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APC Leadership Is Corrupt, Says Okorocha …Party Driving Nigeria To Anarchy -PDP …Nation Is Bleeding Profusely -Wike
Imo State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, has said indebt probe of the missing result sheet of last week’s ward congress of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in his state was likely to unravel the monumental fraud that has been going on in the national leadership of the party.
This was even as he explained that efforts at demystifying him in the politics of his state were being launched by the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Oyegun and his team in the National Working Committee of the ruling party.
The reason, the national leadership led by Oyegun moved against him, he explained, was due to his staunch opposition against tenure elongation which was earlier adopted by the party in their favour.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, yesterday, on the outcome of last week’s ward congress in his state, which he insisted never held, said the disposition of the Oyegun-led national leadership of APC on Imo ward congress was glaring that he was on a vendetta mission against him for insisting on conduct of congress contrary to tenure elongation which he was to benefit.
Okorocha prayed the appropriate authorities to go all out to unravel the circumstances surrounding the missing result sheet even as he hailed the police for a major breakthrough into the situation following yesterday’s arrest of four persons in an Abuja hotel with some of the result sheet.
But the Imo State helmsman said a deeper investigation into the case was likely going to unravel fraud that the national leadership has perpetuated even as he threatened to leak the unheard secrets of his sacked appointees who have now queued up against him in opposition camp in the state.
He pointedly accused Chief Oyegun of lying on the whereabouts of the missing ward result sheet to him, immediately after the purported congress in his state, asking him to start being upright in his dealings if he wanted the nation’s democratic history to have him in good book.
Hear him:”I did asked the National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun, ‘that where is the result and the chairman did tell me categorically that he had received the result sheet and I asked him that who submitted the result because I’m aware that the police is looking for the result sheet and the SSS too is looking for the result sheet and if the result sheet has reached the party office, then who submitted it?’.
“And I said that those who submitted the result sheet should tell the security agencies how they conducted the congress and got the result sheet only for us to hear today that no result is in the party’s office.
“This means the party lied that they have gotten the result. Everything there looks funny, it looks like some kind of mischievous connivance of people trying to make up things, cook up stories and tell people that this is how I lie.
“Once we are able to find the result, we will be very happy to know how they came about with that result sheet because as at 6pm on Saturday of the election, both the Organising Secretary of the party confessed that they couldn’t have the result sheet, the police Commissioner equally confirmed that there was no result sheet, the chairman of the panel confirmed that there was no result sheets,the SSS confirmed that there was no result sheet and the chairman of the party in Imo confirmed they could not see the sensitive material and therefore, there was no election.
“So if the result sheet finally appeared in the party office, then it’s a very interesting story that the whole Nigerians need to see.
“I think this will correct the issue of corruption in the internal democracy process in our party. It is unfortunate that men who were elected, respected men at that level will conscend to lying and cheating and violating the party’s principles.
It’s something very unfortunate and it’s all because people want to get to power at all cost. “Maybe this Imo State case would help to correct all the bad things that have been happening at the national headquarers of our party.”
On why he believed the national leadership was hounding him, the Imo State governor said:”I spoke against elongation, that elongation is not good for our party when the national chairman of our party and some of his members believe that there should be elongation so that there would be no congress as provided by the party’s constitution.
“ And I told them the danger if we do not conduct this Congress. I was a lonely voice in that matter until it became an issue that picked the interest of our party leaders and I supported my position.
“ I was saying that if we do not conduct congress and we conduct primaries, those people that elect our governorship candidates in the primaries would have been illegal.
“And that we might win election and somebody will just go to court to challenge the decision and they may go to court ad win because we were elected by those delegates. That was just my position and they said no, the Constitution allowes partial supremacy.
“The party supremacy does not override the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Great mind like the Vice President, who is also a SAN concurred with me on that position and that’s where we are today. They were giving flimsy excuse that congress would divide the party and we told them that the issue of not having a congress is worse than for us having a congress.”
He explained why the ruling party was having crisis at the moment, saying he forsaw it and warned but his warning was not taken serious by stakeholders of the party. Hear him:”I think the mistake that led to the whole issue is that we appointed a convention committee chairman who is the governor of Jigawa State and instead of him to conduct the congress and convention, the national chairman of our party and his team are the ones congress while the committee would conduct the convention, it’s not done that way.
“That’s where we have problem now because most of the National Working Committee members have interest in this matter because they are conducting the congress for themselves, like what happened in Imo State when the National Organising Secretary is conducting congress elect delegates that will elect him to come back as National Organising Secretary, it’s not done that way.
