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  • Manager of hotel demolished by Wike among 27 new COVID-19 cases in Rivers

    Manager of hotel demolished by Wike among 27 new COVID-19 cases in Rivers

    The Rivers State Government on Sunday confirmed recording 27 new positive coronavirus cases in the state.

    According to a statement released on Sunday evening by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Paulinus Nsirim, the Manager of Prodest Hotel demolished some two weeks ago by Governor Nyesom Wike was among the new cases.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the embattled manager, identified as Bariledum Azoroh after the demolition was detained, tried and convicted at a magistrate court in Port Harcourt while undergoing a 14-day isolation.

    Meanwhile, the owner of the hotel, Gogorobari Needam had since cried out the ‘shredded’ way the trial was conducted. He also accused Gov Wike of hijacking the judicial system in the state.

    According to the commissioner, the hotels were demolished because “the owners violated Executive Order 7 which banned the operation of hotels.

    The COVID-19 Taskforce members from the Local Government who went to enforce the Executive Order were brutalized and dehumanised leading to the death of one of them.”

  • Wike relaxes lockdown, blames oil workers for 60% of COVID-19 cases in Rivers

    Wike relaxes lockdown, blames oil workers for 60% of COVID-19 cases in Rivers

    Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike on Wednesday relaxed the lockdown of Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt local government areas of the state for six days.

    According to the governor who spoke in a state broadcast on Wednesday, the relaxation kicks-off today.

    He said the lockdown would be restored in the capital city on May 26.

    He said: “Residents and visitors of these local government areas can therefore go out of their homes for their lawful businesses from May 21 until 8pm, Tuesday, 26th of May 2020, when the lockdown will be restored and maintained until further notice.

    “It is important to emphasized that the relaxation only allows for free human and vehicular movements and the opening of limited businesses, such as banks, supermarkets, shopping malls and grocery shops.

    “All land, sea and air exit and entry borders and routes into Rivers State shall remain closed. Similarly, all open markets, motor parks, hotels, bars, night clubs, in-service restaurants and barbers’ shops must remain shut.

    “Religious gatherings of more than 50 persons remain prohibited. All public weddings, burials and other social gathering also remain prohibited. Private and commercial vehicles, including tricycles must continue to limit the number of passengers to two persons only.

    “The wearing of face masks or coverings in public spaces, including commercial and private vehicles remains compulsory as contraveners would be arrested and summarily dealt with as the law demands.”

    …Blames oil workers for multiple COVID-19 cases in the state

    Meanwhile Gov Wike has insisted that oil workers are responsible for 60 per cent of the state’s COVID-19 cases.

    Blaming the rising COVID-19 cases in the state on unscreened oil workers, the governor noted that 60 per cent of infections in the state came from such employees returning from rigs.

    As at the time of filing this report, Rivers had 53 positive Coronavirus cases out of which 29 were active and 21 discharged. Three deaths were recorded.

    Speaking with the management team of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited at Government House, Port Harcourt, the governor said the development was the reason he insisted that oil workers coming into the state must be tested to know their Coronavirus status.

    The governor said oil remained the mainstay of the economy and clarified that all his actions were not targeted at anybody or organisation.

    He recalled that recently the Nigeria Airforce Base, Port Harcourt quarantined 14 oil workers out which three of them tested positive for the virus.

    He said: “It’s not in anybody’s interest to deny people to carry out their official duties. Oil is the main stay of the economy of Nigeria and without it, we that is in this part of the country will find it difficult to function.

    “My concern is that companies should always notify government of workers they are bringing into the state, so that our health officials can monitor them.

  • Churches, mosques to run full sitting capacities as Ayade lifts ban on religious activities

    Churches, mosques to run full sitting capacities as Ayade lifts ban on religious activities

    Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River has lifted the suspension on public worship centres in the state.

    In a statement signed by Mr Christian Ita, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Governor, the order lifting the suspension will take effect from Sunday, May 24, 2020.

    Ayade said conscious of the spiritual economy and in response to appeals by religious leaders in the state, lifting the suspension on public worship became necessary.

    “The order suspending public worship in the state is hereby lifted with effect from Sunday, May 24, 2020.

    “Consequently, starting from Sunday, May 24, 2020, church services are permitted but should be limited to the sitting capacity of the church, the same applies to mosques.

    “Use of face masks is compulsory for all worshipers, churches and mosques should provide buckets for hand washing, or sanitisers.

    “Churches and mosques are hereby advised to strictly adhere to the instructions as the enforcement team will still go around to check compliance,” he said.

    He added that the understanding and cooperation of religious leaders contributed immensely in keeping the state COVID-19 free thus far.

