*Donates 8 gunboats to Navy*
Rivers State
Governor, Nyesom Wike, has declared his support for the unity of
Nigeria, stressing that he would never support anything that would cause
the division
of the country.
Wike stated this yesterday, while
commissioning eight Epenol boats donated to the Nigerian Navy by the State
government, charging the military to protect the maritime environment and
people of the State.
He declared: “I believe in the unity of this
country; this country will move forward.
I will not support the division of this country.” Governor Wike stressed
that the security of the State was paramount and urged the Chief of Defence
Staff, General Abayomi Gabriel
Olonisakin, to use the boats for the
benefit of people of the State.
He also
announced the further acquisition of 13
Special Boats to be distributed to the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Army and the
Nigerian Police for enhanced maritime security.
The security gunboats donated to the the Nigerian Navy are fitted with special
security features, 200 horse power engine, 12.7mm guns, automatic grenade
launchers and communication
facilities to navigate Rivers
Waterways and creeks. Launching the security gunboats at the Federal Lighter
Terminal, Onne, Governor Wike said that his administration remained committed
to the promotion of security of lives and property across the state.
He stated that his administration’s deliberate investments in the security architecture
of the state has yielded positive results as Rivers
was one of the safest states where
people carry out their businesses without
molestation.
He said: “These boats are for the security of lives and property in Rivers State. They should not be taken to the
neighbouring states on any account. Any
state that wants to secure her waterways
should purchase her own gunboats.
“The truth is that security is paramount.
There is no governance without
security. That is why this
administration is investing in
security. We are doing everything humanly
possible to support the security
agencies to carry out their responsibilities”.
The governor directed the Nigerian Navy to
ensure that they stop sea-pirates from operating in the State.
He warned the
Navy against using the
gunboats for the rigging of elections, assuring that he would always
promote the unity of the country.
Meanwhile,
the CDS, General Olonisakin, has
charged personnel of the Nigerian Navy to be firm in the fight against
terrorism in the North-East and kidnapping,
oil theft as well as sea piracy in the Niger Delta region.
Olonisakin tasked the personnel during the
passing out parade of of over 1 ,100 ratings of Batch 25, who graduated from the Nigerian Navy Basic
Training School (NNBTS), Onne, near Port
Harcourt
“You are being brought into the Navy when the
country is having significant security challenges. Abide by the charge of the
president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on security of life and property.
“It is also pertinent to draw your attention
to some contemporary challenges, which
you will have to confront as a member of the Nigerian Navy family. You may,
no doubt, be aware of the
security challenges facing our beloved country,
especially in the North – East and Niger Delta.
“The Nigerian Navy is actively engaged in the
collective national efforts to resolve these challenges, which cover insurgency and terrorism in the
North-East; crude oil theft, illegal oil
bunkering, pipeline vandalism, illegal refining of petroleum products in
Niger Delta, with its tremendous
ecological damage to the environment,
armed robbery at our waterways and piracy in our portion of Gulf of
Guinea.
“You will shortly find yourself directly
engaged in the various ongoing efforts to stamp out these security
challenges. I expect you to be
courageous, morally upright and
resilient in whatever role that you find yourself playing as part of the
national effort to decisively confront these endemic ills.
He urged the newly commissioned trainees to
bear in mind the disciplines they were introduced into during the period of
their training and advised them to be obedient and courageous.
Olonisakin tasked them to shun attitudes that
might bring to question the professional conducts of the military, warning them to remain apolitical.
“Remember that the true test of the training
that has been impacted on you here in the past months will be determined by the
way you conduct yourself in the field against the security issues that I have
enumerated.
Sun news reported that the CDS commissioned three blocks storey
building accommodation for ratings and two blocks hostel for under training
officers (UTOs), commended the collaborative efforts of the security agencies
in the training of the ratings and thanked Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike and traditional rulers for
their contributions.
In his remarks, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice
Admiral Ibok Ibas commended the State
Governor for his provision of the gunboats and other logistical support.
He assured the governor that the Nigerian Navy
would put the gunboats to use as they ensure the promotion of security of lives
and property in Rivers State.
…Urges traditional rulers to shun partisan
politics
Rivers State
governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has reiterated his call on traditional rulers to
shun partisan politics.
Speaking during the 75 birthday of the
Chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers and Amanyanabo of
Opobo, King Dandeson Douglas Jaja, yesterday in Port Harcourt, Governor Wike
said that traditional rulers should focus on issues of culture, tradition and
development of their respective communities.
The governor praised the celebrator for
always being apolitical and serving as an example to other traditional rulers.
The governor said that during the 2015 general
elections, some traditional rulers refused to receive him, as was the
norm.
He noted that King Jaja paid the price for
being apolitical.
He said: “The Amanyanabo of Opobo and the
Chairman of the Rivers Council of Traditional Rulers was humiliated for
his decision to be apolitical.
“I will correct everything that was done to
humiliate him in the past because he decided to be apolitical “.
In his remarks, King Jaja gave thanks to God
for his mercies.
He said God has seen him through all his life
challenges, especially when he lost his wife and son within two weeks during
the 23 years battle for the stool of the Amanyanabo of Opobo.
He commended Governor Wike for
executing people oriented projects across the state.
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