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Rerun’ll Shame Rivers Enemies …Condemns Judiciary’s Intimidation For Political Gains – Wike

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Rivers State Governor , Chief Nyesom  Wike, has stated that the  enemies of the state will be disappointed  after the rerun elections on December 10, 2016 , despite their negative  plots against  the  state.

Speaking during the  2016 Super Sunday Service of the Christ Apostolic Church at Emohua, Governor Wike  noted that the enemies  of  Rivers State are working  hard to stoke violence in areas where the rerun elections will hold .

He said: “I have to come to formally report to God that the enemies of the state are back. The way they were humiliated in 2015 and March 19, 2016 is the way they would be humiliated  on December 10, 2016.

“Pray for peace in the forthcoming rerun  elections in the state .”

The governor  said  that the resources  of  Rivers State  will always be used for the good of Rivers people.

“Never again  will Rivers resources be used to sponsor national politics. We will not take our money to play  national politics”, he said.

Governor Wike added: “Rivers is a Christian State and we owe nobody an apology for that. I want to reiterate our commitment  to setting up  a special intervention  fund for churches to take care of their members  who are in need.

“At present, church  leaders  are fine tuning the details  for this special fund, which we believe will further unite the church.”

The governor  said  that State Ecumenical Centre  will be  ready for the State’s  50th Anniversary by next year, while the Government House Chapel will be  dedicated  by December, 2016.

In his address, Chairman of the Port Harcourt Conference of the Christ Apostolic Church, Pastor GC Onuigbo urged the governor to sustain his development  programmes. He also called on the governor  to carry all the people of the state  along irrespective of their political affiliation.

Guest Preacher, Pastor Ayo Ezekiel described Governor Wike  as a man of destiny who has been positioned by God to rebuild  Rivers State.

Highpoints  of the Super Sunday Service were the special prayers for Governor Wike, Rivers State and Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has declared that any attempt to humiliate, muzzle and weaken the nation’s judiciary under any guise, for manifestly political purposes, cannot be healthy for the stability and progress of the nation’s democracy.

In his address at the opening of the Rivers State Judiciary 2016/2017 Legal Year at the State High Court in Port Harcourt last Friday, Wike said the attacks on the judiciary: “Stands to be condemned by all those who can see the danger in such brazen actions by state agencies that are subject to our laws.

“What is even more disturbing is the double standard and lack of courage exhibited in the matter by the National Judicial Council (NJC) and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) when there was nothing new in the facts to warrant such a dangerous volte-face and pitiable submission to extraneous pressures.”

The governor said that the judiciary must be independent and effective to enforce the universal application of the rule of law.

According to him, the absence of the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary is a recipe for anarchy.

He said: “It serves no useful purpose to be desperate or hysterical with the fight against corruption. Thus, it remains unacceptable when unorthodox mechanisms not warranted by law are applied in the so-called fight against corruption.

“For some of us, the provocative invasion of the residences and subsequent arrest and detention of serving judges and justices of the Supreme Court in the dead of the night cannot by any stretch of imagination be justified as appropriate in a decent society.

“Granted that judges are not above the law, but at the same time, they do not deserve to be assaulted, stripped of their dignity and treated like common criminals on mere suspicion and unproven allegations of misfeasance.”

Speaking further, Wike faulted the anti-corruption war of the Federal Government, saying, “The fight against corruption in the country undermines development. It serves no useful purpose”.

He flayed the Nigerian Judicial Council (NJC) and Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on their decision supporting the stepping down of the embattled judges arrested by operatives of Department of State Security (DSS) on alleged corrupt practices.

Wike lamented that, if the two revered legal bodies knew the implications of their decision, the NJC and NBA would have thought twice.

The governor said it was unfortunate and dangerous because lawyers had played into the hands of politicians, which would later be used against the former.

The governor also took time to berate the police and the INEC for aiding the Rivers APC to rig the forthcoming Rivers rerun elections through the printing of fake election result sheets.

He said: “Even now, INEC is doing nothing to convince the world that the outstanding elections they have suddenly and reluctantly fixed for 10th December, 2016 will be free, fair and credible.

“Rather, they have already started the sabotaging process by giving out the security codes of result sheets to agents of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) to enable them have replicas of INEC’s result sheets with which to easily rig the elections.”

Former President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Chief Onueze Okocha, decried the extreme poor treatment of judicial officers as if they are common criminals.

He said though corruption should be condemned, the government must realise that the failure to obey the rule of law, lack of respect for the separation of powers and the rule of law constitute corruption.

He said: “The NBA, with due respect to our esteemed president and some other leading lights in the association, has appeared to be rather vacillating on this matter and the issues now thrown up”.

Rivers State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Emmanuel Aguma (SAN) said the country was living in perilous times when justice has been forced to be selective with the independence of the judiciary on shaky grounds.

He regretted that the security agencies now manufacture evidence against judges for the purpose of intimidation.

In her address, Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Adama Inyie Iyayi-Lamikanra, commended Wike for enthroning financial autonomy at the state.

Earlier, the Rivers State Judiciary held a re-dedication church service to mark the beginning of the 2016/2016 legal year at the Saint Paul’s Anglican Cathedral in Port Harcourt.

In her speech, the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Adama Iyayi-Lamikanra, had thanked the governor for his commitment in repositioning the judicial system in the state.

Iyayi-Lamikanra said there has been regular release of funds to the judiciary by the state government even without request, adding that the governor had rescued the judiciary workers from the current economic recession.

