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Fuel Scarcity Intensifies, As Long Queues Resurface In Lagos

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Filling Station Queue

By Akinwale Kasali

Lagosians are groaning and lamenting the scarcity of fuel that has seen long queues at Filling Stations around the State. Motorists in some area in the State wait endlessly with the product not in sight.

The situation is worse in areas like Alimosho, Maryland, Lagos Island, Ikeja and its environs.

The cost of the product has skyrocketed as it is being sold between N200 and N250 in some parts of the State, with motorists and consumers jostling to purchase the product not minding the price.

Commuters are lamenting as the cost of fares has increased drastically, and having a toll on commuters.

However, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, has blamed the scarcity on depots and the increasing difficulty in accessing petroleum products, stressing that its members are unable to get sufficient products to go round.

In a chat with The Punch Newspaper, the National Controller, Operations, IPMAN, Mike Osatuyi, stated that all members of the association could not get sufficient products at the depots.

“No fuel. Even when we were able to get small quantity, DAPPMAN sold it to us at N200/N202 per litre. By the time we transport it to our stations, the cost would be around N210/litre,” he said.

He added that getting petrol to members’ filling stations from the depots now cost as much as N200 per litre in some instances.

Also, DAPPMAN’s Chairman, Dame Williams Akpani, stated that the fuel crises persisted due to logistics challenges.

She said bad roads, resulting in petrol trucks taking one week instead of three days to arrive in Abuja from Lagos, was also responsible.

Akpani added that the bad Abuja road network had led to breakdown of petroleum trucks, which according to her, had resulted in apathy on the part of the drivers in taking products to the Federal Capital.

Ekiti Assembly Leadership Tussle: I Am Neutral, No Preferred Candidate – Gov Oyebanji

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

For the first time, Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji reacted to leadership tussle at the state House of Assembly, saying his commitment to the rule of law and separation of powers made him he not to interfere in the affairs of the State Assembly or had a preferred candidate for any leadership position of the House.

The Governor, who stated this on Tuesday when the new Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly was officially presented to him by the  APC leadership in the state led by the party chairman, Barr. Paul Omotoso at the Governor’s office, noted that it was inappropriate for him to meddle with the activities of the Legislators, adding that as the Chief Security Officer of the state, he was saddled with the responsibility of ensuring protection of lives and property.

Mr Oyebanji expressed his appreciation to the leadership of the APC in the state for resolving the family disagreement saying it was not a crisis because democracy comes with strains and stresses as well as internal mechanism for resolving them which , according to him, the party has used effectively.

He commended  members of the House for demonstrating that the confidence their constituents and the leadership of the party reposed in them was not misplaced, assuring them of government support at all times.

The Governor used the opportunity to remind the new Speaker of the budget that was still with the House of Assembly appealing for speedy passage of the bill.

“My comment begins with an appreciation to the party leadership for resolving this family disagreement, its not a crisis, democracy comes with strains and stresses, their contestations, their disagreements but the beauty of democracy is that there are in-built mechanism to resolve it.

“And that is what has played out. APC is one, I’m a loyal member of this party, APC gave me the platform to stand on, without APC, I will not be here today.

“I refused from day one to be drawn into it simply because I swore to an oath to defend the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“The constitution is clear of the powers and functions of all the arms of government. I am leading the executive arm of government, they don’t interfere in what I do and it will be wrong and a violation of the constitution for me to interfere in what is going on in the House of Assembly.

” What I have done as your governor is to ensure that I protect lives and property and that is within my power as the governor of this state. I have not interfered but I’m happy with the outcome. As progressives, we have a culture and the culture is respect for the leadership.

“And Madam Speaker, our budget is before the House of Assembly and we are working so hard to ensure that we deliver on our promises to Ekiti people but we cannot violate extant rules and regulation. I am appealing for a speedy passage of the budget.

“There are lots of things we ought to have brought before the honourable House but we are waiting for the passage of the budget.

