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Tag: Rivers State

  • FG plots to plant 800 guns in Rivers, Wike alleges

    RIVERS State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has raised the alarm that the Federal Government has concluded plans to plant 800 guns in the state, with the objective of destabilising the state.

    In a statement signed by Special Assistant to the state governor on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu, the governor was quoted as saying that the Federal Government resolved to implement the plot during her last security meeting. He stated that the intelligence came from credible sources that were privy to the plot against the state.

    The governor called on the international community “to take note of the proposed illegal action of the APC Federal Government, which is aimed at creating crisis in the state.” He regretted that the Federal Government has continued to work deliberately to compromise the security of the state. “Wike urged the people of the state to remain calm, but vigilant,” he said, adding “that the evil machinations of the Federal Government will not distract the state from delivering on her constitutional responsibilities to Rivers people.”

    Reacting, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has dismissed the allegation, describing it as a distraction and a figment of his (Wike’s)imagination. The minister also posited that the governor may the making the allegation knowing that he was going to be voted out in the coming 2019 general election. “This is a figment of Governor Wike’s imagination and a distraction. I guess the governor is already afraid that he will lose the next election. The Federal Government has no business planting guns anywhere. Perhaps the governor himself plans to plant the guns,” the minister said.

  • Teacher defiles eight year old in Rivers

    A senior Magistrates’ court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has ordered for the remand in Prison Custody of a 32-year-old school teacher, Major A. Darima for allegedly defiling  an eight-year-old child in school.

    Darima, a married man, allegedly invited his victim into his apartment, apparently teachers quarters in  Ojims College premises in Rumuji, Emohua Local Government Area of the state, where he allegedly used his finger on the toddler, causing her injuries.

    He was alleged to have carried out his plan on October 11, shortly after official  school hours by 3 in the afternoon.

    Prosecutor Godwin Nwinam said the offence contravened section 218 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol. II Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria 1999.

    The Suspect pleaded not guilty to the single-count charge.

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    His lawyer, simply identified himself as Mr. Oroke applied for his bail but the court presided over by Magistrate Gomba Osaro denied him bail.

    She ordered that the suspect be remanded in prison custody and his case file forwarded to the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice.

    She adjourned the matter till November 29 2018,  for DPP’s advice.

  • Buhari inaugurates new PH Int’l Airport terminal 

    After four years of spadework, President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday inaugurated the new international terminal of Port Harcourt Airport, in Omagwa, Rivers State.

    The terminal was built by the Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Company Nigeria Limited as part of the $500 million concessional loan from the Export – Import Bank of China.

    Buhari landed about 12.30 pm and was driven in a convoy to the location of the new terminal.

    Speaking at the ceremony Buhari said the Port Harcourt International Airport terminal will play a significant role in promoting economic prosperity of Rivers State.

    He said the new terminal will increase passenger growth as well as facilitate the movement of cargo.

    He said the facility will bring the airport to international standard to create economic growth for Rivers State as well as the country.

    He said the concession of four international airport terminals in Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt will improve infrastructure in Nigeria.

    He said the construction of new terminals will be linked to the Warri Rail Line.

    Buhari said government is making deliberate efforts to increase handling capacities and infrastructure of the nation’s transport sector which was not taken care of since the 70s and 80s when they were built.

    He said it was part of his promises to upgrade Nigeria’s transport infrastructure in all geo political zones of the country.

    The president said:” Today’s commissioning is a significant landmark for international travellers especially those in the South South region.

    “Not much was done after these airports were built in the 70s and 80s to increase handling capacity of the airports and so we needed to take decisive steps to ensure that our terminals meet the minimum international global standards.

    “In the 2017 budget, I promised to upgrade Nigeria’s transport and complete a number projects that will be beneficiary to the nation economically and these include construction of new terminals, railways and power projects.

    “Today’s commissioning is a direct policy to sustain economic growth in all geo political zones of the country,” the president said.

    In his remarks, Minister of State, Aviation, Hadi Sirika said the project commenced in 2014 and was inherited from the previous administration at 30 per cent completion in 2015.

    He said despite the inherent challenges associated with the project, Buhari gave approval for the lapses to be corrected.

    He listed the challenges to include: inadequate power supply, litigation, lack of apron space which have been addressed.

