Tag: Governor Nyesom Wike

Gishiri: Pay their compensation now, Wike orders officials to immediately settle victims of demolition

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has directed the Federal Capital Development Authority to ensure the immediate and full payment of compensation to residents affected by the Gishiri demolition.

Wike gave the directive during a meeting with members of the community, at his official residence in Abuja on Monday.

The meeting followed a demolition exercise, supervised by the minister, to clear structures obstructing the construction of Arteria Road N16 linking the community with the Katampe District.

Members of the community, however, alleged that the FCDA, through the Department of Resettlement and Compensation, only paid N72,000 as compensation, rather than the sum approved by the Minister.

They further stated that the department refused to pay non-indigenes any compensation, despite having their houses demolished.

The minister ordered the full payment of the N1.3bn approved as compensation payments to the residents, noting that he had increased the amount from the previous N655m, because of the economic hardship.

He further asked the Secretary to ensure non-indigenes also received payments, adding that the government did not pay compensation based on ethnicity.

He stated, “Go and pay people their money, and the exact amount. If you are doing anything, and I find out, you will regret it. Pay people their normal money.

“And I also hear, and I’ve told you, don’t do that, don’t tell anybody in this world that they are non-indigenes. I’ve warned you. If I have a property, and a road is passing there, why would you not pay me my money? Why would you say that I’m a non-indigene? Where does it work?

“I built a house, or I built a store, for example, and then a road is passing there. You are telling me you won’t compensate me that I’m a non-indigene? What kind of mentality is that? You people should stop this. I will not do that, I won’t.

“Government does not pay compensation based on where you come from. Compensation is based on who has a property there.”

March 18, 2025
Only El-Rufai can speak truth to power in Nigeria, says Wike

Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, has described his counterpart, governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state as fearless and outspoken Nigerian who can speak truth to power in the country.

The governor spoke yesterday during a book presentation on El-Rufai, authored by a veteran journalist and public commentator, Mr. Emmanuel Ado, titled, “Putting The People First”.

Wike noted that only El-Rufai had the temerity and courage to do so, even to the ruling party he belongs, adding that he (El-Rufai) is not known for sycophancy and eye services.

He recalled how El-Rufai wrote a controversial letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, telling him to deliver good governance to the people despite being a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Wike who donated N20 million for the book launch advised other guests at the occasion to buy the books and stock them in public and private school libraries across the country.

“El-Rufai, for me, is one leader whose greatness defies categorization. Governor El-Rufai embodies character, commitment and hard work. He is bold. He is courageous and daring with a strong spirit of justice, equity and fairness. He is socio-politically assertive and unbending his loyalty to principles.

“Governor El-Rufai is never known to be sycophant. I could remember his controversial letter to President Muhammad Buhari, especially the one written in March, 2017 that challenged him to deliver the peoples expectations to avoid falling on the wrong side of history.

“I don’t know how many governors that will have the courage to write a sitting president of his party to say, ‘look, do the right thing’ being the expectations of the people, so that you will not be on the wrong side of history. It takes men of courage; it takes men of character. No sychophantic person can do it. I don’t know people who can even look at the president’s face. Everything that Mr. President does is right. Mr. President does no wrong. That’s not El-Rufai for you.

“His loyalty to principles is not for not telling the truth. And that is what leadership and the kind of character that we required for this country today. Those who will look at you eye ball-to-eye ball, not an insulting way, but to advise you, this is not right. And that is why some of us have no choice but to relate with him.

“You remember what happened in this country. El-Rufai was one of the APC governors who came out boldly to say look for the unity of this country; for this country to move forward, let the presidency go to the south. After all, he has all it takes to say, to also said he will vie for the presidency of this country. You can’t say no. But he said this is the country we are building together, we want unity to move forward.

“I don’t know how many people that can set aside their selfish interest and come out to say let us go to the south. And that’s why we will say “agreement is agreement.” El-Rufai believes that agreement is agreement. Keep to what we have agreed.

That’s why when I saw the invitation, this morning, it was raining heavily, I said if it likes, let there be flood everywhere, I must be here today, to participate, honour a man who has shown characters; who has shown that service is not all about getting to be elected. It’s a privilege to render service to your people. That is why he has chosen the people first; he has put Nigeria first. You are on the right side of history.

“Remember that it is only when you have left office that is when people will talk about you. Not when you are in office. People are talking today when you were FCT Minister. Let us compare. When you were FCT Minister, I am sorry to say this, whether anybody likes it or not, that is not Abuja today.

