Wike Lacks Capacity to Govern Rivers – Amaechi

Former Rivers State governor and Minister of Transportation Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has accused his successor, governor Nyesom Wike of lacking the political will and capacity to govern Rivers State.

Rotimi Amaechi

Amaechi stated this on Sunday at an APC rally in Rumueme, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, ahead of the state and national assembly elections on Saturday.

Amaechi said, “Wike lacks capacity to govern. Somebody who just knows how to steal money is a bushman. Wike said, am corrupt. He should bring evidence to show. I will bring evidence to show that Wike is corrupt. Wike did the Rukpoku/ Eneka road during my tenure he did not complete it. I gave Wike the contracts to do all the roads around Aristle House (a hotel in GRA) but he failed to do them, I gave him fourteen schools to give to Obio/Akpor people, he stole them, he lacks character.”

Also speaking on the security situation in the state, Amaechi said, “When I was the governor, one thing that I kept thinking of was how to chase these criminals away but under Nyesom Wike, he meets with them. If Wike does not secure you people, the federal government will secure you. If he doesn’t want to be ignored he should go and secure you people because federal government will no longer tolerate these killings in Rivers State.

Amaechi further told his supporters not to be intimidated by Wike’s threats and come out to vote APC at Saturday’s election.

“Saturday is your day, come out and vote.They will no longer have the Police they had, they will no longer have the Army they had, we pray that INEC should be neutral, your job is to match out and vote for APC, we will not write results like Nyesom Wike , so go back to your wards and do door to door.”

Also, in Akuku/Toru local government area, Amaechi told his party supporters to be courageous in exercising their franchise without fear of intimidation

“You see, it is not enough to provide security because if there are no votes we will lose, the implication therefore is that all of you must come out and vote for APC so that we will win the election.”,he said.

Amaechi had earlier paid condolence to the family of slain APC stalwart Mr. Ofirite Amachree who was killed and burnt beyond recognition by unknown gunmen in Buguma.

Amaechi has also pledged to assist families of slain All Progressives Congress (APC) members in Omoku, Ogba,Egbema/Ndoni local government area of Rivers state.

Amaechi gave the assurance at the weekend when he visited families of late Frankline Obi and late Chukwuladi Adiela in Omoku, Rivers State.

The late Frankline Obi was the APC chairman of ward 4 and was killed and beheaded by unknown gunmen alongside his pregnant wife and son while late Chukwuladi Adiela was an APC stalwart of ward 14.

Addressing the deceased families, the Minister said, “The President is aware of the death of your son who was our party ward chairman. I personally gave him the photograph of the beheaded body. Everybody must learn to give account of their action or inaction in Omoku. We can’t have police and be experiencing this kind of thing. Internal security is the responsibility of the police so if we have police and keep experiencing this in Omoku it means the police in Rivers State has failed and the people that are been killed are mostly APC members,” he said.

Amaechi also told the bereaved families that the president was aware of the killings in Omoku and promised that full investigation will be carried out to unravel the killers.

“The President is fully aware of the situation. I was the governor of this state and Omoku wasn’t this bad Stay clear they will kill more. The police can’t claim not to know who the people are because I was governor, the police worked with me, we knew where the criminals were and we went after them.”

Amaechi also assured the people that arrangements have been made to beef up security ahead of the State and National Assembly re- run elections in the state.

“There will be enough security on the Election Day, there will be enough security to protect lives,” the Minister declared.

Wike Lacks Capacity to Govern Rivers – Amaechi

Appeal Court judgement: Peterside hails judiciary, congratulates Rivers people

Dr. Dakuku Peterside, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Rivers State has hailed today’s verdict of the Appeal Court endorsing the earlier judgement of the Rivers Elections Petitions Tribunal on the nullification of April Rivers State governorship election.

Hon. Dakuku Peterside

Reacting to the judgement, Peterside praised the Nigerian judiciary for its courage and efforts towards deepening the nation’s democracy and political process.

According to him, the judiciary will be remembered for standing tall even in the face of unwarranted provocation and vilification by those who brazenly stole the peoples’ mandate during the March and April elections in Rivers State.

He also congratulated the people of Rivers State for their patience and understanding especially in view of the painful process of reclaiming their mandate.

“I am happy that the Nigerian judiciary is rekindling hope in our electoral process and in our country generally. This is so because the judiciary is sending the right signal, particularly to those who perpetrate violence and fraud during elections.

“Never again will a peoples’ mandate be subverted so viciously by a violent and self-seeking few, all in the name of political contest. Members of our party and supporters were murdered in cold blood in their homes and campaign grounds for their political beliefs. We are happy that this injustice is currently being addressed by a credible

institution like the judiciary.

“We pray never to experience the level of persecution, violence and deaths that characterised both the March and April elections in our state. Democracy is about freedom, equality and justice; so everybody must join hands to defend it at all times.

“I therefore wish to dedicate our victories in the legislative and executive arms to our fallen brothers and sisters, our supporters and the entire Rivers people for believing in us and for keeping faith.

“Our state will be great again if and only when we vote into public office, our sons and daughters who will not bring shame to us by their words and actions.

“We, members of the APC know the needs of our people as we fully appreciate the leadership crisis rocking our state today. You have sacrificed and waited all these agonizing months for justice. Now, justice has come. I commend you and urge you to hold on a little more as we all march collectively towards entrenching the kind of

leadership that would serve our overall interest irrespective of our political persuasions.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has urged the good people of the State to remain calm and law abiding in the face of what it described as “obvious gang-up” by the All Progressives Congress, APC led Federal Government against duly elected Governor of the State, Barr. Nyesom Wike and other elected lawmakers of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, using some Justices of the Court of Appeal as willing tools to invalidate their elections.

