Politics
Wike Reassures On PDP Victory
As the flag-off of PDP campaign in the 23 local government areas of Rivers State came to an end yesterday, the state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has declared that the party is sure of victory in the state.
Governor Wike made this declaration Saturday at Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Rumuola, venue of the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area Campaign Rally.
He said that he is sure of the party’s victory because it has satisfied the people who gave him their mandate.
He noted that only those who have impacted positively on the state should either contest or promote candidates.
Governor Wike wondered why the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi failed to attract development to the state in spite of the opportunities he had, and stressed that when he ( Wike) was a Minister, he attracted development to Rivers State.
He called on the people of Obio/Akpor to ensure that the party wins in all the 359 polling units in the area and to also make sure that they protect their votes.
The Governor revealed plans by APC- led Federal Government to deny the state access to cash during the weeks of the 2019 general elections.
Wike explained that the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Chairman of t Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, have directed Managing Directors of banks to effect the plan.
Making the disclosure Tuesday at the flagg- off rally for Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area, the governor added that the CBN Governor and the EFCC chairman invited the MDs of the banks and ordered them to strangulate the state by denying her the needed cash.
Another major event last week in the Government House, Port Harcourt, was the presentation of reports from theJudicial Commission of Inquiry to Investigate the Seven-storey Building Collapse in Phase 2 GRA, Port Harcourt, and the JudicialCommission of Inquiry to Investigate the Management and Affairs of the Integrated Medical Industries Limited ( Auto Syringe Factory).
Governor Wike who officially received the reports, commended the committee members for timely conclusion of work and vowed that the State Government would deal with all those indicted according to the law.
He announced the setting up of a seven-man white paper committee to take immediate steps for the implementation of the recommendations of the two commissions.
Within the week under review, Governor Wike’s reelection got another major endorsement. This time, from the Women’s Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (WOWICAN).
Thousands of WOWICAN members from the 23 local government areas of the state were in Government House Port Harcourt on Saturday to expressed their satisfaction to the governor for impressive performance at his first term in office.
Leader of the group, Pastor Ene Secondus , assured the governor that all PVCs of members are for him to enable him continue with his good work to the state.
There was an interactive session last Friday between the governor, the Civil Societies and Non Governmental Organisations in the state.
The governor emphasised that for the success of the forthcoming general elections, civil society and NGOs have critical roles to play .
He charged them to monitor the activities of INEC and security agencies during the elections to ensure that they work in accordance with laid down rules.
The Brick House was a mecca of sort to foreign embassies last week as Governor Wike played host to the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Ketil Karlson, the United States Consul General to Nigeria , John Bray, and the new British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing.
The ambassadors who came at different times were united in their concern for nonviolent, free and fair elections during the 2019 poll.
Chris Oluoh
Politics
Atiku Quits PDP, Says Decision Heartbreaking

Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Alhaji Abubakar disclosed his intention to leave the opposition party in a letter addressed to the PDP ward chairman in Jada, Jada Local Government Area (LGA) of Adamawa state.
Alhaji Abubakar described his departure from the PDP as “heartbreaking”, saying the party has strayed from the ideals on which it was founded.
“I would like to take this opportunity to express my profound gratitude for the opportunities I have been given by the Party,” Alhaji Abubakar said.
“Serving two full terms as Vice President of Nigeria and being a presidential candidate twice has been one of the most significant chapters of my life.
“As a founding father of this esteemed Party, it is indeed heartbreaking for me to make this decision.
“However, I find it necessary to part ways due to the current trajectory the Party has taken, which I believe diverges from the foundational principles we stood for.
“It is with a heavy heart that I resign, recognising the irreconcilable differences that have emerged.
“I wish the Party and its leadership all the best in the future”, he added.
Alhaji Abubakar’s resignation from the PDP comes days after the opposition coalition politicians adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as their political platform for the 2027 elections.
Among the coalition leaders are Rotimi Amaechi, a former Transportation Minister; Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election; Nasir el-Rufai, former Kaduna State Governor; and John Oyegun, former Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Others include Sule Lamido, former Governor of Jigawa State; Uche Secondus, former PDP National Chairman; Babangida Aliyu, former Governor of Niger State; Sam Egwu, former governor of Ebonyi State; Aminu Tambuwal, former Governor of Sokoto State; and Liyel Imoke, former Governor of Cross River State, among others.
