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Wike Sanctions 21 LGAs Over N10.5m Legion Fund …Releases N100m For Widows, Families Of Fallen Heroes
The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has sanctioned 21 local government councils in the state for failure to redeem the N500,000.00 each (approximately N10.5million) which they made to the legion at last year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration in Port Harcourt.
Wike, who expressed disappointment that apart from Etche and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, the other 21 local government councils were yet to redeem their pledges, ordered the councils to pay the N500, 000.00 with another N500, 000.00, bringing the total to N1million each, this year.
He gave the order, yesterday, at the Emblem Appeal Fund launch marking the 2018 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration, at the Alfred Diette-Spiff Civic Centre. Port Harcourt.
Wike officially launched the emblem with N10million while the 23 local government councils pledged N500,000.00 each in support of the welfare of the legionnaires.
He also directed the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Sir Kenneth Kobami, to issue a memo for the immediate release of N100million grant the state government promised widows of ex-service men and their families to set up business.
Emphasising the need for Nigerians to rally needy veterans and families of fallen heroes with support, Wike noted that: “They fought and sacrificed their lives for us to live and possibly become what we are today”.
He called for the setting up of permanent incentive scheme for the support of the legionnaires instead of making it an annual event, pointing out that the role being played by the members of the Armed Forces was unquantifiable.
The governor made special reference to the crisis in the North-East of the country which has cost the nation thousands of lives of security men.
“We should find time to put a permanent incentive in place to take care of families of fallen heroes so that those alive will know that if they die fighting, their families will be remembered”, the governor said.
Earlier, the Secretary to the State Government, Sir Kenneth Kobani, had during his welcome address, condemned corporate organisations in the state for what he described as their lukewarm attitude to the welfare of legionnaires and their dependents.
Kobani said the welfare of legionnaires should not be left in the hands of the government alone, appealing to all stakeholders to show concern.
Also speaking, the Sole Administrator, Nigerian Legion, Rivers State command, Justice Ogborun Chichi, said the appeal fund launch was part of the events that will climax on 15 January.
He said one of the fundamental objectives of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day was to work towards ameliorating the harsh and unfriendly challenges faced by the ex-servicemen.
Chichi thanked the Rivers State governor for sustaining the security of the employment of members of the Nigerian Legion at the Rivers State Secretariat.
The sole administrator said that the governor’s immeasurable donations, support and care for veterans, widows and dependants of fallen heroes have helped them to survive the harsh economic climate.
The launching of the emblem witnessed donations from the state government, top government officials, local government councils and public spirited individuals.
Highpoint of the occasion was the decoration of the Rivers State governor by the sole administrator of the Nigerian Legion, Rivers State Command.
The governor also reciprocated the gesture.
Chichi also decorated top government officials and service commanders with the emblem.
Chichi praised Wike for his support to the legion, and promised that the legionnaires would give the governor their full support.
Chris Oluoh
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Rivers Capable Of Delivering Massive Votes For Tinubu, Chinda, Others -Fubara …Charges APC, Rainbow Coalition To Embrace Team Work
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that the State is capable of delivering massive votes for President Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Rt. Hon. Kingsley Chinda and other candidates of the Rainbow Coalition in the 2027 general elections.
Fubara, who stated this yesterday at the inauguration of the APC Presidential Campaign Council in Port Harcourt, said the surest path to victory is for the members of the Presidential Campaign Council drawn from the APC and the Rainbow Coalition to embrace the spirit of teamwork.
He said what the state was witnessing in the current political season is a repeat of the successful mobilization done in 2022 and 2023, when a large campaign council worked in unity to deliver victory for him and for President Tinubu.
He added that the present council is bigger, wider and better coordinated and should therefore achieve even better results.
He noted that the beauty of the new council is the fact that some persons who were in the opposition camp during the previous elections are now part of the team, saying their inclusion has made the task easier, provided everyone works as one team and with sincerity of purpose.
The governor thanked the Coordinator of the Presidential Campaign Council for Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, and other leaders who worked tirelessly to bring the council to fruition, stressing that nothing is impossible especially when people work together for a common purpose.
He expressed optimism that with seriousness and commitment, the state would record a higher number of votes than it recorded in 2023.
