Recently, the Governor of Rivers State, Barr. Nyesom Wike set up a panel to probe some activities carried out by the immediate past government of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.
The APC has listened to the different voices for and against the probe. Among the different shades of opinion espoused by Rivers people, one stands out: the probe is targeted at Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, his supporters and associates.
However, some questions require answers. Is it possible to exhaustively investigate all the items listed in the panel’s terms of reference without recourse to certain events and processes that may date as far back as the first term of former Governor Amaechi, when Nyesom Wike served as Chief of Staff? What about the process for the acquisition, compensation and sale of Abonnema Waterfront started when Nyesom Wike was Chief of Staff? If that scenario arises, what follows with the probe?
The APC would like to recall that the major objection the PDP went to court to canvass against the Prof. Odinkalu-chaired judicial panel of enquiry former Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi raised to probe political killings in Rivers State, was that the former governor could not be a judge in his own matter. Following that argument, Governor Nyesom Wike cannot raise a panel to probe activities of government that he was, to some extent, part of.
The APC believes that based on some of these issues that bother on conflict of interest, the probe panel set up by Governor Nyesom Wike is dead on arrival. However, we believe that the governor is obviously not likely to listen until a court of law tells him so.
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.
….Says action may boomerang on Rivers indigenes living elsewhere
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has strongly warned the controversial Governor of the State, Chief Nyesom Wike, to abandon his plan to viciously crack down on non-indigenes in the State for their loyalty to the immediate past Governor of the State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, and for voting for President Muhammadu Buhari in the March 28 elections.
“The cries of non-indigenes in Rivers State under the umbrella of Endangered Non Indigenes Forum in Rivers State (EINFRS) as contained in their recent SOS to President Muhammadu Buhari have reached our ears. We are deeply distressed by this development and hereby caution Chief Wike to desist from carrying out his threat to sack the non-indigenes from the Rivers State Civil Service or close down their businesses,” Rivers APC Chairman, Dr. Davis Ibiamu Ikanya, said.
Dr. Ikanya in a statement issued on Thursday in Port Harcourt described Wike’s threatened crackdown on the non-indigenes as illegal, unconstitutional and likely to boomerang on Rivers citizens staying and doing business in other parts of the country.
“Wike has always been known for his vindictiveness but expelling non-indigenes from the State Civil Service or closing down their businesses as he once did during his days as Obio-Akpor Local Government Chairman is vendetta taken too far. We expect Wike, as a lawyer, to know that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees freedom of choice and of political association. It would, therefore, amount to setting a bad precedent if he goes ahead to crack down on the non-indigenes for supporting Amaechi and voting for President Buhari as alleged in EINFRS’ petition signed by its Secretary General, Dr. Ndubuisi Nwakadibia,” Dr. Ikanya said.
“The party supports the petition by the Rivers non-indigenes to President Buhari and passionately appeals to Mr. President and the security agencies to call Chief Wike to order before he truncates our nascent democracy,” Dr. Ikanya added.
Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze,
SSA on Media and Public Affairs to the State Chairman, APC 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.
ind the critically slurred legislative tape back to the first National Assembly of the Fourth Republic. It began sometime in 1999, you’d recall. That was the period the incautious yet irrepressible Chuba Okadigbo, then a brand new senator of our perpetually blighted Republic, first gave an inkling of what the legislators had in stock for an already battered people. A furniture allowance of N5m each had just been announced by one unfeeling government agency for 109 senators, and something a little less for their 360 equally rapacious partners stationed in the House of Representatives. Chido Onumah Chido Onumah
“What!” Nigerians screamed in ear-splitting anger. They wondered why newly elected legislators would be asking for that much for their convenience in a country that had been robbed blind and severely wrecked by the retreating military oligarchy. Typical of him, Okadigbo – Oyi as he was then widely saluted by his admirers and subjects – poured cold water on the issue by declaiming flamboyantly that if anyone cared to know, he was not in Abuja to live like a cockroach. Since that open display of arrogant indiscretion, Nigerian legislators have not looked back in their avowed journey of mindless plunder.
