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Wike and His Band at a Dead End: How the G5 Charade Crumbled

Published

2 years ago

January 8, 2023

Eric

By Abiodun Joseph

WISDOM is one the greatest attributes everyman should possess. WISDOM should have explained a moral lesson to the five Governors and their motley crowd of diehard acolytes that they can never hold the PDP behemoth to ransom for longer than necessary.

At the beginning of their war of attrition, the five Governors, Nyesom Wike, Samuel Ortom, Seyi Makinde, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Okezie Ikpeazu, all had reasons to protest the loss of the PDP Presidential Primary by one of their own and their ringleader, Wike, the energetic and hardworking Governor of Rivers State, aka “Mr Projects.” They were of the opinion that the National Chairman of their party, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, played the role of a biased umpire, and they were justifiably miffed and called for a pound of flesh.

The already tense situation became compounded when, according to them, promises and overtures were made to offer the number two position of Vice Presidential candidate to Wike, which again never materialized. This was the last straw that broke their camel’s back.

“Let me vow…today, anybody who emerges here I will support the person to the fullest. Anybody who emerges here today, I will support the person to the fullest because I am a committed party person. Because I love this party. Because since 1998, I have been in this party. i Have worked for this party. This is my party. I am not going anywhere” – Nyesom Wike

They gained many sympathisers considering how much support Wike had offered PDP in its days of tribulations. Trouble was the vengeance they sought was not an easy one. They wanted Ayu fired summarily by the party, but rather than do that, the NEC of the party passed a vote of confidence on the National Working Committee, headed by Iyorchia Ayu. The G5 Governors vowed never to support the ATIKU/OKOWA Presidential team until Ayu leaves as Chairman. All entreaties to them pleading for mercy and forgiveness fell on deaf ears. Perhaps, the situation would not have deteriorated so fast and degenerated totally if Governor Wike had not gone on a daily ritual of buying expensive airtime on television to lambast Ayu, and sometimes the PDP Presidential candidate, former Vice President, H.E Atiku Abubakar (GCON). As this verbal fisticuffs persisted, both camps dug deeper and deeper thus obliterating hopes of reconciliation.

As weeks climbed weeks, the G5 started hosting the opponents of PDP and announcing how they will soon endorse any candidate other than Atiku Abubakar. They made a second tactical mistake by turning it into a North versus South imbroglio. At a point, Governor Ortom could not hide his morbid hatred and disdain for the Fulani when he publicly declared he will never support a Fulani candidate and “they should go to blazes…” Their vituperation became unhinged.

“I made a vow to the Official Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Nigeria that I will support whoever emerges from the #PDPPresidentialPrimaries and I am not going to go back on my word. We cannot abandon the PDP, we will be fully supporting Atiku Abubakar” – Nyesom Wike

This was how their cookie crumbled.

Many of their sympathizers started thinking they’ve carried their anger too far. After meeting with them at home and abroad about five times, it seemed the PDP candidate decided to accept the reality of his situation with equanimity and chose to call their bluff. He decided to run a powerful nationwide Presidential campaign and luckily for him, he’s done far reasonably well since then.

“I never ran presidential election to want to be the vice-president”.

The first attempt by Wike and his band to test their popularity and influence on determining who should be voted and not be voted for backfired spectacularly in Ibadan Oyo State, where one of them, Governor Seyi Makinde, was flagging off his second term Gubernatorial campaign. The G5 hastily abandoned its usual verbal assaults against Atiku, Ayu and PDP when they realised that Oyo State party faithful were overwhelmingly in support of Atiku Abubakar and not ready to promote any division.

“Stop shaking your head’ that’s sycophancy. You are one of those causing problems. They gave you chieftaincy but you are a young boy so you don’t even know what to do with it. And then when I’m speaking you are shaking your head like this because you think I will be happy.

“All fake! Fake!!. You just go and wear something that is bigger than you…when someone is looking for power… You’d think he’s an elderly person. Very small young man… this boy. I know when I was in school, he was running around us, going on errands. Now he’s dressing Usman Dan Fodio (founder of Sokoto caliphate). Then he begins to breach protocol. He thinks when he’s shaking his head like this, I’d be happy. That’s fake…that’s fake…” – Nyesom Wike attacks traditional ruler

With the scenario that played out in Ibadan, it is obvious that the G5 has reached a dead end because the ATIKU/OKOWA loyalists are now further emboldened. Majority of PDP supporters have vowed to resist any act inimical to the success of all PDP candidates at all levels in all states of the Federation.

