Politics
Rivers’ COVID-19-Free Status Excites Wike
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has expressed excitment over the treatment and discharge of the first two coronavirus cases in the state.
In a State Broadcast Saturday, Gov Wike said: “Following the treatmemt and discharge of the second case in our treatment centre, I am very delighted to announce that there is presently no single case of the presence of coronavirus in our state.
“This is real good news we must all celebrate and thank the Almighty God for answering our prayers and shielding our state from the dreadful epidemic, which has caused so much death and untold human misery across the world”
The State Chief Executive stated that even though the state has no case for now, it will continue to work hard to ensure that the people are protected from the virus.
Stressing that it was not yet Uhuru, Governor Wike said,” we must therefore not be tempted or pressured to lower our safeguards until the threat is eradicated and we are totally and completely safe and free from this pandemic”.
He appealed that while the state Government was doing its best, citizens must not relent in their own responsibility to keep the virus away from the state .
The Governor announced a total lockdown of parts of Port Harcourt, the state capital for lack of compliance with the order on shutting business activities by some residents of the areas.
Among the areas affected by the lockdown order as announced in the broadcast were: Creek Road including Prison Junction, Nembe Water Front, Cultural Center, Yam Zone and Ahoada Street all in Old Port Harcourt Township Area.
In Diobu Area, affected areas include Education Bus Stop, Kalabari by Udi Street, Afikpo Street, Gambia Street, the entire Ikoku Spare Parts Zone, Rivers State University Round About, and Abali Park, under the Flyover, (both descending and ascending).
He explained that the State Government was constrained to place the areas under total and complete lockdown because carrying on unrestrained business activities in the areas would endanger the lives of the people of the state.
He remarked that though the measures were painful, the remained the right steps to take to check the spread of the coronavirus in our dear state.
The Governor said the State Government was monitoring the level of compliance to restriction on Social gathering in all the 23 local government areas in the state and threatened to take appropriate measures against communities not adhering to the order on social distancing.
Also last week, the Rivers State Governor commiserated with President Muhammadu Buhari over the death of his Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari who died recently of COVID-19 related complications.
Wike described the late Kyari as a patriot, trustworthy, humble and caring leader who contributed immensely to the development of the country.
Encommiums continued to pour on the Rivers State Governor following the proactive steps taken to check the spread of coronavirus in the state, with the Nigerian Liquifeid Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) hailing the Governor for actions taken to protect the people of the state.
General Manager, Corporate Services, of NLNG, Sir Joseph Alagoa said the governor had done well in the fight against coronavirus.
He made the commendation last Friday at the presentation of palliatives for Rivers people to the state Government.
In a similar manner, the Rivers and Bayelsa States Chapter of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) also applauded the Rivers State Governor for taking the right steps in the fight against coronavirus.
Chairman of the Chapter, Senator Adawari People, said “So far, all the steps that have been taken by the Rivers State Governor have been very positive.
“We are glad to note that we have not recorded more incidents than what we have.
“Even those who were declared positive have now been treated and they are negative. This is worth celebrating”.
MAN also made donation to the people of the state through the Rivers State Government.
Another major event in Government House Port Harcourt last week was the release of the 22 Exxon Mobile Staff arrested for entering Rivers State from Akwa Ibom State in violation of the Executive Order by the governor.
Attorney -General and Commissioner of Justice, Prof Zaacheaus Adango, said the 22 company Staff were officially released without charges yesterday.
Chris Oluoh
Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Alhaji Abubakar disclosed his intention to leave the opposition party in a letter addressed to the PDP ward chairman in Jada, Jada Local Government Area (LGA) of Adamawa state.
Alhaji Abubakar described his departure from the PDP as “heartbreaking”, saying the party has strayed from the ideals on which it was founded.
“I would like to take this opportunity to express my profound gratitude for the opportunities I have been given by the Party,” Alhaji Abubakar said.
“Serving two full terms as Vice President of Nigeria and being a presidential candidate twice has been one of the most significant chapters of my life.
“As a founding father of this esteemed Party, it is indeed heartbreaking for me to make this decision.
“However, I find it necessary to part ways due to the current trajectory the Party has taken, which I believe diverges from the foundational principles we stood for.
“It is with a heavy heart that I resign, recognising the irreconcilable differences that have emerged.
“I wish the Party and its leadership all the best in the future”, he added.
Alhaji Abubakar’s resignation from the PDP comes days after the opposition coalition politicians adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as their political platform for the 2027 elections.
