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Tag: Wike

  • Amaechi, Wike clash again over Rivers at 50 award

    Amaechi, Wike clash again over Rivers at 50 award

    A fresh clash ensued yesterday between Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi and his successor as Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, over today’s Rivers at 50 award ceremony. Amaechi turned down an award offered him by Wike as part of activities marking the creation of the state 50 years ago. He dismissed the award a poisoned chalice, coming from a man who “spends most of his time making reckless, deeply irresponsible, malicious, false allegations” against him (Amaechi). He cited the recent allegation by Wike that the $43million recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from the Osborne Tower in Ikoyi ,Lagos was part of the money stolen by the minister.

    He told the governor to first publicly confess and apologize “that he wickedly and maliciously lied when he had that disgraceful, middle of the night press conference to push the false narrative” that Amaechi owned the money and apartment. The governor’s response to Amaechi’s rejection of the award was swift in coming. The state’s Commissioner for Information and Communications, Dr. Austin Tam-George, claimed that the minister’s action was a huge moral relief for the Wike administration and Rivers people.

    Amaechi,in firing the first salvo through his media office yesterday, said: “In the past couple of days, Minister of Transportation and immediate past governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has been inundated with calls and enquiries from journalists about a purported award/honour to him from Nyesom Wike, the current governor of Rivers State. “The minister was shown a publication of the Rivers State government indicating his name as one of many others to be given awards by Nyesom Wike. But as at today, Amaechi has not received any communication from Nyesom Wike and/or Rivers State government in this respect.

    “Be that as it may, we want to state categorically that whatever Wike claims to be giving to Amaechi is a poisoned chalice that has been unequivocally rejected by the minister. “Firstly, the purported award itself is a contradiction of monumental proportions, a contradiction that can only come from a warped and perverted mind. From day one as governor, Wike has made it his sole, one-point agenda to attack, abuse, insult and falsely denigrate Amaechi, his immediate predecessor and erstwhile benefactor. “Since he became governor, Wike spends most of his time making reckless, deeply irresponsible, malicious, false allegations against Amaechi, as he attempts, albeit fruitlessly, to malign and destroy the outstandingly superb performance and legacy of Amaechi in Rivers State.

    “So, what is the basis or criteria for Wike to give an award/honour to a man he (Wike) has rashly attacked and called all sorts of unprintable names in the past two years? For Wike to do a 360 and give an award to a predecessor, he (Wike) has consistently but misleadingly and deceitfully called Satan, Judas, non-performer, thief and only this week a sponsor of cultists, shows evidently that Wike suffers from a grave but rare form of psychosomatic malady. “Secondly, what will Amaechi tell Rivers People when he goes to collect an award from that man-child who sits in Government House that is directly or indirectly responsible for the present deplorable state of sufferings, economic and infrastructural decay, violence, crime, insecurity, kidnappings and killings in Rivers State? Amaechi will not accept any award from a petty lowlife conman, who rode to power on the blood of Rivers people. “Thirdly, the office of governor of any state is a prestigious, very dignified office and the occupant of that office who holds it in trust for his people is expected to act, talk and behave responsibly and decorously.

    “Amaechi will not accept any award from this kind of lying, reckless, irresponsible and brutal character that has become the laughing stock of the nation. “Finally, We will not relent to remind Wike and insist that he must go to court, like he vowed, to prove his frivolous claims that the over $43million Ikoyi money and luxury apartment (found by EFCC), belongs to Amaechi and were stolen from Rivers State by Amaechi; or be ready to face the wrath of the law at the appropriate time; the wrath of the people and ultimately the wrath of God, which no constitutional immunity can protect him from.

    “The only other alternative is for him to publicly apologize and tell us that he wickedly and maliciously lied when he had that disgraceful, middle of the night press conference to push the false narrative that Amaechi owns the money and apartment.” Amaechi was not singled out for any special award,says Wike Responding ,Wike speaking through Tam-George ,said that the state government never set out to give any special award to the Transportation minister for a meritorious service. He said Amaechi merely fell into the category of award for all past governors of the state.

    His words:”The award was never meant as a validation of Mr. Amaechi’s horrendous administration. Mr. Amaechi was personally indicted for stealing billions of public funds, by a court-approved panel of inquiry, set up by the Rivers State government. “The Rivers State government is about to begin a prosecutorial process against him (Amaechi) in multiple jurisdictions in Nigeria and abroad. No award would have stopped that process. “We must confess that as a government, we wrestled with the moral horror of giving any kind of award to a man, whose government was no more than a criminal syndicate. But it was an automatic category.”

  • Only PDP can save Nigeria, says Wike

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has said only the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) can pull the country out of the crisis the All Progressives Congress (APC) has allegedly plunged it into.