Reacting to the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Abuja today, the State Chairman of the PDP, Bro Felix Obuah enjoins members of the Party and Rivers People to remain law abiding assuring that “Governor Nyesom wike remains the Governor of Rivers State and the PDP would challenge the decision of the Appeal Court in Supreme Court.”

According to Bro Obuah, Mr Dakuku Peterside, 24 hours before the Appeal Court judgement, as he also did in the judgement of the Appeal Court on the National Assembly elections, had announced the date of the judgement and further declared that the APC will win, suggesting that he was in contact with the Justices of the Court of Appeal.

The PDP noted that they still hold the Judiciary in high esteemed and strongly believe that not all judicial officers can be compromised, adding that they will be heading to the Supreme Court to challenge the judgement of the Appeal Court today.

The PDP further assured their members and the good people of Rivers State, that Barr. Nyesom Wike remains the Governor of Rivers State as the PDP would take advantage of the provisions of the law to challenge the decision of the Appeal Court, in the Supreme Court.

Bro Obuah further assured that Governor Nyesom Wike and the PDP would emerge victorious at the end of the day.

Appeal Court judgement: Peterside hails judiciary, congratulates Rivers people

Court of Appeal Verdict: Peterside hails judgement, counsels PDP

Dr. Dakuku Peterside, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Rivers State has commended the verdict of the Appeal Court sitting in Abuja which sacked National Assembly members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Hon. Dakuku Peterside

The APC chieftain who spoke shortly after the announcement described the judgement as victory, not only for the long-suffering people of Rivers State but also for those who voted at the March and April elections.

Peterside  in a press statement signed by Sylvester Asoya, his Special Assistant  on Media  and available to NF-Reports, said truth, which is essential in the quest for justice has prevailed.

He contended that the actions of the erudite Justices of the Appeal Court are demonstrative of a new Nigeria where a few will no longer stifle the voices and collective decision of the majority.

He also wondered why Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP is still living in self-denial even as their ignoble actions during the elections are well known across Nigeria and beyond.

“I know that everybody in Rivers State, including our opponents in the last general elections expected these sweeping judgements because we were all witnesses to the widespread violence and irregularities that marred the various elections.

“As a party and law abiding citizens, we are happy that at last, light has overshadowed darkness, and this in itself is encouraging. Although the journey has been winding and most painful but we have remained steadfast knowing full well that at all times, truth will always take the limelight over lies and evil, no matter how hard human beings try.  Therefore these landmark judgements are vindicating and heartening.

“For our opponents, I wish to counsel them to quickly come to terms with the new reality which intensely abhors electoral violence and fraud. No society can make progress in an atmosphere of brute force, violence, ignorance, intolerance, intimidation and all the vices our rivals employed and exhibited before and during the elections. As a people, we must strive to remain civil and accommodating of other views no matter our position for that is the only way to support the growth and sustenance of democracy and liberty.

“Therefore as we prepare for the impending but crucial re-run elections across our dear state, I call on our people to remember that Rivers, like other states in Nigeria, deserves the very best of representation. We cannot afford to support candidates who are evidently lacking in capacity and in all the necessary tools needed in modern day governance. God bless Rivers State!”

Court of Appeal Verdict: Peterside hails judgement, counsels PDP

Rivers State: Wike with-holds September allocation of LG Councils

The Rivers State Chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, alleged that a highly placed Rivers State Local Government Service Commission source has revealed that embattled governor Nyesom Wike, whose election was recently annulled by the tribunal, has since with held and keeping the federal allocations of the 23 Local Governments in Rivers State for the month of September against the relevant laws of the nation which recognises them as a separate and independent tier of government.

Nyesom Wike

According to findings by the APC which were confirmed by several sources, the outgoing governor with-held and converted the September allocations of the Councils to enable him use the money to pursue his matter at the Appeal and Supreme Courts. This accounts for why Council workers in Rivers State have not been paid their September salaries to date.

The APC recalled that a few days ago, Wike’s man Friday and foremost promoter, OCJ Okocha [SAN], asked the embattled governor to hire the best lawyers in the land to pursue the annulment of his so-called election at the Appeal Court and possibly the Supreme Court.

The APC also noted that some Council workers are being owed 3 months and 2 months salaries because the outgoing governor pounced on and converted various Council allocations in the past , adding that several Council workers in the State have been unable to pay their children and wards schools fees since schools resumed in September and therefore have their children and wards sent out of school. A particular Council staff from Opobo/Nkoro narrated his sad story of how he now begs from friends to feed his family.

The APC called on Governor Nyesom Wike to immediately and unconditionally release the allocations of the Local Governments in Rivers State as such an act is unlawful and criminal.

“Nyesom Wike must look up to the heavens and realise that the God of justice and of the poor exists” APC averred.

Rivers State: Wike with-holds September allocation of LG Councils

Wike goes full blast against judiciary – APC

…Mobilizes, market women, traditional rulers, the clergy, others to protest

The Rivers State chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, says it has received credible information that Governor Nyesom Wike has begun to mobilize and incite different sections of Rivers people to protest against the judiciary for handing out unfavourable rulings on his matters at the tribunal and Supreme Court.

Nyesom Wike

“Two top traditional rulers in the state separately informed the APC that the embattled governor summoned them for a meeting today where they suspect that the governor may request and mobilize them to endorse protest documents against the rulings of the tribunal that annulled the so-called election of the governor and the decision of the Supreme Court that dismissed his appeal on jurisdiction of the tribunal” Mr Chris Finebone said in a statement today.

According to the APC, as part of Wike’s plan to mobilise the people of the state against the judiciary, he doled out huge cash to a section of market women who shamelessly went on a protest march yesterday (Thursday) denouncing the Nigerian judiciary and threatening the peace of the state.

