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We’ve Redefined Governance, Wike Affirms …Again, Dares Those Threatening To Expel Him From PDP …Accuses Atiku Of Meeting APC Govs, Denies Granting BBC Interview
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has challenged those threatening to expel him from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to go ahead and try it, if they can.
Wike gave the challenge at the Eneka Road Roundabout, venue of the flag-off ceremony for the construction of Eneka-Igbo-Etche Road dualisation project.
The governor, who insisted that he was unperturbed about the threat of expulsion, however, wondered why those desiring to expel him were displaying anxiety instead of acting out their threat, and see if they will survive it.
According to him, “When the time comes, we will know who has capacity, and who does not have capacity.”
The Rivers State governor also reiterated the minimum demand of the members of the G5 group, which was the resignation of Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as national chairman of PDP to allow for a southerner to occupy the office.
“We have made our demand and our demand is: the national chairman must come to the South. It’s non-negotiable. If you say you don’t care, no problem. Let’s go to the field. No need to begin to threaten people: you will do this, you will do that.”
In retrospect, Wike recalled how between 2002 and 2003, former President,Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, knelt down to beg his then vice, now PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to support his second term bid, and the conditions the latter gave to him.
“You (HO1) say we are giving condition, but you forget history. In 2002-2003, when President Olusegun Obasanjo wanted to run for second tenure, he knelt down before his vice president, and said, my vice, please allow me to run. You know one of the conditions he gave him: Tony Anenih must be sacked as the minister of works; and Tony Anenih must not be in the presidential campaign council. Obasanjo obliged, and sacked Tony Anenih as minister of works, and removed him from the presidential campaign council.”
He expressed surprise over the undying interest by those who said they have moved ahead and do not need the G5 to win the 2023 election.
He wondered why those antagonistic to the G5 were always sniffing around to uncover any latest move made by the group.
Wike queried why they were bothering themselves about where the G5 goes, what it says, and which person they chose to speak with.
The governor noted that even as G5 travelled recently to Europe, some people, including the Arise TV and other media outfits speculated and insinuated so many unfounded things without a proof of any picture or audio, to affirm their claims that the G5 met with a presidential candidate in Europe.
“They said I had conversation with BBC, where is the picture, where is the video? You know these days, we don’t have journalists again, and we have press men. You can see people not being able to give out correct information. You see newspaper houses that are now running election. You see television houses standing for election.
“Wike had interview with BBC. Wike said we had a deal with so, so and so. Meanwhile, no video, no audio! And some of you waste your time to listen to such things. Don’t you know that when I want to do something, I’ll do it? Don’t you know? Do you need to speculate? You don’t need to speculate! They say there is trouble, there is no trouble. What we have is introduction to trouble that will come.”
In any case, Wike wondered why the worry, that he had to, if true, meet with any person, including the APC presidential candidate, whereas the PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who had been meeting with APC governors was not questioned.
“What is your problem assuming that there was a meeting? Has Atiku not been holding meetings with governors of APC? Ask him. As he is in Dubai, don’t we know what is going on? So, why do you bother about us, G-5 that you say you can win without us. Leave us alone.”
The Rivers State governor took on the former national chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, who claimed that he was his benefactor, and said it was a lie.
He stated that at no point in his political career did Prince Uche Secondus sponsor him to any political office, except for the fact that he accompanied him on some lobbying trips.
Wike insisted that he was rather the benefactor to Prince Uche Secondus because against fierce opposition and rejection from the likes of Sule Lamido, Hon Austin Opara, Dr. Abiye Sekibo, Sir Celestine Omehia, and Senator Lee Maeba, he sponsored him to become the national chairman of PDP, and removed him later when he wanted to make his nephew governor of Rivers State.
“You wanted to be national chairman: first to impose your nephew or your cousin as you may call him to become governorship candidate of PDP in Rivers State. I said not here, it won’t work. We had to kick him out first, and we did, and you are out.”
He listed the Nsirim, Senator John Mbata, and Dr. Peter Odili’s families as sponsors at various times of his political dreams that had made him what he has become.
The governor emphasised that Prince Uche Secondus was awarded several contracts worth about N50billion in Rivers State, and had been paid a total sum of N43.9billion, but he has never completed any of the projects, and can also not account for money received.
Providing a description of the project, the state Commissioner for Works, Dr. Dakorinima Alabo George-Kelly, said the Eneka-Igbo-Etche Road was going to be dualised, and would be 5-kilometre long.
He explained that already, the contractor, Monier Construction Company (MCC) had been mobilised to site, adding that the project was expected to be completed in five months’ period.
George-Kelly said the project could be completed in two months’ time because of the incredible pace of work brought to bear by the contractor handling the construction works.
“This road is approximately 5kilometres long, the wearing course width will be 8.3metres while the binder course width will be 11.3metres.
“We are going to have drains on both sides of the road, the total length of the drains is going to be 9.24kilometres. The size of the drains will be 900millimetres by 900millimetres, 150millimetres wall and 150millimetres base concrete thickness.
“The completion time for this project is five months but with the speed the contractor is going, I am optimistic that in another two months, this project will be ready for commissioning,” he said.
The project, which is being constructed by Wike’s administration, was previously awarded by the immediate past administration but it was not executed.
This led the present administration to re-award the project to alleviate the sufferings of the people living in that area.
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.