“When you were FCT Minister, it was not the same. We need people like you to turn back to what Abuja used to be. FCT was a place everybody wanted to go back to. But today, go to the FCT, refuse everywhere. That was not there when you were a minister. I am sorry this is your party but the truth must be told.

“I believe that today’s event has deeper meaning than the book launch. It is more an opportunity to celebrate governor El-Rufai’s exemplary leadership, revolutionary ideas, courage and commitment to service and contribution to the growth and development of Kaduna State and Nigeria in the last eight years as governor of Kaduna State”.

Meanwhile, El-Rufai appreciated Wike for all the accolades about him, saying, “our path may not have crossed long before now, but God’s time is the best. Whatever Wike said about me is also applicable to him, he is as outspoken and as fearless.

The President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu described governor El-Rufai as a hardworking person, saying, “give El-Rufai any task, he will deliver it.”

Tinubu who was represented at the occasion by the former Chairman of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), Kashim Imam, donated N20 million for the book launch.

Over N100 million was realised on the spot from the book launch.

May 21, 2023
REVEALED! How PDP squandered N12.5bn in sixty days — Wike alleges

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, on Wednesday, alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP’s leadership squandered N12.5 billion party funds in sixty days.

Wike raised the allegation at the inauguration of internal roads in Rumuigbo, Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of the state.

He stressed that PDP would regain its force of dominance with the new leadership.

The governor alleged that “I believe we should have strong leadership. I can’t support people whose interest is only to amass money.

“I can’t support people where we did congresses and raised about N12.5 billion and, within two months, that money was gone.

“Somebody stayed in office for one year and he is building an institution. I won’t support such

“That is why we believe PDP will be strengthened with the new leadership.

“I owe no apology to anybody. I said it before, this is the final fight we will fight and we are going to win this fight.”

Preempting the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) coming after him when his governorship ends, Wike bragged that the thought doesn’t scare him because there is nothing to hide as his numerous projects delivered were evidence of how accountable he deployed the state’s resources.

Inaugurating the project, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State commended Wike for achieving more projects for the Rivers people.

Bala attributed the feat not entirely too much money at the disposal of his Rivers counterpart but to his commitment to the common good of Rivers people.

Mohammed acknowledged the political sagacity Wike demonstrated in ensuring PDP won the governorship, all-state assembly and three senatorial seats in Rivers, and contributed significant votes for his preferred southern Presidential candidate.

March 30, 2023
BMNA: Wike wins Governor of the Year Award

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has won the Governor of the Year in the Fourth Edition of the Bayelsa Media Network Award (BMNA) in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital.

At the award held at Siseli Ikoli Press Centre, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) secretariat, Bayelsa State Council, Wike was honoured for his uplift in the standard of living in his state.

He was also honoured for his giant development strides in infrastructure, good governance and his dogged role in his crusade against injustice, and lack of transparency in governance, among other parameters.

The award was received on Wike’s behalf by the Chairman of Ahoada West Local Government of Rivers State, Evangelist Hope Ikiriko, who was himself awarded the Best LGA Chairman in the Southsouth geopolitical zone.

Receiving the award on behalf of Governor Wike, Ikiriko thanked the organisers of the BMNA for honouring the governor, saying the award would spur Wike to do more in the uplift of the people of Rivers and Niger Delta.

On his own part, he said the award would inspire him to do more for his people and promised not to relax on his laurels.

Also honoured were the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo; wife of Bayelsa State Governor, Dr. Gloria Douye Diri; Bayelsa Commissioner for Education, Dr. Gentle Emelah; Amayanabo of Opu Nembe, Josiah Biobelemoye.

In all, 42 persons, who distinguished themselves in their areas of disciplines and professions, were honoured.

While Mrs. Diri was honoured as ‘Quineseential Symbol of Hope for the Girl Child, Women and the Elderly, Ehwudjakpo was bestowed with ‘Quintessential Symbol of Humility, Integrity and Good Leadership’ and Emelah was honoured with the award of the ‘Public Servant of the Year’ in Bayelsa State.

Speaking during the awards, the Project Manager, BMNA, Mr. Blessing Ozegbe, said the awards were a celebration of excellence, innovations, skills, acumen, ingenuity, expertise and philanthropy of men and women doing their best to better humanity and society at large.

He said the motive behind the awards was to recognise Nigerians who had excelled in their fields of endeavours and impacted on humanity and society at large.

January 3, 2023
Top stories that rocked 2022: The G5 Macabre Dance

The main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), witnessed severe turbulence in 2022 that peaked in the weeks leading up to the Presidential campaigns and later gave rise to the G5 Integrity Group.

