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Tag: Nyesom Wike

  • ‘Tinubu, Amaechi didn’t impose Tonye Cole on Rivers APC’

    Contrary to claim in some quarters, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has stated that the National Leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, did not impose the Chief Executive of Sahara Energy, Pastor Tonye Cole, as governorship candidate of Rivers APC.

    He stated this on Tuesday in Port Harcourt, while describing last Thursday’s endorsement of Cole in Lagos by stakeholders of Rivers APC as a step in the right direction, in order to easily take over from Governor Nyesom Wike next year.

    Eze urged some displeased members of APC in Rivers to give peace a chance and embrace the popular choice of the Abonnema-Kalabari-born Cole, in order to move the state forward.

    Wike, a chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), while responding to Cole’s adoption, described him as Amaechi’s business partner, with the intention of looting Rivers treasury, while alleging that Asiwaju Tinubu recommended and imposed Cole to enhance his (Tinubu’s) business activities in Rivers state.

    Eze asked Rivers governor to desist from attemping to bring the character and persons of Asiwaju Tinubu and Amaechi, a former Rivers governor, into disrepute.

    He said: “The reaction by Wike is unacceptable to the leadership of APC in Rivers State, as it presents the leaders of the party in the state as incapable of selecting and electing our candidates on our own terms.

    “Wike’s reaction on the coming of Cole shows that he is already frightened. I will not be shocked if he considers resigning before the 2019 election, to avoid the embarrassment of awful defeat that awaits him, if he summons courage to contest.

    “Politics truly is a serious business to be left in the hands of a person like Wike. It comes to me a great relief for Pastor Tonye Cole to accept to offer himself to rescue Rivers State from its present pitiable state, under the hold of some misfits that do not understand what governance is all about.

    Read Also: Shakarau returns to APC

    “It is time to put our best to work. I am convinced that with Tonye Cole’s global connections, he will attract investments and woo his friends in the private sector to Rivers State for the creation of Rivers State of our dream. So, let us leave sentiments aside and support him for a better Rivers of opportunities.”

    Eze also hailed the vision of Amaechi, the leader of APC in Rivers and Southsouth zone, as well as all other leaders of the party for agreeing on the brilliant choice of Cole.

    He noted that the choice of Cole was the answer to the perceived injustice done to the riverine part of the Rivers, which had not had a shot at governing the state since 1999, but being dominated by their upland brothers.

    The APC chieftain also lauded the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside, an oil magnate, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, Prince Tonye Princewill, Davies Sokonte, Dr. Dawari George and others eminently qualified to govern Rivers, for coming together to achieve the unity of purpose and agreeing to support Cole’s candidacy.

    He noted that Cole stepping down from Sahara Group as the chief executive officer, to enable him to participate actively in the Rivers state’s governorship race, was a positive step towards sacking Wike next year.

    Eze said: “It is gladdening to note that Cole’s candidature has been accepted by most key stakeholders of the APC in Rivers State, which will surely enable him to clinch the party’s governorship ticket during the primary election. This is a good sign, which demonstrates total departure from the normal practice in which politicians aspire for offices without any defined vision on what to do with governance, when they eventually get power.

    “With the resolve of APC to field a riverine candidate of Ijaw extraction, particularly from the great tribe of Kalabari Kingdom, the injustice of upland governing Rivers State for twenty years to the determent of the riverine area would have been addressed.

    “The choice of the party to settle for a candidate like Architect Cole, whose intimidating credentials are something that will aid the party in its efforts and mission to change the fortunes of Rivers State positively, is commendable. The internationally-acclaimed billionaire and son of a former Managing Director of Daily Times Newspaper and former Ambassador of Nigeria to Brazil, Pa Patrick Dele Cole, will actually send shivers down the spine of Wike and his allies.”

    The APC chieftain also described Cole as God fearing, highly cerebral and uniquely unassuming, while expressing optimism that he would lead Rivers State into a new era of prosperity, when the youths would be empowered to work hard and earn a living, rather than carrying guns.

