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Tag: Nyesom Wike

  • Amaechi blasts Wike

    The leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State and Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, has admonished the state governor, Nyesom Wike, to accept his failure as the chief security officer of the state and quit trying to pin acts of violence on the APC.

    Amaechi spoke at a press briefing in Port Harcourt, Thursday, addressing Wike’s “malignant and calculated outburst,” alleging that the APC intends to visit violence on the state.

    Governor Wike had in his state broadcast on Thursday evening accused Amaechi and the APC of plotting to incite violence in the state. Wike also tried to make political capital of the stampede that led to the death of some persons at the APC presidential rally in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

    Amaechi said: “I listened to our governor today. Again, like the child he is, rant and say we intend to visit violence on the people. All of you who have worked with me would know that I don’t like violence because if you kill someone, you cannot replace him, you can’t bring him back to life. You can replace houses; you can replace cars and all that. You certainly can’t replace life.

    “We lost 15 persons. I was touring people’s houses, trying to identify with their pain. If the governor can remember when President Goodluck Jonathan came here and we lost 23 Nigerians in Rivers State, the same stampede, I couldn’t eat. I was watching them take lunch, I couldn’t, I was crying because those 23 persons are gone whether for good or bad just like these 15 persons will not come back. So I’ve never and I will never support violence. But I don’t also support injustice.

    Amaechi wondered why “Wike is trying so hard to avoid elections and enlisting different institutions to aid his cause. He also called on the INEC to exonerate itself from being accused of trying to help the PDP by doing the needful and obeying the stay of execution order by the Court of Appeal and relist Rivers APC and its candidates for the elections.

    “An example is the fact that there is a stay of execution granted by the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt. Just because the INEC chairman was the head of TETFUND under Wike when he was a Minister of Education, he has refused to implement that judgment. He doesn’t have the right to choose which one to implement and which one not to implement.

    “Obviously, he’s among the institutions trying to assist Wike become a second-term governor without election. We understand, but again, we believe in the judiciary, the uprightness of the judiciary. I hope so, and you heard the President when he said that the injustice will be addressed.

    “Why is Wike avoiding an election if he is that popular; why is Wike using Magnus Abe to avoid an election? That’s the question to ask. But like I told Rivers people, it is not over until it is over. We are going to go out on Saturday to vote President Buhari. If INEC decides to obey the stay of execution, then we are ready for the legislative elections on Saturday.

    “But if the INEC chairman will not obey the stay of execution because he was a worker under Wike in the Ministry of Education, then so be it. We’ll continue to pursue the rights of the people to choose who their leaders will be. You can’t force a leader on people,” Amaechi said.

    On the issue of violence, Amaechi continued, “Wike talked about violence. During my time as governor, you were free to go out at night. I drove out with just one car at night and went back home safe, but now as a minister I can’t drive around without loads of security and he is happy to be a governor in that kind of state. As a governor, no minister can threaten me, so if he feels threatened, he should stop me. He has the executive powers to. “

    He further said: “Now nobody has been arrested because of election. In 2015, all APC leaders were in detention. The agent of the president, Emma Deeyah, just came out of the INEC office to buy food, they took him away. We thought he had been kidnapped only to be brought out after the day of election and that was when we knew police took him.

    “Now, let Wike say if anybody has been arrested since we came in. It shows that the government of President Buhari understands what rule of law is, not rule of man. So tell Wike that I’m enjoying his fear; he’s scared. It’s easy to be a coward. I’ve governed this state before. All of you know I’m not a coward”.

  • 2019: INEC is working for Wike, PDP, says Amaechi

    The Director-General of Buhari/Osinbajo Re-election Campaign Organisation, Rotimi Amaechi, has accused the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, of working for Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Amaechi, who is also the Transportation Minister and a former Rivers governor, spoke with reporters on Thursday in his house at the old Government Reservation Area (GRA), Port Harcourt, while reacting to Wike’s broadcast.

