Politics

Rivers crisis: Finally, Abe, Wike settle long-standing political feud

Published

7 months ago

May 3, 2024

The protracted political palaver between former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, and Senator Magnus Abe may now be a thing of the past, following the latter’s statement that he has ‘made peace’ with the former.

Abe, who was Rivers State governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party in the 2023 general elections, in a Facebook post seen by our correspondent on Thursday, said he had mended fences with Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

Prior to the 2023 elections, Abe first fell out of favour with his principal and former Governor of the State, Rotimi Amaechi, who picked Lagos-based businessman and co-owner of Sahara Energy, Tonye Cole, as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the state.

On the other hand, Wike settled for his political godson and then Accountant General of the state, Siminalayi Fubara, to succeed him.

Following Amaechi’s preference for Cole, Wike allegedly made some scathing remarks which some pundits interpreted to mean that Amaechi had used and dumped Abe, who served as Secretary to the Rivers State Government during his first tenure.

Though there was never an open verbal brawl between Wike and Abe, who represented the Rivers South-East in the Red Chamber of the National Assembly, the two erstwhile friends maintained their distance due to their political differences going into the elections.

When Abe eventually secured the SDP ticket and boasted that he would win the governorship election, it deepened his rift with Wike.

Even after the elections, Wike and Abe were not seen together until during the visit of Bola Tinubu, then President-elect following his victory at the poll.

Tinubu was in Rivers on Wike’s invitation to inaugurate some projects completed by his administration.

Both Wike and Abe were, however, spotted at the Port International Airport, Omagwa, shaking hands in the presence of Tinubu, which was the last time they were seen together in public.

Wike and Abe, though were in the PDP and the SDP respectively, both supported Tinubu to become President.

But surprisingly Abe rode in the same vehicle with Wike to the special thanksgiving of Chief Tony Okocha, who is both the state Caretaker Committee Chairman of the APC and the Rivers State representative on the Management Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission.

The event held at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Rumuapara in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.

Abe, in a statement on Thursday, admitted riding with Wike in the same vehicle, stating that he had made peace with the FCT Minister.

According to the statement, while noting that the APC is home, Abe described Wike as a truthful and sincere politician.

He said, “I have made peace with the honourable Minister of the FCT, and former Governor of Rivers State. I accompanied him to Chief Tony Okocha’s thanksgiving to show that my commitment to end the rift in our party is total.

“I want to publicly thank the minister; he could have behaved like other politicians –make peace with me, and still encourage me, Tony and others to continue fighting (you bring Magnus in the morning through one door, then bring Tony in the evening through the other door).

“But his style is direct, truthful and sincere, and it will create a united team. The disagreements within are over and gone for good because the oxygen for conflict has been extinguished.

“It may take a little while but the end result is that all those with us, who sincerely wish us well will go with us and toe the path of unity because we all know that it is the right way to go.”

This development may mend the cracks within the Rivers APC and pave the way for further reconciliation of other aggrieved members who either left or stayed away from party activities.

Politics

Obi Urges Nigerian Graduates to Seek Opportunities Overseas if Needed, Vows to Fix Nigeria for Their Return

Published

6 days ago

November 12, 2024

Naijablitznews

Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate in Nigeria’s 2023 election, has encouraged Nigerian students to seek better opportunities abroad if local conditions don’t meet their needs.

Obi shared this advice during his visit to Anambra State, where he made donations to Peter University in Achina/Onneh and the College of Nursing Sciences in Adazi-Nnukwu. Addressing nursing students, he reaffirmed his commitment to supporting institutions that nurture skills, professionalism, and character.

Obi advised students that, if career opportunities are limited locally, they should feel free to explore options abroad.

“If things aren’t working here, go where they will work for you,” he said, expressing optimism that, with efforts to improve the country, Nigerians working abroad would eventually return.

Speaking at Peter University, Obi urged students to dedicate themselves to their studies, highlighting education as a transformative force essential for national development.

Emphasizing that investment in education is an investment in the future, he encouraged them to aim for excellence, assuring that a stronger Nigeria would await them.

Politics

Parliamentary system better option for Nigeria -Aregbesola

Published

6 days ago

November 11, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah.

Former governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, has called for Nigeria to dump the presidential system of government and return to the parliamentary system.

Aregbesola made this revelation at a National Dialogue on Home-Grown Parliamentary System in Abuja on Monday.

The immediate past Minister of Interior, who said he is opposed to the executive system of government currently practiced in Nigeria, insisted that the arrangement in the parliamentary system is best suited for a country like Nigeria.

“If you go on believing that an individual, no matter how beautiful, no matter how good, could have the capacity to govern 120 million people all alone without checks, we are joking. So, by that consideration alone, I am opposed to executive system of government.

