Connect with us

Politics

Wike Promises More Projects In 2020

Published

on

Last week witnessed 2019 farewell events  and activities heralding the beginning of  the new year,  ( 2020 ) in Government House, Port Harcourt.
In his  New Year message Governor Wike hailed the people of Rivers State for their support to his administration last year .
He particularly praised the people for their courage in standing firm to defend their mandate during the 2019 General Elections.
The governor stated that now that elections are over it is imperative for all Rivers people, irrespective of their political affiliation to work towards unity and reconciliation for the rapid development of the state.
Noting that 2019 would be remembered as a year when several key projects were commissioned in the state by eminent national leaders and top political leaders across the country, the governor assured that 2020 will witness even more projects execution and empowerment in line with the 2020 budget.
He said massive infrastructure, access to education and training, agriculture, quality healthcare and creation of economic opportunities will remain some of his administration’s key priorities in 2020.
Last week, more commissioners and Special Advisers to the Governor were swore in. The event took place Monday at the Executive Council Chambers of Government House.
Wike charged the new appointees to focus their attention on how to render quality services to the state and not to see their appointment as an opportunity to make money for themselves, stressing that any of the appointees found wanting would be shown the way out.
The governor insisted that they must give 100 per cent loyalty to his Government and warned them against involvement in political meetings concerning 2023 governorship race in the state.
The new set of commissioners who were thirteen in number, were given portfolios the next day and directed to assume duties immediately.
In the week under review, the Chief Executive Officer of the state, assented to the 2020 Appropriation Bill into law.
At the event, Monday in Government House, the Speaker of the State Assembly, Ikuinyi Awaji Ubani lauded the governor for the budget and expressed confidence that the budget would enhance rapid development of the state and assured that the cordial relationship between the Executive arm and the Legislature would be sustained.
The Governor commended the House for quick passage of the 2020 budget and the cooperation between the two arms of the government and stressed that the budget would open more windows for economic growth and employment opportunities to youths and women especially through agriculture.
Governor Wike, last week described Rivers State as one major state that is key to the unity of the country.
Speaking at the 2020 New Year Banquet held, Wednesday night in Government House, the Governor said Rivers state and her people would continue to defend the unity of the nation.
” Rivers State has been a key to the unity of the country. We believe in the unity of Nigeria. In believing in the unity of the country, always give us our right”, he stated.
Notable personalities attended the Banquet amongst them were the Governors of Bauchi state, Senator Bala Mohammed and Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal .
Both Governors praised Governor Wike for his exemplary leadership qualities stressing that the state was lucky to have a person like him as governor.
“When you talk about governance and performance across the country, the name of Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike continues to come up”, said Gov Tambuwal.
The Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers have hailed the Rivers State Governor for the victory of the state on the disputed Soku Oil Wells and for acquiring Shell’s interest in OML11.
Chairman of the council and Amanyanabo of Opobo, King Douglas Dandeson Jaja made the commendation at the last Quarterly Meeting of the council for 2019 held last Tuesday at the Council’s Secretariat in Port Harcourt.
The governor lauded the council for its strong support to his administration and vowed that he would continue to defend the interest of the state irrespective of negative propaganda by opponents of the state.

 

By: Chris Oluoh

Continue Reading

Politics

Reps Constitution Review Committee Holds Zonal Hearing For Rivers, C’River, Akwa Ibom In Calabar

Published

on

In a renewed effort to deepen Nigeria’s constitutional democracy, the House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution has announced the commencement of its Zonal and National Public Hearings across the country.

A press statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Cross River State Governor, Mr Linus Obogo, disclosed that the Calabar Centre — designated as Centre B — will host representatives and stakeholders from Cross River, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom States.

The public hearing is scheduled to take place on Saturday, July 19, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at the Transcorp (Metropolitan) Hotel, Calabar.

The initiative, according to the statement, is designed to promote inclusive dialogue and capture the aspirations of Nigerians from all regions.

It aims to serve as a platform for citizens to contribute meaningfully to the ongoing national efforts to refine and strengthen the country’s legal and institutional frameworks.

“Citizens, civil society groups, professional bodies, traditional rulers, and other interest blocs are invited to participate in this landmark engagement aimed at advancing a more just, equitable, and responsive Nigerian Constitution,” the statement read.

The hearing forms part of the broader review process of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), and is seen as a strategic move toward fostering national unity and addressing structural legal issues within the federation.

 

Continue Reading

Politics

Tinubu’s Contribution To Buhari’s Presidency Marginal – Ex-SGF

Published

on

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, has stirred fresh political controversy by dismissing claims that President Bola Tinubu was highly instrumental to former President Muhammadu Buhari’s emergence in 2015 after the merger of political parties that formed the All Progressives Congress (APC).

For the first time since 2022, when then-presidential aspirant Alhaji Bola Tinubu declared he made former President Buhari Nigeria’s President in 2015, Mr Mustapha dismissed the claims, stressing that the merger only contributed about three million votes in addition to Buhari’s existing 12 million votes in the North.

