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Tag: Rivers State

  • Alleged N360m bribe: 23 INEC staff now to be tried in Rivers

    Alleged N360m bribe: 23 INEC staff now to be tried in Rivers

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has directed that the 23 staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) accused of accepting N360m bribe from Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State are to be tried in the state.

    In a ruling on Monday, Justice John Tsoho upheld the objection raised by the INEC staff against their being tried in Abuja since their alleged offence took place in Rivers State.

    The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) on March 7 this year, filed a seven-count charge against the 23 INEC staff for allegedly receiving N360m bribe from Wike in connection with the December 10, 2016, rerun elections in River State.

    Before they could be arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja, the defendants challenged the prosecution’s decision to conduct the proceedings in Abuja, when they were accused of receiving money in Rivers State.

    They sought the transfer of the case to Rivers State, a request the Prosecution objected to and insisted on their trial in Abuja.

    In his ruling, Justice Tsoho held that the charge ought to be filed in the capital of Rivers State, Port Harcourt, where the alleged offences were supposedly committed.

    The judge said the prosecution was unable to provide any cogent evidence of insecurity in Port Harcourt to justify the filing of the charge in Abuja.

    He said the prosecution failed to support, with evidence, its claims that there was “pervasive insecurity” in Port Harcourt and that the city has become ungovernable.

    The judge said the “frightening pictures” attached to the prosecution’s counter-affidavit have no proof of location and time of the incidents.

    He added that there was no evidence presented before the court to back the prosecution’s claim that there were daily reports of threat by cult groups in the state.

    Justice Tsoho said, in the absence of such evidence, provisions of Section 93 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 and Section 45 of the Federal High Court Act, providing that charges must be filed in the area or place where the alleged offences were committed “shall apply”.

    He consequently ordered the transfer of the case to Port Harcourt Division of the Federal High Court for the arraignment of the defendants.

     

  • We celebrated the creation of Rivers State in exile and bushes…

    We celebrated the creation of Rivers State in exile and bushes…

    Rivers State, the Treasure Base of the Nation, will on May 27 roll out the drums in celebration of its golden jubilee. PRECIOUS DIKEWOHA appraises the struggle that culminated in the creation of the state in 1967 and the development it has witnessed thereafter. Residents who witnessed the creation of the state also relive their experiences.   

    Activities to mark the creation of Rivers State on May 27, 1967 have begun in Port Harcourt, the state capital. On May 27, the state, like others created at the same time, will roll out the drums to celebrate its golden jubilee celebration. This has provided an opportunity for some of the state’s elder statesmen to go down the memory lane to recall some odd experiences that nearly marred the joy that occasioned the creation of the state from the old South Eastern State.

    The administrative and commercial situations in Enugu and Port Harcourt, between 1939 and 1967, more than any other factor, provoked and motivated the Rivers people to start fighting for the creation of a new state. In February 1966, Isaac Boro, Sam Owonaro and Nottingham Dick alongside their supporters proclaimed a Delta Peoples Republic. The rebellion was immediately crushed by the Federal Government with support from the old Eastern Nigeria government.

    However, on May 27, 1967, under the military administration of Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Decree No. 14 was promulgated, allowing the creation of Rivers State. From then on, complaints about political marginalisation, environmental degradation and economic pauperisation remained among the Ijaw groups. The governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, during the Traditional Rulers Day, one of the activities marking the celebration of the state’s golden jubilee, said their forefathers were humiliated, marginalised and disregarded because of their fight for the creation of Rivers State. Many traditional rulers and chiefs, he said, made serious sacrifices for the day’s celebration.

    Wike said: “The significance of today is that we have come to recognise the contribution of our traditional rulers to the creation and development of our state. As we all know, Rivers State was not created by accident; it was by years and conscientious struggle. Before then, our people suffered untold deprivation and disregard. So for us, 27th of May, 1967 is the liberation day. That is why we were inspired to celebrate our golden jubilee as a platform to project to the future.

    “As we look back, we must appreciate the significant contributions we have made as a people for the past 50 years. We must also allow the celebration to deepen unity among our people.”

    Dedication service

    At the dedication service of Rivers State at 50, which was attended by prominent Rivers leaders, including former Rivers State Governor, Dr Peter Odili; first Rivers State military governor, Diete Spiff; former Rivers State deputy governor, Dr Gabriel Toby; Senator George Thompson Sekibo; former ministers, members of the National Assembly and officials of the Rivers State Government, Governor Wike declared that Rivers State has a lot to celebrate. He said the previous administrations had contributed a lot to the development of Rivers State, while his own administration is building on previous achievements.

    Wike said: “Irrespective of our affiliations, we should come together. It does not matter the parties we belong to, let us work together to move Rivers State forward. Of importance is that we should use this period of our Golden Jubilee as a time of reconciliation. I fault former Rivers leaders who tell the media that there is nothing to celebrate after 50 years of the state’s creation. The events that led to the creation of Rivers State and the ensuing benefits indicate that the people have a lot to celebrate.”

