Nigerian Newspapers
Amaechi, Minister at war over Rivers PDP
• Temple of justice desecrated, says embattled governor
• Wike: I want to be governor in 2015
Embattled Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State and his erstwhile associate and confidant, Chief Nyesom Wike, Minister of State for Education, yesterday openly drew the battle line in the struggle for the soul of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
Amaechi, whose camp recently lost the control of the party through a court verdict to a rival group led by Wike, called the judgement a desecration of the temple of justice.
He asked Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Maryam Mukhtar to step in with a view to saving the integrity of the judicial arm from further assault.
But Wike, a lawyer and ex-Chief of Staff to Amaechi differed. He said by virtue of his profession, he would not cast aspersion on the judiciary.
He spoke of how he put his life on the line for Amaechi during the intrigues that attended the choice of the party’s governorship candidate for the 2007 election in the state.
Wike said that struggle led to the death of his driver while he himself was almost consumed.
Port Harcourt, the state capital, was all tension for much of yesterday after thousands of Amaechi’s supporters from the 23 local government areas of the state converged on the Government House, demanding a response to Friday’s tumultuous arrival in the city by Mr. Felix Obuah, who was declared the new chairman of the PDP in the state by a Federal High Court, Abuja.
Amaechi, who is already locked in a battle of wits with the Presidency and the national leadership of the party over his perceived interest in the 2015 presidential race, obliged his supporters with a rally at the Government House.
But it was his deputy, Tele Ikuru, an engineer who addressed the crowd on his behalf.
He said: “As a nation, one area we should not allow mud to go into is the judiciary. As a nation, that is one area we should not allow to become a thing of play in the judiciary.
“The temple of justice has been desecrated. Nigeria arise. If we do not rise, we will lose our country. As a nation, any day we allow the temple of justice to be desecrated, we will lose our country.
“Any day a poor man cannot go to the court and state his case and get justice, that country is lost. I therefore call on the judges, particularly the CJN, to very quickly, with alarm, move into this matter. This is another case for her to prove that she sits at the helm of justice in this country. She will ensure that justice is given to all.
“I was privileged to be part of the Rivers State congress of PDP (on March 17 last year at the Alfred Diete-Spiff Civic Centre, Port Harcourt). I was privileged to see the votes counted. I was privileged to see the results announced and then suddenly, in broad daylight, somebody said that, that election produced another person.
“When certain people die, their eyes will not close, because they tell broad daylight lies. Those who open their eyes, know what is right, see what is right and say something different. The day they will die, their eyes will never close.”
Another supporter of the Governor, Senator Magnus Abe, also addressed the rally, saying, Rivers’ people would not be slaves in their own country.
Abe, who had served at different times as Information Commissioner, Secretary to the State Government and member of the House of Assembly, said the crisis in the state was the handiwork of those he said were trying to play God.
Such politicians, according to him, were desperate for power and money.
He told Amaechi’s supporters not to be afraid.
He wondered why the Godspower Ake-led executive committee of the PDP in the state was dissolved by the court when the March 17, 2012 congress leading to the emergence of the exco, in the first instance, was held in the presence of the three senators from the state.
He said even before now, a Rivers State High Court, sitting at Okehi in Etche LGA of Rivers State had, in a judgment, confirmed Ake as the duly-elected chairman of PDP in the state.
His words: “Somebody (Chief Felix Obuah, aka Go Round, being backed by Wike and was inaugurated in Abuja on Tuesday, also a former chairman of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA of Rivers State, where the ex-Governor, Dr. Peter Odili hails from) who neither picked form nor contested election, is now the chairman of PDP in the state.
“Rivers people, hold your peace. Do not go for war. Judiciary has done it before and will do it again. The will of Rivers people and the will of God will be done.”
The leader of the Rivers House of Assembly, Chid Lloyd told the rally that Amaechi’s loyalists stood by the decision of the Okehi court.