     

  • ‘Why riverine person will succeed Wike in 2019’

    A governorship aspirant on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, Soalabo West, has stated that a riverine person will succeed Governor Nyesom Wike on May 29 next year, in order to make the Niger Delta state great again.

    West, an energy and maritime lawyer from the Kalabari (riverine) part of Rivers state, stressed that he was not bothered about last week’s declaration by Wike of PDP, who is from the upland part of the state, to seek reelection in 2019.

    The governorship aspirant, on Monday in an interactive session with reporters in Port Harcourt, expressed optimism of emerging victorious at the primary election of the PDP.

    He said: “The argument in 2015 was that Rivers was a PDP state and the people of the state needed to wrest the leadership of the state from the All Progressives Congress (APC), the party which the then incumbent governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, defected to in 2013.

    Read Also: Senator urges Wike to build on inherited projects

    “Governorship aspirants from the riverine ethnic nationalities were asked in 2015 to work with Wike, not because the upland/riverine dichotomy was not there, but essentially because of imperatives of the time, especially that Rivers State should go to the PDP and that the state should be properly mobilised to deliver majority votes to the then President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 presidential election.”

    West also stated that his governorship aspiration was propelled by the desire to bring to the fore vision, youthful vigour, a pragmatic and dynamic approach to the development of Rivers State, devoid of political bickering and sectarian exclusiveness that were currently being institutionalised.

    The PDP governorship aspirant pleaded with the youths and other stakeholders to do away with violence and thuggery, in order to have peaceful, free, fair and credible primaries and general elections.

  • Why Rivers APC picked Cole, by Princewill

    The Convener of Riverine Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Tonye J.T. Princewill, said yesterday that many stakeholders of the party in Rivers State settled for Mr. Tonye Cole because his track record of success could give Governor Nyesom Wike a good fight.

    Cole has stepped down from the board of Sahara Enrgy Group to prepare for the race and a career in politics.

    Princewill described Cole as a man who could speak the language of business and how to create jobs.

    Princewill in a statement said: “Being one of the few privileged to be in the room when the decision was taken, one would have expected me to speak a little sooner. After all, I have been known to shoot from the hip, speak my mind plus my thoughts on the decision right from the moment it was made.

    “I confess that I had played out a series of scenarios in my head beforehand and to each one, an appropriate set of responses was measured out and kept waiting. But I thought it wise to let the likely political gladiators for governor have their say first, before doing my own justice to the moment. That time has come.

    “I want to start by thanking God for his grace and blessings to let me see this day. Having decided to sit this 2019 contest out, I had repeatedly told my supporters and my associates that my role in this process was to be a facilitator, to help the leader and his leaders achieve victory in 2019.

    “I joined the APC to help ease Wike out of the Government House, not to run for the position of governor. The fact that I saw Rotimi Amaechi as head and shoulders above Wike and saw the Buhari/Osinbajo collabo as better than our recent past, did not hurt either.

    “APC members were warm and welcoming to me and it felt real good coming home. I never hid my preference for a Riverine governor, preferably of Kalabari origin, but in the end I said, power must rotate by negotiation.

    “Now in just under two years of being in APC, our work in Rivers State is no longer business as usual, a more formidable team has been assembled and with new direction, our fortunes have been given sound assurance. So the question that was before Amaechi, before us, was “Who would bell the wicked cat?” If it was an easy decision it would have been made earlier.

    “I was a witness to at least two caucus meetings on the issue and several one-on-one meetings that spanned many months. Chief Dumo Lulu Briggs and Dr. Dakuku Peterside had put up a good case for their consideration, Bekinbo Dagogo Jack, an engineer, had also made himself available and to be honest, either of them could have done us proud if given the chance. But alas they weren’t. Our preference rested on the shoulders of Tonye Cole.

    “I say our preference because it was not imposed on us.

    “This was hard for me to swallow because I am used to being my own boss, being the candidate, but I opted to be a team player by choice. So my word to my team is my bond.”

    Princewill asked others who are aspiring to be APC candidate to accept the preference for Cole.

