News
Wike Accuses Ayu Of Anti-Party Campaign Against PDP …Says Those Supporting CBN’s Naira Swap Policy Are Enemies Of Nigerians
Rivers State governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has accused the National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Iyorcha Ayu, of indulging in an unpardonable height of anti-party activities when he campaigned against the party in Kano State saying “PDP has brought us shame.”
Governor Wike made the accusation at the campaign flag-off rally organised by the Rivers State PDP Campaign Council for Eleme Local Government Area, held at the Community Secondary School Field, Alode Town, Eleme, last Friday.
The Tide recalls that Ayu at the presidential campaign rally of the PDP in Kano, last Thursday, had said, “the PDP has brought us shame”.
The governor said that Dr. Ayu spoke out of the abundance of his heart, even though he may want to defend it as a slip of tongue.
According to him, it goes to confirm that as an undertaker, his likes came back to kill the PDP. But they will not be allowed to kill it.
“When you see undertakers, you will see those who came to kill this party. But the party will not die, they will die first. I didn’t know they are wicked to this party, no wonder they left this party and joined ACN before.
“He (Ayu) said they will not allow PDP to be in power. Is that a good chairman? It that not anti-party? Is the chairman not doing anti-party. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. For us in Rivers State, our own party is a good party. Our own is a party that has done Rivers State well”, the governor declared.
Governor Wike also spoke about the poor implementation of the Naira Redesign Policy of the Federal Government and the socio-economic hardship it has caused Nigerians.
He said those supporting the poorly implemented naira redesign policy are enemies of the people and the country.
He wondered why the national leadership of the PDP that is in opposition, and should naturally side with the people in the quest to return to power at the federal level, will support the anti-people policy.
He reiterated that the PDP in Rivers State would always side with the Nigerian masses because it cannot identify and support policy that has been implemented to aggravate the suffering of the people.
“This is supposed to be an opposition party, is it not? A party that is supposed to identify with the masses. This is a party that is saying the ruling party is not doing well. Is it not? It means that anything that affects the masses we must be in support of the masses. Are you happy that you have money in the bank and you can’t get your money. Will you be happy? Are you happy?
“Since the Central Bank came with this madness, is it not affecting you? But you see my problem, instead of our party to identify with the masses, the leadership of the party at the national level is now saying they are happy with what the Central Bank is doing. Is that good?
“Instead of us to identify with the masses who are suffering, you’re saying that you are happy with the policy that the Central Bank and the cabal brought that is making us to suffer. You’re saying that it is good. We in Rivers State, we will not support it”, he said.
Governor Wike also informed that he had re-approved the use of the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium for the PDP Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) to organise its presidential campaign.
He noted, however, that instead of going to prepare the place for their use, the Director-General of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Council in the State, Dr. Abiye Sekibo and Senator Lee Maeba, led some thugs to carry out a grading work, last Thursday mid-night, on a piece of land located in Trans-Amadi Industrial Layout and owned by the State government.
“Abiye Sekibo led thugs around 12 midnight to go to Trans Amadi, the land that belongs to Rivers State and with Lee Maeba, brought bulldozers to start grading the place, that that is where they want to use for presidential rally tomorrow. I said no, go back to stadium. You said you have people, then you must go there (stadium)”, Wike alleged.
He said it was apparent that the so-called PCC members were dodging to use the stadium because they do not have the capacity to mobilise the crowd that would fill the stadium.
The governor urged the National PDP PCC to go back to the stadium for their rally, promising to provide them further logistic support if they requested for it.
Governor Wike urged the Eleme people to vote for Sir Siminialayi Fubara as the next governor and all PDP candidates in the state.
He assured that the forthcoming election would be the fairest and freest in the history of elections in the country, because according to him, it will be about the people using their permanent voter cards to determine their true political representatives.
Rivers State governorship candidate of the PDP, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, in his address, acknowledged the importance of Eleme as the hub of shipping, oil and gas businesses in the State, assuring that his administration will ensure that the Eleme people access the derivable benefits therefrom.