“Truth will prevail. Do not be pushed into doing things that will make you to fight or quarrel. The PDP is united under the leadership of Gov. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi,” he said, adding:”Wike and Obuah want to truncate democracy in Rivers State. We will not allow them to declare emergency rule in the state.”
Wike responded while fielding questions during a radio phone-in programme in the city yesterday, the minister said: “Rivers government is playing politics with federal presence in the state. People should not play politics with every issue. Federal Government should be appreciated.
“I was the director-general of Amaechi campaign organisation in 2011. I was offered a lot of things in 2007, but I stood by Amaechi. My relationship with Amaechi is very cordial, but he is not appreciating the efforts of the Federal Government in Rivers State. You do not intervene in what you have not been invited to.
“I supported Amaechi in 2011. My LGA (Obio/Akpor) gave Amaechi the highest votes during the 2011 governorship election. I do not have personal problems with Amaechi. We may disagree on certain issues.
“My choice is Felix Obuah (newly-inaugurated PDP chairaman). He purchased form. I have no regret for supporting Obuah. I am not standing against somebody (Amaechi) I fought for him in 2007. I supported Amaechi in 2007 and we fought till the end. I was the Commander-in-Chief of that era. I also supported Amaechi in 2011. Obuah should not be denied his rightful position. I never sponsored Ake’s election.
“There is no confusion. If you feel that you are being denied of your position, you can go to court, without carrying arms and ammunition. Obuah got judgment on April 15.
“I have the right to have ambition (to be Rivers Governor in 2015). Only God will decide who will be Governor or not. I did not fight dirty for Amaechi. I have the right to report to the police, anybody that is doing anything inimical to peace. Police will do their jobs.
“Some people got ex-parte order in Port Harcourt. Nobody said the judge was corrupt. If there is an order from another court, they will say Oga and Madam (President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience) have influenced it. Obuah had inaugurated the LG and ward executives of the party in the state, before they got their court order.
“The Rivers ALGON members who are supporting Amaechi want to come for second tenure. They believe that if Obuah is the chairman, they will not get the tickets. They are frustrated.
“I am not a member of Ogboni and I have never belonged to any secret cult/society. My father is a Reverend. When I was fighting for Amaechi, nobody called me an Ogboni member. We know the hardened cultists.”
The Minister of State for education asked the people of the state to continue to give peace a chance, and PDP members to keep supporting Obuah and members of his executive.
Wike, like Amaechi, is Ikwerre.
The Governor said last year that it would be unfair after serving for eight years as Governor, he was succeeded by another person from Ikwerre.
Yesterday’s pro-Amaechi carnival-like rally had his supporters drumming, singing and dancing, leading to traffic congestion on Azikiwe Road and adjoining roads and streets.
Obuah had his own rally on arriving Port Harcourt from Abuja on Friday.
He was accompanied into the city by a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Austin Opara; ex-governorship candidate, Sergeant Awuse, aka Bulldozer; and Senator Lee Maeba, among other eminent personalities.
Obuah and members of his executive were received by loud drumming, singing and dancing.
While briefly speaking at the airport, Obuah said: “I will unite the party. I will bring back all the aggrieved members, who left the PDP. The teeming supporters at the airport to receive me indicate that I have the support of party members in the state.”
Ake who was sacked by the Abuja Federal High Court has alleged that Wike is “not alone in the fight against Amaechi. There are others at the top, conspiring to destroy Amaechi’s structure. The party is actually not the target, but the Rivers State Government.”
He spoke while receiving a delegation of council chairmen in the state during a solidarity visit.
He has secured a court injunction in Port Harcourt restraining Obuah and his team from parading themselves as officers of the party pending the determination of the substantive case challenging Obuah and his group.
Meanwhile, the National President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar has described Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State as a pillar of democracy in the current dispensation.
Omar spoke when he led a delegation of top NLC officials on a courtesy call on the Governor in Port Harcourt at the weekend.
The NLC President and other members were in the Rivers State capital for a conference to elect new executive of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Civil Service, Technical and Recreational Services (AUCPTRC).
