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2023 Polls: Wike Dismisses Sekibo As Lightweight ….Says He Can’t Speak For Rivers People …Inaugurates Constituency, Ward Liaison Officers

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Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has dismissed former Minister of Transport, Dr. Abiye Precious Sekibo’s leadership claims, saying that he does not fill such position to speak on behalf of the state.
Wike said Sekibo was a self-seeking politician who was unable to attract democratic dividends, of whatever kind, to the state while he served as minister and also to his home town, Okrika.
The governor spoke during the inauguration 319 Ward and 32 Constituency Liaison Officers in Government House, Port Harcourt, last Monday.
The governor said, “I watched a video where one Dr. Abiye Sekibo, while he was addressing people in his house yesterday (Sunday), said he is the director of Atiku’s Supporters in Rivers. I have no problem about that. But he does not have that capacity to speak on behalf of Rivers State.
“In that video, he said that Rivers State has been having close relationship with Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and that Rivers State has always benefitted from Atiku Abubakar. I want to correct one impression: Dr. Abiye Sekibo has a personal relationship with Alhaji Atiku, not Rivers State.
“Dr. Abiye Sekibo was minister of transport when Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was the vice president of Nigeria. Can you people mention one project in Okrika, in Ogu/Bolo, I don’t even want to talk about Rivers State, that he brought?”
The Rivers State governor said leadership was not about personal aggrandisement, but serving the people, protecting their interests, while building up others as competent successors.
Wike stated that people like Sekibo number among those who were never satisfied with the fortunes they have enjoyed in life, otherwise, he should have been silent in the public sphere for his failure in leadership.
“I was a minister, junior minister in that matter. But I am proud to say anywhere I go to in this state (Rivers), I brought dividends of democracy to Rivers State.
“As a junior minister, I brought the Oil and Gas Polytechnic to Rivers State that is sited in Bonny. There was no Faculty of Law at the University of Port Harcourt since the creation of that institution, but I brought it.
“As a minister, I made sure Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori, and the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolumeni, even if they are state’s institutions, I made sure they got grant of N500million each.”
Wike also mentioned his several education interventions at the primary and secondary school levels, which depict what true leadership should be.
The governor stressed that Sekibo as secretary to the Rivers State Government did not also execute any project of note in Okrika, while he, as chief of staff, delivered several road projects in Rumuepirikom.
Wike also listed a number of projects his administration awarded that were handled by Sekibo, which, today, in Sekibo’s estimation, has become something wrong.
The governor explained that the N2.1billion Okrika sand-filling project and N2billion Okochiri internal road, for which the sum of N1.3billion and N1.6billion had been paid, respectively, were awarded to Sekibo, including the N1.4billion contract for the Okujaku Street, and Danjuma Drive in TransAmadi Industrial Layout, Port Harcourt.
He urged the Constituency and Ward Liaison Officers to do their work in getting reports on the feelings and expectations of the people about his administration’s performance.
The governor noted that it was not too late to make amends, should there be such need to do so in response to the aspirations of Rivers people.
“Your business, those of you who are liaison officers, is to co-ordinate the special assistants who will give you feedback of what the people at the unit levels are talking about us; where they want us to go:Are we doing well politically?Are we doing well on the economy?
“What are the things they expect that we should be doing that we are not doing so that we can make amends? It is not too late to make amends!”
Wike declared that PDP governorship candidate, Sir Siminialayi Fubara; all the House of Representatives, Senate and State House of Assembly candidates would win in the 2023 general election.
He, however, disclosed that the state was yet to determine what to do concerning the presidential election.
“PDP will win our state. I am not hiding it as far as the governorship; House of Reps; Senate; and State Assembly;are concerned. The other one: we have not decided, until the right thing is done!”

