Politics

Ministerial List: PDP In Dilemma Over Wike’s Nomination

Published

2 years ago

August 2, 2023

The nomination of former Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike for a ministerial position by President Bola Tinubu has remained a subject of controversy.

Wike, who prior to the 2023 general election had declared that he would never take up a ministerial position, is believed to have worked for Tiubu’s emergence, against his own party’s candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

He was instrumental to the formation of the G-5 Integrity Group, alongside four other then-state governors. The group worked against the PDP during the presidential election.

His nomination as minister is seen to be a reward for that act.

This thought was put forward by an APC chieftain, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, who said Wike’s ministerial nomination was “compensation” for his role in Tinubu’s victory at the 2023 presidential election.

Ogunlewe said: “It is so easy to decipher. If you are following the development that cumulated in the last election, you would know the role Wike played and you must give him compensation for that role.”

Stakeholders of the opposition party, PDP, met last weekend, and the discussion was said to have centred around Wike and other post-election matters.

But the party is said to be in a dilemma in handling Wike, with some stakeholders warning that his case could further destabilize the party.

This came to the fore as the party recently announced Wike as a member of its Campaign Council for the November governorship election in Bayelsa State.

Commenting on the development, Dirun Odeyemi, a former PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary, said expelling Wike would not be in the best interest of the party.

Odeyemi noted that expelling Wike would lead to the exodus of some governors from the party.

He told DAILY POST that: “They know the right thing to do at the right time, even though there is an argument for and against, some people believe that Wike’s acceptance and nomination is not new.

“Another school of thought believes that Wike should resign from the party. It will be very difficult to expel him because there is an adage in Yoruba that says when you beat a mad man you will realise that he has relatives.

“It’s not easy to touch Wike because if you expel him, you will be expelling some PDP governors.

“In PDP now, what we should do is to persuade and resolve all the issues within the party.”

Taking to their Twitter handles, some Nigerians dragged Wike over his appointment as a minister, adding that PDP has lost its relevance.

Find some of the tweets below:

@BolanleColer: “From a LION in PDP to a RAT in APC from Malaria to Cancer, the fall of Port-Harcourt Megaphone.”

@mrlurvy: “Wike, Ortom, Ikpeazu, and Ugwuanyi have been included in the Bayelsa campaign council list of the PDP. Something is fundamentally wrong with everybody at Wadata Plaza. And I am happy it is happening.

“The PDP has lost its relevance. It has no ideals, discipline or foresight any more. I strongly advise that the party be deregistered by INEC.”

@FirstObidient: “Amaechi was used against Goodluck Jonathan and was made Minister by Buhari. Wike was also used against Peter Obi and has been nominated for a ministerial position under Tinubu, why Rivers dey groom Judas?”

Politics

Coalition: Otti Speaks On Report Of Leaving LP

Published

12 hours ago

July 2, 2025

Editor

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has denied rumours suggesting he is planning to defect from the Labour Party to either the All Progressives Congress or the proposed opposition coalition party ahead of the 2027 elections.

Speaking at a dinner in Umuahia on Tuesday to mark the start of the 2025 mid-year retreat for government appointees, Otti reaffirmed his commitment to the Labour Party, insisting he has not attended any coalition meeting and remains focused on delivering his mandate to Abians.

‎He said, ‎“I will just spend a few minutes talking about what some members of the Global Economic Council have been asking me. One of them is the report about five governors decamping to the APC. I’m still a member of the Labour Party and I’m not looking for where to decamp to.

‎“The second point is about coalition, and a lot of people have been asking me, are you a member of the coalition? And my response is, have you seen my name? Have you seen me attending the coalition meeting?

‎“We are just busy doing the work that Abia people have given us. So, we are not attending any coalition meeting, I have not attended any one, and nobody has invited me.

‎“I am happy where I am. Yes, we had issues. If you don’t have issues, you are dead So, you wake up and there is one problem or the other, you solve the problem. You don’t run away from a problem and pretend to have solved it.”