    Speaking earlier, Rivers state Governor, Nyesom Wike assured the president that the people of Rivers State and indeed the South South are happy with the project stating that it would foster further investment in the state.

    Wike said; “I can tell you this today that the people of Rivers State and the Niger Delta are happy with you Mr. President. This terminal here will help the drive of the state to grow the economy and it will attract investment to the state. What has happened here shows that Rivers State is safe, Rivers State is secured and if it was not CCECC will not have been here to construct this.”

     

  • Peter Obi meets with EU, WEF delegations on 2019 election

    The vice presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Peter Obi on Wednesday in Abuja met with delegations from the European Union (EU) and the World Economic Forum (WEF) to discuss the need to conduct free and fair elections in 2019 and also how to grow the nation’s economy through collaboration.

    Obi who stood in for the presidential candidate of the party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar at the separate meetings, told the EU delegation that efforts should be made to stop the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from intimidating candidates of opposition political parties who, he said, now live in fear.

    A statement released in Abuja by the Atiku campaign office said that the EU should insist on a level playing field for all candidates and parties during the 2019 elections in Nigeria, adding that “there is a need to get the country back to its feet and make it better for our children”.

    Obi was also quoted to have said that campaigns should be based on issues so that the electorate and the international community can come to grasp with the problems of the country, as well as the solutions being proffered by each of the political parties and their candidates.

    Has was similarly quoted to have said that there was need for agencies like the EU to strengthen and support the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The former Anambra Governor said that judging from what happened during gubernatorial elections in Ekiti and Osun states, INEC needs to show that it remains an unbiased umpire in future elections in the country.

    On the issue of vote buying, Obi described the incidence as a new phenomenon that must be stopped.

    Read Also: Why Atiku picked Peter Obi as running mate

    “I contested and won elections when I was in a smaller party. Where would I have gotten the money to buy votes if it was the case then and how would I have gotten back the money especially when I am going to serve the people”, Obi was quoted to have said.

    On the new found unity of the PDP, the vice presidential candidate said the evidence could be seen from the outcome of the party’s free and fair presidential primary election conducted in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State on October 7, 2018 where all the presidential aspirants agreed that it was the best so far.

    On whether there was need for a fresh EU election observer group following the impending expiration of the tenure of the present group, Obi said that Nigeria deserved a replacement based on the role EU would play in ensuring free and fair elections in Nigeria in 2019

    In his comments, the head of the EU delegation, Ketil  Karlsen was quoted to have said that the election observer group has been consulting stakeholders in Nigeria to ascertain whether or not it would be necessary for the Union to send a new EU election observer mission.

    He said that the EU mission had been operating in Nigeria since 1999 and that the Union had invested over 100 million Euros in Nigeria’s election processes since then.

    While speaking with officials of WEF at a separate meeting, Obi emphasised the need for closer working relationship with African countries, especially Nigeria, saying that most governments in the continent do not want to work with the forum for fear of being criticised.

    He said that many governments in Africa implement activities that are “transactional instead of transformational” and therefore needed help to shape their policies.

    “A lot of work needs to be done in Africa because things are tough. The presidential and vice presidential candidates of the PDP have a clear picture of what the economic priorities are  and what the international community feels about the country”.

    “Nigeria needs to do something immediately for its economy to be put back on track and something has to be done immediately”, Obi was quoted to have said.

    Leader of the WEF delegation, Nontle Kabanyane was quoted to have said that the Forum was ready to strengthen relationships and to implement more activities in Nigeria through a collaboration that would lead to national transformation.

  • Court arraigns 18-yr-old, others over illegal petroleum product sales

    …gets N150,000 bail each 

    A chief magistrate court,  sitting in Port Harcourt the Rivers state capital has granted bail to the sum of N150,000 to an 18-year-old Chinwendu Onyekwere, a female, for allegedly dealing in petroleum products without appropriate licence.

    Also granted bail in the sun are her counterparts, Dike Nwankwo (46) and Uche Onyeka  (20), males.

    The accuses persons reportedly committed the offence at yam zone area of Eleme, in Eleme local government area of Rivers State in October 17, 2018.

    They were charged with a single count charge on illegal petroleum products dealing.

