PROPOSED REVIVAL OF SOUTH-SOUTH PORTS: A CASE OF CHEATING DOES NOT PAY

On the streets of Nigeria there is a popular saying, "cheating does not part". This saying is open to different interpretations. But the most prevalent interpretation being that in the long run, it is unprofitable to continue to defraud others for selfish gains.

The situation enroute Apapa Port  is disheartening. But it is a classical case of cheating does not pay. It is a case of the deliberate economic strangulation of other parts of Nigeria to the advantage of Lagos State.

We must be courageous to say the truth,  no matter whose ox is gored. Over the years, successive economic  administrators have castrated the ports in the South-South region, citing lame excuses for  their actions.

Today, the consequences  of their criminal manipulation is staring them in the face.

I read that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State begged the Federal Government  to revive existing Ports in other states of the federation so as to bring about permanent solution to the perennial traffic congestion in Apapa axis of the State.

Ambode's call is premised on Lagos' Interest, not on any love for other parts of the country.

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has always emphasised the need to revive the Ports in Rivers State and  other parts of the South-South for the  rapid growth of the region .

Reality has dawned on the Government of Lagos State and hopefully the APC Federal Government that you can not deliberately destroy the economies of other states and be in eternal bliss.

With every deliberate act of economic sabotage comes a price.  For Lagos, this is the price of deliberate plots by the APC Federal Government to suffocate the South-South States.

Through ungodly policies, Ports in the South-South have been made redundant.  Each time, people complain, the APC Federal Government cites security challenges in the South-South.  They conveniently forget that they extract oil to sustain the national economy from the South-South.

A little research on the internet gives an insight on the outstanding Port Facilities in the South-South region. 

In the South-South, we have :

A: Calabar Port : This Port currently has 3 terminals namely; The New Port, The Old Port and The Dockyard and several other crude oil terminals operated by 3 terminal operators. These are INTELS Nigeria Ltd, ECM Terminal Ltd and Shoreline Logistics Nigeria.

B. Rivers Port Complex: This comprises the Port of Port Harcourt and Okrika Refined Petroleum Oil Jetty as well as Haastrup/Eagle Bulk Cement Jetty, Ibeto Jetty, Kidney Island Jetty, Macobar Jetty and Bitumen Jetty.

C. Onne Port : Onne port consists of two major facilities which are the Federal Ocean Terminal and the Federal Lighter Terminal. This Port has been designated as an Oil and Gas Free Zone.

D. Delta Port: This Port  includes the ports of Warri, Sapele, Burutu and the petroleum terminals at Escravos and Forcados.

With these facilities spread across three states of the South-South, Lagos State has no reason to carry more than 40 percent of the cargo into the country. 

With the infrastructural base of Rivers State and her connectivity by rail and air, the two major seaports in the state are supposed  to  be super-functional.

The Ports in Rivers State (Rivers Port and Onne Port)  can easily service the South-East, North Central and North-East States. If you add Calabar Port and Delta Ports to these two, the aforementioned three geo-political zones will be effectively  covered. That leaves Lagos Ports with South-West and North-West Geo-Political Zones.

If the Ports in the South-South are empowered to start full import and export activities, even  up to 40 percent, over five million direct and indirect jobs will be created.

The economies of the entire South-South and South-East  States will be positively impacted. Port Harcourt, Calabar and Warri would be centres of rapid economic expansion and Aba, Nnewi and Onitsha economies will also boom.

This will also translate to improved Internally Generated Revenue (IGR)  for the South-South States. Over 50 percent of the IGR  of Lagos State comes from the Ports and allied activities. The strength of that economy is tied to the Ports. The South-South States will benefit from this advantage conferred on Lagos State by the Federal Government.

Governor Wike emphasised the need for functional seaports in the South-South during the South-South/South East Governors Meeting on August 27, 2017 at the Government House Port Harcourt .

