Unidentified gunmen on Thursday murdered Dr. Vincent Eebe, a lecturer of the Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic in River State.
The lecturer was shot several times by his assailants along Bua-Yeghe in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Eebe, a senior lecturer and the Director of Industrial Training of the polytechnics, Bori, was shot dead by suspected assassins on his way home from the polytechnic.
It was learnt that Eebe was heading back to his Port Harcourt residence before he was bracketed at Bua-Yeghe.
A community source, who gave his name simply as Henry, said that the victim was trailed by his killers from his office.
The source pointed out that when the victim noticed that a car was trailing him, he immediately ran out of the car in his bid to escape an attack.
It was gathered that when Eebe raced out of his car, the hoodlums ran after him and shot him several times and waited to ensure that he was dead before they drove off.
The source revealed that the remains of the victim have so far been deposited in a mortuary in the area.
“The man was coming back from the school where he lectures before some unknown gunmen followed him. As he noticed that the people behind him were after him, he stopped and ran out of his car. The boys followed him and fired several shots at him.”
Reacting, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ahmad Muhammad, confirmed the killing of the polytechnic lecturer.
Muhammad explained that the slain lecturer was together with some people when four armed men trailed and shot him at Bua Yeghe at about 4.20pm
He said, “The report we heard was that he was trailed. Four armed men operating in a green Toyota Camry shot at them at Bua Yeghe along Bori Road.”
The state police spokesman, however, added that investigation had since begun with a view to apprehending and bringing the killers to justice.
Meanwhile, the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People has condemned the assassination of Eebe.
MOSOP President, Mr. Legborsi Pyagbara, who spoke in Port Harcourt on Friday, expressed shock at Eebe’s death and called for the immediate investigations into the killing.
Pyagbara called on the police to ensure that the perpetrators of the dastardly act are brought to justice.
“MOSOP considers this sustained tendency of killings as most unnecessary and unfortunate as it does not in any way help to resolve our peculiar disadvantaged circumstance but has painted Ogoni in bad light and destroyed the gains of our collective struggle for justice.
“On several occasions, MOSOP has advised our people against allowing Ogoni to be a theatre of killings and violence as the implications and effects are borne by Ogoni and Ogoni alone.
“We thus passionately call on the police and other security agencies to investigate this recent incident with a view to bringing the culprits and their sponsors to justice,” Pyagbara said.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, has found over N675.1m in the bank accounts of different Independent National Electoral Commission officials in Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Delta states.
EFCC
According to the anti-graft agency, the money was received and shared by the officials during the last governorship elections.
Our correspondents gathered that the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the 2015 election in Rivers State, Mrs. Gesila Khan, and other officials of INEC are already in EFCC custody. Khan was quizzed by the Department of State Services in July last year but was never charged.
However, SUNDAY PUNCH learnt that Khan and four others were arrested on Thursday, by the zonal office of the EFCC in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
The residences of all the suspects were subsequently searched and incriminating documents were said to have been recovered by the commission.
According to impeccable sources at the EFCC, Khan, who is now the REC in Cross River State, allegedly received N185.8m ahead of the March 28 and April 11, 2015 election.
A source at the EFCC, who did not want his name in print, said Khan had made confessional statements and was cooperating with the commission.
He alleged that Khan received money through a special bank account and the commission had received overwhelming evidence.
He said, “Khan was the REC in Rivers State in 2015 election before she was transferred to Cross River early this year. She was said to have received N185.8m. She has made confessional statements.”
The anti-graft agency also arrested one Edem Okon Essanga, who is a retired INEC official. Essanga was arrested alongside his alleged accomplice, Immaculata Asuquo, who is the Head, Voter Education, INEC, Akwa Ibom State.
Essanga was alleged to have received over N240m which he shared among INEC ad hoc workers during the last election.
“Essanga received N241.1m during the general election. He admitted receiving the money and confirmed sharing it with different ad hoc workers during the election. His accomplice Asuquo has also been arrested,” the source added.
The source also disclosed that the EFCC had arrested one Fidelia Omoile who was the INEC electoral officer in Isoko-South Local Government Area, Delta State.
Apart from tracing over N112m to her, the commission also recovered some sensitive electoral materials during a search of her apartments in Edo and Delta states.
“She received N112.4m during the 2015 general election. A search warrant was executed at her residences in Asaba and Benin. Sensitive materials used in the 2015 elections were recovered, including evidence of the suspicious bank transaction and land documents that will assist us in our investigations,” the source said.
The commission also arrested one Oluchi Obi Brown who was the INEC administrative secretary in Delta State. She allegedly received over N111m.
Further investigations by detectives revealed that Brown had about $75,000 in an account in the United States.
“Oluchi received N111.5m during the general election. Investigations showed that she operates a foreign account with the Bank of America. As of February this year, the account balance was $75,857, (N24, 274,240),” the source added.
The sum total of the money found in the bank accounts of the INEC officials is N675.1m.
When asked if the anti-graft agency had recovered any funds, the source said efforts were being made to recover the funds in Nigeria and abroad.
He said the commission was banking on using the confessional statements of the suspects to catch the ‘big fish.’
But the INEC has claimed ignorance of the development, saying it is not sure of the story.
The Deputy Director of Publicity and Voters Education of the commission, Mr. Nick Danzang, told our correspondent that he was unable to either confirm or deny the story.
“I’m not in town, but I have made calls. Nobody seems to know what is happening,” he said.
All attempts to get the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Aniekan Umana, to react to the matter proved abortive as he turned down calls from our correspondent. He did not also respond to text message sent to his phone.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Ekerette Udo, who responded to the call, declined any comment on the issue.
But the state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Paul Ekpo, who responded to the call from our correspondent, said he was unaware of such development and he didn’t know either Efanga or Immaculata.
