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Tag: Wike

  • Tinubu ‘unfair to Wike’

    The Rivers State Government said yesterday that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is unfair to Governor Nyesom Wike with the comment credited to him that Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal left the APC and joined the PDP because of the promise of presidential ticket which Wike made to him.

    A statement yesterday by Commissioner for Information and Communications Emma Okah, said “Governor Wike has not discussed the political ambition of Governor Tambuwal with Senator Tinubu and so Senator Tinubu cannot rely on mere rumour to speak unfairly about the governor in the way he did”

    Okah said Tambuwal is a mature adult with the capacity to take critical political decisions for himself without Wike’s prompting.

     

  • By-election: Wike, APC chair clash over ‘N200m bribe’

    RIVERS State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Ojukaye Flag-Amachree and Governor Nyesom Wike yesterday clashed over alleged N200 million bribe.

    Flag-Amachree alleged Wike wanted his cooperation  during last Saturday’s by-election for Port Harcourt Constituency 3 so the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) candidate, Chiemeka Merukini, could win.

    A former Chairman of Asari-Toru Local Government, Flag-Amachree said yesterday that as a loyal member of APC, he declined Wike’s bribe and promptly reported to the leadership of his party, while working for the success of APC’s candidate, Dickens Worlu.

    Wike, who spoke on telephone through the Commissioner for Information Communications, Emma Okah, described Flag-Amachree as a liar.

    The governor said: “He  should stop his cheap lies, meant to divert attention from the atrocities he committed during last Saturday’s bye-election in Port Harcourt Constituency 3. No matter how long he tries to run, the atrocities will continue to haunt him. Nobody offered him N200 million bribe.

    “Port Harcourt Constituency 3 is a stronghold of the PDP. Even if a goat is fielded as PDP’s candidate in the area, the goat will still win for the PDP.”

    Flag-Amachree said the actions of Wike, government officials, PDP members and  INEC were aimed at scuttling the election.

    The state police command yesterday denied involvement in the disruption of Saturday’s by-election.

    Commissioner of Police  Zaki Ahmed, at a news briefing in Port Harcourt,  denied the allegation,  insisting the “police did not at anytime collude with any political party to discredit the political process as alleged in some quarters. Information at the command’s disposal, revealed the presence of political thugs at Miles II and III who were reportedly armed and were disrupting the voting process.

    ‘’The police in the wake of this information deployed more Personnel and Armoured Personnel Carriers to safeguard the election process, lives and property which was done most professionally.

    “The INEC officials, who appeared to have been intimidated by the thugs were reassured by our presence. Accordingly, our counter measures against the thugs and the thuggery they exhibited, calmed the situation and the INEC officials left with some of the election materials and subsequently suspected the entire process.

    “It must be emphasised that the timely action of the police in checkmating political thugs prevented the loss of lives and destruction of properties”.

  • APC Chairman: Wike offered me N200m to throw bye-election

    The All Progressives Congress (APC), says it has facts on Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers and the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) move to scuttle the Port Harcourt Constituency 3 bye-election.

    Mr Ojukaye Flag-Amachree, State Chairman of APC in Rivers also  alleged that Wike offered him N200 million bribe to compromise the election, while over time had placed many INEC officials in Port Harcourt on his payroll.

    Flag-Amachree stated this at a press briefing in Port Harcourt on Monday.

    He  claimed  that the APC candidate for the bye-election, Chief Dickens Worlu was comfortably leading in most polling units before Gov. Wike mobilised his Chief Security Officer, Mr Promise Nwosu with armed men to  invade the units.

    He further alleged that the invasion of the polling units with armed men attached to the Rivers Government House was to disrupt the peaceful process and rig the election in favour of the PDP candidate.

    “In the process, several shots were fired to intimidate both voters and election officials but most of the voters in the constituency stood their ground and resisted the state of shootings and intimidation.

    “Having failed to substantially cow the voters especially APC members, Wike reached me and pleaded to have my cooperation and in return get N200m bribe, which I declined and reported same to the APC leadership.

