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Debate Challenge: Wike Busy Thinking Of How To Rescue Nigeria, Nwanosike Replies Umahi
The Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area in Rivers State, Engr. Samuel Nwanosike, has hinted that the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, may not accept the debate challenge from his Ebonyi State counterpart, Engr. Dave Umahi, because Wike was very busy at the moment thinking of how to rescue Nigeria from the misrule of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Nwanosike, who is a founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), disclosed this, last Saturday while speaking as a guest on Super 93.3 FM’s Point Blank live radio programme in Eleme, and monitored in Port Harcourt.
He reprimanded the governor of Ebonyi State for saying that Wike was packing Rivers monies to himself in the name of executing meaningless projects, revealing that there were various videos online showing where Umahi came to Rivers State to shower praises on Wike over his tremendous infrastructure development.
“Rivers people know who they have as a governor. Rivers people know that this is the governor God has brought to better the lives of the people of Rivers State”, Nwanosike said.
He noted that Umahi’s campaign of calumny against the workaholic governor of Rivers State was as a result of his defection challenge at the court of law, reiterating that nothing would make Wike or the PDP to discontinue the case.
Nwanosike noted that it does not make sense when a man knows the rules governing his game and went ahead to break the rules in order for things to be pleasant for him, while joining Wike in asking the Supreme Court to interpret what it means for an elected public office holder to dump his political party for another when there was no crisis or division in his party.
He said, “So, what Nyesom Wike has said is very clear: I am a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, I want the Judiciary to interpret this law, and to say, is it fair if individuals don’t stand for election? It is the political parties that stand for election, is it fair? Is it going to be nice in the eyes of the law or before every good conscience that a man will run for an election under a platform of a political party, gets victory first term in office, gets victory second term in office, and in the twilight of his governance in the second term in office, he decides to jump ship when there is no crisis in his political party as the Supreme Court has said?
“Court has clearly said that only cogent and verifiable crisis at the national level, not even at the state level, that is the only reason where you can say, based on the divide in my party; I don’t think I am protected”.
Nwanosike said that no amount of name-calling by the governor of Ebonyi State can deter Wike from testing every law of the land at the court.
“So, whether Umahi likes, he can call Wike any name. It does not stop Wike from filing the case in the VAT matter. It does not stop Wike from filing the case on illegal deduction from states’ accounts by the Police Service Commission. It does not stop Wike from testing every of our law which men and women have used as punitive measure to intimidate the people of Nigeria. So, we don’t bother”, he said.
Nwanosike advised Umahi to work hard so as to clinch the APC presidential ticket, which made him leave PDP, saying that is what would propel Wike to have a debate with him.
According to him, “Umahi told us that the reason why he left the Peoples Democratic Party is because he wants to go to a political party that will zone the presidential ticket to South-East, which is the APC; which is not a reason for defection in the law as explained by the Supreme Court.
“So, what we are saying is that if he wants a public debate, he should work very hard in the All Progressives Congress and get the ticket of the All Progressives Congress as the presidential candidate of the APC come 2023. It’s on that level that Nyesom Wike will do a debate with him, live debate, before the people of Nigeria.
“It’s on that level we can now assess both of them and see, based on available records, what you have done in your various states, viz-a-viz the allocation you have generated and how you have managed the welfare of the people”.
He disparaged the Ebonyi State governor for lying to Nigerians that he became a billionaire at the age of 25 years, stressing that Nigerians know people who were billionaires at the age Umahi claimed he was.
“That has just shown to Nigerians that he is a man that speaks from both sides of his mouth. And you cannot hold him to account for anything reasonable”, he said.
Nwanosike said that Wike was not just a lawyer and a Life Bencher, but a Bachelor and Master’s degrees holder in Political Science.
While describing him as a democrat who would keep testing the laws of the country so as to enable people know what they are doing, he charged Umahi to get prepared for a long walk because his sack case would get to the Supreme Court.
Nwanosike dismissed the insinuation that average Rivers person hates PDP due to the leadership style of Wike, saying that PDP was the only loved political party in Rivers State and people in other states desire Wike to govern them due to his outstanding performance.
Speaking on illegal oil refining, he stated that his administration has successfully ended artisanal oil refining in Ikwerre LGA, and was working assiduously to ensure that the LGA would no longer be an exit route for the ones refined in other local governments.
Nwanosike reiterated that PDP in Ikwerre LGA was waxing strong under the leadership of Sir Celestine Omehia, adding that he and the LGA Party Chairman, Hon. Dennis Amadi, were working very hard to see that the flag of the party keeps flying high.
By: Nelson Chukwudi
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.
