The Minister for Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has condemned the spurious allegations levelled against him by Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, especially on the alleged plot to destroy the embattled Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen.
Amaechi’s successor, Wike, who was his Chief of Staff between 2007 and 2011, when the then Rivers governor recommended him (Wike) to the then President Goodluck Jonathan for ministerial appointment, at a campaign rally in Rivers state on Thursday, accused the transportation minister of working against his Southsouth brother (Onnoghen).
The Director-General of Buhari/OsInbajo Reelection Campaign Organisation, on Friday in an online statement through his media office, stated that he read with dismay and utter disgust, Wike’s senseless allegations.
Amaechi’s media office said: “This is another blatant lie (plot to destroy Onnoghen), just to smear Amaechi and put him on collision course with the judiciary. Ordinarily, we would not have bothered to respond to a governor (Wike), whose stock-in-trade is to concoct stories and lie about almost everything and anything. Wike completely lacks any shred of credibility. Nothing is sacred to him
“Amaechi is not a judicial officer and he is not part of whatever is happening in the judiciary. We challenge Wike to mention the name of the APC’s chieftain he falsely alleged that Amaechi discussed the ‘destruction of the CJN with.’
“This Wike’s latest attack on Amaechi is reminiscent of his earlier spurious allegations during the Ikoyi-Osborne-gate scandal, where Wike disgracefully opened his mouth to shamelessly allege that the former Rivers governor (Amaechi) was the owner of the $13 billion and the owner of the Osborne apartment in Ikoyi, Lagos, where the money was kept. Wike lied that the money was stolen from Rivers State government’s treasury.
“In Wike’s usual chicanery, up till today, he has refused to go to court to claim the $13 billion found in the Ikoyi apartment, which he claimed was Rivers money stolen by his predecessor. Even when a court of law openly asked anyone laying claim to the money to come forward and collect it, Wike ran far away from the court.”
The transportation minister also reminded Rivers governor that the immunity he currently enjoys against prosecution for his many libellous attacks on him would not last forever.
Amaechi’s media office also said: “At the appropriate time, he (Wike) will no doubt face the full wrath of the law and ultimately that of the Almighty God.
“Wike should by now know that Nigerians are tired and are no longer interested in his ranting and cock-and-bull stories against Amaechi. Indeed, it is pathetic and a big shame that Wike does not know that Nigerians already know him as an incurable, incorrigible compulsive liar and do not take him and/or his comments seriously any longer.
“Wike’s outburst against Amaechi is diversionary. Rivers governor knows too well that he has nothing to show Rivers people for his almost four years in office, in a state obviously with one of the highest allocations, thereby resorting to casting aspersions on Amaechi, instead of telling the people what he has done for Rivers State.”
Transportation minister also called on Rivers people and other lovers of democracy to ignore Wike, whom he described as a frivolous and deceitful character, who is obviously drunk on power and always high on alcohol.
The Special Adviser ( SA ), to the Rivers state Governor Nyesom Wike on Lands and Survey, Chief Anugbom Onuoha, has been kidnapped by unknown gunmen the stay Police command says.
According to a statement in Port Harcourt the state capital on Friday by the Spokesman of the command, Nnamdi Omoni, a Deputy Superintendent of Police Dr. Onuoha a Lawyer was kidnapped from a hotel in the Adah George area of Port Harcourt, Thursday night by armed men on military uniforms.
The command described the development as unfortunate and pledged to ensure he was released as soon as possible.
The statement said, “On January 18, 2019, at about 8:30 pm, unknown gunmen in military uniforms stormed a certain Hotel at Ada George road in Port Harcourt and kidnapped the Special Adviser to the Governor on Lands & Survey, chief Anugbom Onuoha.
“This is unfortunate, and as a Command, we are touched by this development and will go all out to ensure his speedy and timely release.
“The state Commissioner of Police Musa Belel has given a marching order to all the Tactical Units, including the IGP Monitoring Unit to work round the clock and ensure that the victim is released in record time.
