The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Simeon Nwaka

  • Wike advises INEC, Police to ‘shun’ electoral malpractices 

    Wike advises INEC, Police to ‘shun’ electoral malpractices 

    Ahead of the conclusion of rerun elections in Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency on Saturday, February 25, 2017, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has advised the Nigerian Police and other security agencies to shun electoral malpractices and violence.
    The governor also appealed to INEC  to desist from actions that would negatively affect the smooth conduct of the conclusion of the election in the Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency.
    Speaking on Wednesday at Okehi in Etche Local Government Area during the PDP Campaign for Etche/ Omuma Federal Constituency, Governor Wike said the forthcoming conclusive rerun elections presents INEC  and Police the opportunity to redeem themselves.
    Commenting on the  INEC Panel Report which indicted the police for electoral fraud, ballot box snatching and violence, the governor noted that in saner climes the Police High Command and all those mentioned would have resigned their respective positions.
    He said: “If we are in a civilised country with the right leadership, these persons mentioned in the report would have resigned from their positions.
    “They should bury their heads in shame. They are plotting how to kill us, but God is exposing them. It is only God that has the final say”.
    He said despite the machinations by APC leaders backed by the police, the voice of the people of Etche must be heard.
    The governor called on the people of Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency to defend their votes on Saturday.
    “The money that is keeping  Nigeria afloat is from Rivers State.  Therefore Nigeria must listen to Rivers State.  The voices of our people must be heard”, he said.
    He called on the people to defend their votes as they did on December 10, 2016.
    The governor assured the Etche people of more projects across the area. Earlier, the governor inspected ongoing construction of the Chokocho-Umuechem-Ozuzu road and Chokocho-Igbo Etche road which he flagged off last year.
    Also speaking, Former Acting National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus and PDP Chieftain, Chief Sergeant Awuse urged the Etche people to support the PDP candidates for the rerun legislative elections on Saturday.

  • PDP Convention: National Executive Committee inaugurated

     

    The National Caretaker Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmed Makarfi has inaugurated the National Executive Committee of the party.

    Performing the inauguration at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Wednesday, Senator Makarfi said that the National Executive Committee (NEC), include the Board: The PDP Governors, National Assembly Caucus, Board of Trustees, National Caucus, 36 State PDP chairmen and national officers of the Party.

    He said in the absence of the elected National officers, the National Caretaker Committee members will be part of NEC.

    The National Caretaker Committee Chairman said that the National Caretaker Committee members seize to be NEC members once national officers are elected.

    At the meeting were PDP Governors, National Assembly Caucus, Board of Trustees, National Caucus, 36 State PDP chairmen and national Caretaker Committee members of the Party.

    The meeting has gone into a closed session. Journalists will be briefed subsequently.

  • Rivers demolish cultists’ hideouts

    Rivers demolish cultists’ hideouts

    • To build police stations, barracks on lands recovered from the cultists

    The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has directed the immediate demolition of property acquired through the crimes in line with the state anti-kidnapping and cultism law.

    The Governor reiterated his offer of amnesty to cultists and kidnappers who submit their arms to the state security agencies and commit themselves to honest living.

    Speaking in a statement signed by Simeon Nwakaudu, Special Assistant to the Governor on Electronic Media, the Governor in a company of soldiers and policemen supervised the demolition of the home and hide out of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area notorious suspected cultist and kidnapper, Munachim Ihunwo in Rumuolumini community.

    The governor stated that his administration has zero tolerance for cultism and kidnapping. He said any suspect arrested will face the full weight of the law.

    He informed that the arrested suspect and his boys have terrorised Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, creating insecurity in the commercial zone of the state.

    He said: “The Rivers State Government has taken over the criminal hideout of these arrested cultists. After the ongoing demolition of their hideout, we will build a police station and mini barrack in this location. We have also taken over the home of the kingpin that we have also demolished.

    Wike demolishes“This is to let members of the public know that this administration is serious. We will not allow anyone to cause insecurity in this state. We will chase criminals to their hideout and recover crime.”

    Speaking further, Wike said: “Let them submit their arms and we will give them amnesty.”

    The governor declared that the state government will continue to demolish the homes and hideouts of confirmed cultists and kidnappers to serve as a deterrent to would-be cultists and kidnappers.

    He commended the combined team of soldiers and policemen for effectively fighting criminals in the state, while Wike appealed to the people of the state to continue to cooperate with security agencies by providing relevant information that will lead to the arrest of hardened criminals.

    Briefing Governor Wike on the operation that led the operation that led to the capture of the suspected notorious cult kingpin, Lieutenant Colonel AC Unaogu informed that Munachim Ihunwo runs a camp with 200 armed criminals. He noted that the security agencies are working round the clock to locate the camp.

    The Lieutenant Colonel said that the cult kingpin and his boys were captured in their hideouts, which has a shrine with human skulls. It was learnt that the demolished home of the cult kingpin also has a tunnel and shrine with human skulls.