Governor Wike said: “From geo-strategic economic perspective therefore, there is an urgent need to establish and link our cities with railways and super highways; to provide viable and affordable flight services between our cities, and to ensure that cargoes are brought into the country and the regions through our seaports, jetties and ferry services as a veritable means of stimulating economic growth and social progress across our two regions."

It is only in this part of the world that the Federal Government deliberately takes actions to cripple the epicentre of her economy.

All through the three years of this failed APC Federal Government, the few contracts in the transportation sector have been targeted at Lagos. Lagos-Ibadan standard guage rail-line, expansion of Lagos -Ibadan expressway and now the direct intervention of the presidency to address the Apapa gridlock.

There was the same gridlock on the Onne-Eleme section of the East-West Road.  This lasted for weeks. There was no intervention from the Presidency.  Governor Wike had to mobilise private companies along that route to fund the remedial measures that have kept the run manageable. This was done in partnership with the Rivers State Government.

Needless to say that the failed APC Federal Government has abandoned the East-West road and the Port-Harcourt-Enugu Dual Carriageway has become a point  for pictorial propaganda for this failure of a Federal Government.

Now that it has dawned on the APC leadership that they cannot continue to destroy the economies of sister states, this is the time to act.

Since Governor Ambode of Lagos State has joined his brother Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike to canvass for the revival of South-South seaports, the APC Federal Government should for the first time be decent in her approach to governance.  They should, as a matter of urgency,  re-direct cargo traffic to this zone.

In Rivers State, Governor Wike anticipating  a time like this has improved the infrastructural base to carry the weight of expected development.

The excuse of insecurity is no longer applicable. As I write, despite  slight security challenges, the South-South Geo-Political  Zone is one of the most secure in Nigeria today. It is free from Fulani herdsmen, Boko Haram, Militancy and Banditry. The little security lapses that come up are easily contained.

That is why expatriates and Nigerian technocrats drill oil on a daily basis  in the South-South to sustain the national economy.  Each time FAAC is shared, Nigerians must be appreciate  that the peace and quiet in the South-South made it possible.

Aside the revival of the South-South Ports to free Lagos of excess economic  fat, there is the immediate need to implement the Presidency's directive to all oil majors to relocate their  headquarters to the Niger Delta where they are extracting oil and negatively impacting  the environment.

It is ungodly that Niger Delta suffers the pangs of childbirth, while Lagos reaps the benefits  of the baby. These oil majors pay taxes to Lagos State Government, but pollute the South-South States.

For every generation, an opportunity comes for restitution.  The confession of Governor Ambode provides the platform for restitution.  It gives the failed APC Federal Government the opportunity to act rightly and empower  the people of the South-South.

Cheating does not pay. It only generates unnecessary developmental  crisis as witnessed in Lagos State.  You cannot continue to suppress a people. As long as you hold them down, so long you will remain on the floor with them. Nigeria is down because of deliberate acts of political and economic robbery by the APC Federal Government .  The crippling of South-South Ports  is one of such acts.

 

Credit: Scannewsnigeria.com 

NBC FINES DAAR COMMUNICATIONS OVER BREACH OF BROADCASTING CODE

Raymond Dokpesi, Chairman, DAAR Communications, owner of AIT & RayPower

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has imposed a fine of N500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira Only), on Daar Communications Group over alleged infringement on the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code. The station is required to redeem the fine within two weeks.

In a statement issued yesterday, by the Head, Public Affairs of the airwaves regulatory agency, Mrs Maimuna Jimada, the broadcast media giant earned NBC’s wrath through the “Political Platform’s episode of Tuesday, July 24, 2018” which was allegedly “marked by sensational and heated expression of opinion by its anchors, who went on to make unproven and inciting allegations.”

Director General of NBC, Mallam Is’haq Modibbo Kawu announced the sanction “following the persistent and flagrant infringement of the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code through the use of provocative, inflammatory and divisive comments by anchors on the Raypower programme, Political platform,” Mrs Jimada said.

