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Excellent Performance: Wike Bags Double Honours …As Silverbird, The Sun Confer On Him Man Of The Year, Gov Of The Year Awards …His Choice As Gov, Good One -Obuah …Type Of Leader Nigeria Needs -Na’abba
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike will be receiving the Silverbird Man of the Year 2017 Award today while on Saturday, he would receive The Sun Man of the Year 2017 Award for the second time back- to- back.
Chief Wike was announced as the Silverbird Man of the Year early this year by a board and management of Silverbird Communications after he polled the highest votes to beat other personalities.
The management of Silverbird Communications which visited the governor to announce his emergence early this year said Wike was nominated for embarking on a massive infrastructural development in the state, earning him the title, “ Mr Projects”.
The award will be conferred on the governor this evening at the Prestigious Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island in Lagos.
Wike will be honoured alongside Deji Ali, Leo Stan Ekeh and Dr Ola Orekunrin who are to receive Silverbird Extra- Ordinary Business Award. Senator Ike Ekweremadu will receive Silverbird Legislator of the Year Award.
On Saturday, the governor will also receive The Sun Governor of the Year Award, which he has won for the second time in a row.
The emergence of Chief Wike as The Sun Governor of the Year was conveyed to him by Managing Director of The Sun Newspaper, Eric Osagie with other members of the paper editorial board team in Port Harcourt early this year.
Osagie said the award was based on merit by those who have contributed in diverse fields of development of the nation and improvement in the quality of lives of the people.
Meanwhile, as commendations herald the choice of Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike for the prestigious 2017 Silverbird Man of the Year and The Sun Governor of the Year Awards, the state Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bro. Felix Obuah has expressed joy, saying that the choice of Wike, as the candidate of the party in 2015 was a good and wise one.
In a statement in Port Harcourt, yesterday, Obuah lauded the governor for his developmental efforts, especially in areas of infrastructure and human capacity development.
While commending Wike for winning the prestigious Silverbird Award, which presentation would be made in Lagos, today, and the Sun Newspaper Governor of the Year Award, which presentation will hold tomorrow, Obuah said the party was not surprised that the governor’s giant strides were being appreciated, even by those outside the state.
He recalled that less than three years in office, Wike has remarkably reshaped the state, proving that, indeed, good governance was possible if done with sincerity of purpose.
Obuah said Wike deserves to be applauded for winning the Silverbird Man of the Year and The Sun Governor of the Year Awards, respectively, considering the pedigree of those who were shortlisted before the pendulum swung in his favour.
The PDP chairman declared that based on merit, all the projects constructed and executed by Wike remain a model and unparalleled among similar projects by previous administrations in the state.
Obuah said the party was also thankful to the board and management of Silverbird Group, The Sun Newspaper and all Nigerians, who voted for Wike online for finding him deserving of the awards, adding that the awards have further showcased Wike’s good works to the good people of Rivers State and Nigeria at large.
“Surely, a gold fish does not have a hiding place and that explains why Wike’s excellent performances will continue to attract attention from local, state, national and international communities. That is what democracy and good governance is all about.
“With less than three years down the line in his four-year tenure, the governor has garnered awards from a horde of reputable organisations around the globe, including the major media houses in the country. These awards just go to show that Wike is working”, Obuah said.
Against this backdrop, the PDP chairman urged the people of the state to continue to support the governor, adding that their support and appreciation would spur him to do more.
“Wike had also won Independent Newspaper Political Icon of the Year Award, New Telegraph Newspaper Man of the Year Award, amongst others. These are exceptional great feats, and we celebrate him, giving thanks to God for the achievements”, Obuah added.
Also, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Ghali Umar Na’abba has described Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike as the type of leader needed for the rapid development of the country.
Na’abba endorsed Wike’s brand of politics, which he said was focused on the development of all communities, kindness to all politicians, irrespective of their political affiliation, and display of uncommon maturity in all political situations.
The former speaker spoke, last Wednesday, after he commissioned the Edeoha-Ikata-Ochigba Road in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State.
He said with his political attitude and high level performance in office, Governor Wike will grow to be the President of Nigeria.
Na’abba said: “The message I have for Governor Wike is that this kind-hearted politics, this statesmanship that you have demonstrated, please continue.
“Nigeria needs politicians like Governor Wike. With this kind of posture, one day, you will become the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Should you declare for the Presidency one day, count on my support and that of those under me. What we need in this country is this kind of attitude: Attitude of friendship”, he added.
Na’abba commended the Rivers State Governor for playing inclusive politics that promotes development.
He said it takes statesmanship for a governor to construct projects in the communities of his opponents, and noted that the brand of politics being practised by Wike will introduce sanity into the political terrain.
Also speaking, ex-Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Prince Chibudom Nwuche said Wike was not just a politician, but a statesman.
Nwuche said the Edeoha-Ikata-Ochigba Road was abandoned by the former Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi because of him (Nwuche).
The former deputy speaker noted that Wike released funds for the construction of the road, despite the fact he (Nwuche) was a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He said: “I tell people that politics is about the people. People love Wike for his good works. They love him for the roads he has done for Ahoada people. I urge Governor Wike to keep being the good person that he is”.
Responding, Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike stated that he constructed the Edeoha-Ikata-Ochigba Road in fulfilment of his promise to Prince Chibudom Nwuche.
