Garba Shehu, the senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, says past administrations did not have the courage to take unpopular decisions.

Shehu, in a statement on Sunday, said President Muhammadu Buhari will be remembered as the leader who made “real contributions to economic and overall national development by eliminating the evils of corruption embedded in subsidies”.

The Buhari-led administration in March announced that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) would no longer absorb the differentials between the landing cost and retail price of petrol.

As a result of this, the retail price of petrol has been adjusted monthly to reflect the realities of the global crude oil market.

“Subsidy removal in these sectors had long been foreseen by successive administrations as game changers in search of solutions to move forward with the nation’s development. These are reforms that are necessary and overdue. Blueprint upon blueprint, timeline upon timeline had come and gone but the courage to take bold decisions was not there,” he said.

According to Shehu, Buhari has shown the rare determination to carry out bold decisions that are driven by the desire to ensure the greatest good for the people.

“In carrying out the reforms, the president needs the support and understanding of all citizens-inclusive of the opposition parties, the labour movement and civil society groups,” the presidential aide said.

“In these challenging times, the president is pushing development goals, not politics and history will judge him in favourable terms rather than his critics in the new media and the opposition.”

The cartoon drew inspiration from Aisha’s several posts on Instagram where she displayed pictures of Hanan’s wedding.

Supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari have described a Nigerian newspaper, Daily Trust, as toilet paper over a cartoon published by the tabloid. 

The cartoon shows the President’s wife, Aisha, holding pictures of the wedding on her hands and displaying in faces of Nigerians struggling to find their balance in life.

The cartoon drew inspiration from Aisha’s several posts on Instagram where she displayed pictures of Hanan’s wedding. 

In reaction to the cartoon, the Twitter handle of the artist, Bulama Mustapha, had been besieged by Buhari’s supporters, calling the Daily Trust employee names and even insinuating that he should blame himself if he was arrested for the cartoon.

One supporter of Buhari, Abdul Ishaka, described Daily Trust as “toilet paper” for publishing the cartoon. 

He said, “Dear Daily Trust Toilet Paper, What is really the meaning of this disgusting cartoon? This is pure evil and hate mongering….Aisha Buhari and her family did a very quiet wedding for their kid and you have a place in your dark heart to mock them?”

Another loyalist of Buhari, Mohammed Shehu Usman, wrote, “This has further proved that your publication is toilet paper and should be trashed in the bottom pit of hell. Shame on you.”

Recall that SaharaReporters had exclusively reported how event planners for the wedding of Hanan and her groom, Mohammed Turad, were flown in from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to add colour and spice to the ceremony. 

This news media also gathered that most of the items including souvenirs used for the occasion were brought in from the Arabian country.

saharareporters

The wedding ceremony between President Muhammadu Buhari’s daughter, Hanan, and her groom, Mohammed Turad, on Friday had all the trappings of a fairytale nuptials.

Apart from the opulence on display, SaharaRepoters reliably gathered that event planners for the wedding were flown in from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to add colour and spice to the ceremony.

Recall that in August, SaharaRepoters had revealed how First Lady and mother of the bride, Mrs Aisha Buhari, flew to Dubai in a private jet owned by billionaire Mohammed Indimi under the guise of a medical emergency to shop for luxury items ahead of Friday’s wedding.

It was reliably scooped on Saturday that most of the items including souvenirs used for the occasion were brought in from the Arabian country.

The wedding, which had security personnel prohibiting guests from taking photographs, saw the event planners and other vendors flown in from Dubai pocketing huge amounts in United States dollars for their services apart from the cost of bringing them into the country.

Apart from being against the President Buhari administration’s drive to promote local content, the importation of the vendors from Dubai also flouted the ban in non-essential travels in and out of Nigeria at this time.

Government banned international flights from coming into and leaving the country in March in order to curb the spread of Coronavirus in Nigeria.

The elaborate ceremony comes a few days after the administration of President Buhari increased the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit widely known as petrol from N145 to N161, causing many households untold crisis following the attendant effect on the prices of basic commodities including food items.

