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Nigerians Won’t Honour Polls’ Riggers, Wike Tells Armed Forces …Says Army Has Lost Its Integrity, Pledges To Sustain Peace, Security …Pledges Not To Impose Anybody On Rivers People In 2023

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The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has declared that Heaven and Nigerians would never honour members of the Armed Forces engaged in the snatching of ballot boxes and rigging of elections.
Speaking during an inter-denominational church service marking the 2020 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration at the Saint Peter’s Anglican Church, Rumuepirikom, yesterday, Wike urged them to be professional and apolitical.
The governor said: “We are not honouring those who are unprofessional and carry ballot boxes to influence the electoral process.
“I urge members of the Armed Forces to choose the right path in the interest of the country. It is unfortunate that the military has lost its integrity because of some unprofessional personnel. Nobody is afraid of the military because of their unprofessional conduct.
“Those who come to rig election or kill Rivers people, Heaven will never remember them.”
Wike said that he has been vindicated by the admission by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman that security agencies were responsible for the electoral malpractices that marred the last general election.
He said: “I thank God that the chairman of INEC has owned up that the problem with elections is the security agencies. This confirms all I have said in the past.”
The governor, however, praised the Armed Forces for the roles they have played in preserving the unity of the country.
“But for them, kidnappers, cultists, insurgents and armed robbers would have taken over the country “, he added.
Wike called for the institution of a reward system to encourage soldiers to put in their best for the country.
In a sermon, Ven Samuel Chimele called on soldiers to be professional in the discharge of their duties to the nation.
He said: “As we remember our fallen heroes, be professional. There are temptations to the military to be unprofessional, but strive to be professional.”
He said that soldiers who engage in unprofessional acts would go unrecognised in the long run, even when they enjoy earthly promotion.
The cleric said that the military have no business attempting to enthrone different levels of leadership in the country, and advised them to focus on providing security and defending the nation’s territorial integrity.
In the sermon titled: “Faithfulness in Service: The Hallmark of a True Soldier”, Ven Samuel Chimele warned soldiers against the ruthless use of power against the national interest.
Prayers were said for the fallen heroes and God’s blessing upon their families.
Prayers were also said for the government and people of Rivers State, the Federal Government and the Armed Forces.
The international service marking the 2020 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration witnessed praise and worship, with offering to support the Nigerian Legion.
Earlier, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike had said that his administration remains committed to working with members of the Armed Forces to promote the security of lives and property in the state.
Represented by his Special Adviser, Mohamed Aribitonye Okiri during a Jumaat Service to mark the 2020 Armed Forces Remembrance Day in Port Harcourt, last Friday, Wike commended the Armed Forces for their contributions to national unity and security.
He assured that he would continue to invest in security, because security promotes development and inflow of investments.
Wike urged the security agencies to partner with his administration for the sustenance of peace across the state.
The governor added that the Rivers State Government would continue to support ex-servicemen and the families of war heroes who paid the supreme price defending the country.
In his remarks, the Sole Administrator, Rivers State Muslims Pilgrims Welfare Board, Abdulrazaq Cline Diepriye, thanked the Rivers State governor for his commitment to peace and the development of Rivers State.
In a message, the Deputy Chief Imam of Rivers State Central Mosque, Soliu Sai’d Olowo Okere, commended members of the Armed Forces for courageously fighting insurgents.
While praising the military for their role in preserving the unity of Nigeria, he said that the fight against insurgency was in line with the will of God.

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Rivers Capable Of Delivering Massive Votes For Tinubu, Chinda, Others -Fubara …Charges APC, Rainbow Coalition To Embrace Team Work

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Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that the  State is capable of delivering massive votes for President Bola Tinubu,  the  All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Rt. Hon. Kingsley Chinda and other candidates of the Rainbow Coalition in the 2027 general elections.

Fubara, who stated this yesterday at the inauguration of the APC Presidential Campaign Council in Port Harcourt, said the surest path to victory is for the  members of the Presidential Campaign Council drawn from the APC and the Rainbow Coalition to embrace the spirit of teamwork.

He said what the state was witnessing in the current political season is a repeat of the successful mobilization done in 2022 and 2023, when a large campaign council worked in unity to deliver victory for him and for President Tinubu.

He added that the present council is bigger, wider and better coordinated and should therefore achieve even better results.

He noted that the beauty of the new council is the fact that some persons who were in the opposition camp during the previous elections are now part of the team, saying their inclusion has made the task easier, provided everyone works as one team and with sincerity of purpose.

