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Rivers Celebrate Wike As 3rd Anniversary Activities Kick Off …Duncan Mighty Opens Music TV In PH …As IYC Hails Gov Over Boro Day
Thousands of music and comedy lovers from Rivers and neighbouring states thronged the magnificent Port Harcourt Pleasure Park, last Saturday night through yesterday morning, to enjoy the bliss and glamour of “A Night With The Governor”, as activities marking the Third Anniversary celebration of the reigns of Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike kicked off, last Saturday, with a music concert.
At the event, which lasted close to seven hours, international and Rivers-based musicians and comedians thrilled the ecstatic crowd to wonderful music and jokes, particularly unleashed by front roll musicians, comedy masters and artists in the country.
Sensational Bamidele, Flavour, Timaya, Duncan Mighty, Phyno, Frank Edwards, Mercy Chinwo, Jeremiah Demua, Simi, Timi Dakolo, Yemi Alade were among the top musicians present while Ali Baba, AY, Basket Mouth, Gordon, Prince Hezekiah, Okon, Okey Bakassi, and other rib-breaking comedy masters had a field day.
Amongst the thousands of entertainment lovers were the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, his wife, Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike, Governor of Gombe State, Ibrahim Dankwambo, former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, Peoples Democratic Party National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, National Assembly members, members of Rivers State House of Assembly, and a host of other political leaders and top government officials.
Addressing the crowd, Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike said the successful night-out was a further proof that Rivers State was peaceful, and remains a destination of choice for lovers of entertainment.
He added that international entertainment events like a night with Governor Wike was another confirmation that the negative propaganda against the state has failed.
Wike said: “I am happy that this night turned out as successful as this. This has given me the opportunity to know many home-based artistes. We shall continue to encourage these home-grown talents”.
The governor noted that the Port Harcourt Pleasure Park has proven to be an outstanding product of vision as it used to be a den of robbers, which has been converted to an international tourist attraction.
Wike said that in two months’ time, the world-class cinema and restaurants located at the Port Harcourt Pleasure Park would come operational to the delight of Rivers people.
“We will hold this type of concert more often. In the next two months, we will converge in this same venue for another concert”, he said.
The governor, who used the event to renew his commitment to bring more development to the state, called on youth to vote out the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government during the 2019 general elections in the country.
He lambasted APC for its clueless administration, stressing that time has come for Nigerians to sack APC from office by installing PDP to give Nigerians the real democracy they deserve.
The governor regretted that in spite of the fact that Nigerian youth were known in the world to be resourceful, hardworking and creative, President Muhammadu Buhari while in a foreign land, described them as lazy, and urged the over 20,000 youth present at the event to support PDP to come to power and reposition the nation.
Meanwhile, Rivers-born musician, Duncan Mighty has announced the establishment of a Music Television Station in the South-South part of the country.
Mighty, who announced this, during the music concert organized as part of events unveiling the Third Anniversary of Governor Nyesom Wike’s administration, said the station was in the spirit of giving back to the people whose huge support made him the successful musician he was today.
The musician, who came to limelight with his “Port Harcourt First Son” outing some years ago, explained that most upcoming musicians from the state and the South-South at large, were constrained by lack of good television stations to showcase their God-given talents, and noted that with his Music Television Station, the world can watch talents from the region.
He commended Wike for the enviable leadership he has given to the people of the state, and said he was proud of the governor.
The musician, whose performance at the concert set the Port Harcourt Pleasure Park ablaze, was hailed by the large crowd of youth at the event for projecting the state to the world.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that peace has prevailed because he draws strength from God to resist insults and tantrums thrown at him while frustrating attempts by some disgruntled persons who wanted to plunge the State into unending crisis.
The Governor also said that because he has anchored his Government on promoting peace, the enabling atmosphere has been provided for investments and sustainable development to flourish.
Governor Fubara made the assertion when he received a delegation of members of the Bishops and Gospel Ministers’ Association International Incorporated, Rivers State Chapter, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Represented by the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nwaeke, Governor Fubara said while most people took his meekness for weakness, his stance on peace has unarguably enhanced harmonious atmosphere of concord as residents sleep with their two eyes closed, and investors and shareholders are happy with the returns on investment.
