Nyesom Wike Sworn in as Governor of Rivers State + Pictures

Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike  (CON ) has been sworn in as the new Governor of Rivers State by the Bayelsa  State Chief Judge,  Justice  Kate  Abiri, on Friday, May 29, at the Liberation  Stadium,  Port Harcourt.

Executing his role as the new Rivers governor, Wike has approved the appointment of Justice Daisy Okocha as the Chief Judge of the state.

Meanwhile, former governor of the state, Rotimi Amaechi has given his farewell message to the people of Rivers State and said his administration has performed creditably well.

Wike: I Did not Hire Ex-Militant to Kill Rivers People

Following allegation by Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, that the governor-elect, Barr. Nyesom Wike, conspired with an ex-militant to kill innocent people of the state in order to win the governorship election, Wike denied the allegation.

The allegation was made on Tuesday, when Amaechi spoke at a public lecture to mark his 50th birthday anniversary in Port Harcourt.

 

He said that Wike hired a former militant leader in the Niger Delta region, to mastermind the killing of innocent people of the state during the just concluded general elections.

Justice Must be Done Before I Reconcile with Wike - Amaechi

Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has said that until it was declared that injustice was done in the just concluded election, he will not settle his disagreements with the state governor-elect, Barr. Nyesom Wike.

This was in reply to the plea made by the Catholic Bishop of Port Harcourt Diocese, Most Rev. Camillus Etokudor during a thanksgiving service to mark Amaechi’s 50th birthday anniversary on Wednesday.

Etokudor had congratulated Wike, on his electoral victory and appealed to the governor to settle his political differences with the governor-elect in the interest of the people of the state.

Amaechi said: “My Lordship talked about forgiveness. In the Catholic Church you don’t oppose the views of your bishop. His words represent an order. If you oppose him you may be barred from taking Holy Communion. You are not a true Catholic if you don’t receive the Holy Communion. But Your Lordship, the same Catholic doctrine also states that justice comes before forgiveness.

Amaechi Accuses Wike of Hiring Ex-Militant To Kill Rivers People

The Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi has accused Barr.  Nyesom Wike of hiring a former militant leader in the Niger Delta region to mastermind the killing of innocent people of the state during the just concluded general elections.

The governor made the accusation on Tuesday during a public lecture to mark his 50^th birthday anniversary in Port Harcourt.
He said one of his relatives was killed in front of Wike’s father’s house at Rumuepirikom in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.

He also Wike of trying to get an order from the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt to restrain the Prof Chidi Odinkalu-led Commission of Inquiry from investigating the politically motivated violence that occurred in the state during the general elections.

The governor declared that his complete face-off with Wike will commence immediately after handover of government on Friday.

Amaechi Dares Wike on Probe…Says Rivers Has N15.7Bn Debt

Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, has dared the incoming governor of the state, Barr. Nyesom Wike, to probe him to confirm if he was corrupt, saying that he ran a transparent and accountable administration and was therefore not afraid of Wike's probing.

The governor said this on Tuesday in Port Harcourt at a public lecture to mark his 50th birthday anniversary celebration.
Wike had said that all those who worked with Amaechi would be made to account for everything. Read it Here


Amaechi said Wike’s comments that he would probe his (Amaechi’s) administration was a ploy to negotiate a soft-landing for the incoming administration.

“Why Nyesom Wike is talking the way he is talking is that they are looking for us to come and negotiate with them so that they can illegally stay in office. They cannot stay like that. We are already in court (tribunal).

Wike Says Buhari Will Support Him If…

The Governor-elect of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike has insisted that the incoming government of Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government would support him if he decides to dissolve the 22 new local government council chairmen inaugurated on Monday, May 25 by Governor Chibuike Amaechi of the state.

Wike while addressing the pre-inauguration lecture on good governance on Tuesday, in Port Harcourt said the 22 new council chairmen emerged through an illegal process.