She disclosed that the judiciary had remitted N367, 000,000 to the state account in the last legal year.

The state chief judge further confirmed the approval of two judges by the National Judicial Council, adding that they would be sworn-in, Monday.

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Tinubu Hails NGX N100trn Milestones, Urges Nigerians To Invest Locally

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President Bola Tinubu yesterday celebrated the Nigerian Exchange Group’s breakthrough into the N100tn market capitalisation threshold, saying Nigeria has moved from an ignored frontier market to a compelling investment destination.

Tinubu, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, urged Nigerians to increase their investments in the domestic economy, expressing confidence that 2026 would deliver stronger returns as ongoing reforms take firmer root.

He noted that the NGX closed 2025 with a 51.19 per cent return, outperforming global indices such as the S&P 500 and FTSE 100, as well as several BRICS+ emerging markets, after recording 37.65 per cent in 2024.

“With the Nigerian Exchange crossing the historic N100tn market capitalisation mark, the country is witnessing the birth of a new economic reality and rejuvenation,” Tinubu said.

He attributed the stellar performance to Nigerian companies proving they can deliver strong investment returns across all sectors, from blue-chip industrials localising supply chains to banks demonstrating technological innovation.

The President added, “Year-to-date returns have significantly outpaced the S&P 500, the FTSE 100, and even many of our emerging-market peers in the BRICS+ group. Nigeria is no longer a frontier market to be ignored—it is now a compelling destination where value is being discovered.”

Tinubu disclosed that more indigenous energy firms, technology companies, telecoms operators and infrastructure firms are preparing to list on the exchange, a move he said would deepen market capitalisation and broaden economic participation.

He also cited what he described as a sustained decline in inflation over eight months—from 34.8 per cent in December 2024 to 14.45 per cent in November 2025—projecting that the rate would fall below 10 per cent before the end of 2026.

“Indeed, inflation is likely to fall below 10 per cent before the end of this year, leading to improved living standards and accelerated GDP growth. The year 2026 promises to be an epochal year for delivering prosperity to all Nigerians,” he said.

The President attributed the trend to monetary tightening, elimination of Ways and Means financing, and agricultural investments, which he said helped stabilise the naira and ease post-reform pressures.

Nigeria’s current account surplus reached $16bn in 2024, with the Central Bank projecting $18.81bn in 2026, reflecting a trade pattern shift toward exporting more and importing less locally-producible goods.

Non-oil exports jumped 48 per cent to N9.2tn by the third quarter of 2025, with African exports nearly doubling to N4.9tn. Manufacturing exports grew 67 per cent year-on-year in the second quarter.

Foreign reserves have crossed $45bn and are expected to breach $50 billion in the first quarter, giving the CBN ammunition to maintain currency stability and end the volatility that previously fuelled speculation, according to the President.

Tinubu also highlighted infrastructure expansion in rail networks, arterial roads, port revitalisation, and the Lagos-Calabar and Sokoto-Badagry superhighways, alongside improvements in healthcare facilities that are reducing medical tourism costs, and increased university research grants funded through the Nigeria Education Loan Fund.

“Our medicare facilities are improving, and medical tourism costs are declining. Our students benefit from the Nigeria Education Loan Fund, and universities are receiving increased research grants,” he said.

He described nation-building as a process requiring hard work, sacrifices, and citizen focus, pledging to continue working to build an egalitarian, transparent, and high-growth economy catalysed by historic tax and fiscal reforms that came into full implementation from January 1.

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RSG Kicks Off Armed Forces Remembrance Day ‘Morrow  …Restates Commitment Towards Veterans’ Welfare

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The Rivers State Government has reiterated its commitment towards the welfare of veterans, serving officers and widows of fallen officers in the State.

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?The Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba, in a statement by ?Head, Information and Public Relations Unit, SSG’s ?Office, ?Juliana Masi, stated this during the Central Planning meeting of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

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?Anabraba thanked the Committee for their contributions to the success of the Emblem Appeal Fund Ceremony recently held in the State and called on them to double their efforts so that the State can record resounding success in the remaining activities.

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?According to him, the remembrance day events will begin with Jumaàt Prayers on Friday, 9th January at the Rivers State Central Mosque, Port Harcourt Township, while a Humanitarian Outreach/Family and Community Day will be hosted on Saturday, 10th January, by the wife of the governor, Lady Valerie Siminalayi Fubara, for widows and veterans.

?”On Sunday, 11th January, an Interdenominational Church Thanksgiving Service will hold at St. Cyprian Anglican Church, Port Harcourt Township while the Grand-finale Wreath- Laying Ceremony will hold on Thursday, 15th January at the Isaac Boro Park Cenotaph,  Port Harcourt”, he said.

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?The SSG noted that one of the highlights of the events is the laying of wreaths by Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Heads of the Security Agencies.

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Fubara Redeploys Green As Commissioner For Justice

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The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has approved a minor cabinet reshuffle in the State Executive Council.

Under the new disposition, Barrister Christopher Green, who until now served as Commissioner for Sports, has been redeployed to the Ministry of Justice as the Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice.

This is contained in an official statement signed by Dr. Honour Sirawoo, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Communications.

According to the statement, Barrister Green will also continue to coordinate the activities of the Ministry of Sports pending the appointment of a substantive Commissioner to oversee the ministry.

The redeployment, which takes immediate effect, was approved at the last State Executive Council meeting for the year 2025, underscoring the Governor’s commitment to strengthening governance, ensuring continuity in service delivery, and optimising the performance of key ministries within the state.

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