₦airaland Forum

Irreconcilable

BREAKING: The caretaker committee chairman of the APC in Rivers State, Tony Okocha, has said President Tinubu’s move to end the rift between the state governor, Simi Fubara and the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike has collapsed as crisis in the state has continued to fester.

Addressing a press conference at the APC national secretariat on Thursday in Abuja, following the developments in the state, including the peace move by Tinubu to end the strained relationship between Fubara and Wike, Okocha said, “I wasn’t part of it, but whatever that was it, has broken down, and it has been broken irreconcilably.”

He also said the four members of the state House of Assembly led by the factional Speaker, Edison Ehie, who sat and passed the budget presented to them by Governor Fubara for the 2024 fiscal year were dwelling on illegality, saying their action would not stand.

Okocha said the APC was wooing Wike to defect to the party, stressing that as soon as he becomes a member of the APC, he would become the party’s leader in the state.

Wike has lost this battle..

Open letter to Governor Siminilaye Fubara (GSSRS) and FCT minister, Chief Ezenwo Nyesom Wike (CON, GSSRS)


I write this letter in all sense of responsibility as an Elder Statesman in Rivers State and Nigeria.



I worked in the Brick House, with Governor Alfred Diette Spiff, the first Military Governor of Rivers State as a Sub lieutenant in 1971, I also worked with (Retired) Admiral Sulieman Saidu, the Military Administrator of Rivers State in 1978 when he was COMMANDING officer of the NNS AKASO. I was the Lieutenant Commando and Executive officer of the NNS AKASO and his Defacto next in COMMAND when he was military Administrator of Rivers State in 1978. Furthermore, former Rivers State Governor, (Retired) Col Dauda Komo (1994 – 1996) worked with me, when I was a member of the PRC, Provisional Ruling Council And Flag Officer, Eastern Naval Command, I therefore have reasonable knowledge of the BRICK HOUSE.



It baffles me that what happened between former Governor(s) Rotimi Amaechi and Nyesom Wike in 2017 is now repeating itself in the person of Nyesom Wike now FCT minister and Governor Siminilaye Fubara.

As an Elder statesman with experience in Rivers state history and investment(s) in Rivers state, I here by call for reason and peace between current, Governor Siminilaye Fubara and FCT minister in the person of Nyesom Wike.

Peace is the linkage between Development and Democracy.

There is need for peace in Rivers state to attract investment and development.

When I left public office in 1999 as a Federal minister, Rivers state was higher than Lagos interms of investment opportunities when embassies and Federal ministries relocated to newly created FCT, Abuja.

However because of the development accumen of President Bola Tinubu who was then Governor of Lagos. He was able to attract development and peace to Lagos by creating the right atmosphere for investment. Today Lagos economy is the 5th largest in Africa

In conclusion. I urge Governor Siminilaye Fubara and the FCT minister, Chief Nyesom Wike to put aside thier ego and put Rivers state first before personal interest(s)

God bless Nigeria. God bless Rivers state. God bless the Ijaw nation.

Signed.

Admiral Festus Porbeni.(mni, CFR) Retired.

11thDecember, 2023

His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR
President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces,
Federal Republic of Nigeria,
The Presidential Villa,
Abuja.

ANOTHER CLARION CALL ON MR. PRESIDENT TO INTERVENE IN THE SITUATION IN RIVERS STATE

I do hope this meets you well.

2. Further to my letter yesterday of 10thDecember, 2023 on the lingering situation in Ondo State, I would like to write again as promised to call your urgent attention in dousing the state of deep political divide in Rivers State. As you would recall, I had earlier addressed a press conference four weeks ago when the political crisis started in Rivers State, appealing to you to personally handle this matter. I thank you for the action which you took at the time, including urging the Governor, HE Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor in office, Mr. Nyesom Wike who is today a Minister in your government to sheath their swords. However, let no one be deceived, the situation is not yet over and things seem to be degenerating by the day.

3. Both the Minister and the Governor are my sons and that informs my particular interest to ensure that peace returns as soon as possible to Rivers State. Besides, Rivers State is very important to the stability of the Niger Delta and the overall national economy. Therefore any breakdown of law and order there will not be in the overall interest of all.

4. I am very sure that your security and media people could have kept you abreast of what we see happening every day. First and foremost is the fact that the Governor of Rivers State has since gone on to apologize to the people of the State over what he considers to have been how the political intrigues created anxiety and tension in the state when it occurred. As a former Governor, you will agree with me that this is gentlemanly and commendable of the Governor.

5. However, I am surprised that the public utterances by the Minister, Mr. Wike and other related developments do not give an impression that he has moved much forward in resolving this matter. On one occasion, he stated that “impeachment is not a military coup”, a total outrage when all hands are on deck to consolidate this democracy under your leadership. As a matter of fact, if anything at all, the continued press statements and interviews by the Minister of the FCT leaves no one in doubt that nothing is okay. In fact, in his recent interview held on Friday, 24th November, 2023, the Minister charged to one of his group of guests that the Governor is ungrateful, concluding that “I cannot stand ingrates”. He continued stating how he had helped the Governor to become what he had become today and threatening publicly that he would continue the fight if the Governor “changes the structures which I left in the state.” Related to this is the report that was in the public that members of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to the Minister trooped to Abuja to hold a retreat which is obviously intended at enabling them stay out home to strategize and re-strategize with their principal.