    The statement added: “Good leaders must also be good followers. Independence is growth, but interdependence, when independent people join hands, is maturity. Some people will encourage rebellion, some will prod us into exercising our independent streak. Many for valid reasons, some to further deplete our resources. What is a cause for some of us, is a job for others. I hope we will resist that temptation.

    “So Tonye Cole is my choice and I urge us all to support him. Why? Because it’s either him or Wike, he has a track record of success, not failure. He puts his friends above profits, he’s not materialistic and he represents a total departure from the status quo or business as usual.

    “Let’s actually try something truly new. We may get different results. It will take some getting used to. For all of us. Both for him, the party and for the state.”

  • Rivers women call for riverine governor in 2019

    Women across the 23 local government areas of Rivers State are calling for a riverine governor in 2019, to succeed Nyesom Wike of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), since governors from the upland part would have governed the state for 20 unbroken years.

    The women, under the aegis of Rivers Women Alliance (RIWA), a non-political and non-governmental organization, with a view of total chatter for united Rivers society, made the call yesterday at a news conference in Port Harcourt.

    RIWA, through its Coordinator, Ibiba Omotoso, who was accompanied by the group’s Secretary, Myne Wilfred, and many Rivers women, including non-indigenes, indicated that it was striving for even development of the crude oil and gas-rich state, as well as to ensure justice, equity and fairness.

    It said: “Women of Rivers State observe with total dismay how the leadership of our state has been domiciled in a particular section of Rivers State, whereas the state is made up of upland and riverine brotherliness. From 1999, Rivers State has been governed by the upland brothers. The call for a Riverine governor in Rivers State in 2019 became very necessary, as that is the only path to equity, fairness, justice, togetherness and the enhancement of peaceful coexistence in our dear state. It is only fair for every Rivers son and daughter to rally round a riverine governor to taste the seat of power in our dear state.

    “Our unity, well-being and togetherness are sacrosanct. Hence the need for rotation of power between the upland and the riverine parts of the state. We remain committed to this cause and it is our belief and trust that in 2019, a riverine son or daughter will emerge in any of the political parties as the governor of Rivers State.

    Read Also: INEC right on Rivers by-election

    “We believe it will not be too much to allow all concerned in a common heritage to have a fair share of the commonwealth in service. Equity is in vain, when oppression is the order of the day in an indifferent society. The deliberate assent of this clarion call to rotate power in Rivers State is just, finest and clinches the order of the day.

    “We call on all Rivers elders, the political class, traditional rulers, youths, women and every facet of life in Rivers State to join hands, so that our call and advocacy of truth, fairness, equity, justice, and togetherness can be a fulfilled will.”

    Rivers women also stated that in their course of reach-outs, they had come across some asserts that Chief Rufus Ada-George, from the riverine part of the old Rivers state, was once elected governor in 1992/1993, but noted that the old Rivers state was made up of Bayelsa state and the present Rivers state, at a period when governance was managed and administered by the military at the centre and eventually the administration was cut short by the same military government that formed it.

    RIWA noted that other people of Rivers state must not be alienated, insisting that everybody must live in oneness, without a heart full of troubles and seeming oppression, with the women declaring that on a riverine governor they firmly stood.

  • Makarfi urges Buhari to call troublemakers to order

    Former Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Senator Ahmed Makarfi, on Monday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to call to order politicians who are creating crisis in Rivers state, saying they should not be allowed to truncate the nation’s hard-earned democracy.

    He also said the President should not allow such politicians to use their connection at the federal level to continue to intimidate blackmail and harass the Governor of Rivers State Mr Nyesom Wike.

    In a statement signed by his media aide, Murktar Sirajo, Senator Makarfi deplored the abortion of the by election in Rivers state, saying it was yet another evidence of impunity and disregard for the laws of the country.

    Senator Makarfi who was a former governor of Kaduna state, also said going by the recent political developments in the country, it has become imperative to restructure the nation’s political system.

    The statement reads: “The abortion of the by election for the Port Harcourt 3 seat of the Rivers State House of Assembly is yet another unfortunate evidence of the impunity and brazen disregard and violation of the laws of the country by elements of the current ruling party, unfortunately, with no consequence.

