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Outrage As Army Clamps Down On PDP Chieftains …Women Protest Arrest Of Wike’s Liaison Officers …PDP Demands Release Of Commissioner, Others
The Rivers State Government has accused the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and the General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj-Gen Jamil Sarham, of masterminding the mass arrest of innocent Nigerians and prominent members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
The government alleged that the essence of the arrests was to precipitate crisis and cause the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to postpone the elections in Rivers State.
It also alleged that the minister planned to use the vacuum created by the absence of the arrested leaders to rig the governorship election and force a candidate of his choice against the will of the people.
The state government made these accusations in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Barrister Emma Okah, following the arrest of the state Commissioner for Education, Dr Tamunosisi Gogo-Jaja and his family by soldiers, last Wednesday evening in Port Harcourt.
“We have been saying it repeatedly that the minister of transportation has been commanding the Army in Port Harcourt to do unprofessional things and the crisis are spreading.
“He has been boasting that he has brought soldiers from Sokoto and other states to carry out his political agenda of disrupting or rigging elections on Saturday,” the statement added.
According to the statement, “any arrested person would be kept behind bars till after the governorship elections in the state.
“A lot of prominent persons have been pencilled down for arrest. Some of them are, former governor of Rivers State, Sir Celestine Omehia; former deputy speaker of House of Representatives, Rt Hon Austin Opara; state PDP Chairman, Bro Felix Obuah; elder statesman and former chairman of UBA, Chief Ferdinand Anabraba; Sen Olaka Nwogu; Chief Sergeant Awuse; Sen Lee Maeba; former sports minister, Dr Tammy Danagogo; former transport minister, Dr Abiye Sekibo; former Nigerian Ambassador to South Korea, Amb Desmond Akawor; Prince Emma Anyanwu; the Secretary to the State Government, Sir Kenneth Kobani; Ejor N. Ejor, Prof Blessing Didia, members of Rivers State House of Assembly; PDP candidates and National Assembly members-elect; Alabo David Briggs, all commissioners and special advisers; local government council chairmen, Sen Thompson Sekibo, Chief Adokiye Amiesimaka, etc.
“In the light of this development, the government calls on all PDP members not to be cowed by this development but be vigilant and resist arrest by these people,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, hundreds of women have staged a protest in Rivers State following the arrest of Nathan Menabere, the liaison officer of Governor NyesomWike, in Ogu and six other members of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in Ogu, Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area of the state, by alleged military men.
The protesters, who appeared in black attires with placards bearing several inscriptions such as, ‘Army Release Our Innocent Brothers’, ‘Stop Raping the Peace of Ogu’, ‘We Say no to intimidation, ‘Oh! Security Agencies, Why the Intimidation?’ demanded the immediate release of the arrested persons. Speaking, leader of the protesting women, Mrs. Christiana Tamunobereton-Ari, disclosed that the military personnel invaded the area around 1:00am, yesterday, broke into homes and picked their victims.
Tamunobereton-Ari, who is the Vice Chairman of the LGA, alleged that the development was political, wondering why there should be arrest when there was peace in the area.
She said: “We are here to let the nation know what is happening in Ogu. We are a peaceful community. Last night some military men came into our community and picked some of our people.
“They broke into their houses and arrested them. They did not even report to the security agencies in our place. As it stands, over seven people have been arrested.
“We are condemning this act of intimidation and we call on the military to stop this unlawful arrested and release our people.”
Meanwhile, Mrs. Fyne Nathan, wife of one of the arrested persons, narrated that the military men invade their home and forced her to open the house door on gunpoint.
In her words: “The military men came to our house while we were sleeping, around 1:00am. They knocked the door and we refused to open the door, because we don’t know who was knocking.
“We asked whom they were, they said they were military men, and I refused to open the door, because it is late in the night. One of the military men opened the window glass and pointed his gun at me to open the door.
“When they entered, they arrested my husband. They broke his head and forced him to follow them. He asked then what his offence was but they shut him up. I am calling on them to bring back my husband.”
