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We ‘re Committed To Peace Building -Wike …As Commission Ends Sitting In PH
The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has declared that his administration is committed to the peace process he initiated for the development of the state.
Speaking during a solidarity visit by selected clergymen of Ikwerre extraction to Government House, Port Harcourt, yesterday, Wike said that the state government needs peace to entrench development across the state.
The governor said: “We are sincere about the peace process that we initiated. We are not playing politics with the peace process. It is for this reason that the Honourable Attorney General entered a ‘nolle prosequi’ for some persons.
“Government needs peace to entrench development in different parts of the state. However, we are committed to peace that is not against the interest of the state. We are not working for conditional peace”.
Wike said that he will continue to work for the entire state, which he sees as his primary constituency.
“As a governor, I am from a particular ethnic group, but I am not a governor for only that ethnic group. I am a governor of Rivers State.
“So, my interest is for the entire state. But somebody must come from somewhere”, he added.
The governor thanked the clerics for their role in the promotion of peace and reconciliation. He enjoined them to continue to build peace across the state.
He said that the success recorded during the elections prove that the prayers of Rivers clerics worked for the people.
Earlier, the Leader of the selected clergymen of Ikwerre origin and President of Ogbakor Ikwerre Worldwide, Rev Canon Simeon Achinewhu congratulated the governor on his re-election.
Achinewhu, who is also an academic professor, said: “Your re-election for a second term is a general acceptance by the good people of Rivers State that you performed creditably well in your first tenure.
“We join the good people of Rivers State to appreciate you on your performance in your first term and pray that God will give you more wisdom to perform even better in your second term”.
The group lauded the Rivers State governor for initiating a peace and reconciliation process by extending the Olive branch after the elections.
“We commend your courage for extending the Olive branch for total peace and reconciliation in Rivers State. We pray to God to touch everybody concerned to accept this Olive branch and fully participate in the process of reconciliation and total peace in Rivers State”.
The Ikwerre clerics assured the governor that they would work towards bringing all interest groups together for a joint solidarity visit to the Government House.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Commission of Inquiry investigating the invasion and attack on the state Judiciary Complex, last year, yesterday, completed its public sitting in Port Harcourt, with a firm promise that its recommendations would be based on the evidences given by witnesses who testified during the proceedings of the commission.
The Chairman of the commission, Justice Simeon Amadi, stated this during the last sitting of the commission at the state Judiciary Complex in Port Harcourt.
Amadi, who is also a serving judge with the state Judiciary, said the commission tried to reach out to all parties whose names were mentioned in the matter through electronics and print media.
He averred that some of the persons who were invited by the commission refused to honour the invitation on their own volition.
The chairman reiterated the commission’s earlier resolve to be fair and give equal opportunities to all affected persons and groups, adding that the commission remained a fact finding one, and therefore, not set up to witch-hunt anybody.
“We tried to ensure that everybody mentioned in the allegation was invited for fair hearing and to give equal opportunity to all.
“But a lot of the people decided not to appear before the panel, we shall visit the premises to inspect the damaged items within the Judiciary Complex to ascertain the level of damage as well as know the items replaced and those still pending”, he added.
Amadi thanked all the people who attended the proceedings of the commission for the cooperation they accorded to the panel, and assured that their report would capture all the correspondences taken from the witnesses.
Earlier before the commission rounded off its sitting, it also grilled the former mayor of Port Harcourt City, Prince Orukwem Amadi-Oparali and the Registrar of the state High Court, Mrs V. Kobani Esq.
While the state High Court Registrar, Mrs V. Kobani, who had earlier testified before the commission was recalled for further cross-examination and clarifications, the former mayor, Prince Amadi-Oparali was admitted into the witness box to give his evidence as the mayor of city at the time of the incident.
Kobani while submitting the list of unrecovered items during the judiciary invasion told the commission that the judiciary archive containing both government and private information was damaged by the hoodlums during the rampage.
She told the panel that there was never a time the state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike drove Justice Chinwendu Nworgu into the Judiciary Complex on that day.
On his part, the former mayor of Port Harcourt, Prince Orukwem Amadi-Oparali told the commission that the thugs, who invaded the judiciary on that day, were supporters of the two contending factional members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state loyal to the Transportation Minister, Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and Senator Magnu Abe, respectively.
He disclosed that he could not establish the identity of the leaders of the protesters because the crowd was much but stressed that his main concern alongside some members of the State Executive Council who were there at the time of the attack, was to ensure that the court was open, which they succeeded in facilitating.
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.