News
Tinubu Needs Nigerians’ Support To Succeed -Wike
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has advised those plotting to make Nigeria ungovernable for the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to have a rethink in the interest of the nation.
The governor said what the majority of Nigerians want is good governance, adding that he is confident that Tinubu has the capacity to deliver on his electoral promises to Nigerians.
Wike made these remarks during a special State banquet in honour of Tinubu at the Government House, Port Harcourt, last Tuesday night.
The governor told Tinubu that his electoral battles are over, and now is time to settle for governance.
“The battle you have now is governance. What Nigerians want is good governance. And if we want good governance, then we must rally round the President-elect, because if he does not work, everybody will suffer. We will still continue to cry. What we need now is to say Mr. President-elect, we want to support you to better the lives of Nigerians”, he said.
The governor cautioned those with sinister intention to make the President-elect administration to fail, to reconsider their stance in the interest of the majority of Nigerians craving for good governance.
“It is not to begin to set trap on how Mr. President elect will fail. If he fails, you have failed. So, we owe it a duty to give him support, and that support should start from the leadership of National Assembly, give him that support”, he said.
Wike specifically charged members of the National Assembly to collaborate with the President-elect to enable him churn out policies and programmes that will stimulate development and prosperity for Nigerians.
He said, “All of you have come here, members of House of Representatives and Senators. Check yourself. Are you going to work for the interest of Nigeria? If you’re going to work for the interest of Nigeria, then give him support so that you’ll not have crisis from the beginning. Particularly, you people in the ruling party. I’m not in your party.”
The governor commended the Rivers people for promoting unity, equity, fairness and justice as clearly demonstrated by Tinubu’s electoral victory in the February 25 election in the State.
Wike insisted that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) G-5 governors cannot be accused of anti-party activities because of their insistence that the next president to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari must be a Nigerian of southern extraction.
“It is only those who don’t know what to do, who are confused. We have never been confused from day one. We didn’t do anti party, we supported the unity of Nigeria which is more important than any political party. Those who did anti-party are those who violated the provision of the constitution of their party. They did anti-party. We that said we must respect and obey the constitution of our party, we cannot be held for anti-party.
“All I need is to thank Rivers people, they saw how this country was going and they said they will join the entire people that said look, let things be done right”, he said.
Wike also charged the opposition parties in Nigeria to cultivate the attitude of conceding defeat after general elections.
According to him, the bickering often associated with aftermath of every election in Nigeria is worrisome.
He said, “It is only in Nigeria where I see if opposition wins election, that election was done well. It is only in Nigeria I am seeing that. If as a governor, I contested for senate and I lose that election, they’ll say that election is free and fair. Why? because a governor lost. But if I had won, they will say how can you tell us that, the governor has done something. We saw governors who lost election”.
The governor lauded Tinubu for fulfilling his promise to visit Rivers State and commission some of the legacy projects built by his administration.
Tinubu, in his remarks, commended Wike for inviting him to Rivers State to commission some of his landmark project.
Tinubu reaffirmed that he remains committed to the fulfilling every electoral promises he made to Nigerians.
According to him, “governance is a serious business and Nigeria is a serious project. We shall all be together to fulfil promises.”
The President-elect urged members of the National Assembly to collaborate with his incoming administration in order to provide Nigerians dividends of democracy,
“The essence of what we have just achieved is right in front of us, because peace, unity, equity and justice in this country is a must”, he said.
In his goodwill message, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, expressed gratitude to Wike for playing a pivotal role in the emergence of Tinubu as the President-elect of Nigeria.
The governor of Jigawa State, Muhammadu Badaru Abubakar, in his own remarks, appreciated Wike and people of Rivers State for ensuring the unprecedented electoral victory of Tinubu in the just concluded presidential election.
Similarly, the governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, also lauded Wike and the people of Rivers State for voting for the unity of the country in the last general election.
On his part, the governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde noted that Wike has demonstrated uncommon passion and commitment in the governance of Rivers State.
He added that now that elections are over, the President-elect will have to focus on addressing the Nigerian project.
According to him, the members of the G-5 governors have already keyed into the Nigerian project.
In his opening remarks, the Secretary to the Rivers State government, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, thanked the President-elect for the visit, saying that the visit has reassured the people of the State that their vote for him was not in vain.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 1.63 million pills of tramadol concealed in two long trailers heading for Kano as it intensified efforts to dismantle a transnational drug trafficking syndicate operating along the Togo-Benin Republic-Nigeria corridor.
The agency also arrested an 80-year-old suspected drug dealer in Rivers State, a businesswoman linked to cannabis shipments from Canada, a Chadian woman, a couple and other suspects in coordinated operations across Lagos, Edo, Kogi and Rivers states.
The NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement, yesterday.
According to the statement, the latest intelligence-led operation came barely one week after NDLEA operatives recovered 558,900 pills of tramadol concealed in the false-bottom compartment of a truck that entered Lagos through the Togo-Benin Republic route.
Babafemi said, “Ongoing efforts to dismantle a transnational drug trafficking syndicate smuggling tramadol from Togo, through Benin Republic into Nigeria have yielded another success with the interception of two long trailers used to move One Million Six Hundred and Thirty (1,630,000) pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in fabricated compartments of the trucks across multiple borders into Lagos.”