She recalled that the Commission had, on May 2, 2017; August 15, 2017; and February 7, 2018, held meetings with staff of Daar Communications during which concerns were expressed on the unprofessional manner anchor persons had been handling the programme.

Particularly, she said the DG had charged the team on all occasions to be fair and balanced in their reportage devoid of expression of personal opinions.

“He also at the last meeting on February 7, 2018 sounded a warning to Daar Communications to ensure compliance in order to avoid stiff sanctions.”

Meanwhile, the Commission has reiterated the need for broadcasters to always abide by the rules guiding operation as enshrined in the Broadcasting Code.

Emphasis is laid on Section 1.9.3 which stipulates that “A presenter/anchor shall not express his or her personal opinion in the programme.”

Section 5.2.7 states “A broadcaster shall, in using political material for news, avoid taking inflammatory and divisive matter in its provocative form.”

Section 5.2.5 stresses “Political broadcasts shall be in decent language.”

Section 3.1.3: “The broadcaster shall recognize expression as an agent of society, therefore, he shall not use his medium for any personal or sectional rights, privileges and needs of his own, proprietor, relatives, friends or supports.” Section 3.3.2:

“A broadcaster shall acknowledge his or her own inherent biases and prejudices, and transparently rise above subjective mind-set.” Section 3.3.3: “All sides to any issue of public interest shall be equitably presented to ensure fairness and balance.”

Section 4.5.1: “No individual or organization shall be treated in an unjust or unfair manner in any programme.”

Section 5.2.18: “While a broadcast producer may interact with politicians in the course of his professional duties, this shall not be such, as to lead to the belief, that he is either a member or sympathizer of any political party.”

According to Mallam Kawu, “broadcasting stations must ensure that anchors of their programmes are well informed and properly trained on the ethics of the profession as well as the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code as the Commission would impose severe sanctions for any breach of the Broadcasting Code.”

GOVERNOR TAMBUWAL WILL LEAVE APC FOR HIS PRESIDENTIAL AMBITION – CHIBUIKE AMAECHI

Governor Tambuwal of Sokoto state

The Minister of Transportation, Mr Chibuike Amaechi, has Friday, said that the Federal government is aware the the Governor of Sokoto State, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal will soon leave the All Progressive Party, APC, over his Presidential ambition.

Amaechi while fielding questions from newsmen during the inspection of Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri project in Delta State, said the ruling party is not unmindful of Tambuwal’s ambition for President.

According to him, “No matter what you do, the governor of Sokoto will leave naturally because he had the ambition of being the president in 2019 and even if you take a chicken to him he will still leave. It is same with Kwara.”

“These are people you expect they will leave. They left with members of the National Assembly but they came from the areas that the President is very comfortable. Do you honestly believe that the President will lose election in Sokoto? It is one of his comfort zones, he added.”

He said no matter who leaves the ruling party at the end of the day, President Muhammad Buhari will still win. “The next persons that left are from Bauchi and if you bring the president on a sick bed in Bauchi he will win. He has never lost election in that state. If you bring him ion a sick bed in Kano, he will win. Well, that is being arrogant on our side..”

“Again, you will say that it happened during our time but we sold our candidate one year but they are doing it six months to the election. It was clear who will be APC candidate one year ahead of time.”

On the allegations that he is on the other side, he said: “One thing about me in the political history of Nigeria is that nobody has doubt where I stand. One quality I have is that Nigerians believe that I am honest and cannot hide my feelings.”

GOOGLE STATION:BROADBAND COVERAGE: FG TO LICENSE NEW SERVICE PROVIDERS -OSINBAJO

 Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has announced plans by the Federal Government to expand the broadband coverage of the country through the licensing of private broadband providers soon.

Osinbajo said this while launching the Google for Nigeria event at the Landmark Centre, Lagos on Thursday.

