IT’S TIME FG SHOWS EVIDENCE OF BORROWED MONEY – WIKE

PRESIDENT BUHARI MOURNS SOUN OF OGBOMOSOLAND

President Muhammadu Buhari condoles with the family of His Royal Highness, the Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Oladunni Oyewumi, Ajagungbade III, CFR, on the demise of the highly revered traditional ruler earlier on Sunday.

The President commiserates with the Government and people of Oyo State and especially the indigenes of Ogbomosoland on the demise of the frontline traditional ruler whose reign of 48 years reinforced the town as a land of peace, accommodating and a bastion of history and tradition.

President Buhari also joins the Oyo State Council of Obas in mourning the First Class Traditional ruler, who will forever be remembered for his counsel and commitment to the unity and harmony within their ranks.

He urges sons and daughters of Ogbomosoland to be consoled with the fact that Oba Oyewumi accentuated his reign with the development and progress of the community through enduring peace and extension of hands of fellowship to peoples of other lands.

President Buhari prays that Almighty Allah will repose his soul.

Femi Adesina

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

December 12, 2021

US TORNADOES: PRESIDENT BUHARI CONDOLES WITH AMERICAN PEOPLE

President Muhammadu Buhari has extended the sympathies of the nation to the government and people of the United States following devastating tornadoes ripping across six states, leaving destruction and death on their trail.

Reacting to the catastrophe shown around the globe since Friday, President Buhari said, “the destruction of whole towns, flattening of houses, schools, hospitals, businesses and other social infrastructure on a scale never seen before is deeply saddening.”

He said, “our deepest sympathies go to all those affected, as well as the government and the American people.”

The President urged fellow citizens to join the rest of the world in praying for the deceased and the quick recovery of other victims and their families at this difficult time.

Garba Shehu

Senior Special Assistant to the President

(Media & Publicity)

December 12, 2021

IT’S TIME FG SHOWS EVIDENCE OF BORROWED MONEY – WIKE

*As Former Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko inaugurates Rumuola Flyover

Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike says Nigeria has enormous resources, if well managed, can change, not only the fortunes of the country but the life of every Nigerian.

He has therefore, challenged the Federal Government to show evidence where it has deployed all the money borrowed from external creditors.

Governor Wike made the challenge at the inauguration of the Rumuola Flyover Bridge that was performed by the former Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko on Thursday in Port Harcourt.

The governor stated that his administration is propelled by love and commitment to service, which is why it is working assiduously and deploying the State’s resources judiciously, for the good of Rivers people.

“It is very clear that governance is not by magic. It is all about commitment. It’s all about your love for your people and your country.

“This country has enormous resources to change the lives of our people. Nobody should give excuses. Like we would always say, if you don’t have it, you don’t have it.

“So, all these stories that you borrowed money from here, and there, let us see what the money is being used for. If we borrowed money, we are showing Rivers people what we used that money to do.”

Governor Wike said he is preoccupied with the duties of governance and rendering service to the people who elected him.

According to him, his best reply to the opposition is the evidence of the quality projects that his administration has continued to deliver.

It is clear to them, he said, that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) controlled state government has performed creditable well.

Aside the numerous roads completed and ongoing, Governor Wike explained that his administration has within two years period delivered nine flyover bridges, which are handled by Julius Berger Nigeria Plc.

“This government has done well. This PDP government has done well.

Our contractor is Julius Berger Nigeria Plc. We are competing with federal government that is using Julius Berger. Ask them how much it is to pay Julius Berger.”

He further continued: “none of these flyovers cost us less than N7 billion. Now, the average of N7biilion into 9 and the other roads done by Julius Berger Nigeria PLC and the quality they give. I’m happy and proud to associate myself with a company that gives the best as far as construction is concerned. I can move about in this state and country proudly.”

Speaking further, Governor Wike warned criminal elements who steal manhole covers on major roads and on the flyovers bridges to desist from their nefarious activities.

He described those criminals and their sponsors as enemies of the state because they are sabotaging the good works that have been achieved to make motoring pleasurable with the State’s resources.

“Let me warn those who steal the cover of the manholes. You know when you take actions, people bring ethnic colouration. Those of you who are stealing the cover of manholes, if you like come from anywhere, if anybody want to sabotage us, we will tell you how saboteurs are treated.

“We cannot do this road construction and you come to sabotage us by stealing to disappoint us, to make people have accident.”

Governor Wike also spoke about the need for his successor to be one who will not only sustained the current pace of development but outperform him.

He pointed out that such person must rise above selfish pedestal and be ready to defend, and protect the interest of the State against all odds.

Performing the project inauguration, former governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko said that Governor Wike has proved himself worthy his sobriquet: “Mr. Project!”.

According to him, those who feel unsettled by Governor Wike’s words and actions cannot take away the fact that he conceives projects, plan projects, delivers projects because he loves projects.

“Some see governance or being in government as an end in itself, you have deployed your limitless energy, by these accomplishments, to demonstrate that governance is a means to an end; the improvement of the lives of our people.”

Dr. Mimiko also spoke about the need to restructure Nigeria because it is an imperative means to a just, more productive and more prosperous nation.

He noted that restructuring is also about policies and actions towards getting Nigerian children off the streets into schools for the right kind of education.

According to him, it is also about improved subnational accountability in tackling youth unemployment and general alienation and many more.