    The charge was read to them and they pleaded not guilty.

    Their legal representations applied for the bail of the accused persons,  on the grounds that the charge against them are bailable, assuring the court that they will not jump bail but be faithful at attending court sessions at all times, until the charge is disposed of.

    The presiding magistrate, Sokari Andrew-Jaja granted bail to the suspects in the sum of N150, 000.00 with one surety in like sum, surety must be a business man in the rank of manager and must be resident in Port Harcourt.

    Surety must present two passport photographs  as the residential address of the surety must be verified by the prosecutor.

    Earlier, the Prosecutor, Wilson Isaiah has told the court that the offence they are charged with is  contrary to section (17) (a) (b) of the miscellaneous offences Act, Cap M17, and section 4 of the petroleum Act, Cap 10, laws of the federation of Nigeria 2004 as applicable in Rivers State.

    The court later adjourned the matter till October 29, for hearing.

  • Tonye Cole and murky Rivers

    SIR: The fierceness of elections in Rivers State holds the nation spellbound and it is worth following. At the root of this is an ego clash between former buddies turned foes, Nyesom Wike and Rotimi Amaechi. What is intriguing is that their political battles do not whittle away but escalate after elections. It transmutes all the way from collation centres through newsrooms to the apex court. As preparations for the 2019 gubernatorial elections gear up, Rivers State is in the news again: “Court nullifies nomination of Tonye Cole as APC’s Governorship candidate”.

    How did a greenhorn find himself at the epicentre of pre-election legal fireworks in Rivers State?

    An Energy Czar, Tonye Cole dived straight into the murky rivers of politics. He is armed with an impressive CV, formidable backing and reserved demeanour. The Brick House in Government Reservation Area, Port Harcourt is certainly not for the reserved. A state with all the trappings of a mega city is plagued by twin evils, cultism and political rascality. Tonye’s first stint in the political space was at the wee hours of Jonathan’s presidency. He was nominated to become minister but surreptitiously lost out to Wike. Would the governorship election be a repeat of their earlier encounter? The traffic light shows amber.

    APC presumed that Wike had been humbled by the defeat of Tambuwal at the just concluded PDP presidential primaries. A few days after the primaries, Wike was invigorated. Justice Chiwendu Nwogu nullified the primaries that produced APC’s candidate for the 2019 governorship elections in Rivers State. This was not an accident. The governor of Rivers State is a lawyer, the first lady, a lawyer. Dr. Peter Odili, Wike’s mentor who has a perpetual court ruling that immunes him from EFCC is married to a judge of the Supreme Court. Magnus Abe, who is allegedly Wike’s mole in APC, is a lawyer. “A fortiori”.

    A house divided against itself cannot stand; excerpts from the great book. The words of Chris Finebone, APC’s Publicity Secretary in Rivers State is instructive. He asserted that there was collusion between Abe and Wike to get Cole’s nomination nullified. This is a new invention to Rivers State’s brand of politics because Senator Magnus Abe is of the APC stock and a known ally of Amaechi. The Minister of Transportation and Director General of Buhari’s 2019 presidential campaign has a lot to chew. The proof is in the pudding. Wike was Amaechi’s ally, Odili was Amaechi’s ally. Tonye Cole is also an Amaechi ally.

    Tonye Cole is a gentleman who survived the shark tank and thrived, thanks to Sahara Group. How he intends to meander the murky rivers and defeat a popular governor like Wike, is a tall dream. The world looks forward to the day when Rivers State like Dubai will become an $82 billion economy and education haven like Boston.

    • Dr. Enameguolo Orugbo,

    jetageNG@gmail.com

  • 2019: Buhari not jittery over Atiku, APC govs declare 

    Governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Wednesday declared that President Muhammadu Buhari and the party are not jittery over the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the main opposition Presidential candidate in 2019 election.

    Atiku was elected by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as its Presidential flag bearer during the party’s national convention in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Sunday.

    Speaking with State House correspondents after leading four governors of the party to a closed-door meeting with President Buhari over the just concluded party’s primaries, Chairman of the APC Governors Forum and Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, was optimistic that Buhari would be reelected in 2019.

    Other governors at the meeting attended by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, included Mohammed Abubakar (Bauchi); Abdullahi Gamduje (Kano); Kashim Shettima (Borno); and Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos)

    Also at the meeting was the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.

