₦airaland Forum

Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike has descended heavily on his Edo counterpart, Godwin Obaseki, describing him as a serial betrayer and an ungrateful person.

Wike, who rubbished Obaseki's diatribe against him, said Edo Governor's former godfather and former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomole, had been vindicated.

He tendered an unreserved apology to Oshiomole for ignoring his warnings about Obaseki saying everything Oshiomole said about the character of the Edo governor had come to pass.

Wike spoke during the inauguration of an expanded community Secondary School project in Omuanwa in Ikwere Local Government Area of the state on Monday.

He said: "If you ask anybody or check the DNA of Godwin Obaseki, what you will see in that DNA is serial betrayer and ungratefulness.

“Let me stand today to apologise to Adams Oshiomole, who had been vindicated by telling us that we would see the true colour, the insincerity and the ungratefulness of Governor Obaseki.

"Let me say you have been vindicated. You were right and we were wrong. I have never seen people so ungrateful in life and people who can betray everything. I will never betray anybody because what you will see in my DNA is sincerity, consistency and team work".

Wike faulted Obaseki's claims that he threatened the party to hold its last National Convention in Port Harcourt explaining that his position on the venue of the convention was based on PDP's earlier decision about Port Harcourt.

He said following the decision to adopt Port Harcourt as the venue, he had invited all hotel owners and urged them to spend money and give their facilities a face-lift in preparation for that convention.

"They spent their money. But some presidential aspirants went back to say they would not go to Port Harcourt. As a lover of the state and this party and said you cannot make people to spend money and then overnight you say you won't come again.

"But assuming though not conceding that I threatened the party, I have invested in the party, Rivers has invested in the party, we have voted for PDP since 1999 till now. Ask Obaseki whether he has done anything for PDP. Has he voted for PDP?

"The only election that he voted was his own when we gave him an umbrella. I have more stakes in PDP. Obaseki has never supported PDP. It was when his godfather chased you away and you came begging, kneeling down. People came with pressure. Ordinarily, you are a tenant.

"If I threaten the party I am a full and financial member of the party. But you that are a tenant, how can you threaten our party? You were a governor in APC and the PDP won two senatorial districts. PDP won four House of Representatives. I am a governor here, APC does not have one seat".

Wike, who blasted Obaseki for calling him a bully, further said: "You came to beg a bully for you to have a ticket. A bully was your DG Campaign and a bully bullied you into Government House. What a shame. You came back with your wife to thank the bully saying that after God, the bully made it possible for you to be there".

Wike said Obaseki's utterances were beyond politics, adding that only politics would make people know the character of an individual.

On Obaseki's claims that he threatened the PDP because of Ndudi Elumelu, Wike said he only stood by the party's earlier agreement on who should emerge the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

"PDP wrote to the National Assembly nominating the Minority Leader of the House. The Speaker by the connivance of some PDP people announced Ndudi Elumelu as the leader of PDP. That is sabotage, APC nominating Leader for us in the House. And I say no we can't accept this," he said.

Wike said he had no business with Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River leaving the PDP, saying even the ruling party was neither here nor there.

"Satan has agents. Most of the people you see are agents of Satan. I am not in the class of Obaseki. We can't be the same. I was the DG of his campaign. I went there for three days and stayed there without having my bath. We bought even the drinks we drank there. It was Lucky Igbinedon that fed us. I have never seen somebody like Obaseki in my life," he said.

Wike said he would never support the injustice and impunity that Obaseki planned for PDP vowing to smoke out the Edo Governor's cohorts in the party.

"This is not the Benin artifacts where you are challenging the Oba, which you lost woefully. This is politics. Obaseki, I have more stakes in PDP than you. All the elections we had run he made no contribution. If you ask him he would say he didn't know.

"A party had done congresses, formed structures, you came and we told the party's structure to support you and they did. The Zonal Chairman, Chief Dan Orbih was campaign manager under the COVID. COVID affected him and we had to take him out. People should not be ungrateful in life," he said.