    “In failed mission to bribe me and intimidate voters, Gov. Wike and his CSO became more determined to scuttle the bye-election, decide to undertake smear campaign against me as demonstrated in his broadcast,” he alleged.

    According to Flag-Amachree,  Gov. Wike has all the Electoral Officers (EOs) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Rivers on his payroll with the purpose of compromising the 2019 election in advance.

    “Wike has been paying a monthly sum between N1m to N3m to various officers depending on rank, and he has penciled down key security agents to compromise elections in the state.

    “We are not also surprised that INEC and Gov. Wike are working hand-in-gloves to rig elections in Rivers,” he claimed.

    The chairman said the APC believes that the recruitment and posting of a confessed PDP apologist and virulent critic of President Muhammadu Buhari’s government, Mr Obo Effanga  is beyond mere accident.

    “The highly convoluted memo suspending the bye-election further attests to the fact of a well-entrenched bias on the part of the INEC REC.

    “There was an op-ed published on a national daily on the 30th of May 2016 titled: “The ‘Change’ government one year after by Mr Obo Effanga before he was mysteriously employed and posted to Rivers,” he said.

    Flag-Amachree urged INEC in Rivers to immediately conclude the process by announcing the winner of the By-Election without further delay.

    He dismissed Gov. Wike’s allegations against the Commander of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), ACP Akin Fakorede of meddling in the by-election.(NAN)

  • INEC, Wike disagree over failed Rivers by-election

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday described the violent disruption of weekend’s Rivers State House of Assembly by-election as “shameful”.

    The vote into the vacant state legislative seat for Port Harcourt Constituency 3, with only 142 polling units, was marred by violence; destruction of electoral materials, attack on electoral officers and carting away of ballot boxes from some polling units by hoodlums. Following these, the election was cancelled.

    The position became vacant following the victory and subsequent swearing in of its former occupant Victor Ihunwo as the executive chairman of the Port Harcoirt Local Government Area in June.

    INEC chiefs praised the police for preventing a slip into chaos, but Governor Nyesom Wike blamed it all on the police which he accused of “declaring war on Rivers State.” But he hailed INEC for its good organisation.

    Three INEC Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) –  Obo Effanga (Rivers), Mike Igini (Akwa Ibom) and Cyril Omoregbe (Bayelsa) – who conducted the election, gave the account of what transpired at a news conference in Port Harcourt yesterday.

    They expressed “gross” disappointment at the display of shamelessness by politicians and their supporters.

    Effanga accused political heavyweights of openly storming polling units with thugs and armed security personnel to disrupt the well-arranged and peaceful process.

    She said: “The Commission in full readiness for the said election deployed personnel and materials to the 142 polling units involved. However, midway, miscreants and hoodlums accompanied by heavily armed security personnel in uniform stormed the various polling units and registration areas, disrupting voting activities, destroying and carting away election materials, including smart card readers and ballot boxes. In addition, many electoral officials were manhandled, injured and held hostage.

    Igini, who represented the National Commissioner (South-South), said an official of the Commission was stabbed, others beaten up and held hostage, while a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member’s leg was broken.

    Igini said reporters were attacked and voters injured by thugs in some of the units.

    He praised Commissioner of Police Zaki Ahmed for providing experienced personnel for the exercise, but wondered where the heavily armed personnel were brought from by their sponsors.

    Igini said: “What happened yesterday (Saturday) was a tragedy. It was shameful. It represents a higher level of electoral discredit and falls below the minimum expected standards. Election must be conducted in a peaceful atmosphere which will allow voters to vote and leave the centre without grumbling.

    “While election was going on, there was violence in significant areas of the polling centres. Some journalists, INEC staff, including NYSC members were attacked and held hostage during the election. An official of the the Commission was stabbed, others beaten up. Also, a Cops member’s leg was broken, individuals beaten and injured.

    “Thanks to the security personnel who worked with us, they were not part of those who disrupted the election as they were not armed according to the law.”

