The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Wike

  • Wike sets up panel on violence

    Wike sets up panel on violence

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has set up a Judicial Commission of Enquiry to investigate the violence and killings at last Saturday’s legislative rerun in the state.

    In a broadcast yesterday, Wike said: “To forestall a repeat of the needless violence and fatalities in future elections, I hereby establish a Judicial Commission of Enquiry to investigate the violence, killings and other related acts that occurred in parts of the state during the March 19, 2016, rerun elections and make recommendations to government.”

    He added: “Members of the commission are: Justice Monima Wenike Danagogo – chairman; Venerable John Adubasim; Mrs. Douye Green; Joseph Zabbey; Luke Nwanodi; and Mrs. Uche Uriri – secretary.”

    The governor is expected to swear in the panel today at 10 am at the Government House.

  • Wike lied against me on Ikwerre shootings, says APC man

    Wike lied against me on Ikwerre shootings, says APC man

    The All Progressive Congress (APC) House of Assembly’s candidate for Ikwerre Constituency in Rivers State, Azubuike Wanjoku, has denied the allegation levelled against him by Governor Nyesom Wike, that he, the Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside, and other leaders of the party caused the fracas that led to shootings at Ikwerre Local Government Area’s secretariat on Sunday evening.

    Isiokpo is the headquarters of Ikwerre Local Government Area, the constituency of the Minister for Transportation, Mr. Chibiuke Rotimi Ameachi.

    At a media briefing on Sunday evening, Governor Nyesom Wike accused Wanjoku of instigating the trouble at Ikwerre council’s secretariat after he allegedly discovered that the election did not fovour him.

    The governor said even when supporters of the ruling People Democratic Party (PDP) in the state overpowered Wanjoku and his APC supporters, the lawmaker allegedly hit the Retuning Officer with his bulletproof car and pushed him into the bush.

    But Wanjoku, who is reportedly recuperating at an undisclosed hospital, yesterday said Wike ordered his thugs in Ikwerre Local Government Area, led by a top local government official, to shoot him.

    He said the governor’s annoyance was that he (Wanjoku) and other APC leaders in the area resisted what he called the hijack of electoral materials and the abduction of the Returning of Officer by suspected PDP thugs.

    Wanjoku said he was marked for assassination, adding that his vehicle was damaged after he was shot and attacked by suspected PDP thugs who were unhappy that he resisted them from writing a fake result of the rerun election at the secretariat.

    He added: “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials can testify to what happened. Those attacked included the Collation Officer, Allwell Egeonu. Many thugs were recruited to kill and I was one of those targeted.

    “The story of what happened at the Ikwerre council’s secretariat has set a new record for electoral brigandage in Rivers State, like a tale told in a war movie. They rained bullets on me and some chieftains of the APC. This can only reinforce my belief that God does not fail to protect His people.

    “The Chief of Staff to the Governor of Rivers State and the caretaker chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area, men of the Nigerian Police Force, together with some hired armed thugs rained more than 500 rounds of live ammunition on my bullet-proof vehicle.

    “Under our watchful eyes, members of the PDP were making entries into the collation sheets while the EO and some INEC ad hoc workers by stood and watched.  We came to resist their rigging machinery: myself and the Director-General of NIMASA (Dr Dakuku Peterside), were attacked by the trigger-happy policemen and hired hoodlums.”

     

     

     

  • State of emergency won’t work in Rivers, Ekiti – Fayose

    Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose on Monday said that declaring State of Emergency won’t work in Rivers and Ekiti state.

    He reacted to speculations of federal government’s contemplation to impose state of emergency on the two states while speaking with State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Fayose was in Abuja to attend the National Economic Council (NEC) retreat on the economy in the State House.

    According to him, he has been waiting for President Muhammadu Buhari to declare state of emergency in Ekiti.

    Stressing that power has gone back to the people; he urged leaders to beware of the actions they take in office as they may hunt them in the future.

    On the question concerning possible declaration of state of emergency in Rivers, he said: “They have been insinuating that too in Ekiti. We have been waiting for them. Power has gone beyond the leaders; power has gone back to the people.

    “There are certain things leaders will do today, you will eat it tomorrow.

    “You want to declare state of emergency, declare it and we will tell you that the state of emergency will not work too. This country belongs to all of us.” He added

    Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State had also over the weekend alleged that some people were creating problems in his state to make the federal government to impose a state of emergency in the state.

    Wike had said that such ploy would not work because the PDP was more popular in the state.

