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Babangida Aliyu, A Mole In PDP, Wike Insists

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The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has accused former governor of Niger State, Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu of being a mole of the ruling party in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He said it was unfortunate that the PDP has continued to allow the former Niger State governor to remain a member of its highest decision-making body after he publicly confessed to working alongside others to frustrate former President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan’s second term bid in 2015.
The governor, who stated these during a media chat at the Government House, Port Harcourt, last Monday, stressed that it was disturbing that while governors and other stakeholders were working assiduously to strategically position the PDP to take over the realm of power in 2023, the likes of Aliyu were working as All Progressives Congress (APC) moles in PDP.
“Aliyu Babangida is a mole in PDP. These are people who get information, and in the night, they go to the ruling party (APC), and give them the information.”
Wike declared that contrary to insinuations by Babangida, there does not exist any frosty relationship between him and the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus.
According to him, in politics, people are bound to disagree on certain issues, but that cannot be misconstrued as a rift in their relationship.
“The same Aliyu, in 2017, was one of those who opposed Secondus to be chairman of the party. He only came on board at the dying minute when he knew Secondus was coasting to victory.”
The governor also clarified that he was not aware if the PDP national chairman has disagreement with stakeholders of the party in Rivers State.
He stressed that if there existed any form of conflict between Secondus and other stakeholders in the state, the national chairman would have made it known to all concerned.
Wike explained that the reason why Babanigda has recently embarked on a campaign of calumny against him was because he has refused to invite him to commission some of his legacy projects in Rivers State.
He maintained that only former governors and incumbent ones who have delivered or were delivering democratic dividends in their states were qualified to inaugurate projects in Rivers State.
Reacting to Babangida’s accusation that he was a dictator in the PDP, the governor said it was rather disingenuous for a man who has refused to allow a credible party congress to take place in Niger State to cast aspersions on him.
“In 2015, what happened to him, he insisted his own boy will be governor. In 2019, he insisted again, and PDP lost. Who is the dictator? Up till now, the reason why the state (Niger) congress cannot take place is because he wants to dictate who will be chairman of the party.”
He further continued, “We have been working hard in Rivers State to see we don’t have the ruling APC in Rivers State. Ask Aliyu if he can do the same in Niger State. If there is election today, can he make PDP win in Niger State? As I speak to you, no state congress has been held in Niger State. It is because of his dictatorial tendency.”
The governor described Babangida’s recommendation that the NWC of the PDP should suspend him from the party as childish.
He stressed that if the former Niger State governor has any modicum of self-esteem, even as a liability to PDP, he would have been circumspect and refrained from making denigrating comments against one whose state has accounted for the highest votes gotten by the PDP since 1999.
To buttress his claim that Babangida was a liability to the PDP, Wike noted that in 2015, while serving as a governor of Niger State, the PDP lost woefully in the general election.
According to him, worst still, in 2019 general election, the PDP failed to win any elective position in Niger State.
“What is the impact of such a person as far as the party is concerned? In 2019, despite the federal might that was against us in Rivers State, we still were able to deliver all the senatorial candidates, all the House of Representatives candidates. So, who is more profitably to the party? Is it the man who cannot even win in his constituency?”
He further added, “If Aliyu says he will leave PDP today, nobody will shake; nobody will even bother. But I say I will leave PDP tomorrow, you will know the consequences of it.”
The governor dared those who have been insinuating that he wants to contest for PDP presidential ticket in 2023 because of his tirelessness in delivering dividends of democracy to the people of Rivers State, to prove that he has declared such intention to them.
He, however, reiterated that nobody can intimidate him from contesting for the PDP presidential ticket, if he decides to.
On Babangida’s claim that PDP will win the governorship election in Ebonyi and Cross River states, respectively in 2023, the governor described this as laughable.
He dared the former Niger State to first of all deliver his state from the APC before pontificating about other states.
“You have heard him say that PDP will recover Ebonyi and Cross River. Tell me what will be his contribution? Tell me what his strategy is for them (PDP) to recover the states? A man, who even in his own state cannot provide the votes, he is saying that PDP will recover so and so states. Recover your own first! Show the capacity that you have!”
The governor warned the PDP to be wary of Aliyu Babangida and other moles who were determined to ruin the party’s chances of winning the 2023 general election.
He noted that while PDP governors were busy delivering democratic dividends in their respective states, the likes of Babangida were busy sowing seeds of discord.
“That was one of those who, with other governors, were going round to bring down PDP (in 2015), and of course, he was happy doing that. Today, look at the consequences. Today, that is the man that has the temerity, the audacity to talk to a governor whose state produced the highest vote in 2015 (1.5million votes), and the ruling party never had 25 per cent. Ask Aliyu, in Niger State, if we (PDP) got 10 percent of the votes.”