“Contacts have been made with Sister Security Agencies and other security stakeholders in this direction. The Command wishes to appeal to the members of the public, to avail us with useful information that can lead to his unconditional release.
“The public is hereby assured that there is no cause for alarm, as the already existing peace in the State will be sustained,” they said.
Senate President Bukola Saraki, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and others yesterday faulted the Federal Government’s plan to arraign Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Walter Onnoghen before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) today. The All Progressives Congress (APC), however, supported the move. It accused the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of being sympathetic to corruption. Onyedi Ojiabor and Chris Oji report.
NBA: This is desecration of the judiciary
NBA President Paul Usoro, in a statement, faulted the action against the CJN.
His statement reads: “Nigerians have witnessed again the targeted assault of the judiciary by agents of the Federal Government of Nigeria (“FGN”) epitomised by today’s media trial of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Honorable Mr. Justice Walter S N Onnoghen, GCON (“CJN”). According to media reports which have now been validated by the Statement of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (“CCT”) that was released today an application was “filed by the Code of Conduct Bureau to the CCT Chairman yesterday for the trial to commence against the Chief Justice of Nigeria on six count charges” and that the CCT “will commence the trial on Monday, 14th January 2019”. The Nigerian Bar Association unequivocally condemns this assault, intimidation and desecration of the Judiciary by FGN agencies and demands that it be stopped immediately.
“In Nganjiwa v Federal Republic of Nigeria (2017) LPELR-43391(CA), the Court of Appeal made it very clear that any misconduct attached to the office and functions of a judicial officer must first be reported to and handled by the National Judicial Council (“NJC”) pursuant to the provisions of our laws. Only after the NJC has pronounced against such judicial officer can the prosecuting agencies of the Federal Government proceed against him. As the Court pointed out, these requirements of the law are anchored on the overriding principles of separation of powers between the executive, the judiciary and the legislature and on the need to preserve, promote and protect the independence of the judiciary. Our respective liberties and the rule of law are best protected and preserved if the judiciary remains independent and shielded from intimidation and assault by the other arms of the government.
“In Nganjiwa v FRN (supra), the Court of Appeal made reference to Rule 3 of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of February 2016 (“Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers”)and held that the said Rule 3 “makes provision in relation to fidelity to the Constitution and the Law”. The provisions in regard to assets declaration as they apply to all public officers including the CJN are contained in both the Constitution and the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act 1991, the enabling law that establishes both the Code of Conduct Bureau (“CCB”) and the CCT. The fidelity which judicial officers therefore owe “to the Constitution and the Law” pursuant to Rule 3 of the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers encompasses compliance with the provisions relating to assets declarations as contained in the Constitution and the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. Any infraction in that regard by a judicial officer, as the Court of Appeal rightly held, constitutes a misconduct by the judicial officer and becomes the subject matter for discipline by the NJC as a condition precedent to any possible prosecution of the judicial officer by any of the FGN’s prosecuting agencies.
“Why has FGN decided to embark on this anomalous course of charging the CJN before the CCT without first presenting whatever facts it purportedly has against His Lordship to the NJC for its deliberation and determination? The Petition that triggered the CCB action was on its face received by the Bureau on 09 January 2019 and the Charge was promptly drafted and is dated the following day, 10 January 2019 – giving the CCB a record 24 hours for completion of its investigation and the drafting of the said Charge and ancillary processes! If one contemplates the fact that the CCT arraignment is scheduled to take place on 14 January 2019, we have in total a record number of 3 (three) working days between the receipt and processing of the petition, investigation, preparation of Charge and ancillary processes and the arraignment! Such unprecedented speed and efficiency in Nigeria’s criminal justice administration! It is clear, given the rush with which this matter was conducted by the CCB, that the NJC was not privy to it and did not conduct its mandatorily required disciplinary processes prior to the filing of the Charge before the CCT.
