The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Wike

  • Governorship poll: Our victory will be sweet, says Wike

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has called on the people of Rivers State to remain calm as the success of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) in the March 9 governorship election would be a sweet victory in the end.

    Wike made the statement when members of the National Assembly, elected on the platform of the PDP, presented their Certificates of Return to him at a ceremony in the Government House, Port Harcourt, the state capital, yesterday.

    He said that the will of the people of the state will prevail at the end, despite the conspiracy against the state.

    ”I know that PDP won the elections squarely. We believe in peace, therefore, Rivers people should remain calm. We believe in due process. I believe that INEC is doing their best to follow the due process.

    ”In the end, it will be a sweet victory. The will of Rivers people will prevail,” he said.

    The governor described the political stand-off in the state as a drama fated to end. He said “the people of Rivers people voted overwhelmingly for the PDP in all elections,  while the anti-democratic forces attempted to snatch results at the collation centres.

    ”Let me thank the people of Rivers State for the love they have shown for our great party. It is not in doubt that Rivers people have shown our party, love. What is happening is sad. It is a drama.

    ”We have 13 House of Representatives seats and the PDP clinched all of them. We have three Senate seats, one has been declared and PDP won. When the remaining  two seats are declared, PDP will win them. Eighty percent of the seats declared,  PDP took all.

    “You begin to wonder why any right thinking person would say, that, PDP lost the governorship election. Not that they say PDP lost to a party with a known logo, or even if you have seen the candidate one day in your life or seen his posters to make people vote for the candidate. For us, it is a drama. PDP won the election squarely,” he said.

    Speaking on behalf of the newly-elected legislators, Senator-elect Barry Mpigi, said there is no need for anyone to panic as Governor Wike will be declared winner in line with the votes cast on March 9.

    He said, Rivers people are with Governor Wike as shown by their votes in all the polling units.

    ”We have looked round the 23 Local Government Areas and we have seen that the people of Rivers State voted for you. Don’t panic, the vindication will come at the appropriate time,” Mpigi said.

  • IYC to Wike: No harm should befall Awara

    The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide has told Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, that no harm should befall the Governorship Candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Biokpomabo Awara.

    The umbrella body of the Ijaw youths condemned alleged threat to the life of Awara.

    The IYC in a statement signed by its Spokesman, Daniel Dasimaka described the situation as very unfortunate and sad.

    Dasimaka said: “Mr. Awara is an Ijaw son and Ijaws all over the world will not sit back and watch any further threat to one of their own who like every Rivers son and daughter, has the right to aspire to the office of the Governor of Rivers State.

    ” The AAC gubernatorial candidate, Biokpomabo Awara raised the alarm through his campaign organisation that Governor Wike and a few others that have arrogated to themselves the power of life and death to remain in government are plotting to assassinate him.

    “It is therefore imperative to note that the rights of every eligible citizen under our Constitution to vie for political position of their choice like Mr Awara has presented himself should be respected and not seen as threat to a fair contest.

    “Against the backdrop of the foregoing, the IYC is therefore calling on the security agencies to investigate those behind this cowardly act and bring them to justice as we stand against political killings in Rivers state”.

  • Wike is too desperate for power, says Amaechi

    Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi yesterday described Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State as too desperate for power.

    He also accused the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Obo Effanga, as unrepentantly a PDP member.

    Amaechi, who is also the leader of APC in Rivers State spoke after voting in his hometown of Ubima in Ikwerre Local Government Area.

    He hailed the military, police and other security agencies for keeping the peace in Rivers.

    Amaechi, a former Rivers governor, said: “The militants have fled, because of the presence of the military and we are voting peacefully. One thing about the soldiers is that they are apolitical. They are neither supporting APC nor AAC or PDP. What they are doing is to maintain peace and ensure that nobody disrupts the electoral process.

    “Beyond the fact that the REC of INEC in Rivers State recruited PDP members as ad hoc staff, the process is a bit straight forward. For instance, in Khana LGA (of Rivers State), the people refused to vote, because all the ad hoc staff were known members of the PDP and the electorate said they would not vote.

