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Wike Chides Rivers Elders For Faulting Tinubu’s Intervention, Backing Fubara

Published

2 years ago

December 24, 2023

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has warned residents of Rivers State against getting involved in any political conflict without knowing the causes.

He also faulted some elders of the state for faulting President Bola Tinubu’s intervention in the crisis between him and the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara.

The minister spoke on Sunday while addressing the congregation during a thanksgiving and marriage anniversary of the immediate past Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Dr Des George-Kelly, at the Kings’ Assembly in Port Harcourt.

Wike lampooned elders of the state who recently said Tinubu did not have constitutional powers in the manner he handled the political crisis in the state.

He said, “Let me tell the church, you know blackmail is the easiest thing. So many of you may be believing what is going on. So many of you may also follow on the road without knowing where you are heading.

“If I were you, sit down and ask yourself can this be true? But just because we are no longer in power you may want to believe everything they have said. Power and money if you are not careful can destroy you. It can also make, depending on how you handle it.”

Wike said he has never done anything that will bring Rivers State backward, saying, it was during his tenure as governor that he fought so many states to bring back our oil wells.

He added, “The money accruing from those oil wells today is not in my pocket but for the interest of the state.

“To show character, when I was here I never went to see the Federal Government. I was the only opposition to the federal government. I challenged them.

“That is how you know people when they say they want to do something and they do it. I’m not a man that you can convince just because of a porridge of yam, no. it is not possible.

“Don’t get involved in any fight between two politicians without knowing the root cause.”

Continuing, the FCT Minister said, “In any facet of life, there are rules and they must be obeyed. As a pastor, there are rules you must follow. So as politicians, we must follow rules.

“While I was governor I followed those rules, and that’s why I was able to succeed.

“When I was running for governor in 2014/2015, I was invited that some elders wanted to see me. When I got there, I saw only two people. Just two of them constituted themselves as elders over the whole state.

“They said elders of the state have decided that I should not contest the election. I said it must be a joke. Now they’ve come back again as elders.

“Check everyone there, some of them their sons lost the election. Everybody wants to take their pound of flesh. ‘Wike prevented me from this. Wike made me not to be that. Wike made me not to be that.’ Even those that Wike made have joined them.”

While warning against propaganda, he expressed dismay that the same group of elders who were calling on the President to wade into the crisis were the ones now faulting his intervention.

“You are the ones who said the President should intervene. Now the President has come to bring peace, you said no, you don’t have the constitutional powers.

“All of us must love this state but don’t listen to propaganda. There is nothing I’m looking for in this state now. I have my own budget as FCT Minister. I have my own commissioners.

“All I’m saying is if you are a politician play according to the rules.”

He said those bringing in ethnic sentiments were ill-informed, saying, “All of us in this state irrespective of where you come from know this state belongs to all of us. There is nothing like Ijaw, there is nothing like Ikwerre. All I know is Rivers State.

“If you want to settle us, set out the facts. Don’t just be shouting asawana (a popular solidarity mantra). No, because when we were choosing who would rule you never shouted ‘asawana’

“Now they’re carrying flags and shouting asawana up and down. Are you people aware that Mr President actually called us privately and told us what to do, he didn’t do it and now Mr President then said okay, the larger house should come and they’re saying he does not have the constitutional right to do that. I have subjected myself to the peace process.”

He described George-Kelly as reliable and dependable, saying he is one that delivers when a task is assigned to him.

In attendance were some of the 27 lawmakers believed to be loyal to Wike as well as some of the commissioners who recently resigned from Fubara’s cabinet.

News

How Nigerian Man Hacked US Varsity, Stole $235,000 – Officials

Published

33 minutes ago

September 19, 2025

Editor

A Nigerian living in the United Kingdom, Farouk Adekunle Adepoju, has been arrested by British authorities following a request from the United States government after he was indicted on charges of wire fraud and computer fraud.
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‎According to US prosecutors, Adepoju hacked into the email system of a Pennsylvania construction company working for a university, then created fake accounts to impersonate staff and divert payment.
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‎The US Department of Justice, in a statement on its website on Thursday, said Adepoju, who was arrested on September 15, 2025, is awaiting extradition to face a seven-count indictment in the Western District of Pennsylvania.
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‎The indictment, unsealed on Thursday, alleged that between March and April 2023, Adepoju remotely accessed a protected computer belonging to the construction company.

READ ALSO:Lagos Skit Maker Hacked To Death By Suspected Cultists
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‎He allegedly altered email rules, set up a spoofed domain, and used it to send fraudulent payment instructions to the university.
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‎Relying on the emails, the university updated the construction firm’s payment details to a fraudulent account controlled by Adepoju, transferring about $235,266.
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‎The funds have not been recovered.
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‎Acting US attorney, Troy Rivetti, said, “Adepoju is charged with using sophisticated cyber means to illegally access accounts belonging to a business in order to victimize one of our region’s universities.
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‎“Even from halfway across the world, however, Adepoju was not beyond the investigative reach of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. His arrest in the United Kingdom underscores our district’s unwavering commitment to aggressively locate and prosecute cybercriminals worldwide with the assistance of our law enforcement partners—both here and abroad.”

READ ALSO:Nigerian Jailed In US Over $6m Inheritance Fraud
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‎FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge, Kevin Rojek, added, “Criminals who think they can reach across the globe into the United States to line their pockets at the expense of the American public need know one thing: the FBI and our partners are not going to let you get away with it.
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‎“We will find you and bring you to justice, no matter where you might be. Email compromise schemes are not victimless crimes; they are one of the costliest threats large and small businesses, universities, and organizations face today.”
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‎Adepoju faces six counts of wire fraud and one count of computer fraud.