Reacting, the Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Dr. Austin Tam-George, told SUNDAY PUNCH that the investigation or arrest of Gesila Khan had nothing to do with Governor Nyesom Wike, the Rivers State Government or the state Peoples Democratic Party.
Tam-George explained that security agencies, including the EFCC, appeared to be conducting politically-targeted arrests since the beginning of the current political dispensation.
“We believe there is now a universal consensus that the security agencies, including the EFCC, appear to be conducting politically-targeted arrests since the beginning of this political dispensation.
“Mrs. Khan has particularly been viciously castigated by the All Progressives Congress for her steadfastness and incorruptible stance during the general election in Rivers State in April 2015.
“The fact that the governorship election she supervised in Rivers was ultimately validated by the Supreme Court speaks of her integrity. The world will watch closely to see if Mrs. Khan is being persecuted for her lofty principles and belief in popular democracy in Nigeria.”
The Chief Press Secretary to the Delta State Governor, Charles Aniagwu, while responding, said the government agencies should do their work diligently.
“Let the INEC (and EFCC) find out where the person got the money from. We cannot begin to talk about what we do not know anything about. I do not know about the person. We are not involved. The person accused of having N100m in his or her account should be able to explain the source of the money. We do not need to bribe people to get votes. We do not buy a crowd. We have the crowd behind us already. It is those who do not have the crowd behind them that can buy people with money. We do not buy people with money. We do not engage in bribery and corruption. The governor is a grass roots person,” Aniagwu said.
However, the Ijaw Youth Council. Worldwide has demanded the immediate release of the arrested officials, insisting that they are innocent.
Eric Omare, the group’s spokesman, said in a statement that Khan, who is also an Ijaw, was a victim of witch-hunt.
He said. “Mrs. Khan, had gone to the office of the EFCC to honour an invitation and having met with the EFCC team, they demanded for a first class traditional ruler or holder of the national honour of Commander of the Niger (CON) to stand surety to bail her. However, when the surety was made available on Thursday, the 14th of April, 2016, the EFCC at Port Harcourt claimed that they no longer knew her whereabouts.”
“This is an illegal conduct and flagrant abuse of power by the EFCC in the guise of fighting corruption. While all well-meaning Nigerians and organisations, including the IYC have over the years supported efforts at stamping out corruption from Nigeria, we insist that such a fight must be done within the ambit of the law.”
Impressed with the landmark achievements of Governor Nyesom Wike led-government in Rivers State in less than one year in office especially in Road Infrastructural Development, the State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic party, PDP, Bro Felix Obuah says he is ready and will appreciate a facility tour of these numerous completed and commissioned road projects by the minister of transportation, and former State governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.
Nyesom Wike and Romiti Amaechi
The State PDP Chairman stated this while taking inventory of the achievements of Governor Wike one year after being voted into office in April 2015.
The reconstructed roads he said, include the Abonnema/Obonnema Link road/bridge, Eagle Island/Iloabuchi road/bridge, Abuluoma – Woji Link road/bridge, the Oyigbo Market Road, the Nkpogu – NLNG road/bridge, the reconstruction of Igwuruta – Chokocho Road etc.
According to the State PDP boss, over 120 kilometers of these roads have so far been constructed and rehabilitated across the State since May 29, 2015 when Chief Barr. Nyesom Wike took oath of office as the executive governor the State.
The facility visit and, or tour has become necessary not only to show the immediate past government and its functionaries led by Rotimi Amaechi as governor and Dakuku Peterside as his works commissioner how to prudently use scarce resources for maximum output, but also to prove that the popularity and goodwill being enjoyed by the Wike administration is not based on fallacy but concrete achievements, Bro Obuah noted.
The PDP State chairman believes that given the rancour free environment by cynics, distracters and self-seeking politicians, the Wike administration will no doubt raise the bar of democratic dividends beyond measure for Rivers people.
“We are also inviting all stakeholders at home and in the Diaspora for on-the-spot assessment of these roads already completed and commissioned by Governor Wike in the State besides other breakthroughs in the health, housing, judiciary, education, empowerment/poverty alleviation, transport and sports sectors etc, and they will be amazed at what the governor has been able to do with the little resources at his disposal and will regret and agree that the eight years of Amaechi administration in the State despite the huge resources he controlled was a colossal waste”, Bro Obuah declared.
The Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has called on the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi not to heed the call by the National Assembly to apologize for his mischievous flippancy or resign from office.
The State PDP hinges its position on the high regard the All Progressives Congress, APC led federal government has for him as an indispensable asset and his taunted closeness to the Presidency.
PDP
The State PDP Chiarman, Bro. Felix Obuah wondered why a mere controversy over a ministry’s budget that is an infinitesimal part of the 2016 budget proposal should warrant the call for Amaechi’s resignation by the honourable members of the National Assembly who are just realizing their Amaechi’s rascality and eccentricity.
“We believe it’s rather too early to begin to quarrel with Rotimi Amaechi or call for his resignation when he is yet to fix the Nigeria he promised would be changed by his newly found love, the almighty APC in matter of months.
“Again, Amaechi remains our beloved son who said he single-handedly sponsored and made His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, President and he is yet to recoup the billions of Rivers money he invested into the project.
“Amaechi also said he planned to construct the controversial Lagos-Calabar rail line modernization project to empower the APC members in the South-South.
“This lofty dream will not be actualized if he resigns now.
The party said though not surprised at the controversy ignited by the former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi because it’s his character, the PDP wants the distinguished Senators rather than requesting for Amaechi’s apology or resignation use their differences, claims and counter claims to reflect on the kind of persons that are considered for sensitive offices and, or positions of trust.
