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Tag: Rivers

  • Thugs fire shots at Rivers APC campaign

    Thugs suspected to be working for the Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) shot sporadically yesterday and attempted to take over the venue of the campaign of All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside, in Omoku, the headquarters of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area.

    Residents said thugs shot all Wednesday night in Omoku, ahead of the rally, apparently to prevent the APC members and Peterside’s supporters from giving the party’s governorship candidate a befitting reception.

    Omoku hosts the Federal College of Education (Technical) and many oil companies.

    It was learnt that the thugs attempted to take over the venue of the APC’s rally, but the policemen chased away the hoodlums.

    The campaign eventually took place without any incident.

    Rivers PDP Chairman Felix Obuah is an indigene of Omoku. A former Governor Peter Odili, a chieftain of the PDP, hails from Ndoni, also in  Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area.

    Reacting to the incident, police spokesman Muhammad Kidaya Ahmad, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said: “The planned attack by hoodlums on the venue of APC’s campaign in Omoku was repelled by policemen, who took over the venue. The rally successfully took place. We will not allow attacks at venues of political rallies.

    “I wish to assure Rivers people of adequate protection of their lives and property.”

    Ahmad said tight security would be provided at the venues of rallies of all political parties.

    He warned thugs to desist from attempting to cause a crisis or be ready to face the full wrath of the law.

    The National School, Okrika, venue of Peterside’s campaign, was bombed on January 24, with property worth millions of naira either burnt or destroyed.

    The injured are receiving treatment in hospitals in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

    The Okrika rally was later suspended to avoid exposing APC members to danger, although the party faithful said they would not submit to intimidation.

    APC’s secretariat in Okrika was bombed at Abam-Ama at 3:14am on January 11. Another secretariat of the party in coastal Ngo, the headquarters of Andoni Local Government Area, was also bombed at 3am on January 16.

    PDP’s thugs were accused of leading the attack, but PDP State Chairman Felix Obuah denied the allegation.

    The APC leadership yesterday addressed the media at the Hotel Presidential in Port Harcourt on the political development in the state.

    The briefing was attended by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Prof. Tam David-West; Rivers APC Chairman Davies Ibiamu Ikanya; Peterside; his running mate, Okorie Honourable Asita; representative of Rivers Southeast Senatorial District, Magnus Ngei Abe and the Director-General of Peterside’s Greater Together Campaign Organisation, Chief Victor Tombari Giadom, who is also Rivers State Commissioner for Works, among other personalities.

    Video clips of the attacks, shooting, maiming and killing of APC members, as well as bombing of the venues of the party’s rallies across the state’s 23 local governments of the state were also shown during the news conference.

  • Rivers expands classrooms for more pupils

    Rivers expands classrooms for more pupils

    The Rivers State Government has inaugurated its one-storey, 20-classroom block for academic activities. The Construction of the prototype 20-classroom block was conceived to address out-of -school children.

    The government embarked on this project to ensure that every child has access to education, in line with the Education for All (EFA) and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) vision, whose deadline is this year.

    The Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi, said at the Model Primary School, Elekahia, Port Harcourt that the new 20-classroom block can accommodate 600 pupils – 210 more than the 14-classroom block that was in use before.

    Since Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi declared a state of emergency in the education sector in 2008, schools have enjoyed massive funding and rehabilitation, resulting in a surge in population.

    The 20-classroom block at Elekahia is equipped with facilities like demonstration science laboratory, library, ICT, sick bay, reception class.

    Mrs Lawrence-Nemi said the science laboratory was included in line with the new national curriculum which stipulates that children between four and above be exposed to science education early so as to grasps scientific concepts on time.

    Head Teacher of State School, Elekahia, Mrs Ifeyinwa Ofoni, said the facilities in the new block would aid teaching and learning.

    “It is quite a glorious place. I don’t really know how to thank the Governor. He has done greats thing for children of Rivers State. This is a spacious place, well furnished and I thank the Rivers State Governor for this project,” she said.

    Some of the pupils praised the government for providing a conducive environment for learning.

