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Tag: Nyesom Wike

  • APC kicks as INEC resumes collation of Rivers gov poll

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has kicked against plans by top officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to favour Governor Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during tomorrow’s resumption of collation of results of March 9 governorship and House of Assembly elections.

    Its Rivers Publicity Secretary, Chris Finebone, also accused Wike of desperation to be re-elected.

    The party said: “We condemn in strong terms, the so-called timeline and activities to conclude the March 9 governorship and House of Assembly elections in Rivers State, as announced at the stakeholders meeting.

    “It is a mere charade, well-organised and choreographed by INEC, in its bid to work from answer to question.

    “The ultimate result can only be to announce their (INEC’s) preferred partner and collaborator (Wike) as the winner against the AAC’s governorship candidate (Awara), who was clearly in the lead before collation was aborted (on March 10).

    “Whether INEC will succeed in its machinations will be seen in the days to come.

    Read also: APC leaders adopt Obaseki as sole candidate for 2020 Edo election

    “Several actions of INEC had prepared the minds of many that the entire exercise was skewed to favour Wike and the PDP, leaving in the process, several questions without answers.

    “How come that Wike knew about the 17 local government areas, which results had been allegedly collated and had posted same on his (Wike’s) official Twitter handle, long before INEC made the announcement?

    “Answers to this and other questions will continue to hang on the neck of INEC like an albatross.”

    The main opposition APC also stated that what was happening in Rivers state was in complete fulfilment of the tripartite collaboration between Wike, INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Obo Effanga and Administrative Secretary, Elder Etim Umoh.

    But Wike dismissed the allegations as senseless and meaningless.

    Speaking through Rivers Commissioner for Information and Communications, Emma Okah, the governor said: “The APC’s accusation that INEC is favouring Governor Wike does not hold water.

    “It is the same old song; empty, meaningless and senseless. Majority of Rivers people do not take the APC in the state seriously.

    “They (APC members in Rivers State) blame everybody, apart from themselves, for every problem. When they had internal problems that cost them their place in the ballot, they blamed others.

    “When their adopted puppet in AAC could not win one unit in the state, because he was unknown and never campaigned, the APC blamed others.”

  • PDP cautions AGF Malami on Rivers election

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has cautioned the Attorney General and Minister of Justice (AGF) Abubakar Malami SAN, against attempts to scuttle the collation of results of the March 9 governorship election in Rivers State.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had suspended collation of the results as a result of the violence that characterised the election. The commission has fixed April 2-5 for the resumption of collation and declaration of winner.

    But in a statement, Sunday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the main opposition party said Malami must exercise restraint and should not allow himself to be used to foist any unconstitutional act regarding the Rivers election.

    The party hinged its caution to Malami on alleged statement by the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, to the effect that AGF Malami was working on how to write to the INEC chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu directing him to stop the collation of the Rivers election results.

    The PDP reminded Malami that there is no provision of the 1999 Constitution (as Amended) or any part of the Electoral Act 2010 (as Amended) that, in anyway, empowers the AGF to interfere or stop the process of election until declaration of result is made.

    Read also: APA to Buhari: don’t forget your promise to run inclusive govt

    “It is imperative for the AGF to note that Rotimi Amaechi, in his desperation, will want to rope him in and use him to cause a constitutional crisis that has the capacity to derail our democracy.

    “The constitution and laws of our nation are clear on the powers and statutory functions of the Attorney General and that he has no powers to interfere in the conduct of elections or direct the stoppage of an electoral process.

    “The AGF should, therefore, distance himself from the ignoble scheme by Rotimi Amaechi to cause trouble in Rivers state by attempting to scuttle the collation of results in the Rivers governorship election, which has been clearly won by the PDP and Governor Nyesom Wike”, the statement added.

    The PDP also charged INEC to save the nation any constitutional crisis by asserting its independence in concluding the collation process as well as respecting the will of the people.

  • Rivers Polls: Wike, AAC’s Awara clash at stakeholders meeting

    The two men claiming victory in the March 9 inconclusive governorship election in Rivers State met face to face yesterday in Port Harcourt, launching straight into diatribe on who between them should be sworn in on May 29.

    Governor Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who is seeking a second term, and Biokpomabo Awara  of the African Action Congress (AAC), met at a stakeholders meeting convened by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the  planned made-up election to determine the next governor of the state.

    Awara accused Wike and INEC of doctoring results of the bloody governorship and House of Assembly elections of March 9 in the state while the governor countered by saying the AAC candidate and his backers in the All Progressives Congress (APC) were  promoting violence and scaring investors from the state.

    The AAC candidate said he was “surprised that the leaders of political parties involved in the elections were not asked questions by members of INEC’s five-man fact-finding committee.”

    He added: “I doubt the reliability of the doctored result sheets and other electoral materials with INEC in the last three weeks. We have record of some of the results being mutilated, particularly that of Akuku-Toru LGA.

