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Wike Raises Alarm On Frame-Up Plot …Insists IG Plans To Eliminate Him …As RSG Donates Gunboats To Navy
Rivers State Governor,Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has raised a fresh alarm over plot by the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris to frame him up by planting incriminating materials in his Abuja residence
He told newsmen over the weekend, during a media chat in Government House Port Harcourt that the plot is being hatched such that the police plans to surreptitiously obtain a search warrant to raid his private house by Tuesday (tomorrow).
Further declaring that the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris has concluded plans to plant guns and other incriminating items at his Asokoro Extension Residence in Abuja.
He said: “All attempt is being made so that they will go and plant either AK47 or one million dollars in the governor’s house. They can even plant costly wrist watches as a propaganda tool”.
According to the governor, the Police will be in court to get a search warrant on Tuesday. He said information available to him indicated that but for the May Day Public Holiday, the Police would have obtained the search warrant on Monday.
”I said I have to let Nigerians know that this is not the way to go about in democracy. Rather, this is an attempt to truncate democracy. That someone differs on issues does not mean you have to go after the person’s life”.
Chief Wike said this is the latest in the series of planned propaganda by the police to sow devilish information against him.
“Nigerians should be aware that should they raid my house in Abuja and claim they found anything, it is incorrect. I have not been going to Abuja, but I will be in Abuja to wait for them to see how they plan to plant guns in my house”, Governor Wike said.
While maintaining his position that the Inspector-General of Police is after his life, Chief Wike stated that this recent plot is aimed at silencing him because the Rivers State Government claimed the Ikoyi Billions, which were reportedly left there by the former Rivers State Governor.
He decried the pattern that has been adopted in the nation’s democracy, saying that it will negatively affect the growth of democracy.
“Our democracy cannot survive if we continue with this line of action. If the Inspector-General of Police wants to play partisan politics, let him remove his uniform and join us in the arena. He should not continue to wear uniform and do the bidding of politicians like a stooge”, he said.
While reiterating an earlier statement that the Inspector General of Police wants to eliminate him, he said, ”I want to reiterate that, the Inspector-General of Police is after my life”.
Meanwhile,the Nigerian Navy has confirmed receipts of eight assault gunboats from Rivers State Government that it says will boost its fight against oil theft and sea robbery which has become commonplace in the Niger Delta.
At the inauguration of the gunboats in Port Harcourt, Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Ibok Ete-Ibas said the eight gunboats would complement another batch of 12 gunboats delivered earlier by the Rivers State Government, all geared at securing the state maritime environment.
Governor Wike has even promised to donate 13 more boats, bringing the government’s contribution to 33.
Vice Adm. Ibok Ete-Ibas said the gunboats would boost Navy’s patrol capabilities and speed up response of troops to reported crime scenes and thereby discourage criminality on the waterways.
“The Navy appreciates the expectation attendant to delivery of these gunboats and we assure that the Navy will be prompt in committing the assets to operation.
“The gunboats would be deployed to impose order and security along the waterways in Rivers state with focus to boost economic activities.
“This deployment would facilitate free passage for the people to conduct their legitimate businesses without hindrance by criminal elements.
“To this end, the gunboats have beefed up the Nigerian Navy boat fleet to over 100 assorted boats which have enhanced the security of the waterways and the coastal communities,” he said.
Ibas commended Governor Wike for his support to the Navy and promised that the boats would be used for their set objectives.
Wike said that his administration was committed to securing lives and property in the state.
He pointed out that his government’s partnership with the Navy and other security agencies had yielded positive result as crime had reduced in the state.
“However, these gunboats are for security of lives and property of Rivers state alone as it should not be taken to neighbouring states on any account.
“Any state government that wants to secure her waterways should purchase its own gunboats because securing lives and property of Rivers people is paramount to the state government,” he said.
Wike said the state government would further acquire 13 special boats that would be distributed to the Nigerian Navy, Army and the Police.
Our correspondent reports that the gunboats were fitted with 200 horse power engine; 12.7mm machine guns, automatic grenade launchers and communication gadgets.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has charged the newly appointed Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and Chief of Staff (CoS) to carry out their duties with discipline, loyalty and a firm commitment to the success of the administration and the wellbeing of the people of Rivers State.
The governor warned that any involvement in unauthorised nocturnal meetings or any conduct capable of embarrassing the government will attract immediate dismissal.
Fubara gave the warning yesterday shortly after the newly appointed Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr Dagogo S.A. Wokoma and the new Chief of Staff (CoS), Barrister Sunny Ewule, were sworn in at the Executive Council Chambers of Government House, Port Harcourt.
As part of the ceremony, the Chief Registrar of the State High Court, David Ihua-Maduenyi administered the Oath of Allegiance and Oath of Office on the duo before the governor gave his charge.
Addressing the appointees, Fubara reminded them that their elevation to the new positions was a call to service and not a platform for political grandstanding or the pursuit of personal ambition.
He stressed that their foremost responsibility should be to themselves and to the people of Rivers State, stressing that their conduct must always reflect integrity, restraint and dedication to public good.
Speaking directly to Dr. Wokoma, whom he described as an accomplished academic and mathematician, the governor expressed confidence in his intellectual depth and capacity to deliver on the new assignment.
The office of the Secretary to the State Government, Fubara stressed, demands thoroughness, discipline and a deep sense of responsibility. He charged the SSG to represent the State with honour at all times.
“Your duty includes representing the state government. You need to represent us in a way and manner that will bring honour to us.
