TheNewsGuru

Tag: Wike

  • Assassination allegation: Why we are yet to arrest Wike’s – FG

    The Nigerian government has dismissed an alarm raised by the governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, that he is being targeted for elimination by state authorities.

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, disclosed this when he briefed State House correspondents on the outcome of the Council’s meeting held Wednesday at the presidential villa, Abuja.

    The minister dismissed Mr Wike’s outcry saying that if not because the governor enjoyed immunity from prosecution, ”he would have been summoned by relevant security agency to prove the allegation”.

    Wike had on Sunday claimed that the Federal Government was plotting to assassinate him in a crowd and claim accidental discharge as the cause.

    The governor said this at the third year anniversary thanksgiving service of the Wike administration at Living Faith Church in D-Line, Port Harcourt on Sunday.

    He said: “Intelligence report available to us as at this morning indicate that they are plotting to assassinate me in a crowd and claim it was an accidental discharge.’’

    The minister, however, condemned the allegation, adding that Mr Wike was only enjoying the privilege of being a serving governor.

    He said: “I think one of the beauties of being a governor is that you enjoy immunity from prosecution and arrest.

    “I remember a couple of years ago when I made similar allegations I was invited to Force Headquarters.’’

    On the planned resignation of Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Kayode Fayemi, from the Federal Executive Council following his emergence as APC candidate for Ekiti governorship elections, Mr Mohammed said he was not fully aware of such plan.

    “I think I read it just like you that he will resign this week. If he did say so today is just Wednesday I think we still have the rest of the week to see if he will resign.

    “But I think really he is the best person that can speak on it,’’ he added.

    Meanwhile, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari approved N5.1 billion for the rehabilitation of Ila Orangun – Oke Ila – Ilale Aka road linking Osun to Ekiti State.

    Mohammed said the rehabilitation of the 34 kilometres’ road project which was started by Osun State government was abandoned after about three kilometres work on the project.

    Also, the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Danbazau disclosed that the Council approved N582 million for consultancy services for construction of technology building to accommodate data communication command and control centre for the Nigeria Immigration Service.

    Dambazau said the completion period of the contract was 22 months.

    The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Ameachi revealed that the Council approved N1.6 billion for the procurement and installation of 64 tonnes capacity Mobile Crane for Lokoja River Port complex as well as training of staff.

    He said the Council also approved N280 million for hiring of International Advisers saddled with the responsibility of advising the Federal Government on the financial models to be adopted while negotiating for various railways contracts.

  • 2019: FG planning to assassinate me – Wike raises alarm

    Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State on raised the alarm that the Federal Government was plotting to assassinate him in a crowd and claim accidental discharge.

    Wike disclosed this during the third year anniversary thanksgiving service of his administration at the Living Faith Church, D-Line in Port Harcourt.

    The governor said, “Intelligence report available to us as of this morning indicated that they are plotting to assassinate me in a crowd and claim it was an accidental discharge.”

    Explaining that the plot of the All Progressives Congress Federal Government and its associates would not intimidate him, Wike stated that he remained committed to the defence of democracy and Rivers State.

    He said that the plan would fail because God would continue to defend him, adding that there was a high level of conspiracy against the state.

    “The level of conspiracy against Rivers State is unfortunate. Instead of focusing on governance, they focus on how to assassinate me or frame me up,” the governor added.

    Wike told the church that the APC-led Federal Government, through the Inspector General of Police, plotted to plant millions of dollars and AK-47 rifles at his Abuja residence when the police went to an Abuja Court to get a search warrant.

    He further stated that the court stopped the police from their “evil plot” when it ruled that they (police) should not search his Abuja residence.

    “I am not afraid of my residence being searched by the police, but I know their evil intention,” he said.

    Wike said that the state government had come to thank God for His protection in the face of a continuous plot by agents of the APC Federal Government.

    He noted that despite the declaration by a former governor that his administration would not be able to pay salaries let alone do projects, his administration had succeeded in delivering outstanding projects.

    In his remarks, the Rivers State Pastor of the Living Faith Church, Pastor Isaac Folaji, said thanksgiving engendered growth and blessing.