     

  • Rivers APC guber candidate’s rally canopies burnt in Okrika

    Canopies, chairs and podium  mounted  for the governorship campaign of the of the Rivers State All Progressive Congress APC candidate, Dr Dakuku Peterside were burnt early Saturday at the National Field, Okrika Local Government Area.

    The attack said to have been carried out political thugs was confirmed by Peterside’s Director of Communication, Ibim Seminitari.

    Reacting to the incident the Chairman of APC in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State, Christian Asifamaka, has accused thugs working for the wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, Dame Patience, an indigene of Okrika, and those of the Rivers governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Nyesom Wike, of being responsible for the bombing and arson in Okrika.

    The governorship candidate of the APC in Rivers, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside, ought to be in Okrika Saturday morning in continuation of his campaign in the 23 LGAs of the state, but the already-arranged podium, canopies and chairs at the playground of the National School in Okrika were bombed and burnt around 3:45 a.m.

    Asifamaka said: “Around 3:45 a.m. today (Saturday), some armed youths started shooting at the venue of the APC’s governorship rally at the National School Field, Okrika. Those setting up the sound system and the podium were forced to flee for their lives. Around 4 a.m. they (PDP thugs) started shooting explosives into the arena and destroyed the podium, sound equipment, chairs and canopies.

    “Okrika is the home of Nigeria’s First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan. She was present at the PDP’s governorship rally at the same venue on Thursday, January 22, 2015. The boys came in a white Toyota Hiace bus, from Igbiri, a community that shares borders with Mrs. Jonathan’s Oba-Ama, Okrika community.”

    The APC’s secretariat in the same Okrika was bombed at the Abam-Ama part of the ancient town at 3:14 a.m. on January 11 this year, while another secretariat of the ruling party (APC) in coastal Ngo, the headquarters of Andoni LGA of the state was bombed around 3 a.m. on January 16.

    PDP’s thugs were also accused of being responsible for the attack but the Rivers Chairman of the PDP, Chief Felix Obuah denied the allegations.

  • Cowards of Rivers

    Cowards of Rivers

    It is not by power. Neither is it by might. Might has nothing— absolutely nothing—to do with it. It is all about brain and not about brawn. Physical looks cannot also be a judge. Have all the muscles in the world and it still does not change the fact.

    The fact on my mind centres around who is qualified to be called a man. Built, gait and the possession of manhood have been used to distinguish between a man and a woman. But, it really should go beyond all that. Masculinity should be more about taking responsibility for one’s action. Anyone who does anything  that he is not bold enough to admit and instead lies about it or simply just keep mum should be de-robed of his status as a man until he is ready to live up to its ideals.

    For weeks now, men without spine, men of brawn—and please permit me to add— who lack humanity and conscience have put Rivers State, the Lagos of the Southsouth, on the spot. It is either they are shooting guns or they are throwing bombs. And when they do it, they hide their faces. They act under the cover of the dark and masks.

    Aside guns and dynamites, they also use machetes and other dangerous weapons. Heads have been broken. Necks have been twisted. Arms have had hot leads pumped into them. And there was a woman whose back was reshaped with bullets. It is simply a tale of blood— which has left sorrow and tears in many homes.

    The other day, I received the picture of a man on a hospital bed somewhere in dear Rivers. Blood was gushing out of the middle of his head. It looked as though his skull was broken. His name, I found out, is Emenike. In the picture, he looked dead. In fact, he was reported dead and condolences were sent to his friends and families. The picture was to illustrate a story for the next day’s edition of this paper. But, we simply could not use it. It was gory. My Editor, Gbenga Omotoso, cringed on seeing the picture and simply screamed: “We can’t use this. It is gory.”

    He was not the only one attacked that day.  Others were too. They were at a meeting when they were swooped on by men of low moral standing, men who are so-called because of their physical possessions.

    It is baffling why anyone will agree to be someone else’s thug. Poverty of the mind seems to be the only reason I can think of. Regular poverty does not explain to me why a man, whose children are probably abroad having the best of education or attending one British or American international school in Lagos or Togo, will turn another man’s children into thugs after arming them with guns, dynamites and machetes and some miserable cash that cannot take them out of poverty. These little tin gods sit on their wooden thrones and dish out evil instructions.