    “Wike does not like the fact that the military is maintaining peace. Whereas, he stays in Government House with his security and people are dying on the streets of Port Harcourt. Wike is so desperate about power. Just yesterday (Friday), PDP thugs killed two people in my mother’s village.

    “The Rivers governor said there was voter apathy because of soldiers’ presence. There is no time we do not have voter apathy in Rivers State. What usually happened then was that PDP leaders would the write results and announce. Now, they do not have the opportunity to write results.”

    The transportation minister also stated that it was noteworthy that the soldiers were now escorting the result sheets and other electoral materials to the collation centre, thereby thwarting Wike’s rigging plan.

    However, Wike, after voting in his Rumueprikom-Port Harcourt polling unit in Obio/Akpor LGA, blamed the security agencies for the voters apathy during yesterday’s elections, stating that the voters were afraid to go to their polling units.

  • Court declines request to disqualify Wike over alleged forgery

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has refused a request to disqualify candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the governorship election in Rivers State Nyesom Wike on grounds of alleged forgery.

    Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a judgment on Friday, dismissed a suit filed to that effect by Elvis Chinda.

    The judge said the suit was statute barred.

    Chinda had prayed the court to disqualify Wike on the grounds the Governor allegedly forged his statutory declaration of age, which he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a candidate for the 2019 governorship election.

    The plaintiff, who claimed to be an indigene of Rivers State, filed the suit last year, faulting the statutory declaration of age attached to the Form CF001 which Wike submitted to INEC.

    Chinda alleged that the document deposed to on behalf of Wike on October 3, 1986, by one Collins Nyeme Wike, claimed the governor hailed from Rumuepirikom in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, when the said local government was only created three years after.

    Represented by Achinike William-Wobodo, Chinda claimed that the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State was only carved out of Port Harcourt Local Government in 1989 by Decree No 12 of 1989.

    In his judgment on Friday, Justice Ekwo noted that, not only did the plaintiff fail to prove the allegation, the suit has become statute-barred because it was filed outside the time stipulated by under Section 285 of the Constitution as captured in the 4th Alteration to the Constitution.

    Justice Ekwo held that the plaintiff failed to prove the allegation beyond a reasonable doubt as required of a case of forgery being criminal in nature.

    The judge added: “Forgery is a criminal offence. The onus is on the plaintiff to establish ingredients of the allegation with credible and convincing evidence.

    “I find that the plaintiff has not proved the allegation against the first defendant (Wike) beyond every reasonable doubt or at all.”

    Justice Ekwo further said that by virtue of section on Section 285 (9) of the 4th Alteration to Constitution, the case had become statute-barred on the grounds that it was not filed within 14 days after Wike submitted the Form CF 001 to INEC.

    He said there was no evidence before the court to show that the plaintiff obtained the alleged forged document from INEC, and therefore cannot be believed.

  • Wike: no conspiracy can defeat Rivers PDP tomorrow

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has boasted that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cannot lose in tomorrow’s elections because the people are firmly with the party.

    According to him, tomorrow’s elections will be used to end the illegal activities of political monsters in the state.

    A statement by the governor’s media aide, Simeon Nwakaudu, said Wike spoke during a town hall meeting with leaders of Rivers East Senatorial District yesterday, urged the people not to be intimidated by soldiers.

    He said: “There is no way the PDP will lose Rivers State and they tell the world that the elections are credible. Even if we want to play politics, how will they explain to the International community that PDP lost to an unknown party that did not campaign?

    “How many soldiers will they deploy to implement the rigging? I am not worried about their bringing more troops from Sokoto and Kafanchan, God is our security. During the Presidential and National Assembly elections, they struggled for 25 per cent, but they did not get it.”

    The governor noted that Rivers has passed the stage where a failed politician will direct the people on who to vote three days to the election. He reiterated that nobody will play God in Rivers State, and emphasised that Rivers people must stand firm to give PDP victory tomorrow.

    “Nobody should be afraid; come out and vote for the PDP. Your votes will be counted; your votes will be protected. We will win tomorrow because we know that God is with us. Those who think they have the power will face God. They want to disrupt the elections to instigate postponement; do not fall into their hands,” he added.

