Politics
Wike Inaugurates More Commissioners, Perm Secs
Last week, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike expanded the state Executive Council as he swore in nine new Commissioners. The Commissioners who were earlier screened by the state House of Assembly were on Wednesday sworn in and also given their portfolios during the State Executive Council meeting.
The new Commissioners and their portfolios included: Barr Eloka Tasie-Amadi, Chieftaincy Affairs; Hon Boma Iyaye, Sports; Hon Diameter Herbert-Miller, Power; Tonye Oniyinde, Culture and Tourism; and Dr Tamunosisi Gogo, Gaja, Water Resources.
Others were: Dr Igbiks Tamuno, Environment; Hon Emeka Onowu, Special Duties, Governor’s Office; Prof Chike Princewill, Health, and Mr Ohia Prince, Ministry of Youth Development.During the swearing ceremony in Government House, Port Harcourt, Governor Wike warned them to shun ethnic jingoism, saying they were appointed to serve the state and not their ethnic nationalities.
“Don’t use my administration to be an ethnic superstar. You are appointed to serve the people of Rivers State, not a particular ethnic group”, he said.
In similar vein, the state Chief Executive, last Tuesday, swore in 17 new Permanent Secretaries to invigorate the Rivers State Civil Service. The newly appointed Permanent Secretaries were yet to be drafted to specific ministries.
In response to the dreaded Coronavirus epidemic ravaging the world, the Rivers State Government, last week, took drastic measures to protect the state. At the state Executive Council Meeting held last Wednesday, the Council directed the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Prof Chike Princewill to cast a wholistic look at the development and work out a comprehensive plan for tackling the virus in Rivers State.
The International Sports Press Association (AIPS) World Executive Committee Meeting and the AIPS Africa Meeting billed for Port Harcourt, the Garden City, in October this year, was another issue at the front burner, last week.
In a bid to organise a world class event, the state Government, last week inaugurated a thirteen- man committee to organise the event.
Swearing in the Committee which is headed by the the National President of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Honour Sirawoo, the Governor emphasised that everything needed to make it a successful event that would leave an indelible impression, should be done.
“ This is the first time that Nigeria is hosting the event and it is happening in Rivers State. Committee members must work together to place Rivers State on the global map.
“ We are hosting international sports journalists. This is an opportunity to promote Rivers State. After the meeting, the international journalists should be our global ambassadors”, Wike said.
Rivers State Government House was in a mourning mood last week, following the sudden demise of the Chaplain of the Government House, Port Harcourt Chapel of Everlasting Grace, Venerable Sunday Opara.
Governor Wike led a delegation of the state Government on a condolence visit to the family of the deceased on Friday. He expressed shock at the development, saying he had no knowledge that the late cleric was even ill.
The Governor who condoled the family assured that the state Government would identify with the family during the burial and also take care of the family he left behind.
He described the late Opara as a committed official who served God and the state passionately, and promised that the positive roles he played in the development of the state would not be forgotten.
Responding on behalf of the family, the former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt Hon Austin Opara, thanked the Governor and the State Executive Council for identifying with the family at their moment of grief.
Last week, Governor Wike announced the plan by the state Government to construct a five- star hotel at the Port Harcourt Pleasure Park to make it a comprehensive package for leisure and tourism.
He announced this last Friday during the official opening of the Ultra-modern Michael Garden Restaurant at the Pleasure Park.
Chris Oluoh
In a statement issued on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Obiora Ifoh, the party said it had taken note of Mr Obi’s defection alongside some of his supporters, as well as what it called a “lacklustre speech” delivered by the former Anambra State governor at the defection event.
“We wondered what new he intends to sell to Nigerians,” the party said, adding that it was not surprised by the move, having “since September 2024, parted ways with Peter Obi and some of his blind supporters in the National Assembly.”
According to the statement, the faction said it had patiently awaited Mr Obi’s exit, describing it as a blessing.
“The party is finally liberated by this defection and as party leaders, we count it as a blessing,” the party said.
The faction further disclosed that it had previously urged Mr Obi and his supporters to leave if they were unable to work with the party leadership.
It claimed that several lawmakers had been suspended for anti-party activities and that similar action would have been taken against Mr Obi but for the intervention of “some well-meaning Nigerians.”
It also blamed its internal crisis on Mr Obi and Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, accusing them of sponsoring what it described as an insurrection against the Julius Abure-led leadership.
“The crisis we had in the Labour Party was caused by Peter Obi and the Abia State governor, Alex Otti,” the statement alleged, adding that it was surprising Dr Otti had not followed Mr Obi out of the party despite his suspension.
Reacting to Mr Obi’s defection event in Enugu, the faction claimed the gathering was largely boycotted by prominent political and traditional institutions in the South East, insisting that those present were “political spent forces who cannot win in their wards should there be an election today.”
It warned that this development signalled the failure of any future Mr Obi presidential or vice-presidential ambition, claiming he had “clearly lost the charm that had endeared him to the people prior to 2023.”
The faction also accused Mr Obi of misleading the South East during the 2023 elections, alleging that the region suffers political marginalisation under President Bola Tinubu’s administration as a result.
