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How Secondus Was Frog Jumped, Flogged  By Military Officer For Ugly Behaviour –  Wike

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The Source
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Wike and Secondus

By Charles Igbo

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has revealed how the former National Chairman of his Party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was humiliated by a Military officer for an alleged unwholesome behaviour.

Wike spoke on Saturday, 24th December, 2022, during the inauguration of the Omagwa-Aluu road, Omagwa, in the Ikwerre  Local Government Area of the State.

Two former friends and close political allies, Wike was responsible for the installation of Secondus as Chairman, and his eventual sack from office. They have been bitter enemies since then. And the relationship has worsened since Atiku Abubakar emerged the Presidential Candidate of the PDP, when he beat Wike to a second place, and by-passed him to pick Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, as his running mate.

While Wike has refused to have anything to do with  Atiku’s Presidential Campaign, Secondus is right at the centre as Atiku’s Technical Adviser, to the chagrin of Wike who has been campaigning, openly, against Atiku.

For Wike and Secondus, things came to a head a few days ago when Wike declared that he would announce the Presidential candidate of his choice in January to Rivers people and campaign nationwide for him.

Stung by Wike’s boast of telling Rivers people his choice, Secondus responded that no one person has the power to tell Rivers people the Candidate to vote for.

Wike’s response came on Saturday, and he hit hard.

Aside from insisisting that Secondus has no business with PDP affairs, having been expelled by his Andoni Ward, and the expulsion endorsed by Court of Appeal, Wike then took Secondus to, excuse this cliché, the cleaners.

He disclosed that Secondus is not trusted by Rivers people, and he explained why.

According to the Governor, Secondus, allegedly, got involved in an unwholesome  behaviour, where he brazenly cheated his Andoni people. He said Secondus abandoned a Road Project for his Andoni people which contract was given to him. He alleged that instead of executing the contract, Secondus, allegedly, pocketed the money.

Wike also disclosed how Secondus was publicly disgraced by Col Austin Akobundu, retired. Akobundu, Wike said, not only frog-jumped Secondus, but, also, flogged him.

Wike: “The reason Rivers people cannot trust Secondus is because of an ugly role he played in 2019 and alleged propensity to abandon projects.

“Ask him what happened when the Military took over, when the NRC was in power. Ada George was the Governor of the State. Ask him what happened at Ohamini Road. Why was he asked to frog-jump.

Col Akobundu, rtd, who was of course the Organising Secretary, flogged him. Why? He couldn’t do the project of the Ohamini Road.

“Ask him from 1999 when Odili became Governor. Every project Dr Odili gave to Andoni through him, ask him which one has been completed. Every company that the State Government would pay money to, instead  of you (Secondus) to allow the Company to do the job, you will collect the money. That is why it is difficult, and why we have not been able to commission the Andoni aspect of the road.”

The Presidential election will hold on February 25, 2023. But Atiku has not been able to go to Rivers State for rally and campaign.

The fear is that Wike could abort it by refusing to approve a venue for the rally

A few days ago, the Rivers State Government sealed the Atiku Campaign Office in Rivers State, located at the new GRA. It cited Executive Order 22, which was recently signed by Wike, and which prohibits Political Parties from siting their offices in residential areas without Government permission.

The Rivers State Government refused to give Atiku’s Presidential Campaign Council permission, disclosing that they did not submit documents relating to the ownership of the property.

PDP Crisis: The Wike Game and the Coming Showdown; Why He Will Declare Support for Obi

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The Source
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Nyesom Wike and Peter Obi

By Chidi Levi

A big fish may have willingly slipped into the dragnet of the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party and former Governor of Anambra State,Peter Obi.

Barring an eleventh-hour change of heart, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, will, in January, name Obi as his preferred Candidate for the 2023 presidential election, The Source can authoritatively reveal.

The Wike Game

Though a PDP Governor, it is well known that Wike is not supporting the Party’s Presidential candidate and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar.