It has since assumed the tale of as you cut off their finger, they find new ways to adorn it with a diamond-studded ring, thus lending strong credence to the widely held view that more than being legislators, these so-called lawmakers are nothing but a terminally dependent class of Nigeria’s prebendal state. In their heedless quest for material and sensual pleasures, they have only stopped short of demanding from the state the power to keep permanent suites in the poshest hotels across the country for as long as their tenure lasts. And who says they won’t soon get to that point?
So bad it is that even in this era of clamour for a decided “change,” they are not showing any faint sign of taming the odious grab-grab mentality. There is no other name for this kind of behaviour other than pathological greed. Stretching it further to accommodate synonyms in three local languages, the Yoruba would call it iwa wobia; in Igbo they would say it’s something like anyan ukwu, while the Hausa will see it as typical halin azzalumai.
In a few days, these azzalumai of the 8th National Assembly will shamelessly stretch their hands to pocket about N9bn ($45million) – senate president, Bukola Saraki, says the figure is lower, without giving the real figure – courtesy of the Nigerian state, for what they call wardrobe allowance. Last week, it was reported that the preening new Senate President (the de facto President of the Federal Republic) was still operating from his personal residence because the N27.1bn naira ($135million) castles being built by the government for principal officers of the National Assembly were still under construction. All these in a country with a minimum wage of N18,000 (about $80); a country where more than half the states have not paid workers for months.
Whatever the real figures of the official extravagance, it is one story that leaves a sour taste in the mouth. This shameless affront or iwa wobia by our certified anyan ukwus is coming at a time of intense expectation of total break from the ignoble past, a period when citizens are yearning for new ways of running public office in Nigeria.
In this period of national emergency, of debilitating and fast dwindling national revenue, when an overwhelming population of government workers and their families are crying due to starvation occasioned by non-payment of salaries for several months, you would expect the legislators to say NO, not again; you would expect them to reject with unequivocal bluntness the imposition of any privilege, deserved or not, that seems to depict them as insensate gorgers. And this criminal and silly wardrobe allowance, certainly, is a typical example of that insensitivity.
In 2004, Robert Rotberg, the US professor of governance and foreign affairs, among other qualifications, described the Nigerian leadership as “predatory kleptocrats” and “puffed-up posturers”. We now know the class that largely informed that unflattering but apt description.
If the lawmaking business in Nigeria is truly about the people why, for instance, would a David Mark, a Bukola Saraki, an Ike Ekweremadu, a Yakubu Dogara, a Stella Oduah, a Remi Tinubu or any other legislator collect money from the state to clothe him/herself in these lean times or any other time for that matter? In the sixteen years of David Mark in the Senate (eight as Senate President) what sort of clothing has he not worn at the expense of the state that he would now again rely on the people’s money to replenish his stock? When will these people ever think of denying themselves some things in the interest of the common good?
Why would a Bukola Saraki, who spent eight years as the governor of a state, been a senator for the past four years, and recently elected Senate President, not feel any scruple collecting money for what they call wardrobe allowance when there are hundreds of thousands of children orphaned by Boko Haram and homeless victims of unending ethnic/religious conflicts sleeping under sub-human conditions in makeshift Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps across the country without food to eat, not to talk of clothes on their backs? Who cares what legislators wear so long as at they make laws that will improve the lives of the people? They could go to the National Assembly naked for all we care! After all, most of them are flabby imposters and we don’t think their nakedness would excite anybody.
Sadly, not a whimper yet of outrage from legislators including, Ben Bruce and the boisterous Dino Melaye, who so far have been most vocal in the ironically feeble crusade to trim the cost of maintaining lawmakers in the National Assembly. Although it’s heart-warming that the duo has expressed interest in reducing the cost of governance through personal sacrifices, they must focus on the attitude of the Senate in general and its leadership in particular, if they expect to be taken seriously.
Riding around Abuja (from the National Assembly to his residence) in a black, expansive Mercedes Benz in a 15-car convoy that includes a bomb disposal vehicle, a state-of-the-art-ambulance, motorcycle outriders and a retinue of aides and security personnel, Saraki is already carrying on like a latter-day emperor, in blatant contrast to the “change” mantra on which his party, APC, campaigned and was voted in as the “governing” party.
Saraki’s Maitama neighbourhood is daily assailed by the raucous blare of siren from his long and needless convoy. This obscenity, a throwback to the David Mark era, won’t be markedly different from what obtains in the neighbourhood of Saraki’s deputy as well as those of the Speaker and his deputy. Just imagine the cost of keeping these vehicles on the road and maintaining these retinues of aides and, of course, the inconvenience for ordinary citizens!