  • Breaking: Deaths in Delta, other states hit 200 as NCDC confirms 284 new cases of Coronavirus

    Breaking: Deaths in Delta, other states hit 200 as NCDC confirms 284 new cases of Coronavirus

    The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, on Wednesday released 284 fresh cases of Coronavirus in Nigeria, taking the overall total to 6,677.

    According to NCDC, Lagos recorded a spike again, with 199 new Coronavirus infections, just as Rivers has 26 fresh cases, Oyo, 19 cases, while FCT and Borno recorded eight new cases each.

    Others are: Plateau, six cases, Kano, five; Abia, two, while Ekiti, Delta, Kawa and Taraba recorded one new case each.
    The nation recorded eight new Coronavirus death on Wednesday, taking its total deaths to 200.

    Also, the nation has successfully managed and discharged 1,840 patients who recovered from the virus.

    How States Stand

    199-Lagos
    26-Rivers
    19-Oyo
    8-FCT
    8-Borno
    7-Plateau
    6-Jigawa
    5-Kano
    2-Abia
    1-Ekiti
    1-Delta
    1-Kwara
    1-Taraba

  • Replacing Rivers Demolished Hotels: Wike followed due process – Sen Sekibo

    The Senator representing Rivers East Senatorial District, George Thompson Sekibo, on Sunday said the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike followed due process in demolishing the hotels and replacing them with schools.

    Recall that barely two weeks ago, Gov Wike while monitoring the level of Covid-19 compliance unearthed two hotels that grossly violated the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control , NCDC guidelines and ordered an immediate demolition of the hotels to save his citizens.

    Sekibo, who spoke with journalists in Abuja also said he was convinced that Governor Nyesom Wike, being a lawyer and a democrat, followed the law and due process before approving the demolition of the affected hotels.

    Senator Sekibo, while supporting the action of the Governor, said government, reserved every right to convert confiscated property to public use.

    The Senator further explained: “I feel concerned about the negative comments against the Governor on the social media, however, most of the things we read on social media are unverified and we don’t even know whether they are true or not”.

    “I have not read the Executive Order which the governor signed as part of the measures to curb COVID – 19. I am not also conversant with other instructions that he has been giving in the state, since I have been in Abuja from the time the Federal Government locked down the FCT and other parts of the country till now”.

    “The law has to take its full course on whoever owns an hotel and he is contravening the lockdown order or any of the laws of the state, the governor is a democrat and he is a lawyer. Being a lawyer, I don’t think he will just wake up leave Port Harcourt, where there are many hotels, and move to Eleme and target just two hotels to destroy. Maybe, something criminal or anti-public interest was being done there. I believe that he will follow due process and he may have followed the due process because I don’t know all the laws in the state”.

    “I am not in the state House of Assembly. They may have their own laws that they are also following. For instance, if a kidnapper is caught red-handed on the strength of the anti-kidnapping law in the state, he goes in for it and this law covers other areas of criminal activities”.

    “So a person who commits kidnapping and related criminal activity may have his property confiscated. If a property is confiscated based on the application of the laws of the State that is the law and you can’t fault the Governor based on that”.

    “The structure on the property could be brought down and the land left bare without development or the Government may decide to use the land for any other thing in the interest of the public”.

    “I have heard stories that one of the young men that owns one of the hotels is an alleged criminal, declared wanted by the State Government. If it is a criminal situation that has to do with kidnapping, and killing, then the anti – kidnapping law of the State will hold him”.

    “If the law holds him and the Governor takes such action against him, there is no way you can go and query the Governor. The Governor is fighting to ensure that COVID – 19 does not spread much in the State”.

    On the conversion of the property for building a primary school, Sekibo said, if the law said a criminal’s land should be confiscated, It will be taken over by the government that’s the meaning.

    “If it is now a government land, government has the power to put whatever structure it wants to build on it. If the government decide to build a school on the land, it is for public or community service”.

  • BREAKING: Wike relaxes total lockdown as Rivers records 16 new COVID-19 cases

    BREAKING: Wike relaxes total lockdown as Rivers records 16 new COVID-19 cases

    Governor Nyesom Wike has relaxed the total lockdown in Obio-Akpor and Port Harcourt Local Government Areas scheduled to take effect from tomorrow Thursday, May 14, 2020.

    Governor Wike in a state broadcast said while on routine monitoring, he observed how difficult it has been for residents to access money from their banks to make purchases during the Two-Day window that was given.

    He said the difficulty prevented most residents of the two affected Local Government Areas from preparing and making adequate provisions for the upkeep of their families when the lockdown returns this Sunday, May 17.

    The Governor also expressed concern over the increasing rate number of infections, with sixteen new cases of COVID-19 recorded in the state.

    “As we recorded 16 new cases for today, the highest since the index case, which goes to confirm not only my personal apprehension for our State and the need to be d tough in our mitigation strategies.

