Politics
Wike Tasks Stakeholders On NAFEST 2018
Activities in Government House, Port Harcourt, began on a celebration note last week, following the successful conduct of the PDP National Convention in Port Harcourt.
Winner of the primary and the party’s Presidential flag bearer, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar led a powerful delegation yesterday, right from the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, venue of the convention on a ‘ Thank You Visit’ to the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike in Government House.
In Atiku Abubakar’s entourage were former Governor of Ogun state, Otumba Gbenga Daniel, former Governor of Anambra State, Dr Peter Obi who was later chosen as the running mate to the Presidential flag bearer, PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus , Sen. Ben Murray Bruce, Sen. Sam Anyanwu, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Austin Opara, and Edo State Chairman of PDP, Chief Dan Orbih.
Atiku said: “ I came to personally congratulate the governor, the people and Government of Rivers State and also thank him for hosting a most successful convention.”
He lamented the hardship Nigerians were facing as a result of APC’s failed leadership and stressed the need for the country to chart a new direction.
Governor Wike, who congratulated Atiku on his emergence as the PDP presidential candidate, emphasised the need for all PDP leaders and well- meaning Nigerians to consider it a duty to form a united front to sack the failed APC government irrespective of party affiliation.
Wike said party leaders may have supported different aspirants during the primaries, but that with the emergence of a flag bearer, all hands must be on deck to ensure eventual victory of the party.
Another major event at the week under review was the unveiling of the mascot and theme song for the 2018 National Festival of Arts and Culture ( NAFEST ), Wednesday in Port Harcourt by Governor Wike.
At the event, which marked the beginning of the national ceremony, the governor declared that the ceremony is another platform for Nigerians to witness the rich culture and tradition of the state.
He stated that the festival would further emphasis that Rivers State is not only peaceful but the best destination for investment and tourism in the country and urged all stakeholders to work hard to make the festival a success.
Wife of the Rivers State Governor, Justice Eberechi Suzette Nyesom-Wike, last week charged widows not to allow their unfortunate circumstance destroy their future.
Making the charge, Friday at Governor Wike’s Widow Outreach Programme in Port Harcourt , she called on women to support fellow women and widows protect them from harmful societal practices.
The governor’s wife stressed the need for proper education of the girl-child to empower them face the challenges of life and pointed out that trained women have the capacity to withstand the pressures of widowhood.
She said the administration of Governor Wike will continue to fashion out ways of improving the living conditions of women and widows.
Also speaking, the Deputy Governor, Ipalibo Harry Banigo, described the governor as a caring administrator who believes in the welfare of women .
The deputy governor noted that the governor’s gender friendly posture could be seen from appointments into his cabinet and expansion of women political space which enabled them occupy the vice chairmanship positions in the 23 local government councils in the state.
She said the outreach programme would touch the lives of widows in the state.
On Saturday, youths of Emohua Local Government Area declared their support for the re-election of Governor Wike.
They made the declaration during the One Million Youths for New Rivers State Sensitisation Tour and Rally in the area.
Chief of Staff, Government House, Engr Emeka Woke thanked the youths for their strong faith in Governor Wike’s administration.
The Chief of Staff urged them to remain committed and ensure that their votes counts in the 2019 general election.
Chris Oluoh
Politics
Reps Constitution Review Committee Holds Zonal Hearing For Rivers, C’River, Akwa Ibom In Calabar
A press statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Cross River State Governor, Mr Linus Obogo, disclosed that the Calabar Centre — designated as Centre B — will host representatives and stakeholders from Cross River, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom States.
The public hearing is scheduled to take place on Saturday, July 19, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at the Transcorp (Metropolitan) Hotel, Calabar.
The initiative, according to the statement, is designed to promote inclusive dialogue and capture the aspirations of Nigerians from all regions.
It aims to serve as a platform for citizens to contribute meaningfully to the ongoing national efforts to refine and strengthen the country’s legal and institutional frameworks.
“Citizens, civil society groups, professional bodies, traditional rulers, and other interest blocs are invited to participate in this landmark engagement aimed at advancing a more just, equitable, and responsive Nigerian Constitution,” the statement read.
The hearing forms part of the broader review process of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), and is seen as a strategic move toward fostering national unity and addressing structural legal issues within the federation.
For the first time since 2022, when then-presidential aspirant Alhaji Bola Tinubu declared he made former President Buhari Nigeria’s President in 2015, Mr Mustapha dismissed the claims, stressing that the merger only contributed about three million votes in addition to Buhari’s existing 12 million votes in the North.