CJ Walter Onnoghen
“We still wonder why the FGN choose to deviate from the laid down and explicit provisions of the law as expounded in Nganjiwa v FRN (supra). Could it be that it was misadvised? Or is this a naked show of power and force by agencies of the FGN? And why embark on the media trial of the CJN? This, unfortunately, is a predilection of the FGN’s prosecuting agencies with the possible exception of the Federal Ministry of Justice. As the NBA pointed out in its International Anti-Corruption Day Statement that was issued on 09 December 2018 “media trial of persons charged with corrupt practices . . . amount to corruption itself. Indeed, those orchestrated media trials degrade and corrupt the justice administration system quite apart from the incalculable (but obviously intended) damage that it does to persons who may ultimately be discharged and acquitted. In point of fact, it is corrupt practice to use as license or hide under the cover of the fight against corruption to recklessly destroy the names, characters and reputations of persons who have not been found guilty of corrupt practices by competent courts and who may ultimately be pronounced innocent of such charges.” These media trials must, alongside the on-going desecration and assault of the judiciary, cease forthwith.
“There are two final issues that we must touch upon in this Statement, albeit, briefly. First, could it possibly be a coincidence that the current assault on the judiciary is taking place only weeks to the 2019 National Election? Apart from the conduct itself being wrongful and deplorable, its timing is condemnable. FGN will find it difficult to convince any reasonable person that its assault against the CJN and by extension the judiciary is not aimed at emasculating that arm of the government and intimidating our Judges ahead of the 2019 National Elections. In our afore-referenced International Anti-Corruption Day Statement, the NBA had deplored “conducts that qualify as . . . political non-accountability, absence of transparency and impunity in public service.” The FGN’s conduct in this instance qualifies, amongst others, as “impunity in public service.”
Wike: Nigerians will resist attempt to truncate democracy
Rivers State Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike stated that Nigerians would resist any attempt by the APC Federal Government to deliberately truncate the nation’s democracy.
Speaking during the inter-denominational service to mark this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day at the Holy Trinity Anglican Cathedral, Rumuapara Deanery, Port Harcourt yesterday, Wike said that the illegal actions of the Buhari administration are pointers to the fact that he may not willingly hand over after he suffers defeat in February.
Wike described the charges against the CJN as concocted.
He said: “Since 1960 when Nigeria gained independence, for the first time in 2011, a Niger Delta person became the President. The entire country ganged up against him . They gave excuses and denied us a second term. We did not fight. We did not shed blood. He said his ambition was not worth the blood of any Nigerian and they called him a weak man.
“Since 1960, no Niger Delta person has been the Chief Justice of Nigeria. When it came to his own time to be appointed the Chief Justice of Nigeria politics came in. They were not willing to appoint him. It was God that created the circumstances. The President was sick and was flown out. That was how Onoghen became the Chief Justice of Nigeria.
“Now, because they believe that the Niger Delta is not part of this country, they have come again with all kinds of stories. They think they are talking to small children. Fabricated stories and said he did not declare his assets in 2011. Step aside for who take over. We must know whether or not we belong to this country. Enough is enough. I have never seen people who are so desperate to cling to power.”
Ohanaeze kicks
Apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, kicked against the move against Justice Onnoghen.
A statement issued by the organization through the Media Assistant to the President General, Chief Emeka Attamah reads:”Ohaneze has received, with shock and disappointment, the decision of the Federal government of Nigeria, acting through the Code of Conduct Bureau to prosecute the Chief Justice Of Nigeria.
“Legal opinion abound that the action is premature and ill conceived following an extant Court Of Appeal decision which interprets the procedure for prosecuting judicial officers. This procedure has not been followed. The fact that the National Judicial Council has been ignored is not just illegal but suggests deliberate court shopping and a predetermined objective.
“Secondly, the fact that one of the issues being canvassed by the CCB before the CCT is for an order of the CCT for the Chief Justice of Nigeria to step aside from his exalted office pending the conclusion of the trial contrary to the procedure for his removal from office as provided by the Nigerian constitution exposes the aim of the prosecution.