    “REC of INEC in Rivers State has refused to give reasons for changing the four compromised electoral officers of the commission, who lack integrity for being card-carrying members of PDP.

    “If the violence made the March 9 elections not to be credible, according to INEC, where did the commission get results for the 17 LGAs  of Rivers 23 LGAs in the INEC’s possession?

    “At what point did the elections become violence-free, for the commission to now have results for 17 LGAs? Why has INEC refused to release the results of the 17 LGAs it claims to have and the remaining six LGAs it wants to do supplementary election?”

    Wike faulted Awara for suggesting that the state was violent.

    “I do not agree that Rivers is a violent state. Rivers State has never and it will not be a violent State,” he fired back.

    Continuing, he said: “the problem we have in this country, when people start to raise the alarm, over things that may likely happen, most of the things we always say, they are always crying. “Why are they raising too much alarm? What causes violence? Why is there violence each time there is election? The only way to have peaceful elections is when the security agencies refuse to interfere or manipulate any process.

    “How did people die? When INEC would go and collate results and people would resist and when people resist, they will shoot them.

    “Rivers is not a violent state. It is most unfortunate that people would leave their state, come to another state, instead of them to make sure what obtains in their state obtains here, they do not want it, they want to cause problems for us.

    “With all due respect, the Garrison Commander (Brig.-Gen. Adeola Kalejaiye) is here. Throughout my political career of not less than 30 years, I have never experienced the type of roles the army played. We must tell people the simple truth.

    “INEC set up a committee in 2016, during and after the reruns, where it was stated in your report that certain police officer manhandled your electoral official. He even went as far as naming the police officer. What has happened, as INEC? You could have said you did not want that kind of officer again. The same officer was also implicated in your report in these elections. Who are the people causing the violence?

    “Rivers State in not violent when they are drilling crude oil. Why must the violence be during the period of elections? Who are those responsible, in order to tell them? INEC can insist on not requiring the services of the violent security personnel; that is the only way we can have peaceful, free and fair elections in Rivers State. Let the army personnel remove their hands from elections. It is unfortunate that we had some people demonstrating and thanking the Nigerian Army for a job well done. That is Nigeria for us.

    “Who are the security personnel that will be in charge of the collation (between April 2 and 5)? Let us avoid sermon. You do not preach to me what you will not practise. The onus is on the security agencies to help INEC to do the right things, in order to achieve the results the commission wants to achieve. Rivers State is a peaceful state. Nobody should be driving away investors from us. Let the personnel of Nigerian Army remove their hands from electoral process.”

    The National Commissioner of INEC in charge of Rivers, Bayelsa and Edo States, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, who chaired the stakeholders’ meeting in the absence of INEC chairman Professor Mahmoud Yakubu urged Rivers residents to allow peace to reign before, during and after the activities outlined for the conclusion of the controversial elections.

    She said that the elections were suspended on March 10, due to the high-level of violence that occurred during the March 9, 2019 polls in Rivers.

    Her words:”We do not have any other state, apart from Rivers State, to call our own. Let us join hands together to make Rivers State even greater. On the part of the commission, I wish to assure you of our commitment to free, fair and credible elections. We intend to keep these promises. May God, in His kindness, grant Rivers State perpetual peace.

    “The results of the March 9 elections in Rivers State are with us (INEC) in our strong room and they have not been tampered with.

    “A five-man fact-finding committee was therefore set up to ascertain the nature and verify the report of obstructive and lawless activities that generally attended the elections at the state collation centre, other collation centres and polling areas, occasioning the suspension. I was a member of the fact-finding committee. So, I know what I am talking about.

    “The main objective of this meeting is to brief you on the schedule of activities and timeline, set by the commission for the conclusion of the governorship and state House of Assembly elections, and to solicit for your maximum cooperation towards the success of this exercise. It is also to generate discussions among the stakeholders, with a view to achieving transparent, peaceful and violence-free conclusion of the elections, within the timeline set by the commission.”

    Also in attendance at yesterday’s meeting ahead of the Tuesday  resumption of collation of results of  the March 9 governorship and House of Assembly elections, was the Garrison Commander of 6 Division Garrison, Brig.-Gen. Adeola Kalejaiye who stood in for the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division of the Army, Port Harcourt, Maj.-Gen. Jamil Sarham.

    Others were the State   Commissioner of Police, Usman Belel, INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), in Rivers, Mr. Obo Effanga, who was represented by the Administrative Secretary in the state, Elder Etim Umoh, the state  Chairman of   PDP, Chief Felix Obuah; Ledum Mitee of Initiative for Credible Elections (ICE), representatives of the Navy, Air Force, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Customs, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), as well as top politicians and other eminent personalities were also in attendance.

