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Use Your Experience To Rescue Nigeria, Rebuild PDP, Wike Tasks Ayu …Assures Govs’ Support To Ensure Success …We’ll Not Impose Candidates In 2023, National Chairman Pledges
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has admonished the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Iyorchia Ayu to bring his wealth of experience to rescue Nigeria from the shackle of All Progressives Congress (APC) bad governance.
He also urged him to ensure that he reconciles aggrieved members who had left the PDP, with a view to bringing them back to the party as they have no opportunity in the APC.
This is as the National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Iyorchia Ayu has assured that the party under his leadership will not give room for imposition of candidates.
Wike gave the advice at the Interdenominational Thanksgiving Church Service and reception organised by the Benue State Government in conjunction with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Benue State Chapter for the PDP National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, at the Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi, yesterday.
The governor noted that Ayu has vast experiences of the country having occupied various political positions.
He, however, reminded him of the enormous task ahead to rescue Nigeria from the evil hand of the ruling APC-led Federal Government in 2023.
“Today is not a day to talk about APC. Today is the day to join the people of Benue State in thanking God for his mercies. Today is a day we shall be able to tell our national chairman plainly what the People Democratic Party (PDP) expect from him and how we’re going to stand by him to make sure this party is rebuilt, in order to put themselves together and to take over power in 2023.
“History is beckoning on you. Yes, they have said you are former Minister of Industry, you are former Minister of Interior, you are former Minister of Education, even Environment. And former Senate President, but you have never been saddled with the responsibility to rescue Nigeria. As a former minister, you were not given the opportunity to rescue Nigeria. Nigeria was not what it is now. Therefore, the battle to rescue Nigeria, the battle to change leadership in 2023 is on you.
“It is not going to be easy for you. The time for work has come, and that is when we will know the experiences you have gathered, how you want to put them to use and rebuild the People’s Democratic Party. It is very important.
“We want you to use your experiences as people have said to make sure even those who have left the party, should be brought back to the party.”
The governor enjoined the national chairman not to be distracted on the political ambition of party members, but rather focus on rebuilding PDP into a formidable party.
“Let me also tell you Mr. Chairman, do not be distracted about who will be presidential aspirant, let them not disturb you. Go, focus and rebuild the party. When once the party is rebuilt, I can assure you, you have somebody that will stand in this party, and Nigerians will vote for that person. What is important for you now is to see what you can do. Be focused, let nobody distract you.”
Wike urged the chairman not listen to those who will come and tell him that governors want to hijack the party.
According to him, those who adopted the tactics in the past did so to divide and rule the party.
“I want to plead with you, let people not tell you to begin to go to one governor’s place or the other, in order for the Governors’ Forum to be divided. At the end of the day, the party will suffer. Your business is, if the governors are not united; unite the governors, so that they can work for interest of the party. It is very key.”
He observed the loss of confidence by Nigerians on members of the National Assembly, and urged Ayu to ensure that PDP members, henceforth, form a formidable team, speak with one voice as they were in time past.
“Today, we have lost focus in the National Assembly, and so you have to put our party together to make sure our members of National Assembly speak with one voice and be opposition party they’re supposed to be.”
Speaking further, Wike stated categorically that despite the fact that he supported and voted the national chairman, he will not hesitate to speak out when he is deviating from doing that which the party expect him to do.
“Yes, I supported you, I voted for you because I have the belief you can turn PDP to success in 2023. But if you’re not doing well, Mr. Chairman, I will shout, I will say Mr. Chairman this is not what we expected from you.”
Wike expressed happiness over the successful election that ushered in a new leadership of the party, and assured the national chairman of his commitment, with other governors of the party to ensure that he succeed in his bid to rescue Nigeria.
“I’m one of the happiest persons today that a new leadership has emerged. I am very, very happy, because I know that if we did not do this, this party would have collapsed. I’m very, very happy. And so most of you who refuse to listen that time, you have now realised that yes, changing leadership is the key for this party to win in 2023.”
In his homily titled, “Leadership Predicated on God for Service and Accountability to the People”, the Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Makurdi, Most Reverend Wilfred Anagbe, stressed the importance of thanksgiving to God in all circumstances.
He urged Dr. Iyorchia Ayu to always remain humble and magnanimous in victory as exemplified in his character as an academic.
Anagbe noted that the victory of Ayu is for the PDP and an invitation to serve Nigerians again.
He urged him not to be a dictator, but work collectively with members of the party to achieve set goals.
Highpoint of the programme was the presentation of a Holy Bible to Wike by Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Benue State, Rev. Akpen Leva.
Other governors that attended the programme include Senator Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, and the host Governor, Samuel Ortom.
However, the National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Iyorchia Ayu says the party under his leadership will not give room for imposition of candidates.