The statement reads: “The APC has been told that after the meeting and mobilisation of traditional rulers to protest in today’s meeting, the next group pencilled down to be mobilised is the clergy in Rivers State. Wike believes that he can finance a section of the supposed men of God to protest and publish anti-judiciary articles and paid adverts in the media extolling the embattled governor.

“We can also reveal that a section of Ikwerre Chiefs and leaders of thought made up of mainly discredited persons of Ikwerre extraction are also being mobilised to protest and place paid adverts in the media in support of Nyesom Wike against the Nigerian judiciary.

“The APC is rather surprised that the same Nyesom Wike who freely boasts of having Supreme Court judges in his pocket (whatever that means) has now resorted to underhand and primitive tactics to undermine the same judiciary.

“The APC believes that it is important to alert Rivers people and Nigerians of this fiendish level of desperation on the part of Governor Nyesom Wike which is capable of endangering an already traumatised society which the Wike brand of politics has imposed on the state already. We urge you to resist Wike’s filthy lucre as real Rivers people are proud and not enticed or excited by filthy and odoriferous money.”

Wike goes full blast against judiciary – APC

Election Tribunal: Wike, PDP Lawyers Deliberately Twisting Facts, says APC

 

The Rivers State Chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, says its attention has been drawn to the deliberate attempt by Governor Nyesom Wike and lawyers of the People Democratic Party, PDP, especially Barrister Osima Ginah to deceive Rivers people by twisting facts and the law, just to create an impression that the Court of Appeal has made any pronouncements concerning the merit of Judgement of the Election Petition Tribunal that nullified the purported election of Barr. Nyesom Wike for substantial non-compliance.

Nyesom Wike

The APC in a statement signed by its Spokeman Mr. Chris Finebone said, “You would recall that during the hearing of the Election Petition brought by Dr. Dakuku Peterside against Chief Nyesom Wike, but before the commencement of hearing, the Election Petition Tribunal, based on a Motion brought by Barr. Nyesom Wike and the PDP struck out paragraphs of the Petitioners’ petition IN WHICH CRIMINAL ALLEGATIONS WERE MADE AGAINST PERSONS WHO THEMSELVES WERE NOT JOINED AS PARTIES TO THE PETITION. This according to the court was because those who were accused of criminal offences have no opportunity of defending themselves at the Tribunal in accordance with the principle of fair hearing, since they were not party. The Petitioners were not pleased with striking out of the said paragraphs of their petition and so filed an appeal before the Court of Appeal, which the Court dismissed today.”

It noted that, “neither the decision of the Tribunal striking out those paragraphs nor the decision of the Court of Appeal had anything to do with the undisputed testimonies of the Military, the Police or DSS who testified at the Tribunal as to the level of violence that took place in Rivers State on the day of that sham election. The decision of Court of Appeal did not order the striking out of the evidence of any witness nor did it discredit any witness, as those were not the issues before the Court of Appeal. It is worth of mention also, that because the Tribunal had struck out those paragraphs in which criminal allegations were made against persons not joined as party in petition, the said paragraphs were not and did not form part of the pleading or case considered by the Tribunal in arriving at its decision.”

The APC maintained that the press statement issued by the PDP and its lawyers in this regard is merely a subterfuge intended to give false hope to its members and deceive Rivers people.

While urging Rivers people to disregard any such unfounded insinuations that the Ruling of the Court of Appeal delivered today has any bearing whatsoever on the merit of the Judgement of the Tribunal nullifying Barr. Wike’s purported election, the APC also implored Rivers people to remain focused and resolute as their right to vote their own Governor will soon be restored to them.

Election Tribunal: Wike, PDP Lawyers Deliberately Twisting Facts, says APC

Amaechi"s appointment has nothing to do with governance in Rivers State - Wike

The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has insisted that he has no interest in the appointment of his predecessor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, as a minister.

Nyesom Wike and Romiti Amaechi

Wike was reacting to claims by the All Progressives Congress that he was orchestrating a protest against Amaechi’s expected appointment as a minister.

Speaking through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Opunabo Inko-Tariah, in Port Harcourt, on Monday, the governor described the claim that he was working against Amaechi’s likely emergence as a minister as spurious and malicious.

He maintained that the appointment of Amaechi had nothing to do with the governance of Rivers State, adding that it was the right of the President to select those that would work with him as ministers.

“It is not only spurious, but fatuous and malicious. Governor Wike has no cause to orchestrate a protest against the appointment of Rotimi Amaechi.

“Let me reiterate for the umpteenth time that the governor has no nexus with the appointment of Amaechi or otherwise. It is the right of the President to appoint anybody of his choice provided such an appointment is in sync with the relevant laws.

“The appointment of Amaechi will definitely have no bearing on the governance of Rivers State. There are crucial issues the governor is more concerned with which are issues of the state and not trifles like the appointment of Amaechi.

“It is apparent that the APC in Rivers State has exhausted its basket of lies and barren propaganda but still wants to be heard or noticed despite its waned popularity in the state,” Wike said.

He condemned the allegation by the APC, adding that the spreading of falsehood as a stratagem by the party had failed.

“Governor Wike’s concern now is to clear the rubbish Amaechi left behind in his eight years of maladministration that impoverished the state and the people.

“Therefore, if the APC is dispensing such unfounded falsehood as a stratagem, it has failed. Or, is the APC distraught that Amaechi might not scale through the screening because of his antecedents?

“If that is the problem, it (APC) should think of how to sort it out and not spread falsehood to gain sympathy. Governor Wike is not interested in Amaechi’s matter because it is inconsequential,” he added.

