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Tag: Wike

  • BREAKING: Finally, President Tinubu attaches ministerial portfolios to Wike, Umahi

    BREAKING: Finally, President Tinubu attaches ministerial portfolios to Wike, Umahi

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has finally assigned portfolios to immediate past governors of Rivers and Ebonyi states, Nyesom Wike and Dave Umahi, as ministers of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, and Minister of Works, respectively.

    Tinubu on Wednesday approved the appointment of the new ministers and also allocated their portfolios.

    Mr. Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, made this known while briefing State House Correspondents in Abuja,

    He said that the swearing-in is expected by next week after the retreat by the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

  • Just In: Tinubu in closed door session with Wike, El-Rufai in Aso Rock

    Just In: Tinubu in closed door session with Wike, El-Rufai in Aso Rock

    President Bola Tinubu is currently in a closed door session with former governors of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, and Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The two former governors are ministerial nominees.

    However, while Wike was screened and confirmed by the Senate, the Senate did not confirm El-Rufai because of an alleged security report.

    The former governors arrived the State House separately.

    While Wike came at about 1:40p.m., el-Rufai entered the presidential wing of Aso Rock at 2p.m.

    Sources at the Presidential Villa hinted that efforts are being made to ensure that the Senate confirms Mallam El-Rufai.

  • Presidential Election Tribunal: Makinde, Wike constantly monitoring judges – Atiku’s aide

    Presidential Election Tribunal: Makinde, Wike constantly monitoring judges – Atiku’s aide

    Phrank Shaibu, the Special Assistant on Public Communication to the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has accused the former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike and Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, of constantly monitoring judges as the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal winds down.

    According to Shaibu, Wike and Makinde travelled to Plateau State to attend a memorial service hosted by the President of the Appeal Court, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, even though they were reportedly not invited.

    He said the event ordinarily was supposed to be a solemn service, “but our busybody interlopers polluted the event with their shameful appearance.”

    Shaibu made this comment via a statement he signed and released on Monday, where he claimed that Wike had been using dubious means to cosy up to judges and had been giving them gifts under the guise of welfare.

    He argued that Wike’s latest visit to an event hosted by the Appeal Court President could be another ruse to influence the appellate court where the current tribunal judges are from.

    Continuing, he said  that the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola, made a Freudian slip a few months ago when he claimed he was happy that Governor Makinde was a member of the renegade governors known as the G5.

    He said: “Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State as the host governor, was invited for the programme, but Wike and Makinde were gatecrashers at that event. The reason is not far-fetched. They have continued to cosy up to judges just to impress their paymaster.

    “Unfortunately, the CJN, Justice Ariwoola, has also failed to live above suspicion. He was in Rivers State ahead of the election, where he said he was happy that Governor Makinde was a member of G5. Then, at the commissioning of the Oyo Governor’s lodge in Abuja on May 25, the CJN once again was the special guest of Governor Makinde.

    “Today, there are rumours that the next attorney-general will be a kinsman of the CJN as part of efforts to manipulate the outcome of the election petition tribunal. While this has not been proven, the fact remains that the CJN has put himself in a position where his integrity is constantly questioned.”

  • Senate minority leadership: Group warns against causing disaffection between Wike, Sen. Jarigbe

    Senate minority leadership: Group warns against causing disaffection between Wike, Sen. Jarigbe

    A socio-political group, Pathfinder 4 Unity, has appealed to those interested in the Senate minority position not to use their ambition to cause disaffection between the former Governor of Rivers, Chief Nyesom Wike and Sen. Jarigbe Agom-Jarigbe.

    The group made the appeal against the background of a statement credited to Agom-Jarigbe to the effect that he (Jarigbe) declined to join Wike in the fight against Sen. Aminu Tambuwal.

    In a statement by the convener of the group, Mr Athur Etta and made available to newsmen in Calabar on Saturday, the group advised those interested in the position to be circumspect in what they dished out to the public.

    It noted that the former Governor of Rivers and the senator representing Cross River North shared a special relationship.

    The group warned that those attempting to cause disaffection between the two because of political position would only end up being disappointed.

    The Pathfinder 4 Unity, however, posited that Agom-Jarigbe who is qualified for the position, made his intention known that he was not interested in spite of several attempts to lure him.

