Politics
Wike Restates Commitment To Peace
Last weekend in Government House ended in a mourning
note after the governor Chief Nyesom Wike attended the burial rites and obsequies of late second republic House of Representatives member, Hon. Ovundu Nsirim in Rumueme, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
Before attending the burial, the governor had visited the site of the burnt Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office at Bori, headquarters of Khana Local Government Area. Chief Wike described the arson as the handiwork of those who want to scuttle the re-run elections, since they were not prepared.
On the same Saturday in the evening, the governor attended a dinner nght and fund raising organized by the umbrella socio-cultural group, Ogbakor Ikwerre, USA chapter, at the Presidential Hotel. At the dinner, Chief Wike called for direct foreign investing in the state. As far as he was concerned, the state is safe and conducive for investors to do business.
Last Monday witnessed the commencement of the 2016 Annual Conference of Magistrates Association in the State. Governor Wike, at the event, urged judicial officers to play by the rules, so that they can address issues of low quality and poor output in the system. Wike reminded them that they are the bedrock of an effective judicial system and therefore should discharge their duties fearlessly.
The magistrates were later hosted at a state banquet attended by Governor Wike and other top government functionaries.
Following the news of the postponement of the re-run elections slated for July 30, 2016 by INEC, the state Deputy Governor, Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo in a statement on Tuesday, said the development was in confirmation of Governor Wike’s assertion when he visited Bori. At a campaign rally at Okehi in Etche Local Government Area he reaffirmed that neither INEC nor the APC were ready for the conduct of the elections.
Last Wednesday, the Governor attended the People Democratic Party (PDP) Rivers West Senatorial District Rally at Degema Town in Degema Local Government Area. He thanked the mammoth crowd of supporters that attended and used the rally to explain why he attended a Peace Meeting summoned by the Inspector-General of Police and the Director of State Security at Abuja.
Governor Wike explained that he attended the rally because peace and stability of Rivers State was above party or personal interest.
Last Thursday, the governor played host to the Management team of the federal owned University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH). The team was led by its Chief Medical Director, Prof. Aaron Ojule. After an address by Prof. Ojule commending the governor and listing areas of assistance, Governor Wike promised that, among other requests, the State Government would take up the completion of the repair of the hospital’s access road and the abandoned Doctors’ quarters.
The governor, on the same day, played host to the Managing Director of SAIPEM Nigeria Limited, Mr. Guido Daloisio. He assured the SAIPEM boss of state’s partnership in the development of manpower and growth of the oil industry. Assuring him of conducive business environment, the Rivers State Chief Executive hinted that by next year Government will harmonise the tax system and reduce duplication to encourage investors.
Friday last week was busy for the governor. Returning from Abuja he went straight to inaugurate three board. The are the State Universal Basic Education Board, newly established Private Hospital Fund Management Committee and the State Petroleum Task Force.
He specifically mandated the Petroleum Taskforce to ensure all-round availability of petroleum products and avoid touting. He tasked the Private Hospital Fund Committee to be prudent and ensure hospitals at the local centres are incorporated in the scheme. For the Universal Basic Education Board, he tasked them to ensure the reform and improvement in Basic Education.
Last Saturday the governor hosted Editors under the Nigeria Guild of Editors. He took them round to visit project sites and wished them a successful conference in the state.
Politics
Reps Constitution Review Committee Holds Zonal Hearing For Rivers, C’River, Akwa Ibom In Calabar

A press statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Cross River State Governor, Mr Linus Obogo, disclosed that the Calabar Centre — designated as Centre B — will host representatives and stakeholders from Cross River, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom States.
The public hearing is scheduled to take place on Saturday, July 19, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at the Transcorp (Metropolitan) Hotel, Calabar.
The initiative, according to the statement, is designed to promote inclusive dialogue and capture the aspirations of Nigerians from all regions.
It aims to serve as a platform for citizens to contribute meaningfully to the ongoing national efforts to refine and strengthen the country’s legal and institutional frameworks.
“Citizens, civil society groups, professional bodies, traditional rulers, and other interest blocs are invited to participate in this landmark engagement aimed at advancing a more just, equitable, and responsive Nigerian Constitution,” the statement read.
The hearing forms part of the broader review process of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), and is seen as a strategic move toward fostering national unity and addressing structural legal issues within the federation.
Politics
Tinubu’s Contribution To Buhari’s Presidency Marginal – Ex-SGF

For the first time since 2022, when then-presidential aspirant Alhaji Bola Tinubu declared he made former President Buhari Nigeria’s President in 2015, Mr Mustapha dismissed the claims, stressing that the merger only contributed about three million votes in addition to Buhari’s existing 12 million votes in the North.