Amaechi"s appointment has nothing to do with governance in Rivers State - Wike

Rivers gov. Polls: 4 more witnesses confirm Wike won April election

Four more witnesses for Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers, on Thursday told the State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja that the April 11 governorship election was peaceful

Nyesom Wike

The witnesses, who were from different local government areas of the state, also declared that there were no cases of multiple thumb printing and ballot snatching in their respective polling units.

The witnesses added that they were duly accredited by their polling unit officials and also waited for their votes to be counted before they left the venue.

The witnesses included Mr Obubeleye Briggs, a lawyer, who voted at polling unit 1 in Ward 13 of Akukutoru Local Government Area, and Rev. Canon Nwankwo, who voted at polling Unit 7, Ward 12 in Ikwere Local Government.

Others are Mrs Nkpang Igonikon, a public health worker, who voted at polling Unit 6, Ward 5 of Akukutoru Local Government Area, and Peter Michael, voted at unit 12 Ward 9 of Andoni Local Government.

Briggs said that the election process was hitch-free and that after the whole process, the winner was later declared in his polling unit.

Also, Rev. Canon Nwankwo, from the Anglican Church, said that the entire voting process in his unit was transparent and credible.

Mrs Nkpang Igonikon, a health worker, said that she voted in her polling unit without any form of violence.

Mr Peter Michael, a community leader, told the tribunal that the election went well in his polling unit and that the tribunal should disregard “the lies of the APC witnesses”.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that during the cross-examination by the APC Counsel, Mr Akinlolu Olujimi (SAN), all the witnesses told the tribunal that they did both manual and card reader accreditation.

NAN also reports that Wike has so far presented 11 witnesses from seven local government areas to prove that the election was free and fair.

Rivers gov. Polls: 4 more witnesses confirm Wike won April election

APC set to establish specialist eye hospital for Wike’s blind witnesses

Following what came to light today at the Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal where all 7 Defence Witnesses of Governor Nyesom Wike complained bitterly of sight challenges and could not read their own statements, the All Progressives Congress, APC, has urged the Governorship Candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside to establish a specialist eye hospital in the state to tackle the menace of visual challenges as soon as he is sworn in to office.

APC data Centre

The APC in a statement signed and issued to The Press in Port Harcourt today believes that if all 7 witnesses from Tai [3], Khana[3] and Andoni[1] LGAs who testified were coached by Nyesom Wike’s legal team to feign blindness in order to escape re-affirming their statements and taking questions from Counsel to the Petitioner on cross examination thereby helping Wike to escape with the stolen mandate of the peoples, that strategy failed woefully.

The APC said it is curious that witnesses some in their 30s all claiming to be serving or retired civil servants who deposed to statements suddenly became blind when asked to read their statements.

“Some claimed they could not read their personal data information on their PVCs. This was to enable them dodge cross examination by the Lead Counsel to Dr. Dakuku Peterside [Petitioner]. Eventually, the judge ruled that witnesses must read documents as may be requested by the Tribunal or Counsels”.

The cross examinations by Chief Akin Olujimi [Counsel to Petitioner – Dr. Dakuku Peterside] exposed a lot of inconsistencies in the assertions and statements of the Defence Witnesses. For example, when asked his age, one of the Defence Witnesses said he was 53 and has been voting from 1979. A simple calculation showed that he was not a witness of truth as he could not have been up to the voting age of 18 years by 1979.

The APC noted that no amount of theatricals and coaching by Wike’s lawyers will save the caretaker governor from being chased away from Government House, Port Harcourt by the time the Tribunal hands down its verdict.

APC set to establish specialist eye hospital for Wike’s blind witnesses

Wike is spending his last days in office, declares APC

….. Slates Metuh over empty boast

The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said Chief Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is spending his last days in office as Governor of Rivers State.

Nyesom Wike

The party was reacting to the statement credited to PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, who was quoted as saying about the failure of PDP and INEC counsels to appear before the Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Friday, September 18: “Even if our lawyers and witnesses didn’t appear at the Rivers Tribunal today and the remaining days, it doesn’t stop us PDP from winning at the judgment. But should we fail at judgment, we shall win even above 1.5 million votes in Rivers State re-run Governorship and other elections.”

Rivers APC in a statement issued Monday in Port Harcourt and made available to NF-Reports by its Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, dismissed Metuh’s position as mere day-dreaming.

The party said: “While we do not wish to comment on the likely outcome of the current sitting of the Rivers Guber Election Tribunal since the case is sub judice, we find Chief Metuh’s position laughable because the evidence before the tribunal indicates that Chief Wike is spending his final days in office as Rivers State Governor. Just like PDP, we as a political party are equally eagerly looking forward to a re-run of the Rivers State governorship election. Contrary to the empty boast of Metuh that PDP shall win even above 1.5 million votes in the envisaged re-run elections, we make bold to tell him that PDP died in Rivers State the day former Governor Chibuike Amaechi in November 2013 led all those who mattered in the party to join the APC and take a front seat in the vanguard for Nigeria’s political emancipation. We are convinced that our candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, shall win the expected re-run guber polls with a landslide as he has the full support of the good people of Rivers State.”

Rivers APC sympathised with Chief Metuh in his tasking new role as an unprepared spokesman of the opposition, telling him to prepare for a big shock as Wike can never be elected by the Rivers State people in any free and fair election devoid of violence, killing and rigging as Rivers people do not only know him but also know what he stands for.

“Instead of dreaming of winning the envisaged re-run election, we expect him (Wike) to explain to the world how he intends to defend the over 100 Rivers people that were murdered to install him as Care-Taker Governor of Rivers State by greedy INEC REC, Dame Gesila Khana, and other corrupt INEC officials who cannot defend their immoral and illegal actions of 1.5 million acclaimed voters is bigger than 273,000 accredited voters in the Register.

