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2023: Wike Pledges End To Banditry In Katsina, Others … Slams APC Aspirants Wanting To Consolidate Buhari’s Legacy

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3 years ago

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Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant and Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has disclosed that he has a clear plan to counter activities of marauding bandits in Katsina State and other parts of the country, if elected president of Nigeria.
The presidential aspirant has also promised that he would produce real and rapid improvements in the lives of Nigerians, particularly by aggressively resolving insecurity and creating a conductive environment for economic activities to thrive.
This is even as Wike wondered what good jobs President Muhammadu Buhari has done that presidential aspirants on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were promising to consolidate.
Wike gave hint of his clear blueprint to tackle insecurity while addressing Katsina State PDP leaders and delegates at the party’s secretariat in Katsina, the state capital, last Saturday.
The Rivers State governor regretted that President Muhammadu Buhari, who hails from Katsina State has failed to stem the activities of marauding bandits responsible for the wanton destruction of lives and property in the state.
The governor assured the delegates that if elected as president in the 2023 presidential election, he would expeditiously resolve the nagging issue of insecurity and implement economic programmes that would enhance the quality of lives of Nigerians.
“You require somebody who will give you security in Katsina State. You require somebody who will bring projects to Katsina State. You require somebody who will appreciate the people of Katsina State.”
Wike reiterated that the PDP requires a presidential candidate who is courageous, firm and with capacity to defeat the failed All Progressives Congress (APC) government in the 2023 general election.
“APC will not give you power. We will take this power back from APC and give it back to PDP on behalf of Nigeria. I am that person who can withstand APC and win them. I am not going to run election to bear former presidential candidate. I came out because I know I would win the election.”
Wike urged the delegates not to vote for any aspirant on the basis of ethno-religious sentiment.
He asserted that they will be making informed choice by voting for him based on his the track records and commitment to the PDP.
The governor, who described himself as the most prepared aspirant, however, maintained that if someone else emerges as the PDP’s presidential candidate, he would support the person to defeat the APC.
“If I don’t get the ticket, I will still work for anybody who emerges as the candidate of the party, because what we are talking about is how PDP will take back power, how we can solve the problem of insecurity, how we can solve the problem of hunger.
“You cannot go to farm, again, your wives cannot go to farm. When they go to farm they will be kidnapped, they will be raped. Can we continue to live in fear? Can we continue to leave this country with these people that have failed us?”
In his remarks, former Katsina State Governor, Ibrahim Shehu Shema, said that Wike has demonstrated in course of his nationwide campaign that he has the capacity to lead Nigeria and resolve the issues of insecurity, poverty, hunger, illiteracy and unemployment.
“Anybody, who is not willing to take up this challenge, and look at the populace and address what their true and genuine concerns are, will only be interested in power for himself.
“I am glad we share the same vision. We are thinking in the same direction and we hope Nigeria after 2023 will be a better, more prosperous, more focus and more and more leader of Africa and the black world.”
Katsina State PDP Chairman, Salius Yusuf Majigiri, said party faithful are excited to receive Wike and his campaign team and do identify with his aspiration to become the president of Nigeria.
Similarly, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has wondered what good jobs President Muhammadu Buhari has done that presidential aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were promising to consolidate.
Wike, who is a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant, said Nigerians are under the yoke of APC maladministration with intractable insecurity situation that has crippled the economy and increased hunger.
Speaking in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State, last Friday, when he met with Governor Douye Diri at the Government House, Wike said God and Nigerians would forbid such successor to emerge, because the country must be freed from the festering insecurity, hunger, poverty and dwindling economic fortunes of Nigeria and its people.
“It is most unfortunate when I hear people declaring (intention to be president) under APC and saying they want to continue the good job of Mr President: The good job of people dying every day? Or the good job of Naira falling every day?
“I feel so ashamed that we have gotten to the level of sycophancy where people will come and say ‘I want to continue the good job of Buhari’. What is the good job of Buhari? Hunger, poverty, insecurity, economy falling?
“I can’t believe that somebody will come out in today’s Nigeria and say I want to continue where Mr Buhari has stopped. May God never allowed that evil to continue.”
Wike described himself as the most courageous leader who can lead Nigeria out of its presents woes and has, therefore, urged delegates of the PDP in Bayelsa State to support his presidential bid.
The Rivers State governor urged his Bayelsa State counterpart to support his presidential bid because he was contesting on behalf of the two sister states.
Wike said he understands the peculiar problems of the two states, the Niger Delta region and is in a position to sufficiently address them as president of Nigeria.
In his response, Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, noted that PDP constitution provided for the rotation of the position of presidential candidate between the North and South.
He reiterated that it was expedient that it is enforced within the principle of fairness, justice and fair play.
Diri described his Rivers State counterpart as a homegrown politician who understands the contending issues both in the South-South region, and Nigeria as a whole.
“The challenges of the South-South, the challenges of the Niger Delta, the challenges of Rivers and Bayelsa, you have worn the shoe, and it is only those who wear the shoe that knows where it is pinching. And so, there is no other aspirant that understands our challenges and problems other than you.
“You could have as well said this is our state I don’t need to come and campaign in Bayelsa, I don’t even need to come and see the delegates in Bayelsa, my brother governor is there, he will do it for me. And if you had called me on phone, I would have said ‘don’t come, stay back in Port Harcourt, we will do it for you’.”
He noted the need for a courageous leader like Wike to reverse the top-bottom administrative modus operandi of APC that has plunged Nigeria into dire economic situation.
Diri assured his brother governor that the people of Bayelsa State would support him to actualise his presidential ambition.
Wike, who later met with PDP delegates at the party’s secretariat in Yenagoa, reminded them of how he stood firm and never betrayed former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The Rivers State governor said he was handing himself over to Bayelsa people to consider him as their son, who is requiring their support so that he could clinch the PDP presidential ticket.
Wike described himself as complete PDP member who has never left the party, and remains the only courageous and fearless person who can confront APC in the 2023 presidential election, and win it.
The Rivers State governor expressed regret that the APC-led Federal Government has been unable to crush activities of bandits in parts of the country.
He, however, stated that bandits would naturally run away when they know that he has emerged as the next president of Nigeria.
Also speaking, the former Gombe State Governor, Dr Hassan Dakwambo, said Wike requires their support to actualise his presidential bid.
According to him, Wike was not only one of their own, but a trusted, tested leader who was psychologically prepared, and has the courage to provide the needed leadership that Nigeria yearns for.
In his remarks, PDP Chairman in Bayelsa State, Mr Solomon Agwana, said the country needs a visionary leader like Wike to put out of the brinks.

