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  • Don’t give APC breathing space in Rivers, Wike tells PDP

    Don’t give APC breathing space in Rivers, Wike tells PDP

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has directed the state leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) led by Amb. Desmond Akawor, not to give the All Progressives Congress (APC) a breathing space in Rivers.

    Speaking when Akawor led the state executive committee members to present the party’s action plan to him in his office in Government House, Port Harcourt, Wike urged the committee to show more love to the party by being loyal and committed.

    Wike endorsed the action plan of the party and urged them to do their best in consolidating the gains of the party in the state insisting the APC had nothing to offers Rivers people.

    He said: “As officers you owe the party a lot. You have to consolidate the gains we have already recorded.

    “No state can say they are better off than Rivers State. We have successfully conducted our Congresses without problems. God has given us what it takes. With all the people working with us and showing commitment, we will move this State to the next level of positive development.

    “I plead with you all to work cooperatively with the chairman and be united. We are going to work together to draw up a plan that will make us more effective.

    “Let nobody deceive you to attend any meeting anybody will call because he wants to run for governorship. We have not come to that point. I have just stayed one year in office in my second tenure. We are working for our Party to be united to make sure that APC does not have a breathing space in our State.

    “There is nothing the APC can say to Rivers people today as the reason they should be voted for. Whether it is the federal government, or their political appointees, they have nothing to tell us.

    “The money they have approved for us as refund has not been given to us. But I am not worried. I will continue to work. We have something we can show to Rivers people.”

    The governor in a statement signed by his Commissioner for Information and Communications said Nigerians were yearning for the return of PDP at the centre claiming that the APC had failed them.

    The governor said the APC promised Nigerians of solving most challenging national issues but continued to give excuses for its failure.

    He said: “Nigeria is hoping for PDP, APC has failed Nigeria. This is no more time for promises. You have promised and you have failed. There is nothing to try you again.

    “Nigerians have realised that it is better they stay with the PDP that has the interest of Nigeria at heart than a Party that gives excuses every day.

    “You know there are problems in Nigeria and you made promises, asking Nigerians to vote for you and for five years, nothing has changed”.

    Wike told the delegation that he was focused on governance and delivering service to the people insisting it was not time for politics.

    He said: “Let me say clearly that this is no time for politics. My concern now is to make sure we deliver all the promises we have made to the people of the state. When politics comes, we will have our report card to show the people.

    “It has never happened in the history of this country. Within one year, a State Government will construct five flyovers projects at the same time.

    “In October last year, three flyover projects were flagged-off and they will be completed this December, 2020. In July, we started expansion of Rumuola flyover and tomorrow, we will sign contract papers with Julius Berger Nigeria PLC for the GRA junction flyover, that includes the dualisation of Ezimgbu Link Road and Tombia Road extension.

    “So many people ask us where we get money for the projects during this COVID-19 pandemic. I tell them if God is with you, you will not have any problem. God has given us the opportunity at this point in time and he will not abandon us.

    “We will be executing projects and also continue to fight to make sure our people are safe. We will provide basic infrastructure for our people and also improve the economy of our State. We cannot give excuses but we will continue to do our best.”

    The governor reminded them that local government primaries would be held this year and urged them to commence consultations on how to achieve success.

    On COVID-19, the governor enjoined them to adhere to the protocols of wearing of face mask in all public places, social distancing, washing of hands with running water and soap, and use of hand sanitizers.

    The state Chairman of PDP, Amb. Desmond Akawor said the party passed a vote of confidence in Wike for the various people- oriented projects executed in the 23 local government areas of the state.

    He noted the swift response of the governor to contain the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in the state including the restoration of the glory of the State.

    Akawor presented the action plan of the new executive that will guide their activities in consolidating on the gains made by the past executive.

    He assured that they would embark on aggressive membership drive and reconciliation of aggrieved members.

  • Rivers pulls out of FG’s 774,000 jobs

    Rivers pulls out of FG’s 774,000 jobs

    The Rivers State Government has withdrawn from the selection of candidates for Federal Government’s 774,000 special project jobs.

    The Special Adviser to Governor Nyesom Wike on NDDC Matters, Erastus Awortu, announced this on Wednesday in a letter to the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo (SAN).

    He accused the Chairman of the Selection Committee, Dr. Innocent Barikor, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), of hijacking and politicising the process for his party.

    The governor’s aide also said Barikor breached the guidelines for the recruitment.

    The letter reads: “I am a nominee of the Government of Rivers State on the State Selection Committee and I wish to bring to your notice the flagrant departure from states’ guidelines and sad politicisation of the selection process in the state.

