Politics
You lack integrity, stop Ortom, others if you can, Wike dares Ayu
•I won’t work for Atiku till PDP chair resigns, says Makinde
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has chided National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Iyorchia Ayu for threatening to stop the 2023 political ambitions of Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom and others kicking against his (Ayu) refusal to resign.
Wike described Ayu as a man lacking in integrity and whose actions have shown that the PDP under his leadership would never change for good.
The governor spoke just as his Oyo State counterpart, Seyi Makinde insisted at the weekend that, in as much as Ayu remained the chairman of the PDP, he would work only for the victory of the party’s candidates in the state.
Makinde is one of the Wike-led PDP governors and stakeholders that vowed not to join the campaign train of the opposition party’s presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar if Ayu did not resign. Their demand is on the grounds that Atiku and Ayu hail from the same region(North).
Wike, in a chat with reporters in Port Harcourt, alleged that Ayu was not ready to quit because he had his eyes set on donations that would be made to the party for the general elections.
The governor said he was alarmed that the national chairman could threaten the 2023 ambitions of some members of the party, especially Ortom, who stood as his guarantor when he made his intention to vie for the position known.
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Wike, who also described some PDP members on Atiku’s campaign train as con men, said Ayu lacked the power to stop anyone from contesting an election.
His words: “I heard when he said ‘I would have stopped Ortom from running. You see how ungrateful human beings are. This was the same Governor Ortom, who pleaded with us, and said listen, ‘I can take this risk and let him become the national chairman
“This is a man, who never campaigned anywhere. This is a man who never bought form, or bought a poster. Now, he is threatening to stop the man who brought him, who became his guarantor.
“He (Ayu) has seen money, he has seen power, now he can open his mouth to say if he wants to stop Ortom he would have. But we dare him. And he said he can also stop any contestant. He doesn’t know anything. I dare him.
“He (Ayu) is just playing to the gallery. He does not have what it takes. He doesn’t have it.
“Ayu has no integrity. It is a terrible thing. This is not the Tivs I read about in history. This is one Ayu is no.”
Giving further reasons why Ayu was not ready to resign, Wike said: “Why is he (Ayu) not going to resign? He is hoping that Nigerians will donate money to the party so that he will superintend over that money.”.
Wike also chided Atiku’s spokesman, Dele Momodu, for cautioning him and members of his group not to cross the redline.
He said: “These are the things I am talking about. When did he (Momodu) come into the PDP? He came into the PDP two weeks before the presidential race. All of you know how many times Dele Momodu has been in Port Harcourt for project commissioning.
“I have said I will remain in the PDP and fight for our rights. I will not leave the party, and that is what makes the difference. Check them, what are their votes?
I am not looking for a job. I am not looking to be a minister. When you see most of the people around, they have no job. At the appropriate time, we will begin to tell them who they are. Most of them are con men..”
*Makinde: I won’t work for Atiku
In Ibadan, Makinde said Wike’s group would not back down from its position that a Southerner is made the national chairman of the party.
“We will focus on winning our elections in Oyo State. I, Seyi Makinde, will stay in my comfort zone if the needful is not done. I am not a slave in this country, but we still have the time,” the governor said while featuring on Southwest Political Circuit, a popular programme on Fresh 105.9 FM.
When reminded that the presidential and National Assembly elections would hold the same day, the governor argued that voters were now more politically- conscious than before
He said: “We will score 100 percent in Oyo State, the people have made up their minds to vote for us because they have tasted several governments in Oyo State.
“Oyo State people will not vote to be in slavery because lean freedom is better than fat slavery.”
The Nation
Politics
Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge: Hamzat, Gbadamosi Clash Over N29bn Cost, Toll Collection
Lagos State Deputy Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, has defended the construction of the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge following allegations of public funds mismanagement by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) deputy governorship candidate, Babatunde Gbadamosi.
The two politicians exchanged words over the cost, financing and toll collection arrangements for the 1.68-kilometre bridge, which was constructed during the administration of former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, when Hamzat served as Commissioner for Works.
Hamzat, in a statement on Monday, described the bridge as a landmark infrastructure project that had improved connectivity and eased traffic for commuters travelling within Lagos.
He said the decision to construct the bridge was driven by the need to reduce time spent in traffic, ease the burden on motorists and improve access to the Lekki Peninsula.
According to him, the project was delivered in collaboration with Fashola and represented an important milestone in Lagos State’s infrastructure development.
The deputy governor said the bridge had become an iconic feature of the Lagos skyline, arguing that its impact on commuters could not be dismissed by political criticism or attempts to rewrite history.
“Critics may try to rewrite history, make unfair comparisons or turn progress into a political argument but they cannot erase the difference this bridge has made in the lives of the millions of people who use it,” he said.
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Hamzat maintained that his commitment to public service remained focused on transparency, infrastructure development and improving the living conditions of Lagos residents.
He also challenged critics of the project to demonstrate their own contributions to infrastructure development.
“When anyone attempts to undermine projects that have made life better for Lagosians, one simple question is worth asking: What have they built?” he added.
However, Gbadamosi, in a statement published on October 31, questioned the cost of the 1.68-kilometre Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge, alleging that the project raised concerns about the management of public funds under the Fashola administration.
He recalled that Fashola announced in 2013 that the bridge had been fully funded by Lagos taxpayers at a cost of N29 billion, which Gbadamosi estimated at approximately $195 million.
To support his criticism, the ADC chieftain compared the Lagos project with China’s 42-kilometre Qingdao Jiaozhou Bay Bridge, which he said cost approximately $2.3 billion.
