Politics
What Wike Brings To The Party
Beyond any modicium of doubt, it is crystal clear to everyone that Nigeria is in a desperate search for the person with the right leadership qualities to save her from her present social, political and economic predicament.
In fact, some say the country has never been in such need for a leader with the requisite mix of virtues that could rescue a nation that is deeply fractured and seemly gasping for life. Many believe that it is this dire reality that occasioned the deluge of people aspiring to be President in 2023, such as the nation had never experienced in her political history.
As the process of picking out that all important compatriot with the right answers to the discomfiting questions of the nation continues, even after the conclusion of the primary elections and the emergence of flagbearrers of the variouspolitical parties in the build up to the 2023 general elections, the home of the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has become a pilgrimage of sort for not only the top brass of his political family, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but as well those of other frontline political parties in the country.
Among those who had travelled far and wide to meet with the former foremost presidential aspirant at his country home in the past few days include the Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, himself a former frontline presidential aspirant of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Also at the Rumuepirikom private resdence of the Rivers State Chief Executive were Mr Peter Obi, the presdential candidate of the Labour Party, Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, presidential flagbearer of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP); and Alhaji Bala Mohammed, Governor of Bauchi State and former presidential aspirant under the PDP.
Even though the meetings had been held behind closed doors and no press statements issued in the end, Mr Peter Obi said he had visited Port Harcourt to confer with Governor Wike on vital issues of national interest.
The Labour Party presidential candidate wrote on his verified Twitter handle, “ Earlier today (Wednesday), I visited Port Harcourt, to confer with H.E. Gov Wike on vital issues of national interest.”
While some have found it intriguing that the Rivers State governor who came second to Atiku Abubakar for the PDP presidential ticket and was also denied the position of Vice Presidential candidate is desperately being sought after, many see the trooping to his house by top ranking political heavyweights across party lines as an eloquent testmony of his high calibre political potential and value needed to achieve success in the task of rescuing the country from her present socio-political and economic woes.
Speaking with The Tide in an exclusive interview in Port Harcourt recently, the Degema State Constituecy Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)in the forthcoming 2023 general elections, Disciple Peter Abbey, gave an insight into why Governor Wike is such a consumate politican that Nigeria needs to bring about the desperately needed change in the affairs of the country.
Disciple Abbey, who was the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Degema Local Government Area until recently, described Governor. Wike as a developer of men and materials; a man of will that is firm and decisive to deal with the nagging security challenges of the nation; and a man with tested and proven capacity to transform the country in ways that Nigerians yearn to see.
“This is why we talk of Wike. We don’t talk of Wike because we’re partisan”, he declared, arguing that given the precarious situation Nigeria finds herself at the moment, the country needs Governor Wike who possesses the right leadership ingredients required to save her from her cataclysmic slide and return her to the path of peace, stability, growth and development on all fronts of national life.
“Let me come from a personal perspective and then we take it up. Wike afforded me as a young politician, and not just me, many of my colleagues, he has afforded us a voice”, he said, adding that Governor Wike as a mentor has maintained an unbroken relationship with his friends and close associates throughout his political journey while deftly steering clear of situations and circumstances that could compromise his service delivery to the people in the discharge of his mandate as the chief executive of the state.
Disciple Abbey, who is also the local government area coordinator of the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI) for Degema Local Government Area, described the number one citizen of Rivers State as one who gets angry like every other human being but does not bear grudges and is not vindictive.
“Wike is not someone that bears a grudge. The Bible says that your anger should not last overnight. So, Wike, by the grace of God, is one that will talk to you but does not put it in his mind. He is not a vindictive person”, he said.
Disciple Abbey dismissed insinuations of vindictiveness and highhandedness of a Wike presidency as unfounded allegations aimed at discrediting the high flying presidential hopeful, affirming instead that a Governor Wike leadership of Nigeria will engender inclusiveness, national cohesion and even development of parts of the country.
“He is an all inclusive person, I can tell you that. He affords you a platform to air your views, your mind, but he is firm and he is a developer.
“I’m telling you that with Wike, the refineries will work. He is not someone that delegates and goes to watch you from the sidelines. He will delegate and he follows up”, he said.
The State House of Assembly hopeful noted that Governor Wike’s capacity to transform Nigeria can be seen in the way he has transformed Rivers State through the delivery of transformational projects of mass appeal to the delight of the people of the state.