According to Bro. Obuah, though the honourable National Assembly members may feel hurt by Amaechi’s ingratitude after it had accepted to deliberate over the later included supplementary budget which he later went public to claim was contained in the original budget proposal, thereby portraying the federal lawmakers as partial and discriminatory, the main reason for Amaechi’s mischief was to create the impression that he has the interest of the South/South people at heart which is a fallacy.
Bro. Obuah said he is however happy that Amaechi has carried his antics of setting brother against brother to the very Senate that screened and confirmed his ministerial appointment and would want the lawmakers to use same to reflect on all the submissions by not only the PDP, but also the people, the civil society and concerned citizens etc, before they went on to confirm his appointment despite several allegations of corruption and breaches of the Rule of law by Amaechi.
“This is the kind of falsehood, mischief, and misrepresentation we have been contending with, from Chibuike Amaechi which his allies and the All Progressives Congress, APC have continued to deny and good a thing, he is now exhibiting the same character to his appointees and this is just the beginning, Bro. Obuah noted.
The State PDP boss said the issue is not whether or not Amaechi should resign as a minister or tender apology to the National Assembly but should serve as an eye-opener and a pointer to the crisis he (Amaechi) instigated in Rivers State that brought about the panel of inquiry that indicted him of a myriad of corrupt practices and fraudulent engagements while he served as governor of Rivers State for eight solid years.
“We have said it times without number that Amaechi cannot change his true colour under President Buhari and must remain a cog in the wheel of progress.
“His early resignation will hardly free the APC members and the unrepentant Amaechi apologists from the world of theories which is not good for the country.
“The taste of the pudding they say, is in the eating while experience remains the best teacher.
The Rivers State chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, said its attention has been drawn to a press statement by the Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Dr. Austin Tam-George, on behalf of the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, accusing the APC of sponsoring groups to raise frivolous petitions against PDP members to have them arrested by security agents.
Nyesom Wike
This according to the APC “is the inglorious height of falsehood and propaganda by the corruption-ridden PDP house of shame in Rivers State.”
“While the APC cannot put itself in the way of any issues between the PDP and its dubious partners in crime, we make bold to state in clear terms that we find neither the PDP nor its criminal partners worthy of any patronage or collaboration with the APC for anything noble. The difference between light and darkness is never in doubt and PDP is the darkness here” Senibo Chris Finebone said in a press statement.
The APC advised the Rivers State Government and the PDP to seek the face of God for forgiveness so that they can overcome the trauma and fear of their shadows occasioned by their evil deeds and killing of innocent souls in Rivers State directly or through their franchised killing gangs.
“The APC is well aware that the reason for this recent propaganda is to create a smokescreen for the insidious plans the PDP hierarchy is busy hatching towards the suspended rerun elections whenever they are re-scheduled. Their schemes will fail.
Governor Nyesom Wike and the PDP must know that what is happening to them is simply the fulfilment of the Holy Scriptures in Proverb 28:1 which says that, “The wicked flee when no man pursueth” the statement averred.
…..Pleads with NASS Not to Play Politics with the Budget and to Restore Removed Portions
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has thrown its weight behind President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to return the 2016 Budget to the National Assembly and not to assent to it until the lawmakers restore the removed portions.
APC data Centre
Rivers APC in a statement signed by its Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, argued that the lawmakers erred in removing what the party described as critical aspects of the 2016 Appropriation Bill, saying that what NASS submitted to the Presidency on Thursday was unacceptable.
The party said: “We are shocked to read in the papers about the removal of some of the critical portions of the 2016 Budget by the National Assembly. These include the Coastal Railway project being jointly funded by Nigeria and China, for which a counterpart funding of N60bn was provided but which was completely removed by the National Assembly. While the Lagos – Kano provision was left untouched, the Calabar – Lagos line was inexplicably removed by the lawmakers. Also, the amount proposed for the completion of the Idu – Kaduna rail project which has reached an advanced stage was reduced by N8.7bn, a development which will make it difficult for the project to be completed. In addition, while the Executive had provided for the completion of all major road projects across the country, the National Assembly reduced the amounts provided and instead included new roads which studies have not even been conducted.
“As if that is not enough, in the health sector, proposals made for the purchase of essential drugs for major health campaigns like Polio and AIDs for which the store is fast depleting were removed and the amounts allocated to provision of ambulance, which the ministry did not ask for. Besides, certain provisions made in the areas of Agriculture and Water Resources to further the Federal Government’s diversification project where either removed or reduced while the funds were moved to provision of rural health facilities and boreholes, for which provisions have been made elsewhere.”
Continuing, Rivers APC said in the statement issued Monday in Port Harcourt: “Some hawks within NASS are saying that the missing portions are not contained in the budget in the first instance but we are aware that in the amended budget presented by President Muhammadu Buhari last January after the dust had settled over the ‘missing budget’, the sum of N80 billion was included for the Calabar – Lagos rail project in the amended budget by the executive and submitted to NASS. After the submission, the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, also followed up by presenting a document in defence of the Calabar – Lagos railway project to the National Assembly in order to ensure that it was passed as one of the subheads for the budget of his ministry. However, to our chagrin, this important aspect of the budget was removed for reasons we do not know.
“We wish to emphasise that this unholy act by NASS is unacceptable because these are some of the key projects with which the present administration can positively impact on the country’s economy and meaningfully touch the lives of the generality of Nigerians.
“By rejecting the doctored budget by NASS, President Buhari has once more proved that he is not just an ordinary leader but a patriotic, astute, caring leader and a true statesman who means well for the emancipation and greatness of this nation. We, therefore, appeal to our distinguished lawmakers not to fall into the hands of parochial and enemies of our nation by doing the needful to avoid being tagged as working against the common interest of the people of Nigeria. We plead very sincerely with our lawmakers not to play politics with this budget as it will go a long way in restoring hope and faith to our people.