    The governor said he supported the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee of the party’s factions.

    He said the committee would take the party to greater heights.

    Wike spoke in Port Harcourt, the state capital, after the premiere of the stage adaptation of Elechi Amadi’s Concubine by Imo Edward on Tuesday night.

    He said: “The PDP is the only political party that can bring Nigeria out of its quagmire.”

    Wike noted that no level of intimidation could make Rivers State residents to withdraw their support for the Makarfi-led PDP committee.

    He said: “Nobody can intimidate us. No amount of machineguns can change us. When we take a position, we stand by it.

    “I am supporting the Makarfi-led PDP National Caretaker Committee totally because it means well for the party.”

    On the staging of Amadi’s Concubine, the governor hailed the cast and crew for their performance.

    Highlight of Imo Edward’s stage adaptation of the novel for the stage was the star performance by Nollywood artistes.

  • Wike chairs African Bar conference committee

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has been appointed Chairman of the Local Organising Committee of the African Bar Association (AFBA) Annual conference holding in Port Harcourt from August 6 to 10.

    The theme is: Overcoming the legal challenges of doing business in Africa.

    Immediate past President of the Republic of Tanzania Dr. Jakaya M. Kikwete, is expected as keynote speaker.

    Wike, a council member of AFBA, said: “ The 2017 conference  promises to be very interesting and is expected to host about 2,500 lawyers, judicial officers, lawmakers, captains of industry and other interest groups from the continent and across the world.

    “There will be showcase sessions and the African Business Roundtable where eminent businessmen and women will chart a veritable course for doing business in Africa the legal way. The conference will also deal with e-commerce, women, children and minority rights.”

    Other members of the Committee constituted by AFBA president Hannibal Uwaifo are: AFBA Vice-President on Budget, Mr. Ibrahim Eddy Mark, Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Port Harcourt Branch, Mr. Frank-Briggs, Mr. Emmanuel Mark, Mr. Chike Adibua, former NBA Assistant National Publicity Secretary, Mr. John Austin Unachukwu and  Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Rivers State, Mr. Emmanuel Chinwe Aguma.

    Members of AFBA’s executive council make up the conference planning committee.

  • Wike: my govt invested in security more than any other state

    Wike: my govt invested in security more than any other state

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike yesterday said his administration has made more investments to upgrade security infrastructure than any other state.

    The governor spoke at the Government House in Port Harcourt, the state capital, when he hosted doctors on security awareness trek, following the killing of their colleague by criminals.

    Wike said he remained committed to the security of life and property of the residents.

    Represented by the Chief of Staff, Chukwuemeka Woke, the governor said crime and criminality had reduced because of the administration’s investments in security.

    He said every society has security issues, adding that despite reduction in insecurity, crime had not been eliminated.

    Woke said: “The Wike administration is committed to the security of every person living and doing business in the state. That is why we have made massive investments in security.

    “I challenge any state with alternative facts to come forward and declare. We will continue to support security agencies to make the state more secure.”

    The chief of staff commiserated with the doctors on the killing of their colleague, saying the government would work with security agencies to bring the killers to justice.

    Chairman of the state Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Dr Datonye Alasia said the union embarked on the peaceful march to draw the attention of security agencies and the government to the death of the doctor in kidnappers’ den.

    He said the state’s health sector would be troubled if health professionals were threatened by criminals.

