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  • Obuah: APC can’t defeat PDP in Rivers

    Obuah: APC can’t defeat PDP in Rivers

    Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman Felix Obuah spoke with reporters on the controversial legislative rerun, the violence that marred the polls and how to avert electoral malpractices. EMMANUEL OLADESU was there.

    What is the state of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State?
    The PDP is on ground and very strong. It is the leading party in the state and there is no doubt that our choice of Nyesom Wike as governor was a good one. He is God-sent to liberate the people of Rivers State from the grip of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and so far, he has done very well. He is making things easier for the PDP in Rivers State, because when you elect someone who keeps to his promises to the electorate, it is as good as keeping hope alive. So, the PDP is very much ground in Rivers State and I can tell you that we have never had it better like we have at the moment.
    Do you think the Rivers PDP has recovered from the crisis it had following the exit of former Governor Chibuike Amaechi and his supporters from the party?
    Using the word ‘recovered’ is an understatement because we were in bondage during Amaechi’s tenure as governor. We have nothing to showcase for Amaechi’s eight years in power. The people of Rivers State suffered severe hardship during Amaechi’s reign and there was no development anywhere. But, in less than two years of Wike’s administration, the state is wearing a new look. Virtually all the parties in the state are singing the same tune except the APC. We have about 31 political parties in Rivers State and 30 are working together. Members of other political parties have been given appointments by Governor Wike and we are working as one indivisible body. We have never witnessed the kind of cooperation that we have today. So, we don’t regret losing Amaechi to the APC; it was good that he left us.
    You sounded as if Rivers PDP is insulated from the leadership crisis, which seems to have torn the party apart at the national level. Is the crisis not affecting the party in the state?
    As far as I am concerned, there is no problem in the PDP. We had a convention in Port Harcourt, where we appointed a caretaker committee and the committee is doing well. Virtually all the elections that have been held since that convention had candidates sponsored by the committee. So, whoever is parading himself as PDP national chairman like Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, is an agent of destruction planted by the APC, but we are not bothered. We are marching on and they will never have their way in Rivers State or any other place in Nigeria.
    You accuse the APC of planting Sheriff to destroy the PDP. But, PDP chieftains, including your governor, invited him to lead the party. How do you reconcile that?
    Our governor has said it time without number that he never knew Sheriff from the onset. Because he believed in transparency and team play, there was no way that he would have said no when his colleagues introduced Sheriff to the leadership of the PDP. He has never been a lone ranger, so he worked with others with the hope that it was in the interest of the party. When his colleagues introduced Sheriff as a good man, he said okay, but it was not long before Sheriff showed his true character.
    His plan during the convention was to perpetuate himself in office. He wanted to be a life-time chairman of the PDP. He fixed the convention, but little did we know that he went back to connive with some members of the party to perpetuate himself in office. That was the first signal. So, we said the man is not truthful and we cannot work with someone who is not truthful. That was the beginning of our resolve to look for someone, who we can trust. If we say that we don’t want you as chairman, why must you kill yourself? Yes, he has created some kind of confusion but God will vindicate us. Anyone using him to destabilise the PDP will not succeed. We don’t want Sheriff’s issue to distract us in Rivers State because the governor is focused on fulfilling his campaign promises.
    Are you satisfied with the outcome of the recent legislative rerun in Rivers State?
    I am not satisfied because everyone saw what happened. It wasn’t an election but a war. A situation where security agents connived with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deny the people of their right is really unfortunate. In Rivers West senatorial district, where I come from, we won the election but it was not an easy victory. In Akuku-Toru and Asari-Toru, they held everybody hostage. It was because the people said their votes must count that we won the election. In Ogoni land, they never allowed election to hold. They carted away all election materials because they were desperate to return Magnus Abe to the Senate. You cannot force anyone on the people and we have said it that we will challenge the outcome of that election. Rivers State is PDP and PDP is Rivers State, and we have continually preached peace so that the people will choose their leaders.
    What informed your believe that the APC was desperate to return Magnus Abe to the Senate, and is your party going to challenge his victory?
    Magnus Abe never won the election and the records are there. The people are crying foul because INEC connived with security agents to deny us of our hard-earned victory. Senator Olaka Nwogu is the peoples’ choice and was duly elected , so they should allow him to represent his people because that is the essence of democracy.
    But the PDP was accused of doing the same thing you have accused APC of when it was in power; that it didn’t allow elections to hold in Rivers State…
    What did the PDP do? You cannot because you want to be popular be feeding the President with wrong information. In the rerun elections that we held, Amaechi lost in his polling booth and ward. He can never win election in his village – Ubima. The people of Rivers State believe so much in PDP because we have a transparent leadership. We carry everybody along in whatever we are doing; from the leadership to the least person because leadership is a collective thing and not about individuals.
    Why are elections in the state always characterised by violence?
    Developments in Rivers State are usually blown out of proportion. Rivers State is peaceful and not the way some people have painted. Once there is election, you hear noise all over the place, but after the election, everything goes down. If the state is bad as they paint it, we won’t have investors coming down here. We have major construction companies working in various parts of the state and we have not heard about any disruption. Our Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) is increasing. It is only during elections that you hear all sorts of tales about Rivers State to create the impression that there is insecurity in the state, so that they can muster enough security to aid them rig the polls. But, time has come when the people will say that no matter the number security that you mobilse, you cannot have your way.
    Don’t you think that such resolve would be setting the stage for more violence in the 2019 general elections?
    The time has come when the people will take their destiny in their hands because we are in a democracy and the people should be allowed to choose their leaders in free, fair and credible elections. No one should be imposed on the people. Amaechi is a desperate politician and his likes are the ones fuelling crises in the state.
    Are you not afraid that the APC may take over Rivers State in 2019 given the outcome of the recent legislative rerun elections?
    We are not afraid of anything. Despite the challenges and the use of security agents by the APC, we still came out victorious. They know that none of their candidates can win election in Rivers State and that was why they wrote results and declared Magnus Abe winner of Rivers South East senatorial seat. APC members in Rivers State are defecting in their numbers to the PDP because they have seen the transparent leadership of Governor Wike. There’s nobody who will not appreciate good thing. What the governor has done so far is not for political gains; he has touched every part of the state. The roads, hospitals and schools that he is building are for the people of Rivers State irrespective of political leaning. The level of insecurity in the state was high during Amaechi’s government because of his desperation but you can see that normalcy has returned since Governor Wike assumed office. It is only Amaechi and his cohorts that are blowing the issue of security in the state out of proportion. Rivers State is calm and friendly.
    The police has said that it will investigate the violence that led to the killing of its personnel during the rerun. What is your position on that?
    It is clear to everyone that the APC is desperate to bring down the PDP government in Rivers State. They never imagined that the PDP would still emerge victorious after all they did in the state. But, they have failed to realise that God’s power prevails every other power; that we are there today is ordained by God and no human being can pull us down. Nobody can pull down Governor Wike’s government no matter how highly placed. The government is built on a solid foundation and God is behind it.