    Effanga said: “In order to ensure credible process, INEC has sent seasoned electoral officers, led by the National Commissioner in charge of Rivers, Bayelsa and Edo States, Barr. May Agbamuche-Mbu, who is the chairman of this occasion. Political parties that participated in the March 9 elections should submit the names of their agents. We are not conducting fresh elections. The status quo as at March 9 remains.

    “We have the results for these seventeen LGAs: Ahoada East, Akuku-Toru, Andoni, Bonny, Eleme, Emohua, Etche, Ikwerre, Obio/Akpor, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Ogu/Bolo, Okrika, Omuma, Opobo/Nkoro, Oyigbo, Port Harcourt and Tai. Their (17 LGAs) collation was at the local government level. Collation was not completed in the remaining six LGAs: Abua/Odual, Ahoada West, Asari-Toru, Degema, Gokana and Khana.

    “In Abua/Odual LGA, the materials and men did not even go out to the field. They were frustrated from going out and elections did not take place there. In Gokana LGA, materials and men went out to the field, but none came back, because there was outright violence and everything was destroyed. So, we do not have any result from there.

    “In Ahoada West LGA, out of about 100 polling units, we have results in only 24 and that is not good enough. Asari-Toru LGA was not concluded, but we have the polling units’ results available, but they were not collated. Degema LGA has 17 registration areas, which we call wards in INEC’s context, and collation took place in ten, remaining seven. The seven wards, their results are in INEC’s strong room. In Khana LGA, there was no collation at the local government level, but we have results from the polling units and the collation from some wards available.

    “INEC, in its mandate to conduct free, fair and credible elections in Rivers State, decided to come with a timetable (timeline) to let the people know how to ensure the collation and to know the winners.”

    Effanga noted that before the suspension order came from Abuja on March 10, collation had commenced, with INEC now resuming the collation.

    REC of INEC in Rivers disclosed that the collation, scheduled for between April 2 and 5, take place at the INEC’s office on Aba Road, Port Harcourt.

     

     

  • Please let’s conclude Rivers gov poll, Yakubu begs Wike, Awara, others

    Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahood Yakubu, on Saturday appealed to the emotional side of Rivers indigenes.

    He begged them to allow the commission conclude collation of the March 9 exercise.

    Yakubu spoke at a stakeholders meeting with key actors in the governorship poll in Port-Harcourt.

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, Governorship candidate of African Action Congress (AAC) Biokpomabo Awara as well as security operatives and political parties were part of the parley.

    Yakubu said: “I want to use this opportunity to appeal to the good people of Rivers State, our traditional rulers, market women, youths, leaders and members of political parties in the state, including the candidates in the elections and all other stakeholders to allow peace to reign in the state before, during and after the activities outlined for the conclusion of the elections by the commission.

    “We do not have any other state, apart from Rivers State, to call our own. Let us join hands together to make Rivers State even greater.

    “On the part of the commission, I wish to assure you of our commitment to free, fair and credible elections.

    “We intend to keep these promises. May God, in His kindness, grant Rivers State perpetual peace.”

    Read also: Wike, Awara clash at stakeholders’ meeting in Port Harcourt

    The INEC chairman, who was represented by National Commissioner of the commission in charge of Rivers, Bayelsa and Edo States, Barr. May Agbamuche-Mbu, assured the results of the March 9 poll have not been altered.

    According to him: “The results of the March 9 elections in Rivers State are with us (INEC) in our strong room and they have not been tampered with.

    “A five-man fact-finding committee was therefore set up to ascertain the nature and verify the report of obstructive and lawless activities that generally attended the elections at the state collation centre, other collation centres and polling areas, occasioning the suspension.

    “I was a member of the fact-finding committee. So, I know what I am talking about.

    “The main objective of this meeting is to brief you on the schedule of activities and timeline, set by the commission for the conclusion of the governorship and state House of Assembly elections, and to solicit for your maximum cooperation towards the success of this exercise.

    “It is also to generate discussions among the stakeholders, with a view to achieving transparent, peaceful and violence-free conclusion of the elections, within the timeline set by the commission.”

     

     

  • Wike, Awara clash at stakeholders’ meeting in Port Harcourt

    The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike and the state’s governorship candidate of African Action Congress (AAC), Biokpomabo Awara  Saturday clashed at the commission’s stakeholders’ meeting in Port Harcourt.

    Awara, an indigene of Kula-Kalabari in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers, accused Wike and INEC of doctoring results of the ‘bloody’ governorship and House of Assembly elections of March 9 in the state.

    Wike, however, accused Awara, other members of AAC and their backers in the main opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) of promoting violence and scaring investors from Rivers.

    The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who was represented by the National Commissioner of the commission in charge of Rivers, Bayelsa and Edo States, Barr. May Agbamuche-Mbu, a lawyer, who also chaired the stakeholders’ meeting, urged Rivers residents to allow peace to reign in the state before, during and after the activities outlined for the conclusion of the controversial elections.