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Rivers DPOs Receive Awards For Outstanding Performance In Crime Prevention …As Students, Media Group Honour CSP Worgu, CSP Yusuf

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Two Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in Rivers State have been honoured by separate groups for their contributions to security, crime prevention and improved community-police relations in their respective areas of responsibility.

The beneficiaries are the DPO of Afam Police Division, CSP  Endurance Worgu and his counterpart at Oyigbo Police Division, CSP Bello Yusuf.

CSP Worgu was honoured by a group of students under the aegis of Rivers State Graduate Students Associations for what they described as his commitment and outstanding performance in the discharge of his duties.

The students, led by  Chidi John Enyie, Esq. said CSP Worgu was selected based on his track record and status as one of the longest-serving young DPOs of Rivers State origin.

According to the group, CSP Worgu has made significant contributions to the protection of lives and property in the area since assuming office following the #EndSARS period.

The students said they were particularly impressed by the improvement in community-police relations under his leadership, noting that professionalism had remained a key feature of his service.

Enyie represented by Comrade Briggs Soku, said the students community was pleased to identify with a Rivers indigene who had distinguished himself in the police force.

He said the students considered it necessary to encourage and celebrate CSP Worgu because of his achievements as a young Rivers man excelling in a profession that many people from the state were often reluctant to join.

Receiving the award at his office in Afam, CSP Worgu expressed gratitude to God and the students for finding him worthy of the honour.

The DPO said the recognition had boosted his morale and encouraged him to sustain his efforts towards maintaining peace and security in the area.

He said he least expected the honour, particularly because it came from the students, adding that the recognition would further motivate him to serve the people better.

CSP Worgu assured residents of Afam that the police would sustain the existing peace in the area.

He appealed to members of the public to support the police by providing credible and timely information, stressing that useful information from residents would make the job of security personnel easier.

Meanwhile, the Ikwerre/Etche Media Association has also honoured the DPO of Oyigbo Police Division, CSP Bello Yusuf, for his efforts in tackling criminal activities in the area.

The media group presented the award following the swift tracking and arrest of five suspected kidnappers who had allegedly terrorised residents of the Kom-Kom axis and other parts of Oyigbo.

The group commended CSP Bello for what it described as his determined efforts to restore confidence and security in the affected communities, particularly Kom-Kom and Obeama.

According to the group, the arrest of the suspects demonstrated the DPO’s commitment to tackling criminality and safeguarding residents.

The media association said residents had received the development with relief, noting that the police action had sent a strong message to criminal elements operating in the area.

Responding, CSP Yusuf appreciated the group for the recognition and reaffirmed that there would be no room for criminality in Oyigbo.

He also commended the media for its role in disseminating credible information to the public, saying the media had remained supportive of the police in the fight against crime.

CSP Yusuf warned criminal elements operating in Oyigbo to leave the area or be prepared to face the full weight of the law.

He assured residents that the police would continue to pursue criminals and work to dismantle their hideouts, regardless of where they might be operating.

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College Of Bishops Endorses Tinubu, APC Candidates  For 2027 Polls

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The 5000 Achievers Christian Forum and Colleges of Bishops, Archbishops and Apostles, a Christian interdenominational organisation, has endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State for the 2027 general elections.

International President of the forum, Archbishop Lucky Aroh, disclosed this during the ordination and consecration of three new Bishops, as well as an award ceremony held in Port Harcourt.

Aroh said the performance of the APC-led Federal Government had endeared the party to the organisation, prompting the forum to declare its support for President Tinubu and other APC candidates in Rivers State.

He said the forum would support all APC candidates in the state during the 2027 elections and urged Nigerians to vote for the party.

