Connect with us

Featured

Rivers Agog As Wike Returns With ‘Power Of Sports’ Award …Gov Stops Over At Project Sites …Again Warns Against Street Trading …NUJ Hails Gov On Award

Published

on

Rivers people yesterday trooped to the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa to celebrate Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike as he returned with the “Power of Sports” Award.
The International Sports Press Association-Africa (AIPS) Africa had conferred the Power of Sports Award in a ceremony last Wednesday in Belgium witnessed by sports journalists from 108 countries.
Accompanied by his wife, Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike and Rivers State PDP Chairman, Bro Felix Obuah, Wike returned to the love and support of Rivers people who sang his praises for doing the state proud.
Defying the heavy rains, Rivers people declared their unflinching support for the governor in his commitment to change the fortunes of the state.
Wike said that the award would only spur him to further dedicate himself to the construction of a New Rivers State, adding that investments of his administration would earn the state global acclaim.
He reiterated that the state’s investments in sports, especially the Real Madrid Football Academy was to empower youth with the right footballing skills and education to conquer the world.
The construction of the Real Madrid Football Academy would be flagged off on May 28, 2018 in an international event in Port Harcourt.
Wike said: “I wish to reiterate our resolve to continue to tap the benefits of sport to advance social cohesion, peace and progress in Rivers State.”
Chief of Staff to the Rivers State Governor, Engr Emeka Woke, who welcomed the Rivers State governor alongside other Rivers people, said that the state has transformed into an international reference point because of the outstanding developmental strides of the Governor.
Meanwhile, Governor Wike on his return from Brussel yesterday appealed to street traders to desist from displaying their wares on major roads.
Governor Wike also described as unfortunate the attack of Government Officials restoring sanity on the roads by hoodlums at the Slaughter Market in Port Harcourt. .
He gave the management of the market two days to produce the hoodlums or face sanctions.
He said that nobody will be allowed to disrupt the development process of the state, under any guise.
The govenor spoke with the traders during his inspection visits to project sites on Thursday after returning Brussels where he was honoured with the Power of Sports Award by the International Sports Press Association Africa.
He said that apart from the fact that the traders damage portions of the roads recently constructed and deface the roads, street trading poses danger to the traders who are susceptible to accidents.
He urged the traders to move into different markets across Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas constructed for business activities.
He said: “Please don’t trade on the streets. What you are doing damage and deface the roads. My plea is that you go into the markets for your safety and the aesthetics of the city.”
Governor Wike said that the state government will take sustained measures to check illegal street trading, hence his personal involvement with the sensitization of traders.
He added that the meshed wires fences are beings installed on roads in areas prone to street trading to keep the traders off the roads.
“As we are working on these roads, everyone is happy. We will not allow street traders destroy the beauty of the city”, he said.
During the inspection yesterday, Governor Wike visited National Industrial Court, Mother and Child Hospital, Restaurants and Cinema, Port Harcourt Pleasure Park, Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt, Judges Quarters, Slaughter Road, Reconstruction of Government Offices at Mile One Fly Over,Traditional Rulers Secretariat, Land Reclamation at Ogbunabali/Nkpogu, Oil Mill-Elelenwo-Akpajo Road, Abacha Road, Mgboshimini Primary Health Care , Doctors Quarters among other projects.
Governor Wike said that intense projects inspection will continue ahead of the third year anniversary.
Majority of the projects visited by Governor Wike will be commissioned during the administration’s third year anniversary.
Governor Wike expressed satisfaction with the quality of work done at the project sites, emphasising that the joy of Rivers people at the execution of projects is a motivation.
In a related development, the Rivers State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has congratulated the state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike on the conferment of Africa ‘Power of Sports’ award on him by the International Sports Press Association (AIPS) in Brussels, Belgium.
The NUJ, in a statement signed by its Acting Chairman, Uche Agbam and Acting Secretary, Anayo Onukwugha, described the award as well deserved, considering the governor’s contributions to the development of sports in Nigeria, and Africa in general.
The union said the recent hosting of the African Wrestling Championship in Port Harcourt as well as the renovation of the Alfred Diete-Spiff Sports Complex were some of the feats achieved by the governor in the area of sports development.
“We are not surprised that AIPS conferred this revered award on Governor Nyesom Wike. The governor is the first African to be conferred with the ‘Power of Sports’ award. We believe that the governor’s immense contributions to sports development in Nigeria, and Africa in general, attracted the award.
“Recently, Rivers State hosted the whole of Africa in the African Wrestling Championship. Also, the renovation of the Alfred Diete-Spiff Sports Complex is another eloquent testimony of Governor Wike’s commitment to the development of sports,” the union added.
Meanwhile, the international sports journalists, last Wednesday, in Brussels, Belgium, honoured Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike with the ‘Power of Sports’ award.
He was nominated by the International Sports Press Association (AIPS), Africa.
Witnessed by sports personalities and journalists from across the globe, the award to the governor was for his remarkable fidelity in raising the bar of sports matters and using sports as a catalyst for development.
The event took place at Le Plaza, Brussels and the presentation of the award was performed by the President, AIPS, Mr Gianni Merlo and President, AIPS Africa, Mr Mitchell Obi in the presence distinguished sports journalists from 108 countries.
Presenting the award to the Rivers State governor, President AIPS Africa, Mitchell Obi said Wike was being recognised for the use of sports as a tool to effectively engage the youth population in the continent.
He urged Wike to sustain his commitment to sports development as more youth would be empowered in the state.