    Okorocha said that the party had no reason to lose sleep over Atiku’s emergence.

    According to him, the party has concluded not to engage in any verbal attacks with any candidate in the forthcoming election.

    He said that the APC governors were at the State House not only to congratulate Buhari for being elected as the party’s presidential candidate, but to also request for a date when they would bring all the party’s governorship candidates to him to show their readiness for the 2019 political battles.

    He added “For the Governors to come together with our followers and supporters to further inform the world for our readiness to deliver him in 2019 election.

    “This is just basically the message we have come and to say that Mr. President is more than ever ready for the entire exercise.

    “Our election this time will not engage on castigations or talking. We will be taking on issues, Nigerians are tired of political abuses, what we want to be talking about is issues, the tract records of people involved in our elections.

    “Nigerians are very wise now, before they elect anybody they will ask questions, what has been your tract records, who were you before, who are you now and everything about you. And for that reason we are confident that in 2019, APC will go through.

    “We have also looked at the issues concerning our primaries, in every democracy, you should expect a kind of disagreement and we have kindly requested that something be done to bring warring factions together so that we can have a united party to face the challenges ahead and we are happy that will soon take place.

    “Most of the problems have been resolved except for one or two states where we have issues and where it becomes more difficult, we ask for Mr. President’s intervention in the matter.

    “We are talking about reconciliation, what is important to us is that we must never go into this battle, a divided family and we want to make sure that all governors are intact, all national assembly members are intact while going into this battle. We will never speak differently, we will speak as members of the party.” he said

    On whether the controversy surrounding the Zamfara State APC primaries was part of the discussion, he said, “Zamfara is one of the issues that we have addressed also.”

    Asked whether the APC was jittery because of the emergence of for Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the Presidential candidate of the PDP and his tough stance since he emerged, he said that the party was not jittery at all.

    He said, “I don’t know about talking tough, we can’t be jittery and history is there to speak, history is very important and it is there to speak so like I said we are not going to engage in this verbal war with anybody, we will be talking about issues. If we say look, you are not good, we tell you what we can do and we cannot do and what others cannot do.

    “APC is not going to join in those talk shop but right we are discussing issues of what our party can for our people.”

    On what was the President’s response, he said, “The President is quite happy with the whole outing and he is looking for a date to invite the governors, in fact, he will give us a date to celebrate him and tell the world our joy and happiness that he emerged as our Presidential flag bearer which is victory assured 2019.”

    The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha described the APC governors meeting with the President as a welcome development.

    He said, “It is a welcome development, we are one big family in a contest there is bound to be winners and losers but in the spirit of the game of politics which is like any other sports, after the game is over, whoever has emerged victorious must be magnanimous and gracious in his victory and whoever has lost out will also accept it in the spirit of sportsmanship.

    “So, this is a welcome move, our governor who is the Chairman of Progressives Governors Forum, has spoken rightly all the things that are in motion to ensure that we quickly heal the wounds and bring the family together for a greater task ahead.

    “We are a government that has credibly performed this morning I had the privilege of laying before the council a compendium of the policies, the programmes and the projects initiated and implemented by this government in two and half years. A total of one thousand and forty two page documents, not stories, facts of what we have been able to achieve.

    “I think we are set to record, this campaign will be driven by issues, this campaign must be predicated on what you are able to bring to the table for the people of Nigeria. It is not going to be a noisy campaign, anybody that is preparing for noise should be prepared to receive defeat in February of 2019,” he said.

  • Man jailed three months over illicit drugs

    A Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday sentenced one Ibrahim Taofeek to three months imprisonment over alleged possession of illicit drugs.

    Counsel from the National Drug Laws Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) ,Mr Charles Nwagua told the court that the defendant committed the offence on March 10 at Dadinkowa village along ABUAD Road, Ado-Ekiti.

    He alleged that the defendant, on the said date,without lawful authority possessed 500 grammes of Cannabis Sativa,a Narcotic drugs similar to cocaine Heroin and LSD.

    According to him,the offence contravened Section 19 of the NDLEA Act. Cap N30, Laws of Federation of Nigeria. 2004.

