TheNewsGuru

Tag: Wike

  • Omoku massacre: Okorocha ‘shielding’ wanted cultist – Rivers govt

    Omoku massacre: Okorocha ‘shielding’ wanted cultist – Rivers govt

    The Rivers State Government has accused the Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, of shielding one of the 32 cultists recently declared wanted by the Rivers State Security Council.

    The state government gave the name of the cultist as Emenike Agamu, otherwise known as General Red Scorpion.

    He is said to have been involved in the gruesome killing of 17 people on the New Year Day in Omoku, Rivers State.

    The Rivers government, through its Commissioner for Justice, Emmanuel Aguma, said in a statement issued on Tuesday that the wanted cultist, Mr. Agamu, alongside other cultists, surrendered their weapons at Owerri, Imo State.

    They were said to have been received by Governor Okorocha who reportedly said, “The state has forgiven them and will subsequently give their names to the Federal Government for Amnesty.”

    The commissioner said Governor Wike has now been vindicated for the alarm he raised a few weeks ago that the All Progressives Congress, APC, were planning to recruit the wanted cultists into their party with the intention of using them during the 2019 election.

    The commissioner said, “The Governor of Imo State has no constitutional power to grant amnesty to any person for an offence committed in Rivers State; Governor Okorocha can only grant amnesty with regard to offences ‘created’ by the House of Assembly of Imo State.”

    ”Also, President Muhammadu Buhari cannot grant amnesty to the wanted cultist, going by the Nigerian Constitution,” he said.

  • Wike donates N200m to IDPs in Benue

    Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers on Wednesday donated N200 million to Benue Government for the upkeep of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state.

    Wike made the donation when he led other stakeholders in Rivers on a condolence visit to Gov. Samuel Ortom in Makurdi.

    He noted that the challenge of taking care of the IDPs was huge, adding that the donation was meant to cushion suffering of the displaced persons.

    He said that he identifies with the pains of benue people as many women had become widows and children turned to orphans, adding that he would continue to render support to displaced persons in the country.

    He urged the people to rally round Ortom, to enable him to tackle the security challenge posed by herdsmen in the state.

    He said that all hands must be on deck in order to successfully overcome the insecurity challenge in the country.

    He also appealed to the people not to take laws into their own hands in spite of the unprovoked attacks on them by the herdsmen.

    Responding, Ortom thanked Wike and his delegation for deeming it fit to commiserate with him and his people at their trying moment.

    He described the gesture as a great show of love and concern.

    He said that the government had opened seven IDPs camps and two for the Cameroonian refugees.

    According to him, the IDPs are over 100,000, adding that the census is still ongoing as people are still trooping to the camps.

  • Governor Wike attends RCCG Holy Ghost rally

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike on Sunday joined several thousands of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) for this year’s Holy Ghost Rally where the RCCG General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye ministered.

    The Holy Ghost Rally with theme: “Let The Fire Fall” attracted RCCG members from Rivers State and Bayelsa State to the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt where they praised and worshipped God for his blessings.

    The RCCG Mass Choir and Master Nengi Jaja rendered soul lifting songs that set the stage for the miracle of God.

    Addressing the rally, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike stated that Rivers people have benefited from the hosting of the annual Holy Ghost Rally, especially in the area of the return of peace to different communities.

    Governor Wike noted that he personally received the miracle of the validation of his election by the Supreme Court. The governor traced his miracle to the 24th of January, 2016 when he attended the first Holy Ghost Rally where the RCCG General Overseer gave a word of knowledge.

    He said: “On 27th January, 2016, few days after the prophecy by the General Overseer of RCCG, our election was validated by the Supreme Court. Let me say again that God has blessed us through the RCCG Holy Ghost Rally.

    “I want to reiterate that Rivers State is a Christian State. We shall continue to partner with the Church, especially the RCCG “.

    The governor noted that the prayers of Pastor Enoch Adeboye has helped to create a peaceful environment in Rivers State for the development of the state.

    He stated that his administration will not disappoint the Church as it will continue to put the people first.

    Governor Wike declared that the State Government will partner with RCCG Region 5 for their environmental sanitation programme tagged “Pick that trash, don’t add to it”.

    In his sermon, the General Overseer of RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye said as a result of the rally those forgotten will be remembered by God.

    Pastor Enoch Adeboye prayed for the Rivers State Government, the people of Rivers State and Nigeria. The Cleric urged Nigerians to pray to God for the forgiveness of their sins which will open the gates of heaven.

    Also speaking, Pastor in charge of RCCG Region 5, Pastor Belimina Obunge stated that the church has embarked on corporate social responsibility in the areas of Health, Education and Treatment/rehabilitation of drug addicts.

