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Repent, Renounce Crime Or… Wike Warns Criminals, Cultists …Promises Changed Cultists Amnesty
The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has announced that the state will grant amnesty to criminals and cultists who lay down their arms and embrace peace.
He gave the hint when members of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) paid him a courtesy visit yesterday in Government House, Port Harcourt.
Wike also said the state government was working with relevant security agencies to ensure that Rivers State remained safe for investors. He noted that strategies have been put in place to root out criminals from the state.
Consequently, Wike advised labour unions to use strike only as the last option in trade disputes to stem the tide of development challenges witnessed as a result of the frequency of strikes.
Speaking against the backdrop of the suspended NUPENG strike, the governor emphasised that workers should be allowed to unionise so that companies and organisations will be encouraged to always consider their welfare.
He said: “I believe that strikes should serve as a last option for unions during trade disputes. The strikes in Nigeria are getting too many and efforts should be targeted at reducing them.”
The governor further declared that the state government will collaborate with NUPENG as it develops a Tankers Village in Eleme with a view to taking tankers off the highways and generating revenue.
He commended the leaders of NUPENG for calling off their strike following government intervention, noting that the state government has already called on oil companies to reciprocate by recalling the sacked workers.
The governor urged unions to always work towards the development of money spinning ventures, to reduce their dependence on check off dues for survival.
While expressing happiness that NUPENG is developing a tankers village/Tank farm in Rivers State, he directed the State Commissioner for Energy and the Special Adviser on Lands to work with the union to bring the project to fruition and ensure the release of certificate of occupancy for the project site.
Earlier, President of NUPENG, Comrade Igwe Achese commended the governor for his development strides in the areas of infrastructure and welfare of workers.
He thanked the governor for intervening in the conflict between the unions and oil companies in the state over the sack of their members.
Achese informed the governor of the tank farm being constructed by NUPENG in Eleme. He appealed to the Governor to facilitate the release of the certificate of occupancy for the project site.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike says the State Government is not relenting in its effort to crush criminal elements as it has mandated security agencies to rout cultists and other miscreants in their hideouts.
Speaking while playing host to the National Executive Council of the Nigeria Institute of Architects(NIA) in Government House, yesterday, Wike assured that the state is safe to host international events, citing the successful hosting of the Africa Movies Academy Award (AMAA) Awards and other international football events.
He said, “We are taking the war to the criminals who thought it’s difficult to totally eliminate them”.
Describing insecurity as a global phenomenon Wike added, “ the world today is not safe but we must do everything to protect our people.”
The governor noted that most of the negative media reports about the state were mere propaganda, as he called on the institute to use the visit to confirm the hospitality and peaceful nature of the state.
On the planned West Africa Architects Festival billed for September, the governor assured of the state support to the event and commended NIA for selecting Rivers State as its host.
He reiterated that the state is safe to host international events, disclosing that in the past months, Rivers State has become an investors haven, citing the new Indorama mega fertilizer plant worth over $5billion as a testament of a booming economy.
Wike congratulated National President of NIA, Architect Tonye Oliver Braide, who is the first Rivers indigene to occupy the seat in the 56 years old institute.
On his part, Architect Braide commended Chief Wike for his visionary leadership, noting that the planned West Africa Architect Festival, “ is our statement of support to your enigmatic administration.”
Braide says the festival would help showcase potentials of the state as building professionals from different parts of Africa would attend.
He hinted of plans to partner with the state government to establish a new manufacturing hub for building materials and a new industrial estate to boost the construction industry.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that peace has prevailed because he draws strength from God to resist insults and tantrums thrown at him while frustrating attempts by some disgruntled persons who wanted to plunge the State into unending crisis.
The Governor also said that because he has anchored his Government on promoting peace, the enabling atmosphere has been provided for investments and sustainable development to flourish.
Governor Fubara made the assertion when he received a delegation of members of the Bishops and Gospel Ministers’ Association International Incorporated, Rivers State Chapter, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Represented by the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nwaeke, Governor Fubara said while most people took his meekness for weakness, his stance on peace has unarguably enhanced harmonious atmosphere of concord as residents sleep with their two eyes closed, and investors and shareholders are happy with the returns on investment.