“Meanwhile, we urge Nigerians to exercise patience and continue to have faith in the APC led Federal Government as it will surely bring smiles to the faces of the good people of this nation.”
Rivers APC said it understood that President Buhari had wished to sign the budget before embarking on his official trip to China earlier on Sunday. “We, therefore, appeal to our distinguished lawmakers to correct the errors in the budget and resend to the Presidency in good enough time for President Buhari to sign shortly after he returns from China,” the party said.
—Assures them of All Rights, Privileges as Members
— Says Development Indicates Electoral Failure Of Magnus Abe
— Reiterates PDP Commitment to Deliver on its Campaign Promises
Impressed by the latest mass defection of members and stalwarts of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Gokana Local Government Area, to the Peoples Democratic Party, the Rivers State Chairman of the PDP, Bro. Felix Obuah, earnestly welcomes the new members, thanking and congratulating them for their courage and taking the right decision to join the endearing Party.
PDP
The State PDP Chairman describes the defection of over 1000 members of the APC in Gokana to the PDP as a remarkable victory over Mr. Magnus Abe and sign of total collapse of the APC in the area, as well as further reassurance of the overwhelming success of the PDP in the Ogoni area and the entire Rivers South-East Senatorial district.
At the event which took place on Sunday, April 10, 2016, in wards 5 and 6 (K.Dere), we received 137 members of the APC, in ward 1(Bodo), 100 APC members dumped the party for the PDP, while in wards 2 and 3, also in Bodo, over 90 APC members joined the PDP, and in wards 12 and 17 (Biara), 100 and 120 APC supporters respectively dumped the APC for our great Party, the PDP. These numbers, in addition to those earlier received in the other wards in the area, are quite encouraging and clear indication that the PDP government in the State is doing well.
It is therefore, a thing of joy to us in the PDP as we make progress in boosting our membership and support base in this critical area, the Ogoni axis, of our State, and having a sense of acceptance by the people. As we again, salute the timely realization and resoluteness of the decamping APC members to join our fold, we also urge others to take advantage of the large umbrella that can accommodate all well-meaning Nigerians, by taking a cue to be part of our success story in the State.
Bro. Obuah assures the APC members who have decamped to the PDP that they will not be neglected or discriminated against, but will enjoy all rights and privileges as bonifide members of the Party. He also commended the leadership of the PDP in the area for their efforts leading to the success of the Party and charged them to sustain the tempo.
The Rivers PDP Chairman also calls on the new members and the people of the State to continue to support the Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, in moving the State forward, reiterating that the PDP government will not fail to deliver on its campaign promises.
Students of University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) have this morning, closed down all academic activities in the institution over a new school fees policy introduced by the management.
The protesting students said they would not accept the school’s new policy of no fee, no examination, adding that it was a means to ill-treat the students.
The protesters who started around 4:30am had totally stopped vehicular and human traffic on the East-West road.
The students said they would continue until theywere addressed by the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Sunday Lale.
As of 9:40am when this report was filed, no representative from the institution had come to address the protesters.
It was learnt that the school was supposed to commence examinations today.
A group, Occupy Nigeria, said it had begun mobilising Nigerians for a peaceful protest in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Thursday, April 14, 2016 over the failure of the Federal Government to address the recurring fuel scarcity in the country.
Fuel Scarcity
The co-facilitator of the group, Mr. Livingstone Wechie, said another protest would be organised to express dissatisfaction over the non-availability of electricity amid increased tariff and incessant/fraudulent bank charges on poor Nigerians.
Wechie said in a statement on Friday that the protests would serve as a platform to express the hardship being faced by Nigerians.
He expressed sadness over what he described as lack of economic policy direction by the Federal Government.
Wechie said, “We believe the government has exhibited gross ineptitude and incapacity in its dealings. Thus, it has continued to play the blame game on the past Goodluck Jonathan administration as a cover-up to its failures, which is a betrayal of its promises to Nigerians during the electioneering.
“The protests will help to demand a practical economic policy direction from the Federal Government,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Institute of Management has described the persistent queues at filling stations arising from scarcity of petrol in the country as baptism of fire for the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu.
NIM said Kachikwu must come up with sound strategies for the downstream oil sector if he must tackle the challenge of perpetual fuel scarcity.
The President and Chairman of Council, NIM, Prof. Munzali Jibril, stated this on Friday while speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the induction for members of the Executive Conversion Programme organised by the National Defence College in Abuja.
He said, “All that is needed to address this negative situation is good planning. I believe the minister has good intentions, but he is facing a challenge he has never faced before. Working as a senior official in Mobil, he never faced this kind of challenge. But I am sure that after this baptism of fire, he will improve.”
The Chairman, Rivers State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Bro Felix Obuah says there is no truth in Mr. Rotimi Ameachi’s statement, describing the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, as a threat to democracy in the country.
Nyesom Wike and Romiti Amaechi
The PDP Chairman notes that former Governor Ameachi is only struggling to divert attention from his abominable atrocities, rebellious activities and breach of public peace and security in the State and the nation at large, stressing that it is he (Ameachi) that has become a threat to democracy and peace in the country.
He expressed disappointment that rather than help President Buhari to proffer solution to the numerous problems on his head, particularly the deteriorating economic situation and apparent lack of focus of the APC-led government in the country, Mr. Amaechi is busy blackmailing a focused and development-sensitive Governor (Wike), and causing trouble in Rivers State.
Bro Obuah emphasized that Amaechi’s statement was undoubtedly a cover- up, distraction and attempt to subvert the truth about who he is and what his activities in the State portend, recalling how Amaechi flooded the State during the re-run elections with soldiers to rig the election, kill innocent voters and intimidate the citizens while exercising their franchise.