    However, reports have revealed that based on the struggle for the creation of Rivers State, the Council of Rivers Chiefs was renamed in 1954 as Rivers Chiefs and Peoples’ Congress. In 1956, the organisation became known as the Rivers Chiefs Peoples Conference. Until 1958, hopes of an independent state resonated with the region and lingered consistently in the minds of its natives.

     

    Fear of civil war

    Recalling his experience, Alabo Ibiba I Kombinimi (Opu Kurowi II), who is the   Secretary General, Bille Kingdom Chiefs Council in Degema Local Government Area, said the celebration of the creation of Rivers State came when the atmosphere was tense over civil war. He said people were hearing that war was about to break out when they got the news of the state creation.

    Chief Kombinimi said: “The Biafran soldiers came and shut down the schools in order to recruit able-bodied men to join the Biafran army. From there, I went to stay with my late elder brother. I stayed there for about three weeks. By the time Rivers State was created, our people embraced it so much, especially those of us from the riverine areas who massively joined the Nigerian army. Even when we were celebrating, we were also living with the fear of civil war.

    “From there, Biafran soldiers started maltreating us, forcing young men to join the Biafran army. But some of us refused and as a result of that, most of us sneaked to Bonny to join the Nigerian army. We have developed from the time of the creation of the state till now. Before then, all the activities of Eastern Nigeria were centred in Enugu because that was where the seat of government was.

    “The people of Rivers State embraced the creation of the state because under the Eastern Nigerian government, Rivers and Cross River people were not embraced. That was why they formed a movement called the core states, comprising people from the riverine areas in the South-South, so that a state would be created for us.

    “When Alfred Diete Spiff built the secretariat, a great feat was achieved. When you hear that the Igbo can do business, it is because they took all the money for themselves and became multi-traders. It is our collective money. So you can see now that whatever development we have is from our own sweats and our own resources. We have developed greatly.

    “But it was painful that my late elder brother, who was in Uyo, resigned after the creation of Rivers State to join Rivers Basin Board, but he was assassinated by Biafran soldiers.”

    Another civil war veteran, Chief Iwaringo Koma, said there was not much celebration because of the tense atmosphere caused by the civil war.

    Chief Koma said: “Twelve states were created. The whole of Igboland was still Eastern State, while ours was Rivers State. There was also South Eastern State, made up of Cross River and Akwa Ibom. Those of us in Rivers State were very happy. The reason for our happiness was that we felt we were being cheated under the Eastern State government.

    “So, that alone made us to feel happy, because we were now on our own, even though some people were already on exile or in the bush running due to the news of civil war. Since the creation of Rivers State, things have changed. We have more awareness.

    “Before the creation of the state, if you wanted to get to those in power, you would have to pass through Enugu. So it was a long process. But when the state was created, we had our own direct head and didn’t have to pass through Enugu before making any complaint.”

    Chief (Mrs) Uzorchi Amadi recalled that most of the people that fought for the creation of Rivers State were based in Lagos.

    She said: “Most of the prominent sons and daughters were in exile. Some of them were in Lagos. That was why we celebrated but we were not so excited because of the civil war. But one thing was certain: the creation of Rivers State made us to cater for the people and build on its development. If you look around Port Harcourt today, you will see that we have something to celebrate.

    “While we are celebrating the golden jubilee, it is also good to know that more than 16 governors have sat in the Brick House since the creation of Rivers State. They have all contributed to the development of the state through their services to the state.

    “They include Commander Alfred P. Diete-Spiff (1967-1975); Colonel Zamani Lekwot (1975-1978); Navy Commander Suleiman (1978-1979); Chief Melford O. Okilo (1979-1983); Police Commissioner Fidelis Oyakhilome (1984-1986); Col. Anthony Ukpo (1986-1988); Group Captain Ernest O. Adeleye (1988-1990); Col. Godwin O. Abbe (1990-1991); Chief Rufus Ada-George (1992-1993); Lt. Col. Dauda Musa Komo (1993-1996); Col. Musa Sheikh Shehu (1996-1998); Group Captain Samuel Ewang (1998-1999); Sir (Dr.) Peter Odili (1999-2007); Sir Celestine Omehia (May 2007-Oct. 2007); Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (Oct. 2007-May 2015) and Chief (Barr.) Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike, who became the governor of Rivers State on the 29th of May, 2015.

     

    Economic development

    It is believed that Rivers State is economically significant as the centre of Nigeria’s oil industry. The state is bounded in the south by the Atlantic Ocean, in the north by Imo, Abia and Anambra states, in the East by Akwa Ibom State and in the West by Bayelsa and Delta states. It is home to many ethnic groups like the Ikwerre, Ibani, Opobo, Eleme, Okrika, Kalabari, Etche, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Ogoni and Ogu, among others.

