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Tag: Wike

  • Recall sacked workers, TUC urges Wike

    The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has called on the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, to recall the sacked 344 lecturers, and others employed at the Rivers State Polytechnic, Bori, since September 2014 by the immediate past administration led by Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi.

    TUC said the priority of his leadership now should be good governance that would transform the state.

    The Congress in a statement by its President, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama, and Secretary General, Comrade Musa Lawal, expressed shock and disappointment at the news of the sack, especially because of the grave consequences it portends for the affected workers, their dependants and the society at large.

    The labour centre noted that the governor’s actions could most likely be the fall-out of the political acrimony that traversed the period before and during the recent elections in the state, saying that all such considerations ought to have gone with that period. TUC advised the governor to make good governance a priority.

    According to the Congress, “Nigerians have become increasingly interested in public affairs and impatient for good governance because of years of unfulfilled promises by their leaders. They are much wiser now and can no longer be fooled and impoverished by a minute percentage of the populace.”

    TUC argued that many of the people whose appointments the governor terminated probably voted for him. “How will they explain to their friends, family members and associates that the man they so much believed in and voted for has relieved them of their jobs in spite of the fact that job creation and provision of infrastructure were among his campaign promises,” they queried.

    The congress called on government at all levels in the country to eschew politics of bitterness. It observed that government is a continuum, and any useful project embarked on by a preceding administration should not be done away with so as not to waste taxpayers’ money that has been expended on it.

  • Rivers APC: Wike plans to borrow N100b from banks

    Rivers APC: Wike plans to borrow N100b from banks

    The Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) has said Governor Nyesom Wike is planning to borrow N100 billion.

    The governor has borrowed N30 billion – in two tranches of N10 billion and N20 billion – within three weeks.

    APC said Wike, a former Minister of State for Education and Chief of Staff to former Governor Rotimi Amaechi, intended to obtain the loans in tranches of N10 billion, N20 billion, N30 billion and N40 billion, within two months.

    In a statement yesterday in Port Harcourt, the state capital, by its Publicity Secretary Chris Finebone, State Chairman Davies Ikanya accused Wike of planning to plunge Rivers in a deep debt and economic servitude.

    On June 11, the House of Assembly gave Wike the nod to borrow N10 billion from Zenith Bank Plc to fund major projects.

    On June 30, 31 of the 32 lawmakers in the Assembly, comprising 31 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members and one APC, again approved the governor’s request to borrow N20 billion from Access Bank Plc.

    Wike said the N20 billion would be repaid with  Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

    The governor claimed that the new loan would be used to finance road projects, including Rumueprikom-Iwofe, Abuloma-Woji, Elelenwo-Akpajo, Oroigwe-Igwuruta and Igwuruta-Chokocho roads and the fencing of Government Girls’ Secondary School at Rumuokwuta, Port Harcourt.

    APC said: “In the past two weeks, Wike sought and got the approval of …House of Assembly to obtain N10 billion and N20 billion loans from Zenith Bank Plc and Access Bank Plc.

    “We have confirmed that next week, Wike will approach Heritage and Eco banks to borrow another N30 billion. He has already instructed his boys in the House of Assembly to prepare the ground. This will bring the total amount of loans obtained by the embattled governor to N60 billion, in less than 45 days as governor. Cry, our beloved Rivers State. Blood has been spilled in the ocean and sharks are out.”

  • Assembly okays N20b loan for Wike

    Assembly okays N20b loan for Wike

    The Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday approved Governor Nyesom Wike’s request to borrow N20 billion from Access Bank Plc.

    It is the second time he would be approving loans for the governor since he assumed office on May 29.

    On June 11, the Assembly gave Wike the nod to collect a N10 billion loan from Zenith Bank Plc, which the governor then told the lawmakers would be used to fund major projects.

    Wike said the new loan would be used to finance road projects, such as Rumuepirikom-Iwofe Road; Abuloma-Woji road, among others.

    The governor said his administration would also build new road with the loan. The road are: Elelenwo-Akpajo Road; Oroigwe-Igwuruta Road; fencing of Government Girls’ Secondary at Rumuokwuta, Port Harcourt and Igwuruta-Chokocho Road.

    Wike did not explain the interest rate the loan would attract or the duration of its repayment.

    He said: “While this money is not enough, it would enable the contractors to be mobilised to site and to achieve milestones.”

    Wike noted that since his administration did not have sufficient funds, “it approached Access Bank, which graciously agreed to advance N20 billion to the government”.