Among the coalition leaders are Rotimi Amaechi, a former Transportation Minister; Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election; Nasir el-Rufai, former Kaduna State Governor; and John Oyegun, former Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Others include Sule Lamido, former Governor of Jigawa State; Uche Secondus, former PDP National Chairman; Babangida Aliyu, former Governor of Niger State; Sam Egwu, former governor of Ebonyi State; Aminu Tambuwal, former Governor of Sokoto State; and Liyel Imoke, former Governor of Cross River State, among others.
A group, ‘Concerned Bayelsa Stakeholders Forum (CBSF),’ has intensified calls on the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The CBSF which comprises members of various political parties, non-partisan citizens and residents of the state also has non-indigenes and people from different religious organisations as members.
Speaking at a world press conference held in Yenagoa, the State capital on Tuesday, the group, through its convener who doubles as Technical Adviser to the Governor on Media/Public Affairs, Snr. Comrade Wisdom Ikuli, passed a confidence vote on Governor Diri, commending his selfless service to the State and the Ijaw nation.
Mr Ikuli averred that there was need for the state to align with the federal government. Citing the benefits of having a government at the centre that can attract development to the state, he noted that the PDP at the national level had been long enmeshed in crisis.
“The current leadership of the PDP under whose platform the governor is leading the state has been hijacked by few individuals. This poses threats to the interest of the state.
“Presently, our state is standing alone as the only PDP state in the whole of the South South region. The above may not be too much an issue. The greatest challenge here is the hijack of the PDP by few individuals and the very dangerous traps that they have set for Bayelsa in 2027, particularly those that intend to fly the flag of PDP.
“There are concluded arrangements to hide under the excuse of crisis and countless court cases in PDP at different levels to work to nullify the nomination of all candidates that will emerge under the party platform. So, we can imagine the pains, agony and disarray that the state shall experience if the state remains in PDP.
“The ongoing Coalition is also an embodiment of people who conspired to deny Bayelsa State and indeed the entire Ijaw Nation, a second term at the Presidency in 2015. Thus, the coalition can never be an option.
“ It is based on the above that we unanimously appeal to the Governor to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to show southern solidarity with other southern governors who are with Mr. President”, the group said.
“But as we move forward, one of the greatest priorities in the alliance with the centre should be the actualisation of the Agge Seaport that will help to boost the state economy and also bring about unimaginable transformation and prosperity. In the next few days we shall begin a daily rally on the streets of Yenagoa to prevail on His Excellency to do the needful.
“Finally, His Excellency should ignore all opposing voices against his defection. We say this because they are all fighting to protect their individual political interest without prioritising that of the state and the entire Ijaw nation.
“ We wish to reassure His Excellency that vast majority of Bayelsans are with him and together, we shall move forward”, the CBSF added.
The group thanked President Bola Tinubu for appointing Ijaw sons and daughters into key positions, including Senator Heineken Lokpobiri as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources; Chief Samuel Ogbuku as Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC); Chief Ebitimi Amgbare as Managing Director, Niger Delta Basin Development Authority (NDBDA), amongst others.
Meanwhile, the CBSF has also charged Governor Diri to prioritize the actualization of the Agge Deep Seaport project, saying it will boost the economy of the state and bring about transformation and prosperity, noting, however, that plans have reached advanced stages for the CBSF to hit the streets of Yenagoa with rallies with a view to prevailing on the governor to defect to the APC.
Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
The Speaker made the call on Wednesday while hosting councillors from the 13 local government areas of the State in his residence in Lafia, the state capital.
Rt Hon. Jatau said that a good working relationship among the arms of government at the council level was key to development, hence, the need for his call in that direction.
He appreciated the councillors for condoling with him over the death of his younger sister, Hajaratu Jatau, and prayed to God to bless them abundantly.
“I started as a councillor, and today I am the Speaker. There is the need for a good working relationship between you and the elected chairmen for development to thrive at the grassroots. It is in view of this that I want to call on you to give your elected chairmen all the necessary and needed support to succeed. For development to thrive at the grassroots, you must embrace one another and see yourselves as team players,” the Speaker said.
Rt Hon. Jatau also called on them to coexist peacefully among themselves and continue to drum up support for Governor Abdullahi Sule’s administration to succeed.
Besides, he assured them that the state government would soon organise training for them to deliver effective service.
Rt Hon. Jatau also assured them that the state government would pay them their furniture allowance, as well as other benefits, to enhance their legislative work.
Earlier, the chairman of the Nasarawa State Councillors Forum, Mohammed Madaki, who is the Leader of Lafia LGA Legislative Assembly, said that the visit was to identify with the Speaker over the death of his sister.
The leader of the delegation urged the Speaker to see the death of his sister as an act of God and bear the irreplaceable loss.
Mr Madaki assured the Speaker of their loyalty and support at all times.
The chairman, however, appealed to the Speaker to intervene in the training of the councillors as well as the payment of their furniture allowance.
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