  • Why Rivers rerun was marred with violence, by Obuah

    Why Rivers rerun was marred with violence, by Obuah

    The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, Felix Obuah, has attributed the violence that marred the recent rerun to the desperation of unpopular candidates to win.

    He described the state as the stronghold of the PDP, wondering why the All Progressives Congress (APC) was insensitive to the political reality.

    Obuah congratulated the PDP candidates who emerged victorious, urging them to fulfill their campaign promises to the people.

    In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Jerry Needam, the chairman described the victory as the triumph of light over darkness.

    He said the defeat of the PDP,  especially in the Rivers Southeast and Rivers East senatorial districts, did not reflect the wishes of the people, adding that elections did not hold in the areas.

    Obuah said the victory of the PDP candidates underscored the party’s popularity and the belief of the people in its programmes.

    He said his prediction that many voters will reject the APC had come to pass.

    The chairman commended the  PDP followers for their courage, saying that they were resolute in their bid to vote for the candidates of their choice in the face of intimidation.

    Obuah described the rerun as the worst in the history Rivers State, pointing out that the report of some monitoring groups captured the impunity of the security agencies.

    He said the  Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Rivers State, the Army, Police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were allof to the activities of suspected thugs.

    The chairman alleged that security agents took sides with political parties during the exercise in e Ikwerre/Emohua Federal Constituency.

    He said the results purportedly declared in Rivers South East Senatorial District were false, stressing that voting in the area was characterised by hulaballoo.

    Obuah lamented that the INEC and security agents closed their eyes to the impunity.

    He recalled that, despite the assurance by the electoral commission and the police that a level-playing ground will be provided for the candidates, the officials demonstrated partisanship.