Wike recalled that a former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose, predicted that Obaseki would win the election but that he would not stay in PDP observing that the Edo governor was frequently holding meetings with the APC.

On his presidential ambition that Obaseki referred to, Wike said: "I am qualified if not more than qualified. I challenged Obaseki and his cohorts, some of the presidential aspirants who are using him to talk to come out openly.

"If I decide to run tomorrow, I challenge everybody including Obaseki, what you will see you will say you never know this is how politics is. If i want to run, Obaseki can't give me permission. I gave him the seat. I will win. Send your aspirants to pray I don't come out, if I come out I will win them".

Referring to Obaseki as a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the Rivers Governor said whereas people could see his giant strides that had transformed Port Harcourt, Edo capital city Benin had remained the same.

He asked Obaseki to leave MoUs and show performance asking him to defect from PDP.

To Obaseki he said: "Remember it has started. By the time I make you to emaciate, you will know where you are. Since you are ready for a war don't backslide. Stay there and be prepared. Your envy will not help you," he said.

Wike further dared Obaseki to publish the contractors working on projects in Edo boasting that in Rivers, the contractors were known to members of the public.

He said the school being inaugurated was built by an indigenous contractor from the benefitting community.

On the Edo PDP crisis, he said: "I cannot see how you can be a governor and you are looking for a party structure. It shows you don't have the capacity. Who are the party leaders that will not come to the Governor? And you are looking for harmonisation.

“Harmonise what? Did we harmonise the governor and the deputy governor. When you were coming, why didn't you give the PDP people Deputy Governor?

“Then you want to harmonise party structure that people have suffered. Show you are a leader. Leadership is not by mouth. It is by action. I challenge Obaseki to come and cause crisis in Rivers as he said I was causing in Edo.

"I cannot be intimidated. You have started what you cannot finish. I am a capacity Governor. If I have resources, it is to the glory of God and it is part of the resources that were deployed to you. If you are not happy return the resources".

Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike has descended heavily on his Edo counterpart, Godwin Obaseki, describing him as a serial betrayer and ungrateful person.

Wike, who rubbished Obaseki's diatribe against him, said Edo Governor's former godfather and former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomole, had been vindicated.

He tendered an unreserved apology to Oshiomole for ignoring his warnings about Obaseki saying everything Oshiomole said about the character of the Edo Governor had come to pass.

"If you ask anybody or check the DNA of Obaseki, you will discover that he is a serial betrayer and an ungrateful person.

" I apologise to Oshiomole who told us about Obaseki. You have been vindicated," he said.

The Senate on Wednesday threw out President Muhammdu Buhari’s Bill seeking to amend the Electoral Act, 2022.

The Bill titled: “A Bill for an Act to amend the Electoral Act 2022 and for related matters, 2022,” was overwhelming rejected by Senators, a development that effectively stopped its second reading.

The Bill scaled first reading on Tuesday despite a court order barring the Senate from acting on it.

Senate President Ahmad Lawan challenged the Court order saying that the Judiciary cannot in any circumstances stop the Legislature from performing its constitutional duties.

Before the Senate commenced consideration of the Bill on Wednesday, Senator Adamu Aliero had, while citing order 52(5) of the Senate Standing Rules, urged the Senate President to jettison proposed action on the Bill.

Lawan was however adamant. He reiterated his position that only senators may reject the Bill and not the judiciary seeking to stop the chamber from performing its lawful duties through an order.

Senators however voted overwhelmingly against the Bill to stop it from being read a second time.

Niger Governor Abubakar Sani-Bello has backed the presidential aspiration of National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He spoke on Thursday when Tinubu visited him on a condolence visit over the spate of killings by bandits in Niger State.

The Governor said the transformation witnessed in Lagos were result of Tinubu’s efforts, stating if the former Governor could transform Lagos, he would transform Nigeria too

An Abia State High Court presided over by Hon. Justice Benson Anya in Umuahia, the state capital on Wednesday awarded N1bn damage in favour of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu against the Federal Government.

