson Ajayi Okasanmi said the presence of policemen at the stadium was a proactive measure put in place by the police command to prevent chaos.

    Okasanmi said: “Kwara State is largely recognised as a state of harmony and Ilorin is reputed to be peaceful. We owe our law-abiding people the duty to sustain that. More so, we had to prevent the planned protest from being hijacked by hoodlums in order not to lead to any dangerous dimension.”

    Anti-revolution protest in Alausa

    A group, Democracy Watch Africa (DWA), an umbrella body of over 30 Civil Society Organisations in West Africa Monday morning protested against the planned RevolutionNow protest earmarked for Monday.

    Its convener, Josephine Okpara, demanded the expulsion of Amnesty International (AI), and not revolution.

    They carried placards with various inscriptions like: ‘Amnesty International leave Nigeria or we give you war, we will fight you and not our country’, ‘Amnesty International must go’, ‘We stand by peace in Nigeria, we say no to Amnesty International and all her allies’, ‘We say no to terrorism, Amnesty International, Boko Haram, Islamic movement, revolution’, ‘No more war in Nigeria, shame on Amnesty International and her sponsors’, etc.

    They accused the pro-revolution group of acting against the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians “under the active support of some external forces that are bent on destabilising the country.

  • Tribunal affirms Wike’s re-election

    The Rivers State governorship election tribunal has dismissed the petition by the African Action Congress (AAC) governorship candidate, Biokpomabo Awara, against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Governor Nyesom Wike and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    The tribunal, presided over by Justice K. A. Orjiako, dismissed the petition on the ground  that it was deemed abandoned on the ground of Paragraph 4 of the First Schedule of the Electoral Act.

    According to the tribunal, the petition was deemed to be technically abandoned because the AAC and its candidate failed to meet key procedural requirements as to applying for pre-hearing information.

    The three-man panel said petition number EPT/RS/GOV/03/2019 was incompetent and therefore, dismissed it.

    The tribunal also struck out applications by the AAC governorship candidate, seeking to be separated from all joint applications previously made with the party.

    Read Also: Wike: I’m not surprised by Reps’ action

    AAC recently adopted Henry Bello to represent it at the tribunal after its former lawyer, Tawo Tawo, withdrew from the case, with a notice of change of counsel filed the tribunal.

    This application came in after the AAC brought in another counsel to handle its matter at the tribunal.

    The three-man panel, after going through arguments in the Awara/AAC suit against Wike, ruled that all applications by the first petitioner (Tawo Tawo, former AAC counsel) are struck out.

    Ojiako noted that the application by the petitioner (counsel for Awara; Mustafa Ibrahim) has been found to be an abuse of court process. The panel also struck out the application filed by the petitioner for pre-hearing of the matter.

  • OML 25: Wike gives parties 7 days to resolve issues, reopen facility

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has directed all parties in the dispute relating to Oil Mining License (OML) 25 to within 7 days resolve all issues and reopen the oil facility. He also directed the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, to convene a meeting of all key stakeholders for the host communities to outline their grievances to Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), and for the company to address such developments.

    He spoke at a meeting with the management of the SPDC, Belemaoil Limited, host community leaders and Security Service Commanders at the Government House, Port Harcourt yesterday. Traditional rulers, elected leaders, Youth leaders and Chairmen of Community Development Committees from Kula, Belema, Offoin-Ama, Opu-Kula and Ibiame of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area attended the meeting. Wike said he called the meeting because the closure of OML 25 is negatively affecting Federal, State and Local Government funds.

    “OML 25 has been shut down for one reason or the other. Some persons in the community are hauling insults at me. No matter the insult, nothing will make me not to perform my duty to the area. The Federal government, the State government and the Local government are losing funds with the continued closure of the OML 25. If Shell is behaving wrongly, tell them and if Belemaoil is behaving wrongly, tell them. It is wrong for anyone to say that the Federal Government is handling the matter.  When conflicts of this nature affect the communities, it is for the State and Local Government Area  to resolve them”.

    Read Also: Photos: Wike receives Osinbajo in Rivers

    The Governor said he has no hand in the drilling of oil or the issuance of licenses, but he is committed to peace and security in communities for the development of the state. He said that the issue is on the economic development of the host communities, Rivers State and Nigeria and should not be politicised. Speaking at the meeting, Managing Director of SPDC, Mr. Osagie Okunbor said that the company operates the OML 25, with the operating license renewed by the Federal Government for another 20 years.

