Wike’s group, Peterside disagree on road projects

The Grassroots Development Initiative, a group sponsored by the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has disagreed with the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the 2015 governorship election, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, over claims that only 10 kilometres of road were rehabilitated in the state within the past six months.

Nyesom Wike

Peterside had claimed that the roads rehabilitated by the governor were not commensurate to the N30billion taken by the current administration as loan, adding that the cost of road reconstructed by Wike’s government was not more than N3billion.

But the Secretary-General of the GDI, Mr. Samuel Nwanosike, dismissed Peterside’s claim, saying contrary to the APC governorship candidate’s position, Wike had worked on over 70 kilometres of dilapidated roads in the state.

Nwanosike, who spoke with newsmen in Port Harcourt on Thursday, expressed dissatisfaction over the comment by Peterside and noted that his comments could cause crisis in the state.

“A few days ago, we heard a very disappointing statement from Dr. Dakuku Peterside who told the public that he did send out people to go and investigate the work done on the road infrastructure by the state government.

“He (Peterside) said the report brought to him was that the work done by Barrister Nyesom Wike is about 10 kilometres of road. We are here to set the records straight. It is very important to note that when men who are gunning for the highest office in the land come out to misinform the public, they should be cautioned.

“We, the Grassroots Development Initiative, are telling the people of Rivers State that the information credited to Dr. Dakuku Peterside was a false information. All the road construction embarked upon by the governor is well over 70 kilometres achieved so far,” he said.

On the nullification of Wike’s election by the State Election Petitions Tribunal, the GDI Secretary General expressed confidence that the Appeal Court ruling would favour Wike, his supporters.

Speaking on the issue on the length of road rehabilitated by the current administration, the State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Dr. Davies Ikanya, said the documents to show that Wike only worked on 10 kilometres of roads were at the State Ministry of Works.

Ikanya said, “If you go to the Ministry of Works now, record that is available there says only 10 kilometres of road have been achieved. If you add all the patches together, it will give you only 10 kilometres.

“It is not about Dakuku (Peterside). We don’t talk from the blues; we talk from official records. If a road is five kilometres and only 500 metres is good, it is only the 500 metres that has been repaired. If you count all the ones that they have repaired, it will only give you 10 kilometres.”

Wike’s group, Peterside disagree on road projects

Betrayal: Amaechi Is Sick, Confused And Haunted By The Gods ... GDI

The Grassroot Development Initiative (GDI) has described the recent accusation by the State Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi that their Grand Patron and Supervising Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike betrayed him after swearing with his children, as the product of a man who is sick, confused and  haunted by the gods for his evil deeds as a married man.

Amaechi after defecting to APC

Receiving some of his loyal Ikwerre traditional rulers under the auspices of the Supreme Council of Ikwerre Traditional Rulers in Government House on Friday, Amaechi said that in order to convince him to forward his name as ministerial nominee to President Jonathan, Wike, at Amaechi’s instance, swore with his own children that he would never betray him, but was to betray him after getting his ministerial appointment from President Jonathan.

The GDI in a statement signed by her National Secretary Hon Nwanosike Samuel, made available to Naija Center News (NCN) denied Amaechi’s claim,  saying the Governor is a serial liar who has lost concentration because the gods are tormenting him for doing what a married Ikwerreman should not do, noting that Amaechi will not have peace until he seeks forgiveness and appeasement of the gods of Ikwerreland. “He knows what he has been doing and unless he seeks the face of God and asks for forgiveness, he will continue to wobble and lack sanity”, the statement added.

The GDI advises Amaechi to remain consistent and mean what he says and wondered why he is still talking about Wike everywhere he goes to despite saying that Wike is too small as a junior Minister to be talked about by Amaechi.

Faulting Amaechi’s claim that Wike swore on oath with his children before he submitted his name as Minister, the GDI wondered why Amaechi will allow another person to swear to an oath if he was not planning something sinister against President Goodluck Jonathan.

“Amaechi was contemplating a problem with President Jonathan from the beginning and he should be ashamed of himself  because as a Knight of the Catholic Church, he is giving people oath to swear in the name of their children even against the injunctions of the Bible which forbids oath taking of any kind”, the statement added.

According to the GDI, Wike could not have sworn on any oath to be made a Minister because Amaechi submitted a list of ten ministerial nominees including that of Wike and wondered if they also swore to an oath before their names were submitted.  Amaechi should therefore tell Nigerians the kind of oath they swore to or did they also swear by their children?

Besides, the GDI also challenges Amaechi to tell Nigerians the oath that Wike took when he was in exile in Ghana and Wike stayed in Nigeria to successfully fight for and hand Amaechi the office of Governor of Rivers State.

“Amaechi is a habitual ingrate who bites every finger that feeds him. If Wike didn’t betray him in 2007 when there was a slim chance of success, why would Wike betray Amaechi as a Minister. The only offence Wike has committed against Amaechi is that Wike refused to join him to fight President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife”, the GDI said.

Wike could not have sworn to any oath and worse still using his children because he loves his children and together with his wife, they cherish and respect good family and marriage life. We hope that Amaechi can say the same thing, the statement added.

The GDI said Amaechi has no regards for Ikwerre Chiefs and Elders, noting that the Ikwerre Chiefs he is romancing today are still the same chiefs he publicly insulted and accused of betraying him in the past.

“Amaechi is at war with himself. He is quarelling even his prophet that he talked about in Ogoni when Senator Magnus Abe had a thanksgiving service. Everybody betrays Amaechi. Ogonis betray him; Kalabaris betray him; Ijaws betray him and Ogbas betray him. He is the only one who does not betray people” the statement added.

Betrayal: Amaechi Is Sick, Confused And Haunted By The Gods ... GDI

PDP Dismisses Allegation Of Hijack

The Rivers State chapter of the People Democratic party, PDP, has denied the allegation by certain persons that the party in the state has been hijacked by the Grassroot Development Initiative (GDI). The party said that the allegation is baseless, unfounded and mischievous.

PDP

Dismissing the claim as one prompted by self-seeking and those behind it as mercenaries of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who may have sold their birthright for a pot of yam porridge from Governor Chibuike Amaechi to disguise as PDP concerned elders, the PDP in a statement signed by its State Secretary, Chief Ibibia Walter said their only motive was to stop the rising profile of the party that now constitutes a big threat to the opposition.

While not holding brief for the Grassroot Development Initiative, the PDP said the GDI as a political pressure group, its members are free to register with any party of their choice including the PDP, stressing that it does not make it a political party let alone hijacking the leadership of such party.

About those behind the clamour for the reorganization of the PDP exco in Rivers State, Lolo Ibieneye and Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, the party described the duo as strangers to the PDP and therefore lack the right to make such demands.

The party reiterated its openness to all qualified and vibrant members to feel free to aspire to any political office of their choice, assuring such aspirants of equity and fairness but sounded it loud and clear that it would not compromise quality and competence in favour of those who want to cut corners, hiding under the quest for zoning and ethnic patronage etc.

It enjoins the National leadership  of the party and its members in the state to remain steadfast and committed to the party, stressing that the party has witnessed giant strides since the incumbent leadership came on board about a year ago, such that was not possible during the reign of the sacked G. U. Ake led exco.

PDP Dismisses Allegation Of Hijack