Politics
I’ll Stay In PDP To Fight Vultures, Hyenas, Says Wike
Nyesom Wike, the governor of Rivers, has sworn to stay with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and not defect to those he has referred to as vultures, hyenas, and scavengers.
Wike reiterated he would not leave the party for criminals and that he would not hold the Labour Party’s (LP) Peter Obi responsible for leaving the party after the humiliation he endured.
On Thursday, the Governor said as he led Obi to the opening of the Nkpolu-Oroworokwo Flyover in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
He said: “You were a member of our party, you left our party and I know why you left the party. I don’t blame you for leaving the party. Nobody would have suffered the humiliation you suffered. I know. Most of you don’t know. Nobody will hear what you passed through and still remain in the party.
“I will not leave. I will stay here and I will fight the vultures, the hyenas and the scavengers. I am not blaming you. On principle, you should but me I won’t leave this house. I will never allow robbers to take over my house. I am going to stay to chase the armed robbers.
“If you have not left you would not have pursued your ambition to save Nigeria. That is his ambition, but whether he is the one I do not know yet. At the appropriate time, we will talk”.
Apparently referring to the attack on President Muhammadu Buhari by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, over alleged lopsided appointments of service chiefs, Wike wondered why it took Atiku over seven years to speak on the matter.
Besides Wike asked persons making such remarks to first correct the lopsided leadership positions in the PDP before the people would take them serious.
He said: “When I hear people go to town hall meetings and they say all kinds of things they say. They say “I will implement restructuring, they will make sure every zone will have a member in the security council, that it is not good for one zone to produce all the security chiefs”.
“But it is good for one zone to occupy all party positions. You see how we are. He said ‘I will implement that every zone will be represented. That is a town hall meeting. But Nigerians want you to start from this one. When you start from this one, we will know what you will do when you get there. Start from the party.
“Why are Nigerians so gullible that anything they hear they take? If you want to say I will implement this or do this, I will say okay this one you have now start from here. If you cannot do this one, can you do the other one when you are there?
“Nobody should deceive us. There are many people, who have left offices for years, you see those who are surrounding them, are broke. All they want to do is to have the opportunity to come back to power. Nigerians must open their eyes.
“Some people now are criticising Buhari for appointing all the service chiefs from the North, why did they not challenge Buhari since? Election has come and they are talking. Who is fooling who?
“All these past seven years, you couldn’t challenge Buhari of doing that and now the election has come and you want to win our hearts. We know ourselves. Nobody can fool anybody. Some people say they would form a government of national unity. It is not talking, start now to implement it”.
Politics
Gaetz Withdraws From Trumps Cabinet Nomination
Following his observations that ‘the momentum was strong’ Matt Gaetz whom 47th POTUS elect, Donald Trump nominated for Attorney General has withdrawn.
Biztellers reports that this follows his meeting with Senate and the feedback, which included two women, represented by their attorneys, who accused him of having paid for sex.
Consequently, Gaetz placed on record his full commitment to seeing “that Donald J. Trump is the most successful President in history.”
His withdrawal according his statement on micro-blogging site, X, was based on his conviction that “There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle”.
ALSO READ: Trump Taps 27-Year-Old Karoline Leavitt As New White House Spokesperson
In is view, “Trump’s DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1”.
Gaetz wrote, “I had excellent meetings with Senators yesterday. I appreciate their thoughtful feedback – and the incredible support of so many. While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition. There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus I’ll be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General. Trump’s DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1.
“I remain fully committed to see that Donald J. Trump is the most successful President in history. I will forever be honored that President Trump nominated me to lead the Department of Justice and I’m certain he will Save America.”
His backers have promptly encouraged to take his seat in the House of Representatives, having been elected to the house under the flag of the Republicans to represent Florida.
Politics
Adeleke Represents SW On Ad Hoc Committee on Nat’l Electrification Plan
The Executive Governors from Nigeria’s South West have unanimously nominated Senator Ademola Adeleke as the chairman of the zone on the National Economic Council (NEC).