Ayu spoke just as the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom aligned with the national chairman, insisting that imposition of candidates is undemocratic and will not augur well for the party in 2023.
Ayu spoke last Saturday, at the Benue Peoples House, Makurdi, while addressing stakeholders of the PDP during his first visit to the state as national chairman of the PDP.
He stated that under his tenure, whoever emerges as candidate for any elective position will be protected, pointing out that he has a competent team that has been carefully elected for the enormous task ahead.
The former Senate president charged party faithful to go back to their wards and work hard to ensure victory for the PDP in all elections in 2023, stressing that the party must rescue Nigeria from APC’s misrule.
The national chairman acknowledged the support shown him before and after his emergence by Ortom, Senator David Mark and other critical stakeholders, saying it’s an indication of a united Benue.
He said with the commitment shown by leaders who stood behind him for his election, it is a clear indication that Benue can win anytime but “when we fight against each other, victory will elude us.”
Ayu pledged the commitment of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP towards rescuing and rebuilding Nigeria, stressing that the party is poised to reclaim power at the centre in 2023.
In a remark, Governor Samuel Ortom, corroborated Ayu’s position against imposition of candidates, saying, transparency, justice and equity should be allowed to play out, even as he encouraged consensus arrangement.
The governor advised the NWC of the PDP to work as a team in order to ensure victory for the party at all levels in 2023, saying the APC’s failure is an opportunity for the PDP to reclaim their position and rebuild Nigeria.
While thanking Senator David Mark and other Northern leaders for standing firm to ensure the emergence of Ayu, Ortom announced that the PDP in Benue will be receiving other ranking politicians into its fold in the days ahead.
Former Senate President, Senator David Mark, acknowledged the degree of responsibility the nation has placed on the PDP, saying the party has no excuse but to succeed.
He prayed God to grant Ayu the wisdom and courage to lead the party in the right direction, saying Benue people will reciprocate the gesture by standing firmly behind him.
Ayu and other members of the NWC of the PDP were later decorated in the Benue unity attires by Governor Samuel Ortom and other top government officials.
Earlier on Friday, Ayu had vowed that the National Working Committee under his leadership will return the party to the people.
Delivering his inaugural speech titled “Let Us Rescue And Rebuild Nigeria” at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, Ayu said “today marks a new journey and a new direction for the PDP. As one who was part of those that founded the Party in 1998, I am well aware of its core values and vision which are centred around the people and their well-being.
“Our task at this auspicious moment is to return the Party to the people. But to do that, the Party needs to be reinvigorated, reinvented, and repositioned. We are not unmindful of our missed steps and actions in the past, but we have learned our lessons, both in government and in opposition. Today, we stand tall, and with a firm resolve to rebuild our great party and rescue our nation”.
He said the PDP is back to rescue and rebuild Nigeria.
“Under the new NWC, PDP will strengthen its internal democratic processes. We shall endeavour to reach out to all party members, young and old, male and female.
“This National Working Committee will create alternate platforms within the Party to actively engage the young people and our women, not only for mobilizing and winning elections but for advocacy, policy formulation, and the design of a new development agenda for the Party.
“We shall return the party to vigorous discussions; pay serious attention to new thinking and the implementation of policies and programs that will secure and improve the quality of life of all Nigerians.”
He said the Peoples Democratic Institute (PDI) will be revived and strengthened to drive this process.
“Before the next election cycle, we shall present a PDP manifesto that will bring back hope to our people. We will unite the people. We will deepen the content of our democracy. We will rebuild our collapsed economy. We will make Nigerians the focus of development. We will expand our international vision beyond the Niger Republic. We will check the rampaging insecurity. We will restore Nigeria’s lost glory. And we will reclaim our dignity, destiny, and pride as the Giant of Africa”.
According to him, the PDP is the only organic political party. It has remained a credible, tested, tasted, and trusted mass movement since the return of democracy in 1999 where other parties have either fizzled away or merged with others.
“Some have mutated into a contraption like the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), without any clear ideology or a coherent program of action. This contraption seduced Nigerians with propaganda in 2015. Today, Nigerians have seen the limit of propaganda and demagoguery. The only thing the APC is doing successfully is irresponsible borrowing.
“The PDP, on the other hand, has a history of performance and legacy achievements. In our 16 years in power, we not only gave Nigerians good governance, but we also strengthened democratic institutions so as to add value to the people. In an unprecedented move, we stabilized our democracy by sanitizing the armed forces of politically exposed officers.
“We gave Nigeria her first-ever successful transition from one civilian administration to another in 2007. To the disbelief of all watchers of African politics, we willingly conceded defeat in 2015 and handed over power to an opposition party in 2015.
“It was the PDP-Federal Government that created value-adding public institutions like the EFCC, ICPC, NAFDAC, the Debt Management Office (DMO), the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP) among many others.
