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We Never Agreed To Vote Wike’s Choice Guber Candidate -APC Campaign
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (APCPCC) and the Tinubu-Shettima Grassroot Independent Campaign Council (TSGICC) in Rivers State, have declared that they never agreed to vote for the preferred gubernatorial candidate of Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike in the March 11 elections in the state.A top member of the two groups, Chief Tony Okocha, had while addressing journalists in Port Harcourt on Thursday, urged members and supporters of the party in the state, to vote for the governor’s preferred choice in the March 11, 2023 governorship election in appreciation of his support towards the emergence of APC’s Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu as President-elect.But, in a swift reaction, the APCPCC and the TSGICC, in a statement signed by the state coordinator, Sir Augustine Nwokocha and two others, said Okocha spoke for himself and not for the two groups and APC members in the state.The statement reads in part: “Our attention has been drawn to a press conference held by Chief Anthony C. Okocha and the statement made therein, purportedly for and on behalf of APC PCC/TSGICC Rivers State. “While we join Chief Okocha to congratulate our President elect Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his Vice, Senator Kashim Shetima and our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), for this historic victory against a very distractive and vehemently divisive campaign hinged basically on religion, ethnicity and the natural vagaries of our humanity (age and ill-health).”We state that the victory of our president-elect was a natural cause of event given his phenomenal pedigree as an astute politician per excellence, administrator with an unmatchable track record of achievements, foresight and bold visions. A man reputed as a Mason of Men.”It is important however to state that the credit for the victory of Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC in Rivers State belongs to all Rivers persons who turned out to vote for the candidate of our party and to the dynamic campaign structure that carried the message of Renewed Hope to all the ‘nooks and crannies’ of Rivers State.”We are not unmindful of the forces that coalesced to hand our President-elect this pan Nigeria victory at the polls and we trust in the incoming administration to fully demonstrate to every Nigerian that this vote of confidence shall never be misplaced or taken for granted. It is, however, insidious for any individual to appropriate the performance of APC in Rivers State during the just concluded presidential elections. “Furthermore, it is important to state that every opinion, expressed by Chief Tony Okocha in his aforesaid Press Conference, is his personal opinion as he neither spoke for the PCC, nor for the TSG/ICC led by my humble self, Sir Augustine Wokocha in Rivers State. “It is further important to state that at no time did the PCC/ICC meet to authorize Chief Tony Okocha to express the opinion and sentiments so expressed. PCC/ICC Nigeria, headquartered in Abuja and the President Elect, have not authorized any statement/sentiments such as those expressed by Chief Tony Okocha.”We therefore implore all Rivers residents who are eligible voters to turnup enmasse and reject the invitation of Chief Tony Okocha to support the extension of the rascality that the Rivers State Government of today represents and to massively come out, vote and insist that their votes count on the 11th of March, 2023 for a better Rivers State. “This election of 25th February, 2023 was a special one, it was special to the extent that victory was attained through the votes of under 36% of the total votes cast which in itself was under 11% of the population of Nigeria. “It therefore means that close to 90% of Nigerians for whatsoever reasons did not speak and of the under 11% of the populace that voted, over 60% had a contrary opinion as to by whom and how this country should be governed.”
Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on New Media and Public Communications to Nyesom Wike, the former Governor of Rivers State and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has responded to the recent appointment of Bashir Ojulari as the new Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.).
Olayinka took to X (formerly Twitter) to address discussions surrounding this leadership transition. His post aimed to clarify that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not dismiss Mele Kyari, a northerner, to replace him with a southerner, as some speculated. Instead, Olayinka pointed out that Ojulari, like Kyari, hails from the northern region of Nigeria.
According to Olayinka’s post on his official X account, he emphasised that Bashir Ojulari is from Kwara State, located in North Central Nigeria. Additionally, the new Board Chairman, Ahmadu Musa Kida, originates from Borno State in the North East.
His post stated: “Bashir Ojulari, the new NNPCL CEO, is a northerner from Kwara State, North Central Nigeria. The new Board Chairman, Ahmadu Musa Kida, is also a northerner, from Borno State, North East Nigeria.”
