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  • 2023: Rivers guber race wears a new face as Sen Abe declares intention

    2023: Rivers guber race wears a new face as Sen Abe declares intention

    The Rivers guber race has worn a new face as former representative of Rivers South-East Senatorial District at the National Assembly, as Senator Magnus Ngei Abe joins the race.

    The Rivers political caterpillar declared his interest to contest for the governorship seat of Rivers State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), come 2023.

    Abe made the declaration in Gokana Local Government Area on Sunday, following the inauguration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu (BAT) Vanguard Excos in B-Dere Community, Rivers State.

    Abe said any cooked up plan that avoids a clean, clear and credible process in order to exclude him from clinching the governorship ticket of the APC, as well as deny the teeming members of the party in the State from choosing their preferred candidate would definitely fail.

    He stressed that Transportation Minister, Chibuike Amaechi cannot anoint a candidate for the Brick house, adding that only Rivers people have the power to choose who becomes governor of the State.

    Abe, who mocked a recent pact taken by governorship aspirants seeking a riverine governor, said such arrangements would not work.

    He said, “I heard that some people gathered to say they are gubernatorial candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC); they have reached a pact, that it is a riverine governor and that they have agreed to whatever they said, did you see me there? Will it work? We all know that it is not going to work.

    “I don’t want to say anything about them because they are my friends and they have not done anything wrong, they are following somebody who has no plan, they are going to do thanksgiving when they have not put any plan on ground in Rivers State that will help the APC to do better than it did the last time.

    It is wrong to drag God into what you are doing, when you are not doing well. When you plan, you dedicate your plan in a dedication service; it is when you win, that you should have a thanksgiving service.”

    Abe vowed to resist any attempt aimed at excluding him from contesting for the governorship ticket under the platform of the APC, noting that he would support whoever emerges via a credible process.

    “I have not said that Senator Magnus Abe must be the candidate of the APC in Rivers State, I have always said and will repeat, if we have a fair, free, equitable contest and somebody emerges from that process, I, Magnus Ngei Abe will support whoever emerges from such a process and the person will win.

    “But if you go and cook up a process, you are cooking up to exclude me, it is not me that you are excluding, they are excluding all of you, if they exclude all of you, will they win? They will not win, so it is not rocket science.

    “We don’t need a riverine or upland candidate that is known to Ameachi. What we need is a Rivers candidate that is known by Rivers people with the capacity and integrity to deliver.

    “That is why I, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, will contest for the gubernatorial ticket of the APC in Rivers State.

    “Let me advise the party, we have been through this road many times. We should not make the same mistake again. There should be an end to political rascality in Rivers State, we should not disregard the people and expect a good result.”

    Earlier, a former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Rivers State, Barrister Worgu Boms, said that Abe remains the most qualified candidate for the job.

  • Don’t allow a repeat of Zamfara, Rivers APC disaster in Akwa Ibom, group warns

    Don’t allow a repeat of Zamfara, Rivers APC disaster in Akwa Ibom, group warns

    Defenders of Akwa Ibom APC, DAIA has cautioned the new Abdullahi Adamu leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC against repeating same mistakes that led to the loss of Zamfara and Rivers States in the 2019 General Election.

    Speaking against the background of the party’s decision to recognize inaugurating Obong Stephen Ntukekpo as the chairman of the Akwa Ibom State chapter when the issues of the congresses that led to his mergence were still under judicial review, the group in a statement by its coordinator, Ibok Essein.

    “What happened in Zamfara and Rivers States are still very fresh in our memory and it would be catastrophic for us as a party if we did not learn any lesson from the issues.”
    Noting that the same issues of upholding the constitution of the party and of the Electoral Act were now at play in Akwa Ibom, the group called for caution.
    “The fact is that a significant proportion of the party membership including at the grassroots and leaders have issues with the emergence of Obong Stephen Ntukekpo as chairman of the party.
    “These members have in adherence to the rule of law taken up their case in the courts and it is a shock that even before their right to fair hearing is adjudicated that their rights have been abridged.
    “Our warning is that the party must take heed so that the disaster of Zamfara and Rivers do not befall us in Akwa Ibom.”
    Noting that the caution had become more important in the wake of the increased mobilization of the grassroots for 2023 victory, the group continued:
    “Our grassroots in Akwa Ibom have more than ever been energized for victory in the forthcoming 2023 General Election. What they are asking is for things to be done properly for them to deliver Akwa Ibom from the yoke of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,” the group said.