    In a broadcast to the people yesterday, Wike said:

    “The consistent sabotage of the electoral process by the Police amounts to a declaration of war against the people of Rivers State and their solemn rights to freely and fairly choose their leaders and representatives.

    “Clearly there are dangerous times ahead but we must not give in to intimidation lest we lose our liberties and become slaves in our own land.

    “As we had feared, the Police failed us completely once again and negated all that they promised. Instead of providing security for voters and INEC officials, the Police brazenly colluded with political thugs of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to subvert the democratic process and deny the people of Port Harcourt Constituency III their rights to free, fair and credible elections.

    “Confirmed reports from the field indicated that INEC promptly and rightly distributed elections materials to all the polling units within a record time.

    “However, while voting was underway, armed thugs from the APC moved freely from one polling unit to the other, violently assaulted voters and INEC officials and carted away election materials, including smart card readers and ballot boxes.”

    The governor added that the police aided and shielded the leader of the thugs from arrest and prosecution.

    The APC commended Rivers people for standing up and defending their votes.

    Acting National Publicity Secretary Yekini Nabena said  “the All Progressives Congress (APC) hails the Rivers State electorate for bravely defending their votes despite the violence and snatching of electoral materials perpetrated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    “Nigerians will recall how the PDP speaking through its National Spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan last Tuesday vowed to deploy all ‘means, schemes, shenanigans in all ramification and magnitude’ to rig all coming elections.

    “While we condemn the PDP-sponsored violence and failed attempt to rig the by-election, the APC calls on the Rivers State electorate and indeed all Nigerians to continue to stand their ground and resist any attempt to rig elections. Votes must count; the people’s will must prevail in all elections.

    “We reiterate that the PDP’s now public rigging plans is a red flag that requires urgent attention by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and relevant security agencies.”

  • Wike raises alarm as by-election holds in Rivers

    Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, yesterday lleged plans in some quarters of the state to create trouble during the Port Harcourt Local Government Area (PHLGA), State House of Assembly by-election holding today and expressed the readiness of the state to resist such act.

    The governor warned that the election is not a do or die affair.

    The PHLGA constituency 3, state legislative seat became vacant last June,  following the resignation of the former member,  Victor Ihunwo who won the LGA chairmanship election and became the mayor of Port Harcourt on June 18, 2018.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) scheduled to hold the election to fill up the seat today.

    The head Vo INEC Voter Education in the state Mr. Edwin Enabor, yesterday said the exercise will hold in 142 units in the constituency with over 800 ad-hoc staff, and 200 INEC staff deployed to conduct the election.

    Enabor said the new face of INEC in the state notorious for violent elections is set to change the narrative by conducting violence free, fair and credible exercise today.

    He said four political parties would field candidates for the poll and assured a level playing ground for all.

    The political parties according to Enabor include the APC,  the PDP,  the  Democratic Alternative(DA) and the Mass Movement of Nigeria(MMN).

    He disclosed that hundreds of card reader machines that will be used in the election are ready and that  200 NYSC members trained for the exercise will serve as presiding officers while  INEC staff will handle the non sensitive aspect of the exercise, especially organising the polling centres and ensuring orderliness.

    Wike in  a statewide broadcast yesterday said,  “I wish to reiterate that this election, important as it is, must not be taken as a do or die affair. I therefore urge leaders of political parties and their candidates to advise their supporters to peacefully conduct themselves during and after the bye-election.

    “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has promised that the bye-election shall be free, fair and credible.

    “The security agencies, especially the police have also promised to ensure adequate security for eligible voters and poll officials to ensure a peaceful, credible, and fair election.

    “The people of Rivers State expect and demand nothing less. Consequently, we take INEC and the security agencies at their word and expect them to deliver a bye-election in the affected constituency devoid of any electoral malfeasance.

    “I therefore call on all eligible voters in these communities to come out in your numbers not only to vote for the party and candidate of your choice but also to defend your votes and ensure  your votes count.”