    “From the initial guidelines issued from your office at the commencement of the programme, it was clearly stated how the slots are to be distributed after the deductions for political office holders are done, as copied below.

    “After these deductions, in making up the remaining 1,000 numbers from each local government area, every single person in the 20-membet list would be allotted a number of skits because of the interest that person represents.

    “That person in the list will then get in touch with his sponsors on that list to begin to complete their names in each local government area to return to the chairman within a specified period.

    “The slots going to the secretaries will be reserved for some specific requests to be communicated to them by the minister,” he said.

    Barikor expressed frustration about the alleged deviation from the stipulated guidelines, saying: “In a clear departure from the guidelines, the chairman of the committee, in cahoots with the secretary and the predominately APC committee members, allocated a 100 per local government area among a few bodies, such as Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), 10; Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) was allotted five, traditional rulers, 10; among others.

    “As one representing the governor, I was not given any allotment, leaving a total of 775 slots un-allotted.

    “The chairman decided that 700 will be sent to each local government area and appointed only APC members to supervise and shortlist all of the LGAs, having states that forms will be made available on the streets and online for people to photocopy and apply.

    “As the representative of the state government on the committee, I will not sit and be part of a system, twisted and designed consciously to inflict hardship on our people by asking them to apply for what is not available, just to satisfy a set of people… The 75 slots also remain undefined.

    “Accordingly, I want to say that, since the slots are not defined as per the guidelines, that the state is willing to allow the programme to run fully as an APC empowerment programme for their members and cease to be part of it, forthwith.”

  • Edo 2020: Buhari endorses Ize-Iyamu, urges APC to avoid mistakes of Rivers, Zamfara

    Edo 2020: Buhari endorses Ize-Iyamu, urges APC to avoid mistakes of Rivers, Zamfara

    President Muhammadu Buhari has urged the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to avoid the pitfalls that affected the party’s victory in Rivers, Zamfara and Bayelsa States in the 2019 elections.

    Buhari also called on the party leaders and campaign team to do all that is necessary by following legal and constitutional means to win the election.

    The president gave the charge when he received the Edo State governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu alongside Gov. Mai mala Buni of Yobe, who is the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the APC.

    Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi, who doubles as the Chairman of Progressive Governors Forum and the APC Campaign Chairman for Edo State elections, Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje also accompanied the APC candidate to the villa.

    With the resolution of the “acute crisis’’ in the party in Edo, Buhari said that he was optimistic that the party would regain its pride of place in winning elections and serving the people.

    The President urged party leaders at the national and state levels to follow the electoral process in an open and transparent manner.

    He said: “What I want is a transparent process so that the confidence of the people will be strengthened’’.

    The president congratulated Ize-Iyamu on his emergence as the party’s candidate in Edo after a “turbulent process’’, assuring him of full support.

    Sowore blasts Buhari for endorsing Ize-Iyamu despite N700m fraud case

    Meanwhile, #RevolutionNow activist, Omoyele Sowore, lampooned Buhari, for endorsing Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who is facing corruption charges to the tune of N700 million.

    Ize-Iyamu was arraigned before a Federal High Court in Benin by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for allegedly receiving about N700m during the build-up to the 2015 general elections.

    Responding to the development, Sowore, tweeted, “The nature of dementia! Pastor Ize-Iyamu is undergoing trial for N700m scam, Buhari pretends not to remember, hands him a flag to become next Edo governor, much like Senator Godswill Akpabio was asked to handle NDDC.”Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the party’s caretaker committee, who presented the candidate, told the President that “Pastor Ize-Iyamu is a seasoned grassroots politician, who is loved by his people’’.

     

  • Rivers sacks two principals for flouting COVID-19 guidelines

    Rivers sacks two principals for flouting COVID-19 guidelines

    The Rivers State Government has ordered the sacking of two principals in the Emuoha Local Government Area for flouting the COVID-19 guidelines.

    The affected principals are those of the Community Secondary School, Elibrada, S. I. Amadi; and his counterpart in Community Secondary School, Rumuji, C.O. Ekwueme.

    The removal of the school principals was confirmed in a statement by the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Kaniye Ebeku, on Thursday.

    The statement reads partly, “This followed flagrant disobedience to the directives of the state government on the enforcement of all COVID-19 health guidelines in their various schools.

    “The principals of the schools also converted to personal use, hygiene kits distributed by the state government for the cleaning of their schools.”