    “We operated in a cordial environment until 10th August, 2017 when some community people entered the facility. The information that was given to us was that they were unhappy over issues of social amenities and employment. We listened and we were keen to address these issues. But at some point another element entered the equation, which was that we should relinquish and hand over to Belema Oil, that is from the community,” he said.

    Chairman of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, Mr. Rowland Sekibo, said Belema Oil management created the impression that they bought the OML 25 from Shell Petroleum Development Company, but the company refused to transfer the operational right.  He said that a meeting with stakeholders at NNPC Abuja, it was discovered that the license of OML 25 was still under the ownership of Shell. He said though the owner of Belema Oil  is from the area, it was illegal  to shut down the oil production  facility in order to arm twist the system to sell it to Belema Oil.

  • Wike: Rivers will support train 7 of NLNG

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has said the government will support the Train 7 project of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited because of its potential to create about 15,000 jobs and enhance the state’s economy.

    According to him, the people are happy that the Train 7 will soon come on stream because it is important for growth.

    The governor spoke on Wednesday when the management of NLNG visited him in the Government House.

    He said: “The Train 7 is very key to the development of Rivers State. We are glad that it will soon take off. I am happy with the quantum of jobs that the train 7 will create.

    “However, these jobs should not be cleaning and unskilled workers. I want the NLNG to ensure that qualified people are employed when the Train 7 comes on stream.”

    The governor praised the management for initiating the Community Health Insurance Scheme for Bonny Island, saying the government will partner the company to achieve the objectives of the programme.

    Read Also: Wike: Rivers won’t tolerate vandalism

    “I will only support companies that mean well for the people of Rivers State. My business is to do good for our people, so that their lives can improve. Other companies should emulate what NLNG is doing in Rivers State. On behalf of the people, I praise the NLNG,” Wike added.

    Managing Director of NLNG Tony Attah prayed that Wike’s second term will be more rewarding for the people. He thanked the governor for his contribution to the development of NLNG Limited.

    According to him, the NLNG is set to kick off the Train 7 of the company, where the company is expected to spend between $6 billion and $7 billion in investment.

    He said: “The employment side of the Train 7 is that it will create about 10 to 15 thousand jobs for the people. It will build the skills and capacity of the people. The final investment decision will be taken in October.”

  • Wike: Rivers won’t tolerate vandalism

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has vowed that the government will not tolerate shutting down of oil facilities.

    Wike said under no circumstances should communities take laws into their hands by preventing oil companies from working.

    A statement by his media aide, Simeon Nwakaudu, said the governor spoke at a meeting with Chairmen of Cluster Development Boards in Asari-Toru, Akuku-Toru and Degema Local Government Areas, oil companies and security agencies at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Thursday.

    The governor directed the immediate revival of the State Steering Committee on Cluster Development Boards.

    He said: “I will not support any company which does not perform its Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) to its host communities. However, communities must not take laws into their hands; they must not stop production by the operating companies. Such actions will negatively affect the finances of the Federal Government, the state and the local government areas.”

    According to the governor, where companies fail to act within the expectations of the communities, the government will mediate through the Steering Committee on Cluster Development Boards.

    Read Also: I’ll put Rivers first, says Wike

    “It is important that we do not allow crisis to occur in the communities. The Aeroton rig in one community was seized; that rig should be allowed to work. I called this meeting because of concerns raised by the operating companies in the area,” Wike added.

    The governor regretted that most problems in the Niger Delta are caused by oil companies who patronise and engage with criminal elements to the disadvantage of host communities.

    Former Commissioner of Environment Samuel Horsfall noted that “the oil companies know the right thing to do but they will never take the right steps”. According to him, the firms even refuse to recognise Council Chairmen who are the direct links to the respective communities.

    An official of one of the Cluster Development Boards, Charles Sekibo, denied seizing the rig of an oil firm. According to him, his community has always provided the needed support for the company to engage in production.

