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Tag: Gov. Wike

  • I won’t travel abroad for medical check-up – Wike

    I won’t travel abroad for medical check-up – Wike

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has said he won’t travel abroad for medical check-up, saying everything he need for medical examination was in the Government House Clinic built by his administration.

    Wike made this known when a delegation of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Wednesday.

    Wike’s comment comes at a time when the President Muhammadu Buhari is in London for medical check-up.

    The governor, in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Kelvin Ebiri, urged the council to resist playing politics with approved quota for medical and dental schools in Nigeria, particularly the Rivers State University College of Medical Sciences.

    Wike was quoted as saying, “The health care system in Nigeria requires very serious attention. It is unfortunate where we are. I don’t want to comment on people who are traveling for medical check. I have not travelled for the past two years.

    “If we have all these things here why do we have to travel. We have all it takes to provide it. Why will I go out to do my check (overseas) when I have all the facilities in Government House?

    “I don’t need it. Everything that is required for me to undergo any test is here. The resources we have it. Why can’t we provide it for our people?”

    The governor further said his government would sign a contract for the construction of a world-class cancer and cardiovascular diseases centre with Julius Berger, saying when the centre, which is expected to be completed within 14 months is ready, would boost the internal revenue of the state government.

  • Wike under fire over donation of N500 million for rebuilding of Sokoto mosque

    Wike under fire over donation of N500 million for rebuilding of Sokoto mosque

    Pensioners in Rivers State are gnashing their teeth over Governor Nyesom Wike’s N500million largesse to the Sokoto State Government to douse the pain on the state and traders affected by the inferno at Sokoto Central Market.

    The pensioners, who lampooned the governor, said N500million would have to a high extent met some of the demands of retired civil servants in the State.

    Some retirees who spoke to newsmen at the Rivers State Secretariat Complex lamented that since the Governor assumed office in 2015, Pensioners are yet to receive their gratuities and pension arrears.

    One of the retirees, Bariza Kpaen said, “How can our governor give out such an amount of money when there are so many unresolved financial issues? We the governor to immediately settle the issues surrounding the gratuity and Pension arrears now that it is obvious that he has so much to spend.”

    Another retiree who simply identified herself as Hart, said, “Some of our colleagues have died for lack of funds to take care of themselves medically and otherwise. The Governor must stop playing politics with the lives of pensioners in this state.”

    On his part, Youth Activist, Charles Jaja blamed elders statesmen and youths for being silent in the face of Governor Wike’s financial recklessness; “I am disappointed because I am simply worried about our elder statesmen and good number of youths who sing the praises of Governor in the face of this financial irresponsibility.”

    Also reacting, Chairman of the Rivers Civil Society Organizations Enefaa Georgewill, expressed disappointment in an interview with DAILY POST over the donation, stating that while it is not wrong for an entity to make donations, noted that it is wrong for a government who is yet to develop its State to do so.

    Enefaa, stated that it is saddening that residents of Rivers State are currently grappling with survival tendencies while Governor Wike has embarked on a spending spree without appropriation by the Legislature.

    According to Georgewill, “There are flooding issues that need urgent attention that have not been looked into, every year buildings, plants and people’s source of livelihood are being destroyed due to the disaster that can be managed if the government simply pays attention.

    “Indigent Rivers students are struggling in different tertiary institutions because the Governor stopped paying them bursary. Pensioners are dying because the Governor is withholding their pensions and gratuities.

    ” What Governor Wike has simply done with that donation to Sokoto is eye service and dirty politics. The Governor should be concerned about removing the log in his own eyes before removing the spec in another person’s eyes.”

    Wike had on Wednesday pledged the sum of Five Hundred Million Naira to support the Sokoto State government to rebuild the Sokoto Central market that was gutted by fire.

    “What affects Sokoto State affects Rivers State. We are going to support the traders and the government of Sokoto State. We are donating the sum of N500million to support the traders and also support in building the market back part of which will go to bringing back the market”, Wike said.

  • Stop giving Governors awards, challenge us so we can sit up – Wike tells journalists

    Stop giving Governors awards, challenge us so we can sit up – Wike tells journalists

    Governor Nyesom Wike has challenged journalists to demand accountability from Governors instead of giving them awards to maintain relationships or friendships. 

    The Rivers state Governor said this after the national leadership of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) paid him a courtesy visit at the government house in Port Harcourt on Friday October 30. 

    Wike in a statement released by his special assistant on media Kelvin Ebiri, also recalled times when journalists exposed ills in the society. 

    He said; 

    “What I have seen of you is that you praise us and give us award because of relationship or friendship. That’s not the way it should be. Challenge us — the people in authority — and we will sit up to our responsibilities. We will have no choice than to perform and serve the people as it should be. 