    The inland part of the state consists of tropical rainforest. Towards the coast the typical Niger Delta environment features many mangrove swamps. Rivers State, named after the many rivers that border its territory, was part of the Oil Rivers from 1885 till 1893 when it became part of the Niger Coast Protectorate.

    In 1900, the region was merged with the chartered territories of the Royal Niger Company to form the colony of Southern Nigeria. The state was formed in 1967 with the split of the Eastern Region of Nigeria. Until 1996, the state also included the area now known as Bayelsa State.

    Rivers State has a good business climate considering its abundant possession of human and natural resources. Unfortunately, there has been a decline in the interest of business actors with regard to investing in the state or doing business with it due to insecurity, which began with the activities of Niger Delta militants.

    Although business life appeared to have returned to the state after the Amnesty programme conceived by the Federal Government to appease the Niger Delta militants during the late former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua administration, the situation became tense again before, during and after the 2015 election and insecurity in the state was escalated by the struggle for political supremacy. The amnesty Governor Wike offered to cultists and other criminal elements has also helped to reduce incessant cult clashes that led to the killing of rival cultists and innocent citizens in the state.

     

    Agriculture

    Agriculture is the primary occupation of Rivers people. Before oil was discovered in commercial quantity in 1951, agriculture was the mainstay of the economy of the Oil Rivers Protectorate now Rivers State. However, the oil boom in the early 1970s accelerated the establishment of very many business firms by government in its attempt to invest for the future, thereby causing a mass exodus of farm labour for blue collar jobs in the cities. It is the attendant consequences of this neglect on the economy that has necessitated the various efforts of government at reinvigorating the sector with a view to ensuring food security.

    Rivers State has a total land mass of about 1,940,000 hectares of which the cultivable area is about 760,00 hectares, approximately 39 per cent of the land mass of the state. National statistical data shows that Rivers State is one of the leading states in the production of cassava, cocoyam, rice, maize, pineapples, mango, pawpaw, guava, beans, pepper and banana among other food and cash crops. The major tree crops in the state are oil palm and rubber. Others are cocoa, citrus and coconut. An overwhelming majority of the people of Rivers State are involved in two primary activities: farming and fishing. But many farmers and fishermen are still struggling and hoping that government would create a conducive environment for sustainable agricultural development.

    However, with access to extensive arable land, water resources and two of the largest fertiliser production plants in the country, backed by an agricultural policy that favours public-private partnership model for commercial agriculture, Rivers State provides a platform for profitable crop and fish farming for local and international investors to exploit.

     

    Mineral resources

    Rivers State is rich in crude oil production. An enormous amount of Nigeria’s oil wealth is derived from Rivers State. The first commercial discovery of crude oil was at Oloibiri in Bayelsa State in 1956. This success was followed by the discovery of other wells at Afarn in 1957, and Ebubu and Bomu in 1958, all in Rivers State.

    Thus the state has become firmly established as one of the major oil-producing centres in the nation. By 1983, Nigeria’s gross oil output was 450,974,545 barrels, of which 44.3 per cent came from wells in the then Rivers State before Bayelsa was created out of it. The area’s contribution to the overall oil revenue in the country for 1982 and 1983 stood at N2,684.99 billion and N1,676.06 billion respectively, representing 47 and 41.5 per cent of the total revenue for the country.

    Rivers State now produces oil from 416 wells out of the 1,201 wells in the country. But during Governor Amaechi’s second term, some of the oil wells were politically ceded to neighbouring states like Bayelsa, Imo and Abia, thereby reducing the revenue profile of the state.

    Before now, Rivers State was said to be second only to Lagos in terms of industrial development. The natural resource potentials of the state include wide-ranging agricultural and industrial mineral products from which raw materials can be sourced for the establishment of low, medium and large-scale industries. Agricultural raw materials for agro allied industries include rubber, oil palm, palm kernel, cassava, vegetables, rubber, timber and rope. Raw materials for medium to large scale industries include petrochemicals such oil as carbon black and polypropylene, and petroleum and gas, natural gas, bitumen, and a host of others.

     

    Commerce and industry

    The problem affecting commerce and industry in Rivers State is the tumultuous atmosphere in the Niger Delta which has lasted till date. Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, was once known for its lively night life and numerous businesses in the state before the advent of militancy and kidnapping drove a lot of investors and would-be investors away.

    At present, a lot of companies are closing shops due to the economic hardship in the country. Some companies could not afford to buy raw materials for production, thus leading to mass retrenchment. Even before now, some companies operating in the state had gone comatose and the present   administration is working hard to create a conducive and peaceful environment that would attract investors. Of course, some investors are beginning to show interest in the state as stakeholders advise government to revamp those companies that have closed shop.

    During the administration of Rotimi Amaechi, effort was made to reposition the business environment in the state and to recover lost investors through the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The ministry introduced a blueprint to serve as guide to investors in the state. Governor Amaechi said his government was planning to make Rivers States investors’ destination. He said that government was tackling the poor power supply problem in partnership with the PHCN. Government was also handling the complaint of multiple taxation through a fiscal responsibility bill as well as the problem of insecurity.