He said it was significant that the governor is maintaining a dedicated commitment to keeping his promise to complete all projects started by his administration, intoning that Nigerians can trust him (Wike) to keep every promise he makes to them, just as he has faithfully delivered, and even exceeded expectations, on all the electioneering promises he made to Rivers people.
According to Disciple Abbey, Governor Wike’s success story in the security sector in Rivers State stands him out as one who has the winning formula against all the traumatic incidences of terrorism, insurgency and sundry security challenges that are threatening to bring Nigeria to her knees.
He said, “ For some years now I have not heard a gun shot apart from ceremonial gun salute. Go to my community in the riverine, very peaceful.
“I was telling someone the other day that now when you’re walking on the road, there is no more ‘die it’ as you will hear before. You know how it used to be when you see the boys”.
He said that even though security infractions may still be heard once in a while in the state because some people can’t just do
By: Opaka Dokubo
The Senate has confirmed Professor Joash Amupitan as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The Red Chamber confirmed Amupitan after a voice vote conducted by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and after undergoing screening and answering questions posed by the lawmakers.
Amupitan had earlier arrived at the National Assembly complex earlier, exchanged pleasantries with Senators.
He was accompanied to the chamber by the Governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Ododo, and other dignitaries.
At about 12:50 p.m., the nominee was ushered into the Senate chamber by the Presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Abubakar Lado, and was already seated ahead of the commencement of the exercise.
Amupitan was allowed into the hallowed chamber after the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), moved that Order 12 be set aside to allow visitors into the chamber, and he was seconded by the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South).
Senate President Godswill Akpabio welcomed Amupitan, his family members, and well-wishers to the Red Chamber, commending them for their presence.
Before introducing himself to the Senators for the question and answer session to take off, Akpabio disclosed to his colleagues that the nominee had been cleared by the office of the National Security Adviser after vetting.
According to Akpabio, the office of the Department of State Services had also cleared him.
The Senate President also said that the Office of the Inspector-General of Police, having done a fingerprint search on him, cleared him and said that he had no criminal records with the police.
The screening exercise commenced at about 12:55 p.m. following Akpabio’s opening remarks, during which he outlined the procedures to be followed by the lawmakers in considering the nominee’s credentials.
The screening session focused on Amupitan’s vision for credible elections, his plans for institutional reforms within INEC, and measures to deepen the use of technology in Nigeria’s electoral process.
Following his confirmation by the Senate, Amupitan will oversee preparations for upcoming off-cycle governorship elections and lay the groundwork for the 2027 general elections.
The Tide source earlier reported that President Bola Tinubu had nominated Amupitan, a Professor of Law from the University of Jos, to succeed Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.
The President’s letter conveying Amupitan’s nomination was read on the floor of the Senate by Akpabio during plenary on Tuesday.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Jos, Amupitan, is widely regarded for his expertise in constitutional and international law.
He said, although he was deeply concerned about some governors and lawmakers defecting to the APC, the party was working quietly behind the scenes to stabilise its ranks and rebuild public trust.
“If you ask me whether I’m concerned about our governors leaving for APC, I am more than concerned. But leadership is a burden. As a leader of a group of equal status, I cannot determine the decisions or inactions of my colleagues, but certainly, a lot of work is being done behind the scenes,” he said.
The Bauchi governor accused the APC-led federal government of using coercive tactics to weaken the opposition, saying the ruling party was bent on turning Nigeria into a one-party state.
“You know the style of leadership of the APC-led federal government in trying to make this country a one-party state. They have the power of coercion; they have the power of everything,” he said.
Governor Mohammed, however, maintained that the defections would not derail the PDP’s resurgence, stressing that most Nigerians at the grassroots remained loyal to the party.
“Even those who left are not finding it easier because most of the people at the grassroots level are PDP and are not happy with the defections. Sometimes it is done because of permutations and calculations. But I assure you I am not going anywhere. I am in PDP, and my state has no element of division,” he explained.
Governor Mohammed revealed that more defections could occur, including from lawmakers in his state, but insisted the PDP structure in Bauchi remained solid.
“Even today, I saw in the news that one of my senators is going. They are being controlled, they are being bought, but certainly, the state is PDP. Nigerians want change, and they believe they can get it through the PDP,” he stated.
The governor emphasised that the PDP had laid the foundation for most of Nigeria’s measurable achievements under successive governments and that the party remained the only credible platform capable of providing national renewal.