    Also in attendance at Saturday’s meeting, which took place at Omni Event Centre, Eastern By-pass, Ogbunabali, Port Harcourt, ahead of April 2 resumption of collation of results of March 9 governorship and House of Assembly elections, was the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Maj.-Gen. Jamil Sarham, who was represented by the Garrison Commander of 6 Division Garrison, Brig.-Gen. Adeola Kalejaiye.

    Others included Rivers Commissioner of Police, Usman Belel, who is also the Chairman of the Interagency Consultative Committee on Election Security, ICCES, (in Rivers state); and INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), in Rivers, Mr. Obo Effanga, who was represented by the Administrative Secretary in the state, Elder Etim Umoh.

    Rivers Chairman of the PDP, Chief Felix Obuah; Ledum Mitee of Initiative for Credible Elections (ICE), who is a former President of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP); representatives of the Navy, Air Force, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Customs, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), as well as top politicians and other eminent personalities were also in attendance.

    Awara said: “Surprised that the leaders of political parties involved in the elections were not asked questions by members of INEC’s five-man fact-finding committee. I doubt the reliability of the doctored result sheets and other electoral materials with INEC in the last three weeks. We have record of some of the results being mutilated, particularly that of Akuku-Toru LGA.

    “REC of INEC in Rivers State has refused to give reasons for charging the four compromised electoral officers of the commission, who lack integrity for being card-carrying members of PDP.

    “If the violence made the March 9 elections not to be credible, according to INEC, where did the commission get results for the seventeen LGAs, of Rivers 23 LGAs in the INEC’s possession? At what point did the elections become violence-free, for the commission to now have results for 17 LGAs? Why has INEC refused to release the results of the 17 LGAs it claimed to have and the remaining six LGAs it wants to do supplementary election?”

    Rivers governor, however, accused the AAC’s governorship candidate, members of his party and his backers in APC of being economical with the truth.

    Wike said: “I do not agree that Rivers is a violent state. Rivers State has never and it will not be a violent State.  Why are they raising too much alarm? What causes violence? Why is there violence each time there is election? The only way to have peaceful elections is when the security agencies refuse to interfere or manipulate any process.

    “How did people die? When INEC would go and collate results and people would resist and when people resist, they will shoot them. Rivers is not a violent state. It is most unfortunate that people would leave their state, come to another state, instead of them to make sure what obtains in their state obtains here, they do not want it, they want to cause problems for us.

    “With all due respect, the Garrison Commander (Brig.-Gen. Adeola Kalejaiye) is here. Throughout my political career, of not less than thirty years, I have never experienced the type of roles the army played. We must tell people the simply truth.

    “INEC set up a committee in 2016, during and after the reruns, where it was stated in your report that certain police officer manhandled your electoral official. He even went as far as naming the police officer. What has happened, as INEC? You could have said you did not want that kind of officer again. The same officer was also implicated in your report in these elections. Who are the people causing the violence?

    “Rivers State in not violent when they are drilling crude oil. Why must the violence be during the period of elections? Who are those responsible, in order to tell them? INEC can insist on not requiring the services of the violent security personnel; that is the only way we can have peaceful, free and fair elections in Rivers State. Let the army personnel remove their hands from elections. It is unfortunate that we had some people demonstrating and thanking the Nigerian Army for a job well done. That is Nigeria for us.

    “Who are the security personnel that will be in charge of the collation (between April 2 and 5)? Let us avoid sermon. You do not preach to me what you will not practise. The onus is on the security agencies to help INEC to do the right things, in order to achieve the results the commission wants to achieve. Rivers State is a peaceful state. Nobody should be driving away investors from us. Let personnel of Nigerian Army remove their hands from electoral process.”

    INEC chairman, at the “most-important stakeholders’ meeting,” stated that the elections were suspended on March 10, due to the high-level of violence that occurred during the March 9, 2019 polls in Rivers.

    Yakubu said: “I want to use this opportunity to appeal to the good people of Rivers State, our traditional rulers, market women, youths, leaders and members of political parties in the state, including the candidates in the elections and all other stakeholders to allow peace to reign in the state before, during and after the activities outlined for the conclusion of the elections by the commission.

    “We do not have any other state, apart from Rivers State, to call our own. Let us join hands together to make Rivers State even greater. On the part of the commission, I wish to assure you of our commitment to free, fair and credible elections. We intend to keep these promises. May God, in His kindness, grant Rivers State perpetual peace.

    Read also: Tonye Cole, Accord Party assembly candidates call for fresh election in Rivers

    “The results of the March 9 elections in Rivers State are with us (INEC) in our strong room and they have not been tampered with.