He said: “Yesterday when the out-going governor was inaugurating the illegal body called local government chairmen, he said they should not bother that Buhari would never allow impunity.

Those Who Have Stolen Resources of Rivers State Must be Brought to Book - Wike

Incoming Governor of Rivers State, Barr. Nyesom Wike has declared that his administration would carry out a forensic audit of all government accounts to ensure the recovery of all resources stolen by top officials of the out-going administration in the state.

Speaking on Monday while receiving the interim report of the Transition Committee led by Deputy Governor Tele Ikuru, Barrister Wike said the days of impunity and massive corruption were over in Rivers State.

Wike also said that all who participated in the use of N4.5 billion to conduct ‘illegal local government elections’ by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, (RSIEC) would be brought to justice and made to account for the money.

He said RSIEC embarked on an illegal local government election despite the court stopping the election.

He said Rivers State would be a test case in the fight against corruption, noting that a comprehensive approach in fighting corrupt elements in the outgoing administration would be adopted to entrench fiscal discipline in the state.

Rivers Commission of Inquiry Discovers 94 Cases of Politically Motivated Killings

The Commission of Inquiry into violence in Rivers State said there was a monthly average of 19 killings in Rivers between November 2014 and April 2015.

The chairman of the commission, Prof Chidi Odinkalu said this at the presentation of his findings to the Rivers State Government.

 He said that out of the 97 allegations of killing, 94 cases where confirmed by his commission.

Odinkalu said: “in that period we recorded 94 killings which is an average of 19 killings per month. They reported to us 93 cases of injuries of which 81 occurred during the election period. There were 83 incidents of destruction of property. 77 of which occurred during the election period. Now 275 different violations were reported and examined. 

He also said several of the victims of the killing suffered serious psychological and physical pains.

“we met a young woman she was married at 18 and her husband was shot in her presence. She is a widow. We have mothers who buried their children, blasted through the nose by people acting in the name of politics. That’s not politics. And it’s immaterial on whose side it’s done. As a state we need to say this kind of thing should not happen,” he added.

NLC in Rivers Says Strike Still Ongoing, Calls on Members to Boycott LG Election

Factional leader of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in Rivers State led by Prince Ada Willams has declared that the strike called to protest non-payment of salary and allowances of state workers has not been suspended.

 

Williams said this in reaction to a statement issued by the other factional leader of the NLC in the state, Beatrice Otuba, calling on workers to return to work.

He said the purported suspension of the strike as announced by Otuba was a plot to create confusion amongst the NLC members.

He advised NLC members to sustain the ongoing strike. 

The other factional leader, Otuba had said that there was no need for the strike as government had commenced the payment of workers’ salaries.

Police Declares Dusk to Dawn Curfew in Rivers

The Rivers State Police Command has ordered the restriction of movement of vehicles across the state between 10pm today, May 22, to 6am tomorrow, May 23 and also from 9am to 6pm tomorrow ahead of the scheduled local government election in the state.

A statement signed by the State Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Muhammed, said the restriction was to ensure that the election was conducted in a peaceful manner across the state before, during and after the election.

The statement said policemen posted for the electioneering duty have been briefed on their roles as stipulated in the Electoral Act and that they were expected to be professional, unpartisan but civil.

The statement also called on the residents in the state to be vigilant and report all unlawful activities or dealings to the nearest police stations. 

15 Political Parties to Boycott Rivers LG Election

Out of the 27 political parties to participate in the Saturday, May 23 local government election in Rivers State, 15 political parties in Rivers State under the aegis of concerned political parties have revealed plans to boycott the election.

The parties in a communiqué read by the chairman of the Labour Party, Prince Favour, said they have lost confidence in the ability of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to conduct a free and fair election.

He alleged that RSIEC had allowed the All Progressives Congress (APC) to breach its deadline by conducting primary election in Oyigbo on Tuesday which was four days into the election which he said was illegal and unacceptable.

