Peterside promises Governor Wike virile opposition

– The Rivers state governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dakuku Peterside promised virile opposition to Governor Nyesome Wike.

– Dakuku Peterside promised to do his best for the peace and development of Rivers state.

– The Supreme Court in its January 27 judgement upheld the election of Governor Nyesome Wike.

The APC governorship candidate in Rivers state, Dakuku Peterside speaking with journalists recently in Abuja.

The Rivers state governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dakuku Peterside, has hinted on his next plan for Governor Nyesom Wike.

The APC gubernatorial candidate in a statement issued in Port Harcourt, the state capital, on Thursday, January 28, promised to creatively offer help to the government of Wike, through the provision of virile opposition, Leadership reports.

Reacting to the January 27, 2016 judgement of the Supreme Court, which upheld the election of Wike, he promised to do his best for the peace and development of the state.

His words: “Consequently, we shall do our best to work for the peace and development of Rivers State and all who reside in it. We shall creatively offer our help to Governor Nyesom Wike. We will provide a virile opposition, serving as a mirror for the conscience of government, in the interest of Rivers people.

“When encouragement is needed towards a just and proper course of dealings, we will offer our commendation to the government. Conversely, we will constructively express objection to policies and actions we consider inimical to the overall interest of Rivers people.

It is our hope that Governor Wike and his team will appreciate the suggestions and proposals that would be made in the interest of Rivers people. If we sometimes sound strident, he should pay heed to the message of passionate and zealous Rivers people rather than dismiss the messenger.
Peterside further noted that it was important to allow the country’s electoral process to be subject to the decision of antidemocratic elements, especially those who deploy their personal armed groups to molest and kill voters.

“Although we have accepted the Supreme Court verdict, it would be remiss of me not to point out that this is also an opportunity for our people to engage in deep introspection on the electoral process. Beyond party affiliation, must we continue to allow the electoral process to be subject to the whims and caprices of anti-democratic elements, especially those who deploy personal militia to molest and even kill voters.?

“Those who hold the electoral umpire captive or compromised; and thus generally prevent electoral outcomes reflective of the will of the voters, as envisaged by law? It is understandable that an attitude of cynical expediency in some politicians may inevitably conclude that “the end justifies the means.

“However, those who are governed by such a cynical mentality need to be reminded that a huge moral burden would perpetually sour such temporary “victories”. Like the myth of Sisyphus, it is surely a backward slide in our political evolution. Let us think deeply please,” he said.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday, January 27 upheld the election of Governor Nyesom Wike, thus, validating the result of the April 11 poll by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In a swift reaction, Rivers state chapter of the All Progressives Congress, on Thursday, January 28 called on its members in the state not to be dismayed by the Supreme Court judgement upholding Governor Nyesom Wike’s election. The state’s party chairman, Dr. Davies Ikanya, who made the call in a statement issued in Port Harcourt, stated that the party would soon take its place in the political sphere of the country, and described the Appeal Court judgement as a temporary set back.

BREAKING!!! Olisa Metuh regains freedom

BREAKING!!! Olisa Metuh regains freedom

The embattled National Publicity Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, has regained his freedom. Metuh is facing trial over alleged N400 million fraud.

Supreme Court verdict: APC leaves Wike to God

The Rivers state chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC), in its first reaction to the victory of Governor Nyesom Wike at the Supreme Court has said it will continue to give responsible opposition in the state despite receiving the news with mixed feelings.

The party in a statement signed by its state Chairman Dr. Davis Ikanya, recalled that the struggle to retrieve the mandates of its candidates, including that of the governorship candidate, hijacked in the 2015 sham elections, led to various rulings by the election petition tribunals and Appeal Courts, which annulled and ordered for the rerun elections for 22 State Assembly positions out of 32, all 3 Senatorial seats and 12 out of 13 House of Representatives seats.

“Ordinarily, such large-scale annulment should have logically led to upholding the annulment of the governorship election as pronounced by the Tribunal and the Appeal Court. Unfortunately, the earlier concurrent decisions of the governorship election petition tribunal and that of the Appeal Court annulling the election of Governor Nyesom Wike, was upturned by the Supreme Court of Nigeria yesterday. While we are neither applauding nor condemning the decision of the apex court, we can only give thanks and adoration to God Almighty whose wisdom surpasses that of man.”

Rivers APC says it will leave Wike to God after the Supreme Court upheld his victory

The APC thanked all its candidates in the race for Senatorial, House of Representatives and Rivers State House of Assembly rerun elections and urged them to remain steadfast and resilient and work hard alongside the party to ensure that they win all the forthcoming rerun elections.

The party said it appreciates its leadership at all levels for showing uncommon courage, resilience and unity since inception to date.

“Same appreciation goes to our esteemed and loyal followers who have resisted impunity, temptation and enticement to remain resolute in the service to the APC. It is our belief that whatever appears to be a setback now is only temporary as we will soon re-assert our pride of place in the political milieu of Rivers State and Nigeria. It must surely end in praise!”

Alluding to violence that characterised the Governorship election, the APC said: “We call on our members across Rivers state especially survivors of those who lost their loved ones before, during and after the 2015 electoral violence that the justice we sought to put a closure to their pains and losses, though denied us by man, will still be granted by the ultimate judge, God Himself. He will prove that those who paid the ultimate price did not do so in vain because he is the God of justice.”

The APC reassured that it will continue to play the role of a responsible opposition party in Rivers State by protecting the peoples’ common interests and provide the bridge between the people and the APC federal government.

To those who recently, defected to the party, APC,  Dr Ikanya urged them to know that they made the right decision as they work together to create and enhance a working synergy that will transcend the present times in service to our people.

APC Chairman urged all members of the APC in Rivers state “to remain calm, focussed and ready for the task ahead of us as party leaders and supporters at our various units, LGAs and the state. In all things, they should continue to give God all glory and adorations as that which is ahead is greater than that behind us.”

The Supreme Court had on Wednesday, January 27 upheld the mandate of the Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike, thus, validating the result of the April 11 poll by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The apex court set aside judgments of both the Rivers state governorship election ‎petition tribunal and that of the Abuja division of the Court of Appeal, which annulled Wike’s election.

According to Justice Kekere-Ekun who delivered the lead verdict, three separate appeals that were filed by Wike, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and INEC, were meritorious.

I won’t kill Naira – President Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari, who is currently in Nairobi for three-day working visit, has revealed his decision on Naira devaluation.

The president stated that he was yet to be persuaded that Nigeria and its people will receive any noticeable benefit from an official devaluation of the currency.
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Buhari was speaking during an interactive meeting with Nigerians living in Kenya. He maintained that while export-driven economies could receive some advantages from devaluation of Naira, devaluation will only cause further inflation and hardship for the poor and middle classes in Nigeria’s import-dependent economy.
The leader of the nation said that had no plan of bringing further hardship on the country’s poor who, he said, have suffered too long already.

The president linked devaluing the currency to having it “killed”. He added that the supporters of devaluation must work harder to persuade him that ordinary Nigerians will gain anything from it.

Buhari also denied proposals that the Central Bank of Nigeria should resume the sale of foreign exchange to Bureaux de Change (BDCs), adding that the Bureau de Change business had become a fraud and a drain on the economy.

He said: “We had just 74 of the bureaux in 2005, now they have grown to about 2,800.”
President Buhari supposed that some bank and government officials used surrogates to run the BDCs and prosper at public expense by obtaining foreign exchange from government at official rates and selling it at much higher rates.

“We will use our foreign exchange for industry, spare parts and the development of needed infrastructure.

“We don’t have the dollars to give to the BDCs. Let them go and get it from wherever they can, other than the Central Bank,” Buhari told the gathering.

“They just stamped papers and collected our foreign exchange,” he added.
The leader of the nation appealed to Nigerians studying abroad to bear with his government as it strives to address the problems they are facing as a result of new foreign exchange measures.

President Buhari left Nigeria for a three-day state visit to Kenya on January 27.
The president attended a memorial service for Kenyan soldiers killed by Al-Shabab with his Kenyan counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta.

The Nigerian leader was invited to European Union next week to address the presidents of country-members.

Sagir Muhammad reveals Kanu’s secret plan

Alhaji Sagir Muhammad, the leader of defunct Arewa Peoples Congress, in the interview granted to the Vanguard, has stated that Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and their leader Nnamdi Kanu has a secret agenda.

Muhammad, also known as a front line General Ibrahim Babangida supporter, said “their hidden agenda is to declare Biafra and then go recolonize the South-South.”

“They would go and within a question of less than one month they would capture all those South-South and colonise the oil fields that is the agenda of IPOB. If you 
look at the East, it is land-locked; they don’t have any serious minerals apart from coal.
“Even the geography and geology of the East is so poor that even to build a good house they cannot unless you build a house in a bush because it’s all bush, it’s all forested and that is why you find the majority of the elite Igbo are now half of the owners of the houses in Abuja.

“If the Indigenous People of Biafra are now saying that they want to have Biafra what are you going to do with more than three quarters of the Igbo who are outside the East?

“Those in Kano, those in Lagos what are you going to do with then? Will you take all those people back to Biafra? They have no houses to live, they have no means of livelihood. They make money outside and not in the East so you find that they are crawling into fantasy world.”
Muhammad also expressed his thoughts about an upsurge in the activities of the insurgents despite claims that they have been technically defeated.

He said that the insurgency is the most difficult aspect of military operation.
“You don’t know your enemy, you don’t know where he is, you don’t know the kind of tactics he uses which is not conventional tactics, you don’t know the kind of logistic he uses and you don’t know where the logistics are or where they are hidden,” Muhammad added.
The former Arewa leader supported the idea of the dialogue with the insurgents.

“If there is no dialogue how do you stop the remnants, supporters, children of those killed from metamorphosing into another insurgents? There has to be a way of making them know that what they are doing is not helping them and that their concept of Jihad is off mark,” he said.

Since the arrest of IPOB leader in October last year, young people, mainly from Igbos, have been protesting in south-east Nigeria and the oil-rich Delta region.

The activists claim that they have been discriminated against by those in power.
The Nigerian government has always claimed that most of the issues the Biafra activists are complaining about are not unique to southern part of the country.

Properties lost as fire razes Jakande plank market (photos)

Another fire outbreak has been reported in Lagos state, this time at the Jakande plank market which is just behind the Community Health Centre in Ketu.

According to sources, the incident stared after a prepaid metre sparked and caught fire at about 4am.
The fire gutted many houses on the street in the process and continued to raze more properties and valuables at the plank market.

Naij.com learnt that properties destroyed by the inferno were worth millions of naira. However, fire service men have arrived at the scene to put out the fire as at the time of filing this report.
See photos below:

Millions of properties have been lost after a fire outbreak in Jakande plank market in Ketu (Photo credit: Emmanuel Osodi)

fire outbreak at Jakande plank market just behind the Community Health Centre in Ketu, fire service men try to put out the fire (Photo credit: Emmanuel Osodi)

Prepaid metre said to have started the fire at the Jakande plank market just behind the Community Health Centre in Ketu (Photo credit: Emmanuel Osodi)

fire service men try to put out the fire (Photo credit: Emmanuel Osodi)

More fire service men try to put out the fire (Photo credit: Emmanuel Osodi)

Cars, houses destroyed as fire razes Jakande plank market in Ketu, Lagos state

Nigerians watch on as millions of properties hit by fire in Jakande plank market in Ketu, Lagos state (Photo credit: Emmanuel Osodi)

Houses brought down to ashes as fire razes Jakande plank market in Ketu, Lagos (Photo credit: Emmanuel Osodi)

Nigerians watch on as millions of properties go down after fire outbreak in Jakande plank market in Ketu, Lagos state (Photo credit: Emmanuel Osodi)

Traders try to rescue some properties after the inferno (Photo credit: Emmanuel Osodi)

This comes just a week after a similar incident occured at the Samsung Digital Centre on Allen road, Ikeja, Lagos state.

According to sources, the fire started from the company’s service centre.

EFCC operative allegedly batters pregnant girl

Blessing Nwokpa was allegedly assaulted by Okeke Edward at the EFCC office located on Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

One of the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has allegedly battered a 19-year-old pregnant girl.

PM News reports that Blessing Nwokpa was allegedly assaulted by Okeke Edward at the EFCC office located on Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, where the man works as exhibit keeper.

The victim, who was a canteen attendant at the EFCC premises, was allegedly impregnated by Edward. However, the man did not want to take responsibility for his actions and offered Blessing N18,000 to terminate the pregnancy.

After her refusal, Blessing became an object of battering and assault by him. The young people lived together but one day Edward allegedly threw her and her belongings out of his house.

Thus, the young girl, who is now seven months pregnant, became homeless and could not feed herself after she was sacked from work.

Desperate girl went to the EFCC office where Edward works to ask for money for food and antenatal care. However, when the man saw her, he allegedly descended on her and was battering her until she collapsed.

According to sources, the intervention of senior officers saved Blessing from further battering. Shortly after the assault, Blessing went to the Legal Aids Council of Nigeria and reported the matter.
It was gathered that the teenager was brought to Lagos by her brother and started working as canteen attendant at the EFCC office. The girl’s brother had accommodation problem and Blessing started sleeping at the canteen after the work.

She said when Edward saw her there and offered help by allowing her to sleep in his house until her brother would get another accommodation.

Blessing said that that during the night, Edward lured her into sex, deflowered her and impregnated her.
The girl said that initially she did not know she was pregnant but soon she started having unusual feeling in her body. Therefore, she went to a hospital, where she conducted a pregnancy test, which was positive.

Blessing said that informed Edward about the result of the test, he became angry and insisted on abortion.
Recalling the fateful day, when Edward bet her, the girl said that the EFCC staff came to her rescue and advised her to go to Legal Aids Council to complain and seek their assistance.

Blessing said when the Legal Aids Council invited Edward to settle the matter, he told them that he would not come, boasting that nothing would happen.