Kanu, through his lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor had approached the court seeking N5bn damage against the Federal Government over the alleged invasion of his father's house on September 10, 2017 by the military.

Hon. Justice Anya described the invasion of Kanu's Afaraukwu residence as notorious and brazen.

He however struck out other reliefs sought by Kanu's legal team, including his repatriation from Kenya and continued detention by the DSS.

The presiding judge also granted the relief sought by Kanu's legal team, ordering the Federal Government to issue a public apology in three national dailies over the illegal invasion of Kanu's Afaraukwu residence.

He also advised the Federal Government to adopt a political resolution in dealing with issues involving Kanu.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has taken into custody a former Abia Governor, Sen. Theodore Orji and his son, Chinedu over alleged N48billion security votes.

The two leaders are also expected to account for N2billion Ecological Fund and conversion of Sure-P funds.

While the ex-Governor was intercepted at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja before boarding a flight, his son reported to the EFCC headquarters.

According to a source, the ex-Governor, who has been on the Commission’s watch list, was intercepted at the Nnamdi International Airport, Abuja at about 1000 hours on Thursday and brought to the headquarters of the EFCC at Jabi, Abuja for the continuation of his interrogation.

The source said: “He is being quizzed alongside his son, Chinedu, the current Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, who turned himself in this afternoon upon learning of the arrest of his father.

“Senator Orji and his sons, Chinedu and Ogbonna, are under investigation by the EFCC for offences bordering on misappropriation of public funds and money laundering.

“The ex- Governor is alleged to have collected N500million monthly as security vote for eight years as governor of Abia state between 2007 and 2015.

“Other issues relate to the alleged mismanagement of N2billion Ecological Fund and conversion of Sure-P funds.”

The Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed the arrest of the former Governor.

The Nigerian Correctional Service on Monday provided special transportation from court for Chidinma Ojukwu, prime suspect in the murder of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Super TV, Usifo Ataga.

A prison official put Miss Ojukwu, without handcuffs, in the front seat of a blue Toyota Camry and whisked her away from the Yaba Magistrates' Court minutes after her remand by Chief Magistrate Adeola Adedayo.

The car, with Lagos plate number EPE 671 BD, had tinted black glasses.

Miss Ojukwu looked straight ahead as the car, with front windows wound down, sped out of the courthouse parking lot.

They left behind a green prison bus, which was used to convey other prisoners.

Prisons PRO Rotimi Oladokun was yet to respond to The Nation's enquiries on the matter as at press time.

Chief Magistrate Adedayo on Monday remanded Ojukwu and her co-defendant Adedapo Quadri for 30 days following an application by the police counsel Cyril Ejiofor.

The defendants were accused to have conspired to kill Ataga and stole his laptop, phones and cash valued at N3.8 million.

They allegedly committed the offences on June 16, at No. 19, Adewale Oshin Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

The court adjourned till September 6, for review of remand and Directorate of Public Prosecution's Advice (DPP)'s advice.

In a separate proceeding, the police also arraigned Chidinma's father Mr Onoh Ojukwu, and four others on charges including obstruction of justice and receiving of stolen property.

Miss Ojukwu, a 21-year-old Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos, was arrested by the police on June 23, 2021.

She was said to have been in a romantic relationship with 50-year-old Ataga for about four months before the incident.

Following her parade by the police on June 24, the undergraduate said she and Ataga were “having fun” when an argument broke out and she stabbed him twice.

On June 29, she pleaded for forgiveness saying she was not ready to die.

She attributed her action to influence of hard drugs and smoking.

But things took a dramatic turn on July 13, 2021 when Chidinma recanted.

In an interview she granted the police media team which was aired by Crime Fighter TV, a police sponsored programme, Ojukwu claimed she walked into the room from an errand only to find Ataga stabbed, blood everywhere and the apartment in shambles.

In the eight minutes and eight seconds video, she claimed her earlier admission of stabbing Ataga to death was made under pressure and fear that people would not believe her.