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Shettima In Ethiopia For State Visit 

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2 days ago

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June 27, 2025

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Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for an official State visit at the invitation of the Prime Minister, Dr. Abiy Ahmed.

Upon arrival yesterday, Shettima was received at the airport by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Dr. Gedion Timothewos, and other members of the Ethiopian and Nigerian diplomatic corps.

Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communication, Stanley Nkwocha, revealed this in a statement he signed yesterday, titled: “VP Shettima arrives in Ethiopia for official state visit.”

During the visit, Vice President Shettima will participate in the official launch of Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Programme, a flagship environmental initiative.

The programme designed to combat deforestation, enhance biodiversity, and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change targets the planting of 20 billion tree seedlings over a four-year period.

In line with strengthening bilateral ties in agriculture and industrial development, the Vice President will also embark on a strategic tour of key industrial zones and integrated agricultural facilities across selected regions of Ethiopia.

 

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RSG Tasks Farmers On N4bn Agric Loan ….As RAAMP Takes Sensitization Campaign To Four LGs In Rivers

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3 days ago

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June 27, 2025

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The Rivers State Government has called on the people of the state especially farmers to access the ?4billion agricultural loans made available by the State and domiciled in the Bank of Industry.

 

This is as the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) of Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), a World Bank project, took its sensitization campaign to Opobo/Nkoro, Andoni, Port Harcourt City and Obio/Akpor local government areas.

 

The campaign was aimed at enlightening community dwellers and other stakeholders in the various local government areas on the RAAMP project implementation and programme activities.

 

The Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Maurice Ogolo, said this at Opobo town, Ngo, Port Harcourt City and Rumuodumanya, headquarters of the four local government areas respectively, during the sensitization campaign.

 

Ogolo said apart from the ?4billion, the government has also made available fertilizers and other farm inputs to farmers in the various local government areas.

 

The Permanent Secretary who is the Chairman, State Steering Committee for the project, said RAAMP will construct roads that will connect farms to markets to enable farmers and fishermen sell their farms produce and fishes.

 

He also said rural roads would be constructed to farms and fishing settlements, and warned against any act that will lead to the cancellation of the projects in the four local government areas.

 

According to him, the World Bank and Federal Government which are the  financiers of the programme will not condone such acts like kidnapping, marching ground and other acts  inimical to the successful implementation of the projects in their respective areas.

 

At PHALGA, Ogolo asserted that the city will benefit in the areas of roads and bridge construction.

 

He noted that RAAMP was thriving in both the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; Lagos and other states in the country, stressing that the project should also be given the seriousness it deserves in Rivers State.

