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Tag: Rivers

  • Rivers group decries missing fund for constituency projects

    A pan-Rivers State group,  the Inter-Ethnic Network for Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (INCRA), has raised the alarm on the whereabouts of funds for constituency projects in Rivers State.

    It expressed surprise that two years after assumption of office, Governor Nyesom Wike failed to disclose the costs and whereabouts of the constituency projects of the 32 members in the House of Assembly.

    INCRA, in a statement yesterday in Port Harcourt, the state capital, by a member of its Interim Management Team, Achor Omodu, said Wike’s administration also refused to disclose the status of the over N9 billion constituency projects’ funds in the past two years.

    The statement said: “It is imperative to remind Rivers people in particular and Nigerians in general that N150 million is earmarked for constituency projects in each of the 32 constituencies in a year. When multiplied, it is clear that the Rivers Assembly receives over N4 billion every year. In two years (May 29, 2015 – May 29, 2017), the Assembly received over N9 billion taxpayers’ money.

    “Unlike the immediate past Amaechi’s administration, when the costs and locations of constituency projects were made public, the present Wike’s government is handling everything in secrecy.

    “Two years down the line, neither the Executive nor the Legislative arm has come forward to tell Rivers people how it utilised the public funds entrusted in its care or has shown any project the fund is used for.

    “What is most curious is that the members of Rivers Assembly cannot deny appropriating for the constituency projects, whose fund is domiciled with the Ministry of Works, as the projects are statutorily provided for by an Act of the Assembly. The executive and legislative arms of Rivers government have carried on as if nothing of such is provided for in the financial regulations of the state.”

    INCRA also expressed displeasure on how Rivers budgets had remained elusive in the last two years, the same way the constituency projects’ fund’s management had been kept secret.

    The group also challenged the Wike-led administration and the leadership of the Rivers House of Assembly to make its budget open and disclose the cost of maintaining the 32-member Assembly in the last two years.

  • ‘Rivers suffering from misdirection, misgovernance’

    ‘Rivers suffering from misdirection, misgovernance’

    A supporters’ group for Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi, the Inter-Ethnic Network For Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (INCRA), has said Rivers State residents do not have any reason to celebrate Democracy Day.

    The group said this because of Governor Nyesom Wike’s alleged non-impressive performance in the last two years.

    INCRA felicitated with Nigerians, especially those it called non-sycophantic Rivers residents, on the celebration of 18 years of unbroken democracy, after the transition from military to a civilian government on May 29, 1999.

    The pan-Rivers group has interest, progress and development of the state at heart, according to a member of its Interim Management Team, Achor Omodu.

    In a statement on Monday in Port Harcourt, the state capital, INCRA said it was displeased by the state of affairs in Rivers.

    However, while addressing stakeholders at the Obi Wali International Conference Centre in Port Harcourt, as part of activities marking Rivers at 50 and Democracy Day, the Governor urged the residents to ignore the destructive criticisms by opposition politicians.

    Governor Wike said he remained committed and focused on transforming Rivers, adding that he would continue to spread development across the 23 local government areas.

    On the other hand, INCRA said: “It is regrettable that apart from the fact that Democracy Day serves to remind us of our liberation from the stranglehold of decades of the military junta, Rivers people do not seem to have enough reasons to celebrate.

    We (Rivers people) have continued to witness a sharp deviation from what governance truly entails. There is a noticeable departure from the set standards of governance in the history of Rivers State and an increasing level of misdirection and mis-governance.

    “Two years in the saddle, the Wike-led government has failed to produce any development blueprint.

    “The state is run without a budget or what can accurately pass for a ‘phantom budget’. There has been a rapid rise in insecurity.

    “Our state-of-the-art educational and health facilities are now experiencing decadence, occasioned by deliberate abandonment by the present government, mainly for political reasons.”

    “It is sickening to note that there is no presence of any form of constituency project anywhere in Rivers State, that has been executed by the members of the House of Assembly, of which Wike is the 33rd member.”