READ ALSO:Police Arrest Islamic Cleric With Human Flesh In Oyo
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Each wire fraud charge carries a maximum of 20 years in prison, while the computer fraud charge carries up to five years.
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‎The FBI’s Pittsburgh Field Office led the investigation, while Assistant US Attorney Mark V. Gurzo is prosecuting the case with support from the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs.
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‎Authorities stressed that an indictment is only an accusation, and Adepoju is presumed innocent until proven guilty
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News

JUST IN: Resident Doctors In Abuja Suspend Indefinite Strike

Published

2 hours ago

September 19, 2025

Editor

The Association of Resident Doctors of the Federal Capital Territory Administration has suspended the indefinite strike.

The President of ARD-FCTA, Dr George Ebong, disclosed this to DAILY POST on Friday.

He said its members are expected to resume work on Monday, 22nd September 2025, at 8 am.

He noted that the strike suspension comes after the intervention of the Nigerian Senate Committee on Federal Territory Area Councils & Ancillary Matters and respect for FCT Minister Nyesome Wike.

However, Dr Ebong revealed that none of its demands had been met as of filing the report.

“The senate intervened. Even though none of our demands have been met yet, they assured us that they will talk to the minister. “We hope the minister will listen to us, because we respect him,” he stated.

Recall that ARD-FCTA began an indefinite strike on Monday over poor working conditions, remuneration and other demands.

News

Nigeria Ready, Willing To Host Commonwealth Games — Tinubu

Published

17 hours ago

September 18, 2025

Editor

Nigeria on Thursday welcomed the Commonwealth Sport Bid Evaluation Committee to Abuja, a major step towards hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games.

President Bola Tinubu, represented by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, formally received the delegation at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.

“What I can assure you is that we’re ready,” Tinubu told the delegation.

He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to hosting an inclusive, diverse, and world-class 2030 Commonwealth Games on African soil.‎

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, revealed this in a statement he signed Thursday titled, ‘Nigeria ready to host Africa’s First Commonwealth Games in 2030-President Tinubu assures‎.’

Gbajabiamila, along with a strong Federal Government team of Ministers and senior government officials, held strategic talks with the delegation led by Darren Hall, Director of Games and Assurance at Commonwealth Sport, and a member of the 2030 Evaluation Commission.

President Tinubu emphasised that the Commonwealth champions unity and diversity, and Africa deserves its moment after nearly a century.‎

Africa has never hosted the Games since their inception in 1930. Nigeria made an unsuccessful bid to host the 2014 Games. The city of Durban in South Africa won the bid to host the 2022 Games, but could not do so due to financial difficulties. Birmingham in the UK took over and hosted the Games. Thus, Nigeria’s bid to host the 2030 Games would be historic, Onanuga stated.

In his welcome remarks, Gbajabiamila called on the visitors to savour Nigeria’s renowned hospitality: “You’re very welcome to Nigeria. I hope you enjoy our great hospitality, which we are known for. Mr President also asked me personally to convey his regards; he fully supports this bid.”‎

“The President has written a Letter of Guarantee to you; his full weight is behind this bid. What I can assure you is that we’re ready. We’re willing, we’re able, and we actually want this. It’s been almost 100 years. The games have not been held on any soil in Africa.

‎”The element of inclusivity is what the Commonwealth is, and we hope that will benefit us,” he stated.

President Tinubu stressed that his administration has set some bold reforms to reposition sports, having realised its role as a strategic driver of national development.

He added that he scrapped the Ministry of Sports and replaced it with the National Sports Commission in the bid to drive sports development.

The President further assured the delegation that all infrastructural, security, and hospitality needs will be met ahead of schedule.‎

He emphasised that Nigeria’s bid is not just about hosting but also leaving a legacy for youth and national development.‎

Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, made a strong case for Nigeria over India, stressing that Africa has 22 Commonwealth nations, and Nigeria, as the continent’s giant, deserves the honour.‎

“One thing I want to assure you is that the President sees the hosting of the Commonwealth Games in 2030, if we win the bid, as a celebration of the country’s growing force in sports, beyond just participation.”

‎President of Commonwealth Sport Nigeria, Habu Gumel, said the country is ready to host an environmentally sustainable Games.‎

Chairman of the Bid Committee, Mainasara Illo, presented Nigeria’s proposal, highlighting key plans and innovations.‎

He revealed that Nigeria proposes 15 sports, with football introduced to boost excitement, global visibility, and audience engagement.‎

Director of Games and Assurance, Darren Hall, thanked President Tinubu and the Nigerian team for their warm welcome.‎

“I have been most thrilled by the passion of the Nigerian people in all their endeavours, including sports.”

He said the Commonwealth, now comprising 56 nations, aims for greater diversity as it approaches its 100-year milestone.‎

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammed Idris, Minister of Aviation, Festus Kayamo, Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa and‎ Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Gaidam, attended the meeting and made statements in support of the bid.

Nigeria and India are the two official bidders for the 2030 Games, with Abuja and Ahmedabad, in Gujarat, as their proposed host cities.‎

‎After a thorough evaluation of both bids, the Commonwealth Games General Assembly will decide the host city in November 2025.

The next Commonwealth Games will be held in 2026 across four venues in Glasgow, Scotland, from July 23 to August 2.