Featured
Insecurity: Wike Slams Buhari As Weak Commander-In-Chief
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has said that if there is a proper Commander-in-Chief, bandits and insurgent groups would not be allowed to drag the country down to the level of unrestrained killings of innocent Nigerians.
Wike described a country going down to mean a place where hunger is not addressed, insecurity is allowed to fester, and marauding bandits kill Nigerians without restriction.
The Rivers State governor decried the Nigerian situation when he met with delegates and leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, last Monday, to solicit votes as he seeks to become the presidential flag-bearer of the party.
“A proper Commander-in-Chief will never allow this country to go down like this. What is President Muhammadu Buhari doing with the service chiefs? Their business is to protect Nigeria and Nigerians.
“Look at our country, every day, the only project we get is people have died. The only project Nigeria continues to get is killings. Yesterday (Sunday), 55 people were killed in Zamfara”.
The presidential aspirant maintained that the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government has failed in its primary responsibility to protect lives and property, hence, has no business being in governance.
“First in the oath of office is the protection of lives and property. Any government that cannot protect lives and property, then, you have no business being in governance. APC has no business to being in governance!”
Wike emphasised that what was happening in Nigeria was affecting everybody, including Moslems, Christians, Northerners and Southerners alike.
The Rivers State governor said never had Nigerians been so divided as seen under President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.
Wike described his quest to rescue Nigeria and ensure safety of lives and property under a proper Commander-in-Chief, as a mission to write the wrongs and give Nigerians back their country.
“Nobody can say what will happen in the next two minutes. As you’re going home now, you don’t know what will happen. Nigeria has come to that stage.
“Look at the hunger. Look at the poverty. This country requires a leader now that can confront the issues of insecurity.
“This country requires a leader that is very courageous. This country requires a leader that is fearless, and I am that leader.”
Wike reiterated his resolve to form a government of national unity, if he secures the presidential ticket of the PDP; contests the 2023 presidential election, and wins resoundingly.
Speaking further, Wike urged the delegates to consider him as the most competent, courageous and fearless leader to vote for during the party’s primary on May 28 and 29, 2022.
Wike enjoined the PDP family in Ekiti State to continue to work in unity, and assured them of his and Oyo State governor’s support at the next gubernatorial election in that state.
Also speaking, the Governor of Oyo State, Engr Oluseyi Makinde, said the South-West geopolitical zone would vote as a bloc during this month’s PDP presidential primary.
“The South-West zone, we will go in one direction. South-West zone will determine who is going to get the ticket of PDP. So, the delegates will have the heavy load of Abuja, and by the grace of God, we will deliver.”
Makinde said the era when the South-West was regarded as untrustworthy was over.
He stressed that the zone would play a central role during the presidential primary, and would also get a central benefit when Wike wins the 2023 presidential election.
Similarly, former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, noted that the South-West has suffered gross negligence under the APC administration.
“We are going to go to this convention united. Nobody in the South-West, particularly in Ekiti will start going to one aspirant in the night.”
In his remarks, former Gombe State Governor, Dr. Ibrahim Dankwambo, said having worked with four Nigerian presidents, he was convinced that Wike was the only aspirant with the resolve to tackle the challenge of insecurity and other issues besetting the Nigerian state.
“He is a man that is a complete party man, a man that has worked for this party. He stood for this party when we had problem and never ran away.”
The Administrator of Rivers State, Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, has assured the commitment of Rivers State government to workers’s welfare and industrial harmony in Rivers State.
The Sole Administrator gave the assurance after meeting with leadership of organized labour unions at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
Ibas reaffirmed government’s policy of prompt payment of salaries and pensions to workers and retirees, stating that all local government employees are not receiving the approved minimum wage.
He disclosed that approval has been given for payment of newly employed staff at Rivers State University Teaching Hospital and the Judiciary, while medical workers in Local Government Areas will now receive correct wages.
Ibas explained that, Government is reviewing implementation challenges of the Contributory Pension Scheme ahead of the July 2025 deadline, adding that Intervention buses have been reintroduced to ease workers’ transportation ,with plans to expand the fleet.
He said specialized leadership training for top civil servants will commence within two weeks, while due consideration is being given to implementing the N32,000 consequential adjustment for pensioners and clearing outstanding gratuities.
Ibas commended Rivers State workers for their dedication to service and called for sustained partnership with labour unions to maintain industrial peace.