Aroh, who is also the General Overseer of Caring Peoples Church, Port Harcourt, charged the newly consecrated Bishops to see their new positions as a great responsibility and dedicate themselves to the advancement of the kingdom of God.

He cautioned them against conduct capable of bringing their offices into disrepute, stressing that their activities would be closely watched by members of the public.

“As Bishops, the eyes of the public are on your activities. You must therefore conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of your calling,” he said.

Also speaking, the International Coordinator of the forum, Bishop Saint Robinson, urged the newly consecrated Bishops to work diligently towards winning souls for the kingdom of God.

Robinson, who was the guest speaker at the event, stressed that the activities of Bishops must at all times be guided by godly principles.

He also called on members of the church to support and cooperate with the newly consecrated Bishops in the discharge of their responsibilities.

The Secretary of the College, Apostle Elizabeth Ayadi Abaye, said the organisation was established to advance the kingdom of God and promote spiritual development.

According to her, the forum has organised several crusades, conferences, prayer meetings, ordinations, consecrations, enthronements, empowerment programmes and other spiritual development activities across the country as part of efforts to win souls for Christ.

Abaye said the organisation has members across the world and disclosed that more programmes had been scheduled to promote the spiritual development and wellbeing of humanity.

The three Bishops consecrated at the ceremony were Prince Alban Chike, Testimony Omenihu Shedrach and Prince Ifemena.

Among those honoured at the event were the Chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC), Abali Community, Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Manuchimso Prince Lemmy Wopara, and Clifford Oko Jaja, Coordinator of the 5,000 House-to-House for President Tinubu.

By: John Bibor

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Police Arrest Fake Soldier, Others For Armed Robbery, Kidnapping

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The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a 49-year-old suspected fake soldier, Andrew Atausi, and several other suspects in connection with various criminal activities, including kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, one-chance robbery and the alleged murder of police officers.

The State Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, disclosed this in Port Harcourt, recently during a press briefing at the Command Headquarters, where he said the arrests formed part of the operational achievements recorded by the Command between June and August 2026.

Adepoju said Atausi was arrested on August 10 by police operatives along Ada George, Port Harcourt, while dressed in military uniform and driving a Toyota Hilux painted in Army colours.

The Commissioner said investigation revealed that Atausi was not a member of the Armed Forces, adding that he was suspected to be a serial car snatcher, with three suspected stolen vehicles recovered from him.

He said the recovered vehicles included three Toyota Hilux vehicles without registration numbers and a Toyota Corona Premio with registration number BNY 380 ES, noting that the chassis and engine numbers of the vehicles had allegedly been tampered with.

Adepoju added that an axe and military accoutrements were also recovered from Atausi, as investigation continued into the circumstances surrounding the vehicles and other items recovered from him.

On the June 29 attack on police officers at Aluu Division, the Commissioner said three members of the gang allegedly responsible for the incident had been arrested by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit, VCRU-AKU.

The suspects, identified as Maduabuchi Emeka, 34, alleged gang leader; Doctor Chinedu Owhor, 42, and Kamachi Joe, 28, alleged armourer, reportedly led operatives to their hideout at Omagwa where two AK-47 rifles stolen during the attack were recovered.

Adepoju recalled that two police officers were killed during the Aluu attack, while others were wounded and one officer had his leg amputated, stressing that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fourth suspect.

On kidnapping, the Commissioner said five members of a suspected kidnapping syndicate were arrested in Oyigbo Local Government Area, adding that they allegedly confessed to operations in Kom-Kom, Railway, Obeama and Afam communities.

He said two other suspects from the same network, Anele Ogbogu, 35, alleged to be the gang’s armourer, and Kenneth Eke, 38, were arrested on July 27, with one AK-47 rifle and one SMG rifle recovered.

The Commissioner further disclosed the arrest of suspects in connection with alleged firearm offences, armed robbery, cultism and one-chance robbery, with firearms, ammunition and other exhibits recovered during the operations.

Adepoju assured residents that the Command would sustain intelligence-led, proactive and community-oriented policing in collaboration with other security agencies, while urging members of the public to continue providing credible information that would assist the police in combating crime across Rivers State.

By; King Onunwor

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