The Governor became estranged from the Party and Atiku after losing the PDP Presidential ticket and the VP slot. Atiku  chose Wike’s counterpart in Delta state, Ifeanyi Okowa, a decision that rankled supporters of the River State Governor.

Embittered, Wike now leads a band of “renegade” PDP Governors and a handful of party chieftains who he calls his allies.

From G-5  the Group which has Governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi( Enugu), Okezie Ikpeazu( Abia) Seyi Mankind( Oyo) Sam Ortom( Benue) and of course Wike himself as members has now re-styled itself the Integrity Group.

Multiple sources close to the group have, however, informed this magazine that Wike may soon become a loner as the other four Governors have perfected plans to rejoin the larger PDP fold.

Essentially, with Atiku’s emergence as a candidate, Wike and his group insisted on equity and demanded that the office of the National Chairman of the Party currently held by a Northerner, Iyorchia  Ayu from Benue state, be ceded to the South.

They are demanding Ayu’s resignation as a condition to support Atiku, but Atiku and the National Leadership of the Party have practically rebuffed the group.

Party sources told this magazine that Atiku has irrevocably decided to move on without Wike.

Now, clearly outflanked and abandonement starring him in the face, Wike is determined not to suffer political isolation.

He is resolute in paying Atiku back in his own coin. This, the magazine was informed, account for his decision to openly declare for Obi.

Intrigues and the Looming End Game

On the surface, Wike’s impending partisanship on the side of Obi would appear an altruistic desire to aid the Labour Party’s sail to Aso Rock but according to an insider in the Integrity Group, Wike’s support for Obi is not necessarily intended to facilitate the victory of the Labour party presidential candidate but to starve the PDP/ Atiku of South-South and South-East votes, leaving the Southwest intact for the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate, Bola Tinubu while he (Tinubu) and Atiku battle for Northern votes.

In other words, in January when Wike is expected to declare support for Obi, he would be doing so as an indirect support for Tinubu.

Said the insider: “Wike is a proxy supporter of Tinubu. He does not believe in the Obi project, he does not believe that Obi will win beyond the Southeast and South-south. He is indirectly working for Tinubu but politically naive Igbo will hail him. He will profess love for him when he declares for Obi while indirectly working for Tinubu but what Wike has failed to understand is that looking at the current political firmament, the coming presidential election is actually a straight fight between Obi and Atiku, the other person is a regional project”

Disintegration Stalks the Integrity Group

Meanwhile, in the coming days, Wike will look back and may not see his comrades behind him.

The other four Governors who are candidates in the 2023 elections, the magazine was reliably informed, have decided to drop their rebellion and rejoin the PDP family as well as participate in the Atiku campaign in order not to jeopardise their chances at the polls.

They also reportedly beat a quick retreat to avoid an impending sanction from the party.

While Governors Ugwuanyi, Ikpeazu and Ortom are Senatorial candidates of the Party, Mankinde is seeking re-election as a second term Governor.

And PDP Readies Its Fangs

A reliable Party source informs that the PDP National Leadership has come to a dead end as far as the Wike intransigence is concerned and is now ready to bare its fang.

“Truth is, Ayu will not resign as Wike and his group are demanding, and if Wike makes good his threat to openly declare support for another party, that will amount to poking a finger in PDP’s eyes; the party will react harshly”, the source said.

According to him, several punitive measures against Wike and any of his allies who manifestly commit anti-party are being considered, including dissolution of the state Working Committee of such state and outright expulsion.

Fear of expulsion and possible evisceration of their Governorship and Senatorial ambitions respectively, the magazine learnt, is at the heart of the current move by Makinde, Ortom, Ugwuanyi and Ikpeazu to make peace with Atiku. January will tell.

“I kicked Omehia Out Of Office As Governor, And I Have No Apologies” –Wike

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The Source
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Nyesom Wike

By Charles Igbo

On Saturday, December 24, 2022, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike was at his boastful best.

He boasted, publicly, that he led the battle which sacked Sir Celestine Omehia as the Governor of Rivers State in 2007.

The Governor spoke when he inaugurated the Omagwa Aluu road, Omagwa in the Ikwerre Local Government Area on Friday.