In a video of the lavish ceremony dubbed ‘The First Wedding’ for being the first of its kind to hold inside Aso Villa, Nigeria’s seat of power, and seen by SaharaReporters, guests numbering about 10 sat close to each other on a table, breaching the Coronavirus safety protocols of government in the process. 

Earlier on Wednesday, SaharaRepoters revealed how some guests for the wedding were declining the invitation over fear of contracting Coronavirus especially after it emerged that President Buhari’s closest aide and Senior Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs, Sarki Abba, had recently recovered from the virus.

Abba, who has since resumed duties after recovering from the virus, was considered still unsafe to mingle with others inside the Presidential Villa by some persons including the First Lady.

In order not to expose her family and guests at the wedding, Mrs Buhari vowed not to allow Abba attend the wedding as a result of this situation.

She also opposed the idea of Mamman Daura, a nephew and close confidant of Buhari, attending the event despite the President’s insistence that he be a part of the occasion.

This situation sent panic among some guests, who chose not to attend the ceremony and risk their health.
View this post on Instagram

Congratulations to turad and @hanan_buhari Groom’s father’s wedding reception at his residence Thank you for choosing blue velvet #presidentialwedding #day2 #hananbuhariswedding #hananbuhari #buhariturad #buharimarwa #hananbuharislovestory #hananMuhammad #hananslovestory #presido #bedgepictures #hudayyabride #bbnaija #bbnaija2020 #bigbrothernaija #shesaidado #adamaindimiwedding #throwbackthursday #adamaindimi #inconversationwithzahra #presidowedding #adamaindimi #presido #indimiwedding #arewawedding #adamaindimislovestory

A post shared by #Hamadforever (@theweddingjournalng) on Sep 4, 2020 at 7:26am PDT

But despite the absence of some prominent Nigerians at the occasion, Friday’s wedding between Hanan and Turad had all the glitz and spark synonymous with such calibre of events.

Turad is the son of an ex-lawmaker from Kaduna State, while Hanan, one of Buhari’s daughter’s, is a graduate of Photography from Ravensbourne University in England, who in July 2019 ordered the Department of State Services to arrest a young businessman based in Delta State, Athony Okolie, after he was issued a mobile number by telecommunications company MTN previously used and abandoned by her.

Okolie spent 10 weeks in unlawful detention before he was finally released by the secret police.SEE ALSOThoughts Of Suicide Is Only Thing On My Mind –Okolie, Man Unlawfully Detained By DSS For Using SIM Card Previously Owned By President Buhari’s Daughter33 Comments8 Months Ago

Earlier in January, Hanan was again in the news after she attended an event to photograph a Durbar by Rilwanu Adamu, Emir of Bauchi, in one of the jets in the presidential fleet.

The move was condemned by Nigerians but the Presidency defended the action by saying that it was a normal procedure.
View this post on Instagram

#hamad4ever #hamadforever

A post shared by #hamadforever2020 (@theweddingstreet_ng) on Sep 4, 2020 at 12:36pm PDT

saharareporters

Nigerians Call For Arrest Of Buhari’s Daughter After Guests Sprayed Naira Notes At Her Wedding

Nigerians have called for the arrest of President Buhari’s daughter, Hanan, her husband, Turad Sha’aban and guests that attended the wedding for spraying naira notes on them.

According to them, it’s a crime to spray naira notes at an event and they should be arrested.

This comes after footage of the wedding surfaced online.

It would be recalled that in October 2018, the Bankers Committee warned that people who spray naira notes at weddings or any other kind of parties risk going to jail.

Watch

See some reactions below…’

glamtush.com

There are more killings and abduction even as security forces tackle militants and bandits in parts of Kaduna State. According to a socio-cultural organisation this Sunday, 6th September, 2020 at 2.00am, the Adara community of Buda, in Buda Ward of Kajuru LGA came under another deadly attack from suspected Fulani militia.

A reverend gentleman, Alubara Audu, was among those killed in what was described as a “premeditated and unprovoked attack”. Apart from 45 years old Audu who left behind five children, there was Adamu Tata, 40, with 4 children and Ishaku Peter, 37, with 5 children.

Sani Peter, 25 and Esther Sani Peter, 20 were abducted in the wicked operation.