    He said thanksgiving enhanced God’s protection and financial multiplication, adding that God would bless Rivers State as a result of the dedication service.

    Meanwhile, the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has said Rivers people will sack Governor Nyesom Wike in the 2019 general elections.

    He said, “I am confident that Rivers people are done with him (Wike); he has betrayed us, he has robbed us of our dignity, he has robbed us of our resources. Enough is enough.

    “Let me repeat it again, on the 29th of May next year by 12 noon, the APC will be in the Government House, Port Harcourt. Governor Wike will have one of two options. Option number one, go back to his village in Rumueprikom; option number two, he will be in prison. If I don’t have confidence that Rivers people want him out, I will not be saying so.”

  • Court bars Police, EFCC, DSS, from searching Wike’s houses

    The Federal High Court Abuja has barred the Nigerian Police, the EFCC and the Department of State Security Service, (DSS) from searching houses belonging to Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers.

    Wike had in 2017, approached the court seeking an order of injunction restraining the IGP, the Police, the EFCC and the DSS from obtaining a search warrant to search any of his houses.

    Delivering judgement on the matter on Wednesday, Justice Ahmed Mohammed noted that the defendants were in agreement that the plaintiff, Wike, could not be investigated based on the provision of Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution.

    Justice Mohammed said that from the combined reading of Section 308 of the constitution, and sections 149 and 150 of Administration of Criminal Justice Act, (ACJA) 2015, three situations had been prohibited.

    The first, he said, was the provision that no civil or criminal proceedings shall be instituted against the plaintiff.

    He further said that a person covered by the provisions shall not be arrested, and thirdly, any process of court requiring appearance of a person protected under the provisions shall not be applied.

    Justice Mohammed maintained that parties in their submissions, lost the purport and intendment of section 308(1)(c) of the constitution.

    According to him, a careful reading of section 308(1)(c) shows that the constitution has prohibited court process requiring the appearance of a serving governor before any investigative panel.

    He held that the argument of the police and the EFCC that Wike’s residence could be searched without his presence was untenable.

    The judge said it was wrong for the defendants to import meaning or interpretation not included in Section 308 of the constitution by the person who drafted the constitution.

    He held that the essence of the section was to accord immunity to a serving governor so as not to cause distractions to the governor in the act of governance.

    The judge dismissed the objections of the defendants and held that Wike’s suit had succeeded because it had merit.

    Wike had asked for six reliefs but the judge granted three and said while one was not grantable, the others were embedded in the ones granted.

    “The defendants cannot whether by themselves, their servants, agents, officers, privies or in any manner howsoever apply for, obtain, issue or in any way or manner howsoever execute any court process requiring; the appearance of the plaintiff who is currently the governor of Rivers.

    “A declaration that by virtue of the combined effect of section 308 of the Constitution and sections 149 and 150 of ACJA, the defendants cannot in any manner apply for, obtain, issue or execute any search warrant at the residence of the plaintiff in Abuja or in any of the plaintiff’s residence in any other place or locations in Nigeria.

    “An order that the defendants cannot by the combined effect of section 308 of the Constitution and sections 149 and 150 of ACJA, apply for, obtain, issue or execute any search warrant at the residence of the plaintiff in Abuja or in any of the plaintiff’s residence in any other place or locations in Nigeria.”

    The suit was filed in June 2017 by Mr Sylva Ogwemoh, (SAN), on behalf of Wike.

    Ogwemoh had argued that Section 308 which had to do with the immunity clause was put in place to allow serving governors concentrate on the act of governance.

    But the defendants had in opposition, argued that they had the right to search Wike’s residence even in his absence.

     

  • Wike canvasses separate minimum wages for states

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has stated that Nigerian workers will be better off when states are allowed to fix their separate minimum wages in line with their financial capacity to pay.

    Speaking during a public hearing on the new national minimum wage for Nigerian workers for the South-South geo-political zone in Port Harcourt on Friday, Governor Wike said that states vary in financial capacity, making a uniform minimum wage unrealistic.

    He said: “And for us, therefore, the single national minimum wage system is yet, another lie that betrays the distortions in our federation and the structured dislocation of the States in the power equation between the Federal Government and the federating States.

