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Don’t Subvert Will Of Rivers People, IPAC Tells Buhari
Irked by moves by those it described as “some compromised pro-APC Elders convened by the desperate Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi” to truncate the election collation process in the state, the Rivers State wing of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari not to take any step that will jeopardize the collation and declaration of the State’s governorship elections result and subvert the will of Rivers people.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Sir Precious Baridoo, at a press conference yesterday in Port Harcourt, IPAC hinted that it had “information that these pro-APC Elders have written to President Buhari to halt the collation process and “create the atmosphere where INEC, as presently constituted, will not conclude the elections”.
IPAC wondered how former Rivers State Governor, Rufus Ada George, Ambassador Chukwudi Orike, Alabo Tonye Graham-Douglas, Prof. D.M.J. Fubara and Rtd Group Captain Ben-Kalio, under the aegis of Rivers Elders, would place partisan and monetary considerations above the interest of the State.
It described the letter allegedly written to the President as devilish, wicked and affront to the people of the state who overwhelmingly voted for Governor Nyesom Wike of the PDP on March 9, 2019.
IPAC maintained that the Elders cannot feign ignorance of the “negative roles” played by the Nigerian Army and F-SARS during the Governorship and State Assembly elections which vividly captured the volence at the various local Government Collation Centres in the state.
It said it was “unfortunate that these Pro-APC Elders would allow themselves to be used by Amaechi who is bent on imposing his stooge on Rivers State as Governor”.
Recalling that the INEC fact finding Committee had acknowledged that elections were held in majority of the polling units in the state, IPAC insisted that from the declarations made PDP won in all state constituencies.
Said IPAC: “the Governorship and State Assembly elections in Rivers State have been concluded as INEC announced in its Press Release. The arm-twisting ploy of these elders hired by Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi will not work. The will of Rivers people will prevail.
“From results in all polling units made available to us through our agents during the elections, Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has been re-elected. We shall await the official collation and declaration.
“The AAC/APC/Army alliance are also aware of this fact, hence the last minute declaration. It is sad that these elders are indirectly seeking for fresh elections in Rivers State, when winners have already emerged in the constituencies and for the Governorship election”.
Also, the Chairman, New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rivers State Chapter, Hon Enyi Princewill has expressed explicit confidence in the ability of Governor Nyesom Wike to emerge as winner of the 2019 Governorship election in the state.
The NNPP chairman, who was also the gubernatorial candidate of his party in the state until he relinquished his ambition, and joined some other candidates to back Wike’s re-election, stated this in an interview with our correspondent, last Monday, in Port Harcourt.
Reacting to the delay by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to release the final results of the governorship election, Princewill said, “as far as I am concerned, they are only trying to delay the destiny of Rivers people but Rivers people’s destiny cannot be denied because the voice of the people is the voice of God.
“So, I am very confident that before the end of this week, Chief Nyesom Wike will be pronounced the executive governor of Rivers State for the next four years”, he said.
He urged the people of the state to continue to remain calm and watchful, stressing that at the appropriate time, which cannot be later than this week, they will know their governor.
Princewill, who threw more light on why he relinquish his ambition and joined some other governorship candidates to adopt Wike for re-election, said their decision was in view of the governor’s superlative performance, particularly his infrastructural revolution in the state.
According to him, “As far as I am concerned and as the governorship candidate of my party (the NNPP), I took a very frantic, invaluable understanding of Wike’s infrastructural development programmes, and keyed into one of those who adopted him.
“And as I speak with you, I have the telepathy that tells me that all is well”.
The NNPP boss called on President Muhammadu Buhari to sanction the Army and their civilian accomplices whose illegal activities were aimed at subverting the rights of the people of the state and also resulted in the killing of innocent citizens.
He noted that such steps have become imperative to deter others in future.
Princewill regretted that so much alarm had been raised by Wike in the past as to the evil plans of the enemies of the state, yet appropriate authorities chose not to take necessary action to avert the dangers.
“They said he talks too much, but all he said have come to limelight.
“If not that he shouted, they would have also kidnapped the REC because there was intention to do that.
“If not that we shouted, they would have removed one political party’s logo from the ballot papers so as to demand for repeat of the election”, he said.
He described Rivers State as a state ordained by God, and warned evil doers to leave the state alone.
Victor Tew
The governor has also pledged to upgrade the Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) in Bille with a view to addressing the health challenges confronting the community.
Fubara made the pledge on Wednesday at the Government House, Port Harcourt during an enlarged meeting of key stakeholders, comprising representatives of the Federal Government, the state government and leaders of the community.
The meeting was held to review the situation in the community and explore available opportunities to save the people from the adverse impacts of environmental pollution.