Aanother five persons were abducted from neighboring Kemara Rimi community of Buda Ward. They are: Ojo Aminu, 35, Danfulani Makaranta, 37, Namiji Gwamna, 36. Ali Musa, 36 and Grace Mathew, 16, according to a statement by Awemi Dio Maisamari, the National President Adara Development Association (ADA).

The statement reads further: “These callous and barbaric attacks sometimes abate but never really stop in Adara community. On Sunday 16th August, 2020, another fatal attack occurred at Kallah village on the banks of river Kaduna.

“This resulted in the death of Mr. Danladi Abashi, a 50years old farmer who ventured near the villages that were invaded and are still occupied by Fulani herdsmen in the Kallah/Gefe/Libere area of Kajuru LGA. His body was only recovered with the help of the police because the herdsmen disallowed Adara people from even approaching the occupied enclave.

“Similarly, the incidents of abductions of innocent people for ransom are also continuing. On 27th August, 2020, five incidents of kidnapping occurred including that of Daniel Shuaibu and Abednego Paul from their residence at Maraban Kajuru.

“During the operation, Mr. Sunday Barau was shot and injured and the abductees are still with their abductors because his helpless family has been unable to meet their demands. Another of the incidents is that of the abduction of Master Pius Gargai who was abducted from their family residence at Maraban Rido. He too is still with the kidnappers because of inability to meet their demands.

“Also, on 2nd September, 2020, four persons were abducted from Rafin Roro village in Kasuwan Magani Ward of Kajuru LGA. One of them managed to escape and three are still being held.

“With the continuation of such hostilities by Fulani herdsmen even when various peace moves are being initiated, it is becoming clearer that the purported dialogue is serving as a diversion to enable the attackers to continue their diabolical activities. We are left wondering whether it is worthwhile engaging in such dialogue and peace talks if this continues.

“Finally, the Adara Development Association (ADA) wishes to state that the time for civil and security authorities and even Fulani community leaders to continue feigning ignorance of the perpetrators of these crimes and their whereabouts has since gone.

“Also, the challenge thrown by Governor El-rufai asking for details of occupied villages in Southern Kaduna has since been adequately answered. Any further failure to adequately address these issues will be a confirmation that government is only interested in reeling out rhetoric while their actions and inactions serving as encouragement are speaking loudest.”

The Kaduna State government and the police are yet to comment on the latest, unfortunate development.

Is it a story for the marines? That a foreign mining company came into the country, took a portion of land, and began mining and no one; local government council, Federal Capital Territory Administration, security operatives etc etc knew for a year? Surely a story for the gods!

If the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mohammad Bello, cannot rein in the activities of a Chinese Mining Company, Hongao Mining Company, polluting the water supply of communities in the territory he has control over, on behalf of the President of the country, who can?

The million Naira question continues to boggle after the minister dragged the offending company before his Water Resources counterpart, Mr. Suleiman Adamu.

Painfully, the minister disclosed that the company , which is hosted by the communities, is protected in its nefarious activity by Nigerian policemen.

On a visit to Adamu, last week, Bello even disclosed that Hongao has no mining lease, acting against Nigeria’s mining policy! Yet the company has been operating, under the nose of Nigerian authorities, of all places, in Abuja!

Recall that the activities of miners, where Chinese and unnamed prominent Nigerians are alleged to employ bandits to divert attention and secure their illegal activities, has been fingered as one of the factors escalating the security situation in the northwest.

Bello, according to media reports, told Adamu that Hongao operates with the water from a stream in Kutasa in Karshi area of the FCT while being protected by officers of the Nigerian police force.

“The stream is the only water source for at least six communities in the area. The villagers, mostly farmers, said some of them drink from it.

“A laboratory analysis carried out on the water confirmed that it is highly turbid and unfit for drinking.

“An analysis done at the FCT water board, Okobi O. Y. who signed the report on behalf of the general manager, said the ‘physio-chemical analysis shows high levels of turbidity, nitrate and iron’ and that ‘water may need further treatment’.”

A director at Hongao, Austine Akpuma, in an interview with TheCable admitted the company was using the water in washing excavated stones.

He, however, gave security challenge as an excuse for not providing a borehole since they started operation in 2019.