    “A five-man fact-finding committee was therefore set up to ascertain the nature and verify the report of obstructive and lawless activities that generally attended the elections at the state collation centre, other collation centres and polling areas, occasioning the suspension. I was a member of the fact-finding committee. So, I know what I am talking about.

    “The main objective of this meeting is to brief you on the schedule of activities and timeline, set by the commission for the conclusion of the governorship and state House of Assembly elections, and to solicit for your maximum cooperation towards the success of this exercise. It is also to generate discussions among the stakeholders, with a view to achieving transparent, peaceful and violence-free conclusion of the elections, within the timeline set by the commission.”

    Rivers police commissioner also stated that the past few weeks in Rivers state, before, during and after the general elections had been very difficult and trying moment for everyone, stressing that all stakeholders had maintained decorum, outstanding maturity and dedication to peaceful resolution of conflicts in Rivers.

    Belel said: “As it is usual in every contest, winners and losers must emerge, but the maturity with which the contest’s results is accepted, determines how peaceful the society can be. I wish to appeal to all stakeholders to give peace a chance (in Rivers State) and be magnanimous, either in victory or in defeat, as there will still be Rivers State beyond these elections.

    “It is my humble appeal that contestants and parties’ faithful should prevail on their supporters to do away with thuggery and violence. The Rivers State Police Command is determined to provide security for all residents and stakeholders in Rivers State for them to exercise their fundamental rights.

    “As the lead agency and the  Chairman of the Interagency Consultative Committee on Election Security, ICCES, (in Rivers State), I want to use this opportunity to thank all stakeholders for the synergy and oneness of purpose that has kept this state together this long. I hereby encourage all of you to do the needful, in furtherance of our interagency cooperation.”

    Rivers REC of INEC, in his welcome remarks, reiterated that On March 9, the governorship and House of Assembly elections were held in Rivers, but due to unexpected developments, especially security, the collation could not be concluded, maintaining that till now, INEC did not know the winners of the elections.

    Effanga said: “In order to ensure credible process, INEC has sent seasoned electoral officers, led by the National Commissioner in charge of Rivers, Bayelsa and Edo States, Barr. May Agbamuche-Mbu, who is the chairman of this occasion. Political parties that participated in the March 9 elections should submit the names of their agent. We are not conducting fresh elections. The status quo as at March 9 remains.

    “We have the results for these seventeen LGAs: Ahoada East, Akuku-Toru, Andoni, Bonny, Eleme, Emohua, Etche, Ikwerre, Obio/Akpor, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Ogu/Bolo, Okrika, Omuma, Opobo/Nkoro, Oyigbo, Port Harcourt and Tai. Their (17 LGAs) collation was at the local government level. Collation was not completed in the remaining six LGAs: Abua/Odual, Ahoada West, Asari-Toru, Degema, Gokana and Khana.

    “In Abua/Odual LGA, the materials and men did not even go out to the field. They were frustrated from going out and elections did not take place there. In Gokana LGA, materials and men went out to the field, but none came back, because there was outright violence and everything was destroyed. So, we do not have any result from there. In Ahoada West LGA, out of about 100 polling units, we have results in only 24 and that is not good enough. Asari-Toru LGA was not concluded, but we have the polling units’ results available, but they were not collated. Degema LGA has 17 registration areas, which we call wards in INEC’s context, and collation took place in ten, remaining seven. The seven wards, their results are in INEC’s strong room. In Khana LGA, there was no collation at the local government level, but we have results from the polling units and the collation from some wards available.

    “INEC, in its mandate to conduct free, fair and credible elections in Rivers State, decided to come with a timetable (timeline) to let the people know how to ensure the collation and to know the winners.”

    INEC’s REC in Rivers also stated that the stakeholders’ forum was not strange, but to carry everybody along and to know what INEC was doing.

    Effanga noted that before the suspension order came from Abuja on March 10, collation had commenced, with INEC now resuming the collation.

    REC of INEC in Rivers disclosed that the collation, scheduled for between April 2 and 5, would hold at the INEC’s office on Aba Road, Port Harcourt.

  • Wike commends NYSC management on skills acquisition for corpers

    Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers on Friday commended the management of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for their efforts in improving the operations of the scheme by empowering corps members with diverse skills.

    Wike, represented by Mr Kenneth Kobani, Secretary to the Rivers Government, gave the applause at the swearing-in ceremony of 2019 Batch ‘A’ 2,154 registered corps members.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 1,072 male and 1,082 female corps members are at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Nonwa-Gbam, Tai Local Government Area of Rivers.

    According to Wike, the corps members who take the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme serious are self-employed at the end of the service year.

    “In this regard, I commend the partnership between the NYSC scheme, the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Heritage Bank of Nigeria in building the capacity of corps members.

    “This partnership has made the young graduates to become entrepreneurs with the introduction of the Youth Innovative Entrepreneurship Development Programme (YIEDP).

