Rivers: Wike blows hot, warns communities against shutting oil production

NEWS

Rivers: Wike blows hot, warns communities against shutting oil production

 

The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Thursday warned that he would no longer tolerate the shutting down of oil production facilities by communities in the state.

He handed this warning at a meeting with Chairmen of Cluster Development Boards in Asari-Toru, Akuku-Toru and Degema Local Government Areas as well as oil companies and security agencies at the state’s Government House in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

Wike warned that under no circumstances should communities take the law into their hands by preventing oil production companies from carrying out their duties.

He also directed the immediate revival of the State Steering Committee on Cluster Development Boards responsible for intervening between oil companies and communities.

According to Wike: “I will not support any company not to carry out their corporate social responsibilities to their host communities.

“However, communities must not take laws into their hands. They must not stop production by the operating companies.

“Such actions will negatively affect the finances of the Federal Government, the state and the local government areas.”

The governor also stated that in cases where companies failed to act within the expectations of the communities, the State Government will mediate through the Steering Committee on Cluster Development Boards.

“It is important that we do not allow crisis to occur in the communities. The Aeroton rig in one community was seized.

“That rig should be allowed to work. I called this meeting because of the concerns raised by the operating companies in the area,” he said.

Wike said the Steering Committee on Cluster Development Boards would have the Permanent Secretary, Community Development, Security Agencies, Community Development Clusters and oil companies as members.

The governor said the committee will meet at regular intervals to address challenges in order to forestall escalation of conflicts.

He regretted that most problems in the Niger Delta are caused by oil companies who patronise and engage with criminal elements to the disadvantage of the host communities.

In his remark, former Commissioner of Environment, Samuel Horsfall pointed out that though the oil companies knew the right things to do, they have never taken the right steps.

 

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Gov. Wike, Abe deploying ‘witchcraft’ against Amaechi’s reappointment by Buhari – Eze

NEWS

Gov. Wike, Abe deploying ‘witchcraft’ against Amaechi’s reappointment by Buhari – Eze

 

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze has alleged that there were campaigns of calumny to de-market the immediate past Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, by the State Governor, Nyesom Wike and a former Rivers lawmaker, Senator Magnus Abe.

He said the campaigns were a mere waste of time and effort in futility, describing them as acts of witchcraft, diabolical, wicked, unjust and unacceptable.

Eze accused the Governor of sponsoring some negative media campaigns targeted against the former Minister and the immediate past Senator representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District, Senator Magnus Abe.

He said that Abe and Wike were trying to force President Buhari’s hand against re-appointing Amaechi.

However, Eze in a statement on Thursday, said all opinions of Nigerians, as well as key figures within and outside government, have placed the former Governor of Rivers state several miles ahead of his traducers.

Eze alleged that Wike and Abe had engaged the services of some media influencers to be issuing out press statements and appearing as guests on some national television stations and be buying advertorial pages in some national dailies, and requesting President Buhari not to renominate Hon. Amaechi into his cabinet.

He, however, described all these efforts as “acts of witchcraft, diabolical, wicked, unjust and unacceptable, noting that Amaechi, by his patriotic zeal and commitment for a new Nigeria, merits to be reappointed into the yet-to-be constituted cabinet of President Muhammad Buhari.

“Besides the fact that Amaechi served as the Director General of the Buhari Presidential Campaigns, a role he had previously played in 2015 and happily delivered on both mandates as the President won his re-election in February, coupled with the revolution that he brought into the rail system in Nigeria, he has beaten his enemies to their game.

“He has performed creditably well in the transportation ministry; the former minister completed some ongoing railway projects like the Kaduna-Abuja road, the Abuja rail and Warri-Itakpe rail. The Lagos-Ibadan railway will be completed early next year and for continuity, which has been one of the hallmarks of President Buhari’s administration, Amaechi’s nomination is a foregone conclusion.

“Assuming all that Amaechi achieved on behalf of Nigeria and President Buhari do not guarantee his renomination, then the acceptance by majority of Nigerians that Amaechi was not only the best minister in the immediate past federal executive cabinet but the most outstanding among his colleagues, which they indicated in the various media surveys, will ensure his nomination.

