Amaechi's Administration Guilty of Financial Crimes - Wike

A one time Chief of Staff to Governor Amaechi and
current Supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom
Wike says the administration of Amaechi is guilty
of financial crimes.
Wike, who disclosed this during a media platform
on Port Harcourt, made references to the Monorail
project, the landscaping of Port Harcourt, and the
Greater Port Harcourt city.
According to him, “I can tell you Amaechi’s
government is corrupt. I can say so, any day,
anytime.
“If your government is corrupt, what does that
mean? It drops the box on your table. If he
doesn’t have a house in the village, does that
stop him from being corrupt.
“That is the level he thinks Rivers people are for
him to tell them such stories. Is that the
definition of corruption?”
He also took a swipe at members of Amaechi’s
Executive council stressing that “Amaechi’s
commissioners are week.
“When I was the Chief of staff, I know what I can
do. Ask Magnus Abe. I look at him in the eyes
and tell him this is how we are going to do this
and that. But most of his Executives are afraid of
telling him the truth because the are looking for
appointment”.
Wike also disclosed that he never at any point
swore an oath when he was the Chief of Staff.
Governor Amaechi had at different fora maintained
that Wike swore that he would not betray him.
In the words of Wike, “The man did not betray
you when all offers were made to him. I didn’t
betray him when he was looking for Governor.
“When I was to be assassinated, then later had
my thanksgiving, he (Amaechi) said Wike is a
man of character and it is good to follow people
who are men of character. What happened to
that?
“The same Wike that was a man of character is
no longer a man of character today simply
because I said we cannot do things this way. We
cannot compromise the issue of Presidency.
“That I should follow you and go to APC where
they will give you chairmanship instead of a
President from the South-South.
“Ask him. The same man was in Ghana. When he
was in Ghana, why did he not give me oath to
take when I was fighting the fight for him when
that was the best time for me to take oath for
him (Amaechi).
“Let me tell you, everybody has betrayed
Amaechi. The most resent one now is that APC
has betrayed him. He went to APC with all the
funds in the state thinking that they will make
Sam Sam Jaja the APC Chairman, now Oyegun
has emerged, so APC has also betrayed him”.
When asked about his interest in the state,
especially with all his antagonising efforts against
the Governor, Wike hinted that his interest is to
depose the APC and ensure that PDP takes over
the Brick House.
“My interest is that Rivers State PDP must
reclaim that government House in 2015.
“If I want to run for Governor of Rivers State, I
am not running because I am an Ikwerre man, I
am going to run because the constitution allows
me to run because I’m a Rivers person”, Wike
said.

I Cannot Be Poor Again - Okorocha

The Governor of Imo State, Rochas
Okorocha, has likened poverty to HIV/Aids, saying that nothing
would make him, his family and his
entire generation to experience poverty
it again.
The governor stated this at the fourth
Nigeria Governors’ Forum retreat in
Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Friday.
Recalling his battle with poverty,
Okorocha said, “I was poor and I
decided to fight against poverty and
nothing will make me, my family and
my generation to go back to poverty
again. Poverty is worse than HIV. You
can’t pretend to be poor.
“The governor must
have charisma and the
President, when he
speaks, must have
charisma. You should
also know that political
power is entrusted to
you by the people and
if you don’t hold it well,
they will never forget
you,” Okorocha stated.
Also at the event, a
former governor of Abia
State, Dr. Orji Kalu,
urged current governors
to consider going into entrepreneurship in order to meet the needs of the
people around them after leaving office.
Kalu, who was one of the speakers at the retreat in Port Harcourt, pointed
out that people would still come around former governors or political leaders
to seek one favour or the other, adding that, opportunities could be given to
such people in areas where the ex-governor had investments.
He told the governors, “Know that the burden you will carry as a former
governor is for life. Even if you leave office poorer than you went in, a cynical
public would never believe you. They believe half of the public treasury is
kept in your house.
“They will come daily to line up, telling one tale of woe after the other. If you
give them, they will say they only came to collect what belongs to them. If
you don’t give them, they will say you are selfish and stingy.
“When you become
poor, the same people
will abuse you of being
a foolish man. It is
head, you lose; tail, you
lose. Public service is
truly a thankless job in
Nigeria,” Kalu, who was
represented at the
occasion by the
Managing Director and
Editor-in-Chief of the
New Telegraph
Newspaper, Mr. Gabriel
Akinadewo, told the

Boko Haram lay siege on four villages in Gwoza

It is reported that Elders and people of Gwoza Local Government Council Area of Borno State, in
the North-East, Nigeria, on Saturday dismissed claims that Christians and Muslims in Gwoza East took up arms against each other.
They said that they were under attack by the Islamic militants, Boko Haram.
According to them, the group which laid siege on four wards in Gwoza East, killed innocent people at will.
The elders and residents, who gathered for a meeting at the residence of the Senator representing Borno-South Senatorial
District, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume
said they buried over 144 people within one
week, while hundreds of corpses littered the
streets waiting for proper burial.
According to them, the corpses could not be burried because the insurgents laid siege on their
villages.
Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, who spoke on behalf of the people said there was no religious divide in their commitment to fighting Boko Haram insurgency.
Ndume said Gwoza-East is under siege by the Boko Haram insurgents and there is no presence of any security operative in the area.
“As we speak, we made several pleay to the military to go and secure the areas so that we can go there and bury our dead.
“They said they were doing something about
it. We appreciate helicopters going round
in some places and throwing bombs on the
insurgents, but we need soldiers on
ground so that our people can go and bury
those corpses of our relatives that are still
there littering the whole place. This is very
important to us”.
Speaking on the number of people that managed to escape and are now taking refuge in the state, an indigene of the area and Commissioner for
Tourism in Borno State, Dr. Asabe Vilita Bashir said they have a record of 1,290 displaced persons from Gwoza, who are taking refuge in three places.
According to Dr. Bashir, 426 persons are taking refuge in EYN Church Wulari, 50 people are in Molai General Hospital and 814 persons are in Tashan Bama.
Also speaking on the number of casualties, both village heads of Attagara Lawan John Gula and Lawan Abba Kaka said before they escaped, 42 people were buried at Attagara village, 24 in Agajara, 4 in Angurva, 20 in Agapalwa,
1 in Amuda, 3 in Alavawa, 13 in Chinene, 3 in Arboko, 1 in Ashigashiya, 1 in Ngoshe and 32 in Kirawa.
According to them, those who are still in the villages called and informed them just as the meeting was going on that the Islamic militants, Boko Haram have stormed Palawa and Amuda villages killing innocent people.
They said many of the villagers are running to the mountains hoping to see
the next day.

Nollywood Actress Receives Death Threat.

Nigeria is known for her bullying of citizens when the truth is told. Recently, a Nollywood Actress currently based in the U.S., Stella Damasus has received a death threat over her comments on the unfortunate happenings in Nigeria.
While lending a voice to the Child Not Bride campaign months ago, she released a very daring video on YouTube, calling a particular serving Senator and his supporters paedophiles.
Also a few weeks ago, after the abduction of
over 200 girls from Chibok, she released another video addressing the government and accusing it of not asking for help from foreign allies.
As a result, some hired assassins were sent to
murder her last Monday.
Nation newspaper reports that 12 heavily armed men allegedly stormed the Abuja home of her husband, Ademinokan where the actress and her two daughters were said to have been living before they relocated to the United States with Ademinokan.
Ademinokan’s younger brother, who just returned to Nigeria, and his mother were the only persons in the house on the fateful day.
The attackers allegedly insisted on getting Stella’s recent contact in the US, including her address and phone number, without success, saying, ‘Your brother and his wife think they can just open their mouths and say anything they like about the government, abi?’”
Confirming the incident, Stella took to twitter
during the week and wrote: “That is what
Nigeria is known for; you say the truth…they
try to silence you! It will not work on Stella
Damasus. I cannot be intimidated.” No form of political bullying or intimidation will work! You can’t shut me up! I will stand and speak the truth,
regardless of your tactics.”

