Politics
“Voting PDP Will Sustain Dev In Rivers” – Wike
Last week in Government House was a mixed vibe of
activities covering courtesy calls, swearing-in of Substantive Chief of the State, commissioning of projects and re-run campaigns in Abua and Ahoada local government areas.
Observing the Mother’s Day Celebration last week Sunday, Governor Wike in a message to celebrate Mothers in Rivers State said the state was founded on productivity and contributions of mothers. The governor described Mothers as critical partners in the state development, and urged them to sustain the tempo.
The governor’s message was re-echoed by his wife, Justice, Eberechi Nyesom-Wike during a church service to mark Rivers State Women’s Mothering Sunday at Christ Anglican Church, Port Harcourt, Justice Wike said Women must seek the cooperation of men to advance women rights in the society.
The governor was represented by his Chief of Staff last Sunday at Rumuji in Emohua during Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rally at Ward 13, where 150 members of the All Progressives Congress defected to the PDP.
The governor’s wife, Justice Eberechi Nyesom-Wike on Monday commenced activities to mark this year’s International Women’s Day by visiting the Port Harcourt Children Home. She harped on the need to provide quality education to children with special needs in order to equip them to live productive life in the future.
On Tuesday, Governor Wike swore-in Justice Iyaye Laminkara as a substantive Chief Judge of the State. This followed her confirmation by the State House of Assembly on Monday. Justice Laminkara is the second female Chief Judge of the State. Shortly after her swearing-in, Governor Wike urged her to dispense justice without fear or favour.
After the swearing-in ceremony, Wike headed straight to flag off construction of Ozuoba-Rumuosi Road. At the ceremony, the governor assured Rivers people that nobody can rig the re-run election once they can stand their ground and resist manipulation.
The governor was represented by the secretary to the State Government Chief Kenneth Kobani at the International Women Day. He challenged Women to rise up and speak for their rights, insisting that deprived and poor women should be assisted through special empowerment programmes.
Rivers deputy governor, Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo, joined other top dignitaries to mark the International Women Day. She observed that since the Beijing Conference, Rivers State has been at the forefront of protecting women rights, saying about 84 women have served in government positions since then.
On Wednesday, while receiving the new Managing Director of Total E&P Nigeria Limited, Governor Wike said all efforts were being done to check cult-related killings in the state. He maintained that it was unfair to play politics with the lives and property of Rivers people.
In a statement last Wednesday shortly before the weekly state Executive Council meeting, Commissioner for Information and Communications, Dr Austin Tam-George, condemned the statement made by the Acting National Chairman of APC, Mr Segun Oni that Wike was responsible for the killings in Rivers State.
The commissioner later briefed newsmen on the outcome of the Exco meeting and disclosed plans by government to conduct fresh audit of civil servants in the state through biometric data capture in the next four weeks.
Governor Nyesom Wike unveiled the phase one of the Nkpogu Bridge on Thursday and laid foundation for the second phase immediately. He charged the people to vote the PDP to sustain the tempo of developmental projects.
The governor on Friday addressed thousands of PDP faithful at Abua/Odual Local Government Area, calling on them to be vigilant ahead of the re-run elections. The governor reiterated the same call on Saturday at Ahoada Town during Rivers West Senatorial Campaign flag-off. He dismissed claims by the erstwhile governor that the failed to protect lives and property, describing the allegation as a ploy to destabilise the state. Wike submitted that he would make any sacrifice to protect the lives of Rivers people.
Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has renamed The Polytechnic, Ibadan as Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan, in honour of a late former governor of the State, Dr Omololu Olunloyo.
Dr Olunloyo, who died on April 6, 2025, was the pioneer Principal of the Polytechnic, Ibadan, while he also served as Governor of Oyo State between October 1 and December 31, 1983.
Governor Makinde made the announcement at the state interdenominational funeral service held yesterday in honour of the late former governor at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Liberty Road, Ibadan.
Governor Makinde said Dr Olunloyo lived an eventful life, adding that his attainment and personality could not be summarised in one sentence.
“He was not a man we could summarise in one sentence. He was a scholar, a statesman, a technocrat, a lover of culture and, above all, a man of deep conviction.
“While giving the exhortation, I was listening to Baba Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu and he said in 1983, Baba became Governor of Oyo State. Though his time in office was brief, his election victory over a popular incumbent remains a powerful testament to the trust people gave him.
“I talked about preserving and digitising his library yesterday [Wednesday] as a mark of honour to Baba Olunloyo.
“Today, we will be giving Baba another honour to immortalise him. He was the first Principal of The Polytechnic, Ibadan; that institution will now be named Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan.”
Earlier in his sermon, a retired Methodist Archbishop of Ilesa and Ibadan, Ayo Ladigbolu, described the late Olunloyo as a role model with intellectual inspiration and unassailable integrity.
The cleric said the deceased also demonstrated leadership in most superior quality during his lifetime.
