Politics
Wike Imposes Curfew In Parts Of Rivers State
The Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, last week, imposed a twenty-four hour curfew in Oyigbo Local Government Area of the state.
The curfew also extended to Mile 1, Mile Two, Emenike, Ikokwu, and Iloabuchi parts of Diobu in Port Harcourt City, as well as Oil Mill axis of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
The Governor announced the curfew in a state-wide broadcast last Wednesday, at Government House, Port Harcourt, and explained that the decision to impose the curfew was arrived at in a State Security Council meeting held same day in Government House.
In the broadcast, he said that the State Government appreciated the peaceful nature of the #EndSARS protest but regretted that hoodlums later hijacked the protest to unleash carnage in parts of the state.
He said: “ Some hoodlums attacked and destroyed police stations and court buildings in Oyigbo Local Government Area. Another set of hoodlums were also at the Ikokwu Spare Parts Markets, disturbing public peace and damaging property”.
In line with the proscription order of the Federal Government, Governor Wike, last week, reinforced ban on activities of the Indigenous Peoples Organisation of Biafra (IPOB) in the state.
The Governor stated that no form of procession or agitation by the group or any of its affiliates is allowed to take place in the state henceforth.
He explained that the state government observed that the activities of the banned IPOB are not only dangerous to lives and property, but clear threat to the existential interest and aspiration of Rivers State and all her people.
He directed security agencies to stop any form of procession or agitation by IPOB in any part of the state and arrest and prosecute any person or group that identifies with the membership or activities of the banned IPOB, adding that government will issue an executive order to strengthen and ensure effective reinforcement of the measures.
Governor Wike noted with sadness that since the organisation was classified as a terrorist organisation by a Federal High Court and subsequently proscribed by the Federal Government in 2017, the group had carried out intermittently processions in parts of Rivers State, especially Oyigbo and some notorious suburbs in Port Harcourt, stressing that the aim of IPOB had been to disturb the peace of the state by unleashing violence and destruction of lives and property at will.
The State Chief Executive declared one Mr Stanley Mgbere wanted for allegedly leading members of the banned IPOB to cause the recent violence and destruction of lives and property at Onne Community in Eleme Local Government Area.
The Governor announced a ransom of N50million for anybody with useful information that would lead to Mgbere’s arrest and subsequent prosecution.
Another major event in Brick House last week was the inauguration of a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate acts of brutality and violation of fundermental human rights perpetuated by operatives of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in the state.
According to the Governor, the Commission was set up in exercise of the powers conferred on him by the 1999
Constitution as amended and the provisions of Section 2 (1) of the Commission Inquiry Law of Rivers State (Cap 30) Laws of Rivers State of 1999.
He tasked the Commission to identify the victims of the alleged acts of attrocities committed by officers and men of FSARS. It is also to identify the persons or groups who counselled, procured and sponsored alleged acts of violence and violation of human rights of citizens committed by the disbanded outfit in the state.
Members of the Commission were drawn from the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), FIDA, Youth, Civil Society, Women and Religious organisations and the Commission has 60 days from the date of it’s first sitting to submit its report.
Justice Chukwuneye Uriri (rtd) is the chairman of the Commission.
The Governor also inaugurated the newly reconstituted Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), within the week under review.
Justice George Omereji (rtd) is chairman of the Commission, Dr Doris Ruhuoma Chukwu, Mrs Chioma Ochia, Dr Hope Barango Tariah, Professor Lysias Gilbert, Barrister Barine Akpobari Nwikinanei, Dr Iyeneomie Tamunoberetonari, and Dr Solomon Egbe are members.
Governor Wike also appointed two veteran journalists into key positions. Chief Ernest Chinwo was appointed the General Manager of the Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, while Mr Kelvin Ebiri was appointed Special Assistant (Media) to the Governor.
Chris Oluoh
Civil Society Coalition for Good Governance, Budget and Accountability has condemned the defection of the 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Executive Secretary, Civil Society Coalition for Good Governance, Budget and Accountability, Amb. Emmanuel Nkweke, who said this in an interview with The Tide in Port Harcourt also described as illegal all legislations passed by the defected lawmakers.
Amb. Nkweke described the defection as “monkey politics’, queried the rational behind the action of the lawmakers few months after being sworn into office, adding that members of the civil society community were yet to be told reasons for the defection.