    “My support for you has to do with the fact that you are supposed to tell the truth of what is happening in Nigeria.

    “There was a time you were exposing the ills of society. If not for you, certain things will not be known. Assume your role, grow strong again and speak out.”

    Also commenting on the #EndSARS protest, Wike said; 

    “If when I castigated the operations of SARS you added your voice, who knows what good that would have achieved. 

    “Now look at what has happened. There was EndSARS protest across the country. Nobody knows how the youth were able to organise themselves without a leader.

    “Up until now, intelligence can’t even know how they did it and who’s behind them. Without good intelligence, how can Nigeria even defeat Boko Haram?”

  • #EndSARS: Gov Wike imposes 24-hour curfew in three Rivers LGAs

    #EndSARS: Gov Wike imposes 24-hour curfew in three Rivers LGAs

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has imposed a 24-hour curfew in Oyigbo, Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas, and some parts of Port-Harcourt following violent incidents by hoodlums who hijacked the ENDSARS protest.

    In a statement by the Governor’s newly appointed Special Assistant on Media, Kelvin Ebiri, said Wike made the announcement in a state broadcast on Wednesday afternoon.

    The statement said the curfew was taken after a State Security Council meeting held at the Government House, Port Harcourt in order to protect lives and property; saying the curfew extends to Mile 1, Mile 2, Emenike, Ikoku and Iloaubuchi areas of Port Harcourt LGAs, as well as Oil Mill area of Obio-Akpor.

    Governor Wike stated that while the State Government appreciates and commend the peaceful nature of the ongoing #EndSARS protests, it was becoming clear that the protest had been hijacked by hoodlums to unleash carnage.

    “Earlier today (Wednesday), some hoodlums attacked and destroyed Police Stations and Court buildings in Oyigbo Local Government Area of the State. Another set of hooligans were also on the rampage at the Ikokwu spare parts markets disturbing public peace and damaging property,” the statement read.

    The Governor asserted that the State government cannot allow trouble-makers to take the laws into their hands and use the current situation to create a state of panic and insecurity.

    “A 24-hour curfew has been imposed on Mile 1, Mile 2, Emenike, Ikokwu and Iloaubuchi areas of Port Harcourt from 6.30 p.m. today 21st October 2020.”

    “A 24-hour curfew has been imposed on the entire Oyigbo Local Government Area from 6.30 p.m. today, 21st October 2020; a 24-hour curfew has also been imposed on Oil mill area in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area” while directing security agencies to enforce the curfew accordingly.

    The statement also directed council chairmen to mobilize vigilantes and work with security agencies to ensure that no hoodlum is allowed to disturb the peace or destroy lives and property in their Local Government Areas.

    “We urge all citizens to remain vigilant and report all suspicious characters to the security agencies for immediate action. Let me appeal to our youths not to allow themselves to be used to roll-back the peace we are enjoying in the State under any pretext” Wike added.

  • Tacha calls out Gov. Wike for banning #EndSARS protest in Rivers

    Tacha calls out Gov. Wike for banning #EndSARS protest in Rivers

    Big Brother Naija ex-housemate and entrepreneur, Natacha Akide, popularly known as Tacha has called out Governor Nyesom Wike after he banned #Endsars protest in Rivers State

    Tacha took to her Twitter page to react to Gov. Wike’s decision:

    “Gov. Wike, we flew into this state today to FIGHT FOR A BETTER NIGERIA! TO WALK THE WALK! TO FIGHT FOR A BETTER TODAY AND TOMORROW!! Why should we be DEPRIVED OUR RIGHT!! why

    Gov. Wike Sons and Daughters of RIVERS STATE STOOD THROUGH THE NIGHT TO DEFEND OUR VOTES FOR YOU! only for you to DEPRIVE US OF OUR RIGHT TO PEACEFULLY PROTEST #PhProtest #SarsMustGo #SARSMUSTENDNOW

    Gov. Wike. IT IS MY DUTY and the DUTY of every NIGERIAN to FIGHT for our BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS! We do not deserve to be OPPRESSED!!

    #SarsMustGoNow #SARSMUSTEND #EndPoliceBrutality.

    NIGERIA BELONGS TO ALL OF US!! RIVERS STATE NA WE OWN Gov. Wike.

    #SarsMustGoNow #PhProtest #SARSMUSTEND”

  • Gov. Wike rubbishes NBS Unemployment Data, Claims He Created 100,000 Jobs

    Gov. Wike rubbishes NBS Unemployment Data, Claims He Created 100,000 Jobs

    Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has rubbished the unemployment rate by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and claims “it is fake.”

    “It is fake; it is political,” Wike said on Friday during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, insisting that “I don’t believe in them. I don’t believe in their statistics.”