  • Rivers re-run probe: Judge declines to quash investigation report

    Rivers re-run probe: Judge declines to quash investigation report

    Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja Tuesday declined to quash the report of investigation into violent clashes recorded during December 10, 2016 re-run legislative elections in Rivers State.

    In a judgment Tuesday, Justice Kolawole declared as illegal a Special Joint Investigative Panel set up by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, to investigate the incidents.

    The judgement was on a suit by Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike in which he challenged the legitimacy of the IGP panel, which comprised members of other independent security agencies like the Department of State Services (DSS).

    The judge faulted the validity of the report for use in any judicial proceedings; he ruled that he was unable to quash it because a copy of it was not presented before him.

    He said the report was, at best ministerial and could only be useful if it was turned to a law enforcement agency that was duly created and established by law for use as a material proper investigation.

    The judge rejected Wike’s prayer to disband the special investigative team and quash its report which he said was prepared and submitted to the IGP during the pendency of the suit.

    He (the judge) also refused Wike’s prayer that he declare that the investigative panel’s activities and report was intended to witch-hunt him.

    The judge said Wike failed to show how the decision of the defendants (IGP and others to set up the joint investigative team had violated any of their legal and constitutional rights.

    He said, as against Wike’s contention, the setting up of the police joint investigative team did not distract from the governor’s powers,  under Section 2(1) of the Judicial Commission Inquiry Commission, Laws of Rivers State 1999, to constitute his own judicial commission of inquiry to investigate the causes of violence during the election.

    Justic Kolawole granted only the first prayer relating the legality of the joint investigative team out of the 12 contained in the originating summons filed by Wike.

    On the first prayer, the judge described the joint investigative team headed by a police officer, Mr. Damian Okoro, as “a contraption unknown to any law and the Nigerian criminal justice system”.

    He said the defendants were unable to cite any law, from the Constitution, the Police Act or the National Security Agencies Act, enabling the Inspector-General of Police to set up such joint investigative panel.

    “Plaintiffs’ relief 1, having regard to the analysis that I have made on the legal status of the Special Joint Investigation Panel as an unknown body to the Nigerian criminal justice system ought to succeed and granted as prayed,” the judge ruled.

    On prayer relating to alleged witch-hunt, Justice Kolawole ruled, “Relief 4 fails because the exercise of investigative power is neither judicial nor quasi-judicial in nature but purely ministerial and does not carry with it obligation that pertains to one which is required to decide dispute because the primary obligation of an investigation from the prism of investigative and prosecutorial agencies is to establish facts that can be used to indict a suspect rather than to vindicate him except where he is to be used as prosecution witness.”

    He also said, “Relief 8 fails as the obligation of the investigative body is ministerial and not judicial or quasi-judicial.

    “Relief 9 is ungrantable as it smacks of relief seasoned with political consideration which the court lacks the power or jurisdiction to inquire into and/or to ascertain.

    “Relief 10 too is ungrantable as Exhibits AGR2 (letter by the IGP to Wike seeking the governor’s cooperation with the joint investigative team) has already executed its mandate and third defendant’s (Okoro) Special Joint Investigative Panel has, by the defendants’ deposition in their counter-affidavits, already submitted its report to the first defendant and granting relief 10 in the originating summons will be an order made in vain as the event which it seeks to quash has been accomplished.

    “Although the court can exercise its disciplinary jurisdiction pursuant to section 6(vi)(a) of the 1999 of the Constitution as amended to quash the report which was not only prepared by a body unknown to the Nigerian criminal justice system but allegedly prepared in the middle of the proceedings in which the investigative report it was going to prepare was in issue being contested by parties and can be seen as an act of defiance by the defendants.

    “It is an the elementary proposition of the law that in exercise of its powers pursuant to Order 34(2) of the Federal High Court Rules 2009, on judicial review that the court will not make such order unless the report is produced before it in whatever form the plaintiff can provide it. But no court of law will make an order to quash a report not produced before it.”

    The judge warned the Attorney-General of the Federation to be wary of the fact that the validity of the special investigative team was in doubt.

    The judge said, “As I earlier relied on the ipse dixit of the deponet to the defendants’ counter-affidavit none of whom -the deponets – was a member of the Special Joint Investigation Panel to make an order to quash a report I have not seen.

    “But far from this, I am contended, judicially speaking, (with) the decision I have reached that the said report earlier submitted to the first defendant (the IGP) was a product of a body not known to any law in Nigeria.

    “This, in my view, has put its validity for the purpose of any judicial proceedings in great doubt except a law enforcement body duly created by law uses its content as a working document to conduct a proper investigation for the use of the Attorney-General of the Federation.

    “In conclusion, plaintiffs’ suit only succeeds with respect to relief 1 which granted as prayed. Reliefs 2 to 12 fail and they are dismissed.”

