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AWKA—THE Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has declared Chief Victor Umeh of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, winner of Saturday, Anambra Central Senatorial re-run.
Umeh, a former national chairman of APGA, beat 13 other candidates, whose party logos appeared on the ballot paper. Although, voters turnout was very low, the conduct of the election was generally peaceful, with security operatives virtually having nothing to worry about. With the outcome of the election, Umeh has become the first APGA senator from Anambra State since 1999. The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige of the All Progressives Congress, APC, whose party logo was also on the ballot paper, had before the commencement of the polls issued a statement that he was not participating in the election. According to him: “For the information of the General Public and voters as well as my numerous supporters in Anambra Central Senatorial District, I’m not participating in the said election which can be described as a charade. I have since by a letter dated 11th January 2016 withdrawn from this re-run Election when it was earlier scheduled for March 2016 in accordance with the provisions of sections 33 & 35 of the Electoral Act 2010 for personal & Family reasons.” However, INEC returning officer for the re-run, Professor Charles Esimone said Umeh polled 64, 878 votes or 95.6 per cent of the votes cast to defeat others. Esimone, who is Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka said the total number of registered voters in the seven local government areasthat made up the zone was 745, 828 out of which only 67, 872 (9.1 per cent) were accredited. The result showed that APC came second with 975 votes, while Progressive Peoples’ Alliance, PPA, came third with 116 votes. Other parties that got votes were the Mega Progressive Peoples Party, MPPP, 111 votes; Labour Party, LP, 95; National Conscience Party, NCP, 72; Alliance for Democratic Congress, ADC, 57; United Progressives Party, UPP, 55; Green Party of Nigeria, GPN, 48 and Action Congress for Democrats, ACD, 33. The court had earlier barred the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, whose candidate; Mrs. Uche Ekwunife was declared winner in March 2015, from fielding a candidate in the re-run. The re-run was conducted in seven local government areas, which are Njikoka, Awka North, Idemili South, Dunukofia, Awka South, Anaocha and Idemili North. The APGA candidate won in all the seven areas. Votes were cancelled in four polling units in Awka South local government area where there were alleged cases of over-voting. There was also cancellation in Agulu, Anaocha local government area where people were accredited manually, as well as in Idemili South where over-voting was recorded in two polling units.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
No sooner Gov Nyesom Wike was sworn in as governor of Rivers State than he embarked on indiscriminate borrowing at cut-throat interest rate from Nigerian commercial banks. The borrowing spree was carried out irrespective of the fact that the matter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Governorship Candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside contesting the emergence of Gov. Wike was still subsisting in court.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
In view of telephone calls by members of the media inquiring about the meeting between the leader of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and select youths of APC from across the 23 LGAs of the State took place as scheduled and issues outlined for discussion exhaustively dealt with.
The APC uses this medium to assure our media partners and the general public that the meeting was a closed strategic one and not meant for media coverage.
We reassure our media friends and the general public that any speculation that there was rancour and unruly behaviour by the youths is unfounded and totally untrue. Even more ludicrous is the rumour that any group engaged in booing while the meeting lasted. That is a lie taken from the pit of hell.
The APC re-iterates that no such thing took place. May be it happened in the infantile imagination of naysayers and discredited propagandists of PDP. The meeting between the Hon. Minister of Transportation and the youths of APC went well and there was no basis for any unruly argument or discord between the Minister who was the convener of the meeting and the youths.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
As the news continues to pop up about a plan by the Rivers State Governor Chief Nyesom Wike to execute road projects worth N4bn in Benue State, the Rivers State Chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, has maintained a studied silence believing that it was an episode taken from Hephaestus: a Greek Mythology Circus Tale that will soon come to an end.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
I have written many times on a singularity, or perhaps we should call it a genetic aberration or bane of development and progress in our dear country – it is the inability to find the Truth; nobody speaks the Truth; nobody wants to hear the Truth. Even when the Truth is glaring us in the face, we almost always manage to deny it, and successfully too.
Lies, deceit, deception, fraud, propaganda, all these lead to Corruption, hence the reason we are still stymied by poverty, underdevelopment, and an acute lack of progress in everything we do. A people beyond redemption, I always say.
