The Rivers State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has called on the Inspector General of Police to arrest and prosecute one of the notorious aides of the outgoing Governor of the State and a member of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr. Tony Okocha over the attack on the immediate past Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Council, Hon Prince Timothy Nsirim, which has led to his hospitalization.
PDP
The PDP describes the attack and manhandling of the Elder statesman and a stalwart of the party, Hon Prince Timothy as criminal, barbaric and animalistic.
The party accuses the Chief of Staff to the outgoing Governor of Rivers State, Mr Tony Okocha of ordering his thugs and APC supporters to attack Prince Nsirim at the venue of a function he was invited to attend by Rukpakani youths in Rumueme, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the State.
Prince Nsirim who was also physically battered by Mr Tony Okocha, sustained major injuries all over his body and had his clothes torn to shreds.
The PDP therefore, calls on the Inspector General of Police, IG and the Rivers Commissioner of Police, CP to arrest and prosecute Mr Tony Okocha.
The party also describes Mr Tony Okocha as lawless, blood thirsty and one if not tamed, would cause crisis in Rivers State, ahead of the general elections.
Amaechi blows through Wike’s place of origin like Hurricane
Boastful Junior Minister of Federal Ministry of Education, Chief Nyesome Wike, a governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was today exposed as all noise and no substance as ‘Hurricane Amaechi’ blew across Wike’s place of origin and purported stronghold, Obio-Akpor Local Government in Rivers State. WIke’s loud boasts of being the political strongman of the area were exposed as tissues of lies by his own people as Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and State Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), stormed the local government area as part of his ‘Meet the People’ tour.
Rotimi Amaechi
Before the visit of Governor Amaechi to Obio-Akpor, his Chief of Staff, Chief Tony Okocha, and Hon. Lawrence Chukwu, the CTC Chairman, had for the past two months toured the area and prepared the people for the visit through several philanthropic activities that earned the Chief of Staff the nickname, Chief MKO Abiola of Rivers State.
Governor Amaechi was enthusiastically received at each of the Wards by an unprecedented crowd. It was more of a home coming for the Governor, who used the opportunity to throw more light on his government’s projects in each of the Wards. Women – both old and young – chiefs, elders, men, artistes, political leaders, non-indigenes, the handicapped, youths, masquerades and even children all gathered to pay homage to a son who has redefined politics as agent of change.
According to the speakers while addressing Amaechi in most of the communities, “Developmental strides shall continue to speak for you, even in 2015 and beyond. The network of roads, schools, hospitals and healthcare centres, human capacity developments, empowerment of Rivers people by the State and Local Government councils, all these communities are beneficiaries. You have broken the jinx of underdevelopment in most of the communities in Rivers State.”
The turnout of non-indigenes was something else and, according to Alh. Usman Lamido and Mr. Chris Omerulu, who spoke on behalf of the non-indigenes, “We have seen the developmental strides in Rivers State. What you have done in the state has compelled us to say we will support you anywhere you go. We will follow you anywhere you go. Sir, your people shall be our people and our people shall be your people. We will follow you because you have established yourself as a trailblazer, agent of change, patriotic and detribalised Nigerians that have given us hope in a vibrant and united Nigeria.”
Hon. Ike Chinwo, a one-time member of the Federal House of Representatives and a political heavyweight from Obio-Akpor, observed that Governor Amaechi’s visit can only be described as a political hurricane and uprooting of any structure Chief Wike may have had in Rivers State. He further stated: “I must congratulate and commend Chief Tony Okocha for not only demystifying Chief Wike in his Local Government to demonstrate to the entire world that Chief Wike is just deceiving President Jonathan and his cohorts that he is on ground politically while he is just an empty noise-maker.”
Reacting to the encomiums poured on him in most of the communities, Chief Tony Okocha stated: “I am happy that since I assumed office as the Chief of Staff to Governor Amaechi, I have erased indiscipline, corruption, criminal acquisition, insubordination to the Governor, arrogance, nepotism and have promoted acts of excellence in the affairs of governance in the government unlike when Wike held sway as the Chief of Staff when he runs the office in a very unholy manner where corruption and other evil vices were the hallmarks. Most importantly, I have sustained the vision and focussed governance by the Governor; at least he now sleeps with his two eyes closed than when a blackmailer, saboteur and backstabber was the Chief of Staff.”
Governor Amaechi, on his part, explained at each place he visited that the tour is not political as he is the Governor of Rivers State and political leader of all the political parties in the State, including APC, PDP and others. He thus explained that he did not embark on the tour to campaign for any political party but to showcase his feats in all parts of Rivers State that include quality roads, model health centres, model primary and secondary schools.