He said the measure would improve the digital space and opportunities for innovation and technological advancement of the country.

He said: “Next week, I will launch a climate innovation centre in partnership with the Enterprise Development Centre at the Lagos Business School, here in Lekki Village.

“All of these form part of our ICT road map in which the private sector is an important stakeholder.

“The challenge remains connectivity, extending broadband reach, making data cheaper.

“Our national broadband policy is the first step we are taking.

“And so through the Nigerian Communications Commission we are licensing a number of infrastructure companies who will invest in rolling out broad band infrastructure across Nigeria.

“I believe that we can extend broadband connectivity and reach significantly within a year or two and we will be partnering in whatever way we can with Google, with Nigerian broadband providers like 21 Century Technologies, BCN, to quickly achieve the level of connectivity that is required to march the creative energy that is being released in our country on a daily basis.

“Our goal is to create a data-driven digital economy, one that would lead to the way not just in Africa but globally as well.”

Osinbajo expressed the belief that Nigeria was on the right path as the nation had the people and the talent.

He added that there existed a government that had seen the potential very clearly and showing the determination to unlock that potential.

According to him, technology has put great powers in our hands as individuals, but more importantly as co-creators and collaborators to positively and dramatically change the course of human existence.

Osinbajo noted that with technology, the country could solve many problems confronting the people.

He said in addition, the country could connect people, grow businesses, influence good governance and create better lives and a better country for the citizens and for the future.

He said the country was in many senses at an exciting moment in history because of what the young people were doing in innovation and their sheer energy and talent.

Accordingly, the Vice President noted that the future the country was looking at, which had already arrived, is bound to be an exciting one for the youth and adults.

He said the government would be with the youth in every step of the journey.

The Vice President thanked Google for democratizing the country’s digital space, urging that such innovations should be extended to many of the nation’s markets where a large number of people pride their business.

He observed that through Artificial Intelligence, the country was guaranteed more food and better healthcare.

He said every step made to make technology available would lead to a quantum leap in the African development story and a major contribution to global stability and growth.

He described the launch of the Google station in the country as a very exciting event because of the company’s promise to provide access in several public spaces.

He said the country was happy with the Google’s partnership and had been energizing the country’s markets with solar power, especially in Aba, Kano, Lagos and Ibadan.

He said access to information, tools of education, business or commerce ensured that a lot of gaps of inequalities and exclusion were bridged.

Osinbajo recalled that a digital skills training programme was launched in 2016 aimed at training of 400,000 youth on basic digital skills, adding that the government had since trained more than one million persons in partnership with Google and local digital firms.

He added that to scale up the support of private players in the technology space, government created the technology and creative industry advisory group as part of the industrial council to support young players in the industry.

He stated that through the GEM programme of the World Bank, the administration had given a $2 million lifeline to 79 start-ups across the country, while the Bank of Industry had set aside a N10 billion technology fund also.

He said: “We are looking at increasing the availability of the fund and how to use all the development finance banks to extend credit to innovation and technology start-ups.”

Osinbajo said government was committed to building an ecosystem to drive innovation, adding that government was training 5,000 developers as part of the country’s N-Power tech programme with another 3,000 being trained in animation.

The VP added that government was supporting the students’ hub innovation challenge across institutions to support student entrepreneurs.

The Country Director of Google, Juliet Ehimuan-Chiazor, earlier said the African digital story was evolving and the organization planned to keep building products and programmes to accelerate growth in Nigeria and Africa.

Ehimuan-Chiazor recalled that in 2017, the company had brought together Google’s global leadership with over 200 key stakeholder in the industry.

She said the organisation remained committed to developing the digital ecosystem and making its products more useful for Africans.

She said: “Most of Africa’s biggest challenges may not be solved by methods of the past; with machine learning and artificial intelligence, these problems can be solved in a radically different way both faster and more cost effectively.