“This should be the last time you open your mouth to talk about this state because you are a total failure, as far as this state is concerned.” Wike attacked former Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi

Headline

Tinubu Presents N47.9trn 2025 Appropriation Bill to NASS

Published

4 days ago

December 18, 2024

Eric

President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday, presented the proposed 2025 federal budget to a joint session of the National Assembly.

The N47.9 trillion budget saw a whopping N3.5 trillion allocated to the education sector.

Other sectors that got higher allocations include defence and security – N4.91tn, infrastructure – N4.06tn and health – N2.4tn.

“It is with great pleasure that I lay before this distinguished joint session of the National Assembly, the 2025 Budget of the National Assembly of Nigeria titled, ‘The Restoration Budget’ security peace, building prosperity,” Tinubu said as he concluded his 30-minute presentation at 1:10pm.

This budget highlights the government’s focus on improving education, healthcare, and infrastructure, in line with its ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ aimed at boosting the economy and addressing key national priorities.

The live broadcast of the budget presentation today revealed the government’s plans for the next fiscal year. With a strong emphasis on human capital development, the president highlighted the budget’s commitment to improving the nation’s economic foundation.

Education sector receives major funding

A significant portion of the 2025 budget is dedicated to education, with N3.5 trillion allocated to the sector. President Tinubu stated that part of this funding would be directed toward infrastructure development, including support for Universal Basic Education (UBEC) and the establishment of nine new higher educational institutions.

“We have made provision for N826.90 billion for infrastructural development in the education sector,” Tinubu said.

This allocation aims to improve educational facilities and support ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s educational system.

Focus on human capital development

During the presentation, the president emphasized the importance of investing in Nigeria’s human capital. “Human capital development, our people are our greatest resource. That is why we are breaking record investment in education, healthcare, our social services,” he remarked.

Tinubu also pointed to the N34 billion already disbursed through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to assist over 300,000 students.

The budget includes continued investments in healthcare and social services as part of the broader goal of enhancing the quality of life for Nigerians.

Strengthening the economy and national security

Tinubu highlighted that the 2025 budget is designed to build a robust economy while addressing critical sectors necessary for growth and security.

“This budget reflects the huge commitment to strengthening the foundation of a robust economy, while addressing the critical sectors essential for the growth and development we envision; and secure our nation,” he said.

The budget aims to tackle key challenges and foster long-term economic stability by prioritizing infrastructure and development in key sectors.

Healthcare and social services allocations

In addition to education, Tinubu focused on the allocation for healthcare and social services. The government plans to increase investments in healthcare infrastructure and services to ensure broader access to essential healthcare for Nigerians.

These investments are part of the administration’s strategy to improve overall living conditions and enhance public health across the country.

President Tinubu’s proposed 2025 budget is said to reflect the administration’s commitment to achieving its development objectives, with a focus on economic growth, human capital development, and infrastructure improvement.

As the National Assembly reviews the budget, the president reiterated his administration’s resolve to address the nation’s most pressing needs.

Source: Nairametrics

Headline

Ghana’s President-elect Mahama Visits Tinubu in Abuja

Published

5 days ago

December 17, 2024

Eric

Ghana’s President-Elect, Dr. John Dramani Mahama, a courtesy visit to President Bola Tinubu at his residence, Presidential Villa, State House on Monday.

Mahama won 56 percent of the votes in this month’s presidential election, compared to the ruling party candidate and Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, who secured 41 percent.

The landslide comeback for former president Mahama ended eight years in power for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) under President Nana Akufo-Addo, whose last term was marked by Ghana’s worst economic turmoil in years, an IMF bailout and a debt default.

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I Stand by What I Said, Kemi Badenoch Replies VP Shettima

Published

1 week ago

December 12, 2024

Eric

The leader of the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, has lashed back at Vice President Kashim Shettima over the latter’s reaction to her comments about Nigeria.

Badenoch was born in the UK in 1980 to Nigerian Yoruba parents.

Badenoch, who attained age 16 in Nigeria before departing the country for the UK where she was elected Conservative Party’s leader, described Nigeria as a nation brimming with thieving politicians and insecurity.

However, Shettima, while speaking at the 10th Annual Migration Dialogue at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday, December 9, 2024, accused Badenoch of “denigrating her country of origin” with her remarks.

The vice-president listed influential people whose families had migrated to other countries, commending former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as a “brilliant young man who never denigrated his nation of ancestry.”

Reacting on Wednesday, Badenoch lashed back at Shettima, saying she doesn’t do “PR for Nigeria”.

Her spokesperson, as the Tory leader, according to UK Express, said: “Kemi is not interested in doing Nigeria’s PR; she is the Leader of the Opposition in the UK.

“She tells the truth; she tells it like it is; she isn’t going to couch her words. She stands by what she said.”