The spokesman of the ministry of water resources, Kenechukwu Offie, said in a statement that the two ministers and officials of the Nigeria Integrated Water Resources Management Commission, NIWRMC, met in Abuja to discuss the development.

He said the FCT minister, “noted with dismay that the company undertaking the mining activities in Kutasa Community was not granted lease to mine gold in that Community”.

On his part, Mr Adamu told the session that he directed the NIWRMC to investigate the matter after he learnt of the development.

The statement read: “The outcome of the investigation revealed that ‘Gold’ mining activities were taking place in that Community.

“Engr. Adamu said that the report from Nigeria Integrated Water Resources Management Commission indicated ‘a red flag’ to us that must not be allowed to fly further.

“Engr. Adamu, therefore, reiterated that the Federal Ministry of Water Resources will not allow the experience of Niger State where people died of lead poisoning to repeat itself in FCT.

“The FCT Minister corroborated the Hon. Minister of Water Resources’s position that their various reports would need to be harmonised into a working document before they take up the matter with the Minister of Mines and Steel Development.”

On its part, the NIWRMC vowed to ensure that Hongao Mining Company Ltd provides an alternative water supply for the community after indicting the company for water pollution.

The NIWRMC executive director, Magashi Bashir, said: “For us, in terms of integrated water resources management, a polluter pays.

“They have to go and clean that river or they pay for the cleaning of that river to come back to its original state. They have committed something and they are liable to it.”

Additional reports by TheCable

An intelligence report by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) that forests within Abuja and its environs are filled with Boko Haram terrorists planning to attack the nation’s seat of power has set residents on edge.

Coming less than a week after a major town in Niger State was kept under siege for more than four hours without a response from security forces, residents are at a loss what to do. The State has been under incessant attacks, often with lame assurances from

But the Defence Headquarters says there is not cause for alarm for residents of Abuja and contiguous states. Niger, Nasarawa, Kogi, and Kaduna are four of Abuja neighbouring states.

A statement by Major General John Enenche, the Coordinator of the Defence Media Operations at the Defence Headquarters reassured the residents of Abuja and other adjoining States that security forces are on red alert to combat crime and ensure effective surveillance of the Federal Capital Territory and other States of the country.

Enenche adds: “This is imperative sequel to a purported memorandum from the Nigeria Customs Service warning its staff on a possible attack on the FCT. The Armed Forces of Nigeria working together with other security and response agencies particularly the core intelligence agencies hereby assure the general public that preventive and preemptive intelligence are ongoing. The general public is thus advised to go about their lawful businesses undeterred.

“Furthermore, the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies wish to assure the general public that the offensives against the common enemies of this Nation will not cease until normalcy is restored in all parts of the country.

“Hence, the general public is equally enjoined to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity accordingly.”

everyday

For reporting a false report about his financial transactions to the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), the General Overseer, Divine Hand of God Prophetic Ministry, Prophet Emmanuel Omale, has sued First City Monument Bank Plc (FMCB) for N5bn.

Omale, who claims to be the spiritual guide of the suspended acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, said FCMB told the NFIU that the sum of N570m was paid into his church account, thereby, leading to accusations that the money was used in purchasing a house in Dubai for Magu.

The suit marked FCT/HC/CV/2020, was instituted by Omale; his wife, Deborah Omale; and the church, the Incorporated Trustees of the Divine Hand of God Prophetic Ministry.

The claimant stated that in 2016, the FCMB falsely reported to the NFIU that N570m was paid into the church’s bank account marked 1486743019 which caused security agents to put the account under surveillance for four years.

The statement of claim read in part, “Sometime on or about the 6th day of July 2020 the former acting Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, was arrested and summoned to the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to appear before the Presidential Investigation Committee on the Alleged Mismanagement of the EFCC, Federal Government Recovered Assets and Finances From May 2015 to May 2020.

“That one of the key allegations levelled at the Presidential Investigation Committee against Mr. Ibrahim Magu, was that the 2nd Claimant (Prophet Omale) fraudulently and corruptly purchased a real estate property for Mr. Ibrahim Magu in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates with the said sum of N573, 228, 04 allegedly credited as an inflow into the 1st Claimant’s (church’s) Corporate Current Account No: 1486743019 in the year 2016.”

