TheNewsGuru

Tag: Wike

  • Ready-to-die Wike vows to face APC in 2019, says ‘all of us would go down with it’

    The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, says he is ready to lay down his life if it will ensure victory for the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2019 general elections.

    Wike said this in the latest issue of ‘The Interview,’ a monthly magazine.

    The governor said one of the reasons the then President, Goodluck Jonathan, lost the presidential election was that he was surrounded by insincere people, especially ministers.

    He, however, said Rivers State fought tooth and nail to ensure victory for the PDP in 2015 and 2019 would not be any different.

    Wike said, “The whole thing boils down to sincerity and commitment and sincerity. We said if things would not happen, all of us would go down with it. That was the driving spirit for us and that is what we are going to repeat in 2019.

    “If the Federal Government is going to kill all of us, so be it. Because we know what they have planned and their strategies and so when it is time, we will face the APC squarely in this state. Just watch.”

    The governor described Jonathan as a gentleman who condoned too many things.

    Wike said for instance, when Jonathan went to campaign in the North, he was stoned in a number of states but did nothing.

    The governor said if he were the President, things would have been different.

    He added, “God gave every leader his strength and way of doing things. You see, I will not accept that. Let the heavens fall. If Nigeria was going to end on that day, let it end. I will not take what he took. That is why I respect the man a lot. I will not take that.

    “If Nigeria will come down that day, let it come down. I mean, what is it? He was President and you were throwing stones at him? No single respect for that office? And you tell me to accept it? No, I will clamp down on you.”

    Wike said the fact that those who stoned Jonathan were neither arrested nor prosecuted, showed that some northern elements, including the ones in the PDP, sabotaged Jonathan’s campaign.

    He wondered why a northern state which was ruled by a PDP governor would allow such a thing to happen.

    The governor also said he supported what a former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe, did at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission when he attempted to stop the Chairman of the commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, from announcing the results of the 2015 presidential election.

    Wike said Orubebe’s actions were justified since the elections were rigged.

    When asked if he supported what Orubebe, he said, “I did. Of course, why not? You saw clear rigging. I don’t like a system where you see something is going wrong and you keep quiet.”

    The governor, who is heading the PDP’s reconciliation committee, said his committee would do everything to attract as many political heavyweights into the party.

    He said the party could even go as far as wooing a former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; and a former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso.

    Wike said, “What is the crime in wooing people? Who told you that we would not woo people like Tinubu and Kwankwaso? You see, whether they will come or not is immaterial. Those that the APC wooed, did they not join the APC?

    “Who told you that we would not go and woo prominent APC governors? That does not mean that they will come. All the APC leaders at the National Assembly, were they not PDP people? What is all this trouble about wooing and not wooing?”

    The governor said he did not regret helping a former Borno State governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, to emerge as the PDP chairman despite the fact that it nearly led to the total collapse of the party.

    He said at the time, he did not know that Sheriff was “an agent of darkness.”

    Wike added, “Why should I regret? I am not a coward. I am not one of those that takes decisions and goes back to say I am not part of that decision.”

  • Wike has no single economic plan to make Rivers better – Peterside

    The Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside said Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has no single economic plan to make Rivers better.

    Peterside stated this in Port Harcourt while reacting to attempts by the state government to frustrate the flagging off of Bodo-Bonny Road project by the Federal Government and the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited.

    Peterside declared that Wike should be ashamed of himself for continually being a clog in the wheel of the state’s progress.

    He recalled that while Wike was Minister during the Goodluck Jonathan administration, oil wells belonging to the state were ceded to Bayelsa State without him saying anything, just as he also frustrated all efforts by the then Chibuike Amaechi administration in the state to get back over N100 billion spent on federal roads.

    According to him, “the same Wike now wants to frustrate the flagging off of Bodo-Bonny Road project that will not only employ our youth but will open up Rivers State to a new frontier.”

    The NIMASA DG stated that Wike lacked the capacity to stop such a project or he should be prepared for the uprising of the people, whose lives would forever be changed by the road project.

    “Let me assure Wike that the project will proceed as planned and completed. It will catalyse the development of Bonny and Ogoni land.