“While congratulating the new speaker, I will just plead with the party chair to bring in everybody and for the first time, I will have to quickly respond to all the insinuations on the social media on what has happened in the House of Assembly, it’s a family affair and as a family we would resolve it.”

Earlier, the Speaker,  Bunmi Adelugba noted that there was no rancour within the state House of Assembly and expressed her appreciation to the party chairman for the role he played in ensuring that the party decisions were adhered to.

“All along, everyone refer to Ekiti State House of Assembly  as the most peaceful, dutiful with particular mention of the number of bills that we have passed as we don’t joke with our legislative activities.”

While appreciating the Governor for not interfering in the internal affairs of the Legislators, the Speaker pledged the unflinching support and allegiance of members of the House to the party as well as continue to support the government of the state.

She promised to ensure speedy passage of 2023 appropriation bill.

Formally presenting the new Speaker to the Governor, the Chairman of the party, Paul Omotoso revealed that the Governor did not meddle with the affairs of the House because of the fact that he had no choice candidate among the members saying it was strictly party affairs.

Omotoso commended the Legislators for demonstrating maturity in choosing the person they believed could lead them effectively adding that the party was ready to pally with the new Speaker, members of the House as well as the government to achieve desired results.

Why Manchester United Terminated Ronaldo’s Contract While He Was In Qatar

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

While in Qater doing what he knows best at the World Cup  Football Competition, Cristiano Ronaldo had his contract with Manchester United terminated with immediate effect.

He has had an untidy relationship with the Club since he joined it. But the termination of his contract followed the outburst of the five time World Footballer of the Year, over the ill treatment allegedly meted on him by Manchester United Football Club, Coach, Erik Ten Hag and some top Management persons in the Club. By mutual agreement, his contract was terminated.

The came just few days after his outburst in an interview with Piers Morgan on Cable News Network, CNN. He said he didn’t like the Coach, and literally called him incompetent.

Manchester United  announced that Ronaldo will leave the club by mutual agreement with immediate effect. The Club thanked the Portuguese star for his contribution during the two spells which saw him score 145 goals in 346 appearances.

The statement on the Club’s website read in part:

“Cristiano Ronaldo is to leave Manchester United by mutual agreement, with immediate effect.

“The club thanks him for his immense contribution across two spells at Old Trafford, scoring 145 goals in 346 appearances, and wishes him and his family well for the future.

“Everyone at Manchester United remains focused on continuing the team’s progress under Erik ten Hag and working together to deliver success on the pitch.”

Kudirat Abiola’s Children Call Al-Mustapha A Liar, Says He Gave Order To Kill Their Mother

By
Adesina Soyooye
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By Adesina Soyooye

The children of Kudirat Abiola, the murdered wife of the equally late Chief MKO Abiola, presumed winner of the 1993 Presidential race, have reacted angrily to the interview granted to Sahara Reporters, by Major Hamza Al-Mustapha to the effect that he had no hand in the murder of their mother.

Al-Mustapha was the very powerful Chief Security Officer of late Head of State, General Sani Abacha whose word was law, and who was very much feared.

Mrs Abiola was struggling for, and fighting for the release of her husband who was arrested, detained and being prosecuted by the Military Regime for demanding for his Presidential mandate freely given to him by Nigerians.

On June 4, 1996, while her husband was still under the regime’s detention, Kudirat was shot dead in the streets of Lagos.

Accusing fingers were pointed at Sergeant Jabilla Mshiola (aka Sgt Rogers) who was said to be the Chief marksman for a killer squad allegedly under Al-Mustapha.

Sgt Rogers appeared before the Justice Oputa Panel and implicated Al-Mustapha. He said he was the one who gave them the order to kill Mrs Abiola.

Al-Mustapha was arrested, prosecuted by a Lagos High Court, found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging. But the Court of Appeal set him free.