Sir. Fubara also assured that his administration would complete any projects that may be inherited, while delivering more development projects in the area.
Rivers State Chairman of PDP, Ambassador Desmond Akawor, who presented the party’s flags to the candidates, urged the people to vote for all PDP candidates in the state.
Speaking on behalf of all the PDP candidates in the area, Senator Barinada Mpigi said the massive turn-out of the people was an indication that they believe Governor Wike as their trusted leader.
He assured the electorate that the candidates would not betray the confidence reposed in them when they win their election.
In his speech, Senator Olaka Nwogu assured that Eleme people would go the extra length to vote for Fubara, who, he said, has efficiently taught and groomed their children when he was a classroom teacher in the area.
Senator Nwogu also assured that Eleme people would use their votes to pay their debt of gratitude to Governor Wike for the numerous projects he delivered in the area.
The State Commissioner for Finance, Barr. Isaac Kamalu, said the PDP in Eleme is one united and unbreakable political family that has resolved to deliver all PDP candidates in the state.
Also speaking, a PDP chieftain in the area, Marcus Nle Ejii, assured that the Eleme people would deliver bulk votes to all the PDP candidates in the state.
Earlier, Governor Wike, accompanied by Fubara and other PDP leaders, had paid a courtesy call on the King of Eleme, HRM Emere Dr. Philip Obele, Oneh-eh Eleme XI. The King blessed the governor and PDP governorship candidate, and wished them well.
A Coalition of civil society organisations has urged the Federal Government to take proactive steps towards addressing the persistent gas eruptions in Bille, Rivers.
The coalition, made up of the People’s Assembly and Bille Working Group, made the call in an open letter addressed to President Bola Tinubu, and read to journalists in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Reading the letter, the coalition’s convener, Dr Isaac Osuoka, said that the persistent gas eruption in Bille had led to serious environmental and public health challenges.
Osuoka, also the Executive Director, Social Action, urged Tinubu to establish a presidential task force to investigate and contain the gas leak in Bille.
He also called for the immediate relocation of residents to safe shelters, provision of clean water, food and healthcare services.
Dr Emem Okon, the Executive Director, Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre, stated that gas had been bubbling from the ground, creeks, boreholes and hand-dug wells in the community since October 2025.
Okon said that the gas had triggered several fires and explosions, and that residents of the community had reported respiratory problems, vomiting and other illnesses associated with exposure to the emissions.
According to her, preliminary investigations by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) have yet to identify the source of the gas.
Mr Kentebe Ebiaridor, the Coordinator, Oilwatch International, called for the publication of results from preliminary soil and water tests conducted in Bille for the residents to know the nature and extent of the contamination.
Ebiaridor urged the Federal Government to deploy medical teams to screen and treat affected residents, and immediately commence an independent study on the health impacts of the leak.
He further called for the suspension of oil and gas operations around OML 18 and 24 until the source of the gas leak was identified and the affected areas declared safe.
Ebiaridor urged the government to hold current and former operators of the oil leases accountable for environmental damage on the community.
Another speaker, Dr Bieye Briggs, urged the National Assembly to fast-track the NOSDRA Amendment Bill, 2025 to provide the agency with statutory funding and stronger enforcement powers.
Briggs urged the Federal Government to activate the regional Spill Command Centre, and make the Upstream Remediation Fund accessible for the Bille crisis and other affected communities in the Niger Delta.
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has banned drone operations and fireworks in Uyo and announced temporary traffic restrictions ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s visit to the State today.
The state Commissioner of Police, Baba Mohammed Azare, announced the measures yesterday while briefing journalists at the Police Headquarters in Ikot Akpan Abia, Uyo.
He said the restrictions were part of security arrangements to maintain public order, protect strategic locations and ensure the smooth movement of the President’s convoy during his engagements.
“There will be total restriction on the operation and flying of drones within Uyo metropolis throughout the period of the visit. Members of the public, drone operators and service providers are advised to strictly comply with the directive,” he said.
