The apex platform of the Ogoni people, MOSOP, has condemned in strong terms the reported assassination attempt on the life of the publisher of the Port Harcourt based tabloid, National Network, Pastor Jerry Needam and his family.
Pastor Needam has in the past suffered similar deadly attempts on his life. MOSOP therefore call on the security agencies to leave no stone unturned in apprehending and bringing the perpetrators to justice and as well provide adequate security for him and his family in view of their vulnerability.
Coming on the heels of threats to the life of another Ogoni son, the Resident Electoral commissioner (REC) of Bayelsa state, Mr. Lenu Baritor Kpaghi, are concerned that this bestial approach, which is following a worrisome pattern, betrays a callously punitive intent.
MASOP alarmed that in a state where Ogoni is deliberately abused and ganged-up against to further the destructive agenda of condemning Ogoni to perpetual obscurity reflecting in its non-consideration for anything good, brutal attempts are implemented to deny them the right to life.
MOSOP warned all those involved in the madness or contemplating attacking or threatening our people to stop forthwith as Ogoni is fed-up and will not fold her arms while its citizens are being attacked and wasted.
“We are sure that no matter what the masterminds and executioners may claim, no one has the right to attempt or violate their inalienable right to life safeguarded by the Nigerian constitution (as amended) and other international instruments. We believe that there are civilise grievance mechanisms existing in our system for one to seek redress rather than the resort to violence.
“Government, we must say, has the responsibility of providing adequate security for the people hence we would advise that it is not enough to only condemn the criminal acts but to ensure that life and property are protected”.
The Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the Rivers State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Jerry Needam in the early hours of Tuesday, December 22, 2015 escaped a kidnap and assassination attempt.
The incident which is the third highly organized politically motivated plot on his life, occurred at his residence in Port Harcourt, during which scores of armed men engaged the Police in a fierce gun battle, leaving the compound, rooms and vehicles riddled with bullets.
Reports said the daredevil men stormed his residence in the wee hours of Tuesday morning and shot sporadically to gain entrance into the compound.
During the incident which lasted for over 2 hours, Mr. Needam was said to have put a distress call to the Police who promptly arrived his residence and engaged the gun men in a fierce gun battle.
At the end of the bloodletting battle, three of the gallant Police officers, including an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) lost their lives while two other Police officers and Mr. Needam’s security guard, who suffered serious gun shots are now receiving treatment at a private hospital in Port Harcourt.
Mr. Needam speaking shortly after the failed kidnap and assassination attempt on his life and family, believes that the mastermind of the kidnap and assassination attempt are his political opponents who desperately want him silenced following his strong political views and his penchant for speaking the truth.
Meanwhile, Needam, who few hours ago had interactions with the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Musa Kimo, on the incident expresses confidence in the ability of the Command to investigate the matter and fish out those behind the assassination attempt on his life and entire household.
While commending the prompt response of the Police to the distress call and their demonstration of professionalism in the encounter with the heavily armed assassins, the PDP Media Aide sympathizes with the Police command and the families of the deceased policemen, praying that God would give them the fortitude to bear the loss of their beloved bread winners.
He also expresses gratitude to God who saved his life and his family in all of these incidents and to all friends and well-wishers who on hearing the news of the condemnable incident, called to show concern and to wish him God’s protection.
The Rivers State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) has debunked the speculation that 22 sacked local government chairmen and councilors have been reinstated.
Nyesom Wike and Romiti Amaechi
While speaking with NAIJA CENTER NEWS correspondent, the Special Adviser on Media to State PDP Chairman, Jerry Needam expressed disappointment on the move by Dakuku Peterside to spread false news on the issue.
Needam explained that the lawyer representing the PDP planned to move a motion that the industrial court in Bayelsa does not have jurisdiction in handling the case, and the APC was not ready to defend the motion.
Needam said “The motion was supposed to be moved today (yesterday), the defendant which is the APC were not ready to reply to the motion, so the matter was adjourned to October. It is very unfortunate how Dakuku Peterside who aspired to the governor of Rivers State could spread such a wild unfounded rumour.”
Speaking on why the police took over the secretariat after the court sacked the APC chairman and councilors, Needam said the police explained their stands on the reasons for taking over the secretariats.
He said ” Well, the police said they got information that some form of crisis would have happened by the time the caretaker committee would move in and other people would have not been ready to vacate, that measure was preventive. On Saturday morning, the police vacated all the council secretariats and the 22 caretaker committee chairmen inaugurated their members. Work is presently going on in all the local government councils. No police barricading anywhere, police is only there to provide security now, Rivers State is peaceful and calm.