However, the Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for the immediate release of the state Commissioner for Education, Dr. Tamunosisi Gogo-Jaja, his family members and the state Co-coordinator of Arise Nigeria, Hon. Benjamin Diri, who were allegedly arrested by the Nigerian Army, 6 Division, Port Harcourt.
A statement by the PDP Rivers State, signed by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Rivers State PDP Chairman, Bro. Felix Obuah, Jerry Needam, said Gogo-Jaja with his family and other members of his household were whisked away by a fleet of fierce-looking soldiers who stormed his GRA Phase 3 residence by about 2pm, last Wednesday.
The statement regretted that the military in Rivers have not only usurped the responsibility of the police but have also “been dragged into full-time politics by some anti-democratic elements and enemies of the people,” describing the development as very unfortunate.
The state PDP wondered “what could be the offence committed by the state education commissioner, his wife and children that the Army would abandon their primary duty of protecting the Nigerian territory against external invasion to carrying out the function of the police.”
The PDP said the action of the soldiers of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army was politically motivated.
“The Army,” the state PDP noted, “should realize that their integrity is at stake as elections will come and go but the Army remains as a national institution.”
Meanwhile, huge protest hit the state, yesterday, as hundreds of women demonstrated on the streets following the arrest of the liaison officer of Governor Nyesom Wike, in Ogu, Nathan Menabere, and six other members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogu, Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area of the state, by alleged military men.
The protesters, who appeared in black attires with placards bearing several inscriptions such as, ‘Army Release Our Innocent Brothers’, ‘Stop Raping the Peace of Ogu’, ‘We Say no to Intimidation, ‘Oh! Security Agencies, Why the Intimidation?’, demanded the immediate release of the arrested persons.
Speaking, leader of the protesting women, Mrs. Christiana Tamunobereton-Ari, disclosed that the military personnel invaded the area around 1:00am, yesterday, broke into homes and picked their victims.
Tamunobereton-Ari, who is the vice chairman of the LGA, alleged that the development was political, wondering why there should be arrest when there was peace in the area.
She said: “We are here to let the nation know what is happening in Ogu. We are a peaceful community. Last night some military men came into our community and picked some of our people.
“They broke into their houses and arrested them. They did not even report to the security agencies in our place. As it stands, over seven people have been arrested.
“We are condemning this act of intimidation and we call on the military to stop this unlawful arrested and release our people.”
In her remarks, wife of one of the arrested persons, Mrs. Fyne Nathan, narrated that the military men invade their home and forced her to open the house door on gunpoint.
She said, “The military men came to our house while we were sleeping, around 1:00am. They knocked the door and we refused to open the door, because we don’t know who was knocking.
“We asked whom they were, they said they were military men, and I refused to open the door, because it is late in the night. One of the military men opened the window glass and pointed his gun at me to open the door.
“When they entered, they arrested my husband. They broke his head and forced him to follow them. He asked then what his offence was but they shut him up. I am calling on them to bring back my husband.”
The Administrator of Rivers State, Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, has assured the commitment of Rivers State government to workers’s welfare and industrial harmony in Rivers State.
The Sole Administrator gave the assurance after meeting with leadership of organized labour unions at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
Ibas reaffirmed government’s policy of prompt payment of salaries and pensions to workers and retirees, stating that all local government employees are not receiving the approved minimum wage.
He disclosed that approval has been given for payment of newly employed staff at Rivers State University Teaching Hospital and the Judiciary, while medical workers in Local Government Areas will now receive correct wages.
Ibas explained that, Government is reviewing implementation challenges of the Contributory Pension Scheme ahead of the July 2025 deadline, adding that Intervention buses have been reintroduced to ease workers’ transportation ,with plans to expand the fleet.
He said specialized leadership training for top civil servants will commence within two weeks, while due consideration is being given to implementing the N32,000 consequential adjustment for pensioners and clearing outstanding gratuities.
Ibas commended Rivers State workers for their dedication to service and called for sustained partnership with labour unions to maintain industrial peace.
“This administration recognizes workers as critical partners in development. We remain committed to addressing your legitimate concerns within available resources,” he stated.