The immediate past Transportation Minister, Chibuike Amaechi, had, thanks to his now estranged political godfather, Dr Peter Odili, the incumbent Governor then, won the Governorship Primary. Amaechi was the Speaker of the House of Assembly, then, again thanks to Odili. But in a twist of fate, then

President Olusegun Obasanjo denied Amaechi the ticket, and insisted that Amaechi’s ticket had “a k-leg.”

Obasanjo did not explain how, but he asked the party to find a replacement to Amaechi. Enters, Omehia, who is reportedly  Amaechi’s cousin.

While Omehia expectedly won the election, Amaechi was in Accra on self-exile. But he went to Court to challenge his disqualification by Obasanjo. The case went on to the Supreme Court. And in one of the most intriguing  judgments in the political history of Nigeria, Omehia was sacked, and an order was given for Amaechi to be sworn-in as the elected Governor of the State.

The political upheaval in Rivers State today was planted by Obasanjo’s role in the disqualification of Amaechi. Before then, all the characters in the epic battle were “Odili Boys.”

While some of them fought on the side of Omehia, Wike and a couple of others fought on the side of Amaechi. When Amaechi was sworn-in, he appointed Wike as his Chief of Staff in appreciation.

For the records, Wike and Amaechi are very bitter political enemies now.

Gone with Omehia, when he was swept out of office, were those who backed him. They included some of the political heavy weights in the State – the Abiye Sekibos, the Austin Oparas, the Uche Secondus,and more.

However, they backed Wike when Wike and Amaechi were fighting, and swept into office with Wike.

Again, for the records, Wike has fallen out with all of them over their good political ties with the Presidential Candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, a man whose name Wike does not want to hear since he defeated Wike at the Presidential Primary, and by-passed him in favour of Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, as his running mate.

While lashing Secondus,  former National Chairman of the PDP who Wike installed, and later removed from office, Wike took a shot at Omehia and those he tagged “Abuja politicians.”

He told his audience at Omagwa how he sacked them from office in 2007.

Wike: “What most of you didn’t know is that all these people who ran away to Abuja have never worked with us. I led the team that kicked them out of office in 2007. Yes, I have no apology  to that.

“In 2014, inspite of the fact that I was the one who fought for the structure of the Party, most of them sabotaged me at the back to run for Governor against me.

When they saw that there was no hope, there was nothing else for them to do. They had no choice but to come and join us.”

Wike, after rehabilitating Omehia, has recently stripped him of everything, including the State Honour bestowed on him as a former Governor of the State. He, personally, took down Omehia’s photograph lined up alongside those of other past Governors of the State with relish.

“I Will Not Impose My Presidential Candidate On Rivers People” –  Wike

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The Source
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Nyesom Wike

By Charles Igbo

Wike To Secondus: “I never said I was going to impose my Candidate on Rivers people. I said I was going to tell Rivers people who I am going to support, who I am going to campaign for. But don’t blame them, when you didn’t finish Secondary School, you will not understand the grammar”

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as an illiterate, almost. Of Secondus, Wike implied that he did not finish Secondary School.

Wike spoke in response to a statement by Secondus earlier. The former National Chairman, while responding to Wike’s boast that he would announce the Presidential candidate of his choice in January 2023, and tell Rivers people who he was going to campaign and vote for, told Wike that no one person has the powers to tell Rivers people which Presidential Candidate to vote for.

But on Saturday, December 24, 2023, at the inauguration of Aluu Omagwa in Omagwa Ikwerre Local Government Area in the State Wike said he never made any such statement. He said he never said he would impose a Presidential ticket on Rivers people, as stated by Secondus. He submitted that he only said he would tell Rivers people who his choice is in January, against the Presidential Election of February 25, 2023. He taunted Secondus  for not understanding simple grammar. The Governor, also, insisted that Secondus has since been expelled from the PDP, and so, has no  business to speak about its affairs.