“Up till now, we are yet to be told why they defected just few months of being sworn into office. For me, that is monkey politics”, he said.
He urged the lawmakers to go back to their former party and beg Rivers people for forgiveness, adding that if that is done, they may be welcomed back.
Amb. Nkweke also cautioned the lawmakers not to allow themselves to be used to do the bidding of an individual, adding that the present administration in the state needs the support of all to move forward.
Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of the group has commended Governor Siminalayi Fubara for giving civil societies the latitude to operate freely in the state.
He alleged that civil societies were caged in the last eight years, adding that there was no breathing space for civil societies in the last eight years in the state.
Amb. Nkweke described civil society as the engine room of democracy as it engages in sensitisation on the policies and programmes of government, regretting, however, that their inputs were never taken into considerations.
“Civil societies give signals, civil society creates the awareness and sensitize the people towards achieving a reliable democracy.
‘’i want to let you know, very frankly, that civil society space in Rivers State, for the past eight years, was suffocated. There was no breathing space, they didn’t breathe. Civil society was dead completely”, he said.
Amb. Nkweke said the situation also affected upcoming activists as some of them had to operate from hideouts.
By: John Bibor
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on President Bola Tinubu not to condone incompetent personalities in his government.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja, NANS President, Comrade Pedro Obi, expressed concerns about the competence of the Minister of State for Youth Development and the SSA to the President on Student Engagement.
Comrade Obi, after staging a peaceful protest at the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), reiterated that the NANS will not be intimidated and will continue to fight for the interests of Nigerian students.
He said, “The message is very simple, we have incompetent people who have been appointed to offices. It’s unfortunate and it’s not the President’s fault, of course he believes in Nigerian youths and has also given us the opportunity to showcase our capacity in various roles that he has given us.
“We have the SSA to the President on Student Engagement, who has shown incompetence. He cannot continue to hold that office and we are calling on Mr. President that he should be sacked with immediate effect.
“Also we have the Minister of State for Youth Development. We are also calling that immediately he should be sacked, because he has left what he ought to do and has dabbled into the affairs of NANS.
“These people have displayed incompetence and are destroying the youth community. There are so many competent youths that President Tinubu can pick from.
“NANS can never be intimidated. This is an organisation that we grew up to meet and we will continue to protect the dignity of this organisation.”
Receiving the NANS on behalf of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, the Permanent Secretary, General Services Office in the SGF, Dr. Maurice Nnamdi Mbaeri, assured the NANS of relaying back their complaints to the SGF which he said will land on the listening ears of President Tinubu.
According to him, “I have listened to the complaints you raised. I assure you that your complaints will get to the listening ears of Mr. President.
“Let me assure you that I’m happy this was also re-echoed in the NANS President’s speech that President Tinubu has indebt love for the youths of Nigeria and also for the students of Nigeria. This has been demonstrated by polices that (has) been put in place for the youths.
“I want to assure you that the President has your concerns in his heart and he’s always ever ready to attend to your needs.
“With this, I am going to report back to my boss the SGF, who will take up the matter with the President. I urge you to continue to maintain peace and tranquillity. Don’t do anything that will make Mr. President feel bad about you.”
Former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Iyiorchia Ayu, has withdrawn the court action he instituted against the party over his controversial removal from office barely two years into his four year term.
His action has removed legal impediments likely to militate against the emergence of his replacement from the North Central.
Several meetings have been held and being planned following this new development.
On Tuesday, the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) passed a vote of confidence on the Ag. National Chairnan, Amb. Umar Damagum, whom members said has discharged his functions creditably.
It was gathered that the North Central Caucus of the party had long before now started mobilizing to ensure that the zone produces Ayu’s replacement to complete his tenure which expires in 2025.
In a related development, Amb. Damagum has held series of meetings with various groups to perhaps shore up his chances of retaining his seat as acting chairman.
He led the members of the NWC on Wednesday to interact with the PDP National Ex-officio ahead of the NEC meeting.
Immediately after the meeting with them, he led the NWC members to another meeting with the State Party Chairmen from the 36 States, including FCT, Abuja.
The meetings were held at the NEC Hall, PDP National Secretariat at Wadata Plaza, Wuse Zone 5, in Abuja.
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