    He also urged Nigerians to massively vote for President Muhammadu Buhari and other candidates of APC, in order to take Nigeria to the next level.

    Amaechi said: “I know that everybody has been expecting me to talk on the court cases, but I will not because I am just a member of the party (APC). The party chairman has already said that INEC is working for the PDP. An example that INEC is working for the PDP is a fact that there is a stay of execution granted by the Court of Appeal (in Port Harcourt), just because the INEC Chairman was Director of TETFUND (Tertiary Education Trust Fund) under Wike as Minister of State for Education, he now decided to adhere to the court order to implement and the one not to implement.

    Read also: 2019: PDP plots chaos through Parallel Voting Tabulation System – BMO

    “Obviously, he (INEC chairman) is trying to assist Wike to become a second term governor without an election. We understand his game, but we believe in the judiciary.  You heard the President (Muhammadu Buhari) when he said that the injustice will be addressed. We will deal with the justice and not the judgment.

    “I listened to our governor (Wike) when he spoke (in yesterday’s broadcast) about violence. I do not like violence, because if you kill somebody, you cannot replace the life. APC has just lost 15 persons (to stampede at Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, after Buhari’s presidential rally on Tuesday) and I was touring people’s houses and trying to identify with their pains.

    “When former President Goodluck Jonathan came for campaign here (in Port Harcourt) and 23 people died, I saw them eating lunch. Persons have gone, whether for good or for bad, they will never come back. I will never support violence and I will never support injustice.

    “We are going out on Saturday to vote for President Buhari. If INEC decides to obey the stay of execution, then we will arrange for election on Saturday. But since the INEC chairman is working for the PDP and since he does not want to obey the court’s decisions, he was a director of TETFUND, when Wike was a junior minister, so be it. God bless him.”

    The transportation minister also stated that President Buhari was performing impressively and determined to genuinely transform Nigeria, as well as adequately empowering the people, while urging all lovers of democracy and good governance to ensure his re-election on Saturday.

  • Christian votes will make the difference, says Wike

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has called on Christians to troop out and vote during the forthcoming elections because their votes will make the difference.

    Speaking during a special combined Sunday Worship Service at the Deeper Life Camp Ground, Rumudara, Port Harcourt, Wike said Christians can no longer stand aloof while the country slides into destruction.

    He said that Christians should not believe the false propaganda that they cannot influence the outcome of political contests in the country.

    “You must vote during the forthcoming elections.  If you don’t vote and a bad leader emerges, you are part of those that brought that bad leadership.

    “Your vote can make the difference.  So go ahead and vote to effect a positive change”, he said.

    He charged the church not to allow the children of God to be surrounded by those not supposed to be in charge of leadership.

    The governor said that all Christians have witnessed first-hand the failures of the last four years of the Federal Government which have destroyed the economy, engendered unemployment, insecurity and dictatorial  tendencies.

    He said this was the opportunity to chart a new direction.

    Wike said that all efforts of Christians to ensure the country makes progress would be crowned when they vote for their preferred choice.

    He appealed to Christians to continue to pray against those plotting electoral violence and bloodshed in Rivers State.

    He said: “Please pray for this state. Pray against those plotting electoral violence in this state. Pray for the state to have peaceful and credible polls.  Those plotting shall be disappointed.

    Read Also: Wike crying wolves where there is none – Presidency

    “None of my supporters should engage in political violence on my behalf.  Nobody should use violence to support me”.

    The governor stated that security agencies plotting bloodshed in Rivers State will be consumed by their plot and Rivers State will emerge victorious.

    He said Christians should pray that God enables Judges to act right despite the intimidation and false propaganda by the APC Federal Government.

    The Deeper Life Camp Ground Youth Choir Ministered to the congregation in a Special number where they declared that they are no longer slaves to  sin and fear, but children of God.

    State Head of Deeper Life Church, Pastor Chike Onwuasunya said truly Governor Wike is Mr. Project as his projects are visible.

    He declared that all those making prophecies and preaching violence against Rivers State will witness the peaceful elections.  He said all evil plans will fail.

