TEXT OF PRESS CONFERENCE BY THE RIVERS STATE CHAIRMAN OF ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS, APC, CHIEF DR. DAVIES IBIAMU IKANYA, JP ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2015
Gentlemen of the Press,
I most heartily welcome you to this Press Conference by the Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
On the 16th November, 2015 we addressed you on a number of issues bothering on lack of capacity to govern Rivers State on the part of the Chief Nyesom Wike led State Government.
Today we shall address you on the state of affairs in Rivers State and the state of affairs in our great Party, All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State.
A. STATE OF AFFAIRS IN RIVERS STATE
1. PDP IN RIVERS STATE IS MADE UP OF LOW THINKING, IRRESPONSIBLE, HEARTLESS AND WICKED REACTIONARIES
The Rivers White Day Procession of the PDP yesterday is the peak of display of impunity and gross irresponsibility. It shows that PDP has no regard for the lives of people in Rivers State. It shows how inhuman and careless the leaders and Government of PDP in Rivers State are to issues that concerns lives and properties of citizens of Rivers State.
When about 100 persons were killed in a mindless terror attack in France recently, the whole world stood still. The world is now united to fight ISIS, but Wike and his PDP staged a dance yesterday after nearly 100 people were gruesomely murdered during the 2015 elections in Rivers State and Nigeria is watching.
At their white day and peace rally, PDP did not deny that nearly 100 persons lost their lives. We thought that PDP will tell the world that close to 100 persons did not die due to the 2015 general elections.
We expected Felix Obuah to tell Nigerians the whereabouts of his bosom friend Chief Christopher Adube, his two children and driver. These are people who served Felix Obuah whenever he visited his friend Chief Adube. Let Obuah tell Nigerians what happened to his friend after he failed to convince his friend to convert from APC to PDP. Let Felix Obuah tell the world what he knows about the gruesome murder of his friend and children and why he should dance and not mourn the death of his bosom friend.
Let Ibiba Walter and Evans Bipi tell the world who attacked the APC rally in Okirika where people were killed including a police officer (Cpl. Ifeanyi Okorie) dand many other people maimed and permanently disabled. God will judge.
What PDP did yesterday in their so called white Friday peace rally was mere dancing on the graves of those they murdered. They could afford to dance because they think they are above the law since the murderers are walking freely on the streets, and the law is yet to take its course; but the APC believes that there can never be peace without justice. What PDP called peace and are celebrating is peace of the graveyard.
Until justice is done, no matter how long the PDP decides to dance on the graves of those innocent citizens that they and their agents killed in Rivers State there shall be no real peace.
2. SENSELESS TERMINATION AND RECALL OF RIVERS STATE YOUTHS ON RSSDA OVERSEES SCHOLARSHIPS BY GOVERNOR NYESOM WIKE
In the beginning, the embattled Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike told Rivers people that he has paid over N800 Million to various institutions oversees to cater for the tuition and upkeep of RSSDA students on Government Scholarships.
Recall that we told the world that Governor Nyesom Wike lied whereas his then spokesman denied. Later the claim was exposed to be a big lie when 19 of those students were forcefully repatriated two months ago. Realizing that his barefaced lies concerning the students could no longer be sustained, Wike clamped down on the staff of RSSDA, closing down the agency even with the nonpayment of six months salaries to the staff.
This week, Governor Wike finally came out with his hate for education of Rivers Children, by announcing to parents and guardians in a meeting that Government will no more continue with the program and that their children would be repatriated back home.
As I speak to you now, most parents/guardians and indeed Rivers people are in shock especially because Government has ruined the career of those children. The psyches of the children have been negatively impacted for the rest of their lives.
A Government that spends Billions of Naira seeking to bribe their way at every occasion but cannot train its own children in schools is irresponsible. Governor Wike��s Government will go down in history as the only Government that has given up on building the future of its citizens. Where in the world has any Government stopped to provide quality education for her children? If basic education cannot be provided by Governor Wike’s Government, what then can he provide?
The significance of this wicked decision by Wike is that he lacks capacity to Govern and was never prepared for the exalted position of a Governor.
The APC Rivers State has passed a vote-of-no-confidence on Governor Wike’s wicked administration. Let all Rivers people now join hands with APC to save themselves and their children from doom hoisted on them by the PDP Government in Rivers State.
Gentlemen, you can see that the Rivers State Government has degenerated to an abysmally low level.
3. UNILATERAL RETIREMENT OF 14 PERMANENT SECRETARIES
Chief Nyesom Wike, Governor of Rivers State in display of maximum impunity and abuse of office, unilaterally and compulsorily retired 14 Permanent Secretaries. APC RiversState considers this act as a vendetta.
4. FINANCIAL RECKLESSNESS
Chief Nyesom Wike has so far collected loan to the tune of N40 Billion from two Banks. As I speak, Chief Wike has made three applications or request to three banks for loan of N22 Billion, N25 Billion and N10 Billion respectively. The Government has nothing on ground to show for the N40 Billion already collected as loan.
Wike’s Administration is mortgaging the future of our dear State. There is no due process in award of contracts, because the Governor proposes the projects, evaluates, awards the contract and makes payment all by himself.
5. CONSTANT ABUSE OF THE JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL OFFICERS
Governor Wike has lost every sense of decency and sanity as he abuses Judges and the entire Judiciary. Chief Nyesom Wike has now recruited the National Publicity Secretary of PDP to join in the display of gross disrespect for judicial officers and the Judiciary.
6. GROWING INSECURITY IN RIVERS STATE
· Rivers State has become a beehive of criminal activities because of arms illegally distributed to PDP thugs during the elections, and lack of moral courage by the Nyesom Wike led Government to confront criminal for obvious reasons.
· The Rivers State Government under Nyesom Wike is totally supportive of criminality. It is no secret that known militants and cultists were appointed as Caretaker Committee Chairmen.
· We now have more cases of kidnapping. In fact we now have kidnappers and armed robbers suspected to be sponsored by State Government functionaries.
· People are being killed with impunity and the murderers are dinning and winning with key Government and PDP officials in Rivers State as though murder is no longer a crime in Nigeria.
· That crime and cultism is thriving in Rivers State is deliberate. It is clear now that the Government of Rivers State does not care about the lives and properties of Rivers People.
· We call on the Government of Rivers State to put the interest of Rivers State above narrow political considerations. Governor Nyesom Wike cannot continue to pontificate crime. It is totally unacceptable.
7. NEPOTISM AT ITS PEAK
Governor Nyesom WIke has reduced Governance to an ethnic affair. Most of the juicy appointments are occupied by members of his family.
B. STATE OF OUR PARTY
1. REGISTRATION AND REVALIDATION OF MEMBERSHIP
In response to numerous requests by members of the public to join the APC and its Change Mantra, the Party has decided to conduct registration of new members on the 14th – 20th December 2015.
We request all old members to use this opportunity to revalidate their membership of the Party.
2. CASES AT COURT OF APPEAL
We have absolute faith in the Judiciary to right the wrongs done to Rivers State. We are very sure that truth will prevail and by the Grace of God, we shall have the opportunity to choose our representatives by ourselves.
Chief {Dr.} Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, JP
State Chairman
Port Harcourt, Dec. 5, 2015
Attachment
1st Pic : Chief [Dr] Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, JP [3rd from left] flanked by State Working Committee members addressing the press
2nd Pic : Cross section of press men at the media parley