  • Photo: Wike gives 41 Range Rover SUVs to Rivers judges

    Photo: Wike gives 41 Range Rover SUVs to Rivers judges

    The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike has given 41 Range Rover Discovery Sports Utility Vehicles to judges serving in Rivers State High Court and Customary Courts.

    Other beneficiaries are judges of Rivers State origin serving the nation in the Federal Judicial Service.

    Wike said that his government gave judges and magistrates vehicles two years ago with the promise that they would be replaced from time to time as a matter of deliberate policy.

    According to him, the SUVs were the fulfillment of the promise he made to the judges to enhance effective delivery of Justice in the state.

    He said as a lawyer and Governor of the state, the rule of law, independence of the judiciary and unhindered justice delivery were paramount to his administration.

    The governor said the SUVs have a warranty of five years and that the judges could send them to Coscharis Motors if they noticed any fault within the period.

    Wike announced that his government had also completed and taken possession of a furnished 20 unit residential quarters for judges, which the government started in 2018 in fulfillment of its policy for providing decent and life long accommodation for all states’ Judges.

    He said that the Chief Judge of the Federation is expected to commission the estate soon and present certificates of occupancy (Cof O) to the benefitting judges who will occupy the houses for life.

    He said the gesture was the manifestation of the government’s abiding commitment to the independence and integrity of the State judicial arm of government.

    He said while the state government provides qualitative services for the judiciary, no judicial person had the right to dictate to the government in making choices relating to accommodation and justice dispensation as he hoped that the government’s largesse would spur the judiciary to efficiency and eliminate corruption and indolence in the system.

    Earlier, the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Iyaye Lamikara had thanked the governor for providing infrastructure and technology development for the judiciary, saying “We are very proud to be the first judiciary in the country to have an e-library, and one of the pioneer judiciaries to commence e-filing e-assignment of cases and virtual hearing of cases.”

  • Exposed! Rivers hotel where underage sex workers deliver 15k daily

    Exposed! Rivers hotel where underage sex workers deliver 15k daily

    The National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has raided and closed down a popular bar called 24 Hours Bar which also operates a brothel in Rumukurushi, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    This was after a couple discovered that their 16-year-old daughter was working as a prostitute there.

    The bar is known to harbour underage sex workers.

    Most young girls who were taken from their parents by family relatives or friends in the pretence of going to learn a trade, where found working as sex workers for a price ranging from ₦1000 to ₦2000 per customer.

    It was later found out that the underaged girls were bought over by matured prostitutes from the agents who supplied them.

    On arrival, the underaged girls are given a room in the hotel by their new owners who are matured and senior prostitutes and the underaged girls are also reportedly given a target to remit ₦15,000 daily to their “madams” who are the senior and matured prostitutes in the bar.

    At the end of one year of service to the madam, the underaged girls are settled by their madam with items such as a bag of rice, an android phone, a carton of tomatoes, and cash of ₦100, 000 to take back home.

    The brothel has now been closed by NAPTIP with a warning sign “Closed by NAPTIP keep Off” written on the fence and gate.

  • Edwin Clark’s company denies abandoning Niger Delta ministry project in Rivers

    Edwin Clark’s company denies abandoning Niger Delta ministry project in Rivers

    Panama Construction Company Limited, a Delta State based construction company owned by prominent Niger Delta leader, Chief Edwin Clark has reacted to allegations of abandoning contracts awarded to it by the Niger Delta Ministry since 2011 after allegedly receiving downward payments.

    According to a statement signed and released by one Engr. Okiemute Omo-Udoyo for the company, the contract in question valued at the sum of N1,434,400,664.69 was run in phases based on released funds so far.

    Omo-Udoyo further explained that budgetary provisions for the contract stopped since 2015 and efforts to revive it proved abortive. However, funds were finally released early this year but work could not commence because of the COVID-19 lockdown. Upon the easing of the lockdown, mobilisation to the site commenced.

    Read full statement below:

    The attention of Panama Construction Company Limited has been drawn to a malicious, unfounded and mischievous news circulating on some social media platforms. Although this will not be the first time such falsehood is being peddled against our Company, Panama Construction Company Limited, we have deemed it necessary to respond this time, for as stated by the Nazi Joseph Gobbles “Repeat a lie often enough and it becomes the truth” and the “illusion of truth can be a dangerous weapon in the hands of propagandists”, especially when most of these propagandists, can avail themselves of the true story, if they chose to be fair and impartial because they have the opportunity of reaching all sides in the matter.
    Panama Construction Company Limited is a limited liability Company in which Chief (Dr.) Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, OFR, CON, has interest.
    The Company was awarded a contract for Land Reclamation and Shoreline Protection at Amadi Ama, in the Port Harcourt City Local Government Council of Rivers State, in March, 2011, for the sum N1,434,400,664.69, by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.
    In accordance with the requirements, Panama Construction Company Limited obtained an Advance Payment Guarantee (APG) for the job. Anybody who is conversant with APG, knows that expenditures on such projects are carried out under the supervision of the Bank.
    In October, 2013, Panama Construction Company Limited submitted Interim Payment Certificate (IPC) No. 1 for the sum of N78, 215, 815.13.
    In June, 2015, Panama Construction Company Limited submitted IPC No. 2 for the sum of N156,683,034.24.
    No budgetary provision was made for the project since 2015, despite repeated appeals to the Ministry.
    It was only in December 2019 and March, 2020, just before the Covid-19 lockdown, that part releases were made for the two IPCs.
    As soon as the Covid-19 lockdown was relaxed, we started mobilising to site and the Ministry is aware of this.
    Some traducers had petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, some time ago on this matter. The anti-graft agency carried out its investigation and did not find the Company wanting in anyway.
    These rumour mongers have started again, still saying that Chief Clark collected the sum of N200 million, but has abandoned the job, without doing anything.
    We want to sound a note of warning to all those who are spreading and commenting on these libellous and false news, that they should be prepared to substantiate their allegations in the Court.
    Signed:
    Engr. Okiemute Omo-Udoyo
    for Panama Construction Company Limited.

  • Rivers Police exhume three bodies buried alive in forest

    Rivers Police exhume three bodies buried alive in forest

    The police in Rivers State have exhumed three bodies buried alive in a forest at the B-dere community in Gokana Local Government Area in Ogoniland.

    This is coming two days after the police discovered the decomposing corpse of 38-year-old Ereba Dinabari, who was recently abducted from his residence in Woji area of Port Harcourt.

    The police also arrested two notorious cultists who led them to a shallow waterlogged pit where three youths were buried alive.

    The suspected cultists, Barididum Danaa, aka ‘kill and bury’ and his accomplice, Prophet Nkpe who are members of the dreaded Degbam Cult group led the Anti-cultism Unit of the Police Command to the area where the three bodies were exhumed.

    Speaking with Journalists at the scene of the crime at a thick forest at Bera, a neighbouring community to B-dere, the spokesperson of Rivers State Police Command, DSP Nnamdi Omoni explained that the deceased victims, Baridomale Sunday Tor, Baridon Gbarabera Asah and Barisiton Nawee were declared missing on 14th of March, 2020.

    Omoni disclosed that report was made to the Police about the incident and that following discreet investigation by the men of Anti-cultism Unit, the main suspect Barididum Daanaa aka ‘kill and bury ‘ and Prophet Nkpe were arrested three days ago.

    He said the arrest of the suspects was made possible by the Anti-Cultism Unit of the Command, adding that the suspects had implicated other members of the gang who were into illegal oil refining activities.

    Omoni gave a firm assurance that the Police will go after them and ensure they accounted for their crimes.

    The suspects told Journalists in an interview at the scene of the crime which is in a waterlogged Bera forest that they were members of Deygbam Cult group, admitting that they bound the victims’ hands and legs and buried them alive in shallow well.

    Barididum Daana also confessed that the three victims were buried alive because they discovered that the victims were informants to security agencies about their illegal oil bunkering activities in area.

    A community Chief in B-Dere, Nkah Baribe, told journalists that available information suggested the cultists killed the victims because they accused them of giving information to security agencies that led to the arrest of their gang members.

    When their corpses were exhumed, the bodies were decomposed and their legs and hands tied, with clothes in their mouths.

    Recently, the police command discovered the decomposing corpse of 38-year-old Dinabari hung on a tree.

    Omoni said the victim was kidnapped on May 5 in Woji and forcefully taken to a forest in Alesa community, Eleme local government area (LGA) of the state.

    “Dinabari was taken to a forest and made to pay N1 million as ransom for his release. But his abductors later refused to release him after collecting the ransom,” Omoni said.

    According to him, the police made the discovery after operatives attached to the command’s anti-kidnapping unit arrested two suspects allegedly linked to the crime.

    “The commander of the anti-kidnapping unit, who led operatives, stormed Alesa community and arrested two male suspects aged 23 and 25 years,” he said.

    “The suspects later led police operatives to a forest in Alesa community, where we found the victim’s decomposing body tied to a tree.

    “Operatives afterwards recovered a Toyota Spider vehicle that belonged to the victim.”