    It further noted that the relationship shared by the two have always been to ensure the promotion of good governance in South South and the country as a whole.

    On the Senate Minority Leader, the group said there had been no discussions whatsoever between Wike and the Senator .

    According to the group, a publication has misrepresented facts contained in an interview granted by Sen. Agom Jarigbe on the minority leadership position of the 10th Senate.

    “He (Jarigbe) has made his position known on the matter that he is not interested, and that no one has consulted him on the position.

    “Our advice remains that anyone interested in that position to make known their attention and stop the blackmailing.

    “We want to also admonish them to open consultation with the relevant people and not those who will not add value to their ambition and to also stop further campaign of calumny against the person of Sen. Jarigbe Agom-Jarigbe.

    “Let us be reminded that the Senate is not a kindergarten. It is for men, not sycophants.

  • Wike delivered Tinubu, capable to lead Rivers APC – Party chieftain

    Wike delivered Tinubu, capable to lead Rivers APC – Party chieftain

    A chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC), Iyke Ejie has said the former governor of  Rivers state, Nyesom Wike is capable to lead the party.

    Ejie urged Nigerians to ignore the statement credited to the former House of Representatives member, Austin Wokocha, that the ex-governor Wike didn’t work for the victory of President Bola Tinubu in the state.

    Recall that, Wokocha, who is a former Commissioner for Power and Coordinator of the Tinubu/Shettima Grassroots Independent Campaign Council in Rivers State, said Mr Wike is unfit to lead  the APC chapter of the state.

    But Ejie in a statement issued yesterday noted that any other person has the constitutional rights to belong to any political party and the authentic APC members agreed that Wike should join the party and lead them as a man of vision.

    “Wike, like any other person has the constitutional rights to belong to any political party. And the authentic APC members agreed that Wike should join the party and lead them as a man of vision.
    Recall that over the weekend, Wokocha in a press statement said that Rivers State APC never called, invited or appealed to Wike to lead the party over his support in the last election.

    “If not ex-governor Nyesom Wike’s support, the APC wouldn’t have won in the State”. When the chips were down, Wike threw his weight behind Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who had more political spread and acceptability. Remember, he led the G-5 governors who stood by equity, fairness and inclusiveness and insisted on a president from the southern extraction against all odds delivered President Tinubu which Mr President himself has acknowledged, came to Rivers State for a thank you visit.

    “Let me state without mincing words, the public should disregard those acclaimed Rivers State APC leaders feckless press statement against the real and authentic Rivers APC members led by Chief Tony Okocha who fought, campaigned for Asiwaju ‘s victory. While some unscrupulous, shameless elements who acted as moles within the APC were working for Mr Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and Sen. Magnus Ngei Abe against Asiwaju’s victory.

    “How can Austin Wokocha claimed to have worked for the APC when he made away with N65 million Presidential campaign rally fund on the eve of the rally in Port Harcourt, and was never seen until after the rally. It is a fact that Wokocha is not a member of the APC because he was planted by Sen Abe of the SDP who left the APC after he lost the primary election.

    “So, Wokocha worked for Abe. Let it be on record, that Sen.Abe and Wokocha are no longer members of the authentic APC in Rivers State, never campaigned for Asiwaju but today want to decide who becomes APC member or not. He has no locus standi to do so.

    “Darlington Nwauju who claimed to be the APC spokesman in the State had never spoken for the APC, during and after the election rather was in cahoot with Chibuike Amaechi, campaigned and worked for the PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar but failed and wants to come through the backdoor to speak for the APC in Rivers State, is not done”, Ejie said.

    Let me state without equivocation, “Wike delivered Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who is from the Southern region, inline with his resolve and that of the G-5 governors for power shift to the South”, Ejie said. The authentic APC members has caretaker committee members in the 23 LGAs of Rivers State agreed to invite Wike over to lead them, is a call in the right direction. The fact remains that Chief Tony Okocha is the leader of APC in Rivers State and I reiterate the call for Wike to join the APC in Rivers State, lead us because he is a man with vision and can be trusted. It is his constitutional right to belong to a party of his choice. Mr Austin Wokocha, Darlington Nwauju are no longer member of our party but are members of the SDP and Amaechi’s party if he has any”, Ejie concluded.