Rather than admitting his failure as a governor for eight years and ill- preparedness for his new office as Minister for Transportation, Mr. Amaechi has resorted to pulling down the good foundation of the Wike administration, a mission and task he cannot accomplish.
Bro Obuah is therefore calling on the former governor to settle down for business as a minister and allow the peace in Rivers State to be, reiterating his earlier appeal to President Buhari to call him (Amaechi) to order, before he completely destroys the already rough image of his government.
The PDP chairman also urges the people to ignore Amaechi’s lies and deceitful claims, adding that nothing good and meaningful can ever come from Amaechi who failed as a governor, and APC leader in the State, as he could not deliver his party at the polls, failing even in his polling unit.
Following the claim by the Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Rivers State, Mr. Aniedi Ikoiwak, on Friday that it did not disqualify the Peoples Democratic Party Candidate for Akuku-Toru Constituency 2, Hon. Tonye Alalibo, from participating in the re-run Election in Rivers State, but acted in compliance with the judgments of the Election Tribunal and Court of Appeal, the State Chairman of the Party, Bro. Felix Obuah, says the Commission is only making efforts to deceive the public when it does not have any evidence to justify its action.
PDP
The Peoples Democratic Party Chairman flays the action of the Commission which exposes obvious case of compromise in dealing with that particular issue, explaining that there is no court judgment to show that both the Party and its candidate were excluded from participating in the Election as alleged by the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the State, Mr. Aniedi Ikoiwak.
Bro. Obuah challenges Mr. Ikoiwak to produce and make public any of such evidences to justify his action. Otherwise, the Commission should revert its decision and declare the PDP candidate, Hon. Tonye Alalibo, who scored the highest number of votes winner, to demonstrate its professed neutrality and uprightness.
The State Party Chairman maintains that no Election Petition Tribunal or Appeal Court has right to disqualify any candidate, when the issue of disqualification was not part of the subject matter before them, and that INEC on its part lacks power to disqualify the PDP candidate, wondering where such disqualification came from, if not being induced by the All Progressives Congress.
The PDP emphasizes that the judgments of both the Election Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal in which it is in possession of do not contain the claim by the INEC REC. The Party therefore, advises Mr. Ikoiwak to again go through the judgments, if he truly has the authentic copies.
Believing that the Commission took the decision in bad faith and having been pressured to do same by the APC higher authorities, the PDP says even though it is considering taking advantage of the constitution of the Re-run Election Petition Tribunal, exploring legal means in securing justice, it would be honorable and also save public resources if the Commission rightly declares the authentic winner in the election, following its poll’s records.
We expect INEC to be truly independent and to ensure its reputation is not compromised. We would do everything to cooperate with and support our institutions in achieving a free, fair and peaceful election and to ensure justice in our democratic system, not this kind of electoral conspiracy.
We therefore, need the cooperation of INEC in achieving this, rather than becoming a tool in the hands of the Party at the centre in subverting the decision of the electorate in the State. It is a dangerous situation for our democracy, and most not be allowed to triumph.
….Accuses INEC of Allocating Votes to PDP Candidates
…..Dismisses Wike’s allegation against Amaechi
The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said after a careful study of the facts on ground, it has come out to declare that what took place in the State on March 19 was not the expected rerun State and National Assembly elections but the mere allocation of votes to the ruling party in the State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to avoid being killed by Wike and his gang of killers.
The party in a statement signed by its State Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, outrightly rejected the results so far announced by INEC, saying that nothing but the total cancellation of the process and the holding of fresh rerun polls would be acceptable to it.
“We wish to put on record our total and uncompromising rejection of the results of the March 19, 2016 rerun elections so far announced by INEC as these do not in any way reflect the current political realities on ground in Rivers State. These results, which indicate a mysterious landslide victory for PDP, were allocated to the ruling party in the State following unrelenting threats by Governor Nyesom Wike to the effect that anybody coming to conduct any election that would not favour PDP should first write their wills before coming to the State. The effect of these threats and their practical demonstration as seen in how people were burnt, beheaded and buried alive during the rerun elections can clearly be seen in the shameful manner INEC is awarding victory to PDP,” Rivers APC said.
The party in the statement issued on Sunday in Port Harcourt said there was nothing different between what happened on March 19, 2016 and during the widely discredited elections of March 28 and April 11, 2015 cancelled by the courts, which also ordered the rerun elections. It said this was not a coincidence considering that the apparatus used for both elections were basically the same. “From the Police leadership to most of the INEC officials and INEC ad-hoc staff, the characters that organised the 2015 general elections were the same characters that organised the March 19, 2016 rerun elections and it will be foolhardy to expect any different result. All these characters were set up by the former disgraced PDP administration rejected by Nigerians during the 2015 polls” Rivers APC said.
It berated Governor Wike for claiming that APC is not in a position to win an election in the State, and for accusing Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, of sponsoring violence to remain politically relevant. “Everyone knows that Wike is the one who has been sponsoring violence in Rivers State and not Amaechi,” the party said, adding: “If Amaechi did not employ violence as Governor of Rivers State to stop Wike from succeeding him in 2015, is it now that he is far away in Abuja as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that he would do so? Rather than the vain attempt to drag his name into the mud, Amaechi should be commended for not encouraging APC members to retaliate the wanton killing of its members by PDP, which would have turned Rivers State into another Somalia.
If Wike feels that he is very popular let him allow free and fair election devoid of his gang of killers and he will see how he is hated in Rivers State. Time will tell the heroic role played by Amaechi in this dispensation. As we watch the macabre dance in Rivers State we expect the APC Government at the centre not to allow PDP to decimate our ranks any further in view of the strategic roles we played in freeing Nigeria from the inept PDP administration that would have completely grounded the country if it was reelected.”