If this is the “change” the APC talks about, then it means the “change” that brought it to power was a mere slogan. Nigerians were deceived to get their votes. President Muhammadu Buhari, the symbol of the leadership of Nigeria, surely has his work cut out for him. While we believe in the principle of separation of power, President Buhari must defy the so-called godfathers and show leadership because, in the end, he is the President of the Federal Republic.
The last time we heard from him it was that his age might affect his performance. Mr President, you were not voted to represent Nigeria at the under-17 World Cup. You were elected president to lead. Apart from showing good example, all you need to do is put the right people in the right places (a test of that will be when you send your list of ministers to the Senate), empower state institutions to do their work effectively and take bold actions in the interest of the masses.
The style of the present order must not be a carry-over of the abomination of the last 16 years. As a first step, the President should immediately meet with APC legislators in the National Assembly and impress on them the need to reject forthwith the satanic wardrobe allowance.
Onumah and Onyeacholem wrote from Abuja and can be reached at conumah@hotmail.com (@conumah) and gonyeacholem@gmail.com
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.
The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has challenged Chief Nyesom Wike, the Rivers State Caretaker Governor, to declare his assets in keeping with the requirement of the office he is temporarily occupying and in line with the mantra of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to promote transparency and accountability.
The party said in a statement signed by the State Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, and issued on Tuesday in Port Harcourt: “In line with the code of conduct for elected public officers in Nigeria, we wish to advise Chief Wike to hasten to declare his assets. The good people of Rivers State want to know the financial status of the man whom the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) wickedly imposed on Rivers State as her Governor. They have been waiting for their Caretaker Governor to follow the path of honour by declaring his assets, but he has conveniently chosen not to do so because he apparently has skeletons in his cupboard. There is, however, no hiding place for Wike as assets declaration is not optional but compulsory for holders of the office he is accidentally occupying in the interim.”
Rivers APC said it had earlier chosen to keep quiet on the issue but decided to speak out in view of Wike’s ill-advised dissolution of Boards and Parastatals and moves to dissolve the constitutionally-constituted Local Government Councils so as to be the sole signatory of the accounts of these boards and local governments in the State.
“This request becomes imperative to safeguard Rivers State funds from being looted with impunity and misappropriated, which is actually the sole agenda of the Wike administration. We know that asset declaration may be very difficult for Chief Wike to do, aware that he cannot give satisfactory account of the source of his lavish lifestyle before he became Caretaker Governor and his possession of most of the choice properties in Rivers State,” Rivers APC said.
It however, challenged Wike to prove that he still has a modicum of honour by declaring his assets and making the declaration public.
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.
The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC has called on the Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike to declare his assets with the Code of Conduct Bureau [CCB] and make such a declaration public as has been done by the President and Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo respectively.
The call was made yesterday in a press release by the Chairman of the APC in Rivers State, Chief [Dr.] Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, JP.
In the release, Chief Ikanya stated that public perception of Chief Wike as an extremely corrupt individual not fit to govern Rivers State can only be given a second thought if he borrowed a leaf from the present President and Vice President of Nigeria who have declared their assets and will have same published after verification.
However, Chief Ibiamu stated that he was very doubtful if Chief Wike would declare his assets as that will spell doom for him, anchoring his fear on the fact that Wike’s massive properties and assets littering the state and beyond cannot be justified by the governor who has spent his short public life as a local government Chairman, Chief of Staff and Minister.
“I am very doubtful how Wike can justify his stupendous wealth in a few years of public life.” Chief Ikanya stated.
The APC Chairman concluded: “This is a challenge that the APC is throwing at Barr. Nyesom Wike; let him pick the courage and publicly declare his assets or forever bury his head in the shame that all that we are hearing about him is correct.”
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.