    “It disturbs Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi to no end that an election into a single constituency for which INEC had made adequate preparations and for which voters were ready, could fail to hold simply because some men of the moment, using their influence, deployed thugs to violently disrupt the exercise, knowing that their party was going to lose. Sadder still is the fact that these thugs operated openly, given cover by armed security agents who were supposed to protect the people.

    “Senator Ahmed Makarfi believes that this type of state sanctioned criminality can lead this country in only one direction: an irredeemable damage to or even truncation of the democracy that Nigeria paid enormous price to bring about.

    “The unfortunate event of last Saturday was a part vindication of the complaint of Senator Makarfi recently in Port Harcourt to the effect that the Rivers State government, and particularly Governor Nyesom Wike were continuously and consistently being targeted for intimidation and blackmail by the central government, using agencies of state that are paid and supposed to protect the people.

    Read Also: I’ll restructure Nigeria – Makarfi

    “More intriguing is the fact that the chief orchestrator and perpetrator of this dance of shame is very well known, and in fact makes no attempt to hide; yet nothing is done by those in authority to call them to order. Senator Makarfi believes that Nigeria is no banana republic and should therefore not allow a situation in which some people are beyond reproach.

    “He thus believes that President Muhammadu Buhari owes this country a duty to, not only call masterminds of this shameful act to order but also ensure that they are subjected to the full rigors of the law to answer for their crimes.

    “Senator Makarfi identifies and commiserates with the government and people of Rivers State over this wanton assault and primitive abuse of privilege and urges Governor Wike to remain resolute and focused on delivering democracy dividends to the people, in the face of this unnecessary distraction.

    “The Senator equally reiterates, once again, his call for the restructuring of our public institutions, especially security agencies to make them answerable to the state rather than the whims and caprices of the controllers of the political levers”

  • Rivers bye-election: Poll to hold in 142 units

    …over 1000 ad-hoc/INEC officers to conduct the exercise INEC

    …200 NYSC members to serve as presiding officers

     

    The Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike on Friday declared that the Port Harcourt Local Government Area (PHLGA), state House of Assembly bye-election holding today is not a do or die affair.

    PHALGA constituency 3, state legislative seat became vacant last June, following the resignation of the former member, Victor Ihunwo who won the LGA chairmanship election and became the mayor of Port Harcourt on June 18, 2018.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled to hold the election to fill up the seat today.

    The Head voter Education, in the state Mr. Edwin Enabor on Friday said the exercise will hold in 142 units in the constituency with over 800 Ad-hoc staff, and 200 INEC staff to conduct the elections.

    Enabor said the new face of INEC in the state notorious for violent elections is set to change the narrative in the state by conducting violent free, fair and credible exercise today.

    He said four political parties fielded candidates for the poll and assured a level playing ground for all.

    He disclosed that hundreds of card Reader machines that will be used in the election are ready and 200 NYSC members trained for the exercise will serve as presiding officer will INEC staff will handle the non-sensitive aspect of the exercise, especially organizing the polling centres and ensuring orderliness.

    The political parties are The APC, PDP, Democratic Alternative (DA) and Mass Movement of Nigeria (MMN).

    Wike in a statewide broadcast on Friday said, “I wish to reiterate that this election, important as it is, must not be taken as a do or die affair. I therefore urge leaders of political parties and their candidates to advise their supporters to peacefully conduct themselves during and after the bye-election.

    “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has promised that the bye-election shall be free, fair and credible.

    “The Security agencies, especially the Police have also promised to ensure adequate security for eligible voters and poll officials to ensure a peaceful, credible, and fair election.

    “The people of Rivers State expect and demand nothing less. Consequently, we take INEC and the security agencies at their word and expect them to deliver a bye-election in the affected constituency devoid of any electoral malfeasance.

    “I therefore call on all eligible voters in these communities to come out in your numbers not only to vote for the party and candidate of your choice but also to defend your votes and ensure  your votes count.”

    Speaking further Wike said “This is civic duty you must discharge with all sense of responsibility to guarantee a better representation for your constituency. Otherwise, you will only have yourselves to blame when things go wrong with the quality of your representation in the State House of Assembly.