The governor thanked the  Coordinator of the Presidential Campaign Council for Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, and other leaders who worked tirelessly to bring the council to fruition, stressing that nothing  is impossible especially when people work together for a common purpose.

He expressed optimism that with seriousness and commitment, the state would record a higher number of votes than it recorded in 2023.

Fubara, while congratulating members who made the list, appealed to those whose names were omitted not to be discouraged, as there are still sub-committees to be constituted and the list can still be updated, even as he warned against double loyalty.

He said the state has gone past the stage of division and is now looking to the future and what God holds for Rivers people, expressing confidence that with the strategy already put in place, the APC and the Rainbow Coalition would come out victorious in 2027.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and Coordinator of the Campaign Council, Chief Nyesom Wike, while  inaugurating the Council, lauded Fubara for finding time to attend the ceremony and other engagements of the Council in spite of his busy schedules.

Wike, who is also the National Leader of the PDP/ Rainbow Coalition, reminded members of the Council that they were chosen based on their capacity to participate  in the activities of the group and deliver positive results.

He charged them to work hard to win votes for the candidates of the APC and the Rainbow Coalition for the Presidential, Governorship, National Assembly as well as State House of Assembly elections next year.

He disclosed that apart from the Presidential Campaign Council and its sub-committees, the Local Government Campaign Councils will soon be inaugurated to ensure better coverage of the grassroots during the current campaign season.

 

 

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RSG Floats MNET Culture Content Promo

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The Rivers State Ministry of Culture and Tourism  has floated a culture content platform in collaboration with digital television group, Multichoice.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mr. Freddy Ndigbara, disclosed this after a meeting with MultiChoice Head of Content Acquisition, Don Dotun Ojon, in Port Harcourt.

He assured that content entrepreneurs and film makers would enjoy the platform by promoting culture and other contents to sell the states tourism potentials.

He said MultiChoice M-net was now open to increase its patronage for content shots on locations in Rivers State, describing the State as one that has numerous potentials for film tourism.

“We were privileged to have Don Ojon with us at the Rivers International Film Festival (RIFF) at the weekend in Bonny and he saw, first hand, the numerous sites and opportunities that are open to creatives in the State. After that, we felt it was important to deepen the conversation and he obliged. This is a cheering news for the sector in the State,” he said.

Ndigbara stated that “Rivers State has many more untold stories to tell, many more contents to reel out and the assurances from the M-net Acquisition Manager is an indication that the industry in the state will soon enjoy a new lease of life”.

The Permanent Secretary thanked Ojon for the visit and assured that creatives in the State would grap this opportunity and show the world that Rivers State is a major hub for film tourism in Nigeria.

On his part, Ojon said the visit was to discuss on ways of promoting tourism in the State using creatives and film.

Ojon said although the company has recently been acquired by canal+ France and is undergoing restructuring, he would promote the chances of Rivers State to host the MultiChoice talent factory in the State.

With Asaba, capital of Delta State, being saturated, Ojon said the next port is Rivers  State, which he said is capable of building fresh crop of creatives, new locations, new story lines and concepts.

He, therefore, called for collaboration from stakeholders in the State.

Kevin Nengia

 

 

 

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APC Presidential Campaign Storms PH, ‘Morrow

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Barring last minute changes, the presidential campaign train of the All Progressives Congress (APC) will storm Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, tomorrow.

This is according to a campaign timetable released by the APC Campaign Council last month.

The Tide reports that the APC presidential campaign kicked off in Kaduna on October 24 with President Bola Tinubu in attendance.

The campaign train later moved to Cross River, Gombe, Nasarawa, and Ekiti on November 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively with the Vice President, Kashim Shettima representing the President at the rallies.

President Tinubu is personally scheduled to attend 12 states including Rivers, Kaduna, Plateau, Oyo, Borno, Enugu, Bauchi, Sokoto, Delta, Kano, Adamawa and Lagos.

The Rivers State rally, scheduled to hold at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, is expected to witness a large crowd of party supporters drawn from a coalition of political parties in the State.

The party is expected to round off its presidential campaign in Lagos State on January 9, 2027.

The Tide reports that Tinubu has not visited Rivers State as President since he assumed office in May 2023. His last physical visit to the State was before his inauguration on Wednesday, May 3 – Thursday, May 4, 2023, when he was hosted by then Governor Nyesom Wike in Port Harcourt to commission the Rumuola/Rumuokwuta Flyover and the Magistrates’ Court Complex.

Tomorrow’s visit will be his first to the State since assuming office.

 

 

 

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