He insisted that former President Buhari’s integrity, national stature, and disciplined messaging were central to the breakthrough, not the three million votes from the merging parties, which he described as insignificant.
Speaking on the role of the merging parties, particularly President Tinubu, the leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Mr Mustapha, who was the keynote speaker at the launch of the book ‘According to the President: Lessons from a Presidential Spokesman’s Experience’ authored by Mallam Garba Shehu, described the impact of the votes from other merging parties as very insignificant.
In attendance were former Head of State Yakubu Gowon, chair of the event; immediate past Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; SGF George Akume, who represented President Tinubu; PDP’s 2023 presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar; former Chief of Staff to Buhari Ibrahim Gambari; elder statesman Babagana Kingibe; former governors Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Chris Ngige (Anambra), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Raji Babatunde Fashola (Lagos); former ministers Solomon Dalung and Sunday Dare; former Army Chief Tukur Buratai, and Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu’s spokesman, among others.
According to Mr Mustapha, “I do not intend to stir up any controversy. The merger in 2013 was midwifed to create a Buhari presidency. Let us look at the statistics. In the 2003 election, it was the Obasanjo-Buhari presidential contest where Buhari recorded 12.7 million votes. In 2007, it came to 6.6 million, and it went back to 12.2 million in 2011.
“When we were conceptualising the merger, what would give us a headstart? Obviously, it was at the back of our consciousness that the merger with the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), though it had only one state, the ACN had six states, ANPP three states, and when you sum up the total votes that we had as the presidency in 2015, the aggregate of the total votes was 15.4 million.
“So, basically, what we brought to the table after the merger outside the Buhari 12.5 million votes was three million. Before turning to that presidency, it is important to recognise the former President’s role in reshaping Nigeria’s political trajectory.
“In early 2013, as the leader of the CPC, Buhari formally requested and supported the creation of a CPC merger committee, part of a broader coalition-building process that brought together the ACN, ANPP, APGA faction, and elements of the ruling party through the breakaway ‘new PDP’ group. His endorsement and participation, along with other party leaders such as President Tinubu and Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, lent credibility and direction to the merger, helping to unify disparate party factions under the banner of the APC. That coalition-building paved the way for the first democratic defeat of an incumbent ruling party in Nigeria’s history.
“President Buhari’s integrity, national stature, and disciplined messaging were central to that breakthrough. No account of President Buhari’s tenure would be complete without acknowledging the extended periods he spent on medical leave. These moments, while politically delicate, were also telling of his leadership philosophy and personality,” he said.
In his remarks, President Tinubu promised to build on the legacies of former President Buhari, stressing that “nation-building is a relay. The efforts of one administration lay the foundation for the next.
“In this regard, I acknowledge the efforts of my predecessor, President Buhari, and assure all Nigerians that the reform-oriented path he initiated will be consolidated and strengthened under this administration. Our Renewed Hope Agenda is inspired by the desire to build a resilient, just, and inclusive Nigeria—a nation that delivers dividends of democracy to all its citizens”.
Speaking during an appearance on live television on Wednesday, Mr Omokri alleged that Mr Obi’s statements were misleading and damaging to the country’s economic prospects.
Mr Omokri said some investors currently operating in Nigeria were considering exiting the market due to Mr Obi’s remarks.
“That is not true. He doesn’t rile me up. I rile him up. The reason why I came here is because I’m a patriot. Peter Obi lied. You know, foreign direct investors are watching your programme, who are making investment decisions not to come to Nigeria. There are foreign investors in Nigeria that are making investment decisions to leave Nigeria because of the lie he told.
“One of the lies he told is that President Tinubu has borrowed more than the administrations of Yar’Adua, Jonathan, Buhari. That is a blatant lie”, Mr Omokri said.
To buttress his claims, Mr Omokri referenced figures from the Debt Management Office (DMO), maintaining that President Tinubu had actually reduced Nigeria’s external debt burden since assuming office.
“I have here with me data from the Debt Management Office, and Nigerians who are watching can go to DMO.com and search Debt Management Office, Nigeria State of Indebtedness 2015.
“As of 2015, Nigeria was owing a total of $63 billion. When Buhari was leaving office, Nigeria was owing $113 billion. Today, from the DMO, our debt has gone from $113 billion to $97 billion, meaning that Tinubu has reduced our debt by over $14 billion.
“We should be appreciating this man. Yet Peter Obi came here and lied to the Nigerian people. He took the debts and translated them into naira to make it look like the debts have increased”, he said.