News

RSG Promises Even Development …Plans State wide Prayer, Praise Crusade

Published

10 years ago

February 17, 2016

The Rivers State Government has reiterated its determination to bequeath purposeful governance that would ensure even development in all parts of the state.
The state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, stated this while addressing mammoth supporters of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in Buguma, Asari-Toru Local Government Area, during a Thanksgiving Service and victory celebration organized by Kengema Unity Forum (KUF) to mark the Supreme Court victory of the party.
Wike, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr Ipalibo Harry Banigo, assured that with the court distractions over, his administration is poised to concentrate on delivering the dividends of democracy to the people.
He promised that the state government under his administration would provide unparallel leadership that would impact on the lives of Rivers citizens and solicited for support, cooperation as well as understanding of the people.
Wike explained that the abandoned Trans-Kalabari Road by the previous government would be completed by his administration, noting that the road project has been provided for in the 2016 state budget.
The state chief executive used the occasion to appeal to the Kalabari people to be peaceful during the March 19, 2016, re-run elections into the State and National Assemblies, adding that no innocent blood should be shed as a result of the elections.
He noted that majority of the people of Asari-Toru Local Government Council are PDP members, and enjoined them to vote all the party candidates in the re-run elections to guarantee smooth governance.
Wike thanked the Caretaker Committee (CTC) Chairman of Asari Toru LGA, Soboma Jackrich, for ensuring peaceful co-existence in Buguma and its environs, and the Kengema Unity Forum for their continued support to his administration.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs. Ominin Jack, expressed happiness with the performance of the governor in just a few months in office, and urged the opposition parties to join hands with PDP in the development of the state.
In their separate remarks, Special Adviser to the Governor on Urban Beautification and Parks, Hon. Daisy West, and the PDP candidate for the forthcoming re-run election for the House of Representatives, Hon. Tekena Granville, thanked the Supreme Court for affirming the mandate given Wike by the people of the state at the April 11, 2015 elections.
The CTC Chairman of Asari-Toru Local Government Area, Soboma Jackrich, thanked the people for supporting Wike and the PDP in the state to victory.
Highpoint of the victory celebration was the defection of an All Progressive Congress (APC) stalwart, Chief Prince LongJohn to the PDP.
Mean while the Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr Ipalibo Harry Banigo, says the state government has concluded plans to kick-start a state-wide Prayer and Praise Crusade that will reposition the state for greater prospects.
Banigo disclosed this during the 49th Birthday and Thanksgiving Service of the General Overseer of Kingdom Life Gospel Church, Bishop Victor Uzosike in Port Harcourt.
She noted that the crusade, which will cut across the entire state, would be coordinated by anointed ministers of God in partnership with the state government.
“Rivers State Prayer and Praise Crusade is what we are going to use in lifting Rivers people. We dedicated the state to God in September last year and our great state is now Born Again,” she declared.
The deputy governor said the state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike’s administration was desirous to leave behind worthy legacy in the New Rivers State Project, and solicited for the support of all and sundry.
Banigo, while extolling the virtues of Bishop Uzosike, described him as reliable, trustworthy and God-fearing religious leader that has impacted lives of thousands of people with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Earlier in her sermon, titled ‘Kingdom Dominion’, the wife of the Bishop, Pastor Esther Uzosike, identified faith and thanksgiving as key principles of working in dominion, while urging Christians to imbibe thanksgiving in their daily lifestyle.
The event featured cutting of the birthday cake as well as prayer for the state government.

News

Arrest Arise TV Crew Attackers Or Face Boycott, Journalists Tell Rivers Police

Published

4 hours ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

Port Harcourt based media practitioners under the aegis of Port Harcourt Press, have urged the Rivers State Police Command to arrest and prosecute all suspects involved in the recent attack and harassment of Arise TV crew in Port Harcourt.

The media practitioners, at a World press conference in Port Harcourt, described as dangerous the continuous harassment of journalists by various political actors in the ongoing political crisis in the State.

The text of the briefing which was read by a former State Commissioner for information and Communications and federal lawmaker in the State, Hon. Ogbonna Nwuke, described as condemnable the attack on the Arise TV crew by suspected political thugs in Port Harcourt, while conducting an interview with Dr Leloonu Nwibubasa, a former commissioner in the State.

According to him, “That harrowing event of Friday, January 2, where the Arise TV crew were brutally attacked by armed men in a hotel in Port Harcourt while conducting interview with Dr Leloonu Nwibubasa, former Honourable Commissioner for Employment Generation and Empowerment, smacks of nothing but act of intimidation, threat to both the Nigerian media and human lives especially in the forceful carting away of broadcast equipment.”

The group further noted that the attack was not only an insult on the press freedom but on the larger society.

The group regretted the inability of the Police to arrest and bring to book the perpetrators of the act till date, warning that it may be forced to boycott police activities if those involved are not arrested and brought to book.

