Wike announces N500-Million business devt  scheme for women

RIVERS State Governor, Nyesom Wike has announced a business development scheme worth N500million for Rivers Women in 2018 even as the women joined the emerging tradition in the state where groups have been trooping to the government house to declare their support for the governor to continue for a second term in office.

The Governor made the announcement Thursday while responding to Rivers women who visited him to declare their support for him to run for a second term in the forthcoming 2019 general elections.

He said that the fund would be domiciled at the state’s Microfinance Bank and managed by the Ministry of Women Affairs stressing the empowerment scheme will assist the women to develop small-scale businesses adding that the State Women Development Centre will be completed in 2018.

The Governor declared that supporting the All Progressives Congress, APC to form the Federal Government in 2019 is akin to digging the nation’s grave, as the country is already dead since they gained control in 2015.

Wike said that all Nigerians irrespective of gender have a solemn responsibility of ending the failed APC Federal Government in 2019.

He said that the nationwide breakdown of security, especially in APC states, exemplifies the failure of the incumbent administration to productively manage national resources.

“Nigeria is in crisis. Never in the history of this country have we had a crisis of this magnitude.  Rather than resolve developmental challenges, they continue to give excuses for their failure.

“We must come together in 2019 to protect our votes. Supporting APC is like digging our graves. The country is already dead under their control. Every day, the country is moving from one problem to another”, the Governor stated.

He added that APC leaders from the state take pride in de-marketing and destroying the economy of the state for political reasons charging the women to jealously protect their permanent voters’ cards as that is the only weapon to uproot the APC in 2019.

The women in their solidarity message declared that they will follow their endorsement with massive rural and urban mobilisation of all groups to vote overwhelmingly for Governor Wike in 2019.

The women in their thousands marched from Mile One to Government House, Port Harcourt, celebrating Governor Wike and creating awareness on his achievements. As they marched to Government House, Port Harcourt, they displayed banners and placards urging Governor Wike to seek re-election.

The women were drawn from the 23 Local Government Areas of the state, with each highlighting the projects executed by Governor Wike in their respective councils.

In a solidarity message, Former Rivers State Chairman of the  Federation of Female Lawyers, Mrs Florence Amiesimaka said Governor Wike has made Rivers people proud through development projects, hence the endorsement.

She assured the governor that Rivers Women will stand with him all through the electioneering period up to his re-election.

A spokesperson for Rivers South-East Women, Mrs Charity Demua declared that the women have experienced good governance under the leadership of Governor Wike, saying that they will reciprocate by re-electing him.

Mrs Macetelli of Rivers West and Mrs Carol John of Rivers East stated that the infrastructural development has had a positive impact on the lives of women and their businesses.

Rivers State Women Affairs Commissioner, Mrs Ukel Oyaghiri lauded Governor Wike for his commitment to the welfare of Rivers Women.

The highpoint of the occasion was the presentation of gifts by the women to the Rivers State Governor.