He insisted that former President Buhari’s integrity, national stature, and disciplined messaging were central to the breakthrough, not the three million votes from the merging parties, which he described as insignificant.
Speaking on the role of the merging parties, particularly President Tinubu, the leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Mr Mustapha, who was the keynote speaker at the launch of the book ‘According to the President: Lessons from a Presidential Spokesman’s Experience’ authored by Mallam Garba Shehu, described the impact of the votes from other merging parties as very insignificant.
In attendance were former Head of State Yakubu Gowon, chair of the event; immediate past Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; SGF George Akume, who represented President Tinubu; PDP’s 2023 presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar; former Chief of Staff to Buhari Ibrahim Gambari; elder statesman Babagana Kingibe; former governors Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Chris Ngige (Anambra), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Raji Babatunde Fashola (Lagos); former ministers Solomon Dalung and Sunday Dare; former Army Chief Tukur Buratai, and Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu’s spokesman, among others.
According to Mr Mustapha, “I do not intend to stir up any controversy. The merger in 2013 was midwifed to create a Buhari presidency. Let us look at the statistics. In the 2003 election, it was the Obasanjo-Buhari presidential contest where Buhari recorded 12.7 million votes. In 2007, it came to 6.6 million, and it went back to 12.2 million in 2011.
“When we were conceptualising the merger, what would give us a headstart? Obviously, it was at the back of our consciousness that the merger with the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), though it had only one state, the ACN had six states, ANPP three states, and when you sum up the total votes that we had as the presidency in 2015, the aggregate of the total votes was 15.4 million.
“So, basically, what we brought to the table after the merger outside the Buhari 12.5 million votes was three million. Before turning to that presidency, it is important to recognise the former President’s role in reshaping Nigeria’s political trajectory.
“In early 2013, as the leader of the CPC, Buhari formally requested and supported the creation of a CPC merger committee, part of a broader coalition-building process that brought together the ACN, ANPP, APGA faction, and elements of the ruling party through the breakaway ‘new PDP’ group. His endorsement and participation, along with other party leaders such as President Tinubu and Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, lent credibility and direction to the merger, helping to unify disparate party factions under the banner of the APC. That coalition-building paved the way for the first democratic defeat of an incumbent ruling party in Nigeria’s history.
“President Buhari’s integrity, national stature, and disciplined messaging were central to that breakthrough. No account of President Buhari’s tenure would be complete without acknowledging the extended periods he spent on medical leave. These moments, while politically delicate, were also telling of his leadership philosophy and personality,” he said.
In his remarks, President Tinubu promised to build on the legacies of former President Buhari, stressing that “nation-building is a relay. The efforts of one administration lay the foundation for the next.
“In this regard, I acknowledge the efforts of my predecessor, President Buhari, and assure all Nigerians that the reform-oriented path he initiated will be consolidated and strengthened under this administration. Our Renewed Hope Agenda is inspired by the desire to build a resilient, just, and inclusive Nigeria—a nation that delivers dividends of democracy to all its citizens”.
Politics
Your Lies Chasing Investors From Nigeria, Omokri Slams Obi
Speaking during an appearance on live television on Wednesday, Mr Omokri alleged that Mr Obi’s statements were misleading and damaging to the country’s economic prospects.
Mr Omokri said some investors currently operating in Nigeria were considering exiting the market due to Mr Obi’s remarks.
“That is not true. He doesn’t rile me up. I rile him up. The reason why I came here is because I’m a patriot. Peter Obi lied. You know, foreign direct investors are watching your programme, who are making investment decisions not to come to Nigeria. There are foreign investors in Nigeria that are making investment decisions to leave Nigeria because of the lie he told.
“One of the lies he told is that President Tinubu has borrowed more than the administrations of Yar’Adua, Jonathan, Buhari. That is a blatant lie”, Mr Omokri said.
To buttress his claims, Mr Omokri referenced figures from the Debt Management Office (DMO), maintaining that President Tinubu had actually reduced Nigeria’s external debt burden since assuming office.
“I have here with me data from the Debt Management Office, and Nigerians who are watching can go to DMO.com and search Debt Management Office, Nigeria State of Indebtedness 2015.
“As of 2015, Nigeria was owing a total of $63 billion. When Buhari was leaving office, Nigeria was owing $113 billion. Today, from the DMO, our debt has gone from $113 billion to $97 billion, meaning that Tinubu has reduced our debt by over $14 billion.
“We should be appreciating this man. Yet Peter Obi came here and lied to the Nigerian people. He took the debts and translated them into naira to make it look like the debts have increased”, he said.
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