The crisis within the party took a turn for the worse in May after Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, lost the PDP presidential primaries to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, from Adamawa State.

Wike insisted that the party’s Chairman Iyorchia Ayu must resign since he was from the same geo-political zone as Atiku and ultimately pulled out of the PDP’s presidential campaign council.

He criticised the party for releasing its Presidential Campaign Council list without first seeking to resolve the issues that had plagued the party through its internal conflict resolution mechanisms or address the calls for Ayu’s resignation.

The Governor insisted that nowhere does the party’s constitution state that the president and the chairman of the party should come from the same zone, adding that there would be no peace in the PDP unless Ayu resigned.

“They are denying my people their own right. This has nothing to do with Northern domination. Zone the chairmanship to anywhere in the South, not necessarily Rivers State.

“We are not going to back down. Some of them are hypocrites that want to eat the crumbs from the master’s table. There is no single law in the PDP that allows these two positions to come from the same zone,” he said.

Although Wike has vowed to remain in the party, he and four other counterparts now referred to as the G5 Governors have formed an alliance to rebuild the PDP and wrestle power from the ruling party in 2023.

The Integrity Group is made up of Governor Wike of Rivers State, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Governor Makinde and Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, but enjoys the backing other of leaders and elders of the party.

For example, former minister of information Jerry Gana, said the PDP cannot restructure Nigeria if it cannot restructure itself.

“This call for the chairman to step down or resign is not because any of us is aggrieved, but because we believe it is important to ensure a fair structure, a just structure, a principle structure, a constitutional structure for the party,” he said.

Gana said the Integrity Group would remain committed members of PDP, but would continue to insist that the right things be done. “We remain PDP, but we want things done justly, fairly, equitably.”

Similarly, a former Governor of Gombe State Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, said he would work for the party to the extent that fairness, equity and justice were ensured in the party.

Ayu’s Refusal to Resign and Atiku’s Neutrality

The PDP Chairman, however, refused to succumb to calls for his resignation, stressing that those urging him to stepdown were political amateurs who lacked a basic understanding of party’s principles.

“I was voted as PDP national chairman to serve for four years, I am not even a year old on the position,” the former senator said during an interview, adding: “Atiku’s victory at the national primaries has no nothing to do with the party’s leadership”.

Ayu also denied the allegation of corruption levelled against him by Wike, stating that he did not collect the alleged bribe of N1 billion, neither did he violate any rule of the party.

“I have not violated any rules; in fact, I am working to bring reforms to the party. I am truly not bothered by the unnecessary controversy being generated,” Ayu maintained.

Ayu was also accused of bribing some members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to win their support, an allegation that generated more controversies and forced some members of the NWC to publicly announce their refund of over N120 million to the chairman.

Meanwhile, the PDP presidential candidate in the wake of mounting pressure for Ayu’s resignation, resisted the urge to take sides but continued to bridge peace and unity between the warring parties.

He noted that the country was currently in the throes of a multidimensional crisis encompassing insecurity, economic meltdown, disunity and mutual mistrust and educational dislocations, and urged supporters of the party not to abandon the party at this critical time.

Atiku explained that the council was established “to judiciously plan and prosecute the general elections” and that all hands must be on the deck if the party must win at the general elections set to hold in February and March 2023.

On calls for the Chairman’s resignation, he said: “As a committed democrat and firm believer in the rule of law and democratic tenets, and our party being one set up, organised and regulated by law and our constitution, it is my absolute belief that everything that we do in our party must be done in accordance with, and conformity to, the law and our constitution.

“If Ayu is to be removed from office, it must be done in accordance with the laws that set out the basis for such removal,” he added.

It remains to be seen whether the aggrieved members of the party would set aside their differences and be united by their common vision to reclaim power from the All Progressives Party next year, or if factions would continue along divisive lines at the cost of victory for the PDP.

December 17, 2022
Analysis: Between Gov. Wike’s half-truth and FG’s 13% derivation refund to states

The payment of 13 per cent oil derivation fund to nine states has thrown up controversies and set some state governors at loggerheads.

The derivation fund is a monthly sum guaranteed under section 162, sub-section two of the Nigerian Constitution for oil-producing states, to them tackle environmental pollution and degradation, provide basic amenities and infrastructure and ensure economic prosperity for communities.

Host governments are, therefore, expected to utilize these funds to ensure economic diversification, human capacity, and infrastructural development, provision of social services, as well as preserve the environment from the negative impacts of oil exploration.

Governor of Rivers State Nyesom Wike, caused a stir about a week ago when he claimed that President Muhammadu Buhari had paid the arrears of 13 per cent derivation fund owed since 1999 to all the Niger Delta States.