“He must be told that the South East lost out completely in President Ahmed Tinubu’s government because they trusted and believed in him in 2023,” the statement said, alleging disparities in ministerial appointments and infrastructure allocation to the zone.
The Abure-Led LP apologised to Nigerians for its decision in the last election.
“We gave Nigerians a candidate we thought was good for the nation in 2023, but time has since proved that we made the greatest political mistake. We plead for forgiveness from Nigerians,” the party said.
It urged Nigerians to watch out for a rebranded Labour Party, promising to present “the best prospect” capable of returning Nigeria to what it described as its “glorious days.”
steadily toward unity, justice, and shared prosperity”, he said.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday at his country home in Ikere-Ekiti, Dr Oluyede said the development came as a shock, stressing that INEC supervised and monitored the PDP governorship primary that produced him as the party’s candidate.
According to him, INEC officials documented the process, completed all required forms, and even affirmed his candidacy in court through sworn affidavits arising from cases linked to the primary election.
He maintained that no court order or injunction currently restrains INEC from listing his name as the PDP candidate, arguing that the electoral body lacks the constitutional power to determine who emerges as a party’s nominee.
Dr Oluyede described such decisions as the exclusive responsibility of political parties, not the electoral umpire.
While playing down panic over the released list, Dr Oluyede noted that electoral processes often involve reviews and corrections.
He disclosed that he had commenced wide consultations, including engagements with PDP leadership and formal correspondence with INEC, to seek clarification on the omission and determine the next line of action.
The PDP candidate assured his supporters across Ekiti State that he would appear on the ballot, expressing confidence that the situation would be resolved in his favour.
He described attempts to exclude candidates from elections as dangerous and undemocratic, warning that such tactics undermine the people’s right to freely choose their leaders.
Dr Oluyede called on the people of Ekiti to reject any form of disenfranchisement, insisting that elections should be contests of ideas, records, and acceptance by the electorate rather than exclusionary maneuvers.
He also declared that the PDP in Ekiti had resolved its past internal crises and was now united, focused, and ready to win the forthcoming governorship election.
He urged party members and supporters to remain calm and focused, expressing optimism that, with divine grace and the will of the people, the PDP would emerge victorious at the polls.
Mr Obi spoke while formally declaring for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) at a well-attended event in Enugu on Wednesday, where he outlined what he described as a fresh roadmap for rescuing the country from its socio-economic challenges.
Addressing party members, supporters and other stakeholders, the former governor stressed that leadership must be driven by integrity and accountability, warning against the culture of double standards in public office.
“We cannot continue to deceive our people. Leadership is about telling the truth and leading by example. You cannot promise one thing in public and do another in private. That is not leadership, and that is not the change Nigeria needs”, Mr Obi said.
He maintained that genuine national rebirth would only be possible if entrenched wrongs were corrected, adding that governance must be guided by competence, discipline and a clear sense of purpose.
Mr Obi also underscored the need for fresh thinking in the nation’s political space, urging political actors to move away from recycled ideas that have failed to deliver sustainable development.
“We must come with new ideas,” he said, adding that “Nigeria’s problems are not mysterious; what has been lacking is the courage and competence to address them differently. We need a new approach that puts people first and focuses on production, not consumption.”
Calling for a broad based political collaboration, Mr Obi appealed to parties and stakeholders across ideological divides to work together in the national interest.
“This country is bigger than any party or individual. All parties must come together to change the present trend. What matters is not the platform, but the future of Nigeria and the wellbeing of its citizens”, he declared.
Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, Mr Obi challenged aspirants seeking elective offices to ensure transparency in their credentials, warning that the era of falsified certificates was drawing to a close.
“Anyone contesting for any position in 2027 must come with genuine certificates. All the machinery is now in place to verify what is genuine and what is not. Integrity must start from the very foundation of leadership”, he stated.
Drawing lessons from international development models, Mr Obi cited Rwanda and Indonesia as examples of countries that rose from difficult beginnings to become thriving economies through disciplined leadership and sound policies.
“These countries were once behind us,” he noted, adding that “Today, they are moving ahead because they chose competent leadership, clear vision and policies that support local production and human capital development.”
He also criticised the economic policies of the present administration, particularly the continued importation of food items that can be produced locally, describing such practices as inimical to national development.
“You cannot grow an economy by killing local production. Importing food that we can produce in Nigeria destroys jobs, weakens our farmers and drains our foreign exchange. A serious country must produce what it consumes”, he argued.
The event featured renewed calls from ADC supporters for sustained engagement and mobilisation, as Mr Obi reiterated his belief that Nigeria remains redeemable if led with honesty, competence and a commitment to shared national progress.
In his remarks, the National Chairman of the ADC, Senator David Mark, expressed confidence in the emerging coalition, assuring Nigerians that the party would deliver good governance at all levels of administration if entrusted with power.
The gathering also witnessed the defection of several prominent politicians from different political parties across the South-East and beyond.
The motion endorsing the defection was moved by a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, and seconded by former economic adviser to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, Prof. Osita Ogbu.
Goodwill messages from notable political figures, including Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Mrs. Aisha Yesufu, Chief Sam Egwu, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, Chief Achike Udenwa, Mr Onyema Ugochukwu and Senator Gilbert Nnaji among others, further underscored the growing momentum within the ADC.
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