    There is an interesting ring to the violence in Rivers. Jerry Needam, who speaks for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, alleged that the Chief of Staff to Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Chief Tony Okocha ordered political thugs and APC supporters to attack a former chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government, Timothy Nsirim at a function in Rumueme. Needam described the alleged attack as “criminal, barbaric and animalistic”.

    Nsirim, he claimed, was physically battered by Okocha and sustained major injuries all over his body and had his clothes torn to shreds. “The PDP, therefore, calls on the Inspector General of Police and the Rivers Commissioner of Police,  to arrest and prosecute Tony Okocha.” He  described Okocha as lawless and blood-thirsty.

    But Nsirim’s father, who is the King of Rumueme community, Nyeweli Omunakwe Nyeche Nsirim, burst his son’s and his party’s bubble when he accused his son of using thugs to disrupt the All Progressives Congress (APC) rally. According to him, the APC stalwarts in the community  duly obtained the blessing of the chiefs to organise their political rally. He described as false the claim by the PDP that Okocha and APC supporters attacked the former council chairman. The question I ask is: Is the traditional ruler lying against his son?

    It is gratifying though that Police Commissioner Dan Bature has condemned acts of violence. He even called a meeting of the leaders of the major political parties in the state. The PDP and APC traded words at the meeting. Bature has vowed to unleash the law on offenders. We are watching.

    One thing is clear, the bulk of those at the receiving end of the madness in Rivers are of the APC. The PDP says the APC is the one throwing the dynamites and attacking its own to buy sympathy. Really?

    Several APC supporters on their way to the official flag off of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s presidential campaign in Port Harcourt were attacked by gunmen near Harry’s Town, in Degema and Sakpenwa, in Tai. The cowards were not bold enough to do it without hiding under face masks. They left many unconscious and in their pool of blood and fled into anonymity to spend the filthy money from their cowardly masters.

    Ask Aadum Pya-Alu , Beatrice Deemua, Sorbari Npebee, Barbe Jack, Victory Vinam and Wisdom Akpogbara and they will tell you tales that not only touch the hearts but break them.  Pya-Alu’s leg shot by the cowards tell all the story; Beatrice’s back-arm can never forget the day hot leads were pumped into it; Npebee, who was shot in the head and neck, is lucky to be alive to tell the story; and elated is Jack for not dying as a result of the gun-attack on his stomach; so is Vinam, who was shot in the leg; and Akpogbara must be thanking God that the bullet he received on the head for daring to identify with Gen. Buhari’s aspiration did not kill him. One wonders what they think about the police’s claim that they were victims of armed robbery, yet their valuables were not taken.

    My final take: It will not be well with all who arm other men’s children with guns, dynamites and cudgels to kill and maim— all in the name of politics. It does not matter to me what party the sponsors of this horrendous acts belong. They will live long to reap the fruits of their evil deeds. By the grace of the Almighty God, they will not reap anything good as a result of militarising the electoral process. Shame will be their rewards; disgrace will be their lot; and in the end, they will repent and serve the living God truly and only then will they get respite. For now, I decree peace out of the lives of these cowards of Rivers, who see themselves as the Alpha and the Omega.

    It is time the people looked at the quality and characters of those seeking their votes. I advise that agents of violence, irrespective of political affiliations, should be rejected through the Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVC). Chikena!

     

     

  • Peterside’s kinsmen: Rivers not for only Ikwerre

    Peterside’s kinsmen: Rivers not for only Ikwerre

    •Toby, others urged support for APC candidate

    The kinsmen of the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside, under the aegis of Opobo/Nkoro Patriots, have urged Rivers people to massively vote for the 44-year-old member of the House of Representatives.

    The Opobo/Nkoro patriots said Rivers State is not only for Ikwerre people.