    He disclosed alleged plans in some quarters of the state to create trouble during the polls and expressed the readiness of the state to resist such act.

    “Furthermore, we have it on good authority that some failed politicians are planning to use cultists and political thugs to intimidate voters and attempt to disrupt the voting process.

    “I wish to reiterate that the Rivers State Government will not close its eyes to such thoughtless acts by any person or group of persons to deny our people their God-given right to freely and fairly elect their leaders. We shall not hesitate to apply the full weight and force of government and the law on any delinquent.

    “We therefore advise all those who have no business with the election process to, in their own interest, keep their distance from the constituency during the duration of the bye-election,” he said.

     

  • Peterside: Wike won’t get second term

    Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Dr. Dakuku Peterside has  said Governor Nyesom Wike will not be re-elected.

    He described as toxic, the investment climate in the state, saying it is forcing companies and businesses to be relocating to Lagos and other places.

    Peterside, who is the director-general of Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), spoke on Sunday evening in Port Harcourt, the state capital, at a session with reporters.

    He said: “I have totally turned around the fortunes of NIMASA and President Muhammadu Buhari is extremely proud of what I am doing in NIMASA. On May 29, 2019, Wike will leave as governor of Rivers State, whether I am governorship candidate of APC or not. I am totally for it. I am part of the team that will make Wike leave next year. We have never had it this bad in Rivers State. Wike and his allies act as if they are not accountable to anyone.

    “Stopping Wike next year by the electorate is about the survival of Rivers State. It is about hope for Rivers people. Enough is enough of the bad governance, for Rivers people to have breath of fresh air, hope and have commensurate development. Wike’s government has more money compared with Amaechi’s administration, without anything to show for it. Wike should show Rivers people one project he initiated and completed. We built five flyovers in Amaechi’s government, but Wike is yet to build one flyover.

    “Rivers State is at the bottom of Transparency Index (TI) in this country. Rivers State government’s budgets from 2015 are not published/made public. Not one Rivers State government project is advertised, except the third-party projects. Wike is running a secret government. How do you explain the fact that nobody knows the cost of projects? IGR (Internally Generated Revenue) is not known to anybody. Monthly allocation is a best kept secret. No access to information on government activities. No due process in the conduct of government business, forgetting that government is a public trust.

    “Wike may have blocked all the loopholes/leakages, but he remains the pipeline of corruption in the government. Wike’s commissioners can testify to the fact. He is the sole awarding authority for contracts, he is the supervising authority, the certifying authority and the sole beneficiary.”

    Commissioner for Information and Communications Chief Emma Okah urged Peterside to stop deluding himself about the possibility of defeating Wike next year.

    Okah said: “Elections are not won in the media. In 2015, even with a sitting state governor (Amaechi), Peterside lost in his LGA. What has changed for him that will make APC overtake the giant achievements of Governor Wike?

    ”On investors leaving Rivers state, the information commissioner asked the NIMASA chief to first mention the millions of jobs lost in Nigeria, since APC came to power in 2015.

    Okah said: “On the contrary, Rivers State has continued to make a difference. Economic indicators show that the IGR of the state has increased since 2015. In less than a year, Governor Wike has signed more C of Os (Certificates of Occupancy) and consents than the previous government signed in eight years. Tax reforms have eliminated double taxation.

    “Security is being tackled head on and the Neighbourhood Watch scheme is receiving attention. Funding of security is a priority, despite the lack of cooperation from a section of the police.”

    “Governor Wike’s massive infrastructure projects are creating jobs and have multiple effects on the economy, but unfortunately, Peterside is too bitter, deaf and dumb to know that. On priority of projects, Rivers government owes Peterside no apology, as Governor Wike is rebuilding the state from the sorry state the APC left it in 2015.”

    He said Wike’s administration would not be distracted, asking APC leaders to mention what the ruling party had brought to the state, before they could boast of winning elections in 2019.

