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APC’s Ploy To Ban, Regulate Social Media, Hypocritical, Wike Affirms

Published

2 years ago

June 21, 2021

The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, says it is hypocritical for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to contemplate banning or regulating social media after using it to hoodwink Nigerians to attain power.
He argued that the APC-led government has miserably failed, and wants to use its disagreement with Twitter as a false premise to suppress criticism of the administration’s appalling handling of the affairs of the nation through the dubious regulation of social media.
The governor, who make this assertion during the inauguration of nine reconstructed streets: Nzimiro, Herbert Macaulay, Amassoma, Arochukwu, Atako, Ogoja, Akure, Yola and Chinwo in Old Government Residential Area of Port Harcourt, noted that APC, having become the butt of jokes on social networks, was desperate to trample on freedom of expression of Nigerians.
“You have misled the country. You told us lies through social media. The same social media that you used to take over government, the same social media you want to regulate and ban. The same social media you used to tell Nigerians lies of how former President Goodluck Jonathan did not do this, how PDP did not do that.
“Now, you want the same social media to be regulated. You don’t want freedom of speech. Now, you want to gag them. Did anybody gag you when you were using them?”
Wike said the kidnap of scores of students at Federal Government Girls College, Birnin Yauri, Kebbi State, last Thursday, was a further demonstration of APC’s gross ineptitude to guarantee safety of lives and property of Nigerians.
According to him, Nigerians are anxious for the APC to quit power and allow the more experienced Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to once again restore stability in the polity and dignity of the nation.
“You wake up every morning to hear 20 people have been kidnapped; 30 people have been kidnapped and people are telling us to keep quiet. Is it when they have kidnapped your own daughter?”
The governor also took a swipe at the Presidency for berating PDP governors, who demanded for transparency and accountability in the way the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) was managed and that the APC-led government should be alive to its constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property.
“In Kebbi, 40 to 50 girls have been kidnapped, our young daughters. And then, you are telling me we (PDP) have not proffered solution. Which solution are you talking about? The President is the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is the president that appoints all the security heads in this country.
“No governor has the power or any role to appoint even a Commissioner of Police. And then, you are telling me that we have not proffered any solution. What solution do you want us to proffer, when you have taken your oath of office that you are going to guarantee the lives and property of Nigerians?”
Wike noted that even President Muhammadu Buhari during his recent television interview, had disclosed to Nigerians that he has nothing left to offer the country in terms of good governance.
“The president spoke to us the other day and Nigerians were happy the way he spoke to them, he told them the truth. And the truth is that whether you like it or not, I have nothing again to offer and that was the truth. And people must agree to that.”
The governor said his administration has deliberately embarked on massive urban renewal drive aimed at restoring the Garden City status of Port Harcourt.
According to him, it was regrettable that past administrations in the state did not consider it appropriate to restore the lost glory of Port Harcourt.
The Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP, Senator Walid Jubril, who inaugurated the nine streets, commended Wike for transforming Port Harcourt, such that even the blind can attest to it.
Jubril said the entire board of trustees of the PDP was proud of Wike’s steadfast commitment to the PDP.
According to him, party stalwarts across the country, are impressed with the governor’s remarkable achievements and leadership.
“Anybody, who is from this state and is trying to go astray, I am not with him. I am with the people of this state, and I will remain with you (Wike).”
The Commissioner for Works, Elloka Tasie-Amadi, said the nine streets have a combined length of 4.2km and 6.5km of drains.
He explained that the scope of work includes; road expansion, construction of drainages, walkways, asphalt overlay, street lighting and road marking.
He listed some of the benefits of the reconstructed streets to include: ease of movement, reduction in travel time, reduction of vehicle wear and tear, protection and enhancement of real estate values, and improving living standards.