The Rivers State Police Command has dismissed what it called unsubstantiated reports in some sections of the media following a recent attack in Egi land, at Ohali-Elu town of Onelga in Rivers State.
Fulani Herdsmen
The Police released a statement signed by the command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Mohammad, on Monday.
The Police said that on Thursday, at about 5:30am, the Police in Ohali-Elu town received reports that unidentified assailants suspected to be herdsmen had struck in the area, leaving one Pastor Geoffery Ogagaghene dead after severe cutlass cuts.
According to him, in the build up to the attack, there was an unreported case of stealing of unspecified number of cattle belonging to some herdsmen allegedly by some youths in the community.
“The case was never reported to the Police, (but) it is reasonably suspected that the attack might have been carried out by the herdsmen as reprisal for stealing their cows,” the Rivers Police Command said.
DSP Mohammad further said that although there were sources that put the death toll at six, the command could only confirm the death of Pastor Geoffery whose corpse was seen.
According to the command, calm has since returned to the town following the heavy deployment of armed mobile policemen to forestall breakdown of law and order.
…. As Princewill says, “at the end, Rivers State will win”
The Candidates of the Labour Party in Akulga/ Asalga Federal and State Constituencies in Rivers State have registered their disenchantment and disapproval over what they termed “ostrich game” played by the Independent National Electoral Commission pertaining to the conduct of the recent Rerun polls (Federal and State Houses of Assembly) in Rivers State.
Professor Mahmood Yakubu – INEC Chairman
In a statement signed by Douglas Dodiyi – Manuel (Candidate, Akulga/Asalga Federal Constituency), Ted Dagogo Princewill (Candidate, House of Assemble ASALGA Constituency 1) and Saturday Dabotubo Ngoji (Candidate, House of Assemble ASALGA Constituency 2) said “INEC appeared to have deliberately covered its head in the shameful and dirty political sand and consequently neglected or refused to perform its duties without fear or favour. Rather, INEC finds it convenient to call for a fresh re-run each time the elections are marred by violence and killings instead of wielding the big sick against the known perpetrators of violence and anarchy so as to move the State forward and improve our electoral culture and expectations.”
Continuing, the candidates said “it is disheartening that INEC has failed to initiate a proceeding to disqualify the candidates of the two political parties that have held the State to ransom shedding innocent blood in the process. The Electoral umpire has chosen to treat the gladiators and perpetrators of mayhem with kid-gloved hands and conveniently call for re-run which is bound to produce the very same scenario and predictable result that would be no reflect reality.
“It is irrational and unfair to lead us and our teaming supporters into a fool’s voyage with proven lethal ends as our electoral process is now associated with dynamites, guns and other weapons of war.
“We therefore resolve as follows:
“That we shall withdraw from further participation in the endless charade of an election except INEC initiates a proceeding to the effect of punishing or disqualifying the candidates of the political parties who persistently perpetrate and sponsor violence against innocent Rivers people.
“That INEC should refund our expenses with regard to the last two botched polls and compensate us monetarily for resources and time wasted in the botched polls.
“It is on record that INEC omitted the name of a major political party in the Result Sheet of Asari Toru Local Government Area. This is a patent illustration of INEC’S inefficiency and unpreparedness for the Election that culminated in the wastage of our time and resources on the one hand, and the needless death of innocent citizens and the perpetration of mayhem.
“We shall therefore initiate legal proceeding to seek redress against INEC if it fails to perform its statutory duties by complying with this demand.
In Prince Tonye Princewill’s response to this development he simply said: “If democracy is government of the people by the people and for the people, things have got to change. It is illegal to be legal in an illegal society”
He also added that, “Those who say this election was bad, have no clue as to what the 2015 election was like. If politicians have no alternative to politics, then their politics will remain do or die. Especially when death has no consequence on earth and God forgives freely while Nigerians forgive freer. INEC is now a referee that can’t even issue red cards.”
“My advice to my people is – do all you can to remain peaceful. God is not sleeping and every cloud has a silver lining. Justice is not far away. The war between Wike & Amaechi is almost over. Mark my words. And the winner will be Rivers state.”
…Commends Amaechi for ensuring that APC did not participate in the killings
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has tasked President Muhammadu Buhari to take decisive action to end the lingering political violence in the State and to bring the perpetrators to book. The party made the request in a statement in which it commended the President for coming out boldly to condemn the needless carnage in Rivers and to describe it as “worrisome”.
APC data Centre
The statement, signed by Rivers APC Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, said: “We received with happiness the recent statement credited to President Muhammadu Buhari that the murderous rerun election in Rivers State was shameful, unfortunate and barbaric. We agree with Mr. President that more Nigerians have been killed in Rivers than any other state in the country. What we are asking is, what are the steps to be taken by the Federal Government to secure the State and her people from the PDP/WIKE gang of killers? That Governor Wike has made Rivers State a killer field should give all Nigerians concern because we don’t know who will be the next victim as the Army, Police, Youth Corps members and hapless Rivers residents are not spared.”
The party expressed sadness that Governor Nyesom Wike could be so callous to celebrate the death of human beings and the turning of Rivers State into another Somalia where human beings are either buried alive or burnt.
“Sadly, the threats by Governor Wike to murder INEC officials and anybody that would stand in his way during the rerun elections were fully implemented as a Corps member, Samuel Okonta, INEC official, Army and Police personnel were all murdered in cold blood. This man has gone further to threaten the lives of President Buhari, the Army Chief of Staff and his predecessor governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi. To cap it all, he sent his Chief of Staff, Samuel Wite, to assassinate the DG of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside; Rivers APC State Chairman, Dr. Ikanya; and APC Deputy Governorship Candidate, Hon Asita O. Asita. The trio would have been dead if not for the grace of God and the gallantry of the DSS personnel that came to their rescue,” Rivers APC lamented.
