Politics

Dino Melaye replies Wike after the governor laughed off his Kogi governorship ambition

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Senator Dino Melaye has fired back at Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike, who on Tuesday, April 11, laughed off his aspiration to become the next governor of Kogi state.

At a media chat earlier on Tuesday, Governor Wike ruled out Melaye ahead of the PDP primary which precedes the November 15 governorship poll.

Describing Melaye’s ambition as a joke, Governor Wike said;

“When you give Dino that ticket, you know he won’t win in Kogi State. Why would Kogi people say they would vote for a candidate like Dino? Are we joking?” the governor queried.

However, in a statement released on his social media handle, Melaye said it was surprising that Wike has suddenly become the self-appointed public office regulator, who could determine what would happen in states.

He said that the governor has by his utterances against him stepped on the tail of Tiger and will see the repercussions.

“On recovering from his inebriation, Wike should be reminded that Kogi is not Rivers, and the people of Kogi State would not worship any foreign God. Above all, Wike should also understand that power belongs to God, and he gives it to whoever he wants, even the basest of men. Today, Wike can take a swipe at me, and mark me down as unqualified to govern my state, but has he forgotten that he believed my Gubernatorial aspiration in 2019?

Can he be reminded that I have served as a member of the Federal House of Representatives and have also been elected twice into the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”he wrote

Melaye said Wike is against his governorship ambition because he backed PDP flag bearer, Atiku Abubakar against the governor’s interest in the G5.

“He (Wike) needs to appreciate that now that he has touched the tiger’s tail and murdered sleep, the discomfort of a bird perched on a rope has now become his portion.”

“Wike, stay on your lane. I am Daniel Dino Melaye. My speciality is to tame lions, whether they be white or black, dwelling in rocks or floating on Rivers,” he said.

Read Dino’s full statement below

”The simultaneous appearance of Nyesom Wike on some national television in Nigeria earlier today is a sad reminder of the misfortune that the people of Rivers State have suffered in having an unstable mind and a prodigal head as the Governor of the State for the past 8 years.

In the end, all that the indecorous Wike achieved was to buy precious media time to vent his spleen on fellow Nigerians who are more qualified than him to be Governors in Nigeria.

Hallucinated by the patrimonial resources of the good, but impoverished people of Rivers State, Wike has turned himself into a depraved interloper, who probably out of schizophrenic impulse engage in pitiable melodrama whenever he steps away from the intoxication of his bottle companions.

He has suddenly become the self-appointed public office regulator, who could determine what would happen in states not in any way contiguous to his colonised State.

On recovering from his inebriation, Wike should be reminded that Kogi is not Rivers, and the people of Kogi State would not worship any foreign God. Above all, Wike should also understand that power belongs to God, and he gives it to whoever he wants, even the basest of men. And but for this absolute and indiscriminate dispensation by God, how did a conceited person like Nyesom Wike become a governor? Is it his oratory, diligence, finesse, wealth or intellectual endowment?

Today, Wike can take a swipe at me, and mark me down as unqualified to govern my state, but has he forgotten that he believed my Gubernatorial aspiration in 2019? Can he be reminded that I have served as a member of the Federal House of Representatives and have also been elected twice into the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

I can understand the pain of Wike. He wanted my support for his misplaced aspiration to become the Flagbearer of the People’s Democratic Party in the 2023 Presidential election, but knowing his avowed credential to be eminently unworthy of the ticket I deployed support for His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar, a cosmopolitan and cultured statesman who ignored all the tantrums of Wike throughout the period of the election.

Wike is probably mistaken me for His Excellency Atiku Abubakar. He needs to appreciate that now that he has touched the tiger’s tail and murdered sleep, the discomfort of a bird perched on a rope has now become his portion.If Wike were a reflective mind he should now be more concerned about his post-tenure survival, because with the recklessness he exhibited in mismanaging the resources of Rivers State, his prison uniform must have been sewn and his inmate number must be waiting for his allocation.

