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Tag: Wike

  • Aspirants opposed to Port Harcourt venue are against Rivers, Niger Delta, says Wike

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike yesterday slammed some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirants for alleged opposition to Port Harcourt as venue for the party’s National Convention October 5 and 6.

    He said such aspirants, by their action, showed “they are against the economic interest of the state and Niger Delta.”

    Besides, he said such aspirants have failed to live up to their campaign for the restructuring of the country.

    PDP is billed to hold a convention to elect its presidential candidate on October 5 and 6 in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. Thirteen aspirants are jostling for the ticket.

    The Port Harcourt venue, endorsed by some aspirants, has not gone down well with other aspirants.

    Describing the opposition to Port Harcourt as strange, Wike said there was no other way to explain such cold feeling towards holding the convention in Port Harcourt apart from the fact that the aspirants involved had no economic interest of Rivers and Niger Delta at heart.

    He said: “Those who are against the PDP convention holding in Port Harcourt don’t have the the economic interest of Rivers and Niger Delta at heart.

    “If you are telling the people of the state and by extension Niger Delta that you don’t want such event to hold in their domain as an aspirant, how will you act when you become a president? How do you expect the people you are telling that you don’t like their state to vote for you during the election?”

    The governor described as worrisome that the same people who have been traversing the length and breadth of the country calling for the restructuring of Nigeria were kicking against the choice of Port Harcourt as venue for the convention.

    He asked: “Why are they not acting in tandem with their campaign for the restructuring of Nigeria? From their opposition to Port Harcourt, it means the restructuring campaign is a mere lip service”.

    All the aspirants, he said, will enjoy a level playing field, insisting that the choice of Port Harcourt is not meant to give any aspirant an edge over others.

    The governor said: “Every aspirant will be given a level playing field.

    Holding the convention in Port Harcourt does not mean anybody will have undue advantage. What it will do for the state is that it will boost its local economy because groundnut, sellers of water in satchets and food vendors will have more sales. Hoteliers will also record increased business.

    “That is the only thing Rivers State stands to gain from holding the convention in Port Harcourt. And anybody who is against Port Harcourt hosting the event does not like the state. He is against the economic interest of the state”.

    According to Wike, the person who will emerge the candidate of the party will emerge on the basis of his political clout and not on any other consideration.

    He said that what PDP members need at the moment “is not to bicker over the choice of convention venue but to work in unity to achieve the goal of the party which he said is to wrest power from the governing All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “We need to work together, we don’t need any division at this moment. Our goal must be to win in 2019.”

  • Amaechi’s men accuse Wike of plotting against primary

    Supporters of Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi are accusing Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike of plotting to scuttle the All Progressives Congress (APC) September 29 governorship primary election.

    Speaking on behalf of the minister’s supporters, a chieftain of the APC in Rivers, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, yesterday said a legislative aide to a serving senator, Kennedy Friday, boasted in Port Harcourt that his boss’ loyalists would get favourable judgment today at the Rivers High Court, Port Harcourt,  to quash the APC congresses that produced Ojukaye Flag-Amachree.

    When contacted for his reaction, Friday said: “Every Nigerian knows Chief Eze as a hireling of the Minister for Transportation, with the duty to blackmail Senator Abe. Where, when and how did I make such statement?”

    Commissioner for Information and Communications in Rivers Emma Okah also asked members and leaders of Rivers APC to leave out Wike, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), out of their internal matter, thereby putting their house in order, while maintaining that Rivers governor had no hand in the crisis and alleged factionalisation of Rivers APC.

    The Rivers Publicity Secretary of APC, Chief Chris Finebone, however, maintained that the attempt by Abe’s loyalists to vacate the order of perpetual injunction granted in favour of Flag-Amachree-led executive of Rivers APC had failed, with the Abuja court adjourning indefinitely, making the senator, backed by Wike, to seek alternative judgment in Port Harcourt high court.

    In a ruling delivered by the presiding judge, Justice H.B. Yusuf, of an Abuja High Court, sitting in Maitama, on September 20, the court declined to rule on a suit, with reference number: FCT/HC/CV/2705/18, filed by the 23 claimants (Abe’s allies).

    The judge ruled that: “Based on all that I have said, it is my honest view that it is unwise and unprofitable to make further progress in this case, but rather to stay further proceedings pending the decision of the Court of Appeal. This case is accordingly adjourned sine die.”