Adeleke is the Executive Governor of Osun State, southwest, Nigeria.
This, according to the Spokesperson to Governor Adeleke, Olawale Rasheed, transpired on Thursday, at a meeting of the NEC.
ALSO READ: Adeleke Flaunts Local Content Records, Industrialisation Progress
He noted that the meeting reviewed the state of Nigeria’s electricity sector and resolved to engage subnational structures to address current challenges in the sector.
“The meeting particularly sought to build on the devolution of the electricity sector and its movement into the concurrent legislative list which empowers state governments to regulate the sector in their respective areas,” he stated.
Consequently, the NEC, therefore set up an ad hoc committee to review actions in the sector by state governments and explore ways to ramp up activities through coordination, Rasheed highlighted.
The full list of members of NEC’s Ad-hoc Committee on National Electrification:
- Governor of Cross Rivers State, Bassey Out – Chairman, South-South
- Governor of Katsina State, Mallam Dikko Umaru Radda – Chairman, North-West
- Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya – Chairman, North-East
- Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke – Chairman, South-West
- Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma – Chairman, South-East
- Governor of Plateau State, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang – Chairman, North-Central
- Hon. Minister of Finance, Wale Edun
- Hon. Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu
- Special Adviser, NEC and Climate Change, Rukaiya El-Rufai
- Special Adviser, Power Minister, Hon. Bolaji Tunji
- MD/CEO Rural Electrification Agency, Abba Aliyu
- MD/CEO Niger Delta Power Holding Company, Jennifer Adighije
- Chairman, Nigeria Governors Forum, AbdulRahman AbdulRazak
- NEC Secretariat
Politics
ACF Pledges Support For Northern Presidential Candidates Ahead Of 2027 Elections
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has announced its decision to back Northern candidates in the 2027 general elections, citing the urgent need to address the worsening socio-economic and security challenges facing the region.
In a communique issued after its National Executive Council meeting in Kaduna on Wednesday, the forum expressed deep concern over the economic state of Northern Nigeria under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, attributing the region’s struggles to flawed governance and poor policy decisions.
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The ACF criticized the Federal Government’s economic policies, describing them as detrimental to the livelihoods of Northern citizens.
According to the communique, signed by the forum’s National Publicity Secretary, Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba, the policies have compounded the already dire economic conditions in the region.
The statement reads, “Arewa people remain at a great disadvantage, being already worse off economically compared to other parts of Nigeria. While economic reforms are indeed desirable, they should not impoverish the same people they are meant to serve. Policies must have a human face.”
The forum noted that the North faces chronic food insecurity, limited educational and vocational opportunities for youth, and a heavy reliance on small-scale economic activities.
“Livelihoods are currently dependent on micro activities. The region faces acute and chronic food insecurity; its youths lack education and skills training. Daunting as these may be, they can be reversed. The time to think big is now,” the communique emphasized.
The ACF also addressed the pervasive insecurity in the North, warning that the situation has begun to erode public confidence in the government.
“Security is an irreducible minimum of human existence. In this regard, insecurity in its various manifestations remains the most worrisome challenge of Arewa people, that has even started to corrosively undermine the authority of government,” the forum stated.
It condemned the government’s response to the crisis, arguing that the Federal Government has failed to meet its primary duty of safeguarding lives and property.
“That those whose responsibility it is to provide security will be saying they are doing their best is unacceptable,” the communique said. “The minimum duty of government is to safeguard life and property, and doing anything less is a failure.”
The ACF faulted what it described as the “flawed leadership selection process” under the Tinubu administration, claiming it has elevated individuals without the requisite competence or experience to key positions.
It urged the Federal Government to “review, reassess, reevaluate, and re-order the direction of its economic policies with a view to giving it the needed human face.”
Looking ahead to the next general elections, the ACF pledged its support for Northern politicians who demonstrate a clear commitment to addressing the region’s challenges and fostering national development.
“Notwithstanding the parlous state of Arewa’s glaring economic conditions, the policies of the current Federal Government have continued to make matters much worse,” the communique stated.