“To us, the Biblical book of Hosea Chapter Eight Verse Seven, ‘For They Have sown the Wind and Shall Reap the Whirlwind’ captures the inescapable fate of Chief Wike and his collaborators. They have no one else to blame but themselves, for they have sown the wind and shall reap the whirlwind.”

Wike is spending his last days in office, declares APC

I"ll recover stolen public funds - Wike

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, declared on Friday that his administration would recover embezzled public funds from erring contractors.

Nyesom Wike

Wike specifically said he would ensure that contractors who defrauded the state of N2bn in the immediate past administration did not go scot-free.

The governor who was represented by the Chief of Staff, Government House, Chief Emeka Woke, made the declaration in Port Harcourt while receiving the task force report on the renovation of selected state-owned secondary schools.

“In as much as I am continuing with the important ongoing projects I inherited where Rivers State tax payers’ money have been misappropriated, I will not relent in ensuring that such funds are recovered,” Wike said.

The governor expressed gratitude to members of the task force for their hard work in compiling the report and thanked God that they did not record any ugly incident during their assignment.

Earlier, the Chairman, Taskforce on Inspection of Government Secondary Schools, Eze Otoma Eric, informed the governor that the inspection was carried out on selected secondary schools across the 23 local government areas of Rivers State.

Eric explained that the entire project was mismanaged by the Rotimi Amaechi’s administration.

According to him, contracts were awarded in 24 out of 42 secondary schools and the contractors were given 30 per cent value of the contract as mobilisation fees.

The task force chairman said the contracts were awarded with disregard to the due process panel by a special three-man committee made up of former Deputy Governor, Mr. Tele Ikuru, former SSG, Mr. George Feyii and former chairman of Senior Secondary Schools’ Board, Chief Allwell Onyeoso.

Eric said the awards defied the Rivers State Procurement Law of 2008 as there were no newspaper advertisements calling on interested contractors to bid.

I"ll recover stolen public funds - Wike

Rivers Tribunal: Wike, Peterside know fate in October

•Tribunal: we’ve 36 days to conclude case

Petitioners at the Rivers State governorship election petition tribunal are now placed in a precarious situation as the tribunal yesterday compressed the time within which they must present their case.

Nyesom Wike

With the development, the petitioners are now left with two days within which to call about 150 of its scheduled 200 witnesses having called about 50 within eight days of its earlier allotted 14 days as at last Saturday.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate at the last governorship election, Dakuku Peterside, are challenging the outcome of the election as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

INEC, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Nyesom Wike are listed as respondents before the tribunal.

Yesterday, the tribunal announced its intention to amend its earlier schedule of proceedings where petitioners were allocated 14 days to present their case, and the defendants given 10 days each.

Tribunal Chairman Justice Mohammed Ambrosa told parties at the resumption of proceedings yesterday that the tribunal was running out of time and needed to alter its earlier schedule, as contained in the report of its pre-hearing session dated 28, 2015.

By the schedule, the petitioners were allocated 14 days to conduct their case, while the respondents – INEC, Wike and PDP – were allocated 10 days each.

Yesterday, Justice Ambrosa noted that the tribunal would be left with 36 days from yesterday, after the deduction of Sallah holiday and other work-free days, with just a day to deliver its judgment, should it stick with its earlier schedule. He observed that, since he resumed after the redeployment of his predecessor, on September 3, he had consistently insisted that the tribunal was out of time.

Justice Ambrosa reduced the petitioners’ days from 14 to 10 while each respondent’s earlier allocated 10 days were reduced to six.

Respondents lawyers: Onyechi Ikpeazu (for INEC), Okey Wali (for Wike) and Chris Uche (for PDP) opposed  the request by petitioners’ lawyer, Akin Olujinmi (SAN) to allow parties two additional days in view of the number of witnesses and documentary evidence yet to be presented by the petitioners.

Ikpeazu, Wali and Uche urged the tribunal not to change its mind having elected to reduce the number of days earlier allocated to parties by four days each. In the alternative, they requested the deduction of one day as against the two days suggested by the respondents’ lawyer.

Justice Ambrosa insited on the tribunal’s earlier directive, but suggested that the tribunal’s closing time would be elastic. He adjourned the commencement of the new schedule to today at 10 am.

The petitioners had as at last Saturday called 47 witnesses, including an INEC official, four Army captains, two senior officials of the Department of State Services (DSS) and a member of the Action Alliance (AA) party.

The DSS officials, Benson Chukwuma and Godwin Mbah, who said they each led a team of DSS officials to monitor and provide security at the election, said although things began well at the inception of accreditation on April 11 , the electoral process was disrupted by hired hoodlums midway, thereby preventing proper voting and compilation of results.

Kamuzu Omiete Blankson, who said he acted as the Collation agent for his party (the AA), said the election was marred by violent sporadic shooting, burning of election materials and intimidation.

Chukwuma, who testified as the petitioners’ 43rd witness and monitored in Ogu-Bolu LG, said the election was disrupted at a point following attack on election officials by hoodlums.

Rivers Tribunal: Wike, Peterside know fate in October

Amaechi warns Wike against taking God for granted

Former Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, on Saturday, warned his successor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, against taking God for granted.

Amaechi also said he decided to shun the judicial commission of inquiry set up by Wike because the panel was illegal.

Nyesom Wike and Romiti Amaechi

The ex-governor, while speaking with his supporters and members of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State, stated that he would only appear before the commission of inquiry if Wike complied with the law.

Amaechi stated that the governor had already adjudged him to be guilty in the presence of members of the panel and vowed that he would go to court over the matter.

He insisted that he would not appear before the Justice George Omeriji panel until an independent person or body was called to handle the probe of his administration.

Amaechi said, “Nyesom Wike was not afraid of God in the past; he never went to church. Today, he is going on bended knees to the same God we worship. Don’t take God for granted because if we don’t go back to God to remind Him, God may answer his (Wike’s) prayers.”

