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LG Polls Boycott: APC Struggling To Avoid Defeat, Wike Mocks Opposition
The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, says the decision of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to boycott the April 17 Local Government Election was to avoid further electoral defeat that would expose its political irrelevance in the state.
Similarly, the governor has warned those within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who want to gang up against Rivers State, to be circumspect, as no other state has given more votes to the PDP since 1999 than Rivers.
Wike, who stated this during the PDP flag-off campaign for the April 17 Local Government Election in the state at the Isaac Boro Park, Port Harcourt, last Saturday, observed that the reason why the APC announced its decision to boycott the polls was to avoid further electoral embarrassment.
He maintained that while PDP has numerous infrastructure projects spread across the 23 local government areas that have endeared the party to the people at the grassroots, the APC cannot boast of a single project in the state since 2015.
He pointed out that to avoid looming electoral defeat, the leadership of the APC decided to boycott the polls.
Wike used the occasion to appeal to those who had aspired to be councillors and chairmen, but failed to realise their political aspirations not to be dispirited, but rather join hands with other stalwarts to ensure victory of the PDP in the forthcoming local government election.
“I know, we may have taken wrong decisions, but what is important is that there is no one decision that can go down well with everybody. So, I want to plead with all of you who had the intention to be councillor; I want to plead with all of you who had intention to be chairman; that you are not a councillor, or chairman, today, does not mean you’ll not be tomorrow.
“But if you believe in God, everything is possible. So, nobody should worry himself that, today, you’re not a councillorship or chairmanship candidate. But you can never tell, you may be a governor or member of National Assemble tomorrow.
“Therefore, for the interest of our party, let all of us unite and work together as a team and deliver our people, those we have chosen as councillorship candidates, and those who have been chosen as chairmanship candidates.”
The governor advised the PDP chairmanship candidates that, if elected into office, they must remain in their respective council headquarters to govern their people.
He warned that the state government would not tolerate a situation where council chairmen would spend more of their time in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
“Remain in your local government, leave Port Harcourt alone. If you are chairman of Gokana, remain in Kpor. If you are chairman of Khana, stay in Bori. If you are Akuku-Toru chairman, stay in Abonnema.”
“Leave Port Harcourt and stay in your LGA, you’re congesting the city,” the governor cautioned.
Wike declared that since his assumption of office in 2015, he has never tampered with the finances or bothered himself with revenue accruable to the local government councils.
He, however, warned that it would no longer be business as usual as he would not fail to embarrass chairmen who fail to deliver the dividends of democracy to their people.
“It is not going to be business as usual. If God has given you opportunity, why don’t you stay with your people? I will make sure you remain in your local governments, if you don’t do anything, I will embarrass you.
“Some of you use my name to come and stay with your extra wives in Port Harcourt, I will expose and embarrass you”, he warned.
The governor stated that some persons within the PDP were conspiring against Rivers State, and warned them to desist because the state has the capacity to ruffle the party, having delivered the highest number of votes for her in all general elections since 1999.
Wike announced that the leadership of the party had decided not to give the party’s flag to the Obio-Akpor Local Government chairmanship candidate, Barrister George Ariolu, for gross indiscipline.
In her remarks, the Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr Ipalibo Harry Banigo, declared that the PDP would sweep the council polls because of the sterling performance of the Wike-led administration since 2015.
Also speaking, the state Chairman of PDP, Amb Desmond Akawor, explained that all the party’s councillorship and chairmanship candidates have passed through the crucibles, and were prepared to replicate Wike’s developmental agenda at the grassroots.
On his part, the former Rivers State Governor, Sir Celestine Omehia, advised the candidates to conscientiously ensure they represent the party well at the grassroots by emulating Wike’s zeal to create a new Rivers State.
Similarly, the former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Sir Austin Opara and Chief Sergeant Awuse, respectively, expressed optimism that the party would sweep the polls because, “Rivers State is PDP, and PDP is Rivers State.”
The Rivers State Chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi has granted pardon to six inmates standing awaiting trial at the Port Harcourt maximum correctional center.
The six lucky inmates granted pardon on Tuesday by the state Chief Judge included Nwekeala Chizoba, Samuel Emmanuel, Aniete Kelvin, Ebube Fubara and Goddey Okpara who were on awaiting trial as murder suspects and have all spent between 10 years to seven years in the custody without a proper information filed against them in the court.
Justice Amadi during a special gaol delivery exercise last Tuesday at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre opined that the special gaol delivery was part of activities lined up to commomerate the 2024/2025 legal year in the State and restated the commitment of the state judiciary in decongesting the correctional centre and ensuring that those inmates who are not supposed to be there are removed from the custody.
