Politics
Wike, Obaseki continue verbal war, govs allege betrayal, unguarded comments
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has described his Edo State counterpart, Godwin Obaseki, as a politician who is given to serial betrayal of those who helped to advance his political aspiration.
Wike spoke at the inauguration of Community Secondary School, Omuanwa, in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state on Monday.
He said he owed a former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole, an apology for opposing him when he insisted that Obaseki was a treacherous and ungrateful man.
This was contained in a press statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Kelvin Ebiri.
Wike said Oshiomhole was right then and has been vindicated given Obaseki’s recent display of ingratitude to the Peoples Democratic Party and to those who helped him to secure his second term.
He said, “If you go and check the DNA of Godwin Obaseki, what you will see in that DNA is serial betrayal and ungratefulness. Let me stand today to apologise to Adams Oshiomhole who has been vindicated by telling us that we will see the true colour, the insincerity and the ungratefulness of Godwin Obaseki.
“So, let me apologise to Adams Oshiomhole and to say you have been vindicated. You were right, we were wrong. I have never seen people who are so ungrateful in life. I have never seen people who can betray everything in life.”
Wike claimed that Obaseki was never his match where character matters because he is consistent, sincere and a forthright team player, who has never betrayed any person who helped him politically.
He explained that the problem in Edo State stemmed from Obaseki asking the national leadership of the PDP to dissolve Edo PDP executive when the leaders had been elected before he joined the party and provided formidable structure for him to win the election.
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He added, “I have invested in the party, Rivers State has invested in the party. We have voted for the PDP since 1999 till now. Ask Governor Obaseki, has he done anything for the PDP?
“Has he voted for the PDP? The only election he voted was his own election when we gave him umbrella. So who has more stakes in the PDP? I have more stakes because I have supported the PDP always.
“You have never supported the PDP, rather it was when your godfather chased you away and you came begging, kneeling down. People came with pressure and we allowed you. Ordinarily, you are a tenant.”
He said it was unfortunate that Obaseki could describe him as a bully now that he is being called to order.
“You came to beg a bully for you to have a ticket. A bully was your DG campaign and a bully bullied you into Government House. What a shame. It did not only end there.
“You came with your wife to thank the bully that after God, the bully made it possible for you to be there,” Wike added.
Obaseki had described the personal attacks by Wike against his Deputy, Philip Shaibu, as “most unfortunate and totally uncalled for.”
In a statement, the governor called on the leaders of the PDP to call Wike to order, noting that the issues raised by his deputy were germane and needed to be resolved in the interest of the party.
He said, “The recent personal attacks by the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, against my Deputy Governor, Rt Philip Shaibu is, to say the least, most unfortunate and totally uncalled for.
“If Governor Wike was one who is wont to show respect and courtesy to his colleague-governors, he would have ordinarily reached out to me to express his concerns about the views made by my deputy governor, rather than embarking on this unwarranted public onslaught.
“My deputy governor was a former National President of the National Association of Nigerian Students and his comment is representative of the essence of the nation’s youth population, who are inclined to openly speak up and question the status quo.”
“If Governor Wike cannot understand and adequately respond to the style and character of the Nigerian youth, how can he aspire to lead them?”
PUNCH
Politics
Senate in rowdy session as lawmakers quarrel over sitting arrangement
Senate in rowdy session as lawmakers quarrel over sitting arrangement
The Senate broke into a rowdy session on Tuesday after three senators engaged in a heated argument over arrangement of seats.
Danjuma Goje, senator representing Gombe Central, and Sahabi Yau, senator representing Zamfara North, expressed displeasure over the seats assigned to them.
They complained to Opeyemi Bamidele, the majority leader.
The Senate is currently using its refurbished chamber, two years after renovation began on it.
According to the standing rules of the upper legislative chamber, senators should sit in order of rank.
The Easter and Sallah recess was postponed to accommodate the completion of the renovation of both chambers of the national assembly.
However, while Senate President Godswill Akpabio read his welcome address, the heated argument among the three senators began.
It was learnt that Goje and Yau, sitting on the second row on the right side of the aisle, did not like the seats allocated to them by the senate committee on services.
Sunday Karimi, senator representing Kogi west, is chair of the senate services committee.