    The NBS had in August released the country’s unemployment data for the second quarter of 2020, putting Rivers State’s unemployment rate at 43.7 per cent, the third highest in Nigeria.

    Although Wike admitted that there is a high-level of unemployment in Nigeria, he claimed that his government has created a lot of jobs, explaining that they might not be in the formal sector.

    “If you have a lot of construction jobs going on, for example, does that not create employment?” the former Education Minister wondered.

    “Does employment mean you must work in government? Is that what employment means? What counts as employment is that you have something doing. That is key. That is employment.

    “There is no employment that is forever. Even you as a Civil servant, it is not forever. You have a time you must leave. Employment does not mean it is something you must do forever.”

    “In Rivers State today, nobody can tell me that we have not tried in terms of employment; to reduce the level of unemployment.”

    A graphic from the NBS showing the unemployment data for Rivers State as of Q2 2020.

    On how he got his statistics, he said “By the jobs we have created. You are in Government House now. As you go to the back, you see over 250 people working. That is just one area. And that job has been on for one year. That is not job? It does not give them money to feed? That is one area.

    “As you go to Forces Avenue, you see over 100 people working, that is not employment? As you go to Garrison where there is the fly over, you see over 300 people working.”

    According to Wike, the “NBS should come to the state and see for themselves and see what we are doing to create jobs. Not just sitting in their offices. They never deployed anybody to come here.”

    While calling on the NBS to visit Rivers State and get facts about employment in the State, Wike disclosed that his government has been able to create over 100,000 jobs since inception in 2015.

    “I may not be exact but I do know that since we came on board, we have created not less than 100, 000 jobs,” Wike who is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) explained. “If you go to our Statistics department, you will find out that these things are there.”

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  • Without thugs, APC will be beaten silly in Edo – Governor Wike

    Without thugs, APC will be beaten silly in Edo – Governor Wike

    Governor Nyesom Wike has commented on the upcoming governorship election in Edo state. 

    The Rivers state Governor in an interview on African Independent Television (AIT) on Thursday September 17, alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is hoping to win the election by manipulating the result. 

    Wike who is also the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign council on Edo governorship election, stated that the APC “will be beaten silly in the governorship election” if there are no thugs spearheading electoral malpractices. 

    He said; 

    “The IG has said they will not give room to any thugs, to any miscreants, and it is our prayer that is done. If that is done, APC will be beaten silly in this election. If what IG said is carried out, you will see that APC will not near – the only hope they have is to manipulate the security agencies. 

    “Remember what happened in my case and if you take the case of Rivers state, it was very clear, and the way I see APC going, the desperation is so much and the only hope APC has today is to use security agents, is to manipulate the process.

    “Our own business is to let our people know, if you know the police are [compromised], we will not allow it. We want to believe in them but however, don’t slip, don’t slip, make sure you follow them bumper to bumper.

    “Make sure you monitor what is happening. Let one policeman tell you that after they have declared results in this unit, that you cannot as an agent, follow that result to the collation centre. That is not correct.

    “In some cases, you see security agents coming to even beat the agents of the opposition party. It is not something that anyone will come and tell me that you have assured me that nothing will happen.”

    On governance in Edo state, Wike said; 

    “Everybody knows, go to Edo, they don’t do publicity. They do their thing quietly. It may be different from ours.

    “Last time I went to Ogbemudia stadium, it was nothing to write home about, but go and see Ogbemudia stadium today. He has built all the high courts, he showed me.”

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  • Obaseki has no opponent in Edo – Wike

    Obaseki has no opponent in Edo – Wike

    Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike has boasted the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the forthcoming Edo governorship election Governor Godwin Obaseki has no opponent.

    Speaking on a live programme on Wednesday, Wike said the people of Edo already knew the type of candidate the All Progressives Congress (APC) presented to them following what Adams Oshiomhole said about him four years ago.

    Wike, in a statement by his Commissioner for Information and Communications, Pastor Paulinus Nsirim, said: “Such a character cannot be accepted by Edo people as Governor during the election.

    “I respect the Benin tradition and I know that Edo people are educated to know that Oshiomhole cannot play on their intelligence.

    “If he is now retracting what he said of Ize Iyamu, who is sure that he’s saying the correct thing now.

    “Adams Oshiomole’s sudden u- turn is a great insult on Edo people. This is an opportunity for Edo people both at home and in the diaspora to use their votes to tell Oshiomole they cannot take his lies anymore.

    “From all indications, it is obvious that there is no strong opposition against Obaseki and he will win convincingly”.

    Wike, who is chairman of the PDP National Campaign Council, stated he and his team accepted the responsibility to lead the campaign because they are satisfied with results coming out already from Edo State.

    Wike said the PDP had continued to take steps in strengthening the nation’s democracy with the promotion of internal politics and resolving conflict of interests of members to achieve common goals.