Speaking with NAIJA CENTER NEWS on the 8 people that were reportedly murdered in Emene area, Needam explained that the killing was not political. Quoting the police report, the aide said police confirmed that it was a cult related killings.
Needam who said he couldn’t speak on the election tribunal case between Peterside and the state governor, Nyesom Wike because it is currently ongoing, expressed confident that Rivers people voted for the PDP.
He said “I don’t think it is right for me to make comment on a matter before the tribunal. The only assurance i can give you is the assurance Rivers people have on us. Rivers people over whelmely voted for PDP. Rivers State is for PDP from 1999 till today, it has been PDP all the way, the councilors, local government chairman, senate, reps, governors, it has been PDP. When Rivers people gave us the mandate, we have no fear because the people will fight and defend their votes”
Needam also assured that Wike will not stop until Amaechi’s financial transactions are probed. He said the governor has formed a committee to look into it.”As i speak to you, the governor has inaugurated a commission of inquiry to look into the forgery activities of the former administration, illegal withdrawal, some contracts were awarded without execution and Amaechi paid in full. At the end of the investigation, Nigerians will see that Amaechi is a thief”.
•Urges Jerry Needam to return to psychiatric hospital
The ruling party in Rivers State, the All Progressives Congress (APC), has berated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership in the state for demonising the APC governorship candidate, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside. Rivers APC in a statement issued Monday in Port Harcourt took serious exception to the claim by PDP that Dr. Peterside is copying the ideas and programmes of PDP governorship candidate, Chief Nyesome Wike.
APC Rivers State
“This allegation as contained n a press statement signed by Mr. Jerry Needam on behalf of his Rivers State Chairman of PDP, Mr. Felix Obuah, is vexatious, ridiculous and without foundation. It is stands logic on its head because it is coming several weeks after we had cause to alert the public about attempts by Wike, who has no programme for the development of Rivers State but was imposed on Rivers PDP by his political godmother, First Lady Patience Jonathan, to copy the programmes of Dr. Peterside as contained in his well-publicised “Road Map to Prosperity”, a Four-Point Agenda aimed at taking Rivers State to the next level via Public Sector Accountability and Security of Lives and Properties; Employment Generation and Wealth Creation; Social and Human Capital Development and Empowerment; as well as Institutional and Physical infrastructure Development and Food Security,” Rivers APC Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, said.
Ikanya in a statement issued in Port Harcourt pointed out that as at the time Dr. Dakuku Peterside presented his agenda for the emancipation of Rivers State shortly after his emergence as the flagbearer of APC on 28thNovember, 2014, Chief Nyesome Wike was still yet to be imposed by Dame Patience Jonathan on the party to the detriment of the candidates more qualified to fly the gubernatorial flag of the party in Rivers.
“For Needam and his master Obuah to therefore turn around after over two months to accuse Dr. Peterside of copying or attempting to copy Wike’s non-existent development agenda clearly betrays the educational backwardness of Mr. Jerry Needam, who may not understand what the word copycat means after spending ten years without graduation from Rivers State University of Science and Technology, and Mr. Felix Obuah, who was not privileged to see the four walls of any sound educational institution. To describe Dakuku Peterside, a Doctorate Degree holder and Chairman of Upstream of the Federal House of Representatives as a copycat who lacks originality suggest that Jerry Needam, a pathological liar and a mental case who has visited a psychiatric hospital at Enugu on several occasions, is yet to be fully cured of his mental challenges,” Ikanya said.
Responding to the specific allegation that Peterside started going to churches in imitation of Wike, Dr. Ikanya said: “Mr. Needam forgot that Dr. Dakuku Peterside in a globally broadcast Thanksgiving Service handled by about 2,000 men of God handed over his mandate to God in December 2014 before Wike started his so called church campaigns. Needam also forgot that Dr, Peterside being a born again Christian needs not advertise his church programmes unlike Chief Wike, who because of his anti-christ disposition advertises his church events to deceive Christians that he has become a Christian, forgetting that Rivers people are too enlightened to be easily deceived.”
The Rivers APC Chairman described Peterside as a man who has earned a reputation as a charismatic and disciplined leader; creative and hardworking, a broad-minded fellow with strategic insights. According to him, “Peterside is widely respected as one of the most result-oriented, meticulous, consistent, trustworthy and God-fearing political leaders, in all public offices he has held he has brought innovation to bear and made remarkable impact that has endeared him to his fellow compatriots. He is a role model and mentor to several young persons, who look up to him for inspiration. He has at various times turned down at least fourteen chieftaincy titles, several honourary doctorate degrees and awards rather believing in the people as a reason for service. We are proud to recommend him to the great people of Rivers State as their next governor after the departure of the goal-oriented Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi in 2015.”