    Former President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Onueze Okocha said Wike has done well and will be voted in for a second term.

    He described Wike as a great product that will lead the PDP to victory without noise, and promised that Rivers East will continue to promote the governor’s achievements.

    Former governor Celestine Omehia noted that everything about the election has gone smoothly for Rivers PDP because God was involved. He boasted that the PDP will win tomorrow’s elections.

  • ‘Why Wike is desperate to be sole gov candidate in Rivers’

    The governorship candidate of Accord Party in Rivers State, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, has stated Governor Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is desperate to be sole governorship candidate in Rivers because of his poor performance and failure to deliver real dividends of democracy to people of the state.

    The oil magnate (Lulu-Briggs), who until September 28, 2018 was a governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), spoke on Friday in Port Harcourt at a news conference.

    Lulu-Briggs said: “We state in very strong terms that we are aware that this case (by Baridoo) is another dubious shenanigan by Wike, who is afraid to go into any legitimate contest in the forthcoming Rivers State governorship election and he is doing everything possible, including sponsoring court cases against strong opponents, in order to achieve his primitive ambition to contest the 2019 governorship election against himself alone.

    “Wike’s connection in this dubious act is buttressed by the fact that Baridoo’s counsel, Wori N. Wori Esq, is from the law firm of Emmanuel Aguma, SAN, the deceased immediate past Attorney-General to Wike.

    “Baridoo got elected as Rivers Chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), months after his purported nomination as Accord Party’s governorship candidate, a position known to be occupied only by the cronies of the governor.

    “We are at a loss to fathom how Baridoo, who claims to have resigned as Rivers State Accord Party’s Chairman to contest the October 4, 2018 governorship primaries could be elected a month after (in November 2018), as the State Chairman of IPAC, a position reserved only for party chairmen. It is obvious that Baridoo and his paymaster, Wike, are out to insult the intelligence of Rivers people.

    “They said Baridoo, who has since been disowned by the Accord Party’s National Working Committee (NWC), was appointed into the caretaker committee of Khana LGA of Rivers State by the Wike-led PDP government.

    “During the recent PDP’s presidential rally at Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, Baridoo did not only declare support for the PDP’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, he led 56 so-called governorship candidates to step down for Wike and endorsed him for a second term.”

    He added: “My quest to liberate Rivers State from the shackles of wicked politicians, who want to continue to punish and impoverish our men and women, instigate our youths into violence and bloodshed and deny our children quality education, is still on track.

    “Dumo Lulu-Briggs is still in the race by the grace of God. I have no godfather, but God the father and by the grace of God and the will of Rivers people, we shall triumph and start the process to secure the future of every Rivers man, woman and child.”

    The governorship candidate of Accord party also urged Rivers people to be law abiding and continue to support Accord as a political party.

    He insisted that he was the recognised and officially-endorsed Rivers governorship candidate of Accord party, both by the NWC, leadership of the party and by INEC.

    The oil magnate also maintained that Baridoo did not participate in Accord party’s primary election, conducted by the NWC/NEC of the party on October 4 last year as he claimed, with the national executive of the party earlier stating that Baridoo did not procure the expression of intent and the governorship nomination forms of the party.

    The governorship candidate of Accord party noted that there was no proof that INEC issued Baridoo with form CF001, which is the document given to officially-nominated party candidates.

  • Wike’s commissioner, PDP lawmaker, others paraded in Rivers

    The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Maj.-Gen. Jamil Sarham, has paraded Governor Nyesom Wike’s Commissioner for Urban Development and Physical Planning, Dr. Reason Onya; and the representative of Ahoada West constituency in Rivers House of Assembly, Nwanaka Okpokiri, for rigging last Saturday’s elections in the state.

    The Camp Commandant of Government House, Port Harcourt, Oyoku Ifelle, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP); Major Akpoge Peter Ubah of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt and thirty one others, including policemen, thugs and ad hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), including two women, were also paraded.