Addressing the journalists at the end of the meeting, the governor acknowledged the determination of the Federal Government and its agencies to get to the root cause of the problem in Bille and ensure that it is resolved permanently.
“The meeting is in respect of the situation in Bille. You’re aware that there is a case of gas leakage somewhere in Bille and the people have been making some requests that the government should come to their rescue to resolve the situation.
“As a state, we have gone to see the situation in the community, not alone but in conjunction with the industry operators and officials of the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources. What we are doing today is an enlarged meeting where all the parties are sitting together to look at the cause of the issue and the most possible way to get the problem resolved,” he said.
Fubara described the outcome of the meeting as successful, stressing that more action would be taken in the next couple of weeks to ensure that the issue is fully resolved.
The Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Gas), Hon Ekperikpe Ekpo, who led the Federal Government’s delegation to the meeting, expressed appreciation to the governor for his warm hospitality and efforts to address the challenge in Bille community.
Ekpo explained that contrary to the perception in certain quarters, the Federal Government has not been silent over the “gas seepage” but has been working tirelessly towards finding a sustainable solution.
The minister explained that as soon as the incident was reported, the Federal Government deployed experts to the area to understudy the cause of the problem.
According to him, it was difficult at first to understand the cause of the problem since there were no oil or gas infrastructure within the vicinity of the incident, hence the need to conduct a more detailed investigation.
“The investigation is still going but we decided to do a follow-up visit to the area to talk to the people of Bille Community that we need collaboration on their part so that we would be able to arrive at a lasting solution.
“The safety of the people is paramount. We can understand their anxiety, the worry and the danger that this thing poses within the area, but the Federal Government is committed to finding a lasting solution to the problem. The primary responsibility of government is to take care of the welfare and security of the people and that is exactly why we are here to go and see things for ourselves,” he said.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, also explained that as the regulatory agency at the centre of the issue, no effort will be spared in the task of resolving the issue.
Eyesan pledged that the NUPRC and operators in the industry were prepared to address the requests of the impacted people in terms of the provision of potable water and fire trucks to the community.
The Public Relations Officer, Council of Chiefs, Bille Kingdom, Chief Rena Dappa, had during the meeting, presented the challenges facing the community and pleaded for government’s support to save the lives and livelihoods of the people.
The President stated that the scheme is aimed at creating jobs, closing the country’s metering gap and improving electricity supply.
The President disclosed this in a statement on his verified X handle yesterday, describing the initiative, tagged “The Power Force,” as part of his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda to expand employment opportunities for young people.
According to Tinubu, the programme will equip participants with practical technical skills and connect them to employment opportunities in Nigeria’s power sector.
“Through the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI), which I established to close Nigeria’s metering gap, end estimated billing, protect consumers and strengthen the electricity market, we are opening a new pathway for 5,000 young Nigerians to be trained as meter installers and technicians under The Power Force. This programme is about jobs, skills and dignity,” he said.
Tinubu said the training would be open to eligible Nigerians who have completed their secondary school education, with a dedicated quota reserved for members of the National Youth Service Corps.
He noted that expanding electricity metering was critical to improving service delivery and promoting transparency in the power sector.
“When homes and businesses are properly metered, Nigerians can pay for what they actually use. When electricity distribution companies collect revenues more transparently and fairly, they are better able to reduce losses, maintain infrastructure, expand connections and invest in better service.
“This is how we build a power sector that is fairer to consumers, stronger for investors and better able to deliver reliable electricity to the Nigerian people,” the President said.
Tinubu said he had directed the Presidential Metering Initiative to work with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria, and other relevant stakeholders to commence the programme within the next 30 days.
He encouraged qualified young Nigerians to apply, saying the initiative would provide them with marketable skills while supporting efforts to eliminate estimated billing and improve electricity access nationwide.
“I encourage eligible young Nigerians to apply. Join The Power Force. Learn a skill. Earn with dignity. Help us end estimated billing and be part of the work to light up Nigeria,” he added.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed this in a statement issued yesterday by its spokesperson, Mr Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa.
According to the ministry, the Air Peace-operated flight is expected to arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, at about 5:30 a.m. on Friday, July 3, 2026.
It said the evacuation is part of the Federal Government’s ongoing efforts to facilitate the voluntary return of Nigerians from South Africa.
“The third evacuation flight operated by Air Peace will depart Johannesburg today by 12 midnight with 271 returnees. The estimated time of arrival in Lagos is 5:30 a.m. on Friday, July 3, 2026,” the statement read.
The latest batch of returnees follows earlier evacuation flights that brought hundreds of Nigerians back to the country under the Federal Government’s voluntary repatriation programme.
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