“The PDP administration also strengthened the governance process by enacting laws to effectively drive public administration in Nigeria, namely: the Fiscal Responsibility Act, the Mid-Term Expenditure Fame-Work, the Treasury Single Account (TSA), Integrated Personal and Payroll Information Systems (IPPIS) just to mention a few.
“We negotiated and obtained forgiveness of over $30billion of debt, making Nigeria almost a debt-free country. Foreign direct investments flowed in. Cumulatively, the foregoing made Nigeria, not only the fastest growing economy in Africa but also the biggest economy on the continent,” he said.
Ayu said the APC has given the country two recessions and turned Nigeria into the poverty of the apital of the world. Today, close to 40million Nigerians have no jobs.
He said “In the last six years, the APC-led government has mismanaged our diversity; divided the country along regional and religious lines. It has exacerbated religious tensions in the country.
“And through its marriage to nepotism, the incompetent APC- Federal Government is fuelling secessionist agitations in the East and West of Nigeria”.
He said Nigeria is drifting dangerously towards a failed state. “Terrorists are now sharing sovereignty with Nigeria. Nigeria is simply ungoverned. Nigeria is collapsing under the leadership of a retired general!
“The APC used both the mainstream media and the social media to access power. Today, it coordinates a systematic assault on the media, civic freedoms, and freedom of speech.
“Let me give you the grim legacy of the APC: Two economic recessions in six years. A sluggish GDP growth rate of below 2percent. About 40million Nigerians have been pushed into extreme poverty in six years. Inflation is at an all-time high at 18%.
“A weak and devalued Naira, devalued by over 300% since 2015, has made our currency the worst in Africa. Unemployment now stands at 33%. Meaning: Close to 40million Nigerians, willing and able to work, can’t find jobs.
“A total debt stock of over $90billion now hangs over Nigeria. An erratic exchange rate regime has depleted N324 against the US Dollar in the last six years.
“Kidnapping for ransom is now big business. We share sovereignty with terrorists who kidnap and rape our women, including our mothers and under-aged children.
The terrorists even kill them when ransom is delayed. These are not political alarms, but statements of facts.
Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, says Nigeria needs God-fearing leaders for the nation to move in the right direction and make meaningful progress.
The Governor stated this yesterday when he received in audience, the World President of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Pastor Erton Kohler; his wife, Andriene Marques Kohler; daughter Mariana Marques Kohler and a retinue of ministers of the church at Government House, Port Harcourt.
Fubara who hailed the Seventh Day Adventist Church for its contributions to education and the grooming of future leaders in Nigeria, expressed delight that the Church had over the years, been investing in education at various levels and currently runs two universities in the country.
He commended the church for not only using its institutions to spread the gospel of Christianity but to groom future leaders for the country.
According to him, religion should not be just about defending one’s faith, but also making meaningful impact on the lives of the people.
He said that by floating these educational institutions, the church has demonstrated capacity to support Nigeria in the task of producing not only educated people but a breed of God-fearing leaders.
“Our country is where it is today because we lack the fear of God. If you have the fear of God, there should be a limit to what you can do because you understand the supremacy of God. But when God is not in your equation, you’ll go beyond the line and that is what has brought us to where we are today.
“So, I feel very happy that you are contributing to the development of our future leaders in this country. We need the right people being in the right place; prepared properly with good minds; that is what we need, not just in Nigeria but round the whole world.,” he said.
Governor Fubara further observed that the absence of God-fearing people in high places to take the right decisions that could impact positively on the society, has also given rise to other problems such as social inequality, poverty, corruption and criminality. According to him, Nigeria needs a system where the average parent could afford quality education for their children and a guarantee that upon graduation, the average child will have the capacity to compete favourably with anybody, anywhere in the world.
“If we have a situation where the little money that you’re being paid as wage can also afford you quality healthcare and after working at least for 15-20 years, you have a roof over your head, tell me why you should be involved in any kind of crime? At that point, you’ll feel secured and this attitude of insecurity about the future that leads to all the social vices we have today won’t be there,” he said.
Governor Fubara expressed appreciation to the delegation for the visit and for their prayers for Rivers State, assuring them of his continued support for their programmes in the state.
Leader of the delegation and World President of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Pastor Erton Kohler said he was in Nigeria for a special conference of the church during which thousands of the church’s ministers will be undergoing an empowerment programme to further equip them for the task of herding their flocks and serving the society.
He expressed gratitude to the Governor for the warm reception accorded his entourage, saying the memory of the visit will linger in his mind for a lifetime.
Kohler disclosed that the Church has over twenty -four million (24,000,000) members and more than 182,000 places of worship, spread across 212 countries of the world.
The Rivers State House of Assembly has approved the 2026–2028 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) submitted by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
This reaffirms the lawmakers’ commitment to enacting laws and taking legislative actions geared towards the overall development of the State.