In interview he just granted Sahara Reporters,  Al-Mustapha, who is now the Presidential candidate of the Action Alliance, AA, denied any connection with Kudirat’s murder. He said it was Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, at the time, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lagos State, who tutored and coerced Sgt. Rogers to implicate him at the Oputa Panel in 1998.

Rogers had admitted before the Panel to being one of those who  killed Kudirat, but on Al-Mustapha’s orders.

But Mrs Abiola’s children, in a release on Tuesday, November 22, 2022, signed by one of them, Khafila Abiola,  insisted that Al-Mustapha was responsible for the murder of their mother.

The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to a recent statement made by Major Hamza Al-Mustapha.

“In it, he accused the current Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo SAN, of instigating Sergeant Rogers to falsely claim that he, Al-Mustapha, was behind the assassination of our mother, Alhaja Kudirat Abiola.

“First of all, we all watched the proceedings of the Oputa Panel where Sergeant Rogers freely stated that he assassinated our mother and attempted to murder Senator Abraham Adesanya and Chief Alex Ibru, late Publisher of The Guardian newspaper, based on the instructions given to him by Major Al-Mustapha.

“The evidence of Sergeant Rogers was not challenged by Al-Mustapha and his lawyers at the Oputa Panel.

“Second, the Lagos High Court convicted and sentenced the armed agents of Al-Mustapha to imprisonment for the attempted murder of Senator Abraham Adesanya.

“Third, the Lagos State High Court also convicted and sentenced Al-Mustapha and his accomplices to death for the cold-blooded murder of our mother.

“Their subsequent acquittal by the Court of Appeal was most likely politically motivated. The appeal filed against the judgment is currently pending at the Supreme Court.”

“Al- Mustapha  is counting on the pervasive culture of impunity in Nigeria to not only attempt to deny his dastardly role in the assassination of our mother,  but to, also, now contemplate running for office, along with Mohammed Abacha, who was alleged to have provided his driver to convey the assassins to carry out the mission.

“Impunity lays waste to the promise of the democracy for which our dear mother paid the ultimate price. As those that oversaw her assassination now seek to rewrite the history of what they did, we are forced to seek justice for our beloved mother within a jurisdiction not susceptible to the political games that hold sway in Nigeria. Justice may be delayed but it must not be denied.”

President Buhari Has Performed Well In Tackling Insurgency – Aregbesola

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

Despite continued reported cases of banditry in some parts of the country, the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has said that Nigerians will remember President Mohammadu Buhari’s administration for its ability to curtail insurgency.

According to the Minister, the biggest achievement of the Muhammadu Buhari administration is its tackling of insurgency.

The minister spoke in Abuja at the fourth edition of the PMB Administration Scorecard 2015-2023 Series organized by the Ministry of Information and Culture.

The scorecard initiative was launched as part of the efforts of the ministry to showcase the numerous achievements of the administration.

Aregbesola explained that the administration had successfully stopped insurgents from building strongholds, occupying territories and collecting taxes from the people as was the case before it took over.

“There is no insurgency stronghold anymore in Nigeria and that is the biggest achievement as you might want to understand it.

“Most people conveniently overlook the fact that at the advent of this administration in 2015, local governments in their numbers were under the occupation of insurgents.

“But today, there is no single inch of Nigerian soil under the control of insurgents. This is the biggest achievement in terms of internal security.”

The Minister, however, admitted that there were still security challenges but added that they were surmountable.

“There is no nation in the world without its challenges and the Federal Government is working hard to address them.”

On the achievements of the four para-military agencies under his supervision, he stated that they Put in their best in discharge of their statutory duties.

The agencies are the Nigeria Correctional Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps as well as the Federal Fire Service.

He assured that they will continue to remain committed to providing security for Nigerians.

CBN Unveils New Banknotes Wednesday; Hikes Interest Rate

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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President Muhammadu Buhari will unveil the new naira notes on Wednesday, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele has said.

Emefiele had initially said the new N200, N500 and N1000 notes will come to effect on December 15, 2022.