  • You must be delusional as PDP is not your personal property – Obaseki tells Wike

    You must be delusional as PDP is not your personal property – Obaseki tells Wike

    Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, on Monday slammed his counterpart from Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, insisting Peoples Democratic Party PDP is not his personal outfit but public property.

    He accused Wike of appropriating PDP as his personal property, warned the Rivers helmsman that Edo State cannot be procured.

    Recall the Rivers Governor had launched a verbal attack against Obaseki’s deputy, Philip Shaibu, for protesting the exclusion of his supporters in the affairs of the party.

    Wike had said: “This is the same deputy governor that was kneeling down to beg for us to give them umbrella, today you have the effrontery to threaten PDP. Such a shame.”

    But Obaseki, in a statement, wonders how Wike who threatens the PDP regularly to the point of being a bully, would take a genuine grievance from his deputy as a threat.

    “It clearly amounts to the delusion of grandeur, for any one man to nurse the idea that he owns or has more stake in the PDP and everyone should pander to him,” Obaseki wrote.

    Insisting that Wike is nursing a presidential ambition, Obaseki said that should not be a reason for him to destroy the PDP or cause disruptions within the party.

    “While Governor Wike is free to use his resources as he deems fit in pursuit of his ambition, he should not attempt to cow, intimidate, cajole and threaten others into doing his bidding.

    “Edo State cannot and will not be procured for anyone’s personal ambition,” he said.

    Read Obaseki’s full statement below

    The recent personal attacks by His Excellency, the Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Nyesom Wike, against my Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu is, to say the least, most unfortunate and totally uncalled for.

    If Governor Wike was one who is wont to show respect and courtesy to his colleague-governors, he would have ordinarily reached out to me to express his concerns about the views made by my deputy governor, rather than embarking on this unwarranted public onslaught.

    My deputy governor was a former National President of the National Association of Nigerian Student (NANS) and his comment is representative of the essence of the nation’s youth population, who are inclined to openly speak up and question the status quo. If Governor Wike cannot understand and adequately respond to the style and character of the Nigerian youth, how can he aspire to lead them?

    His Excellency, Governor Wike should have taken a cue from the manner in which the National Chairman of our party, Sen. Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, responded to my deputy’s remarks, as a conscientious leader who is able to show empathy and consideration.

    The concerns expressed by my deputy governor bordered on pertinent issues affecting the PDP in Edo State which since the September 19th 2020 elections, has been able to register over 500,000 members; and till date, these new members have not been properly integrated into our party after two years.

    Also, the leaders, executives and members who came with me into the party have still not been accepted, integrated or harmonized into the party.

    More worrisome is the fact that old members of Edo PDP, who are open to inclusion and supportive of building a large party are being vilified and ostracized by a cabal purportedly led by Chief Dan Orbih, who is your perpetual guest in Port Harcourt and is remotely used to orchestrate the destabilization of the party in Edo State.

    It is necessary to recall at this point that a political solution gave rise to the emergence of Chief Dan Orbih first as Acting and then as Substantive National Vice Chairman, South South, of our party, when Chief Emma Ogidi resigned that position to allow Chief Orbih to ascend.

    It is therefore curious why this type of political solution is no longer tenable to resolve the political impasse in Edo State PDP.

    We can categorically state that in the comments of the deputy governor, he at no point threatened the party as Governor Wike has alleged. Rather, it is Governor Wike, who has at different times, threatened the PDP. Some of these instances include:

    1. On September 16, 2018, Governor Wike threatened the party that there would be grave consequences if it moved the National Convention from Port Harcourt in the run up to the 2019 presidential election.

    2. On September 12, 2019, Governor Wike also threatened to cause trouble for the party over the emergence of Hon. Ndudi Elumelu as the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

    Undoubtedly, Governor Wike has contributed to the advancement of the party, just like others, since 1999.

    No one is against his desire to run for president, however, his ambition should not be embarked on in such a way that it would cause disruption at different levels, such as the PDP Governors’ Forum as well as different chapters of the party across the country.

    It clearly amounts to the delusion of grandeur, for any one man to nurse the idea that he owns or has more stake in the PDP and everyone should pander to him.