Politics
2027: Group Vows To Prevail On Diri To Dump PDP For APC
A group, ‘Concerned Bayelsa Stakeholders Forum (CBSF),’ has intensified calls on the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The CBSF which comprises members of various political parties, non-partisan citizens and residents of the state also has non-indigenes and people from different religious organisations as members.
Speaking at a world press conference held in Yenagoa, the State capital on Tuesday, the group, through its convener who doubles as Technical Adviser to the Governor on Media/Public Affairs, Snr. Comrade Wisdom Ikuli, passed a confidence vote on Governor Diri, commending his selfless service to the State and the Ijaw nation.
Mr Ikuli averred that there was need for the state to align with the federal government. Citing the benefits of having a government at the centre that can attract development to the state, he noted that the PDP at the national level had been long enmeshed in crisis.
“The current leadership of the PDP under whose platform the governor is leading the state has been hijacked by few individuals. This poses threats to the interest of the state.
“Presently, our state is standing alone as the only PDP state in the whole of the South South region. The above may not be too much an issue. The greatest challenge here is the hijack of the PDP by few individuals and the very dangerous traps that they have set for Bayelsa in 2027, particularly those that intend to fly the flag of PDP.
“There are concluded arrangements to hide under the excuse of crisis and countless court cases in PDP at different levels to work to nullify the nomination of all candidates that will emerge under the party platform. So, we can imagine the pains, agony and disarray that the state shall experience if the state remains in PDP.
“The ongoing Coalition is also an embodiment of people who conspired to deny Bayelsa State and indeed the entire Ijaw Nation, a second term at the Presidency in 2015. Thus, the coalition can never be an option.
“ It is based on the above that we unanimously appeal to the Governor to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to show southern solidarity with other southern governors who are with Mr. President”, the group said.
“But as we move forward, one of the greatest priorities in the alliance with the centre should be the actualisation of the Agge Seaport that will help to boost the state economy and also bring about unimaginable transformation and prosperity. In the next few days we shall begin a daily rally on the streets of Yenagoa to prevail on His Excellency to do the needful.
“Finally, His Excellency should ignore all opposing voices against his defection. We say this because they are all fighting to protect their individual political interest without prioritising that of the state and the entire Ijaw nation.
“ We wish to reassure His Excellency that vast majority of Bayelsans are with him and together, we shall move forward”, the CBSF added.
The group thanked President Bola Tinubu for appointing Ijaw sons and daughters into key positions, including Senator Heineken Lokpobiri as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources; Chief Samuel Ogbuku as Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC); Chief Ebitimi Amgbare as Managing Director, Niger Delta Basin Development Authority (NDBDA), amongst others.
Meanwhile, the CBSF has also charged Governor Diri to prioritize the actualization of the Agge Deep Seaport project, saying it will boost the economy of the state and bring about transformation and prosperity, noting, however, that plans have reached advanced stages for the CBSF to hit the streets of Yenagoa with rallies with a view to prevailing on the governor to defect to the APC.
Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
Politics
Nasarawa Speaker Advocates Conducive Executive/Legislature Relations

The Speaker made the call on Wednesday while hosting councillors from the 13 local government areas of the State in his residence in Lafia, the state capital.
Rt Hon. Jatau said that a good working relationship among the arms of government at the council level was key to development, hence, the need for his call in that direction.
He appreciated the councillors for condoling with him over the death of his younger sister, Hajaratu Jatau, and prayed to God to bless them abundantly.
“I started as a councillor, and today I am the Speaker. There is the need for a good working relationship between you and the elected chairmen for development to thrive at the grassroots. It is in view of this that I want to call on you to give your elected chairmen all the necessary and needed support to succeed. For development to thrive at the grassroots, you must embrace one another and see yourselves as team players,” the Speaker said.
Rt Hon. Jatau also called on them to coexist peacefully among themselves and continue to drum up support for Governor Abdullahi Sule’s administration to succeed.
Besides, he assured them that the state government would soon organise training for them to deliver effective service.
Rt Hon. Jatau also assured them that the state government would pay them their furniture allowance, as well as other benefits, to enhance their legislative work.
Earlier, the chairman of the Nasarawa State Councillors Forum, Mohammed Madaki, who is the Leader of Lafia LGA Legislative Assembly, said that the visit was to identify with the Speaker over the death of his sister.
The leader of the delegation urged the Speaker to see the death of his sister as an act of God and bear the irreplaceable loss.
Mr Madaki assured the Speaker of their loyalty and support at all times.
The chairman, however, appealed to the Speaker to intervene in the training of the councillors as well as the payment of their furniture allowance.
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