Politics
Wike Harps On Tax Payment
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Conven
tion and the Nigerian Bar Association Conference in Port Harcourt took the front burner last week in Government House.
Nevertheless, it was the thanksgiving service for Universal Basic Education Chairman Ven Fyneface Akah in the state held at St Mark’s Anglican Church Elelenwo that opened the week. He pledged to turn around basic education in the state.
Last Monday, a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt validated the PDP convention slated for Wednesday last week. The court presided over by Justice Ibrahim Watila ordered the police, the State Security Service to provide security for the National Convention of the party.
On the same day, the Deputy Governor, Dr Ipalibo Harry Banigo felicitated with the former Governor Peter Odili on his 68th birthday celebrations. Last Tuesday, Governor Nyesom Wike played host to the Nigeria Hotels Association, Rivers State Chapter. He urged the group to support government fight crime. This can be done by providing necessary information about questionable characters lodging in their hotels. The governor also urged the hoteliers to pay their taxes so that the state government can continue with its developmental projects.
On the same day, another Federal High Court gave legal backing to the caretaker committee of the National Executive Council of the PDP. The court ruled that only the committee has executive powers to organise the convention. Shortly after the court gave legal impetus to the convention, Governor Wike and other members of the organising committee of the PDP convention addressed newsmen in Government House; they declared the readiness of the party for Wednesday’s event.
Last Wednesday, the police and other security agencies through a federal government order barricaded and shut down the venue of the PDP National Convention at the Sharks Stadium. Butwith the mature reaction and organisation of the party’s BOT, which had paid a courtesy call to Governor Wike a night before, the partys moved the convention to its state secretariat complex at Aba Road, Port Harcourt.
The convention delegates who converged on the state party secretariat unanimously agreed to extend the tenure of the Senator Makarfil led CTC and expand CTC members from 7 to 13.
Shortly after the convention, the deputy governor, Dr Ipalibo Harry-Banigo hosted members of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) and tasked them on the fight to check adulterated drugs in the country.
Governor Wike briefed the press on the outcome of the convention later on Wednesday and described it a success, despite attempts by Federal Government to scuttle the party’s growth. He assured that PDP will remain united and formidable.
Last Thursday, the governor resumed official state duties and visited ongoing project sites. On visiting the ongoing school renovation at Rumuokuta Girls Secondary School, he frowned at the pace of work. The governor warned that he would revoke the job if the contractor did not speed-up work and summoned the Commissioner for Education.
Last Friday, Governor Wike inaugurated, the State Peace and Security Committee, comprising of state security chiefs and other stakeholders. He harped or the need to return lasting peace to the state.
Saturday last week was filled with activities. First the governor in company of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, Austin Allegeh commissioned the newly reconstructed, Dr Peter Odili Road. On returning from the event, he played host to the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami who was accompanied by his counterpart from Rwanda, Hon. Bussingye Johnston in Government House.
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.