Wike: “A former member of the our Party, Uche Secondus, said no one man can impose a Presidential Candidate on Rivers people. He is not a member of our party.” He said Secondus’ Ward expelled him. When he challenged the expulsion, Wike said Secondus lost at both the High Court and the Court of Appeal. The case, he said, is now at the Supreme Court level, and comes up on 23rd October, 2023.

The Governor continued: “Up till now, you (Secondus) are not a member of our Party. And, in any case, I never said I was going to impose my Candidate on Rivers people. I said I was going to tell Rivers people who I am going to support, who I am going to campaign for. But I don’t blame them. When you didn’t finish Secondary School, you will not understand the grammar.”

Both men were best of friends before they fell apart.

Wike was behind the installation of Secondus as the National Chairman of the Party. Ironically, he, also, led the battle which removed him from office.

Both Rivers State indigenes, the two now work at cross-purposes. While Wike strongly works against the PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, Secondus works for Atiku as his Technical Adviser in his bid to be President.

On that, Wike said: “Mr Secondus, I have no problem with you being Technical Adviser to Atiku. But don’t speak on behalf of Rivers State PDP because you are not a member of our Party.”

“Why I Provided Free Transport to Ndi Imo To Come Home From Abuja & Lagos” –  Uzodinma

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The Source
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Hope Uzodimma

Reflecting on the true love of Jesus Christ for mankind, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has urged Christians in general and Imo citizens in particular, to strive to be like him.

He said that the true meaning of Christmas can be better appreciated if the faithful see Jesus Christ as love and show same to all manner of humans.

Governor Uzodimma’s assertions were contained in his 2022 Christmas broadcast to Imo people on Saturday, December 24, 2022.

The Governor also used the broadcast to profess his love for Imo people. “It is this true love and peace of Christ which surpasses all understanding that I extend to my beloved Ndi-Imo, on this glorious occasion of the commemoration of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. I do so in the spirit of Christmas, having in mind the words of Christ Himself: “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12).

He challenged those who say they are Christians to reflect deeply on the essence of Christmas to know whether it is just about merry making.

Governor Uzodimma reassured the people that he will continue to pursue programmes that carter to their needs in love, care and fear of God.

“I have often wondered why those who profess to be Christians don’t know the essence of Christmas. When we say Christmas signifies love, why then is it difficult for us to practise this love in all its ramifications, in our relationship with God and our fellow humans. It baffles me that many of those who engage in criminality in Imo State and their sponsors, claim to be Christians. Is the name a decorative cloak for them while their character is a direct opposite of what a Christian character should be?”

Governor Uzodimma’s message read in full.

“My esteemed Ndi-Imo, I  greet all of you on this joyous occasion of Christmas. To the glory of God, another Christmas season is here. As always, it is this special and happy season that reminds us of God’s everlasting covenant with the human race. That divine covenant made manifest by the special gift of His only begotten Son – Jesus Christ, the saviour of mankind, whose birth was foretold by the Prophets. The scriptures described the great essence of His coming as symbolising God’s gift of inestimable love to humanity.

“Therefore, Christmas should serve as a constant reminder to all of us that God is indeed Love. And  through the coming of Christ, God demonstrated His invaluable love for all of humanity. As the scriptures tell us  in John, Chapter 3, verse 16, “ For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son , so that whoever believes in him will not die but have eternal life.”

“It is this true love and peace of Christ which surpasses all understanding that I extend to my beloved Ndi-Imo, on this glorious occasion of the commemoration of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. I do so in the spirit of Christmas, having in mind the words of Christ Himself: “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12).

“So, while I congratulate and rejoice with every Imo indigene and resident for the Divine privilege of witnessing another Christmas, I  will like each and every one of us to reflect on this very important question in his or her mind: Have I loved my fellow human beings as Christ loved me? This is a pertinent question that all of us must answer to our consciences, knowing that Christ is watching us as we do.

“So Christmas is not just for the celebration and merry – making. Instead, Christmas is a period to soberly reflect on the reason why Christ was born in the first place.