“A perusal of some of the depositions in the charge sheet also shows a completely distorted conception of the regulations pertaining to the declaration of assets. Assets acquired after assumption of office are declared at the end of a public official’s tenure in order to present a comparison with assets declared on assumption of office.”
Hashim cautions Executive
The presidential candidate of the People’s Trust, Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, cautioned the executive arm of government to thread softly in the planned arraignment of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen, before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on allegations of false asset declaration.
Olawepo-Hashim, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Hassan Ibrahim in Abuja yesterday, said the development constituted a serious threat to constitutional democracy and rule of law.
He warned that the principle of separation of powers on which democractic order stands should not be destroyed due to power play or because of any other reason.
He said as one who was a leading partisan in the struggle for the restoration of democracy in Nigeria, “I owe inviolable the sacred principle of separation of power of which the independence of the judiciary is a fundamental element.”
He said “Nigeria’s judiciary is surely not perfect just like many other institutions of state that need urgent reform. But this must not be a licence for executive’s perfidious interference.
“There are mechanisms for correcting errors done by judicial officers in the Nigerian constitution. What we are seeing now is not the activation of such mechanism but what appears like a political persecution of the judiciary which is dangerous for democracy, national unity and cohesion.
“Though with her own shortcomings which can be internally cured within the judiciary’s self correcting mechanism, our judiciary remains highly revered with an enviable jurisprudence and history.
“It has provided help to other countries by posting judges to many African countries such as Botswana, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe and even at the international level.”
“That enviable record must not be recklessly blighted by the on-going attempt to humiliate judicial officers,” he said.
The PT’s candidate said this occasion was an opportunity for the the People’s Trust to elucidate on its policy perspective on the Judiciary, stressing that in his party’s manifesto,” there are far-reaching justice sector reform initiatives in our manifesto to reposition the judiciary as a self-correcting institution through the National Judicial Council, to reverse the humiliation and molestation of the judicial sector and stop the erosion of judicial authority and mandates due to executive interference and harassment.
“Under our Presidency, I will implement and pursue fundamental reforms of the justice administration sector to guarantee the independence of the judiciary from executive interference while strengthening the system to justly and efficiently discharge her constitutional mandate.”
“We intend to make the judiciary truly the last hope of the common person by stopping police brutality and removing hindrance in the justice administration system”, the presidential hopeful said.
Saraki to Fed Govt: due process should be followed
Senate President Bukola Saraki yesterday urged the Federal Government to ensure that its plan to put on trial the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen does not cause chaos in the judicial system.
Saraki also advised the Federal Government to ensure that due process is not compromised in the planned trial of the CJN.
The Senate President, in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) Yusuph Olaniyonu, noted that he believes that if the government truly has genuine reason to put the incumbent Chief Justice of Nigeria on trial, it should ensure that every step in the process is transparent and the normal process as provided by the law is followed to the letter.
He said: “A situation where the petition which triggered the trial was submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) on Wednesday January 8 and by January 10 on Friday, the Chief Justice was presented with it for his reply only for the charges to be drafted that same day and filed in the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), all this taking place within three days and commencement of trial fixed for Monday, January 14, already indicate unnecessary haste and short-circuiting of the process of fair hearing.
“It is important for the government and members of the public to know that as somebody who has travelled this route before, we should refrain from any media trial and political players should avoid abusing the judicial process in order to achieve what they could not get through normal political contests. Everybody who is being tried should be presumed innocent until proven guilty. That is the underlining principle of our justice system.
“The proposed trial of the CJN has once again opened up the debate on the transparency and neutrality of the fight against corruption. The haste with which this trial is being pursued leaves a lot to be desired.
“From last Wednesday when the so-called petition against the CJN was initiated to the period the trial is scheduled to commence has been barely three working days whereas there are pending cases where the individuals involved have been indicted some months ago but no prosecution is being considered.”
“While noting that the anti-corruption fight has become a case of a separate rule for the people close to the executive branch and another set of rules for the rest of Nigerians, the Senate President stated that the fight has been compromised and politicized.