    Read Also: ASUU kicks against ‘illegal’ recruitment at FUOYE

    While delivering her judgement, Justice Uche Agomoh said the counsel for the defendant had pleaded for leniency saying the defendant didn’t waste the time of the court by pleading guilty to his crime.

    “The defendant appeared very remorseful on every of his appearance in court during his trial

    ” The court therefore found you guilty and convict you accordingly ”

    You are hereby sentenced to three months imprisonment with hard labour.

    She added that this would serve the defendant a lesson and also as deterrent to others in the habit of illicit drugs.

  • 2019: Former Rivers APC chairman secures National Assembly ticket

    The immediate past chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State , Mr David Ikanya, has emerged as the party’s candidate for the Andoni/Opobo-Nkoro Federal Constituency.

    He promised to  ensure robust laws that will attract development to the constituency if given the mandate in 2019.

    Ikanya gave the assurance in his acceptance speech after he was returned winner of the APC primary election.

    He said that his victory in the primary held at NGO town in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers on Friday was a collective victory for the area and enjoined the party faithful to rise to the challenge of winning in the general elections.

    Read Also: APC NWC sacks Zamfara party exco

    Ikanya polled 341 votes to defeat his opponent, Mr Hicent Elebe, who secured eight votes.

    He thanked his supporters for their confidence and promised to use his office if elected to drive growth in the area.

    Ikanya, a former local government council chairman of then Bonny Local Government Area, former Commissioner for Special Duties and chairman of the immediate past State Working Committee of the APC, attributed his success to his all-inclusive leadership style.

    “As a local government council chairman of the then Bonny Local Government Area, I’m sure that the legacies I left are there to speak for me and I believe that we shall win the forthcoming general elections together,” he said.

  • Water-tight security as PDP holds national convention

    Why Tambuwal will be crowned winner by delegates’

    Water-tight security arrangements have been made by the Rivers State Police Command and other security agencies, for Saturday’s national convention of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the peaceful and hitch-free.

    Port Harcourt, the capital of the hitherto volatile Rivers state in the Niger Delta and its environs are being properly policed, considering the large number of PDP members from the 36 states of Nigeria and Abuja, that will be converging on Adokiye Amaesimaka Stadium to elect PDP’s presidential candidate that will challenge President Muhammadu Buhari, who is the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), during the 2019 election.

    Rivers Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Nnamdi Omoni, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), on Friday in a telephone interview, assured all PDP delegates and other persons who would be at the convention that there would be adequate protection of their lives and property, urging them not to entertain any fear.

    Omoni said: “Water-tight security arrangements have been made by the Rivers State Police Command. I can assure you that the national convention of PDP will be seamlessly held and there will be no security breach, in view of the heavy deployment of policemen in the venue of the national convention, hotels, entry and exit points, as well as other strategic points.

    “All the black spots in Port Harcourt and its environs have been identified and are being properly policed. Movements in the day and night, before, during and after the convention will be without any incident.”

    The twelve presidential aspirants who are vying at the convention are Aminu Tambuwal, Atiku Abubakar, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Bukola Saraki, Sule Lamido, Ahmed Makarfi, Attahiru Bafarawa, Ibrahim Dankwambo, Tanimu Turaki, Datti Baba-Ahmed, David Mark and Jonah Jang.

    The Director-General of Tambuwal Campaign Organisation, Mike Omeri, also assured that the Governor of Sokoto State would be crowned winner by the delegates at PDP’s national convention, in view of his capacity, youthfulness, capability, experience and being the most qualified.

    Read Also: Who gets PDP’s ticket?

    Omeri, while addressing a crowded news conference Friday at Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt, said: “The accredited delegates will be free to cast their votes without interference, but I can assure you that almost all of them will vote for Gov. Tambuwal, who has never been invited for questioning by any security or anti-graft agency.

    “Gov. Tambuwal is young and he believes in the future of Nigeria. He also believes that Nigeria has passed the stage of potential, but now at the stage of possibilities and fulfilment of dreams. He has a blueprint to transform Nigeria and he always speaks from the heart.”

    The director-general of Tambuwal campaign organisation also gave an assurance that his principal would take Nigeria to the next level and would quickly restructure Nigeria, shortly after his May 29, 2019 inauguration as President.