He attributed the success of various completed and ongoing projects in the state such as a Renal Centre, Cancer and Cardiovascular centre, Basic and Clinical Sciences faculty, House officers’ quarters, and flyover bridges to the release of these funds by the Federal Government.

Other Niger-Delta states which allegedly benefitted from this refund are: Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Ondo, Imo and Cross River states, making stakeholders from the region raise questions about the utilisation funds by the other state governors.

However, some states in the region have refuted Wike’s comments, saying that only received a fraction of what was due them and pointing that a court judgement mandating the Federal Government to release payment of the withheld funds, had allowed for the payment to be spread in equal installments over a period of five years.

While Delta State claimed that it had only received the sum of N14.7 billion, Edo and Akwa-Ibom States said they got N2.1 billion and N186 billion respectively, paid in three quarterly installments.

The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) in Akwa Ibom State absolved the state government of any wrongdoing in the handling of its share of 13 per cent derivation arrears paid to oil-producing states since 2021.

Chairman of the organisation Franklin Isong, told a press conference in Uyo on Sunday that the tension being generated by the issue was uncalled for as the state government had already captured expected arrears in successive budgets since 2021.

“CLO notes that the 13 per cent Derivation Fund arrears refunded to the State by the Federal Government was captured in the 2022 Appropriation Law of Akwa Ibom State and in the 2022 approved revised Appropriation Law of Akwa Ibom State,” Isong said.

Also wading into the controversy, the Presidency has released details of oil derivation refunds made to Niger Delta states, revealing that the nine oil-producing states received a total of N625.43 billion 13 per cent oil derivation, subsidy and SURE-P refunds from the Federation Account between 2021 and 2022.

Citing figures from the Accountant General of the Federation’s office, a statement by presidential spokesperson Garba Shehu, on Friday said the refunds were monies that should have been paid as 13 per cent derivation when the federal government made deductions from the Excess Crude Account over years.

Similar payments were outstanding when NNPC made deductions from oil revenue without paying out 13 per cent derivation to the states.

He said although the benefitting states had received a total of N625.43 billion, there was still an outstanding balance of N860.59 billion windfall from the refunds which the Federal Government was yet to pay.

“President Buhari considers it a matter of honour and decency that debts owed to states or anyone for that matter be repaid, and in time without regards to their partisan political affiliations.

The President will continue to render equal service to all the states of the federation and an acknowledgment of this by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and the others is not out of place,” the statement added.

According to the figures, under the 13 per cent derivation fund on withdrawal from ECA without deducting derivation from 2004 to 2019, Abia State received N4.8 billion with outstanding sum of N2.8 billion, Akwa-Ibom received N128 billion with outstanding sum of N77 billion, Bayelsa with N92.2bn, leaving an outstanding of N55 billion.

Cross River got a refund N1.3 billion with a balance N792 million, Delta State received N110 billion, leaving a balance of N66.2 billion, Edo State received N11.3billion, with a balance of N6.8billion, Imo State, N5.5 billion, with an outstanding sum of N3.3 billion, Ondo State, N19.4 billion with an outstanding sum of N11.7bn while Rivers State was paid 103.6 billion, with an outstanding balance of N62.3 billion.

The States were paid in eight instalments between October 2, 2021 and January 11, 2022, while the ninth to twelfth instalments are still outstanding.

On the 13 per cent derivation fund on deductions made by NNPC without payment of derivation, the nine oil producing States were paid in three instalments this year, with the remaining 17 instalments outstanding.

Under this category, Abia State received N1.1 billion, Akwa-Ibom, N15 billion, Bayelsa, N11.6 billion, Cross River, N432 million, Delta State, N14.8 billion, Edo State, N2.2 billion, Imo State, N2.9, billion, Ondo State, N3.7 billion, and Rivers State, N12.8 billion.

Meanwhile, the benefitting States shared N9.2billion in three instalments in April, August and November 2022 as refunds on the 13 per cent derivation exchange rate differential on withdrawal from the ECA.

The three largest benefitting States were Akwa Ibom (N1.6billion), Delta State (N1.4billion) and Rivers State (N1.32billion).

Similarly, all the nine states received N4.7 billion each, totalling N42.34 billion as refunds on withdrawals for subsidy and SURE-P from 2009 to 2015. The refund, which is for all the states and local government councils, was paid on 10th November, 2022.

The Federation Account also paid N3.52billion each as refund to local government councils on withdrawals for subsidy and SURE-P from 2009 to 2015 on the same date in November.