“If merit and position of majority of Nigerians will not earn Amaechi a renomination, then the spiritual angle to his political career will come to play. This is a man who always have a second chance in all his political career”, Eze said.

He supported his positions by stating that Amaechi is the only Nigerian who has become a two-time Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, two-time Governor of Rivers state, two-time Chairman of the Speakers Forum and Governors Forum of Nigeria, adding, “apart from all these spiritually induced appointments, he is the only African that has piloted a presidential campaign organisation two consecutive times and won on the two occasions.

“With all these, it is not in the character of Amaechi not to be renominated again to serve out his second term as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”, he said.

Eze quoted Prince Zeeyan S. Kudu, a well known new breed politician as saying, “Despite our differences in politics, honestly, Amaechi is doing a wonderful job, let him keep the lamp burning he is surely going to the Next level, he is the only Minister I respected in this administration.”

 

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Rivers gov, Wike describes Nigeria’s major problems, warns of the country's impending danger

NEWS

Rivers gov, Wike describes Nigeria’s  major problems, warns of the country's impending danger

 

The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has identified politicization of everything and pervasive injustice as the two major problems facing Nigeria.

Wike said this while stressing that insecurity continues to thrive in Nigeria because the authorities have refused to listen to the cries for justice.

Speaking in Port Harcourt, the state capital, yesterday, Wike warned that if attention was not paid to justice, Nigeria “may crash-land”.

According to him: “Although I lack the intellectual impetus to join issues with the learned Professor, but for me, Nigeria’s problems, which are largely self-inflicted, can be reduced to two: the politicization of everything and pervasive injustice.

”Over the years, we have allowed the entire governing system to be corrupted by banal politics and the courage to do what is right and fair to all parts of the country had since departed.

”As a result, we are increasingly become insensitive or rather impervious to the injustices and the horrific happenings in our country that have reduced our humanity.

“In our case, everyone is crying out for justice and because we’ve as a nation blocked our ears and hearts to the deafening cries for justice, peace has become a rare commodity in our country. a rare commodity.

”My take is that we are going nowhere as a country; we will continue to run round in circles and possibly crash-land in a very hard way unless we change our narratives about justice because peace or peaceful co-existence cannot be decreed in a multi-cultural society such as ours, or in any society at all. It is only a real sense of justice that can command and guarantee enduring peace, patriotism and solidarity in Nigeria.”

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Nigerian Army reacts to Wike’s oil bunkering allegation against General Sarham

NEWS

Nigerian Army reacts to Wike’s oil bunkering allegation against General Sarham

The Nigerian Army has reacted to Governor Nyesom Wike’s allegations against the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division and Land Component Commander Operation DELTA SAFE, Major General Jamil Sarham.

Wike had accused Sarham of promoting illegal bickering in the Niger Delta region to enable him finance his ambition to be appointed the Chief of Army Staff.

Reacting, Colonel Aminu Iliyasu, Deputy Director Army Public Relations, in a statement on Monday, said the claims were false and a deliberate effort to tarnish the towering image of the Chief of Army Staff and the GOC 6 Division.

The statement noted that the campaign of calumny against General Sarham and the Nigerian Army leadership by Governor Wike did not just start.

“Recall that on 22nd February 2019, Governor Wike brazenly alleged that there was an attempt to exterminate his life by assassins organised by the GOC 6 Division.

“As weighty as the allegation was, we are yet to know any action taken by Mr Wike that guarantees his safety. Mr Wike has since failed to use civilised legitimate options to prove his allegations against Maj Gen Sarham.

“On the mischievous accusation against General Sarham leaking proceeds of State Security Council Meetings to criminals in Rivers State, Mr Wike knows well that Maj Gen Sarham is not a member of the Rivers State Security Council, neither has he ever approached the gates of Rivers State Government House since his assumption of office as the GOC 6 Division.

“Mr Wike only came face to face with General Sarham on the 15th of January 2019 during the 2019 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Parade at Isaac Boro Park. However, the Nigerian Army challenge Wike to provide the public with any evidence of such meetings with Maj Gen Sarham in attendance.