“It is also not about Niger Delta oil and gas alone. After all, with the present state of climate change consciousness and concomitant investment in renewables, fossil fuel may sooner than later become truly fossil and outdated.

“It is about ensuring that all our God-given minerals, e.g., Gold in Zamfara or Osun is optimally exploited for the people, and not unaccountably, by, and for a few elites and their rampaging foreign collaborators.

“It is about a decentralized security architecture that will ensure nimble, versatile, accountable and optimally responsive formations.”

Providing the description of the project, Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Elloka Tasie-Amadi said the Rumuola Flyover Bridge project that was awarded on the 2nd of July 2020 to Julius Berger Nigeria PLC was complete by August 2021.

Tasie-Amadi pointed out that within the period the civil works lasted, there were road closures, traffic diversions, grid locks, deployment of equipment and workers.

He also stated that there were inconveniences caused to commuters, support from many good people particularly the community, and of course payments to the contractors but all of that are over.

“This flyover measures 532m from Ramp to Ramp with the suspended section being 292m long. Service lanes on either side of the bridge are 8.3m wide and 858.4m long. The entire project is adorned with Street lighting and traffic control fixtures.

“The foregoing are all visible including the 24 piers under the bridge. (24 columns if you may).”

Tasie-Amadi said, before the project commenced, there was only a single carriage bridge which became grossly inadequate for the volume of traffic.

To address the situation, he said, a second bridge was built, service lanes completely reconstructed and expanded and all elements required to ease commute and pedestrian activities were incorporated into the project. That also included but not limited to refurbishment of the old bridge and adjoining streets.

“Please permit me to cease this opportunity to urge road users and the relevant agencies to ensure compliance with codes and strict adherence to road and traffic signs erected around the area, most notable amongst these are signs which make it unlawful to stop on the bridge and high speed lanes and which require that all commercial vehicles use only the service lanes. The bridge is essentially off limits to commercial vehicles.”

Kelvin Ebiri

Special Assistant Media to the Rivers State Governor

December 9, 2021

RESPONSE FROM THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT BUHARI TO TODAY’S DAILY TRUST EDITORIAL: “LIFE HAS LOST ITS VALUE UNDER BUHARI’S NIGERIA”

Given the seriousness of the issue raised by the Daily Trust today, the Office of the President would like to issue a response.

The growing instability and violence in the North of Nigeria and elsewhere is unacceptable. No one, not least the Presidency underestimates the seriousness of the situation. Everyday, the President holds the victims and their families in his thoughts and prayers. Above all, he wishes to reassure them – and all Nigerians – that tackling the scourge of banditry and terrorism remains this government’s first priority.

Sadly, in this respect, Nigeria is not unique. Violence and terror have risen steadily across the entire African continent over the last decade. The Economist magazine in a recent publication wrote about “The Next Afghanistan,” warning the global community of the horrifying security in our neighborhood, citing specifically the states of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. So we understand the frustrations of the Daily Trust and Nigeria’s northern communities about the ongoing challenges of security and the Buhari administration is no less worried. But it is only fair to say that Nigeria’s persistent and continued efforts to suppress that instability have seen results, with the terror group Boko Haram among others reduced to a shell of its former self.

Yet, now we Nigerians face a new threat: the worst global health crisis in living memory. Even Nigeria that proudly holds the mantle of Africa’s largest economy is not immune from the debilitating economic impact of COVID-19. The economic instability that the pandemic has wreaked has proven an effective recruitment tool for bandits and terrorists across the continent.

Indeed, the Daily Trust has correctly identified the source of the violence as “an amalgam of many complex issues” such as poverty and unemployment. It is equally right to note that, in tackling the violence, “force alone will not be enough.” It is quite wrong, however, to suggest the problem of insecurity is intractable, and more wrong still to claim apathy on the part of the government.

So what is the government doing?

First, our military efforts have not let up. It is true that in the face of today’s growing number of threats from Boko Haram, kidnappers and IPOB to your run-of-the-mill bandits, our forces are stretched increasingly thin. But our dedicated soldiers are working around the clock to keep Nigerians safe.

Second, alongside military force, this government is seeking to address the violence at its economic source. Massive infrastructure projects like the coastal rail and new train from the southern coast through the north-east to our neighbour Niger, aim to expand employment and opportunity across the country, bringing hope to our more remote and poorer regions where bandits and terrorists thrive.

Third, even as the West continues to extricate itself from Africa militarily, we are lobbying our Western allies aggressively for partnership, investment and support in other areas, such as proscribing Boko Haram, bandits and IPOB as terrorist groups, which would severely dent their funding; for investment in trade and infrastructure, to help lessen economic instability; and to help with technical assistance, advanced weaponry, intelligence and ordinance.

This will likely be small comfort to the families and loved ones of those already lost. But make no mistake: this is a battle we are fighting without let up. The Daily Trust’s suggestion that the President exchanges violence for the support he got electorally is beneath a publication that claims any kind of political neutrality or integrity.

Now is not the time for this sort of lurid political journalism. Now our focus as Nigerians must be on coming together and ending the violence. As President Buhari wrote recently of the terrorists in the UK paper, The Financial Times: “We will defeat them, one highway, one rail link – and one job – at a time.”

Garba Shehu

Senior Special Assistant to the President

(Media & Publicity)

December 12, 2021