  • 22,430 repentant cultists surrender arms in Rivers

    22,430 repentant cultists surrender arms in Rivers

    Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers said on Monday that the State’s amnesty programme witnessed 22, 430 repentant cultists surrendered 911 assorted arms to the amnesty Committee.

    Wike dropped the hint at a Town Hall meeting and accountability Forum to mark his administration’s second year anniversary in Port Harcourt.

    He stated that the amnesty programme had reduced cult related violence and other criminal activities in the state.

    The governor noted that the programme had also resulted in surrendering 7,661 assorted ammunitions and 147 explosives by the repentant cultists.

    Wike stressed that his administration had provided over 150 patrol vans to the security agencies to fight crime in the state.

    He said that the State Government had also handed over some gun boats to the Nigerian Navy in a bid to patrol and protect the Rivers waterways.

    The governor stated that his administration had in the last two years made unprecedented investments in infrastructure, which had led to economic boom in the state.

    Wike noted that 13 General Hospitals in 13 local government areas were undergoing reconstruction with the completed ones awaiting furnishing and inauguration.

    “We are also completing the regional hospitals started by the immediate past administration, located in Etche and Degema councils to serve as referral centres for secondary and tertiary health care,” he added.

    He said that his government had released over four million US dollars to equip and maintain the Braithwait Memorial Hospital to international standard.

    Wike stated that the gesture was to enable it serve as the Teaching Hospital for the Rivers State University Medical School, pending the construction of its permanent site.

    He noted that moribund businesses were gradually re-opening in the state, while fresh local and foreign businesses were being attracted to the State.

    The governor disclosed that his administration had cancelled multiple taxation policy in order to enable business to thrive to the benefit of the people and to attract more investors.

    “We are also supporting the growth of indigenous entrepreneurs through contracts as well as encouraging small and micro-enterprises with financial support to revitalize local economies, ‘’ he added.

    Wike said that in the last two years his administration had invested over N145 billion on the construction of roads, bridges, pedestrian walkways and underground drainage systems.

    “As we speak, several road construction works are either underway or completed in Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor, Abua/Odual, Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Akuku Toru.

    “Also in Degema, Etche, Andoni, Opobo/Nkoro, Ikwerre, Emohua, Khana, Gokana, Okrika, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Oyigbo, and Tai Local Government Areas of the State, he said.

    The governor pointed out that his administration was improving the quality of education by creating enabling environment for the system to produce graduates with skills and knowledge to drive development.

    He noted that 300 primary schools were being refurbished and equipped across the state, while infrastructure at the Rivers State University was being upgraded to ensure successful accreditation of courses.

    The governor said that the state government had reconstructed major secondary schools in the three senatorial districts to re-introduce boarding  education.

    Wike advocated for fiscal federalism in Nigeria where every state could have complete control of its resources and develop at its own pace.

    “We must find ways to forgive one another, open avenues of co-operation and join hands together, defeat the smacks of poverty and inequality in our society,” he said.

    The Chairman of the occasion and former Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Iche Ndu hailed Gov. Wike for his developmental strides.

    The Secretary to the State Government, Mr Kenneth Kobani said that Wike administration had made giant developmental strides in the last two years.

    NAN reports that the highlight of the occasion was passing of vote of confidence on Gov. Wike by people of Rivers.

  • Abe: APC winning 2019 polls in Rivers needs more efforts

    Abe: APC winning 2019 polls in Rivers needs more efforts

    The senator representing Rivers Southeast, Magnus Abe, has said the possibility of the All Progressives Congress (APC) taking over the Government House in Port Harcourt in the 2019 election from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will require the efforts of all stakeholders.

    The senator urged councillors elected on the platform of the APC in 2015 and other critical stakeholders to ensure that the party’s candidates win the 2019 elections.

    Abe spoke when members of the Rivers Councillors’ Forum (RCF) of the 8th Assembly from the 319 wards of Rivers state on APC’s platform, visited him in Port Harcourt yesterday to congratulate him on his victory at the poll.

    He sympathised with the councillors on their plight, adding that the only way their neglect could be addressed was for APC to take over the seat of power in Rivers.

    Abe, who is also the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), accused the Nyesom Wike administration of short-sightedness in the distribution of the state’s resources.

