Politics
Wike Rewards Rivers United, 2022 NPFL Champions …Says Rivers People Will Resist Treasury Looters
Port Harcourt the Rivers State Capital was on Thursday agog for members of Rivers United Football Club as the Rivers State Government hosted the club and its management in a colourful reception at the Government House, Port Harcourt for emerging winners of this year’s Nigeria Professional Football League. (NPFL).
As a mark of encouragement to the club for winning the prestigious trophy, Governor Nyesom Wike, who is the Pillar of Sports (POS) Africa, rewarded the players with a cash gift of $20,000 each and a trip to Madrid, Spain, for two weeks ahead of the commencement of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) competition.
A visibly elated Gov Wike, who showered encomium on the players and Management of Rivers United, said the feat was achieved as a result of hard work, commitment and team spirit.
The Governor identified sports as a veritable platform for youths’ development and cautioned against playing politics with sports in the country.
The players, coach and the management of Rivers United were also conferred with the Governor’s Medal Service Award for making Rivers State proud while promising more rewards if the club qualifies for the group stage of the CAF competition.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Governor also, on Thursday, declared that no individual with culpable indictment of looting the common wealth of Rivers State has the moral justification to present themselves for the leadership of the state.
Governor Wike, who stated this during the signing of contract for the construction of the 11th and 12th flyovers and dualisation of Azikiwe Street, Illaobuchi Road, Port Harcourt, pointed out that Rivers people were determined to safeguard the state’s coffers and have resolved to resist any attempts by people with obvious pedigrees of misappropriation of Rivers’ funds to come to power.
Governor Wike said the former Rivers State Governor/ Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi and his business associate, Tonye Cole, have indicting records of looting Rivers State’s funds and would definitely face trial despite their attempts to stop their arraignment.
Governor Wike, who called for vigilance on the part of Rivers people to ensure that they vote for credible candidates with unblemished records in 2023, said his administration had kept to all the promises it made to Rivers people and vowed to continue to protect the interest of Rivers State and dispense quality- people-oriented projects in the state till the end of his stewardship as the Governor.
Governor Wike also, within the week, played host to former governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship Candidate in Kastina State, Sen Yakubu Danmark Lado and his Kano State counterpart, Mohammed Abacha at his private residence in Rumuepirikom, Obio/ Akpor Local Government Area.
Speaking with newsmen, Sen Lado and Mohammed Abacha said the visit was a show of courtesy and homage to a friend and brother, and expressed hope of brighter prospects of victory for the PDP in their respective states in 2023.
By: Taneh Beemene
In a statement on Saturday, the former Senate Leader stated that the allocation of nominees across states and geopolitical zones falls short of the constitutional requirement for fair representation in the composition of the Federal Government.
The ex-Senate Whip warned that allowing the list to pass could deepen ethnic suspicion at a time when the administration should be consolidating national unity.
He highlighted disparities in the spread of nominees, noting that while some states have three or four slots, others have none. He also cited the inclusion of Senator Adamu Garba Talba from Yobe, who reportedly died in July.
“The entire North-East states have seven nominees in the list. Further checks revealed that the South-West geo-political zone has 15 nominees, while North-West and South-East have 13 and 9, respectively.
“North-Central region has 10 nominees in the list of career and non-career ambassadorial nominee while South-South parades 12 nominees,” Senator Ndume said.
According to him, such imbalances could heighten tensions and undermine Section 14(3) of the Constitution.
“My sincere appeal to President Tinubu is to withdraw this list. At this critical juncture in his administration, he should avoid missteps that could undermine national unity and foster ethnic distrust.
“I know him to be a cosmopolitan leader who is at home with every segment and stakeholder in the country. He should withdraw that list and present a fresh set of nominees that will align with the spirit of the Constitution on the Federal Character Principle,” Senator Ndume added.
He accused the legislators of undermining the sanctity of the legislature and acting as instruments of destabilization.
“The members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have, by their actions since they assumed office, shown that they are political puppets and a clog in the wheels of democratic progress,” Comrade Ememobong stated, adding that “They will go down in history as enemies of democracy and those who made mockery of the legislature.”
“So the easiest way to describe their action is a defection from APC to APC,” he said.
Comrade Ememobong announced that the party would deploy constitutional provisions to reclaim its mandate from those who have “ignobly and surreptitiously” abandoned the platform on which they were elected.
“Consequently, the PDP will take legal steps to activate the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999 as amended) to recover the mandate gained under the banner of our party which these people have now switched to another platform,” he said.
He urged party members in Rivers State to remain calm and steadfast.
“We urge all party members in Rivers State to remain faithful and resolute, as efforts are underway to rebuild the party along the path of inclusiveness, fairness and equity,” Comrade Ememobong assured.
As the news of the defection of 17 members of Rivers State House of Assembly from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP )to the All Progressives Congress (APC) continue to make the rounds, a cross section of Rivers people who spoke to The Tide have expressed varying views regarding the development.
At Etche, a senior lecturer with the Rivers State University, who did not want his name in print, said even though defection was the right of politicians, peace and stability remained more fundamental than any action that could further challenge the fragile political situation in the state at the moment.
He also warned that the situation should not be used to witch-hunt any one, adding that the state had suffered enough and needed to be at peace.
In his reaction, Engr Polycarp Geoffrey said even though citizens and residents of the state had cause to be concerned about the decision of the lawmakers, there was nothing to worry about if it was done in good faith.
“I don’t think there is any big deal about it – defection is defection. But people are worried because of past events in the state. So, for me, I don’t see anything about it”, he said.
Engr Geoffrey also urged the Governor Siminalayi Fubara to also openly declare political affiliation in a bid to douse the political tension in the state and to provide clarity regarding his future political direction.
Another respondent, Mr Ebere Alex, alleged ulterior motive behind the law makers’ defection but urged both the law makers and the governor to work for the peace and development of the state.
However, speaking on the development, a chieftain of the PDP in the state, Hon Nname Ewor, told The Tide that said his party would reach out to the remaining lawmakers who have not defected.
He also denied an alleged internal squabble within the PDP, adding that there was no crisis in the party.
It would be recalled that 17 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly led by the Speaker, Rt Hon. Martin Amaewhule, during plenary last Friday, announced their migration from the PDP to the APC, citing internal party crisis.
Other members who also defected were the Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon. Dumle Maol, representing Gokana Constituency; House Leader, Hon. Major Jack, representing Akulga Constituency 1 and Deputy Leader, Hon. Linda Somiari-Stewart, representing Okrika Constituency; Hon. Solomon Wami, Port Harcourt Constituency 1 and Hon Granville Tekena Wellington representing Asari Toru Constituency 1; Hon. Ofiks Kagbang, representing Andoni Constituency; Hon. Peter Abbey representing Degema Constituency; Hon. Arnold Dennis representing Ogu/Bolo Constituency; Hon. Chimezie Nwankwor representing Etche Constituency 2 and Hon. Franklin Nwabochi representing Onelga Constituency 1.
The rest were, Hon. Azeru Opara, representing Port Harcourt Constituency 3; Hon. Smart Adoki representing Port Harcourt Constituency 2; Hon. Igwe Afforji ,Eleme Constituency and Hon. Lolo Opuende representing Akuku Toru Constituency 2.
By: John Bibor
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