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Speakership: Serve All Nigerians, Wike Charges Gbajabiamila
The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has called on the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila to ensure that he serves the entire country, if he eventually emerges the Speaker of the House of Representatives in the Ninth Assembly.
Speaking, last Wednesday, at Government House, Port Harcourt, when he granted audience to the majority leader and his campaign team, Wike urged Gbajabiamila to shun all forms of excessive party politics and focus on delivering development to the country.
He said: “My belief is that we must work as a team, irrespective of the political party that we belong to. It is because of party that the Electoral Act was not signed.
“I will not support any candidate based on political party. I will support based on capacity to deliver. We must work as a people”.
The governor said that political party is simply a vehicle to drive people to their destination, and after getting to the political destination, focus must be on the people.
He urged Gbajabiamila to always take Rivers State into consideration in the next dispensation, pointing out that the state was not favoured since 2015.
“Rivers State has suffered for the past four years because of party politics. The Federal Government is refunding funds to states for federal projects executed, but Rivers State was excluded by the APC Federal Government”.
He said because the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila has consulted with him, the leadership of Rivers State would favourably discuss his election as the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Responding, Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila informed the Rivers State governor that they were in the state to seek his support and blessing for his ambition to head the next House of Representatives as speaker.
He said that the theme of his campaign was, “Nation Building: A Joint Task”.
The majority leader assured Wike that he would carry all sections of the country along, irrespective of their ethnic, religious, or political affiliations.
“There is 30 years of legislative experience between Idris Wase and me, which money cannot buy. I know you want the best for the country”, he said.
Also speaking, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Austin Opara said that Gbajabiamila has the capacity to lead the House of Representatives to greater heights in the interest of the country.
The Director General of the Femi Gbajabiamila and Ahmed Idris Wase Campaign, Hon Abdulmumin Jibrin said that they resolved to consult Wike because he was a force to reckon with in Nigerian politics.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
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