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We’ve Redefined Governance, Wike Affirms …Again, Dares Those Threatening To Expel Him From PDP …Accuses Atiku Of Meeting APC Govs, Denies Granting BBC Interview
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has challenged those threatening to expel him from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to go ahead and try it, if they can.
Wike gave the challenge at the Eneka Road Roundabout, venue of the flag-off ceremony for the construction of Eneka-Igbo-Etche Road dualisation project.
The governor, who insisted that he was unperturbed about the threat of expulsion, however, wondered why those desiring to expel him were displaying anxiety instead of acting out their threat, and see if they will survive it.
According to him, “When the time comes, we will know who has capacity, and who does not have capacity.”
The Rivers State governor also reiterated the minimum demand of the members of the G5 group, which was the resignation of Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as national chairman of PDP to allow for a southerner to occupy the office.
“We have made our demand and our demand is: the national chairman must come to the South. It’s non-negotiable. If you say you don’t care, no problem. Let’s go to the field. No need to begin to threaten people: you will do this, you will do that.”
In retrospect, Wike recalled how between 2002 and 2003, former President,Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, knelt down to beg his then vice, now PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to support his second term bid, and the conditions the latter gave to him.
“You (HO1) say we are giving condition, but you forget history. In 2002-2003, when President Olusegun Obasanjo wanted to run for second tenure, he knelt down before his vice president, and said, my vice, please allow me to run. You know one of the conditions he gave him: Tony Anenih must be sacked as the minister of works; and Tony Anenih must not be in the presidential campaign council. Obasanjo obliged, and sacked Tony Anenih as minister of works, and removed him from the presidential campaign council.”
He expressed surprise over the undying interest by those who said they have moved ahead and do not need the G5 to win the 2023 election.
He wondered why those antagonistic to the G5 were always sniffing around to uncover any latest move made by the group.
Wike queried why they were bothering themselves about where the G5 goes, what it says, and which person they chose to speak with.
The governor noted that even as G5 travelled recently to Europe, some people, including the Arise TV and other media outfits speculated and insinuated so many unfounded things without a proof of any picture or audio, to affirm their claims that the G5 met with a presidential candidate in Europe.
“They said I had conversation with BBC, where is the picture, where is the video? You know these days, we don’t have journalists again, and we have press men. You can see people not being able to give out correct information. You see newspaper houses that are now running election. You see television houses standing for election.
“Wike had interview with BBC. Wike said we had a deal with so, so and so. Meanwhile, no video, no audio! And some of you waste your time to listen to such things. Don’t you know that when I want to do something, I’ll do it? Don’t you know? Do you need to speculate? You don’t need to speculate! They say there is trouble, there is no trouble. What we have is introduction to trouble that will come.”
In any case, Wike wondered why the worry, that he had to, if true, meet with any person, including the APC presidential candidate, whereas the PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who had been meeting with APC governors was not questioned.
“What is your problem assuming that there was a meeting? Has Atiku not been holding meetings with governors of APC? Ask him. As he is in Dubai, don’t we know what is going on? So, why do you bother about us, G-5 that you say you can win without us. Leave us alone.”
The Rivers State governor took on the former national chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, who claimed that he was his benefactor, and said it was a lie.
He stated that at no point in his political career did Prince Uche Secondus sponsor him to any political office, except for the fact that he accompanied him on some lobbying trips.
Wike insisted that he was rather the benefactor to Prince Uche Secondus because against fierce opposition and rejection from the likes of Sule Lamido, Hon Austin Opara, Dr. Abiye Sekibo, Sir Celestine Omehia, and Senator Lee Maeba, he sponsored him to become the national chairman of PDP, and removed him later when he wanted to make his nephew governor of Rivers State.
“You wanted to be national chairman: first to impose your nephew or your cousin as you may call him to become governorship candidate of PDP in Rivers State. I said not here, it won’t work. We had to kick him out first, and we did, and you are out.”