    The Department of State Security (DSS) recently raided the Ekiti State House of Assembly where they were reported to have arrested eight lawmakers while one of the lawmakers is being detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Fayose condemned the weekend’s National Assembly and State House of Assembly re-elections especially because of what he said was their militarization.

    He described the situation in Rivers as a service of ego of some individuals who believed they have control on the federal government.

    He said: “I want to condemn the election in Rivers State. I want to condemn the militarization.

    “Like I said to some people yesterday, if say Ekiti election nobody was slapped, nobody died, the person defeated congratulated the winner; do we now call this Rivers election Rivers of Bloodgate?

    “Because for a peaceful election in Ekiti and this in Rivers, the military has got no business in our election.

    “Now, I want to say that if you watch the trend, PDP has always won all the elections after the annulment. Which means what happened in Rivers is just a service of ego of some individuals who believed they have Nigeria in their pockets, they can call the president at will to deploy the military and it’s unfortunate that somebody would allow the military to kill his own people.

    “I strongly condemn the elections in Rivers and charge that we sustain the legacy of transparent elections.

    “For me in Ekiti, we learned from that and we are prepared. We prepare for election everyday and we are fully prepared.”

    On the Ekiti lawmaker detained by the EFCC, the governor said that the anti-graft body was trampling on the rights of citizens.

    “And for the people detained in EFCC, it shows the rascality of the agency of government to the federal government to look away and allow innocent Nigerians’ rights to be taken away. I condemn it,” he stated.

  • Wike’s chief of staff held over attack on APC chiefs

    Wike’s chief of staff held over attack on APC chiefs

    The governorship candidate of the Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) in the April 11, last year election, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside, and some leaders of the party yesterday came under attack in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

    Peterside, the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), was riding in a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) with his former deputy, Asita Honourable and APC Chairman  Daview Ikanya when they came under fire

    Peterside’s Special Assistant (Media) Sylvester Asoya, in a statement last night, said his boss and other APC leaders escaped assassins’ bullets by a stroke of luck.

    Governor Nyesom Wike’s Chief of Staff Emeka Woke was arrested over the attack. But Wike said Woke’s driver was killed.

    Peterside said his vehicle was attacked by gunmen in two SUVs as they approached the city from the Port Harcourt International Airport. His orderly Emma Esi was said to have been hit in the leg.

    Peterside said: “Two jeeps belonging to Emeka Woke, Nyesom Wike’s Chief of Staff, carrying two unknown gunmen, trailed us to UTC Junction (near Government House, Port Harcourt) and opened fire on my car. Our car, however, did a detour to the DSS (Department of State Services) office gate, where we drove to seek refuge, but the unknown gunmen opened fire again at the DSS men on guard.

    “The exchange of fire between the DSS men and the assailants lasted for more than 30 minutes. This is a very ugly experience, but I thank God that my colleagues and I escaped unhurt.”

    “Today’s (yesterday’s) experience is not only terrifying, but also shows the parlous state of security in Rivers State. If I can be engaged openly by gunmen for nearly an hour in the heart of Port Harcourt, only God knows the fate that will befall members of our party and those sympathetic to our predicament. What is happening today in our dear state is not only horrible, but also constitutes serious national security risk.”

    The NIMASA boss, who was Wike’s opponent in last year’s governorship election, also stated that it was now evident that the governor wanted to kill him and that he (Wike) was prepared to do everything possible to eliminate him.

    Woke was last night arrested ostensibly to explain his role in the  alleged attempt to shoot at Peterside’s convoy, in front of the office of the DSS on Forces Avenue, Old GRA, Port Harcourt.

    Peterside’s driver had driven into the DSS’s office but Woke and the two gunmen with him were not deterred.

    The armed men allegedly continued to shoot at the DSS men.

    Governor Wike   accused Peterside and Asita of hijacking results  from Isiokpo in Ikwere Local government yesterday.

    The governor added that Peterside and his security  detail opened fire and  killed the driver to  his Chief of Staff, Mr Emeka  Woke.

    Speaking to reporters at the Government House, he said: “Remember I warned that today’ s  Nigeria  is not yesterday’s  Nigeria. Things that were done wrongly before cannot be done wrongly now. I warned that the people will resist any attempt to rig.

    “Now they have the Federal might, army, police, INEC and DSS, but we have the people.”

    Wike condemned what he called the desperation of some politicians to win the Assembly elections at all cost.

    Wike said: “The driver to my chief of staff has been shot to death this evening, including others who were killed on election day. I am surprised to see the kind of desperation displayed by some politicians in this rerun election.