The governor added that while the party had faced internal challenges, those issues were resolved at the Supreme Court.

Otti also dismissed claims that his administration had been borrowing to run the state, saying Abia has not taken any new loans since he assumed office in May 2023.

‎Otti said, “There is nothing wrong with criticising the government, but you must criticise with facts. Opinions are free, but facts are sacred.

‎“Some people have come out to say that we are borrowing; they are lying. Did I borrow from them? I saw a report yesterday that says that 26 out of the 36 states have actually reduced loans in the last 12 months, and Abia came first, having reduced its debt profile by 57.20% in one year.
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‎“So, when we say we have not borrowed, we know what we are talking about. But that we have not borrowed doesn’t mean we will not borrow. We will borrow when we need to borrow. We will borrow for regenerative investments. We will not borrow to eat. We will not borrow to consume. We will borrow for capital expenditure.”

The governor announced that providing potable water is the next major focus of his administration, with projects set to be flagged off in Aba and Umuahia in the coming weeks.

“We want to get to that level where you open your tap and you have public water running. In the next few weeks, we are going to flag off the water project in Aba around CKC. There is also another one in Umuahia and a lot of other places. We will get there,” the governor added.

He said a new Project Implementation Bureau has been established, headed by Onyinye Nwosu, a former General Electric employee in Canada who returned to contribute to Abia’s development.

The event also marked the first anniversary of the Abia Global Economic Advisory Council, a 20-member team of professionals guiding the state’s development strategy.

Earlier in her speech on behalf of the Council, the Co-Chair of the Abia Global Economic Advisory Council, Prof. Ms. Arunma Oteh, said that it was a pleasure to serve in the Economic Advisory Council.
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‎The Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Kenneth Kalu, thanked the members of the Council for their sacrifices to help the administration succeed.

Some members of the Council present during the event were Prof. Ms Arunma Oteh – Co-Chair, Mrs Ifueko Okauru – Chair, M&E Committee, Mr Victor Onyenkpa – Chair, Financing/roadshow Committee, ⁠Mrs Ezinwa Okoroafor – Member, Mr Chidi Ajaegbu – Member, and Dr Olugbenda Adesida – Member, including members of the State Executive Council and political appointees.

Politics

Coalition Won’t Be Easy, But We’re Ready – Mark

Published

13 hours ago

July 2, 2025

Editor

The newly unveiled National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, David Mark, has acknowledged that the efforts by the 2027 coalition to unseat President Bola Tinubu will be challenging.

However, he emphasised that they are ready to make sacrifices for Nigeria’s survival and progress.

Mark made this statement on Wednesday at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja during the unveiling of the ADC as the 2027 opposition coalition platform to challenge Tinubu.

He said, “This coalition goes beyond seeking power; it is about rebuilding Nigeria.

“We are under no illusion that it will be an easy task. However, we are ready to embark on this journey as a sacrifice for our fatherland.

“This coalition aims to prevent our country from descending into a one-party state.

“Today marks the beginning of what we believe will be a long, difficult and tedious journey.

“However, it is a journey that we are prepared to undertake, united in our collective belief that no price or sacrifice is too high in the service of our fatherland.”

Mark and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, were unveiled at the event as interim national chairman and interim national secretary of the ADC respectively.

Their appointments followed the resignation of the party’s founding National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, and other national officers to pave the way for the coalition’s takeover of the party structure.

Mark said, “The blatant destabilisation and infiltration of all major opposition political parties is aimed at achieving only one objective: to enhance total state capture and leave Nigerians with no alternative or options in 2027.

“This coalition is to prevent our country’s descent into a one-party state.

“We have never seen a government so much at home with corruption, a government that disdains accountability in all ramifications. A government more concerned with the next election rather than the survival of the ordinary Nigerians.

“A government so totally consumed with politicking that governance is abandoned, while the majority of our people wallow in hunger and poverty.

“We have never seen this level of insecurity across the length and breadth of our nation. Bandits and kidnappers kill Nigerians at will and on a daily basis. Yet, this ongoing tragedy has not moved the government to any action that would stop these mindless killings and stem the tide of needless bloodshed.”