  • Wike, Tambuwal, R-APC, Ohanaeze, senator fault DSS’ siege

    RIVERS State Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, Reformed All Progressives Congress (R-APC) and apex Igbo socio-political group Ohaneze Ndigbo have condemned the siege on the National Assembly.

    They spoke in separate statement following the invasion by men of Department of State Services (DSS).

    Wike: action condemnable

     

    Wike declared that the assault on the National Assembly by the security forces was condemnable and has the capacity to truncate the nation’s democracy.

    He  said: “All well-meaning Nigerians should stand up against this dictatorship.  All over the  world, this has never happened.

    “Nigerians should not stand aloof and watch what is going on. This will consume so many  people if we don’t rise against it.”

    Wike called on National Assembly members to stand firm in defence of the nation’s democracy.

    Tambuwal, who applauded the immediate removal of DSS DG from office, described the action as a direct and unacceptable indication of contempt for the sanctity of the legislature as bastion of democracy.

    He said, as a former lawmaker and immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives, he  confounded that anyone could contemplate and  carry out such an act, commending Acting President Yomi Osibanjo for his intervention.

    Incident disgraceful, says Ohanaeze Ndigbo

     

    Ohanaeze Ndigbo, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Uche Achi-Okpaga, described the incident as disgraceful and disappointing.

    “Recent events in Nigeria, climaxing in the blockade and prevention of marked adversary senators and House of Representative members from gaining access into the legislative building altogether, are not coming to us as surprises.

    “Instead, they are sprouting in alarming crescendos in crystal vindication of our stand that only a restructured Nigeria can thrive henceforth”.

    “The event of today in particular is raw as it is a clueless brandishing from the executors. Nothing more can be an impeachable offence than this callous desecration of the National Assembly, which is the symbol of democracy,” it said.

    A statement by R-APC National Publicity Secretary Kassim Afegbua said: “We condemn the continued partisanship of the security agencies against the interest of Nigerians. We wish to insist that these categories of persons be denied visas or have their visas revoked on account of their anti-democratic conducts, which have consistently threatened the very foundation of our fledgling democracy…

    “The sacking of the Director-General of the Directorate of State Services (DSS) is good riddance to bad rubbish. Rather than devote energies and synergies into the Boko Haram fight and other cases of insecurity to give Nigerians a new lease of life, the DSS under Lawan Musa Daura has become one of a partisan lot against the collective interest of the State and Nigerians.”

    It said the Acting President should as a matter of urgency sack the Inspector General of Police, who has also shown careless disdain against the Nigerian people.

    “Let us for once instill some sanity in our democratic practices. Let us assume our role as the giant of Africa both in deeds and practice. We cannot afford to continue to tolerate these brazen abuses, invasions and drunken use of raw power against institution of democracy, in a 21st century world where the attraction should be more about development and growth.”

    ‘It’s bad example to other African democracies’

     

    Senator Isa Misau said the siege at the National Assembly was a “bad example to other African democracies”.

    Misau, who represents Bauchi Central Senatorial District, said barricading the gate of the assembly complex and denying some legislators access into their offices was a gross illegality and affront on democracy.

    Misau is one of the senators, who defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the People Democratic Party (PDP).

    He told newsmen while stranded at the entrance of the assembly complex that legislators were representatives of the people and were also elected to protect the principles of democracy.

     

     

    4

  • Wike: Three years at the helm

    On Tuesday morning, November 26, 1963, Lyndon Johnson sat down behind the desk in the Oval Office for the first time as president. Conventional wisdom was that he would place a call to his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev or to leaders of Congress, or issue executive orders. Instead, Johnson’s first act was to pick up the phone himself, calling the offices of the US Senate and order that the desk he used as Senate Majority Leader be delivered to the White House to replace the government-issued one. A very down-to-earth Texan, a very practical man.

    On May 29, 2015 in Nigeria, when several new state governors had just taken the constitutional oath and sworn in to office, many were going to enjoy the cozy confines of Government House, receiving eminent guests and celebrating. The newly sworn in governor of Rivers State, Nyessom Wike, did the direct opposite. He went with public works officials after his swearing-in ceremony to fix bad roads in the state capital. This very first act in governance signalled what he would do continually for the next three years in the saddle of office; practical actions, a very practical man.