“For example today with a smart phone and a camera and existing apps it is possible to detect and prevent diseases, predict severe weather conditions, like droughts, and also address financial inclusion for the un-banked,” she stated.

The Google chief said the country would continue to seek digital growth of Nigeria and Africa as Nigeria currently had over 45 million mobile internet users and future growth would be driven by smart phones currently growing at 14 per cent ever year.

Ehimuan-Chiazor recalled that Google had committed to training five million Africans as well as to train the next developers of Africans and giving them Google certification

Ehimuan-Chiazor said entrepreneurs in Africa would create the jobs of the future, adding that the company was willing to through its Launchpad Accelerator Africa give more than $3 million equity free support to more than 60 early stage start-ups in the continent.

She said: “Since the launch earlier this year, 12 start-ups have graduated from the programme, working across a range of industry.

“They have created 132 jobs and raised over $7 million in funding and their products are used by approximately 4.5 million users.”

Ehimuan-Chiazor also recalled the $20 million pledged to support non-profits in their jobs.

In a related development, the Vice President declared open the Co-working Conference 2018 of innovators in Lagos, where he stressed the need for collaboration and partnerships among entrepreneurs to boost productivity and economic growth.

GOOGLE LAUNCHES GOOGLE STATION TO PROVIDE FREE HIGH SPEED WIFI (INTERNET) TO MILLIONS OF NIGERIANS

 

Google on Thursday hosted its second Google for Nigeria event where it made a number of big announcements aimed at helping more people in Nigeria, and across Africa, benefit from the opportunities the web has to offer.

In a bid to make the internet more easily accessible to people in Nigeria, Google is launching Google Station for Nigeria, a programme to provide high quality, high-speed Wi-Fi hotspots in partnership with 21st Century, one of the largest fibre network providers in Nigeria.

“Google Station will be rolling out in 200 locations in five cities across Nigeria by the end of 2019, bringing Wi-Fi to millions of people,” says Google Nigeria Country Director, Juliet Ehimuan-Chiazor. “Sites include markets, transport hubs, shopping malls, universities, and more. Nigeria is the fifth country to get Google Station, after India, Indonesia, Thailand and Mexico.”

Google is also making search more powerful for ordinary Africans. Job search launched in March in South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya, and is now rolling out in 29 new countries.

In Nigeria, Google is launching a search experience that allows users to explore health conditions based on symptoms, as well as recipe search for anyone who needs a little food inspiration.

Street View’s Discover Nigeria gallery has been expanded to include more of Nigeria’s wonders, including the National Museum in Lagos, Olumo Rock in Abeokuta, Millenium Park in Abuja and Lekki Conservation Centre.

Additionally, Google announced the update of several products from its “Go” initiative, which were launched in the past year.

The Go product suite aims to give people with low bandwidth connections and low-RAM devices the best possible Google experience.

These new features include:

Google Go: will soon read web pages out loud and highlight each word so users can follow along.

BUHARI CAMPAIGN GROUP COORDINATOR, MASHOOD BAKARE, RESIGNS

Coordinator of the Kwara State Chapter of Buhari Support Group, Mashood Bakare, has formally resigned his appointment, ahead of the 2019 general elections.

Bakare, who represents Omupo Constituency in the state assembly, announced his resignation on Thursday, at the floor of the House.

According to Daily Nigerian, Bakare, while explaining the decision, said his resignation was based on personal reasons.

He said he was no longer willing to be part of the organisation which he had been with since 2014.
The lawmaker, however, assured that he would continue to be sensitive to the yearnings and aspirations of his people.
Reacting, the Speaker, Ali Ahmad, inquired if the decision to relinquish his post was willingly taken, and he answered in the affirmative.