    The senator said the state’s resources should not be the exclusive rights of PDP members only but for every Rivers indigene.

    He said: “The APC is not just a political party; it is an idea and the idea of the APC is justice. It means what you can do in another setting will be difficult to do in the APC. The party is a vision that Nigerians of all works of life, from every social and economic standing, came together in pursuit of its common vision. The vision was to have a better country, a fairer country, a society in which there will be justice for all. Isn’t that what we came to look for in APC?

    “We were running away from injustice. We were running away from the impunity that existed elsewhere. We decided and we felt that in coming to the APC, we would escape all those things. We cannot come to the APC and see more than what we saw before. It will not work.

    “I thank those who tried to stop you (councillors) from coming because if they did not try to stop you, half of you would not have been here. You are here principally because you want to show that you cannot be stopped and you have shown the world that you cannot be stopped. So, let me thank those who tried to stop you for making this meeting a most successful political gathering of grassroots politicians of the APC.

    “Let me say there is nothing that is going on that is so strange. I have confidence in the ability of our leadership to resolve whatever challenges or problems that may come up in the party. Those who think that if there are issues in the party, it means the party will scatter or anybody will leave, do not understand how hungry and angry we are.

     

     

  • Rivers PDP chides Ortom over insecurity

    Rivers PDP chides Ortom over insecurity

    The Rivers State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Felix Obuah, has called on the Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom to throw in the towel, if he cannot cope with the task of leading the state.

    He lamented that the embattled governor has failed to curtail the activities of herdsmen, adding that the state is also owning 10 month salaries to civil servants.

    He berated Ortom for failing to take advantage of an earlier call on him by the PDP to visit the Rivers State for some tutorials on leadership and development strategies under Governor Nyesom Wike.

    Obuah allegedly that 15 local government areas of Benue State out of the 23 councils have been overrun by the Fulani herdsmen, leaving governor Ortom helpless.

    He said: “Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue is owing over nine months salaries to civil servants, 10 months salaries to local government employees and 12 months of pension arrears to pensioners.”

  • Why Magu visited Rivers Chief Judge – EFCC

    Why Magu visited Rivers Chief Judge – EFCC

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has cleared the air on the visit of its Acting Chairman, Mr Ibrahim Magu to the Chief Judge of Rivers on Monday.

    It said that contrary to speculation, the visit was not connected to any of its cases pending before the chief judge, Justice Adama Iyayi-Lamikanra.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the clarification was made in a statement issued by the Spokesman of the EFCC, Mr Wilson Uwujaren on Tuesday.

    Uwujaren said Magu’s visit to Iyayi-Lamikanra was a courtesy call as part of his working visit to the headquarters of the South South zonal office of the commission in Port Harcourt.

    “Apart from the Chief Judge, Magu also visited the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Zaki Ahmed.

    “Indeed, it is a matter of routine courtesy for the EFCC boss to visit critical stakeholders, particularly law enforcement and justice sector leaders in zones where the commission maintain offices.

    “Such gestures are not meant to compromise or influence them to favour the commission in the discharge of their responsibilities,’’ he explained.

    The EFCC spokesman said the clarification was in reaction to a report in a national daily purporting that the visit was causing disquiet in the state.

    He quoting the report as saying “the state House of Assembly is considering passing a resolution calling for the suspension of the chief judge for receiving Magu’’.

    Uwujaren said an anonymous source told the paper that the lawmakers believed the visit had put the Chief Judge under pressure, and that it was wrong for Magu to visit a judge over any case.

    Uwujaren noted that the visit was pursuant to the commission’s belief that it had a shared responsibility with other workers in the justice delivery system to promote the fight against corruption.

    According to him, visits such as this one offer the commission the opportunity to share experiences and remind the hosts of their responsibilities under the EFCC Act, especially as it concerns the designation of judges to handle EFCC cases.

    “Justice Laminkara is not the first Chief Judge to host Magu and it will be distasteful to malign her over a civilised gesture of receiving a head of a federal agency.

