Featured
Wike Hinges Loss On Betrayal, Sabotage
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has said that some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors ganged up with some vested interest groups to derail the quest of Southern Nigeria to produce the next president of Nigeria.
He said it was the agreement of the governors of Southern Nigeria that the Presidency should come to the South, insisting that he did not betray the agreement.
The Rivers State governor made the explanation at a grand reception organised by Rivers people, last Monday, in Port Harcourt to welcome him back from Abuja after the PDP presidential primary.
Wike described as shameful the inability of some of those who were part of the agreement to stick to the agreement when it mattered.
He accused them of selling out, and frustrated the collective efforts that would have secured the PDP presidential ticket for the South.
“I contested in an election (primary) based on the principle and agreement with all Southern governors and leaders of the South that Presidency should go to the South this period.
“We have done our part. We never betrayed anybody because it is not in our blood to betray. But it is a shame to those people, some of the governors from the South; they are the people that were used to sabotage our course.”
Wike said it was disheartening that some governors from the South, due to their inordinate ambition, could jettison the collective interest of the people they claim to represent.
“Look at a region ganged up, then you, your own region cannot gang up. You became tools to be used against the interest of your people, and you think you have won, you have lost. You will continue to be perpetual slaves. Rivers people, you don’t need to bother yourselves. PDP needs us. If they say they don’t need us, they should wait.”
The governor explained that he was propelled into the race to offer service and advance the interest of Nigeria.
He noted that in the process, he was confronted by a few individualswho wanted somebody they could control, and he declined to be such puppet.
“The winner (of the ticket) also saw it. They underrated us, but now, they will not underrate us again. We have all it takes to do whatever we want to do. It is a matter of you being firm; it is a matter of you being hopeful. There is nobody that is born greater than us in this country; therefore, we cannot answer second class citizen. We can’t.
“We just used this one to tell them that enough is enough. We made them not to sleep. We made them not to eat. We made all of them from wherever they said they come from to know that there is somebody who can take them on.
This country does not belong to one particular zone. If people are afraid of talking, it is their business. I cannot be a second class citizen in my country.”
“Some of them, their in-laws are governors in the ruling party, but they want to interfere in what happens in PDP. Some of them, their brothers are governors in the ruling party, and they want to interfere in PDP”.
Wike said with the presidential primary over, and given his pledge to work for whoever emerged, Rivers State would work to deliver PDP and all its candidates in the 2023 general election.
The governor recalled that in 2019, despite failure of the candidate he supported to clinch the ticket, Rivers State gave PDP massive votes, and refused to negotiate with the All Progressives Congress (PDP) to give them 25per cent votes.
“In 2019, I was the only governor from the South-South who never negotiated with the present government. They came; I said no, I was not going to be party to that. That is why APC never had 25percent in this state (Rivers). But, all the other states in the South-South, the president got 35percent to 40percent. I said I was not going to sit down with them and negotiate.”
Wike said he has even told the winner of the PDP presidential primary, AlhajiAtikuAbubakar, that most of those hanging around him do not have electoral value.
He pointed out that it would be imperative on such people from states, whether in the North or South, to deliver the kind of votes that Rivers State would deliver in the 2023 general election in order for PDP to win the presidency.
Wike said it was wrong for the party to have allowed the Governor of Sokoto State, Hon AminuTambuwal, to speak for a second time after the time allotted to each of the aspirants to address the delegates.
In his remarks, Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly,Rt Hon Ikuinyi-OwajiIbani, described the governor as an emancipator, who has solved a particular nagging problem in Nigeria: the issue of minority question.
In his remarks, Chairman, PDP Rivers State, Amb Desmond Akawor, commended Wike for his resilience, adding that the state and the entire Niger Delta were happy that he spoke for them.
Speaking on behalf of Rivers elders, former president, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), OnuezeOkocha (SAN), observed that Wike contested the PDP presidential primary because he was motivated by his desire to serve the country and bring back PDP to governance in Nigeria.
“You have done us proud. You have done Rivers State proud. You have done the country, the teeming masses of those who are yearning for capable leadership, you have done them proud. And they will continue to believe in you, they will continue to place their hope in you.”
Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government, Hon. Samuel Nwanosike, while speaking on behalf of Rivers’ youths, said Wike has demonstrated that Rivers State, and indeed, the Niger Delta cannot be underrated in the political equation of Nigeria.
“A Rivers man has dared and shook the foundation of Nigeria. Dike Oha (Ikwerre), you have given them restless night. You have made them change their political equation night upon night. You have made them in Abuja and the entire northern, southern, and western, all part of Nigeria realise that a leader has emerged from Rivers State, and a leader has emerged from Niger Delta.”
The Chairman of Port Harcourt City Council, Hon. AllwellIhunda and Dr. Juliet Berewari, who spoke on behalf of all the council chairmen and women, respectively, said Wike has shown capacity despite the conspiracy against him.
Elsewhere, the Senate Chief Whip, Orji UzorKalu said that Governor NyesomWike remains “Winner of the game” in last Saturday’s Peoples Democratic Party Presidential primary for defying all odds to come second.
Kalu, a former governor of Abia State, posted on his Facebook Page that though he was a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), but added that Wike deserved accolades.
He praised the performance, courage and tenacity of the Rivers State governor to challenge the status quo, saying that the result he got was a testimony to what could happen if the South was united in the quest to wrest power from the North.
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.