The State NLC Chairman, Comrade Alex Agwanwor, thanked the Administrator for the steps taken so far with regard to workers welfare while appreciating his disposition towards alleviating the transportation problem faced by workers.
He also expressed appreciation for the government’s openness to dialogue and pledged continued cooperation towards achieving mutual goals.
The Rivers State Government assured all workers of its unwavering commitment to their welfare and called for continued dedication to service delivery for the collective progress of our dear State.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Rivers Council, has called for policies that will improve the economic situation of the country in order to ensure enhanced living standard for workers.
The State Chairman, Mr Alex Agwanwor, made the remark on behalf of the unions affiliated to Labour Congress during the 2025 workers day celebration in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Agwanwor highlighted the demands of the Unions which included the immediate payment of pension arrears, implementation of the N32,000 minimum wage for pensioners, and payment of gratuities and death benefits without further delay.
“We are calling for the regulation and protection of e-hailing drivers, implementation of increments and promotions, and resolution of long-standing issues in the polytechnic sector,” he said.
Agwanwor on behalf of the unions appealed to President Bola Tinubu to reinstate the democratically elected Governor, Deputy Governor, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
He stressed the importance of democratic governance and good working relationship with elected representatives.
According to him, the unions expressed disappointment over the imposition of taxes, increase in electricity tariff, and high cost of goods and services, which have further worsened the plight of workers.
“We urge the federal government to take measures to alleviate the suffering of citizens,” he said.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima says President Bola Tinubu is committed to unlocking Nigeria’s full potential and position the country as a leading force on the African continent.
Shettima stated this when he hosted a delegation from the Hertie School of Governance, Berlin, led by its Senior Fellow, Dr Rolf Alter, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja last Wednesday.
He said Nigeria was actively seeking expertise from the global best institutions to enhance policy formulation and implementation, particularly in human capital development.
The Vice-President noted that President Tinubu was determined to elevate Nigeria to its rightful position as a leading force in Africa.
“The current crop of leadership in Nigeria under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is ready and willing to unleash the full potential of the Nigerian nation on the African continent.
” We are laying the groundwork through strategic reforms, and at the heart of it, is human capital development.”
He described the Hertie School as a valuable partner in the journey.
According to him, Hertie School of Governance, Berlin, has track record and institutional knowledge to add value to our policy formulation and delivery, especially in this disruptive age.
Shettima reiterated the government’s priority on upskilling Nigerians, saying ” skills are very important, and with our Human Capital Development (HCD) 2.0 programme.
“We are in a position to unleash the full potential of the Nigerian people by enhancing their capital skills.”
The Vice-President acknowledged the vital support of international development partners in that effort.
” I want to thank the World Bank, the European Union, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and all our partners in that drive to add value to the Nigerian nation,” he maintained.
The Vice-President said human capital development was both an economic imperative and a social necessity.
Shettima assured the delegation of the government’s readiness to deepen cooperation.
” We need the skills and the capacity from your school. The world is now knowledge-driven.
“I wish to implore you to have a very warm and robust partnership with the government and people of Nigeria.”
Shettima further explained recent economic decisions of the government, including fuel subsidy removal and foreign exchange reforms.
“The removal of fuel subsidy, the unification of the exchange rate regime and the revolution in the energy sector are all painful processes, but at the end of the day, the Nigerian people will laugh last.
“President Tinubu is a very modern leader who is willing to take far-reaching, courageous decisions to reposition the Nigerian economy,” he added.
Earlier, Alter, congratulated the Tinubu administration for the successful launch and implementation of the Human Capital Development (HCD) strategy.
The group leader described the development as ambitious and targeted towards the improvement of the lives of the citizens.
He expressed satisfaction with the outcome of his engagements since arriving in the country.
He applauded the zeal, commitment, energy and goodwill observed among stakeholders in the implementation of Nigeria’s HCD programme.
Alter said the Hertie School of Governance would work closely with authorities in Nigeria across different levels to deliver programmes specifically designed to address the unique needs of the country.
He, however, stressed the need for government officials at different levels to be agile and amenable to the dynamics of the evolving world, particularly as Nigeria attempted to successfully accelerate its human capital development aspirations.