Lack of Truth is a very serious substance in a society of human beings; it is insincerity; it is falsehood; it is dishonesty; it is fraud; it is deceit and deception, and therefore a very poorly run and inept government and the society is what you have at the end of the day. This is manifest in our day to day struggle to escape from bad, inefficient governance and endemic corruption. We do not seem to be winning that battle. It seems every effort made to make good is thwarted a hundred times by the forces of corruption and retrogression. It is almost as if those who profess to be patriots are out to sabotage every effort for Nigeria to progress and live up to its full potential as a nation.
Let’s take the instance of educational certificates. Our President was enmeshed in it prior to the Elections in 2015. Two years after, the controversy still rages on. Many politicians and legislators, federal and states, are still enmeshed in certificate controversies and scandals, but in Nigeria, very few politicians, if any, have been sanctioned because of either producing fake educational certificates, or unable to produce one. Or even claiming to attend higher institutions they did not. Why?
It never fails to amaze me how a society such as ours, with hundreds of universities and other tertiary institutions; with several years of Western education spanning over two centuries, where Nigerians are recognised all over the world as education-loving and excelling, with very brilliant refined minds in all fields of education accomplishment and human endeavour that one can think of, will still be brought to its shame by some fake people, usually those claiming to be its rulers (or leaders, as they like to term themselves) who claim to have achieved some educational status and achievement when they have not.
The minimum educational requirements for elective and public office in Nigeria is secondary school leaving certificates or their equivalents. Nigerians, especially those seeking public office, are not under any constitutional obligation to attend Harvard, LSE or Oxford University before they can stand for elective office. (I wonder why most of them always claim to have attended universities abroad and not in Nigeria).
So why do our politicians lie about their education? A kind of inferiority complex is at play here, as well as crass arrogance and patent disregard for the law and Constitution of this country. The Constitution, and indeed the people themselves, have made it very simple for them to befuddle us and reach their political zenith, if I may call it that, so why exalt their educational achievements to what was not?
Only recently the committee on review of the Constitution made a proposal to make the minimum requirement to be a degree in relevant fields. Not too long ago, a member of the senate presented an American certificate as part of the degrees he had; after investigation, it was discovered that he never attended any American university at all. As of today, he is still a member of the Senate. And this is the Senate that refused to confirm Ag. EFCC Chairman Magu as substantive Chairman, because, according to one of them, Magu cannot speak good English. A Senate, as Sonala Olumhense put it, “far and away the most corrupt and backward legislature in a modern republican democracy…stinking from many years of decay and layers of no standards, low standards, certificate-forgers, foreign-exchange speculators, paedophiles, influence peddlers, dubious former governors and money doublers, not an outpost of transparency and good governance”
Salisu Buhari (not a relation of our current President), a former Speaker of the House of Representatives in 1999 presented a certificate from “Toronto” (very vague) as part of his educational qualifications. After thorough investigation and it was discovered he never attended the University or awarded a certificate, he honourably resigned and that was the last anybody ever heard of him. He disappeared into oblivion. There is still honour among thieves, it would seem.
The late Gani Fawehinmi went to court to challenge the certificate presented by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 1999 when he (Tinubu) wanted to contest for the governorship of Lagos State. Unfortunately, this case was never concluded; maybe or just maybe if that case was concluded and an example set by the court, no other person would have had the courage to present fake foreign certificate to boost their educational credentials.(quoting Olutoyin Eweje)
Now, my beef is this. Despite the obvious obfuscation, lies and deceit being peddled by the “lying” politicians, we still find people who are certifiably educated (that is, we know they went to the schools they said they went to, and there are hundreds of people who can attest to this, plus the schools themselves) who are supporting these fraudulent people.
What I am saying is this, and please at the risk of being labelled immodest; I am proud to have gone to a university in Nigeria, and another in Canada, taking me minimum of 6 years to study hard and earn university certificates for my efforts, my parents’ money and my family and friends’ goodwill; why would I be in support of a fraudulent charlatan who is claiming to have made the same effort as I did to earn a certificate, and thereby degrading all the educational efforts and achievement of others, all because he/she wants to be in power to rule over me?
I do not take my educational achievements lightly; it was the best thing bequeathed to me by my parents, and actually, also from my country (after all, I enjoyed some free education in the old Western Region) and that I am in turn bequeathing to my children. I worked hard and genuinely to deserve my certificates and I will not endure or support anybody to demean either my education or that of somebody else by parading fake certificates or claims to have been so educated.