Really, that’s the problem and it’s not done so. “That’s where the lacuna is and I warned about this problem, if they had taken a neutral committee to run the congresses and convention, we will not be having this problem we are having today like in Rivers and all that. Some people have become a judge in their own case.”
Regretting that the people he had at one point or the other raised not only politically but financially through appointments in his government had ganged up with opposition figures against him in Imo, Okorocha advised that they be careful else he would expose their misdeeds in office, the reasons he said they were fired.
“I have already been told that a lot of my people in the opposition who have created a parallel camp have been making comments. But what people should know is that those are my boys, let me use the word boys because there’s none of them that I didn’t make what they are, ranging from the senator in their midst, the deputy governor to the commissioners, some of them who served me.”
He continued:””For them to turn around to become a force, they have grown, I’m happy to see them grow but let them do the right things.
Let them follow the right process and let them queue up and let the people vote them. “Most of them were sacked and there were reasons why they were sacked, it’s not for me to tell the world why they were sacked from my government at that particular time. But if they have constituted themselves into this kind of opposition, I would be glad to say so. But the most interesting thing now is that even the PDP elements have joined them because they know that this is the immediate problem, trying to collect power from Rochas is the collective resolution of all the political elite in the state.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has again chided the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) saying since it assumption of power, the party has been engulfed in crises, capable of driving the nation to a state of lawlessness if not checked.
The party said since its emergence, the APC and its leaders have engaged in actions aimed at instigating a breakdown of law and order among Nigerians, even in its fold as a party.
A statement signed by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, yesterday, read: “APC has become a symbol and harbinger of malevolence, which by every indication, is on a sordid throttle of taking our nation to the long forgotten state of nature where only the mighty rules: the state of anarchy.
“From its cannibalistic proclivities, the world can see why the APC and its insensitive federal government care less about the lives and welfare of Nigerians, resulting in the escalation of violence, bloodletting, mass killings, extra-judicial executions, persecution of citizens, abuse of human rights, constitutional violations, including invasion of the National Assembly as well as attack on federal lawmakers and judicial officers.
“We now know the roots of APC’s harsh economic policies and massive corruption that led to the biting economic recession and its attendant hunger, starvation and lack ravaging our nation today.”
On the controversy which characterised the conduct of the APC ward congresses, the PDP mocked the ruling party, saying, “Nigerians watched with bewilderment and disbelief as indescribable savagery, cruelty, violence, shooting and bloodletting enveloped the APC ward congress, which ordinarily should be a civil interaction among party members.”
Similarly, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has stated that Nigeria was bleeding profusely and the only way to stop the bleeding was to vote out the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government in 2019.
Wike said that the current administration was allowing bloodletting to continue unhindered, a situation, he said, has made God angry with the country.
Speaking after he inaugurated gubernatorial liaison officers for the 23 local government areas and 319 wards of the state, last Friday, at Government House, Port Harcourt, Wike said it was incumbent on all Nigerians to work towards voting out the APC in 2019.
He said: “Nigeria is bleeding. There is so much blood in the land. God is angry with Nigeria. The only way for God to be happy with us is for us to remove the APC in 2019”.
Wike announced that the state government would also employ another 100, 000 gubernatorial liaison officers for all the polling units in the state.
He said the gubernatorial liaison officers would serve as his direct representatives in all communities of the state for the purpose of generating quality information for good governance.
The governor added that the liaison officers would also be saddled with the responsibility of propagating government policies in all communities.
“All the local government areas must have functional offices where people will interact with the state government through the liaison officers.
“The liaison officers will collate information. They should hold regular meetings with community leaders and other stakeholders”, he directed.
In his remarks, PDP National Vice Chairman, South-East, Mr Austin Umahi praised the governor for the worthy initiative to take governance to the people, adding that Wike would emerge victorious in 2019 because of his outstanding performance.
Also speaking, PDP National Vice Chairman, South-South, Elder Emma Ogidi urged all the liaison officers to be loyal to the Rivers State governor and the PDP.
Responding on behalf of the liaison officers, Gideon Demua of Tai Local Government Area assured the governor that they would put in their best to promote good governance, and pledged 100 per cent loyalty to Wike and the PDP at all times.
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We’re Working To Improve Quality Of Life Of Rivers People -Fubara …As Taraba Gov Inaugurates 6.55km Okania-Ogbogoro-Mgbaraja Roads Project
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has reiterated the commitment of his administration to render quality service that will improve the quality of life of residents, and strengthen the platform to promote unity.
Governor Fubara gave the assurance at the Okania-Ogbogoro Road junction, venue of the inauguration of the 6.55km Okania-Ogbogoro-Mgbaraja (and Mgbuoba) Roads project in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, yesterday.