In attendance were the state Deputy Governor, Chief Abdulraheem Bayo Lawal; wife of a former Military Governor of the old Oyo State, Chief (Mrs) Dupe Jemibewon; wife of a former Governor of Oyo State, Chief (Mrs) Mutiat Ladoja; former Deputy Governor and PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja; and former Deputy Governor, Hazeem Gbolarumi.
Others were the member representing Ibadan North-East/South-East Federal Constituency, Hon Abass Adigun Agboworin; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi; Oyo State Exco members; Chairman of Oyo State Elders’ Council, Dr Saka Balogun; Chairman of All Local Government Chairmen in Oyo State, Hon Sikiru Sanda; President-General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Chief Adeniyi Ajewole; religious leaders and family members, among other dignitaries.
Ten members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC) have countered the Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, on the reinstatement of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary.
The dissenting members, led by the Deputy National Chairman ( South), Taofeek Arapaja, in a joint statement, said no organ of the opposition party could overturn the decision of the 99th meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC).
The dissenting NWC members include Arapaja; Setonji Koshoedo, Deputy National Secretary; Okechukwu Obiechina-Daniel, National Auditor; Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary; Ologunagba; Woyengikuro Daniel, National Financial Secretary and Ahmed Yayari Mohammed, National Treasurer.
Others are Chief Ali Odefa, National Vice Chairman (South East); Emmanuel Ogidi, Caretaker Committee Chairman (South South); Mrs. Amina Darasimi D. Bryhm, National Woman Leader and Ajisafe Kamoru Toyese, National Vice Chairman (South West).
The group also insisted that contrary to the position of the acting National Chairman, the 100th NEC meeting of the party would be held on June 30 as earlier scheduled.
The statement read: “The attention of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to a press briefing by the acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum, today Wednesday, June 25, wherein he attempted to overturn the resolution of the 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting which scheduled the 100th NEC meeting for Monday, June 30.
“The acting National Chairman in the said press briefing also reportedly announced that Senator Samuel Anyanwu has been asked to resume as National Secretary of the party contrary to the resolution of the 99th NEC meeting, which referred all matters relating to the office of the National Secretary to the 100th NEC meeting.
“The pronouncements by the acting National Chairman have no foundation as no organ of the party (including the NWC), individual or group has the power to cancel, overrule, veto or vary the resolution of the National Executive Committee (NEC) under the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).
“For the avoidance of doubt, the NEC is the highest decision-making organ of the party, second only to the National Convention. By virtue of Section 31 (3) of the PDP Constitution, the resolution of the NEC to hold its 100th meeting on Monday June 30, is binding on all organs, officers, chapters and members of the party and no organ, group or individual can vary or veto this resolution of NEC.
“Furthermore, the claim by Damagum that Sen Anyanwu has been asked to resume office as the National Secretary of the party is, therefore, misleading being contrary to the resolution of NEC.
“In the light of the foregoing, the 100th NEC meeting as scheduled for Monday, June 30, has not been canceled or postponed.”
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has fired back at former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, following the latter’s scathing criticism of President Tinubu’s administration and his 2027 re-election prospects.
In an interview on live television, Mallam El-Rufai said it would take a “miracle” for President Tinubu to be re-elected in 2027, citing an internal poll that purportedly shows a 91 percent disapproval rating for the president across key regions in the country, including the South-East and the North. He also claimed that President Tinubu’s disapproval rating in Lagos stood at 78 percent.
Reacting on Wednesday via a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mr Onanuga took a swipe at the ex-governor, quoting a harsh assessment of Mallam El-Rufai’s character from former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s memoir, My Watch.
“Nasir’s penchant for reputation savaging is almost pathological,” Mr Onanuga wrote, citing Chief Obasanjo’s words. “Why does he do it? Very early in my interaction with him, I appreciated his talent. At the same time, I recognised his weaknesses; the worst being his inability to be loyal to anybody or any issue consistently for long, but only to Nasir El-Rufai.”
The presidential adviser emphasised Chief Obasanjo’s remarks that Mallam El-Rufai often tries to elevate himself by diminishing others. “He lied brazenly, which he did to me, against his colleagues and so-called friends,” Mr Onanuga continued, quoting the former President. “I have heard of how he ruthlessly savaged the reputation of his uncle, a man who, in an African setting, was like a foster father to him.”
Chief Obasanjo, who appointed Mallam El-Rufai as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory between 2003 and 2007, did not mince words in the memoir, describing Mallam El-Rufai as suffering from “small man syndrome.”
Mr Onanuga’s post is seen as a direct rebuttal to Mallam El-Rufai’s recent criticism and growing opposition role. The former governor is reportedly playing a central role in forming a new coalition to challenge President Tinubu in the 2027 general election.
In March 2025, El-Rufai officially dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP), intensifying speculations about his 2027 political ambitions.
As the political rift deepens, Mallam El-Rufai remains one of the most vocal critics of the Tinubu administration, while Mr Onanuga and other presidential allies continue to push back against what they describe as “reckless” opposition rhetoric.