He made this known in a statement by Mr Kelvin Ebiri, Special Assistant (Media) to the Governor.

Ebiri stated that the governor, in a broadcast on Wednesday night in Port Harcourt, maintained that Rivers remains the home to all tribes and ethnic nationalities.

He said that the government acknowledges and appreciates the enormous contributions from non-indigenes to the political, social and economic development of the State.

According to the statement, the State Government will neither accept nor allow any individual or group from within and outside to violate the peace, endanger lives and property under any guise.

It stated “the State government is opposed to the presence and activities of the legally-proscribed and anarchic IPOB and whatever it stands for in Rivers State.

“And so, let it be understood that we have nothing against all or any specific tribe and will continue to live in peace with people of all other tribal extractions residing or doing business in Rivers State.

“But we have everything against the presence and activities of the legally-proscribed IPOB and whatever that group stands for in Rivers State,” the governor warned.

“This is clearly a terrorist group which existence, creed, mission and activities are strongly denounced even by the Government and peoples of South-Eastern States of the country.

“I have, therefore, signed the executive order to reinforce the total ban on IPOB and its activities in Rivers State or any part thereof and nothing will stop us from enforcing this ban in its entirety,’’ he said.

The statement also added that Wike also “directed security agencies and the Chairmen of Local Government Areas to fish out and resolutely deal with any member of IPOB found in any community following the executive order and other legal instruments’’.

The governor also announced the lifting of existing curfew on Mile 1; Mile 2; Iloabuchi; Emenike; and Ikokwu areas of Port Harcourt as well as Rumukurushi in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.

He, however, said that the curfew in Oyigbo Local Government Area will remain in force until further notice while the entire Ikokwu motor spare parts market will remain closed until further notice.

In the quest to restore sanity and enhance free traffic flow in roads in the State, the governor said he will constitute a task force to enforce the ban on illegal street trading and the emergence of motor parks along public roads.

He also stated that, in the interim, he has approved the ban on the operations of tricycles, also known as `Keke NAPEP’, on all major roads in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas.

The major roads are Aggrey road; Dame Patience Jonathan road; Eastern Bypass road; Ikwerre road; Aba road; Agip road; Ada George road; Olu Obasanjo road; Rumuokwuta – Rumuola road; and Rumuepirikom – Rumuolumeni (leading to Ignatius Ajuru University of Education) road.

Others are: Rumuokwuta – Choba road; Chief G.U. Eke road; Peter Odili road; Ken Saro-Wiwa road; Nkpogu road; Trans-Amadi road; Elekahia – Rumuomasi road; Yakubu Gowon road; and Woji – Elelenwo road.

Wike also directed the State Civil Service Commission to take immediate steps to employ 5,000 youths into teaching and other career positions in the State’s Civil Service.

He said such steps should be taken as an immediate measure to reduce the level of youth unemployment.

The post Wike signs Executive Order proscribing IPOB in Rivers appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

No new date has been announced for the resumption of the examinations.

The Rivers State government imposed the curfew last week after hoodlums hijacked the #EndSARS protests.

Registrar/Secretary to the Senate of the Rivers University, Dr Sydney Enyindah, said in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Monday that the suspension of the examinations became necessary so as to allow candidates to comply with government’s directives on the curfew and to ensure their safety.

“Following our earlier announcement postponing some examinations in the on-going first semester examination, it has become necessary to postpone all the remaining parts of the first semester examinations,” he stated.

In another statement, Mrs Hope Kue-Ikoro, Registrar at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, said the Senate had approved the postponement of the final year examinations earlier schedule to hold between Oct. 26 and Nov. 2.

She added that a new date for the examinations would be announced soon.

The post Varsities in Rivers postpone examinations appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

This was made known in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Tuesday by Paulinus Nsirim, the Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications.

The statement, which was made available to our reporter, named Justice C. Uriri (Rtd) and Dr. George Nwaek as Chairman and Secretary, respectively.

Other members of the commission are Mrs Florence Amiesimaka of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA); Tonye Ibisiki of the Nigerian Bar Association; Karl Chinedu Uchegbu, Civil Society Organisation; Chijioke Ihunwo, representing a Youth Group; Rev. Richard Opara, Religious Group; Mrs Bella Ebeku, Women’s Group and Somiete Inko-Tariah, Counsel to the Commission.

The statement said that members of the Commission will be sworn in on Oct. 22 at the Executive Council Chambers, Government House in Port Harcourt at 12 noon.

In another statement, Governor Wike approved the appointments of Chief Ernest Chinwo and Mr Kelvin Ebiri as General Manager, Rivers Newspaper Corporation, and Special Assistant (Media) to the Governor, respectively.

The statement said that all the appointments are with immediate effect.

Chinwo was Thisday Newspaper Bureau Chief in Rivers state before his appointment.

The post Wike sets up Judicial Commission to investigate SARS brutality in Rivers appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

The approval was contained in a Special Announcement by Pastor Paulinus Nsirim, the State Commissioner for Information and Communications

It stated: “His Excellency, Nyesom Wike, has graciously approved the payment of the minimum wage of N30,000 monthly salary for employees of the Rivers State Public Service with the consequential salary adjustments as approved by the Federal Government.”

The post Wike approves payment of minimum wage to workers in Rivers appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

Mr Isaac Ogbobula, the state’s caretaker committee chairman of the party, disclosed this while speaking with newsmen at the party’s secretariat in Port Harcourt on Monday.

“The planned congresses of APC in Rivers has been put on hold as directed by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party in view of the development in the Judiciary.

“The NWC is responsible for necessary reconciliation process,” he said.

The Acting Chairman assured party faithful that all other party activities would go on unhindered in the state.

It was reported that supporters of a former lawmaker, Sen. Magnus Abe had threatened to boycott the Congresses for not being consulted.

The post APC suspends planned congress in Rivers appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

Wike made the promise to the United World Wrestling (Africa) while receiving Fouad Meskoit, President of UWW Africa, in Port Harcourt.

It was reported that Meskoit was in the Rivers capital to inspect facilities with regards to the bid to host the 2018 championships.

“As a state, we will put everything in place for the hosting of the wrestling competition in Port Harcourt because Niger Delta, particularly Rivers is the centre of wrestling.

“Let us know whatever you think that is not in place at the venue, we will fix it immediately.

“Be assured that Rivers people will be well mobilised to participate in the competition,’’ he said.

Wike assured them of the state government’s commitment to ensure the success of the championships.

“Port Harcourt is safe for any international competition, we shall provide the hotels you need for your comfort and make the competition a success,’’ he said.

The Rivers governor also promised to visit Morocco on the invitation of the UWW Africa President to see a Wrestling Centre there.

“I hope to honour your invitation to Morocco to see what you have as a wrestling centre and replicate it here within the time frame you built yours,’’ he said.

Earlier, Meskoit said that it was wrestling that started the Olympic Games.

He said that Nigeria almost lost wrestling chance in the 2012 Olympics but for Daniel Igali, the only one that stood and defended the game.

Meskoit said that as an inspector, he ought to be neutral but logic was in favour of Nigeria to host the competition.

He urged Wike to mobilise Rivers people massively to participate in the championships.

He commended the governor for the good works he was doing in the state and said that Rivers people would be proud of him.

Meskoit was accompanied on the visit by Dan Igali, President, Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF), Honour Sirawoo, SWAN President and Sopriala Bobmanuel, Chairman of SWAN in Rivers.

The post Wike promises Rivers will host African Wrestling Championships appeared first on NEWSVERGE.