Senator Ake Hails Appeal Court Judgment On Rivers State... Says Nigerians Are In Support Of Buhari's War Against Corruption

The Appeal Court judgment that upheld the decision of the Rivers State Governorship Tribunal Judgment which sacked the Rivers State Governor Barr. Nyesom Ezebunwo Wike has been applauded by Sen. Wilson Ake.Asinobi Ake. Sen Ake served in the Nigerian Senate between 2011 to June 2015.

Senator Wilson Ake while reacting to the Appeal Court Judgment that sacked three members of the Senate from Rivers State and members of the Federal House of Representatives from Rivers state as well as upholding the Tribunal judgment that sacked the Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike said the judgments as delivered by the Appeal Court was a true reflection of the wishes and aspirations of the people of Rivers State.

Sen. Ake while condemning the violence that enveloped the election in Rivers state earlier this year said the judiciary by its judgment has shown that it is truly the in sync with the political aspirations of the people of Rivers state.

Senator Wilson Ake while stressing the fact that the APC has all it takes to win the election in Rivers State when the time comes said Rivers people were not benefitting anything by playing opposition politics.

He said there is nothing that will make Rivers people vote in the Peoples Democratic Party PDP if election is organized today due to what he said is their penchant for violence and failure to ensure good governance in the state. He said he is confident that all members of the APC that is contesting election will win because they are generally accepted by the people of the state. He commended the people of Rivers State for their patience and understanding through the court process stating that their peaceful disposition is worth commending.

Sen. Wilson Asinobi Ake also commended President Buhari’s anti-corruption war. He said it is imperative that Nigerians support the President in his war against corruption. “Nigerians have shown that they are in support of the anti-corruption war of President Muhammadu Buhari. This support is commendable and it is important that the agencies involved in the fight against corruption ensure that they don’t let the President or the nation down in this” Sen.  Ake said.

Ijaw Youths Accuse Buhari Of ‘Witch-hunting’ Jonathan’s Allies In Anti-Corruption War

The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) on Tuesday said that the federal government’s clampdown on former President Goodluck Jonathan’s men from the Niger Delta region was a witch-hunt targeted at prominent Niger Delta people.

IYC President Udengs Eradiri made the observation in a news conference in Yenagoa, listing Raymond Dokpesi, Patrick Akpobolokemi, and Government Tompolo, amongst others.  He did not say anything about Ret. Colonel Sambo Dasuki, Attahiru Bafarawa, media mogul Raymond Dokpesi, or Bashir Yuguda.

The Youth leader cited the sharp drop in the 2016 budget estimate for the amnesty programme from N50bn to N20bn as being part of the ‘plot’ against the Niger Delta people, adding that the reduction also affected the Niger Delta Development Commission.

Eradiri stated that the reduction in budget estimates for the intervention agencies for the Niger Delta region portends harsh economic woes for the region, arguing that slashing such estimates for the region from where 90% of the estimated N6trn revenue for 2016 was unfair.

He expressed the view that that nonpayment of stipends to ex-militants has increased the crime rate in the region.

“The amnesty programme boosted oil production from 60,000 barrels per day to over 2 million barrels as at today, we feel that the fund being spent to sustain the amnesty programme is worthwhile and justified.

“The slashing of the amnesty funds is an indication that the amnesty programme cannot be sustained and this can trigger crisis in the region and endanger the economic life wire of the nation,” the youth leader said.

He called on the federal government to reverse the reduction of the estimates so as to avoid jeopardizing the expected sources of revenue to meet the expectations of Nigerians and fulfill its campaign promises.

Eradri further urged the federal government to make its current anti-corruption policy holistic, rather than target prominent Niger Delta people in the administration of former president Jonathan.

“We are fully in support of the anticorruption policy but we insist that it should not be selective, anyone who held public office should give account of his stewardship,” he said.

On the Bayelsa governorship polls, the IYC President said that his group remained non-partisan, and commended the electoral commission for cancelling the results of the elections in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.

He urged commission to ensure that the rescheduled election in the area was peaceful.

Northern Elders Forum, ACF back Buhari’s anti-corruption war

Leaders of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) and the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) yesterday gave their backing to President Muhammadu Buhari’s corruption battle especially his effort to recover the $2.1 billion arms purchase funds allegedly diverted and shared under former National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki.

 The ex-NSA is standing trial for alleged misapplication and fraudulent disbursement of over N31b meant for purchase of arms.

 Some North’s elders according to sources are scheming to prevail on the President to provide soft-landing for some of the suspects.

 But Chairman of NEF, Prof. Ango Abdullahi said yesterday that members of the organisation are on the same page with the president.

 Prof. Abdullahi, who  spoke in a telephone interview with our correspondent in Abuja,  said: “I am not aware of any plans by the Northern elders to meet with the president. If there is any plan like that, I am not aware.

 ”We are in full support of recovering money stolen by anyone. We support the recovery of all of it.

 ”We are not worried about any thief being discovered in the North. A thief in Kaduna is a thief anywhere.”

 Also, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) Chair Ibrahim Coomassie, commended President Buhari for his anti-corruption battle.

Coomassie, who also spoke to our correspondent on the telephone, added that the region was in support of the president’s effort to recover stolen funds.

 ”The President’s fight against corruption is perfect,” he said.