    We are all equal stakeholders in the party and an aggregate of the ideas, opinions and contributions of all leaders and members should form the position of the party and not the view of one individual or a select few.

    While Governor Wike is free to use his resources as he deems fit in pursuit of his ambition, he should not attempt to cow, intimidate, cajole and threaten others into doing his bidding. Edo State cannot and will not be procured for anyone’s personal ambition.

    What Nigeria needs now are strong democratic institutions and not strong men; that is why we will join the great leaders of our party across the country to build PDP into a strong, large and indomitable party that will win next year’s presidential election.

    Governor Wike and his collaborators headed by Chief Dan Orbih in Edo State will not succeed in destabilizing the PDP in Edo State as they did other states like Cross River just to secure delegates to actualize his alleged personal ambition to run for the presidency in 2023.

    In Edo, we don’t accept political bullies and overlords and historically, we have demonstrated our capacity to unshackle ourselves and dethrone bullies and highhanded leaders.

    I appeal to all well-meaning leaders of our great party to call Governor Wike to order, to desist from his current unguarded and disruptive tendencies. From all indications today, PDP is set to take over the leadership of Nigeria provided we can rein in the self interest of a few leaders to put the task of rescuing Nigeria above their personal ambitions.

  • Rivers APC rebukes Sen Abe over an erroneous claim on Amaechi

    Rivers APC rebukes Sen Abe over an erroneous claim on Amaechi

    The Rivers All Progressives Congress APC has rebuked Senator Magnus Abe over an erroneous claim on the Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi bordering on a press conference allegedly addressed by his political allies.

    This was contained in a statement issued and signed by the party’s state Chairman, Chief Emeka Beke where he debunked the character assassination Abe alleged.

    See full statement below:

    “Our attention has been drawn to a press statement by Senator Magnus Abe expressly accusing the Honourable Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, and leader of APC in Rivers State, as being behind a recent press conference by some two individuals who confessed to working with Senator Abe to undermine our Party in Rivers State..

    “After our preliminary investigation into the matter, we unequivocally absolve the Minister of such a wild accusation but rather urge Senator Abe to discreetly and diligently examine those he has been in political bed with for an answer to what is unraveling. The best place for Abe to start his investigation should be around the two gentlemen who appear not to be under any form of duress in the video clip in question that has gone viral in the media.

    “Alternatively, Senator Abe may have to present to the Party and Nigerians concrete and verifiable evidence to support his accusation as failing to so do will present him as undeniably guilty of the same offence of character assassination he is leveling against others.

    “We advise Senator Abe to always exhibit maturity and not allow himself to be driven by instinctive emotions in the face of serious developments that otherwise require measured and calculated reaction.

  • Wike dashing off Rivers’ property to cronies – Dakuku Peterside

    Wike dashing off Rivers’ property to cronies – Dakuku Peterside

    The 2015 governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers, Dr Dakuku Peterside, has accused Governor Nyesom Wike of being on a property acquisition spree.

    Peterside, a one-time Commissioner for Works, said that Governor Wike had cornered no fewer than 400 houses for himself and his cronies in ways he described as “ridiculous and undignified.”

    But in a swift reaction, the Rivers Commissioner for Information, Paulinus Nsirim has described Peterside’s comment as spurious, uncouth, spiteful petty, jaundiced and begrudgingly spiteful Mr. Peterside has sunk, in his unbridled obsession to discredit Governor Nyesom Wike.

    Peterside in his statement, reminisced with nostalgia the agony the same Governor Wike afflicted on some senior civil servants in 2021 when he ejected them from their official residence in the old and new Government Reserved Areas (GRAs) and other areas in Port Harcourt.

    Dakuku Peterside, the immediate past Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) expressed shock that Wike had converted some of those houses to his personal property, whilst others were sold-off at ridiculous market value to his friends and cronies.

    “Wike will go down as the most greedy and covetous governor in Rivers’ history,” he lamented, adding, “no governor has ever shown such crave for obscene wealth in Nigeria’s history as Wike.”
    “Wike’s house in his village, Rumueprikom, with all luxurious appetite that includes a helipad and bullet-proof gadgets, has become the official Government House of Rivers. And in his unbridled lust for estate acquisition, Wike is buying-off more property, including churches, schools, and private family houses, along Ada George area of Port Harcourt, either opposite, behind, or adjacent to his palatial mansion to expand his estate.