“What is important to this administration is to see that the good works that we started and the ones that we met, are concluded in a way that will bring progress and development to our dear state,” he stated.
Turning to the new Chief of Staff, the governor explained that he is expected to ensure smooth administrative coordination, managing official engagements effectively and safeguarding the image of the Government House.
He underscored the sensitive and personal nature of the role and emphasised that the position operates strictly under the authority of the governor.
Fubara stressed that the role does not permit independent political engagements or private strategy meetings without his knowledge and consent.
“Let me sound it here very clearly. Your duty is to make sure that you handle the administrative duties and image making roles perfectly well, liaising with whoever is coming for any official assignment here.
“If you involve yourself in nocturnal meetings and all those things, I will sack you. I’m very serious. What is important to me today is peace, progress and prosperity of this state. I’m not going to compromise anything for it,” he said.
The governor cautioned that involvement of the new appointees in any action capable of bringing the government or his office to disrepute would attract appropriate sanctions.
While congratulating the new appointees, Fubara expressed optimism that they would justify the confidence reposed in them.
He called on all public officials to work together in unity, observing that collective success is stronger and more enduring than individual achievement.
The governor who also addressed the Permanent Secretaries present at the ceremony, directed those of them who have reached retirement age to start preparing their handover notes without delay.
The notice, he said, was not intended to scare anybody but to prepare their minds towards the inevitability of exiting the service one day and to pave way for an orderly transition.
He warned against any attempt to engage in financial misconduct or last-minute irregularities, stressing that he was closely monitoring the system to ensure strict enforcement of accountability rules.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, has dissolved the State Executive Council.
The governor announced the cabinet dissolution yesterday in a statement titled ‘Government Special Announcement’, signed by his new Chief Press Secretary, Onwuka Nzeshi.
Governor Fubara directed all Commissioners and Special Advisers to hand over to the Permanent Secretaries or the most Senior officers in their Ministries with immediate effect.
He thanked the outgoing members of the State Executive Council for their service and wished them the best in their future endeavours.
The three-paragraph special announcement read, “His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, Governor of Rivers State, has dissolved the State Executive Council.
“His Excellency, the Governor, has therefore directed all Commissioners and Special Advisers to hand over to the Permanent Secretaries or the most Senior officers in their Ministries with immediate effect.
“His Excellency further expresses his deepest appreciation to the outgoing members of the Executive Council wishing them the best in their future endeavours.”
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday told the National Assembly that it requires N873.78bn to conduct the 2027 general elections, even as it seeks N171bn to fund its operations in the 2026 fiscal year.
INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, made the disclosure while presenting the commission’s 2026 budget proposal and the projected cost for the 2027 general elections before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Electoral Matters in Abuja.
According to Amupitan, the N873.78bn election budget covers the full conduct of national polls in 2027.
An additional N171bn is needed to support INEC’s routine activities in 2026, including bye-elections and off-season elections, the commission stated.
The INEC boss said the proposed election budget does not include a fresh request from the National Youth Service Corps seeking increased allowances for corps members engaged as ad-hoc staff during elections.
He explained that, although the details of specific line items were not exhaustively presented, the almost N1tn election budget is structured across five major components.
“N379.75bn is for operational costs, N92.32bn for administrative costs, N209.21bn for technological costs, N154.91bn for election capital costs and N42.61bn for miscellaneous expenses,” Amupitan said.
The INEC chief noted that the budget was prepared “in line with Section 3(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, which mandates the Commission to prepare its election budget at least one year before the general election.”
On the 2026 fiscal year, Amupitan disclosed that the Ministry of Finance provided an envelope of N140bn, stressing, however, that “INEC is proposing a total expenditure of N171bn.”
The breakdown includes N109bn for personnel costs, N18.7bn for overheads, N42.63bn for election-related activities and N1.4bn for capital expenditure.
He argued that the envelope budgeting system is not suitable for the Commission’s operations, noting that INEC’s activities often require urgent and flexible funding.
Amupitan also identified the lack of a dedicated communications network as a major operational challenge, adding that if the commission develops its own network infrastructure, Nigerians would be in a better position to hold it accountable for any technical glitches.
Speaking at the session, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) said external agencies should not dictate the budgeting framework for INEC, given the unique and sensitive nature of its mandate.
He advocated that the envelope budgeting model should be set aside.
He urged the National Assembly to work with INEC’s financial proposal to avoid future instances of possible underfunding.
In the same vein, a member of the House of Representatives from Edo State, Billy Osawaru, called for INEC’s budget to be placed on first-line charge as provided in the Constitution, with funds released in full and on time to enable the Commission to plan early enough for the 2027 general election.
The Joint Committee approved a motion recommending the one-time release of the Commission’s annual budget.
The committee also said it would consider the NYSC’s request for about N32bn to increase allowances for corps members to N125,000 each when engaged for election duties.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC, Senator Simon Along, assured that the National Assembly would work closely with the Commission to ensure it receives the necessary support for the successful conduct of the 2027 general elections.
Similarly, the Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, Bayo Balogun, also pledged legislative support, warning INEC to be careful about promises it might be unable to keep.
He recalled that during the 2023 general election, INEC made strong assurances about uploading results to the INEC Result Viewing portal, creating the impression that results could be monitored in real time.
“iREV was not even in the Electoral Act; it was only in INEC regulations. So, be careful how you make promises,” Balogun warned.
The N873.78bn proposed by INEC for next year’s general election is a significant increase from the N313.4bn released to the Commission by the Federal Government for the conduct of the 2023 general election.
