Politics
We Won’t Tolerate Any Secessionist Group – Wike
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