December 5, 2022
PDP Crisis: Atiku doesn’t want me in his campaign team – Wike

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has posited that the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, does not want him to campaign for his election.

Wike made this statement during the commissioning of the PDP governorship campaign office and the inauguration of the PDP campaign council in Port Harcourt on Monday (Today)

Gov. Wike accused Atiku of appointing some members of the PDP in Rivers State into his campaign council without the “governor’s contribution”.

He said it means Atiku doesn’t want him and the Rivers people to campaign for him.

He said “the presidential candidate entered Rivers State and picked those he wants to pick without the contribution of the governor.

“So they said they don’t need me to campaign for them, that they don’t want Rivers people to campaign for them, will you force yourself?

“I have never seen how people will disrespect a state like Rivers State and go and choose those who are enemies of the state.

“So they don’t want us to campaign, let’s campaign for those who want us to campaign for them.”

October 24, 2022
2023: We are still in talks with Wike to join us – APC Chieftain, Aliyu

The All Progressives Congress, (APC) has explained that they are trying to woo Rivers state Governor, Nyesom Wike ahead of the 2023 general elections.

APC explains that it’s in talks with Nyesom Wike in that regard.

An APC chieftain, Farouk Aliyu, said the party wants Wike’s backing during the next general elections.

Aliyu made this statement while fielding questions on Politics Today on Channels Television.

Recall that Wike and his camp have been at loggerheads with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership since the party’s presidential primaries.

Wike has been clamouring for the removal of Iyorchia Ayu as the party’s National Chairman for issues bothering on zoning within the party.

However, Aliyu said the APC was ready to receive Wike as a new member ahead of the next general election.

He said: “We are talking to Wike. We are talking to so many of them. Of course, it is politics. So, we are not enemies of Wike, and he is a very important person in this country – a governor for that matter – and you cannot ignore Rivers State.

“So, if Wike decides to come to us, we would gladly welcome him, and I can confirm to you that we are talking to him.”

On Tuesday, Wike endorsed Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State for a second term at the Cowslo event in Lagos.

Sanwo-Olu is a member of the APC, a move that has further deepened the PDP crisis.

October 19, 2022
I stand with Wike, PDP not fair to him – Gov. Ortom

Contrary to an earlier report that he has ditched Governor Nyesom Wike, Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has declared that he stands by Wike and that PDP was not just to his counterpart.

Addressing journalists in Makurdi on Tuesday after a meeting with caucus PDP members from the North West senatorial district known as Zone B, Ortom said nothing would make him abandon the Rivers State Governor.

The governor declared that he had just returned from London with Wike in the morning of Tuesday and that they remain friends, “And I still maintain my stand on what I said. I haven’t left. I still sympathise with Wike about the injustice meted out to him.

“Politics is about interest and where your interest is not protected, you have a right to protest, and I think that is what is happening. The party leadership has not been fair to Governor Wike based on activities that took place during and after the convention. We have not been able to adequately deploy the internal conflict mechanism to resolve those issues, and this is all I have been saying.

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PDP crisis: Benue Gov, Ortom denies breaking ties with Gov Wike

“I sympathise with him and continue to believe that the party’s national leadership should do the same. In politics, nothing can be late, no matter how difficult it may seem, if everybody brings themselves down to the level of others who are aggrieved.

“And to say that some of us are happy with the injustices that have been meted is not true. We remain committed to the PDP; I feel that the right thing should be done to put us together.”

September 28, 2022
2023: Wike denies being offered APC senatorial ticket

The Rivers State Government on Saturday denied reports making the rounds that governor Nyesom Wike said that presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, offered him a senatorial ticket to defect and work for APC.

This was made known through a statement signed and released by governor Wike’s Special Assistant, Media, Kelvin Ebiri.

Ebiri noted that there was no time Wike made such a statement during Friday’s media chat.

He said the story was false, baseless and ludicrous as the Rivers State governor “throughout the media chat never mentioned the name of the APC presidential candidate or alluded to him offering him a senatorial ticket.”

Ebiri then released excerpts from part of Wike’s interview to buttress his point

The excerpt reads in part ‘First of all, this is how you know those who are prepared to run an election. Some of them collected presidential form at the same time collected senatorial form. You’ll know that those people are not serious to run.

‘I never collected senatorial form. Even after the whole thing, people said come and go for Senate, I said no, I won’t do that. I’ve already made a commitment that this Senate ticket should be zoned to this area (Etche) because they’ve never had it before. I must not be in power.’

Ebiri urged the unsuspecting public not to give any credence to “this false, baseless and ill motivated reports.”

September 25, 2022