announced.
Speaking with journalists after projects inspection on Tuesday, Governor
Wike said that the Academy would groom International football stars.
The Governor said that the project will create talented soccer players and
manpower that will positively impact the economy of the state.
He said: “This project will be completed and commissioned before the end
of May this year. As you can see, the facilities are almost set.
“This facility will create International soccer stars and develop the
economy of the state”.
Governor Wike said contrary to propaganda by the opposition, the Real
Madrid Football has been developed since it was initiated.
“Already 12 coaches are already in training in Madrid to work at at the
Academy. This academy will help the state”.
He noted that so many soccer enthusiasts have applied for admission into
the Academy.
Governor Wike also inspected the cinemas at the Port Harcourt Pleasure
Park. The facility will be completed before May ending .
“This cinema will develop tourism across the region. We will build a
five star hotel in Pleasure Park “, he said.
…Submits Petition to INEC, Others
The African Action Congress, AAC governorship candidate in Rivers State,
Engr. Biokpomabo Awara has expressed disappointment over the purported
resignation of his running mate Akpo Bomba Yeeh and his reported defection
to the Peoples’ Democratic Party PDP.
Awara debunked claims by his erstwhile deputy candidate that the Minister
of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and the APC, had made
them sign resignation letters.
Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja, Tuesday, Awara dismissed all of the
allegations against the minister as false, stating that Amaechi and the
APC offered him and his party unconditional support, owing to their shared
ideology and love for Rivers State and Rivers people.
He also dismissed his running mate’s ‘compromising’ actions as pathetic,
claiming that he had himself been offered 3 billion naira to drop his
ambition, but he rejected it and his deputy was aware.
His words, “When the story of his resignation first came out as a rumour,
that Rivers State Governor have offered him 200m naira to abandon me, I
had no reason to believe it because that Elder Yeeh was aware I had
earlier turned down an offer of N3b, Gov. Wike offered to me some days ago
through his associates. I discussed this with my running mate and
outlined why we must not succumb to the lure from the governor or any
interest group. I was convinced that we were in agreement because he
neither expressed nor alluded to a difference in opinion on the matter.
“When the rumour became rife by Sunday, I made several attempts to reach
my deputy without success. I started developing some strange feelings
pointing to a possible sell-out by him.
“I am aware that a key component of their plot is to attempt to smear the
towering image and figure of the Honourable Minister of Transportation Rt.
Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. I want to state categorically that all the
accusations made by my running mate against the Honourable Minister are
blatant lies poorly crafted by his paymaster, Governor Wike and
associates, and you could see how tough it was for him to read the script
handed to him.
“Let me be clear. I was never asked to and did not sign any letter of
resignation. I am aware that my deputy also was not asked to or signed any
letter of resignation. My deputy, Elder Akpo Bomba Yeeh is believed to be
under tremendous financial pressure based on his statements.
“The support the AAC got from the Honourable Minister and the APC was
unconditional. Those conditions my deputy alleged in the statement drafted
for him by Governor Wike are false, crude lies. The alliance between AAC
and APC for the governorship election is as a result of our shared love
for the State and our shared vision to liberate Rivers State from the
shackles of cultism, rapidly growing poverty and the unsafe nature of our
State in the hands of an administration that has wrecked almost everything
in our State.
“It is indeed sad, regrettable, disheartening and pathetic that my running
mate will act in the way he did. I feel pity and sorry for him. However, I
must be quick to add that it is one move that has no consequences on the
AAC governorship ticket. It is inconsequential in all ramifications. No
sane man standing an election as crucial as that of Rivers State will say
the things he said.
One of the reasons I picked him as my running mate is because of the long
running relationship between the Ogoni and Kalabari people, dating back to
pre-independence. I also choose him because I saw a fatherly figure and
capacity in him that could benefit Rivers Youths… I personally saw our
joint ticket as Obama/Joe Biden ticket…,” Awara said.