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    “I charge the corps members to take advantage of this unique initiative and obtain the opportunities which the YIEDP initiative offers,” he said.

    Earlier, Mr Chiwendu Chukwu, the NYSC State Coordinator in Rivers, told the corps members that the attainment of the much-needed unity and integration of Nigeria, rested on the shoulders of educated youths like them.

    Chukwu urged them to take seriously, the 10-day intensive training on SAED programme on camp.

    “This will help you to sharpen your business ideas and develop your potential for self-employment and wealth creation,” he said.

    The NYSC coordinator commended Wike for approving the construction of a 5,000-seater amphi-theatre auditorium in the camp as well other positive favourable dispositions to the scheme. (NAN)

  • Rivers PDP, AAC row over alleged N3b offer

    The Rivers State African Action Congress (AAC) governorship candidate, Biokpomabo Awara, has said he rejected Governor Nyesom Wike’s N3 billion offer to drop his ambition.

    He also debunked claims by his running mate, Akpo Bomba Yeeh, that the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and the All Progressives Congress (APC) made them sign resignation letters.

    Awara, who addressed a news conference in Abuja yesterday, dismissed the allegations against the minister as false. He said Amaechi and the APC offered him and his party unconditional support, owing to their shared ideology and love for Rivers State and the people.

    He dismissed Yeeh’s ‘compromising’ actions as pathetic, claiming that he was himself offered N3 billion to drop his ambition but he rejected it and his deputy was in the know.

    He said: “When the story of his resignation first came out as a rumour, that Rivers State Governor offered him N200 million to abandon me, I had no reason to believe it because Elder Yeeh knew I had earlier turned down an offer of N3 billion from the governor.

    “I discussed this with my running mate and outlined why we must not succumb to the lure from the governor or any interest group. I was convinced we were in agreement because he neither expressed nor alluded to a difference in opinion on the matter.

    “When the rumour became rife by Sunday, I tried reaching him without success. I started developing some strange feelings pointing to a possible sell-out by him. I know that a key component of their plot is to smear Amaechi’s image. But I state categorically that all the accusations by Yeeh against the minister are lies poorly crafted by his paymaster. You could see how tough it was for him to read the script handed to him.

    “I was never asked to, and did not sign any letter of resignation. I know that my deputy was also not asked to or signed any letter of resignation. My deputy, Elder Akpo Bomba Yeeh, is believed to be under tremendous financial pressure based on his statements.

    “The support the AAC got from Amaechi and the APC was unconditional. Those conditions my deputy alleged in the statement are false, crude lies. The alliance between AAC and APC for the governorship election was because of our shared love for the state and our vision to liberate it from cultism, rapidly growing poverty and insecurity.”

    Awara has also filed a petition to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against the Resident Electoral (REC), Obo Effanga, for alleged gross incompetence and bias.

    He said: “My party and all well meaning citizens of Rivers State are dissatisfied with the gross incompetence of the REC and INEC’s decision to continue with the suspended electoral process, as it is clearly not a fair or transparent process.

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    “We are concerned about the looming crises, and this may most likely result in a breakdown of law and order, destruction of property and deaths.”

    But the PDD described Awara as having mastered the art of lying since the APC adopted his party.

    The Director of Information and Communications, Emma Okah, denied allegation that Governor Wike offered Awara N3 billion or any money to drop his governorship ambition.

    The statement reads: “The allegation is childish and ridiculous. Does he know the weight of N3 Billion? Where will the governor get such money to give anybody as bribe to win an election that he has already won? What did Awara do or will do that will make the governor offer him such money? Is it for his lies or the election he contested and failed? Though lying is part of the APC, Awara is running faster than his masters in learning the art of falsehood.”

    “How will Awara explain to God and men of goodwill that he does not care about those who died during the elections; robbing Rivers people their right to choose the governor they like, and the huge economic toll the state has to bear because of his recklessness in wanting to serve the wrong master at the wrong time and at all cost?”

    Okah assured Awara that unless he responds in full to the weighty issues raised by Yeeh, a huge burden will continue to hover over his head.

  • ‘Wike never offered AAC’s guber candidate N3b to drop ambition’

    The Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Emma Okah, on Tuesday, stated that Governor Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) never offered the governorship candidate of African Action Congress (AAC), Biokpomabo Awara, N3 billion or any sum to drop his governorship ambition.

    Okah, who doubles as the Director of Information and Communications of PDP Campaign Council in Rivers, alleged that AAC’s standard-bearer had mastered the art of telling lies, since the All Progressives Congress (APC) adopted his party in the state.

    The 40-year-old Awara, an engineer, who hails from Kula-Kalabari in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers, while addressing reporters in Abuja, disclosed that he earlier turned down N3 billion that Wike offered him “some days ago,” through the governor’s associates, but he maintained that his running mate, Akpo Yeeh, 67, an Ogoni, resigned on Monday and defected to PDP, after he collected Wike’s N200 million bribe.

