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Nigeria’ll Benefit From Wike’s Visionary Leadership, Bauchi Gov Affirms
The Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed has expressed the need for Nigerians to consider giving Governor Nyesom Wike the opportunity to serve them at the national level.
He maintained that if Rivers State was lucky to have Wike, Nigerians would be luckier to have a man with the vision of knowing how to harness resources in improving the quality of life of the citizenry.
Mohammed was speaking at the flag-off of construction work at the site of the Rumuokwurusi-Elimgbu flyover in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, last Monday.
Mohammed said that he had disclosed his intention to run for the presidency, but he knows in accomplishing that goal, there were people with better quality and capacity to do much better.
“And there are people that you will do it with them so that at the end of the day, if you are doing it, you’re doing it with harmony, you’re doing it with synergy, and you’re doing it with stake-holding in a manner that you will rescue Nigeria from the present situation of maladministration.
“On behalf of everybody here, I want to say ‘thank you’ because I wish you’ll be given the opportunity to bring this type of vision to the national level where you will be able to come and contribute your quota.”
The Bauchi State governor said he felt humbled and honoured to flag-off the Rumuokwurusi-Elimgbu flyover project, which was the 10th flyover that Wike has provided for the people within his second tenure.
“Again, you can see the fidelity;the sincerity of purpose. I am not in my second term but I cannot remember any second term governor doing this kind of infrastructure, delivering to his people.
“He is not here for himself. I am not praising him. There is nothing that he will give me that I don’t have. But I really envy him for what he is. He is for his people.
“When some second term governors are busy preparing to go home, this man is even breaking new frontiers, doing new projects, and giving timelines and finances that will be able to be delivered during his tenure.”
Mohammed said Wike has distinguished himself as the new face of leadership in Nigeria.
Such leadership style, according to him, has raised the bar of subnational leadership in the country, making it more attractive and thing of pride to be associated with the Rivers State governor.
“Some of his templates that have really been implemented; some of them, you can touch them in terms of improving the quality of life of our people.
“We are copying from him because we don’t have to reinvent the wheel. He has done so much. He says the truth and does the right thing. You can see the conceptualisation. The way and manner the projects were conceptualised and financed.”
Mohammed noted that barely one year to the general election, he can only imagine that a governor would love his people so much and continue to invest resources for the progress of the society and economy with new projects.
In his words, “That shows you that he wants to do so much and fulfil his promises. And that will spur me and encourage me to go back to Bauchi State and to still do more projects. Maybe, I will have the benefit of second term. But the time I have, I must use it very well.”
In his speech, Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike said his administration owes it as a duty to Rivers people to deliver social services and quality projects that would improve their living conditions.
He explained that the Rumuokwurusi-Elimgbu flyover was the 10th flyover and a part of his administration’s promise to the people.
Wike assured it would be delivered in the next 10 months because 80percent of the contract sum has already been paid to Julius Berger Nigeria PLC.
“What is important in governance is when public officers or elected public officers make promises to their people, to the electorate; there must not be any excuse not to fulfil such promises.
“I told the people of Rivers State, by the special grace of God, I was going to construct 10 flyovers before I leave office. And let it be known these 10 flyovers were not awarded from 2015, no. These 10 flyovers were awarded from 2019 till this date.”
Wike stated that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had remained consistent with its pact with the electorate unlike other parties that hardly can fulfil promises they make during electioneering period.
Particularly, Wike said, such politicians who hardly keep promises, hinge their confidence on hijacking of electoral materials to smuggle themselves into office.
But he said with President Muhammadu Buhari signing of the Electoral Act Amendment into law, it means every politician would have to show evidence of service to get support of the electorate.
According to him, the period of using soldiers and hired thugs to snatch and hijack electoral materials is gone because with the card reader and transmission of election results electronically, votes cannot be compromised.
“The Electoral Act that the president has appended his signature, the good thing there now is, operation show what you have done.
“The period of using soldiers to carry ballot is over. The period of using police to carry ballot papers is over. The period of using our boys to hijack materials is over.”
The governor reiterated that all projects started by his administration would be completed before he leaves office next year.
He pointed out that the reason why there exist several projects abandoned by the Federal Government was because such projects were merely conceptualised without the requisite financial backing.
“Part of the problem we have in this country is that when you conceptualise project or initiate a project, there is no backup financially to make sure that project is taken to logical conclusion. That is why you see at the federal level, projects being awarded, the projects will not be completed in 10 years’ time, and at the end, what you see is variation because of inflation.We saidno that will not be our strategy.
“All these key projects that we have awarded will be backed up financially. We will not award any project where we don’t have the finances to back it up.”
Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Hon Elloka Tasie-Amadi said the Rumuokwurusi-Elimgbu flyover that is 8.40meters long, and 17.6meters wide with median, would be completed in 10 months.
When completed, he explained, it would enhance rapid development of real estate activities and boost commerce in the area.
The Managing Director of Julius Berger, Lars Richter, assured that the company would deliver the project on time and according to specification.
Earlier, the Rivers State Government and Julius Berger had signed a contractual agreement for the Rumuokwurusi-Elimgbu flyover at the Government House, Port Harcourt.
News
Rivers DPOs Receive Awards For Outstanding Performance In Crime Prevention …As Students, Media Group Honour CSP Worgu, CSP Yusuf
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.
News
College Of Bishops Endorses Tinubu, APC Candidates For 2027 Polls
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
News
Police Arrest Fake Soldier, Others For Armed Robbery, Kidnapping
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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