“Most of the measurable achievements by the federal government were done by PDP regimes. By the grace of God, if we stand firm, we will deliver. Some of us who won as governors were not even considered capable, and here we are. That’s what will play out in 2027,” he said.
Addressing concerns over potential threats to the forthcoming convention, the PDP stalwart said the party leadership was working to resolve internal disputes and litigations aimed at destabilising preparations.
“I cannot speak for the National Working Committee, but as a leader within the party, I know they are doing their best to address issues of litigations. Many are artificially created to undermine us, but we don’t have any faction in the PDP,” he said.
He noted that while some individuals had approached the courts to stop the party’s convention, the PDP remained more organised than most opposition parties.
“Comparatively, most of the other parties are not better off than us. We are better off than most opposition parties. We are the only ones intact; with one National Secretary, one National Chairman, and one Publicity Secretary. This meeting gives hope that at the end of the day, we will deliver,” he said.
On reports of Governor Peter Mbah’s rumoured defection from the PDP, Governor Mohammed said Governor Mbah had not formally declared any intention to leave and remained a respected colleague.
“Actually, Governor Mbah has not told us his position. It is a personal decision. We cannot remove his picture before he leaves. When he leaves, we will replace him with another person. Up till now, he has not told me he’s leaving,” he said.
He also dismissed speculation surrounding Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, describing him as a loyal member of the PDP who had endured significant challenges in office.
“He has not left the party; he is still PDP. Everybody has his own style. He is a humble young man who has gone through so much and has done well to accommodate all the problems and challenges he found himself in,” he said.
Commenting on speculations about a possible 2027 presidential project involving former President Goodluck Jonathan, the Bauchi governor said the PDP remained open to prominent figures who wished to return or associate with the party.
“People are still interested in this party, and these big names being associated with us make us happy. As governors, we have resolved to put personal interests aside. We are united and will come up with leadership that will be the best choice for Nigerians to put in Aso Rock, inshallah,” he stated.
Governor Mohammed reaffirmed his commitment to the PDP and expressed optimism that new, visionary leaders would emerge from the party in 2027 to defeat what he called the APC’s ‘deceptive’ style of politics.
“If somebody goes, just like a bird, they go, they come. Please, don’t blame anybody at the governors’ level; we are doing our best, but it is beyond our control,” he said.
In a statement following his recent visit to the United States and Rome, Mr Obi said he used the pilgrimage as an opportunity to seek divine intervention for Nigeria’s unity, peace, and responsible leadership.
He stated that after addressing members of the Friendship Club in the US and speaking at the 1st Ubuntu African Youth Assembly in Washington, he proceeded to Rome to join his wife for a spiritual retreat.
“With hearts full of gratitude, we thanked God that, despite our differences and the many challenges faced over 65 years of independence, He has kept us together as one nation,” Mr Obi said.
During the pilgrimage, the couple visited the four major Papal Basilicas in Rome — St. Mary Major, St. Paul Outside the Walls, St. John Lateran, and St. Peter’s Basilica — where they met with other Nigerian pilgrims.
“Along the way, we met many Nigerian pilgrims: men and women of faith whose faces shone with quiet hope. Together, we renewed our trust in God’s mercy and in the promise of a better Nigeria,” he added.
Reaffirming his faith in both divine providence and civic duty, Mr Obi maintained that prayer must be matched with personal and collective effort.
“Faith does not absolve us of responsibility; it calls us to action. We must each continue to do our part, with honesty, diligence, and love, for our nation’s healing and progress,” he said.
Mr Obi was accompanied by his wife, Margaret, during the pilgrimage, which also included an audience with His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV, at the Vatican City.
-
Nation3 days ago
Cancer Care: Expert Seeks Hospice In UPTH
-
News3 days agoUse Service Year To Build Capacity, Fubara Urges Corp Members
-
Featured3 days agoWorkers’ Audits Not Meant For Downsizing – Walson Jack
-
Nation3 days ago
Union Petitions EFCC, ICPC Over Tax Fraud Allegations Against Daewoo, Saipem
-
Politics3 days agoSenate Confirms Amupitan As INEC Chairman
-
Nation3 days agoHYPREP Remains Steadfast In Adhering To International Standards—Zabbey …As Regulators, Asset Owners Hail Project
-
News3 days agoNERC Approves N28bn For Procurement Of Meters For Band A Customers
-
News3 days agoFubara Reassures Rivers People Of Completion Of PH Ring Road Project