    “It is our view that the country and its workers would be better of, if States are allowed to fix and pay their own minimum wages indexed to the prevailing cost of living and ability to pay.

    “When this happens, it is possible that some States may go beyond the minimum threshold to pay a living wage, which is what our workers truly need”.

    Governor Wike said that the previous review exercise failed to give maximum weight to the existing disparity in economic potential and capabilities among the 36 States of the federation, adding that it has been difficult for most of the States to implement the existing N18, 000.00 minimum wage.

    He noted that majority of the States are within the fringes of financial viability and cannot meet their salary obligations to civil servant without bailouts from the Federal Government.

    He said that enhanced wages can only be possible when the Federal Government improves the economy of the Federation.

    He said: “Here in Rivers State, we value our workers; we invest in their welfare in different ways, and we want them to earn living wages that can keep them and their families as comfortable as possible.

    “The Rivers State Government, therefore, supports the ongoing consultations by the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage for arriving at a new national minimum wage floor for the country.”

    In his opening remarks, Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr Chris Ngige said the exercise has been held across the six geo-political zones to ascertain the needs of Nigerian Workers and employers to reach an acceptable and implementable wage.

    He said: “It is hoped that at the end of the exercise, we will be able to have women and men who will be engaged in productive work in equable conditions of freedom to associate and bargain collectively with equality and human dignity “.

    Ngige who is also the chairman of tripartite committee on National Minimum Wage, said the aim is to ensure that the nation adopts a national minimum wage that will assure the attainment of social protection floor for Nigerian citizens.

    Presenting the position of Nigerian Labour Congress in the South-South, Comrade Beatrice Otubo called for a living wage for workers.

    Also speaking, representative of Trade Union Congress in the South-South, Comrade Austin Jonathan pleaded that pensioners should be considered in the new wage regime.

    The public hearing attracted the representatives of the Governors of Bayelsa, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Edo and Delta States. Also present at the meeting were labour leaders from the six states of the geo-political zone.

  • Wike reveals FG’s alleged plots to frame him, treat him like Alamieyeseigha

    Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State on Sunday claimed to have uncovered a plot by the Federal Government to plant illegal items on him outside the country.

    The plan, he alleged, is to implicate him so that he would be quizzed by foreign security agencies.

    This, the governor claimed, was what was done to former Bayelsa State Governor Diepriye Alamieyeseigha in 2005.

     

    A statement by Wike’s Special Assistant on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu, said the governor’s investigations revealed that the government was using security agencies for the plot.

    The statement quoted Wike as saying: “My investigation reveals that the Federal government is planning to use her security agencies to set me up anytime I am travelling outside the country. They plan to organise security to storm the hotel I am staying and say they found xyz cash in my possession; after which they would say I was arrested for currency trafficking or whatever offences outside the country.

    “They will then precipitate crisis in my state and other parts of Nigeria. They will plan demonstrations to demonise me and claim I have gone outside to embarrass the country. The public odium is meant to smear me before my people and other Nigerians. It is unfortunate, wicked and unfair.

    “What they plan is similar to what was once done to the late Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha. They are planning what they call the ‘Alams treatment’ for me. But, by the grace of Almighty God, they will fail.

    Wike said he chose to alert the public to the evil and dangerous dimension politics had degenerated in the country.

    “I am using this opportunity to alert the world of the sinister plot. I am a law-abiding citizen of this country and countries I visit in the course of my work or holidays. I have never dabbled into anything illegal. So, any attempt to frame me up on trumped up charges or alleged offences is bound to fail.

    “What they are doing is just cheap politics. They want to intimidate the opposition into silence as they are already doing with their so-called ‘looters’ list’. It won’t work. We can’t all be intimidated. What we expect government at the centre to do is to showcase to the people their lists of achievements; why they should get a second chance. But they have nothing to show; so they are embarking on intimidation and arm-twisting tactics of the opposition.”

    Wike said he was sure of victory in the 2019 polls because he has been serving the people diligently and efficiently.

    “My works will speak for me. My projects will speak for me. The People of Rivers State will speak for me by voting me back. No shaking, “ he said.

    However, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity Garba Shehu said the government would not react to the allegation.

    Also, the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) dismissed the claim describing it as a false alarm.

    Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers state, Chief Chris Finebon said: “Wike is raising false alarm. Wike was at the forefront of using federal might to win elections in 2015. Wike and his cohorts used the security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to massively rig the 2015 polls. The Rivers governor is now afraid of his shadow. Everybody is not like Wike. Nobody in APC will repeat what Wike and his cohorts did in Nigeria in 2015.

    “Wike is simply being mischievous by claiming that the Federal Government will have nothing to show during the 2019 elections. The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has performed so impressively. In 2017, the trailer loads of rice that Wike bought for members of his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) came from APC’s Kebbi State and part of the Buhari’s agricultural revolution.

    “Wike is deceiving himself by claiming that he is sure of resounding victory in 2019, with his claim of serving Rivers people diligently and efficiently. Rivers people are ready to vote Wike out in 2019, to put an end to his poor performance, brazen stealing, misrule, impunity and bad governance.”

  • Amaechi reveals how Opobo people can ‘sack’ Gov Wike in 2019

    …says blame your chiefs if you don’t get governorship seat

    Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, on Friday, told Opobo people of Rivers to blame their leaders if one of them failed to emerge governor in 2019.

    He stated this at a reception organised by Free Rivers Development Initiative (FRDI) to honour him and Dr Dakuku Peterside, Director-General, Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in Opobo.

    Amaechi said that the Ikwerre chiefs were not united in the struggle to elect their subject as governor of Rivers.

    “If you don’t get the governorship of Rivers in 2019, blame your chiefs for not having a united front,” he said.

    He charged the people to join the struggle for the race, saying “people of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area must mobilise strongly and sack Gov. Nyesom Wike in 2019.

    “Let me tell you the honest truth, you must start mobilising now because you have not shown enough anger that you want the current government in the state out in 2019.”

    The former governor of the state said that his administration would have reclaimed more land for Opobo town but for the difficulty in getting more sand in the river.

    “If you ask Peterside, your son, we were supposed to do more land reclamation than what we did, but unfortunately there was no sand in the river.

    “We are not here for talk about what we did, but we will soon compare my first tenure as governor and that of Wike.

    “We are here to show gratitude to Opobo people for showing us love, especially Dr Sam Jaja, Chairman, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital Governing Board,” he said.

    On his part, Peterside described Amaechi as a kind-hearted person that was always willing to take up the responsibility of others.

    Peterside said that it was uncommon to take up responsibility for people’s challenges, but that the Transportation Minister had lived a life in fighting for others.

    “My leader, Amaechi took up the challenges of the development of Rivers and beyond that, fought for us all,” he said.

    Peterside said that Amaechi as governor, apart from former President Shehu Shagari’s administration, reclaimed more land in Opobo more than any other administration.

    He disclosed that all the modern functional primary schools and health centres in the local government are were built by Amaechi’s administration.

    “Before the administration of Chibuike Amaechi in Rivers, we had no resident medical doctors and less than 20 teachers in the area.

    “When he came in as governor, he ensured that we had almost 100 teachers and five medical doctors in Opobo town.

    “He initiated the Opobo Fish Farm,” he said.

    He added that the administration sent 27 Opobo/Nkoro children abroad on scholarship.

  • 2019: GDI mobilises Rivers indigenes in diaspora for Wike’s re-election

    Grassroots development initiatives (GDI) has appealed to the indigenes of Rivers State In diaspora to come home en masse to participate in the 2019 general elections and vote massively for the continuation of the progressive and all-inclusive government of Governor Nyesom Wike.

    At a meeting of Nigerians in diaspora held at Kempton Park, West Street in Johannesburg, South Africa, the convener of GDI, Pastor Egba B. H Egba said that the group is particularly happy with Governor Wike for making River State the first destination for foreign investments in Nigeria. “His all inclusive developmental projects have made considerable impact on the economy of the state.