In all my years in education and academia, I have never heard of an institution of higher learning, from Colleges of Education to Polytechnic to University awarding “Certificates of Attendance” after a three, four or even seven years’ tuition. You either have a degree or a diploma, with Pass, Third Class, Second Class Lower and Upper or a First Class, for a first degree.
A course lasting a week or even a month does not entitle one to a Degree or Diploma. That is where a Certificate of Attendance comes in, and even at this, it does not mean one has passed or excelled in the course. It only means, as it says on the tin, one has attended. One may sleep throughout the course, but that person has been there. I know many instances of Nigerian legislators, federal, state and local governments, who spent our money to go overseas on some dubious courses organised by equally dubious trainers, who, whilst in the UK or US for the supposed course, were busy shopping and taking in the sights rather than being in the training room. But they come back to Nigeria, flaunting and flashing Certificates of Attendance, the knowledge, and the money a burden on the poor citizens of Nigeria.
I have no doubt Senator Dino Melaye (who happens to be a friend) is educated, and have, at one time or the other, attended Ahmadu Bello University, one of the first-generation and great universities in Nigeria. He has been a Member of the House of Representatives and now a Distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I have seen him in action, in and out of the Senate. I have proffered advice to him in the past. Of course, I have never broached the issue of educational certificates to him; I believe that is left to him to handle. Of course, again, we know why the issue of his certificates is suddenly being brought to the fore. He has proven himself to be a fifth columnist in the APC, and the Rottweiler of the Senate President. He is laying himself wide open to political disaster, just as he did on behalf of ex-Speaker, Patricia Etteh, that got him in the bad books of ex-Speaker Dimeji Bankole; and that led him (Dino) to being de-selected by his then party, PDP to run for a second House of Representative term
Dino does not need to file suits against anybody, least of all Sahara Reporters (you don’t mess with them); he will surely end up with eggs all over his face and sink his own political ambition and reputation. What he should just do is bring out his certificate (the Vice-Chancellor of the university has now confirmed that Dino is a bona-fide graduate of the university, with a Third-Class degree in Geography), although he’s not bound by anybody or anything to do that. After all, many of his ilk and political co-travellers have gotten away with this in the past.
With all kinds of depressing revelations being brought out in this certificate saga, it behoves Senator Melaye to back down and suppress his braggado; he can still stay in his favourite Senate, but his credibility is shot to pieces. If you live in a glass house, you do not throw stones. His Senate President himself has not used his medical degree certificate as his minimum qualification for both his governorship and senatorial stints for reasons best known to himself.
However, in this piece, the issue is not about Dino Melaye; not about President Muhammadu Buhari, not about Salisu Buhari and these others who have been embroiled in certificate scandals such as former President Goodluck Jonathan, Prof Maurice Iwu (former INEC Chairman); first Senate President in the Third Republic, Evan(s) or Evan Enwerem; “Dr” Ayo Fayose, Governor of Ekiti State; former Aviation Minister Stella Oduah; former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomole; current Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki; former Benue State Governor, Gabrliel Suswan; APC Chieftain and leader and former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; Senator Andy Uba; former DG of Nigeria Stock Exchange, Ndi Okereke-Onyuike, and a host of others.
The issue is with a system and society that allows such proliferation and no punishment of such fraud; the problem lies with some of our universities who cannot, for reasons best known to them, verify simple attendance and graduation records at their campuses (it is a shame on our institutions of tertiary learning, I hear most of them don’t even have functional websites or url’s); it is a shame on our governing system that we allow fraudsters and forgers and deceptions to invade the corridors of power and lord it over us, make laws for us and to direct our affairs. It is a shame truly educated members of our society are complicit in allowing these forgeries and fraudulent declaration to prosper in all areas of endeavour and it is an indictment on our society as a whole that it is a very degenerate society which allows such dishonesty and crime to survive and thrive. No wonder all is not well with us. Isn’t it a shame that a country as proud, rich and recognised all over the world in educational achievement is being governed (and ruined) by crass illiterates, educated illiterates and people of little or no intellectual and academic standards?