The road cuts across Okania community through Ogbogoro, and connects Port Harcourt Ring Road project under construction, and was inaugurated by the Taraba State Governor, Dr Agbu Kefas.
Governor Fubara said that during the campaigns, he saw the roads in terrible condition, made a promise to fix them, and noted that that promise has been kept.
He emphasised that his administration will never be reckoned with abandoning of projects that it started, which is why he is particularly excited that the road has been fixed to ease the inconveniences suffered by the people.
The Governor said, “What we are doing here today is very simple: Promise made, promise fulfilled. I told you that whatever we are going to start, we are not going to leave it halfway. So, we have come here this afternoon to fulfill that promise.
“I am so excited, and I am so happy. I am leaving here with so much joy that we have done something that has so much impact, and importance in the lives of our people. So, I feel very fulfilled. Government is about the people. Government is knowing, understanding and seeing what you can do to make life easy for your people.
“We understand the situation of this road. Fortunately, I have a few friends who also live around here. So, there is nothing you will say that I don’t know. As a government, we will continue to do those things we know will make life easy for you.”
The Governor thanked members of the communities in the area for their support to his administration, and also for cooperating with the contractor to ensure completion of the project.
He assured the people that their request for the rehabilitation of the Community Secondary School and Health Centre, will be looked at and addressed immediately, saying, “Our government is a government that takes the interest of our people very seriously.
“There is no government without the people. It is only the people that keep the government going. So, what we will continue to do is to make sure that the problems and interest of our people are top on our list,” he assured.
Performing the inauguration, Taraba State Governor, Dr Agbu Kefas, said roads are not just physical infrastructure but represent a commitment to facilitate ease of transportation, boost local commercial activities and improve quality of lives for the people of Rivers State.
Dr Kefas noted that Governor Fubara has provided the people good roads, and like other good roads, it will serve as an artery of development, further connecting communities, enhancing access to essential services while unlocking economic potentials.
He said, “By completing this project, Your Excellency has, once again, demonstrated the transformative impact of visionary leadership. When I was coming in with the Governor on a ride, I saw the joy, the happiness of the voiceless people who were abandoned and neglected in this area, coming out to wave and welcome us.
“It wasn’t a hired crowd. Everybody, those who couldn’t make it to this place, in front of their homes, they were waving at us, and I was telling the Governor: this is all about good governance. He listened to the people, and solved their problems. So, it shows that he is doing the right thing, and I want to thank you, my brother, for what you are doing for the good people, especially the poor people even in difficult times.”
Governor Kefas further said: “As we celebrate this milestone, I am reminded of the importance of collaboration and shared vision among us as Governors. Together, we can inspire our people, improve their lives, and create lasting legacies in our respective states.”
Providing the project description, the State Commissioner for Works, Barrister Elloka Tasie-Amadi, recalled that when it was flagged-off in May, 2024, the project was for a 5km stretch but was extended in October, to include Mgbaraja axis, increasing the length to 6.55km, explaining that the 10.3 meter wide, and 5km of drains road, has now linked Apara Kingdom to Nkpor Kingdom.
In his address, Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Amb Chijioke Ihunwo, described the road as a very significant route that was abandoned for years until Governor Fubara intervened and fixed it, promising that Obio/Akpor people will not take the gestures of the State Government under Governor Fubara for granted.
Speaking on behalf of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), the firm that handled the project, Eric Shen, said they are happy to be part of the infrastructure development strides of Governor Fubara, stating that though the rains posed significant challenge, they have delivered quality road network to serve the connectivity needs of the people.
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We’ll Implement Judicial Commission’s Report On Arson, Killings -Fubara …Says Such Violence Must Stop In Rivers
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has assured of implementing the recommendations of the report submitted to him by the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the Arson, Killings, and Wanton Destruction of Property at some local government council headquarters on or around Monday, October 7, 2024.
Governor Fubara gave the assurance when the seven-member commission, led by the Chairman, Justice Ibiwengi Roseline Minakiri, submitted four volumes of reports of their investigation and recommendations to him at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
The Governor declared that his administration will neither tolerate nor allow such level of violence in the State anymore because it is not profitable or productive.
He said, “We are not going to be part of any system that would encourage any destruction in this State. And for that reason, we had to inaugurate this commission, so that this commission should look into the remote and immediate causes of this problem.
“And I believe that the recommendations of this commission, with the help of God and the support of everyone, we will make sure that we implement the recommendations.”
Governor Fubara said: “We are going to take it to the next stage. The report will be presented to the Executive Council, and there, we will surely come out with the White Paper and with the White Paper. I can assure you, we are going to follow it to the end.