The state chief judge stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to build a society that supports rehabilitation and gives a second chance to anyone or group of people who have fallen short of the expectation of the law and have been punished accordingly.
He stressed that the National Judicial Council(NJC) encourages judges to pay more attention to criminal matters to enable them to decongests the correctional facilities, noting that since his assumption into office, his administration has been able to reduce the number of inmates in Nigerian Correctional Centres and the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre in particular, to less than 2,000 as against the over 4,000 inmates previously in the faculty.
According to him, “as they release the deserving inmates, they affirm their commitment to justice, compassion and rule of law but that they must not forget the fundamental principles of justice delivery system which is truth and fairness, integrity and equality before the law.”
I encourage you all the released inmates to return to your families and become better citizens. You must not engage in action that will return you all back to prison. Let me say that while the judges show empathy to you all, it does not absolved individuals from being held accountable for actions against individuals, corporate organisations and state which the law frowns at, ”he stated
The Chief Judge thereafter stood down the exercise to enable the DPP to intervene to case files following the fact that majority of the persons listed to benefit from the exercise are facing murder charges and adjourned to a date that will come before December.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the outgoing state Comptroller of Nigerian Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt, Felix Lawrence, who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Controller General, commended the state judiciary led by Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi for their continuous effort aimed at ensuring justice and decongesting the facilities.
Other activities lined up for the event included special church service at St Paul’s Cathedral , Anglican Communion, Rebisi Port Harcourt, inspection of guard of honour by the state Chief Judge mounted by officers of the Nigerian police and a special court session held at the ceremonial court hall.
By: AkujobiAmadi
The Director General of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RBoPP), Dr. Ine Briggs, has explained that the Sir Siminalayi Fubara administration plans to enforce transparency in governance through public procurement.
Speaking at a one-day Public Procurement Enlightenment workshop organised in collaboration with the State Local Government Service Commission for newly elected chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries and leaders of legislative assemblies, Dr. Briggs said it is key for grassroot development.
She stated that the Sir. Fubara administration plans to reduce wastage and at same time infuse efficiency in public expenditure.
The RSoPP DG said the local government political office holders remain key drivers in the new vision hence the workshop is to arm them with knowledge on how to execute projects in tandem with needs of the people.
“ Your role in the prudent management of public resources is, therefore, not just administrative it’s the cornerstone of delivering the dividends of democracy. Every procurement decision you make must reflect a commitment to fairness, transparency and accountability” Dr. Briggs submitted.
One of the key goals of the administration she further reminded the participants was to use their offices to foster economic growth through public procurement.
She warned that the law establishing the agency empowers it to penalise defaulters, but that what is more important is voluntary compliance to the laws.
In addition to that, she said urged the local government council leaders that champion the practice and implementation of public procurement law.
On his part, Acting Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Pastor GoodLife Ben Iduoku averred that the aim of the workshop is to arm key stakeholders in the local government system to generate new ideas, innovation and strategies in tandem with government policies and programmes.
The workshop dealt on various topics on procurement planning, methods, Understanding Bid Process, including types of Construction Contracts and law.
Some participants were awarded excellence and meritorious awards as part of the programme.
By: Kevin Nengia
The 19th anniversary of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Rivers State Chapter, recently ended in Port Harcourt in grand style, with participants from various schools including proprietors, the academia, civil society groups and top government functionaries charting the way forward for educational improvement.
The 19th NAPPS anniversary christened, ‘Innovation and Adaptation: Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities’ was held at Casoni Hotels, Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the association, Dr. Jaja Adafe Sunday expressed gratitude to the members and executives for their untiring efforts towards the achievements of the body.
He sought the intervention of government on the lingering crisis on the economy as it is affecting the running of schools.
He decried high cost of things including fuel and raw materials which has adversely affected the running of schools and payment of teachers.
Dr. Sunday hinted that the current economic situation in the nation is biting hard on the operations of schools, saying inflation, removal of fuel subsidy, fuel scarcity, poor electricity supply, tariffs and lack of government grants are some of the challenges faced by schools, and urged the members to brace up to the challenges, as it is the panacea to building a brighter future.
Guest speakers from the health sector and the academia thrilled the gathering on the essence of basic education which they said is the key to national development.
Former Dean of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Azuru and the Chief Medical Director of Meridian Hospitals, Dr. Odo Iyke were some notable guest speakers who delivered lectures at the occasion.
Some distinguished proprietors also got special recognitions and awards.
The 19th anniversary cake was cut by the Rivers State NAPPS Chairman with representatives of the state government assisting.