    “In any event, it is left to the Attorney-General of the Federation, if he can, in exercise of his powers under section 174 (1)(a) of the Constitution use the said report against these issues which relate to its legality when presented to him initiate in filing criminal charge on the strength of section 174(1)(a) of the Constitution against such a report with its substantive validity may have been indicted.

    “Plaintiffs’ counsel has argued that the report which was prepared while the proceedings were pending be quashed.

    “I could have done so in exercise of the disciplinary jurisdiction of this court pursuant to section 6(6)(a) of the Constitution but the same report was not produced before this court so that an appropriate judicial disciplinary order could be made to vindicate the precedent authority of the Constitution which this court is bound to uphold by the exercise of its judicial powers,” the judge said.

    The Office of the Governor of Rivers State, Wike (in his personal capacity) and the Attorney-General of the state are the first to the third plaintiffs respectively in the suit filed in January this year.

    The IGP, the DSS and the head of the police investigative team, Damian Okoro are listed as defendants.

    Justice Kolawole’s judgment came about more than two months after the Office of the AGF charged 23 officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the Federal High Court, Abuja for allegedly receiving N360m bribe from Wike in relation to the rerun elections.

     

  • ‘Cultism in Rivers is getting out of control’

    ‘Cultism in Rivers is getting out of control’

    The Field Representative of the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International (FGBMFI), Elder Austin Nwako, has stated that cultism in Rivers State is getting out of control.

    He expressed displeasure that more persons, especially the youths, were now going into cultism, in spite of the amnesty offer to repentant militants, cultists, kidnappers and other criminals by the Nyesom Wike’s administration.

    Nwako stated these in an interactive session with reporters in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, after a special programme of FGBMFI.

    He said: “We are a religious organisation and on our own side, we will continue to pray for those involved in cultism in the state (Rivers) to repent. We call on the government of Rivers State to take particular step at ensuring that this situation is put under control. It is getting out of control. It is the work of the government to put a stop to all these cultism and cult-related activities in the state.

    “Our own as a religious organisation is to pray that God should change the heart of these men (cultists).

    “For the people who are involved in cultism, what we are saying is that there is no advantage. There is nothing that cultism gives you. We are calling them to come out of cultism. Let them leave cultism and live a meaningful life. All we want for them is to make heaven on the last day. You cannot be a cultist and make heaven.”

    The field representative also stated that the gathering was for the people in attendance to know Christ.

    He said: “The programme is for those who have not given their lives to Christ to do so, while those who have already given their lives to renew their relationship with Christ.

    “The message I want them to know is that we have started this campaign. This city (Port Harcourt) is going agog by November this year, in what we call the Southsouth Convention (of FGBMFI).”

    Nwako also stated that the sensitisation was equally aimed at making people in the Southsouth zone of Nigeria to be prepared for the November convention, stressing that members of the planning committee wanted Port Harcourt and its inhabitants to get ready for Jesus Christ.

  • ‘HELP, we’re wasting away’

    ‘HELP, we’re wasting away’

    • Stranded Rivers State medical students on scholarship abroad cry out.

    About 159 final Year Rivers State students are stranded overseas with no certificates and accommodation as a result of the nonpayment of their tuition fees by the Nyesom Wike-led Rivers State government. Among them are dejected medical students whose hope of becoming medical doctors has been placed on edge.

    I have been stopped from taking exams. I was not allowed into the hospital to see patients. I ought to have completed studies since last year but I am stranded here because the school cannot issue me a certificate.

    FLORENCE  TAMUNO, an indigene of Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area in Rivers State has been stopped from attending clinical rotations since September last year. The 26-year-old medical student of All Saints University, St. Vincent Grenadines is presently stranded in the Caribbean with no accommodation and food to eat. Her hope of graduating as a medical doctor has been cut short since she has been denied a certificate of graduation owing to a staggering tuition debt of USD 39,975.00. This is exclusive of hostel fees and living allowance.

    Tamuno, who got a scholarship under the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSD) in 2013 after completing a degree in Physiology from a UK university, has not received study allowance from the Rivers State government since December 2014.

    “I have been stopped from taking exams. I was not allowed into the hospital to see patients. I ought to have completed studies since last year but I am stranded here because the school cannot issue me a certificate,” she told The Nation in a wearied voice over the phone.

    There are about 16 RSSDA sponsored final year medical students stranded at the All Saints University, St. Vincent Grenadines. This number does not include other final years students in fields such as engineering, Law, Science, ICT, etc scattered in various schools in India, Europe, Canada, UK and the Caribbean.

    After winning the governorship election in 2015, Governor Nyesom Wike withdrew about 350 Rivers State students from various universities abroad, citing economic challenges for his action.

