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Obasanjo Endorsement: I Didn’t Mock Anybody, Just Concerned About PDP -Wike …Says Only APC Carcass In Rivers
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has clarified that the intent of his public comment on the endorsement of Peter Obi by former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, instead of his former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, stems from concern for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Wike offered the explanation when he spoke at the Mgbuodohia Community Primary School premises, venue of the flag-off of the construction of Mgbuodohia Road in Rumuolumeni Town of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, yesterday.
The governor observed that Obasanjo had served as president on the platform of the PDP with Atiku as his vice for eight years, hence, ideally he should have been in a better position to solicit for support from Nigerians on his behalf with confidence.
But if such was not done, Wike noted, by way of endorsement, then, something was fundamentally wrong that should elicit concern by members of PDP.
“I meant no bad. I’m only worried as a prominent PDP member. A man who loves PDP should be worried. I was not mocking anybody. I was merely worried. My prayer was, look, let Obasanjo remain quiet and not say anything. That was all my prayer, but my prayer didn’t work.
“My prayer was that if this man makes any statement, it will indict us because he was president under the Peoples Democratic Party for eight years, and he worked with our presidential candidate. And the campaign of our presidential council is that our presidential candidate during the eight years did very well, with experience.”
He insisted that for Obasanjo to have gone ahead to endorse the Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, instead of his former vice, it means something must be fundamentally wrong.
Wike wondered that instead of people in the party to look at the issues critically, and ponder on what could be done with the seeming wrong, they are abusing him.
“What did I do? I didn’t do anything. All I did was to express concern. If you care for this party, it is for you to go back, and ask what is fundamentally wrong?
“Me, that is worried that we should do something and have expressed it, you’re abusing me for telling the party that we should do something.”
Wike insisted that it is only those who love the PDP that would be bent on ensuring that nothing untoward happened to it.
Those who are abusing him, Wike noted, are jobbers and political flirts who jump from one party to another every other day, with one of them now a spokesman of the party.
“They are not bothered, but those of us who since 1998 joined this party, contributed for the survival of this party until now, we keep shouting always when we see danger coming.
“Abuses upon abuses, it will not change anything, rather it will spoil more things. What you don’t know, ask people, seek for advice, people will help you to solve the problem.”
The Rivers State governor said abusing members of the Integrity Group of the PDP would only complicate the lingering crisis in the party.
He further cautioned those who are issuing threats of possible punitive action against the G5 governors to perish the thought.
“Nobody can drive us from this house we have built. All of us will fight here. So, if anybody thinks that you can just sit in your house and dish out orders, it will not work. The house will collapse on you. So, you better think twice.”
Wike flayed Prince Uche Secondus and insisted the companies that bided and got the contract awards for projects sited in Andoni were introduced by him.
According to governor, the companies were paid, but those projects were never executed and Prince Uche Secondus cannot extricate himself from the companies that got those jobs.
Wike also said the soul and strength of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have departed, leaving the carcass and therefore, cannot get any electoral support from Rivers electorate.
Specifically, Wike pointed to the level of support that Chief Anele Orobule, a die-hard believer in the former governor, Chibuike Amaechi, gave to the APC but was disgraced because of failed promises.
Wike mentioned that even when Chibuike Amaechi awarded the Rumuolumeni-Rumuepirikom road, it was abandoned, but under his administration, the project has been completed.
The governor said that in addition, he reconstructed the impassable Naval Road and the Mgbuosimini-Nkpor Road.
He urged the people of Rivers State to be wary of the APC governorship candidate, Tonye Cole, who was being fronted by Amaechi because they do not mean well for the state.
The governor urged the Rivers State PDP governorship candidate, Sir Siminialayi Fubara to consider constructing a bridge to link Rumuolumeni to Eagle Island in Port Harcourt when he eventually assumes office.
Providing a description of the project, Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Dr Dakorinima Alabo George-Kelly, said the Mgbuodohia Road was 5.1KM long, will be 7.3meters wide with offshoot drain of 6.5KM long.
According to him, the start point of the road construction work will be at the Aker Base junction, stretch into Nkpor community to form a perfect circle while connecting Mgbeke community in the area and has five months’ completion period.
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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