As for me I will not only continue to savour my freedom, I will be sending relief assistance to Wike from Government House Lokoja, by the grace of God.The indiscretion and war of attrition embarked on by Wike contributed to the public perception of our great Party.

He sees nothing good in the Leadership of the Party, yet he can not move to another Party, because which Party will accept Wike in his irredeemable state of ignominious liability.

As the good people of Kogi State prepare for the Gubernatorial election, the choice is theirs to make. All the evil machinations and self-destructive conduct of Wike will fail. I have neither sought for nor expected support from Wike. My aspiration is on course. The least I will spare time is distractions from the contentions of the untamed tongue of Wike.

As I move forward, I’m guided by the Scriptural invocation:

For the Lord God will help Me; Therefore I will not be disgraced; Therefore I have set My face like a flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed.He is near who justifies Me; Who will contend with Me? Let us stand together. Who is My adversary? Let him come near Me.Surely the Lord God will help Me; Who is he who will condemn Me? Indeed they will all grow old like a garment; The moth will eat them up

Isaiah 50:7-9

As I draw the curtain, let me also drop this last verse for Nyesom Wike: Look, all you who kindle a fire, who encircle yourselves with sparks: walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks you have kindled- This you shall have from my hand: you shall lie down in torment

Isaiah 50:11.

Wike, stay on your lane. I am Daniel Dino Melaye. My speciality is to tame lions, whether they be white or black, dwelling in rocks or floating on Rivers.”

Politics

Governor Wike gives out his Jacket, Hat at Project Inauguration

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Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, on Thursday, handed out his jacket and hat to members of the audience during a project inauguration.

Wike inaugurated the Rumuodogho Link Road in Emohua Local Government Area on Thursday.

During his speech, he suddenly said, “The heat is too much abeg,” and started to remove his jacket.

Then he looked at the audience and asked in Pidgin English, “I should dash you?”

He beckoned on the beneficiary and threw the jacket to him.

He also threw his hat and it was grabbed by a woman.

Politics

Gov Wike bans use of residential areas as Campaign offices

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Rivers state Governor, Nyesom Wike, has signed Executive Order RVSG – 22 prohibiting the use of premises, buildings, and structures in residential areas in urban and non-urban areas as campaign offices by political parties.

According to a press statement issued by the Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Alagbo Chris Finebone, today November 15, the Executive Order also prohibits the posting of bills or posters, or any other material in unauthorized places.

The statement said Governor Wike while signing the Order condemned the incessant defacement of expensive public properties particularly in Port Harcourt through posting of handbills, banners, posters and all sorts of unauthorized materials.

The Executive Order 22 also prescribes that “any political party or association or body of persons however called or described that wishes to use any premises, building or structure situate in a residential area in any urban area of Rivers State as campaign office must obtain permission from the Rivers State Commissioner for Urban and Physical Planning.”

The Commissioner added that Executive Order RVSG – 22 came into effect on Friday. A legal instrument that forces political parties to fulfill certain conditions before embarking on campaign in various parts of the state.

The Governor had earlier prohibited political parties from using public schools for political campaigns without the approval of the state Ministry of Education, saying the ministry must be notified at least two weeks before the date of any campaign in a school.

“Applicants will also deposit the sum of five million caution fees in case attendees destroy the facilities in the schools.” he said

He stated that a local council chairman has the right to stop any rally if approval is not sought.

The governor warned that the state government will not allow political parties and their supporters to disturb the peace in the state, as the campaigns begin.

Politics

Wike increases number of Special Assistants to 200,000

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Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state has increased the number of his Special Assistants on Political Unit Affairs from 100,000 to 200,000.

Wike announced the increase while inaugurating the second and last batch of the initial 100,000 assistants from the Rivers East Senatorial District on Friday, November 4.

Recall that the first batch of about 45,000 assistants from Rivers South-East and Rivers West Senatorial Districts were sworn-in by the Governor on Thursday, November 3.