    ”I saw the military acting as if Rivers State is at war. I saw those working with me being harassed and arrested. My SSG, Commissioner for Environment Prof. Roseline Konya and some PDP members were arrested and manhandled.”

  • PDP will win re-run election – Wike

    Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers said on Sunday that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would win Saturday’s re-run legislative elections in the state because it prepared for it.
    Wike told newsmen in Port Harcourt that when the elections of the legislators were annulled in December, the party commenced preparations for re-run.
    He said that the party began campaigns and started working hard to win the elections because it was on ground.
    The governor confirmed that the Secretary to the State Government, Chief Kenneth Kobani and a Special Assistant, Mr Cyril Wite, were arrested by the Army.
    Wike said that the government officials wanted to ensure that election materials were moved to polling units when they were arrested.
    He said that it would be difficult to rig elections in the state because the people would resist the attempt.
    According to him, when somebody is not popular and attempts to rig the election, the people will say no to such move.
    He alleged that some people were creating problems to make the Federal Government declare a state of emergency in the state.
    Wike said that such ploy would not work, because the PDP was more popular in the state.
    He urged the media not to be emotional or sentimental while reporting events in the state, because such stories created wrong impression. (NAN)

  • Wike, PDP disgraced Rivers, says APC

    Wike, PDP disgraced Rivers, says APC

    The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers state, Chief Davies Ikanya, has stated that Governor Nyesom Wike and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had brought embarrassment and national shame with electoral desperation.

    Speaking through his Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media and Public Affairs, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, Ikanya, insisted that Wike and his allies were not above the law.

    He described allegation by Rivers PDP Chairman, Chief Felix Obuah, that APC leaders masterminded the beating up and arrest of the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Kenneth Kobani, and the Environment Commissioner, Prof. Roseline Konya as frivolous and ridiculous.

    He said: “Why should we mastermind the arrest of Kobani? What is his political relevance?

    “Does his position as SSG place him above the law? Are we the ones that asked him to be lawless, that warranted his arrest?

    “We are orderly and decent. We want the best for Rivers State. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, the Minister of Transportation, was directed by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG), in charge of Operations, Sotonye Wakama, to vote and leave for his residence and he complied.

    “Who is Kobani to be moving around, intimidating voters in polling units that he does not belong?

    “Maybe very soon, they will accuse APC of planting the N40 million, arms, police and army uniforms in the car of Wike’s Special Adviser on Special Projects, Cyril Dum Wite, that led to his arrest (yesterday).

    “Imagine the embarrassment and national shame that Wike and PDP have brought to Rivers State.”

     

  • Wike votes in Rivers rerun poll

    Wike votes in Rivers rerun poll

    … INEC not prepared for polls – Governor

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has voted in the in the federal and state assembly elections held in the state on Saturday.

    The governor, who arrived Obio Akpor Ward 9, Unit 7 , Obia/Akpor local government area of the state, at about 1:00pm, was accredited by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials and voted few minutes later.

    Wike later told journalists that INEC was not prepared for Saturday’s rerun elections in the state.

    “I am impressed with the security arrangement for the election.

    “Most people have boycotted the elections because of fake result sheets.

    “I think that INEC was not prepared for the election. If they are not ready, they shouldn’t be telling people that they are ready,” he said after casting his vote in company of his wife, Justice Suzette Wike.

     

  • Murdered soldiers killed by cultists —Wike

    Murdered soldiers killed by cultists —Wike

    Rivers State governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has said the assassination of two soldiers by suspected cult mebers in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area (AKULGA) of the state on Thursday afternoon has nothing to do with today’s rerun elections in the state.

    Wike made the clarification yesterday when he played host to the Consul-General of the United States of America Embassy in Nigeria, John Bray, at the Government House.

    Two soldiers, including a Major, were reportedly killed in the area by unknown gunmen during a patrol along Abonema (AKULGA) waterways.

    They men were said to be chasing away criminals from the area ahead of the rerun elections when their attackers, described by Wike as sea pirates, laid an ambush along the sea channel and opened fire on them.

    Wike said that adequate security and logistics had been made for peaceful and safe elections, adding that the people of the state were committed to peaceful and credible elections.

    He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and security agencies to work within the law in order not to provoke violence.

    The governor regretted alleged missing of the result sheets of some wards in the state ahead of the rerun polls, saying that the shortage was first noticed by vigilant of PDP agents.

    He said the people of the state believe that officials of INEC and security agencies must not take actions that will engender violence during and after the elections.

    “Rivers State is key to this country. Let nobody think that anything can happen to Rivers State,” he said.