The claimant stated that due to the investigation and negative media reports, they were exposed to public hatred and contempt and injured in their religious calling.

The cleric said he and his wife were summoned to appear on August 10, 2020, before a Presidential Investigation Committee at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Omale and his wife, accompanied by their lead Senior Counsel, Gordy Uche (SAN), and a team of four senior lawyers appeared before the panel on August 10, 11, and 12 and were grilled for hours on their alleged roles in respect of the sum of N573m used in fraudulently and corruptly purchasing a real estate property for Magu in Dubai.

The cleric said they paid Uche (SAN) & Co., the sum of N15m to appear and represent them for three days before the said Presidential Investigation Committee and attached a copy of the receipt to the statement of claim.

He said they all denied the allegations of fraud, adding that he never bought any property for Magu when grilled by the panel.

Omale said the Salami panel in the course of its hearing also invited the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of FCMB, Adam Nuru, who appeared before the committee and testified.

“That Mr. Adam Nuru in his testimony informed the Presidential Investigation Committee that the said N573M was credited to the bank account of the 1st claimant (church) in error and that the error was not discovered by the defendant for over four years,” the cleric said.

Omale said they paid the law firm of Gordy Uche (SAN) & Co., the sum of N75m to institute the suit against FCMB and attached a copy of the receipt for the said professional fees to the statement of claim. He said in all, he had lost N180.5m due to payment of legal fees and personal losses.

Omale, therefore, sought a declaration of the court that the FCMB negligently breached the fiduciary duty of care it owes the claimants by its false automated report to the NFIU of a suspicious credit inflow of N573m into the church account.

The statement of claim further read, “The sum of N5,000,000, 000.00 (Five Billion Naira) being exemplary, aggravated, special and general damages against the defendant for the negligent breach of its fiduciary duty of care to the claimants by its false automated report to the NFIU of a suspicious credit inflow of N573, 228, 040. 41 into the 1st claimant’s corporate current account number1486743019 with the defendant, which has occasioned grave damages to the claimants.”

TNG

Founder of Courtroom Mail, Mr. Anthony Atata has expressed sadness on the remembrance day of the demise of Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN.

This day, 5th day of September which marked the day the late Chief died has since become a day to be remembered in the Nigerian Legal Profession and the country as a whole, having regards to the indelible imprints left by the deceased.

In a statement made available to TheNigeriaLawyer (TNL), Anthony Atata described the death of the icon 11 years ago as a loss to be remembered.

According to Atata, “the demise of Gani Fawehinmi left a big vacuum in the Legal Profession and a bigger vacuum in the Nigerian society. His death left so many people vulnerable.
He redefined courage in pursuit of freedom and liberty for the common man.”

According to Atata who founded Courtroom Mail in May 2009 which was the same year that Gani Fawehinmi died, he noted that the deceased is sorely missed.

Meanwhile, he noted that in the year 2009 when the late Chief died, it was an historic moment and a loss to be remembered by all Lawyers.

“I was present at the High Court in Igbosere with other members of the Nigerian Bar Association, Lagos, when his body arrived. The number of non-lawyers was significant, the mood at the venue was that of genuine grief. I had a camera and I took some exclusive pictures of the session held in his honour. Those pictures are some of the most important pictures in our archives. We still miss him and the loss is that every lawyer should remember”.

In addition, he noted that the life of the late Chief impacted in the lives of many and influenced their choice of Law.

“Gani Fawehinmi’s experience influenced many people in the choice of Law as a profession and a continued remembrance of his memory will remind us of our professional committment to human rights protection.”

thenigerialawyer

Over the years, political actors in Rivers State have made it extremely difficult for public affairs watchers not to read meanings into what ordinary folks would dismiss.

Although the 2023 political calendar is more than two years away observers have started making their own calculations and predictions of how things would shape up for the political class. Politics in Rivers is no child’s play. Those that lack the financial resources or the political base to make things happen compensate with deft political moves that take up their value for a vantage position.