    He urged Deeper Life members to vote to determine the positive  direction  of the country

  • Wike’s aide kidnapped by unknown gunmen

    The Special Adviser ( SA ), to the Rivers state Governor Nyesom Wike on Lands and Survey, Chief Anugbom Onuoha, has been kidnapped by unknown gunmen the stay Police command says.

    According to a statement in Port Harcourt the state capital on Friday by the Spokesman of the command, Nnamdi Omoni, a Deputy Superintendent of Police Dr. Onuoha a Lawyer was kidnapped from a hotel in the Adah George area of Port Harcourt, Thursday night by armed men on military uniforms.

    The command described the development as unfortunate and pledged to ensure he was released as soon as possible.

    The statement said, “On January 18, 2019, at about 8:30 pm, unknown gunmen in military uniforms stormed a certain Hotel at Ada George road in Port Harcourt and kidnapped the Special Adviser to the Governor on Lands & Survey, chief Anugbom Onuoha.

    “This is unfortunate, and as a Command, we are touched by this development and will go all out to ensure his speedy and timely release.

    Read Also: Road crashes: 9 die, 84 injured in Ogun

    “The state Commissioner of Police Musa Belel has given a marching order to all the Tactical Units, including the IGP Monitoring Unit to work round the clock and ensure that the victim is released in record time.

    “Contacts have been made with Sister Security Agencies and other security stakeholders in this direction. The Command wishes to appeal to the members of the public, to avail us with useful information that can lead to his unconditional release.

    “The public is hereby assured that there is no cause for alarm, as the already existing peace in the State will be sustained,” they said.

  • ‘Rivers governor lacks moral right to ask for second term’

    The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Pastor Tonye Cole, has stated that Governor Nyesom Wike lacks the moral right to ask for a second term, in view of his abysmal performance.

    Cole, on Thursday in Port Harcourt, through the Spokesman of his campaign organisation, Ogbonna Nwuke, a former member of the House of Representatives, noted while reacting to the New Year’s Day message of Wike, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), that the Rivers governor had squandered whatever was left of his goodwill.

    He said: “What is Wike really coming back to do? Rivers people gave him a chance to serve them in 2015, after the abracadabra that took place. Rather than work for them, Wike turned against them and chastised them from day one.

    “Rather than for Wike to keep Rivers people safe, heads of innocent and defenseless persons were gruesomely cut off. Whole families were wasted by hit squads, while property worth millions of naira was destroyed in many parts of the state.

    “Three and a half years down the line, the Rivers governor, who has squandered the opportunity to write his name in the history books, wants a second chance. Even members of his party (PDP), who have seen how bad he is, are not looking forward to a Wike’s second term.”

    The co-founder of Sahara Group also stated that the Rivers people, pushed to the wall by Wike’s maladministration, could not afford to gamble with the future, stressing that it was time to hold the leaders accountable for their deeds, while insisting that it had nothing to do with political party.

    Read Also: ‘Wike will lead Rivers unto prosperity’

    He said: “We challenge the Rivers governor to tell people of the state what he has done with billions of naira belonging to them. Before asking for a second tenure, Wike should tell Rivers people where he kept the N117 billion that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says has been stolen from the coffers of Rivers State.

    “Wike should tell Rivers people where he is getting billions of naira that he is using to buy them out of their lands and acquire palatial structures all over Port Harcourt.

    “Rivers governor should tell us why we have the highest unemployment rate in the country, despite billions of naira that are flowing into the state. He should tell them why we are number one in all the wrong places: insecurity, waste mismanagement, occurrence of HIV/AIDS and the national misery index.”

    The governorship candidate of APC also urged Rivers people to say no to looting, while declaring that the score card of Wike’s administration was not encouraging.

    He said: “Wike has failed abysmally to improve the health sector. He has not delivered in the education sector. He has failed the civil servants and pensioners who worked tirelessly to lay the solid foundation for the growth of our dear state.