She said someone probably entered the apartment when she left to get the things they needed, killed Ataga, scattered the place and left before her arrival.

WATCH VIDEO BELOW:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_F9dG-cfUOM

Education qualifications are absolute requirements to occupy any political post in Nigeria.

Politicians not only acquire the qualification for their aspiring posts but also add higher qualification to their education portfolio.

The following current Governors are Ph.D holders:

1. Samuel Ortom (Benue State)


Ortom was born 23 April 1961 in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria.

Ortom attended St. John’s Primary School, Gboko but later moved to St. Catherine’s Primary School, Makurdi. He attended Idah Secondary Commercial College, Idah in Kogi State in 1976 but couldn’t finish due to financial reasons.

He later obtained Diploma Certificates from Ahmadu Belllo University, Zaria and Benue State University.

He earned his Doctor of Philosophy, Ph.D from the Commonwealth University, Belize through distance learning in 2014.

2. Abdullahi Ganduje(Kano State)


Ganduje attended Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Kaduna State where he obtained a Bachelor in Science Education in 1975. He proceeded to Bayero University Kano where he earned a Master’s degree in Applied Educational Psychology.

He returned to Ahmadu Bello University to receive a Master of Public Administration degree before his doctorate in Public Administration from University of Ibadan in 1993.

Ganduje was born on December 25, in 1949 in Ganduje village of Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State.

3. Benedict Ayade (Cross River State)


Believed as the most educated sitting Governor in Nigeria, Ben Ayade was born on March 2nd 1968. He is a native of Obudu local government area.

He earned his first B.Sc. (Honours) from University of Ibadan in 1988. He proceeded to obtain his M.Sc in Microbiology in 1980 and his Ph.D in Environmental Microbiology from the same University in 1994.

He also holds a Master of Business Administration certificate from Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State and LLB Law Degree from Delta State University.

Ayade also worked as a lecturer at Delta State University, Abraka, where he was subsequently appointed professor.

4. Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia State)


Okezie Victor Ikpeazu was born on October 18, 1964 in Obingwa Local Government of Abia State.

He earned his first B.Sc. (Hons.) degree from University of Maiduguri where he studied Clinical Biochemistry. He returned to the University for his M.Sc Degree in Biochemical Toxicology after his National Youth Service and graduated in 1990.

He obtained a Doctorate Degree, Ph.D in Biochemical Pharmacology from the University of Calabar at 30 in 1994.

5. Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti State)


Fayemi earned his degrees in History, Politics and International Relations from the University of Lagos and University of Ife.

He is Chairman of the Governor’s Forum.

He obtained his Doctorate program in War studies from King’s College London, specializing in civil-military relations.

6. Babagana Zulum (Borno State)

Babagana was born on August 25, 1969 in Mafa Local Government Area of Borno State.

Zulum completed his primary and secondary school in 1985 and proceeded to study at the University Of Maiduguri, where he obtained a degree in Agriculture Engineering.

He obtained his Master’s degree in the same course in 1998 from the University of Ibadan and completed a PhD in soil and Water Engineering in 2009 from the University of Maiduguri.

He became a professor in University of Maiduguri in 2010 where he had started as an assistant lecturer since 2000. He is a certified COREN Engineer.

There was a mild drama on Thursday as Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike stormed the venue where members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were meeting.

Wike's sudden appearance at the meeting must have unsettled the meeting as Governors are not members of the BoT and do not attend the party's BoT meetings.

The Rivers Governor had walked into the National Executive Committee (NEC) Hall where the meeting was being held when the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus was delivering his opening address.

Many eyes turned to behold the arrival of the Governor who promptly took his seat among the attendees.

As of the time of filing this report, it could not be ascertained if the Governor was attending the meeting on the invitation of the BoT.

Spotting a pair of white short-sleeved kaftan with a red Igbo traditional cap, the Governor, who looked visibly agitated, was given the attendance register to sign as soon as he took his seat.

Wike has been at loggerheads with Secondus for the past few months and he is widely believed to be mastermind of ongoing plots to remove the party chairman from office.