    His critics might say many things about him but none can deny that Barrister Wike is his own man, a man of convictions. Hardly a boring moment in his three year governorship, he has made governorship not so much about delivering cozy idle speeches but folding the sleeves and working for the people.

    On fully assuming office and seeing discrepancies in the state accounts, Wike immediately set up a Judicial Commission Inquiry which revealed huge questionable dealings in the state finances. He cried out but the politics of fighting corruption in the country prevailed and nothing has come out from those lost funds. However, not a man to be bogged down and weep over split milk, he still went to work. While most governors were giving the excuses of recession not to carry out their mandate, Wike went from one project to the other, astounding even his staunchest enemies.

    He has stood his ground like a real lawyer would, as a real leader of his people, an audacity that brought him out one cold night when most state governors would be warm in their beds. As Department of State Security stormed and violated the sanctity of judges’ residence across the country, Wike stood out to be counted as he went to personally confront the unconstitutional use of federal might in his domain. Very few governors would dare this. When savage violence reared its head in early 2018 in certain parts of Rivers State, Wike greased the rails for federal security forces to come in and take out the kingpin masterminds. He showed he was no bigot, protecting criminals because they are of his clan and from his state. He gave them up to face hell. Nigerians still wonder why despite the open violence and killings of impunity by wild herdsmen, many leaders from the same region as these herdsmen have refused to condemn them, let alone expose them to be dispatched by federal forces.

    The same doggedness in Wike showed as his party, the PDP, was almost hijacked by certain curious forces. He stood tall with the progressive forces of his party throughout the long-drawn court case that brought victory again. Tough and progressive, some might question his modus but he has clearly shown to the world, that he needs no permission to breathe or would as governor be taking orders from others unconstitutionally.

    Governor Wike’s kind of politics and governance, empowerment and development inclined, takes no prisoners, he spares no cost in excelling. He leaves his competitors in the dust. He is a man of unbelievable energy, political talent and a charming mixture of self-assertiveness with cordiality. When he has to act, he acts, damning the consequences. His perspective for governance is broad, his sweep, majestic. His achievements are the envy of lesser-endued leaders of men. Through three years as governor, he has accomplished more than anyone ever had before in that state in the same period. Just look at the projects commissioned during his third year anniversary and the dignitaries that came to do the commissioning. It was one of a kind in the nation.

    He as governor is still exceptionally a warm person who makes friends easily and takes a genuine interest in people yet he doesn’t pull any obvious punches. His primary interest in politics is so obviously that of a seeker of development. His ambitious developmental programmes and commitment to people empowerment it seems are firmly rooted in his own natural strain.

    Nigeria has seen some transformation since the return to constitutional rule in 1999. However, the disaffection has grown. It is largely attributable to pedestrian leadership, men who are remarkably dour, inactive and less endowed to heal a shocked nation, to deliver the goods to a people needing huge development and necessary empowerment. Governor Wike has touched his people. He has undertaken the development of landmark projects across the state in so short a time; roads, bridges, iconic recreation parks, infrastructures in tertiary institutions, economic empowerment programmes for the people. He has spent billions of Rivers State money for the people of Rivers and not to sponsor the political projects of non-indigenes. The people of Rivers State should judge him by the enemies he has made by this stand.

    Many state capitals in Nigeria have remained the same through the years. Same in outlook, in development. Boring as ever. In fact, retrogressing into decay and slum. Port Harcourt is now different. It is a city now looking as it should be; the political capital of the South-south and Southeast regions. Scenic and world-class. There is a huge leap in transformation of the city.

    Wike is obviously no Olof Palmer, the dovish former Swedish prime minister, who would often walk with his wife to the local cinema alone and unaccompanied. He lost his life to an assassin during one of those unaccompanied trips. Governor Wike attracts a following wherever he goes. He is at home with his people to whom he is readily accessible.