    Wike directed the Special Adviser on Lands, Anugbum Onuoha to initiate the process for the government to acquire the lands hitherto owned by the suspected cultists.

  • Wike charges PDP members on sacrificial lifestyle

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has declared that anyone who  loves the  Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, will make sacrifices for the  sustenance of the party after the loss it suffered during  the  2015 general elections.
    The governor  stressed that only party members with hidden agenda would work towards creating disquiet  in the party as the committed members struggle  to  re-position it.
    Addressing the National Convention Planning Committee meeting  of the party at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Wednesday night, Governor Wike said majority of the so-called  founding members  holding press conferences  could not travel to their constituencies  to campaign  for  the PDP, despite being adequately mobilised as recent events have shown.
    The meeting had in attendance  Ebonyi  State Governor,  David Umahi, Former Ebonyi State Governor, Senator Sam Egwu, Former Niger State Governor, Muazu Babangida Aliyu, Former Speaker of the House of  Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Austin Opara, Former Rivers State Governor, Celestine Omehia and Former Minister of Women Affairs, Josephine Anenih amongst other PDP leaders from the six geo-political zones. Also in attendance were members of National Assembly.
    He said: “Anybody who loves this party, knows that this is the time to make sacrifices. We are rebuilding this party and we need to work together in unity to succeed.
    “It is important  that we work as a team as that is the only way for us to achieve set goals. Only those with hidden agenda, will work against the party.
    “For us in this geo-political  zone, we have no other political  party to run to, otherwise we will considered a conquered  people.  That is why we work hard to ensure that  the  party is sustained.”
    Speaking further, Governor Wike said: “When you give conditions to the party, it means you have something  on your mind. These are people who could not go home to campaign for the party during  the  last elections. They remained in Abuja. Now, they are issuing threats.
    The  governor urged members  of  the  party to remain focused and work towards a successful and hitch-free convention.
    The National Convention Planning Committee will meet again  on Sunday to conclude plans for the  event.
  • Rivers State to attract private investors – Wike

    Rivers State to attract private investors – Wike

    The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike on Wednesday  declared  that  the  state will continue  to  attract private investors  who know the true situation.
    Commissioning the Intercontinental Diagnostics Centre in Port Harcourt  built by Dr Tombari Gbeneol,  a prominent  medical  investor, Governor  Wike  said  that investors have confidence  in his administration’s security  measures  which are yielding  positive  fruits.
    He said  that  the State Government  is working  with  security  agencies  to tackle cult wars and kidnapping  in some communities  of the  state.
    “This state is safe for investment. Several investors are coming to the state because  they have  confidence  in  our security  situation.
    “We are happy  that Dr Tombari Gbeneol is investing in  the  state . It shows he has confidence in the prevailing  security  in the state.  The International  Diagnostics Centre will help in reducing  the  number  of  persons  who  will  seek medical help abroad,” he said.
    He said  that  the state government  will continue  to  promote  investment  opportunities  as employment  for the  state
    The governor  particularly  assured Dr Gbeneol of the support  of  the  state  government.
    In his remarks, Gbeneol said the investment  was aimed at developing  quality  medical  facility  for  the region.
    He said with the  existence  of  the  diagnostic centre,  there is no need for  people  to  travel abroad  for medical reasons
  • Wike, Mimiko, others bid late mother of Gov Umahi farewell

    Wike, Mimiko, others bid late mother of Gov Umahi farewell

    The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike was among eminent personalities that attended the wake-keep of late Mother-General Margaret Umahi, mother of Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi at Agu-Ugwu, Umunaga Uburu in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

    Other dignitaries at the programme which took place on Thursday 31 March, 2016 include the Governors of Bayelsa, Henry Seriake Dickson, Enugu, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Gombe, Ibrahim Dankwambo, Delta, Ifeanyi Okowa, Ondo, Olusegun Mimiko and the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff.

    Speaking at the programme, The Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi noted that his mother lived a good life while, describing her as a mediator between God and man.

    He lauded his fellow governors and political associates for their sacrifices, love and honor shown him, his family and the people of Ebonyi State by attending the burial programme of his mother to commiserate with them.

    He expressed happiness over the love that exists between the present crop of governors which he noted is beyond party affiliation.

    Governor Umahi particularly thanked the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike for accommodating good number of Ebonyi indigenes who lived and do business in the state.

    Speaking on behalf of the Governors at the occasion, Governor Henry Sariake Dickson of Bayelsa State said they were in the state to solidarize with their colleague and the people of Ebonyi state on the death of their mother as well as honor her for a life well lived.

    He noted that the worthy legacies of late Margaret Umahi will always be remembered and assured members of the Umahi’s family of their support.

    Governor Sariake Dickson prayed God to grant members of the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss and for the soul of the deceased to rest in peace.