    “The FG is committed to the project, and no amount of resistance will stop it. One hundred Wikes cannot stop this project. Such hatred for Bonny and Ogoni people is being taken too far.

    “I will repeat this: Wike lacks the capacity, ingenuity and resourcefulness to govern Rivers State. He has no single economic plan to make the state better. On the one hand, he cries for development, on another, he plays the ostrich.

    How can a sensible governor hang the fate of Ogoni and Bonny people in suspense,” he queried.

    Peterside assured the people Ogoni and Bonny axis that the project would go on as scheduled and that he would personally lead Rivers State people to protest to Government House, Port Harcourt should Wike do anything to hamper the road infrastructure.

  • NNPC $26bn scam: APC govt has failed for being quiet on own corruption allegations

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC)- led Federal Government of plunging the nation into its worst depth of corruption since Independence.

    Wike said the mind-blogging $26billion monumental corruption unveiled in the leaked memo of the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachiku, had brought to the fore the high-level sleaze amongst top officials of the APC Federal Government through the NNPC.

    He spoke at the Government House, Umuahia, Abia State yesterday, during a state visit where he inaugurated construction equipment and also held a meeting with Governor Okezie Ikpeazu. Wike said: “When they said judges were accused of corruption, they were told to step aside. They have not told anyone to step aside so that they can conclude investigation.

    When you are in office, investigation will be compromised. “It is for Nigerians to see. Are we fighting corruption? The corruption they are fighting is against some people who are their opponents. All of us are victims. I have never seen this kind of scandal in all my political career. We have never heard of it like this.

    What about this $26 billion (N9 trillion) contract scam and nobody is talking. Everywhere is quiet.” He said the anti-corruption fight is simply aimed at brow-beating the opposition because the APC has metamorphosed into a monumental failure. “So, many promises were made, but none has been fulfilled. Everyday, what they have to say is corruption, corruption, no other statement.

    “Corruption from day one and corruption till the day they will leave office. What have they achieved? No roads, no infrastructure. I could not come to Abia by road. It is not possible,” he said. The governor said PDP was ready to rescue Nigerians from the failure and under-development foisted on them by APC.

  • Army/IPOB clash: IG briefs Osinbajo, rubbishes Wike’s allegations

    The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris on Thursday briefed Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo on the crisis between the Nigeria Army and the Indigenous People of Biafra in Abia State and some parts of Rivers State.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the IG also berated the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, for claiming that men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad were armed robbers.

    Speaking to State House Correspondents at the end of the meeting which lasted almost an hour, the IG said the aim of the meeting was to ensure the security of all Nigerians.

    Asked to be specific about strategies he was adopting as regards events in the South-East, he said all critical stakeholders which include governors were being engaged to find a lasting peace.

    He said, “Obviously, one, is to deploy policemen across the country, two, we are in touch with the state government, trying to mobilize the political leadership to be able to intervene where necessary on how to lessen the tension in the South-East.

    Repeated clashes between Nigerian soldiers and IPOB agitators led by Nnamdi Kanu, forced Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to declare a three-day dusk-to-dawn curfew in the state.

    The police boss also described as nonsense, Wike’s allegation that the reported killing of a SARS officer during a foiled kidnap operation on Monday in the Oroazi area of the state was a confirmation that his men were involved in armed robbery and kidnapping.

    Idris said, “He (Wike) has the right to self expression. You know he is a governor.”

    Asked if he was not denying the allegation he replied, “Of course I have to deny that, that is nonsense. I have to deny that.

    “If a policeman was killed will you say he was involved in crime? I think you are mixing two different issues. A policeman was killed in Rivers in connection with this IPOB issue, is different from saying policemen are involved in crime. You cannot say someone that was attacked and killed is the one involved in crime.”

    When reminded that the governor alleged that the dead policeman was one of the three men that were suspected to be members of SARS who were attempting to kidnap someone and he died in the process, the IGP replied, “Who is the person they were attempting to kidnap?

    “I just want you to read between the lines. If you have leaders making sweeping allegations obviously it does not make sense.”