All this boils down to what I have always suspected and written about – that we Nigerians think we are smarter than each other – friends, colleagues, mates, family, acquaintances, and the next man on the street; we always love to take undue advantage, we are wont to cut corners every time to get everything and everywhere. Politicians and civil servants delude themselves that they are the only smart Nigerians because they can sit in their dingy little offices and forge invoices and receipts to embezzle money meant for others of their fellow Nigerians to make their lives better.
We need to change this culture. One causative agent of this depravity is the low level that our educational system has gradually sunken into in the past four decades. Another is the poverty level forced on us by our insensitive and corrupt rulers, military and civilian, over the decades. All these have led to self-deprecation, self-doubt and lack of confidence and belief in our academic, political, and governmental systems, for the main reason that they cannot be trusted to be genuine and authentic. Nigerian universities are no longer respected abroad; our degrees are taken with pinches of salt these days, unlike in the glorious past, opening the way for unscrupulous Nigerians with fraud in mind to take advantage of the gaps in the system to become elected official, civil servants, appointed officials, and even gurus in the private sectors. Criminals and fraudsters populate the legislature and the executive arms of government; charlatans are prescribing justice, impostors run the banking and economic sector and half-baked academicians run our institutions of higher learning.
On the forgers and perjurers, themselves, perhaps we should spare them some pity, as explained earlier in this article, that psychologically, such people are prone to lack self-respect and esteem, lack of confidence in one’s abilities and a warped urge to fit into a level of the society which they could not believe they have found themselves or want to be; their inferiority complex and moral bankruptcy is very acute
Unfortunately, despite what the laws says on perjury (section 118 of the Criminal Code) which prescribes imprisonment for 14 years, and may even be punishable by death or life imprisonment if done to harm another person, and for forgery (Section 465 of the Criminal Code Act), the Nigerian wheel of justice is grinding notoriously and criminally too slowly such that these miscreants of perjury and forgery may escape punishment, especially the politically exposed persons.
It is obvious that a person who perjures or forges certificates to get into office is more than extremely likely to perpetrate all kinds of corruption if elected or appointed into office. This again explains the reason corruption is so endemic and rampant in Nigeria today, and seems so indestructible.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
ABUJA—-Determined to prove that he was awarded a Bachelors Degree by the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Senator Dino Melaye, on Thursday, pledged to tender his certificate before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting at Maitama. Dino Melaye Melaye, who is representing Kogi West in the Senate, said he would tender the certificate during hearing of a N5billion libel suit he slammed against an online media outlet, Sahara Reporters, which alleged that he never graduated from the Geography Department of ABU Zaria.
In the suit he filed through his lawyer, Mr. Mark Ikongbeh, Senator Melaye, insisted that he indeed bagged a B. Sc in Geography from the University. He told the court that the certificate scandal has exposed him to great psychological stress and emotional trauma, saying he has been abandoned by his friends and associates owing to the defamatory publication by the defendants. Cited as 1st to 4th defendants in the suit marked M/4812/17, were, the Incorporated Trustees of Sahara Reporters Media Foundation, Omoyele Sowore, Temitope Olumuyide and Sahara Reporters Media Group Inc. Aside praying the court to award him N5billion as aggravate and exemplary damages for libel, the plaintiff also applied for an injunction restraining the defendants, by themselves or by their servants or agents, from making further publications on the issue. He is equally seeking N10million as cost of the legal action.
In the statement of claim, the plaintiff told the court that a great number of his constituents, friends, associates, foreign acquaintances have felt so betrayed and let down by conducts maliciously and falsely alleged against him by the defendants, to an extent that they have ostracised him and have currently given him a wide berth. He said: “Many invitations to honourable events have been withdrawn and attempts to reach out to several people who had very cordial relations with the plaintiff has been met with a cold shoulder. “The plaintiff has suffered great psychological stress and emotional trauma by reason of the defamatory publications arising from the loss of company he has suffered from friends and associates. “This precarious psychology state has been exacerbated by the number of people whom the plaintiff has had to reach out to or who have reached out to him for explanation and reassurance of the truth in the situation. “The plaintiff has greatly been weighed down emotionally by the sudden loss of huge public goodwill which he enjoyed prior to the publication of the defamatory publication.
