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Ogoni Dev: Wike Slams Abe …Pledges To Support Police
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has reiterated his desire to give even development to all parts of the state.
He made the pledge while addressing a huge crowd of Ogoni people at Bodo Town, ,Gokana Local Government Area, Wednesday, during an inspection of abandoned projects by the immediate past administration in the area.
He said, “just like I love Ikwerre people, that is how I love Ogoni people. When I was a Minister, I attracted projects to Ikwerre land.
I also attracted N500million fund to Kenule Beeson SaroWiwa Polytechnic,Bori. As a governor, am committed to development projects across the state and the proofs are everywhere.”
He accused Senator Magnus Abe of embezzling funds meant for the construction of critical roads and primary schools in Ogoni land, declaring that he will complete the Kpopie-Bodo City Road deliberately abandoned by the Former Secretary to the Rivers State Government.
He added that his administration is also upgrading facilities and equipment at the Bori Zonal General Hospital which was also neglected by the immediate past APC government in the state.
The governor said that his projects in Ogoni land are targeted at empowering the people and keeping his campaign pledges, unlike the immediate past administration that denied the people development projects even after releasing funds for same.
Contrary to the falsehood being peddled by Senator Magnus Abe, the governor explained that the Sakpenwa-Bori Road is being constructed by CCECC, an internationally recognised company that executed the Abuja-Kaduna Light Rail project.
The governor also submitted that CCECC won the bid to construct the road, adding that his administration works with first grade road construction companies like Julius Berger, Setraco, CGC and CCECC to deliver development to the people.
He said: “The former administration gave Senator Magnus Abe a contract of over N4billion to construct this Kpopie-Bodo City Road and he embezzled the money. I am here to physically inspect this road. I hereby direct the State Ministry of Works to complete the road,
“It is unfortunate that he abandoned the Bodo section of the road because of his dislike for Bodo people. I have also directed that the road be fitted with street lights for beautification ”
He added that the former Federal Lawmaker wasted for years in the Senate without attracting development to his people, noting that he will never get the votes of the people because of his anti-people politics.
“I have disgraced the immediate past administration of APC in Rivers State by working where they failed to work. I have reached out to Ogoni people through projects that is why they are pained by the acceptance we enjoy. I will continue to develop Ogoni land and ensure that the people enjoy the benefits of good governance denied them by the immediate past APC administration where Senator Magnus Abe played a prominent role in defrauding Rivers State “, the governor said.
The governor said steps will be taken to address the issue of embezzlement of state funds by the Rivers State APC leaders.
In his remarks, Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Architect Harrison Iheanyichukwu said his ministry will start the reconstruction of the 6.9 kilometre road in the course of the week.
An indigene of the area and Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Chief Kenneth Kobani said the people are appreciative of Governor Wike’s commitment to their development.
Meanwhile, Governor Wike says the State Government will give the Nigeria Police the necessary support and backing on the ongoing arms mop-up exercise in the state.
He made the declaration when he received the new Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Francis Mobolaji Odesanya on Wednesday in Government House, Port Harcourt.
Chief Wike commended the new Rivers State police boss for starting on a good note urged him to sustain the tempo saying, “ do your job effectively and if anybody is involved please do not look back. Don’t give politicians the opportunity to mount pressure on you.”
The governor reiterated that the current success recorded in curbing crimes and returning peace to the state must be sustained, while emphasising the need for the police to be proactive.
Chief Wike further advised the State police chief and his men to be apolitical during the forthcoming rerun elections as the people of the state will resist any plot to use instruments of State to rig elections .
He noted that the police should work professionally to create the right atmosphere for the people to exercise their franchise without molestation.
The governor stated : “If anyone uses instruments of State to rig elections, we will not fold our hands”.
He reminded the police of the need to weed out compromised officers with political affiliation, pointing out that he has written to the Inspector-General of Police on the issue.
Governor Wike maintained that the state government will continue to support the police to fight crime at all levels.
“For the past one year, we have bought over 100 vehicles for security agencies. We will always support the police to improve security.
“We have to work together to fight crime. I am happy with the level of policing in the state which has reduced the level of crime”, Governor Wike said.
The governor announced that the state government will supply additional vehicles to the police. He also directed the local government councils in the state to provide logistics support to police divisions across the state.
Earlier, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr Francis Mobolaji Odesanya said that the police under his leadership will ensure the mop up of arms to promote security of lives and property.
He said that Rivers State will not be home to crimes as measures are being implemented to root them out.
He assured the people of the state that he will be apolitical and professional in the discharge of his duties.
The new commissioner of Police is the fifth police chief working with Governor Wike since he assumed duty on May 29, 2015.
Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.
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