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Wike Cautions Against Politics Of Violence …Awards Contract For Bori Town Internal Roads
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has declared that politics of violence was alien to him because he was a believer of the rule of law.
The governor maintained that even in the face of political provocation, unfounded allegations and outright disregard to statutory laws by unruly political actors, his administration cannot resort to political violence.
Wike made the assertion at the inauguration of the 17.2kilometres long Bori-Kono Road that held at Methodist Comprehensive High School Premises in Baen community of Khana Local Government Area, last Friday.
The governor said his administration has done so well for Rivers people in terms of project delivery, ensuring security and promoting good governance, which have earned political goodwill of Rivers electorate.
Wike stressed that already Rivers people are at home to listen to his political counsel on who to vote in the 2023 election, and there is no need to recourse to political violence against anybody.
The governor noted that Senator Lee Maeba and Dr. Abiye Sekibo have been trying to instigate violence in the state by deliberately violating a state law that prohibits the location of political offices in residential areas of the state.
“Few days ago, you (Maeba) and Abiye went to Igboukwu Street, D/Line (Port Harcourt) without the approval of government to site a political office.
“We are talking about Executive Orders 21and 22 that have now been taken over by the law passed by the State House of Assembly. We did not send the chairman of Port Harcourt council to go and bring it (the building) down. We have the powers.
Wike spoke further insisting that, “But we say, no, let’s take a step further. We went to court to say, look, this is in violation of the provisions of the law. It is the count that has placed the seal-off.
“If we are violent, since you want to try to see whether we are violent or not, we would have shown it. But you’ve been defeated. We have always followed due process and we cannot be violent.”
The governor stressed that nobody was harassing anybody and preventing them from their political campaigns but such must be done in line with statutory laws of the state.
Wike explained that his administration and other state governors challenged the Executive Order 10 that President MuhammaduBuhari signed in the court and won at the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
On the illegal deductions of state fund to support the Police Trust fund, Wike explained that it was also challenged in court and the Federal Government was directed to refund Rivers State.
Wikeexplained that the state was already in court over Value Added Tax (VAT) collection and remittance and another collection of fund by the Federal Government for one of its agencies without resorting to violence.
The governor said instead of politicians daring to disobey the Executive Orders 21 and 22, they should test the position of those regulations and laws in court.
Otherwise, Wike said under the prevailing system, nobody would dare disobey and not face the full wrath of the law.
Wike also took time to dismiss the alleged assassination attempt levelled against him by Senator Lee Maeba.
The governor said he had never contemplated sending people to kill the senator because he was not his style of politics.
Wike stressed that his explanation has become necessary to set the record straight for posterity.
He asserted that politically, Senator Lee Maebawas not a threat or a major influential of votes whether in Khana council or in the entire state.
Wike insisted that while he as local government council chairman, chief of staff, minister and now governor, he attracted projects to his immediate community and the state, whereas, Maeba has never attracted any project to Ogoni.
According to him, the former senator was awarded an oil block, instead of growing the business, he it sold for $15million.
Even with such fund, Wike maintained that Maeba has never sponsored any Ogoni person on scholarship, or executed even a constituency project for his people.
Wike challenged Maeba to mention anything he had done for his people because the school he attended has not got any intervention from him.
He further revealed that even the Bori Town internal roads and Luae-East-West Road that was awarded to him was not done.
The Rivers State governor said despite the refusal of Maeba to execute the contract concerning Bori Town internal roads, he would re-award the project that would be likely completed by the administration of Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, SirSiminialayiFubara, when he wins the 2023 general election as governor.
Providing the description of the project, the state Commissioner for Works, Dr.DakorinimaAlaboGeorge-Kelly, said the contract for the construction of Bori-Kono Road was done in March, 2020 and work started in June, 2021.
George-Kelly explained that the first phase of the project, the 16.5-kilometre long Saakpenwa- BoriRoad was completed long ago, adding that this second phase of 17.29-kilometre long Bori-Kono Road has also been completed; making a total length of 33.79kilometres.
He noted that Bori-Kono project was essentially a major booster of the socio-economic dynamics of Ogoni land.
“This is because the road connects three local government areas in Ogoni land, and serves as route to neighbouringOpobo/Nkoro and Andoni local government areas”, he said.
The General Manager, CCECC Nigeria Ltd, Eric Shen, commended the Rivers State Government for the confidence reposed in the company to handle the project.
He assured the governor that the company remains committed to working with the state government in her drive to advance the socio-economic fortunes of the state.
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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