Politics
PDP: The Peace Option
The Rivers State
Governor and Chairman of Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), Rt. Hon Chibuike Amaechi in July this year cried out that the state was under siege. His painful outburst was as a result if the glaring partisanship of the Rivers State Police Command in the political imbroglio rocking the state. The governor who was speaking when the Senate Committee on State and Local Government Administration came to Port Harcourt on a fact-finding mission said:
“Yesterday, they shot tear-gas into Government House. When we were meeting with the Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) today, the police claimed that it was inadvertent that they shot tear-gas into Government House.
“So, I asked one question, supposing it was live bullet and it hit me? They said no, governor was not outside. But I said I was outside, you can check. We are under siege here”.
Since it became obvious a couple of months ago that the governor is not on the good books of the president, some political opponents of the governor have cashed in in this development to advance their selfish interest. Having secured the support of the presidency, the group led by the Minister of State for Education, Hon Nyesom Wike, has engaged the services of the Rivers State Police Command in a war of attrition. The police in the state take directives from the group while the state governor who is constitutionally recognised as the chief security officer of the state is despised and subjected to all forms of humiliation. Nigerians in their numbers have continually expressed their discomfiture over the attitude of the police in the state, and the National Assembly two months ago acted swiftly by passing a resolution, calling on the Inspector-General of Police to redeploy Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu. But the IGP for whatever reason has not effected this resolution.
Of course, evil begets evil. Now the crisis in Rivers PDP which is being fuelled by the powers-that-be has engulfed the entire party with the emergence of the new PDP. Surprisingly, a presidency that was visibly unperturbed about the ugly incidents that characterised the intra-party crisis in Rivers State became a trouble-shooter overnight. The reason being that a split in the PDP will impact negatively on the ruling party in 2015 general elections, particularly at the federal level.
Although the key-players in the crisis have repeatedly expressed the willingness to resolve their differences amicably, their actions and those of their foot-soldiers suggest the contrary. In spite of various litigations in the courts of law, both sides have continued to engage in verbal war. Those who are privileged to apply coercive powers have been very dutiful. Could it be the reason why security details attached to Senator Bukola Saraki, who of late has become a regular guest of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Alhaji Kawu Baraje were withdrawn?
Again, the President a forthnight ago sacked nine ministers from his cabinet. Yes, it is the prerogative of the President to hire and fire his ministers at will, but some political observers attributed his action to the crisis in the party as most of the ministers who were booted out of office were nominated by the G-7 governors. To buttress this point was the sack of Dr Shamsudeen Usman whom the President recently described as the best minister that piloted the affairs of the Ministry of National Economic Planning. Indeed, the president will find it an uphill task to convince Nigerians that the ministers that were sacked from his cabinet were the worst among the lot.
Also, Nigerians were thinking that the on-going reconciliation in the PDP would be applauded by the Police in Rivers State as an instrument that was created to maintain law and order, but they were disillusioned when Governor Amaechi in company of former speakers of state legislatures across the country was blocked by the police from accessing a shorter route to his official residence.
Meanwhile, the Police had earlier in the day sealed off the new PDP secretariat that was inaugurated by the Chief of Staff, Hon Tony Okocha. What impunity! This is not acceptable in a democracy. Political pundits are of the view that the Commissioner of Police is merely carrying out directives from Oga at the top.
Two days later, the Minister of State for Education, Hon Nyesom Wike added insult to injury when he declared that he would not allow Governor Amaechi to open a secretariat of the parallel People’s Democratic Party in Rivers State.
Speaking at Abonnema, during the inauguration of Grassroots Democratic Initiative (GDI), Wike said, “Change has come to Rivers. Amaechi, you are not God, because you are tenant. Your house rent has expired and you cannot pay. Pack and go. Tenant, pack and go.
“There is only one PDP. Those who said they have two million votes, they are still going for meetings to give conditions. We are not accepting any condition. The only chairman of the party is Felix Obuah.
“They wanted to dare us to see whether we are still in government. We are in government. We are PDP government and nobody can open office of any parallel party in Rivers State. They should go to their Government House, because their rent has expired”, he said.
The Minister of State for Education is one of the president’s foot-soldiers. From his ulterance, it is clear that the peace- talk is a smokescreen. But political pundits are of the view that the president is being deceived by his foot-soldiers, creating the impression that the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of Federal Republic of Nigeria can easily deploy soldiers to any part of the country to secure his victory at the presidential poll.
Could it be that what is going on in Rivers State is an experiment in preparation for the 2015 general elections? If so, they are treading a dangerous path, because Nigerians are wiser now. We believe that the President is morally bound to keep Nigeria in one piece come 2015, no matter whose ox is gored. We wish him well.
Reward Akwu
Politics
Makinde Renames Polytechnic After Late Ex-Gov

Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has renamed The Polytechnic, Ibadan as Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan, in honour of a late former governor of the State, Dr Omololu Olunloyo.
Dr Olunloyo, who died on April 6, 2025, was the pioneer Principal of the Polytechnic, Ibadan, while he also served as Governor of Oyo State between October 1 and December 31, 1983.
Governor Makinde made the announcement at the state interdenominational funeral service held yesterday in honour of the late former governor at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Liberty Road, Ibadan.
Governor Makinde said Dr Olunloyo lived an eventful life, adding that his attainment and personality could not be summarised in one sentence.
“He was not a man we could summarise in one sentence. He was a scholar, a statesman, a technocrat, a lover of culture and, above all, a man of deep conviction.
“While giving the exhortation, I was listening to Baba Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu and he said in 1983, Baba became Governor of Oyo State. Though his time in office was brief, his election victory over a popular incumbent remains a powerful testament to the trust people gave him.