    However, the governor promised to keep final year students and pay their tuitions in order to enable them complete their studies and earn a certificate.  It was learned that the Wike-led government followed up its promise to cater for the final year students by writing to their various schools to plead for more time for the new administration to take shape before payments will be issued out. After the time elapsed, the government wrote again for another three months which also elapsed and the total waiting time has now culminated in a period of two years and some months. The final year RSSDA scholars, inclusive of the medical students, have not been paid any living allowance, leaving them as victims of eviction in their various hostels.

    One of the medical students, a female who is presently stranded at the University of East Anglia, Norwich, who pleaded not to be named, told The Nation that she has had to engage in illegal activities to earn a living in the UK. Also, her medical tuition fees for two years stand at 26, 000 pounds, while 18 months accommodation and upkeep stand at 15,300 pounds. She confessed that the nonpayment of living allowance which ought to be catered for by the scholarship has led her into exceeding the legally authorised 20 working hours per term. She also had to contend with running night shifts from 7.00pm-7.45 am Mondays- Fridays, a dire situation which leaves her stressed and tired for lectures.

    I wasn’t cleared for graduation since my fees are outstanding.  I can’t apply for a job because I don’t have a certificate.  I can’t even compete for little jobs which I am more than qualified for as a British College graduate. Sometimes I just ask myself, is this a blessing or a curse? We are here wasting away, while our mates have gone up to do higher things – she lamented, breaking into sobs intermittently.

    With their dreams of wearing a ward coat and a stethoscope hung on their neck fast disappearing, it did not come as a surprise that many of them have been left dejected and depressed. The inability to pay their outstanding fees in their various institutions also means that they cannot return to Nigeria to partake in the National Youths Services Corps programme. They are also at a crossroads because they have not been issued a return ticket to come back home, leaving them abandoned without care.

    ‘Rivers State has abandoned us’

    Another medical doctor in waiting who simply identified himself as Promise told The Nation that the RSSD scholarship is a full sponsorship in which the government pays for tuition, accommodation and a living allowance. Also, a return ticket is issued at the end of the programme to enable them to return home to contribute to the development of the state and the nation as a whole.

    “Before now, the government paid our fees in advance, so when the issue of late payment started, the school sent an invoice but the government wrote back promising to pay later. So we were allowed to continue with clinical rotations. We were finally stopped three months to our graduation. Two years and four months ago was the last time we got anything from the government. We have written series of letters to the governor, commissioners and the RSSD agency. They keep promising but nothing has been done. Most of us don’t have a place to stay. The current economic situation in Nigeria is not helping matters because when they send you money and you convert it, it won’t be able to buy you anything.

    “We are even forced to ask, if things are like this, please send us return ticket. Let us return to Nigeria and start something with our lives. The only person we hear from is the Executive Director of the agency and all he says to us is ‘sooner than later,’ which has not translated to anything in the last two years,” Promise lamented.

    A long, winding promise

    Although the students have kept in touch with the agency, it had yet to translate to alleviating their plight since promises made have not been fulfilled. Amadi Ugochukwu, a final year medical doctor in the Caribbean, disclosed that himself and other affected students have been in dire straits owing to the terrible living conditions and humiliation they have to bear as a result of nonpayment of their tuition and living allowance by the Rivers State government.

    “The situation is not just restricted to RSSDA sponsored students in the Caribbean. Scholars in Canada, UK, Hungary, Russia and other countries where students are stranded also face the same fate as a result of the neglect by the government of Rivers State. We simply plead with them to expedite action on our plight so we can live like saner human beings again.”

    Political undertones

    Could it be that stranded Rivers State scholars are victims of circumstance used to settle election scores? A statement by another stranded student in Hungary, who also pleaded anonymity, may have confirmed this assertion.

    We are a set of students sent by the Rivers State government to study medicine and surgery under the previous administration of Rotimi Amaechi. Everything was on track and our studies were not hindered prior to this 2015 election. Things started changing when the APC lost the election and our present governor was sworn in. The process of governance which is supposed to be a continuum was hampered by the present administration.

    “The present governor promised that all those in the final year would be sponsored to finish their programme, while those who do not fall into this category would be brought back to Nigeria to continue. Names were compiled with authorisation from different schools all over the world but to our greatest surprise, from 2015 till this day, making it two years and four months, our fees and upkeep have not been paid for the same time frame. We have been stranded and kept incommunicado. We have even asked for our return ticket but to no avail. This is a case of adoption and abandonment by the Rivers State government. In saner climes, it is a criminal offence but this is Nigeria and anything goes. We are pleading with Governor Wike to come to our aid.  As a former minister of state for education, we hope he better understands our plight.

    The Executive Director of RSSDA, Mr Larry Pepple, in a phone conversation with The Nation, explained the delay in payment of the final year scholars allowances, saying Rivers State government is not shielded from the challenge of the economy.

    “You know that the mainstay of the nation’s economy used to be derived exclusively from oil. So the fall in oil and the spiral of naira nose diving and dollar taking a shot to the heavens is affecting the funding of everything particularly scholarships abroad.