“This administration recognizes workers as critical partners in development. We remain committed to addressing your legitimate concerns within available resources,” he stated.
The State NLC Chairman, Comrade Alex Agwanwor, thanked the Administrator for the steps taken so far with regard to workers welfare while appreciating his disposition towards alleviating the transportation problem faced by workers.
He also expressed appreciation for the government’s openness to dialogue and pledged continued cooperation towards achieving mutual goals.
The Rivers State Government assured all workers of its unwavering commitment to their welfare and called for continued dedication to service delivery for the collective progress of our dear State.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Rivers Council, has called for policies that will improve the economic situation of the country in order to ensure enhanced living standard for workers.
The State Chairman, Mr Alex Agwanwor, made the remark on behalf of the unions affiliated to Labour Congress during the 2025 workers day celebration in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Agwanwor highlighted the demands of the Unions which included the immediate payment of pension arrears, implementation of the N32,000 minimum wage for pensioners, and payment of gratuities and death benefits without further delay.
“We are calling for the regulation and protection of e-hailing drivers, implementation of increments and promotions, and resolution of long-standing issues in the polytechnic sector,” he said.
Agwanwor on behalf of the unions appealed to President Bola Tinubu to reinstate the democratically elected Governor, Deputy Governor, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
He stressed the importance of democratic governance and good working relationship with elected representatives.
According to him, the unions expressed disappointment over the imposition of taxes, increase in electricity tariff, and high cost of goods and services, which have further worsened the plight of workers.
“We urge the federal government to take measures to alleviate the suffering of citizens,” he said.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima says President Bola Tinubu is committed to unlocking Nigeria’s full potential and position the country as a leading force on the African continent.
Shettima stated this when he hosted a delegation from the Hertie School of Governance, Berlin, led by its Senior Fellow, Dr Rolf Alter, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja last Wednesday.
He said Nigeria was actively seeking expertise from the global best institutions to enhance policy formulation and implementation, particularly in human capital development.
The Vice-President noted that President Tinubu was determined to elevate Nigeria to its rightful position as a leading force in Africa.
“The current crop of leadership in Nigeria under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is ready and willing to unleash the full potential of the Nigerian nation on the African continent.
” We are laying the groundwork through strategic reforms, and at the heart of it, is human capital development.”
He described the Hertie School as a valuable partner in the journey.
According to him, Hertie School of Governance, Berlin, has track record and institutional knowledge to add value to our policy formulation and delivery, especially in this disruptive age.
Shettima reiterated the government’s priority on upskilling Nigerians, saying ” skills are very important, and with our Human Capital Development (HCD) 2.0 programme.
“We are in a position to unleash the full potential of the Nigerian people by enhancing their capital skills.”
The Vice-President acknowledged the vital support of international development partners in that effort.
” I want to thank the World Bank, the European Union, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and all our partners in that drive to add value to the Nigerian nation,” he maintained.
The Vice-President said human capital development was both an economic imperative and a social necessity.
Shettima assured the delegation of the government’s readiness to deepen cooperation.
” We need the skills and the capacity from your school. The world is now knowledge-driven.
“I wish to implore you to have a very warm and robust partnership with the government and people of Nigeria.”
Shettima further explained recent economic decisions of the government, including fuel subsidy removal and foreign exchange reforms.
“The removal of fuel subsidy, the unification of the exchange rate regime and the revolution in the energy sector are all painful processes, but at the end of the day, the Nigerian people will laugh last.
“President Tinubu is a very modern leader who is willing to take far-reaching, courageous decisions to reposition the Nigerian economy,” he added.
Earlier, Alter, congratulated the Tinubu administration for the successful launch and implementation of the Human Capital Development (HCD) strategy.
The group leader described the development as ambitious and targeted towards the improvement of the lives of the citizens.
He expressed satisfaction with the outcome of his engagements since arriving in the country.
He applauded the zeal, commitment, energy and goodwill observed among stakeholders in the implementation of Nigeria’s HCD programme.
Alter said the Hertie School of Governance would work closely with authorities in Nigeria across different levels to deliver programmes specifically designed to address the unique needs of the country.
He, however, stressed the need for government officials at different levels to be agile and amenable to the dynamics of the evolving world, particularly as Nigeria attempted to successfully accelerate its human capital development aspirations.