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We Brought You from Gutter to Make You Chairman, Wike Replies Ayu

Published

3 years ago

September 1, 2022

Eric

In his usual style, the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has come down hard on the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Iyorchia Ayu, warning the former Senate President not be an ingrate as he was brought from the gutter to become the party’s National Chairman.

Wike was speaking on Thursday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Ayu, who many political analysts have described as “a spent force who was in political limbo” had granted an interview to BBC Hausa on Wednesday after the reception for former Kano State Governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, who re-joined the PDP.

He had emerged Chairman after a long absence from the political space. Wike was credited with his emergence after an official visit to the state when it was concluded that Uche Secondus would go as the party’s National Chairman.

He alongside the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, pushed for his emergence, which worked.

Ayu said, “When we started the PDP journey, we did not see these children. They are children who do not know why we established this party,” he had said.

“We will not allow one person to come and destroy our party.”

But as he is wont to do, the governor replied Ayu while inaugurating roads in Ikwerre LGA of the state, warning Ayu that he should not be an ingrate.

“You can imagine what power can do. You can imagine how ingratitude — how people can be ingrates in their lives,” Wike said.

“I thought as a chairman of a party who wants to win elections, your business is to bring peace to your party; your business is not to divide your party. Your business is not to show arrogance to your party.

“Yes, the children brought you to be chairman of the party. The children brought you from the gutter to make you chairman.

“Ayu, you were impeached as senate president. Ayu, you were sacked by Obasanjo in his administration. Arrogance cannot take you anywhere.

“Now, we have seen that you don’t want the party to win the election. We will help you.

“These children — these people you call boys — brought you from nothing.”

He accused Ayu of sitting pretty as chairman because of the billions of naira in the PDP coffers which were made from the sale of forms during the party’s primary elections.

The Whistler

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APC Govs Forum, Others Adopt Tinubu As Sole Candidate for 2027 Presidential Race

Published

1 day ago

May 22, 2025

Eric

The All Progressives Congress has endorsed President Bola Tinubu as its flag bearer in the 2027 presidential elections.

The Party’s National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, announced this on Thursday, on behalf of its National Working Committee, at its National Summit held at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja.

The endorsement came hours after APC governors and lawmakers cast a vote of confidence on the president and endorsed him for a second term.

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FG Drags Natasha to Court for Defamation, Lists Akpabio, Yahaya Bello As Witnesses

Published

1 day ago

May 22, 2025

Eric

The Federal Government has filed a criminal suit against the senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, over comments she made on national television that were allegedly deemed defamatory.

The case, marked CR/297/25, was filed on May 16, 2025, before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, with Akpoti-Uduaghan listed as the sole defendant.

According to court documents, the government is charging the senator under Section 391 of the Penal Code (Cap 89, Laws of the Federation, 1990) for allegedly “making imputation knowing or having reason to believe that such imputation will harm the reputation of a person.”

The said comments were allegedly made during a live broadcast of Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ on April 3, 2025, where Akpoti-Uduaghan was said to have criticised unnamed individuals in a manner the government claimed was defamatory.

Count two of the charges accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of “making an imputation knowing or having reason to believe that such imputation will harm the reputation of a person, contrary to Section 391 of the Penal Code Law, Cap. 89, Laws of the Federation, 1990, and punishable under Section 392 of the same Law.

“That you, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, on or about the 3rd day of April 2025, during the same Politics Today programme on Channels Television in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, made the following imputation concerning Yahaya Adoza Bello, former Governor of Kogi State.

“It was part of the meeting, the discussions that Akpabio had with Yahaya Bello that night to eliminate me. When he met with him, he then emphasised that I should be killed, but I should be killed in Kogi.

“You knew or had reason to believe that such imputations would harm the reputation of Yahaya Adoza Bello, former Governor of Kogi State”, the charge added.

Among the witnesses lined up to testify include Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello, who are identified in court filings as the nominal complainants.

Other witnesses listed include Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, Sandra Duru, and police investigators Maya Iliya and Abdulhafiz Garba, who were involved in probing the matter.

The former Kogi governor had in April, petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), accusing Akpoti-Uduaghan, of making defamatory statements against him.

Bello, through a petition signed by his lawyer, N.A. Abubakar, submitted to the IGP on Wednesday, April 16, called on the police to invite Akpoti-Uduaghan to present credible evidence backing her allegations against him.

The former Kogi governor alleged that during a homecoming event on April 1, 2025, in Okehi Local Government Area, the female lawmaker ‘maliciously’ defamed him and accused him of being involved in an assassination plot.

The case comes amid ongoing political tensions surrounding Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was suspended from the Senate earlier this year. Her suspension sparked widespread criticism and allegations of political persecution.

Akpoti-Uduaghan had accused Akpabio of targeting her after she rejected his alleged sexual advances, claiming that her suspension was orchestrated to silence her.

She made the allegations following the altercation over sitting arrangement in the Senate Chamber that led to Akpabio ordering the sergeant-at-arms to eject her from the chamber when she rejected the seat offered to her.

She is challenging her suspension at the Federal High Court, where the hearing has been scheduled for June 27.

Source: ICIR

Headline

Again, Dangote Refinery Slashes Petrol Price by N15

Published

1 day ago

May 22, 2025

Eric

Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals has announced another reduction of N15 in the price of its high-quality Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

As a result of this reduction, Nigerians will now purchase the product at the following prices: N875 per litre in Lagos; N885 per litre in the South West; N895 per litre in the North West and North Central, while it will be sold for N905 per litre in the South East, South South, and North East.

These prices will apply through all its partners, including MRS, AP (Ardova), Heyden, Optima Energy, Techno Oil, and Hyde.

The refinery called on other marketers to join its expanding network of partners, thereby demonstrating their support for President Bola Tinubu’s Nigeria First policy, which advocates for the prioritisation of locally-produced goods and services.

Since the commencement of operations, Dangote Petroleum Refinery has consistently implemented cost-reduction strategies aimed at delivering tangible savings to Nigerians.

In February 2025, the company carried out two price reductions on petrol, resulting in a total decrease of N125 per litre.

This was followed by a further reduction of approximately N45 per litre in April.Additionally, the prices of other key products, such as diesel and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), have been significantly lowered, improving affordability across transportation, industrial, and domestic energy sectors.

Dangote Petroleum Refinery recently reassured Nigerians of price stability despite fluctuations in global crude oil prices, reaffirming its commitment to supporting Nigeria’s economy.

“By refining petroleum products domestically at the world’s largest single-train refinery, we are proud to make a substantial contribution to Nigeria’s energy security, foreign exchange savings, and overall economic resilience—aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which focuses on addressing the nation’s economic challenges and improving the well-being of Nigerians.

“We are immensely grateful to His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu, for making this possible through the commendable Naira-for-Crude Initiative, which has enabled us to consistently reduce the price of petroleum products for the benefit of all Nigerians,” it stated.Dangote Petroleum Refinery further assured the public of a consistent supply of petroleum products, with sufficient reserves to meet domestic demand, as well as a surplus for export to enhance the country’s foreign exchange earnings.Recall that only last Tuesdsy, the founder of Dangote Refinery, Aliko Dangote, was named in the inaugural 2025 TIME100 Philanthropy list.The list recognises the 100 most influential leaders shaping the future of philanthropy worldwide.The list, published by TIME Magazine, includes Aliko Dangote, whose Foundation spends an average of $35 million annually on programmes across Africa, alongside other global figures in charitable work, such as Michael Bloomberg, Oprah Winfrey, Warren Buffett, and Melinda Gates, all of whom were recognised as Titans.