  • Wike seeks order restraining DSS, EFCC from searching his homes

    Wike seeks order restraining DSS, EFCC from searching his homes

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to restrain the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Department of State Services (DSS) and the police from searching his homes.
    He prayed the court to declare that the search will violate his constitutionally-guaranteed immunity.
    The governor accused the security agences of a witch-hunt, and an attempt to implicate him in an unspecified crime.
    Wike, through his lawyer, Mr. Sylva Ogwemoh (SAN), prayed the court to determine whether Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution precludes defendants from applying for and obtaining any process of court compelling his appearance.
    The governor sought an order that the defendants, whether by themselves, their servants, agents, officers or privies, cannot apply for, obtain, issue, or in any way, execute any search warrant at his residence when his tenure as governor has not expired.
    He also asked for an order of injunction restraining the defendants from applying for, issuing or entering his residence in Abuja, or anywhere else in Nigeria, by virtue of a search warrant or any court process, which shall compel or require his presence.
    The governor asked the court to bar them from searching his apartment with a view to removing any item during his tenure as governor, since his immunity is preserved by Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution.
    In an affidavit in support of the Originating Summons, Emmanuel Aguma (SAN), said he knows Wike, who was sworn in as Rivers State governor on May 29, 2015, for a four-year term.
    He said the governor held a news conference on April 29, in Port Harcourt, where he said the inspector-general of Police intends to raid his (Wike’s) Abuja residence on Ortega Close, off Hassan Usman Katina Street, Asokoro Extension.
    “The intendment of the raid, according to the plaintiff, is to incriminate him in an unspecified crime through the recovery of huge sums of money, firearms and expensive wristwatches.
    “The plaintiff’s news conference received wide publicity in the print and electronic media. I was further informed by the plaintiff at his Hassan Usman Katsina home, about 8pm on May 1, and I do believe him, that he knows, on good authority, that the defendants had begun the process of either applying for, or obtaining, or have already obtained a search warrant to be executed at either his aforementioned residence or some other residence of his in Port Harcourt.
    “I know as a fact that a search warrant is a process of court. I also know that the plaintiff or his privy, is obligated to be present during the conduct of the search at his premises.
    “I further know, as a fact, that the owner of a building is obligated to give unhindered access to his premises to the defendants, while the defendants are executing a search warrant.
    “If not restrained by a court order, the defendants shall proceed to execute the said search warrant,” he said.
    The respondent said Wike has not committed any criminal offence, besides being vested with constitutional immunity.
    “The actions of the defendant shall violate his constitutional immunity; the defendants are witch-hunting him to silence and tarnish his hard-earned reputation.
    “The defendants shall lose nothing if this application is granted. I make the depositions herein in good faith, believing the facts stated herein to be true and in accordance with the Oaths Act,” the affidavit added.

  • Cash haul: Amaechi slams Wike for not going to court

    Cash haul: Amaechi slams Wike for not going to court

    Minister of Transportation and immediate past Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi yesterday slammed his successor, Nyesom Wike, for not carrying out his threat to claim the cash recovered from an apartment in Ikoyi, Lagos.

    Amaechi, in a statement by his Media Office, supported the call by Nobel Laureate Prof Wole Soyinka that those distracting the anti-graft battle should be prosecuted.

    The statement reads: “Nigerians would recall that on the night of Friday, April 14, during his hurriedly arranged shambolic press briefing, Wike had threatened the President Buhari administration with fire and brimstone, vowing the mother-of-all legal action against the Federal government if the over $43million was not given to him within seven days. The 7-day ultimatum has long expired, yet no action, whether legal or otherwise by Wike to prove his malicious allegations and claim to the money. Again, on Friday, May 6, another wonderful opportunity was open for Wike to prove his frivolous allegations against Amaechi and claim the money, before Justice Muslim Hassan of the Federal High Court, Lagos.  The Judge had on April 13, directed that anyone who owns the money should come forward to claim it. Neither Wike nor his lawyers were anywhere near the court. Again, another no show.”

    “Wike’s failure to prove his allegations against Amaechi in a court of law or even in the court of public opinion clearly vindicates our position and completely exonerates Amaechi of any link or connection to the Ikoyi money and apartment.

    “Finally, we insist that Wike must go to court, like he vowed (as he goes, he can also take his minions and lackeys with him), to prove his frivolous claims that the over $43million Ikoyi money and luxury apartment belongs to Amaechi and were stolen from Rivers State by Amaechi; or be ready to face the wrath of the law (at the appropriate time; constitutional immunity for governors is not for life), the wrath of the people and ultimately the wrath of God, which no constitutional immunity can protect him from.”

  • Wike seeks order restraining DSS, EFCC from searching his homes

    Wike seeks order restraining DSS, EFCC from searching his homes

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to restrain the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Department of State Services (DSS) and the police from searching his homes.

    He prayed the court to declare the search would violate his constitutionally-guaranteed immunity.

    The governor accused the security agences of witch-hunting, and trying to implicate him in an unspecified crime.

    Wike, through his lawyer, Mr. Sylva Ogwemoh (SAN), prayed the court to determine whether Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution precludes the defendants from applying for and obtaining any process of court compelling his appearance.

    The governor prayed for an order that the defendants, whether by themselves, their servants, agents, officers or privies, cannot apply for, obtain, issue, or in any way, execute any search warrant at his residence when his tenure as governor had not expired.

    Wike sought an order of injunction restraining the defendants from applying for, issuing or entering his residence in Abuja, or anywhere else in Nigeria, by virtue of a search warrant or any court process, which shall compel or require his physical presence.

    He also wants the court to bar them from searching his apartment with a view to removing any item during his tenure as Rivers State Governor, since his immunity is preserved by Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution.

    In an affidavit in support of the Originating Summons, Emmanuel Aguma (SAN),  said he knows Wike, who was sworn in as Rivers State Governor on May 29, 2015, for a four-year term.

    He said the governor held a news conference on April 29, in Port Harcourt, where he said the Inspector-General of Police intends to raid his (Wike’s) Abuja residence on Ortega Close, off Hassan Usman Katina Street, Asokoro Extension.

