Politics
We’ll Stand By Dismissed Police Officers – Wike
The New Year Banquet threw the curtain open for the week and year in Government House last week. The launching of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day emblem for fallen soldiers also took centre stage in the past week.
The State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike who joined the guests and other citizens of the state to celebrate the New Year, thanked God Almighty for His infinite mercies. He said, “This is a unique banquet because this is jubilee year for our state. 2017 will be a prosperous year for Rivers State.”
Chief Wike lauded the security agencies for their effort in making the state safe for all citizens and urged them to put more effort in the new year to ensure safety of lives and property of all Rivers people.
Enumerating his plans for the year, the Rivers State Chief Executive said all ongoing projects will commence in earnest this new year. He specifically mentioned the Sakpenwa/Bori Road and the Andoni/Opobo Unity Road among other projects that will get priority attention in 2017.
The governor on Wednesday last week played host to the Managing Director of Independent Newspapers, Mr. Ted Iwere and later hosted the new General Officer Commending (GOC) of the 6th Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Maj. General K. I. Abdulkarim.
Within the week, Chief Wike met with Caretaker Chairmen of Local Government Areas.
Following the sudden sack of policemen, under the governor’s security/convoy by the Police Service Commissioner on Wednesday, the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Dr. Austin Tam-George released a statement on Thursday condemning the action.
In the statement, Dr. Tam-George noted with dissatisfaction the way and manner the six policemen attached to the governor’s security were dismissed from service following an unfair and secret trial by the police authorities in Abuja,.
The State Commissioner for Information and Communication said the action displays lack of professionalism and respect for human rights in the Nigeria Police Force. He continued, “the dismissed officers committed no crime, other than foiled a carefully-orchestrated electoral heist by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in collusion with the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Nigeria Police Force.”
The governor on Saturday last week during a “welcome back: ceremony for High Chief Cassidy Ikegbidi in Ahoada reiterated the commissioner’s statement. Chief Wike said, “Rivers State will stand by the sacked police officers forever.”
He stressed that no amount of intimidation will make the State Government to abandon the dismissed police officers, as it’s ready to pursue the matter to a logical conclusion.
On the return of Chief Ikegbidi to the fold of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the governor charged the former Ahaoda-East Local Government Chairman to stand firm even in the face of intimidation and persecution.
Chief Wike described Chief Ikegbidi as one who stands for what he believes in and for standing firm with Senator Ossy Ideozu to win the area.
He used the ceremony to announce plans to construct some abandoned roads, which include Ochiba/Uzochi Road, Ahaoda/Udereke Ihugbogo Road and Odiokwu/Uzbeta/Odereke Road, Chief Wike also announced the elevation of Akporo Traditional Ruler to a second class.
The Tide source reports that the committee, reportedly backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, is making moves to reclaim the Wadata Plaza headquarters months after it was sealed following a violent clash between rival factions of the party.
Senior officers at the FCT Police Command told our source that while they had not received an official briefing, police personnel would be stationed at the secretariat and other key locations to maintain peace.
The Acting National Secretary of the Mohammed-led committee, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, announced last week that the secretariat would reopen for official activities on Monday (today).
He dismissed claims that ongoing litigation would prevent the reopening, saying, “There are no legal barriers preventing the caretaker committee from resuming work at the party’s headquarters.”
However, the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) has fiercely rejected the reopening move, insisting that Sen. Anyanwu and his group remain expelled from the PDP and have no authority to act on its behalf.
Speaking with The Tide source, the committee’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, declared: “They are living in fool’s paradise. The worst form of deceit is self-deceit, where the person knows he is deceiving himself yet continues with gusto.
“Even INEC, which they claim has recognised them, has denied them. They are indulging in a roller coaster of self-deceit.”
Mr Ememobong further revealed that letters had been sent to both the Inspector-General of Police and the FCT Commissioner of Police, stressing that the matter was still in court and warning against any attempt to “resort to self-help.”
“The case pending before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik was instituted by the expelled members. They cannot resort to self-help until judgment is delivered,” he said.
He warned that reopening the secretariat would amount to contempt of court.
A senior officer at the FCT Police Command, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that officers would be deployed to the area to avert a repeat of the November 19 violence that led to the secretariat’s initial closure.
“The command would not stand by and allow a breakdown of peace and order by the party or anyone else. Definitely, the police will have to be on the ground,” he said.
Another officer added, “There will definitely be men present at the secretariat, but I can’t say the number of police officers that would be deployed.”
When contacted, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, said she had not been briefed on the planned reopening and declined to comment on whether officers would be deployed.
Asked to confirm whether the secretariat was initially sealed by police, she responded, “Yes,” but refused to say more about the current deployment plans.
The Kano State House of Assembly has debunked the purported impeachment plan against the Deputy Governor, Aminu Gwarzo.
The Tide source recalls that the Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, recently sparked controversy during an interview session with a local radio station.
Mr Waiya called on the deputy governor to resign for failing to follow his principal, Gov. Abba Yusuf, in defecting from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, the spokesperson to the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Kamaluddeen Shawai, while addressing journalists in Kano on Saturday, described reports circulating in some media outlets about Mr Gwarzo’s impeachment as baseless and misleading, emphasising that no such plan is underway.
Mr Shawai further stated that the House remains focused on its legislative duties and oversight functions rather than engaging in speculative political manoeuvres.
The spokesperson urged members of the public and the media to verify information before sharing it, stressing the importance of accurate reporting in maintaining political stability in the state.
He said, “There is absolutely no motion or initiative within the House to remove the deputy governor.
“These reports are false and should be disregarded by the public. The deputy governor continues to serve in his capacity with full support from the House.
“Our priority is good governance and serving the people of Kano, not circulating rumours.”
She made the declaration during an interview with Nigerian football legend, Mr Segun Odegbami, during a live radio interview on Saturday.
Prof. Obasanjo, who is also former commissioner in the state, ruled out a return to the Senate, stating that her focus was firmly on the governorship race.
“So, moving ahead, I’m not going to be Commissioner. Like I said, I’m not even going back to the same party because I think that’s old and I don’t see the use of it. And I’m not going to go back to the Senate,” she said.
“Like the Americans would say, there’s no need. And this is what I told my associates, when this all started. I said, the only thing I’ll come back to do is the governorship.
“And we have started that journey. We are going to see it through. And so that’s the journey I’m on. And we are very serious about it. I mean we are very dedicated to it.”
The politician also confirmed that she recently joined the APC, explaining that her return to active politics followed persistent calls from supporters.
“Like I told you, a group of people who I did not bring together, have been working, I think, for two years now. And then they started talking to me about a year ago, saying, ‘Look, we think you are the best candidate. We want you back,’” she added.
Her declaration sets the stage for what may become a keenly contested governorship race in Ogun State ahead of the 2027 elections.
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