    Managing Director of Aeroton Mr. Ebiaho Emafo said nobody has the right to stop the production of oil companies. He noted that the company has spent about N3 billion on community development and the company is struggling to make ends meet.

     

     

  • Wike: God gave us victory in election

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has said God personally intervened in the electoral turbulence to give the state a desired victory.

    A statement by the governor’s media aide, Simeon Nwakaudu, said he spoke at the Government House in Port Harcourt during a solidarity and thanksgiving service by the Anglican Bishops of the Province of Niger Delta.

    Wike said he saw the mighty working hand of God during the elections.

    He said: “We give God the glory for what has happened. During the turbulence, the Church prayed and God heard. God came down and intervened on our behalf. Our thanksgiving to God will never be enough. But for the intervention of God, there is nothing anyone would have done.

    “All the conspiracies and gang-ups were heavy, but God showed his presence. When you have challenges, then you know there is God.”

    The governor urged the clergy to pray for God to give him the wisdom to appoint officials who will be committed to the development of Rivers State in his second term.

    Read Also: Wike appoints SSG, Chief of Staff

    “I need your prayers for God to bring to me the right people who will work with me; people who will work with me for the good of our state. People do all manner of things these days to manipulate the system. We need God’s guidance for people who will be sincere to work for the state,” he added.

    Archbishop of the Anglican Province of the Niger Delta Rev. Tunde Adeleye said they were in the Government House to thank God for giving Wike victory following their prayers.

    According to him, God intervened in the face of the several plots against Wike because the governor works for the growth of Christianity.

    He said: “We prayed intensely because God revealed to us the battle ahead. You fought, but the Lord was on your side and you were on the side of God, and the battle was won.”

    The cleric said the Church was concerned because “Wike has always identified with it, by professing Christianity at every point”.

    He urged Wike to remain vigilant as he receives goodwill messages, and prayed God to give him the spirit to know the right direction to lead the state.

    Wike on Wednesday inspected ongoing projects in Port and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas.

    He inspected the ongoing construction of Rumuepirikom Internal Roads, where he directed the contractors to intensify work.

    The governor inspected the progress of work on Birabi Street, which is the route to the Headquarters of the Salvation Ministry. He also monitored the level of work at the judges’ quarters where the contractors are putting finishing touches to the 20 duplexes.

    The governor was accompanied by the Secretary to the State Government, Tammy Danagogo, Head of Service Rufus Godwins, Attorney-General Zaccheus Adangor, Commissioner for Finance Isaac Kamalu, project contractors and officials of the Ministry of Works.

  • Rivers Assembly confirms two commissioners

    The Rivers State House of Assembly on Monday confirmed two commissioner-nominees for appointment into the State Executive Council.

    The commissioners are the immediate past Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Dr. Zaccheus Adangor and a former lawmaker and one time caretaker committee chairman for Eleme Local Government Area, Isaac Kamanu.

    Read Also: Wike inaugurates Rivers Assembly

    The two were screened following an executive directive by Governor Nyesom Wike.

    While Kamanu was allowed to take a bow and leave, Adangor was seriously quizzed on issues pertaining to criminal justice system among others, and how he will facilitate speedy delivery of justice.

  • Wike: loyalty required for appointments

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has reiterated that his second term appointments will be based on absolute loyalty, commitment to the vision of the administration and the capacity to deliver.

    The governor spoke on Monday when he swore in Secretary to the State Government Tammy Danagogo, Chief of Staff, Government House, Chukwuemeka Woke, Attorney-General Zaccheus Adango and Commissioner for Finance Isaac Kamalu.

    He said: “These appointments are not based on sentiments; appointment is based on 100 per cent undiluted loyalty and competence. I will not appoint people who will run down the government. We will appoint those who believe in the vision and mission of the state government; those who will defend the government and her policies.”

    Read Also: Wike inaugurates ninth Rivers Assembly

    Governor Wike said the first sets of appointments were made to start off his second term and enhance the development of the state.

    He said: “The appointments that I made were not lobbied for. I know these officials personally.

    “Going forward, I will take time to scrutinise people that will be appointed. I learnt my lesson during the last term. I will only appoint people who want to work and those who want to make sacrifices for the state.

    “I have known the Secretary to the State Government closely; he is loyal and committed.  This second term is for people who want to work for the state,” the governor added.