NAFDAC Finds Heavy Metal, Microbe In Sachet Water

Found this interesting writeup on Leadership and thought i should share.

 

A laboratory analysis of packaged water by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) across 21 states has found traces of heavy metals in sachet water sold in many states.

However, NAFDAC assured that it was working to bring both sachet and bottled water to meet compliance levels.

This was disclosed at the presentation of a study by Emmanuel Osiegbu who is the principal consultant of the contracting firm.

Rivers Assembly Complex To Re-open June 1

The Rivers State House of Assembly Complex in Port Harcourt which has been under lock and key since July 10, 2013 after the free-for-all fight involving lawmakers, is expected to be re-opened for legislative business on Monday, June 1, 2015 when the Governor-elect of the state, Chief Nyesom Wike will proclaim the eighth assembly.

INEC Denies Giving Voters’ Register to RSIEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Rivers State has denied releasing voters’ register to the Rivers State Independent National Electoral Commission (RSIEC) for the conduct of local government elections on May 23.

RSIEC had earlier told newsmen that it had received INEC’s official voters’ register for the conduct of the election. Read it HERE

INEC in a statement signed by its secretary, Roy Obijiri, said it did not give the register to RSIEC. He said the delay in the releasing of the register was due to impending court processes over the matter in a federal high court in Port Harcourt.

Doctors Urged To Attend to Patients with Gun Wound Without Police Report

Medical doctors have been advised to consider treatment for victims of gunshot wounds even without police report.

This was said by the chairman of the Medical Advisory Commission, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Charles Toby in his presentation to mark the World Family Doctors Day in Port Harcourt.

Toby argued that the World Health Law 2014 permits suspects with gunshot wounds to be treated by medical doctors without recourse to the offence they have committed.

Lawyers React to Order for Bayelsa CJ to Swear in Wike

Many lawyers are reacting to the directive by the Attorney General of the Federation’s decision ordering the Chief Judge of Bayelsa State to perform the oath on the incoming governor, Nyesom Wike on May 29.

A prominent Lagos based lawyer, Festus Keyamo said the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Muhammed Adoki was right on the directive for Wike to be sworn in by the Chief Judge of Bayelsa State.

He backed his argument with the last part of Section 1852 of the 1999 Constitution. He also said that it was inconceivable that the assumption of office of a public officer who has been declared winner in an election could be scuttled because of absence of someone who should perform the ceremonial duties.

Rivers APC Denies N300 Million Bribe by Gov Amaechi

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has denied the allegation by the state governor-elect, Nyesom Wike, that Governor Chibuike Amaechi paid some lawyers the sum of N300 million to stop the inauguration of Wike as governor.

APC publicity secretary, Rivers State, Chris Fynebone said the governor nor the party never went to court but were only joined as respondents.

Muazu Resigns as PDP Chairman

Embattled Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman, Adamu Muazu, may have succumbed to the call by Ayo Fayose and Femi Fani Kayode to resign as the party’s chairman.

Muazu today Wednesday, tendered his resignation as the chairman of the party which according to the letter takes effect immediately.

Reports gathered has it that Muazu was tired of all the stress he has been subjected to since the party lost the presidential elections.

A PDP member confirmed Muazu's resignation on twitter and also claimed that Jonathan has asked members of the PDP Board of Trustees including Chief Tony Anenih to resign. 

Wike Transition Committee Discovers Frivolous Transactions by RSG

The transition committee of governor-elect, Nyesom Wike, said it has uncovered some financial transaction hurriedly done by the administration of Governor Chibuike Amaechi.

The secretary of the transition committee, Frank Owor raised the alarm while addressing newsmen in Port Harcourt.

He said some of the transactions were not captured in the budget. He also alleged that some of the transactions involved payment of contractors  in for works not yet done.