“All these subjective actions politicise the anti-graft fight. They weaken national institutions. They send wrong signals. The CJN is not above the law but his trial puts the entire judicial system on trial. It sends a signal to the entire world about our judiciary. It has implications for the confidence of local and foreign investors about the system of adjudication over disputes in our country. Thus, the matter should be handled with care, demonstrating intense transparency and strict adherence to due process.
“This trial, coming just about a month to the commencement of the presidential elections, the aftermath of which the CJN and the judiciary he is leading are set to play crucial adjudicatory role, has already raised suspicion about the real motive. There are already suggestions that this plan is set to disorganise the judicial arm after constant attempts by agents of State to undermine the federal legislature.
“Therefore, the entire country and the international community will be watching closely every step in this trial because it is definitely unusual, unprecedented and will set a record in the engagement among the three arms of government recognised in our presidential system.
“This trial definitely has implications for the principle of separation of powers and concept of checks and balances embedded in our presidential system of government,” Saraki said.
PDP sympathetic to corruption, says APC
The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of being sympathetic to corruption.
The statement by its spokesman Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu reads: “Following reports of the move to prosecute Justice Walter Onnoghen, Chief Justice of the Federation, over an alleged infraction on the Code of Conduct laws, the swift statement by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) condemning the purported move has again exposed the Party as one with a natural inclination to rise up in defence of cases of alleged corruption.
“Resort to baseless postulations anytime issues of corruption is leveled against public officers only confirm what Nigerians already know. PDP and corruption are siamese twins that are difficult to separate from each other. One would have thought that the PDP will call for impartial investigations when corruption cases are levelled against public officers, but spinning falsehoods and conspiracies remains the opposition party’s favourite past time.
“The fight against corruption remains a cardinal promise made by the APC to the electorate. We assure the PDP and indeed all Nigerians that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration remains uncompromising in its determination to rid the country of this malady.
“As noted on many occasions by President Buhari, it is only those who have committed crimes that need to worry. The APC administration will not hesitate to investigate and prosecute any public officer if and when such is indicted for corruption.
“Achieving acceptable elections in all democratic climes is a collective effort which require the contributions and support of all well-meaning Nigerians, political parties, institutions and sundry interests.
“Commendably, in successive elections conducted under the APC administration, the Party has played by the rules, which has led to credible elections. This cannot be said of the PDP era when state institutions were deployed to manipulate the electoral process.
“The PDP’s baseless conspiracy theory on APC’s participation in the 2019 general elections should hereby be disregarded. We remain solidly committed to ensure that the forthcoming election go on record as one of the freest, most credible and peaceful elections in the country.
Rivers State Deputy Governor Dr. Ipalibo Harry-Banigo has said Governor Nyesom Wike’s administration will lead Rivers unto peace, development and prosperity.
Harry-Banigo, in her New Year’s message through the Head of her Press Unit, Owupele Benebo, lauded Wike for transforming the state.
She said: “Revoking the sale of state-owned assets to subsidiaries of Sahara Energy Limited is a clear demonstration of Governor Wike’s desire to ensure that the people enjoy the full value of the state’s resources. Every action taken by the government is in the people’s interest. The persons crying wolf over the revocation of the sale of our critical assets do not mean well for Rivers people.”
Wike’s wife, Eberechi, has described women as the backbone of the society. She urged women to work hard towards developing their families as it was the only way the society can develop in the right direction.
A statement by Governor Wike’s media aide, Simeon Nwakaudu, said Justice Eberechi Wike spoke yesterday when she visited the New Year Baby, Ela Diseph, at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH) in Port Harcourt.
Baby Ela Diseph was born to the family of Dr. and Mrs. Ela George at 12.05 am yesterday. He weighed 4.1kg at delivery.
Justice Eberechi said: “Women are the backbone of any family. Therefore, we are the foundation of any society. When we get it right at the level of the family, things will be right with the society. When the society is troubled, then the problem actually started from the family.