    “And so, there is no room for politics in this matter. We must discharge our abiding duty to use the primary weapons at our disposal to combat this virus and contain its spread, lest we regret the consequences of our inactivity and indiscretions.

    “We understand the consequential difficulties, but what we can do in the circumstance is to appeal to the public to endure the attendant discomfort as inevitable sacrifice for the common good of all.

    “Suffice to mention that no deliberate harm is ever intended or targeted at anybody neither are we happy with the prevailing hardship on the people as a result of measures we have adopted to fight this deadly virus.

    “But, the overall interest, security and wellbeing of our people remain our primary motivation for what we have done and will continue to do to combat and protect our State from the Covid-19 scourge.

    “In consideration of the foregoing, the concerns of our people, and the need for residents to replenish their supplies, especially, the State Security Council has decided to impose a night-time curfew and review the effective date of the complete lockdown on Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt City Local Government Areas from the 14th of May 2020 to Sunday 17th May 2020 by 8.00 p.m.

    “Consequently, there will be: a night-time curfew in Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt Local Government Areas from 8.00 p.m. to 6.00 a.m. on Thursday 14th May 2020, Friday 15th May 2020, and Saturday 16th May 2020.

    “While the total lockdown on Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt Local Government Areas will immediately follow from 8.00 p.m. Sunday 17th May 2020 until further notice.

    “We expect residents to make good use of the new Four-day daytime window to purchase, restock and prepare for the total lockdown,” Wike said.

  • Wike orders construction of primary school on site of demolished hotels in Rivers

    The Rivers State Government Wednesday announced the death of a member of its Taskforce on COVID-19 attacked by hoodlums at the demolished Prodest Hotel in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

    The state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Paulinus Nsirim, who though did not mention the name of the victim, said he died from injuries he sustained during the incident.

    Nsirim, who spoke in Port Harcourt, justified the actions of the state Governor, Nyesom Wike, saying the governor was combating the spread of the Coronavirus with the rule of law.

    The commissioner said the governor approved the conversion of the demolished hotel site to a primary school to serve the people of the state adding that the opposition hijacked the demolition incident.

    He said: “The latest issue that has been hijacked by opposition elements is the demolition of two hotels in Eleme, after they deliberately flouted Executive Order 6.

    “These two hotels, Prodest Hotel, Alode, Eleme and Etemeteh Hotel, Onne not only flouted the Executive Order, the Hotel Manager of Prodest invited the wanted PDP Eleme Youth Leader, Princewill Osaroejiji, who came with thugs to unleash mayhem on Task Force operatives on ground to close down the facility.

    “As we speak, one of the Task Force operative lost his life last night. Governor Wike and the Rivers State Security Council took the decision to demolish the hotel in the interest of Rivers State and her people. Days before that demolition, everyone was aware that the State Government sensitized the people on the consequence of flouting Executive Order 6.

    “Having demolished that hotel, Governor Wike has approved that a primary school be constructed at that location to serve Rivers people. This is what a responsive government will do.

    “The fight against coronavirus in the state has been premised on the Rule of Law. It was Governor Wike who first signed an Executive Order that led to Border Closure and other actions. This was done on March 19, 2020. After initial criticisms, other States followed suit.

    “Therefore, the fight against coronavirus in Rivers State is in the interest of Rivers people and the entire Country. This is because Rivers State is vital to the survival of the nation as the headquarters of the hydrocarbon industry”.

    He said the people of Eleme were happy about the demolition and wondered why Wike’s critics were not bothered about the alleged criminal activities that led to the demolition of the hotel.

    Eleme people are happy with the demolition. In several publications they made after the demolition, they have declared that Prodest Hotel is a criminal hideout and a den for cultists.

    He said: “One question many social media lawyers and their followers have refused to answer is, why is that out of several hotels operating in Rivers State only Prodest and Etemeteh hotels were demolished.

    “Even the Chairman of Nigeria Hotels Owners Association Rivers State Chapter, Mr. Eugene Nwaizu, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt expressed surprise that the hotels that were not even registered with the body disobeyed the Executive Order.

    “According to him, the Hotels and Guest Houses were well informed about the Executive Order. The Governor is not out to witch-hunt anybody but to ensure that coronavirus does not spread in the State.

    “However, seasoned legal luminaries like Chief OCJ Okocha (SAN) have said that Governor Wike acted within the law under the present circumstances. We are saying, rather than mislead members of the public; those aggrieved should approach the courts for interpretation”.

    Saying that Rivers was not a lawless state, Nsirim noted that the governor would not be distracted by ill-mannered politicians struggling for media space.

    “The Rivers State Government will remain focused. It will not be distracted by these unfortunate schemes by ill-mannered politicians, struggling for political space at the expense of their people.