    Obuah said the PDP will challenge the outcome of the exercise in Khana, Gokana, Tai, Eleme and Oyigbo local government areas.

    He called for an investigation into the alleged partisanship of the INEC officials and security agents to prevent a reoccurence.

    He alleged that a particular high-ranking federal official  connived with the security agents to brutalisePDP members, hijack electoral materials and perpetuate violence.

    He said the criminal and shameful actions during the re-run  will not go unchallenged.

    Obuah called for the arrest and prosecution suspects in the orgy of violence.

    He said: “Those who conspired  in the hijack of INEC materials, killing, shooting and maiming of innocent Ogonis during the re-run should not go unpunished.

    “The arrest and prosecution of these men are necessary to save the future of the nascent democracy and also to serve as deterrent to others who think that the state is their personal property.”

  • Obuah: APC can’t match PDP in Rivers

    The Chairman, Rivers State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),  Mr. Felix Obuah, has indicated that the PDP is the party to beat in the Southsouth state and that it is no match for the All Progressives Congress (APC), in terms of popularity.

    Obuah made the remark following the recent Appeal Court judgments, which nullified the purported election of two APC candidates, Andrew Miller and Eldred Braide for Opobo/Nkoro and Degema State Constituencies respectively. The court declared the candidates of the PDP, Adonye Kelly Diri and Farah Dagogo winners for each of the constituencies.

    The PDP Chairman described the judgments as not only a correction of miscarriage of justice by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against the authentic winners in the March 19, 2016, Legislative Election in the two areas, Hon. Diri and his Degema constituency counterpart, but a further proof of the overwhelming and indisputable popularity of the PDP in the state, especially in Opobo/Nkoro  local government. The council area is the home of the APC governorship candidate in last year’s election, Mr. Dakuku Peterside.

    He added that Diri’s victory has again justified his position that the carcass left of the APC, including Mr. Magnus Abe and Peterside, can never win any election in the area, having been rejected by the people of that constituency.

    The PDP applauded the jurists of the Appeal Court for taking an unbiased decision and upholding the rule of law, thereby sustaining the dignity of the judiciary in the face of apparent intimidation and pressure by the undemocratic forces.

    Obuah said all the claims by Abe and Peterside about their popularity in the Rivers Southeast senatorial district have been rubbished by Diri’s victory. He noted that the APC has no chance in the December 10 re-run elections, unless it connives with INEC and political thugs to rig the election in the party’s favour.

    Obuah congratulated Diri for defeating Peterside in Opobo, saying the PDP chieftain is a gallant, unwavering, popular and loyal party man.

    He urged all party supporters to remain steadfast and resist the intimidation of the ruling party at the centre in the coming rerun election in parts of the state. He particularly charged the electorate in the state to come out en mass and vote for all candidates of the PDP during the December 10 re-run Legislative Elections.

  • Wike fulfilling his promises, says Obuah

    Wike fulfilling his promises, says Obuah

    The Chairman of the Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Felix Obuah, has said Governor Nyesom Wike deserves commendation for fulfilling his election promises.

    He said the achievements of the Wike administration in one year is amazing. He said given the necessary support, the losses suffered in the previous years will be recovered before he completes his tenure.

    Obuah said the road constructed and rehabilitated across the state were politicised and turned into election campaign projects by previous governments, until Wike’s assumption of office on May 29, last year.

    The Sakpenwa – Bori – Kono Road, Ogoni has been flagged off for dualization by Wike to appreciate the meaningful contributions of the Ogoni people.

    Describing it as the beginning of the efforts to open up a vista of opportunities to Ogoni, Obuah enjoined the people to take advantage of the kind gestures of the governor to key into the programme of rural development by ensuring that the required peaceful and friendly environment for sustainable development is created.

    He promised that the footprints of the Wike administration will traverse the length and breadth of the state. he appealed for patience and prayers for the government.

    Congratulating Wike for his efforts, Obuah noted that he has laid the foundation for quality leadership that will consolidate democracy.

     

  • Obuah congratulates Dickson

    Obuah congratulates Dickson

    The Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has congratulated its Bayelsa State counterpart and Governor Seriake Dickson for winning the recent governorship election.

