News
RARE TRUTH TOLD: If I hated Ijaw there’s no way I would have supported Fubara-Wike
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Federal Capital Territory, FCT, minister, Nyesom Wike bared it all when he declared that if he had hated the Ijaw Nation there’s no way he would have supported Siminalayi Fubara to become governor.
The Minister also vowed at Abalama, Rivers State on Saturday that the rule of law will be applied by the Rivers State House of Assembly in its dealings with him.
Speaking on Saturday at a mammoth reception by the Ijaw on Saturday at Abalama, Rivers State, Wike said that his stance did not mean that he hates the Ijaw.
According to him if he hated the Ijaw, he would not have facilitated the emergence of Fubara as governor in 2023.
“I am not going to stop the Assembly from doing their constitutional duty, let them do their duty,” Wike said.
Noting the irony that those who petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC against Fubara, and fought to stop his emergence as governor becoming the governor’s close associates and advisers, he said:
“People have no conscience at all. People who wrote petition to the EFCC that he should not be governor are the ones now deciding for him.”
Waxing philosophical, Wike asked what could have been his fate and that of his followers had President Bola Tinubu not made him minister of FCT.
“Assuming that the president did not give us this position, what could have happened to us?”
Upon that claim, Wike told his mostly Ijaw audience that the majority of them were not benefiting from the governor.
“Let nobody deceive you that the governor is Ijaw and all of you here are Ijaw but are you benefiting?
Politics is interest. People must not come to use people and dump them. That politics of use and dump must stop.
“You surrounded yourself with people who wanted to be governor, people who I said do not mean well for Rivers. I have never seen this kind of politics where you surround yourself with people who want your seat. Kalabari people,” Wike told his Abalama audience.
The reception was graced by several dignitaries including former Senator George Sekibo and the National Vice-Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, South-South, Chief Dan Orbih.
Speaking on the occasion, Orbih who was with Wike at Abalama, said:
“Today we travelled to Ijaw land for a grand reception in honour of Barr. Nyesom Wike.
I am glad I was there to join the good people of Ijaw extraction to celebrate the dependable, result oriented political genius of Nigeria, Barr. Nyesom Wike. The outstanding performing Minister of FCT. I make bold to say, He is South-South PDP precious gift to Nigeria. I thank the ijaws for celebrating him.”
By Francesca Hangeior
President Bola Tinubu has stated that the Federal Government is taking concrete steps to protect the dignity and future of every Nigerian child, even as he said plans have been concluded to establish a Child Protection and Development Agency to coordinate all issues affecting Nigerian children in a unified and focused manner.
Tinubu spoke on Thursday during the first regional meeting of the Africa Pathfinder Countries of the Global Alliance on Ending Violence Against Children.
The event was held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The president was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Tinubu said his administration is taking concrete steps to protect the dignity and future of every Nigerian child.
“Our legal frameworks reflect our conviction. From the Child Rights Act to the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, Nigeria has laid down the statutory foundation for the protection of children.
“But legislation alone does not shield the vulnerable — it is the will behind those laws, and the systems that enforce them, that make the difference.
“That is why our national strategy also embraces prevention and early intervention.
“We are strengthening families and communities through programmes that promote positive parenting, challenge harmful social norms, and provide targeted support to vulnerable households. But we must be honest with ourselves. We cannot protect the child by merely reciting the anthems of their struggles or romanticising their vulnerability, Tinubu said.
He stated that the real hope lies in action — concrete, deliberate action.
“Our commitment must run deep, reaching into the very architecture of our education and health systems. This is the soul of our human capital development strategy,” he said.
Tinubu added that every Nigerian child should grow and learn in a safe environment.
“We aim to ensure that every Nigerian child has the opportunity to grow, learn, and thrive in a safe and nurturing environment. This is not simply a policy objective; it is a moral obligation.
“We are investing in safe schools and embedding socio-emotional learning into our national curriculum.
“We are rolling out the National Guidelines on Alternative Care to ensure that even children without parental care are raised in love, safety, and stability,” he said.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, on Friday announced the release of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, results.
The board disclosed that it is withholding the results of 39,834 candidates over issues relating to examination irregularities.
Recall that over 1.9 million applicants participated in the just-concluded exercise.
JAMB also disclosed that 80 suspects across the country are currently under interrogation for examination fraud, with Anambra State leading the pack with 14 suspects.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, stated this on Friday while officially releasing the 2025 UTME.
He also disclosed that while 467 underage candidates met the prescribed minimum score, 50 were engaged in cheating scandal.
A press conference to this effect is ongoing.
Details coming…
The Oloba of Oba-Ile in Akure North Council Area of Ondo State, Oba Joseph Oluwadare Agunbiade, Otutubiosun 1
has joined his ancestors.
Oba Agunbiade who passed on Friday morning reigned for 39 years .
He was aged 84 years.
Sources told newsmen that traditional announcement of the monarch’s demise is however being awaited.
Details shortly…
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