He added that one of the two trailers was intercepted on July 2 along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, where operatives recovered 853,000 pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in a fabricated compartment beneath the cargo floor.
Babafemi said, “One of the two trucks already heading to Kano was tracked and located on 2nd July 2026 along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway where NDLEA officers recovered 853,000 pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in a fabricated compartment beneath the cargo floor of the trailer and arrested the 22-year-old driver Jabir Kabiru.”
He further disclosed that another trailer was intercepted two days later on the same route.
“Two days later, 4th July, NDLEA operatives acting on processed intelligence successfully tracked and recovered the second trailer from the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway while heading to Kano. A total of 777,000 pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in a fabricated compartment beneath the cargo floor of the truck were evacuated and the 22-year-old driver Muhammed Nuhu arrested,” the statement read.
According to Babafemi, investigations established a link between the three intercepted consignments.
He said, “Investigations revealed that all three trucks and consignments intercepted on 21st June, 2nd July and 4th July belong to the same transnational drug trafficking syndicate operating along the Togo-Benin Republic-Nigeria axis.”
The agency also intercepted 4.70 kilograms of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
Babafemi said, “Two consignments of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, with a combined weight of 4.70 kilograms have been intercepted at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos. The cargoes, which arrived the Lagos airport from Canada in cartons with ‘Odugwu’ boldly written on them, came aboard British Airways and Ethiopian Airlines flights on 24th June and 3rd July respectively.”
He said two cargo agents, Ali Rotimi Samson and Orimolade Oluwagbenga, were initially arrested in connection with the shipments, while another suspect, Edeh Onyeamachi Stanislus, was apprehended after arriving at a logistics company to take delivery of the consignments.
The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction has denied claims that it has commenced registration for a purported ?50,000 National Support Allowance.
The ministry, in a public notice posted on its official X handle, yesterday, described messages, links and websites advertising the alleged programme as fraudulent.
It urged Nigerians to disregard such claims and verify information only through official government channels.
“The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction has NOT commenced registration for any ?50,000 National Support Allowance,” the ministry said.
It added, “Disregard fraudulent messages, links and websites claiming otherwise. Verify any info only through official govt channels.”
The alert is in response to a circulating scam flyer that falsely claims the program is ongoing under President Bola Tinubu’s directives.
The fake advertisement, which includes text in Hausa and English, directs victims to a suspicious website (kluspz.com) for applications.
The ministry’s warning comes amid heightened concerns over digital fraud targeting vulnerable populations seeking social support.
Similar scams have previously surfaced around programs like N-Power, prompting questions from citizens in replies to the official post.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed its preparedness for a major national struggle for a comprehensive review of the national minimum wage.
NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, hinted at this while making his remarks at the commissioning of the Comrade Godwin Abumisi Pensioners Legacy House and Multipurpose Hall in Abuja.
Ajaero said it is no longer acceptable to discuss the welfare of workers without also discussing the welfare of those who have completed their active years of service.
He advised workers and pensioners to get prepared for the ideological and economic battles that lie ahead.
According to the NLC president, “The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) is one of the proud affiliates of the Nigeria Labour Congress. Therefore, your struggle is our struggle, and your welfare remains a priority for the organised labour movement.
“We are currently in the preparatory stages for a major national struggle for a comprehensive review of the national minimum wage.
“However, let me state unequivocally that it is no longer acceptable to discuss the welfare of workers without also discussing the welfare of those who have completed their active years of service.
“Accordingly, the Nigeria Labour Congress will not only push for a new national minimum wage but will also demand the establishment of a national minimum pension. It is a historical injustice that men and women who devoted their youth, strength and productive years to the service of this nation should be condemned to live below the poverty line after retirement.”
Ajaero noted that the cost of living has risen astronomically as food, healthcare and transportation have become increasingly unaffordable.
“We cannot continue to allow our senior citizens to survive on pensions that have become poverty wages. Every retiree deserves to live with dignity after decades of faithful service to the nation,” he said.
He urged pensioners across the country to remain united and prepared as the process begins, adding: “This Legacy House should not merely be seen as a physical structure; it should become a centre for mobilisation, strategic engagement and solidarity as we prepare for the struggles ahead.”
The NLC president pointed out that the working class has always understood that “those who exploit workers are united in advancing their interests. We too must remain united in defending our collective interests and ensuring that government fulfils its obligations to both serving workers and retirees.”
He urged pensioners across the country to remain united and prepared as the process begins, adding: “This Legacy House should not merely be seen as a physical structure; it should become a centre for mobilisation, strategic engagement and solidarity as we prepare for the struggles ahead.”
The NLC president pointed out that the working class has always understood that “those who exploit workers are united in advancing their interests. We too must remain united in defending our collective interests and ensuring that government fulfils its obligations to both serving workers and retirees.”
He said the completion of the project should serve as a clarion call to all workers and lovers of the masses.
“We must not only build physical structures but also build a strong movement capable of compelling government to honour its commitments,” he said.
Ajaero further stated: “We will continue to demand the immediate payment of all outstanding pension arrears and the implementation of a pension regime that guarantees every retiree a life of dignity and security.
“Together, we shall continue to fight until every Nigerian worker and pensioner receives the justice, respect and welfare they deserve.”
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