Daily Pen

28/06/2017

UNITY OF NIGERIA: GOVERNOR WIKE, RIVERS LEADERS VISIT SULTAN

In futherance of the quest to promote the unity of the country, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike on Tuesday led prominent Rivers political leaders and First Class Traditional Rulers to pay a Sallah visit to the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar III.

Governor Wike and his entourage were received at the Sokoto International Airport by the Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal from where they proceeded in a motorcade to the Palace of the Sultan.

At the Sultan's Palace, Governor Wike received a royal welcome as leaders of the Sultanate and Traditional Rulers lined amidst music and dance to celebrate his arrival.

Speaking at the Palace, Governor Wike declared that the people of Rivers State believe in the unity of the country, noting that they will continue to work for the country to stay united.

He said: "Rivers State believes in the oneness of this country. We believe in the unity of the country and we will do everything possible to the preach the unity of Nigeria.

"All countries have one challenge or the other, but what is important is dialogue to find ways to resolve those challenges. For the unity of Nigeria, there is no going back ".

He said irrespective of religious differences, all Nigerians must ensure that they work for the unity of the country.

He described the Sultan as a Traditional Ruler who believes and works for the unity of Nigeria.

Governor Wike thanked the Sultan of Sokoto for participating in the Rivers Golden Jubilee and always supporting the Rivers State.

Responding, the Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigeria Council of Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar called for dialogue in the resolutions of the challenges facing the nation.

He called on elder statemen across the country to call their people to order for the country to live in peace and attract development.

He said: "We shall continue to work for the unity of this country. This shows that we are one family in Nigeria. We serve our creator by serving humanity".

Speaking further, he said: " I was very pleased to see what is going on Rivers State in terms of construction and projects."

While urging Governor Wike to sustain his developmental projects, he charged political leaders to remain committed to projects delivery as that will attract the goodwill of the people. He said leaders who work for their people will always be defended by their constituents.

In his remarks, Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal described the visit as historic and relevant to the unity of the country.

He said: "Governor Wike is here to express that we are all believers in the unity of this country".

Governor Wike was accompanied for the Sallah Visit by Former Rivers State Governor, Sir Celestine Omehia, Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Austin Opara, Former Acting National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, Former NBA President, Chief Onueze Okocha, Former Minister of Sports, Dr Tammy Danagogo, Administrator of Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority, Ambassador Desmond Akawor, Federal Commissioner of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Evangelist Hope Ikiriko, Mr Sokipiri Graham-Douglas, Prince Emma Anyanwu and Former Attorney General of Rivers State, Hon Frank Ohwor.

Also on Governor Wike's entourage were three traditional rulers: Chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers and Amayanabo of Opobo Kingdom, King Dandeson Jaja, Amayanabo of Abonnema, King Gbobo Disrael Bob-Manuel and the Oda of Abua, King Kalley Obunge.

Simeon Nwakaudu,

Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor, Electronic Media.

27th June, 2017.

18/06/2017

HON EZE NWUJU VISITS PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED AND AGED IN OMUMA

In a move to relieved the sufferings of the less privileged , Hon Eze Stanley Nwuju (JP) the former CTC Chairman of Omuma LGA has visited some aged and physically challenged. He first visited a popular (95 yrs. old) Crippled man in Umudike-Umuogba in Omuma LGA, Elder Ebbeh Z. Anu, known as (Dee Ebbeh) and an (86yrs old) blind man, Elder Sunday Nwankwo in Umumkpota-Eberi, and popular deaf young man known as Emenike in Umuobasi-Eberi and three other aged women within Omuma LGA. As a mark of love to the elderly, the former CTC Chairman appreciated the aged elderly men and women with cash, and a promised of visiting them monthly to encourage them rejuvenate their hope.

Hon Eze Stanley Nwuju is a young politician who mingles with and encourages youths and gives them hope. He is a faithful member of the PDP under the leadership of Hon Kelechi Nwogu in Omuma LGA of Rivers State.

16/06/2017

NDDC has deviated from its mandate, Governor Wike tells US Ambassador

▪calls for the establishment of a US Visa Office in Port Harcourt

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) as presently constituted is a fund raising commission for politicians who want to run elections.

The governor reiterated his call on the United States Government to establish a Visa Office in Port Harcourt to cater for the South-South and South-East .

Speaking during a courtesy visit by Mr William Symington, the United States of America Ambassador to Nigeria on Wednesday at the Government House Port Harcourt, Governor Wike urged the Government of the United States of America to consider the capital of the South-South, where the nation's resources are generated for a Visa Office.

"If you open the Visa Office in Port Harcourt, you would have created a plethora of opportunities for the people of the region", the governor said.

