Why I Support Wike As Governor  – Pastor Ibiyeomie By: Ken Asinobi The Founder and General Overseer of Salvation Ministries, Port Harcourt, Pastor David Ibiyeomie has explained why he has come to admire and respect Governor Nyesom Ezebunwo Wike despite 'not liking' him before now. Speaking at the Thanksgiving Service for the electoral victory of the Governor and his Deputy, Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo at the Salvation Ministries last Sunday, Pastor Ibiyeomie said his likeness for Wike stemmed from his disposition two days to the April 28 Governorship Election.

The fiery preacher, whose organization is arguably the fastest growing Pentecostal church in Rivers State, told a crowded congregation at the service that his impression about Chief Wike changed after meeting him on that fateful night during a prayer and fasting programme organized by the church. He said before the meeting, he watched Wike spoke passionately about President Goodluck Jonathan and concluded that only a dependable and reliable ally would speak so good about a principal who had lost a Presidential Election. Pastor Ibiyeomie recalled that Wike came to the church in company of the now Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus and after praying for both, assured them that all was well. “How smart you are to move with the wind determines how fast you are.  He was the only one that came that day and I asked where the rest who are contesting the race with him are?”, he said. Ibiyeomie said he was 'highly charged' with the power of the anointing because of the fasting he embarked on, adding that the rest was 'history'. “All God is saying to you is that there is power in prayers.  Prayers can change things depending on whether you respect the anointing” he told the congregation. Ibiyeomie regretted that even those who had the privilege of benefitting from that 'anointing' as a result of their closeness to him, could not take advantage of what he carried. “Wike came only two days to the election and said 'I know you carried something', well the choice is yours to make” Ibiyeomie told the church. The pastor advised the Governor not to fail on his promises to Rivers people and also enjoined him to beware of sycophants. Before Ibiyeomie opened up his narration of the encounter with the Rivers State Governor, Wike had told the congregation that he was in church to fulfill a vow made to God and Pastor Ibiyeomie. He told of how the Pastor had prayed and assured him of victory at the polls, and that he gave a promise to return to the church for thanksgiving, if he won. Responding to Ibiyeomie's statement that he never liked the Governor before they met, Wike blamed it on what he called 'The life of politicians', explaining that politicians were like chameleons, who will be with you today because of your relevance and keep away from you when you fall out of relevance tomorrow. He agreed with Ibiyeomie that some of those who came to church could have been part of the former government. “I agree with the pastor that some persons had been with the former government.  I was also part of that government but had to leave because of irreconcilable differences.  But one thing that is certain is that once God backs up something, no man can do otherwise”, he said. Some dignitaries who attended the service include Acting National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, former Rivers Governor, Sir Celestine Omehia, former Rivers Deputy Governor, Engr. Tele Ikuru, Arch Bishop Elkanah Hanson, Deputy Senate President, Hon. Ike Ekweremadu, former Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Austin Opara, Senator George Sekibo, Dr. Abiye Sekibo and a horde of former Ministers of the Federal Republic as well as traditional rulers, former diplomats and captains of industries. CBO Sensitizes Communities On  Effects Of Chemical Substances  On Fish Preservation Worried by the disastrous effects of using some chemical substances in the preservation of dry fish by sellers, a community based organization, Lokiaka Community Development Centre (LCDC), with the support of the Global Greengrants Fund, USA, recently carried out series of Community Sensitization Programmes at major dry fish markets in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State. The event, which specifically took place at the dry fish/Cray fish markets at Deh, Kaah and Nyagaba communities, highlighted the negative effects on the consumption of dry fishes preserved with substances like Shoe polish, insecticides, pesticides. Speaking during the concluding event on the theme: “Stop Unsafe Dried Fish/Cray Fish Presentation” at the MOSOP Peace and Freedom Centre, Bori-Ogoni, the Executive Director of LCDC, Ms Martha Agbani described the act as an inadvertent means of inducing substances with causative harm and latent death effects to the human system”. The LCDC Executive Director, explained that some of such chemical/toxics are classified as organic compounds and are annexes to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) as amended in 2009, adding that POPs were traceable to causes of certain degenerative disorders of the central nervous system, like Parkinson disease, still birth, miscarriages, infertility, memory loss and cancers. Participants of the forum who also took time to look at the implications of years of oil pollution in Ogoniland and the relevant recommendations contained in the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report, resolved that a bill on Consumer Right and Protection be passed if there is none, otherwise it should be reviewed to vest certain adjudicative powers in the Council. They are of the opinion that Government should set up a high powered committee and machinery to strategically monitor activities of fish sellers (dried, fresh and iced fishes), including food items consumed by human beings and arrest culprits accordingly, and that Government should also provide drying machines and safe storing gears in every market place with standard electricity where left over of sales would be kept for preservation. The participants further urged that effective and safe method of dried fish preservation be reinvigorated for people living in the areas with less or no electric power supply.