    “What Wike has is a bag full of colossal failures. Unlike Wike, Cole, who has a clear plan, will not allow the heads of Rivers people to be severed from their bodies and used gruesomely to decorate roadsides, in order to induce fear.

    “Unlike Wike, Cole understands the need to create an appropriate environment for investments and understands the place of bureaucrats and technocrats who work in the state’s civil service.

    “Cole knows that the greatest task of any responsible government is to protect lives and property. This is why Rivers people should ignore Wike’s appeal for a second tenure and vote APC.”

    Cole also assured that his government from May 29 this year, by God’s grace, would bring back security, investments, jobs and empowerment, as well as to restore the Garden City status of Port Harcourt with the greening and cleaning of the state capital and its environs, with end put to the hazardous soot.

  • ‘Wike will lead Rivers unto prosperity’

    Rivers State Deputy Governor Dr. Ipalibo Harry-Banigo has said Governor Nyesom Wike’s administration will lead Rivers unto peace, development and prosperity.

    Harry-Banigo, in her New Year’s message through the Head of her Press Unit, Owupele Benebo, lauded Wike for transforming the state.

    She said: “Revoking the sale of state-owned assets to subsidiaries of Sahara Energy Limited is a clear demonstration of Governor Wike’s desire to ensure that the people enjoy the full value of the state’s resources. Every action taken by the government is in the people’s interest. The persons crying wolf over the revocation of the sale of our critical assets do not mean well for Rivers people.”

    Wike’s wife, Eberechi, has described women as the backbone of the society. She urged women to work hard towards developing their families as it was the only way the society can develop in the right direction.

    A statement by Governor Wike’s media aide, Simeon Nwakaudu, said Justice Eberechi Wike spoke yesterday when she visited the New Year Baby, Ela Diseph, at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH) in Port Harcourt.

    Baby Ela Diseph was born to the family of Dr. and Mrs. Ela George at 12.05 am yesterday. He weighed 4.1kg at delivery.

    Read also: Peterside: Wike is a bad governor

    Justice Eberechi said: “Women are the backbone of any family. Therefore, we are the foundation of any society. When we get it right at the level of the family, things will be right with the society. When the society is troubled, then the problem actually started from the family.

    “When we get it right in the family, everything finds its place in the society. My message to mothers is to be supportive of their husbands and every member of the family.

    “I wish everyone a happy 2019, especially mothers who are the backbone of the society. I congratulate all for seeing this New Year.”

    She congratulated Ela’s mother for her safe delivery, and prayed God to bless the family.

    Wike’s wife gave cash and other gifts to thebaby and other children in the ward.

    RSUTH’s Chief Medical Director Dr. Friday Aaron said the first baby was delivered without complications.

    He thanked her for showing love to children and mothers in the state.

  • Rivers 2019: Wike declares war against Tonye Cole’s firm

     

    • He’s playing vindictive politics – APC gov candidate

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has declared war against Sahara Group, the company co-founded by Rivers governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Pastor Tonye Cole.

    Wike, through Commissioner for Information and Communications, Emma Okah, on Friday in Port Harcourt, announced termination of the sale of the state-owned power plants to subsidiaries of Sahara Energy Limited.

    Cole, a billionaire businessman, who is a Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) declared Wike a frustrated governor playing vindictive politics.

    The Rivers APC governorship candidate, who spoke through the Director, Strategic Communications of his campaign organisation, Prince Tonye Princewill, said:  “This is the vindictive nature of the politics we play today and the reason why many who can salvage our analog politics stay away.

    “We have said it before that politics is too important to be left to politicians.

    “So, the Tonye Coles of this world should have no fear. The old way is going and the old style politicians know it. My surprise is it took this long.

    “I can only imagine Wike knows that Tonye Cole will be confirmed as his opponent, he can no longer hide his frustration. “What he fails to appreciate is that no serious businessman will want to do business with Rivers State.”