“Further, the defendants published the defamatory words out of malevolence and spite towards the plaintiff and with a view to cower the plaintiff into soft pedalling on his stance in several issues ongoing in the Senate chambers”. In a 15-paragraphed affidavit that was personally deposed by the plaintiff, he averred: “That I am a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria representing Kogi West Senatorial District of Kogi State and I was once the honourable member of the House of Representatives representing the Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency. Amongst other duties; I currently serve as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the FCT. “The 1st defendant is an organisation setup under Part C of the companies and Allied Matters Act as a non-profit organisation ostensibly dedicated to promoting a brand of investigative journalism pioneered by the 4th defendant. The 1st defendant is the Nigerian arm of the 4th defendant. The 1st defendant by its official filings at the Corporate Affairs Commission is based in Lagos.
“The 2nd and 3rd defendants are the Trustees of the 1st defendant and also the promoters of the 4th defendant. They are self-styled investigative journalists who are not visibly known to be accredited by or affiliated to any registered media outfit. “They operate under the popular ‘Sahara Reporters’ brand. The 2nd and 3rd defendants operate all over Nigeria but have listed addresses located in Lagos in their corporate filings. “The 4th defendant is a business Corporation organised under the laws of New York State in the United States of America and is the proprietor of a website and other online channels through which it disseminates news items predominantly about governance issues in Nigeria. “The 2nd defendant is listed as the Chief Executive Officer of the 4th defendant. That the 4th defendant is based in New York, United States of America but is represented in the country by the 2nd defendant who is also its alter ego and service of court process on the 2nd defendant will definitely bring the suit to the 4th defendant’s attention. “On the 19th and 20th March 2017, the defendants falsely and maliciously wrote, posted, and published or caused to be written on their verified Twitter handle identified as @SaharaReporters hosted online at the web address of and concerning me by directly mentioning and linking it to my Twitter handle identified as @dino_melaye hosted online at the web address ; the following words:
“FLASH: University teachers at the Geography Department of Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria insists that @dino_melaye did not graduate, bribed his HOD/1 (posted at 4:09 PM- 19th March 2017.
“FLASH: University teachers at the Geography Dept of ABU, Zaria insists that @dino_melaye never graduated, DG DSS informed but covered it up. (posted at 4:11 PM- 19th March 2017.“FLASH: At least 3 Exam Officers at ABU, Zaria insists that @dino_melaye never graduated from Geography Dept, DG DSS alerted but covered it up (posted at 4:14PM – 19th March 2017). “FLASH: Exam Officers at ABU, Zaria insists that @dino_melaye never graduated from Geography Dept, they said Dino’s name was not on graduation list (posted at 4:16 PM -19th March 2017)”. He said the online media outfit equally posted that his HOD, Prof. David Okoro Ogbonna, assisted him to forge his transcript and that he applied for a Post Graduate program at UNIJOS, went to ABU for transcript and none could be provided. Melaye said the defendants further posted that he went ahead to do a PG at UNIJOS without any transcript from ABU, Geography Dept. “By the said words in their natural and ordinary meaning, the defendants meant and were understood to mean: That I am dishonest and have deceived the public about the state of my academic qualifications. “That my academic credentials are shady and questionable. That I am guilty of bribery and corruption. That I have corruptly influenced investigation against me. “That I am guilty of forgery. That I am guilty of corruptly influencing public officers in the performance of their duties. That my educational qualifications are false and fake. “That I am guilty of the criminal conduct of collusion and falsification of official records. That I am unworthy of the credit and trust of the society. That I am unworthy to hold the office of the Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “The above publication received instant widespread publicity both within and outside Nigeria as the defendants website and their electronic channels enjoy huge popularity globally. “The verified twitter handle of the defendants @saharaReporters has over 1, 390, 000 followers to whom the publication was immediate made available upon publication”. He said the scale of the publication was further enlarged by the sheer number of people that were drawn by his popularity and reputation, adding, “the greatest impact of this publication is here in Abuja”.