The Kwara governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed had hinted that he and other top members of the state chapter, including the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, will soon dump the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He spoke in Ilorin, the state capital, during a meeting with youths, traders, local government chairmen among others.
Ahmed lamented that the APC formed in 2014 with the hope of meeting the needs and aspirations of the people in critical areas of national life has not delivered.
“We are gathered here to consult with our supporters, market women, artisans, youths and women on how to guarantee our people’s interest and our state’s progress,” he was quoted as saying.
“Our leader Senate President Bukola Saraki will soon come home to announce where we will go. APC has not met our expectations. You have told us that they have not met your aspirations as a people in APC.
“You have come to tell us that you want us to move on to a new platform that will give us room to meet our aspirations for the good of Kwarans. By the grace of God almighty, you will have a response very soon and very clear.
“But one is as clear as crystal you the stakeholders have told us to move out of the APC and because we run an inclusive process, that is why we have come to sit here and seek your opinion which you have expressed.
“And certainly your decision is our decision. So whatever you want is what we will do. God will guide us aright.”

I AM STILL A MEMBER OF APC - SENATOR SANI

Senator representing Kaduna Central in the National Assembly, Sen. Shehu Sani on Thursday declared that he remains a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

He said this amidst his rumored defection to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The Senator said this while fielding questions from journalists at the APC National Secretariat after a meeting with the Party’s National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

He backed the ongoing reconciliation efforts undertaken by the Party’s National Executive led by the National Chairman.

“We are confident that the new leadership of the Party has the capacity the ability to address these injustices. In the words of Frantz Fanon, ‘We revolt because we cannot breathe’.

“So we revolted against the manner the Party was run because it is suffocating us. Now we have a new surgeon who is doing everything possible to put it back on track. That is why we give him the benefit of doubt that the problem can be solved”, the lawmaker added.

APC CRISIS: SHEHU SANI SPEAKS ON BEING PART OF PLOT TO IMPEACH SARAKI

The Senator Representing Kaduna Central at the National Assembly, Shehu Sani, has denied being among those allegedly plotting to impeach the Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

The lawmaker described the reports as the handiwork of his opponents, adding that he enjoys a good relationship with the senate president and will continue to support him.

The senator said the accusations leveled against him will not work, referring to it as “cheap blackmail.”

In a statement on Thursday, the lawmaker said, “My attention has been drawn to a report by an online newspaper without a defined address that I, Senator Shehu Sani and other senators plotted to impeach the senate president, Dr Bukola Saraki on Tuesday, 24th 2018.

“I’m not aware of such plot whether it happened or not. And If there was anything like that, it stands condemned. I can never be part of any plot to impeach the senate president because there was never reason to do so.

“I enjoyed a good working relationship with Dr Saraki since 2015 till date and he has always supported and identified with me in my moments of travails and trials and I reciprocated the same to him.

“He has managed the senate with experience, responsibility and maturity and always respects my views even when it differs with his. Fifthly, Senate President and Deputy Senate President Ike Ekwerenmadu have managed the Senate satisfactorily and championed and sustained its independence.”

“My decision to remain in the APC or leave the party is my own choice to make in tandem with my conviction, conscience and the imperatives of the constituents and constituency I represent,” he said.

“Fabrications, concoction and outright lies and blackmail aimed at me, to force me to toe a line against my conscience will not work. Using such cheap blackmail and character assassination against me will not work.

“I will continue to support the leadership of Dr Saraki and Dr Ike Ekweremadu till the end of the life of the eight senate. Once again, my choice of party is my business and not that of any person.”

I CAN’T WORK WITH SARAKI – KWARA STATE PDP CHAIRMAN

Bukola Saraki

The chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara state, Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo, said on Thursday, July 26, that he cannot work with the All Progressives Congress (APC) defectors led by Senate President, Bukola Saraki. 

The Nation reports that he said other members of the party executive committee in Kwara cannot work with the defectors too.

Saraki and the state Governor, AbdulFattah Ahmed, are expected to announce their own defection soon. 

Oyedepo, who spoke on the development during a radio programme in Ilorin, said the national leadership of the PDP has set up a committee to interface between his group and the defectors. 
He said the first meeting is slated for next week.