    “To intimidate his Rivers’ victims more, including the families he forced to relinquish their family legacies to him, Wike has mounted all calibre of surveillance equipment and armed security men to provide 24-hour security around his mansion. On top of all of that, Wike’s appetite to seize-and-acquire, like hell, is enlarging by the day,” he stressed.

    Peterside added that “from Diete Spiff to Chibuke Rotimi Amaechi, we had governors who showed humility and never turned their private houses to Government House; they never oppressed Rivers’ people with open displays of wealth as Wike has done.”

    The former House of Reps member accused Governor Wike of giving away over 50 houses he used his office as governor to seize from their rightful owners, located in the Old GRA, Amadi Flats, GRA Phases 1, 2 and 3, to his political friends within and outside the state.

    “Governor Wike behaves as if he is in control of the future, disregarding the culture of civility, equity, fairness, empathy and due process associated with the exalted office of the Governor; Wike is indeed a shame to Rivers’ people and all that the state represents,” Dakuku Peterside summed up.

    Countering Peterside’s charade, Nsirim said:

    “One cannot help but wonder, not for the umpteenth time, how low, petty, jaundiced and begrudgingly spiteful Mr. Peterside has sunk, in his unbridled obsession to discredit Governor Nyesom Wike.

    He explained that” his latest rant not only reeks of resentful bitterness and acrimonious slander, but has dangerously crossed the line of decency into primitive maliciousness, unbecoming of a man of his supposed intelligence and claimed academic status.

    “From puerile and unsubstantiated allegations of seizing property and dashing them to his friends and cronies, Dakuku Peterside betrays his shallow pettiness by crudely attempting a graphically salacious, yet tasteless description of a functional and operational building, located in the very heart of a throbbing capital city like Port Harcourt, in line with the urban renewal initiatives of the Governor Wike administration, which is transforming Port Harcourt in particular, into a capital city of picturesque beauty.

    “For the avoidance of doubt and with sincere apologies for repetition, we wish to appeal to the patience of those who may rightly recall, that we have explained and cleared the air on the recovery of properties, especially in previous rejoinders to this same Dakuku.

    “We want to state again categorically, that the Rivers State Executive Council took the decision to recover dilapidated government quarters from civil servants and illegal occupants within Old and New Government Residential Area (GRA), Port Harcourt and reallocate them to competent private individuals.

    “A task force was properly constituted by the Rivers State Government to carry out this mandate and the findings of the task force revealed that some of these properties were fraudulently acquired by retired civil servants through dubious processes of allocation and sale and some others also fell into utter deterioration due to the abject neglect and lack of maintenance by the occupants.

    “The properties were totally in uninhabitable condition and many were converted into commercial and business uses; in some cases, they were even subleted to private tenants, and some of these tenants used the premises for poultries, fish ponds, barbing saloons, and other unauthorized activities.

    “The Task Force also discovered that some of these properties were found to be under illegal occupants by non-civil servants, some of whom were even non-indigenes. This therefore, necessitated the recovery of these properties as part of government’s urban renewal programme.

    “The Task Force accorded the people the right to follow due process, even though some folks stubbornly toed the ill advised path of non-compliance, which had its well spelt out penalty. Notices were duly served in addition to series of meetings so that nobody was taken unawares.

    “The civil servant-occupants, who were affected by the recovery, contrary to the lies and misinformation by Dakuku Peterside, now have alternative private properties through financial support provided by the State Government.

    ” They are very comfortable in their new residences; a situation which would have been near impossible for them to accomplish at the time, on their civil service emoluments.

    “The recovery of these properties and their subsequent reallocation have been properly articulated as part of the first phase of the ongoing urban renewal programme of the Rivers State Government within the Old and New GRA, Port Harcourt, which is proceeding nicely with scheduled compliance.

    “So it completely beats the imagination to identify where Dakuku Peterside came up with the hallucination that people were ‘ejected in a ridiculous and undignified manner’ and the misleading rumour that the Governor had cornered no fewer than 400 houses for himself and his cronies and then sold-off at ridiculous market value to his friends and cronies.

