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Politics Of Religion May Burn Nigeria, Wike Warns

Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has urged personnel of the various security agencies to stop taking sides with politicians who use all tactics, including religion to frustrate efforts at protecting lives and property.
Wike insisted that Nigerian politicians must also stop the politics of religion so that they do not burn the country down in the wake of campaigns towards the 2023 general election.
The governor spoke when he hosted the new Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Okon Effiong, who led a team of senior officers on a courtesy visit to him at the Government House, Port Harcourt, yesterday.
“We believe we owe this country, and we must also stop this politics of religion, so that we don’t instigate crisis and violence. You must go and tell the people what you can do, what we can offer.”
The governor emphasised that his administration has remained committed to the protection of lives and property of all residents in the state.
This is because of its belief that the people for which any development projects are provided must feel safe and alive to use them.
Wike noted that any government that was unable to do so had failed in its responsibility and had no business being in governance.
“For me, there cannot be any good governance without the protection of life and property. Nobody can talk about good governance when there is insecurity everywhere. If you cannot protect your citizens, you have no need to talk about governance.
“Because if you’re doing roads, people must be alive to use the roads. If you’re building good school, people must be alive to go to school. So, it is key that you owe your citizens protection of their lives and property. And so, for us as a government, that is the sole aim of being in government.”
He assured that since the security agencies are the institutions saddled with such duties, his administration has always and would continue to provide requisite support to them so that they can discharge their security operations effectively.
Wike expressed the hope that the new commissioner of police would bring his vast experience in operations and crime fighting to bear in Rivers State.
He urged him not to be intimidated against doing what was right, take the fight against crime and criminality to the den of criminals in order to dislodge them.
Wike acknowledged the untiring efforts of the Inspector General of Police, Akali Baba in insisting on professionalism among his officers and making sure they remain committed to crime fighting.
The Rivers State governor praised the immediate past Commissioner of Police, Mr. Friday Ebuka, for staying true to his professional calling.
According to him, instead of being used to destabilise the peace in Rivers State, he contributed his quota to consolidating on the efforts of crime fighting.
Wike explained that the state government would build a befitting police station along Ada George Road in Port Harcourt.
The governor recalled how heads of security agencies in the state, particularly of the Army, became involved in the election process in 2019, but were resisted by Rivers people.
Wike told the new commissioner of police not to tread that path, but to ensure that the campaigns were peaceful, and the elections conducted in an atmosphere devoid of intimidation of the electorate.
The governor said if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) refused to be influenced, the police stay away from interfering in the electoral process and the Judiciary insist that the rules were complied with, the vote of the people would count.
“You have a role to make sure the people’s vote counts; that the right person emerges. And when the right person emerges, you’ll see passion and commitment in their work. The difference will be clear.”
In his speech, the 43rd Commissioner of Police to Rivers State, Mr Okon Effiong, said, he would operate a policy of zero tolerance to crime and criminality.
“We have arrested in the past four days more than 12 armed robbers and kidnappers. In the past four days we have rescued more than 12 kidnap victims. In the past four days we have recovered more than six vehicles.
“In the past four days we have recovered arms and ammunition. The law will take its course. We want to stress that we have zero tolerance for crime and criminality.”
He thanked Wike for his numerous logistics and other forms of support to the command that has enabled its officers to perform optimally.
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Tribunal Verdicts, Affirmation Of People’s Trust In Us – Fubara

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has described the judgment of the Governorship Election Tribunal that upheld his election victory as a confirmation of the trust expressed in him by Rivers people.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Governor, Boniface Onyedi, in Government House, Port Harcourt.
At a brief thanksgiving service held at the Chapel of Everlasting Grace, Government House, Port Harcourt on Monday night, which was attended by some members of the State Executive Council and political leaders, Fubara restated his commitment not to betray the expectations of Rivers people on his administration.
He explained that the place of God in his administration would not be compromised, which is why they had gathered to thank Him for His unceasing direction and guidance.
He added that his emergence as governor was made possible at the polls by God, insisting that His favour has now been affirmed by the tribunal.
Fubara particularly thanked the immediate past Governor of Rivers State and Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, for his immense support to his governorship bid, following through the stages of the legal contest.
He also thanked the Rivers people for rallying behind him to allow the will of God to prevail for the State.
The governor, who solicited for more support, enjoined Rivers people to be patient with his administration, promising to deliver good governance that will make their lives better.
In his exhortation, the Chaplain of the Chapel of Everlasting Grace, Government House, Port Harcourt, Rev. Barasin Ogan, said it is good to give God thanks, which is what the governor has done.
Ogan declared that the hand of God is upon Fubara and will strengthen him to work in mercy, delivering justice without bias and showing mercy without ceasing.
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Senate Warns Tinubu Against Extra-Budgetary Spending

The Senate Committee on Gas has urged President Bola Tinubu to present a 2023 Supplementary Budget to the National Assembly to commence his Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) project.
Chairman of the Committee, Senator Jarigbe Jarigbe made this known in a statement in Abuja, yesterday, barely 48 hours after Tinubu announced measures to mitigate the effect of fuel subsidy removal on Nigerians.
The chairman, who lauded Tinubu for the CNG initiative, however, warned that it would be illegal to spend taxpayers’ money or money without approval by the National Assembly and other projects in the gas value chain, which is cheaper than the use of fossil fuel.
The federal lawmakers also advised against extra-budgetary expenditure through ‘Ways and Means,’ saying the legislature is ready to support and bring succour to Nigerian people.
“The noble initiative will ameliorate the hardship of the citizens. Also, the President needs to come up with a supplementary budget to enable the government to fund the gas value chain, including the provision for CNG infrastructure and CNG vehicles, and the workshops and training would need to be funded,” the senator said.
“The President should not embark on extra-budgetary expenditure because it will be inconsistent with the provisions of the law”, he cautioned.
Jarigbe noted that the National Assembly, under the leadership of Senator Godswill Akpabio, was poised to support the great programmes of Tinubu’s administration, adding that a 2023 supplementary budget would be most appropriate, instead of the ‘Ways and Means’ approach of the previous administration, which is currently a major issue of contention in the Central Bank of Nigeria.
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NDIC Begins Payment Of N16bn To 20 Defunct Banks’ Shareholders

The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has announced the declaration of N16.18 billion in liquidation dividends to depositors, creditors, and shareholders of 20 banks in liquidation.
The announcement comes after impressive recoveries from debtors and realisation of assets of banks in liquidation.
The corporation’s Director, Communication and Public Affairs, Bashir Nuhu, made this known in a statement on Monday.
The NDIC said it had commenced verification and payment of stakeholders covered by the declarations within 30 days, starting from September 28.
The statement reads partly, “It is instructive to note that the ongoing payment is sequel to earlier payment of various sums which cumulatively amounted to N45.45bn as liquidation dividends in respect of the 20 banks as at July 2023.”
The closed banks covered by the exercise include Liberty Bank, City Express Bank, Assurance Bank, Century Bank, Allied Bank, Financial Merchant Bank, Icon Merchant Bank, Progress Bank, Merchant Bank of Africa (MBA), and Premier Commercial Bank.
Others are North South Bank, Prime Merchant Bank, Commercial Trust Bank, Cooperative and Commerce Bank, Rims Merchant Bank, Pan African Bank, Fortune Bank, All States Trust Bank, Nigeria Merchant Bank, and Amicable Bank in-liquidation.
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