    “For us, free, fair and credible electoral choice is the hallmark of democracy and good governance. As a prelude to the 2019 general elections, this election is equally important to the entire Rivers State.

    “Accordingly, the Rivers State Government has put adequate measures to ensure that the bye-election is highly successful and the outcome generally acceptable.

    “Consequently, I warn all residents and visitors to comply with the restriction order as the law enforcement agencies are under strict instructions to arrest and prosecute anyone caught violating this order.”

    He disclosed alleged plans in some quarters of the state to create trouble during the polls and expressed the readiness of the state to resist such act.

    “Furthermore, we have it on good authority that some failed politicians are planning to use cultists and political thugs to intimidate voters and attempt to disrupt the voting process.

    Read Also: Total oil, communities renew pact in Rivers

    “I wish to reiterate that the Rivers State Government will not close its eyes to such thoughtless acts by any person or group of persons to deny our people their God-given right to freely and fairly elect their leaders. We shall not hesitate to apply the full weight and force of government and the law on any delinquent.

    “We therefore advise all those who have no business with the election process to, in their own interest, keep their distance from the constituency during the duration of the bye-election.

    “We note with satisfaction the high level of determination and enthusiasm among the voters in Port Harcourt Constituency III to effectively participate in next Saturday’s bye-election.

    “That’s left is for you to translate this momentum into reality by coming out in your numbers to vote for the party and candidate of your choice and ensure that the person you voted for is lawfully returned by the INEC.

    Enabor said, “We have received sensitive materials from the Central Bank yesterday(Thursday), we will be taking them to the RAC center any moment. The Ad-hoc staffs are expected to take off to their various polling units, tomorrow.

    “We are ready for the polls, we have held series of meetings with stakeholders and the candidates have taken to signing an undertaking to ensure peaceful environment and also pledged to bring their party members and supporters under control, and also agree to accept whatever be the outcome of the exercise.

    “This is the first election of this set of INEC in the state and we intend to change the perception of election in Rivers state, that no electing can be done here without violent, we are expecting total peace, free and fair exercise.” he assured.

     

  • ‘Peterside lost 2015 governorship election to sabotage’

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has disclosed that the Deputy Leader of APC in Rivers, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, did not lose the 2015 governorship election in the state to Nyesom Wike of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), but to sabotage by some APC stalwarts.

    He also described Wike’s move to be the running mate to PDP’s presidential standard bearer as a ploy to escape governorship defeat in 2019.

    Eze, a former Spokesperson of the defunct New People’s Democratic Party (nPDP), on Monday described the 2015 election of Wike as a sham, but the ex-Minister of State for Education insisted that he won the “free and fair” poll across the 23 local government areas of the state, in view of his popularity, acceptance and impressive performance in previous public service.

    The APC chieftain said: “If there was no internal sabotage, APC would not have lost the 2015 governorship election in Rivers State to the PDP. I can confirm that APC  lost to internal sabotage and wrangling within its fold, orchestrated by some stalwarts of the party, who conspired with external foes to undermine the chances of APC during the election.

    Read Also: APC is still evolving, says Peterside

    “The sabotage was contrived to pave way for Senator Magnus Abe (representative of Rivers Southeast Senatorial District) to contest the 2019 governorship election on the platform of APC.

    “Not minding that Wike used security agencies and militants during the 2015 general elections to intimidate the electorate, members of the opposition political parties and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to influence the outcome of the election in his favour, if some of the APC stalwarts had effectively played their parts to support the party’s governorship candidate and match Wike with all his tricks, the outcome would have been different.

    “If not for the internal sabotage, there was no way Wike would have defeated Peterside, the shining star of Rivers State politics, in a free and fair election. With Wike no longer controlling the security agencies and INEC, it is difficult for him to win the 2019 governorship election in Rivers State, if he dares to contest.”

    Eze also stated that the upland and riverine dichotomy in the multi-ethnic Rivers would work against Wike’s re-election next year, since governors of the state since 1999 were all from the upland part of Rivers, with APC leaders pushing for governorship candidate in 2019 from the riverine part of the state to ensure even development, justice, equity and fairness.