    Opobo/Nkoro patriots spoke in Port Harcourt yesterday through Prof. Dagogo Fubara, Alabo Biakpo Jack Tolofi, Dr. Silas Okansu and a former Rivers Deputy Governor, Sir Gabriel Toby.

    The Opobo/Nkoro patriots said: “We thank Eze Ekpeye Logbo, chief and the entire Ekpeye people (of Rivers State) for their support. The Abua, Eleme, Engenni, the Ogba, Etche and Omuma people (all of Rivers State), we thank you. The market women, men, the non-indigenes and indeed, all people of goodwill have, in various ways, accepted the candidacy of Dr. Peterside. We say thank you and may God bless and prosper all those who have stood and defended the cause of justice, fairness, and equity, that, this time a round, the riverine section of the state be given the opportunity to produce a governor.

    “This is an opportunity of a lifetime, which all true sons and daughters of Opobo and Nkoro Kingdoms (in coastal Opobo/Nkoro LGA of Rivers State) cherish. We therefore call on all Rivers people and those resident in Rivers State to come out en masse on February 28, 2015, to vote Dr. Dakuku Adol Pererside, the APC’s standard bearer, as governor of Rivers State.

    “It remains for us to place on record our deep appreciation to Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, for his courage and outstanding sense of justice. It was he (Amaechi) who said from the outset that he would not support any other Ikwerre person to succeed him, because Rivers State is not only for the Ikwerre. Governor Amaechi went ahead to urge his party to nominate a riverine candidate to be governor. By this singular act, our dear governor has shown that indeed every Rivers man and woman can aspire for any office in the country. He has renewed the faith of every child in the strength of our rainbow coloured state and reassured us that no community will be left behind, in our march to building the Rivers State of our dreams.

    “We are also mindful to note that it is only the APC, as a party, that accepted the plea of various Ijaw groups, including that of our leader, Chief Edwin Clark, who joined the Ijaw chiefs and elders, in urging all political parties to nominate a riverine person to bear their flags in Rivers State.

    “We therefore call on all registered voters in Rivers State to ensure that we all come out and vote and protect our votes. Remember, your votes count. So, let us all come and elect Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside, the APC’s standard bearer as our governor during the governorship election, scheduled to hold on February 28, 2015.”

  • Rivers govt explains why Jonathan can’t use stadium for rally

    Rivers govt explains why Jonathan can’t use stadium for rally

    The Rivers State government has explained why President Goodluck Jonathan cannot use the Adokiye Amiesimaka Sports Complex on January 28.

    The government, through the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, yesterday in Port Harcourt, also urged Jonathan and the Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, to rein in their “mad dogs”.

    The state government said: “At a different time and under different circumstances, the Rivers State government would have ignored the PDP’s members’ ranting (to force their way into the Rivers State government-owned Adokiye Amiesimaka Sports Complex to hold presidential rally), but with the party’s (PDP’s) penchant for violence and its bombings of people and property all over the state, it is pertinent that the Rivers State government raises this alert and sounds a note of warning to the PDP that the Rivers State government will not trifle with its responsibility to guarantee the safety of life and property, irrespective of who is affected.

    “The matter of the Adokiye Amiesimaka Sports Complex is a simple one. The complex is still under construction. As a work site, it is an unsafe environment for use at this time. The PDP makes reference to the fact that the APC had held its rally at the same venue. What they failed to mention is that the contractor was moved out of site during the time the APC’s rally held and remobilised to site right after that rally.

    “With less than five months to the end of its tenure, the Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi administration is working on ensuring the completion of all its projects before the handover date of May 29. With that being the case, the River State government cannot move its contractors out of site at this time.

    “Unlike the PDP that has consistently refused the APC the use of stadia and other facilities in Abuja and other states where it is in control, the Rivers State government has magnanimously offered the PDP the use of the Liberation Stadium Elekahia, which is also a state facility.”

    The Rivers government also stated that the resolve of the PDP leaders to unlawfully break into the Adokiye Amiesimaka sports complex was to fulfill the threat issued by some members of the party (PDP) that they would burn down the complex.