The party asked: “Do we continue to tolerate this man and applaud him for turning Rivers State into the hotbed of violence? Do we wait until the life of our President or Amaechi is touched before we do something to call this man to order?”
As Wike continue to play politics with the lives of Rivers State people, let us state that, those who travel on the lane of falsehood, subterfuge and deceit will definitely get to their destination which is destruction. The blood of all those killed for the so called PDP/Wike’s victory will one day speak.
Rivers APC applauded the position of INEC not to conduct any other election in Rivers State if adequate security is not put in place. “In the same vein, we wish to further state that it is not acceptable if all those caught perpetuating evil and electoral malpractice, particularly Wike’s aides, are not duly prosecuted. If this is not done it may be difficult for us to participate in any election in Rivers State as we can’t continue to endanger the lives of our people because of election,” the party said.
It sympathised with the people of Rivers State over Wike’s tragic style of governance and for portraying the State in bad light “whereas we are a peaceable, resourceful and result-oriented people and not barbarians”.
The party meanwhile commended Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi for maintaining a peaceful disposition during the rerun elections, without which the State would have burned to the ground. It appealed to its teeming members and supporters to continue to maintain the peaceful disposition for which APC is known so as not to give PDP warmongers an excuse to unleash further violence on the State.
The Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has accused the Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Nyesom Wike, of playing politics with the lives of the people of the state.
Nyesom Wike and Romiti Amaechi
He also accused Wike of not taking the development of the state seriously.
Amaechi, a former governor of the state, said this in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.
He accused Wike of “twisting, butchering and turning the truth upside down; and in most cases telling outright lies in his failed bid to denigrate, tarnish and rubbish his towering image, person and laudable, landmark achievements.
He said that most troubling was Wike’s alleged propensity, without any qualms whatsoever, to play politics with the safety and security of the lives of Rivers people.
This, he said, was indeed most worrisome.
Amaechi said, “It is no secret that Wike plays politics with the development, welfare and well-being of Rivers people.
“But no government should play politics with the safety and security of its citizens like Wike is sadly and shamelessly doing.
“Governor Wike claimed that the brutal political killings and murder of the All Progressives Congress members and other hapless citizens in the state are cult-related or a result of cult clashes.
“What cult wars is he talking about? Since he claimed to have security reports, we challenge Wike to tell Rivers people the cult group that Franklin Obi, the APC Ward Chairman in Omoku, belongs to, that led to his being gruesomely beheaded and butchered, alongside his pregnant wife and teenage son.
“Or did Franklin suddenly become a cult member because he had the guts and courage to host a resoundingly successful ward meeting of APC faithful in the same ward as Wike’s Peoples Democratic Party State chairman, Felix Obuah, just a few days to the rerun elections?”
The former governor challenged Wike to tell Nigerians the cult groups and the cult wars that led to the killing of the innocent youth corper, Chukwudumeibi Okonta, on the day of the last rerun election on March 19.
“Was the youth corper a cultist or a victim of cult wars or yet another victim of politically-motivated killings in Rivers State?,” he asked.
He also said that Wike must tell Rivers people the cult wars that led to the brutal murder of hundreds of Rivers people since the election that made him governor was held, and the cult groups that all those that had been murdered, belong to.
He said that Wike’s cult wars/cultists claim was akin to insulting and spitting on the graves and memories of all those murdered and their families.
Amaechi said, “With pity, we watched as Wike tried to compare the political killings of the late Okonta and Independent National Electoral Commission ad hoc staff on the rerun election day in Rivers State to the fire accident that occurred at the home of the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Kano State days after the elections of 2015.
“How pathetic! Even for Wike, this is a new low.”
On the Rivers Monorail project Amaechi started, which Wike said that he would abandon, the former governor said Wike needed to know that the monorail belongs to Rivers State and not his “Amaechi’s” private monorail.
He said, “Pray, Governor Wike, which Rivers people told you not to touch the monorail project? Is it the same Rivers people that have consistently praised the project and see it as a catalyst to jump-start the local economy and place the state at the forefront of transport infrastructural development in Africa?
“Or is Wike aggregating the jaundiced views of the coterie of court-jesters that hang around him daily, as the opinion of the entire people of the state?
“It is sad, very sad that Wike has elected to play politics with this laudable project that was almost completed before Amaechi left office.”
He said that Wike also described several ongoing projects in the state when he (Amaechi) left office as ‘abandoned projects’ that the former governor claimed to have completed or about to complete.
The former governor said Wike specifically mentioned the Ogoni-Andoni-Opobo Unity Road that connects the Island of Opobo to Andoni and the rest of the state.
“What a shameless lie! This project was ongoing and was almost completed as at May 29, 2015. May we also remind Wike that the Eagle Island- Diobu Road that he once claimed to have been abandoned was 90 per cent completed with just the final course of coal tar remaining as at when he succeeded Amaechi,” the former governor added.
…Congratulates Winners Of State And National Assembly Elections
The Chairman of Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Bro. Felix Obuah has rejected the purported disqualification of the PDP Candidate for Akuku-Toru Constituency 2, Tonye Awari Alalibo, describing it as not only illegal and mischievous, but highly vexatious, explaining that “no Election Petition Tribunal nor the Election Appeal Tribunal, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has the power to disqualify any party candidate (as provided for in the 2012 Electoral Act as amended), and for which the PDP and its candidate for Akuku-Toru State Constituency 2 are already in court.
PDP
Bro Obuah also disclosed that no Election Petition Tribunal or Appeal Tribunal has right to disqualify any candidate, when the issue of disqualification was not part of the subject matter before both the Election Petition Tribunal and Appeal Tribunal”. Accordingly, INEC lacks powers to disqualify the PDP candidate.