He said, “Before, what they hear of Rivers State is that they are fighting, and some genuine investors will not come. Some people even ask you: How are you coping in Rivers State?
“But now”, he asserted: “The Governor has brought about a lot of changes in the State. One of the most important things is that he has changed the negative narrative. It is no longer Rivers of blood. It is now Rivers of peace.
“We are enjoying our lives here. Why? Because there is a change in the narrative. We have peace. The Governor is, as much as possible, absorbing any level of insult at him only for one purpose: that Rivers State may have peace; that we may grow; that this state will experience genuine development.”
Governor Fubara urged them, as members of the Christian family in the State, to continue to pray for the State and the Government so that the enemies of the State will be put to greater shame.
“This peace is what I want you to embrace. Go and continue to pray, because when the sower of the seed went and sowed, the enemy went in the night and sowed tares inside there. But the Governor is sowing peace.
“When I listened to the leader of the team, His Grace Eddy Ogbonda, he said you came all the way from Eleme Junction, and stopped at major junctions, and you uttered prayers for the peace of Rivers State.”
He also said: “I, hereby want to thank you for identifying with the Governor at a time like this. At a time when it looks as if someone wants the Governor’s peace posture misunderstood as weakness.
“When someone has the strength to fight back, but refuses to fight back. That is a bigger strength; that power of restrain does not just come, it can only come from God.
“You cannot give peace, if you do not have peace within you. The Governor is not interested in any form of trouble or violence. What he is interested in is known, and it is: let there be peace in Rivers State,” he said.
In his address, leader of the group, Archbishop Eddy Ogbonda, said they had observed a week-long intensive prayers that culminated into a peace rally, which brought them to Government House, and assured the Governor that God will continue to give him victory over his adversaries while preserving Rivers State.
“It is Rivers State Prophetic Prayer Convocation and Rally 2024 with the theme: ‘Peace be still’. Of a truth, everyone of us understands that we live in a time when we need peace much more than any other thing.
“Rivers State needs peace. Everyone as individuals need peace. The country needs peace, and the world at large needs peace. So, we are here to do a peace march. We pray that God will command His peace to reign in Rivers State,” he said.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has stated that hotels, schools, and other establishments that accept payments in dollars from their customers are at risk of facing arrest.
The Chairman of EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, said this in the agency’s publication called EFCC Alert on Monday, adding that action would be taken against individuals involved in the dollarisation of the economy.
According to him, the exception is if foreigners come in to transact business and the only means of transacting is their credit card and dollar but to charge local customers in dollars or other foreign currencies would no longer be allowed.
He said charging local activities and customers in dollars is against Nigeria’s constitution.
The EFCC chairman said, “Schools that charge Nigerians in dollar, supermarkets that trade in dollar, estate developers that sell their property in dollar, hotels that are invoicing in dollar, we are coming after you and we have made arrests in that area.
“Yes, if foreigners are coming in and the only means of transacting is their credit card, and dollar, why not? You will get that.
“But document it properly as against selling things within the system, local economy and you will be using dollar as the medium of exchange, it is illegal.
“Our law does not allow for that. And we have also affected some arrests.”
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has enjoined Muslim faithful to remain steadfast to the lessons learnt during the holy month of Ramadan.
Governor Fubara stated this in his message of felicitations to Muslims as they celebrate the 2024 Eid-el-Fitr Sallah, which marks the end of the one-month Ramadan fasting.
The Governor emphasised the importance for Muslims to also uphold the tenets of Islam by exhibiting the fear of God and showing piety in their daily work.
Governor Fubara said, “We must all continue in the good attributes imbibed during the holy month of Ramadan as directed by God through His Prophet, so as to ensure peace, unity and harmony in the society for a better future.”
While praying that the essence of the festival offers them happiness, peace and prosperity in all aspects of life, Governor Fubara said he recognises and appreciates the critical role that the Muslim community continues to play in the development of Rivers State, and indeed, Nigeria at large.
Governor Fubara charged them to remain unwavering and steadfast in their commitment and positive contributions to advance the development of the State and the country.
“I enjoin you all in the State to remain calm, be patient and continue to do what is right,” the Governor added.
He wished the Muslim faithful in the State and across the country a happy Eid-el-Fitr celebration.
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