  • Wike is committed to good governance – Rivers PDP chairman

    The Rivers State Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Felix Obuah, has stated that Governor Nyesom Wike is committed to good governance, as confirmed by his Thursday’s BusinessDay award in Abuja as the Governor of the Year 2018 for Competitiveness and Good Governance.

    Obuah, in an online statement on Friday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Pastor Jerry Needam, stated that the latest award laid credence to Wike’s leadership qualities and commitment to service.

    Rivers PDP chairman noted that the state governor’s recognition was a reward for not only performing, but having done very well in all facets of governance, which he said also earned him the special title of “Mr. Projects.”

    Read Also: ‘PDP considering 2019 polls boycott’

    He pointed out that the voice of the media, being the voice of the people, was a confirmation of the interest of God in Wike’s leadership, since the voice of the people is the voice of God.

    Obuah congratulated Rivers governor on the well-deserved award, lauding the BusinessDay newspaper for giving the honour to whom it was due.

    Rivers PDP chairman prayed God to grant Wike more grace to do more for Rivers state, Nigeria and this generation, especially at this period that Nigeria had urgent need for selfless leaders who could dare to fight injustice in defence of the masses, irrespective of the risks involved.

  • Fayose’s fall is a signal to Wike, says Edo APC

    The All Progressive Congress in Edo State has said that the failure of Ayodele Fayose in last Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti State was a signal to Governor Nyesom Wike and other PDP governors in the South South region.

    It said it would take the lead in next year’s general elections for all the South South states come under the APC.

    State Secretary of the APC, Mr. Lawrence Okah, who stated this in a chat with newsmen urged Nigerians to stop believing what he termed rumors and lies the PDP posted on the social media during the conduct of Ekiti governorship polls.

    Okah stated that the victory of the APC in Ekiti was a signal that the party is ready to win other states in the South South region.

    According to him, “The APC is the party to beat in any election. We went to Ekiti to defect an incumbent. With Ekiti victory, we have taken over the South West. Our next journey is the South South.

    “All those things you hear from the social media will not stop the APC to ensuring that the right thing is done.

    Read Also: Fayose a street-type thug, says Presidency

    “Only a mental person could do what Fayose has done to announce election results. Any sane pêrson knows that only INEC has the powers to announce election result. The FG should send Fayose to a psychiatrist.”

    Chief of Staff to Governor Godwin Obaseki, Mr. Taiwo Akerele, said the people of Ekiti have demonstrated that they were deceived by Fayose’s stomach infrastructure.

    “You recall that four years ago, this same man was cheated by the ruling PDP out of power and he didn’t complain, he accepted and he moved on but today, the people of Ekiti state have realised that they were cheated and deceived by stomach infrastructure and they have come back and re-elected the man because they have confidence in him.”

  • How Nigeria’s problems can be solved – CJN

    The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onoghen, has stated that all the problems of the country can be solved through strict adherence to the rule of law.

    He noted that if the country and Nigerians could consistently respect the rule of law for four years, the building blocks of development would be firmly in place.

    The  CJN stated these on Friday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, while inaugurating the National Industrial Court, Port Harcourt Division’s building and the remodelled Court of Appeal building, embarked upon by the Rivers government, under the leadership of Governor Nyesom Wike.

    Onoghen, while inaugurating the National Industrial Court complex, said: “I believe that the solutions to our numerous problems lie in the adherence to the principles of the rule of law. If we do that for four years consistently, you will see that everything will fall back into place.

    “The constitution provides for each and everyone of us.  It has given us designated and special functions.  If we adhere to these functions and discharge them to the satisfaction of our conscience, there will be development.”

    The CJN also stated that in adhering to the rule of law, people would realise that there were societal taboos.

    He said: “For instance, locking up the  courts. How can you in a democratic society think of locking up the courts? How can you say that you should deprive the judiciary of its funds, for instance?”

    Onoghen charged Nigerian  judges  to be fair, firm and courageous in the discharge of their functions.