Those that have the mindset those politicians in the oil-rich state are more or less driven by what they tend to benefit from the system than what they are willing to put in to benefit the people or the community, blame it on the winnertakes- all nature of the state’s politics.

Also, when one considers the open disagreement across party lines, the somewhat volatile nature of the state’s politics, and the unpredictable manner in which the political actors jump ship at the slightest opportunity based on personal reasons, one cannot but conclude that the coming political season will be very interesting.

Without anyone needing a soothsayer to predict the likely scenarios that would play out in the state come 2023, one only needs to take a critical look at the fate of the state’s two main political parties -the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

While the PDP appears to be consolidating on its victory in the 2019 elections, the APC does not seem to have recovered from its failure to present a single candidate to contest that election. In the aftermath of the 2015 general elections, the APC acted as an opposition party and used the next two years to consolidate as a party that really wants to take over power.

Then, although the disagreement between former Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and Sen. Magnus Ngei Abe had started to manifest, there was a semblance of order in the structures of the party that gave some the false hope that the party could carry the day come 2019.

What followed in the next two years before the election that followed was like a Hollywood movie. How could Amaechi, Abe and their supporters disagree on the party’s leadership structure to the point that they went to court and allowed the matter to get to the Supreme Court?

The failure of the gladiators to agree, and the manner in which they fought till the Supreme Court ruled that the party cannot field any candidate for the election, to some few party faithful who displayed some level of neutrality throughout the crisis was too disturbing and therefore a trigger to either form their own faction or move to the ruling PDP.

That was why Hon. Igo Aguma, a staunch Amaechi ally headed to court to take over the party’s leadership. Currently, the battle for the party’s leadership has moved from two main factions to three, which does not augur well for the party.

So, rather than the political actors in the APC working as a team in the party’s victory come 2023, the APC leaders have refused to sheathe their swords. A few days ago, another Amaechi ally, Hon. Chidi Lloyd, who was the majority leader in the state House of As-sembly during Amaechi’s two terms in office, decamped to the PDP. Although Lloyd, was not in the heavyweight category of the state’s politics, he was vibrant and influential in the Assembly.

Around 2013, when there were moves by the PDP to impeach Amaechi over his disagreement with then President Goodluck Jonathan, it was Lloyd who spearheaded the move to frustrate that plan.

When a fight broke out between the supporters of Amaechi and Governor Nyesom Wike, who was then the Minister of State for Education, it was Lloyd who used the mace at the Assembly to attack Hon. Micheal Chinda, who sustained serious head injury and flown abroad for treatment. Lloyd, who was later arrested remained with Amaechi until a few days ago when he also joined the PDP.

Only a few political watchers knew that Lloyd’s heart was no longer in the PDP until he stormed Government House Port Harcourt in the company of elders of his community that had gone to pay a solidarity visit to Wike. It was during the visit that Lloyd announced his defection to the PDP.

Also, Wike used the opportunity to reconcile the lawmakers that fought in 2013. Speaking at the event, Lloyd said the reconciliation was ordained by God and restated his earlier apology to Chinda and his other colleagues over his role in the crisis at the State House of Assembly.

He described his action in 2013 as a mistake of the head and not of the heart and thanked Wike for his benevolence which led to total reconciliation. Responding, Hon. Michael Chindah thanked God for keeping them alive to witness the reconciliation, and also lauded Wike for his role in ensuring that he remained alive after the incident.

Chindah who observed that Lloyd misunderstood him on the day of the crisis, said he had already forgiven him since December, 2013. He also urged parliamentary leaders not to promote issues that would lead to crisis in their service to humanity.

Also speaking on the issue, Hon. Evans Bipi, who was factional speaker after the fight described Lloyd as a man with a large heart and thanked him for coming back to his roots.

Reacting to Lloyd’s defection to the Peoples Democratic Party, the APC faction loyal to Amaechi described it as “good riddance to bad rubbish.” A statement by Ogbonna Nwuke, Acting Publicity Secretary of the APC faction, noted that the action of Llyod, did not come to the party as a surprise.