He listed the Nsirim, Senator John Mbata, and Dr. Peter Odili’s families as sponsors at various times of his political dreams that had made him what he has become.
The governor emphasised that Prince Uche Secondus was awarded several contracts worth about N50billion in Rivers State, and had been paid a total sum of N43.9billion, but he has never completed any of the projects, and can also not account for money received.
Providing a description of the project, the state Commissioner for Works, Dr. Dakorinima Alabo George-Kelly, said the Eneka-Igbo-Etche Road was going to be dualised, and would be 5-kilometre long.
He explained that already, the contractor, Monier Construction Company (MCC) had been mobilised to site, adding that the project was expected to be completed in five months’ period.
George-Kelly said the project could be completed in two months’ time because of the incredible pace of work brought to bear by the contractor handling the construction works.
“This road is approximately 5kilometres long, the wearing course width will be 8.3metres while the binder course width will be 11.3metres.
“We are going to have drains on both sides of the road, the total length of the drains is going to be 9.24kilometres. The size of the drains will be 900millimetres by 900millimetres, 150millimetres wall and 150millimetres base concrete thickness.
“The completion time for this project is five months but with the speed the contractor is going, I am optimistic that in another two months, this project will be ready for commissioning,” he said.
The project, which is being constructed by Wike’s administration, was previously awarded by the immediate past administration but it was not executed.
This led the present administration to re-award the project to alleviate the sufferings of the people living in that area.
A Coalition of civil society organisations has urged the Federal Government to take proactive steps towards addressing the persistent gas eruptions in Bille, Rivers.
The coalition, made up of the People’s Assembly and Bille Working Group, made the call in an open letter addressed to President Bola Tinubu, and read to journalists in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Reading the letter, the coalition’s convener, Dr Isaac Osuoka, said that the persistent gas eruption in Bille had led to serious environmental and public health challenges.
Osuoka, also the Executive Director, Social Action, urged Tinubu to establish a presidential task force to investigate and contain the gas leak in Bille.
He also called for the immediate relocation of residents to safe shelters, provision of clean water, food and healthcare services.
Dr Emem Okon, the Executive Director, Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre, stated that gas had been bubbling from the ground, creeks, boreholes and hand-dug wells in the community since October 2025.
Okon said that the gas had triggered several fires and explosions, and that residents of the community had reported respiratory problems, vomiting and other illnesses associated with exposure to the emissions.
According to her, preliminary investigations by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) have yet to identify the source of the gas.
Mr Kentebe Ebiaridor, the Coordinator, Oilwatch International, called for the publication of results from preliminary soil and water tests conducted in Bille for the residents to know the nature and extent of the contamination.
Ebiaridor urged the Federal Government to deploy medical teams to screen and treat affected residents, and immediately commence an independent study on the health impacts of the leak.
He further called for the suspension of oil and gas operations around OML 18 and 24 until the source of the gas leak was identified and the affected areas declared safe.
Ebiaridor urged the government to hold current and former operators of the oil leases accountable for environmental damage on the community.
Another speaker, Dr Bieye Briggs, urged the National Assembly to fast-track the NOSDRA Amendment Bill, 2025 to provide the agency with statutory funding and stronger enforcement powers.
Briggs urged the Federal Government to activate the regional Spill Command Centre, and make the Upstream Remediation Fund accessible for the Bille crisis and other affected communities in the Niger Delta.
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has banned drone operations and fireworks in Uyo and announced temporary traffic restrictions ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s visit to the State today.
The state Commissioner of Police, Baba Mohammed Azare, announced the measures yesterday while briefing journalists at the Police Headquarters in Ikot Akpan Abia, Uyo.
He said the restrictions were part of security arrangements to maintain public order, protect strategic locations and ensure the smooth movement of the President’s convoy during his engagements.
“There will be total restriction on the operation and flying of drones within Uyo metropolis throughout the period of the visit. Members of the public, drone operators and service providers are advised to strictly comply with the directive,” he said.
The police commissioner also announced a ban on fireworks, knockouts and other explosive sound-producing devices within the state capital during the visit.