WE MUST DEFEND OUR DEMOCRACY BEING TEXT OF A PRESS CONFERENCE BY THE ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN NIGERIA (ALGON) RIVERS STATE ON THURSDAY, THIS 11TH DAY OF JUNE 2015 IN PORT HARCOURT Gentlemen of the Press, We have called this august body of members of the highly revered Fourth Estate of the Realm today to intimate you of some contemporary developments in the polity of our dear Rivers State in the sure hope that first, as critical Stakeholders in the nation’s democratic project, you deserve to know what danger looms in the horizon for our prized democracy. Secondly, that by your role as watchdogs of society, the world out there will be well informed about the issues and facts surrounding the sinister plot by the Government of Rivers State under Chief (Barrister) Nyesom Ezebunwo Wike to plunge Rivers State into another round of avoidable crises after the most mindless bloodletting this State had ever known in her 48-year history in the name of struggle to wrest transient political power.
You will recall, gentlemen, that the board of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) under the Chairmanship of Professor Emeritus Augustine Ahiauzu was sacked by the Governor on Monday, June 8, 2015 after a rather hasty inquisition by the Rivers State House of Assembly adjudged the Commission leadership guilty of “official misconduct” on the same day. Recall also that the invitation to Golgotha for Prof. Ahiauzu’s board also resulted on the self same day in the decapitation of the State Judicial Service Commission. While we are yet to come to terms with this legislative/executive adjudication of “official misconduct” against these two executive bodies established under Section 197 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as Amended), it is the position of ALGON Rivers State (comprising of 23 duly elected Chairmen and 319 Councilors of the local government councils) that these dissolutions were POLITICALLY MOTIVATED and done in utmost bad faith. These boards were sacked on the altar of expediency to serve narrow and pedestrian partisan interests and not any higher ideals for the good of the larger Rivers State.
Coming on the heels of the directive by this Government to banks and other financial institutions not to deal with the newly-inaugurated local government councils, the dissolution of these boards is target-specific and a further step in the dress rehearsal to execute their avowed agenda to sack duly elected and constituted local government councils without recourse to the due process of law as provided under Section 64 of the Rivers State Local Government Law (No. 2) of 2012. The ultimate intention is to circumvent the provisions of Section 7 of the Constitution by replacing the democratically elected Councils in Rivers State with Caretaker Committees populated by cronies and lackeys of this government in the Peoples Democratic Party. Gentlemen, we are aware that this plot of grave impunity and recklessness will be executed today, hence this press conference. Thus, in defence of democracy and the Constitution, as public officials duly elected by Rivers people and the section of the electorate who live and do business in Rivers State, ALGON Rivers State hereby warns of very dire consequences in the event that the Nyesom Wike administration (and this includes his hand-picked members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and the Judiciary now under the terribly politically-biased Justice Daisy Okocha) over-reaches itself by making pronouncements howsoever to terminate our three-year tenures prior to expiration as provided under Section 9 of the Rivers State Local Government Law (No. 2) of 2012.
Rivers ALGON is not being alarmist. We are putting Rivers people and the nation on RED ALERT that the plot to undermine democratically elected Councils in Rivers State by the Wike Administration EVEN THOUGH IN LINE WITH HIS CHARACTER will boomerang. Recall that Wike in his insatiable quest to become Governor whilst serving as a federal Minister undermined institutions and authorities without restraint by orchestrating a series of crises beginning with the hijack of the State PDP structures; the unconstitutional take-over of the Speakership of the State Assembly by his lackey Evans Bipi and co (which act led to Wike deploying Mbu Joseph Mbu as Police Commissioner to shut the Assembly Complex until it was opened at his pleasure); the subversion of the power of Governor Chibuike Amaechi to appoint the Chief Judge of Rivers State through the instrumentality of the National Judicial Council and the consequent shut down of the State Judiciary for nearly a year following a string of violent attacks and bombings of the courts in Rivers State. Today, after Wike emerged Governor the courts are open under Wike’s original choice as Acting CJ and no bomb has gone off thereafter.
Thus, emboldened by his sound propaganda machinery which succeeded in blackmailing Gov. Amaechi for all the constitutional atrocities in the State Assembly and the Judiciary; and apparent good luck to get away with virtually every untoward act or behavior, Wike has proceeded to sack the board of the RSIEC on the resolution of his House of Assembly without regard to the Constitutional doctrine of separation of powers, since matters questioning the propriety of the conduct of elections into local government councils by the Commission are subjudice. It is equally important that the world is told in no uncertain terms that the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission conducted local government elections in Plateau State on the same May 23rd 2015 under former Governor Jonah Jang of the PDP and Governor Lalong of the APC who was sworn-into office on the same May 29, 2015 as Nyesom Wike has not threatened to dissolve or howsoever tamper with the tenure of the elected local government councils. Recall also that President Muhammadu Buhari has not tampered with the appointments made by former President Goodluck Jonathan even though some of these appointments were made at the twilight of the outgone administration.
