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Nobody Can Break My Ranks, Wike Declares
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has pointed to the futility of efforts by those attempting to break his ranks, and create disunity among them.
The governor maintained that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors working with him were only demanding that the right things should be done in the party and agreement reached respected.
Wike spoke, last Monday, when he inaugurated the Okezuo Abia Flyover along the Aba-Enugu Expressway in Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area, and the rehabilitated Aba-Owerri Road in Aba South Local Government Area of Abia State.
The governor said, “When I read on the pages of newspapers, they said some people are making attempts to break my rank. I say to myself, they don’t understand the modus oparandi of what we are doing.
“If they understand the modus oparandi of what we are doing, they won’t waste their time. If you like go and meet Ikpeazu; if you like go and meet Seyi (Makinde); if you like go and meet Ortom (Samuel); and if you like go and meet Ugwuanyi (Ifeanyi); I pity them. People think that relationship can be bought with money.”
Wike asserted that no propaganda can weaken his political capacity to deliver a win for whoever Rivers State decides to support with votes in the 2023 general election.
“Look, nobody should bother about any abuse on me. I’m too much for it. I don’t even know when I’m abused. If they like, let them put everything on social media and abuse me. At the end, we will know who is relevant or not at the appropriate time.
“Politics is not to go on the pages of newspapers. Politics is not to go and buy slot on television and speak. It is who will deliver at the appropriate time. That is what is key. If you like, abuse me from now until tomorrow, it’s your business.
“What is important is when the time comes, we will know. When the jungle matures, we will know those who can stand crisis. We will know those who have capacity to say this is where our state will go. Ikpeazu is one of those governors who have capacity, and will decide where the people of Abia State will go.”
Wike emphasised that the governors, who some forces in PDP are fighting, are the ones who are projecting the party, and have consolidated the goodwill of the electorate that would translate to electoral fortune.
“Look at what they said: they said your governor (Abia State) is a boy. They said Wike is a boy, Seyi is a boy, Ortom is a boy, Ugwuanyi is a boy. But see what the boys are doing. Tell them that as men, they should show us what they have done.
“Because we said,‘look, agreement is agreement. You told me you will do this, now it’s time for you to do it, you don’t want to do it’. Is it good?
“Now, what’s the problem?We said: my brother, you have shared and given to Atiku; you shared and given Okowa, you shared and given to Saraki, which one have you given to Ikpeazu?
“What Ikpeazu and co are saying is: when you are sharing Senate president to so and so person, which one have you given to Abia?”
Wike noted that because the Abia State governor had submitted himself to God, whatever he does has continued to prosper.
He commended the Governor, Dr.OkezieIkpeazu, for changing the narrative of governance in Abia State, and working to better the socio-economic situation for the people of the state.
In his speech, Abia State Governor, Dr.OkezieIkpeazu, said the OkezuoAbia Flyover along the Aba-Enugu Expressway, was one of the signature projects of his administration.
According to him, it was the first interchange bridge delivered in the state since its creation.
“Our desire to construct this flyover at this point was borne out of our conviction that we will ease the movement of personnel and goods in and out of Aba, being our commercial nerve centre in Abia State.
“People were spending two/three hours at this junction trying to get into Aba, to get into the central market in the city, and we decided to respond to that problem by providing this flyover. I thank God that,today; this project has become a reality.”
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.