The job of the Special Assistants is to send in honest feedbacks from the people at the grassroots to the state government

They are to communicate the feelings of the people towards the Wike administration through the 319 Liaison Officers at the Ward levels, who will then report to the 32 State Constituency Liaison Officers for transmission to the office of the Governor.

The 319 Wards Liaison Officers and 32 State Constituency Liaison Officers were sworn in earlier this week.

Lifestyle, Politics

You will kiss me until you are tired – Gov Wike tells wife

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Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike on Tuesday, October 25, revealed a romantic conversation he recently had with his wife, Eberechi Wike.

Speaking at a dinner/reception organized in his honor to celebrate the ‘Distinguished Award in Infrastructure Delivery’ recently presented to him, the governor said as the elections draw nearer and his tenure winds down, he recently told his wife that he no longer has a job as governor and that he has promised her his full attention.

He said ;

“I am going, and I am also happily going. I don’t have any regrets. In fact, I told my wife that now I have no job, you will kiss me till you get tired.”?

Politics

Wike accuses Atiku of disrespecting him and campaigning with enemies of Rivers state

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Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state has accused the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar of disrespecting and sidelining him.

Speaking during the inauguration of the PDP campaign council and launch of the party’s governorship campaign office in Port Harcourt, the state capital, Wike said Atiku selected “enemies” of Rivers into his campaign council for the 2023 general elections.

He also said that photos of Atiku and those of the PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, have been missing from the state’s PDP campaign materials because they don’t want him to campaign for the party at the national level.

Wike said;

“Some people have asked me why they haven’t seen the presidential candidate’s picture and the party chairman’s. I said what are you talking about? The presidential candidate entered my state and picked members of the presidential council without a whole governor of a state having a contribution.

“The presidential candidate entered Rivers State and picked those he wants to pick without my contribution. So, they said they don’t need me to campaign for them, that they don’t need Rivers people to campaign for them. Will you force yourself?

“I have never seen how people will disrespect a state like Rivers State and go and choose those who are enemies of the state without our contributions.”

Politics

Wike says PDP must apologize to Nigeria over Atiku asking Northerners not to vote for Igbos and Yorubas

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Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state has said that the Peoples Democratic Party must apologize to Nigerians over its Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar’s advice to Northerners last weekend.

Atiku while speaking at an event organized by Northern Elders last weekend, had said that Northerners only need a President from the North, and not an Igbo or Yoruba.

He said;

“I know the whole of this country. I have built bridges across this country. I think what the average northerner needs is somebody who is from the north, who also understands the other parts of Nigeria, and who has been able to build bridges across the rest of the country.

“This is what the northerner needs. He (the northerner) doesn’t need a Yoruba candidate or an Igbo candidate. This is what the northerner needs. I stand before you as a pan-Nigerian of northern origin”.

However speaking in Port Harcourt on Monday October 16, shortly after arriving from Spain, Wike said while he doubted the possibility of Atiku making such a statement at a critical time of the nation’s history, such disposition of the presidential candidate would justify his fight for equity, justice and fairness in the PDP.

The Nation reported that the Rivers state Governor also asked the PDP to urgently address the issue and appeal to Nigerians otherwise people would begin to see the party as one that lacked justice and equity.

Politics

Atiku meets with Wike, promises to support him for president in 2027

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PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state, had a closed-door meeting in Abuja last night, to resolve their differences.

The Nation reports that at the meeting, Atiku pledged to support Wike’s presidential bid in 2027 if Wike agrees to sheathe his sword and support him (Atiku) in the 2023 election.

The duo and their supporters have been locked in a face-off since June when the former vice president overlooked Wike and picked Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate.

Previous efforts to reconcile them had failed to yield any positive result. Atiku even appeared to have decided to ignore Wike, and proceeded with his campaign while the Rivers State Governor and his supporters threatened to have nothing to do with the Atiku presidential campaign.

Five of the 11 state governors elected on the platform of PDP are in Wike’s camp, leading to a major crack in the party.

In a fresh effort to resolve their differences, Atiku met with Wike last night where he prevailed on Wike’s camp to join the campaign train of PDP.