Therefore, the purported disqualification of our candidate for Akuku-Toru Constituency 2, when the PDP logo was on the ballot paper and our candidate participated and won the election is preposterous.
The so-called disqualification, according to Bro. Obuah is the handiwork of the APC that is doing everything possible to grab power, calling on Akuku-Toru people to remain calm and watch events as they unfold.
Similarly, Bro Obuah described the ceding of result of Opobo/Nkoro State Assembly Election to the APC as a rape of democracy, adding that the results collated from the polling units in all the wards showed Hon. Adonye Diri of the PDP as the clear winner.
The PDP Chairman accused INEC of colluding with the APC to satisfy the defeated governorship candidate, Adol Dakuku Peterside, who was said to have mobilized soldiers on the day of the election and used them to chase away PDP agents, from the collation centre in Opobo.
Meanwhile, the State PDP Chairman, Bro Obuah, congratulates candidates of the party who emerged victorious in the results so far released and declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The PDP chairman said the victory of the candidates of the party once again confirmed the popularity and acceptability of the Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers State.
While also felicitating with the good people of Rivers State who voted for the emergence of the PDP candidates in those State and federal constituencies, Bro Obuah assured that the party would not let them down in the delivery of its campaign promises.
Bro. Obuah reiterated the obvious fact that Rivers State is 100% PDP, adding that the desperation, blackmail and intimidation by the APC and Rotimi Amaechi would not reverse the trend.
The PDP Chairman enjoined Rivers people to remain resolute as they await the release of the remaining results and new date for the re-run election in Local Government Areas were elections were suspended following the distribution of fake result sheets, noting that these delays were deliberate attempt by the APC to buy more time and fashion out strategies to manipulate the results.
The RIVERS State Government may have abandoned the multi-billion naira monorail project embarked upon by the immediate-past administration.
Nyesom Wike
Governor Nyesom Wike, who gave this hint on Monday while speaking on a national television programme,Sunrise, said the people of the state did not want the continuation of the project.
Wike explained that in spite of his administration’s commitment to the completion of the projects abandoned by the Rotimi Amaechi administration, the monorail would not be one of such projects.
He said, “Rivers people have told me not to touch the monorail project left behind by the other government.”
Wike said his administration had taken measures to improve the security of the state through funding of security interventions and provision of logistics for security agencies.
The governor lamented that the state had been affected by the regular transfer of security chiefs from the state, blaming Amaechi for the development.
He said, “I won’t make a promise that I will not fulfill I don’t politicise development. My interest is to deliver the best for Rivers people.
“In spite of distractions, we have succeeded in completing many projects abandoned by the previous government. We also have cleared the backlog of unpaid salaries and pensions left by the previous government.
“We have succeeded in restoring the judiciary and reopening courts shut down by the previous government. The Federal Government needs to allow security chiefs remain in Rivers State to do their jobs and ease tensions.
“I have had over three Commissioners of Police removed since I became governor,” Wike, who lamented the death of a corps member in the state recently, added.
Reacting to the position of Wike on the monorail project, the immediate-past state Commissioner for Transport, Mr. Tolofari George, said, “The monorail is a laudable project that should be continued because it is a catalyst to jump-start our local economy and place Rivers State at the forefront of transport infrastructural development.
“The vision is to take the monorail up to the airport in future traversing the city. A lot of River’s taxpayers’ monies have been sunk into that project that it should not be allowed to die. But Wike has chosen to play politics with that project and it is most unfortunate.”
The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has queried the hurried release, by security agencies, of aides of Governor Nyesom Wike who were arrested for malpractices and violence during during the State and National Assembly rerun elections in the State.
APC Rivers State
The party equally raised eyebrows about the speed with which Wike’s aides arrested for attempting to assassinate the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, Rivers APC Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, and the party’s deputy governorship candidate in the 2015 elections, Hon. Asita O. Asita, were allowed to go home and continue with their normal businesses.
“We are shocked and left speechless by the speed with which the Secretary to Rivers State Government, Mr. Kenneth Kobani, Wike’s Special Assistant on Special Projects, Mr. Cyril Dum Wite, and Wike’s Chief of Staff, Emeka Woke, were released and allowed to go home despite the overwhelming evidence against them,” Rivers APC said in a statement signed by its Chairman, Dr. Ikanya.
It recalled that Mr. Kobani was caught red-handed aiding rigging during the Saturday, March 19 rerun polls while Wite was caught with N40 million, arms, Police and Army uniforms in his car. The party also recalled that the next day, gunmen operating in two jeeps belonging to Woke opened fire on a vehicle conveying Peterside, Ikanya and Asita, who were on their way from Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa. “Our hopes were initially raised when Wike’s implicated aides were arrested for questioning as we thought that justice would be made to take its source. We are disappointed that these men have been hastily released and left off the hook instead of being vigorously investigated and charged before courts of competent jurisdiction. This is sad and unfortunate,” Rivers APC said in the statement issued Thursday in the State capital, Port Harcourt.
The party challenged security agencies in the State to conduct their activities in a way that would convince everyone of their impartiality and advised them not to allow themselves to be bought by Governor Wike in his desperation to completely conquer and possess Rivers State by hook or by crook. It described the rerun elections as a violence-ridden sham and demanded its total cancellation by the Independent national Electoral Commission (INEC).
Rivers APC also appealed to its members and supporters not to be demoralised by the turn of events but to remain steadfast in their support for the party, knowing that those with God are in the majority and that evil will never outshine good. “We wish to remind Wike and his collaborators that one day the blood of those wasted to install and perpetuate his for his evil administration will speak and exact vengeance. Wike and his cohorts that are now celebrating and drinking the blood of seemingly hapless Rivers people will one day give an account of all their evil deeds either here on earth or hereafter before a just God that cannot be bribed,” Rivers APC said.