    “I urge Wokocha, Nwauju and there cohorts to keep off from all our activities and decisions in the state pending when they will come back to the party and should reap where they worked. Wike is welcomed in Rivers State APC and very fit to lead the party.”

     

  • Defection rumours: It’s an aberration for Wike to take prime position in Rivers APC, says party chieftain

    Defection rumours: It’s an aberration for Wike to take prime position in Rivers APC, says party chieftain

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Augustine Wokocha, on Friday has faulted calls for Wike to take a prime position in Rivers APC.

    Wokocha, who was a Commissioner for Power and served as the Coordinator of the disbanded Tinubu/Shettima Grassroot Independent Campaign Council in Rivers State rejected the call saying, “The victory of Bola Tinubu in the last election in Rivers State cannot be given to one individual.

    “It is a combination of the over 200, 000 votes from Rivers who pended their thumb for the man who is our President today.

    “I ran the campaign for the Tinubu election. I can’t remember anywhere, anytime when the immediate past governor of Rivers State canvass any support for the President

    “I can’t remember any forum when he referred to the candidate of our party. He did not direct his people to vote for him, to my knowledge. So I don’t know what Okocha means by Wike immensely contributing to Tinubu’s Victory.

    “So it is important we continue to appreciate Rivers people. And of course, people worked, those who did the canvassing to convince people that Tinubu was a better candidate also deserve our appreciation and gratitude.”

    While stressing that Wike can join the APC if he wants as he’s not opposed to his defection, he added that, “Candidly speaking politics is the more the merrier. So Wike coming to the APC is a welcome development.

    “What is an aberration is to say Wike should come and take over the party. This is the same party that its members were hounded like grass cutters by those supporting the man who is being invited to join the party today.

    “It was the same Wike who said APC is cancer stage four and the PDP is malaria. But he is welcome if he has suddenly realised that our cancer is better than malaria he is suffering from.

    ”But it will be a major disservice to the people of Rivers State to say Wike should come and lead the APC in Rivers State. APC is not lacking leadership.

    He pointed out that the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and him remain the leader of the party, he added that, “Nobody should take credit that is not his own and take claims that are not theirs. We won’t allow such misleading not our people,” Wokocha stated.

  • Alleged poisoning: Atiku’s aide advises Wike to reduce consumption of Alcohol

    Alleged poisoning: Atiku’s aide advises Wike to reduce consumption of Alcohol

    Following a revelation of the Ex- Rivers state governor Nyesom Wike that his liver and kidneys failed due to “poisoning,” the Special Assistant on Public Communication to the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Phrank Shaibu, has advised the Ex- Rivers state governor Nyesom Wike to reduce his consumption of alcohol.

    Recall that Wike During a Thanksgiving on Sunday, said his liver and kidney failed after he was poisoned at PDP’s Secretariat in 2018

    However, Shaibu said Wike had always been open about his love for alcohol, especially whiskey, which he has even admitted to drinking in the early hours of the day.

    He said that given the rate of Wike’s drinking, he likely had alcohol poisoning and not food poisoning.

    “Governor Wike has always been open about his intense and indubitable love for whiskey. He even said back in March that he was sipping a 40-year-old whiskey with his friends while watching Atiku and others protesting on TV at 11 am.

    “Governor Wike has also been seen drinking and dancing in videos, including one he did with former Governor Rochas Okorocha. If Wike was indeed poisoned and his organs failed, he ought to be a teetotaller by now and reduce his drinking.

    “I am not a medical doctor, but it is general knowledge that excessive alcohol consumption leads to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, digestive problems; and cancer of the breast, mouth, throat, oesophagus, voice box, liver, colon and rectum,” he said.

    “Other ailments associated with excessive drinking include: weakening of the immune system, increasing the chances of getting sick; learning and memory problems, including dementia and poor sexual performance. Wike should look inwards. Let us assume that he was poisoned by food. Was his hoarse and husky voice also caused by food poisoning?”

     

  • How I was poisoned as Rivers governor – Wike

    How I was poisoned as Rivers governor – Wike

    The former governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike has  narrated how he survived after being poisoned in 2018 while in office as governor.

    Wike during a thanksgiving service in the church on Sunday revealed that doctors told him that his intestines were all black, a situation he believed arose from the poisoning that reportedly took place at the state government’s secretariat.