“The fleeting nature of life itself, the ephemeral nature of power, riches, beauty and other earthly acquisitions, should make us sober enough to appreciate God for His love and grace. For no fault of theirs, some of the people who celebrated Christmas with us last year are not alive this year to celebrate Christmas. And it is by the special grace and mercy of God that we are still alive.

“Therefore, this special love of God which we are celebrating today should serve as a wake – up call to all and sundry to obey Christ’s most important commandment to us which is to love one another.

“Christ came for our redemption and this redemptive work can only be accomplished by our professing Christ – like love to one another. Never should we let the essence of Christmas, which is the abiding love of God, to be lost on us. This abiding love of God for mankind should be our guiding principle as we celebrate Christmas.

“I have often wondered why those who profess to be Christians don’t know the essence of Christmas. When we say Christmas signifies love, why then is it difficult for us to practise this love in all its ramifications, in our relationship with God and our fellow humans. It baffles me that many of those who engage in criminality in Imo State and their sponsors, claim to be Christians. Is the name a decorative cloak for them while their character is a direct opposite of what a Christian character should be?

“It is indeed regrettable that in the last couple of months, our dear state had witnessed what appeared to be a resurgence of bloodletting and arson all in the quest for power. This is more regrettable because it is happening on the eve of Christmas  – the season of love. Both the perpetrators of violence and their sponsors may claim to be Christians. Are their actions reflective of the love we are celebrating today?  When some people engage in payroll padding, siphoning millions of naira meant for the poor masses, do their actions reflect what we are celebrating today?

“Indeed, as we enjoy the redemptive work of God on us through the birth of Jesus Christ, we should allow love to manifest in all that we do. This Christmas season is the good opportunity for the agents of darkness in the state to repent and turn a new leaf before it is too late. They must remember that God is watching them and that His vengeance on them is coming and will come sooner than they can ever imagine.

“Let me also use the spirit of this season of Christmas to renew my plea to all those who have been unleashing violence in our state to retrace their steps and, in accordance with the love of God, give peace a chance so that we will continue to enjoy the dividends of democracy. Like I said earlier, power is ephemeral. I won’t be the Governor for ever. After me, another governor would come, but Imo State will remain. If we are indeed Christians, our love for our state and her people should moderate our actions.

“I am sure our people who have returned from other parts of the world have seen the difference we are making in Imo State in terms of provision of infrastructure, in spite of the security challenges which have been a constant drain on the resources of the state. I assure you that in keeping with the social contract which I entered into with Imo people, we will continue to do our best to make our state the pride of all of us.

“You should also be assured of your safety as we celebrate the Yuletide season with families. The recent pockets of violence are nothing but the last kicks  of a dying horse.  The security agencies are equipped and prepared to confront and defeat any form of criminality in our state.

“As part of government’s efforts to make this Christmas more joyous for our citizens, I have directed the Ministry of Transport to provide transportation to our people to and fro  Lagos and Abuja, to enable them come home for Christmas.

“As has become our tradition, I have also directed that all  government workers be paid a 13th month salary, in addition to the gift of food items.  This is our little way of demonstrating love this Christmas season. Also, we shall work through the local government councils to provide some form of succour to indigent persons in various wards and local governments.

“Umuneem Ndi-Imo,  while wishing all of us a very merry Christmas, I pray that  the love of God will reign over us as this special child, Emmanuel, has come to be with us.

“Merry Christmas to all of us.”

Remain Hopeful for Better Nation – Obi Urges Nigerians

By
The Source
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Peter Obi

The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, has urged Nigerians to remain hopeful for a better nation especially as Nigerians prepare to take back their nation, for good, come 2023.

Obi made this call while delivering his 2022 Christmas Message to Nigerians. He explained that celebration of Christmas birthed hope in the world, while urging Nigerians to hold unto that firm hope for a better and more productive nation.

He restated that Christmas is a season of love and that the celebration of the birth of Christ should be a constant reminder of how God gave His only begotten son for the salvation of humanity.

He said, “We, as humans should therefore, endeavour to make sacrifice, even when it is painful, for the good of others and for our society.”