Mark stated that Nigerians deserve a government that ensures their safety and makes them feel secure in their own homes.

He added, “Equally disturbing is the total emasculation of the legislative institution. Never in our history have we witnessed a National Assembly where legislators, the trustees of the very bastion of our democracy, saddled with the sacred duty to protect Nigerians from misuse of executive power, are reduced to cheerleaders and praise singers of the President, head of the executive arm.

“Without doubt, the transformation of Nigeria’s National Assembly to a mere appendage of presidential authority is a dangerous conspiracy against the Nigerian people.

“It is the reason why the government is able to get away with various whimsical, unconstitutional policies and actions or inactions that have reduced more Nigerians to abject poverty and widened the boundaries of insecurity and fear.”

The ADC Interim National Chairman accused the APC-led government of undermining the sacrifices of Nigeria’s founding heroes and affirmed that the coalition party belongs to all Nigerians.

He stated, “This coalition is determined to offer Nigerians a path to security, prosperity, peace and progress.

“Coming from various party affiliations, we are united in our resolve to present a constructive alternative to the hardship, insecurity and waste that has become the hallmark of the current APC government.

“As we proceed this day, we acknowledge the practical implications of imminent bye-elections and one state governorship election for some of our coalition partners in their respective legacy political parties. However, all of us remain firmly united under the ADC banner for the 2027 general elections and beyond.”

Among those present at the unveiling and involved in the coalition effort are the 2023 presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar and the Labour Party, Peter Obi.

Other key figures include the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Victor Umeh; former PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus; Labour Party’s 2023 Vice Presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed; former APC National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun; and former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar.

Others present include Senator Dino Melaye, former Youth Minister Solomon Dalung, former Ekiti Deputy Governor Kolapo Olushola, media mogul Chief Dele Momodu, Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe, Suleiman Nazif, Lee Maeba, and Alhaji Kashim Iman.
(PUNCH)

Politics

Coalition: Why ADC Leaders Stepped Down — Nwosu

Published

13 hours ago

July 2, 2025

Editor

The founding National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, Ralph Nwosu, said leaders of the party voluntarily resigned to allow former Senate President, David Mark, and ex-Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, to take charge and lead efforts to reposition both the party and the country.

Nwosu stated this on Wednesday at the unveiling of the ADC as the platform for the 2027 opposition coalition to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The event was held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.

Mark and Aregbesola have been announced as the interim National Chairman and Secretary of the ADC-backed coalition, respectively.

Nwosu stated, “We all decided to resign so that Mark, Aregbesola and others can lead us to the Villa.

“We also approved Mark as National Chairman and Aregbesola as the National Secretary of the party.

“When you look at the two of them and their commitment to this country, you’ll see that this is a new beginning. They will reposition the party and Nigeria.”

Coalition leaders at the venue of the meeting on Wednesday, July 2, 2025
Nwosu said the opposition coalition was not about seeking power but moving Nigeria to “global reckoning.”

He added, “The ADC has always been about the rejuvenation of Nigeria and Africa. This journey started about 18 months back, and we have had over 12 NEC meetings.

“When we were consulted, we said we have also been consulting because we are a party that believes in coalition.

“A day like this shows that we are ready to sacrifice anything for Nigeria. We don’t have any doubt in the man, we all have decided to resign.”

Among those present at the unveiling and involved in the coalition effort are the 2023 presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar; the Labour Party, Peter Obi; and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola.

Also in attendance were former Governors Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Abdulfattah Ahmed (Kwara), Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (Sokoto), Oserheimen Osunbor (Edo), and Celestine Omehia (Rivers), along with former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal. Others present include Senator Dino Melaye, former Youth Minister Solomon Dalung, former Ekiti Deputy Governor Kolapo Olushola, media mogul Chief Dele Momodu, Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe, Suleiman Nazif, Lee Maeba, and Alhaji Kashim Iman, among others.
(PUNCH)