  • Power shift: Asari-Dokubo urges Rivers residents to protest ‘injustice’

    •‘Jonathan has no competitor’

    A former warlord and leader of the Niger Delta People’s Salvation and Volunteer Force (NDSVF), Alhaji Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, has urged Rivers residents to protest the alleged injustice on rotational power among the ethnic groups in the state.

    The former warlord urged the people to ensure that each of the ethnic groups had its turn to lead the state.

    He said it would amount to high-level injustice if Rivers indigenes were not allowed to enjoy equal access to power through a rotational arrangement.

    According to him, it will be an act of injustice, if power remained with one ethnic group.

    Asari-Dokubo said the best way to attract peace, equity and justice was to give other ethnic nationalities the opportunity to govern Rivers State.

    The NDSVF leader spoke yesterday at the funeral of his grandmother, Princess Preba Abigail Prince Ekineh, at Buguma in Asari/Toru Local Government Area.

    He said the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) presidential candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan, had no competitor in next year’s election.

    Asari-Dokubo said Jonathan haddone well in all sectors of the economy, adding that he would get massive votes in the 2015 election.

    According to him, the PDP presidential candidate had already won.

    Asari-Dokubo said: “It is injustice for one set of people in Rivers State to continue to rule. Rivers State is a multi-ethnic state and all the ethnic nationalities must have access to government. So, whoever is encouraging this perfidy does not mean well for the people of the state.

    “That’s because I know that someday the deceit will explode. The people must protest against this. The only way out is to seek justice and equity in search of the next governor of Rivers State. I expected all the political parties in Rivers State to field candidates from the ethnic groups crying for justice.

    “With what Jonathan has done in all the sectors of the economy, I am optimistic that he will win in 2015. I am not afraid of anybody. He has already won.  My confidence is that he is going to get the victory.”

  • Christmas tragedy: Six die in fire, road accidents

    Christmas tragedy: Six die in fire, road accidents

    No fewer than six persons were feared dead in three Christmas day tragedies at Udu and Ahoada communities in Delta and Rivers states respectively.

    Three persons were burnt to death when fire gutted a ramshackle hotel located near the popular Jigbale Market around Orhumwonrun roundabout in Udu area of Delta State.

    Over 20 shops and property worth several millions of naira were destroyed in the inferno, which also ravaged a residential building located near the hotel used mostly by sex workers and itinerant traders.

    It was gathered that the fire started at about 11:45pm probably from an electrical connection in the red light facility, killing a couple and a young man in two separate rooms.

    When our reporter visited the scene, hundreds of traders and other victims of the disaster were seen milling around the burnt down shops. They were wailing and weeping over their losses.

    An eyewitness, Ms Tonia Semali said, “The fire started at about midnight. Nobody knows what caused it; but the shop owners who rushed down could barely rescue any of their wares.”

    Our reporter, who visited the scene on Boxing Day afternoon, reported that the three charred remains of the victims were removed by health officials from the Udu LG council at about 1:00pm.

    The bodies were scooped into three jute bags and evacuated from the scene in a Toyota Hiace bus painted in the official blue/white colours of the state’s taxis and buses.

    A council official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the victims were charred beyond recognition.

    “In normal circumstances, we would need DNA tests to ascertain their identities because as you can see, there is nothing to see from the mass of ash and burnt skulls.”

    In another tragedy, no fewer than two persons were confirmed dead in a fatal road accident which occurred between Mbiama and Okogbe communities of Ahoada West area of the East/West highway on Christmas day afternoon.

    An eyewitness account of the accident indicated that the accident involved a Toyota Venza and Honda Accord cars. The two vehicles, which were probably on top speed, were involved in  a head-on collision at about 3pm.

    The two young male victims were said to be riding on the Honda Accord car. Our source said they died on the spot, adding that their remains were still at the scene when he got there.

    “The driver and passengers in the Venza were seriously wounded and they had been taken to an unnamed hospital when we got to the scene.”

    Earlier on the eve of Christmas, it was learnt that an Itsekiri contractor to an indigenous oil services company, Nest Oil, allegedly fell into the river at Sapele, Delta State, during a routine operation to supply petroleum product to the company.

