Politics
Wike to Fubara: Nobody has monopoly of causing violence
The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike has said “nobody has the monopoly of causing violence” in the wake of the political rift between himself and the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara.
Wike made the statement in Port Harcourt on Saturday at the Rivers State Ijaw Peoples Congress organised in his honour.
Wike also used the opportunity to clear the air about public perception that Fubara was speaking the mind of the entire Ijaw people as both battled for supremacy.
“Let me thank this team for this strategic meeting here today. First of all, when I was approached by Senator Johnson Nsakebor. He was sent by the Rivers Ijaw Congress, that they want to honour me. I asked what the essence of such was. Why do you want to waste such money? I need the money. Give it to me. But he said so many people go on Television and speak as if they speak on behalf of the Ijaw people. I said okay, I will come and let Nigerians know,” he said.
“This gathering here today is a message to those of them in Abuja who don’t understand. So if anybody tells you one day, that the Ijaw people are fighting me. It is not correct. We have some ungrateful people everywhere. A father can have twelve children and one can be an armed robber. Does that mean that the whole family are armed robbers?
“So, all these people going to television to say Ijaw people are fighting me. ask them, all the Ijaw people in the House of Assembly were positioned.
“Who has Fubara made? All the things you see are people who are envious of our growth. They couldn’t do what we are doing today. These are people who we have defeated politically severally. If the opportunity comes again, we will defeat them again.
“I have made an Ijaw man governor of Rivers State. God used us. All of us here had sleepless nights. So who loves Ijaw more? Is it people who come out on television who can not even make their Ijaw brother governor? If they were that powerful, since the old Rivers State, has Ijaw ever become governor? Where are they?
“I have told people that nobody has a monopoly on causing violence. The mere fact that we choose to play according to the rule of law. To be calm and not to turn ourselves into where investors would run away, and that is what we will continue to do.”
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2027: Aregbesola, Fayemi and Others Poised to Join SDP as Obi and Atiku Factions Forge Alliance – Insider Report
Recent reports indicate that Rauf Aregbesola, the former Governor of Osun State, and Kayode Fayemi, the former Governor of Ekiti State, are currently in negotiations to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Additionally, sources reveal that former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, along with former Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Adamu, discontented members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and several ex-Ministers from President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration are also considering a move to the SDP.
This development occurs amid ongoing discussions regarding a coalition among opposition parties, aimed at presenting a united front to challenge President Bola Tinubu and the APC in the upcoming 2027 elections.
According to insider information, the coalition will likely include Atiku Abubakar’s faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi’s faction of the Labour Party (LP), and Nasir El-Rufai, who has recently defected to the SDP.
The opposition parties are reportedly strategising to unite under an existing registered party. However, should they fail to reach a consensus on a common platform within the party they wish to join, they may opt to align with the SDP instead, as per sources cited by our correspondent.
It is noteworthy that Kola Ologbondiyan, the former National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, has suggested that talks of a merger among opposition politicians are gaining momentum. During a recent appearance on the AIT Focus programme, Ologbondiyan expressed optimism that the opposition would present initiatives that could inspire hope among Nigerians.
The former PDP spokesperson asserted that defeating the current government would be achievable, given the proposals that opposition leaders are preparing to unveil.
By Abubakar Yunusa
The leader of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has welcome the former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, to the party.
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has officially joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP), on Monday morning in what is being seen as a strategic realignment ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
His defection was confirmed on Monday, with SDP leader and 2023 presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, welcoming him into the party.
Adebayo described El-Rufai’s entry as a significant boost to the SDP’s vision, calling it a “moment of renewed hope for Nigeria.”
He also praised the former governor’s leadership and work ethic, noting that his presence would strengthen the party’s push for reforms.
“With the hardworking and sagacious Mallam joining our ranks, an avid worker for the people has been enlisted in our forces against poverty and insecurity,” Adebayo wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
El-Rufai’s defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) follows his growing discontent with the ruling party’s direction.
The former governor cited a misalignment between his values and the APC’s current trajectory as a key factor in his decision.
Adebayo also used the occasion to call on other like-minded politicians and citizens to rally behind the SDP’s mission of addressing governance failures in Nigeria.
“There is no time to waste. Join us on the march again! God bless Nigeria,” he urged.
El-Rufai, who previously served as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and two-term Governor of Kaduna State, brings extensive political and administrative experience to his new party.
His move is expected to shape political dynamics ahead of the next election cycle.
The Rivers State House of Assembly has issued a warrant for the Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Justice Adolphus Enebeli (rtd), to appear before it.
The Martins Amaewhule-led Assembly issued the arrest warrant on Monday during plenary, after the expiration of its 72-hour ultimatum for the electoral chief to appear before the House.
Enebeli had fixed August 9, 2025, to conduct a fresh Local Government (LG) poll in the state following a Supreme Court verdict that annulled the October 5, 2024 local government poll conducted in the state.
The Amaewhule-led Assembly had vowed to probe the conduct of Enebeli regarding the conduct of the annulled LG poll last year.
Over the weekend, Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, invited members of the Assembly to a dialogue on the implementation the Supreme Court’s verdict.
The Supreme Court had also barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Accountant General of the Federation and other agencies from releasing funds to the government of Rivers State until it purges itself of what the court described as flagrant disobedience to court orders.
In the judgment delivered by Justice Emmanuel Akomaye, the five-man panel of the court had unanimously dismissed the cross-appeal filed by Fubara challenging the validity of the House of Assembly presided over by Amaewhule as the Speaker.
In dismissing Fubara’s appeal, the court ordered Amaewhule to resume sitting immediately with other elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.