He encouraged Nigerians to go beyond the festivities and glamour associated with the Christmas season and strive to live out the true essesnce of the celebration. He stated that fraternal love and giving to the poor are the hallmark of Christmas celebration, and enjoined all to lend helping hands to one another.

Obi urged Nigerians to see the year 2023 as a very significant year in the history of the nation as it presents Nigerians the opportunity to turn around the trajectory of the nation by giving only competent leaders access to power.

He wished Nigerians a productive and prosperous new year.

“I Will Not Miss Aso Rock Because I Am Under Constant Harrassment” – Buhari

By
Adesina Soyooye
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0
Muhammadu Buhari - Londo Trip

By Adesina Soyooye

Outgoing President,  Muhammadu Buhari, has said that he will not miss Aso Rock at the expiration of his tenure in office.

Buhari has roughly 22 weeks  to remain in office. He will exit from the seat of power on May 29, 2023. The election to choose his successor will be held on February 25, 2023.

Before Buhari got lucky and was elected President in 2015, beating the incumbent,  President Goodluck Jonathan, he had tried and failed three previous times.

But 22 weeks shy of eight years, Buhari is tired. He wants to go back to his hometown, Daura, Katsina State. He says his best and sacrifices to the Nation are not enough for the people, and so, not appreciated. Instead, Buhari says he is harassed. Therefore, come May 29, 2023, Buhari said he would miss nothing from the seat of power.

The President bared his mind on Friday at a private dinner held by his family and close associates to mark his 80th birthday. The dinner party was tagged: “Celebrating a Patriot, a Leader, an Elder Statesman.”

Asked if he would miss Aso Rock, the President said no.

Reason, he admitted to being harassed, and worse, that his efforts to make Nigeria better are not good enough, and not appreciated by some Nigerians.

Buhari: “I wonder if I am going to miss much. I think I’m being harassed. I believe I’m trying my best but still, my best is not good enough. Because there are people around that think that they can intimidate me to get what they want instead of going through certain systems to earn whatever they want to earn. And they are some people who want to be clever by half.”

The front runners to succeed him in office are Peter Obi of the Labour Party, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, and Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress.

Afenifere Berates Governor Akeredolu For Anti-Yoruba Nation Comment

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State
Rotimi Akeredolu

By Akinwale Kasali

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has come under criticism from Pan Yoruba Socio-Political Organization, Afenifere over his comment about the agitation of the Yoruba Nation, which didn’t augur well with the Group.

Akeredolu had said that those rooting and agitating for Yoruba Nation are enemies of the Country.

Berating Akeredolu over his unsavoury comments, Afenifere in a Statement on Saturday signed by its Secretary General, Sola Ebiseni, faulted Akeredolu’s position on the regional agitation, as it said the Governor was playing to the gallery.

The statement was titled, ‘Akeredolu: Between equity and opportunism’, reads:

“The statement credited to Governor Akeredolu of Ondo State at the launching of an emblem appeal to flag off the 2023 Armed Forces Remembrance Day, unfortunately, confirmed the scarcity of statesmanship in our clime particularly faced with the lust for political power.

“We have no problem with the Governor playing to the gallery, as a glorified Chief Security Officer, urging that security forces clamp down on any person or group whose activities he interpreted as capable of disintegrating the Nigerian State because we are no less patriotic and committed to its continuing corporate existence.

“We are also in the same boat with him that ‘this country is very important to some of us’ and the recognition that agitation and protests are rights protected in a democratic society.

“Our worry, however, is that Akeredolu, even as the Chairman of the Southern Governors Forum, would not, in deference to that high pedestal, wean himself from petty politicking which sacrifices equity needed for national peace and cohesion in preference of crass opportunism. In short, his vituperation on that occasion was most disastrously bereft of statesmanship and national conciliation.”

It added, “Truth be told, there is no region of Nigeria where the elite, including the ruling class in Government, has been able to determine the methods adopted by agitators, or succeeded in checkmating the effects thereof.