Omar said: “Nigerians are watching. Nigerians are very, very intelligent people. They are watching, they know things, they know what is happening(to Amaechi) and they are also passing their own judgment.
“You have been one of the major pillars of democracy in this dispensation and we always like to in our only small way, associate with good things, especially when I recall that when I was here last, you decided to show me some of the projects, that at that time, a lot of them were not even completed but by the time we arrived this time and we passed through some of them, especially primary schools. 3 are completed.
“I have not seen any where the children in public primary schools are learning under such very conducive atmosphere. This is what is required of democracy, for leadership to provide the dividends of democracy to the people practically, not theoretically, and I think that is very abundant in Rivers State. We believe in what you are doing because we have seen it and we only want to urge you to continue in that direction”.
Governor Amaechi urged the Nigerian Labour Congress to continue to represent the poor and give voice to the voiceless for a better Nigeria.
“I think that basically the greatest voice that the poor can have will not be any other voice than the voice of the workers. “
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•Deploy more personnel as army chief vows to wipe out terror group
•Security beefed up at N’Assembly
Deji Elumoye and Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja
Abuja, Nigeria’s seat of power, is under a massive security cordon following threats of attacks by insurgents and the increasing wave of banditry in the contiguous states of Kaduna, Kogi, Nasarawa and Niger States, THISDAY’s investigation has revealed.
There has been a wave of kidnappings in the outskirts of the federal capital, notably Pegi, Tuganmaje and Kuje among others, which the police have battled in recent times.
The security situation in and around the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was heightened by the pronouncement of the Niger State Governor, Mr. Sani Bello, that Boko Haram fighters who he said sacked 50 villages in the state and hoisted the terror group’s flag, were about two hours drive away from the FCT.
Security has also been beefed up at the National Assembly as operatives, yesterday, thoroughly screened every vehicle approaching the National Assembly complex in Abuja.
The deteriorating security situation nationwide prompted the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, to warn that the 2023 general election may not hold, demanding the declaration of a state of emergency as well as the convocation of a national conference.
However, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, yesterday restated the Nigerian Army’s determination to annihilate Boko Haram.
But the Governor of Katsina State, Hon. Bello Masari, cautioned against declaring a state of emergency, saying doing so isn’t the solution to combat the security challenges facing the country.
The security of the nation’s airports was also in focus yesterday as the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) said there was no threat to them.
THISDAY’s investigations showed increased presence of troops, police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) personnel and intelligence operatives at the three strategic entrances to the city notably, Keffi, Zuba and Gwagwalada.
More checkpoints were also mounted around Gwagwalada and Keffi.
THISDAY also observed increased intelligence deployment at the entrance and the borders of FCT with contiguous states.
Beyond the borders, there were more deployments and police patrols inside the city and increased intelligence deployments as well.
Security sources told THISDAY: “There are deployments here and there but they are routine. Alertness is key to a secure environment.”
It was also learnt that security agencies were involved in frenzied meetings throughout yesterday.
The meetings, coordinated by the office of the Chief of Defence Staff under the new joint operational strategy of the armed forces, were aimed at coordinating a joint response to possible threats of attack to the FCT.
“I understand the security teams have been meeting for some days now and if you look around you, you will notice that there are increasing patrols and numbers of security personnel. The threats are not been taken lightly,” a source said.
National Assembly workers, lawmakers and visitors also had a harrowing experience accessing the legislative complex due to heightened security in the area.
Security operatives thoroughly screened every vehicle approaching the National Assembly complex in Abuja, impeding both human and vehicular traffic.
The Sergeant-at-arm of the National Assembly and other security agencies supervised the operations, leading to huge traffic build-up inside the complex.
Legislative staff, visitors and lawmakers were seen patiently waiting for their cars to be searched so that they could go ahead with the business of the day.
Some staff and visitors at some point got tired of waiting and were seen alighting from their cars to trek from the gate to the complex.
Meanwhile, the ONSA has said there is no threat to the nation’s airports.