The four-term senators subsequently insisted that they should have been assigned seats on the front row on the extreme right — opposite the row of the majority leader and the deputy senate president.
After the argument, Kawu Sumaila, senator representing Kano South, called for a “point of order” which was ignored.
Thereafter, Bamidele moved a motion for a closed-session.
Politics
Ganduje drums support for Tinubu, says no vacancy in Aso Rock 2027
Ganduje drums support for Tinubu, says no vacancy in Aso Rock 2027
National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, says members of the opposition are trying to discredit the Bola Tinubu-led administration in their desperation for Aso Rock in 2027.
He however declares that there is no vacancy in Aso Rock in 2027.
Ganduje said the administration of President Tinubu had been contending with accumulation of many years of neglect, policy summersaults and other disjointed decisions by previous administrations.
The APC national chairman gave the position while addressing supporters and support groups at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja.
Ganduje urged the APC supporters and groups to be committed to the party so that it could continue to forge ahead.
He said the leadership of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and its chieftains were afraid, having been defeated in the last general election and already foreseeing another defeat.
Ganduje said the NNPP elements were now engaged in a propaganda campaign against the leadership of APC.
He said, “They are so afraid because we are consolidating. They are so afraid all over the country because we are receiving new entrants into our party. That is creating fears in their minds.
“They are already eyeing 2027, but at that time, there is no vacancy. Only our President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will, Insha Allah, continue as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Ganduje claimed the leadership of NNPP and its chieftains in Kano State were sponsoring protests and campaigning for his removal as APC national chairman.
Politics
Another PDP bigwig dumps party
Another PDP bigwig dumps party
Dr Cosmos Ndukwe, one of the key opposition Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidates for 2023, has resigned from the party.
This is stated in a letter written by the former Deputy Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly to the Chairman of his Item C Ward in Bende Local Government Area, which was copied to the party’s State Chairman, Hon. Asiforo Okere, and the Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum.
The former Chief of Staff to the Governor and Commissioner for Works under ex-Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu claimed “personal reasons, current commitments, and aspirations” in his decision to leave the PDP.
He praised the party for providing him with the opportunity to enter the political spotlight and wished it success in the state.
The letter posted on his Facebook page on Monday morning read, “I hope this letter finds you well. It is with a heavy heart that I compose this correspondence to tender my resignation as a member and stakeholder in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Abia State, effective immediately.
“My decision to resign as a member within the party stems from personal reasons and reflections on my current commitments and aspirations.
“After careful consideration, I have come to the conclusion that potting out of PDP is the best course of action for me at this time.
“I am immensely grateful for the opportunities that the PDP has afforded me during my tenure as a Councillor, Deputy Chairman Local Government, Chief of Staff to Executive Governor of Abia State, Deputy Speaker Abia 6th House of Assembly and Presidential Aspirant PDP 2023.
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“Serving within the party has been a privilege, and I have valued the relationships I have built with fellow members, as well as the chance to contribute to the party’s objectives and ideals.
” I want to express my appreciation to you, the Ward Executive Committee, and all members of the PDP Abia State for the support and camaraderie extended to me throughout my association with the party.
“While I may be stepping away from my formal role, I remain committed to the principles of democracy and the progress of our great state Abia.
“Please consider this letter as my formal resignation from all duties and responsibilities associated with my position as a member and stakeholder in the PDP Abia State.
“I wish the PDP Abia State continued success in all its endeavors, and I extend my best wishes for the future. Thank you once again for the opportunities and experiences.”
The former Deputy Speaker had in an introductory post to the letter written:
“Good morning friends and well wishers. In life, we all have the past. We all made choices that maybe, weren’t the best ones. None of us is completely a saint,
but we all get a fresh start some day.
“Eccl 3:1-5 summary is on time for everything. To me, this is time to leave PDP family. I am potting out for good, new destination to be announced soon.
“My letter has started its journey to the ward chairman, LG chairman, State Chairman and Ag National chairman”.
Platinumpost reports that, the PDP has been hit by the wind of resignation following the exit of former Governor of Imo State, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, and over 20 key members of the party in Imo State including a member of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), and zonal officers.
Although the supremacy tussle between former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike, is believed to be at the centre of crisis rocking the PDP, funding by Vanguard show that Ndukwe may be on his way to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to assist his kinsman, and the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu.
Another PDP bigwig dumps party
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