Politics
Wike Dedicates Campaign To God
As various political parties fine-tune their strategies towards the general elections set to kick-off next month in the country, issues bordering on election campaigns dominated activities in Government House, Port Harcourt, last week .
The Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) was at the Cathedral Church of Saint Paul, Garrison Junction, Port Harcourt, last Sunday to dedicate her 2019 Campaign to God.
The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, at the event, charged Rivers people to use the forthcoming election to end dictatorial tendencies.
He said that PDP decided to dedicate the campaign to God because it is a tradition that has worked for the good of the party.
Methodist Archbishop of Port Harcourt, Most Rev Sunday Agwu declared that one good term deserves another, and remarked that Governor Wike has performed credibly with the people’s mandate.
Last Saturday the Governor who was in a mobilisation meeting at Unit 7 in Ward 9 of Obio/Akpo Local Government Area, called on Rivers people to vote out the evil APC- led Federal Government come February 16th to attract benefits to the state.
He said since 2015, the Buhari administration has not initiated or executed any project in the state, hence there is mass mobilisation across the 4442 polling units in the state to carry all Rivers people along in the move to oust Buhari from the presidency.
Governor Wike told the mammoth crowd which comprised members of other political parties: “ Vote out Buhari and vote in Atiku Abubakar. Let Buhari and APC pack and leave the Presidential Villa. Buhari’s tenancy has expired “.
Another major event which took place in Brick House, last week, was the visit of the new Commissioner of Police to the state, Mr Usman Belel.
The Commissioner of Police told Governor Wike that he came to formally introduce himself and to also seek the support of the administration.
He assured the police under his command will work professionally to fight crime.
Wike who welcomed the police boss in the state expressed worry that public institutions are beginning to lose public confidence because of the way they are being run. He tasked the new Police Commissioner to improve the performance of police in the state
He informed the visitor that his predecessor, Mr Zaki Ahmed, allowed himself to be used negatively against the state.
“ Rivers State will not forget that it was Zaki Ahmed’s time that thugs invaded the Rivers State High Court which is located near the police headquarters. He didn’t bring anybody to book “, Wike said.
The Governor assured the new Police Commissioner of his administration’s support to the command to fight crime across the state and urged him to focus on ending kidnapping, cultism, and other violent crimes.
The Minister of Environment, Mr Suleiman Hassan Zarma also paid a courtesy visit to Government House last Friday.
The minister said he and his team were in the state to hand over sites to contractors for commencement of the Ogoni clean up exercise.
The Brick House landlord, Governor Wike, condemned the deliberate neglect of the Niger Delta region by the Federal Government in spite of the fact that the region remains the economic life wire of the nation.
“ We are dying because we are keeping the country alive. Nobody wants to give us attention “, he said.
Stressing that environmental degradation is worse than insurgency, the governor regretted that while the Federal Government considered it necessary to take $1billion from the Excess Crude Account to address insurgency, nothing was being done to address the environmental pollution in the region.
He chided the Ogoni clean up exercise, saying Federal Government is politicising the exercise instead of showing concern.
He said each time election draws near, Federal Government remembers the Ogoni but as election ends, nobody talks about it again.
“ Three years ago, the president represented by the VP flagged off the clean up during the rerun elections. One month to the general elections, the Minister of Environment has come to hand over the sites.
Politics
Alleged Coup: Protests Rock N’Assembly As Detained Officers’ Children, Wives Demand Justice
Scores of children and wives of military officers detained over an alleged coup plot yesterday staged a peaceful protest at the National Assembly, demanding a speedy trial and the release of the accused officials.
The protesters who gathered at the entrance of the National Assembly complex, moved in a slow procession while clutching placards with inscriptions such as “Don’t Kill Our Daddies,” “Detention Without Trial is Injustice,” and “Six Months of Torture: Enough Is Enough.”
Amid tears and trembling voices, the children appealed for justice and access to their detained fathers, many of whom they said they had not seen for months.
The appeal was made during a press briefing in Abuja attended by no fewer than 20 wives and several children of the detained officers, including a two-month-old baby.
The families were accompanied by human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju and activist Omoyele Sowore.
At the briefing, the families lamented that the officers had been held for over 160 days without trial or contact with their relatives, describing the situation as a violation of their fundamental rights.
Speaking on behalf of the families, Memuna Bashiru said the prolonged detention had thrown their households into uncertainty and emotional distress, noting that while allegations had been widely publicised, families remained in the dark about the fate of their loved ones.
The arrest of the indicted officers was first announced on October 4, 2025, by the then Director of Defense Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, who disclosed that 16 officers were taken into custody for alleged breaches of military regulations and acts of indiscipline.
However, an interim investigation later suggested the existence of a clandestine network of officers, allegedly coordinated by a senior Army officer, which had begun preliminary planning for a coup.
According to the report, the alleged plot involved surveillance of key national assets, including the Presidential Villa, Armed Forces Complex, Niger Barracks in Abuja, and major international airports, with October 25, 2025, cited as the planned date for the operation.
Those reportedly in custody include Brig Gen M. A. Sadiq, Col M. A. Maaji, Lt Col S. Bappah, Lt Col A. A. Hayatu, Lt Col P. Dangnap, Lt Col M. Almakura, Maj A. J. Ibrahim, Maj M. M. Jiddah, Maj M. A. Usman, Maj D. Yusuf, Capt I. Bello, Capt A. A. Yusuf, Lt S. S. Felix, Lt Cdr D. B. Abdullahi, Sqn Ldr S. B. Adamu and Maj I. Dauda.
The alleged plot, according to findings, targeted senior government officials, including President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.
In a statement issued yesterday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Felix Morka, said the exercise would take place in all wards and designated centres nationwide.
He called on existing members to update their records, while encouraging new entrants to join the party through the digital platform.
“As the electronic membership registration exercise resumes in all wards and designated locations nationwide, we urge existing members to validate their membership while new members are encouraged to register and join the progressive family,” Mr Morka said.
According to him, eligibility for registration is limited to individuals aged 18 and above who possess a valid National Identification Number (NIN).
The party said the initiative is part of efforts to modernise its operations by transitioning to a digital database that would enhance record accuracy and accessibility.
Mr Morka noted that the e-registration would “digitise the party’s membership register, ensure the integrity of records, and enhance efficient access to membership data for planning and management decisions.”
He added that the move is also aimed at promoting internal democracy within the party and strengthening its commitment to democratic innovation.
The APC had previously introduced electronic registration as part of broader reforms to streamline its membership system and improve organisational efficiency.