“I believe the collective arrangement which the parliamentary system guarantees is best for a nation like Nigeria if indeed we are committed to advancing the interest of the large population and mass of our people,” Aregbesola said.

In February this year, a group of lawmakers in the House of Representatives brought a bill seeking amendments to the 1999 Constitution to transit from the current presidential system to the parliamentary system of government.

According to the group made up of about 60 lawmakers, the transition has become necessary to reduce the cost of government in the face of dwindling revenue.

Titled, ‘The Bills Proposing Constitutional Alterations For a Transition To Parliamentary System of Government,’ the bill was sponsored by the House Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, and 59 others.

The bill was read on the floor of the House during plenary session in Abuja on Wednesday, February 14, 2024.

In a statement, a Spokesman for the Parliamentary Bill Sponsors, Abdussamad Dasuki said, “Today, we stand on the cusp of history, as lawmakers across party affiliations and regional backgrounds come together to present bills proposing Constitutional Alterations that seek a transition to Parliamentary System of Government.

He added that over the years, the imperfections of the Presidential System of Government have become glaring to all, despite several alterations to the constitution to address the shortcomings of a system that has denied the nation the opportunity of attaining its full potentials.

Politics

2027: Kwankwaso’s visit to Otti sparks possible alliance

Published

7 days ago

November 11, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Governor Alex Otti of Abia State at the weekend played host to the former presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso, at his Nvosi country home in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area(LGA).

Speaker of the House of Assembly Emmanuel Emeruwa, some aides of the governor, and members of the Kwankwasiyya Movement were present.

Although Kwankwaso said he was in the state to condole with Otti on the passing of Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, the first governor of old Abia State, rumours of a possible political alliance between him and Otti, the only Labour Party(LP) governor in the country, spread.

Onu was buried in Uburu, his hometown in Ohaozara LGA of Ebonyi State on Friday.

Kwankwaso’s visit coincided with a reception held by the governor for 15 Abia indigenes who recently graduated from the Nigeria Police Academy in Kano.

Shortly after he departed the state, political analysts said they were sure that the visit was partly informed by efforts of the Peter Obi-led LP faction to align with other opposition parties ahead of 2027.

‘’Don’t forget that 2027 is near. Do you think the two men would meet like they did now with talking about the next presidential election? That is impossible,’’ one of them told The Nation.

Another said Kwankwaso and Otti were ‘’very much aware that the only way to oust President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progress Congress (APC) from the centre is a formidable alliance.

‘’They know that now is the best time to start talking about how to defeat those in Aso Rock. And that, I believe is the core reason for the visit.”

Last month’s local government poll in the state produced a stunning result with candidates loyal to Otti winning nearly all the chairmanship positions on the platform of the Zenith Labour Party(ZLP)

The governor backed the winners because of court cases on the authentic leadership of the leadership of the LP.

One faction of the party is led by Julius Abure while the other supported by Obi and Otti is headed by Nenadi Usman, a former Finance minister.

Political analysts argued that if Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Obi, and Kwankwaso fail to put their political differences behind and field an acceptable presidential candidate in 2027, they might end up not making a significant impact.

Otti had while welcoming Kwankwaso recalled how he offered him a ‘’platform in May 2022 to run ’’ as a governorship candidate.

He thanked Kwankwaso for his guidance and patriotism.

His words: “Thank you for your guidance, for your patriotism, for everything that you have done for this country.

“I want to thank you for encouraging me in 2022 not to lose faith, though we were in different parties, and it appeared as if everything was going to be lost.

“That call that you made about the 20th of May 2022, for also making your platform available for me to run if I had wanted to use the platform, the rest is now history.”

Kwankwaso, a former Kano State governor, congratulated Otti on his emergence as governor. He also lauded his achievements in the state

“For the little time I have been here, I have had the opportunity of talking to a few people who confirmed to me that you are doing very well. We have seen your project everywhere” he said.

The governor and his visitor urged the new Police officers to work hard, contribute to the security of the country, and be good ambassadors of the state.

“The challenge is for you to now work very hard, knowing fully well that in this society, the son of a nobody can be the father of somebody,” said Otti.

“If people like us who grew up here without any hope at that time can be here, there is no reason why you can’t get here. But I am challenging you to be the best you can be.

“Always do things right and do the right things. You can always get to where you are headed. Cutting corners does not take you too far, “ the governor added.

Kwankwaso charged the new police officers to be professional in the discharge of their duties.

“Let me take this opportunity, based on my experience, to advise you to first and foremost fear God.

“Two, you need to be professionals. Now you are fresh, just coming out of the prestigious institute.stay there as professionals,” he said.