    Okah stated the decisions and actions were part of the resolutions at Friday’s State Executive Council meeting, presided over by Wike at the Government House, Port- Harcourt.

    He told reporters at the end of the meeting: “The Rivers State government has approved the termination of the share sale contract for the sale of 70 per cent equity of the state government-owned power generation assets held by First Independent Power Limited in Omoku, Afam, Trans-Amadi and Eleme Gas Turbines to NG Power-HPS Limited.

    “The Rivers State government also terminated the concession of the Rivers and Bayelsa States’ owned Olympia Hotel (in old Government Reservation Area, near Government House, Port Harcourt) to Cenpropsaroten Hotel Management Limited.

    “The Rivers State government further terminated the concession agreement between the Government of Rivers State and Kild Concession Limited, in respect of the construction of a toll road and secondary developments in Abonnema Wharf, Port Harcourt.

    “The three companies that had their contracts/concessions terminated are subsidiaries of Sahara Energy Limited, used by the immediate past Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, to acquire state assets.”

    Okah also stated that the Rivers government arrived at the resolutions, in line with the yet-to-be implemented recommendations of the white paper on the report of the judicial commission of inquiry on the investigation of the administration of Amaechi, now Transportation Minister, on the sale of valued assets of Rivers state and other related matters under the chairmanship of Justice George Omereji.

    Information commissioner added the government directed the Attorney-General to take further steps as contained in the white paper.

     

  • Wike pledges conducive environment for business in Rivers

    The Rivers Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has pledged his administration’s commitment to continue to provide enabling environment for business to thrive in the state.

    The governor made the pledge on Friday in Port Harcourt when the National Association of Hotel operators paid him a courtesy visit.

    He said that plans were underway to transform Rivers into a business haven, in a bid to boost the economy of the state.

    Wike, however, said that there was need for government to inter face with the hotel operators as a way of checkmating the security situation in the state.

    Read Also: Wike may quit as Atiku’s South-South campaign coordinator

    The governor noted that most criminals had found hotels in the area as safe haven for hideouts for their criminal activities.

    He urged the hotel operators to be more security conscious and circumspect, so that criminals to discourage criminals from using their premises.

    Wike advised hotel operators to pay their taxes, as at when due, to help the government develop the state and boost its economy.

    Earlier, the National President of the Association, Mr Larry Awuseyin, said that members of the body visited the governor to express their appreciation for his assistance to the association.

    He noted that the members were also in Port Harcourt to solicit the cooperation of the state government to enable them thrive in their business.

    Awuseyin assured the governor of the support and cooperation of the association in the economic development of Rivers as well as contributing to the security of the state.

    NAN

  • Senator urges Wike to respect Rivers monarchs

    The lawmaker representing Rivers East Senatorial District, Senator Andrew Uchendu, has urged Governor Nyesom Wike to respect the state’s monarchs and not to treat them with contempt, but with decorum and honour.

    Uchendu, the Acting Chairman, Senate Committee on Public Procurement, on Tuesday in Port Harcourt, according to his media aide, Solomon Okocha, described as uncalled for, the comments made by Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), during the 108 and 109 general session of Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers in the Rivers state capital on Monday.

    He said: “Let me congratulate the most respectable traditional custodians of our rich heritage for successfully hosting the council’s general session in Port Harcourt. It gives me great joy to know that our traditional institution is still waxing strong.

    “I am, however, deeply saddened that Wike, just to exert undue political influence, adopted the archaic tactics of intimidation, harassment and treated our revered royal fathers like a football, by publicly threatening to dethrone them as though they were merely his political appointees, whom he could hire and fire at will, thereby desecrating our culture.

    “This is clearly an affront to our respected traditional institution and we will not take it lightly. Wike should learn to treat our traditional rulers with decorum, respect and honour, especially in the public space. They are not his aides, rather they are rulers of various traditional kingdoms, and as such, they deserve to be treated with utmost dignity and not contempt.

