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…Pledges To End Banditry In Six Months As President
Rivers State Governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant, Chief Nyesom Wike, has vowed to stamp out banditry in the first six months of his presidency.
He assured that if elected president, his administration would provide the logistics and gadgets necessary for the security agencies to expeditiously end banditry in the country.
Wike, speaking at a meeting in Abeokuta with PDP delegates from Ogun State on this month’s presidential primary of the party, said he would prioritise the protection of life and property of every Nigerian.
“Once there is insecurity you can’t do anything. You must have peace for investors to come in, for people to set up industries. So, the basic thing in my first six months as president of Nigeria is to end banditry. All those bandits; let them wait for me. I will pursue them. It is my job. I will provide to security agencies whatever they require.”
Wike maintained that due to the failure of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Nigerians were yearning for a strong, courageous and fearless leader like him to resolve the challenges facing the country.
The governor told the delegates that he was the only presidential aspirant that has never defected from the PDP since its formation in 1998 to another political party.
He, therefore, urged the delegates to be circumspect as some of those vying for the PDP presidential ticket were among those who aligned with the APC to defeat the party in 2015.
“Today, we are suffering. We are in opposition. Who are those who plotted against us? Who are those who worked for us to lose the 2015 election? Today, we are crying that we are in opposition; today, we are fighting how to take back power. Who are those people who took the power that PDP had and gave it to APC? You know them.”
Wike reiterated that he remains committed to the ideals of PDP, and would never leave it to another political party under any circumstances.
“Whether I win the ticket or not, I will never leave PDP. I will support PDP. I will make sure PDP wins the election. I am not one of those when anything happens, they run away from the party. I will not leave this party because everything I am today, it is PDP that has given it to me. So, I owe PDP a lot.”
The presidential aspirant said he is not seeking the office of the president for personal aggrandisement; rather he wants to work for emergence of a new egalitarian, united and prosperous Nigeria.
“Nigeria has never been divided a country as is divided today. Our founding fathers never made mistake that there should be a country called Nigeria. God never made mistake that there should be a country called Nigeria.”
The Rivers State governor maintained that he remains the only person that can defeat the APC in the 2023 general election, if given the PDP presidential ticket.
According to him, previous attempts by the APC to rig elections in Rivers State had failed and will also fail if he becomes the PDP presidential candidate.
“Everywhere, Wike has taken over. Go to the North, it’s Wike; go to the East, it’s Wike, go to the West, it’s Wike, go to the South, it’s Wike. Ogun State is Wike. Everybody, it’s Wike.”
Wike accused some of the APC presidential aspirants of being unsympathetic to the plight of the abducted victims of the Kaduna train attack and Nigerian students, who have been at home due to the lingering Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike.
In his remarks, Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde, urged the delegates to support the Rivers State governor to actualise his presidential aspiration.
He expressed optimism that Wike would win the PDP’s ticket and subsequently the 2023 presidential election.
The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, has teamed up with a renowned hospital group in Port Harcourt, the Meridian Hospitals, which is in partnership with the Pilgrims Health Foundation, to carry out a one-day medical outreach last Tuesday.
The free treatment scheme took place at Oromenike Government Girls Secondary School in D-Line, Port Harcourt, with over 100 persons accessing free treatments, including free eye-glasses and booking for eye surgeries.
Other areas of treatment included general health consultations and treatment; blood pressure and sugar level testing; malaria testing and treatment; free prescriptions; preventive health talks focusing on hygiene, maternal health, and nutrition.
The scheme was conducted under the theme: ‘Bringing Healthcare to the Community.’
Newsmen who visited the venue of the scheme found that enthusiastic beneficiaries had thronged the area as early as 7a.m. After setting up, the medical team began attending to the patients.
Mr. Jerry Onwuso, a 63-year-old patient, who was first to see eye doctors and got eye glasses and drugs, told newsmen that he was pleased with the medical intervention.
He made it clear he did not pay any money to get all the treatments and glasses, and pleaded that the scheme be sustained.
Another patient, Loveth Sam, expressed satisfaction with the scheme and appealed to the sponsors to continue to increase the benefits.
Throwing some light on the scheme, Mr. China said he worked in Meridian Hospitals as a Lab. Scientist 19 years ago, but resigned because he could not bear to see patients struggling for life because they had no money to pay for treatment.
He said he came back to help extend free medical treatment to the less privileged.
Sources said China was always having issues with the hospital authorities when he would insist on critical patients being allowed to be treated first, with or without money.
Years later, China, who now goes by a brand name, the Mayor of Housing, returned to the Meridian Hospital headquarters to support free medical scheme.
He also went the next day to the headquarters of Meridian, after the one-day medical outreach, to give cash gifts and palliatives to workers he met when he worked there but had remained in service since he left.
He encouraged them to continue to give their all to humanity through the hospital. The Mayor of Housing called most of them by name and a cloud of emotions descended on them during the reunion.
Appreciating the gesture, the Founder and Chief Medical Director, Dr. Iyke Odo, said China had always manifested hard-work, ambition, and impulsive giving.
According to him, the then young bright boy was full of humanity, kindness, love, and made friends easily, adding that “not everybody that gives is a giver. The difference is that givers are given to give.”
Dr. Odo used the opportunity to call on governments to review Nigeria’s health insurance system and make it work in Nigeria to save lives.
He said it was sad watching critically sick persons abandoned because they did not have money for treatment.
He also condemned harsh tax and electricity tariffs whereby facilities like his now pay N12 million instead of N500,000 few years back.
He wondered why hospitals were being made to pay tariffs like oil companies, citing many other countries where medical facilities were placed on low rates and tariffs so they could charge moderate fees from patients.
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