He said, “Before, what they hear of Rivers State is that they are fighting, and some genuine investors will not come. Some people even ask you: How are you coping in Rivers State?
“But now”, he asserted: “The Governor has brought about a lot of changes in the State. One of the most important things is that he has changed the negative narrative. It is no longer Rivers of blood. It is now Rivers of peace.
“We are enjoying our lives here. Why? Because there is a change in the narrative. We have peace. The Governor is, as much as possible, absorbing any level of insult at him only for one purpose: that Rivers State may have peace; that we may grow; that this state will experience genuine development.”
Governor Fubara urged them, as members of the Christian family in the State, to continue to pray for the State and the Government so that the enemies of the State will be put to greater shame.
“This peace is what I want you to embrace. Go and continue to pray, because when the sower of the seed went and sowed, the enemy went in the night and sowed tares inside there. But the Governor is sowing peace.
“When I listened to the leader of the team, His Grace Eddy Ogbonda, he said you came all the way from Eleme Junction, and stopped at major junctions, and you uttered prayers for the peace of Rivers State.”
He also said: “I, hereby want to thank you for identifying with the Governor at a time like this. At a time when it looks as if someone wants the Governor’s peace posture misunderstood as weakness.
“When someone has the strength to fight back, but refuses to fight back. That is a bigger strength; that power of restrain does not just come, it can only come from God.
“You cannot give peace, if you do not have peace within you. The Governor is not interested in any form of trouble or violence. What he is interested in is known, and it is: let there be peace in Rivers State,” he said.
In his address, leader of the group, Archbishop Eddy Ogbonda, said they had observed a week-long intensive prayers that culminated into a peace rally, which brought them to Government House, and assured the Governor that God will continue to give him victory over his adversaries while preserving Rivers State.
“It is Rivers State Prophetic Prayer Convocation and Rally 2024 with the theme: ‘Peace be still’. Of a truth, everyone of us understands that we live in a time when we need peace much more than any other thing.
“Rivers State needs peace. Everyone as individuals need peace. The country needs peace, and the world at large needs peace. So, we are here to do a peace march. We pray that God will command His peace to reign in Rivers State,” he said.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has stated that hotels, schools, and other establishments that accept payments in dollars from their customers are at risk of facing arrest.
The Chairman of EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, said this in the agency’s publication called EFCC Alert on Monday, adding that action would be taken against individuals involved in the dollarisation of the economy.
According to him, the exception is if foreigners come in to transact business and the only means of transacting is their credit card and dollar but to charge local customers in dollars or other foreign currencies would no longer be allowed.
He said charging local activities and customers in dollars is against Nigeria’s constitution.
The EFCC chairman said, “Schools that charge Nigerians in dollar, supermarkets that trade in dollar, estate developers that sell their property in dollar, hotels that are invoicing in dollar, we are coming after you and we have made arrests in that area.
“Yes, if foreigners are coming in and the only means of transacting is their credit card, and dollar, why not? You will get that.
“But document it properly as against selling things within the system, local economy and you will be using dollar as the medium of exchange, it is illegal.
“Our law does not allow for that. And we have also affected some arrests.”
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has enjoined Muslim faithful to remain steadfast to the lessons learnt during the holy month of Ramadan.
Governor Fubara stated this in his message of felicitations to Muslims as they celebrate the 2024 Eid-el-Fitr Sallah, which marks the end of the one-month Ramadan fasting.
The Governor emphasised the importance for Muslims to also uphold the tenets of Islam by exhibiting the fear of God and showing piety in their daily work.
Governor Fubara said, “We must all continue in the good attributes imbibed during the holy month of Ramadan as directed by God through His Prophet, so as to ensure peace, unity and harmony in the society for a better future.”
While praying that the essence of the festival offers them happiness, peace and prosperity in all aspects of life, Governor Fubara said he recognises and appreciates the critical role that the Muslim community continues to play in the development of Rivers State, and indeed, Nigeria at large.
Governor Fubara charged them to remain unwavering and steadfast in their commitment and positive contributions to advance the development of the State and the country.
“I enjoin you all in the State to remain calm, be patient and continue to do what is right,” the Governor added.
He wished the Muslim faithful in the State and across the country a happy Eid-el-Fitr celebration.
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