On the NDDC, Governor Wike said the commission's focus on politics, rather than the development of Niger Delta, has made it a cesspit of corruption where resources are diverted to fund political projects.

He said: "NDDC is a fund raising commission for politicians who want to run for elections. The rerun elections in Rivers State were funded by the NDDC for the APC. The way NDDC is structured, it will not work.

"There is so much corruption in NDDC because board members are working to amass wealth to contests elections in their various states. The Managing Director of NDDC is amassing wealth to contest the governorship election in Akwa Ibom State ".

The governor said that contrary to the claim by the NDDC that the Rivers State Government is not cooperating with it, the government in 2016 wrote the commission on projects that would be beneficial to the state He said that the NDDC failed to act on the list

He informed the United States of America Ambassador to Nigeria that the NDDC reneged on its agreement with the Rivers State Government on the Mother and Child Hospital, even after the State Government had paid its counterpart fund of N800million, while the NDDC refused to pay any kobo from its N900million contribution. He said the State Government has taken over the construction of the hospital.

"If the Federal Government wants NDDC to work, why appoint a Managing director who plans to contest the governorship election of his state? Why not appoint a technocrat?" Governor Wike asked.

Speaking further, Governor Wike called for the clean up of Ogoni land, pointing out that the flag off was politically motivated due to the rerun elections at the time.

He said that his administration is interested in building partnerships with the United States of America, especially in the area of commercial agriculture, oil and gas and industrailization .

He said: "We are willing to partner with the American government in attracting investments to the state. Investments attract employment which reduces youth restiveness".

The governor said all tiers of government should be focused on governance, instead dwelling on 2019.

Earlier, the United States of America Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr William Symington said that the focus of his was to interract with the people of the state and learn about the state.

Simeon Nwakaudu,
Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor, Electronic Media.
14th June, 2017.

16/06/2017

GOVERNOR WIKE HOSTS AMERICAN AMBASSADOR, SEEKS TRUE FEDERALISM

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that Rivers people are insisting on true federalism because they crave a country where all federating units are allowed to develop in line with their respective potentials and resources.

The governor emphasised that the demand for true federalism simply means that Rivers people believe in a united Nigeria, where no section is denied the control of her resources.

The governor who spoke at the Government House Port Harcourt on Tuesday night when the Rivers State Government hosted the Ambassador of the United States of America to Nigeria, Mr William Symington to a State Banquet, also called on the Government of the United States of America to set up a Visa Office in Port Harcourt to cater for the South-South and South-East.

He said: "We are clamouring for true federalism. When you talk true federalism, they think you don't want to be part of the country. We talk about true federalism as practiced in America. A true presidential system where all the Federating units will be allowed to enjoy their resources and contribute to the centre.

"That means we believe that there must be a country called Nigeria. All of us will work together for the unity of the country".

He explained that Rivers people seek equity, fairness and justice in the country, stating that the right framework must be established to ensure that all states excel at their pace.

On the request for the United States Government to set up a Visa Office in Port Harcourt, Governor Wike said the visa will resolve the issue of equity and justice as the Abuja office serves the north and Lagos office serves the South West.

He assured that the American Ambassador that the state is safe for business, pledging that his administration will partner with investors, as the right environment has already been created.

"Forget about the media propaganda. This state is an opposition state . Therefore, don't expect them to say it is the best. But, we are the best state. We are doing everything to ensure that investors do profitable business under the ambit of the law", Governor Wike said.

In his remarks, the Ambassador of the United States of America to Nigeria, Mr William Symington commended Nigerians for the unity of the country.

He said that Nigeria is a great country because of the contributions of Nigerians.

"Nigeria will be great and I expect a super power and a super partner ", he said.

The Ambassador of the United States of America to Nigeria was accompanied by the Consul General , John Bray.

Head of Service of Rivers State, Mr Rufus Godwins, in a welcome remark on behalf of the Rivers State Government, pointed out that Rivers State shares a lot of similarities with the United States of America, especially in the area of the presence of oil resources, love of human rights, justice and fair play.

He, however, pointed out that while United States practices fiscal federalism where federating states own their resources, Rivers State suffers untold hardship as her resources are exploited to the benefit of others.

The Head of Service of Rivers State further brought to the notice of the United States of America Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Williams Symington to murderous attack on the democratic rights of Rivers people by Federal forces during the repeated legislative reruns. He urged the United States of America to take very profound steps to check the r**e of democracy by Federal forces and their cohorts during future elections.

Simeon Nwakaudu,
Special Assistant to the Rivers State,
Electronic Media.
14th June, 2017.

15/06/2017