“I talked about preserving and digitising his library yesterday [Wednesday] as a mark of honour to Baba Olunloyo.
“Today, we will be giving Baba another honour to immortalise him. He was the first Principal of The Polytechnic, Ibadan; that institution will now be named Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan.”
Earlier in his sermon, a retired Methodist Archbishop of Ilesa and Ibadan, Ayo Ladigbolu, described the late Olunloyo as a role model with intellectual inspiration and unassailable integrity.
The cleric said the deceased also demonstrated leadership in most superior quality during his lifetime.
In attendance were the state Deputy Governor, Chief Abdulraheem Bayo Lawal; wife of a former Military Governor of the old Oyo State, Chief (Mrs) Dupe Jemibewon; wife of a former Governor of Oyo State, Chief (Mrs) Mutiat Ladoja; former Deputy Governor and PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja; and former Deputy Governor, Hazeem Gbolarumi.
Others were the member representing Ibadan North-East/South-East Federal Constituency, Hon Abass Adigun Agboworin; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi; Oyo State Exco members; Chairman of Oyo State Elders’ Council, Dr Saka Balogun; Chairman of All Local Government Chairmen in Oyo State, Hon Sikiru Sanda; President-General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Chief Adeniyi Ajewole; religious leaders and family members, among other dignitaries.
Politics
10 NWC Members Oppose Damagum Over National Secretary’s Reinstatement
Ten members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC) have countered the Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, on the reinstatement of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary.
The dissenting members, led by the Deputy National Chairman ( South), Taofeek Arapaja, in a joint statement, said no organ of the opposition party could overturn the decision of the 99th meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC).
The dissenting NWC members include Arapaja; Setonji Koshoedo, Deputy National Secretary; Okechukwu Obiechina-Daniel, National Auditor; Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary; Ologunagba; Woyengikuro Daniel, National Financial Secretary and Ahmed Yayari Mohammed, National Treasurer.
Others are Chief Ali Odefa, National Vice Chairman (South East); Emmanuel Ogidi, Caretaker Committee Chairman (South South); Mrs. Amina Darasimi D. Bryhm, National Woman Leader and Ajisafe Kamoru Toyese, National Vice Chairman (South West).
The group also insisted that contrary to the position of the acting National Chairman, the 100th NEC meeting of the party would be held on June 30 as earlier scheduled.
The statement read: “The attention of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to a press briefing by the acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum, today Wednesday, June 25, wherein he attempted to overturn the resolution of the 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting which scheduled the 100th NEC meeting for Monday, June 30.
“The acting National Chairman in the said press briefing also reportedly announced that Senator Samuel Anyanwu has been asked to resume as National Secretary of the party contrary to the resolution of the 99th NEC meeting, which referred all matters relating to the office of the National Secretary to the 100th NEC meeting.
“The pronouncements by the acting National Chairman have no foundation as no organ of the party (including the NWC), individual or group has the power to cancel, overrule, veto or vary the resolution of the National Executive Committee (NEC) under the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).
“For the avoidance of doubt, the NEC is the highest decision-making organ of the party, second only to the National Convention. By virtue of Section 31 (3) of the PDP Constitution, the resolution of the NEC to hold its 100th meeting on Monday June 30, is binding on all organs, officers, chapters and members of the party and no organ, group or individual can vary or veto this resolution of NEC.
“Furthermore, the claim by Damagum that Sen Anyanwu has been asked to resume office as the National Secretary of the party is, therefore, misleading being contrary to the resolution of NEC.
“In the light of the foregoing, the 100th NEC meeting as scheduled for Monday, June 30, has not been canceled or postponed.”
Politics
Presidency Slams El-Rufai Over Tinubu Criticism …Says He Suffers From Small Man Syndrome
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has fired back at former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, following the latter’s scathing criticism of President Tinubu’s administration and his 2027 re-election prospects.
In an interview on live television, Mallam El-Rufai said it would take a “miracle” for President Tinubu to be re-elected in 2027, citing an internal poll that purportedly shows a 91 percent disapproval rating for the president across key regions in the country, including the South-East and the North. He also claimed that President Tinubu’s disapproval rating in Lagos stood at 78 percent.
Reacting on Wednesday via a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mr Onanuga took a swipe at the ex-governor, quoting a harsh assessment of Mallam El-Rufai’s character from former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s memoir, My Watch.
“Nasir’s penchant for reputation savaging is almost pathological,” Mr Onanuga wrote, citing Chief Obasanjo’s words. “Why does he do it? Very early in my interaction with him, I appreciated his talent. At the same time, I recognised his weaknesses; the worst being his inability to be loyal to anybody or any issue consistently for long, but only to Nasir El-Rufai.”
The presidential adviser emphasised Chief Obasanjo’s remarks that Mallam El-Rufai often tries to elevate himself by diminishing others. “He lied brazenly, which he did to me, against his colleagues and so-called friends,” Mr Onanuga continued, quoting the former President. “I have heard of how he ruthlessly savaged the reputation of his uncle, a man who, in an African setting, was like a foster father to him.”
Chief Obasanjo, who appointed Mallam El-Rufai as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory between 2003 and 2007, did not mince words in the memoir, describing Mallam El-Rufai as suffering from “small man syndrome.”
Mr Onanuga’s post is seen as a direct rebuttal to Mallam El-Rufai’s recent criticism and growing opposition role. The former governor is reportedly playing a central role in forming a new coalition to challenge President Tinubu in the 2027 general election.
In March 2025, El-Rufai officially dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP), intensifying speculations about his 2027 political ambitions.
As the political rift deepens, Mallam El-Rufai remains one of the most vocal critics of the Tinubu administration, while Mr Onanuga and other presidential allies continue to push back against what they describe as “reckless” opposition rhetoric.
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