A statement by the Head of Strategic Communication, Mr. Zachari Usman, said the reports of threats to the airports were an internal correspondence of security threat assessment misconstrued as security threat to the airports.
PDP Demands State of Emergency
In a related development, the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, yesterday demanded the declaration of a state of emergency, warning that the 2023 general election might not hold if the federal government failed to tackle insecurity.
He called on the federal government to summon a national conference to address the spike in insecurity.
Secondus added that the national caucus of the party will meet today to discuss the state of the nation.
Addressing members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) in Abuja, Secondus said: “We are worried Abuja is not even safe. It is no longer politics. We got alert of plots to bomb and burn down our airports.
“We urge the federal government to declare a national state of emergency in security. There is the need to call a national conference to discuss the insecurity in the country.
“There may not be any election in 2023 in Nigeria due to insecurity. This government must listen to the people. The Buhari government should call a national confab to discuss security and state of the nation. It is no longer politics. This time we are not playing politics. Let’s keep politics aside and move the nation forward.”
He said the country had been grounded, regretting that there had been no matching response from the federal government.
Secondus said in the past, terrorism in the North was confined to the North-east, but with the report of Boko Haram occupying villages in Niger State, terrorism had spread to the North-central
“Herdsmen are also menacing in the West; gunmen causing havoc in the East; and the militants in the South; all killing, looting, raping, maiming and burning down homes. The situation is bad; Nigerians all over are living in fear,” he said.
The Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, said the problem of Nigeria was outside of the PDP headquarters, while pledging the support of the Senate to the declaration of state of emergency in security.
Abaribe said he deliberately decided not to speak on the floor of the Senate but to allow the APC senators to speak so as to avoid being accused of giving a partisan colouration to the issue of insecurity.
He stated that only electoral reforms would give victory to the opposition party in the 2023 general election and ensure a democratic defeat of the APC-led federal government.
Also, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, commended the NEC and the PDP leadership for their collective efforts at resolving the House leadership crisis.
The NEC meeting adopted the position of Secondus, calling on the federal government to convoke a national conference to discuss the state of insecurity in the country, according to a communiqué read by the National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan.
Army Chief Vows to Wipe Out Boko Haram
The army yesterday reiterated its commitment to wipe out Boko Haram.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, told reporters in Maiduguri, Borno State that Boko Haram had been defeated in many encounters and would continue to be defeated until it’s annihilated from Nigeria.
“We will take on Boko Haram decisively, and we are committed to the focus of the operations, which is the total annihilation of Boko Haram from Nigeria,” he said.
The COAS, who was visiting the headquarters of Operation Lafiya Dole in Maiduguri for the fifth time since his appointment four months ago, said the visit was to boost the morale of the troops, reassure them and listen to any issues affecting them.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj. Gen. Farouq Yahaya, lauded the visit, which he said had continued to boost the morale of the troops.
“We are honoured, we are grateful, we are encouraged by those visits. You provided us guidance, logistics and other things we required. We are most grateful for those visits,” Yahaya said.
State of Emergency Won’t Solve Security Challenges, Says Masari
Katsina State Governor, Hon. Aminu Masari, has, however, said declaration of a state of emergency won’t solve the security challenges facing the nation.
Masari, who spoke yesterday with journalists after meeting with the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari at the State House, Abuja stated that he was against the recent call by the House of Representatives for the declaration of a state of emergency in the security sector as it would not solve the problem.
According to him, declaring a state of emergency will not achieve the desired effect as the security structure and personnel to be used to execute the emergency are already overstretched in a bid to safeguard lives and property.
Sourced From: THISDAYLIVE
Tribune Online
Nigeria records 55 new COVID-19 infections, total now 165,110
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has recorded 62 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 165,110. The NCDC disclosed this on its official Twitter handle on Friday. “55 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria; Lagos-21, Yobe-19, Ogun-6, Akwa Ibom-3, Kaduna-2, Plateau-2, FCT-1, Rivers-1.” YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE COVID-19: Nigeria Recorded […]
Nigeria records 55 new COVID-19 infections, total now 165,110
Tribune Online
Sourced From: Tribune Online
By Olasunkanmi Akoni
The people of the South East region have been urged to explore the power of negotiation and mutual settlement in the face of ongoing killings and security challenges in the zone because the east can not afford another war at present.
