News

2023 Presidency: I Secured My Wife’s Buy-In Before Contesting …Justifies Shunning Gov, Deputy, PDP Secretariat During Edo Visit

Published

4 years ago

April 25, 2022

Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has said that he first consulted with his wife, Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike before declaring to contest for president in 2023.
The Rivers State governor said that if she did not approve of his ambition, he would not have made a declaration for the nation’s top job in the coming general election.
Wike made this known in an interview with BBC Pidgin English Service aired, last Friday, and monitored by The Tide in Port Harcourt.
He was responding to a question on whether there was anything that could make him step down from his presidential bid on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The Rivers State governor said the only thing that can make him step down was if he was dead.
He quickly added that God was with him, and he would not die now.
“Nothing will make me step down. Nobody who loves this country will see how it is and will not look for a means to change the situation. Who will change it for you?
“And luckily, before I came out, I told my wife, and she said go ahead. If I told my wife, and she got upset about it, and said no, I will obey. But she said go ahead, and that’s what I am doing”, he said.
Speaking on why he shunned Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, during his recent special interactive meeting with delegates and leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Wiike said, “I did not visit Governor Godwin Obaseki because the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) did not send me there.
“They dispatched me to meet with delegates (rather than the governor) to discuss how our party will win the presidential race in 2023.
“It’s nowhere written that I have to go via the governor before seeing the party delegates.
“I’m not in a relationship with Governor Godwin Obaseki, and he’s not my girlfriend, so, why am I fighting with him?”
“I have been a friend of Edo PDP Chairman, Dr. Dan Orbih, until his elevation to the position of deputy vice chairman, South-South”.
Wike did not also meet with Obaseki’s Deputy, Philip Shaibu.
He further avoided the Edo PDP Secretariat in Benin City, where the state party Chairman, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi holds the ace.
During the visit, Wike, who was greeted by a throng of fans, had met with Edo PDP delegates at the mansion of a former Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT), the late Chief Tony Anenih.
Wike and Obaseki have been involved in a public feud, with the Rivers State governor referring to his Edo counterpart as a serial betrayer and ungrateful individual.
He expressed sincere regret to Obaseki’s old godfather and predecessor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, for disregarding his warnings about the Edo governor.
Wike said: “If you ask anyone or check Godwin Obaseki’s DNA, what you would find in that DNA is serial betrayal and ungratefulness.
“Let me take this opportunity to apologise to Adams Oshiomhole, who had been justified by informing us that we would see Governor Obaseki’s true colours, insincerity, and ungratefulness.”
The issue began when Obaseki insulted Wike, claiming that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was not the party of the governor.
The Edo governor stated that political bullies and overlords will not be tolerated, recalling Wike’s success in dethroning bullies and high-handed leaders.

By: Nelson Chukwudi

News

HoS Hails Fubara Over Provision of Accommodation for Permanent Secretaries

Published

1 day ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Head of Service (HoS) of Rivers State, Dr. Mrs. Inyingi S. I. Brown, has commended Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, for approving befitting accommodation for Permanent Secretaries in the state.

This commendation was contained in a press release made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt.

According to the Head of Service, Governor Fubara has continued to demonstrate uncommon commitment to the welfare of civil servants in Rivers State, stressing that such gestures underscore his people-oriented leadership style. She urged civil servants across the state to remain supportive of the governor’s administration in order to sustain good governance and effective public service delivery.

Speaking on behalf of the Body of Permanent Secretaries, Dr. Brown congratulated Governor Fubara on the occasion of his 51st birthday, describing him as “a Governor who leads by serving.”

She further praised the governor’s service-driven and people-centred leadership approach, noting that it has significantly contributed to institutional stability and improved efficiency within the state’s public service. Special appreciation was expressed for the approval of a befitting accommodation complex for Permanent Secretaries, which she said reflects the governor’s commitment to staff welfare and enhanced productivity.

As part of activities to mark the governor’s birthday, the Body of Permanent Secretaries announced the sponsorship of 329 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) forms for indigent students across the state.

A breakdown of the initiative shows that 319 forms will be distributed across the 319 political wards in Rivers State, while five forms are allocated to non-indigenes and five forms to persons living with disabilities.

Interested applicants are advised to contact the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, for further details.

The Body of Permanent Secretaries wished Governor Fubara continued good health, divine wisdom, and greater accomplishments in his service to the people of Rivers State.

By John Bibor

News

Allegation of Disrespect to President Tinubu Unfounded — Rivers Government

Published

1 day ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to a statement credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), purportedly authored by one Bestman Innocent Amadi, alleging that the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, removed the official portrait of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, from the Government House, Port Harcourt.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Rivers State Government wishes to categorically state that there is no policy, directive, or intention on the part of the government or the Governor that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government.

On the contrary, the Rivers State Government, under the leadership of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, currently enjoys a robust, cordial, and collaborative relationship with the Federal Government, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Renewed Hope Agenda—a partnership that is already yielding positive and tangible benefits for the people of Rivers State.

Consequently, the insinuation that the Governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” is misleading, irresponsible, inflammatory, and entirely unsupported by verifiable facts, and should therefore be disregarded by the public.

It is regrettable that a body expected to promote youth unity, peace, and responsible engagement would resort to incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated claims capable of overheating the polity at a time when Rivers State requires calm, dialogue, and mature leadership.

The Rivers State Government therefore calls on well-meaning members of the public, particularly its esteemed and hardworking youths, to disregard and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups bent on advancing divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Rivers State belongs to all of us. Political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, peace, and the collective pursuit of progress.

Members of the public are further urged to remain vigilant and avoid lending credence to inflammatory statements or the activities of fifth columnists pursuing dubious agendas aimed at sowing discord.

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News

Rivers Government Dismisses Allegations of Disrespect to President Tinubu

Published

1 day ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has dismissed as unfounded and misleading allegations that Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara removed the official portrait of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the Government House in Port Harcourt.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the state government reacted to claims credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), describing the allegation as false, irresponsible, and unsupported by any verifiable facts.

The government clarified that it has no policy, directive, or intention that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government. It emphasized that Governor Fubara maintains a cordial, respectful, and collaborative relationship with President Tinubu and the Federal Government.

According to the statement, the relationship between Rivers State and the Federal Government has grown stronger under the Renewed Hope Agenda, with tangible benefits and positive impacts already being felt by residents of the state.

The Rivers State Government described insinuations that the governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” as deliberately provocative, noting that such claims are capable of misleading the public and unnecessarily heating up the polity.

It further expressed concern that an organization expected to promote youth unity and peace would engage in what it termed incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated accusations at a time when the state requires calm, dialogue, and responsible leadership.

The government called on well-meaning members of the public, especially the youths of Rivers State, to disregard the claims and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups spreading divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Reaffirming its commitment to peace, unity, and progress, the state government stressed that political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, and the collective interest of the people.

Members of the public were also urged to remain vigilant and not give attention to inflammatory statements or individuals described as fifth columnists bent on causing division within the state.