Fubara, while congratulating members who made the list, appealed to those whose names were omitted not to be discouraged, as there are still sub-committees to be constituted and the list can still be updated, even as he warned against double loyalty.
He said the state has gone past the stage of division and is now looking to the future and what God holds for Rivers people, expressing confidence that with the strategy already put in place, the APC and the Rainbow Coalition would come out victorious in 2027.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and Coordinator of the Campaign Council, Chief Nyesom Wike, while inaugurating the Council, lauded Fubara for finding time to attend the ceremony and other engagements of the Council in spite of his busy schedules.
Wike, who is also the National Leader of the PDP/ Rainbow Coalition, reminded members of the Council that they were chosen based on their capacity to participate in the activities of the group and deliver positive results.
He charged them to work hard to win votes for the candidates of the APC and the Rainbow Coalition for the Presidential, Governorship, National Assembly as well as State House of Assembly elections next year.
He disclosed that apart from the Presidential Campaign Council and its sub-committees, the Local Government Campaign Councils will soon be inaugurated to ensure better coverage of the grassroots during the current campaign season.
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RSG Floats MNET Culture Content Promo
The Rivers State Ministry of Culture and Tourism has floated a culture content platform in collaboration with digital television group, Multichoice.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mr. Freddy Ndigbara, disclosed this after a meeting with MultiChoice Head of Content Acquisition, Don Dotun Ojon, in Port Harcourt.
He assured that content entrepreneurs and film makers would enjoy the platform by promoting culture and other contents to sell the states tourism potentials.
He said MultiChoice M-net was now open to increase its patronage for content shots on locations in Rivers State, describing the State as one that has numerous potentials for film tourism.
“We were privileged to have Don Ojon with us at the Rivers International Film Festival (RIFF) at the weekend in Bonny and he saw, first hand, the numerous sites and opportunities that are open to creatives in the State. After that, we felt it was important to deepen the conversation and he obliged. This is a cheering news for the sector in the State,” he said.
Ndigbara stated that “Rivers State has many more untold stories to tell, many more contents to reel out and the assurances from the M-net Acquisition Manager is an indication that the industry in the state will soon enjoy a new lease of life”.
The Permanent Secretary thanked Ojon for the visit and assured that creatives in the State would grap this opportunity and show the world that Rivers State is a major hub for film tourism in Nigeria.
On his part, Ojon said the visit was to discuss on ways of promoting tourism in the State using creatives and film.
Ojon said although the company has recently been acquired by canal+ France and is undergoing restructuring, he would promote the chances of Rivers State to host the MultiChoice talent factory in the State.
With Asaba, capital of Delta State, being saturated, Ojon said the next port is Rivers State, which he said is capable of building fresh crop of creatives, new locations, new story lines and concepts.
He, therefore, called for collaboration from stakeholders in the State.
Kevin Nengia
Featured
APC Presidential Campaign Storms PH, ‘Morrow
Barring last minute changes, the presidential campaign train of the All Progressives Congress (APC) will storm Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, tomorrow.
This is according to a campaign timetable released by the APC Campaign Council last month.
The Tide reports that the APC presidential campaign kicked off in Kaduna on October 24 with President Bola Tinubu in attendance.
The campaign train later moved to Cross River, Gombe, Nasarawa, and Ekiti on November 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively with the Vice President, Kashim Shettima representing the President at the rallies.
President Tinubu is personally scheduled to attend 12 states including Rivers, Kaduna, Plateau, Oyo, Borno, Enugu, Bauchi, Sokoto, Delta, Kano, Adamawa and Lagos.
The Rivers State rally, scheduled to hold at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, is expected to witness a large crowd of party supporters drawn from a coalition of political parties in the State.
The party is expected to round off its presidential campaign in Lagos State on January 9, 2027.
The Tide reports that Tinubu has not visited Rivers State as President since he assumed office in May 2023. His last physical visit to the State was before his inauguration on Wednesday, May 3 – Thursday, May 4, 2023, when he was hosted by then Governor Nyesom Wike in Port Harcourt to commission the Rumuola/Rumuokwuta Flyover and the Magistrates’ Court Complex.
Tomorrow’s visit will be his first to the State since assuming office.
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