The Assembly gave the approval during its Second Legislative Sitting of the Fourth Session held last Friday.
Speaking on the MTEF document during plenary, the House Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, noted that by the provision of Section 10(1)(b) of the Rivers State Fiscal Responsibility Law No. 8 of 2010, the MTEF ought to have been laid before the House in September 2025.
Amaewhule explained that traditionally, the document is expected to be presented four months before the commencement of the next financial year and immediately after the expiration of every three-year fiscal cycle.
He, however, stated that in the interest of the State and its people, the House considered it necessary to deliberate on the document, describing it as a precursor to the 2026 Budget Estimates.
The Speaker expressed concern that the year had already progressed significantly before the presentation of the framework.
During deliberations on the document, members examined the assumptions and projections contained in the MTEF and observed that strict adherence to the outlined fiscal parameters would ultimately serve the interest of Rivers people.
The lawmakers maintained that effective implementation of the framework would promote prudent financial management and enhance developmental planning across the State.
Following the debate and positive consideration by members, the Speaker put the question to the House and members voted overwhelmingly in support of the approval of the MTEF.
Meanwhile, during the same sitting last Friday, the House also received a petition from the Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Council, Dr. Gift Worlu.
The petition was presented by the member representing Obio/Akpor Constituency II, Hon. Emilia Amadi.
According to the petition, concerns were raised over an imminent security breach, threats to lives, destruction of property and alleged forceful takeover of property by some lawless persons within parts of the Local Government Area.
Presenting the petition before the House, Hon. Amadi appealed to the lawmakers to revisit the matter and take necessary steps aimed at safeguarding lives and property in the affected communities.
The House is expected to further deliberate on the petition and consider measures to address the concerns raised in order to sustain peace and security in the area.
King Onunwor
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JUNE 12: Democracy Remains Nigeria’s Strongest Path To Unity, Progress, Says Fubara ….Extols Abiola, Wife
Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has reaffirmed that democracy remains the most effective system of government for Nigeria, given the country’s rich diversity of ethnic, religious, and cultural identities.
In a goodwill message to Nigerians on the occasion of the 2026 Democracy Day celebration, Governor Fubara said June 12 represents far more than a historic date; as it embodies the enduring struggle, sacrifice, and collective aspiration of Nigerians for freedom, justice, and representative governance.
The Governor extended warm felicitations to Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora, paying tribute to the heroes and heroines of the democratic struggle, particularly Chief MKO Abiola, his wife, Kudirat Abiola, and countless others whose courage and sacrifices helped secure the democratic freedoms Nigerians enjoy today.
According to him, “June 12 is a reminder of the price paid for the democracy we enjoy today. The sacrifices made by Chief MKO Abiola, Kudirat Abiola, and many other patriots who laid the foundation for the democratic journey we continue to enjoy today. Their commitment to the principle that power must ultimately reside with the people remains a source of inspiration for every generation of Nigerians.”
Governor Fubara noted that thirty-three years after the historic June 12, 1993 election, Nigeria’s democratic experiment has continued to evolve despite challenges and setbacks.
“Our democratic journey has not been without difficulties, but the resilience of our institutions and the determination of our people have kept the nation moving forward. The ability to express differing opinions, engage in constructive debate, and peacefully choose leaders through the ballot remains one of the greatest achievements of our nation,” he said.
Governor Fubara stressed that democracy provides the best framework for managing Nigeria’s diversity and transforming it into a source of national strength.
“Nigeria’s diversity should never be seen as a weakness. Properly harnessed, it is our greatest asset. Democracy offers us the opportunity to build consensus, promote inclusion, strengthen national unity, and create the conditions for sustainable development and shared prosperity,” he said.
Governor Fubara commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda and ongoing efforts aimed at economic revitalization, strengthening security, and deepening democratic institutions across the country.
He reiterated the readiness of Rivers State to continue partnering with the Federal Government in advancing policies and programmes that improve the lives of citizens through infrastructure development, job creation, enhanced security, quality education, healthcare delivery, and good governance.
The Governor further called on Nigerians, regardless of political affiliation, ethnic background, or religious belief, to use the occasion of Democracy Day to renew their commitment to the Nigerian project and the ideals that underpin democratic governance.
“Democracy must not be viewed merely as a periodic electoral exercise. It must be reflected in our daily commitment to accountability, transparency, tolerance, justice, respect for the rule of law, and responsible leadership. As citizens and leaders, we all share a collective responsibility to strengthen our democracy and build a nation that future generations will be proud to inherit,” he said.
Governor Fubara expressed optimism about Nigeria’s future, urging citizens to remain united, hopeful, and committed to the values of peace, dialogue, and national development.
“Together, we can build a stronger, more inclusive, and more prosperous Nigeria where every citizen has the opportunity to thrive and contribute meaningfully to national progress,” he said.