    “Again, we have consistently declared that Dakuku Peterside does not live in his village, Opobo, the capital city Port Harcourt, or anywhere within and around the capital city territory, otherwise he would have been a little bit more circumspect and less flippant before describing Rumuepirikom, a bustling, thriving modern community, located in the very heart of the state, as a “Village.”

    “Governor Wike, unlike some past leaders in the State, who took Rivers wealth to build mansions in Abuja and develop other specific parts of the country, ostensibly to
    curry favour, is proudly and patriotically building at home, developing Rivers State and transforming the state capital into a beffiting metropolitan hub.

    “The urban renewal programme encompasses the entire state capital area, including Rumueprikom. By the way, if Governor Wike does not build his own house in his community, is it in a foreign land that he will go and build it?

    “Charity, they say, begins at home and the infrastructural legacies Governor Wike is setting down, especially the amazing, breathtaking flyovers, the state of the art unity roads and expressways and indeed the modern markets, the medical and academic establishments, amongst other excellent infrastructures both in the capital city and across the state, will remain in Rivers State and will continue to be used and utilized by Rivers people, long after his tenure would have ended.

    “Governor Wike has even hinted that as his administration gradually winds down, he would be spending quite a bit more time in his country home, interacting and fraternising more with his people and carrying out his usual on the spot inspections of the projects that are still ongoing in the capital territory and across the state, to ensure their completion on schedule.

    “This is in line with his pledge that he will not leave any uncompleted project behind for his successor.

    “That indeed is the hallmark of a visionary leader who is building in the present for the challenges of the future, unlike some leaders whose legacies ended in the past.

  • APC slams Wike, says governance dwindling under his watch

    APC slams Wike, says governance dwindling under his watch

     

    The Rivers chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC on Friday slammed Governor Nyesom Wike‘s adminstration saying 2022 has showcased dwindling governance in the Garden City.

    This was contained in a statement issued by the chapter’s Publicty Secretary, Senibo Chris Finebone who claimed Wike is on a political jamboree at the detriment of Rivers people.

    Read full statement below:

    2022 HERALDS WORSENING CONDITION OF GOVERNANCE IN RIVERS STATE, SAYS RIVERS APC

    It was long expected that the very bad governance of Gov. Nyesom Wike will further slide as 2023 general elections approached.

    What was not envisaged was the speed and how early in 2022 things would plummet leaving hapless Rivers people and residents with the short end of the stick.
    The year began with a New Year broadcast by Gov Wike serving warning how he intended to fight illegal crude oil refiners in Rivers State. Ordinarily, the announcement was received with animated enthusiasm by all, at least, believing that the action would bring the persistent soot bedeviling our lives to an end.

    In the melodrama that ensued, the governor and his men embarked on some kneejerk discovery and destruction of some refining sites and equipment. After a few days, the governor yielded the fight to the local government bosses. How well the fight is being conducted and the expected positive result appear to pale into insignificance while the soot is still ravaging our lives.

    Next was the rediscovery of what the governor had earlier ‘discovered’ on assumption of office in 2015. Faced with the attraction of having a second aircraft to aid his godfather status in PDP, Gov Wike suddenly remembered that the Rivers State owned Legacy 600 aircraft sitting somewhere in Germany would be handy. He decided to create some drama around the aircraft so that Rivers people and Nigerians get talking while he snicks the refurbished aircraft into Nigeria for the use of his party during the approaching campaigns. Thinking of himself as a smart artful dodger, he plotted that act such that we all will be thanking him for playing Mungo Park to the aircraft while his party people use it at the expense of Rivers tax payers. But like they say, there is never a perfect crime. Gov Wike forgot that he had addressed the press on June 20, 2015

    speaking extensively on the location of the two State-owned aircraft. He had said one aircraft was grounded at the Port Harcourt Airforce Base and the Legacy 600 somewhere in Germany. Then he had promised and did send someone to Germany the next day being 21st June, 2015 to confirm the status of the Legacy 600.
    Suddenly, in 2022 the governor announced seven clear years after, that he just discovered (maybe rediscovered) a state-owned aircraft spirited away to Germany by his predecessor through unexplained intelligence. But we caught him red handed! Hardly had he finished his announcement when a journalist sent a link to a publication dated 21st June, 2015 where a national newspaper reported Gov Wike’s speech on the same aircraft about a month after he was sworn in as governor in 2015. This lie by him was effectively busted!