He insisted that former President Buhari’s integrity, national stature, and disciplined messaging were central to the breakthrough, not the three million votes from the merging parties, which he described as insignificant.

Speaking on the role of the merging parties, particularly President Tinubu, the leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Mr Mustapha, who was the keynote speaker at the launch of the book ‘According to the President: Lessons from a Presidential Spokesman’s Experience’ authored by Mallam Garba Shehu, described the impact of the votes from other merging parties as very insignificant.

In attendance were former Head of State Yakubu Gowon, chair of the event; immediate past Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; SGF George Akume, who represented President Tinubu; PDP’s 2023 presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar; former Chief of Staff to Buhari Ibrahim Gambari; elder statesman Babagana Kingibe; former governors Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Chris Ngige (Anambra), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Raji Babatunde Fashola (Lagos); former ministers Solomon Dalung and Sunday Dare; former Army Chief Tukur Buratai, and Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu’s spokesman, among others.

According to Mr Mustapha, “I do not intend to stir up any controversy. The merger in 2013 was midwifed to create a Buhari presidency. Let us look at the statistics. In the 2003 election, it was the Obasanjo-Buhari presidential contest where Buhari recorded 12.7 million votes. In 2007, it came to 6.6 million, and it went back to 12.2 million in 2011.

“When we were conceptualising the merger, what would give us a headstart? Obviously, it was at the back of our consciousness that the merger with the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), though it had only one state, the ACN had six states, ANPP three states, and when you sum up the total votes that we had as the presidency in 2015, the aggregate of the total votes was 15.4 million.

“So, basically, what we brought to the table after the merger outside the Buhari 12.5 million votes was three million. Before turning to that presidency, it is important to recognise the former President’s role in reshaping Nigeria’s political trajectory.

“In early 2013, as the leader of the CPC, Buhari formally requested and supported the creation of a CPC merger committee, part of a broader coalition-building process that brought together the ACN, ANPP, APGA faction, and elements of the ruling party through the breakaway ‘new PDP’ group. His endorsement and participation, along with other party leaders such as President Tinubu and Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, lent credibility and direction to the merger, helping to unify disparate party factions under the banner of the APC. That coalition-building paved the way for the first democratic defeat of an incumbent ruling party in Nigeria’s history.

“President Buhari’s integrity, national stature, and disciplined messaging were central to that breakthrough. No account of President Buhari’s tenure would be complete without acknowledging the extended periods he spent on medical leave. These moments, while politically delicate, were also telling of his leadership philosophy and personality,” he said.

In his remarks, President Tinubu promised to build on the legacies of former President Buhari, stressing that “nation-building is a relay. The efforts of one administration lay the foundation for the next.

“In this regard, I acknowledge the efforts of my predecessor, President Buhari, and assure all Nigerians that the reform-oriented path he initiated will be consolidated and strengthened under this administration. Our Renewed Hope Agenda is inspired by the desire to build a resilient, just, and inclusive Nigeria—a nation that delivers dividends of democracy to all its citizens”.

Continue Reading

Politics

Your Lies Chasing Investors From Nigeria, Omokri Slams Obi

Published

on

Former Presidential aide, Mr Reno Omokri, has accused Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, of spreading false information about Nigeria’s debt profile, claiming it is deterring foreign investors from the country.

Speaking during an appearance on live television on Wednesday, Mr Omokri alleged that Mr Obi’s statements were misleading and damaging to the country’s economic prospects.

Mr Omokri said some investors currently operating in Nigeria were considering exiting the market due to Mr Obi’s remarks.

“That is not true. He doesn’t rile me up. I rile him up. The reason why I came here is because I’m a patriot. Peter Obi lied. You know, foreign direct investors are watching your programme, who are making investment decisions not to come to Nigeria. There are foreign investors in Nigeria that are making investment decisions to leave Nigeria because of the lie he told.

“One of the lies he told is that President Tinubu has borrowed more than the administrations of Yar’Adua, Jonathan, Buhari. That is a blatant lie”, Mr Omokri said.

To buttress his claims, Mr Omokri referenced figures from the Debt Management Office (DMO), maintaining that President Tinubu had actually reduced Nigeria’s external debt burden since assuming office.

“I have here with me data from the Debt Management Office, and Nigerians who are watching can go to DMO.com and search Debt Management Office, Nigeria State of Indebtedness 2015.

“As of 2015, Nigeria was owing a total of $63 billion. When Buhari was leaving office, Nigeria was owing $113 billion. Today, from the DMO, our debt has gone from $113 billion to $97 billion, meaning that Tinubu has reduced our debt by over $14 billion.

“We should be appreciating this man. Yet Peter Obi came here and lied to the Nigerian people. He took the debts and translated them into naira to make it look like the debts have increased”, he said.

 

Continue Reading

Trending