    “Many judges have hosted Magu without a whimper from any quarter. Before now, the EFCC boss visited the Chief Judges of Lagos, Ogun and Oyo States.

    “At the federal level, he has paid courtesy visits to the Chief Judges of the Federal High Court, the Federal Capital Territory High Court and the President of the Court of Appeal.

    “These visits have not stopped the commission from losing cases before judges under the supervision of these respected judicial officials,’’ he said.

  • Amnesty: Ogoni youth body urges Rivers to follow due process

    The National Youth Council of Ogoni People (NYCOP) has urged the Rivers Government to follow due process in implementing its amnesty programme for repentant cultists and criminals in Ogoni.

    NYCOP’s President, Dr Young Nkpah, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt on Monday.

    Nkpah, who was reacting to the amnesty offer by the state government, said that the government neglected recognised Ogoni institutions in the exercise.

    According to him, the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People, KaGOTE and NYCOP were never consulted by the representatives of government.

    He said that it was crucial for the government to liaise with relevant traditional institutions for the amnesty programme to succeed.

    It would be recalled that following the resurgence of violence in Ogoni, the state government recently approved the granting of amnesty to repentant criminal gangs and cultists.

    NAN reports that the state government had refused to offer state pardon to repentant cultists in Ogoni due to alleged failure to submit their weapons.

    Mr Ken Chindah, head of the state government’s amnesty committee, had said that the weapons submitted were not commensurate with the level of violence in the area.

    However, Nkpah said that the process would have been successful if the state government had worked with the people and recognised institutions in Ogoni.

    “Now they are saying that arms submitted were not enough and were not proportionate to the level of violence in Ogoni.

    “I think that better results would have been achieved if the people were involved, at least, Ogoniland is owned by people,’’ he said.

  • Security expert advises cultists to embrace amnesty

    A Port Harcourt-based security expert, Dr Destiny Abolo, has advised cultists in Ogoni land of Rivers to embrace amnesty granted them by the state government and surrender their arms.

    Abolo gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria [NAN] on Sunday in Port Harcourt.

    He said the cultists should stop the senseless killing in the area and surrender their weapons.

    The state government had earlier granted amnesty to all the cult groups in Rivers but cultists in Ogoni land refused to embrace it.

    The state government later announced that it had given a second chance to the Ogoni cultists and urged them to repent.

    Cult group clashes have been on the increase in the area in recent times, leading to loss of lives and property almost on a daily basis.

    Abolo said it was retrogressive and risky for cultists in the area to refuse the offer of amnesty by the state government.

    “Is it wise to refuse to embrace amnesty and kill one another, your brothers, your sisters and your parents?” he asked.

    The security expert urged them to emulate their colleagues in other parts of the state who embraced the gesture and surrendered their arms.

    He commended the state government for giving a second chance to them, adding that the gesture would promote security and ensure the much-needed peace in the land.

    He urged traditional rulers, community leaders and parents in the area to advise their children and wards who belong to cult groups to embrace the government gesture.

     

  • Wike turning governance into circus, says Peterside

    Wike turning governance into circus, says Peterside

    An All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart in Rivers, Dr. Dakuku Peterside has questioned the mental state of Governor Nyesom Wike after Wike claimed that the $43.45million found in a Lagos apartment belongs to Rivers Government.

    The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) recovered the suspicious money in different currencies at a residence in Ikoyi, Lagos State.

    Wike claimed that the money was the proceeds from the sale of gas turbines by Rotimi Amaechi, who was his predecessor.

    Peterside, who is Director General, Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), and who also served in the Amaechi administration as a commissioner for works and later a member of the House of Representatives, slammed Wike’s claim as deceptive.

    He accused the governor of turning governance into a circus show and lacking the sense of dignity by constantly being in the news for all the wrong reasons.

    “Not too long ago, Wike apparently suffering from overdose of self delusion said he awarded road projects in far away Benue State and had mobilised contractors to site.

    “The same Wike has also accused the Inspector General of Police of plotting to assassinate him through the new CP in Rivers State.