6. Mr. President, I want to seek your clarification, why is the Minister keeping structures and for what purpose. I recall that in his days as a Governor, he had attacked the concept of godfatherism as totally unacceptable. As a matter of fact, this made him to fall out with his predecessor, Rt. Hon. RotimiAmaechi, the immediate past Minister of Transportation, whom we know was not even directly interfering in the affairs of the state. So, what purpose are the structures supposed to serve when there is a governor in place? This is a question that he owes you and all Nigerians. If all governors who as a matter of right, insist on allowing their favoured candidates as successor, insist on controlling them, insist on controlling the State Assemblies, insist on controlling the structure which they left behind, what manner of confusion will we have in Nigeria?

7. To further put themselves against the Governor and possibly drag you and your political party, the APC, we are now receiving a breaking news that “27 Members of Rivers State House of Assembly (all of whom are PDP like the Governor) decamp to the APC. The question is what is going on? In his state, at a relatively young age of 55 years, my son Wike had been a Minister of State, Minister in Federal Ministry of Education, before serving as Governor for 8 years and now Minister of FCT. So what does he need a structure for? This is very curious. If strong politicians such as yourself and other former presidents never talk about controlling structures, so how can a minister be threatening a governor not to touch a structure he has left in place. This is a bad precedent and if other Ministers in your government follow this trend, then it will be total confusion!

8. Another very disturbing development is the interview granted by the Minister at another occasion on Thursday, 23rd November 2023 that made the front page of almost every newspaper to the effect “I have no intention to contest election in 2027”. At the age of 96 and half years and having spent 70 years in politics in this country, I have never heard such an audacious statement being made by a Minister insisting that he has no ambition to contest against his principal who occupies the highest office of the presidency of Nigeria. This is a minister that has been in office for only 4 months with a very huge portfolio, more than perhaps 80% of his colleagues and from an opposition party, the PDP, talking about not interested in contesting against the man who appointed him. This will hardly happen under someone like President Obasanjo whom I often disagree with and even former President Goodluck Jonathan who some accuse as too soft.

9. Having served in the Federal Executive Council myself under General Yakubu Gowon, to some of us, the Office of the President is highly exalted and a minister serving in the Federal Executive Council cannot therefore equate as whether he will be contesting against him in 4 years’ time or not. As a member of your cabinet, you may need to call this minister to order to face the work in the quietness which is demanded of him. He should focus on his office and know that he is just one among a cabinet of 48 persons, besides the Vice President and yourself. The country has enough problems which your government must sit down to solve. The FCT itself is full of challenges all over and he has more than he can chew and therefore avoid these distractions.

10. I have to speak out because unfortunately those in my category who I sometime say have already collected our boarding passes and seeing this country evolve through thick and thin are very few, while some others are not willing or ready to talk about issues, I have been too active and owe it a duty to add my voice to these issues which need to be corrected.

11. I wish you and your government the best and pray for your success.

Chief Edwin Clark, OFR, CON
LEADER PAN-NIGER DELTA FORUM (PANDEF)

Here we go


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knsSXlwi3rc?si=zJK1VY40orwoJPCK

Tough group

Here we go


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrxUgOBDvYg?si=oXEZ3b7oJDkci1Iz

More

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtNyPx7RFoE?si=UDAcFBE9XY3X--hs

Extended highlights


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUN6W4ufhzQ?si=BHde-lJpU79_gKDc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTEyfB8j04c?si=kthlhPfvvcGymziA

Video

Extended highlights of the Amayanabo cu in Bonny Island


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGiVbs_FBzA?si=nfBeulODEBnz1SWX

More

More pictures

Bonny Island sweet..

Here

More

The Amayanabo cup iis it's third edition

More

The Amayanabo cup is open to clubs only in Bonny Island.

Organisers thinking of. Including women in next edition.

More

More

The prize money is N3m.

It is the most difficult grassroot football competition to win in Rivers state.

The Amayanabo is sponsored by NLNG.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XntY1W44CKs?si=Kp3bGULVkaNehBbo

Here

Court of Appeal to deliver Judgment for Rivers State Governorship election tomorrow.
Rivers State Governor, Sim Fubara Camp alleged that Wike plans to use the courts to remove Sim and back another candidate from another party in a fresh election.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xd4bGQBFeHQ?si=Ok7of7_Gec3R1CjU

Group accuses FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike of gross abuse of office and misappropriation of public funds, says the former Governor is favoring his associates from Rivers State in contract awards and utilizing public funds to sustain his opulent lifestyle.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIRNlSO27s8?si=-gtEdZjK6FL9Pxuw