Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), has commended President Bola Tinubu for ending the emergency rule in Rivers state.
On Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu ended the emergency rule in Rivers state and asked Siminalayi Fubara, the suspended governor, to resume work on Thursday, September 18.
The president also asked Ngozi Nma Odu, the deputy governor, and members of the Rivers state house of assembly to resume their legislative duties.
The emergency rule was declared in the state in March following a prolonged political crisis.
In a statement by Lere Olayinka, his special assistant on public communications and social media, Wike said Tinubu demonstrated commitment to peace and democracy with the emergency rule.
The minister said the president’s intervention restored the confidence of the people of Rivers state in his leadership.
Wike commended the people of Rivers for supporting Tinubu in his efforts to “return the country to the path of progress and development”.
He called on all stakeholders in the state to work together harmoniously in the collective interest of the state and its people.
“From Rivers state going forward, the only news that will emanate will be that of peace, progress and development,” he said.
Wike cautioned politicians seeking to benefit from the crisis to stay away from the state.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")