    The Ex- governor however, expressed gratitude that he survived the poison miraculously to the surprise of the doctors who diagnosed him

    “There is a lot to thank God for; from 2015 to 2023 God was in charge; everybody who knew how we came to power knew it was turbulent, but God saw us through. I will give three instances why we need to thank God. While in your office, so many people think as governor everything is going on well with you.”

    “As governor, nobody wants to ask if you are well, all is, you wake up in the morning, see text messages, accounts you are to send money to… December 2018, that day was the day my former Chief of Staff was to have Thanksgiving ceremony, and I was to attend that event on a Sunday.

    “On that Sunday, I never came down from my room, it was bad. For those who attended the January 1st State Banquet of 2019, will know that I never spoke that day, I just sat down there and told my deputy to speak on my behalf, people didn’t know what was going on.

    “After that banquet, 12:00 am midnight, I was taken out of the country because I thought it was over, when we got to Beirut the doctors told me they had to do so many tests…they came back the next morning and said it was bad; my kidney, liver were gone.

    “Doctors told me I’d been poisoned and that my liver and kidney were no longer functioning. I believe I was poisoned at the secretariat. To God be the glory, I survived it.”

    “I never knew that I had been poisoned in our campaign secretariat; my intestines were all black. The doctors did everything they could do, and the next day the doctors came and said everything was turning around; to the glory of God after about one week, they said I could then go. I came back to Nigeria and told those who are close to me that we wouldn’t stop at anybody’s house because I could not identify how I was poisoned; everyone was a suspect to me.

    “When I was going through my presidential primaries, my wife called me from London that she has been diagnosed with cancer, I called my G5 members who were supporting me, I said there is a problem and I don’t think I can continue with this race; I called my wife back and she said no, continue so we started (the race).

    “On the night of the primaries, I went with my wife to Abuja, and from nowhere, we were called that fire gutted my wife’s room. We called the fire service everything was burnt; up to today, we haven’t repaired that room… and nobody knew, I just kept quiet. That is why I said some people don’t ask what I’m passing through–you just want me to give you! give you! you don’t even know if I’m dying.

    “But I thank God today that my wife is hale and hearty. When people text me, my wife is sick, my mother is at the hospital, I always say should I text back, my wife is also in hospital? If anything should have happened you can imagine the effect on my children.

    “The last one, as we finished the primary, my wife went to Lagos to bring my daughter, they landed at the air force base, and I said when they land I will just enter and go to Lagos (somebody was waiting for me that I must see).

    After 15 minutes of take-off, we heard a sound, I saw the air hostess running. I rushed to the cockpit, but the door was locked; nobody to communicate with; she ran back and told us one engine is gone; the pilot said it’s safer for us to turn back (we were three)…by the grace of God before we landed, we saw several ambulances, fire service trucks line up; I didn’t know the pilot had communicated with them that there was a serious problem, to the glory of God we landed safely; people just see me as a strong man; part of leadership is not to frighten one’s supporters.”

     

  • Wike reveals how he was poisoned at PDP secretariat

    Wike reveals how he was poisoned at PDP secretariat

    …says my kidneys collapsed

    …I was flown to Beirut by midnight

    The immediate past Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike, has revealed some life-threatening scenarios he kept as secrets during his eight-year tenure as Rivers State Governor.

    The former Governor, in a special Thanksgiving service on Sunday organised by his family at the St. Peters Deanery, Rumuepirikom, Obio-Akpor, revealed that he was poisoned at the secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in December 2018.

    He said the poison ravaged his internal organs, affecting his liver and kidneys and almost killed him but for God’s interventions.

    Hundreds of dignitaries, who attended the service, listened in shock as the former Governor disclosed his kept secrets.

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was represented at the event by Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

    The service was attended by the Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Deputy Senate President, many senators, over 35 members of the House of Representatives, many former Governors, former ministers, royal fathers, captains of industries, the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) among other Very Important Persons (VIPs).

    Narrating how he almost died of poisoning, Wike said: “God was in charge, everybody who knew how we came to power in 2015, knew it was turbulent. But God saw us through. When you are in office, many people think things are going well with you. Nobody wants to find out the problems you are facing as a human.