Stakeholders from the South-East geo-political zone made the remark on Thursday, at the unveiling of the book, “Igbo, 50 years after Biafra,” written by Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Drainage Services, Joe Igbokwe, held at Ikeja G.R.A.
Speaking at the unveiling of the book, the chairman of the occasion, Mr. Cutis Adigba,
urged the people of the South-East to learn to build bridges across the country, so that they can realise their ambition of producing the next president of Nigeria.
Adigba urged leaders from the zone to discourage the move and agitation by some youths in the South East to go to war and secede out of Nigeria.
Also read: Banditry: Disregard viral video, Niger State gov’t urges residents
He said that Igbo have always found it difficult to rule Nigeria because they refused to build bridges across the six geo-political zones that made up Nigeria.
While describing the agitation as uncalled for, Adigba noted that after two decades that Nigeria returned to civil rule, the Igbo has predominantly identified with only one political party.
He maintained that remaining in one party can not advance the cause of the people of South East and cannot make them realise their objective of producing an Igbo man as president.
He maintained that the publisher of the book, Igbokwe played politics outside his state, so that the Igbo race can be integrated with one another race.
Adigba said the failure of the Igbo to reintegrate with other ethnic nationalities politically was responsible for the retrogression of the race in Nigerian politics.
Igbokwe, also addressing guests on the occasion, maintained that the Igbo are not advancing politically because they refused to be integrated into National politics, lamenting that, despite their success in business, they are not successful in playing politics at the national level.
Corroborating Dimgba, Igbokwe noted that there was the need for the Igbo people to stand up and build bridges so that their objective of producing the next president of Nigeria could be realised.
According to him: “I have decided to raise my voice, I hope my people will hear me while trying to quell the effect of the war, our people are spoiling for another war, mayhem is being unleashed in Igbo land, and there is palpable fear.
“Those who could speak have lost their voice, mindful of the consequences of their actions, I am calling on all Igbo leaders to speak up because all actions carry consequences, consequences of the silence will be too dastardly to sustain.
“Those silently supporting the wild wind should be careful or else they hand over to their children,” he said.
Igbokwe urged those spoiling for war to jettison their plan and embrace dialogue, urging them to learn from the South West region that despite the challenges faced after the annulment of the June 12, 1993, election, they did not go to war, and the region had the opportunity of producing two of her sons for presidential position in 1999.
“You have to build bridges to become president of Nigeria, but it is unfortunate the Igbo are burning bridges.”
Speaking at the event, Chief Uche Dimgba who is the coordinator of Igbo in All Progressives Congress, APC in Lagos, described Igbokwe as “a Frank, fearless and reliable leader, who based his views on issues and stand by his opinions, and we the Igbo have confidence in him and believe he can lead us aright.”
“He is a leader we Igbo believe in and we will follow him. If he can serve all the governors produced in Lagos State since 1999, he is a better man to follow because he possesses all the experience that can be of benefit to Igbo both at home and in the diaspora.”
The post Attacks on S’East: We must explore all options of negotiation — Stakeholders urge Igbo appeared first on Vanguard News.
Sourced From: Vanguard News
The government said that no worker should stay back beyond 6:00 p.m. within premises of buildings undergoing construction.
The post Insecurity: Lagos bans occupation of abandoned buildings appeared first on Premium Times Nigeria.
Sourced From: Premium Times Nigeria
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Nigeria records 55 new COVID-19 infections, total now 165,110
Military, Police Ring Abuja to Forestall Boko Haram Attack
UFC: Usman gets N584m after beating Masvidal
Insecurity: Lagos bans occupation of abandoned buildings
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