“When we get it right in the family, everything finds its place in the society. My message to mothers is to be supportive of their husbands and every member of the family.
“I wish everyone a happy 2019, especially mothers who are the backbone of the society. I congratulate all for seeing this New Year.”
She congratulated Ela’s mother for her safe delivery, and prayed God to bless the family.
Wike’s wife gave cash and other gifts to thebaby and other children in the ward.
RSUTH’s Chief Medical Director Dr. Friday Aaron said the first baby was delivered without complications.
He thanked her for showing love to children and mothers in the state.
Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has presented an Appropriation Bill of N480 billion to the House of Assembly for 2019.
Wike said the strategic thrust of the budget was the promotion of growth, diversification and job creation to improve lives.
The “Budget of Sustainable Growth and Development” proposes to spend N323, 288,970,085.00 on capital and N157,122,354,564.15 on recurrent expenditure.
Wike said: “The capital allocation of N323,288,970,085.00 for 2019 represents 65 per cent of the total budget. This sum is, however, less than that of 2018 due to the reduction in the total size of the 2019 budget as against that of 2018.”
The governor added that the bill had set priorities for human capital development and infrastructural provision as a substantial part of it was allocated to ministries of Agriculture, Education, Employment Generation and Empowerment, Health, Sports Development, Women Affairs, Works, and Youth Development.
But the lawmaker representing Ahoada East I, Martin Mannah, has berated Wike for the “poor implementation of 2018 budget”.
According to Mannah, the money appropriated for infrastructural development in the 2018 budget did not translate to what was on ground. He described it as a “scam”.
Mannah, who spoke yesterday after Wike presented the 2019 Appropriation Bill to the Assembly, said the governor only implemented the 2018 budget on paper as most of the roads budgeted for were abandoned.
He said: “The 2018 budget was a scam, the governor hid the budget to himself, lawmakers were not given their constituency project, especially those of the APC; pensioners have not been paid since 2015 till date, most of those things he claimed to have done are not found anywhere. County High School, Ahoada, has been flagged off for renovation since 2016, but nothing has been done. Billions are earmarked for these projects yet nothing happens afterwards.”
The Inaugural sitting/ hearing by the Judicial Panel of inquiry on the collapsed 7-storey building in the Government Reserved Area(GRA) of Rivers state has been scheduled for December 27.
A 7-storey building under construction suspected to be seven-star hotel project collapsed and trapped hundreds of workers on the construction site last month, killing over 20 of them.
Governor Nyesom Wike set up an Judicial Panel of inquiry to be chaired by a High Court Judge, Justice Adolphus Enebeli to investigate into the immediate and remote cause of the collapse and make recommendations to the government.
A statement in Port Harcourt, the state capital, by Justice Enebeli and the secretary of the team, Egerton Madume, explained the panelists will begin hearing into the matter, on Thursday, at the premises of the state High court.
No fewer than over 40 witnesses have been invited to appear before the Panel, including the some of the Governor’s aides, officials of the state ministry of land and other relevant agencies, formers permanent secretaries and officials of the relevant ministries and agencies, the owner of the collapsed structure, Joseph Francis Alagoa, contractors, site Engineer, survivors among others are expected to be witnesses during the sitting.
Other relevant construction bodies, including the Society of Engineers, Nigerian Institute of Town Planners Architects and other relevant bodies who submitted memo to the commission will also appear to make their submissions.
The team of panelists said the invitation before the members of the commission “is without prejudice to or not alternative to the service of summons or issuance of warrant of arrest against the above listed persons and provided under section 7 and 8(1) of the commission of inquiry law cap 2, Laws of Rivers State in the event of disobedience or failure to answer to the summon.”