    Maj.-Gen. Sarham paraded the 35 suspects Tuesday through 6 division’s Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Aminu Iliyasu, at a crowded news conference at 6 division, Port Harcourt on the discoveries and arrests made by troops of the formation, in conjunction with other security agencies, for electoral offences between February 22 and 23.

    All the 35 suspects were handed over to the Deputy Commissioner in charge of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of Rivers Police Command, Ahmed Kontagora, who represented the Rivers state Commissioner of Police, Usman Belel, at 5:50 p.m. Tuesday.

    The Assistant Director, Public Relations of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Rivers, Violet Appolo-Ibizugbe, also insisted that no corps member died in the state during last Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly polls, contrary to insinuations making the round.

    Appolo-Ibizugbe said: “Rivers State NYSC management has been inundated with the rumour of the death of a corps member during the last Presidential and National Assembly elections in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State on February 23. Management wishes to inform the general public that no corps member was killed before, during and after the February 23 elections.

    “While we commiserate with the family of the late Mrs. Ibisaki Amachree, an INEC ad hoc staff member, who unfortunately died on her way back from electoral duties in Degema LGA, we wish to state that she was not a corps member and that NYSC, Rivers State did not lose any corps member during the February 23 elections.”

    The GOC also disclosed that a lot of maneuvers by political actors were witnessed in the division’s Area of Responsibility (AOR), covering Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states, during last Saturday’s elections.

    He noted that the maneuvers were normal in a democracy, but stressed that most worrisome and dangerous was the employment of political thugs by some desperate politicians to disrupt a legitimate national process for their pecuniary gains.

    Maj.-Gen. Sarham said: “Equally of grave concern is the daring attempt by the Governor of Rivers State, Barr. Nyesom Wike, to compromise security agencies, particularly troops of 6 Division, with hefty financial inducements to help him in his illegitimate act of thwarting a free and fair electoral process to his favour, while accusing the Nigerian Army and its command hierarchy of bias daily.

    “Apparently, Governor Wike must have underestimated the Nigerian Army’s commitment to being professionally responsive in the discharge of our constitutional roles.

    “The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai, has overtime reiterated and demonstrated the Nigerian Army’s resolve to being apolitical, neutral and unbiased. He (COAS) has also left no one in doubt of our total and absolute loyalty to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the President/Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (President Muhammadu Buhari).

    “No amount of cheap blackmail and unsubstantiated allegations will make us bulge. While we do not intend to take issues with any one, however, it has become expedient to bring to the notice of the general public the actual reasons behind Governor Wike’s attrition against the Nigerian Army and its leadership, with the hope that he will finally sheathe his sword and publicly apologise to the Nigerian Army, as we present the shocking discoveries.”

    The GOC reiterated that on February 15 this year, “one Barr. Emma Okah” (Rivers Commissioner for Information and Communications) issued a statement, alleging that a very senior officer of the division attempted to tamper with INEC’s sensitive materials at the premises of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Port Harcourt.

    He noted that a rejoinder was immediately issued by the headquarters of 6 division, which not only rebutted Okah’s allegation, but also demanded an apology from him within 72 hours or face legal action, disclosing that Rivers information commissioner had “arrogantly” refused to heed the advice.

    Maj.-Gen. Sarham said: “On February 23, 2019 at about 8:45 am, following a tip-off on attempt by Governor Wike’s aides to induce and compromise troops deployed at the CBN, Port Harcourt premises, Major Akpoge Peter Ubah of 6 Division and four other police personnel: DSP Oyoku Ifelle (Camp Commandant, Rivers State Government House, Port Harcourt), Sgt. Akanu Garba, Inspector Hycent Oboi and Sgt. Nketan Chucks, were arrested by a team from headquarters of 6 Division.

    “Preliminary investigations discovered the sum of N2, 250,000 in a Range Rover car belonging to the DSP. Other items recovered are four INEC 2019 electoral tags, customised Rivers State Government House brown envelopes, while the sum of N500,000 was found in the Toyota vehicle belonging to Major Akpoge Peter Ubah, which he confessed was given to him by Rivers Governor’s aides, in addition to offer of a well-furnished accommodation for the period of his tour of duty.

