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Attack on Judiciary, Threat To Democracy – Wike …Unveils Dev Plan for Mission Schools
The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has declared that the ruling party has deliberately threatened the foundation of democracy by its orchestrated intimidation of the judiciary through false allegations and illegal arrests.
He stated that because of the orchestrated harassment of judges by the ruling party, no judge will ever deliver judgments against the interest of the Federal Government and the ruling party.
Speaking at the Government House, Port Harcourt last Friday during a courtesy visit by the Port Harcourt Branch of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Wike warned lawyers against allowing the deliberate destruction of the judiciary under any guise.
According to him, the ruling party and her officials have elevated the art of frivolous petition writing against judges as a means of subverting the course of justice.
He said: “Our democracy is in danger. Our democracy has been threatened. What is happening to the judiciary is very deep. NBA must be careful of the deep implications of what it is also doing in the course of the present attack on the judiciary.
“All these actions are geared towards silencing everybody as we head toward 2019. If anybody tells you that they are fighting corruption in the judiciary, tell the person that he is lying.
“They have empowered politicians to write frivolous petitions against judges. Whether or not the petitions are true, the judge is compelled to step aside”.
Speaking further, he said: “Any judge who delivers a judgment that is against the interest of the ruling party, is hounded down by the DSS. They have intimidated judicial officers and put fear in them in a manner that is negatively affecting governance”.
The governor cited the ongoing Ondo PDP crisis as a point of reference where frivolous petition has been used to further the interest of the ruling party and destroy the judiciary.
On the December 10, 2016 date scheduled by INEC for Rivers rerun elections, Wike said the fact that it was announced less than 24 hours after the Senate ultimatum was an indication that INEC had been lying to people that insecurity was behind the repeated postponement of the rerun elections.
He, however, said that INEC in its anti-democratic elements will adduce reasons why the election may not be conducted on the same premise of security consideration.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Port Harcourt Branch of the NBA, Mr Victor Briggs, commended Wike for his commitment to the development of the state.
The Port Harcourt NBA thanked Wike for the construction of the ultramodern law centre for the branch, and assured the government that lawyers will always support all development programmes.
However, the Rivers State, Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has denied having hands in the ongoing judicial scandal against the former governor of the state, now the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.
It would be recalled that two Justices of the Supreme Court, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta and Justice Inyang Okoro, had accused Amaechi of prompting them to pervert justice to favour the All Progressives Congress (APC), governorship candidates, especially in Rivers and Akwa Ibom states.
In a statement last Thursday, the Chairman of the APC in Rivers State, Dr Davies Ikanya, had accused Governor Nyesom Wike of using the two Justices for political purpose to demean Amaechi.
But in a swift reaction, last Friday, Wike described the statement of his alleged involvement as scurrilous, noting that as governor, Amaechi left a shameful legacy in the state.
In a statement by the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Dr Austin Tam-George, Wike denied the allegation by the APC, describing the act as a disgraceful plight.
Tam-George noted that the governor had refrained from making public speech on the said subject, noting the state had been justified by the accusation from the two justices.
He said: “The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to yet another scurrilous statement by the Rivers State branch of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Wike has refrained from making public comments on this subject, because the people of Rivers State feel sadly vindicated by these latest scandals swirling around the Transportation Minister.
“As governor of Rivers State, Amaechi left a shameful record of waste and dysfunction. His thoughtless policies and mismanagement of public funds literally broke the economic spine of Rivers State.
“Amaechi has of course always protected his innocence. But even chieftains of his party, the APC, including serving governors, have publicly praised Amaechi for bankrolling the party’s presidential campaigns in the 2015 general elections, and for sponsoring candidates in that election.”
He, however, urged the APC to ask Amaechi to step down from office, in order to allow for a dispassionate inquiry into the serious allegations against him.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has announced the introduction of special financial intervention for the development of schools handed over to their church owners by the state government.
Addressing church leaders during an interactive session at the Government House, Port Harcourt, Wike directed the state Education Commissioner, Prof Kaniye Ebeku, and the special adviser on religious matters to liaise with the owners of mission schools to work out modalities for the intervention scheme.
He said that the state government took the decision after it discovered that most of the schools returned to their owners were in a state of disrepair.
The governor charged the church leaders to present a united front as they work towards creating the right environment for the development of the schools.
Wike also announced the establishment of an economic development fund for church members in the state.
He said: “This economic development fund will assist church members with health and business challenges to get back to their feet.
“This is like a social scheme that will assist indigent church members in these trying times. It is not meant to build churches, but an empowerment for less privileged members”.
The governor stressed that his administration will always have a human face, pointing out that the people must be shielded from the present day harsh economic recession.
He noted that the improved peace being enjoyed in the state is a function of the prayers of clerics who have supported the work being done by security agencies.
He urged church leaders to pray so that INEC will conduct free and fair elections for Rivers State to have representatives at the Senate, House of Representatives and Rivers State House of Assembly.
On the payment of salaries and pensions of those captured late in the biometric exercise, the governor said that Ministry of Finance has already credited the accounts of affected persons.
In his remarks, Archbishop of Niger Delta Province, Most Rev Ignatius Kattey, lauded Wike for the interactive session.
He commended the governor for setting up a vibrant State Executive Council that has worked hard to develop the state.
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RSG Approves Full Rehabilitation of State Secretariat …Unveils Housing Scheme for Civil Servants, Honours Veterans
Rivers State Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Eteh Ibas (Rtd), has approved the complete rehabilitation and modernization of the Rivers State Secretariat Complex to enhance efficiency and productivity in the civil service.