Continue Reading

Featured

Rivers Capable Of Delivering Massive Votes For Tinubu, Chinda, Others -Fubara …Charges APC, Rainbow Coalition To Embrace Team Work

Published

on

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that the  State is capable of delivering massive votes for President Bola Tinubu,  the  All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Rt. Hon. Kingsley Chinda and other candidates of the Rainbow Coalition in the 2027 general elections.

Fubara, who stated this yesterday at the inauguration of the APC Presidential Campaign Council in Port Harcourt, said the surest path to victory is for the  members of the Presidential Campaign Council drawn from the APC and the Rainbow Coalition to embrace the spirit of teamwork.

He said what the state was witnessing in the current political season is a repeat of the successful mobilization done in 2022 and 2023, when a large campaign council worked in unity to deliver victory for him and for President Tinubu.

He added that the present council is bigger, wider and better coordinated and should therefore achieve even better results.

He noted that the beauty of the new council is the fact that some persons who were in the opposition camp during the previous elections are now part of the team, saying their inclusion has made the task easier, provided everyone works as one team and with sincerity of purpose.

The governor thanked the  Coordinator of the Presidential Campaign Council for Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, and other leaders who worked tirelessly to bring the council to fruition, stressing that nothing  is impossible especially when people work together for a common purpose.

He expressed optimism that with seriousness and commitment, the state would record a higher number of votes than it recorded in 2023.

Fubara, while congratulating members who made the list, appealed to those whose names were omitted not to be discouraged, as there are still sub-committees to be constituted and the list can still be updated, even as he warned against double loyalty.

He said the state has gone past the stage of division and is now looking to the future and what God holds for Rivers people, expressing confidence that with the strategy already put in place, the APC and the Rainbow Coalition would come out victorious in 2027.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and Coordinator of the Campaign Council, Chief Nyesom Wike, while  inaugurating the Council, lauded Fubara for finding time to attend the ceremony and other engagements of the Council in spite of his busy schedules.

Wike, who is also the National Leader of the PDP/ Rainbow Coalition, reminded members of the Council that they were chosen based on their capacity to participate  in the activities of the group and deliver positive results.

He charged them to work hard to win votes for the candidates of the APC and the Rainbow Coalition for the Presidential, Governorship, National Assembly as well as State House of Assembly elections next year.

He disclosed that apart from the Presidential Campaign Council and its sub-committees, the Local Government Campaign Councils will soon be inaugurated to ensure better coverage of the grassroots during the current campaign season.

 

 

Continue Reading

Featured

RSG Floats MNET Culture Content Promo

Published

on

The Rivers State Ministry of Culture and Tourism  has floated a culture content platform in collaboration with digital television group, Multichoice.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mr. Freddy Ndigbara, disclosed this after a meeting with MultiChoice Head of Content Acquisition, Don Dotun Ojon, in Port Harcourt.

He assured that content entrepreneurs and film makers would enjoy the platform by promoting culture and other contents to sell the states tourism potentials.

He said MultiChoice M-net was now open to increase its patronage for content shots on locations in Rivers State, describing the State as one that has numerous potentials for film tourism.

“We were privileged to have Don Ojon with us at the Rivers International Film Festival (RIFF) at the weekend in Bonny and he saw, first hand, the numerous sites and opportunities that are open to creatives in the State. After that, we felt it was important to deepen the conversation and he obliged. This is a cheering news for the sector in the State,” he said.

Ndigbara stated that “Rivers State has many more untold stories to tell, many more contents to reel out and the assurances from the M-net Acquisition Manager is an indication that the industry in the state will soon enjoy a new lease of life”.

The Permanent Secretary thanked Ojon for the visit and assured that creatives in the State would grap this opportunity and show the world that Rivers State is a major hub for film tourism in Nigeria.

On his part, Ojon said the visit was to discuss on ways of promoting tourism in the State using creatives and film.

Ojon said although the company has recently been acquired by canal+ France and is undergoing restructuring, he would promote the chances of Rivers State to host the MultiChoice talent factory in the State.

With Asaba, capital of Delta State, being saturated, Ojon said the next port is Rivers  State, which he said is capable of building fresh crop of creatives, new locations, new story lines and concepts.

He, therefore, called for collaboration from stakeholders in the State.

Kevin Nengia

 

 

 

Continue Reading

Featured

APC Presidential Campaign Storms PH, ‘Morrow

Published

on

Barring last minute changes, the presidential campaign train of the All Progressives Congress (APC) will storm Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, tomorrow.

This is according to a campaign timetable released by the APC Campaign Council last month.

The Tide reports that the APC presidential campaign kicked off in Kaduna on October 24 with President Bola Tinubu in attendance.

The campaign train later moved to Cross River, Gombe, Nasarawa, and Ekiti on November 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively with the Vice President, Kashim Shettima representing the President at the rallies.

President Tinubu is personally scheduled to attend 12 states including Rivers, Kaduna, Plateau, Oyo, Borno, Enugu, Bauchi, Sokoto, Delta, Kano, Adamawa and Lagos.

The Rivers State rally, scheduled to hold at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, is expected to witness a large crowd of party supporters drawn from a coalition of political parties in the State.

The party is expected to round off its presidential campaign in Lagos State on January 9, 2027.

The Tide reports that Tinubu has not visited Rivers State as President since he assumed office in May 2023. His last physical visit to the State was before his inauguration on Wednesday, May 3 – Thursday, May 4, 2023, when he was hosted by then Governor Nyesom Wike in Port Harcourt to commission the Rumuola/Rumuokwuta Flyover and the Magistrates’ Court Complex.

Tomorrow’s visit will be his first to the State since assuming office.

 

 

 

Continue Reading

Trending