    “For Rivers State, the demolition of the two hotels was carried out in line with the prescribed Executive Order known to all hoteliers in the State. It was also done to protect officials of the Rivers State Government who are implementing the Executive Order. No Government will allow its officials to be killed by thugs whilst they carry out lawful directive”.

  • PDP expels wanted youth leader in Rivers

    The Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expelled the Youth Leader of the party for Eleme Local Government Area, Mr. Princewill Osarojiji.

    Osarojiji of Eleme Alode Ward 2, was earlier declared wanted by the state government with N5million reward for anybody with information on his whereabouts.

    He was declared wanted for alleged criminal activities that led to the demolition of the Prodest Hotel at Eleme.

    A statement from the office of the outgoing PDP State Chairman, Felix Obuah, said Osarojiji was expelled for insubordination, flagrant rascality, disobedience to the directives of the State government on COVID-19 and acts of criminality.

    He alleged that the youth leader led a criminal action against the taskforce sent to his area to monitor compliance of governor’s directive on closure of hotels, clubs, public gatherings as part of measures to curtail the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

    He said: “It’s very unfortunate that the Eleme youth leader took his position as a party executive for granted to flout the authority of the governor and orders of the state government by attacking members of the task force on COVID-19.

    He also organised a party in a hotel in Eleme to rubbish the efforts of government and relevant authorities to safeguard the lives of the mass of Rivers people and residents against the dreaded virus.

    “I believe this will serve as a deterrent to others who may wish to engage in similar act to test the sincerity and political will of the state government to deal decisively with such recalcitrance”.

    Obuah urged all party members and Rivers people to see all the efforts and actions of the state government against COVID-19 as taken in good faith and in the best interest of Rivers people.

  • Hotels demolition: If you try that with me, I’ll send my men to burn down Rivers, MASSOB leader, Ralph Uwazurike threatens Wike [VIDEO]

    Hotels demolition: If you try that with me, I’ll send my men to burn down Rivers, MASSOB leader, Ralph Uwazurike threatens Wike [VIDEO]

    Sequel to Governor Nyesom Wike’s demolition of two hotels in Rivers over alleged disobedience of the lockdown order, the leader of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Ralph Uwazuruike has joined angry list of Nigerians condemning the governor’s action.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the governor on Sunday supervised the demotion of Prodest Hotel, Alode, Eleme, and Etemeteh Hotel in Onne both in Eleme Government local area to the anger of some Nigerians home and abroad.

    Defending his widely condemned action, Wike while speaking with journalists on Sunday said “Government has no alternative but to apply the Executive order which I signed before the lockdown of Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt. I called all the Traditional Rulers and Council Chairmen and told them to ensure that no hotel operates in the State. We are not saying it will be forever. This is for now, so that we know where we are. To reduce the cases and check the spread. Whether you are PDP or not, all we are saying is that nobody is above the law. If we can do this to a PDP person, then you know we are not discriminatory. Everyone must obey. Whether you are in PDP, SDP or no party, you must obey the law. If any other person does the same thing, the same rule will apply”.

    However, in a special video he made to voice his anger, Uwazuruike cautioned the governor, warning him that such inhuman treatment will be resisted. He dared the governor to extend such treatment to him and face all-out battle. He said the governor could have applied fines or seal up the properties rather than pulling it down completely. “Try this with me and I will make Rivers ungovernable for you. I’ll send my men to burn the state and the Federal Government will be forced to declare a state of emergency and you will lose your seat as a governor,” Uwazuruike said.

  • Rivers NASS caucus congratulates Odili as NUC grants full accreditation to his medical university, PAMO

    Rivers NASS caucus congratulates Odili as NUC grants full accreditation to his medical university, PAMO

    Members of the National Assembly from Rivers State have congratulated former governor of the state, Peter Odili over the full accreditation of PAMO university of Medical Sciences (PUMS) by Nigerian University Commission (NUC).

    In a statement on Thursday, a member of the Senate, George Sekibo, and a member of the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda, urged the leadership of the university to continue to set a global standard that will help humanity overcome current health challenges bedeviling the world.

    The statement partly reads, “We receive with overwhelming joy and gladness the news of the accreditation of all the courses offered by your university, as a people and on behalf of the Rivers men, women and elders, children, youths, residents and indigene-without-boarders, whom we represent, we congratulate you and all who contributed in making the rare achievement possible.

    “We are aware that the University is the pioneer university with specialty in medical sciences and and will contribute to the knowledge in the field of medicine and medical sciences. It could never have come at a better time than now when the world is looking to medical and scientific knowledge and breakthrough to help humanity overcome the current challenge.

    “Once more we say, Congratulations even as we urge you to keep the flag high and ensure the standards and records already set remain world standard as it gives humanity hope.”