Wike said: “This road was abandoned because of Chibudom Nwuche, and I gave him my word that we shall construct the road.
“We cannot allow our people to suffer simply because their leader belongs to another political party”, Wike said.
The governor noted that under his leadership, there was no politics of victimisation because everyone is carried along in the spirit of New Rivers State.
“There is no politics of victimisation in Rivers State. The only political party we have in this state is Rivers State. All of us are working for Rivers State”, he said.
The governor urged all the people of the state to attract developmental projects, whenever they have the opportunity.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that peace has prevailed because he draws strength from God to resist insults and tantrums thrown at him while frustrating attempts by some disgruntled persons who wanted to plunge the State into unending crisis.
The Governor also said that because he has anchored his Government on promoting peace, the enabling atmosphere has been provided for investments and sustainable development to flourish.
Governor Fubara made the assertion when he received a delegation of members of the Bishops and Gospel Ministers’ Association International Incorporated, Rivers State Chapter, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Represented by the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nwaeke, Governor Fubara said while most people took his meekness for weakness, his stance on peace has unarguably enhanced harmonious atmosphere of concord as residents sleep with their two eyes closed, and investors and shareholders are happy with the returns on investment.
He said, “Before, what they hear of Rivers State is that they are fighting, and some genuine investors will not come. Some people even ask you: How are you coping in Rivers State?
“But now”, he asserted: “The Governor has brought about a lot of changes in the State. One of the most important things is that he has changed the negative narrative. It is no longer Rivers of blood. It is now Rivers of peace.
“We are enjoying our lives here. Why? Because there is a change in the narrative. We have peace. The Governor is, as much as possible, absorbing any level of insult at him only for one purpose: that Rivers State may have peace; that we may grow; that this state will experience genuine development.”
Governor Fubara urged them, as members of the Christian family in the State, to continue to pray for the State and the Government so that the enemies of the State will be put to greater shame.
“This peace is what I want you to embrace. Go and continue to pray, because when the sower of the seed went and sowed, the enemy went in the night and sowed tares inside there. But the Governor is sowing peace.
“When I listened to the leader of the team, His Grace Eddy Ogbonda, he said you came all the way from Eleme Junction, and stopped at major junctions, and you uttered prayers for the peace of Rivers State.”
He also said: “I, hereby want to thank you for identifying with the Governor at a time like this. At a time when it looks as if someone wants the Governor’s peace posture misunderstood as weakness.
“When someone has the strength to fight back, but refuses to fight back. That is a bigger strength; that power of restrain does not just come, it can only come from God.
“You cannot give peace, if you do not have peace within you. The Governor is not interested in any form of trouble or violence. What he is interested in is known, and it is: let there be peace in Rivers State,” he said.
In his address, leader of the group, Archbishop Eddy Ogbonda, said they had observed a week-long intensive prayers that culminated into a peace rally, which brought them to Government House, and assured the Governor that God will continue to give him victory over his adversaries while preserving Rivers State.
“It is Rivers State Prophetic Prayer Convocation and Rally 2024 with the theme: ‘Peace be still’. Of a truth, everyone of us understands that we live in a time when we need peace much more than any other thing.
“Rivers State needs peace. Everyone as individuals need peace. The country needs peace, and the world at large needs peace. So, we are here to do a peace march. We pray that God will command His peace to reign in Rivers State,” he said.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has stated that hotels, schools, and other establishments that accept payments in dollars from their customers are at risk of facing arrest.
The Chairman of EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, said this in the agency’s publication called EFCC Alert on Monday, adding that action would be taken against individuals involved in the dollarisation of the economy.
According to him, the exception is if foreigners come in to transact business and the only means of transacting is their credit card and dollar but to charge local customers in dollars or other foreign currencies would no longer be allowed.
He said charging local activities and customers in dollars is against Nigeria’s constitution.
The EFCC chairman said, “Schools that charge Nigerians in dollar, supermarkets that trade in dollar, estate developers that sell their property in dollar, hotels that are invoicing in dollar, we are coming after you and we have made arrests in that area.
“Yes, if foreigners are coming in and the only means of transacting is their credit card, and dollar, why not? You will get that.
“But document it properly as against selling things within the system, local economy and you will be using dollar as the medium of exchange, it is illegal.
“Our law does not allow for that. And we have also affected some arrests.”
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has enjoined Muslim faithful to remain steadfast to the lessons learnt during the holy month of Ramadan.
Governor Fubara stated this in his message of felicitations to Muslims as they celebrate the 2024 Eid-el-Fitr Sallah, which marks the end of the one-month Ramadan fasting.
The Governor emphasised the importance for Muslims to also uphold the tenets of Islam by exhibiting the fear of God and showing piety in their daily work.
Governor Fubara said, “We must all continue in the good attributes imbibed during the holy month of Ramadan as directed by God through His Prophet, so as to ensure peace, unity and harmony in the society for a better future.”
While praying that the essence of the festival offers them happiness, peace and prosperity in all aspects of life, Governor Fubara said he recognises and appreciates the critical role that the Muslim community continues to play in the development of Rivers State, and indeed, Nigeria at large.
Governor Fubara charged them to remain unwavering and steadfast in their commitment and positive contributions to advance the development of the State and the country.
“I enjoin you all in the State to remain calm, be patient and continue to do what is right,” the Governor added.
He wished the Muslim faithful in the State and across the country a happy Eid-el-Fitr celebration.
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