The PDP chairman, who said he had just returned from a meeting with PDP leaders in Abuja, blamed the party’s national leadership for being allegedly insensitive to the political configuration in Kwara state and allowed themselves to be swayed by funding capacity of the defectors. 

According to him, the option before the leaders is to choose between his group and the one led by Saraki. 

He said: “We have not been opportune to sit down with the Senate president, Dr. Bukola Saraki and the state governor, Alhaji AbdulFattah Ahmed, even though I’m hearing several rumours that I have met with them and that they have offered me juicy positions. "These are all lies, the Senate president despite his humongous wealth, does not have what it takes to buy me. He cannot ever buy me because he cannot buy my integrity. If my bank account is not fat, my integrity account is very fat.

“So they have not met with us but our national body said they have set up a committee to meet with the two sides next week and when that meeting comes up we are going to tell the national leaders that we cannot accept the formula they have put down which is 60:40, 60 percent for a state defecting with the governor and 40 percent for the existing PDP members. "And if they said what of 50:50, or 40:60 or 30:70 or even 10:90, we shall not accept;

we cannot accept any offer. Anything less than our not working together we cannot accept. “So we will tell our national body to choose between us and them and I know that they will not choose us because we don’t have money but we are not worried. We will only know that an end has come to our journey and our relationship (in the PDP).

“If we agree to work with them (Saraki) just imagine myself and (Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed) Maigida standing on the same rostrum pledging to do things for the people. It will be a shame; many people will look at me and wonder what has happened. "So it is better not to be in politics again. Instead of a dog being the treasurer for the lion it is better for both to part ways and go on their separate hunting game.

“The blame is not from the Saraki camp, the blame is from our national leaders in the PDP. Leadership in Nigeria is the conspiracy of the elite to punish the downtrodden.

"When they gave us the party, we inherited nothing and so whatever you see in the PDP today is the product of our efforts. For this alone we should not be interested in defecting from our own house but it is better we do so now and look forward to better future for our dear state.”

RIVERS STATE GOVT ALLEGES SARS THREAT TO WIKE AIDE'S LIFE AS YOUTH PROTESTS

Rivers State Government, RVSG, has alleged threat by men of the Police Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) to kill Senior Special Assistant to the State Governor on Social Media, Marshal Obuzor.

Rivers Youths after their protest march against SARs Brutality in Port Harcourt on Thursday.

The development Thursday provoked street protest in Port Harcourt by teeming youths in Rivers who called for end to reported recurring SARs brutality and extrajudicial murders across the state.

The SARs Operatives had on Monday, around Mandela Car Wash in Old GRA, Port Harcourt, reportedly entrapped and brutalised Obuzor and inflicted injuries on him with machetes and rods.

The victim, Obuzor, narrated to the protesters, including youth professionals and Rivers leadership of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, gathered at the Port Harcourt Council secretariat, that SARS led by one Sgt Clever Kporoko left him with a ruptured ear.

Medical Examinations by consultants at the Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital is said to have indicated that Obuzor would require surgical procedures in France to correct the ruptured ear.

‘In Public view, they used machetes and rods to beat me and seized my phones. They repeatedly threatened to kill me. Even the Government Official who intervened was threatened with death. I was surprised that SARs has gotten to this stage where they don’t care that people are watching”, Obuzor said.

The protesters also matched to the Rivers State Police Command where they submitted the two petitions with assurance from the authorities to investigate the issues and any SARs operative found wanting liable to face the wrath of the law.

Obuzor had told the police authorities that the petition to the Rivers Police Commissioner demanded an end to SARS Brutality across the state, saying that enough is enough.

Adokiye Ogunobere, Publicity Secretary NYCN, Rivers chapter, said, “Rivers Youths write to formally register our protest on the illegal activities of operatives of SARS across the 23 Local Government Areas of the state.