“From all indications, the police appear to be playing to the gallery. While the broadcast equipment were reportedly recovered, no definite arrest have been made. This body, therefore, demands an urgent and thorough investigation of this matter and those find culpable brought to justice within two weeks.

“Failure to address this issue with the urgency it requires and not carrying out satisfactory actions as required in their prosecution will attract sanctions such as withdrawal of coverage of all police activities in Rivers State by media organisations and journalists as we stand in solidarity with the NUJ,” the group warned.

John Bibor

News

Be Patient With Us, Diri Tells Bayelsans … Inspects New 60mw IPP …Expresses Confidence In Technical Partners, BECL MD

Published

1 week ago

January 2, 2026

The Tide

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri has sued for patience on the ongoing installation of the state’s new independent power project.

The Tide gathered that the 60-megawatt gas turbine project, which installation commenced in October this year, was earlier scheduled to be completed by December but suffered logistics related delays.

The governor called on people of the state to have an open mind about the project, which he said now requires a new completion date due to unforeseen challenges.

?The Tide further reports that the State’s Chief Executive who undertook an on-the-spot-assessment of the project at Elebele in Ogbia Local Government Area on Wednesday, said like other citizens of the state, he was also disappointed that the December completion deadline could not be met.

However, he stated that his reaction to the delay had been that of understanding rather than being angry as had been noticed, particularly on the social media.

?”You can see I’ve gone round the whole facility. It was based on the working agreement and information available at my disposal that I gave the December date. But as it is with every human endeavor, we must all have an open mind, when it comes to issues, particularly technical matters like this.

?”I am as disappointed as any other Bayelsan because I believed that we were going to celebrate the 2025 Christmas with our own independent power, but it turned out not to be so.

?”I call on Bayelsans to have an open mind. These technical experts are working virtually 24 hours, but delays like this will certainly come”, he said.

He implored the people 9f the state to appreciate the work of the engineers, stressing that a minor mistake was capable of jeopardising the millions of dollars expended on the project.

?”For 29 years Bayelsa has been in darkness or has endured epileptic power supply. Now that we are getting close to the day of liberation, some people have become impatient.

“Let us not behave like the proverbial tortoise in the prison for years that asked to be released immediately as the place was smelling the moment he knew it would regain freedom the next day”, the governor added.

?The Bayelss Governor gave a thumps up to the technical partners, Jampur Group, and its team on ground as well as the Managing Director of the Bayelsa Electricity Company Ltd, Engr. Olice Kemenanabo, saying they were working round the clock to ensure the job was completed.

?”Those who have been following me on this inspection would know that work has not stopped even for one day since it started. I am sure the job is more than 90 per cent complete. So let us hold our fire.

“Engineer Olice, I am not putting you under any pressure. From the reports I have, Olice is one of the best electrical engineers in Nigeria”, governor Diri said.

The governor, however, hinted that the government was looking at inaugurating the project during its sixth anniversary in February.

The MD of the Bayelsa Electricity Company Limited, Kemenanabo, who also spoke, said the state was on the right track towards actualising the project and assured that the alignment of the entire system, including the gas generator and alternator were on course.

He also stated that the remaining two turbines would be delivered to the project site in a few days.

?Speaking on behalf of the Jampur Group, Mr. Sherrif Abu-Anif said the company was in good position to meet its own end of the bargain and appreciated the state government for playing its part very well.

By Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

News

Akpabio Withdraws All Defamation Suits After Priest’s Sermon

Published

1 week ago

January 2, 2026

The Tide

The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has directed his lawyers to withdraw all ongoing defamation lawsuits against several individuals, saying he was moved by counsel during a New Year Mass.

Speaking at the Sacred Heart Parish in Uyo, yesterday, Akpabio said he had filed nearly nine lawsuits against individuals he accused of defaming him.

He said, “I had almost nine cases in court against some individuals who defamed me, who lied against me, who slandered my name.

“But I listened to the priest and suddenly realised he was talking to me, so I hereby direct my solicitor to withdraw all lawsuits against them.”

In 2025, Akpabio had filed several high-profile defamation lawsuits, including one against colleague Senator Natasha Akpoti?Uduaghan.

In late 2025, Akpabio filed a N200 billion defamation lawsuit against her over allegations of sexual harassment, which he denied and urged her to substantiate in court.

Earlier in the year, Akpabio’s wife also filed defamation suits against Akpoti?Uduaghan over claims she said had harmed her family’s reputation.

Relations between the two lawmakers soured after Akpoti?Uduaghan accused Akpabio of influencing her suspension from the Senate in March 2025, following her public allegations of misconduct.

The Senator had previously challenged actions taken against her in court, including a N100 billion defamation suit she filed against Akpabio and other defendants over alleged remarks that she said damaged her reputation.

With yesterday’s announcement, Akpabio has formally ended all pending legal disputes arising from defamation claims, signalling closure to the publicised litigations as the year begins.