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Wike Reveals How FG Encourages Corruption Through Budgetary Allocation

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Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has accused the Federal Government of promoting corruption by not releasing from the yearly budget, the whole money required for a project within the required time frame.

The governor made the claims in his speech during the commissioning of the GRA Junction Flyover project in Port Harcourt on Saturday.

The project was commissioned by a senior advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome.

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The Governor said the practice by the Federal Government encourages variation of the value of the projects and leads to abandonment.

“You know, I don’t like the word variation. It is not in my dictionary. That is where you see corruption. That is why when you see Federal Government budget; how can you award a job of N60 billion, then in the budget of the year, you put N2 billion.

“What kind of contract is that? Why will there not be a variation? That job will last in the next ten years and that is the problem we have in our contract execution,” he said.

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According to the Governor, in such cases, inflation may affect the value of the contract leading to a likelihood of adjustment of the items and eventually breeds corruption.

READ ALSO: Obaseki Calls For Partnership Between The Bar, Bench As Benin NBA Holds Annual Dinner, Award

He also noted that he discourages that under his administration.

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“Now, if you’re putting N2 billion each year, that means in ten years time, it’s N20 billion. So you cannot finish the project in 20 years. And then, looking at the inflation trend, every year, the contractor will put variation. Why?

“Because the price of things has gone up. So, they’ll put variation and at the end of the day, the job will not be N60 billion. It will go to N80 billion,” he added.

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Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement and 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has accused the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of lacking the political will to tackle Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.

Kwankwaso spoke on Tuesday in Kano while unveiling 2,000 operatives of the Kano State Neighbourhood Security Network.

He urged President Tinubu to “rise to the occasion and truly act as the Commander-in-Chief” in addressing banditry and other security challenges.

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READ ALSO:Tinubu Embarks On Three-state Visit

According to him, Nigeria’s military “remains one of the most gallant in the world,” having served in international peacekeeping missions in Darfur, Liberia, and other conflict zones.

However, he said the armed forces are not being adequately supported to perform optimally.

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“Today, many innocent Nigerians are being killed, while the perpetrators walk freely as if nothing happened. The government must apologise to Nigerians for its laxity in the fight against insecurity,” he said.

Kwankwaso, who once served as Minister of Defence, added: “When I was Defence Minister, I knew the capability of the Nigerian military. They are courageous and professional but need clear direction, support, and political will to do the needful.”

READ ALSO:Soyinka Decries Seyi Tinubu’s ‘Excessive’ Security Escort

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He stressed that Nigeria’s armed forces had historically ranked among the best globally and urged the government to equip them properly to change the current security situation.

Kwankwaso also said that if elected president in 2027, he would recruit over one million additional military personnel to strengthen national security.

Any government that fails to protect the lives and property of its citizens has failed woefully and has no business remaining in office,” he declared.

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He further called on the Federal Government to integrate community-based security initiatives, like the Kano Neighbourhood Security Network, into the national security system to boost morale and improve intelligence-driven operations against criminals.

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ADC Announces Temporary Closure Of Secretariat

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The African Democratic Congress, ADC , says it has temporarily closed its National Secretariat as part of the end-of-year break.

A statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said full operations are scheduled to resume in the New Year.

According to the statement, the secretariat will close on December 23, 2025, and reopen on January 5, 2026.

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READ ALSO:Irresponsible Of You To Blame Trump Over Rising Insecurity – ADC Blasts Tinubu’s Govt

The party, however, said essential skeletal services will remain available throughout the period, while all other official activities at the National Secretariat will be suspended to allow staff and party officials observe the Christmas and New Year holidays.

This is to inform the public that the African Democratic Congress National Secretariat will close for the year on 23rd December 2025 and will resume full operations on 5th January 2026.

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“During this period, only skeletal services will be available, while all other official activities at the Secretariat will be temporarily suspended,” the statement said.

READ ALSO:Hoodlums Set Ablaze ADC Secretariat In Ekiti, Disrupt Party Excos’ Inauguration

The party thanked its members, partners and supporters for their continued loyalty and cooperation throughout the year, noting that their support remains critical to the growth and stability of the party.

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The ADC also said it is committed to its ideals and to democratic engagement as it prepares for activities in the coming year.

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PDP Reacts To Fubara’s Defection To APC

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The Kabiru Turaki-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reacted to the defection of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi FubaraGovernor, Siminalayi Fubara, to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the move as a “self-inflicted injury” and a culmination of choices the governor “willingly embraced.”

Fubara on Tuesday defected from the PDP to the ruling APC.

He announced his decision during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Tuesday. Fubara joins several of his colleagues who have also switched to the APC this year.

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Recently, 17 members of the House of Assembly, loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike and led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, announced their defection from the PDP to the APC, thereby altering the balance of power in the legislature.

READ ALSO:JUST IN: Fubara Dumps PDP For APC

In a statement issued Tuesday night by National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the PDP said Fubara’s exit merely affirmed the legal maxim volenti non fit injuria—”to one who is willing, no harm is done.”

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According to the PDP, the governor’s political troubles and eventual departure were products of his own decisions.

“Everyone who has followed developments that culminated in this uneventful defection will recall that the Governor willingly travelled the path that took him to this destination,” the statement read.

“Having done so voluntarily, he cannot turn around and accuse our party or any person or group of failing to protect him.”

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The party insisted that at every stage of the crisis that engulfed Rivers politics over the past year, civil society groups, democratic actors and Nigerians across political divides stood in Fubara’s defence until he “capitulated.”

READ ALSO:Fubara Names New Rivers SSG

It added that rather than blame others, the governor should acknowledge the support he enjoyed before choosing his new path.

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Expressing concern about what it described as Fubara’s political capitulation, the PDP warned against the “Stockholm Syndrome”, a condition in which a victim develops affection for their oppressor—suggesting that the governor may have succumbed to pressures from forces aligned with the Federal Government.

In all, despite these, we pity the Governor and wish him well,” the party added.

READ ALSO:BREAKING: Gov Fubara Dissolves Rivers Pension Board

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The PDP further used the development to highlight what it called the “dysfunctional nature of Nigeria’s democracy,” lamenting a political environment where individuals wield power beyond institutions and allegedly deploy federal might to overwhelm opponents.

It warned that such tendencies threaten democratic stability and should be condemned by all well-meaning Nigerians.

With Fubara’s defection, the opposition party renewed its accusation that the ruling APC is bent on creating a one-party state and shrinking Nigeria’s political space.

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“Democracy is under severe attack,” the statement noted, urging Nigerians and the international community to resist what it called a slide toward electoral authoritarianism.

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