    The Holy Ghost Rally witnessed the dedication of environmental programme titled “Pick that trash, don’t add to it: “”Pick that trash, don’t add to it” by Pastor Adeboye.

  • 2019: Wike hosts Lamido, says ‘APC is a party of daylight deceit’

    Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State on Wednesday described the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as a party of daylight deceit.

    The governor said any known criminal who defects to the APC automatically becomes a saint while those at the other side of the divide as seen as sinners.

    Wike said this when he received the immediate past governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido at the Government House in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    Recall that Lamido had earlier declared his intention to contest the 2019 presidential elections under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Lamido during the visit officially informed Wike of his intention to seek the PDP’s ticket.

    Speaking during the visit, Governor Wike said: “If you decamp to the APC, you are no longer corrupt. APC is a party of daylight deceit.

    “I am happy that one of those who left to bring a messiah, have realised that the so-called messiah they brought is no longer the messiah Nigerians expect. PDP is the only hope for Nigeria”, Governor Wike said.

    The governor noted that though the PDP made mistakes in the past, the Party is the only platform with the commitment and patriotism to take the country out of the current situation.

    He said the present political and economic situation in the country require politicians with courage to rescue the country.

    He said those who benefited from the PDP since inception till 2013 before defecting are the same people sponsoring negative propaganda against the Party.

    The governor described Lamido as a committed and consistent PDP member who is courageous and has the capacity to confront the APC.

    He, however, urged all Presidential Aspirants to accept the verdict of the Party at the end of the primary.

    Also speaking, Former Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido said he is presenting himself to take over in 2019 because the nation deserves to move forward.

    He said that if given the opportunity to lead Nigeria, he has the capacity to unite Nigeria and set it on the path of growth.

    He said: “I want to run because I feel I can do it. I have the pedigree. We stand to fight for democracy and the restoration of Nigeria”.

    He said that his will work with other PDP leaders to transform Nigeria for the good of the people.

    The Former Jigawa State Governor said that the APC is a party of hate and deceit, hence it should be sacked in 2019.

  • Those plotting evil against Rivers will not know peace – Wike

    …says President Buhari was under pressure to declare state of emergency in Rivers

    Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has said the recent surge in crime as witnessed in the state was sponsored by some selfish politicians insisting that those plotting evil against the state will not know peace.

    The governor who was apparently angry at the spite of crime and killings in the state said the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress mounted pressure on President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency in the state.

    Wike made the remarks when he received the Anglican bishops of the Niger Delta Province on Friday. He explained that he learnt of the pressure on the President during his meeting with the Commander-in-Chief at the State House.

    The governor, however, said that the plan to make the President declare a state of emergency in Rivers failed while measures put in place by the APC leaders to achieve their aim only manifested in their states.

    He said, “When I went to see the President, he told me that he was under pressure to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State.

    “Those things they planned to use in declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State fell on their own states and it became difficult to do so.”

    Wike added that due to insecurity in the country, the “evil eyes of the plotters have left Rivers State.”

    He said, “When you sit and plot evil against Rivers State, you will not know peace. If they don’t apologise for plotting and executing evil against Rivers State, they will never know peace.”

    The governor said that the state survived because of the prayers of clerics and the church.

    He urged the church to take interest in the leadership that would emerge in the country at all levels, warning that bad political leadership would affect everyone.

    “If you don’t participate in what is happening through voting, the country will degenerate further. People should acquire their Permanent Voter Cards to enthrone the leadership they desire,” he said.

    The governor pointed out that in other climes, if 10 persons were killed, the President would visit the place to assess the situation, adding that the country had become a security nightmare with 73 persons killed in Benue State recently.

    He observed that a mass burial was organised for the victims of herdsmen attacks in Benue State while the Presidency acted as if nothing happened.

    Wike restated that his administration would set up a Christian Trust Fund to cater for indigent clerics, maintaining that funds had been proposed in the 2018 budget for that purpose.

     

  • Wike places N640m bounty on 32 wanted ‘cult leaders’ in Rivers

    Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers has declared 32 cultists wanted in a state broadcast and asked the security agencies to go after them, putting a bounty of N20m each for information that could lead to their arrest.

    The total reward is N640million, N440million more than what the governor offered for the arrest of Don Wani, the kidnap kingpin and cultist, linked with the killing of 23 people in Omoku on New Year’s Day.

    The broadcast was a celebration of the killing of the criminal, whose real name was Johnson Igwedibia. He was killed by the military on Saturday at a hideout in Enugu.

    According to Wike, 32 cultists remain in 12 local government areas in the state and had reneged on the terms of amnesty offered them by his government.

    He listed them and said he wanted all of them arrested and prosecuted by the security agencies, pledging all assistance necessary.

    “Based on reliable information by the security agencies, I hereby direct them to immediately arrest and prosecute the under-mentioned persons who have either reneged on the terms of the amnesty and or refused to embrace same by continuing with cultism, kidnapping and armed robbery in the state,” the governor said.

