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2023: Wike, Diri Preach Peace, Unity Among PDP Govs …Say Party Must Unite To Produce Acceptable Candidate For Presidency
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike and his Bayelsa State counterpart, Senator Douye Diri have called on all Nigerians to ensure the peace and security of the country, saying that only unity of purpose and commitment to the indivisibility of Nigeria would guarantee the survival of the country.
They also pledged to work together, in concert with other Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors and stakeholders for the party to produce the next Nigerian president in 2023.
Speaking when he paid a courtesy call on the Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri at the Government House, Yenagoa, last Monday, urged those fanning the embers of discord over the issue of zoning of presidential ticket and dividing governors, to focus their energy on rebuilding and strengthening the party ahead of the 2023 general election.
“I’ve come to let him know that everybody as PDP members must put ourselves together to build the party. Without the party nobody can be a presidential candidate. There must be a party. So, there is the need for everybody to work together, make the party to be united before we talk about who will be presidential candidate.”
The Rivers State governor reiterated that Nigerians are waiting anxiously for PDP to rescue the country from the poor governance the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has foisted on them.
“We cannot afford to miss this opportunity that Nigerians are giving back to PDP to take over the government in 2023. Everybody must work together as a party. And as governors, we must work together. If we didn’t work together we won’t have had the best convention we have ever had as a party.”
Wike warned that if governors and members of the party are not united, it would be difficult for the party to amicably nominate an acceptable presidential candidate.
According to him, PDP must capitalise on the brewing crisis in the APC to build a more formidable party to wrest power from the APC-led Federal Government.
Wike assured that PDP governors will not be distracted by the antics of those who are fanning the embers of discords in their bid to weaken their resolve to work unison for the PDP to clinch the presidency in 2023.
“We as governors will be united. Nobody can divide the governors because we are determined to work together to make sure PDP produces the next president in 2023.”
He commended Diri, who was the deputy chairman of the PDP convention committee, for the pivotal role he played in ensuring the success of the convention that produced the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.
Wike urged the Bayelsa State governor to focus on providing democratic dividends to the people of his state, as that is the best strategy to silence the opposition in the state.
“You must make a difference, silence the opposition. We have silenced them and will continue to silence them because they are looking for where to get Rivers State to fight Bayelsa. They are looking for how they’ll use Bayelsa to fight Rivers. We’ll not allow that.”
In his remarks, Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, lauded Wike for the role he and other governors played in the emergence of a new NWC with a national chairman of proven integrity who would steer the PDP back to power in 2023.
Diri said, “The presidency is one sacred office of our country that we must do everything to protect and to ensure that this time around, our party gets a clinch back. And that can only happen if you and I, not only governors, party structures, elders, leaders and followers alike come together to give Nigerians their expectations.
“We all know here that Nigerians are expecting a change in the Villa. Nigerians are expecting a party to rescue them, and the only party that has that pedigree is our party, PDP. There is no other party. So, I thank you, have seen you going all over preaching the same thing, preaching unity of purpose of our party, preaching oneness, that is the right way to go.
“Going further, you talked about our party and poured encomiums on the 3-man committee, I would like to also return it to you by saying that the governors’ forum takes all the credits for all that we did and you were part of those within the governors’ forum who pushed for the unity of the party.
“If we were not one and the same, we would not have achieved that result.
The Bayelsa State governor commended Wike for his resolve to end illegal crude oil bunkering and artisanal refining in Rivers State.
Diri said the state government has credible intelligence that some of the illegal oil thieves and operators of illegal refineries intend to relocate to Bayelsa State, and warned that his administration would not tolerate their presence in his state.
“Let me use this opportunity to warn that Bayelsa will not condone any of those oil bunkers. Those days are over. We have moved on, and anyone who is planning to leave Rivers State to come and start that illicit, illegitimate, illegal business in Bayelsa, please, have a change of mind and look elsewhere, because we already have a standing committee on that.
“From our State Security Council meeting, we will come down very hard on anyone that will do that illegal and illegitimate business in Bayelsa.”
Diri also spoke on the existing cordial and brotherly relationship between the two states, saying that anyone trying to create discord amongst its peoples would be resisted.
He said, “Bayelsa and Rivers, we are brothers and sisters, historically, culturally, we are one and the same and anyone trying to divide us, we should come against it. And so, I like to appreciate you for this formal visit today, to your state.
“Listening to you, gives me courage and hope, and I believe that, that is the way to go. We were one and the same before Bayelsa was created out of the old Rivers State, and that fact can never be removed from our history.
Those in attendance at the meeting from Bayelsa State were Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abraham Ingobere; Secretary to the State Government, Rt. Hon. Benson Konbowei; Chief of Staff, Government House, Chief Benson Sunday Agadaga; members of the State Executive Council, and other top government functionaries.
Those who accompanied Rivers State Governor on the visit were former Rivers State Governor, Sir Celestine Omehia; two former deputy speakers of the House of Representatives, Chief Chibudom Nwuche and Sir Austin Opara; former minister of transport, Dr Abiye Sekibo; and the PDP Chairman in Rivers State, Amb. Desmond Akawor, among others.
The Organised Labour yesterday, called on the Federal Government to ensure inclusiveness in policy making and guide against erosion of rights, such as free speech and association.