The apex bank governor made the reverse on Tuesday after the monthly Monetary Policy Meeting, MPC meeting in Abuja, saying it’s no longer necessary to wait till next month to launch the newly designed banknotes.

Also during the last MPC meeting for the year, Emefiele announced the hike of the Monetary Policy Rates also known as interest rates by 100 basic points to 16.5 percent from 15.5 percent.

The apex bank boss further reiterated its decision to phase out the old naira notes by January 31, 2023, saying the deadline for all old notes to be deposited with commercial banks will not be moved forward.

On October 26, 2022 Emefiele announced that the CBN would issue the redesigned N200, N500, and N1,000 notes, effective December 15, 2022. However he has said the CBN will not wait till December 15 but will unveil on Wednesday, November 23, 2022. 

Emefiele said, “100 days is enough for any person from any part of Nigeria to deposit his money in the bank and get his money when the new notes are released.

“For information, indeed, we are no longer waiting till December 15th to unveil and begin to release the new notes.

“By the special grace of God, tomorrow, which is the 23rd of November 2022, the President has graciously accepted to unveil the new currencies and the new currencies will be unveiled tomorrow at the Federal Executive Chamber by 10am.”

2023: South East Not Important For APC- Ganduje

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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Abdullahi Ganduje, Governor of Kano State has disclosed that the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC does not require votes from the South east part of the country to win the 2023 presidential election.
Ganduje however emphasised the importance of his state in determining who wins the presidency next year. Ganduje, is a strong ally of APC presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu
Governor Ganduje apparently dismissed the chances of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP who has been gaining high momentum as one of the three candidates projected to win the presidency iin 2023.
Judging by past elections in the country, three states are critical for any party to win the presidency during an election, and these states are currently receiving the focus of political parties and their strategists.
Apart from Kano, Lagos and Rivers state are major determinants of who emerges the country’s president during election because of their block votes.
According to figures released ahead of the general election next year by the Independent National Electoral Commission,  INEC, these three states, due to their population have the highest number of certified voters.
It was based on these figures that Gabduje, said on Tuesday during a one million march for Tinubu in Kano that the APC presidential Flagbearer will received five million votes from the state to enable let him win the critical election.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Governor Ganduje said on Tuesday that wining the state is more crucial to winning the presidential election, saying votes from one local governments in the state are more than the entire votes from the southeast region of the country. The state has 44 LGAs, the highest in the country.
The governor said the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has more to lose to the rising profile of Obi than APC because the region is predominantly PDP. His party, APC, is not entirely focusing on the region to win, he said.
According to him, “What is our political investment in the South-East? The votes we got from Nasarawa Local Government in Kano Metropolitan Area was much higher than the total votes APC got in the entire five states of the South-East.
“So, you can see that if there is any problem politically in the South-East, it is the PDP that will suffer the brush. So, the emergence of Obi from the South-eastern part of this country I think it’s the votes of PDP that he will snatch away and is already snatching away.
“For APC, I think it is even a good omen. Instead of having a very close competitor, now the attention of the competitor has been diverted.”

Fayemi Is Arrow Head Of Ekiti Assembly Crisis – Suspended Lawmaker

By
Ayodele Oni
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Tope Ogunleyen - Ekiti LawMaker

By Ayodele Oni

Tope Ogunleye, lawmaker representing Ilejemeje Constituency at the Ekiti House of Assembly, is one of the assembly members that were suspended in the wake of the crisis at the legislative building.

He gives a breakdown of what led to the entire scenario:

How did assembly produce two Speakers Within a week?

“Former Governor Kayode Fayemi invited all of us (Assembly members) to his residence along Ilawe road in Ado Ekiti. Those in attendance  with him were his deputy, Bisi Egbeyemi, APC chairman, Paul Omotoso, Secretary, Garba, Former LG service chairman, Chief Bejide, Mrs Adelabu and others.

