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Tag: ‘Rivers people

  • Rivers Ijaw accuse Ada George-led elders  of exploiting crisis for selfish interest

    Rivers Ijaw accuse Ada George-led elders  of exploiting crisis for selfish interest

    The Rivers Ijaw Development Forum (RIDF) has accused former Governor of Rivers State, Chief Rufus Ada George, who is leading a group of elders of seeking to prolong the crisis in the state for his personal gain.

    The forum’s Convener, Elder Tombra Ajagidi, in a statement at the weekend condemned the pressure Ada George and his group of elders were mounting on the state Governor, Sir. Siminalayi Fubara, to renege on his commitment to peace.

    Ajagidi said: “Our attention has been drawn to the letter dated 26th December, 2023, titled Peace in Galilee and addressed  to Sir Siminalayi Fubara, Governor of Rivers State, by a group of Rivers Elders led by  Rufus Ada George, urging the Governor  to renege on his commitments to peace as enshrined  in his Christmas broadcast to the people of Rivers State.

    “We consider the  letter  rather unfortunate, ill-conceived and totally disrespectful to our governor, who only the day before, had assured Rivers people of his decision to de-emphasise the crisis, embrace peace and focus on his mandate to improve the welfare of Rivers people.”

    The statement said Ada George deliberately ignored the effort to produce an Ijaw governor in Sir. Siminalayi Fubara, but turning around to hurriedly form a group to fan the embers of conflict.

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    The statement said: “From all indications, it is now obvious to all that the main aim of these Ada George -led  elders, who must have been  hurriedly assembled, is to exploit the  Rivers crisis for their selfish interests.

    “Otherwise, how else can one describe such elders who are only out to escalate and  prolong the crisis when the Governor himself has committed himself to peace for good governance of the state”.

    “It is a well-known fact that Rufus Ada George and his co-elders did not support the governor and were  nowhere to be found when they were most needed  while others laboured to produce an Ijaw governor to the glory of God.

    “Is it not shameful that they are now grandstanding, mischievously pretending to support the governor  when, in fact, they want to reap where they did not sow.

    “We wish to advise  Rufus Ada George and his co-travellers  to respect themselves and refrain from further fueling the crisis in Rivers State by creating unnecessary distractions and allow our young, amiable Governor, who they did not support during the elections, to govern Rivers State in an atmosphere of peace”.

  • Ignore Yeeh’s rantings, Cole tells Rivers’ people

    Rivers State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Tonye Cole has urged the people to ignore the vituperations of deputy governorship candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Akpo Yeeh, who resigned on Monday and joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Cole, through the spokesman of his campaign organisation, Ogbonna Nwuke, said Yeeh’s view was skewed by the money he got from Governor Nyesom Wike.

    He said: “It is pertinent to note that neither the APC nor the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has interfered with the internal organisation of the AAC. We know that Yeeh, whose appetite for sudden wealth has overtaken reason, is not the author of the script that he read in his Port Harcourt residence on Monday.

    “We sympathise with Yeeh, a self-avowed young politician, whose hunt for a meal ticket has led him to mortgage his conscience for a mess of porridge. It is laughable that the crafted statement delivered claims that the Minister of Transportation insisted he would appoint 90 per cent of the commissioners, 23 local government chairmen, in an undated resignation address served to the public.

    “We are not shocked by the lies that Yeeh served the public to put food on his table. “Wike and other PDP leaders are determined to steal the people’s mandate through bribery of officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other institutions. Institutions that Wike and other PDP leaders have been unable to bribe – Army, Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and the APC – are understandably at the apex of their criticisms.

    “It is obvious that what is critical at this time is the quest to deliver unto Rivers people, a government that is transparent, accountable, responsible, focused and committed to their welfare.

    Read also: Rivers PDP, AAC row over alleged N3b offer

    “We state unequivocally that political parties enjoy the right to enter into coalition with any party of their choice, to form a government of state or national unity, which will deliver dividends of democracy and serve the people’s interest.

    “In desperation, Wike, PDP and its leadership are taking their frustration on the Minister of Transportation. Actual power belongs to the people of Rivers State. All that the Minister has is one vote; those other votes which have threatened the power base of Wike and making him restless have been cast by the people who have grown tired of a rascal administration and a NEW vision that is skewed…”

  • Wike, Amaechi in verbal war ahead polls

    The Minister of Transport and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, declared yesterday that more Rivers people will die if the state governor and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nyesom Wike, gets a second term.

    Amaechi, a former governor of Rivers State, urged the people of the state not to cast their votes for Wike, his former Chief of Staff, accusing him of sponsoring many killings in Rivers, which, according to him, was an indication that the incumbent governor never cared about the security of the lives and property of the residents of the state.

    Amaechi stated these in his Port Harcourt residence while receiving a visiting delegation of the British High Commission to Nigeria ahead of today’s governorship and House of Assembly elections.

    In an interactive session with members of the party in Eleme on March 6, Amaechi, who is the leader of APC in the state and the Southsouth zone, had announced after a crucial meeting of Rivers stakeholders of APC, that they had agreed to back the governorship candidate of African Action Congress (AAC), Biokpomabo Awara, an engineer and native of Kula-Kalabari, a riverine community in Akuku-Toru LGA of the state.