Ibas made the announcement at the 2025 Civil Service Week Gala and Awards Ceremony held at Banquet Hall, Government House, Port Harcourt, on Wednesday,.
He disclosed that “initiative is designed to transform the secretariat into a modern, efficient and conducive work environment, directly supporting the civil servants who form the backbone of the state’s governance.”
The Administrator also approved the provision of 106 housing units for civil servants in the State.
Ibas paid glowing tribute to retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries, describing them as the bedrock of the state’s administration.
He stated that the awards ceremony was a symbol of deep appreciation for decades of sacrifice, resilience, and commitment.
“These interventions are designed to not only recognize your service, but also to improve your welfare in tangible and lasting ways,” the Administrator stated.
“We must build an administration that is efficient, effective, and truly citizen-centric,” he added.
The Administrator urged serving officers to draw inspiration from their predecessors and strive to make a meaningful impact in the lives of citizens.
He emphasized the importance of embracing innovation, technology, and continuous training to build a civil service equipped for the future.
The Acting Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr. (Mrs.) Inyingi Brown, in her welcome address, described the civil service as the “engine room of government” and expressed profound gratitude to the Administrator for his unwavering support and commitment to its modernization.“
“A society that does not honour its heroes is not worthy of emulation,” Dr. Brown remarked, lauding the retirees as torchbearers of discipline and loyalty.
She pledged to build on their legacy through reforms and innovation, projecting that the Rivers State Civil Service would become a model of efficiency and transparency by 2030.
Speaking on behalf of the retirees, President of the Association of Retired Permanent Secretaries, Sir Promise Njowhor,
expressed heartfelt appreciation for the historic recognition.
“For once, since the creation of the State, we are being honoured,” Njowhor said, adding, “Our morale has been lifted.”
He pledged the association’s continuous support for government programmes, describing the body of experienced retirees as a resource available to contribute to state development.
The rehabilitation of the State Secretariat and the new housing scheme represent a major investment in the infrastructure and dignity of public service in Rivers State, signaling a new era of support for the civil servants who drive the government’s policies and programmes.
The Tide reports that the Administrator also conferred awards of meritorious service on retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries in the State
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has won 20 out of the 23 local government areas in the just concluded local government election in the State, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) clinched three local governments.
According to the results released by the Rivers State independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), yesterday, the APC won the chairmanship seats in Abua/Odual, Andoni, Opobo Nkoro, Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Okrika, Ogu/Bolo and Khana local government areas.
APC also won in Gokana, Tai, Oyigbo, Bonny, Eleme, Etche, Omuna, Akuku Toru, Asari Toru, Degema, Ikwerre and Emohua local government areas.
The Commission, however, said the PDP won in Port Harcourt City, Obio/Akpor, and Ogba Egbema Ndoni local government areas.
Chairman of the Commission, Dr Michael Odey, who announced the results at the Commission headquarters in Port Harcourt, said Ofori Owolabi of the APC scored 28,755 votes to emerge winner of the election for Abua Odual while Solomon Ochomma, also of the APC, emerged chairman elect for Ahoada East after scoring 54,509 votes.
Odey said Eugene Epelle also of the APC scored 84,125 votes to emerge winner in Ahoada West, while Bob Fubara was elected the chairman-elect for Akuku Toru after scoring 63,593 votes.
Similarly APC chairmanship candidate Lucky Otuo Promise emerged chairman-elect for Andoni after scoring a total of 126,181 votes, APC’s George Onengiyeofori emerged winner in Asari Toru after scoring 56,383 votes, while Pepple Blessing Abinye garnered 13,543 votes to emerge winner in Bonny Local Government Area.
Other APC candidates elected include Michael John Williams who scored 16,536 votes to emerge chairman-elect for Degema Local Government; Obarlllormate Ollor (77,452) for Eleme; Dr Chidi Julius Lloyd (114,380) for Emohua; Njoku Boniface (100,649) for Etche; Confidence Deekor (96,478) for Gokana, while Wobodo Charles got 62,746 votes to emerge winner in Ikwerre Local Government Area.
Other APC winners from the APC include Akuro Tobins (32,285 votes) for Okrika; Hon Obasi Uchechukwu (38,530) for Omuma; James A James (38,822) for Opobo Nkoro; Vincent Nemieboka (36,374) for Ogu/Bolo; Hon Mbakpone Okpe (70,080) for Tai LGA, while in Oyigbo, Okechukwu Akara scored 101,495 votes to emerge winner.
Meanwhile, the RSIEC chairman announced Dr Gift Worlu of the PDP with 328,823 votes to emerge winner in Obio Akpor; Shedrack Ogbogu, also of the PDP, scored 51,051 votes for Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Area, while in Port Harcourt City, Sir Alwell Ihunda garnered 235,054 votes for PDP to emerge winner.
The APC also cleared the councillorship seats in Abua/Odual, Andoni, Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Okrika, Ogu/Bolo and Khana, Oyigbo, Bonny, Eleme, Etche,Tai, Khana Opobo/Nkoro and Degema local government areas.
Similarly APC councillorship candidates also emerged winners in Asari Toru, Degema, Akuku Toru, Gokana and Khana while PDP cleared the councillorship seats in Obio/Akpor, Port Harcourt city, and Ogba Egbema/ Ndoni Local Government Areas
Meanwhile, the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions has passed a vote of confidence on the just concluded local government election in the State.
National Chairman of the forum, Hon. Mamman Nda Eri, said this in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt.
Eri said all the chairmen across the country were in Port Harcourt to monitor the election as well as gain experience in an election under emergency rule.
John Bibor & King Onunwor