He said the measure would prevent panic and allow security personnel to respond effectively to genuine security threats.
The command also announced temporary restrictions on public access to designated routes and locations in Uyo to facilitate the movement of the presidential convoy.
The affected areas are Airport Road, Shelter Afrique Junction, Oron Road, Nung Oku Junction, Mbierebe Junction and Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.
“Motorists are urged to plan their journeys, exercise patience and cooperate with traffic and security personnel deployed along the corridors.
“Members of the public are advised to avoid the routes during the restriction and use alternative routes,” Azare said.
He also urged residents to plan their journeys, exercise patience and cooperate with traffic and security personnel deployed along the affected corridors.
The commissioner said the command, working with other security agencies, had put in place security arrangements to ensure a peaceful and hitch-free visit.
He appealed to residents to understand that the temporary restrictions were necessary security measures and not intended to cause hardship.
Azare urged members of the public to remain law-abiding, avoid restricted areas and report suspicious movements to the nearest police station or through police emergency channels.
Tinubu’s visit to Akwa Ibom is a working visit during which he is expected to inaugurate major infrastructure projects executed by Governor Umo Eno’s administration under its ARISE Agenda. The projects cut across aviation, road infrastructure, tourism, healthcare, land administration and security.
Among the projects scheduled for inauguration are the international terminal building and airport hospital at Victor Attah International Airport, Aviation Village, ARISE Palm Resort, the 14.5-kilometre Nsit Atai–Okobo Road, Ring Road 3, the Command and Control Centre and the AkwaGIS building.
The state government had earlier announced plans for the President to inaugurate projects as part of activities marking Akwa Ibom’s 39th anniversary in September.
The airport projects are particularly significant to the state’s ambition to expand aviation, tourism and investment.
The international terminal is expected to strengthen the airport’s capacity to handle international operations, while the Aviation Village is intended to provide accommodation for aviation workers. The airport hospital is also among the facilities lined up for inauguration.
The road projects are also expected to improve connectivity. The 14.5-kilometre Nsit Atai–Okobo Road links communities in the two local government areas, while Ring Road 3 is designed to improve movement within Uyo and ease pressure on existing roads. The Command and Control Centre, meanwhile, is intended to strengthen security surveillance and coordination in the State.
The Rivers State Ministry of Culture and Tourism has floated a culture content platform in collaboration with digital television group, Multichoice.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mr. Freddy Ndigbara, disclosed this after a meeting with MultiChoice Head of Content Acquisition, Don Dotun Ojon, in Port Harcourt.
He assured that content entrepreneurs and film makers would enjoy the platform by promoting culture and other contents to sell the states tourism potentials.
He said MultiChoice M-net was now open to increase its patronage for content shots on locations in Rivers State, describing the State as one that has numerous potentials for film tourism.
“We were privileged to have Don Ojon with us at the Rivers International Film Festival (RIFF) at the weekend in Bonny and he saw, first hand, the numerous sites and opportunities that are open to creatives in the State. After that, we felt it was important to deepen the conversation and he obliged. This is a cheering news for the sector in the State,” he said.
Ndigbara stated that “Rivers State has many more untold stories to tell, many more contents to reel out and the assurances from the M-net Acquisition Manager is an indication that the industry in the state will soon enjoy a new lease of life”.
The Permanent Secretary thanked Ojon for the visit and assured that creatives in the State would grap this opportunity and show the world that Rivers State is a major hub for film tourism in Nigeria.
On his part, Ojon said the visit was to discuss on ways of promoting tourism in the State using creatives and film.
Ojon said although the company has recently been acquired by canal+ France and is undergoing restructuring, he would promote the chances of Rivers State to host the MultiChoice talent factory in the State.
With Asaba, capital of Delta State, being saturated, Ojon said the next port is Rivers State, which he said is capable of building fresh crop of creatives, new locations, new story lines and concepts.
He, therefore, called for collaboration from stakeholders in the State.
Kevin Nengia
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