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PDP Waiting To Rescue Nigeria In 2023, Wike Reaffirms
The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, says Nigerians now know clearly that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has their best interest at heart, with the commitment it has shown in fulfilling every promise made in ensuring an enduring improvement in their socio-economic situation.
Wike stated this at the commissioning of the dualised Forces Avenue, Olumeni and Harvey streets in Old Government Residential Area (GRA), Port Harcourt by the Sokoto State Governor, Hon Aminu Tambuwal, last Friday night.
The Rivers State governor, said the administration of his predecessor under the All Progressives Congress (APC) deliberately ignored the roads in the Old GRA of Port Harcourt, thereby leaving the area in blighted condition.
Wike said that his conviction in developing the city and building it into world-class status that will market the entire state stems from the fact that it was the first point of contact to every visitor that comes to the state.
He revealed that the former Rivers State Governor, Sir Celestine Omehia, before leaving office in October, 2007, had awarded contract for the dualisation of Forces Avenue, but his successor, Governor Chibuike Amaechi, for inexplicable reasons, stopped the contractor from executing the project.
He stated that the reason why he would spend the entire next week commissioning more projects across the state was to remind Nigerians that PDP offers the only hope to emancipate the country from the appalling poor governance that has characterised the APC-led government since 2015.
To buttress the fact that PDP governors were excelling in their respective states, Wike said in November, he was in Sokoto State where he commissioned a major water project that would serve nine local governments, and also laid the foundation of a university teaching hospital.
Wike pointed out that the APC has been unable to keep its promises to Nigerians, and has also not confidently executed development projects in the states that they control, which have emboldened Nigerians to reject them.
Speaking further, Wike said the success of his development efforts has silenced the opposition, and they were overwhelmed that he has surpassed their expectations.
“I told you that the only way you can silence the opposition is to do what people would see. You don’t need to join issues with them on the pages of newspapers.
“All of them live here. They will see the streetlights shining, and the beautiful road. That is the party that has the interest of the people.”
Inaugurating the road projects, the Sokoto State Governor, Hon Aminu Tambuwal, asserted that the performance of Wike has justified the confidence reposed in him by Rivers people who had re-elected him to serve a second term.
Tambuwal, who affirmed that PDP governors were doing well in their respective states, described Wike, as a bridge builder, and a special gift to the country.
Also speaking, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, said since the roads were first built by the colonial masters, no government had given them serious attention until this intervention by Wike.
“You are one of the shining lights of our party because your good works speak for itself. I don’t think another governor or governors of the other party can really compete with the governors of PDP. Your Excellency, the chairman of governors forum, you see that our governors are making us very proud, and we are very proud of them and waiting on the line to takeover in 2023.”
In his remarks, the Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Hon. Elloka Tasie-Amadi said the roads were previously between 6.5 meters and 7 metres without drains, and streetlights.
He added that as suitable as they were for the times in which they were built, they ceased to adequately cater for current needs, and would not provide for the near or distant future.
“Forces Avenue is now 12 meters wide, Olumeni Street is 15.3metres wide. Harley Street is 15.3meters wide. All the roads are all dual carriageway, complete with streetlights, drainages and sidewalks”, he added.
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has called on Nigerians to reject silence in the face of extrajudicial killings and other abuses of human rights.
Soyinka stressed that accountability and civic courage remain essential to rebuilding public confidence in the nation’s institutions.
He made the call during the 28th Wole Soyinka Lecture held in Port Harcourt, last Friday as part of activities marking his 92nd birthday.
The lecture, themed “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage,” drew participants from different sectors of society.
The renowned playwright and human rights advocate said the country’s greatest tragedy was not only the unlawful killings carried out by state and non-state actors, but also the silence that often follows such incidents, allowing perpetrators to evade justice.
According to him, indifference by citizens to abuses of power and violations of fundamental human rights has contributed to the persistence of extrajudicial killings and other forms of injustice across the country.
Soyinka said he dedicated this year’s lecture to victims of unlawful killings, noting that the event was intended to honour individuals who had lost their lives as a result of failures within the justice system and society’s inability to protect the sanctity of human life.
He stressed that the lecture was dedicated to what he described as the basic unit of every society – the human being, and urged Nigerians to place greater value on human dignity irrespective of ethnicity, religion or social status.
The Nobel Laureate recalled several incidents of violence, including the fatal shooting and killing of a young man in Ugheli in Delta State by a police officer, and the mob killing of Deborah Yakubu in Sokoto State sometime ago, lamenting that many of those responsible are yet to face justice.
He expressed concern that some perpetrators of violent crimes had openly admitted their actions without fear of prosecution, describing such situations as evidence of serious failures within the nation’s justice system.
Soyinka maintained that when justice is delayed or denied, public confidence in state institutions continues to erode, thereby encouraging further violations of human rights.
Responding to critics who accuse him of promoting religious or ethnic divisions whenever he spoke on such issues, Soyinka dismissed the allegations and pointed out that his advocacy has always centred on the protection of human life and the rule of law.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue demanding justice in cases of alleged extrajudicial killings, including the recent shooting of a young man by a police officer, stressing that every life deserves equal protection under the law.
The literary icon also recalled an earlier pledge by a past incoming president to make public the files relating to unresolved assassinations and extrajudicial killings, questioning the status of the promised investigations.
He challenged citizens to continue asking questions about unresolved cases, insisting that justice, accountability and respect for human dignity are indispensable to building a peaceful, democratic and inclusive Nigerian society.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified that there was no fire at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, contrary to its earlier advisory.
Earlier yesterday, FAAN had announced that a fire incident had occurred at Terminal 2 of the nation’s busiest airport, and assured that its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service had been deployed to contain the situation.
There were also reports that activities were briefly disrupted at the airport yesterday after smoke was seen inside parts of the terminal.
Videos circulating online showed passengers kept standing outside the terminal while firefighters responded to the incident.
However, in an update issued less than two hours later by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, and posted on FAAN’s official X handle, the authority said preliminary findings showed that the smoke seen at the terminal was caused by the discharge of the facility’s FM-200 fire suppression system.
“Further to our earlier advisory regarding the incident at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to provide the following update,” the statement read.
“Preliminary findings indicate that there was no fire at the terminal. The smoke observed within the affected area resulted from the discharge of the terminal’s FM-200 fire suppression system. The reason for the activation of the fire suppression system is currently being investigated,” FAAN stated.
The authority said normal operations had resumed at the terminal while investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
“Normal operations have since resumed at the terminal, while detailed investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident,” the statement added.
The authority thanked passengers, airlines, airport users and other stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation.
FAAN appreciated the understanding and cooperation of passengers, airlines, airport users and all stakeholders, and reiterated its commitment to the safety and security of all airport operations.