    Egba who also doubles as the President of the Union of Rivers State Indigenes in South Africa and the founder of N. E. W. Prayer squad for the mobilisation of 1.8 million Christians for the re-election of Governor Nyesom Wike come 2019, commended him for the relief he has brought to Rivers State students who are on scholarship studying various courses abroad. “But for Governor Wike, many students would have been stranded”. Pastor Egba also commended the Governor for insisting that courses available in Nigeria would no more qualify for overseas scholarship. This has saved the state considerable cost

    Egba used the occasion to assure indigenes of Rivers State in the diaspora that His Excellency, Nyesom Wike will continue to keep the welfare of state indigenes at heart at home and abroad. The event was rounded up with those in attendance feasting on their favorite Nigerian delicacies as they shower praises to God for giving them Wike.

  • 2019: Obasanjo fighting me for frustrating his third term agenda – Atiku

    • Most important pillar funding PDP today is governor Nysome Wike

    Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar on Tuesday revealed that former President Obasanjo is still at war with him for opposing his [Obasanjo’s] bid to secure a third term in office.

    Atiku who made the observation during his consultative visit to Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, said if he had not frustrated the bid by the then president to smuggle tenure elongation into Nigeria’s constitution, many political office holders today will have been denied the opportunities they currently enjoy.

    He said, “We need to always remember that some people sacrificed their lives so that we can live today. There are some people who are still fighting me today because I stopped them from putting tenure elongation in our constitution. If I have supported that , several governors, Presidents who had opportunities today will not come near office. The crux of the matter is that I have again come to you as People Democratic Party, PDP members, before I go public to the public to offer myself for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    Atiku likened his political growth with that of Wike, lauded the governor’s stride in the state and his role in reviving PDP as a party.

    He furthered, “The kind of leadership you are showing in the party, nobody else is doing so. I use this opportunity to tell you, you have found a partner in me. We will work together to make sure our party returns to power.

    “Having said that, I will want thank the good people of rivers state for giving me this opportunity to be in the state. I assure you that today Nigeria is at crossroad, I have never seen Nigeria so divided along regional, ethnic, religious divides like this. This division is brought about by the mismanagement of the All Progressives Congress, APC-led government. We have a responsibility to work together, to see that this great country, which has the potentials of being great actualise its greatness. Let nobody deceive you, a fragmented Nigeria will not favour anyone, our diversity is key to us. The potential in our diversity, when united is more than what a fragmented Nigeria offers.

    “Today, the most important pillar funding this party today is governor Nysome Wike, therefore we all know what we have gone through in the last three years from where PDP left it, from all statistics, it shows PDP has outperformed APC. Education which is key to our development, ever sin”e they came into office the percentage of what is dedicated to education has been decreasing.

    “We have set to change the narrative, that is why you need to understand where we are today. If we had not had APC we would not have been able to compare, We will be interacting more, as we are communicating with you; please take our words to your constituency Atiku urges Rivers people.

    “When we came inot the office, I hired seven PHD holders and the President was asking me wat I was doing with them, sooner my office became more functional; I have the capacity to assemble the best.

    “It is not the issue of “This is my son, my sister son..etc’ the good thing is that I don’t even have a brother or sister..I am the only one.” He said

    On his own part, Wike thanked Atiku for visiting the people of Rivers State and assured him of his support.

    He added, “God in his infinite mercy will bring back PDP to power. We will say this over and over again that PDP is a family; Nobody will do anything truncate our mission to rescue Nigeria.

    I appeal to everybody in the party, especially all the aspirants not to see getting into office as Do-or-Die affair, his excellency, I thank you for coming and assure you that you have our support.

  • 2019: Atiku visits Gov Wike in Rivers [Photos]

    Former Vice President and Presidential hopeful of the Peoples Democratic Governor, PDP, Atiku Abubakar on Tuesday paid a consultative visit to Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike in Rivers State.

  • Wike swears in four judges

    Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers on Monday swore in four judges of the State High Court and Customary Court of Appeal, charging them to resist intimidation by agents of the political class.

    Wike, while performing the swearing in ceremony in Port Harcourt, reminded them that they would be required by God to render account of their stewardship.

    He said that the judges now had the opportunity to make the state a better place by enthroning justice.

    He, therefore, urged them to uphold the rule of law and be fearless in the dispensation of justice.

    The judges included Justices Godwin Ollor and Uche Chuku of the State High Court and Justices Legor Senewo Frank Onyiri of the State Customary Court of Appeal.