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PDP Crisis: We’ll Continue To Stand With Wike, Jang, Plateau Group Vows
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) group operating under the aegis of ‘Plateau PDP Youths for Positive Movement for a Better Nation’ has reiterated that they would continue to stand with the position of the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, and the former Governor of the state, Jonah Jang on the right path to 2023 elections.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Plateau State, has been enmeshed in a crisis following the announcement by Jang, that he was pulling out from the campaign council of the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
Jang, alongside other party members loyal to Governor Nyesom Wike, recently pulled out of Atiku’s campaign team, following the refusal of the National Chairman of the party, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, to resign his position, to pave way for someone from the South of the country to replace him.
The group, in a statement made available to newsmen in Jos, and signed by Williams Rwang Bulus, said “we stand by our former Governor Jonah Jang.
“We are loyal to our former Governor, Jonah Jang who has done a lot in building the party in Plateau”.
The group added that Jang was the pillar of the PDP in the state.
“As a group, we still sympathise with Wike for the injustices meted out to him, and we are comfortable with the stand taken by our former governor, Jang.”
The group further stated that “the party leadership has not been fair to Governor Nyesom Wike based on the activities that took place during the convention and after the convention.
“We stand by any decision that our former Governor Jang takes and would always work for him,” the group added.
The group described the crisis in the party as one that some aggrieved party stakeholders, were trying to take their pound of flesh on former Governor Jonah Jang over his recent decision of pulling out from the campaign council of the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
After Jang’s withdrawal from the campaign council, some stakeholders of the party known as the ‘Plateau for Atiku Group’ using an APC chieftain, AmbYahayaKwande as a rallying point, went on to disown the statement credited to Jang asking Ayu to resign.
The group of stakeholders, amongst whom is Prof Shedrach Best, a then secretary of the state government (SSG) under Senator Jonah Jang’s administration, rather than calling for a roundtable to address Jang’s stance on the national crisis, had instead moved into an attempt to demean the person of the former governor.
Best was earlier quoted as asking an investor and non-indigene in the state, to leave and go back to his state for supporting Senator Jonah Jang’s idea of joining others to pull out of Atiku’s campaign.
“The power play has seen Amb Yahaya Kwande, widely known as an APC chieftain and close friend and associate of Atiku as such it is no surprise that he has been able to put together staunch supporters of Atiku ‘the Plateau for Atiku Group’ and attempting to use the opportunity to spite Jonah Jang who believes that ‘Subverting the Constitution of the party’s long-held tradition of inclusiveness’ is a sure way to derail the party from getting back to its winning ways.
“It is rather unfortunate that instead of the so-called stakeholders to advise Atiku to drop his political arrogance by asking Ayu to go, which will help him approach the election with one house, they are busy taking their political pound of flesh with anyone that opposes their stand.
“We were taken aback by such remarks by the faction close to Baba Kwande, and as loyal party men and women, we encourage the peaceful resolution of the impasse, and not actions that will fuel it out of proportion”, the group said.
President Bola Tinubu has expressed confidence that the country would win the fight against insecurity.
The President gave the assurance at the Argungu International Fishing Festival in Argungu town, Kebbi State, on Saturday.
He noted that the relative peace currently being enjoyed in Kebbi and neighbouring states was the result of sustained investments in security intelligence, coordination among security agencies, and community engagement.
Tinubu assured farmers and fishermen of sustained federal support to guarantee food security and safety across the country.
“The peace we are witnessing today is not accidental. It is the outcome of deliberate and sustained efforts. I assure you that the fight against banditry, insurgency, and insecurity will be won.
“Our farmers, fishermen, traders, and families will go about their lawful activities without fear,” he assured.
The President commended the organisers of the festival for sustaining the cultural event for decades, noting that it had endured for 83 years despite social and security challenges.
Describing the Argungu festival as a powerful symbol of unity, resilience, and peaceful coexistence, Tinubu stated that it reflects the richness of the country’s culture and the opportunities to harness its natural and human resources for national growth.
He said, “Today, this festival stands as a powerful symbol of unity, resilience, and peaceful coexistence among our people.
“It reflects the richness of our culture, the strength of our traditions, and the opportunities inherent in harnessing our natural and human resources for national development.”
The President was received by a large crowd of residents, traditional rulers, fishermen, tourists, and government officials from across the country.
The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to youth and women empowerment, irrigation development, rural electrification, and agricultural productivity.
Earlier, the Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, said his administration was determined to elevate the Argungu Fishing Festival to full international standards while pursuing aggressive development across critical sectors of the state.
The United States Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will be closed today, in observance of Presidents’ Day.
The mission made this known in a notice shared on its official X page, yesterday.
“The U.S. Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will be closed on Monday, February 16, 2026, in observance of Presidents’ Day,” the post read.
According to the embassy, Presidents’ Day was originally established to honour the birthday of the former US President, George Washington, but has evolved into a day to celebrate all U.S. presidents and their leadership in shaping the country’s history.
The embassy noted that the holiday also recognises the influence of U.S. presidents on global affairs.
In a related message, the mission highlighted that Washington created the first “Badge of Military Merit,” which later became the Purple Heart. The medal still bears Washington’s image today.
Presidents’ Day is observed on the third Monday of February annually in the United States as a federal holiday.
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Guterres Backs Nigeria’s Bid For UN Security Council Seat …Hails Tinubu’s Reforms, Regional Security Role
United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has charged Nigeria with spearheading Africa’s quest for a restructured global order, describing the country as uniquely positioned to lead the continent toward superpower status.
Guterres, who backed Nigeria’s bid for the world body’s security council seat, also praised the economic reforms of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration as well as Nigeria’s leadership in stabilising the Sahel and ECOWAS regions, despite facing its own security challenges.
The UN scribe made the remarks last Friday night during a high-level bilateral meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima on the sidelines of the 39th African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Speaking during the meeting, Guterres said Nigeria’s large population, sustained democratic governance, vast natural and human resources, and longstanding commitment to multilateralism placed it in a unique position to lead Africa in the evolving global order.
“Given Nigeria’s demographic strength, democratic continuity and deep resource base, the country stands a real chance of leading Africa to becoming the next superpower in the evolving global architecture,” he said.
The UN Secretary-General and the vice president discussed key developments in Nigeria and the country’s expanding leadership role in promoting regional stability across West Africa and the Sahel.
Guterres commended the remarkable and outstanding reforms of the administration of President Tinubu, noting that Nigeria’s bold economic restructuring and security commitments have strengthened its continental standing.
The meeting focused on strengthening Nigeria–UN collaboration to advance global economic growth, peace and security, sustainable development, and a coordinated humanitarian response across Africa.
In his remarks, Shettima thanked the UN Secretary-General for his leadership in advancing global peace, noting that Africa has benefited immensely from his tenure, even as the United Nations undergoes internal restructuring.
“We remain committed to multilateralism and to deepening our partnerships with the United Nations and other global institutions,” the vice president said.
Shettima also reiterated Nigeria’s longstanding call for comprehensive reform of the United Nations system to reflect evolving global realities.
He emphasised that Africa must have stronger representation in global decision-making structures and declared that Nigeria deserves a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.
Both leaders pledged to deepen cooperation, with Guterres reaffirming the UN’s support for Nigeria’s reform agenda and its growing leadership role in advancing peace, security, and development across Africa.