    An eyewitness, Akpoudje Olomaekugbe, said the remains of the victim (names withheld) was yet to be found at the time of this report on Boxing Day afternoon.

    He said, “One of our Itsekiri brother fell into the river this morning and till this moment his body is not yet found, him and some of our brothers bring fuel from Sapele to houseboats at Jones Creek.

    “As they were trying to move and position their boat there, he slipped and fell into the river. Till this moment they’re still searching for the body. What a sad news for his family this Xmas!”

     

  • Why voter’s card distribution was flawed in Rivers, by Daniel-Kalio

    Why voter’s card distribution was flawed in Rivers, by Daniel-Kalio

    Chief Dele Daniel-Kalio, a politician from Okrika, Rivers State, spoke with NWISI ROSEMARY in Port-Harcourt, the state capital, on the ‘failed’ voter’s card distribution by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), despite the mass mobilisation of residents for the exercise.

    Why did you embark on the mobilisation of the riverrine areas for the voter’s registration?

    I have been in active politics in the past 35 years, especially in Port Harcourt where I reside. I know that there is the tendency for residents of Port Harcourt to want to go back to their various home towns and villages to participate/carry out any national exercise, such as the voter registration and census. So, there is the need to sensitise them with the views of re-orientating them.

    What are the methods employed for this enlightenment?

    I started by organising nucleus meetings with community and religious leaders within the Port Harcourt Constituency (Port Harcourt South) to sensitize them on this issue, with the aim of passing through them to also sensitize their members,  before I formally moved into organising town-hall-like meetings with community members.

    I was able to cover all the waterfronts in  the constituency, to educate dwellers on the importance of Permanent Voter Card (PVC), collection and need for those who are yet to register not to travel out to do so, especially as the essence is to enable one participate in elections and there is one very close to us.

    I covered Egbema, Rex Lawson, Enugu, Ogu, Okrika, Dockyard, Bundu Water Fronts among other communities.

    During the 2011 voters registration, many people, including elected leaders, travelled to their respective communities to participate in the exercise and also encouraged their supporters to do same,  and even  rolled out free buses to assist them go home and do that, how do you reconcile that with your sensitization  message.

    I am aware of this. That is why I consider it necessary to give the people the right education. This is because, moving outside you place of where you live, work, do business and your children go to school for your community where you barely visit, but ostensible don’t reside, to register for election, elect leaders or even go and be counted during censuses is counterproductive to governments’ plan for the area.

    If people go home during election and the population survey, it will undermine the population of their actual place of stay, which will subsequently affect governments’ planning for provision of social amenities in the area.  This is because during planning, provision will be made based on the population captured in the areas in these major national exercises (voters registration and census) whereas it is not true most residents of the area had travelled out to participate in the exercise, so when they return and key into the provision made with limited population it weights down on the amenities, resulting in the allegation of governments’ insufficient provision in these places.

    But, if people stay in the places they live and earn a living and pay taxes to participate in these programmes, it makes the job of the government easy and also enable tax payers enjoy the fruit of their taxes, because the government will know the accurate number of nursery, primary, secondary school age children in the area to enable it know the number and sizes of each of the schools to build in a particular area, know the amount of power and size of transformer to provide for residents there, the size of roads needed among others.

    These things would now be provided in a manner that they will be adequate rather than the present estimated provision which ends in rationing of every amenity.

    Now, what are the catchment areas of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Port Harcourt Constituency 2 (Port Harcourt South).

    The Rivers State House of Assembly stretches from Azubie by Port Harcourt zoo, through Okuru-ama, Abuloma, Amadi-ama, Marine Base, Old Port-Harcourt Town to Borikiri and terminated at Ikpukulobie. There are five electoral wards spread in the constituency.

    According to 2011 voters registration records, Port Harcourt Constituency 2, recorded a total of 179, 958 voters in the following order, Ward 4(22129), ward 5(44421), ward 6 (25210), ward 7(29905) and ward 20(58293).

    How was the response?