Recalling how his relative was allegedly killed in front of Wike’s father’s house at Rumueprikom, the former governor called on President Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on the Inspector-General of Police to investigate the deaths in the state.

He said, “We are asking the Federal Government to investigate it; we have written, asking for investigation but nothing has happened yet. We hope that the President will call on the IGP to investigate what happened with his policemen. We need the IGP to investigate so that people don’t encourage impunity.”

Amaechi warns Wike against taking God for granted

I am open to criticism - Wike

THE Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has said that his administration remains open to constructive criticisms.

Nyesom Wike

Wike made this remark on Sunday at the Royal House of Grace International Church during the 23rd Anniversary Thanksgiving Service of the church, in Port-Harcourt, the state capital.

Describing his administration as a listening and responsible government, the governor said he was ready to make amends if criticised constructively.

He said, “We are a listening and responsible government, though we are not perfect, but we are open to constructive criticisms and we will make amends when criticised constructively. Good governance is what we assure you and the people of Rivers State.”

Wike told the congregation that he had paid salaries and pensions owed civil servants and pensioners in the state, adding that his administration had also embarked on some projects for the development of the Rivers.

“When the battle was raging during my campaign period, I came to this church for prayers and anointing and made a vow to this church and to the people of this state that my administration will be anchored on God.

“My detractors said there was no money in the state to pay salaries and do projects and would like to know how I would solve the problem. To the glory of God, I have paid the salaries the previous administration could not pay and have paid the six months arrears of pensioners and today, you all can see on-going projects everywhere.”

The governor, who thanked God for making him redeem his various pledges to the church, declared that it was the church’s consistent interceding prayers that made his administration fulfil its campaign promises to the people of Rivers State.

I am open to criticism - Wike

I left N10bn for Wike - Amaechi

PORT HARCOURT—Former Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi has said he left a balance of between eight to ten billion naira for his successor, Governor Nyesom Wike.

In a statement from his from his media office yesterday, the former governor denied that he handed over an empty treasury to his successor.

Nyesom Wike and Romiti Amaechi

The statement by the former Governor’s media office, yesterday, revealed that a total of N7.5 billion cash was left behind as balances in the State Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, account with Skye Bank, FAAC account with Zenith Bank, balances with Access Bank and funds in the State reserve fund account in First Bank.

“This is besides other balances in the state Government House account with Zenith Bank and other government MDA accounts, like the Bureau for Public Procurement, BPP. By the time you pull all these together, we are looking at readily available cash in the region of eight to ten billion naira left for the Wike administration.”

“It’s also pertinent to point out here that former governor Amaechi also left economic assets worth tens of billions of naira for the state. Just like cash, the assets store value. These assets that are scattered in diverse sectors of the economy were developed or built or procured with revenue that accrued to the state during Amaechi’s tenure. The assets belong to Rivers State, not Amaechi. Some of these assets are presently yielding revenue to the state coffers, and many can be easily and readily converted to cash, if the State so desires.

“It is therefore disingenuous and fraudulent for Wike to claim that Amaechi left an empty treasury in his bid to justify the N30 billion loans he collected under 30 days in office. Rather than this puerile and silly distraction of always pointing accusing fingers at Amaechi, Wike should come out to explain to Rivers people what he took the loans for, account for and justify every kobo that has been spent from the loans”, the statement concluded.

But media aide to governor Nyesom Wike, Mr Opunabo Nko-Tariah, described the claim by the former governor as another tissue of lies, stressing that if he left what he claimed how come civil servants, pensioners , footballers, contractors were owed by his government.

He said even students on the state scholarship program overseas were almost sent out of the classroom over unpaid fees, adding that the issue was not all about empty treasury alone as properties in Government House, Port Harcourt were allegedly looted before the handover date of May 29..

Governor Wike had consistently maintained that he met a completely empty treasury when he took over as governor.

Only on Wednesday, while trying to justify why he took a total of N30 billion bank loans from Zenith and Access banks under 30 days in office, Wike had through his spokesman, Opunabo Inko-Tariah told a radio station in Port Harcourt that he met an empty treasury when he took over government.

However, Amaechi has openly put a lie to Wike’s claim, saying he left billions of naira in cash and economic assets for Rivers State.

 

I left N10bn for Wike - Amaechi

Corruption Allegation: Amaechi has been vindicated - APC

…Berates Wike over failed attempt to demonise Ex-Governor

Former Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, has been vindicated in the corruption allegation levelled against him by his successor, Chief Nyesom Wike, the State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said on Sunday.

Nyesom Wike and Romiti Amaechi

Rivers APC noted in a statement signed by the Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, that the allegations, which it dismissed as spurious, have been successfully refuted by Amaechi through past Rivers State Government functionaries who served under him.

“Immediate past Secretary to the Rivers State Government, George Feyi, and the Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Chamberlain Peterside, in a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari did not only dismiss the allegations as a figment of the imagination of Wike and his cohorts but also provided concrete proof that Amaechi ran the affairs of Rivers State using transparent financial procedures that cannot be faulted by any well-meaning person or organisation,” Rivers APC said in the statement issued in the State Capital, Port Harcourt.

“As Messrs Feyi and Peterside made clear in their letter to President Buhari, these fabricated allegations against Amaechi, sponsored by Chief Wike and spread through the State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and such amorphous groups as The Integrity Group are borne out of malice, with the sole aim to malign the integrity of Amaechi and his administration so as to poison President Buhari’s mind and discourage him from appointing Amaechi into his cabinet,” Rivers APC said.

The party said that with the refutation of the satanic allegations by Messrs Feyi and Peterside, it is now very clear to both President Buhari and Nigerians that Amaechi is just one of our few leaders that ran a corruption-free and transparent administration during his tenure as the Governor of Rivers State.