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NAFDAC Alerts Nigerians To EU Ban On Dex Soap

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The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has alerted Nigerians on the ban on Dex Luxury Bar Soap (No 6 Mystic Flower), by the European Union (EU).
The notification is contained in a public alert with No. 012/2024, signed by NAFDAC Director-General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, and issued to newsmen in Abuja yesterday.
“The product does not comply with the cosmetic products regulation; it also contains Butyphenyl Methylpropional (BMHCA), which is prohibited in cosmetic products due to its risk of harming the reproductive system.
“It also causes harm to the health of unborn children and may cause skin sensitisation.
“It is as a result of the defective nature of the product that the EU banned it.
“The products is not in NAFDAC database; importers, distributors, retailers and consumers are to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain,” she said.
NAFDAC boss urged marketers and consumers to avoid the importation, distribution, sale and use of the product, stressing that product’s authenticity and physical condition must be carefully checked.
She enjoined members of the public in possession of the product to discontinue sale or use, and submit stock to the nearest NAFDAC office.

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Communities, Volunteers Ready To Face Upcoming Floods – Red Cross

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The Country Manager of the British Red Cross in Nigeria, Karsten Voigt, says communities and volunteers are ready to face the challenges expected with the upcoming floods.
Voigt said this at the sidelines of the 56th Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), Lagos Branch.
The Tide’s source recalls that the British Red Cross donated resilience items to some communities in December 2023, to help mitigate the effects of flooding.
The items included cash, rain boots, rain coats, mosquito nets, handheld flashlights, solar powered lights with radio, USB chargers and a bridge to link the communities.
The communities that benefited included Agboyi 1, Agboyi 2, Agboyi 3 and Odo Ogun in Kosofe Local Government Area of the state.
Voigt said the Red Cross had measured the impact of the project in the communities and noticed that a lot of progress had been made.
According to him, apart from the cash and items given to the communities, simulation exercises have also been carried out to prepare the volunteers ahead of the floods.
“We have seen that people used the cash to address immediate needs they have after floods.
“Many households have used part of the cash to build up businesses.
“The solutions we have given to them are not only addressing their immediate needs after the disaster but actually building family income for their future,” he said.

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Nimet Forecasts Three-Day Sunshine, Thunderstorms

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The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted sunshine and thunderstorm from Monday to Wednesday across the country.
NiMet’s weather outlook released yesterday in Abuja, forecasts sunny skies on Monday with a few patches of cloud over the northern cities and prospects of thunderstorms over parts of Taraba later in the day.
According to the forecast, sunny skies with patches of clouds are expected over the North Central region with prospects of morning thunderstorm over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, Kogi and Kwara States.
“Later in the day, isolated thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Kogi and Benue States.
“The southern region is expected to be cloudy with spells of sunshine with prospects of morning thunderstorms over parts of Oyo, Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo and Lagos States.
“ In the afternoon/evening periods, isolated thunderstorms are expected over parts of Enugu, Ebonyi, Abia, Ekiti, Ogun, Imo, Oyo, Ondo, Edo, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Rivers, Lagos and Bayelsa States,” it said.
NiMet also anticipated sunny skies on Tuesday with few patches of cloud over the northern states with prospects of isolated thunderstorms envisaged over parts of Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, Taraba and Kaduna States during the afternoon and evening hours.
It envisaged the North Central region to be sunny with patches of cloud during the morning hours.
The agency also envisaged isolated thunderstorms over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kogi, Benue, Kwara and Niger States, later in the day.
“Cloudy atmosphere with intervals of sunshine is expected over the inland and coastal areas of the South, with chances of morning thunderstorm over parts of Cross River, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Rivers States.
“In the afternoon/evening periods, isolated thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of Osun, Ekiti, Ondo, Imo, Anambra, Enugu, Abia, Oyo, Edo, Delta, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Rivers and Bayelsa States ,” it said.
It predicted a sunny atmosphere on Wednesday, with patches of cloud over the northern region, during the forecast period.
“Sunny skies with patches of clouds are expected over the North Central region with chances of isolated thunderstorms over parts of Plateau, Kogi, Nasarawa, the Federal Capital Territory and Benue States, during the afternoon/evening periods.
“ Cloudy atmosphere with intervals of sunshine is expected over the inland and coastal areas of the South with prospects of thunderstorms over parts of Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi and Abia.”
Other states to experience cloudy atmosphere, are “Edo, Ondo, Ekiti, Ogun, Oyo, Cross River, Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa States, later in the day.”
NiMet urged the public to take adequate precaution as strong winds might precede rains in areas where thunderstorms were likely to occur.
The agency also urged airline operators to get updated weather reports and forecasts from its office for effective planning in their operations.

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