    “River State government is trying as much as it can to pay the fees. We have some financial approvals but they have not metamorphosed to physical cash, which we hope and pray it will happen very soon. We are in touch daily with the students and they understand this situation and very soon, not too long from now, this will be over”.

    An attempt was made to speak with the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) of Rivers State, Mr Kenneth Kobani, but calls made to his phone were unanswered. The SSG also failed to respond to text messages sent to his phone.

    It would be noted that the RSSDA scholarship for Rivers State indigenes commenced in the 2008/2009 academic session with the target to send 300 students overseas annually. One of the reasons why the state put up the scholarship scheme was to curb deprivation in employment opportunities to the Rivers people by multinational companies who source for their manpower from outside the state, on the excuse that the state lacks requisite manpower for the sector within their grasp. The scholarship scheme also hopes to position Rivers youths to play a significant role in the international and global economy through exposure to modern learning in a very conducive atmosphere.

  • IGP wants to Plant AK47, incriminating objects – Wike

    IGP wants to Plant AK47, incriminating objects – Wike

    The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike on Sunday levelled another allegation at Police Inspector General Ibrahim Idris.

    The governor claimed the IGP plans to raid his Abuja home and use the opportunity to plant incriminating objects there for the purpose of humbling him.

    He provided no proof but it came less than a month after the governor alleged that the police wanted to kill him.

    Wike told reporters at Government House, Port Harcourt, that he was not afraid of the “evil plan” against him and that he merely wanted to let the public know what is happening.

    The Rivers State governor maintained his earlier allegation that the Inspector General was after his life.

    He alleged that the IGP got the order on Friday to raid his Abuja house, adding that he was to carry out the order tomorrow but has now shifted it to Tuesday because of the Workers’ Day public holiday.

    He claimed that the police expect to find money, expensive wristwatches and millions of naira during the planned raid but vowed that they will end up finding nothing of the sort.

    The governor said he will be in Abuja during the week to physically see how the police will break into his house in the name of raid.

    Governor Wike alleged that the IGP would get the court order on Tuesday in Abuja.

    “First of all, I don’t stay in the lodge; I have never stayed in the lodge since I became governor. I live in my private house in Abuja, in Asokoro. Now, what they have done in that order they want to get from the court is that in the order they wanted to get from the court, they did not indicate who owns the house or who is living in the house.

    “Obviously, the court will be wary of searching a governor’s house because of immunity. But to beat that they did not indicate that it is the Governor of Rivers State House. I am not afraid. If you want to search my house, I live in Port Harcourt, I have my house in the village and I have my house in Old GRA. So, you can come and search.

    “I don’t live in Abuja and I cannot keep anything in Abuja. They can go and plant either AK-47 or $1 million and say they found it in the governor’s house. They can even put wrist watches that are so expensive that cost up to $10 million and say ‘oh! we discovered it from the governor’s private residence.’

    “You cannot gag everybody; people must have their opinions on issues. That I have my opinion on a certain issue does not mean that you have to go after the person’s life.

    “They went to Senator Goje’s house the other night when the man was not around. We are aware that they said they got from office or house of Suswam, AK-47 and this and that; the man was not there.

    “Now again, all these things are plots to say we got guns. If I have gun, why would I keep it in Abuja? It is here (Rivers State) that I am waiting for them for fight; I don’t need to go and keep gun in Abuja. I will not fight there (Abuja), it is here (Rivers). We are fighting because I have said that they will not rig election. So, if I want to keep gun, I will not keep it in Abuja, I will only keep it in Port Harcourt, assuming…

    “So, Nigerians should be aware that if they go to my house and tell you that they found anything, please, it is not correct. But I will be there in Abuja; I will wait for them. I will go to Abuja and wait for them. I will wait for his (IGP) crack team that will come to break the house and enter so that they can bring the Ak-47, the machine guns and $1 million or $2 million as the case may be.

    “If the IGP wants to play politics, he should remove his uniform and join us in the political arena and go and see how it is and not wearing a uniform to say you are providing security and then you become a stooge and agent of politicians. Because I said the money they found in Ikoyi belongs to Rivers State, what is wrong in that? I did not say it is my money, I said it is Rivers State Government’s money.”

  • Gov Wike to be named Grand Patron of Polytechnic students.

    Gov Wike to be named Grand Patron of Polytechnic students.

    National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) has concluded arrangements to decorate Rivers State Governor, Barrister Nyesom Wike as its Grand Patron.

    The association said the decision to award Governor Wike as the association’s Grand Patron was informed by his transformation of the education sector and others in Rivers State.

    NAPS is the umbrella body of all polytechnics, Monotechnics, colleges of Technology, Agriculture, health and all tertiary institution awarding Ordinary National Diploma (OND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) in Nigeria.

    The polytechnic students in a statement issued by their Senate President, Jeremiah Friday Ohomah said, governor Nyesom Wike would be decorated as the Grand Patron during NAPS Senate pre-convention scheduled to hold in Port-Harcourt Polytechnic, Rumuola next month.