It is apt to now state that as a law-abiding body of public office holders, we have taken practical steps to prevent this evil day and thus deny this PDP Government their intentions to turn our dear Rivers State into someone’s personal estate. One of these steps is the proceeding before the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt in Suit No.: FHC/PH/CS/134/2015 seeking orders to restrain the Rivers State Governor and his hatchet men from tampering with the tenure of local government councils without recourse to legal provisions. Instead of the deliberate plot to throw our dear State into another round of unnecessary turmoil so soon after the holocaust and killings of members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) prior to, during and after the March 28 and April 11, 2015 general elections, it is only reasonable that the PDP Administration in Rivers State led by a Lawyer appreciates why the courts must be allowed to administer justice on his grouse(s) with the local councils as presently constituted unfettered. After all, assuming without conceding that the present Rivers State Government has bones to pick with the elections that brought us to office (after they and their PDP voluntarily withdrew from participating therein following their failure to use the instrumentality of the Judiciary to halt RSIEC), the same Governor and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly too have their own elections being questioned at the Elections Petitions Tribunal as prescribed by law without any person or authority at the level of the federal government ordering or manipulating the National Assembly to either “dissolve” the board of the Independent National Electoral Commission or pronto terminate the tenure of both Governor Wike and the State legislators. Why the attempt to subvert the due process of the law in the case of local government councils in Rivers State? Gentlemen of the press, because Rivers State as an oil and gas industry hub is far too important to the Nigerian State and her economy to be engulfed in ceaseless crises and civil upheavals, we hereby call on the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; the leadership of the National Assembly, revered royal fathers, religious leaders, security agencies, corporate executives in the organized private sector, the media, labour unions and other civil society organizations as well as well-meaning people in Rivers State to prevail upon Chief Nyesom Wike and his cronies to desist from this evil plot to destabilize the existing local government administrations. However, let us warn that where this Government, which has continued to demonstrate grave contempt for the law and the Constitution resorts to self-help, standing shoulder-to-shoulder, the Rivers ALGON shall resist any unconstitutional termination of Councils’ tenure. The consequences of such event occurring at this point in the history of our dear Rivers State are better imagined.
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.
…appoints cousin, in-law into Greater Port Harcourt Devt. Authority board
In what appears to be a manifestation of what the All Progressives Congress, APC warned Rivers people about the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and its candidate during the campaigns, now the governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike has unfolded his programme of government of nepotism in Rivers State.
In his first major appointments since being sworn in as governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike is living up to his threat to give choice positions to his family members and people since according to him, ‘nobody gave him money for the struggle.’
A couple of days ago, Chief Wike announced the appointment of a sole administrator and board of the Greater Port Harcourt Development Authority which was created by Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the former governor of Rivers State after sacking the former board. In constituting the board, Chief Wike appointed his immediate cousin, Surveyor Okas Wike of Emma Wike & Partners, a direct cousin of governor Wike to the board of the GPHDA. Not done, governor Wike also appointed his direct in-law, the immediate direct younger brother to Dr. Obuzor, his father in-law, Architect Nnamdi Obuzor to same board of merely 8 members.
While Rivers people may be aghast at the unbridled display of contempt for the people of Rivers State and their sensibilities, the APC is sad that exactly what it warned Rivers people about is now playing out in the open.
We recall with sadness that Chief Wike has defied all decency to appoint his direct cousin, Okas Wike whom he and Dr. Tammy Wenike Danagogo used to siphon a lot of money during the waterfront compensation and demolition issue in Port Harcourt at the last dispensation.
The APC is still of the conviction that more of such nepotistic tendency by Nyesom Wike will unfold in the days to come until he is swept away by the slow but sure wheel of justice by the Rivers State Election Petition Tribunal sitting at Abuja.
It is of note to recall that when a few voices questioned the appointment by Nyesom Wike [who is Ikwerre] of Justice Daisy Okocha [an Ikwerre]; and Barr. Emma Aguma [another Ikwerre], the response of the governor was that he would give more positions to his people, after all, no one from other parts of the state contributed to his quest for governorship of Rivers State.