Sources close to the meeting said the PDP presidential candidate offered to back Wike for the presidency in 2027. Wike was non-committal to Atiku because of past breaches of commitment, it was gathered.

The governor reportedly said he would consult his group and revert to Atiku. Sources at the meeting also stated that Wike was not excited about the 2027 prospect in view of a similar promise made by Atiku to the Igbo during a meeting with PDP stakeholders in Enugu earlier this week.

A source, who was privy to what transpired, told the publication;

“Again, Atiku extended the olive branch to Wike. He pleaded with the governor to look at the bigger picture of winning the 2023 poll.He asked Wike to prevail on his group to join the PDP campaign train.

Atiku promised to be fair to all PDP members despite the differences of the past few weeks which were caused by the outcome of the party’s presidential primaries.”

Another highly-placed source said Atiku offered to support Wike in 2027 if he gives necessary support to him in the ongoing campaign.

“Wike was not forthcoming and he avoided an outright commitment to Atiku’s request to be part of the PDP campaign team. He told Atiku that he would go and consult with his team and get back to him. So, he has kept Atiku in suspense again. We don’t know what the governor and his strategists will say.”

A source in Wike’s camp said “The governor wasn’t excited about the 2027 poll prospect because he made the Igbo a similar offer in Enugu a few days ago.

The major challenge which Wike felt Atiku did not address was trust deficit. Our camp is of the opinion that Atiku doesn’t walk the talk on any agreement or issue because of pressure here and there.

This crisis would not have reached this level if Atiku had kept faith with London talks and unwritten agreement with Wike. Our group will soon meet on the latest overtures from Atiku.”

Politics

I won’t leave PDP, I will stay and fight – Governor Nyesom Wike

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Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state has vowed to remain in the Peoples Democratic Party PDP despite his disagreement with the leadership of the party.

The governor stated this during a meeting with PDP stakeholders in Rivers state on Thursday night, September 22.

Governor Wike and his supporters have been calling for the resignation of the national chairman of the party, Iyiorcha Ayu.

They argue that since the presidential candidate of the party in the 2023 general election, Atiku Abubakar, is from the North, Ayu who is also from the North cannot remain the party chairman, They insist that Ayu vacates his office for a Southerner.

On Tuesday, September 20, Governor Wike’s supporters withdrew their support for the presidential campaign of Atiku Abubakar.

In response, Atiku Abubakar said he cannot force the national chairman to resign. I won’t leave PDP. I will stay and fight – Gov Wike Speaking on Thursday, Wike said that the recent developments would not make him leave the party.

He added that it is wrong for the party’s presidential candidate, national chairman, and presidential campaign DG to be from the same region.

“One thing I have always told people is if anybody is thinking, doing anything to think that we will leave PDP, foul.

We will do the fight in the party. We are not like them, when in 2014 they walked out from Eagle Square. They’ve forgotten. They walked out and joined APC. Is it not correct?.

Wike said Did they remain to fight inside the party? But we remained; they ran away. Now, there is a fight in the party, we will not run. We will fight it in this party.

Those who run away from fights are weak people. We will not. So, everybody should know this is the state where we are, so that nobody tells you all kind of stories.

You have taken presidential candidate; you have taken party chairman; you have also taken the DG (director-general) of the campaign.

We are talking about party politics. Decisions are made by the presidential candidate , chairman of the party, and the DG of the campaign.

They are telling you they told the chairman of the BoT to resign. So, you know there is a problem. You said he should go and resign.

You can put pressure on him to resign when his tenure hasn’t come to an end, but you cannot put pressure on the chairman to resign. You think at our level you will deceive us; you’ll tell us stories.”he said

Politics

Wike’s Team Pulls Out Of Atiku’s Campaign Council

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Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike’s team has pulled out of the campaign council of the Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

This was the outcome of a meeting that ended early on Wednesday morning in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

Present at the meeting were party leaders including founding members of the party, governors, ex-governors and ministers.

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