    According to Ohomah, “As an association which represents the conscience of the society, we have x-rayed the work of governors of the 36 states in Nigeria with particular reference to physical development and education development especially in areas of technical and Technological education. Our investigations revealed that the Governor of Rivers State, Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike stands tall in this regards.

    “The transformation of Ken Saro-wiwa Polytechnic in the last two years has been unprecedented. The establishment of the port-Harcourt polytechnic Rumuola, is a major contribution to the realization of a technologically developed Nigeria state.

    “Also worthy to mention is the massive construction of roads in nearly all Local government areas of Rivers state. The human capital development of the Wike administration is also worthy of mentioning.

    “Consequently during the senate pre -convention of the NAPS scheduled to hold in port- Harcourt polytechnic Rumuola between 11th-13th of May 2017 in Rivers state, Governor Nyesom Wike will be decorated as the GRAND PATRON of the national Association of Polytechnic students (NAPS) in recognition of his responsible and productive leadership dexterity.

    “While we congratulate him on this well-deserved honour, we call on the general public and the people of rivers state to join us in celebrating the great performer Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, The Executive Governor of River State”, he said.

     

  • PDP chief sad over absence of tangible FG’s projects in Rivers

    PDP chief sad over absence of tangible FG’s projects in Rivers

    The Rivers State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Felix Obuah, has expressed sadness over the absence of tangible Federal Government projects in the state.

    He alleged that two years into the administration of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led, Muhammadu Buhari’s government, the Niger Delta state had not benefitted from capital-intensive and people-oriented projects of the Federal Government.

    Obuah, on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Jerry Needam, said the ruling party in the state frowned on the alleged obvious indifference towards Rivers.

    The PDP chairman cited the Port Harcourt International Airport, which he claimed had remained abandoned by the Federal Government.

    He alleged that the APC-led Federal Government had failed to complement the efforts of Governor Nyesom Wike in the execution of capital projects,  which he said would have improved the wellbeing of the people of the state.

    Obuah claimed that the APC-led Federal Government deliberately abandoned the Rivers and also accused the Buhari’s administration of treating the state badly, despite all the support Wike was giving to the Federal Government.

    He mentioned the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos, as projects completed in record time, whereas the Port Harcourt International Airport remained allegedly abandoned.

    Rivers PDP chairman also urged the APC-led Federal Government to have a rethink, by giving deserved attention to the state, described as the treasure base of the nation.

  • Wike seeks prayers for release of Ikoyi billions to Rivers

    Wike seeks prayers for release of Ikoyi billions to Rivers

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike  yesterday urged Christians to pray for the release of the mysterious cash discovered in a luxury apartment at House 6, Osbourne Road, Ikoyi, Lagos to Rivers State government.

    Wike took the case to God during the Easter Sunday Service at St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Rumuepirikom, in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

    Wike said the church has a responsibility to pray that God touches the Federal Government of Nigeria to return the money to the coffers of state, because the money belongs to Rivers government.

    He said: “We need the prayer of the Church, because there is nothing that prayer cannot do. Pray that God should touch the Government of Nigeria, so that they will return the money to us. What we are interested is for the money to come back to us.”

    The governor stated that contrary to an allegation by the embattled Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, he has not declared war on the Federal Government, but that his administration was simply requesting the return of funds belonging to the state.

    Wike said: “I cannot declare war on the Federal Government.  Anybody bringing Buhari’s name, should leave Buhari and face his own problems. The issue is who kept the money at the Ikoyi Residence.  The money was kept there by the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.

    “No amount of blackmail, no amount of distraction will stop us from getting our money.”

    He alleged that between 70 and 80 per cent of the APC Campaigns in 2015 were sponsored using funds sourced by the Rivers State Government under the Amaechi, as his predecessor.

    Speaking further, Wike said that the idea of the selective anti-corruption war will be counter-productive.

    He wondered “why security intelligence works on opponents of the Federal Government, but when glaring corruption issues pop up like the Ikoyi case, where billions of dollars belonging to Rivers State have been found, the war on corruption is suspended and diversionary tactics adopted.”

  • Kerosene explosion kills three in Port Harcourt

    Two persons were Friday feared dead and property worth thousands of naira destroyed in a fire incident that ravaged shanties at Road One, Orazi, Mile 4, Port Harcourt, in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.

    The fire, according to sources started when one of the victims tried to put kerosene into a stove.

    It was learnt that police and fire fighters did not respond to distress calls during the kerosene explosion.

    A resident, Emmanuel Udom, said the number of casualties would have increased if not for divine intervention, adding that the occupants were helpless and confused on what to do during the fire outbreak.

    He appealed to Governor Nyesom Wike,  to come to their aide,  lamenting that they lost their valuables in the inferno.

    Details of the deceased could not be ascertained at the time at press time.