He said: “The transition committee of the governor-elect of Rivers State has received reports of lewd financial transactions by the out-going governor of Rivers State. Some of these transactions were neither provided for in the state budget nor do they have the necessary cash backings. In some instances contractors are being paid in advance for work not yet done or anticipated to be done. 

Rivers APC Says Amaechi’s Stewarship Unqualled in History of Rivers State

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has described the stewardship of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi as second to none in the history of the state.

The APC in a statement signed by media adviser to the party state chairman, Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, said eight years rule of Governor Amaechi, is unequalled since the creation of Rivers State in 1967.

He also said Governor Amaechi would leave office in a blaze of glory when his tenure ends on May 29.

The party also said it has come to the conclusion after detailed study of Amaechi’s performance in office and compared it with his predecessors as well as other governors that Amaechi broke records and that no one has performed well as him.

RSIEC Says it has INEC Voter’s Register to Conduct May 23 LG Polls

The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) said it now has the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s voter’s register for the conduct of the May 23 Local Government polls.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State  had gone to court seeking an order to restrain INEC from releasing the official voters’ register for the RSIEC  for the conduct of the election.

The director media and public affairs to RSIEC, Reward Aku, confirmed that it the commission now have the register and that the commission has displayed the list of eligible voters in 22 local government areas where elections were expected to take place this Saturday.

“The commission is working round the clock to ensure that we have free, fair, credible and transparent elections on 23^rd May, 2015. We have put everything in place. The security agencies are working with us to ensure that there is peace. The materials are coming, the voters register is with us here and if you go to the various polling units, we have displayed the voters’ list. There are there for people to check their names and ensure they are eligible for the voting that would take place on Saturday,” Aku said.

Court Dismisses Suit Seeking to Stop Swearing in of Wike as FG Directs Bayelsa CJ to Swear in Wike

A Federal High Court in Owerri, Imo State, has thrown out a suit instituted by the Rivers State Government seeking to stop the swearing in of the governor-elect, Barr. Nyesom Wike on May 29.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State and the Attorney General of Rivers State, Worgu Boms, throuugh their lawyer, Belolisa Nwafor, sought an order to stop the May 29 handover on grounds that there was no Chief Judge in Rivers State.

In his ruling, the Administraive Judge of the Federal High Court Owerri, Justice S.M. Shuaibu, held that Owerri is not a territorial jurisdiction of the case.

Shuaibu also said that by Section 19 of the Federal High Court Act, only Port Harcour has the power to hear and determine the suit seeking to stop the governor-elect from being sworn in on May 29.

Meanwhile, counsel to Nyesom Wike, and his deputy, Emmanuel Aguma, told newsmen that the case was an abuse of court process.

Here's Unveiling Nigeria's Star Musician, Davido's Baby Mama

In case you haven’t seen the baby mama of Nigeria’ young rising star, David Adeleke David A.K.A. Davido, who welcomed a child recently then here she is.

Davido succeeded in hiding the pregnancy from public eye and only showed his and his baby girl’s hand joined together recently.

 The picture you see above was taken at the baby shower when Sophie Momodu (the baby mama) was still pregnant.

We got to see the pictures when Ovation Publisher Dele Momodu who is a cousin to Sophie shared the photos on his instagram page.

He wrote: "Warmest congratulations to Mr David Adeleke Davido and my cousin Sophie Momodu on the birth of your beautiful daughter. May God always provide for you and protect your family… Stay blessed."

See the second pix when u continue…

Wike Replies Amaechi’s Statement of ‘No Money Left in Rivers’

Rivers State Governor-elect, Barr. Nyesom Wike, on Monday, replied the statement made by the present Governor of the State, Chibuike Amaechi, that there was no money left in the state for the incoming government to work with. Read it HERE
Wike said this in Port Harcourt when he granted audience to elders and chiefs of Elele Alimini community of Emohua Local Government Area of the state.

He said that all plans to frustrate his administration from accessing funds for the state would be met with resistance as he was focused on delivering on his campaign promises.

