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Wike Signs Three Bills Into Law …Insists Rivers’ll Elect Those Who’ll Solve Problems
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has noted that most socio-economic and educational problems linger in the country because Nigerians elect people who cannot solve problems.
Wike made the observation at the signing into law three bills passed by the State House of Assembly at the Executive Chamber of Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
The three laws are; the Rivers State Prohibition of the Curtailment of Women’s Right to Share in Family Property Law No. 2 of 2022; Rivers State Compulsory Treatment and Care of Victims of Gunshots Law No. 3 of 2022; and the Rivers State Pension Reform (Amendment) Law No. 4 of 2022.
Speaking on the law to prohibit the curtailment of women’s right to share in family property law, Wike expressed displeasure at how most cultures, particularly in Rivers State, do not encourage what engenders growth among the people.
He wondered why women are deprived from sharing in the inheritance of their families when they were often the most useful members of the society in comparism to most male children.
Wike asserted that the law is important to the development of the state, because it would enable its people to actualise their potentials, as women would be allowed by law to inherit their entitlements.
“I don’t know why it’s a taboo; because you’re a girl, because of this is a woman, you’re not entitled to inherit what belongs to your father.
“It is not you who decides whether you will have a girl or you’ll have a boy, it is God. So, put yourself in their shoes today where, by the mercy of God you have three children and they’re all girls and you struggle in life to see what you can keep for your children.
“Tomorrow, one of their uncles comes, and say, my friend, girls don’t inherit their father’s property. With all your efforts in life, somebody comes to discriminate against them, why? We have even found out that women are more useful to us than even the men.
“The day, you’re getting old and dying you’ll know that you need more daughters than men. They will leave their husbands house and come to take care of you.”
Wike urged women not to be afraid of any threat from members of their families concerning inheritance.
He asked them to stand up for their rights and challenge any discrimination against them in court, using the law in order to access their entitlements.
Speaking on the pension reform law, Wike said, when pensioners protest, it was because they do not quite understand the good intentions of government.
He explained that because of paucity of funds, government must prioritise its spending in order to have funds for the provision of services, projects and also pay workers’ wages.
“The government has good intention and wants to do it at its own time. Only government knows when it can carry out this responsibility. Government will pay when it will pay.”
He further added: “Government cannot carry everything at the same time. Whether you like it or not, huge chunk of our resources goes into the civil service.”
Concerning the law on compulsory treatment and care for victims of gunshots, Wike stated that within the confines of the law, any victim of gunshot would be required to be properly identified, so that such person can be traced should the person run way after treatment.
The governor, however, explained that the law was in furtherance of the responsibility of government to protect life because even the criminal needs to be alive to be tried and made to suffer for his crime.
Speaking further, Wike said the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) was right in what it was demanding from the Federal Government.
However, the governor said any government that releases this kind of money that ASUU requires, given the current economic reality, will crumble.
He counselled that both parties should rather seat at the table and make concessions within no winner, no loser context in the interest of the students.
“The problem didn’t start today. It has been there. Again, it is that we elect people who cannot solve problems.”
Wike also acknowledged receipt of a report from the State House of Assembly on the revocation of ownership of the land currently occupied by AIT in Ozuoba, Rivers State, because they do not have requisite titled documents.
The governor said the days of Rivers being seen as a Father Christmas is gone, because nobody can illegally acquire what belongs to the state.
Wike also directed the state Attorney General to take appropriate action and act on the report.
Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani, said the healthy synergy between the Executive and the Legislature exemplifies what was expected of a true democracy.
According to him, while the executive commits to delivering high quality and people focused projects, the legislature was also delivering people focused high quality bills which serve the need of the state and its people effectively.
Leader of the House, Hon. Martin Amaewhule,explained that while Hon. Michael Chinda, representing Obio/Akpor Constituency II initiated the bill on prohibition of curtailment of rights of women; the bill on treatment for gunshot victims was introduced by Hon. Samuel Ogeh, representing Emohua State Constituency.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that peace has prevailed because he draws strength from God to resist insults and tantrums thrown at him while frustrating attempts by some disgruntled persons who wanted to plunge the State into unending crisis.
The Governor also said that because he has anchored his Government on promoting peace, the enabling atmosphere has been provided for investments and sustainable development to flourish.