    “On the same day (February 23), at about 7 a.m., a member of Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Nwanaka Okpokiri, in company with Dr. Reason Onya, visited our troops’ camp at Akinima (headquarters of Ahoada West LGA of Rivers) and requested to be acquainted with the Commander of the troops at the location. Hon. Okpokiri offered the officer some amount of money he removed from his pocket, but the officer not only rejected the offer, but he sent the duo away.

    “While the officer and his men were manning a check point at Mbiama Bridge (Ahoada West LGA of Rivers), a white Hilux vehicle, with a Rivers State Government registration number: L02-03RV RIVERS and eight occupants, was stopped for routine search and clearance. A carton and two bundles of INEC 2019 presidential election ballot papers were discovered in the vehicle. Preliminary investigation reveals that none of the occupants of the vehicle is an INEC staff, INEC’s ad-hoc staff or security agent.

    “During the course of on-the-spot interrogations, Hon. Okpokiri and Dr. Onya appeared at the spot and tried to convince the suspecting troops that the vehicle is part of INEC convoy that was left behind and that the vehicle should be allowed to go, because the electorate was waiting. When the vigilant officer refused to be convinced, Dr. Onya immediately placed a call to Governor Wike and His Excellency (Wike) requested to speak with the officer, who declined and requested the governor to please call the GOC.

    “After much resistance, the officer gave Dr. Onya his mobile number to pass to Governor Wike, which he did via Whatsapp message. Within ten minutes, Governor Wike placed a call to the officer.”

    The GOC also played the recorded telephone conversation between the officer of 6 division and Rivers governor, with Wike promising to send money to the army officer, through the Rivers commissioner (Onya), who recently stepped aside during the building collapse in Government Reservation Area (GRA), Port Harcourt.

  • Wike gives thumbs up to INEC, blames the military

    The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Saturday praised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for the prompt distribution of electoral materials across the state in the yesterday’s Presidential and National Assembly Elections.

    Wike, who spoke shortly after casting his votes at his ward 9, unit 7 Obio/Akpor Local Governmnet Area of the state, however blamed the military for the challenges recorded in parts of the state.

    Wike was accompanied to the voting ground by his wife,  Eberechi Suzzette Wike, a judge of the State High Court, to cast his votes at about few minutes to 12 noon yesterday.

    He expressed satisfaction in the large turnout of voters. He stated that Nigerians are ready to exercise their franchise.

    Speaking to newsmen he said,  “From what I have seen here, it is a large turnout and Nigerians  are ready to express their franchise.  Apart from the military intervention, things are moving on smoothly.

    “There is a clear improvement by INEC in the conduct of this year’s election. They have shown preparedness in the discharge of their electoral duties during the voting process, and I sincerely commend them for that.”

    Read Also: I have confidence in INEC – Hamzat

    He, however, regretted the activities of the Nigerian Military in the exercise, accusing them of deliberate efforts to frustrate the success of democratic process across the state.

    “It is unfortunate that our military can descend so low.  We use to complain about the Police, but now it is the military.

    “What Nigerians have wished to be will be, it doesn’t matter the manipulation anybody would want to carry out, I am very hopeful that Nigerians will decide today and a new President will emerge”, he said.

    Generally, the elections were peaceful in parts of the state, especially,  Port-Harcourt the state capital and its environs, though there were some skirmishes in some LGAs, of Bonny, Okrika, Abonnema in Akukutoru, and Andoni and arrests have been made in these places, the state  police command told newsmen.

    Speaking through its spokesman, Nnamdi Omoni,  Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), noted that the police was very prepared for the exercise, with over 15,000 officers and men deployed to the 4,442 polling unites across the state.

    Electoral materials arrived most of the polling centres early enough, resulting in accreditation and voting in most areas as early as 9 am.

    At Saint Andrew Anglican Church, Mile one Diobu, RACK centre  for the entire Diobu axis, electoral materials began to leave the centre as early as 7:30 am, by 9: 30, all materials had completely been moved from the place with voting already commenced in some places.

