Politics

We Won’t Tolerate Any Secessionist Group – Wike

Published

4 years ago

March 29, 2021

The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike , has reiterated that he would not tolerate any secessionist group that wants to use the state as a base for its nefarious activities.

Governor Wike stated this, last Tuesday, when he received the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Ibrahim Attahiru, on courtesy visit in Government House, Port Harcourt.

“ All those who are talking about their independence, they can go anywhere, but not from here. We are not part of any secession”, the Governor said, and assured that the state government would support the army and other security agencies in fighting crime and criminality in this state.

Governor Wike who acknowledged that the new Chief of Army Staff had started well, leading to restoration of public confidence in the army, stressed the need for the army to shun politics in the interest of the nation.

Lt. General Attahiru said he was in the state on assessment of 6 Division of the Nigerian Army and commended the Governor for the prevailing peace and security in the state and his zero tolerance for separatist groups.

The Rivers State Governor, last Saturday, honoured the Afrobeat artist, Burna Boy whose real name is Damini Ogulu, from Ahoada in Rivers State with Distinguished Service Star of Rivers State(DSSRS) for winning the prestigious Granny Award.

DSSRS is the highest state honoure given by the state to someone who distinguished himself in the state.

He gave Burna Boy the honour when the artist in company of his parents, paid Governor Wike a courtesy visit in Government House Port Harcourt .

Also last week, the new Belgian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Daniel Bertrand, had a closed door meeting with Governor Wike in Government House Port Harcourt.

“ This is my first visit to Rivers State. So. I want to pay a courtesy call on his Excellency, the Governor. I am here to visit the state and to visit Belgian companies existing in this area.

“ There are already some Belgian companies existing in Nigeria with facilities in Rivers State. So we have some opportunities to have our facilities in gas and agriculture”, the Ambassador said.

Another event in Brick House, last week was the approval for the construction of two major roads in the state by the State Executive Council. The Trans Kalabari, and phase two of Saakpenwa- Bori- Kono road projects were approved for construction at the cost of N27.6 billion.

The Commissioner of Works, Elloka Tasie-Amadi who briefed journalists after the State Executive Council meeting held last Wednesday, said the 13.6KM long Trans Kalabari road contract would be executed by an indigenous company, Lubrick Construction Company at the cost of N13.6billion.

The Commissioner further disclosed that 17KM long Saakpenwa-Bori-Kono Road phase two would be constructed at the cost of N14 billion by Chinese Civil and Engineering Corporation. Both projects have 14 months duration.

In a similar development, the State Chief Executive also approved the dualisation of Ogbumnabali Road in the state capital.

A release by the state Commissioner of Information and Communications, Paulinus Nsirim, said the project aimed at consolidating the urban renewal programme of the present administration would commence immediately.

The Governor warned that the full wrath of the law would be visited on anyone that would disrupt the execution of the project.

Also within the week under review, the state government offered foreign scholarship to three youths of the state who made the state proud by winning the National Youth Service Corpse (NYSC) Presidential Award. The awardees; Gilbert Kiaka Goodnews, Miss World Aruchi Rachael, and Jasper Deebari Uchenna were offered scholarship by the governor to read Masters and Ph.D in any foreign university or automatic employment in the state civil service.

By: Chris Oluoh

Politics

Rivers Assembly Resumes Sitting After Six-Month Suspension

Published

3 days ago

September 19, 2025

The Tide

The Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday resumed plenary session after a six-month state of emergency imposed on the state by President Bola Tinubu elapsed on Wednesday midnight.

President Bola Tinubu had lifted the emergency rule on September 17, with the Governor of the state, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the state assembly asked to resume duties on September 18.

The plenary was presided over by the Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule, at the conference hall located within the legislative quarters in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

The conference hall has served as the lawmakers’ temporary chamber since their official chamber at the assembly complex on Moscow Road was torched and later pulled down by the state government.

The outgone sole administrator of the state, Ibok-Ete Ibas, could not complete the reconstruction of the assembly complex as promised.

Recall that on March 18, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers following the prolonged political standoff between Fubara and members of the House of Assembly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

He subsequently suspended the governor, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and lawmakers for six months and installed a sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.), to manage the state’s affairs.

The decision sparked widespread controversy, with critics accusing the president of breaching the Constitution.

However, others hailed the move as a necessary and pragmatic step.

Politics

2027: Bayelsa APC Adopts Tinubu As Sole Candidate … As Lokpobiri, Lyon Shun Meeting

Published

1 week ago

September 12, 2025

The Tide

The Bayelsa State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress(APC) have passed a ‘Vote of Confidence’ on President Bola Tinubu and also adopted him as sole candidate of the party for the 2027 presidential polls.

Speaking in Yenagoa, the state capital, during the ’12th Expanded Stakeholders’ meeting of the party, the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, stressed the importance of the state’s chapter of the party to its national leadership.