Addressing the people of Mgbuesilaru Community, where he upgraded and recognised the Nye-Weli Chieftaincy Stool of Eze Ejike Wali to second class chieftaincy stool, Amaechi explained the role he played in the political appointment of sons and daughters of Ikwerre land and notable politicians. “I shunned ethnic politics in the Assembly when I was Speaker, which paved way for the appointment of Justice Iche Ndu as Chief Judge. I also supported the move for the election of Hon. Austin Okpara as Deputy Speaker of Federal House of Representatives,” he said.
Governor Amaechi called on eligible voters in every community he visited to participate in the upcoming voter registration exercise.
The communities visited were Mgbuesilaru, Rumuodara, Eliowhani, Iriebe, Elelenwo, Rumuokwurusi and Atali. Others were Woji, Rumurolu, Rumuogba, Rumuibekwe, Rumuomasi, and Rumuobiakani.
In almost all the communities, the people thanked Governor Amaechi for empowering the people of Obio/Akpor LGA through Sir Tony Okocha and the CTC Chairman, Dr. Lawrence Chukwu, in skills acquisition, provision of vehicles, payment of SURE-P, monetary assistance for business and trading purposes for widows and indigent persons in the communities.
The Chief of Staff to Gov. Rotimi Amaechi, Chief Tony Okocha, KSJ, has come out hard on the Minister of State, Education, Chief Nyeso Wike over comments credited to the Minister who recently said that the Office of the COS in Rivers State is dead.
Wike
Tony Okocha who is from the same Obio/Akpor LGA as Wike while speaking to Newsbaronline said Wike does not have the right to access his performance as his indices fall far short of the acceptable world standard.
Okocha who was formerly Wike’s political ally said that “competence is not measured by the abundance of wealth that one has acquired nor by the volume of threats that one issues to any perceived political opponents”.
According to him, “the only person who has the right to access my performance and rate us both is the man who employed our services and that is the governor of the state whose leadership qualities are second to none”.
Continuing, Okocha explained that the difference between himself and Wike. Is that he (Okocha) does not dig his fingers in every pie and is not capable of biting the fingers that fed him. He said, ” I am not in any way living a lifestyle only similar to motor-park boys or thugs because I have a different aura and I am working for a disciplined man who does not in any way tolerate violence and corruption”.
Mr. Okocha said that Wike’s measurement of achievements is being a Garrison Commander and a desperado, then he has actually proved his mettle with his abysmal failure when he was the supervising minister for Education. “The tertiary institutions under Wike’s eyes were in a comatose situation for almost one year. He was unable to effectively reach a truce with the lecturers rather he took to threats and insults which only scored a big minus for President Jonathan”, he said.
Chief Okocha came hard on his predecessor and kinsman, Wike, whom he said should be ashamed of his lack-lustre performance in the Education Ministry which he has only turned into a money-spinner as he did while he was COS to Gov. Amaechi. He said, ” Wike can only function where he can ‘monetize’ everything under him. If not for the wisdom of Jonathan to appoint Shekarau, our undergraduates and lecturers would have still been at home”.
He advised Wike to borrow a leaf from the man who helped shape his destiny of becoming a Minister instead of wasting his resources on a campaign of calumny against the government and people of Rivers State.
Okocja also advise the President and the PDP to be wary of a man who could betray his Master for the sake of power. In conclusion, he said, “since Wike left office as COS, the government has had a human face and I thank the governor for his courage and simple nature”.
It was a harvest of donations of skill acquisition materials to women of Rivers State as Chief Tony Okocha, the Chief of Staff to Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, in conjunction with the Caretaker Committee of Obio-Akpor Local Government donated materials worth millions of naira to over 250 women trained in baking, bead-making, hat-making and catering. The donated materials included over 1,000 wrappers, 150 gas cookers for the caterers, 27 hat-making materials, 30 bead-making machine and 32 cosmetology materials. The donations came barely weeks after Chief Okocha donated 17 cars and skill acquisition materials to the women of the area.
APC COMMITTEE INAUGURATION -12 COS CHF OKOCHA
During the latest ceremony held Sunday at Obio-Akpor LG Headquarters, a Certificate of Participation was presented to each of the women, who had been trained in different skills and crafts for empowerment.
Speaking at the event, Governor Amaechi, Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State and Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), applauded Chief Okocha and Obio-Akpor CTC Chairman, Hon. Lawrence Chukwu, for the noble gesture. Amaechi, who was represented by his wife, Dame Judith Amaechi, urged other political leaders to emulate Okocha and Chukwu in touching the lives of the less privileged as that is the only way politics can be relevant to the masses.