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AFRD: Fubara To Launch 2024 Emblem Appeal Fund, ’Morrow

Published

2 days ago

November 27, 2023

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has announced the launch of the Emblem Appeal Fund in commemoration of the 2024 Armed Forces Remembrance Day (AFRD) in the state.
A terse statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, last Friday, said that the event would take place on Tuesday, November 28, at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Port Harcourt by 11am.
The State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, is expected to be the Special Guest of Honour.
In the statement, the government invited members of the Nigerian Legion, military, police, para-military, traditional rulers, captains of industry, multi-national organisations, government officials and the general public to the event, urging them to attend the programme in the interest of the state.
The statement read in full: “The Government of Rivers State is pleased to invite members of the Nigerian Legion, Rivers State Command, the Military, the Nigeria Police, the Para-Military, Traditional Rulers, Captains of industries and multi-national organizations, Government Officials and the General public to the Emblem Appeal Fund Launching in commemoration of the 2024 Armed Forces Remembrance Day in the State”.
“Please, invited guests are requested to be seated by 10:30 am as we come to celebrate and support the veterans and their families”, the statement concluded.

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Fubara, Obi Cubana Visit, Condole Oborevwori On Mother-In-Law’s Demise …Congratulate Delta Gov On Appeal Court Victory

Published

2 days ago

November 27, 2023

The Tide

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, last Friday visited his Delta State counterpart, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, in his country home in Osubi, Okpe Local Government Area to condole with him on the passing of his mother-in-law.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Governor of Rivers State, Boniface Onyedi, in Government House, Port Harcourt, last Friday.
Fubara eulogised the virtues of the late Mama Agnes Avwenyotoma Tager, whom he described as a woman of virtue and substance, whose demise has come at a time her services were most needed as the mother of the state.
He urged the Delta governor and his wife, Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori, to take solace in the good life their late mother lived.
The Rivers governor also used the occasion to congratulate Oborevwori on his resounding victory at the Appeal Court which confirmed his electoral victory.
Also in Osubi with Fubara to condole Oborevwori, was popular business tycoon and socialite, Obi Cubana.

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Fubara Pledges To Support, Collaborate With NDDC

Published

5 days ago

November 24, 2023

The Tide

The Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has promised to collaborate and support the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in its efforts to fast-track the development of the Niger Delta region.
Fubara spoke at the Rivers State Government House, Port Harcourt, during a courtesy visit by members of the NDDC Governing Board, led by the Chairman, Mr. Chiedu Ebie.
The NDDC team included the Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku; Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Alabo Boma Iyaye; Executive Director, Projects, Sir Victor Antai; Executive Director, Corporate Services, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde, other members of the Board and directors of the commission.
Fubara said: “I am very happy that you have done the right thing by paying this courtesy visit. I assure you that we are ready to collaborate with all Federal Government agencies committed to the development of the Niger Delta region.
“The speech of the Chairman, Mr. Ebie, shows that NDDC has already identified more than 90 per cent of the problems facing the region and is ready to solve them.”
The governor said that the Rivers State Government would support the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to bring hope to the people of the State and Niger Delta region.
He pledged: “We are going to support you to enable you discharge your duties and I pray that your tenure will record more successes than the previous boards.”
Responding to the issue of duplication of projects as highlighted by the NDDC chairman, the governor advised the commission to avoid cases of duplication of projects, stating that it was very necessary to consult the states before embarking on projects in their respective territories.
He said that by identifying the problem, the NDDC had shown that it was ready to address the challenge, which according to him, had often caused some frictions between the states and the commission.
Fubara assured the NDDC Board members that his government was open to partnership and collaboration in the execution of projects.
He urged the commission to embark on projects that would add value to the lives of the people of the region.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, thanked the Rivers State Government for hosting the Commission since its inception in 2000.
He said: “The NDDC Board was inaugurated on November 16. As our host governor, we thought it wise to pay you this courtesy visit before holding our inaugural meeting.
“We need to create a new life in the NDDC and collaborate more with development partners, including the state governments and other stakeholders in the region to achieve our objectives. I know that we have had problems with duplication of projects.
“Henceforth, representatives of the states in the NDDC Board must be in constant touch with their state governments and ensure that projects are based on needs assessment.”
The NDDC chairman assured the governor that the new Board would work in synergy with governors in the nine states covered by the commission.