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Rivers People Won’t Waste Votes On Any Opposition Party -Wike
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has said that Rivers people are impressed with the sterling performance of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)- led government in the state and will not waste their votes on another political party, particularly the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He reiterated that in the last seven years the APC-led Federal Government has denied Rivers State basic amenities, therefore, the people of the state will not support any candidate of the party in the 2023 general election.
The Rivers State governor made this assertion after inspection of on-going construction work of the over 13 kilometre Rumuodogo 1 and Rumuodogo 2 road in Emohua Local Government Area of the state, yesterday.
Wike, in an emotion laden voice said he remains grateful to God for the privilege to be the one since the creation of Rivers State in 1967, to make Rumuodogo 1 and Rumuodogo 2 accessible by road.
“Emotionally, I am touched. I can’t thank God enough for giving me the opportunity to be the person to open up this community. What is governance? The whole essence of governance is for people to be happy and having the feeling that their lives will be turned around.”
He asserted that based on the performance of his administration, Rivers people will in 2023 general election wholeheartedly return the PDP to power in the state.
According to him, members of the APC-led Federal Government in the past seven years have failed to attract a single infrastructural project to the state.
His word: “We have shown that we have the capacity and what it takes to govern and to govern very well.”
The governor said he will recommend to the incoming PDP government to consider construction of a bridge that will connect Rumuodogo communities to Harry’s Town in Degema Local Government Area of the state.
“By the grace of God, the next incoming government will look at it and see how they can connect here (Rumuodogo) to the riverine area. That will be part of our recommendation to the next government which by the grace of God will be a PDP government. The other party, APC, they have been there for almost eight years, they couldn’t do anything.”
Wike, who had earlier inspected ongoing road construction in Mgbuitanwo community also in Emohua LGA, expressed satisfaction with the quality of work done so far by the contractor, Julius Berger.
“Street lights have been fixed and we are very happy with the quality of work done. You can see how happy the villagers are, even without them knowing that I was coming, they came out to show their appreciation.”
The Chairman of Emohua LGA, Dr. Chidi Lloyd, said he remains eternally grateful to Wike for granting his request for the construction of the Rumuodogo 1 and Rumuodogo 2 road.
“You can see enthusiasm with which the community people are singing; they are only expressing their heartfelt gratitude to the governor of Rivers State for what he has done.”
Similarly, Nne-Nwe-Eli Emohua XIII (Olo IV), Ohna Sergeant Chidi Awuse, said by making the remote Rumuodogo 1 and Rumuodogo 2 communities accessible by road, Wike has once again proven that he is indeed a promise keeper.
The monarch said, the Wike-led administration has made it possible for Rivers people to truly benefit from dividends of democracy.
Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, had lauded the courage and commitment of troops of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to the ongoing counter-insurgency operations in North East Nigeria.
Abubakar gave the commendation during a morale-boosting visit to the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI in Maiduguri, Borno.
This is contained in a statement by the Director, Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, yesterday, in Abuja.
The CAS said their sacrifices were etched in the history of the nation, and in the hearts of millions of Nigerians who sleep safer because of the troops’ vigilance.
He emphasised that their bravery and resilience in the face of adversity have not gone unnoticed, saying his visit underscored the vital role airpower plays in neutralising threats and protecting communities.
Abubakar pledged continued investment in cutting-edge technology to empower frontline units.
According to him, the NAF remains steadfast in its mission, guided by leadership, strengthened by unity, and driven by the selfless service of its personnel.
The visit comes at a critical moment, reinforcing the importance of public support for military operations and spotlighting the human element at the heart of national defence.
Nigeria’s soft drinks and beverage market continues to show strong growth potential, making it the leading consumer of soft drinks in Sub-Saharan Africa, according to the German Mechanical Engineering Industry Association.
A statement by the VDMA disclosed during a press conference held in Lagos ahead of drinktec 2025, that Nigeria consumed over 53 billion litres of soft drinks in 2024, placing it well ahead of other African countries such as Ghana and South Africa.