“Thus, Chief Wike has failed woefully in his desperate bid to tarnish the good image of Amaechi. Surely, President Buhari cannot be deceived by the antics of Wike and his cohorts seeking to stop him from making Amaechi part of his administration in recognition of his well-known managerial acumen and the role he played as Director General of the Muhammadu Buhari Presidential Campaign Organisation in mobilising Nigerians to cast their ballots for the APC Presidential Candidate during the March 28 presidential polls,” Rivers APC said.

Corruption Allegation: Amaechi has been vindicated - APC

APC attacks Wike over alleged anti-Buhari plot

 •Accuses him of spending over N5B on failed campaign of calumny

The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Sunday launched a blistering attack on the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, following a revelation that he was the unseen hand behind the campaign of calumny against General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.) in the run-up to the March 28, 2015 presidential election. Rivers APC said in a statement signed by the Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, that it was not surprised to discover that Wike was behind the negative campaign against Buhari during the presidential campaign period in view of Wike’s well-known treacherous character.

 

Nyesom Wike

“No one who knows Wike well enough would be surprised to learn that he, working in concert with a former Governor of Rivers State strongly connected to Daar Communications, operators of AIT and RayPower, was the brain behind the negative advertisements that almost derailed the victory of Buhari, the APC candidate, in the last presidential election. Wike is a devious and treacherous character who would stop at nothing to achieve his purpose. We thank Almighty God for frustrating his plans to foist his preferred candidate, then-president Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Nigerians for another four years, for that would have sounded the death knell for our dear country, Nigeria,” Rivers APC said in the statement issued in Port Harcourt.

The party recalled that there was nothing, no matter how absurd, that was not deployed by Wike and his henchmen to assassinate the character of Buhari and portray him as unelectable in the negative advertisements that carried on radio, TV, newspapers and even international media outlets. “Wike was the person who also encouraged and supported his friend, Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti, to sponsor the death-wish adverts against Buhari. For Wike to have sunk more than five billion naira into that evil plot demonstrates his level of desperation to stop Buhari but God in His infinite love for Nigerians thwarted their conspiracy and installed Buhari as President,” Rivers APC said.

The party noted that Wike and his co-conspirators have recently put together a huge war chest running into billions of naira – money that should have been used for the welfare of Rivers people – to similarly sponsor a smear campaign against former governor Chibuike Amaechi in the hope that it would make Buhari not to appoint Amaechi into his cabinet. “Just as Wike and his group failed to achieve their evil plot against Buhari, so they shall also fail in their campaign of calumny against Amaechi, as President Buhari will not be bamboozled by their fairy tales,” Rivers APC said.

APC attacks Wike over alleged anti-Buhari plot

Tribunal dismisses four out of five petitions against Wike

The Rivers State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abuja has dismissed four out of the five petitions filed to challenge the election of Chief Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party as the governor of the state.

Nyesom Wike

The only surviving petition challenging the declaration of Wike as the winner of the April 11 poll is the one filed by the All Progressives Congress and its governorship candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside.

Though, one of the four petitions marked EPT/RV/GOV/05/2015 was voluntarily withdrawn by the petitioner, Kemka Elenwo, who was KOWA Party’s governorship candidate in the election, the three others were dismissed on technical grounds based on the application by Wike and the PDP.

The Justice Mu’azu Pindiga-led tribunal on Wednesday dismissed the fourth petition marked PT/RV/GOV/03/2015 which was filed by Minaibim Harry of the Social Democratic Party on the grounds that the petition was incompetent.

The tribunal held that it lacked jurisdiction to entertain the petition since the two grounds on which it was anchored were defective because they were not in strict compliance with the provisions of Section 138(1)(a) to (d) of the Electoral Act.

The said provision of the Electoral Act prescribes the grounds on which an election petition can be filed.

Other petitions that have been dismissed by the tribunal are, the one solely filed by the Labour Party (EPT/RV/GOV/01/2015) and another by the All Progressives Grand Alliance and its candidate, Charles Harry (EPT/RV/GOV/02/2015).

In its ruling on July 31, while dismissing the petition by Labour Party which fielded Tonye Princewill in the April 11 election, Justice Pindiga held that the party did not have a candidate for the election, having not complied with the requirement under Section 85(1) of the Electoral Act (EA) 2010.

It noted that the notice given by the petitioner to INEC of its intention to conduct primary election from which the petitioner’s candidate purportedly emerged, “is less than the mandatory 21 days required by Section 85(1) of the Electoral Act.

“By implication, the effect of this non-compliance, is that no valid primary election was conducted and held by the petitioner and its purported candidate.”

The tribunal also found that the petitioner did not comply with the required procedure for applying for the issuance of pre-hearing notice, a defualt which rendered the petition abandoned.

“It is clear from the wordings of Paragraph 18(1) of the 1st Schedule of the EA that application for the issuance of pre-hearing notice, as in Form 008, shall be made after filling and service of the petitioner’s reply.

“We hold that this was not complied with in this petition. The application for issuance of pre-hearing notice was filed on June 18, 2015 a period when pleadings had not been fully exchanged.

“The implication of the above is that there is no proper application for issuance of notice of pre-hearing in view of the above by the provisions of Paragraph 18(4) & (5) of the 1st Schedule to the Electoral Act.

“Once pleadings close and either party fails to make an application for pre-hearing, the tribunal is empowered, under Paragraph 18(4) to dismiss the petition as abandoned.

“Therefore, with the combine effect of non-compliance with the provision of Section 85(1) of the EA, sections 137 and 138 of the same EA in addition to the provision of paragraphs 18(1), (4) and (5), this petition is hereby dismissed for being incompetent and also abandoned.”