    While H.A. Bello appeared for the 23 claimants, Oluwole Adaja put up appearance for the first set of defendants (Flag-Amachree-led executive) and O.H. Arono for the second set of defendants (APC and its National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole).

    Abuja High Court 14, presided over by Justice A. O. Musa, on September 4, 2018 granted an order of perpetual injunction, restraining the APC and its national chairman (first and second defendants) from tampering with the mandates of the elected officials/delegates elected at the first defendant’s ward, local government and state congresses in Rivers State on May 19, 20 and 21, 2018 respectively, either by nullifying, removing or in any way refusing to give effect to the outcome of the congresses or by purporting to conduct another congress in respect of Rivers State.

    With the ruling by Justice Yusuf to adjourn the matter sine die, all pending appeals arising from the initial ruling by Court 14 presided by Justice Musa will have to be done with, before further action can continue on the matter.

  • Wike, Abe in alliance to defame me, alleges Amaechi

    MINISTER of Transportation and Director- General of President Buhari 2019 Campaign Organisation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, is accusing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike and the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senator, representing Rivers South-East in the Senate, Magnus Abe, of conniving and conspiring to disparage and defame him.

    Amaechi, who is the immediate past governor of Rivers State and the leader of the APC in Rivers State and the South-South, says the duo of Abe and Wike “are plotting to use his former cabinet members to tell fake, concocted and distorted stories to the media that are meant to denigrate him, impugn his unblemished integrity and paint a very terrible image of him to members of the public.” In a statement released by his media office, Friday, the minister claimed that the plot is already far-gone and persons are being coached on what to say and how to say it.

    The statement read: “I am aware that two former commissioners who served in the State Executive Council when I was governor have been procured by Wike and Abe, jointly and collaboratively, to carry out this hatchet job of ‘hack Amaechi down’ campaign. The plan is to throw as much dirt at me as possible and rubbish my image. “While one is being coached in Rivers State Government House of what to say to the press and how to say it, to do maximum damage; the other one is busy distorting, concocting and fabricating fake screenshots, text messages, documents and all sorts in Senator Abe’s Freedom House campaign office in Port Harcourt; that they intend to release to the media to tarnish my image. “I want to alert the media and members of the public of the smear plot by these two political collaborators (Wike and Abe), to unjustly discredit and smear me for their selfish political reasons.”

    Amaechi noted that he would not be distracted by any cheap, fake smear campaign of calumny against him, while urging Rivers people to pay no heed to the “desperate attentionseeking duo of Wike and Abe and all of their fabricated lies” but focus on the goal of ensuring that Rivers State gets a better leader that would turn around the fortune of the state and its people for good, come 2019. He insisted that no amount of sabotage and fake stories will deter him and all genuine APC members, supporters and Rivers people from “changing and voting out the inept government in Rivers State, next year.” Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, in his reaction last night, through Rivers Commissioner for Information and Communications, Chief Emma Okah, stated that the Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, was being haunted by his ugly actions, asking him to face the judgment of the people, instead of deluding himself that he (Wike) was after him. Wike declared that Amaechi falsely accused him and Senator Magnus Abe (Rivers Southeast) of conspiring to defame him (transportation minister). Okah said: “The assertion (by Amaechi) is false.

    Governor Wike has no time to take issues with paper tigers and base politicians, who cannot win elections in their wards and local governments, without the help of security agencies. “Senator Abe is an adult and a distinguished member of the National Assembly, who does not need any collaboration to resist the wrong visited upon him by the former governor of Rivers State), by denying him right to political aspiration. “Every Nigerian knows the love lost between Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike and the Transportation Minister and since 2013.

    The latter has used every opportunity to insult the governor of Rivers State and his government and he sees nothing wrong with that. Why is the transportation minister now afraid of receiving a little of the same meal he has served others? “While the transportation minister is diverting attention from the obvious questions of his failure to attract any project to Rivers State, despite the enormous sacrifice the state made in bringing about the APC-led government at the centre, the government and people of Rivers State will remain focused in demanding explanations on the economic rape he (Amaechi) inflicted on the state and the failure of his party to plant any project in the state.” Efforts to speak with Abe’s spokesperson, Parry Benson, was unsuccessful as his mobile line was not reachable.