    Rivers information commissioner said: “The allegation is childish and ridiculous. Does he know the weight of N3 billion? Where will the governor get such money to give anybody as bribe to win an election that he has already won? What did Awara do or will do that will make the governor offer him such money? Is it for the lies he tells or the election he contested and failed? Even though lying is part of the APC, Awara is running faster than his masters in learning the art of falsehood.

    “Awara stands before history to elect between darkness and light and whichever course he chooses will have political implication for the rest of his life. Awara is advised to toe the line of honour mapped by his deputy, Elder Akpo Bomba Yeeh, and free himself from the yoke of standing before history to answer questions which his inordinate ambition has inflicted on the state.

    Read also: Ignore vituperations of defecting Yeeh in Rivers – Tonye Cole

    “How will Awara explain to God and men of goodwill that he does not care about those that died during the governorship and House of Assembly elections; robbing Rivers people their right to choose the governor they like and indeed, the huge economic toll the state has to bear as a result of his recklessness in wanting to serve the wrong master at the wrong time and at all costs?”

    Okah also assured AAC’s governorship candidate that unless he responds in full to the weighty issues raised during Monday’s news conference by his defecting running mate, a huge burden would contiue to hover over his (Awara’s) head.

  • Rivers AAC governorship candidate alleges threat to life

    Barely one week to the April 2 collation of results of the March 9 governorship and House of Assembly elections in Rivers State, the governorship candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Biokpomabo Awara is complaining that his life is in danger. His running mate, Chief Akpo Bomba Yeeh, resigned yesterday morning and defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Yeeh, 67, an Ogoni, was yesterday afternoon received in the Government House, Port Harcourt, by Governor Nyesom Wike and other PDP leaders.

    Awara, 38, an engineer, in a telephone interview yesterday, was surprised on the resignation of his running mate. He said he spoke with him at 7 pm on Sunday, but Yeeh did not inform him of his plan to resign and defect to the PDP. The candidate said gunmen were after him and members of his family.

    AAC’s governorship candidate said: “I saw my running mate’s resignation online. I have not received the resignation letter he claimed to have addressed to me. I do not know about Yeeh’s resignation.”

    One of the leaders of AAC in Rivers, who spoke in confidence in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, yesterday afternoon, declared that the motivation for Yeeh’s resignation from the party (AAC) and his defection to PDP was the N200 million cash he received from Wike.

    Commissioner for Information and Communications Emma Okah, who doubles as the Director of Information and Communications of the PDP Campaign Council, described the N200 million accusation as untrue.

    Okah said: “The allegation that Governor Wike gave AAC’s deputy governorship candidate (Yeeh) N200 million is not correct; it is untrue and it is absolute nonsense.

    “Chief Yeeh is a respected elder from Ogoni Kingdom and his action by removing himself from being used to destabilise Rivers State and cause pain to the people is commendable. Everything is not about money, as there are lots of good people around.

    “We should commend him (Yeeh) for taking the bold and historic step, instead of calling him names. Future generations of our people will remember the moral lesson of his present actions.”

    Awara, in a statement yesterday evening, hailed the God-fearing people of Rivers State for voting for him and other candidates of AAC on March 9, stressing that they had taken ownership of the crude oil and gas-rich state.

    He also lauded Rivers people for hitting Port Harcourt streets yesterday morning to protest the plan by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the mandate of the people.

    The AAC’s candidate said: “The peace-loving people of Rivers State have taken over ownership of the struggle to liberate their state from reactionary forces. It is despicable that Wike is ready to do nasty things, in order to stay in power. Wike luring my deputy with N200 million is evidence of his level of desperation.

    “I have not received any resignation letter from my deputy. Christians the world over believe in fair play, but Wike’s actions and reactions cast serious doubts on his sense of morality. Wike had earlier said the AAC was not a  party to reckon with. It is shocking he could shamelessly use public funds meant for the development of Rivers State to shop for deputy governorship candidates of opposition parties.

    “The same Rivers governor had earlier bought off the deputy governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Rivers State, despite existing provisions, which clearly show that deputies are part owners of joint tickets, who cannot be easily separated from their candidates, once they have appeared on the ballot.

    “Despite the antics of Wike, Rivers people have obviously taken the position that the outgoing governor can no longer lead them. I won the March 9 governorship election. Whatever INEC plans to do, the Rivers people will resist attempts to steal their mandate.”

    Amaechi’s media aide, David Iyofor, was contacted yesterday evening through the telephone from Abuja, but he declined to react to Yeeh’s allegations.

    Read also: Rivers: Controversy over poll result collation

    Awara’s running mate, yesterday afternoon, visited Wike in the Government House, Port Harcourt. The governor and leaders of PDP received him.