    “We thought these were jokes taken too far. But the clownish governor has surprised himself with another tale by moonlight in trying to link his former boss and benefactor to the unclaimed money,” he said.

    According to Peterside, there is need to examine Wike’s state of mind because his utterances and actions are embarrassing Rivers people.

    “Time and time again, Wike is bringing ridicule to the office he occupies and embarrassing the people of Rivers State who are known to be intelligent, responsible and decent in upbringing,” he said.

    The APC chieftain said Amaechi, Minister of Transportation had since denied owning the said house in Lagos and challenged the Rivers Government to provide evidence to the contrary.

    Peterside explained that the money realised from the sale of gas turbines was paid into the account of Rivers state and used for projects.

    “While Wike can never come near the record of Amaechi, he is doing everything to reverse the unmatchable records of his predecessor.

    ” As at today, no one has seen copies of 2016 and 2017 budgets of Rivers State. Schools and health centres are shutting down with thousands of school age children out of school,” he said.

    “It is people like Wike who have made Nigerians to call to question the issue of immunity in the Constitution. He is taking immunity as shield to abuse the dignity of the office of Governor.

    “The governor can still retrace his steps and follow the path of dignity, decorum and respect the office he occupies for he holds it in trust on behalf of Rivers people,” he said.

    Peterside also said he had been a victim of the lies being told by the Wike Clan, as he was accused by the PDP chairman in the state, of using $6m to influence judicial officers.

  • Pirates kill two soldiers in Rivers, Bayelsa

    Pirates kill two soldiers in Rivers, Bayelsa

    Pirates operating on the waterways of Rivers and Bayelsa states have killed three soldiers attached to the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Delta Safe (ODS).

    The Nation learnt three soldiers were also injured in a gun battle with the pirates.

    Troops of JTF deployed in Creek 6 Houseboat Cawthorne Channel were said to have confronted the hoodlums around Ijawkiri, near Kalabari in Rivers and Nembe in Bayelsa, while responding to a distress call.

    The incident, which occurred a day after an operative of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) was killed by robbers in Bayelsa, raised concern about rising attacks on security personnel.

    The robbers, who lost their colleague in a gun battle with the NSCDC, attacked a police checkpoint at Kolo, in Ogbia, Bayelsa State and stole AK47 rifles after allegedly disarming policemen.

    The JTF Media Coordinator, Maj. Abubakar Ibrahim, confirmed the killings, saying efforts were on to arrest the killers.

    He said troops on patrol near Iyalama, Adama axis in Rivers State, discovered and destroyed 13 illegal refineries.

    Ibrahim said: “Sadly, our troops deployed in Creek 6 Houseboat Cawthorne Channel, while responding to a distress call, engaged sea robbers in a gun battle.

    “Two gallant soldiers exhibited patriotism by paying the supreme price, while three others sustained gunshot injuries. Efforts are on by the JTF to nab the criminals.”

    It was gathered security formations met to strategise on how to work in synergy to curb crimes.

    Police Commissioner Asuquo Amba reportedly met heads of the Air Force, JTF, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Prison Service (NPS) and Department of State Service (DSS).

    Amba, at the meeting held at the Police Officers’ Mess, advocated collaboration to reduce crimes.

    He urged sister agencies to complement one another, instead of working at cross purposes, saying team work would promote peace, unity and progress.

    Amba attributed reduction in crimes to the collaboration of security agencies and hailed commanders for sustaining peace and unity among personnel.

    He decried rivalries among sister organisations and appealed to security commanders to advise their personnel on the need for collaboration.

    The police boss clarified the attack on a checkpoint where hoodlums reportedly disarmed policemen.

    He said: “On April 12, about 0200hrs, a police patrol team was attacked by gunmen during a routine patrol on Otuasega Road.

    “The policemen engaged the gunmen in a duel, during which a policeman’s rifle was lost to the hoodlums. The gunmen escaped into the bush with gunshot injuries. Other patrol teams were alerted.

    “The gunmen attacked personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps on the same road. A civil defence officer and one of the gunmen were killed.

    “One pump action rifle was recovered from the gunmen. Efforts have been intensified to arrest the suspects.”