    There was large turnout of voters in the state with good number of them seen trekking several miles away to get to their voting centres.

    A voter simply identified as Ayozie, aged about 60, and was seen at second artillery along Aba/Port-Harcourt expressway going from Obigbo to Diobu to ensure he cast his vote.

    Interacting with him, he said, “I am coming from Obigbo in Obigbo LGA and I am going to Diobi to cast my vote to my preferred candidate.”

    Also at one of the polling units visited in Wimpey area, an average age woman told the story of how she trekked from Rukpokwu axis to her polling unit at the Wimpy area.

  • Assassination attempt on Wike false, says Army

    The Nigerian Army Saturday night said there was no iota of truth in the allegation leveled against the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Jamil Sarham by Governor Nyelsome Wike of Rivers State that the GOC planned to assassinate him.

    In a statement issued in Abuja by the spokesman of the Army, Colonel Sagir Musa, the Army maintained that governor Wike deployed a smear campaign against the GOC.

    Colonel Musa said: “The Nigerian Army (NA) wishes to respond to the bogus and unsubstantiated allegations being peddled by the Governor of Rivers State, Mr Nyesom Wike. Some of his rancorous claims were that the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, Maj Gen Jamil Sarham purportedly sent troops to cordon off his residence prior to the rescheduled General Elections on the 15th of February 2019.

    “The Governor further went on to allege an assassination attempt on his life which he claimed was orchestrated by the GOC 6 Division.

    “The NA is appalled that a Governor who should epitomize leadership and good example in all senses could descend so low to employ smear campaign against the person of a GOC whose only responsibility amongst other things, – is about the safety and security of lives and properties in his Area of Responsibility.

    “The NA does not train assassins as such the institution or her personnel cannot be involved in sending assassins to murder a state Governor as alleged by Gov Nyesom Wike.

    “It is indeed no secret to the military authorities that Governor Wike has on various occasions made attempts to compromise the integrity of the GOC 6 Division.

    ‘Having failed, despites series of overtures and monetary pledges of millions of dollars, both in person and from cronies, it is no surprise that the frustrated Governor has resorted to this appalling campaign of calumny. One would have thought that the resolute and uncompromising stance of Maj Gen Jamil Sarham in the face of several kinds of mouth-watering inducements would have earned him a commendation from any conscientious leader.

    “Alas, this was not the case from the embittered governor of Rivers State but rather, these slanderous allegations.

    “Despite these unsubstantiated ramblings however, the NA has deemed it fit to clear the air by letting Governor Wike and the general public at large, know that it would not be dragged into any form of political gerrymandering concocted for the furtherance of any person’s interest or notoriety.

    “As a noble institution, the NA is apolitical, neutral and would not compromise its constitutional roles under any guise. Additionally, the NA would like to give Governor Wike the benefit of doubt, to within 7 days, bring forth evidence that can substantiate the bogus claims, or he could as well, save face and keep his peace.”

  • Wike hails Nigerians for ‘refusing to be provoked’

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has said Nigerians will vote out President Muhammadu Buhari on February 23 despite the postponement of the election on Saturday.

    Wike, who spoke yesterday at the Living Faith Church on Kaduna Street, said the postponement should re-energise Nigerians to use their votes to insist that Nigeria must be better.

    He said: “I am not speaking to you because I am a governor. I am speaking because I am a member of an organisation, “Nigeria Must be Better”.

    “The situation we find ourselves today is not what we bargained for. We have to move ahead so that Nigeria must be better. You know what to do next Saturday.”

    The governor, who lamented that there are people who think they can play on the people’s intelligence by shifting elections unnecessarily, thanked Nigerians for refusing to be provoked by the last minute postponement.

    He said: “What happened yesterday should re-energise you to still believe in the principle that Nigeria must be better. If yesterday, you said let me just do it, this week, come with all your energy and truly Nigeria must be Better.”

    Wike urged Nigerians to opt for development, freedom and abhor dictatorship when they vote on February 23, saying the present government must be thrown out.

    Pastor Isaac Folaji and other clerics prayed for the peace of the country and her development.