    The governor said he had already spent over 3m Euro on the Legacy 600. But concerned Rivers people query why the governor should profligately spend such humongous sum of money on an aircraft with very high total cost of ownership (particularly high operating cost due to age). But Rivers people mean nothing to the governor. He is bent on spending our common resources under his control as he pleases as long as he will use the aircraft for campaigns as against the intention of his predecessor to fix the aircraft and sell it off to stem further financial hemorrhage on the state coffers. After all, Rivers State is governed by a ‘big boy.’

    It was disheartening to be greeted on the social media this morning by a group of elderly men and women singing and praying to God for divine intervention so that Gov Wike may pay them their gratuity and pension even as many of them have already died for lack of subsistence and medical care.

    Many might be wondering why a state whose governor doles out hundreds of millions of Naira to faraway states has refused to pay gratuity and pensions to senior citizens of his own State who spent the best part of their lives serving the State.

    But it is what it is! We have watched some families that hitherto lived well, now scrounge to have one meal a day because they are not paid their due pensions.

    Meanwhile, residents of a number of waterfront communities numbering over 100,000 have been rendered homeless and destitute after one week quit notice the governor gave them. Their plight is further worsened by the fact that the action was put into effect in the very difficult month of January.

    However, most annoying is the feeble and mindless attempt by the government to liken the present ejection of those waterfront dwellers to what happened at Njemanze and Abonnema Wharf waterfronts during the administration of Wike’s predecessor. But the government is being clever by half by suppressing the fact that what happened at those two waterfronts was well structured and properly thought through in the sense that all residents and landlords were enumerated and landlords compensated well in advance before the areas were legally acquired by the government then. There was no case like that of a 90-year old woman named Madam Brown singing and placing curses on Gov Wike for rendering her homeless on earth.

    Senibo Chris Finebone
    State Publicity Secretary
    Rivers APC
    10//2/2022

  • Wike’s displacement of .1m Rivers people wicked, evil, inhuman – Dakuku Peterside

    Wike’s displacement of .1m Rivers people wicked, evil, inhuman – Dakuku Peterside

    Former Director-General of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside says Governor Nyesom Wike’s forceful ejection of over 100,000 poor and vulnerable Rivers residents from their waterfront homes is “wicked, evil and inhuman,” pointing out that it is part of the governor’s plans to convert the areas into personal ownership.

    The former NIMASA arrowhead was reacting to the recent ejection of residents from more than 10 waterfront communities in Diobu, Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

    Dakuku, who described Wike’s action against the residents as callous, said the spite with which the governor treated the waterfront occupants was cruel as there was no lawful quit notice or any compensation paid.

    “This commando-style of doing things always adopted by Wike has become the hallmark of his administration and its legacy,” he stressed.

    While noting that Governor Wike’s action against the waterfront residents is against all Universal Laws and Conventions on Human Rights and Habitation, including the United Nations Human Settlement Programme, UN-Habitat, United Nations Housing Rights Programme, UNHRP, the 1948 Universal Declaration on Human Rights, the 1966 International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and Nigeria’s Policy on Housing, Peterside stressed that shelter was a right and fundamental to the welfare, survival and health of man.

    “For Wike, who, in the over six years of his regime, was unable to provide any sort of housing programme for Rivers residents, to sack them from the little they had, shows how he holds Rivers’ poor population in disdain. Some of the residents of those demolished areas, most of whom are Rivers people, had lived there for over forty years. His actions have dislocated many families and ruined their economic survival, throwing them into the worst form of poverty. Gov. Wike’s action has created more nuisance than sanity or security,” he stated.

    Dr Peterside said in as much as he stood with and would support any urban renewal programme, such should follow due process and have human face.

    “I totally support urban renewal but it should follow due process that will respect human dignity and inflict minimal pains on the people. A responsible government would plan with inputs from all critical stakeholders, reach an understanding with residents of the affected areas on a workable timeline, and pay necessary financial compensation to cushion the effects of consequential migration.

    “Rivers people do not know the vision and development goals of the Wike administration for waterfront development other than primitive acquisition of land for the governor and his cronies” said Dakuku.

    He challenged Wike to make public his development plans for those sacked waterfront settlements if he had any.