Tribunal dismisses four out of five petitions against Wike

Patience Jonathan deserves her humiliation at Port Harcourt Airport - APC

….Says she’s reaping what she sewed

….Berates PDP

Former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, deserves the humiliation she suffered last week when she was denied access to the Protocol Lounge of the Port Harcourt International Airport, the Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said.

Mrs. Patience Jonathan
| credits: kenetomagazine.blogspot.com

The party in a statement issued Tuesday in Port Harcourt and signed by the Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, berated the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for splitting hairs over the issue.

The party said: “We read with dismay the unwarranted attack by PDP against the Federal Government over the denial of access to the Protocol Lounge of the Port Harcourt International Airport to the former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan. To us in Rivers State, this attack against the Federal Government is unwarranted and not necessary as Dame Patience Jonathan is merely reaping what she sewed while in power. Which Port Harcourt International Airport are we talking about? Is it the airport which Dame Patience Jonathan ensured was abandoned even as other airports whose rehabilitation was started at the same time were completed? Does the present state of the airport, which has become an eyesore, not enough reason not to allow this misguided woman any space in the airport? The sad state of the Port Harcourt Airport is one of the numerous acts perpetrated by the Jonathans to show the level of their hatred and disdain for Rivers State and her people just because Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi happens to govern the State at the time she and her husbands were gods in Nigeria.”

Rivers APC also asked: “If we may ask the noisy PDP, where was the party when this woman during the lawless PDP-led Federal Government under the watch of her husband, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, used the police to harass, intimidate and hound then-Governor Rotimi Amaechi and APC leaders in Rivers State to the chagrin of Nigerians and the international community? Where were they when this vicious woman used Chief Nyesom Wike, her then attack dog, to murder the rule of law through the infamous CP Joseph Mbu and heartlessly dispersed 13,200 teachers who gathered to receive their employment letters, aided the five renegade lawmakers to attempt the impeachment of the then Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, barricaded and sealed the State Assembly for one legislative year and even blocked the access road to the Government House on one occasion, preventing Governor Amaechi and his visitors from using the road?”

The statement recalled that “the same lawless Dame Jonathan used Wike, who was at the time a junior minister, to order their thugs (GDI) to stone State Governors who visited Rivers in solidarity with Amaechi for the humiliation he suffered under the watchful eyes of then-President Jonathan. The same First Lady used Wike, the police and the army to forcefully break into the newly constructed stadium in Port Harcourt just to prove their powers.”

Rivers APC further asked: “Where was PDP when this woman attacked the wife of the late President, Hajiya Yar’Adua, and even plotted to usurp her land in Abuja because she lost her husband? Where was PDP when this woman supervised the bombing of APC Secretariat at Okirika and killing of APC members just because of election?”

The party advised Dame Jonathan and PDP to stop complaining but to prepare to pay for the sins they committed against the people of the Niger Delta.

“In case they do not, know, we wish to tell them that there is something called the Law of Karma and that even the Holy Book makes it clear that we shall all reap whatever we sow,” Rivers APC said.

Patience Jonathan deserves her humiliation at Port Harcourt Airport - APC

Rivers APC’s Election Petition Tribunal Triumph: ‘It is God’s doing’ - Finebone

It is now common knowledge that the APC had a string of favourable rulings at all the election petition tribunals today sitting at Abuja. From the matter of locational jurisdiction of the panels to the now vexed issue of 21 days notice to INEC for party primaries, the APC candidates all got positive rulings.

It is of immense significance to point out, at this juncture, that about a fortnight ago, one of the tribunals ruled that the petitions of Dr. Dawari George and Hon. Lucky Odili did not meet the time requirement as specified in the Electoral Act 2010 as amended, an otherwise pre-election matter.

Following this ruling, the Rivers State Chapter of the PDP went on air to announce that same rulings awaited all petitions by APC candidates before the various tribunals.

Today, the APC is glad to state that the particular tribunal that handed that ruling on the matters of Dr. Dawari George and Hon. Lucky Odili, having realised the grave error it committed with those rulings, now ruled that the issue at stake was actually a pre-election matter and therefore dismissed the objection of Betty Apiafi in the matter of Ahoada East/Abual Odua Federal Constituency involving Hon(Mrs) Betty Apiafi and APC Candidate, Hon.Robinson Nnamdi Ewor.

The Tribunal maintained that matters regarding errors during primaries are pre-election matters, and therefore the Tribunal was not constituted to look into such matters, but disputes arising from the conduct of the election.

The Tribunal must have also taken advantage of a recent Kwara State appeal court ruling that all such matters are pre-election issues that are not within the scope of work before election tribunals.

Therefore, a number of things are now clear from the present situation.

The matter of 21 days notice to INEC for Primaries has been confirmed a pre-election matter which is beyond the adjudication of the election petition tribunals. It also means that none of the petitions of the APC candidates in Rivers State is in danger of disqualification on the basis of such a pre-election requirement at the tribunals. Most importantly, it confirms that the ruling on the matter reserved for Wednesday with regard to the motion by Gov. Nyesom Wike and the PDP against Dr. Dakuku Peterside and the APC is likely to suffer a dismissal as no proper ruling on same matter under same circumstances can go in a different direction. Yet again, it serves notice that Hon. Dawari George and Hon Lucky Odili will have the rulings on their matter reversed as the appeals have already been filed.

The APC would like to appeal to our leaders and members to continue to remain steadfast in our determination to reclaim our individual and collective mandates taken away by the Philistines of our time who are already plundering our commonwealth while threatening us with violence

Signed

Chris Finebone

Rivers State APC Publicity Secretary

Rivers APC’s Election Petition Tribunal Triumph: ‘It is God’s doing’ - Finebone