    A statement from the Chairman, Felix Obuah and signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Jerry Needam, said the PDP’s victory over the All Progressives Congress (APC) is a political statement that the PDP remains a grassroots party and the people’s first choice, notwithstanding the politics of intimidation and coercion being employed by the APC to thwart the will of the people.

    Obuah also commended the people of Bayelsa for their steadfastness and resilience, in the face of attempts to silence the voice of the majority, which eventually settled the month-long impasse in favour of the PDP.

    According to the Chairman, all the party wants is a conducive environment and level-playing ground for a keen contest, saying the PDP has what it takes to win in Bayelsa and Rivers any day.

    He enjoined the people of Bayelsa and numerous PDP members to key into the developmental agenda of the Dickson administration for the overall development of the state and also remain vigilant and alert to the APC’s propaganda and antics, so that they would not be deceived.

    The APC, Obuah said, has no plans for the Bayelsa people other than to further impoverish the state by conniving with their paymasters at the centre to liquidate the remaining state resources.

    “We are indeed, proud of your efforts and insistence on your rights to have the kind of leader you want. The Almighty God that heard and granted your prayers will never fail you. The PDP is now wiser and has no alternative but to improve the welfare of the people and the infrastructural development of the state,” Obuah declared.

     

  • Obuah congratulates Dickson

    The Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has congratulated its Bayelsa State counterpart and Governor Seriake Dickson for winning the recent governorship election.

    A statement from the Chairman, Felix Obuah and signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Jerry Needam, said the PDP’s victory over the All Progressives Congress (APC) is a political statement that the PDP remains a grassroots party and the people’s first choice, notwithstanding the politics of intimidation and coercion being employed by the APC to thwart the will of the people.

    Obuah also commended the people of Bayelsa for their steadfastness and resilience, in the face of attempts to silence the voice of the majority, which eventually settled the month-long impasse in favour of the PDP.

    According to the Chairman, all the party wants is a conducive environment and level-playing ground for a keen contest, saying the PDP has what it takes to win in Bayelsa and Rivers any day.

    He enjoined the people of Bayelsa and numerous PDP members to key into the developmental agenda of the Dickson administration for the overall development of the state and also remain vigilant and alert to the APC’s propaganda and antics, so that they would not be deceived.

    The APC, Obuah said, has no plans for the Bayelsa people other than to further impoverish the state by conniving with their paymasters at the centre to liquidate the remaining state resources.

    “We are indeed, proud of your efforts and insistence on your rights to have the kind of leader you want. The Almighty God that heard and granted your prayers will never fail you. The PDP is now wiser and has no alternative but to improve the welfare of the people and the infrastructural development of the state,” Obuah declared.

     

     

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  • Obuah sacks two more waste management contractors

    Obuah sacks two more waste management contractors

    Barely two weeks after the Sole Administrator of the Rivers State Waste Management Authority, Felix Obuah, sacked 10 contractors for ‘disobedience’, he fired two more contractors yesterday.

    Those sacked are Sharon Business Ventures and Beegam Integrated Services.

    Obuah said he fired the two contractors for their disloyalty and negligence.

    He directed NUMAC Project Limited, another waste management contractor, to fill in for the sacked contractor and ensure waste is cleared within 24 hours.

    The sole administrator urged the contractors to work harder to achieve the Governor Nyesom Wike’s vision of a cleaner Port Harcourt.

  • Obuah sacks 10 waste management

    Obuah sacks 10 waste management

    Rivers State Waste Management Authority’s Sole Administrator Felix Obuah has sacked 10 of the agency’s contractors.

    They were allegedly fired for being loyalists of the immediate past All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.

    But Obuah said they were sacked for failing to comply with the agency’s directives.

    A statement yesterday in Port Harcourt, the state capital, by his media aide, Jerry Needam, said the contractors were more interested in the money the agency owed them than returning to site.

    The statement said Obuah revoked their contracts  because of their alleged disregard for the agreement.

    Last Friday, Obuah urged the contractors to mobilise  to site.

    He warned that failure to obey his order would affect their contracts.

    Obuah said the agency would not tolerate any act of “sabotage” against Governor Nyesom Wike’s efforts to restore Port Harcourt to its Garden City status.

    The affected contractors are: Chiz Engineering Services, Flees Global, Lemonvare Nigeria Limited, Adule Integrated Services, Green Town Technologies, Eki Global Concern Nigeria Limited.