    He commended the government and people of the United States of America for showing interest in the election, urging them to spread their tentacles across the state to have a comprehensive idea of the rerun elections.

    The governor informed the United States Government that his administration is supporting security agencies with logistics and finance to fight cult-related violence in the state, pointing out that the security agencies are bringing the situation under control.

    In his remarks, Bray said that the team was in the state as part of international observers to ensure peaceful, credible, free and fair rerun elections today.

  • Wike: plan to arrest PDP leaders political

    Wike: plan to arrest PDP leaders political

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has said the attempt by the police high command to arrest the state Chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Felix Obuah, 48 hours to the rerun elections, is politically-motivated.

    The governor said it was aimed at giving undue advantage to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He said by declaring the Chairman of Asari-Toru Local Government Area, Sabomabo Jackrich, wanted, a few days to the elections, the police might have been influenced by political considerations.

    Speaking in a radio phone-in programme yesterday in Port Harcourt, the state capital, Wike said the people would resist the alleged plan to arrest the PDP chairman.

    The governor alleged that the police high command brought in policemen from Abuja to disobey a court order restraining security agencies from arresting PDP leaders before the polls.

    Wike said he had given security agencies the logistic support necessary for the polls, adding that the security agencies have a duty to work within the law.

    He said: “Today, we received information that policemen from Abuja are in the state to arrest the PDP state chairman. If the police want to arrest PDP leaders 48 hours to the elections, the action is simply politically-motivated.”

    Wike described as unfortunate reports credited to President Muhammadu Buhari on the violence in Rivers State.

    The governor said the President never contacted him for an explanation on the security situation in the state.

    He said the PDP was prepared for the rerun, while the APC and the Federal Government were not prepared.

    According to him, they are only interested in antics, which he said would not work.

    On the petition by his administration to the embassies of 50 countries, Wike said it was a confirmation of the readiness of the PDP to participate in credible polls.

    The governor said the United States, Britain and Canada, among others, had requested meetings with him on the matter.

  • Call Wike to order, APC urges security agents

    Call Wike to order, APC urges security agents

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday asked security agents to halt to what it described as the madness in Rivers State, accusing Governor Nyesom Wike of inciting the people against the Nigerian Army and the Independent National a Electoral Commission (INEC).

    In a statement by the party’s National Secretary Mai Mala Buni  last night, the APC expressed concern over the death threat issued by the governor on INEC officials coming to conduct the Saturday’s rerun election for national and state assembly elections.

    The party said it was compiling evidence of the politically-motivated killings in Rivers State which have taken genocidal dimensions under Nyesom Wike’s watch. The APC will present evidence to national and international law enforcement agencies.

    The statement reads: “In the leadup to the March 19, 2016 Rivers State rerun elections, the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is worried by the fresh reckless and irresponsible statements including death threats issued by the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) especially on the person of Mrs. Amina Zakari, a National INEC Commissioner who has a record of supervising some of the most credible, free and fair elections by INEC in the past.

    “The Rivers State governor has also issued dangerous threats on the Nigerian Army. The Party also views Nyesom Wike’s petition to the United Nations (UN), European Union (EU), Africa Union (AU) and the governments of about 50 countries demanding “global surveillance” for the Rivers rerun election as an affront on the 1999 Constitution (as amended), INEC and sovereignty of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

    “Nyesom Wike has been in the forefront of inciting the people of Rivers State against INEC and the Nigerian Army. On Tuesday, Nyesom Wike accused INEC Commissioner Mrs. Amina Zakari of an unsubstantiated and cooked up plot to swap election result sheets in the yet-to-be-conducted election.

    “He went ahead to issue a death threat on the INEC Commissioner over the unsubstantiated and cooked up plot. The APC takes Nyesom Wike’s death threats and campaign of calumny against critical national institutions including the Nigerian Army very seriously.

    “Under Nyesom Wike’s watch, the country and indeed the international community has been traumatised by the daily lynching, maiming, killing and beheading of APC members and supporters in Rivers State.

    “The APC believes that Nyesom Wike’s repeated threats to INEC to “write their will” before coming to conduct elections in the state is real and must be looked into by relevant security agencies.

    “The APC calls on relevant security agencies to hold Nyesom Wike responsible for any breakdown of law and order before, during and after the March 19, 2016 Rivers State rerun elections.

    “The party also welcomes President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive to security services to deal decisively with sponsors and perpetuators of political violence in Rivers State. The Police and other security agencies must ensure that the murderers and their sponsors are brought to book and must face the full wrath of the law.”