    “The Rivers State Government will pay N20 million to any person who volunteers useful information that would lead to the arrest and prosecution of any of the afore-mentioned persons. Since 2015, we have been calling for tackling security issues devoid of political considerations in Rivers State in order to achieve maximum result,’’ he added

    Governor Wike wanted to end the era of criminals running colonies in the state as he warned them to leave the state or risk facing the death sentence.

    His government is proposing an amendment of the State Anti-kidnapping Law, which prescribed death sentence for criminals involved in cultism, robbery and kidnapping.

    Wike warned that the State Government has zero tolerance for crime and criminal activities, adding that his administration will continue to adopt measures to protect lives and property in the state.

  • News Hour: Gov. Wike releases names of suspected kidnappers, cultists, armed robbers in Rivers I TNGtv

    News Hour: Gov. Wike releases names of suspected kidnappers, cultists, armed robbers in Rivers I TNGtv

  • Rivers Massacre: Wike thanks Buhari, security agencies for killing notorious cultist ‘Don Wani’

    …Thanks Buhari ‘for not playing politics’ with Rivers people

    The Rivers State Government on Sunday thanked President Muhammadu and all the security agencies for acting swiftly to the recent massacre of some citizens of the state by killing the alleged mastermind of the heinous crime, one Prince Igwedibia, popularly known as Don Wani or Don Waney.

    The government also thanked President Muhammadu Buhari ‘for not playing politics’ with the killings.

    The suspect was killed on Saturday in Enugu where he had gone to hide after the incident, the army said on Sunday. Two of his alleged accomplices were also killed.

    In a statement by the Commissioner of Information and Communication, Emma Okah, the Rivers State Government said “the success recorded in the operations that ended Don Wani and his men is a victory for the law abiding people in the state.”

    “It underscores the desirability of honest partnership and synergy between the government and security agencies as well as the public in tackling security problems in the state.

    “This victory gladdens our heart and we remain more committed in the fight against crimes and will continue to support the police and all security agencies in the onerous task of securing our dear Rivers State and her people,” Mr Okah said.

    “We thank President Muhammadu Buhari for not playing politics with the Omoku massacre but gave a matching order which galvanised the efforts of the 6 Div of Nigeria Army, the DSS, police and everybody or agency who played a role to avenge the death of the innocent people killed in Omoku on 1st January, 2018.

    “The success of our collective effort has shown that there is no hiding place for the wicked.”

  • Oil companies responsible for Rivers massacre – Wike

    Governor Nyesom Wike has accused the international oil companies of being responsible for the murder of over seventeen (17) people returning home from the cross over service on New Year eve.

    The governor said the oil companies in the state were awarding surveillance contracts to cultists who in turn use the money to buy sophisticated weapons with which they terrorise the communities.

    The 17 were shot dead at Omoku, headquarters of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area allegedly by cultists.

    The governor who spoke while receiving Interior Minister Abdulrahman Danbazzau claimed that the security agencies knew the cult kingpins terrorizing the residents.

    “The security agencies have the profiles of all cult kingpins in different parts of the state and they know their locations,” he said.

    He accused Police Inspector general Ibrahim Idris of failing to heed several requests made by the Rivers government for the deployment of special squads to tackle cultism and kidnapping in the state.

    He added: “There is no wisdom in the politicization of security. Insecurity can affect anybody. You can never know the next victim of insecurity.

    “The peculiar nature of Rivers State requires peculiar intervention.

    “Before now, I have been shouting that we need support to fight crime.”

    The governor attacked politicians whom he said were using the killings to play politics and make false allegations against the state.

    Danbazzau said he was directed by President Muhammadu Buhari to visit the state and assess its security situation because of the killing.

     

  • Amaechi is mentally challenged, says Wike

    Rivers state Governor Nyesom Wike has said that the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, is mentally challenged.

    He made this known on Wednesday when the management of the Silverbird Group gave him his nomination letter as the Silverbird Man of the Year, 2017.

    “Former Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has a serious mental case. This is what makes it difficult for him to appreciate the seriousness of security issues,” Wike said.

    “That is the kind of people that we have in the Federal Cabinet. With such people, it is impossible for the country to make progress. He needs urgent medical attention “.

    He described as ridiculous the false allegation by the former Rivers governor that he armed the perpetrators of the Omoku killings.

    The governor wondered why Amaechi would prefer to blame him for the killings in Omoku, while refusing to blame the APC governors of Benue, Kwara and Kaduna States for killings in their states.

    He said: “Amaechi is the one who manipulates the posting of security heads to Rivers State using the Federal Government. They know what they are doing.

    “If they are planning anything against Rivers State, they will not succeed.”