    “Knowing Wike too well, he has no development plans for them. If he didn’t have any development plan for Rivers State since 2015, is it now that he is engulfed in the politics of his 2023 ambition that he would have development plan? The use of the left hand is not learnt in old age. By May this year, Wike would have spent 7 years in office but with absolutely nothing to show of how he has helped lift Rivers people out of poverty, or how he has helped Rivers youth develop themselves.

    “All he is interested in is transactions that will give him monetary benefits. Those sacked waterfront residents should not forget Wike’s wickedness against them and repay him and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, come 2023,” he summed up.

  • Wike tasks traditional rulers on thwarting illegal oil bunkering activities

    Wike tasks traditional rulers on thwarting illegal oil bunkering activities

    Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers has charged traditional rulers in the state to prevent illegal oil bunkering and artisanal refinery activities in their domains.

    Wike gave the charge when he presented Staff of Office and Certificates of Recognition to Chief Chidi Awuse, the Nne-Nwe-Eli Emohua XIII (OLO IV), Ohna, and Chief Ozuowuowu Amos, the Nye Nwe Ali Akpor, Orlu Orieb,e as first-class chiefs on Monday in Port Harcourt.

    Wike, who reiterated his resolve to sustain the war against illegal oil bunkering and artisanal refining activities, urged the King of Akpor in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area and the King of Omerelu in Ikwerre council not to allow such activities to thrive anymore in their respective domains.

    Wike said the state government will not hesitate to depose the King of Akpor Kingdom if illegal oil bunkering in Rumuokparali and Ogbogoro communities persisted.

    He also frowned at the king of Omerelu community in Ikwerre Local Government Area where illegal oil bunkering activities are thriving.

    “Aside from the soot problem and economic sabotage associated with the criminal activities, the internal roads being reconstructed by my administration in Omerelu had been damaged.

    “We are doing internal roads in Omerelu. This is a community that has been crying for roads and we have given them not less than 11/12 kilometers of internal roads.

    “And now they are spoiling them because of the conveying of the products. We can’t continue to accept that.

    “I can’t understand why you just want to collect the chieftaincy title and do nothing,” the governor said.

    Wike told the two kings to come to terms with the responsibilities associated with their new statuses and discharge them effectively.

    He also enjoined them to ensure that peace prevailed in their domains by attending to all shades of conflicts so that they do not snowball into crises.

    Besides, he charged them to steer clear from partisan politics, but “be willing always to work in synergy with the government, in order to promote governance at the grassroots”.

    Wike explained that the demolition of shanties in the state would continue, “because hoodlums use such places as hideouts to perpetuate their criminal activities including those found in the government residential areas in the state”.

  • Rivers: Wike orders LGA Chairmen to destroy all illegal refinery sites

    Rivers: Wike orders LGA Chairmen to destroy all illegal refinery sites

    Gov.Nyesom Wike of Rivers, has ordered all the 23 Local Government Area Chairmen to hire bulldozers and destroy every identified illegal crude oil bunkering and artisanal refinery sites in the state.

    Wike gave the order on Wednesday in a statement issued to newsmen by Mr Kelvin Ebiri, his Special Assistant on Media, after meeting with the 23 Local Government

    Area Chairmen, the State Commissioner of Police and the Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Port Harcourt.

    He also asked the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Eboka Friday, to provide adequate security for the local government area chairmen as they embark on the mass destruction of illegal refinery sites across the State.

    Recalled that, Gov. Wike issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the 23 local government area chairmen on Jan. 14, to provide him a comprehensive list of all illegal refinery sites and their operators within their respective jurisdiction.

    Wike said with the receipt of the list of identified illegal refinery sites, the state government will provide financial support to the local government area chairmen to hire bulldozers and swamp buggies for the purpose of destroying all the sites.

    “I will not relent in this fight. And all of you should hire bulldozers. All those areas where the illegal refinery sites are in the bush, in the creek, clear the place. Government will give you some money to go and hire bulldozers to go and clear the sites so that they will know we are serious,” he said.

    According to the Governor, the government will not allow those engaged in illegitimate business to operate in Rivers State.

    “One thing I want to say and which is very clear, and like everybody knows, I am not against anybody making money. But, we cannot allow people to make money, while others are dying,” he stated.