RIVERS State governor, Nyesom Wike, and All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in the state, Pastor Tonye Cole, yesterday engaged in brickbats over the state government’s termination of the sale of the stateowned power plants to subsidiaries of Sahara Energy Limited co-founded Cole. Wike, through the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Emma Okah, yesterday in Port Harcourt, announced the termination by the Rivers government of the sale of the state-owned power plants to subsidiaries of Sahara Energy Limited. The commissioner, while briefing reporters at the end of the meeting, said: “The Rivers State government has approved the termination of the share sale contract for the sale of 70 per cent equity of the state government-owned power generation assets held by First Independent Power Limited in Omoku, Afam, Trans-Amadi and Eleme Gas Turbines to NG PowerHPS Limited.
“The Rivers State government also terminated the concession of the Rivers and Bayelsa States’ owned Olympia Hotel (in old Government Reservation Area, near Government House, Port Harcourt) to Cenpropsaroten Hotel Management Limited. “The Rivers State government further terminated the concession agreement between the government of Rivers State and Kild Concession Limited, in respect of the construction of a toll road and secondary developments in Abonnema Wharf, Port Harcourt. “The three companies that had their contracts/concessions terminated are subsidiaries of Sahara Energy Limited, used by the immediate past Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, to acquire state assets.”
Okah also stated that the Rivers government arrived at the resolutions, in line with the yet-to-be-implemented recommendations of the white paper on the report of the judicial commission of inquiry on the investigation of the administration of Amaechi, on the sale of valued assets of Rivers State and other related matters, under the chairmanship of Justice George Omereji. Cole, a billionaire businessman, who is a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), in his reaction, however, declared that Wike is frustrated and playing vindictive politics. The Rivers governorship candidate of the APC, who spoke through the Director, Strategic Communications of his campaign organisation, Prince Tonye Princewill, said: “This may be a surprise to some, but not me.
This is the vindictive nature of the politics we play today and the reason why many who can salvage our analog politics stay away. “We have said it before that politics is too important to be left to politicians. So, the Tonye Coles of this world should have no fear. The old way is going and the old style politicians know it. My surprise is it took this long. “I can only imagine that now Wike knows that Tonye Cole will be confirmed as his opponent, he can no longer hide his frustration. What he fails to appreciate is that no serious businessman will want to do business with Rivers State. All this from a state with the highest level of unemployment in Nigeria and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) untapped. Yet we wonder why insecurity remains.”
As elections loom, we see the spectre of violence. Or, more appropriately, imagine it. Rivers State is alive with such a hobgoblin. The army of the sixth division has accused the state governor, Nyesom Wike, of assembling some youths to form a vigilante group. The army said it was illegal and called it a “militia group.”
The division sent a detachment of soldiers to raid and sack the vigilante group at the NYSC Orientation Camp, Nowan Gbam, where the Rivers State government was recruiting and training the youths.
But Governor Wike has hit back, denying that it was anything novel and anything illegal and anything devoted to violence. It was purely a neighbourhood watch.
There is some spectre here. Who is manufacturing reality? The army or Wike? The army, for one, has not been all consistent in its language. While the 6 division says it is sure, the Chief of army Staff, Gen. Tukur Buratai, said it was investigating it and had ordered an inquiry. How could the army be speaking from two voices? Their chief says he is looking into it, while lower down the ranks, the 6 Division says they have found it.
What is going on? We hope the army is not playing the APC script that has rammed down a position in sync with that of the army. The APC says it is all about disrupting 2019. We recall there is no love lost between the Governor and his predecessor Rotimi Amaechi, and we hope the army is not a marionette of a politician?
For one, the Rivers State government said it had written the 6 Division about the neighbourhood watch, but the army ignored it. Could it be that the army, as it has failed many times, did not know of the NYSC Camp activity until the letter came, and they responded as though they had been following? They have not acknowledged the letter, and they have not disavowed it.
Hardball would like to know what the army has to say about it. Again the vigilante watch is not new to the country. Information Commissioner Emma Okocha noted that other states have this, including Lagos, Kano, Imo, and Kwara. And he is right. We know neighborhood watches are potentially deployed for elections, but the army should not shoot from the hip. It may be true that Wike has political designs and may be plotting a militia, but the army should prove it, not merely assert it.
