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Wike Decries FG’s Plot To Block Opposition Parties’ Account …As Secondus Condemns Buhari’s Visit To Bauchi
The Federal Government is set to deploy its security and anti-graft agencies to frustrate the opposition through blocking the accounts of hostile state governments, Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has alleged.
Noting that the plot was aimed at cutting off funding for the opposition ahead of the crucial 2019 general elections, Wike alleged that if the plot sails through, it was expected to weaken the financial base of the perceived “opposition governors and states” and make them ineffectual in mobilising supporters for the crucial elections.
The governor stated this while fielding questions from newsmen in Port Harcourt, last Wednesday.
The Rivers State chief executive officer said he had it on good authority that the anti-graft agencies; notably, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) would be used to freeze the accounts of those state governments after spurious examination of their local government accounts, the accounts of the ministries of work, special duties and the Federal Government intervention funds for workers.
“But the real deal is to render the opposition financially incapacitated, so that they can’t mobilise towards the polls,” Wike explained.
“But this is dangerous for democracy. This will further heighten tension in the country. We hope they jettison this evil plot. Elections should not be a do-or-die matter,” the governor emphasised.
It would be recalled that the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had earlier raised alarm on the plot to frame its top chieftains and elected government officials, including Deputy Senate President, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, Wike, Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, among others.
Meanwhile, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Prince Uche Secondus, has described as “insensitive” President Muhammadu Buhari’s “reluctance” to visit Benue State.
He said the President should visit Benue State to commiserate with the people and the Catholic Church, which lost two priests and 17 other worshippers “in a senseless killing” by herdsmen.
The PDP chairman said the President should have visited Benue first before embarking on his ongoing two-day visit to Bauchi State.
Secondus said that while the nation and the Christian community, globally, mourn the “brutal murder” of the two priests, the President decided to “jump into an aircraft to Bauchi State” on a two-day visit without going to the venue of the murder in Benue State to commiserate and see things for himself, being the Commander-in-Chief.
He said that the action left everyone to wonder at the alleged lack of emotion on the part of the President concerning the plight of the citizens.
The PDP boss said in a statement signed by his Media Adviser, Mr. Ike Abonyi in Abuja, yesterday, that what the President was doing was “a clear show of arrogance and lack of empathy;” wondering why the needless bloodletting in Benue State should not attract his (Buhari’s) feelings.
He said, “There is no time a people need show of empathy and concern more than when they are in mourning mood, as is the case now with the people of Benue State.”
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged the people of the South-East not to allow themselves to be taken for a ride by the Presidency with the claim that its support for President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election bid would help facilitate the Igbo quest to have one of its own occupy the highest seat of power.
The party also challenged the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to demonstrate its new found love for the South-East by ensuring the implementation of the 2014 confab report, part of which recommendation is the rotation of the Presidency among the six geo-political zones.
In an interview with newsmen, yesterday, National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan said if the ruling party was truly in support of the Igbo Presidential aspiration, it should forward the report to the National Assembly for possible input in the amendment of the 1999 Constitution.
He said: “The South-East is a traditional stronghold of the PDP and APC on realising this is coming up with all forms of gimmicks to garner the votes of the South-East. Does APC look like a party that believe in the minority rights? If APC believes in the minority rights, they should go and dust up the 2014 confab report and begin its implementation.
“The question surrounding the possibility of the South-East producing the President is answered in the 2014 confab report. They should take up that report and begin the implementation or forward the report to the National Assembly, and allow the lawmakers to make use of same in amending the relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution.”
While urging the people to embrace the PDP platform, the publicity scribe argued that the South-East would continue to receive the attention of the party, arguing that if the South-South could produce the nation’s first citizen on its platform; there was no reason the South-East would not repeat the feat.
“That promise to the South-East is not necessary. If they have not done this (implementation of the confab report), they are merely deceiving our brothers in the South-East. But our brothers in the South-East know that the PDP belongs to all Nigerians. They also know that if the South-South can be President, it is equally certain that the South-East can also be President,” he stressed.
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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