    Nigeria has had some colourful and practical leaders, down-to-earth men. Men who moved their people. Leaders can be concentric and achieve little or nothing and are soon forgotten. Then there are a select group of natural leaders of men who are very down to earth, but they get the job done and done well. And if a nation finds itself in a quagmire, at a junction needing direction, when some will be heaping blame on blame itself, these ones can jump into the fray, sleeves rolled up, ready to get messy and before long, things have straightened up. They lift their people up. This has been the story of Rivers State these last three years. That state has moved forward. Even Governor Wike’s most violent critics admit this.

     

    • Barrister Chima writes via chimacliffchima@yahoo.co.uk

  • Wike, APC quarrel over alleged VP quest

    RIVERS State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Governor Nyesom Wike are trading words over the governor’s alleged interest to run with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant Aminu Tambuwal.

    Rivers APC, through its Publicity Secretary, Chief Chris Finebone, accused Wike of scheming to be vice-president next year to continue enjoying immunity.

    APC in Rivers said: “It is obvious that Wike is weighing his options and making calculations for 2019. The central point of his political chase game is to ensure that he continues to wear the cloak of immunity, either as governor or vice-president, for reasons well known to all.

    “With a resurgent APC steadily displaying its readiness to push Wike out of the Brick House (Government House), Port Harcourt in 2019, it is becoming glaringly clear that Wike is already attuning himself to the possibility of not making it as governor in 2019. Sequel to this possibility, Wike is seriously exploring the possibility of enjoying immunity, through the alternative platform of becoming a vice-president.

    “Wike started the pursuit of his second option (becoming vice-president in 2019) in earnest, when he deployed the resources of Rivers State to effectively take ownership and control of his party, the PDP. He crowned the mission with the chairmanship of the PDP, which he (Wike) literally bought at great cost for his acolyte, Uche Secondus.

    “As 2019 approaches, Wike is expected to either seek re-election as governor of Rivers State or buy his way through to become the vice-presidential candidate of the PDP. However, the greatest obstacle ahead of Wike realising his dream remains the outcome of the multitude of desperate presidential aspirants that have gathered in pursuit of that single diadem.

    “It is yet to be seen how fiercely desperate presidential aspirants as former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar; Tambuwal; Senate President Bulola Saraki; Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso; and Sule Lamido, among others, will peacefully surrender to the single winner of the coveted presidential ticket. To many, that will be a mountain too high to climb and a height beyond the reach of Wike’s calculations.”

    Wike, while reacting through the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Chief Emma Okah, described himself as a beautiful bride.

    Okah said: “I am not aware that Governor Wike is lobbying to be vice-presidential candidate to anybody. However, I know that he is a success story and one of the major pillars of the conscience of Nigeria’s democracy, making him a beautiful bride anyday, home and abroad.

    “Governor Wike and the PDP will win elections in Rivers State anyday, because he is serving the people well. Three years down the road, Governor Wike is acknowledged as the brightest star in the sky.

    “Governor Wike has shown courageous leadership, developed Rivers State, improved infrastructure, promoted love for the nation and promoted cohesion and unity in the state, to the point where people now know who loves them more. Therefore, Governor Wike’s victory in 2019 is as certain as night follows the day.”

  • Wike: Tambuwal’s defection, victory for democracy

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike yesterday declared Governor Aminu Tambuwal’s defection as “victory for democracy”.

    In a statement, he said: “This is a victory for democracy.  There are lots of Nigerians who believe that the right thing should be done.  What the Sokoto State governor has done is the right thing.

    “There are some people who have said that we cannot continue to live in a world of intimidation.  We cannot continue to live in a world of harassment.  Every right thinking Nigerian should come together to see that something is done to salvage the country.

    “Democracy is under threat in Nigeria. Nobody obeys court judgments.  Nobody obeys the rule of law. If you say anything they come after you. That is no democracy. Democracy means allowing people to have different opinions.”