The police commissioner also announced a ban on fireworks, knockouts and other explosive sound-producing devices within the state capital during the visit.
He said the measure would prevent panic and allow security personnel to respond effectively to genuine security threats.
The command also announced temporary restrictions on public access to designated routes and locations in Uyo to facilitate the movement of the presidential convoy.
The affected areas are Airport Road, Shelter Afrique Junction, Oron Road, Nung Oku Junction, Mbierebe Junction and Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.
“Motorists are urged to plan their journeys, exercise patience and cooperate with traffic and security personnel deployed along the corridors.
“Members of the public are advised to avoid the routes during the restriction and use alternative routes,” Azare said.
He also urged residents to plan their journeys, exercise patience and cooperate with traffic and security personnel deployed along the affected corridors.
The commissioner said the command, working with other security agencies, had put in place security arrangements to ensure a peaceful and hitch-free visit.
He appealed to residents to understand that the temporary restrictions were necessary security measures and not intended to cause hardship.
Azare urged members of the public to remain law-abiding, avoid restricted areas and report suspicious movements to the nearest police station or through police emergency channels.
Tinubu’s visit to Akwa Ibom is a working visit during which he is expected to inaugurate major infrastructure projects executed by Governor Umo Eno’s administration under its ARISE Agenda. The projects cut across aviation, road infrastructure, tourism, healthcare, land administration and security.
Among the projects scheduled for inauguration are the international terminal building and airport hospital at Victor Attah International Airport, Aviation Village, ARISE Palm Resort, the 14.5-kilometre Nsit Atai–Okobo Road, Ring Road 3, the Command and Control Centre and the AkwaGIS building.
The state government had earlier announced plans for the President to inaugurate projects as part of activities marking Akwa Ibom’s 39th anniversary in September.
The airport projects are particularly significant to the state’s ambition to expand aviation, tourism and investment.
The international terminal is expected to strengthen the airport’s capacity to handle international operations, while the Aviation Village is intended to provide accommodation for aviation workers. The airport hospital is also among the facilities lined up for inauguration.
The road projects are also expected to improve connectivity. The 14.5-kilometre Nsit Atai–Okobo Road links communities in the two local government areas, while Ring Road 3 is designed to improve movement within Uyo and ease pressure on existing roads. The Command and Control Centre, meanwhile, is intended to strengthen security surveillance and coordination in the State.
The Rivers State Ministry of Culture and Tourism has floated a culture content platform in collaboration with digital television group, Multichoice.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mr. Freddy Ndigbara, disclosed this after a meeting with MultiChoice Head of Content Acquisition, Don Dotun Ojon, in Port Harcourt.
He assured that content entrepreneurs and film makers would enjoy the platform by promoting culture and other contents to sell the states tourism potentials.
He said MultiChoice M-net was now open to increase its patronage for content shots on locations in Rivers State, describing the State as one that has numerous potentials for film tourism.
“We were privileged to have Don Ojon with us at the Rivers International Film Festival (RIFF) at the weekend in Bonny and he saw, first hand, the numerous sites and opportunities that are open to creatives in the State. After that, we felt it was important to deepen the conversation and he obliged. This is a cheering news for the sector in the State,” he said.
Ndigbara stated that “Rivers State has many more untold stories to tell, many more contents to reel out and the assurances from the M-net Acquisition Manager is an indication that the industry in the state will soon enjoy a new lease of life”.
The Permanent Secretary thanked Ojon for the visit and assured that creatives in the State would grap this opportunity and show the world that Rivers State is a major hub for film tourism in Nigeria.
On his part, Ojon said the visit was to discuss on ways of promoting tourism in the State using creatives and film.
Ojon said although the company has recently been acquired by canal+ France and is undergoing restructuring, he would promote the chances of Rivers State to host the MultiChoice talent factory in the State.
With Asaba, capital of Delta State, being saturated, Ojon said the next port is Rivers State, which he said is capable of building fresh crop of creatives, new locations, new story lines and concepts.
He, therefore, called for collaboration from stakeholders in the State.
Kevin Nengia
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