Nwuke said: “For years, our supporters have been watching the dance steps of the former member of the Rivers State House of Assembly. It is regret

table that the Akpabu-born politician whose activities have been less than desirable has taken a decision to stray from light in order to embrace darkness. “We have equally listened to his comments and we are amazed that his hunt for the ‘feeding bottle’ that Wike controls could drive him to such a lowly height…

“We state categorically that the exit of Hon Lloyd would have no effect on the fortunes of the APC. On the contrary, APC members in Emohua Local Government Area are jubilating over his exit. All politics, they say, is local, and these party men and women who are in a happy mood right now know who is who.

“The APC in Rivers State is waxing stronger. Hon Ephraim Nwuzi, the Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on the Diaspora who is currently representing Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency has dumped the PDP for the APC.

“At the grassroots, thousands of PDP members drawn from units, wards and local government areas have quietly joined the APC. Many more leaders of the PDP tired of groping in darkness are moving in the direction of the APC.

“These are men and women who have decided to dump Governor Nyesom Wike and the PDP. These people are tired of the financial recklessness displayed by the Wike administration and tired of his penchant for abusing power. “They are tired of the dictatorship that has taken root in Rivers State; tired of the impulsive decisions which do not promote good governance, and stressed beyond a reasonable doubt by the ignoble contempt with which the Wike administration views the people”.

“We can understand the frustration that the Wike administration is facing at this time. Because opinion within the PDP is unfavourable towards Wike inside the PDP, Wike has resorted to the antic of procuring “belliticians” from outside his own party to strengthen his dwindling power base. “We will not be surprised to hear that these discredited persons who no longer enjoy the confidence of APC members in their wards and LGAs would be described as intimate friends of Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi.

So, whichever way one sees it, while the APC continues to battle its demons, the PDP under Wike continues to consolidate. Specifically, the governor has unofficially kick started his campaign for 2023 for the PDP within and outside the state. When the state executive of the PDP paid him a courtesy visit a few days ago, the governor described the (APC) as a party that made a lot of promises before coming into power but failed Nigerians by not fulfilling its promises.

The governor said: “Nigeria is hoping for PDP, APC has failed Nigeria. This is no more time for promises. You have promised and you have failed. There is nothing to try you again. “Nigerians have realised that it is better they stay with the PDP that has the interest of Nigeria at heart than a Party that gives excuses every day. “You know there are problems in Nigeria and you made promises, asking Nigerians to vote for you and for five years, nothing has changed…

“Let me say clearly that this is no time for politics. My concern now is to make sure we deliver all the promises we have made to the people of the state. When politics comes, we will have our report card to show the people. “It has never happened in the history of this country. Within one year, a state government will construct five flyovers projects at the same time.”

Wike urged the party executives to show more love to the party by being loyal and committed, just as he urged them to do their best in consolidating the gains of the Party in the State.

He said: “I plead with you all to work cooperatively with the chairman and be united. We are going to work together to draw up a plan that will make us more effective. “Let nobody deceive you to attend any meeting anybody will call because he wants to run for governorship. We have not come to that point. I have just stayed one year in office in my second tenure.

We are working for our Party to be united to make sure that APC does not have a breathing space in our state. “There is nothing the APC can say to Rivers people today as the reason they should be voted for. Whether it is the Federal Government, or their political appointees, they have nothing to tell us.” Also, a few days ago, thousands of APC supporters in Etche Local Government Area dumped the party for PDP.

Wike, who addressed them, urged political leaders of the PDP in the area to work together for the overall interest of their people. Wike said he made a promise to reconcile all aggrieved members of the party during his second term inauguration and would not allow further divisions in the party.

He called on the leader of the party in Etche Local Government Area, Prince Emma Anyanwu to carry all members of the party along in the scheme of things. “The leadership of Etche PDP should stop further disagreements and work together in unity. I do not want to hear anything like returnees.

“The people of Etche Ethnic Nationality have lost a lot of things because of division. You should see the overall interest of Etche far above personal interests.”

Unlike 2015 when a war of attrition between groups loyal to Amaechi and the other faithful to Abbe and the consequent legal battle which climaxed at the Supreme Court prevented APC from fielding candidates, observers believe that the earlier the party puts its acts together the better for a more robust contest in the 2023 polls.

Abuja (Sundiata Post)