“Accordingly, Wike’s allegation against Major General Sarham’s selfish involvement in illegal oil bunkering is another reckless, spurious and mischievous accusation. Hence, Headquarters 6 Division wish to request the Governor to take the most civilised way of putting up a petition to the relevant authorities to make a point.

“Mr Wike’s resentment against the GOC is based on the latter’s choice of professionalism and integrity over the billions of naira offered to him by the Governor to compromise the 2019 General Elections. His refusal to be bought over and the rejection of such hefty offer is the genesis of Wike’s hatred and vociferous criticisms against Maj Gen Sarham.

“Consequently, 6 Division Nigerian Army wish to reiterate its commitment to the protection of lives and properties as well as the protection of critical national infrastructure in its Area of Responsibility for the benefit of the nation. The Division wishes to also state that no amount of blackmail and Area boy gerrymandering will affect its resolve and commitment to discharge its roles professionally and in line with the vision of the Chief of Army Staff,” he said.

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Gov. Wike dethrones top monarch in Rivers

NEWS

Gov. Wike dethrones top monarch in Rivers

 

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has approved the immediate withdrawal of Certificate of Recognition and staff of office from His Royal Majesty, Chief Frank Noryaa, Gbenemene Baabe.

This was made known yesterday in a statement by Simeon Nwakaudu, Special Assistant to the Governor on Electronic Media.

According to the statement, the withdrawal of government’s recognition from HRM Noryaa followed his alleged indictment on cult-related activities within his kingdom.

“The traditional ruler was also indicted for harbouring cultists, leading to insecurity in the area,” he said.

The statement quoted Governor Wike as saying his “administration remained committed to the promotion of peace and security across the state.”

Also the governor warned other traditional rulers and government functionaries against being indicted for promoting insecurity, saying they will face the full weight of the law.

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Rivers Gov., Nyeson Wike recalls 12 suspended LG chairmen

POLITICS

Rivers Gov., Nyeson Wike recalls 12 suspended LG chairmen

 

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has recalled the 12 suspended Local Government Council Chairmen.

They are heads of Okrika, Emohua, Abua/Odual, Degema, Khana, Gokana, Ahoada East, Ikwerre, Eleme, Andoni, Omuma and Ogu/Bolo Local Government Areas.

A statement on Sunday night by his Special Assistant Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu, said the recall is with immediate effect

Wike charged the council chairmen to “diligently serve their people and shun all forms of lackadaisical behaviour in governance”.

He urged them to tackle security challenges in their areas and warned that any chairman who continues to act in breach of extant laws would be removed.

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2019 Election: Fayose, Wike Are Frustrated Because PDP Is Now A Regional Party - VON DG, Okechukwu

 BREAKING NEWS

2019 Election: Fayose, Wike Are Frustrated Because PDP Is Now A Regional Party - VON DG, Okechukwu

 

The Director General of the Voice of Nigeria, VON, and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Osita Okechukwu, has said that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is now a regional party.

The APC chieftain also said his party understands the frustration of the likes of Governors Ayodele Fayose and Nyesom Wike of Ekiti and Rivers States.

Speaking with Sun, Osita said the governors were frustrated because the main opposition party was now confined to the South-south and South east.

He, however, insisted that the PDP will also lose the next election woefully in those regions.

According to him, “Our sister political party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is now a regional party, confined to the South-south and South-east.

“Forget the sound and furry, it is even losing in the South-east, where a lot of people are coming to the reality that the zoning convention gave Ndigbo the fastest route to the presidency with President Muhammadu Buhari’s victory.

“Ndigbo are saying that constitutionally, Buhari is the only northerner who has only four years left in his tenure, that if another northerner wins, he will naturally clamour for eight good years.

“This is real politick. Yes, our great party, the APC and by extension our government, has made some mistakes and some unforced errors; there is no doubt about that. I can’t come here and say all is roses; that will be arrant nonsense.

“In my 40 years of sojourn in the political arena, I have come to know when an incumbent government has enough firewood to get an election food done.

“I know as well that election is a referendum of the incumbent. The APC-led Federal Government has more upsides than downsides; I have re-echoed this in several fora.

“I understand the propaganda of governors Wike and Fayoses of this world. They are saying what we expect them to say in such political quagmire they found themselves. They are desperate and a desperate man makes unguarded statements.”

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