    Others are: Done Young Nigeria Limited, O. C. And Sons Limited, Deen Construction Company Limited and Magnum And Hunter Limited.

    One of the contractors, Mr. GoodLuck Douglas, of O. C and Sons Limited, faulted Obuah’s action.

    O. C. And Sons Limited belongs to G. U. Ake, a supporter of former Governor Chibuike Amaechi.

    Douglas said his company has a clean record, adding that it has been working tirelessly on all the sites allocated to it.

    He said: “I don’t know what we have done to them. Before the new government took over, we had been doing our job well. Even the sites the sole administrator accused us of not maintaining is not in our control. We are not in charge of Airport Road and Obio/Akpor Market.”

  • Obuah seeks probe of Rivers’ ‘missing’ property

    Obuah seeks probe of Rivers’ ‘missing’ property

    The Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Rivers State chapter, Prince Felix Obuah, has called for the probe of the ‘missing’ government property.

    Obuah accused ex-Governor Rotimi Amaechi of ‘unwarranted raid’ of government property.

    He urged Governor Nyesom Wike to ensure that the alleged burgled items were recovered and all those who perpetrated such act were brought to book.

    A statement by Obuah’s aide, Jerry Needam, reads: “The PDP says it is not happy that the people of the state have been thrown into this pathetic situation when they do not deserve it, considering the huge resources that have been available to the out-gone Governor Amaechi, meant for the development of the state and empowerment of the people, regretting that rather than appropriating the resources accurately and transparently.”

    He added that “the looted items, even though it is aware that many of them are being sold off by the looters, can be found if there is a dyed-in-the wool effort aimed at recovering them by the Governor and the law enforcement agents”.

  • Rivers crisis: Obuah accuses Amaechi of rebuffing peace moves

    Rivers crisis: Obuah accuses Amaechi of rebuffing peace moves

    Factional  Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State,Chief  Felix Obuah,   yesterday   accused Governor  Rotimi Amaechi  of rebuffing his (Obuah’s) overtures  to restore peace to the party.

    Chief Obuah had,last Saturday in Port Harcourt ,said he as the father of PDP in the state would  summon the governor and other stakeholders to his residence with a view to reconciling all the aggrieved parties in the crisis rocking the party.

    “I want to invite the governor (Amaechi), the minister (Wike) and all aggrieved members of the Ikwerre community to be with me in my palace next weekend. Let us sit down and fashion a way forward. I will not sit down and see my children quarrelling and I will not feel concerned,” he had said.

    The governor’s reaction to Obuah’s  Saturday statement was swift.

    The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Rotimi Amaechi said  it was ridiculous for Obuah to stand on a podium in Wike’s place and announce that he was summoning the governor to a reconciliation meeting.

    Iyofor said: “Part of the problem with characters like Obuah and his backers and sponsors is that they have suddenly decided to forget that Governor Amaechi was overwhelming chosen by Rivers people, elected and mandated by the people to lead them until May 29, 2015.

    “It is important that they show respect for the office and the man who occupies that office. It does not matter whether they like the face of the governor or not. Once he has been mandated by the people to lead them, they must show some respect for him and the office he occupies, which he holds in trust for the people.

    “Obuah and his cohorts have been most disrespectful and have been derisively deriding the governor and the office of the governor of Rivers state. Enough is enough. They have to be called to order.”

     In a statement yesterday,the PDP factional Chairman termed Amaechi’s response to his invitation as “outright rejection of the party’s peace overtures.”

    He said the peace move was  ”in keeping with the belief that as a father, the party can reconcile its differences.”

    “For us, only Rivers people can settle their internal problems and wondered why the governor hastily rebuffed the effort as if he is not interested in making peace with his party and people,” Obuah said in the statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Jerry Needam.

     He added: “By this development, the entire Rivers people should be able to read in between the lines to know who are behind the crisis. It’s only those who have ulterior motives that will object to peace initiatives being brokered by the leadership of the party in the state.”

    He told Gov Amaechi and his  aides to “stop using the crisis as an excuse for not discharging their duties and also stop  using the state resources in pursuing personal political agenda which is currently the case.

     “We’ll, however, not coerce any person or group into any peace agreement. It behoves on all persons involved to choose their course and take the consequences of their actions.

    “We must reemphasise that our party is not a respecter of any person(s). It will be fair and just to all members in the state, but it will be firm and courageous as well.”