    He said: “You know that a man of integrity cannot be intimidated.  You do not  expect a man with integrity to be subservient.  Sacrifices must be made, if we are to come out of the woods.”

    Read Also: Shun corruption, CJN warns SANs

    The CJN also described as a welcome development, the construction of the National Industrial Court in Port Harcourt by the Rivers government, while urging other state governors to emulate Wike.

    He said: “All other state executives should learn from what  is happening  in Rivers State.”

    Rivers governor, in his remarks at the inauguration of the National Industrial Court, stated that nothing could be more important to the country than for the nation to secure the independence of the judiciary and ensure that it was no longer threatened by political and other interests.

    Wike said: “This is possible if our judges can stand firm on the constitution under any circumstances and act consistently as morally autonomous agents with unshakable belief in the rule of law, human rights and the shared values of our democracy.

    “I declare so because all through history, judicial independence is fought and won by the courage, commitment and vigilance of judges, who would yield to nothing in defence of the constitution and the rule of law.

    “The challenge is for the Bench and the Bar to resolve to stand firm against all forms of pressures, blatant or subtle, physical or venal, that interfere with, impair or impugn the character and content of judicial decisions.”

    Rivers governor also noted that until Nigerian judges were able to do justice in the face of threats, apply the law in the face of opposition from the government, resist peer pressures and be seen to be courageous, just and fair, only then could the nation’s  judiciary be independent and Nigeria respected among nations.

    He said: “While I congratulate the CJN on the ongoing reforms to strengthen our judiciary, I wish to remind you with respect, that on your shoulders rest the responsibility, hopes and expectations of a truly independent, impartial and proactive judiciary. A judiciary that can do justice, even though heaven may fall.”

    Wike, on the National Industrial Court constructed by his administration, he stressed that  his administration was proud to be contributing to the dispensation of justice and making Rivers state the judicial hub of the region.

    He said: “Against this background, permit me to further reiterate the point that our decision to spend hundreds of millions of naira in building a federal court house is not because we have so much money to throw after the responsibility of the Federal Government.

    “The court system, whether Federal or State, serves the same purpose and Rivers people are the primary beneficiaries of the services rendered by these courts, irrespective of ownership.”

    A former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, Chief Onueze Okocha (SAN), in a goodwill message, hailed the Rivers governor for his contributions to the dispensation of justice.

    President of National Industrial Court, Justice Babatunde Adejumo, in his remarks, pointed out that it was the first time such a developmental gesture would be coming from a state government.

    Rivers Chief Judge, Justice Adama Iyayi-Laminkara and the state’s Attorney-General/Commissioner for Justice, Emmanuel Aguma (SAN), who was represented by the Rivers Solicitor-General/Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, lauded the investments of Wike in the development of the justice sector.

    President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, at the inauguration of the remodelled Court of Appeal building, expressed satisfaction with the quality of work done at the facility.

    Bulkachuwa noted that though she was initially skeptical about the proposal to remodel the Appeal Court by Rivers governor, because at the time, no such remodelling had been undertaken by a state government, but was convinced by the fact that Wike intervened in other federal courts and establishments in the state.

    Wike, in his remarks, pointed out that his administration resolved to remodel the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt because it had degenerated to an embarrassing level.

    He said: “We are happy to have also delivered what is arguably, the best and most functional Court of Appeal complex, outside the headquarters building in Abuja, to the glory of God and for the progress of our state and the nation.

    “With this court house delivered, we are the only state government in our country that has directly intervened and provided the most modern court houses for all existing federal courts in the state, namely: the Federal High Court, the National Industrial Court and the Court of Appeal.”

    The CJN stated every right-thinking person would appreciate efforts put in place to make the judiciary function optimally.

    Onoghen called for financial autonomy of state judiciary across the country, saying that a judiciary driven by integrity could not be timid.

    The Special Adviser to Rivers governor on Special Projects, Alabo George Kerley, stressed that the courtrooms, offices and facilities were remodelled in a way that would promote security and performance.

    A former NBA President, Okey Wali (SAN), in his goodwill message, stated that Wike had lived up to the expectations of the people as a member of the Body of Benchers.