    Text and WhatsApp messages sent to his mobile line had yet to be replied, as at press time. The Director-General of Abe’s governorship campaign organisation, and former Rivers Attorney- General and Commissioner for Justice in Amaechi’s government, Worgu Boms, declined comment when our correspondent reached out to him on the telephone. Senator Abe on his part, neither answered calls put through to his MTN mobile line nor replied the text and WhatsApp messages sent to him.

  • Wike, Amaechi clash over 2019

    Minister for Transportation Rotimi Amaechi has said  Governor Nyesom Wike is in a panic over 2019 elections.

    The minister accused the governor of sponsoring members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to cause confusion.

    Commissioner for Information and Communications Emma Okah, reacting on behalf of Wike, noted that the govenor can never panic over 2019.

    Amaechi spoke yesterday at Rumueme Civic Centre, Port Harcourt in  Obio/Akpor Local Government, at a rally to receive defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    At the rally are Senator Andrew Uchendu (Rivers East); endorsed APC governorship candidate Pastor Tonye Cole; state APC Chairman Ojukaye Flag-Amachree; and leader of the party in Obio/Akpor Chikodi Dike, among other top politicians.

    Amaechi, the director-general of Buhari/Osinbajo Re-election Campaign Organisation, said: “Nothing is greater than God. I closed my mouth for nearly three years, to enable Wike to do his work. Instead of doing his work, he was busy going everywhere, talking and stealing our money. Wike stole N117 billion belonging to Rivers State, as revealed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    “Wike is sponsoring people in our party (APC) to disintegrate the party. Now, I have come out. The way to go about it is to let the party at the national and to let the country know that we are ready for elections. All these people distracting us inside the party, under the sponsorship of Wike, we will ignore them, because Wike must go in 2019.

    “This is not a campaign rally, but it is a rally to show the world that we are in Wike’s village. Just five minutes trek. I walked from there to this place. When I was running for governor, if you entered Ubima (his hometown in Ikwerre LGA) and you come out alive, then you are a good man. We have entered here (Rumueme Civic Centre), we will enter again and again.

    “I am very impressed with the quality of people who are defecting to APC. Wike has stopped shouting. I told you he would stop shouting. I told you we would go underground, we would work and seeing our work, Wike would panic. Now, Wike is panicking and I am enjoying it. Do not be afraid anymore. Wike does not have the monopoly of killing.”

    “I want to know the membership of APC in Rivers State. Get registered in APC and also get your Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). I will come ward by ward to meet you. If our membership base in 796,000 as at now, we have won the elections.”

    Okah said: “Amaechi is the person sponsoring opposition against Governor Wike and the Rivers State government. Amaechi should look inwards and solve his problems, rather than blaming the focused and performing governor of Rivers State. Governor Wike is solidly on the ground in Rivers State. His administration has enough development projects across the 23 LGAs of the state to justify his re-election next year.”

  • Wike, Shell, NPA to meet over SNEPCO’s relocation to Lagos

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, is to meet with the top management of Shell Petroleum, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA) and other relevant stakeholders over the planned relocation of the Supply Base of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO) from the Oil and Gas Free Zone, Onne to Lagos.

    The meeting is coming on the heels of an aborted protest by the Rivers State Youth Federation.

    Youths and women group in Rivers State have staged peaceful protests to express their displeasure over the planned relocation of the SNEPCO Supply Base from Onne, saying it will have adverse economic and security implications on the state and the entire Niger Delta region.

    On Wednesday, the Directorate of State Security (DSS) in Rivers State and a former Niger Delta warlord and the Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom in Okirika Local Government Area of Rivers State, King Ateke Tom, intervened in the matter and stopped a massive protest planned by the Rivers State Youth Federation led by its President, Comrade Saviour Patrick.

    Ateke Tom and the Rivers State DSS Director, held a meeting with Comrade Patrick and representatives of SNEPCO, where it was agreed that the youths would shelve their planned protest, while SNEPCO would suspend the planned relocation until after the meeting with Wike.

    The Nation gathered that both the DSS and the Rivers State Government are concerned about the long term security implication for the state should the relocation to Lagos be executed.

    A source said the youths are upset although the DSS Director told them there was not much they could do, but he is worried that the situation does not degenerate into renewed militant activities in the state.

    The source added that this would not be the first time Shell had attempted to relocate its business from Rivers State. He hinted that Shell’s decision was likely more political than commercial.