    He said the success recorded by the PDP in conducting free and fair party primaries in Edo state was evidence of the internal democracy in the party.

  • Wike declared fresh lockdown in Rivers

    Wike declared fresh lockdown in Rivers

    Former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside has called on Rivers State government to establish more testing centres across the state following the increasing number of people testing positive to coronavirus.

    Peterside stated this following the temporary lockdown of Bonny Local Government Area and Onne in Eleme Local Government Area by Governor Nyesom Wike.

    Governor Wike had declared a lockdown in both areas to check the spread of COVID-19 owing to a large number positive cases.

    He pointed out that the state government had sufficient resources to provide such a critical facility for the citizenry.

    “It won’t be out of the place for the Wike-led administration to provide more testing centers across the state; we have the resources and manpower to do so, especially as more countries in Europe are easing their lockdown. It means we can quickly reach manufacturers unlike before and get these equipment delivered to the state. Many states that are less endowed than Rivers are already investing in establishing test centers, as it is for the ultimate good of their people.

    “All the federal constituencies in the state should have a testing center at their headquarters, while also encouraging people to have a walk in to be tested like it is being done in many places. The more we are able to test, the better for us as a people,” he stressed.

    The former lawmaker, however, stressed that the lockdown would make no meaning if aggressive contact tracing was not carried out.

    “I support the lockdown to ensure that we stop the spread of the deadly virus but doing so without aggressive contact tracing will amount to motion without movement. There must be conscious effort to track all contacts of infected persons, supported by massive testing,” he stated, noting that non-adherence to professional advice by the Rivers State government and the neglect of the two places in the previous lockdown of the state might have contributed to the outbreak, hence “we are paying the price.”

    He appealed to Rivers people to take protocol advisory by health professionals seriously, saying that the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the state should be a source of worry and concern.

  • Gov. Wike commends NIS for new enhanced E-Passport

    Gov. Wike commends NIS for new enhanced E-Passport

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has commended the Nigeria Immigration Service for introducing the Electronic-Passport (E-Passport) with 10-year validity, saying it will enable Nigerians acquire long-term visas. Speaking during the roll-out of the enhanced E-Passport in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, Governor Wike also lauded the Immigration Service for the improved security features on the new passport. He said: “Let me thank the Nigeria Immigration Service for their giant strides in the area of the Electronic Passport. It will help towards security and other trends.

    “The Introduction of E-Passport is indeed commendable because of its improved security features and other key features of the passport. “The extension of the validity period is also important as it will allow holders to access lengthy visas. The 10year passport affords most people the opportunity to have longer visas.” The Governor noted that the requirement that all those seeking to obtain the International Passport must have National Identity Number is key.

    “The integration with the national identity number is very important. It is an innovation which is encouraging,” he said. He commended the Comptroller-General for taking Port Harcourt first in the commencement of the issuance of E-Passport in the South-South and South-East. Governor Wike, however, said that the requirement that Nigerians must supply their BVN before obtaining the E-Passport is not necessary. He said: “I was surprised yesterday when I was told to bring my Bank Verification Number (BVN). Assuming I have a child, who is one year old and I want to travel with my child, are you telling me that my child cannot travel, perhaps because he does not have a bank account?

    “I told them, you have my salary account, go and check my BVN. I don’t know how the BVN has become a factor in the issuance of international passport. That is not acceptable. If this is the only way that we can check corruption, then we have failed. “As a Governor, you know my salary, you know my account and this can be collected from the Code of Conduct Bureau. It is not hidden.

    ” The Governor advised Federal Agencies to stop depending on state governments for their operations. “Federal Agencies should stop depending fully on State Governments for their operations. The responsibility is too enormous. “Today, you have asked. The police will ask, the Drug Law Enforcement Agency will ask, the Army will ask and other Federal Agencies will also ask. How are we going to survive?”he said.

    He appealed to Rivers people to take advantage of the facility to obtain their International Passports. He said: “I want to thank you for this innovation. I know that since you launched it here, I should also do something good, but not today. “I urge our people to take advantage of this facility to ensure you come to get your International passport. Also, go and register for your National Identity card, it us very important.

    ” Earlier, the Rivers State Comptroller of Immigration, Mr Segun Adegoke said that the essence of the E-Passport is to reposition and improve the passport issuance regime and tailor it towards the best global practice. He said the new regime now offers the options of five years and 10 years validity to save bonafide Nigerians from frequent visits to replace their passports. Passport Officer, Rivers State Command, AJ Umoh said that the new E-Passport has new security features like multi-laser image, pre-printed features, UV light, infrared, laser engraving and is International civil aviation organization. Highpoint of the event was the capturing and presentation of the new E-Passport to the Rivers State, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike and his wife, Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike.