Supreme court throws out suit filed by Wike against Rivers election tribunal

The Supreme court has thrown out a suit filed by Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike against the Rivers state election tribunal. Wike had approached the apex court, asking that the action of the tribunal to relocate from Rivers state to Abuja be regarded as unconstitutional. The tribunal had relocated to Abuja due to security threats in Port Harcourt.

Ministerial Nomination Impasse: My story, by Amaechi

All eyes were on the Senate as the upper chambre screened 37 ministerial nominees sent to it for confirmation by President Muhammadu Buhari over the last two weeks. But none of the nominees proved as controversial as Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, a former governor of Rivers State, whose screening had to be deferred at least once owing to the deluge of petitions against his nomination, and for which he had to face the Senate Ethics and Privileges Committee.

Finally, Amaechi was screened in plenary by the Senate on Thursday. The former governor tells his story in the course of the exercise. Excerpts: BY HENRY UMORU & JOSEPH ERUNKE

WHO IS CHIBUIKE ROTIMI AMAECHI? 

I happen to be one of the best Nigerians to have served as Speaker for eight years.   In the period   I served, Speakers were impeached almost on regular basis. I have also served as a governor   of Rivers State under the PDP, but during my second term, I was  governor   of Rivers State under APC. Distinguished senators, it is a rare privilege  to stand here today to address  you.  I believe that this   is my first time of  addressing the Senate and I thank you. I thank   the President for this privilege. Whether I become   a minister or I not, this will go in the history book of mine that I once addressed   the Senate   of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, but   truly   at the mercy of the Senate.

And as you know, this is a hallowed  chamber, so I am deeply humbled and honoured that I have been   nominated   by the President and to have been give the chance to address you on what I thought    would   be the little   contributions    I have made to the development of Nigeria. I told you earlier that my name is Chibuike Amaechi, I am truly a Nigerian.

Tribunal judgment: I will complete my tenure – Wike

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, sounded confident yesterday when he assured his supporters that he would complete his four years tenure as governor of the state, in spite of the tribunal ruling which nullified his election on Saturday.

Wike stated this at a thanksgiving service held at Obi Wali International Convention Centre, Port Harcourt, where the leadership and supporters of Peoples Democratic (PDP) gathered to honour God over the tribunal judgment delivered by Justice Suleiman Ambrosa.

Wike, who was received with jubilation by party supporters, as he mounted the rostrum, encouraged his supporters that their mandate would be regained.

“We will win and I will complete my four years tenure as the governor of Rivers State. The thanksgiving service today is very significant because, if what enemies planned had work, I wouldn’t have been governor today.

Radio Biafra continues broadcast despite Kanu’s arrest

Controversial Radio Biafra continued broadcasting on Monday despite the arrest of the director of the radio, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu.

Kanu was purportedly arrested by the men of the Department of State Services on Saturday when he arrived Lagos from his base in London.

Ardent listeners to the radio told our correspondent that the Internet-based radio continued with its broadcast issuing ultimatum to the Federal Government to release its director within 48 hours or face a revolt.

However, attempt by our correspondent to download the Radio Biafra app from the Internet on Monday failed.

Attempt to speak with broadcast industry regulator failed as calls to the spokesperson for the National Broadcasting Commission, Mr. Awwalu Salihu, in Abuja on Monday, were not picked.

Ministerial Screening: Rivers APC woos senate

 The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the weekend made a strong case for the immediate past governor of the State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, to be among the few who should be given special consideration by the Senate during the screening of ministerial nominees.

 The party in a statement issued on Sunday in Port Harcourt by the State Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, commended the Senate for decision to be thorough in the forthcoming screening exercise but appealed to it not to totally discard the tradition of asking deserving ones to take a bow and go.

 “We wish to respectfully appeal to the Distinguished Senate to put Rt. Hon. Amaechi on the list of nominees to be honoured with the ‘bow and go’ tradition because he is a distinguished former lawmaker and, indeed, the only Nigerian who apart from being the Speaker of a State House of Assembly for eight years from 1999 to 2007, but also meritoriously served as Chairman of the Nigerian Speakers Forum, thereby greatly contributing to the legislative evolution of Nigeria,” Rivers APC said.

Wike is spending his last days in office, declares APC

The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said Chief Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is spending his last days in office as Governor of Rivers State. 

The party was reacting to the statement credited to PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, who was quoted as saying about the failure of PDP and INEC counsels to appear before the Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Friday, September 18: “Even if our lawyers and witnesses didn’t appear at the Rivers Tribunal today and the remaining days, it doesn’t stop us PDP from winning at the judgment. But should we fail at judgment, we shall win even above 1.5 million votes in Rivers State re-run Governorship and other elections.” 

Rivers APC in a statement issued Monday in Port Harcourt and made available to NF-Reports by its Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, dismissed Metuh’s position as mere day-dreaming. 

Nigerian Army uncovers “unprecedented” oil bunkering site in Port Harcourt

The Nigerian Army says it has uncovered a massive illegal oil bunkering site located one kilometre along the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in Port Harcourt. Stevenson Olabanji, a Brigadier General and Commander of 2 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Port Harcourt that thousands of litres of illegally refined diesel were discovered at the site.

He said that army operatives were immediately deployed to the site at Makoba Beach, which is two kms away from the Rivers State Government House.

Court Reinstates Elected LG Chairmen In River State

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike

Reports reaching DAILY POST has it that there has been a new twist to the power tussle in Rivers state as a National Industrial Court in Yenagoa has ordered the immediate reinstatement of elected Chairmen of 22 Local government areas in Rivers state.

The Court also ordered the Inspector General of Police to enforce the directive with immediate effect.

The 22 Local government Chairmen under the auspices of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria, ALGON had approached the National Industrial court to obtain an order restraining the Rivers state government “and its agents from dissolving” them.

Recall that a Federal High court in Port Harcourt presided over by Justice Lambo Akanbi had set 

aside the Local government election that ushered in the 22 Chairmen.