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Army Plans To Disrupt March 9 Polls -Wike …As Court Sacks Lulu-Briggs From Accord Party
The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has declared that the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army has concluded plans to disrupt the March 9, 2019 Governorship and State Assembly elections in the state.
Wike said that the 6 Division has mapped out local government areas where they will initiate violence to ensure that elections were not conducted like they did during the Presidential and National Assembly elections.
Addressing journalists in Port Harcourt, yesterday, Wike said: “They are plotting to cause crisis, so that the Governorship and State Assembly will be cancelled.
“That is what the 6 Division is planning”.
He said despite the militarisation of the elections, there are areas that some political parties cannot win because they are the strongholds of the PDP.
“Did APC win the Presidential election in Rivers State? It doesn’t matter what they do, they will not win.
“There are areas that are no go areas. You don’t kill people simply because you want to win. Look at how they shed innocent blood because they want to get 25percent or they want to satisfy the ego of one or two individuals”, he said.
Wike said that the PDP in Rivers State was prepared for the elections, saying that the party campaigned and interfaced with Rivers people.
“We have been prepared for these elections. There is no party that campaigned the way we did. Nobody is more prepared for the elections”, he said.
He added: “You cannot change the will of the people. It is difficult”.
Wike has revived Rivers State through massive infrastructural projects, empowerment and economic development programmes.
Meanwhile, a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, yesterday, sacked Mr Dumo Lulu Briggs as the governorship candidate of Accord Party in the 2019 governorship election on March 9, 2019.
The court declared that Mr Precious Baridoo, who was duly nominated during the October 4, 2018 Accord Party governorship primary is the authentic candidate of the party. Similarly, the Court of Appeal sitting in Calabar, Cross River State, has granted a stay of execution on the order which reaffirmed candidates of the All Progressives’ Congress in Cross River State, namely Senator John Owan-Enoh, Senator Ndoma-Egba and others published by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
The Appeal Court panel headed by Justice A. M Uwade frowned at INEC misinterpretation of her earlier order of February 20, which directed that parties to maintain “Status quo ante” pending determination of the substantive case.
The appellate court unanimously agreed that the stay of execution order earlier granted subsists in the interest of justice as evident in the affidavit and counter affidavit in the subject matter of the appeal, suit CA/C/62/2019.
Senator Owan-Enoh is contesting the elections of March 9, as the governorship candidate of APC in the state while Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, contested the elections for the Central senatorial district of Cross River State but the election was inconclusive.
In Rivers State, trial judge, Justice Emmanuel Obile declared that Mr Dumo Lulu-Briggs cannot participate in the governorship election because he was not duly nominated at the party’s primary. Justice Obile said that Lulu Briggs did not participate in the party’s October 4, 2018 governorship primary, hence he cannot be their candidate.
The court stated that the defendants failed to challenge the affidavit of the plaintiff to controvert the facts contained therein. Justice Obile ordered INEC, to enlist the name of Precious Baridoo as the Rivers State governorship candidate of Accord Party.
The court directed INEC to remove the name of Dumo Lulu Briggs as the Rivers State governorship candidate of Accord Party .
It will be recalled Sir Precious Baridoo, who headed to court, had argued that he was duly nominated during the party’s governorship primaries on October 4, 2018 before he was illegally substituted with the name of Lulu Briggs who didn’t participate in the party’s governorship primaries.
He argued that Lulu Briggs cannot claim to be the governorship candidate of Accord Party when he was not even a member of the party. Counsel to Precious Baridoo, Mr Wori Wori, described the judgment as victory for democracy.
He said that the rules of political engagement must be respected. Lawyer to Dumo Lulu Briggs said that they will challenge the judgment at the Court of Appeal.
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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