“He now told us that he has annoited candidate for the position of Speaker in person of Mrs Bunmi Adelugba, that we should meet and elect her. Fayemi now sought our reaction on this.We told him it’s good but that the North senatorial, where he comes from, had nothing as regards position at present since he served out his term as Governor.

“As it is, the Central has Secretary to Government, Deputy Speaker, Ambassador and Minister, while South has Deputy Governor and Speaker leaving the North with nothing.

“We left the meeting and thereafter, those of us ,I mean Lawmakers from the North now met, we are nine in number, but two excused themselves. We agreed that we have just six months in office, that we should fight for our people so that they will not blame us for trading them off.

“Seven of us now reached out to others and when election was held last week Tuesday, Aribisogan had 15 votes against Fayemi’s candidate that got 10. This made Fayemi to be furious and vowed to ensure that Aribisogan will not last.

“The next thing, they now invited 11 lawmakers that have been reelected for second term during party’s primary. They were camped at one hotel owned by APC Chairman in Ado Ekiti. Fayemi’s former Chief of Staff, Biodun Omoleye, his former Attorney General, Fapohunda later joined Fayemi there.

“They addressed them and thereafter drove them to Ikogosi Ekiti where they were brought to the Assembly on Monday. They began sitting around 5.00am surrounded by armed thugs and Policemen hired and paid for by Fayemi.

“They now sat and announced that Aribisogan has been impeached as Speaker. There are processes to be followed before a Speaker is impeached. A Committee will be constituted and the person invited to defend allegations against him, all these were jettisoned.

“Fayemi did not stop there, he now told them to suspend those of us that were arrow head of the election which brought in Aribisogan.

“We have not seen the end yet. Already, Aribisogan has consulted Afe Babalola Chambers and briefed them, a case has been filed at the Federal High Court in Ado Ekiti to be handled by Femi Falana. Fayemi’s illegality cannot last.

On the role of the party

The Publicity Secretary, Segun Dipe says “the first election that produced Aribisogan did not receive blessing of the party. It was true we met with the lawmakers, they promised to get back to us only to hear that Aribisogan has been elected as Speaker.

“In everything, party mechanism and supremacy should be respected and followed. Things must be done in right way. The 15 lawmakers that voted for Aribisogan are unknown. Those 17 that elected Adelugba came to the Party secretariat after the election to report to the leadership of the party.

“We should leave the legality or otherwise of those actions for the law to determine. The stand of the party is that the first election which produced Aribisogan is wrong, the party stands by the election of Adelugba.”

On step to resolve the impasse

“Ekiti people are peace loving, APC as a party too is after the peace of the state. As I said, Aribisogan has not come to the party Secretariat to report what transpired, he should come along with 15 members that voted for him. We cannot, I mean the party go and meet them at the assembly so pepe will not read meaning to our action.

” For clarity, the party is not involved in Adrlugba’s election, but she visited the party secretariat along with 17 members that voted for her after the election and received the party’s blessing. Both sides are members of APC, one thing is that Aribisogan remains Speaker of Ekiti Assembly, though impeached, since he was sworn in after his election.

“We should leave the law to determine the legibility of his removal. The party is in the process of resolving the issue. Another issue is linking former Governor Fayemi with the assembly issue. I want to clarify that Dr Fayemi can’t disrupt the peace of the State, he was not in the state, so I dont expect anybody to link him with the problem at the house of Assembly; it was purely party affairs.”

Wike To PDP: “Sack Me, And I Will Pepper You”

By
The Source
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Nyesom Wike

By Charles Igbo

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has dared the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to expel him from the Party.

Wike, who has not hidden the fact that he is in a romance with other Presidential candidates, and has done and said enough to rubbish the National Chairman of the  Party, Iyorchia Ayu, and de-market the Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, said the PDP has not seen anything yet. Wike is the leader of a PDP faction, which includes four serving Governor and a couple of former ones, who are against Atiku’s aspiration, unless Ayu steps down from office.

