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Why Rivers People’ll Vote Out Failed APC Govt -Wike …Poll’ll Define Nigeria’s Future –US Envoy
The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has declared that President Muhammadu Buhari spent his failed time in government struggling to generate security crisis in Rivers State because he was not interested in the growth of the state.
He lamented that for close to four years, President Buhari deliberately refused to grant any request for assistance from the Rivers State Government.
Wike spoke during the PDP campaign rally for Ahoada East Local Government Area at the Ahoada Temporary Stadium, last Wednesday.
He said the people of Rivers State were determined to vote for Atiku Abubakar and other PDP candidates because the APC was a ‘fraudulent’ party that should be sent to the political wilderness.
“Instead, the Buhari administration instigates crisis because they want to generate confusion”, he said.
The governor noted that Rivers people will overwhelmingly vote for Atiku Abubakar because they want a leader that willl make an impact in the state.
“Atiku Abubakar will bring back the Industrial Estate in Ahoada and also revive our ports. The Buhari administration lacks knowledge of the fundamentals of development, hence, they must be voted out”, he said.
He announced the award of a contract for the construction of Government Secondary School, while the reconstruction of Western Ahoada County High School will be completed before the election.
The governor stated that the process for the siting of the two faculties of the Rivers State University in Ahoada is on track, adding that the project has been included in the 2019 Budget.
“If you don’t vote for PDP, the armed robbers of APC will stop the citing of the two faculties in Ahoada”, he said.
While urging the people of Ahoada East Local Government Area to remain with the PDP, he noted that there has been no benefit from the APC-led Federal Government in the area.
The Rivers State PDP Chairman; Bro Felix Obuah expressed happiness that Ahoada people appreciate the good works of Wike and have agreed to reciprocate during the forthcoming elections.
Obuah presented Rivers West PDP Senatorial candidate, Mrs Betty Apiafi, PDP Candidate for Abua/Odual/Ahoada East Federal Constituency, Solomon Bob, PDP candidate for Ahoada East Constituency 1, Chibodum Ezu and PDP Candidate for Ahoada East Constituency 2, Edison Ehie.
PDP Candidate for Abua/Odual/Ahoada East Federal Constituency, Solomon Bob said the people are out to celebrate Wike, noting that the people will stand with the governor all the way.
PDP candidate for Ahoada East Constituency 2, Edison Ehie said the visit is an assurance that the people will vote the PDP, emphasising that the people irrespective of political affiliation support Wike.
He said that the youths will defend their votes, noting that nobody will steal votes in the area, explaining that total mobilisation has been carried out to ensure 100 percent victory.
Director General of the Rivers State Campaign Council, Amb Desmond Akawor said the mammoth crowd depicts the support of Ekpeye people for Wike.
He said that the governor’s bold entry into Ahoada East Local Government Area was due to his outstanding projects delivery in the areas of health and education.
Meanwhile, the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Stuart Symington has stated that the forthcoming elections would define the future of the country, urging all stakeholders to promote credible and peaceful elections.
Addressing journalists after meeting with the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike at the Government House, Port Harcourt, last Wednesday, Symington declared that all institutions of government must do what is right.
He said: “All of the institutions of government must do what is right. Election is not a matter of life and death.
“It is a matter of defining the future of Nigeria. There must be free, fair and credible elections”.
He said that the idea of a free people with the ability to make free decisions remains the most important idea in the world.
Symington said: “I am quite confident that on Election Day, the sons and daughters of the powerful will not be out there causing violence”.
He urged people to have the courage to reject any call for them to be engaged in violence during the elections.
On the campaigns, he charged the electorate to always ask their political leaders to outline ways through which they will actualize their promises.
He said that President Muhammadu Buhari of the APC and the former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku believe in the votes of the people making a difference during the polls.
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
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.
Fubara gave the charge on Wednesday while declaring open the 126th, 127th and 128th Combined Quarterly Meeting of the Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council, in Port Harcourt.
The governor said the primary function of traditional rulers is to administer justice and ensure fairness, saying their conduct must not lead to division and unmanageable crises.
“Let me therefore, request, if that is the right word to use, that please, as we are entering into this political season actively, everyone should ensure that your conduct promoted peace in your place. Your actions should not be what would lead to the division and multiple crisis that we cannot manage as a government.
“I think with that, we can all live as one and we can also continue to make this progress that we are trying with all our mind, our body and our soul, to ensure that we deliver to our dear State,” he said.
Fubara urged the royal fathers to abide by the oath and constitution they swore to before ascending their respective stools, in the interest of stability and progress of the State.
He also enjoined them to set aside individual sentiments and place the interest of Rivers State above personal considerations, noting that this principle has guided his own day-to-day governance of the State.
“I want to enjoin everyone to keep aside issues of individual sentiments and ensure that the interest of our state supersedes whatever thing that we have in our mind. This is not just what I’m saying here, it is what I’ve also practiced and displayed in my day-to-day life in the governance of our dear State,” he said.
On the appeal for improved welfare for traditional rulers, the governor clarified that the delay in actualising some of the requests they made in the past was not from the government but from the inability of the Council to put its house in order.
Fubara explained that the issue of stipends paid to the traditional rulers by the local government councils, was a statutory benefit provided for in the constitution and not what a state governor can change by mere verbal pronouncements.
He assured that he remains a man of his word and will fulfill his promises to the traditional rulers before leaving office, next year.
He reaffirmed his respect for the traditional institution as custodians of culture and the closest link to the people, thanking them for their prayers and support.
The governor urged the royal fathers to ensure that the combined quarterly meeting featured fruitful deliberations that will strengthen peace and development in the State.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers and Paramount Ruler of Apara Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Eze Chike Amadi Worlu Wodo, expressed profound gratitude to the State Government for its efforts in maintaining a cordial relationship with the traditional institution.
Wodo highlighted the importance of traditional rulers in conflict resolution, noting that their closeness to the people places them in a strategic position to mediate in disputes involving chieftaincy matters, family disputes and land ownership in their respective communities.
The royal father drew the attention of the State Government to some challenges affecting the performance of the traditional institution, particularly the lack of official utility vehicles and logistical support needed to discharge its responsibilities effectively.
He also appealed for improved monthly stipends and better welfare provisions to reflect prevailing economic realities.
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