    Wike acknowledged that since the State government intensified the fight against illegal refinery operators, who are primarily responsible for the discharge of impure carbon particles resulting from the incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons into the atmosphere, the air quality in parts of the state has improved remarkably.

    He said he is mindful that as the State government intensifies the war against illegal refinery activities, the cartel behind these illicit businesses will make effort to compromise unscrupulous security agents in the state.

    Wike warned that he will personally visit the Inspector General of Police, the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Chief of Army Staff in Abuja, to report any of their personnel implicated in illegal crude oil bunkering and artisanal refinery activities in the state.

    “You know in Nigeria, we don’t believe that anything can happen. We don’t take government seriously, but in our own case, they have no choice, they’ll take us seriously,” he stated.

    The Governor said his administration cannot fold its arms and watch some deviant persons destroy the environment and health of the citizens while waiting for the Federal Government to come up with action to end the soot crisis in the oil-producing states.

  • Illegal oil bunkering: After Wike’s alarm, NSCDC disbands Rivers anti-vandals unit

    Illegal oil bunkering: After Wike’s alarm, NSCDC disbands Rivers anti-vandals unit

    Barely 72hours after Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike raised alarm on illegal bunkering in the garden City, the Commandant General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr. Ahmed Audi has disbanded the anti-vandal unit of Rivers State.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) recalls that this action which was fasttracked due to Wike’s directives that all corners of Rivers State should be combed properly to fish illegal oil thieves in the state.

    The Governor also on Friday gave all the LGA chairmen an ultimatum to search for the perpetrators of illegal oil bunkerers or face the consequences.

    The Commandant of the Corps, Dr Idris Audi following accusation by Governor Nyesom Wike of River State of their aiding and abetting of vandals and illegal bunkerers to carry out their nefarious activities sent the unit packing.

    A signed statement on Saturday by the spokesman of the Corps, Olusola Odumosu said the CG has received with shock and dismay, the allegations levelled against the anti vandal unit of Rivers State Command of the Corps by the governor wherein the team was accused of aiding and abetting vandals and illegal bunkerers to carry out criminal activities.

    He said: “Worried by this disappointing development, the CG has ordered the suspension of head of the anti vandal team and the disbandment of the unit with immediate effect, pending the outcome of an independent enquiry set up to look into the weighty allegations levelled against the unit by the governor.

    The CG said that the extant rules and regulations guiding the NSCDC operations and the general ethics of the service requires complete display of total discipline, integrity, incorruptibility, transparency and accountability on the part of every Corps personnel, hence, the reason for this immediate action.

    Audi further directed the Acting DCG in charge of investigation and intelligence to summon all the personnel involved to the National Headquarters, Abuja for further investigation to determine the level of involvement and or culpability with a view to dispensing justice appropriately.

    He decried the allegations as not being in tandem with his vision for the Corps, stressing that he will not condone any criminal act or act of compromise by any personnel. He emphasized that a thorough investigation would be conducted to ascertain the veracity of the allegation and roles played by the individuals involved and whoever is found guilty would face necessary disciplinary actions and punishment.

    He however assured the Governor Wike of getting to the root of the matter without delay, promising more synergy with the state government towards discharging more effective service delivery to the good people of Rivers state. Reiterating further that his administration has come with a renewed vigour to reposition the service in line with global best practices and will not condone any act of sabotage by any personnel no matter how highly or lowly placed.

    He said: “The swift action taken by me is to close any identified gaps in our operations and service to the nation, I will not tolerate any act of indiscipline, compromise or sabotage under any guise; our founding fathers have worked so hard to earn good name for the service as a noble organization and I will not allow a few bad eggs to spoil our name, image, our credibility and integrity. We will investigate those fingered in the allegations and deal decisively with them if found guilty to serve as a deterrent to others.”

    Audi emphasized that as the lead agency in the protection of critical national asset and infrastructure, the Corps management would beam more searchlight into that area by reorganizing and reconstituting the anti vandal unit with a view to making it more responsive, transparent and accountable to Nigerians.

    “Our moral principles are not negotiable; we are going to rejig the unit and fish out those spoiling the name of the Corps, my fight against vandals, illegal oil bunkerers and those stealing our collective wealth and sabotaging our economy is unflinching and we will redoubled our efforts to whittle down this act of sabotage and bring to justice anyone not in tune with our vision and mission for the service,” he said.