His words: “I am pleased with these pragmatic efforts and performance in empowering women to be self-reliant and employers of labour. My administration will continue to encourage infrastructural and human capital development as well as empowerment of the citizenry as priority projects until the end of my administration in 2015. Rivers State must be developed in the interest of the citizens and our future generations. The legacy of this administration has shown Rivers people and indeed those who live and do business that there is a difference between a government called by God and that made by man. We are grateful to God that He has been behind this government since 2007. My problem with those in the opposition is nothing but the fact that they don’t know how to do good to our citizens; they don’t even know between evil and God. This government is planted on the foundation of God. My administration entered into gigantic projects men thought could not be finished but we are proud to say with God all things are possible.”
OKOCHA E 02 H.E DAME JUDITH AMAECHI BN ESCORTED TO D VENUE BY APC LEADER
The State Chief Executive advised Obio-Akpor women to see the developmental initiative as a step in the right direction, and to resist any attempt by the opposition to deceive them with material gifts and propaganda in the face of truth and reality. He urged the women to channel their energies towards the victory of APC in 2015. “I want the women of Obio/Akpor to refuse attempts by the devil and the opposition to deceive them with material things. Women in APC have to stand for the truth and reality because you trust in God Almighty and not in man. No matter the storm that will come your way, you need to be steadfast and be assured that with God, everything will stand still. That is the way to be the Ambassador of Christ. It is time for women to be responsible in governance and ensure the people experience and feel the dividends of democracy,” Amaechi stated.
In his remarks, Chief Okocha, who is also the Leader of APC in Obio-Akpor, stated: “The monthly empowerment in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area will be a continuous exercise calculated to improve the living standard of citizens in the area. It is good wisdom to help Governor Amaechi and the system to reach out to the seemingly downtrodden. We shall continue in this stride until all our people are so empowered to cater for themselves and families and avoid the stomach infrastructure in which those in PDP are specialists. I commend the CTC on their performance in bringing the people at the grassroots closer to government as I am satisfied with the locally made cakes, beads and other crafts by the women. I am hopeful that the empowerment will surely impact on them positively.”
OKOCHA E 001 CHF OKOCHA SEEING OFF HER EXCELLENCY DAME JUDITH AMAECHI AFTER D EVENT
Dr. Ibiamu Davies Ikanya, the Rivers State Chairman, who was represented by the State Party Secretary, Chief Emeka Bekee, described the event as heart-warming. “The people of Rivers State can by this event know the different between APC and other mushroom political parties in Rivers State. Chief Tony Okocha has by his empowerment of our women incarnated the personality of the late Chief Moshood K.O. Abiola, who is well noted for his political sagacity and philanthropy. For us winning convincingly, the need to win Obio-Akpor cannot be over-emphasised seeing that any party that wins Obio-akpor has won the State considering the population and wards in the area. No amount of thuggery or impunity will stop APC from winning the elections in Rivers State,” Dr. Ikanya declared.
On his part, the Chairman of Obio/Akpor Caretaker Committee, Hon. Lawrence Chukwu, said the council is in alliance with APC in the area to give the needed assistance to members so as to boost productivity and reduce the crowd of unemployed in the local government. According to him, “It has become the routine of the Obio/Akpor Local Government Council to empower as many women as possible, including youths. This administration will not cease to empower the citizens until all the unemployed are empowered. Obio-Akpor is for APC. Under the leadership of Chief Tony Okocha in this local government council of 17 wards and non-indigenes, we see no obstacles, confusion, acrimony or propaganda. We have bought 22 transformers that will be distributed to all the wards in Obio/Akpor LGA. We are also donating a Hilux vehicle and other security gadgets to the police to detect and fight crime. Protection of lives and property in Obio/Akpor is also our priority.”
Hon. Chukwu equally urged APC faithful, women and youths, to ensure active participation in the forthcoming INEC voter registration exercise, saying that it is the precondition to rout PDP in the 2015 elections.
The event was witnessed by the representative of the Governor, Her Excellency, Dame Judith Amaechi, Chief of Staff, Chief Tony Okocha, members of the Rivers State Executive Council, Local Government CTC Chairmen, Hon. Ike Chinwo, former member of the Federal House of Representatives, elders and stakeholders of APC and traditional rulers amongst others.
Other Photos:
OKOCHA E 01 THE ENTHUSIASTIC CROWD THAT WITNESSED THE EVENT
OKOCHA E 002 H E DAME JUDITH AMAECHI PRESENTING CERTIFICATE OF PARTICIPATION TO ONE OF THE WOMEN WHILE COS CHF OKOCHA WATCHES
OKOCHA E 04 ONE OF THE BENFICARIES CARTING AWAY HIS OWN ITEM
OKOCHA E 10 CHF OKOCHA AND HER EXCELLENCY SUPERVISING THE DISTRIBUTION OF WRAPPERS TO THE WOMEN