  • Amaechi celebrates old Rivers’ governor Ada-George at 80

    Amaechi celebrates old Rivers’ governor Ada-George at 80

    Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has described Rufus Ada-George, a former Governor of old Rivers, comprising Bayelsa State and the present Rivers state, as an exemplary leader and a father to all.

    Amaechi, the immediate past Governor of Rivers said this in a statement, on Friday in Abuja, to commemorate the 80th birthday anniversary of Rufus Ada-George, the Peripelebo 1 of Okrika.

    “As governor of Rivers state, you raised leaders, you created opportunities for growth in politics for many of us.

    “You are a father figure to many of us who served in the government of Rivers state.

    “You left indelible footprints in the state and opened up a path for us to follow.

    “On this occasion of your 80th birthday, I pray God to grant you more life, good health, grace, peace and joy.

    “I wish you a very happy birthday,’’ Amaechi said.

  • N78bn refund: Adesina playing politics with Wike’s appreciation letter to Buhari – Rivers Govt

    N78bn refund: Adesina playing politics with Wike’s appreciation letter to Buhari – Rivers Govt

    Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Paulinus Nsirim, has lambasted Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to President Buhari on Media and Publicity, over some comments the presidential aide made about Governor Nyesom Wike of the state in a piece he wrote during the week titled ‘Wike vindicates Buharists’. He stated that several comments, interpretations, narratives and theories have greeted the recent letter written by Governor Wike to President Buhari, expressing the sincere appreciation of the Rivers State Government and people for the refund of the sum of N78.9 billion to the state, being monies expended by the State on federal projects in the state.

    “Most of these responses have either been mischievous, absurd, totally misleading and some even trying to conjure and configure fabulist narratives, celebrating the mystique and magical influence of the power of money on the human psyche. But the most remarkable of these is the one written by Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to President Buhari on Media and Publicity, titled: WIKE VINDICATES BUHARISTS,” the commissioner said while admitting that Adesina’s opinions attract considerable attention and commands tremendous weight. The commissioner however berated Adesina for allegedly trying to eke out political capital from Governor Wike’s letter of appreciation.

    “While Rivers people will not complain that the money was actually reduced from the original amount and that it even took so long for President Buhari’s fairness and justice to touch Rivers State, while he has been fair and just to other states, we are all still very happy and grateful that this approval for refund has been made, finally. Attempts by people like Adesina to make political capital out of the genuine stance of a statesman will not be bought by well-meaning Nigerians. What makes Adesina’s grandstanding more worrisome is that he will never comment or let the world know how much the South-West States received as refund for federal projects executed in that part of the country.

    “Governor Wike’s letter of appreciation and appeal for a presidential state visit is thus a clear indication that what the people thought was lost has now been recovered. All is well that ends well and Rivers people are happy. For the avoidance of doubt, the letter to Mr. President was delivered to Aso Rock, three weeks before it was published. Governor Wike is not like Adesina who knows how to speak from both sides of his mouth. In 2008, he said this about the Chief of Staff to the President: “Gambari enslaved himself to please his paymasters. Now 13 years after, the shackles are still tied around his neck, threatening to asphyxiate him. What an eternal lesson for fawning bootlicking grovellers to learn. Old sins indeed have long shadows.”

    “Now that Gambari is Chief of Staff to the President, people have been asking if Adesina still sees Gambari’s sins’ shadows or he (Adesina) has turned to a bootlicking groveller? There is no doubt that he is currently savouring the office of Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity as a compensation, having used his positions as former Editor-In-Chief of The Sun Newspapers and President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors to feather his own nest. Adesina should be told that no amount of political mischief will turn Governor Wike from a hero to a villain in this matter. The Wike that I know cannot be swayed by pecuniary interests. He will always stand for the truth and defend the interests of Rivers people,” Nsirim said.

    The commissioner also made it clear that the monies were neither generous loans, gift or a desperate bailout package as people like Femi Adesina are shaping the narrative to sound, as the refund was sequel to a huge bill sent to the federal government by the entire 36 states of the federation in 2016, seeking a refund of funds they expended on the repair of some federal roads in their respective states. “Considering the fact that the approval for the refund was also made for monies expended by Rivers State for Federal Projects, isn’t it equally apt that Governor Nyesom Wike should invite Mr. President to come and at least see the work for which the refund was made? Indeed, it will also provide Mr. President the grand opportunity to see firsthand, the amazing and fantastic infrastructural wonders which Governor Wike is delivering in Rivers State. This is absolutely the right thing to do by a grateful recipient,” the commissioner said.