Polity Heating Up in Ekiti State

In the next two weeks, electorates in Ekiti State will be voting for a Governor who will take over the leadership of the state for the next four years. Campaigns have been on since last two months after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared it opened. Political parties participating in the poll have been visiting different parts of the state soliciting for votes and telling the people on why their political party should be voted for. According to INEC, 18 political parties would be participating in the election but among these candidates, only three them are major contenders They are; the All Progressives Congress (APC) Candidate, who is also the incumbent Governor of the State, Kayode Fayemi, the Peoples Democratic Party flagbearer, Ayodele Fayose and the Labour Party (LP) candidate, Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele. Observers have said that one of the three political gladiators mentioned above will emerge as the next governor due to their popularity in the State. Despite the chances of the three candidates were very bright, they still have some obstacles that may be standing on their ways and which may likely make it difficult for them to have soft landing. Already, candidates are on their last batch of campaigns as the election day is just 15 days ahead. DailyPost learnt from Observers that Fayemi, who is a Doctorate degree holder has gained more supports from elites residing in the State due to what they believe he has been able to achieve academically. This may be attributed to the recent position the immediate past governor of the State, Engr. Segun Oni who defected to APC from PDP took following the emergence of Fayose as the party candidate. Oni said PDP was wrong to have picked Fayose out of the aspirants jostling for the party ticket. Oni stated further that Fayose, who is an HND graduate has no pedigree to march Fayemi’s profile, therefore cannot stand in the same party with someone who has soiled his hand. It was also gathered that since Fayemi reclaimed his mandate in 2010, all communities in the state have continued to enjoy peace. It was also divulged that the party which produced Fayemi (APC) was said to have a strong structures in all rural areas in Ekiti State, and this was due to the impact of his administration in the development of rural areas. However, Fayemi may be facing challenges among the civil servants, particularly the teachers following a policy introduced by his administration that all teachers must participate in an aptitude test. But Fayose, a former Governor of the state between 2003 and 2006 is said to have been enjoying supports from the commoners. It was gathered that those who have been canvassing for the return of Fayose include, market women, Artisans, Okada riders and the Youth. This support is said to have come due to his open door policy during his first term tenure. In those days, Fayose was always seen around the commoners and chatting with them and sharing in their pains. Fayose, popularly called “Osokomole” among his followers also spent his first term in developing major sectors of the state. Some of his achievements include, the dualization of Ado-Ekiti major road, modern market, building of schools, giving of car loans to workers and empowering the artisans. The PDP candidate who was known as “Mr nonsense” may be facing some obstacles as he begin to work towards his return to power following some of the allegations raised against him during his first term. He was alleged to have mismanaged some funds during his era and presently facing trial on the said matter. Also, in his first term, Fayose is at loggerheads with most of the traditional rulers in the State. This was said to have been one of the reasons that led to his impeachment. Though, on the day Fayose emerged as the party flagbearer, he said “this is a new Fayose”. He said he was now mature and had learnt his lesson. Opeyemi, who got the seat to the House of Representatives through the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) before it merged with CPC and ANPP to form APC has been enjoying cult followership in some quarters from the State. It is believed that Opeyemi, a former Commissioner for Information in Lagos State has emerged under a party which has a weak structure in the State. Though, he has been described as a generous man, whom is believed may turn things for the better, he eventually wins the poll. However, some political commentators have described Opeyemi as a man who is too over ambitious. They said he should have supported Fayemi for a second term, rather than coming out to contest. They noted that he is one of the indigenes of the State who has enjoyed the progressives’ party more, after serving as a Commissioner for eight years and also compensated with House of Representatives when the ticket for Senatorial candidate was handled over to Femi Ojudu. One of them, Akin Olotu said “what does Opeyemi want again from the party whom he had benefited from for so long? He should have supported Fayemi no matter the case and wait patiently for his own time. He is just one of those who had betrayed Asiwaju Tinubu and I am afraid, if Opeyemi loses this election, this may be the end of his political career”

PDP Agenda To Confuse Nigerians

A former Minister of Information, Prince Tony Momoh, has described the alleged plans by the All Progressives Congress to fly a Muslim-Muslim ticket in 2015, as an agenda by the Peoples Democratic Party to cause confusion in the country.

In an Interview with Daily Independent, Momoh stated that, “the issue of Muslim/Muslim ticket is PDP strategy. I was a foundation member of PDP. If I was still in PDP, I would have said ‘look, we have a big challenge’.

Sanusi Barred By Nigeria SSS

The Department of State Services, alias SSS, on Saturday night blocked the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Lamido Sanusi, from boarding a Turkish airline flight for a planned trip to Saudi Arabia for lesser hajj, a witness and a spokesperson for Mr. Sanusi have told PREMIUM TIMES.