    “We shall use the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to service this loan.”

    When the Assembly debated the loan, the lawmaker representing Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni II, Nathaniel Uwajie, hailed Wike for agreeing to execute projects that have direct bearing on the people.

    The lawmaker urged the governor to include the roads in his constituency.

    Uwajie said the revenues accruing to the state were from his oil-rich locality.

    According to him, the roads had worsened, giving room for kidnappers to have a field day.

     

  • Wike hails corps members for role in last polls

    Wike hails corps members for role in last polls

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has hailed National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members for their role in the success of the March 28 and April 11 elections.

    The governor said their courage in face of daunting security challenges deepened the nation’s democracy.

    Wike spoke yesterday in Port Harcourt, the state capital, when he hosted the state’s team of the NYSC.

    He said: “I want to commend corps members for their role during the 2015 general elections.

    “The sacrifice made by the corps members contributed to the success of the general elections.”

    Wike noted that despite the post-election violence in 2011, corps members were not deterred.

    The governor said they performed their duties well across the country.

    He assured that his administration would always support the NYSC to deliver on its mandate.

    Wike approved the release of a monthly subvention to the State NYSC to enable the scheme function effectively.

    The governor said the state would consider paying corps members monthly allowances, in line with the prevailing economic realities.

    He noted that postings should be guided by relevance and not the consideration of monetary gains.

    Wike said the state government would assist the families of eight corps members who died during their service year in the state.

    The State NYSC Coordinator, Mrs Ngozi Nwatarali urged the governor to support the scheme to deliver on its mandate.

    She said the NYSC had served the state diligently, especially in rural and coastal communities, where it had added value in critical areas.

     

     

  • Rivers APC to Buhari: probe Wike’s tenure at Education Ministry

    Rivers APC to Buhari: probe Wike’s tenure at Education Ministry

    President Muhammadu Buhari has been called upon to probe the tenure of Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike at the Federal Ministry of Education.

    The state All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman, Chief Davies Ikanya,  said this yesterday in a statement in Port Harcourt through his Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media and Public Affairs, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze.

    The party supported Buhari’s move to investigate and recover billions of naira allegedly looted by the past administration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.

    Wike served in Jonathan’s government as Supervising Minister of Education and Minister of State for Education before resigning to vie as governor on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The Rivers APC said: “We receive with great joy, the news of the decision of President Buhari to go after the persons who stole Nigeria blind and virtually grounded the country’s economy.

    “For six years, we shouted ourselves hoarse that Jonathan’s administration was the most corrupt in the history of this nation and sadly nobody believed us, but the recent revelations have proved us right. If not by the grace of God and the resolve of Nigerians to vote out the visionless government, the ship of our nation would have been grounded by now.

    “The impending recovery of stolen funds and stoppage of systemic leakages are the beginning of the journey towards building the ideal Nigerian nation.”

    The party said the President should look into  the purchase of books for Federal Government institutions, the Almajiri School Scheme, the Universal Basic Education (UBEC) and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) as well as the “commandeer” of 15 UBEC Toyota Hilux vans for governorship election campaign.

    The APC also want Buhari to probe the recent fire that razed only the Basic Education Section of the Federal Ministry of Education building in Abuja.

    “Although Wike has been unjustly declared Rivers governor by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), his immunity does not prevent him from being investigated. In any case, he will soon lose the immunity, when he is removed from office by the Election Petitions Tribunal, sitting in Abuja.

    “We passionately appeal to President Buhari to take the necessary action to bring Wike to book, to serve as a deterrent to others. We commend the governments of United States and Britain for supporting the APC’s government in its efforts to recover Nigeria’s looted funds, stashed in foreign banks by agents of wickedness,” the party said.

    The Rivers APC pleaded with Nigerians to see reason and support the administration of President Buhari in its efforts to clean the rot of the Jonathan’s administration and put Nigeria on a sound footing.

    It noted that the next three months might be hard, as predicted by President Buhari, but assured Nigerians that they were necessary steps for the good of the country.

  • Wike impounds another Amaechi’s ally’s car

    Wike impounds another Amaechi’s ally’s car

    The Wike Adminis-tration in Rivers State yesterday bared its fangs afresh, seizing in a commando style a car belonging   to the immediate past Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Chief Tony Okocha.

    Security personnel acting on the order of the state government invaded the Rumuigbo, Port Harcourt private residence of Okocha and forcefully took away a Range Rover believed to be his official car.

    Okocha was not in town at the time of the invasion, which came a week after a similar confiscation of a Lexus SUV from the residence of the immediate past Commissioner for Information in the State, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari.

    Okocha described the action of the government as illegal.

    He said by phone from Abuja that the SUV was officially allocated to him by the last administration in the state.

    But he said he was not surprised “at the uncouth action, knowing Wike’s nuances like the back of my hand.”

    He wondered why the tyres of the vehicle were deflated by the government agents, saying: “I was also informed that Wike alleged that I stole the car and he deflated its tyres.

    “I challenge Wike to show a photo proof that the tyres were found deflated. I challenge him to show enough proof that the vehicle was stolen.”

    He said the action was nothing short of “another subterfuge to perpetuate his witch-hunt against selfless and defenceless aides of the former governor of Rivers State”

    Okocha warned that “this seeming introduction of militarism into our democratic experience and the attendant ignominy may well become our bane, if not checked.”

    He added: “As Chief of Staff, Wike performed as transport officer. By the records available at the transport office, Wike was in possession of 13 vehicles of different brands and handed none over to me as his successor, not even the Permanent Secretary of the Government House, Port Harcourt.

    “Even the official residence of the Chief of Staff, where Wike stayed was never handed over, until one year and four months, when he reluctantly vacated, leaving the premises completely bare.

    “In Wike’s defence during his arrest by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), he quoted that N80 million was used to renovate the Chief of Staff’s residence, yet what I inherited was a residence overgrown with weeds and taken over by reptiles. Nobody shouted.”

    The former chief of staff also urged supporters of Amaechi and members of the APC in the state to remain law abiding, peaceful, calm and steadfast in the face of the intimidation by what he called the caretaker administration.

  • Dolphins, Sharks commend Wike for paying salary arrears

    Dolphins, Sharks commend Wike for paying salary arrears

    The Managements of Dolphins FC and Sharks FC on Saturday commended Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers for paying the eight months salary arrears owed the clubs. Mr Daboere Dokubo, Interim Head of Sharks FC Management Team, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt that the governor had kept to his promise by paying salary backlogs. Dokubo, who spoke through the clubs Media Officer, Mr Peter Abaje, said they were optimistic to win June 28 match against Heartland FC of Owerri. “The reason is, during the week, the players and officials smiled to the bank as the governor of the state paid eight months backlog of salaries owed the team. “So much has been given to the players by the governor and we commend him for fulfilling his electioneering campaign promise to take sports to the next level,” he said. Dokubo said the club was contented to win their match because there were no more excuses to give. “Players used to they had not been paid salaries, we are hungry and cannot think well in the field of play but all that is over,” he said. Dolphin’s manager, Mr Stanley Eguma, confirmed that his club had also been paid; and players optimistic to defeat Kano Pillars on July 28. Eguma thanked the governor for matching his words with action by clearing all salaries owed the officials and players. “We are optimistic as we are going to play in Kano, it is a big game but we will do our best to come out with a favourable result. “There are issues that have affected us, some of our players are absent without leave and others are affected by injuries in their match against Ifeanyi Uba FC,” he said. Eguma said most of the affected players were midfielders, adding that it was a big blow to the team. He said with the spirit in the boys going to Kano, the team would not come home empty handed but would have some points. “In our 1-1 draw against Giwa FC, my players did not pick into game right in time as they were dragging their feet in the first-half. “They could not find their rhythm in the first-half but took control of the game in the second-half after studying it,” he said. Eguma said the team would work on their mistakes and come out strong against Kano Pillars.

  • Wike can’t overrule Supreme Court on Omehia – APC

    Wike can’t overrule Supreme Court on Omehia – APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC), Rivers State chapter, has stated that Governor Nyesom Wike cannot overrule the Supreme Court on his Thursday’s recognition of Sir Celestine Ngozichim Omehia as a former Rivers governor.

    APC, through its Publicity Secretary, Chris Finebone, asked Wike, a former Minister of State for Education and ex-Chief of Staff to former Governor Rotimi Amaechi, to stop playing to the gallery.

    The Rivers APC insisted that Omehia was never “a governor in the eyes of the law,” according to the Supreme Court, wondering why Wike would prefer to play politics with the issue already decided by the apex court.

    APC said: “The Supreme Court explicitly declared that Omehia held the office of Rivers governor in error, illegally and ordered that Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi be immediately inaugurated as the rightful governor of Rivers State.

    “Apart from Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the next immediate beneficiary of that development was Barr. Nyesom Wike, who was shortly appointed Chief of Staff by Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi. Can Governor Wike, in all honesty, recall drawing the attention of his former boss to the need to override certain aspects of the Supreme Court judgment and defiantly restore Omehia’s rights, howbeit, as he has just done? Can governor Wike today own up to several of the anti-Omehia actions he took as Amaechi’s Chief of Staff, until he was called to order?

    “Rather than feel surprised at the charade that the governor personally carried out on Thursday, the APC feels embarrassed that an individual, who is licensed to practice law within the Nigerian territory, would in the most flagrant manner, disregard the judgment of the Supreme Court of the land, for selfish political expediency. More embarrassing is that the recipient (Omehia) is himself a lawyer as well, who had previously sought to get the Supreme Court reverse itself in related matters without success.

    “The APC will like Rivers people and Nigerians to know that the action and utterances of Wike are nothing more than standing in front of the mirror for the world to see and confirm the real Wike, who is ready to abandon civility, reason and decency on the altar of political expediency.

    “Indeed, it does not matter to Governor Wike that as a lawyer, he should be at the vanguard of defending the pronouncements of courts rather than defying them. He should defend the laws of the land, rather than break them. He should think, act and talk like a governor and not just like any other citizen.”

    APC said: “We expect that if governor Wike was genuinely interested in rehabilitating Omehia, along the line he has taken, the best would have been for him to approach the Supreme Court to reverse its earlier decision on the matter and not resorting to self help. Indeed, there are other legitimate ways to reward a political associate, without breaking the law and defying state institutions.

    “The APC rejects the attempt by a sitting governor to undermine the integrity and sanctity of the judiciary, which is what Wike did yesterday (on Thursday), against the verdict of the Supreme Court of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

    The Rivers APC also stated that the action of the governor of the state suggested that he had abandoned the oath of office and oath of allegiance he swore to on May 29, 2015, right on top of the podium he stood.

  • Wike restores Omehia’s rights as ex-Rivers governor

    Wike restores Omehia’s rights as ex-Rivers governor

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has formally restored the entitlements and benefits of Sir Celestine Omehia as a former governor.

    Wike also formally reinstated Omehia’s official portrait among those of former Rivers State governors at the Executive Council Chamber of the Government House in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

    At the ceremony yesterday, Wike said the decision stemmed from the fact that Omehia was governor between May 29, 2007 and October 25, 2007, when he took decisions on behalf of the state and initiated projects.

    He said: “I hereby put back his official portrait among those of former governors. He is now entitled to the benefits of all former governors.”

    Wike said the era of politics of bitterness was over in Rivers State, adding that it was not right to personalise governance.

    Omehia described yesterday as the most historic day of his political career.

    He said the restoration of his rights as a former governor indicated that his dark political days were over.

  • Wike to demote first-class monarchs

    Wike to demote first-class monarchs

    Unless there is a legal intervention, Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike is set to demote some first-class traditional rulers.

    The governor has approached the House of Assembly to repeal the Council of Traditional Rulers Law, 2014, passed by the Seventh Assembly.

    Some monarchs were allegedly promoted by the Rotimi Amaechi administration to spite perceived non-supporters of his government.

    The Eighth Assembly has accused the last Assembly of contributing to the crisis in the state by its enactment of several laws that were not in the overall interest of the people.

    The accusation came on the heels of an Executive Bill, titled: Rivers State Traditional Rulers Bill 2015, which seeks to repeal the existing Council of Traditional Rulers Law, 2014.

    In their debates yesterday, the lawmakers flayed the last Assembly for hasting to pass bills into laws to “massage the ego of past government”.

    But three of the principal officers of the Assembly – Martin Amaewhule (Leader), Lolo Donabari (Deputy Leader) and Evans Bipi (Chief Whip), among others – said the law, which the executive bill wanted to repeal, was not in the interest of the state.

    The lawmakers said it was disheartening that the last administration “disjointed and balkanised” traditional institutions.

    They noted that the enactment of the law caused infractions against the state and should be examined in the interest of the people.

    The lawmakers said the law, which the executive bill sought to repeal, demystified traditional stools and turned monarchs to politicians.

    According to them, the Assembly should regulate the appointment of traditional rulers to forestall further crisis in the communities.

    Speaker Ikuinyi Ibani said he was a victim of “traditional sadism”.

    He stressed that, if customs and norms of the people were respected, chieftaincy squabbles would not exist.

    Ibani mandated an ad hoc committee to conduct a public hearing on the matter and report back to the Assembly.