Their bluff has since been called but not a few people are of the opinion that it could hurt Atiku’s ambition in 2023.

Wike spoke at a banquet he held in Porthacourt for his faction, now known as the Integrity Group.

A number of people have asked the PDP to expel Wike from the Party over what they see as his glaring anti-party activities. The Human Rights Writers Association, HURIWA, a couple of days ago, also urged the PDP to expel Wike. They agree Wike is on a deliberate mission to destroy the PDP.

But speaking at the banquet he held for the visiting Governors, Wike dared the Party to expel him. He said: “They say they will sack me. I have been living for the day they will sack me. Sack me. Sack me. When you sack me, I pepper you.You will know that khaki no be leather.

“Seyi, (Governor Makinde), we dey here. Ortom (Benue Governor)we dey here. Ariria (Governor Okezie lkpeazu) we dey here. Gburugburu (Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi) we dey here.”

The Group, however, says the window of dialogue is still open. Not a few people doubt that.

Why I Have No Regrets Supporting LP Candidate, Peter Obi – Wike

By
The Source
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0
Nyesom Wike and Peter Obi

By Charles Igbo

Nyesom Wike,  Rivers State Governor, has explained why he is supporting the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi.

Wike, a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Governor, had ruffled feathers a few days ago when he publicly said he would give logistic support to Obi any time he comes to Rivers State for Campaign. “Anytime you are coming to Rivers State, tell me, I will give you logistic support”, Wike told Obi who was in the State, on Wike’s invitation, to commission one of Wike’s landmark projects.

Since then, Wike’s stand on Obi has shaken the PDP, and all kinds of interpretation have been given as to why the Governor publicly made the offer.

Wike and four other Governors who he leads – Samuel Ortom, Benue, Okezie Ikpeazu, Abia, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Enugu, Seyi Makinde, Oyo – and a sizeable number of PDP stakeholders, including a couple of former Governors and former Ministers, have been at loggerheads with the National Chairman of the PDP, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, and its Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, since the Presidential Primary.

Wike, a Presidential aspirant was beaten by Atiku to a respectable second place.

And since then, especially, when Atiku skipped a very expectant Wike, and picked Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, Delta State Governor, as his running mate, nothing has been the same in the Party.

Believing that Ayu rigged the Primary in favour of Atiku Wike’s Group, which now calls itself, the Integrity Group, insists that Ayu must quit office as the National Chairman. This, especially, as Ayu had promised, before  the Primary, that he would step down from office if a Northerner becomes the Candidate. Ayu has refused to keep the promise. He has the support of Atiku, who had also made same promise, not to quit.

But Wike’s Group insists that it would not support Atiku’s Presidential ambition unless Ayu quits for a Southerner as Chairman. It says the National Chairman and the Presidential Candidate cannot come from the same Zone.

All efforts to make peace have, so far, failed. And the PDP is not sure where the five States under the Governors would vote in 2023.

But at a State banquet he held for the four Governors in his group when they were in Porthacourt to flag-off the Rivers PDP campaigns for its candidates, Wike said he had no regrets to say he would give Obi logistic support.

He said:”They say I am supporting Obi, I have no regrets offering him logistic support. Obi us a former Governor. As a former Governor, I must, I must give him logistic support. I will give him security and I will give him vehicles. Should I say as former Governor I will not give him security, and I will not give him vehicles?”

Given an inkling to who he could eventually work for, Wike said he told Obi: “My brother, let the truth be told not one, not one, House of Assembly, National Assembly is available. ‘If it didn’t de, it didn’t de.’

Wike cleverly left out the Presidency. He also said there is no other party in Rivers State, except PDP Rivers State Chapter. He made sure he added “Rivers State Chapter” instead of saying PDP.

For the records, on Monday when Rabiu Kwankwaso, the Presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP went to Rivers State, Wike also promised to give him logistic support. Kwankwaso was a two-term Governor of Kano State.

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