News
‘APC Govt Has Rendered 20m Nigerians Jobless’
Ahead of the 2019 general elections, Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike says the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government has forced Nigerians to loose over 20 million jobs across the country.
The governor also said that over 85 per cent of Nigerian youths do not have jobs under the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC government.
Wike made this disclosure in Port Harcourt, last Monday, during the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign Rally for Ikwerre Local Government Area at Saint Martin’s Anglican Church field, Omagwa near the Port Harcourt International Airport, Rivers State.
The governor, who blamed the Nigerian youths for the lack of jobs in the country, said the youths voted APC into power to cause the unemployment experienced in the country, and charged Nigerians to vote PDP Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as President come February 16, 2019.
He also urged Ikwerre people to vote him as governor of Rivers State while also voting all the PDP candidates at state and national levels to restore the economy.
Describing Atiku as one of the major employers of labour in the country and a job creator, Wike told the mammoth crowd at the rally that APC does not stand to fight corruption in Nigeria as the party itself is the home of corruption in the country.
Wike also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to postpone the 2019 general elections in the state and in Nigeria as such may cause problem in the polity.
He charged the leadership of INEC to shun rigging of Rivers State election results as any attempt to rig the election would cause serious crisis.
According to Wike, “Anybody who attempts to rig election in Rivers State, his or her family would be rigged”, just as he insisted that INEC should allow the electorate in Rivers State to vote for the party and candidate of their choice.
Wike openly declared that PDP in the state would not go to court to contest any results, but assured that the party would win the 2019 governorship election in the state.
Accompanied by the state Chairman, PDP, Bros Felix Obuah, former Governor of Rivers State, Sir Celestine Omehia, Commissioner for Information and Communications, Barrister Emma Okah, Senator Thompson Sekibo, Barrister Boniface Emerengwa and other party chieftains, Wike reminded the people that all the state governors that do not pay salaries to workers belong to APC.
Describing APC as a desperate party, Wike accused the former governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of selling off the state Olympia Hotel and the facilities at Abonnema Wharf to his cronies at the detriment of Rivers people.
On the March 2, 2019 governorship election in the state, Wike called on party faithful and all Rivers people not to panic, saying that “PDP has everything its takes to win the poll as the party has prepared for the 2019 elections for over two years in the state”.
Wike also declared ‘Operation Deliver Your Units’ in the 2019 elections across all local government areas of the state, as he appealed to all PDP faithful to ensure they totally deliver their units to the PDP.
While describing PDP as a party that preaches peace and unity, Wike said he completed and commissioned all internal roads in Isiokpo, Omademe, Ipo and Igwuruta communities, including UNIPORT-Aluu and Rumuekini-Aluu link roads in the LGA.
The governor also said that he was not contesting election with anybody in Rivers State as his footprint in terms of projects’ execution speaks volume for his re-election.
Earlier in his opening remarks, Chairman, Ilwerre Local Government Area, Engr. Samuel Nwanosike, had said Ikwerre people would no longer allow the use of armoured personnel carriers and military personnel by some persons in the LGA to rig the 2019 elections in the area.
He assured the governor that Ikwerre people would give the party a landslide victory in the governorship and Presidential elections come February and March, 2019.
The chairman also confirmed to the governor and the PDP family at the rally that for the 2019 election, 480,000 voters registered in the LGA as against 125,000 in 2015 polls.
Nwanosike insisted that over 161,000 voters in Ikwerre LGA have collected their Permanent Voters Card (PVCs) ahead of the 2019 polls in the area.
According to him, “The 181 units in Ikwerre LGA have resolved to vote Governor Nyesom Wike on March 2 and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar on February 16, 2019 elections in the country, as the opposition party has no root in the LGA and cannot win election in the area”.
Highlight of the rally was the official presentation of party flags by state Chairman of the party, Bros Felix Obuah to Senator Thompson Sekibo as PDP senatorial candidate for Rivers East and Barrister Boniface Emerengwa as PDP candidate for House of Representatives’ Ikwerre/Emohua Federal Constituency and Hon Anslem Oguguo for the state House of Assembly.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
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