The APC is not surprised that Chief Nyesom Wike has only considered persons from the riverine parts of Rivers State for responsibilities of hewers of wood and drawers of water. Curiously, those picking up such crumbs that fall from Caesar’s table appear unaware of what they are into ostensibly because of poverty of the pocket and of the mind.
Obviously, what is unfolding clearly shows that the governorship of Rivers State is way beyond and above the mediocre personage of Nyesom Wike and this remains the position of the APC.
The APC would like to re-assure all sections of Rivers people to ignore the grisly dance by the Wike administration as it will be swept away much sooner than later by God Almighty. It is only a matter of time.
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.
The Caretaker Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, lacks the power to dissolve the elected and operating Local Government Councils in the State, the State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared.
A statement signed by Rivers APC Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, and issued on Sunday in Port Harcourt said: “We are aware that Chief Nyesom Wike claims to have read Law though he never practised this noble profession for one single day and may therefore not know the position of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on this issue. We therefore wish to advise him to find time to read the relevant portions of the Constitution and educate himself on his lack of powers to dissolve Local Government Councils duly elected by the Rivers people. If he claims that he has powers to dissolve the Local Government Councils he is invariably saying that the Federal Government has powers to dissolve his illegal government without following due process.
“Any such action by Wike will not only be an exercise in futility but would be in clear contempt of court as the issue is currently before the Port Harcourt Federal High Court in Suit No: CA/PH/131/2015 and the Court of Appeal Suit No: FHC/PH/CS/84/2015. Besides, the Supreme Court of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has severally ruled that Governors of States in Nigeria lack the powers to sack elected Local Government Councils as in the case of the removal of 148 elected Local Government Councils by the Abia State Government in 2006 and subsequent Court of Appeal judgments on Imo and Ekiti states in 2012 and 2013 respectively, where it was held that such actions by state governors amounted to ‘executive rascality’.”
According to Rivers APC, “For Wike to seek to dissolve the Local Government Councils that were duly elected by the people of Rivers State which tenure has just begun is nothing but a devilish gamble sure to throw Rivers into a state of anarchy. This is an ill-advised move that will lead to the spilling of more Rivers blood, as if the one that was spilled to install him as governor is not enough.”
The party vowed that any undemocratic dissolution of the Councils will not only be resisted but may also be a call for a revolution that will consume the illegal government currently operating in the State.
“Rivers APC would like to call on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, the heads of the various security agencies and the general public to hold the Nyesom Wike-led Rivers State Government responsible for any breach of peace in Rivers State that may result from the illegal moves to do away with the duly elected 22 Local Government Councils in the State in order to replace same with Wike’s hand-picked cronies as Caretaker Committees,” the statement said. The party commended Rivers youths and the State Branch of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) “for protesting against the illegal move by a government forced on us by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in an election condemned by the international community and other well meaning societies.” It reassured them that the party is solidly behind them in the struggle to entrench constitutionalism in the State.
“Finally, we urge the Bukola Saraki-led National Assembly, civil society organisations and other allied bodies to prevail on the Wike-led administration to jettison the dangerous moves to dissolve the Councils that were elected on May 21, 2015 for a three-year tenure and sworn into office by former Governor Chibuike Amaechi on May 25 as this is nothing but an invitation for anarchy,” Rivers APC said.
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.
…appoints cousin, in-law into Greater Port Harcourt Devt. Authority board
In what appears to be a manifestation of what the All Progressives Congress, APC warned Rivers people about the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and its candidate during the campaigns, now the governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike has unfolded his programme of government of nepotism in Rivers State.
In his first major appointments since being sworn in as governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike is living up to his threat to give choice positions to his family members and people since according to him, ‘nobody gave him money for the struggle.’
A couple of days ago, Chief Wike announced the appointment of a sole administrator and board of the Greater Port Harcourt Development Authority which was created by Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the former governor of Rivers State after sacking the former board. In constituting the board, Chief Wike appointed his immediate cousin, Surveyor Okas Wike of Emma Wike & Partners, a direct cousin of governor Wike to the board of the GPHDA. Not done, governor Wike also appointed his direct in-law, the immediate direct younger brother to Dr. Obuzor, his father in-law, Architect Nnamdi Obuzor to same board of merely 8 members.
