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Wike Vows To Form Govt Of National Unity

Frontline Presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has said that he would form a government of national unity, if elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2023.
Wike gave the assurance when he met with leaders and delegates of the PDP in Lokoja, capital of Kogi State, last Wednesday.
While soliciting delegates votes to clinch the PDP presidential ticket, Wike stated that he would bring a strong leadership to bear in and bridge the current division that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has engendered among Nigerians.
“If we win, we will form a government of national unity in which we will bring everybody together. God didn’t make mistake to have put us all in a country called Nigeria. God has given us everything. All that is required is a strong leadership that can put everything together, and you’ll see Nigeria become what it should truly be.”
Wike stated that he was prepared, desirous and full of energy to lead Nigeria out of its current woes.
He noted the enormity of the challenges, but assured that he would be that president who would not shy away from his responsibility to Nigeria.
“When I take action, you’ll know the president has taken action. It will not be a leadership that is unsure of what decision to make or not. I have the character, and people know me for the character that I have and what I will do. Nigerians know my views on issues. If we want to do something, let’s do it rightly.”
Wike insisted that it was imperative for the PDP to win the 2023 presidential election in order to rescue Nigeria.
He assured that if he was given the ticket and eventually becomes the president of Nigeria, the best brains would be assembled and he would be an effective leader of that team.
“No one person can do it alone. That is why we must have the best. The ability to coordinate those who will work with you to deliver results is the call on leadership.”
Wike, who also spoke on the imperative of tackling the issues of insecurity, said that without success in curbing insecurity, socio-economic life would remain low in the country.
“If there is insecurity, what gain can we make in the economy? If you can’t go to the farm, you can’t also talk of agriculture. If there is so much insecurity, can investors come in? They would not come!
The governor recalled that during his visit to Katsina, last Tuesday, the citizens of that state lamented that despite President Muhammadu Buhari, being their son, the Federal Government under his watch has failed to safeguard them.
“I was in Katsina, yesterday (Tuesday), and people were saying the president is from Katsina; our own son is the president, yet so much insecurity in Katsina State. So, it does not matter now where you come from, what matters now is who is going to do this work.”
The Rivers State urged the delegates to resist the temptation of giving the party’s mandate to people who were not committed to PDP, and do not have the chance of winning the 2023 presidential election.
Also speaking, the former Kogi State Governor, Ibrahim Idris, said the country was in dire strait and desperately requires a focused and determined leader like Wike to salvage her.
“Nigeria is in a very deep hole. We thank God we are breathing air, but where our country is now is very terrible, and to get out of it, you require a man with an understanding of the situation, a man with the capacity, a man with the ability, a man with the vision, who can develop the mission to get us out of this hole. That man from his antecedent, from his track record, from his unifying posture for the whole of Nigeria, that man is Governor Nyesom Wike.”
Earlier, Wike had visited Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, at the Lugard House, where he officially notified him of his presidential ambition.
He commended Bello for his doggedness and involvement of youths in his administration.
Wike reiterated that irrespective of political leanings, political leaders should shun acts capable of causing division and strife in the polity.
In his response, Governor Yahaya Bello, who appreciated Wike for the visit, explained that he was also aspiring to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari and build on his successes and achievements.
“When the time comes, I know we are going to collaborate and join hands together to build this country. Parties are just vehicles, just like you said that will convey us to our different destinations, and the destination is a prosperous, peaceful and united Nigeria. By the grace of God, we shall join our hands together to build it.”
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I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
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RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
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Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman

The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.