Politics
Wike Creating A Truly Oil, Gas Capital Of Nigeria – Danagogo
Being excerpts of an interactive session by the Secretary to Rivers State Government, Dr. Tammy Danagogo with journalists in Port Harcourt recently.
Some persons are commending the governor on his developmental strides and others are of the opinion that the flyovers are too concentrated in Port Harcourt, almost all within the Port Harcout-Aba Express Road. Why is this so?
The drastic roads, flyovers and inter-changes show that His Excellency, Governor Nyesom Wike, has a vision to accomplish an infrastructural developed Rivers State.
The Governor is looking at where Rivers State should be in the next 10 years and beyond. The dream of the Governor is to make Rivers State and Port Harcourt a befitting oil and gas capital of Nigeria like Texas and Houston is to the United States. If you want Rivers State to be the capital of the oil and gas sector, then, you must understand that more inter-changes and infrastructural development for the state are needed to the extent that anyone who drives into the state or to its critical facilities will see that indeed, Rivers State is a 21st century city that can compete with any city.
The International Oil and Gas Conferences which should hold in Port Harcourt are always held in Abuja, and they claim that there is too much traffic congestion and security challenges in Port Harcourt. The Governor is here to create a State that can truly be the oil and gas capital of Nigeria.
I have no doubt that when the flyovers and interchanges are completed and most of the interconnections between the capital city and our inter-cities are completed, people will appreciate him for what he is doing. Most of us are still praising and enjoying the development the first Military Governor of Rivers State, Alfred Diete-Spiff brought into Rivers State. Those complaining about the flyovers, what kind of Port Harcourt City do they want? Do they want a city that will remain the same way as it was in the 80’s and 90’s? Let me ask you about the one-lane Rumuola and CFC flyovers being reconstructed now, did you feel happy when you used those flyovers? We have all had stressful experiences enduring traffic because of vehicle breakdown on those flyovers. My joy is that right thinking people are grateful for what the Governor is doing for the state. Because they have a bird-eye view of the vision he is pursuing. He has a great vision to make Rivers State the 21st century city of Nigeria.
Governor Wike is transforming Port Harcourt and also the rural areas. In the riverine communities, the Governor is doing massive sand filling to provide more land space. The Trans-Kalabari Road, Saakpenwa-Bori-Kono Phase 2 Road, Omoku-Ahoada Roads constructions are all part of the rural-urban development. The massive construction is on because he is the Governor of Rivers State.
What is your take on the recent outburst of asari dokubo claiming that rivers state is part of biafra secession? as a son of kalabari, what is your take?
Ordinarily, I should not respond when ex-militants, miscreants or people who call themselves warlords begin to make statements. Every discerning member of the public should know that these parochial and attention-seeking declarations are not serious talks that government of Rivers State should respond to. The people you are talking about are not speaking on behalf of any ethnic nationality or Rivers State.
Alhaji Asari, Egberipapa and their likes do not have the capacity to speak about where Rivers State belongs. They are merely seeking attention. The media should be able to tell them they are wrong, just as we expect that if someone commits crime, the law enforcement agencies should be able to arrest and prosecute such a person. These parochial, selfish and attention-seeking declarations are not serious talks that Government of Rivers State should lose sleep about. Kalabari people have traditional rulers, very prominent elites, business tycoons, academicians, etc., who can properly speak for us. Certainly, ex-militants can’t be the representatives of our ethnic nationality. The Governor has stated repeatedly that Rivers State is not part of any secessionist agenda and the Kalabari people firmly stand by the Governor.
Governor’s security outlet such as operation sting has considerably helped the security situation of the state, but the governor keep referring to himself as the chief logistics officer rather than chief security officer, why is this so sir?
The Governor is doing excellently in terms of security. As soon as he returned to office in his second tenure, he launched Operation Sting to curtail security challenges within the state. We were to begin our security summit before the outbreak of the global pandemic, Covid-19. The Chief of Army Staff, recently in Port Harcourt commended the Governor for his logistics support despite being in an opposition government.
The Governor does not waver in his support for the security agencies. As long as it is to enhance the security of the State, he will never waver. If the political atmosphere allowed him to truly be the Chief Security Officer as he should be, Rivers State should have been an Eldorado in terms of peace. He keeps referring to himself as the Chief Logistics Officer because of the particular way this government runs. When you are an opposition government in this particular government, the Army, police don’t take directive from you as the chief security officer. Rather they are taking directives from the leadership of the ruling party of the country. The lack of cooperation we receive from the security agencies is unprecedented. You saw how the military was used to carry ballot boxes during the 2019 general elections. This is why the Governor looked at the situation and said he is a chief logistics officer.
In spite of the political challenges, you can testify that the security situation has tremendously improved in the state. By the grace of God, no matter the obstacle, he is very courageous and strategic to achieve his result in the areas of security
There has been recent fire outbreaks in the city, people complain of lack of fire equipment. What is your take on this?
If anyone says there are no fire trucks or gadgets, I don’t think that is true. Our people should understand that because you have a Governor, it is not the Governor that should do everything. The Governor has provided the fire trucks and necessary logistics. The fire men are being paid to render service. Sometimes it is lack of zeal and patriotism that is our problem. In such departments, we need men with zeal and patriotism to achieve result. That is why I always tell, those in civil service, you are not working for the Governor. Always know that you are working for God and for humanity, your people.
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.