If the army speaks with two voices and Wike with one voice, who would you believe?
Ahead of the opening of his campaign today, Peoples Democratic Party( PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar yesterday met with Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, who resigned as the Southsouth co-ordinator of the campaign.
Atiku was begging Wike, assuring the governor that he will henceforth be involved in key campaign decisions.
The governor said he had no grouses against Atiku, but the leadership of the PDP which was trying to sideline him.
Wike may today rescind his decision to resign as the Southsouth Coordinator of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council.
Wike has ruled out leaving PDP, said a cabinet source.
Atiku may also reconcile the leadership of the party and Wike on issues raised by the governor.
But Atiku’s Special Assistant, Public Communications, Mr. Phrank Shaibu, said: “The PCC is intact; there is no cause for alarm.”
He insisted that the purported resignation of Wike was “speculative”.
A source, who spoke in confidence, confirmed the meeting. He said: “Atiku and Wike met on Sunday (yesterday) in Abuja and they had fruitful and frank discussions. We are good to go with our campaign as from Monday (today).
“The governor used the opportunity to list his grouses against the leadership of PDP, especially the emerging trend of marginalising him in key decisions connected with the campaign.
“At the session, Atiku promised to address the challenges identified by Wike and he also assured him that he will facilitate a reconciliation with the party hierarchy.
“Atiku implored him to withdraw his purported resignation by putting the nation, 2019 poll battle and the interest of the party above other interests.
“Based in the soothing words from Atiku, the governor may today rescind his decision to resign as the party’s Southsouth coordinator.”
An executive council source in Rivers State, who spoke in confidence, said: “I have not been able to link up with the governor today but one thing is certain, Governor Nyesom Wike will not leave PDP no matter how rough the situation is.”
“The so-called deepening face-off between Atiku and Wike should be regarded as a mere cliche, figment of the imagination of the writers of such fiction, because there is nothing as such.
“ Governor Wike’s purported resignation as Southsouth PDP Presidential campaign co-ordinator is still in the realm of speculation.
“Wike is a solid and unshakable PDP leader. His contributions to the survival and sustenance of the party to become the formidable force it is today have been unsurpassed.
“As a total party man, his first priority in the 2019 election is to secure Rivers state for the PDP and he knows that with the Presidential election coming first, all hands must be on deck and no stone must be left unturned to ensure that the bandwagon effect of a PDP presidential election victory will flow into his own governorship election in March.
“However, should the speculation of his resignation as a regional campaign coordinator have any real meaning, then Governor Wike must have very good and impeccable reasons for his decision which must be in the overall interest of the party.”
Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has said no level of illegal use of force by Federal Security Services will intimidate the government and people.
According to him, the state remains committed to the legal use of the people’s mandate to advance the course of development.
The governor, who spoke during the opening of the Anaka multi-purpose community hall in Ogbogoro, was represented by his Chief of Staff, Chukwuemeka Woke. He urged the people to remain peaceful and calm despite the provocative actions against their interest.
Wike regretted the invasion of the Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency training camp by the Army, saying it was done in bad faith.
He said: “The Rivers State House of Assembly passed a bill establishing Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency. The governor signed that bill and it became a law of the state. If anybody, or any organisation, or institution, has anything against that law, the natural thing to do is to challenge it in court.
“You have seen the level of provocation by federal agencies. Only last week, they invaded the training camp of the Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency. But we are urging Rivers people to remain firm and strong. I tell, you as far as Rivers State is concerned, we cannot be intimidated; no amount of federal might can intimidate us.”
The governor added that the Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency has also created the needed employment and empowered youths across the state.
He urged communities to remain peaceful and support peace initiatives that will engender development.
Chairman of the occasion George Ihuigwe urged the youths to desist from crime and cultism. He promised to contribute his quota to the development of the area by supporting the education of youths through the purchase of Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) forms.
He also thanked the governor for always identifying with the community through projects and participation in their key social functions.