Governor Fubara made the assertion when he received a delegation of members of the Bishops and Gospel Ministers’ Association International Incorporated, Rivers State Chapter, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Represented by the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nwaeke, Governor Fubara said while most people took his meekness for weakness, his stance on peace has unarguably enhanced harmonious atmosphere of concord as residents sleep with their two eyes closed, and investors and shareholders are happy with the returns on investment.
He said, “Before, what they hear of Rivers State is that they are fighting, and some genuine investors will not come. Some people even ask you: How are you coping in Rivers State?
“But now”, he asserted: “The Governor has brought about a lot of changes in the State. One of the most important things is that he has changed the negative narrative. It is no longer Rivers of blood. It is now Rivers of peace.
“We are enjoying our lives here. Why? Because there is a change in the narrative. We have peace. The Governor is, as much as possible, absorbing any level of insult at him only for one purpose: that Rivers State may have peace; that we may grow; that this state will experience genuine development.”
Governor Fubara urged them, as members of the Christian family in the State, to continue to pray for the State and the Government so that the enemies of the State will be put to greater shame.
“This peace is what I want you to embrace. Go and continue to pray, because when the sower of the seed went and sowed, the enemy went in the night and sowed tares inside there. But the Governor is sowing peace.
“When I listened to the leader of the team, His Grace Eddy Ogbonda, he said you came all the way from Eleme Junction, and stopped at major junctions, and you uttered prayers for the peace of Rivers State.”
He also said: “I, hereby want to thank you for identifying with the Governor at a time like this. At a time when it looks as if someone wants the Governor’s peace posture misunderstood as weakness.
“When someone has the strength to fight back, but refuses to fight back. That is a bigger strength; that power of restrain does not just come, it can only come from God.
“You cannot give peace, if you do not have peace within you. The Governor is not interested in any form of trouble or violence. What he is interested in is known, and it is: let there be peace in Rivers State,” he said.
In his address, leader of the group, Archbishop Eddy Ogbonda, said they had observed a week-long intensive prayers that culminated into a peace rally, which brought them to Government House, and assured the Governor that God will continue to give him victory over his adversaries while preserving Rivers State.
“It is Rivers State Prophetic Prayer Convocation and Rally 2024 with the theme: ‘Peace be still’. Of a truth, everyone of us understands that we live in a time when we need peace much more than any other thing.
“Rivers State needs peace. Everyone as individuals need peace. The country needs peace, and the world at large needs peace. So, we are here to do a peace march. We pray that God will command His peace to reign in Rivers State,” he said.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has stated that hotels, schools, and other establishments that accept payments in dollars from their customers are at risk of facing arrest.
The Chairman of EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, said this in the agency’s publication called EFCC Alert on Monday, adding that action would be taken against individuals involved in the dollarisation of the economy.
According to him, the exception is if foreigners come in to transact business and the only means of transacting is their credit card and dollar but to charge local customers in dollars or other foreign currencies would no longer be allowed.
He said charging local activities and customers in dollars is against Nigeria’s constitution.
The EFCC chairman said, “Schools that charge Nigerians in dollar, supermarkets that trade in dollar, estate developers that sell their property in dollar, hotels that are invoicing in dollar, we are coming after you and we have made arrests in that area.
“Yes, if foreigners are coming in and the only means of transacting is their credit card, and dollar, why not? You will get that.
“But document it properly as against selling things within the system, local economy and you will be using dollar as the medium of exchange, it is illegal.
“Our law does not allow for that. And we have also affected some arrests.”
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has enjoined Muslim faithful to remain steadfast to the lessons learnt during the holy month of Ramadan.
Governor Fubara stated this in his message of felicitations to Muslims as they celebrate the 2024 Eid-el-Fitr Sallah, which marks the end of the one-month Ramadan fasting.
The Governor emphasised the importance for Muslims to also uphold the tenets of Islam by exhibiting the fear of God and showing piety in their daily work.
Governor Fubara said, “We must all continue in the good attributes imbibed during the holy month of Ramadan as directed by God through His Prophet, so as to ensure peace, unity and harmony in the society for a better future.”
While praying that the essence of the festival offers them happiness, peace and prosperity in all aspects of life, Governor Fubara said he recognises and appreciates the critical role that the Muslim community continues to play in the development of Rivers State, and indeed, Nigeria at large.
Governor Fubara charged them to remain unwavering and steadfast in their commitment and positive contributions to advance the development of the State and the country.
“I enjoin you all in the State to remain calm, be patient and continue to do what is right,” the Governor added.
He wished the Muslim faithful in the State and across the country a happy Eid-el-Fitr celebration.
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