The President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Joe Ajaero made the call at the 2025 Workers’ Day celebration held at the Eagle’s Square, Abuja.
The Tide source reports Ajaero and the President, Trade Union Congress, Mr Festus Osifo delivered a joint statement on behalf of the organised labour at the event.
Ajaero described May Day as, not only a moment to honour workers’ sacrifices, but also a platform to demand justice and accountability from those in public office.
He frowned at the alleged suppression of protests, and the erosion of rights of workers by some agents
According to him, workers have a duty to resist economic injustice, insecurity, and policies that undermine their dignity.
Speaking on the theme of the day, the NLC President underscored the need for Nigerian workers to reclaim the civic space and resist policies that contribute to worsening economic conditions.
“Our theme this year – “Reclaiming the Civic Space in the midst of Economic Hardship – reflects the urgent need for citizens to protect democracy and push back against repression.
“The civic space, where Nigerians express their concerns and challenge injustices is shrinking.
“If we fail to reclaim this space, the foundation of our democracy risks collapse,” he said
Ajaero, therefore, urged workers to unite and resist division, fear, and despair.
He also urged them to mobilise and organise for change, declaring that the right to demand better conditions is non-negotiable.
“Without workers, there is no society; without labour, there is no development. We must take our place in the fight for economic justice and democratic governance.”
Speaking in the same veins, Osifo said workers are the backbone of the nation—the educators, healthcare providers, builders, farmers, and innovators who sustain its economy -.
He stressed the need for the labour to reclaim the civic space even in the midst of economic hardship.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has disassociated itself from a fraudulent site requesting payments from candidates who missed the ongoing 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The board said that the site, “Copyrightwriter Personal J Rescheduling Flw” and account number 8520641017 at Sterling Bank, associated with it, are scam.
The disclaimer is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday by the Board’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr Fabian Benjamin.
Benjamin said the account is being exploited to defraud unsuspecting candidates who missed their UTME.
“We issue this urgent notice to inform the public about this nefarious scheme targeting candidates who were unable to participate in the UTME.
“Some unscrupulous individuals are deceitfully soliciting payments of N15,700 under the false pretence of offering rescheduling services for the examination.
“Let us be unequivocal: this, it is a blatant scam, and we are confident that the public will not fall prey to such cheap and regressive tactics.
” The individuals behind this scam have no affiliation with JAMB or any legitimate government agency.
“The account details provided in these communications are entirely fictitious and bear no connection to any official processes; they exist solely for the purpose of perpetrating fraud,” he said.
Benjamin called on Sterling bank to take immediate and decisive action against this criminal activity.
According to him, JAMB has reported the matter to the relevant security agencies and actively pursuing those responsible for this deceitful act.
He further said that “JAMB does not reschedule examinations for candidates who miss their scheduled tests due to reasons unrelated to the Board’s actions”.
He, however, said that the Board is conducting a thorough investigation for candidates whose biometrics failed during verification and were thus unable to sit for the examination.
He said those without discrepancies would be invited to retake the examination at no cost , stressing that “no cost is required”
“It is imperative to understand that JAMB does not charge any fees for examinations after a candidate has completed their registration.
“We strongly urge all candidates to remain vigilant and not to succumb to these fraudulent schemes.
“Protect yourselves and report any suspicious activity immediately,” he explained.
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has expressed its willingness to partner with the United Nations (UN) to accelerate the development of the Niger Delta region.
Dr Samual Ogbuku, Managing Director of the NDDC, made the appeal in a statement issued by the commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mrs Seledi Thompson-Wakama, in Port Harcourt on yesterday.
According to the statement, Ogbuku sought the UN’s support during his visit to the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (UNRHC), Mr Mohammed Fall, at the UN regional office in Abuja.
He called on the global body to provide the NDDC with technical assistance and expert services to support the region’s development.
“We are eager to collaborate with the UN, recognising that the state governments in the region and the NDDC alone cannot achieve the level of regional development required,” he said.
Ogbuku identified key areas where support would be needed, including the provision of portable and affordable drinking water powered by high-tech solar energy sources.
He also highlighted the importance of reforesting the mangrove swamps, which have been severely damaged by decades of environmental degradation caused by oil exploration in the Niger Delta.
“Although the NDDC has made progress in providing solar-powered streetlights across the region, we still require UN support in delivering solar energy solutions for residential buildings.
“We also wish to explore the possibility of installing solar mini-grids in homes across communities, which would boost local commerce and trade,” he added.
The NDDC managing director further appealed for increased UN involvement in areas such as healthcare, education, youth training, gender development, and food security.
Ogunku stated that such interventions would significantly enhance the standard of living in the region.
In response, Fall affirmed the UN’s readiness to collaborate with the NDDC to fast track development in the Niger Delta.
He assured that the UN would support initiatives in food security, job creation, education, and renewable energy, among other areas.
“We aim to approach development in the Niger Delta holistically, rather than focusing solely on environmental pollution.
“This is merely an entry point; however, the UN’s development vision aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are designed to positively impact various aspects of people’s lives,” Fall stated.
He assured the NDDC of continued and fruitful engagements to drive the region’s development.