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Rivers APC Crisis: Abe Flays Loyalists’ Persecution – Confirms Reps’ Visit To Wike
The Senator representing Rivers South-East District in the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe has expressed regrets that people who risked their lives for the sake of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State are being haunted.
He said the reason for the ugly development followed the decision of such persons to express their opinion on things they believe were for the best interest of the APC in the state.
Abe spoke, last Saturday during the burial of a chieftain of the party, late Chief Idawari Monday Pikibo Dickson, at Omelema in Abua Central, Abua/Odual Local Government Area of the state.
The senator said, “People who had taken all the risks to keep APC in Rivers State, today, they are being discriminated against, they are being haunted, they are being ‘starved’. Why? Because they dare to open their mouth to say what they think is the best for the party.”
Abe, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on FERMA, commended members of the APC for turning out en-masse for the burial of Dickson, whom he said made sacrifices for the sustenance of the party.
He said, “So, when they are doing something, I am always happy to see some of us who remember their sacrifice, who remembered their contribution, who remembered their commitment to this party; that we come out to honour them and support them. I think that is how to belong to a party.
“I thank everybody who came to support this family today, and pray that the day you will need people, God will provide people for you in quantum in Jesus’ name. Amen,” Abe added.
Meanwhile, the Senator representing Rivers South-East district in the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe has declared that members of the Rivers State Caucus in the House of Representatives consulted him before their visit to the state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike penultimate weekend.
Abe in a statement issued in Port Harcourt and made available to The Tide by his spokesperson, Parry Benson, said contrary to media reports, the lawmakers were at Government House, Port Harcourt, on the invitation of the governor.
The senator said the comments made by the member representing Tai/Eleme/Oyigbo Federal Constituency, Dr. Barry Mpigi have been manipulated by those seeking to score cheap political points.
The statement reads in part, “My attention has been drawn to the needless controversy surrounding the recent visit of the Rivers State House of Representatives Caucus which includes members of the House of Representatives elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Rivers State Government House on the invitation of the governor.
“On receipt of the governor’s invitation, I was consulted by the House of Representatives Caucus, and I did not just agree, I insisted that members honour the governor’s invitation (which for the first time was extended to all parties).
“It is important that though we belong to different political parties we should maintain lines of communication within the government that will enable us to serve our people better, which is the reason we were elected in the first place. Rivers State is not the only state where some lawmakers and the governor are from opposing parties.
“Hon Barry Mpigi’s comments during the visit have been manipulated by those seeking to score cheap political points. Yes, Mpigi commended the governor but he also went further to say that the several areas in which the APC administration has done well the PDP should also find the courage to commend the APC government, as politics should not be a do or die affair.
“However, that part of speech which does feed the desired narrative of those seeking to exploit the visit for political gains has been carefully ignored. I urge all Rivers people without recourse to political affiliation, to ignore the politics and focus on the positives,” Abe said.
By: Susan Serekara-Nwikhana.
The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, has teamed up with a renowned hospital group in Port Harcourt, the Meridian Hospitals, which is in partnership with the Pilgrims Health Foundation, to carry out a one-day medical outreach last Tuesday.
The free treatment scheme took place at Oromenike Government Girls Secondary School in D-Line, Port Harcourt, with over 100 persons accessing free treatments, including free eye-glasses and booking for eye surgeries.
Other areas of treatment included general health consultations and treatment; blood pressure and sugar level testing; malaria testing and treatment; free prescriptions; preventive health talks focusing on hygiene, maternal health, and nutrition.
The scheme was conducted under the theme: ‘Bringing Healthcare to the Community.’
Newsmen who visited the venue of the scheme found that enthusiastic beneficiaries had thronged the area as early as 7a.m. After setting up, the medical team began attending to the patients.
Mr. Jerry Onwuso, a 63-year-old patient, who was first to see eye doctors and got eye glasses and drugs, told newsmen that he was pleased with the medical intervention.
He made it clear he did not pay any money to get all the treatments and glasses, and pleaded that the scheme be sustained.
Another patient, Loveth Sam, expressed satisfaction with the scheme and appealed to the sponsors to continue to increase the benefits.
Throwing some light on the scheme, Mr. China said he worked in Meridian Hospitals as a Lab. Scientist 19 years ago, but resigned because he could not bear to see patients struggling for life because they had no money to pay for treatment.
He said he came back to help extend free medical treatment to the less privileged.
Sources said China was always having issues with the hospital authorities when he would insist on critical patients being allowed to be treated first, with or without money.
Years later, China, who now goes by a brand name, the Mayor of Housing, returned to the Meridian Hospital headquarters to support free medical scheme.
He also went the next day to the headquarters of Meridian, after the one-day medical outreach, to give cash gifts and palliatives to workers he met when he worked there but had remained in service since he left.
He encouraged them to continue to give their all to humanity through the hospital. The Mayor of Housing called most of them by name and a cloud of emotions descended on them during the reunion.
Appreciating the gesture, the Founder and Chief Medical Director, Dr. Iyke Odo, said China had always manifested hard-work, ambition, and impulsive giving.
According to him, the then young bright boy was full of humanity, kindness, love, and made friends easily, adding that “not everybody that gives is a giver. The difference is that givers are given to give.”
Dr. Odo used the opportunity to call on governments to review Nigeria’s health insurance system and make it work in Nigeria to save lives.
He said it was sad watching critically sick persons abandoned because they did not have money for treatment.
He also condemned harsh tax and electricity tariffs whereby facilities like his now pay N12 million instead of N500,000 few years back.
He wondered why hospitals were being made to pay tariffs like oil companies, citing many other countries where medical facilities were placed on low rates and tariffs so they could charge moderate fees from patients.
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