    On his part, Wike, a former Minister of State for Education, in a statewide broadcast, urged Rivers people to vote for candidates of their choice today.

    But he accused his former benefactor (Amaechi) and the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Maj.-Gen. Jamil Sarham, of planning to unleash mayhem in the state during the elections; an allegation both of them denied, describing Wike as a propagandist and a blackmailer.

    Amaechi, during yesterday’s meeting with the delegation of the British High Commission to Nigeria, said: “All Wike has done so far is killings, and he does not care about the lives of the people.

    “If Wike gets a second term, more people will die. The man is blood thirsty and he wants to kill us because of his second term ambition, for the simple reason of milking the treasury of the state dry, without considering what happens to the ordinary Rivers people.

    “Stealing is in his blood.

    “I wonder why Wike will be crying foul about the presence of military men in Rivers State instead of joining forces to encourage them to beef up security in the state.

    “The general elections of 2015 cannot in any way be compared with the 2019 polls in terms of the security situation in Rivers State.

    “Wike and his PDP members would have preferred the elections of 2015 where thugs overwhelmed the state and unleashed terror on innocent Rivers people, resulting in the loss of so many lives and destruction of valuable property across the state.

    “Even my cousin was killed in front of Wike’s father’s house in Port Harcourt.”

    Amaechi also stated that with the presence of the military personnel in Rivers state for today’s elections, everybody, including the APC and PDP members, would be adequately protected.

    He revealed that the plan of the Rivers governor was to see the total withdrawal of military men from Rivers for him and his thugs to have a field day to kill APC members as they did in the previous elections.

    The Minister of Transportation said: “You are aware that PDP’s thugs killed four APC members in Andoni LGA of the National Chairman of PDP (Prince Uche Aecondus), beheaded them and took away their bodies.

    “When I was the Governor of Rivers State, I gave people assurances that my life is as important as their own lives.”

    On his choice of endorsing the governorship candidate of AAC in today’s election, Amaechi said: “My party is not on the ballot for tomorrow’s (today’s) election, and you know that I have the right to vote. That is why I will vote for the governorship candidate of AAC.”

    The head of the delegation, Louis Edwards, had earlier said that they were in Port Harcourt to support free, fair and credible elections.

    Edwards disclosed that they had earlier engaged some stakeholders, including politicians, security chiefs and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the need for peaceful polls in Rivers State today.

     

  • ‘Rivers people should learn from Ekiti election’

    The lawmaker representing Rivers East Senatorial District, Andrew Uchendu, has said the people of Rivers State should learn from last Saturday’s Ekiti governorship election.

    Uchendu, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), spoke yesterday in a statement by his media aide, Solomon Okocha, while congratulating the Governor-elect of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayem.

    He said: “I must commend the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Nigeria Police and other security agencies, the media, and independent observers for the various roles they played to ensure a peaceful, free, fair, transparent and credible governorship election in Ekiti State last Saturday.

    “It is important that APC faithful, particularly those from Rivers State, should learn some vital lessons from the governorship poll in Ekiti State. The victory from the election arose from collective efforts, teamwork and a focused leadership.

    “In Rivers State, the across-the-board jubilation that greeted Dr. Fayemi’s governorship victory is a clear manifestation that the ultimate desire of Rivers people is to vote in a credible government in the state in 2019.”

    The lawmaker urged members of APC in the state to support the leader of the party in Rivers and the Southsouth zone, Rotimi Amaechi, in order to win the governorship election in 2019.

    He said: “It is important for all the tendencies in Rivers APC to rally round the leadership of Rt. Hon. Amaechi to give the people of Rivers State a clear option to vote out the clueless and purposeless administration of Wike.

    “I am very happy that our leader (Amaechi), on many occasions, had clearly indicated that all governorship aspirants in Rivers APC would be given equal opportunity to contest the primaries, because to him, only the best is good enough for Rivers State.

    “All the governorship aspirants who may feel threatened for one reason or another should be assured that nobody would be excluded from the primaries.”

    Reacting to Governor Nyesom Wike’s allegation that the election in Ekiti was skewed in favour of Fayemi, Uchendu described it as laughable and frivolous.

    He said: “It is quite surprising and really unfortunate that Wike always mounts the podium to comment on issues that have no bearing on the lives of Rivers people.

    “I call on well-meaning Rivers people to be prepared to vote out and silence the kindergarten government currently occupying Rivers State Brick House (Government House), Port Harcourt. We must put an end to the ongoing assault on the reputation of Rivers people. We deserve a decent and responsible leadership.

    “I wish to advise clerics, especially in Rivers State, to resist the temptation of being used by Wike to desecrate churches with immature politics, in order not to diminish our faith in the almightiness of God.”

    The lawmaker admonished party members to be focused and not allow themselves to be intimidated by Wike and his allies.

  • Rivers people will not allow political robbery in 2019 – Wike

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has said the people will not allow any form of political robbery in 2019.