Despite challenges such as inflation and a weakening naira, Nigeria’s growing population, rising urbanisation, and expanding middle class are key factors driving demand in the beverage sector.
Bottled water led the segment with 48.7 billion litres sold in 2024, a figure projected to rise by 27% to 62 billion litres by 2028.
Carbonated soft drinks followed with 3.4 billion litres, expected to reach 4.4 billion litres by 2028, while energy drinks are forecasted to grow by 30% over the same period. Juices, though relatively small, are also on an upward trajectory.
“The Nigerian beverage market is expanding quickly due to increasing accessibility and affordability,” VDMA stated, citing data from Euromonitor International.
Set to take place in Munich from 15 to 19 September 2025, drinktec is the world’s leading trade fair for the beverage and liquid food industry.
VDMA, a key exhibitor and technical partner for the event, revealed that Nigerian participation is expected to be strong, especially as the country anticipates economic recovery.
Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has condemned the recent ban placed on a song by Nigerian musician, Eedris Abdulkareem, describing the development as a return to the culture of censorship and a threat to the right to free expression.
Abdulkareem had waxed a song titled “Tell Your Papa” which criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
In a statement issued from New York University, Abu Dhabi, yesterday, Soyinka criticised the action and its wider implications, saying it echoed past attempts to stifle artistic and socio-political commentary in Nigeria.
“Courtesy of an artist operating in a different genre – the cartoon – who sent me his recent graphic comment on the event, I learnt recently of a return to the culture of censorship with the banning of the product of a music artist, Eedris Abdulkareem,” Soyinka said in the piece posted on PM news.
He expressed irony in suggesting that the ban did not go far enough, stating, “It is not only the allegedly offensive record that should be banned – the musician himself should be proscribed. Next, PMAN, or whatever musical association of which Abdulkareem is member, should also go under the hammer.”
Soyinka noted that he had not listened to the banned song but stressed that the issue transcends content and concerns a fundamental democratic principle.
“It cannot be flouted. That, surely is basic. This is why I feel that we should look on the bright side of any picture and thus recommend the Aleshinloye cartoon – and others in allied vein – as an easy-to-apprehend, easy-to-digest summation of the wisdom of attempting to stifle unpalatable works of art or socio-political commentary,” he said.
He also pointed out the irony that censorship often benefits the targeted artist.
The ban is a boost to the artist’s nest egg, thanks to free governmental promotion. Mr. Abdulkareem must be currently warbling his merry way all the way to the bank. I envy him,” he added.
The literary icon warned that such censorship was not only counterproductive but also dangerous to democratic development.
“We have been through this before, over and over again, ad nauseum. We know where it all ends. It is boring, time-wasting, diversionary but most essential of all, subversive of all seizures of the fundamental right of free expression,” Soyinka said.
He warned that the ban creates “a permissive atmosphere of trickle-down power,” where state authorities feel emboldened to clamp down on dissent.
Soyinka’s statement also touched on broader issues of impunity and mob violence in Nigeria, lamenting the recent lynching of 19 youths in Edo State.
“My heart goes out to friends, colleagues and families of victims and traumatised survivors of this senseless slaughter. Our thirst for justice must remain unslaked,” he said.
Referencing the 2022 killing of Deborah Samuel in Sokoto, Soyinka criticised the culture of impunity, saying, “Identified killers were set free to gloat, and paste their photos on the Social Media… in full daylight glare, in the presence of both citizen voyeurs and security forces.”
He called for accountability, warning that “as long as the culture of impunity is given the sheerest strain of legitimacy in any given cause, such gruesome assaults on our common humanity will continue to prevail.”
Soyinka concluded by urging the relevant regulatory body to reverse what he described as a “petulant irrationality,” warning that any government that only tolerates praise-singers “has already commenced a downhill slide into the abyss.”