The AAC guber flag bearer further stated that governor Nyesom Wike and his
squandering of state resources to get him a second term by all means would
fail because Rivers people are wiser. He appealed to the youth and elders
alike to work with him to turn around the fortunes of the state.
“Rivers people have firmly taken the position that the outgoing Governor
Wike can no longer lead them. The antics of Wike in using State resources,
our collective wealth to attempt to buy everyone and buy him a second term
in office will certainly fail. The so-called defection of my deputy is a
ploy to distract us. We will not be distracted. We remain focused on
liberating Rivers people, our people from the inept, cruel and clueless
administration currently running the State aground.
“Unemployment is on the rise daily. Private sector growth has a record low
in our State. Kidnappings, criminality and youths in cultism is on the
rise. Go to Trans Amadi, the industry daughter of Rivers State, all the
industries are packing out to new places outside our State. I weep with
deep sense of sorrow because our attention is taken off human and material
value.
“HRM King Alfred Diette Spiff and his likes were older than me when they
turned around the old Rivers State into a garden city of wealth with
numerous infrastructure and bonded our rich Rivers heritage. But today, we
are losing it. I speak to you my fellow youths and critics, you can be me
too one day. Rivers State belong to us and we must work together to
salvage her from sinking.
Petition
The AAC gubernatorial candidate, Biokpmabo Awara has officially filed a
petition to the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC against its
Resident Electoral Commissioner in Rivers State, Obo Effanga, whom they
accused of gross incompetence and bias.
Awara told newsmen in Abuja, “ My party and all well meaning citizens of
Rivers State are dissatisfied with the gross incompetence of the REC and
INEC’s decision to continue with the suspended electoral process, as it is
clearly not a fair or transparent process.
We are concerned about the looming electoral crises unfolding in Rivers
State and this may most likely result in a breakdown of law and order,
destruction of property and loss of lives.
In its petition, the AAC laid its grievances and demands bare to INEC and
forwarded same to other reputable human rights and international bodies.
Some of its demands include:
That, in view of the ceaseless crisis arising from all elections conducted
by the REC in Rivers State since 2015, we appeal that the activities of
officials of Rivers INEC should be thoroughly investigated.
We demand for the Removal of the REC and all the Heads of Department at
INEC Rivers State as it is clear that they and indeed most of the Rivers
INEC Adhoc staff have all been compromised and cannot be trusted to
regulate and superintend the conduct of credible elections in Rivers
State.
INEC should stop further collation and announcement of results of the
Gubernatorial and House of Assembly Elections which they unilaterally and
surreptitiously compiled after the suspension of the electoral processes
as the outcome will undoubtedly be prejudicial and contentious.
The declaration of results in the 7 LGA’s namely Ikwerre, Ahoada West,
Akuku Toru, Asari Toru, Oyigbo, Eleme, and Port Harcourt LGA’s which were
collated and announced both at the unit, ward and LGA levels before the
suspension of the electoral processes should be upheld by INEC, whilst all
other collations should be declared null and void.
We are aware that direct attempts have been made to the RO’s of Asari
Toru, Akuku Toru and Eleme LGA’s by unscrupulous politicians and corrupt
INEC officials to prevail on them to alter the already collated and
announced results in the 7 LGA’s namely Ikwerre, Ahoada West, Akuku Toru,
Asari Toru, Oyigbo, Eleme, and Port Harcourt LGA’s. We salute the courage
of these RO’s that have withstood these overtures. We emphasize that AAC
will not accept any altered results already declared in the 7 afore stated
LGA’s.
Fresh elections should be conducted in the 16 LGA’s where collations and
announcements had not been concluded as at the time the election was
suspended. We reiterate that any results declared after the suspension is
completely compromised and totally unacceptable. They should not and
cannot be declared or upheld as valid results.
Announcement of any results based on the compromised process will only
lead to a breakdown of law and order which will aggravate the already
tense security challenges in the State.