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Nigeria In Dire Need Of True Unifier, Wike Affirms …Pledges Logistics Support For Kwankwaso’s Presidential Campaign
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has said that Nigeria was in dire need of a unifier that would drive the affairs of governance without any form of segregation.
Wike spoke at the inauguration of the Mgbuitanwo internal roads in Emohua Local Government Area of the state.
The Mgbuitanwo internal roads were inaugurated by the presidential candidate of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, last Monday.
The governor expressed grave concern about how the diversity of the country has been grossly threatened by those who have resorted to campaigns based on ethnic and regional sentiments.
According to him, such parochial tendency would make Nigerians more divided along religious and ethnic lines than ever before.
The Rivers State governor stated further that the Integrity Governors were resolved to do what was right always as long as it would help to advance the country.
“It is not to say don’t vote for a Yoruba man, don’t vote for an Igbo man. That is not what we require in this country now. What we require is a man who will put Nigeria together. We, of Integrity Group will continue to support whatever that is right, whatever will help this country.”
The governor explained that he had tried, in vain, to persuade leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) not to allow Kwankwaso leave the party because of the strategic importance of Kano State.
“When you wanted to leave PDP, I came to your house in Abuja. I said Sir, don’t leave the party. I pleaded with you. I came two times. Those who never meant well for this party, who will want to take control where they never sowed, said no, leave Kwankwaso to go. Who is he? Let him go! After all, I was a Senate President when he was Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives. I said no, he is an asset to the party in Kano State. Kano is very important for our party, therefore, whatever it takes, let’s keep him; let’s manage him. They said, ‘let him go’.
“I said the more the merrier. We are opposition party; we cannot continue to drive our people away. Whoever is angry, let’s keep him, they said no. They said I went to see Kwankwaso, I said yes, because I know with him in Kano, there is likelihood that it will be better for us. But if we allow him to go, the repercussion will be too heavy. They said no. Kwankwaso left us.”
The Rivers State governor described the NNPP presidential candidate and former governor of Kano State, as a man of integrity and number among leaders that Nigeria needs.
According to him, the NNPP presidential candidate had assured him that his supporters who were still in PDP would vote for him during the PDP presidential primary, and they did.
Wike offered to provide protocol and logistics support to Kwankwaso whenever he wants to do his campaigns in Rivers State.
“If you’re coming for campaign here, I will give you the logistic support for you to campaign. You’re a former governor.”
He, however, told Kwankwaso that it was difficult for any other party to win in Rivers State.
“Therefore, it will be futile for you to waste resources, thinking you will win election for any candidate of your party in this state”, Wike said.
About his comment on release of unpaid 13percent derivation money from 1999 to date, by President Muhammadu Buhari, the governor said he never said other Niger Delta governors should show proof of what they had done with their states’ share.
Rather, Wike stated that he only expressed gratitude to Buhari for releasing the money, which had helped him to execute a plethora of projects in the state.
“I never said people should account for their money. I never said so to anybody. All I said is people should thank Buhari for me, for giving me money to do all these projects. That’s all I said. If you people are interpreting a different thing, that is your own business. Is it wrong to thank somebody who has done well for you?”
Wike emphasised that his administration has never spent more than 14 months to deliver on any project in the state.
He pointed to the Mgbuitanwo internal roads as being among 20 other projects like the 9th, 10th flyovers that were all flagged off in June, 2021, which have all been completed within the period.
Wike said good governance was about the well-being of the people, and if anybody in government or close to any top functionary was unable to attract projects to his or her community, such person has failed.
The governor stressed that his administration has delivered the Mgbuitanwo internal roads, which was where Senator Andrew Uchendu, an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain hails from.
He regretted that the former senator failed, while in government, to do the road for his community.
Wike also mocked former Commissioner for Agriculture, Emma Chinda because he failed to attract government to do the roads for his Ogbakiri community, which his administration was now delivering for the people.
Performing the inauguration, the presidential candidate of New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, commended Wike for engaging Julius Berger Nigeria Plc to deliver the best quality of roads in a rural community.
Such gesture, Kwankwaso noted, speaks of a leader who loves his people, and was doing the best to better their lot across sectors, including the provision of quality educational infrastructure.
Kwankwaso stressed that those who were undermining the capability of the PDP G-5, particularly Wike, were doing so to their peril politically because Rivers State, like Kano and Lagos, was critical to winning any election.
The NNPP presidential candidate stated that members of the Integrity Group led by Wike, were good people who would continue to do the right thing, and would be judged by posterity based on what they do.
On his part, Commissioner for Works, Dr Dakorinima Alabo George-Kelly, said the Mgbuitanwo internal roads was 39,300 square meters; has 200-millimeter thickness, with 50-millimeter binder course, 50-millimeter wearing course fitted with street light and drains.
Regional Manager, South-South of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Jergen Fitcher, said they have continued to deliver standard infrastructure in support of Wike’s policy of development of the state.
Vice-President KashimShettima yesterday departed Abuja for New York, the United States, to represent President Bola Tinubu at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
According to a statement released by Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications to the Vice-President, Mr Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima will deliver Nigeria’s national statement at the high-level meeting in New York.
The statement read, “Vice President KashimShettima has departed Abuja, Nigeria, to attend the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, holding in New York, United States of America, from Monday, September 22 to Sunday, September 28, 2025.
“Senator Shettima, who is representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, at the global event, will deliver Nigeria’s national statement and join other dignitaries at the UN high-level general debates, among other side events.”