    Impressive and enthusiastic.  I discovered that meeting the people one -on -one with the appropriate, message, education does great magic, it whips up interest in people, then they knew the need for them to go for their PVC and those that had not registered came to the understanding of why they should register.

    Prior to the move, they did not know the reason they should sacrifice their time, business as the case may be for PVC collection, or even go and register for it, when according to them they don’t have the feel of the presence of any government in power either in their lives as law abiding citizens or as a community.

    They were enraged with the system and government, they did not want to hear about the election and the collection of PVC, but after the sensitisation, with the help of other public spirited individuals who found what I was doing worthwhile, we were able to mobilise financially to get some very old and the financial incapacitated ones to their polling units to obtain their cards.

    Is there a concern for marginalisation?

    There is always room for improvement regarding recognition and presence from all levels of government. Where there is increased performance from a unit or group, the demand for commensurate recognition and presence is always justified.

    From the statistics give earlier, it is obvious that the population of eligible voters in this constituency is what every sincere politician vying for elective in the constituency should crave their supports/votes, it is more than the population of some Local Government Areas in the state and some other states of the Federation;  also any politician who out of myopic view and dependence on shortcuts, neglect this whopping number, has lost great fraction of votes that could give him or her a win.

    What I am saying in essence is that anyone seeking any elective political office from the Presidency, the governorship, down to the constituency election, who does not articulate what he has for the people of Port Harcourt Constituency 2 is on his own.

  • Christian women pray for APC’s success in Rivers

    Christian women pray for APC’s success in Rivers

    Christian women in Rivers State have held a one-day fasting and prayer to seek God’s intervention in next year’s general elections.

    The women, who gathered under the umbrella of the Women Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (WOCAN), expressed their support for the Amaechi Administration and the All Progressives Congress(APC) They   prayed for APC’s success at the polls..

    Led by Evangelist Belema Wilcox, the women prayed for a violent-free election, God’s protection for Amaechi and his family, amid the rising political turmoil, and the peace of the state.

    They also prayed to God to give victory to the APC in its bid to elect Amaechi’s successor.

    Wilcox explained that the exercise was necessary because the election is imminent, adding that overzealous politicians are already heating up the polity.

    He said: “We appreciate all what he (the governor) has done and our prayer today is that let people who will carry all what he has started and bring it to conclusion take over from him. We are praying that God should protect and keep this great man and his wife, his family. This state belongs to the people and God will direct. We are praying and we have never stopped praying.

    “The governor has been doing marvelous work and at a point he was giving free medical treatment to mothers, less-privileged and also sponsored people who don’t know their left from their right to Israel on pilgrimage. We pray that this good works will continue,” she said.

    In her reactions, the APC state Women Leader, Caroline Nagbo, thanked the women for their concerns and for identifying with Progressives and urged them to continue in the decision.She used the occasion to encourage them to ensure they participate in the voter registration/ re-registration and Permanent Voters Card (PVC), collection exercise whenever it kicks off in the state, stressing that it was the only instrument that would action to their faith and support for the party.

    “I want to thank all of you for your bravery, for your courage, for your sincere love to the governor and all your prayers. One thing is to pray for somebody in your house or in your different churches, another thing is to come together openly to say we are supporting you,” she stated.

    Receiving the women, the APC Chairman, Ibiamu Davis Ikanya, expressed gratitude to them for their support.

    He described the achievements of the governor as an act of God, assuring that the next governor on the platform of the APC will continue to carry them along in governance.

    Ikanya added: “Let me thank you for accepting to openly identify with the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State. This is happening at a time when some Christians are still hiding their heads. I salute your courage; you have not done this by your flesh.

    “The governor of Rivers State has always proclaimed to the entire world that his victory at the Supreme Court and later the victory at the polls in 2011 and all his achievements are attributable to God and if you look at his billboards, he has always said that power belongs to God.

    “As chairman of this party and an evangelist, I can tell you for sure that God is in this matter. People trust in themselves, they trust in their capacity, they trust in their finance, they trust in their connections, they trust in man but we in this party, we trust in the Most High God”, he stated.