“In the House he serves as chairman of the strategic Petroleum Resources (Downstream) Committee that oversees the management of the key driver of Nigeria’s economy (Petroleum Industry). Dakuku Peterside also serves in the most important House committees of Anti-corruption, National Ethics and Values; Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes; Co-operation and Integration in Africa, Electoral Matters; Industry; Communications and Works. He is a well known champion of reform and strengthening of institutions as key to unlocking development potentials.
“Besides, this great son of Rivers State is an international resource person on oil and gas matters and a leading leadership/management scholar and speaker in leading conferences around the world. He is a respected authority on corporate political strategy and Business-Govt interaction in Nigeria. We are proud to recommend him to the great people of Rivers State as their next governor after the departure of the goal-oriented Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi in 2015.”
Can such a character like Dr Peterside with the above qualifications be a copycat of course no maybe to a debased mind like Mr Needam and his paymasters, Dr Peterside a Doctorate Degree Holder and an accomplished administrator of note is? What a shame!
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Rivers State Chapter has raised alarm over two successive attacks on its Special Adviser on Media to the State Chairman, Jerry Needam at his Port Harcourt residence by unknown gunmen on Saturday morning and Monday morning October 11 and 13, 2014 respectively.
PDP
A statement from the office of the State Chairman, Bro Felix Obuah warns of daring consequences of such unholy undertaking which he said may not be unconnected with activities by political opponents to strangulate opposition in the state.
Faulting the recent upsurge in cult, militant and kidnap activities in the state ahead of the 2015 general elections, the State PDP Chairman said nothing ever meaningful can be achieved by targeting party stalwarts and those carrying out their legitimate duties for harassment and elimination.
The State chairman wonders why anybody will be after the life of Pastor Jerry Needam and that of his family for his selfless service of keeping the State informed on not only political events but also other sundry activities globally as a practising journalist.
Describing the two attacks in a row on his Media Adviser, Jerry Needam, as one too many, the PDP State Chairman warned the perpetrators of this sinister act to desist forthwith, as this is capable of triggering off another round of war with the press in the State which is not good for our democracy.
He however expressed his appreciation to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Woji Police Station and her officers for their timely intervention while urging them not to relent in their good work.
It would be recalled that Jerry Needam, Special Adviser, Media to PDP State Chairman was attacked by gunmen in the early hours of Saturday, October 11 and again on Monday, October 13, 2014 respectively and lost a number of household effects to the attackers and also sustained injuries and matchet cuts during the second attack.
We have read with shock the report credited to Mr. Jerry Needam, Spokesperson of Mr. Felix Obuah, the Rivers State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), alleging that Governor Chibuike Amaechi is the brain behind the current influx of the suspected terrorists to the Southern part of Nigeria.
According to Mr. Needam in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on 18th June, 2014, “Rotimi Amaechi is responsible for the recent mass influx of suspected Boko Haram members into South-Southern and South-Eastern states of Nigeria.”
To us, this is a very grave allegation that requires the immediate attention of the security agencies so as to prevent the menace of Boko Haram spreading to the South, having seen the damage this sect has caused to the security and economy of Northern Nigeria. Mr. Needam should help security agencies with further information on how Governor Amaechi sponsored the movement of these suspected agents of destruction down to the South because to us, Governor is a fighter against insecurity and not a promoter of insecurity as painted by the demented Aide to the PDP State Chairman. If he fails to do so, he should be cautioned accordingly to avoid such charlatans from doing much damage to the peace of our nation.
Boko Haram is not something to be joked with. It is a serious issue that should not be frivolously used to tarnish the image of political opponents. For Mr. Needam to accuse a Governor who has been doing his best to sustain the peace in his state since assumption of office in 2007 – rescuing Rivers State from the menace of militants and even ordering two helicopters to assist security agencies in securing our State – of sponsoring the influx of miscreants to the Southern part of Nigeria in order to cause mayhem is very unfortunate.
It is on record that Governor Amaechi was recently awarded the Best Governor on Security in Nigeria by the Nigeria Security Profile Award (NISPA). For Mr. Needam to turn round to accuse the same man of promoting insecurity simply demonstrates how empty he and those he is working for are. The security agencies should arrest and get him to substantiate his bogus allegation. Anything short of this would encourage charlatans like him further heat up the polity by making unguarded and frivolous allegations aimed to demonise innocent public officers.
The incident which is the third highly organized politically motivated plot on his life, occurred at his residence in Port Harcourt, during which scores of armed men engaged the Police in a fierce gun battle, leaving the compound, rooms and vehicles riddled with bullets.