    In August, more than 1,000 youths under the aegis of the Onne Youths Council (OYC) staged a peaceful protest at the SNEPCO Supply Base, asking the company to rescind its decision to relocate the base from the Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone to Lagos port.

    The President of OYC, Comrade Philip John Tenwa, who led the peaceful protest, said the planned relocation would lead to the loss of more than 5,000 direct and indirect jobs.

    The protesters carried placards with various inscriptions condemning the planned relocation of the SNEPCO Supply Base and also requested relevant authorities to intervene in the matter.

    He said protests are intended to draw attention of the Nigerian government and indeed the world to the plan by Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO) to relocate its Supply Base from the Onne Port to Lagos. Indeed, SNEPCO last week surreptitiously directed that all its property and equipment including turbines, engine spares and miscellaneous equipment spares be loaded into containers and moved out of the Onne Port, where it had operated for more than 20 years, to another port in Lagos.

    Tenwa said: “This move by SNEPCO has serious and far-reaching implications for the Onne community and indeed the entire Rivers State. This is because SNEPCO, which is the operator of the Bonga field, at present, supports more than 5,000 direct and indirect jobs at its Supply Base in Onne. There are also several small businesses and contractors whose businesses and fortunes are tied to SNEPCO.”

    SNEPCO workers, in a press release described the planned relocation as hurried and ill-advised and against the interest of the Niger Delta region.

    The press release signed by one Edward Otaru reads: “We, the affected operations staff and expatriates of SNEPCO wish to bring the attention of the Federal Government and well-meaning Nigerians of a plan by the management of our company to forcefully relocate our operations from Onne, Port Harcourt to Lagos.

    “The hushed, hurried but forceful relocation order emanated under a strange and suspicious condition, as it was neither discussed with the staff nor backed by any justifiable reasons.

    “We decided to bring this hurried relocation order to the notice of the government and the general public because of its implication on our families and friends who might suffer unnecessary dislocation and also its implication on the Niger Delta region.

    “The ill-advised plan to move men and materials from the Niger Delta region to Lagos is also contrary to the directive of the Federal Government, which in 2017 asked oil companies to retain their headquarters in their operational bases in the Niger Delta region.”

    The workers called on the Federal Government to halt the planned movement in the interest of jobs and development of the Niger Delta region.

    The Paramount Ruler of Onne Community, King John Dennis Osaronu, also recently called on SNEPCO to rescind its planned relocation from the community.

  • Wike’s curious audacity

    •If EFCC can investigate other state govts, why should Rivers State be different?

    What emboldened the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, to say that his state officials should not obey any invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), with respect to a recent probe, over alleged money laundering in the state? According to media reports, the anti-graft agency is investigating the state government over some curious cash withdrawals amounting to a humongous N117 billion from the state account, in the past three years.

    On its part, the EFCC claimed that the curious withdrawals were made in very suspicious manner, hence the probe. For instance, a report quoted a source in the commission which said that on June 8, 2015, a total of N450 million was withdrawn through 45 cheques from the state’s account in Zenith Bank. The next day, another N500 million was withdrawn through 50 cheques, again over the counter. The commission argues that such huge cash withdrawals contravened the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, and has reportedly invited one Similiari Fubura, the Director of Finance and Administration in the state to throw light on the alleged infractions.

    Curiously, Governor Wike reacted in a strange manner, daring the commission to go to hell, and vowing that none of the state officials would honour any invitation from the EFCC, because there is a subsisting high court judgment, made in 2007, barring the commission from investigating the state finances. In the words of the governor: “We are not afraid of their probe and they have no power to probe us. No government official will appear before the EFCC until they set aside the court judgment of Rivers State Government against them in 2007. We cannot be intimidated.”

    By Wike’s claim, a federal high court made an omnibus order in 2007, to forestall a probe of the finances of the state government, and unless that judgment is set aside, the state officials will not appear before the commission. We believe Governor Wike is referring to the curious judgment of Justice I. N. Buba made on March 20, 2007 and subsequently reiterated by the same court in March 2008. Like other Nigerians, we are curious how a court could make an order foreclosing a lawful institution of state from exercising its lawful duties, as claimed by Governor Wike.