    “In December 2018, it was a day my former Chief of Staff was going to have Thanksgiving. I was to attend that Thanksgiving. From that Sunday I never came down from my room. It was bad. But those who attended the January 1st state banquet of 2019 will know that I never spoke that day. I just sat down there and told the Deputy Governor to speak on my behalf. I thought it was over”.

    Wike said he was flown to a hospital in Beirut at 12 midnight where doctors after running series of tests told him that his liver and kidney were all gone.

    “I didn’t know I had been poisoned at our party’s secretariat”, he said adding that the doctors after some treatments returned and told him his organs had started working again.

    He said the doctors discharged him after about a week and asked him to return home noting that he altered his itinerary during the campaigns for his second term.

    The former Governor said everybody became a suspect as he decided that he would not enter any party leader’s home during the course of his campaigns.

    He recalled that the second incident of God’s intervention in his life was when his wife called him during his presidential primary campaign and told him that she had been diagnosed of cancer.

    Wike said he called the leaders in his campaign team including the G-5 Governors that there was a problem and he was planning to quit the race.

    But he said his wife encouraged him to continue with his campaigns that all would be well.

    The Governor also recalled that after the primary when he was on a trip to Abuja in the company of his wife, he got information that a mysterious fire gutted his wife’s room and destroyed everything she had as a woman.

    Despite all the challenges, he said: “Being a strong woman, my wife never showed it. But today my wife is hale and hearty. The cancer incident was the one I knew that God had done all for me”.

    Wike further recalled that on another occasion, God saved him and three other leaders from a plane crash.

    He said while they were travelling to Abuja after the presidential primary, one of the engines of the aircraft exploded 15 minutes after take-off.

    “15 minutes of take off at the airforce base, we heard an explosion. They locked the cockpit. One engine is gone and the pilot said it was safer to turn back to Port Harcourt. Before we landed there were many ambulances and fire service trucks lined up. We landed safely by the Grace of God. I didn’t tell anybody,” he said.

    The former Governor said he kept most of the incidents secret to avoid frightening his supporters, who could begin to behave anyhow.

    Wike said he decided to thank God for allowing a peaceful transition in Rivers and granting him victories in all the elections held in the state.

    “Ask my colleague how they felt that their candidates didn’t make it as their successors. Even those not sworn-in yet started tormenting their predecessors. But nobody is tormenting me”.

    The former governor said there was a gang-up in his party at the national level to arrest him if his decisions had failed adding that at some points his loyalists were scared that they would all be in trouble.

    He disclosed that all the forms for all elections in the party were acquired by him noting that no candidate of the party paid a dime to buy forms.

    “I paid for every form. Nobody would say he paid any money to buy forms from governorship to House of Assembly. We agreed to work as a team. In the House of Assembly only one form, Senate same. We didn’t want to have anything called post election crisis,” he said.

    He said all the governorship aspirants signed an agreement drafted by the party elders that they would support the choice of the party for the governorship poll
    But Wike said: “When somebody was chosen, there was a gang-up. They moved to Abuja and started plotting how they would arrest me after winning at the centre. All evil plots against me failed.

    “Those close to me were worried. But I told them to have faith they would not be finished. God never abandoned us.Today we have a governor, who is our successor. I don’t look back because I know I am protected everywhere”.

    Wike disclosed why he supported Akpabio for Senate Presidency saying the former Akwa Ibom Governor defied criticisms to back his governorship ambition in 2015.

    He said Akpabio donated N200m to his campaign adding that one good turn deserves another.
    He said: “When I was running in 2014 and 2015 he came out and supported me. He gave me N200m for that election. That is why I said one good turn deserves another. I supported him this time and I thank God he won”.

    Wike thanked all members of the G-5 and Integrity Group for the roles they played during the presidential election.

  • Wike will soon inflict Tinubu’s administration with frequent visit – Atiku’s aide

    Wike will soon inflict Tinubu’s administration with frequent visit – Atiku’s aide

    Daniel Bwala, a spokesman for Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has reacted to the frequent visits of a former PDP governor to the presidential Villa.

    Following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s inauguration, former governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State visited the Presidential Villa three times in one week, with the latest being yesterday.

    Wike visited Tinubu in the company of the PDP G-5 governors on Thursday.

    Bwala wrote via his Twitter handle: “There is a former governor of the PDP that frequents Presidential villa daily like a bus conductor. He will soon inflict the administration with his toxic equity, fairness, and justice poison.”