    “Rivers governor should remember his age (51) and be humble, while talking to our traditional rulers and elders of our land. His duty is to preserve and protect them at all times. He should remember that the traditional institution has been in existence, long before he became governor and it will still be here after he leaves office.

    “Wike should go and study the history of the people of the Niger Delta, especially the ancient and great Benin Empire, and he will see how the traditional institution cut down the excesses of the colonial masters during the dark days.”

    Read Also: I didn’t nominate Peter Obi, says Wike

    Uchendu, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), also urged Rivers traditional rulers to be vigilant and reject intimidation from any politician, stressing that they should guard the sanctity of their traditional stools against political manipulations.

    He said: “It is good enough that Wike said our traditional rulers should remain apolitical, but to go ahead and dictate whom they should see or not, in an attempt to restrict communication between them and their subjects or any other individual, is to treat our royal fathers, our culture, with the highest level of disrespect. In view of this, Wike should immediately tender an unreserved apology to our traditional rulers and the people of Rivers State.

    “The Rivers governor cannot choose for our traditional rulers whom they should interact with, because they are expected at all times to render pieces of advice across the board, whether in party A or B, no matter whose ox is gored.

    “Our traditional rulers must carry out their traditional functions without fear or favour, by consciously and consistently rejecting any form of intimidation from any politician, no matter how highly placed, and in so doing protect the sacredness of the traditional stools which they occupy. And as the saying goes, may our Royal Majesties, live forever.”

    The senator also urged well-meaning Rivers leaders and other lovers of democracy to call Wike to order, asking him not to he jittery about the fact that the state’s electorate would end his bad governance in 2019 with their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

  • Wike smacks his lips

    Governor Nyesom Wike remains a fixture of both affection and controversy in his party, The PDP. Those who love him, especially in his state, swear because of what they consider his earthy virtue, his folksy voice and visceral effusions. Those who don’t like him consider him a boor.

    But the Rivers State governor is anything but boring. Not when he is sparring with his favorite foe, the transport minister Rotimi Amaechi, whose fight was thankfully kept alive recently for having a second life after surviving a giddy air experience in a flight from Port Harcourt to Lagos.

    But the most potent battles he has had of late has been within his party. The latest is the charge that the Ikwere man picked the feminine-voiced Peter Obi as the running mate of Atiku Abubakar, the party’s flag bearer. It gave Wike a sort of larger-than-life image, the man who was only just a junior minister under the shadow of Jonathan and also in good spirits with the former first lady, Patience, has suddenly morphed into a party titan?

    But Wike would not take credit, and rejected any role in vaulting Obi to the party’s presumably number two spot when some of his colleagues even within the same region had their eyes set on that fleshy prize. He was also a butt of outrage from Obi’s kinsmen, especially the governors. Some of them thought the River State governor was presumptuous for going out of his natural zone to foist a man out of the comfort zone of the south-eastern elite.

    He was unmistakable in his rebuttal: “I never nominated Obi. But the mere fact that the vice presidential candidate is coming from the southeast does not give the zone the sole right to nominate a person, since the entire country will benefit.” If you thought he prevaricated a little, hear this: “when the southeast said they were not consulted before Peter Obi was nominated, when did we meet as a party that the vice president must come from the southeast? But we said if the presidential candidate believes he has somebody to work with, so be it.” A bit of a lawyerly logic here.

    But it all began since he wanted to host the PDP convention in the garden city that ultimately picked the party presidential torch bearer. Wike was resented by those who feared his muscle as the landlord of Port Harcourt. With that clout, he would pick the candidate. He was oil-rich, he was a bulldozer and an underrated chess player. They did not want to mess with him, and that would amount to keeping the fish in the custody of a cat.

    He used all the tools of power player. He cajoled. He threatened. He teased. Eventually he triumphed. He brought dollars and political sense to his city, and bested his foes. Is he doing all these at the expense of his friends within the party, or his stature only grows in the PDP by default. Time will tell. But Wike seems to be enjoying the theatre at some people’s expense. That, we agree, is how the political cookie crumbles.