  • 2019: Wike storms Delta, meets Okowa, Ibori for reconciliation talks

    Ahead of the its repositioning strategy towards the 2019 general elections, the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Reconciliation Committee and Executive Governor of Rivers State, Barrister Nyesom Wike on Saturday arrived Delta State in company of his governor colleague, Senator Patrick Okowa for a reconciliatory meeting with former governor, James Ibori.

     

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the meeting was held in the Oghara country home of Ibori.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the former Acting National Chairman of the party, Prince Ike Uche Secondus, Senator Lee Maeba, Ambassador Desmond Akawor, Hon Tammy Danagogo and Hon Austin Okpara were among other PDP chieftains that accompanied Wike to the meeting with Ibori.

     

  • We need good governance to end demands for restructuring – Wike

    Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike of Rivers State has declared that nobody will clamour for the restructuring of the country once the Federal Government adopts a just governance model.

    He said that a governance model that emphasizes the equitable distribution of resources and projects will promote unity and the rapid growth of the country.

    Addressing the National Executive Council of the Science Teachers Association of Nigeria (STAN) on Tuesday at the Government House Port Harcourt, Governor Wike said that unless the Federal Government takes the right steps to address developmental challenges, agitations for restructuring will intensify.

    He said: “Nobody will clamour for restructuring once things are put in the right perspective. Unless the right thing is done, the clamour for restructuring will never stop”.

    The governor explained that delivering credible elections at all levels will also help reduce the level of agitations in the country.

    According to him, credible elections will keep leaders on their toes and make them work for the people, instead of the present situation where leaders fail to work but rely on INEC and Police to help them rig elections.

    He said: “If rigging is eliminated from the system and the will of the people matter, leaders will sit up and work for their communities. However, INEC and police form obstacles to credible elections in Nigeria”.

    Governor Wike pointed out that all Nigerians must work together to address the challenges in the country.

    He advocated for the enthronement of merit in the country. The governor said that the relegation of merit in critical areas have led to failure and under-development.

    The Science Teachers are in Rivers State for their 60th Anniversary.

  • Wike satisfied with progress at project sites in Rivers

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has expressed satisfaction with the pace of work on three major roads that will decongest traffic in Port Harcourt.
    He also assured that the reconstruction of the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt will be completed by October, while the National Industrial Court will be handed over in December 2017.
    Also to be completed is the remodelling and expansion of the State Produce House in Port Harcourt.
    Speaking on Tuesday after inspecting ongoing Projects in Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor and Eleme Local Government Areas, Governor Wike said the Garrison-Trans-Amadi-Elelenwo, Elelenwo -Akpajo and the Woji-Akpajo roads will be funded diligently for their scheduled completion.
    He said: “These three major roads will help us decongest traffic on the Popular Aba Road and create easier access to the state’s industrial hub at Trans-Amadi.
    “These are key roads that will improve economic activities in Port Harcourt and therefore empower the people. We are committed to funding the roads for their scheduled completion “.
    He explained that tempo of work at the Court of Appeal will be improved to ensure that the court sits in comfort after its vacation.
    The governor expressed satisfaction with the level of work at the National Industrial Court where the contractor has completed two out of the court’s four floors.
    He directed the immediate cessation of dredging near the bridge along Slaughter road. He decried dredging activities within the metropolis, saying that security personnel have been detailed to stop the illegal activities.
    He was accompanied on the project inspection by the Administrator of Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority, Ambassador Desmond Akawor and officials of the Rivers State Ministry of Works.

  • Wike is confused, afraid of everybody around him

    The 2015 governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State Dakuku Peterside, said on Wednesday that the present governor, Nyesom Wike is only making a mockery of governance in the state.

    He decried the way Wike is handling the state’s affairs, recounting what had happened in the last couple of days, where the governor sacked all his special advisers and caretaker chairmen of four local government councils, who had barely spent three weeks in office, for unknown reasons.

    Peterside, in a statement by his media team, reiterated that Wike had earlier sacked his commissioners for not being loyal to him.

    He said, “While it is the prerogative of the governor to appoint his aides, his actions are reminiscent of a despot, who is confused and is afraid of everybody around him. Wike is just a confused man, he does not trust anybody around him. He is afraid of his own shadow and he thinks that only him can be right at all times.