On the sideline, Nkwocha added that the VP will announce Nigeria’s new Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement at this year’s UN special event on climate.
The Tide reports that UNGA 80 opened on 9 September 2025.
Among scheduled events is a high-level general debate that will run from 23 to 27 September and conclude on 29 September 2025.
The SDG Moment will be held on 22 September to highlight inspiring action on the Sustainable Development Goals.
According to the statement, Shettima’sprogramme in New York will include bilateral engagements and multilateral discussions on issues of national and international importance.
President Bola Tinubu yesterday celebrated his wife, Senator OluremiTinubu, as she turned 65, describing her as his confidant, counsellor, and steady anchor through decades of political and personal trials.
In a tribute released at midnight, yesterday, Tinubu poured encomiums on the First Lady not just as his spouse but as a lifelong partner whose sacrifices have quietly shaped their family and the nation.
He wrote, “As you celebrate your 65th birthday today, I honour not only the love of my life, but also a woman whose quiet strength and enduring grace have been my steadying anchor.
“Through every season, from the long years of struggle and political exile, to leadership responsibilities, you have stood firmly by my side with dignity, patience, and devotion that words can scarcely express.”
Reflecting on her influence beyond the home, Tinubu hailed his wife as a role model for their children and grandchildren, and as a symbol of resilience for Nigerian women.
“You are more than my wife. You are my confidant, counsellor, and the steady flame illuminating my path.
“In you, our children and grandchildren see the example of compassion and faith, and in you, our nation sees the true strength of womanhood; resolute yet tender, humble yet unshakably firm,” he noted.
The President also acknowledged the sacrifices his wife made during the years of political struggle, saying they amounted to a form of national service.
According to the President, “Nigeria owes you more than many will ever know. In every sacrifice you made quietly, in every burden you carried without complaint, you have served this country as surely as I have, not from the podium, but from the heart of our home.”
Expressing gratitude in his dual capacity as husband and President, Tinubu concluded: “Today, as your husband, I thank God for your life, health, and unwavering love.
“As your President, I salute you as the First Lady whose warmth and empathy continue to touch millions of lives across our land.
“And as your lifelong companion, I say that I love you more than ever, and am blessed every day by your presence. Your love is a treasure I hold dear.”
Tinubu wished her many more years of peace, joy, and fulfilment, saying: “Happy 65th birthday, Oluremi. May the years ahead be filled with joy, peace, and the fulfilment you so richly deserve.”
Earlier, the First Lady had announced that she would dedicate her 65th birthday to raising funds for the completion of the country’s long-delayed National Library.
She urged well-wishers to donate to the fund instead of sending her gifts and paying for newspapers advertisements to mark the days.
In a statement she signed last Thursday, Tinubu said she would spend Sunday “dedicated to God for all His blessings in my life and having a quiet birthday,” and appealed for contributions to an account tagged the “Oluremi@65 Education Fund,” coordinated by the Ministry of Education.
“I wish to appeal to those who would like to send a birthday card, cakes, flowers, greetings in the newspapers or gifts should please send the funds to the designated account for a special project close to my heart… The completion of the National Library,” she said.
“This will be the best birthday present I would ever receive. My love for education has informed my decision to dedicate my birthday to this worthy cause,” MrsTinubu added.
The National Library headquarters project in Abuja has been under construction since 2006, when it was awarded for N8.59bn and expected to be finished in under two years.
However, costs ballooned and progress slowed. By 2023, the physical completion rate stood at about 44 per cent with estimates ranging from N49.6bn to more than N120bn required to finish the 12-storey complex.
The site, located between the National Mosque and the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja, has long been considered a symbol of a stalled infrastructure project.
Successive administrations have pledged to deliver the project, and in 2025 the Federal Government directed the Tertiary Education Trust Fund to take over funding and resume construction.
Education Minister TunjiAlausa said in April that work would restart by June 1, following site assessments.
The Nigerian Library Association renewed its call in September 2025 for urgent completion, arguing that the facility is critical to education, research and cultural preservation.
MrsTinubu, a former senator and First Lady of Lagos state has often tied her advocacy to education, women’s empowerment and youth development.
The Federal Government has unveiled N-ATLAS, an open-source, multilingual and multimodal large language model that supports Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo and Nigerian-accented English.
Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, DrBosunTijani, who announced this in a statement on his X account on Saturday, stated that the artificial intelligence was launched on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York.
According to the minister, N-ATLAS is developed to put African voices at the centre of AI development.
He said, “Starting with Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo and Nigerian-accented English, N-ATLAS places Africa’s voices and diversity at the foundation of AI.
“This is the first step in a broader journey to make Africa a contributor and leader in shaping AI’s future.”
According to the product description on its model card, N-ATLaS LLM features a speech-technology suite that includes language-specific automatic speech recognition models, which aid in transcription, accessibility, and local-language application.
It can be used to build chatbots that answer citizen questions about government services in Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba or Nigerian-accented English.
The ASR models can transcribe radio, TV or online videos into text and generate captions/subtitles in the four local languages.
Call-centre and voice assistant support can deploy ASR and LLM pipelines to capture caller speech in Nigerian accents, transcribe it and supply intent detection or automated replies.
The model can also be used to summarise interviews conducted in local languages.
The product was built by the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics and partners, including Awarri Technologies, as part of Nigeria’s language-AI initiative.
The model documentation can be accessed on Hugging Face.
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