    The claim by the governor is even more curious considering that the EFCC has successfully prosecuted other state officials and some former state governors have been jailed following judgments of the courts, arising from financial infractions in their states. Indeed, the former Governor of Plateau State, Joshua Dariye, was jailed for misappropriation of state funds; the same is applicable to the former Governor of Taraba State, Jolly Nyame, who also got a sentence for his infractions. So, Nigerians are asking, what is the difference between the enquiry into the finances of Rivers State and the other states concerned?

    While we urge the EFCC to be above board, and avoid conducts that insinuate any form of bias against states governed by opposition parties, we find it curious that the agency could be restrained from investigating a criminal infraction of a state government, because the money allegedly misappropriated was appropriated by the state House of Assembly. To put the matter to rest, we urge the EFCC and the Attorney-General of the Federation to appeal the judgment in question, so that a common standard applies to all states in the federation.

    If the EFCC can probe other states, why can it not probe Rivers State? Nigerians earnestly await the determination of the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court on this strange double standard.

     

  • Wike urged to respect court judgment on 255 workers

    The lawyer to the 255 workers of three Rivers State government-owned tertiary institutions, whose salaries were stopped in February 2016, Damian Okoro, has urged Governor Nyesom Wike, also a lawyer, to respect the judgment of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria on the matter.

    Okoro, yesterday in Port Harcourt, said eight of the 255 affected workers from Rivers State University and Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, both in Port Harcourt and Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori-Ogoni had died due to hardship, since the affected staff last received salaries in January 2016, making 31 months at the end of August.

    The lawyer also stated that children of the affected staff could no longer go to school, in view of their parents’ inability to pay the required fees.

    Okoro said: “It has become very difficult for the affected staff to also pay their house rent. The psychological breakdown and emotional torture can just be imagined. Many of the staff have put in over 20 years in the service of Rivers State government.

    “The workers want the Wike’s administration to pay their outstanding salaries to enable them to live normal life, as they have continued to carry out their daily activities in the various schools, since the stoppage of their salaries.”

    Rivers governor, in February 2016, ordered the stoppage of salaries of the 255 workers in the Demonstration Schools of the three tertiary institutions, stating that the state government would no longer pay salaries of the staff, where the students pay some fees.

    The affected workers, in May 2016, filed a suit on the shocking development at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Yenagoa Division, but the case was moved in November 2017 to the Owerri Division of the court.

    In a judgment after over two years, the presiding judge, Justice Salisu Danjidda, said: “The claimants’ (255 workers’) respective employments are valid and subsisting, because they have statutory protection. The first defendant’s (Governor of Rivers State’s) directive stopping the payment of the claimants salaries is unlawful, null and void.

  • Wike to PDP presidential aspirants: unite to sack Buhari

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has urged Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)  presidential aspirants to unite to sack President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He urged them to support  whoever emerges as the PDP candidate after the primary.

    The governor spoke yesterday at the Government House, Port Harcourt,  during a visit by a presidential aspirant and former Governor Attahiru Bafarawa .

    He said: “What we saying is that all of us must put our heads together to remove this government that does not mean well for Nigerians.

    “Power comes from God.  If God says it is you, there is nothing any man can do about it. Man can only struggle.”

    Wike said every PDP member must work as a team for the party to emerge victorious in 2019.

    Bafarawa also met PDP local government chairmen. He  urged the state chapter to back his aspiration.

    The ex-governor was accompanied to the meeting with Rivers PDP local government chairmen by officials of his campaign team.

    He promised to ensure equity,  unity,  strong economy and education in line with the manifesto of PDP, if elected President.

    “I am in Port Harcourt,  to seek the support and blessings always well as the advice of my party men and women for my aspiration for the seat of president of the country so that we can move the country forward.

    “These are the main character objectives of the PDP, we are not going to do anything outside the manifesto of PDP,  we must try our best to ensure Nigeria comes out of the mess we find ourselves.

    “I am a trained democrat, I have been in politics in the last 40 years, so there is a different between a a retired Army general who spent all his youthful years in the barracks, handling boots and guns.

    “It is completely odd for somebody who was trained to kill, to defend himself to turn back to see how he is going to manage people,  It will never happen, because that is not his training. By his age, by his training he has expired,  therefore there is nothing that hibiscus going to achieve and Nigeria does not need such kind of persons now.”

    State party Chairman Felix Obuah praised the visit and speeches, promising support for the aspirant at the national congress.