While Rivers people may be aghast at the unbridled display of contempt for the people of Rivers State and their sensibilities, the APC is sad that exactly what it warned Rivers people about is now playing out in the open.
We recall with sadness that Chief Wike has defied all decency to appoint his direct cousin, Okas Wike whom he and Dr. Tammy Wenike Danagogo used to siphon a lot of money during the waterfront compensation and demolition issue in Port Harcourt at the last dispensation.
The APC is still of the conviction that more of such nepotistic tendency by Nyesom Wike will unfold in the days to come until he is swept away by the slow but sure wheel of justice by the Rivers State Election Petition Tribunal sitting at Abuja.
It is of note to recall that when a few voices questioned the appointment by Nyesom Wike [who is Ikwerre] of Justice Daisy Okocha [an Ikwerre]; and Barr. Emma Aguma [another Ikwerre], the response of the governor was that he would give more positions to his people, after all, no one from other parts of the state contributed to his quest for governorship of Rivers State.
The APC is not surprised that Chief Nyesom Wike has only considered persons from the riverine parts of Rivers State for responsibilities of hewers of wood and drawers of water. Curiously, those picking up such crumbs that fall from Caesar’s table appear unaware of what they are into ostensibly because of poverty of the pocket and of the mind.
Obviously, what is unfolding clearly shows that the governorship of Rivers State is way beyond and above the mediocre personage of Nyesom Wike and this remains the position of the APC.
The APC would like to re-assure all sections of Rivers people to ignore the grisly dance by the Wike administration as it will be swept away much sooner than later by God Almighty. It is only a matter of time.
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.
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Galatians 6:7
The All Progressives Congress, APC has noted with dismay the decision of the accidental care-taker governor of Rivers State, Barr. Nyesom Wike to mock God, the church of Christ and a noble man of God.
It is clear that the decision of Nyesom Wike and his motley gang of buccaneers to insist on holding a thanksgiving service at the Salvation Ministries, Port Harcourt was mainly to mock the man of God, the General Overseer of the Church, Pastor David Ibiyieomie who had, in the past, made it clear that no Ogboni man will ever rule Rivers State.
Knowing very well that no man of God will reject even the worst sinner from worshipping in his church – genuinely or just a make-believe as in this case – Nyesom Wike abandoned all his friendly pastors and their churches to insist on holding a thanksgiving service in Salvation Ministries led by a genuine man of God who is vocal in his opposition to evil people ruling Rivers State. The purpose for that action was, no doubt, to acquire saintly legitimacy for himself and his care-taker government.
The idea by the Wike team was to use one stone to kill several birds. Firstly, it was to make the man of God, Pastor David Ibiyeomie to appear to eat his words since he would deliver a sermon during the service. Secondly, was to woo the teeming membership of the church. Thirdly, was to mock God.
That action of Wike brings several questions to discerning minds. Does Nyesom Wike really believe that God can be deceived, bought or mocked? Does he think that Pastor David Ibiyeomie is in the league of those men of God whom he has been fraternizing with? How come Wike did not hold his thanks-giving service at any one of those churches where he had promised landed property and Certificate of Occupancy [C of O]?
Again, it is pertinent to remind Nyesom Wike that the good Lord has declared in Proverb 15:8 that, “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.”
Barr. Nyesom Wike should know that he must first seek the forgiveness of God for the innocent blood of Nigerians he took away in course of his quest for power. Their blood will continue to cry to the Heavens for justice. And as long as that continues, he will never know peace, even as he pretended to smile on the podium on 29th May. The blood of the innocent will continue to trouble him both in his sleep or even while awake. Like in Shakespeare’s epic, Macbeth: "Glamis hath murder'd sleep, and therefore Cawdor shall sleep no more; Macbeth shall sleep no more."
The APC, Rivers State would like to advise Wike to continue to appease the god he knows for our God is beyond deceit by mortal man. Indeed the accidental care-taker governor should always remember that his days as governor will soon pass away like the falling of a leaf. He should first seek God’s repentance before attempting to set off sacrifice of burnt offering. It is only a matter of time for the prophetic statement of the respected man of God, Pastor David Ibiyeomie to manifest.
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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