    “These are the attributes of a despot. He is afraid of everybody and everybody is afraid of him. All the people that have worked with him are afraid to talk or even take initiatives of their own. They can only complain to close friends.

    “Wike is playing with the dignity and sense of belonging of Rivers men and women, who deserve to be respected and honoured in their various dispositions.”

    He stressed that Wike was never really prepared to govern Rivers State, but was only interested in acquiring the power to serve a selfish motive of making an Emperor and maximum ruler.

    He added, “Wike did not have focus. So, he is simply proving true to the type of what we know about him. He cannot stand contrary opinion and alternative views. Hence, he wants to surround himself with people who cannot hold contrary views from his.

    “He (Wike) is a dictator at heart and it is already clear to Rivers people that they made a mistake in 2015. 2019 presents an opportunity to put an end to a deceitful government that has not told them how their money is being spent.

    “Our fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters, who are pensioners, have not been paid for several months. Local government workers are being owed for months. Teachers are still being owed outstanding and only recently, Rivers got N10 billion from Paris Club refund. What has the governor done with the money?”

  • News Hour 09-08-2017 I TNGtv

  • ‘Police responsible for most kidnapping in Nigeria’ – Wike

    Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has accused the Nigeria Police Force, NPF, of masterminding most kidnappings in the country.

    The governor, therefore, called on African lawyers to help revive democracy in Nigeria, insisting that the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has used the police to destroy its foundation.

    In Wike’s words: “most of the kidnapping in the country are done by the police.”

    But the police promptly responded by describing the governor’s statement as deceitful.

    “Everybody knows the antics of Governor Wike,” police spokesperson Jimoh Moshood responded

    “You people should disregard such statements. The Nigeria Police are not promoting any crime. In fact, we are fighting crime with all the resources at our disposal”.

    “I want people to disregard such statement we have made a lot of progress in terms of fighting crime and criminality.”.

    According to a press statement by the state government, Mr. Wike alleged that the APC was already laying the structures to rig the 2019 general elections through the promotion of indicted police officers.

    He made the allegations at a state banquet he gave members of the African Bar Association at Government House, Port Harcourt on Monday night.

    Mr. Wike said the police promoted Akin Fakorede, the Rivers State Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) commander, whom he alleged was filmed at a collation centre rigging election and beating up electoral officials.

    He said the police also promoted an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Steven Hasso, “for his criminal role in the rigging of rerun elections on December 10, 2016.

    “They promised Nigerians change, but we are seeing nothing. The former President of Tanzania by his visit has done us much good by his presence in Nigeria. Through him, we will send a message to the world.

    “Democracy in Nigeria is gone. By 2019, nobody should talk about democracy. One Mr Akin Fakorede who was caught on video rigging election has been promoted. Stephen Hasso who was also a culprit in the rigging of elections has been promoted. Both of them are to be positioned in Rivers State for 2019 to help the APC rig elections.”

    But the police also dismissed the allegation concerning the promotions.

    Mr. Moshood said the promotion of senior police officers is done by the Police Service Commission.

    “I am not aware of any promotion like that,” he said.

    “Promotion is not done by the IGP of the Nigeria Police Force, it is done by the Police Service Commission. And to the best of my ability the commission has not released any list of promoted officers. Anything that has to do with promotion, the commission is in charge.”

    Speaking further, Mr. Wike claimed the APC has made it a policy to intimidate and destroy the judiciary.

    He claimed that the situation has degenerated to the level that police had taken over the duty of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC by allegedly certifying election results for APC to use at tribunals.

    The governor said that the police under the present dispensation has become a major stumbling block to the investment drive of the country as they deliberately generate insecurity.

    “The police is the one promoting crime in Nigeria. Most of the kidnapping in the country are done by the police. We cannot continue like this, enough is enough.”

    Efforts by our reporter to reach the APC spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, were unsuccessful as his phone was switched off at the time of filling this story.

    In his remark at the banquet, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Onueze Okocha said Rivers is a peaceful state and always ready for investors.