    He said:  “It is not the will of God that people who are trained to carrying gun will continue to lead the country,  but those who are trained for service to God and humanity.”

     

  • Senator urges Wike to build on inherited projects

    The senator representing Rivers East Senatorial District, Andrew Uchendu, has urged Governor Nyesom Wike to continue with the people-oriented projects initiated by previous administrations.

    His media aide, Solomon Okocha, yesterday in Port Harcourt, said Uchendu spoke when a delegation of Association of Female Taxi Drivers (AFTD) visited him.

    Uchendu, who is the deputy chairman, Senate Committee on Public Procurement, lauded female taxi drivers in Rivers for their courage to venture into a profession once reserved for men.

    He promised to draw the attention of relevant authorities to their plight.

    “It is obvious that the persons who are benefitting from the services that you are rendering cut across different political, social and religious divides, hence government must do all that it can to assist you, devoid of any sentiment.

    “If Governor Wike wants to assist the people of the state, there is no reason why pro-people programmes of previous administrations, especially in the area of women empowerment, should be abandoned.

    ”I urge Governor Wike to continue with any state empowerment programme initiated by previous administrations for the good of Rivers people. He should emulate King Alfred Diete-Spiff (the pioneer military governor of the old Rivers state), who set the ball rolling in terms of scholarship programmes in Rivers State. It is sad to note that it is only Wike’s administration that has refused to maintain this noble service to humanity.

    ”There is no justifiable reason why Governor Wike has abandoned the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) scholarship programme, Songhai Farm, Buguma Fish Farm, Greater Port Harcourt City, and the multi-million naira state-owned banana plantation in the Ogoni-axis of the state.

    “For the good of our state, we must learn to continue with projects that directly touch the lives of our people, irrespective of political differences.”

    The senator also said he would write to the Federal Ministry of Transportation and urge it to partner entrepreneurs willing to invest in female commercial driving in Rivers.

    Coordinator of AFTD Mrs. Ayo Ogbonna said the last time they received audience and assistance from the government was during the administration of former Governor Rotimi Amaechi (Transportation Minister), when they got new cars, through the Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI) programme.

    “AFTD is made up of women who undertake commercial driving in Rivers State, especially to add value to the lives of indigent women, hence making them to become economically productive and financially supportive in their homes.”

    “We were set up by Her Excellency, Dame Judith Amaechi, wife of former Governor Amaechi, through the ESI scheme, in collaboration with Skye Bank. A lot of women immensely benefitted from the programme. Brand new cars, support funds, training, among others, were some of the tangible things that we got from that bold initiative. We remain grateful to Dame Amaechi and her husband for the unforgettable gestures towards Rivers women.

    “Unfortunately, the present administration has not continued with the laudable scheme. A lot of female taxi drivers are undergoing various challenges, ranging from lack of access to funds for the procurement and repair of cars, discrimination, disturbances by touts and loading points being infested by criminals.”

    Ogbonna pleaded with Uchendu to use his legislative mandate to speak out for female taxi drivers in Rivers.

  • Ambode, Wike, El-Rufai, others for Re-Make Nigeria project

    Governors Akinwumi Ambode (Lagos), Nyesom Wike (Rivers) and Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna) have been identified as icons of a new Nigeria.

    A statement by the Convener of Re-Make Nigeria, Mr. Tom Obulu, said the governors and others were chosen based on their performance in office in the last three and a half years.

    Others listed as icon of Re-Make Nigeria are Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal,  Ebonyi State Governor Dave Umahi,  Imo State governorship aspirant Senator Sam Anyanwu, and a diplomat from United Nations, Sam Abashe of Plateau State.

    Obulu said: ”These icons of Re-Make Nigeria  have been carefully selected by our team of assessors nationwide after considering the impact they’ve had on the people of their states in terms of the projects they have executed”.

    Obulu noted that the Re-Make Nigeria Group is a non-political organisation. “It is a hub of interactions and assessments by citizens for the nation’s advancement and has come on the national stream to focus on those administrators activating democracy in a unique way.

    “Agree or disagree with us, these governors or aspirants have done well for their people. Never in the history of Nigeria has any governor inaugurated projects before an array of VIPs like Governor Wike.

    “Governor El-Rufai was crowned the Most Focused public administrator in Nigeria, becoming the first governor to present his 2019 budget prioritising education”.