“So, let Akeredolu not boast of any capacity to dictate the method adopted by the Yoruba agitators, or seek to set the rest of Nigeria against his  Ndigbo colleagues, or the entire South East in his unhidden separatist agenda of securing undue advantage for his party and region in the quest for the Nigerian President of Southern extraction.

“We state, for the umpteenth time, that the true and real recipe for peace and continued corporate existence of Nigeria, is an arrangement that will guarantee regional equity and not an ‘emi lo kan’ philosophy in the mode of King Louis’s l’état c’est moi.

“Incidentally, those who fought the civil war truly shed their youthful blood and have seen all about Nigeria,  are now in the vanguard of the national movement not only for Southern but in the quest for the requisite equity are in the queue for the Nigerian President of South East extraction.

“There lies the solution to separatist agitations and not self-serving sanctimonious pontifications.”

Akeredolu, who is the Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum, had made the statement at the launching of the emblem appeal to flag off the 2023 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebrations held in Akure, the State capital, on Friday.

NDDC: Onochie, Best Woman For The Job – Nigeria Delta Group

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

The confirmation of the appointment of Lauretta Onochie as the new Chairman, Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, by the Senate has been lauded by a Development Advocacy Group in the  Niger Delta under the aegis of Voice of Niger Delta for Equity and Justice.

Over the week, the Senate confirmed her appointment despite the controversy which trailed her emergence.

The Group said that an Onochie-led NDDC Board would bring fresh air to Niger Delta and would not disappoint Nigerians who are expecting the interventionist agency to speed up development in the oil-rich region.

In a statement jointly signed by the Group’s Director-General and National Secretary-General, Chief Williams Onohwakpor and Abdulhazeez Amedu respectively, copies of which were made available to journalists, the Group commended Muhammadu Buhari for the appointment, stressing that the new team has the capacity and experience to bring true socio-economic development to the Niger Delta Region.

It also called on the people of the Region to genuinely support the soon-to-be inaugurated Board to attract development and empowerment.

“On behalf of the National, State, Local Government and Wards Executive Councils of the Voice of Niger Delta For Equity and Justice, we wish to congratulate all members of the new Board of Niger Delta Development Commission on your well deserved appointments.

“The appointment is a clear deposition of wealth of experiences you have all garnered over the years in your chosen professions and careers.

“The accolades and congratulatory messages that greeted your screening and subsequent confirmation on the floor of the Nigerian Senate from the women folks, Niger Deltans and Social media are proof that you have all worked so hard on yourselves and created the necessary advantages to convince all members of the National Assembly and others of your potentials and kinetic abilities as demonstrated during your screening.

“We must say that you are all good plus and great fit for the various positions as assigned by Mr President and we encouraged everyone of you to surpass your predecessors in terms of development and transparency and total care for the vulnerable in the Region.

“We have no doubt in your abilities to excel and make Niger Deltans proud. As our motto connotes, Peace and Development, we wish to work with you in bringing about Peace and Development to our great region, the revenue base of the nation.”

Why I Married Aisha –  Buhari

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Muahammadu Buhari and Aisha

By Adesina Soyooye

President Muhammadu Buhari, has for the first time, explained why he took Aisha as his Wife.

President Buhari married Aisha about one year after he divorced his first wife, Sefinatu. They were married for 17 years, and had five children, four females and one male before he divorced  her.

Buhari divorced Safinatu in 1988 as soon as he came out from custody in which he was placed by his colleagues after he was overthrown in a palace coup on August 27, 1985. He was succeeded by Miltary President, General Ibrahim Babangida.

Buhari married Aisha, a teenager, on 2nd December, 1989.

In a documentary tittled: “Celebrating a Patriot, a Leader,  an elder statesman”,  at a dinner organised for him by his family to mark his 80th birthday, where only close friends were present, President Buhari said he lost two of his children by his first wife due to sickle cell anaemia. It means that both he and Sefinatu were of the AS genotype.

Therefore, Buhari said, when he decided to marry again, he looked for a lady whose genotype is AA so that his children will no longer inherit the S genotype from his AS genotype.

Aisha fitted the bill.

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