    Speaking during the grand reception for Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, by the Anioma Nation yesterday in Asaba, Governor Wike said that Rivers people will be very vigilant during the 2019 general election.

    He said the actions of the APC and their accomplices  will not work in the state because the APC Federal Government has done no projects for the people.

    The governor said that his political disposition changed when he realised that the leaders of the APC lack maturity and fairness.

    He said: “I used to be a gentleman.  But when I saw these *** (expletive) people, I said let me keep my gentleness aside. These political armed robbers cannot succeed in Rivers State. We are prepared for credible elections and we shall remain vigilant.”

    Wike thanked the Anioma Nation for their overwhelming endorsement of Okowa for re-election.  He said that the Delta State Governor has no opposition because of his outstanding performance.

    “Okowa should be preparing for the next swearing in ceremony.  I have not seen any other political party in Delta State.  There is no other political party to contest against Ifeanyi Okowa, “ he said.

    In his remarks, Senator Okowa said that his election sent a message that Delta State is united.

    He said that the rest of Delta State considered equity and competence, instead of population in their consideration of his emergence.

    Deputy Senate President, Dr Ike Ekweremadu said that the emergence of Okowa is a product of equity for the Anioma Nation.

    He said Nigeria will continue to have problems unless there is justice across the country.  Ekweremadu thanked the people of Delta State for bringing to Nigerians the essence of justice.

    National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, said that Okowa has performed creditably over the last three years.

    Former Delta State Governor, Chief James Ibori said his people will support the re-election of Okowa because of his performance and equity.

  • Amaechi to Wike: protect Rivers people or resign

    Amaechi to Wike: protect Rivers people or resign

    The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has asked Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to protect the people or resign.

    He said the people would no longer tolerate Wike’s inability and/or refusal to protect them.

    Amaechi, a chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC), who is also the director-general of Buhari/Osinbajo Re-election Campaign Organisation, said the people already had enough of insecurity and bloodbath.

    The minister, yesterday in a statement  on New Year’s Day massacre in Omoku and insecurity in Rivers, said he was sad over the incident.

    He said: “In the last few years, we have suffered and endured a debilitating state of insecurity in Rivers State. Many lives have been cut short, while many have been maimed. Hopes and dreams have been dashed, families distraught and destroyed. Murderous cults and rival gangs reign supreme. Our once peaceful state has lost its serenity and lustre. We are now been derisively referred to as ‘Rivers of Blood.’

    “However, the killings in Omoku in the first few hours of this new year and the uninspiring, inept, blame-game response of a government that swore to an oath to protect every Rivers man and woman, should compel us to action and scream that we have had enough of insecurity and bloodbath.”

     

     

  • ‘Rivers people are not Biafrans’

    The Rivers Elders and Leaders Council (RELEC) has condemned the protests in Port Harcourt, the state capital, and its environs by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

    The council said Rivers residents are not Biafrans.

    It described as uncalled for the transportation of Igbo youths in trailers and buses from the five states in the Southeast to the Port Harcourt protest.

    RELEC noted that the protest halted commercial activities and caused the destruction of property.

    The council said the protesters caused untold hardship to motorists, commuters and pedestrians, following the heavy traffic that arose from the protest.

    At yesterday’s media briefing in Port Harcourt, RELEC Chairman, Chief Albert Horsfall, in company of its Secretary, Lawrence Ibiayemie, said the Garden City should not be turned into a battle ground.

    Governor Nyesom Wike, in a state-wide broadcast on Wednesday morning, banned further protest by IPOB members and demonstrations by other groups in the state.

    The governor said anybody or organisation that flouted the order would be severely punished in accordance with the law to serve as a deterrent to others.

    Police Commissioner Musa Kimo also said the command would not allow lawlessness or breakdown of law and order in any part of the state.

    The police chief hinted that his officers and men were on alert.

    RELEC said: “The attempt by these elements (IPOB members) to focus on Port Harcourt for their political rascality is totally unacceptable and is hereby condemned by Rivers Elders and Leaders Council. The action so far taken by the Biafran protesters in Port Harcourt is highly provocative to all genuine sons and daughters of Rivers State, who have so far restrained themselves from confronting the demonstrators in Port Harcourt.

    “The choice of Port Harcourt (for IPOB’s protests) may be a deliberate ploy to make the Rivers State capital the battle ground for any fracas that may follow their rascality. We reject these moves and hereby repeat our warning that they (Biafran protesters) must desist forthwith. Rivers State people are not Biafrans and had never been and will never be.

    “The RELEC wishes to call on all elders and leaders of the states from where these youths have been pouring into Port Harcourt, for this unwelcome and unwholesome political rascality, to call their youths to order and forbid them from forever staging further demonstrations and protests in Port Harcourt and other parts of Rivers State.

    “RELEC wishes to observe the good neighbourly relationship which has always existed between Rivers people and their neighbours. We wish that the cordial and mutually beneficial relationship should continue to exist. Persons responsible for the pro-Biafra protests must immediately halt the unfriendly activities forthwith.”

    The Rivers elders and leaders added that they “strongly” supported Wike’s ban of protests across the state, which they said would promote peace and development of the state forward.