    “The intendment of the raid, according to the plaintiff, is to incriminate him in an unspecified crime through the recovery of huge sums of money, firearms and expensive wristwatches.

    “The plaintiff’s news conference received wide publicity in the print and electronic media. I was further informed by the plaintiff at his Hassan Usman Katsina home, about 8pm on May 1, and I do believe him, that he knows, on good authority, that the defendants had begun the process of either applying for, or obtaining, or have already obtained a search warrant to be executed at either his aforementioned residence or some other residence of his in Port Harcourt.

    “I know as a fact that a search warrant is a process of court. I also know that the plaintiff or his privy, is obligated to be present during the conduct of the search at his premises.

    “I further know, as a fact, that the owner of a building is obligated to give unhindered access to his premises to the defendants, while the defendants are executing a search warrant.

    “If not restrained by a court order, the defendants shall proceed to execute the said search warrant,” he said.

    The respondent said Wike has not committed any criminal offence, apart from being vested with constitutional immunity.

    “The actions of the defendant shall violate his constitutional immunity; the defendants are witch-hunting him to silence and tarnish his hard-earned reputation.

    “The defendants shall lose nothing if this application is granted. I make the depositions herein in good faith, believing the facts stated herein to be true and in accordance with the Oaths Act,” the affidavit added.

  • Saraki, Atiku, Wike congratulate Egbemode, NGE

    Saraki, Atiku, Wike congratulate Egbemode, NGE

    Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Rivers State Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike yesterday congratulated Mrs. Funke Egbemode, on her re-election as the president of the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) at the guild’s biennial convention in Lagos.

    Saraki, in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, noted that the choice of Egbemode, who is managing director and editor-in-chief, New Telegraph , is a clear testimony that she has successfully justified the confidence reposed in her by her colleagues.

    He said: “I can only admonish her to work harder to extend the frontiers of her achievements as the President of the NGE. Her return unopposed is a fitting tribute to the fact that her contributions have been recognised. As they say: “the reward for work well done is the opportunity to do more”.

    Atiku felicitates with members and leadership of the NGE on a peaceful and successful election at its biennial convention in Lagos at the weekend.

    The APC chieftain, in a statement by his media office in Abuja, said the guild displayed exceptional leadership and good conduct in the way it was able to organise within a short time, a rancour-free and credible election, which saw the emergence of a new crop of leaders to pilot its affairs.

    Atiku said the outcome of the election, which has brought a new national executive team in place under Mrs. Egbemode as president, Suleiman Uba Gaya as deputy president and other well-known editors was a testimony to the enduring legacy of the guild.

    The Turakin Adamawa wished the new leadership the best as it goes ahead to run the affairs of the association while serving as a watchdog of sorts on the practice of the Journalism profession.

    He hoped that the new management would partner the present administration in the dissemination of government programmes as well as other critical groups in the society.

    Wike congratulated Mrs. Egbemode, a director at The Tide, Juliet Njiowhor and others who emerged victorious during the 2017 edition of the NGE Biennial Convention.

    He urged the NGE president and the new executives to work towards promoting media professionalism, objectivity and development of the country.

    He wished the NGE President a fruitful term in office.

  • 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.”

  • Agriculture will help Nigeria tackle unemployment, says Wike

    Agriculture will help Nigeria tackle unemployment, says Wike

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has stated that investments in agriculture  will help the nation  tackle youth unemployment .

    Speaking during a courtesy  visit by the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh and Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri at the Government House Port Harcourt on Wednesday, Wike said agriculture is essential   to the revival of the nation’s  economy.

    He said: “If Nigeria must move to the next level, agriculture  is key. To reduce unemployment, we must focus on agriculture “.

    The governor  lauded the Minister of Agriculture  for displaying  maturity  by ensuring  that the issues  of  food production  are insulated  from politics.

    The governor  said his administration  was developing a public private partnership  model to enhance  the  development  of  agriculture.

    He said: “We are developing the cassava factory to improve  the commercial  farming  of the product.  We are also working  with a private  company to revive our rubber factory”.

    He informed  that his administration  is working  with  the Rivers State University to revive the College of Agriculture  at Onne for the training  of agricultural  professionals.

    Governor Wike said that the State Government  will  collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to improve  key aspects  of  the  State Agricultural Sector.

    In his remarks, Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh said unless the youth are reintroduced  to agriculture, the country will always  have security  challenges  as most urban youths are idle.

    He said issues  of agriculture  must be placed above politics in the overall interest of the country.

    The Minister  said that Rivers State  has the potentials to be a major  source of fish for the entire country.

    The Ministers of Agriculture and all the Commissioners of Agriculture are in Rivers State  for the National Council of Agriculture meeting.