 

Speaking at Opobo town, the headquarters of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, the project coordinator, RAAMP, Mr.Joshua Kpakol, said the programme would reduce poverty in the state.

 

According to him, both fishermen and farmers will maximally benefit from the programme.

 

At Ngo which is the headquarters of Andoni Local Government Area, Kpakol said roads will be constructed to all remote fishing settlements.

 

He said Rivers State is lucky to be among the states implementing the project, and stressed the need for the people to embrace it.

 

Meanwhile, Kpakol said at PHALGA that RAAMP is a project that will transform the lives of farmers, traders and other stakeholders in the area.

 

He urged the stakeholders to spread the information to their various communities.

 

However, some of the stakeholders at Opobo town complained about the destruction of their farms by bulls allegedly owed by traditional rulers in the area, as well as incessant stealing of their canoes at waterfronts.

 

At Ngo, Archbishop Elkanah Hanson, founder of El-Shaddai Church, commended the World Bank and the Federal Government for bringing the projects to Andoni.

 

He stressed the need for the construction of roads to fishing settlements in the area.

 

Also, a former Commissioner for Agriculture in the state and Okan Ama of Ekede, HRH King Gad Harry, noted that storage facilities have become necessary for a successful agricultural programme.

 

Harry also stressed the need for the programme to be made sustainable.

 

In their separate speeches, the administrators of Andoni and Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Areas, pledged their readiness to support the programme.

 

At Port Harcourt City, the Administrator, Dr Arthur Kalagbor, represented by the Head of Local Government Administration, Port Harcourt City, Mr Clifford Paul, said the city would support the implementation of the programme in the area.

 

Also, the administrator of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Dr Clifford Ndu Walter, represented by Mr Michael Elenwo, pledged to support the programme in his local government area.

 

Among dignitaries at the Obio/Akpor stakeholders engagement is the chairman, Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council and paramount ruler of Apara Kingdom, HRM Eze Chike Wodo, amongst others.

 

John Bibor

 

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Tinubu Orders Civil Service Personnel Audit, Skill Gap Analysis 

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3 days ago

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June 27, 2025

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President Bola Tinubu has ordered the commencement of personnel audit and skill gap analysis across all cadres of federal civil servants.

The president gave this directive in Abuja, yesterday, while speaking at the International Civil Service Conference, reaffirming his resolve to achieve efficiency and professional service delivery in the civil service.

“I have authorized the comprehensive personnel audit and skill gap analysis across the federal civil service to deepen capacity. I urge all responsible stakeholders to prioritize timely completion of this critical exercise, to begin implementing targeted reforms, to realize the full benefit of a more agile, competent and responsive civil service,” the president announced.

Tinubu further directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), to prioritise data integrity and sovereignty in national interest.

He called for the capture, protection and strategic publication of public sector data in line with the Nigeria Data Protection Act of 2023.

“We must let our data speak for us. We must publish verified data assets within Nigeria and share them internationally recognized as fruitful. This will allow global benchmarking organisation to track our progress in real time and help us strengthen our position on the world stage. This will preserve privacy and uphold data sovereignty,” Tinubu added.

President Tinubu hailed the federal civil service as the “engine” driving his Renewed Hope Agenda, and the vehicle for delivering sustainable national development.

He submitted that the roles of civil servants remain indispensable in modern governance, declaring that in the face of a fast-evolving digital and economic landscape, the civil service must remain agile, future-ready, and results-driven.

“This maiden conference is a bold step toward redefining governance in an era of rapid transformation. An innovative Civil Service ensures we meet today’s needs and overcome tomorrow’s challenges.

“It captures our collective ambition to reimagine and reposition the civil service. In today’s rapid, evolving world of technology, innovation remains critical in ensuring that the civil service is dynamic, digital” the President said.

Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack in her welcome address told the President that his presence and strong words of commendation at the conference has renewed the morale and mandate of public servants across the country.

Walson-Jack described Tinubu as the backbone of driving transformation in the Nigerian civil service, and noted that the takeaways from past study tours undertaken to understudy the civil service in Singapore, the UK and US under her leadership, is already yielding multiplier effects.

Walson-Jack assured Tinubu that her office, in collaboration with reform-minded stakeholders, will not relent in accelerating the implementation of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan, FCSSIP 25.

She affirmed that digitalisation, performance management, and continuous learning remain key pillars in strengthening accountability, transparency, and service delivery across MDAs.

Walson-Jack reaffirmed that the civil service is determined to exceed expectations by embedding a culture of innovation, ethical leadership, and citizen-centred governance in the heart of public administration.

 

 

 

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