Represented by the party’s Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Emma Eneukwu, the National Chairman urged all stakeholders to unite to secure victory for the party, come 2027 general elections, adding that the party will give the state chapter the necessary support it requires to win in all future polls.

He appealed to aggrieved leaders of the party in the state to jettison their differences and tow the path of peace, describing the reconciliatory move as commendable while promising that the party’s national leadership will do all within its powers to ensure its success.

“President Tinubu is a pragmatic leader, and a progressive determined to transform Nigeria for the betterment of all. The developmental strides recorded by the president is attracting governors and National Assembly members from the opposition into the APC.

“We’ll ensure that the interest of the

party is managed. Bayelsa is important to our party, and we must do whatever we have to do, for the victory of the party in the state. We have a very good candidate in the president and that is why the South- South governors are taking the lead to join our party in support of the president for his reelection”, he said.

“Mr. President is on the move to take Nigerians to the promised land, and the only way to achieve this is in unity. The leadership of the party in the state need to show more tolerance and carry everyone along. Other state governors in other regions that are not in our party will soon join us, so that if the president is returned, everything will go smoothly.

“I want the former governor of the state, Chief Timipre Sylva, to personally lead the reconciliation so we can achieve the unity we desire. Forget all differences and bring everyone together”, he added.

Also speaking, the leader of the state chapter of the party and former Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, noted that the national secretariat of the party had not treated the state fairly, noting that if the national leadership of the APC had given the state the support it needed, the party would have achieved more.

Chief Sylva called on absentee leaders of the party at the meeting, particularly Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, and former Governor-elect of the State, Chief David Lyon, to close ranks and work with other leaders to move the party forward.

“I wonder why the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri and former Governor-elect, Chief David Lyon are not here. We’re all Bayelsans, we’re all Ijaw people, they should come and let’s work together for the greater interest of the party. We did well in 2023, but not what we expected.

“2027 is already a done deal, if we have the support of the national leaders of the party. Today we’re more ready than ever before.The only thing we lack is support from the party at the national level. With your support we’ll be the strongest, and nobody will be able to stand us in elections”, Chief Sylva said.

In his remarks, the Managing Director /Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Samuel Ogbuku, noted that most people thought the party was no more in existence, but that the NWC could see that the party is alive and kicking.

“Reconciliation is on and those in charge are doing well. The party has members in the state who were ‘victory-hungry”, he said.

Earlier, State Chairman of the party, Dr Dennis Otiotio, said the meeting was to critically appraise the performance of the president and also adopt him as the sole candidate of the party for the 2027 presidential election.

By Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

Politics

Alleged Smear Campaign Against Yakubu, CSOs Demand Apology From Uzodimma

Published

1 week ago

September 12, 2025

The Tide

The Transparency and Accountability Rights Initiative, a coalition of Nigerian Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), has issued a strong condemnation of Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, accusing him of orchestrating a malicious smear campaign against the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, and development advocate Dr. Chima Amadi.

During a press conference held in Owerri, the coalition called the campaign a “dangerous and shameful display” designed to distract the public from the governor’s performance in office.

The CSOs directly linked the Greater Imo Initiative (GII) —the group that made the allegations on September 4, 2025—to Governor Uzodimma, describing the group as his “mouthpiece and attack dog.”

“Every word spoken against INEC was spoken on his behalf.

“By falsely alleging that Professor Yakubu has an alliance with Dr. Amadi to compromise the 2027 elections, Uzodimma has not only maligned a man of proven integrity but also assaulted the very foundation of our democracy”, said Dr Agbo Frederick, speaking for the coalition.

The coalition described Professor Yakubu as a “beacon of electoral professionalism” and called the attempt to soil his reputation “defamatory and a national security risk.”

They also defended Dr. Amadi, a “respected development scholar,” stating that the governor’s accusations were “laughable, desperate, and dangerous.”

The CSOs see the motive behind the campaign as an attempt to “silence the dissent, intimidate the opposition, and divert attention from the governor’s abysmal record in office.”

The coalition issued four key demands to Governor Uzodimma: An immediate retraction of the false and defamatory allegations against Professor Mahmood Yakubu and Dr. Chima Amadi.

A public apology to both men within seven days, to be published in at least three national newspapers and broadcast on major television networks.
An end to diversionary tactics and proxy propaganda.
A renewed focus on governance, including addressing insecurity, unemployment, and poverty in Imo State.

The CSOs warned that failure to comply would force them to “review our position with a view to seeking legal redress from Governor Uzodimma for defamation, false accusation, and reckless endangerment of lives.”

“Governor Uzodimma must be reminded that he did not find himself in the seat of power to chase shadows.

“We call on all Nigerians to reject Uzodimma’s diversionary antics as they are nothing short of desperate plots by a government terrified of accountability”, the statement concluded.