Olayinka’s statement came in response to narratives suggesting that the appointment was politically motivated to favour one region over another.
By Israel Bulus, Kaduna
The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has strongly condemned the extrajudicial killing of 16 travelers in Uromi, Edo State, while warning against retaliatory violence targeting Southerners in Northern Nigeria.
In a press statement released on Tuesday, MBF Spokesman Luka Binniyat denounced inflammatory threats from individuals claiming to represent Northern interests in response to the killings.
Recalled that the victims, were allegedly armed hunters, traveling from Port Harcourt to Kano when they were attacked by a mob that accused them of being kidnappers.
“The MBF strongly condemns the unlawful killing of any Nigerian citizen, including those who lost their lives in Uromi,” the statement read. “However, we categorically reject any attempt to use this tragic incident as a pretext to unleash violence against Southerners residing in Northern Nigeria.”
The forum assured that the Middle Belt would not become a battleground for reprisals, emphasizing that it remains a safe haven for all law-abiding Nigerians. It urged community leaders and youths to remain vigilant and prevent any attempts to instigate violence, calling for anyone with such intentions to be handed over to authorities.
The MBF also reaffirmed its commitment to justice for all victims of violence across Nigeria. The statement highlighted the ongoing security challenges facing Middle Belt communities, citing persistent attacks by armed herdsmen with little government intervention.
” We hope that the swift response to the Uromi killings would serve as a precedent for broader action against criminal elements terrorizing the region.
“Thousands of our people remain in captivity, and vast portions of our land are still under the control of violent outlaws—primarily Fulani militants,” the statement noted.
“Justice must be served across the board.”
The MBF concluded by reiterating its support for the ongoing investigation into the Uromi incident and calling for a fair and decisive crackdown on all forms of criminality across the country.
BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto
The Deputy Speaker, Sokoto State House of Assembly, Kabir Ibrahim kware, has commended governor Ahmed Aliyu for executing numerous developmental projects without taking loan from any financial institution.
Ibrahim Kware whp gave the commendation when he led other members of the State Assembly on Sallah homage to governor Aliyu, added that, the governor is very prudent in managing resources to achieve results.
“There was never a time you approached us with a request for permission to borrow money from any financial institutions whether at home or abroad,”he affirmed.
This , according to him, is worthy of commendation considering the myriad people- oriented projects the governor is executing across the state.
Speaking on behalf of the State’s Judiciary, Sokoto State Chief Judge, Justice Muhammad Sa’idu Sifawa, commended the governor for the construction of additional Court rooms at the State High Court.
Justice Sifawa also expressed delight over the way and manner the governor responds to issues affecting the Judiciary, which he said, is a clear testimony of the good working relationship existing between the three arms of government in the state.
Responding to the commendations, governor Ahmed Aliyu appealed for more synergy among the three tiers of government in the overall development of the state.
A statement by Abubakar Bawa, the Press Secretary to governor Alhmed Aliyu reaffirmed his principal’s unwavering commitment of the executive arm to providing the direly needed dividends of democracy to the people of the state,in line with his campaign promises.
The governor also urged lawmakers to present all the needs of their constituencies for prompt and diligent implementation.
“”I want to assure you that my doors are always open for you at any given time, to listen to the demands of your people.”
He reminded them on the need to put politics aside and work together with the executive arm for the progress and even development of the people they represent.
Turning to the members of the State Judiciary, the governor appealed to Judges and Khadis to ensure the quick dispensation of justice, so as to decongest the correctional centres.
“It is worrisome to see how inmates are languishing in correctional centres for minor offences in the name of awaiting trial.
“We recently appointed seven additional Judges and 7 Khadis, which is the first in the history of Sokoto State.
“The idea is to enhance the manpower in our Judiciary so as to speed up the dispensation of justice,” he added.
The governor further assured the members of the Judiciary of his administration’s readiness to ensure their welfare at all times.