“Nobody is above the law, including me. So, provided what we are doing is within the confines of the law, we will do it with the help of every one.”
Governor Fubara recalled how, before 2014, a group of persons had ran wide recklessly in the State, burning down court buildings.
He noted that it is such persons, who had recently surfaced with their destructive tendencies, and have extended the violence to local government councils, killing people and destroying government property.
Governor Fubara wondered why somebody will spend so much money to build a structure intended to last as legacy of the administration but would eventually be part of its destruction in the name of politics.
Governor Fubara clarified that he has never been part of such destructive politics that continue to set the State backwards and frustrate progressive development strides.
Governor Fubara said: “I make bold to say it, I have never been and will never be a party to anything that will bring shame, disgrace, destruction to our dear State.
“It is our State. If it is well with us, it will be well with everybody. As a matter of fact, why should I encourage destruction, when I know that when you finish spoiling things, you still need money to rebuild them.
“I am an accountant, I know the importance of how we can manage money. Rather than spoil, you should use that money to do a new thing for the State.”
Governor Fubara vowed: “So, I am going to ensure that we put a stop to that level of violence or such unreasonable violence. I call it unreasonable violence because it doesn’t mean anything in politics.
“Politics is a business of interest. There is no permanent friend, no permanent enemy. Some persons who were not even in our support, today, they are here following us because their interest is the most important thing.
“Likewise tomorrow, if the interest changes, they will also go their different ways. So, why burn down the house?”
Governor Fubara thanked members of the commission for being bold, focused, and accomplishing their task with determination in the face of physical and legal threats.
In her presentation, Chairman of the seven-member Judicial Commission of Inquiry, Justice Ibiwengi Roseline Minakiri, said they had put their findings into four volumes, including the recommendations.
Justice Minakiri explained: “We have here four volumes of the report. We have the memoranda, which is the memoranda we got after we made our publications.
“We also have the exhibits that came with the memoranda. We have the proceedings and the records. At the end of the day, we came up with the main report.”
Justice Minakiri advised that the recommendations of the report should be studied and implemented so that people can be deterred from such callous acts and the sought-after peace secured for the State.
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We Are Eager To Showcase The Best Of Rivers State -Fubara …Declares Federation Of Public Service Games Open
The Rivers State Government says it is committed to providing a memorable experience for all delegates participating in the Federation of Public Service Games(FEPSGA) hosted by the State Government.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara stated this during the opening Ceremony of the 43rd Edition, Public Service Games, titled ”Simplified Rivers 2024″, at Sharks Stadium, Port Harcourt, last Sunday.
Speaking through his Deputy, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, Governor Fubara said “Our hospitality is renowned and we are eager to showcase the best of Rivers State. From top-notch facilities to a secure environment, we have everything in place to ensure a seamless and enjoyable experience for all participants.”
Governor Fubara said to ensure the success of the games his Administration has put in place comprehensive plans and preparations with four venues approved for the events which include the Sharks Stadium, Alfred Diette -Spiff Civic Centre, Port Harcourt Club and the University of Port Harcourt.
The State Chief Executive urged participants to remember that the true spirit of FEPSGA goes beyond winning medals, stressing that it is about building bridges of friendship, fostering a sense of community and celebrating our diversity.
According to him, we envision a public service that is more productive, more efficient and more effective, a future where public servants are empowered to deliver exceptional results driven by a culture of excellence, innovation and teamwork.
The Governor reiterated that while a healthy mind and body are essential for high productivity, regular physical activity boosts our mood, increases energy levels and enhances our cognitive function. We are eager to showcase the best of Rivers State. From top-notch facilities to a secure environment.
In her address Head of the Civil Service of the Federation Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who spoke through Dr.(Mrs) Magdalene Ajani, Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Interior Commended Governor Fubara for hosting this year’s event, and for his dedication to promoting sports and fostering unity in the country.
She noted that the event which serves as a platform for furthering unity, camaraderie and sportsmanship amongst public servants, was a celebration of their shared commitment to excellence, resilience and service to the nation.
Also speaking the National President of the Federation of Public Service Games (FEPSGA), Comrade Amaebi Aloku, said Rivers State got the nod to host the annual event because the Federation was pleased with the vision of Governor Fubara in identifying with the needs of the Civil Servants in the State, in terms of their welfare and being one of the first State to implement the new minimum wage and even taking it above what was approved by the national.
Earlier the Head of Service Rivers State, Dr George Nwaeke had welcomed all participants to the State and expressed gratitude to the Governor for approving and making available the resources to host the games, noting that it was an opportunity to interact with all Civil Servants across the nation.