According to him, “The result of the publication of the defamatory words by the defendants has been devastating to my image and has greatly injured my credit and reputation and brought me into public scandal, odium and contempt”. In his statement of claim, Melaye further told the court that the defendants, “propagate a style of unconventional and unregulated journalism which they term “advocacy journalism” that encourages “citizen journalist” (essentially untrained and unregulated individuals) to report news items which are not subject to verification before publication. “The plaintiff is a graduate of the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, where he bagged a B. Sc in Geography. The Plaintiff’s certificates are pleaded. “The plaintiff at all times material to this suit is a highly visible politician who is well known through the length and breadth of Nigeria and globally. He ranks high amongst the most well-known public office holders currently in Nigeria having served in several capacities over the years. “The plaintiff has particularly become a beacon and a model to the youths of the world due to the roots of his political life which begun with his active participation in student union affairs at Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. “By dint of selfless stewardship, the plaintiff successfully transformed from a youth leader into a National leader in Nigeria reputed for frankness, forthrightness and principled leadership”. Meantime, the suit is yet to be assigned to any judge for hearing.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
ABUJA- THE Senate on Wednesday asked President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the Comptroller- General of Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali,rtd because he is unfit to hold any public office. Custom boss Hameed Ali The Senate has also urged the NCS to outrightly cancel its proposed payment of import duty on old Vehicles.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Dr. Dakuku Peterside, former Director-General of NIMASA and ex-Rivers APC gubernatorial candidate, once wrote, “Security, law, and order are the major preoccupations of any government. Once a government gets this right, it has taken the first correct step. Growing insecurity is the first sign of a failing state.”
This sentiment echoes Samuel Taylor Coleridge, who said the three main goals of governance are: security, opportunity, and hope.
In this context, we examine the persistent insecurity in Rivers State, Nigeria — especially under Governor Nyesom Wike — and reflect on the security legacy of his predecessor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.
The Security Situation Amaechi Inherited
When Amaechi assumed office on October 28, 2007, Rivers State, particularly Port Harcourt, was ranked among the world’s most dangerous cities. Cult violence, kidnapping, militancy, and armed robbery were rampant. Reports at the time described streets soaked in blood, frequent massacres, and a population living in constant fear.
Ahamefula Ogbu of ThisDay described how armed cultists roamed freely, while the late George Onah of Vanguard depicted Port Harcourt as a city under siege.
Amaechi’s Security Response
Amaechi’s administration launched a decisive crackdown on militancy.
Key strategies included:
✅ Refusing to pay off militants or politicians sponsoring violence.
✅ Massive investment in security infrastructure, including surveillance equipment, patrol teams, and armored helicopters.
✅ Training over 200 police officers in modern crime-fighting techniques, some overseas.
✅ Installing the first backscatter mobile scanning van and deploying surveillance cameras across the city.
As Dakuku Peterside put it, “Amaechi believed security was the foundation upon which progress depended.”
By December 2012, Rivers reported zero kidnappings or major armed robberies, earning recognition for stability and growth.
The Wike Years and a Return to Violence
Under Governor Wike, many argue that Rivers State has relapsed into a “Rivers of Blood.”
Reports suggest Wike:
Created and funded the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI), allegedly used to recruit political foot soldiers.
Reached out to former warlords and ex-militants, with accusations of empowering them for political ends.
Oversaw a climate where, by the 2015 and 2016 elections, dozens of political opponents were killed, local party offices bombed, and entire communities terrorized.
Kennedy Friday, a local commentator, described gruesome scenes of mass killings and beheadings in Ahoada East. Senator Magnus Abe lamented rampant killings across communities, while journalist Jimitota Onoyume reported the brutal murder of police officers and civilians.
Economic Consequences
Amaechi pointed out that under his tenure, Rivers State’s internally generated revenue (IGR) stood at N8 billion monthly. Under Wike, it reportedly fell to N4 billion, as investors fled due to insecurity. Amaechi argued, “The first responsibility of government is security. Without it, there is nothing to celebrate.”
Political Intrigue and Fallout
Wike’s ambition to become governor, which began during his time as Amaechi’s Chief of Staff, allegedly led to deep political divisions. Even while serving as Minister of State for Education, Wike was reported to have funded ex-militant groups, notably donating six months’ salary to the Tompolo Foundation, fueling fears of renewed violence.
Critics like Uche Igwe described Wike as a “vindictive, thug-minded politician,” while Sam Nda-Isaiah of Leadership Newspaper criticized President Jonathan’s support for what he called Wike’s gangsterism.
A Tale of Two Rivers States
Amaechi’s era saw Rivers hosting major national and international events, from sports festivals to investment forums, showcasing a peaceful, thriving state.
By contrast, under Wike, Rivers has been described as a state where “life has lost meaning,” marked by political killings, community clashes, and widespread fear.