He argued that the Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge was considerably more expensive on a per-kilometre basis, putting its cost at approximately $143 million per kilometre, compared with $55 million for the Chinese bridge.
Gbadamosi also questioned the arrangement that allowed a private company to collect tolls on the Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge, alleging that the company did not finance its construction.
The toll collection arrangement has been a subject of public debate, with the Lekki Concession Company (LCC) officially identified as the operator of the bridge’s toll plaza since June 2016.
Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge: Hamzat, Gbadamosi Clash Over N29bn Cost, Toll Collection
Politics
2027: Datti Baba-Ahmed Threatens to Expose More Secrets About Peter Obi, Warns Obidients
2027: Datti Baba-Ahmed Threatens to Expose More Secrets About Peter Obi, Warns Obidients
Former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has warned supporters of Peter Obi, popularly known as Obidients, against attacking him over his recent comments about the former Anambra State governor, threatening to make further damaging revelations about the 2023 presidential campaign.
Baba-Ahmed, who served as Obi’s running mate in the 2023 presidential election, said he had more information to disclose about what transpired during their political partnership, insisting that attacks from Obi’s supporters would not silence him.
He made the remarks during an interview with Symfoni TV, where he accused some Obidients of attacking anyone who expresses views contrary to their expectations about their political principal.
“Obidients are always eager to attack me. I have more damaging things to reveal. You attack me because I told you the truth about Peter Obi,” he said.
The former senator’s outburst comes amid growing disagreements over Peter Obi’s political calculations ahead of the 2027 general elections, particularly discussions surrounding a possible alliance or presidential ticket involving former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso.
Baba-Ahmed had argued that an Obi-Kwankwaso ticket might struggle to attract sufficient support in Northern Nigeria, claiming that his experience during the 2023 campaign had exposed significant challenges facing Obi in the region.
He recalled that shortly after joining Obi on the Labour Party ticket in 2022, he had to contend with controversies surrounding allegations that northerners were required to obtain identification cards in Anambra State, the demolition of a mosque and the leaked telephone conversation between Obi and the founder of Living Faith Church, Bishop David Oyedepo.
According to Baba-Ahmed, these controversies created difficulties for the campaign in Northern Nigeria, forcing him to personally undertake efforts to address the concerns and convince voters to support Obi.
He claimed that he took Obi to several locations, including Borno, Kano and Zaria, to counter the allegations and improve his acceptance among northern voters.
Baba-Ahmed maintained that his assessment of the political challenges surrounding Obi remained valid, insisting that his comments were based on his personal experience as the former presidential candidate’s running mate.
His latest remarks have further exposed the growing tension between him and sections of the Obidient movement, whose members have criticised him over his perceived opposition to Obi’s political decisions.
The former vice-presidential candidate, however, insisted that he would not be intimidated into silence, warning that he had more revelations to make if the attacks against him continued.
The development adds another dimension to the political realignments and disagreements unfolding among opposition figures as preparations gradually gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general election.
The allegations and recollections concerning the 2023 campaign remain Baba-Ahmed’s claims and have not been independently established.
2027: Datti Baba-Ahmed Threatens to Expose More Secrets About Peter Obi, Warns Obidients
Politics
Umahi Disowns Peter Obi, Says South East Has No Presidential Candidate for 2027
Umahi Disowns Peter Obi, Says South East Has No Presidential Candidate for 2027
ABUJA – The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has stirred the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections, declaring that the South-East geopolitical zone currently has no presidential candidate.
Speaking during a political event on Sunday, Umahi specifically dismissed the presidential ambitions of Mr. Peter Obi, the candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), stating that the former Anambra State Governor does not represent the interest of the region.
The Minister’s comments come amid rising political realignments as the nation looks toward the next electoral cycle. While Peter Obi, who was the Labour Party (LP) flagbearer in the 2023 election, has maintained a strong grassroots following, Umahi insisted that the South-East does not have a “consensus” candidate.
Addressing supporters, Umahi, who is a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), emphasized that the South-East is not yet ready to project a candidate for the presidency. He described the NDC and its candidate as lacking the structure and national appeal required to secure the highest office in the land.
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“Let me be clear: there is no presidential candidate in the South-East in the 2027 general election,” Umahi stated. “We are not just looking for a candidate; we are looking for a President. As it stands, the region has not produced a candidate that we can all rally around.”
The Minister’s dismissal of Obi is seen as a significant political statement, highlighting the ongoing fragmentation within the South-East political elite. While Obi enjoys a massive cult-like following—often referred to as the “Obidient” movement—his relationship with key political figures in the region, particularly those in the APC, has soured since the 2023 elections.
Umahi’s remarks suggest a strategic shift by the ruling party to consolidate its grip on the South-East, potentially sidelining the Labour Party/NDC influence in the region. By declaring that there is “no candidate,” Umahi may be signaling that the APC is open to negotiations or that the region should align with the national ruling party to secure developmental benefits, rather than running a “lone race” that may end in defeat.
Political analysts suggest that Umahi’s statement is a direct attack on the viability of the NDC and Peter Obi’s renewed bid. It remains to be seen how Peter Obi’s supporters and the leadership of the NDC will respond to the Minister’s assertion that the South-East has no candidate.
As the 2027 elections draw closer, the battle for the soul of the South-East—and the definition of its true political leadership—is clearly heating up.
Umahi Disowns Peter Obi, Says South East Has No Presidential Candidate for 2027
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