Politics
Wike Reassures On RSUST Medical School
Courtesy visits by three professional bodies dominated
activities in Government House last week. However, it was the dialogue between the Rivers State Government and top officials of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) that opened the week.
Worried over the impact of the NUPENG two-week strike action on the citizenry, Rivers State Government, through the Commissioner for Energy Resources, including the Secretary to the State Government intervened to broker peace. Before the quick intervention of government, transport fares within Port Harcourt and its environs had jacked up.
After due consultations and talks, the two-week old strike was called off last week Monday and was announced by state chairman of NUPENG, Comrade Charles Aleto. Commissioner for Energy, Shedrck Chukwu, commended NUPENG and the companies involved for the maturity and understanding they displayed while the negotiation lasted.
The agreement between NUPENG and government was sealed on Thursday during a courtesy visit by the labour body to the governor, Chief Nyesom Wike in Government House. While thanking them for their cooperation, Chief Wike advised that strike should be used sparingly and as the last resort.
Tuesday last week, the governor received the Head of United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF). He later hosted the state branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) led by its chairman, Dr Furo Green.
Reacting to the over 13 requests made by the NMA state chairman, Chief Nyesom Wike, while speaking on the issue of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) Medical School, said the state government has not relocated the school, but rather wants to use the proposed Trauma and Cardiac Centre at the old University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) as part of training centre for Medical personnel.
The governor also hinted of State Government plan to improve facilities at the Orthopedic Centre of the Braithwaite Specialist Memorial Hospital, adding that the burnt doctor’s quarters in the hospital would also be revamped to house more resident doctors.
In the next few weeks, he (Wike) announced that renovation works for Moribund General Hospitals would commence across the state. He, however, pointed out that due to paucity of funds, the state government would take two general hospitals from the three Senatorial Districts as a pilot scheme.
On the request by the doctors to increase the retirement age of medical doctors, Governor Wike said, that would amount to breaching the law. He, however, profferred that State Government would engage retired medical consultants on contract basis as a way of improving quality of personnel in the health sector.
As usual, Wednesday last week served as day for the State Executive Council meeting when state policies and programmes are discussed and evaluated. The meeting was presided over by Chief Wike.
Shortly after meeting with the National Executive of NUPENG, led by its President, Comrade Achese Igwe, Governor Wike hinted of amnesty for repentant cultists in the state who are ready to turn a new leaf and lay down their arms. He also announced support for NUPENG’s Tank Farm Village at Eleme.
The governor received National Executive Council of Nigeria Institute of Architects led by its 26th President, Tonye Braide. He lauded the feat of Braide who is the first Rivers indigene to occupy the leadership of Architects nationwide.
Chief Wike pledged government’s support for the NIA’s West African Expo slated for Port Harcourt in September. He reiterated government’s resolve to showcase Rivers State, as a way of attracting investment and tourism.
On Friday last week, the governor defied the early morning rain and inspected ongoing works at Igwuruta/Chokocho Road and the new Port Harcourt Leisure Park at Aba Road. After the project tour, he played host to the management of Pabod Breweries led by its Managing Director, Riaan Meyer. On Saturday he visited project sides at Akpajo, Salepenwa and SARS Road and Sir Omehia Road.
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.