Final Reflection
While Wike has been named “Apostle of Peace” by some groups and received awards like The Sun Newspaper’s “Governor of the Year,” media figures like Lady Oby Ndukwe argue these titles are ironic, given the controversies and violence of his administration.
As Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, the author and media consultant behind this reflection, concludes:
“It’s left for the public to judge whose tenure — Amaechi’s or Wike’s — truly served Rivers State, and whose era was, indeed, a waste.”
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Mrs. Toyin Ojora- Saraki, the Wife of the President of the Senate, Founder-President of the Wellbeing Foundation Africa and Chair of Nigeria’s Primary Health Care Revitalization Support Group today spoke out against the increase in road accidents in Nigeria, which have now reached a record high of 79,875 accidents in the last three years, according to the Economic Economic Confidential.
“Road safety is a Sustainable Development Goal which Nigeria is falling behind on, and must meet the target of reducing road traffic accidents by 50% by 2020. I commend the Federal Road Safety Commission who have been working tirelessly to reduce the amount of incidents that occur, through installing speed reducing technologies such as the Speed Limiting Device, and are swift in conveying accident victims to the nearest medical facility. However, we must do more.
I call on the Government of Nigeria to embrace health records and national health insurance for all, so the victims of road accidents can be identified and also medically treated as quickly as possible.” Mrs. Saraki noted.
Mrs. Saraki continued: “Last week, we donated for the emergency medical care of, Iheoma, an elderly hit-and-run road accident victim in Kubwa General Hospital whose full identity could not be reliably ascertained, and whose family has not been successfully traced. This is a case in point, for the urgent need for certifiable identities, for every citizen through personal health records. Every single life lost counts, and we must treat it as so.”
“I also call on the communities to check the pictures of the victims and accidents on social media which will help the Federal Road Safety Commission to identify witnesses and families of victims.” ended Mrs. Saraki.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
It wasn't really supposed to be easy either for America or for a world order that has evolved over time. The signs had been there right from the time the new sheriff in town bared his fangs on the campaign trail.
Now America and a bewildered world are stuck with a situation that is unclear, an international system likely to be under siege soon, and a future that appears uncertain. Isolationism and protectionism had long taken a strong bashing as the world, secure in its dream for the emergence of a global village, marched in the direction of globalisation.
Of course, there has always been the threat posed to world peace by the cold war between the east and west, between the United States and Russia if you like. But skillful diplomacy as well as the cautious optimism of world leaders have helped to reduce the risk of a global war.
Side by side, the world has witnessed the spirited expansion of frontiers of trade through carefully documented treaties and agreements. On the home front, America has been a country of immigrants built on a liberal philosophy which allows anyone who meets the rigorous requirements for citizenship to pursue what has come to be seen as the American dream.
The flexibility of such a system anchored on basic freedoms which say all men are born equal basically created the opportunity for the forebears of Donald Trump whose home country, Germany, went to war with the rest of the world, including the United States, to migrate into America.
America in turn has benefitted from immigration, transforming into one of the greatest countries in the world, and holding such a promise for all who seek to escape persecution; who wishes to make a new home from home; and who desire to exploit the bountiful and latent energy life offers without any limitations.
In so many ways, the tale of America and a changing world have become intertwined, with America providing the moral fibre and leadership for most of the change that has characterised the notion of a free world.
So the promise of a United States has impacted positively on the concept of an European Union which now enjoys a common currency and engages in joint collaborative action in most areas, including free movement and immigration.
The birth of the African Union was ideally tailored along these lines as well. The fact that in order to bond closely, create huge markets, develop science, technology and infrastructure. And enhance cooperation essentially among African countries; Africa had to take advantage of some of the finest principles that are driving human progress.
Somehow, under the Trump administration, the world stares in unbelief as what some people are beginning to tag a new world order makes its forced entry. The fight to evolve a new psyche, a new world view, a new pecking order and new national perspectives for the world or for the people of the United States by the Trump government isn't coming without a strong challenge.
Outside of America world leaders are raising indignant voices as they try to make sense of the orders that are rolling out of Washington like German panzers.
It is as if nazism which strives on a culture of superiority, race, hate and extreme rightist ideals has been reborn. It is rather strange that it has chosen America described as the land of freedom to reincarnate under the watch of a German American. When Hitler realized his aspiration to be German Chancellor, he unleashed a wave of German nationalism just as Trump seeks to do now by pretending to reawaken American consciousness.