He said: “Amaechi said I will never be governor, but God made a different statement. God’s statement prevailed. As far as God has given us this victory, we will sustain this victory and we shall make Rivers people happy.  If he has collected all the money and he thinks the state will suffer, that will not be possible.”

Police Website Where You Can Report Any Policeman Seen Receiving Bribe

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Solomon Arase, in his war against bribery and corruption and negative image of the Nigeria Police has launched a website for the public to report any policeman seen getting involved in collection of bribe.

The link to the website is www.stopthebribes.net

 

The IGP, however, appealed to the members of the public not to use the website for hate speeches or false reporting, said "complaints would be factual and I would appreciate if they can be supported with pictures or other evidence".

I'm Watching to See Where Wike Will Get Money to Work - Gov Amaechi

Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, has predicted tough times for his successor, Barr. Nyesom Wike.
The governor said this in Port Harcourt on Sunday at a special thanksgiving service to mark the end of the 2015 electioneering period.

He said: “We have no money anywhere; even in Rivers State, we have no money. I think Nyesom Wike is coming; let us see where he will get money to pay salaries. We were enduring the pains because we had to pay our loans. We have paid a lot of our loans, if not all. So, he will have to manage.

NOA, NSPR Kicks off Training of Bloggers, Social Media Enthusiasts on Ethical Reporting in Port Harcourt

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) in partnership with Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme (NSRP) of the British Council’s workshop aimed at building the capacity of bloggers and other social media enthusiasts in ethical code of conduct and conflict sensitive Communication has started the third leg of its workshop in Port Harcourt.

The workshop kicked off on Wednesday, April 14, at Juanita Hotels, old GRA, Port-Harcourt, Rivers state.

The workshop which targets all the geo-political areas of Nigeria followed studies that social media has become an avenue for transmitting hate speeches and radical messages which could lead to restiveness in the society.

NLC Suspends Planned Strike in Rivers, Says March, April Salaries Payment Ongoing

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) said it has suspended a planned protest over non payment of salaries of civil servants in Rivers State.

One of the claimants to the chairmanship position of the NLC in Rivers State, Beatrice Tubo, said this at a meeting with the Trade Union Congress (TUC) at a joint public negotiating council on Wednesday.

Tubo said that the Rivers State Government has commenced payment of March and April salaries to the civil servants.

She said: “We finally met with the government and some other perm secs and we all have agreed that government has started doing something; what we have asked for. So many banks have called us to confirm that they have received. We have been promised that by Friday they will commence the process of payment of April salaries as well. And being a responsible and organised labour, we saw that the issues we are canvassing have already been addressed and so we cannot continue with the action and we are calling on our members to be calm.”

RSSDA Admits non Payment of Allowances to Students on Overseas Scholarship

The Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) said it is true that it has not been able to pay the allowance of more than 7000 Rivers Students currently on scholarship overseas.

The Executive Director of RSSDA, Noble Pepple confirmed this following report that many of the students overseas have been thrown to the streets over unpaid allowances.

Pepple said the agency could not meet up with its financial obligations to the students overseas due to drop in the state revenue allocation.

He, however, said the agency was in touch with the management of the schools to ensure that the students were not terminated from their schools.

NBA Port Harcourt Branch Disassociates Self from Panel of Inquiry, Calls out Chairman of HRC

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Port Harcourt branch has declined participation in the ongoing investigations into the politically motivated killings in Rivers State by a commission of inquiry set up by the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi.

The NBA in a statement issued by its Chairman, Denis Akwapam queried the eligibility of the chairman of the national human right commission to accept to super head the commission of inquiry when it was a complainant in the politically motivated killings.

He said that the chairman of the Human Rights Commission, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, should rather investigate the continuous closure of courts in Rivers State which he said was the remote cause of the politically motivated killings in the state.

The NBA said as an unbiased empire, Odinkalu ought not to have participated in a state government sponsored investigation.