    Wike, while receiving Yeeh, said that no one man’s interest was bigger than the state, stressing that all leaders must unite to develop the state.

    Wike said history would be kind to Yeeh for placing Rivers’ interest above personal consideration.

    With Wike while receiving Yeeh were the National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, who hails from Andoni LGA of Rivers: the state’s Chairman of the party, Chief Felix Obuah; a former Rivers governor, Sir Celestine Omehia; Senator-elect Barry Mpigi, an Ogoni, who facilitated the resignation and defection of the running mate; and other PDP leaders.

    Rivers governor said: “History will be on your side. You have shown that the interest of the state is above personal consideration.  God will not only protect you, He will reward you for this decision.

    “Rivers State is the only state we have. Everyone must work together to move this state forward. It is important to take this state to greater heights.

    “It is not everyone that can take this kind of decision. It requires maturity to take this kind of decision.”

    Wike also stated that all leaders of Rivers, irrespective of their political affiliations, must work in unity to develop the state.

    He said: “All of us must work together, in order to forge ahead. No one man’s interest is bigger than that of the state.”

    The governor also welcomed Yeeh into PDP, noting that he would be part of the group to consolidate the development of the state.

    He said: “You are welcome to the party that will move the state forward. Those on the other side must understand that you cannot kill people, just to be in power.  With this bold decision, our brothers on the other side know that the end has come.”

    Wike thanked the running mate for refusing to allow himself to be a tool in what he described as the state’s destabilisation.

    Secondus described Yeeh ’s defection as a welcome development, which, he said, would help the state to grow.

    Secondus said: “This is a welcome development. This is what a normal situation is supposed to be. The people will see the reason why we must work together. This is an uncommon  decision. You have taken a wise decision, because you have the interest of the people at heart.”

    PDP’s national chairman also called on INEC to bring the Rivers governorship and House of Assembly elections to a logical conclusion, so that the people could continue with their lives.

    Secondus also called on Amaechi and other persons working with him (Transportation minister) to see reason why they should stop destabilising Rivers State and causing confusion.

    Yeeh had earlier stated that Rivers state developed by the founding fathers should be sustained by the efforts of all patriots.

    The running mate said: “Today (yesterday), I am in your midst to declare my defection to the PDP.  Governor Wike is a man of vision. He is a man of compassion. It is his compassion that endears him to the people of Rivers State. I choose to identify with him to move the state forward.”

    Yeeh also stated that as a retired security officer, he would work with Wike to promote the security of Rivers state.

    The running mate informed  Rivers governor that he had officially withdrawn his candidacy of AAC.

    Yeeh said: “I officially announce the withdrawal of my candidacy for the AAC. My loyalty is with the PDP. I cannot afford to leave the fast lane and go to the slow lane.”

    Rivers chairman of PDP, while also speaking, claimed that the running mate had searched his conscience and decided to work with the PDP to develop the state.

  • Governorship poll: Our victory will be sweet, says Wike

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has called on the people of Rivers State to remain calm as the success of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) in the March 9 governorship election would be a sweet victory in the end.

    Wike made the statement when members of the National Assembly, elected on the platform of the PDP, presented their Certificates of Return to him at a ceremony in the Government House, Port Harcourt, the state capital, yesterday.

    He said that the will of the people of the state will prevail at the end, despite the conspiracy against the state.

    ”I know that PDP won the elections squarely. We believe in peace, therefore, Rivers people should remain calm. We believe in due process. I believe that INEC is doing their best to follow the due process.

    ”In the end, it will be a sweet victory. The will of Rivers people will prevail,” he said.

    The governor described the political stand-off in the state as a drama fated to end. He said “the people of Rivers people voted overwhelmingly for the PDP in all elections,  while the anti-democratic forces attempted to snatch results at the collation centres.

    ”Let me thank the people of Rivers State for the love they have shown for our great party. It is not in doubt that Rivers people have shown our party, love. What is happening is sad. It is a drama.

    ”We have 13 House of Representatives seats and the PDP clinched all of them. We have three Senate seats, one has been declared and PDP won. When the remaining  two seats are declared, PDP will win them. Eighty percent of the seats declared,  PDP took all.

    “You begin to wonder why any right thinking person would say, that, PDP lost the governorship election. Not that they say PDP lost to a party with a known logo, or even if you have seen the candidate one day in your life or seen his posters to make people vote for the candidate. For us, it is a drama. PDP won the election squarely,” he said.

    Speaking on behalf of the newly-elected legislators, Senator-elect Barry Mpigi, said there is no need for anyone to panic as Governor Wike will be declared winner in line with the votes cast on March 9.

    He said, Rivers people are with Governor Wike as shown by their votes in all the polling units.

    ”We have looked round the 23 Local Government Areas and we have seen that the people of Rivers State voted for you. Don’t panic, the vindication will come at the appropriate time,” Mpigi said.