Hitler, the records show, followed up the demonstration of a nationalistic leadership with the repudiation of international agreements, including that which had committed Germany to paying reparations for its role in World War I.
In no time Germany was overrun by the nazi culture. Not even the German army known for its prowess and discipline was spared the control of the nazi movement. The rest is history and not many nations, especially Israel and the Jews can forget what happened during World War II.
Although it is early in the life of the Trump administration, I can see some parallels between Trump and Hitler whose coming Nastrodamus foretold.
Nastrodamus had predicted a third global war. Is it possible that the actions and reactions of President Trump have the capacity to create room for the advent of the Prince of the house of Mohammed? In his predictions that have never failed to come true, America's defence systems which Nastrodamus saw, failed to intercept what may be today's nuclear warheads fired by the Arabian Prince described as the third anti-Christ.
Trump denies targeting Islam, but the arguments flowing back and forth doesn't suggest that the world is struck by the truth of what he says.
Trump has spoken favourably about torture, a veritable tool that Hitler and his henchmen promoted to an art. He has spoken in derogatory terms with leaders of countries with which America has friendly ties like Mexico and Australia. He has ordered soldiers into action and began to cultivate the worst kind of propaganda that the American people have never seen like the Germans did under Goebels and Hitler. I wish my heart could trust Trump, wish that Trump would have the wish to make the world a more peaceful and habitable place. But the signs aren't in any way near here.
Dreams of an indomitable Germany under Hitler spiralled out of control and led to the death of millions of men, women and children. Will the dream to make America great again turn out to be another smokescreen for dealing a deadly blow on humanity?
Trump didn't catch my fancy from the outset. Even now, his remarks as the strongest president on earth make me ill at ease. I followed his campaign speeches, his remarks about President Barak Obama the first black to occupy the White House, his proven track record for discriminating against blacks, and the snubbishness conveyed by the way he spoke while soliciting for votes. And I came off with a great feeling of trepidation that unrest in America and war abroad might be the ultimate outcome of a Trump presidency.
How I wish I would be wrong. How I wish that this President would help lay the foundation for a thousand years of peace as predicted by Nastrodamus. How I really wish.
There is no doubt that America has what it needs, going by Trump's victory via the Electoral College. But the vast majority who cast more popular votes for the protection of rights that are coming under threat early in the Trump era cannot stand it.
Right from inauguration day, they have been on the streets protesting the new face of America and the entry of a rawhide cowboy with a smoking gun who appears determined to reinvent Red Indian territory that ought to be conquered.
More Americans, worried by the turn of events,are joining the ongoing debate. Not many agree that in targeting Muslims, Trump would succeed in keeping America safe.The American court system hasn't demonstrated any understanding for the presidential order which securely shut the door in the face of citizens of some Muslim nations or those from such countries who are already carrying valid US visas. It is doubtful US courts ever will, given the uproar in America and the fear that the presidential orders may indeed be at variance with the tenets of their Constitution.
In the court of public opinion, among experienced diplomats and world leaders, Trump doesn't seem to have secured mainstream support for cancelling trade agreements entered into by the United States and other countries.
Many Americans are beginning to think about the consequential effects of the decisions of a president who appears to be unduly ego driven. I am not a pyschologist but I have a strong feeling that this president might be held hostage by a kind of dogma inherited from the formative stages of his life.
Office, the decorum and protocols that go with it are supposed to shape the attitude of leaders or the position of leadership on a wide range of issues and interests. Somehow, these do not appear to have any moderating influence on a President who continues to taunt perceived enemies and opponents even in a manner that no president before him has done.
The trouble is, Trump carries a huge responsibility. He needs to find a way out of the deepening cleavage that threatens America and the established world order in which Washington is a prominent player.
He needs to wake up to the reality that America cannot afford to act irresponsibly in a changing world that is faced with so many challenges.
Above all, he needs to come to terms with the fact that running a country cannot be the same as operating a business where one can easily say to an employee, "you are fired!"
Can Trump settle down to the reality of these facts in time to lead the free world?
Only time will tell.
Ogbonna Nwuke sent in this piece from Port Harcourt, Rivers State
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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