News
PDP rescued Obaseki, deputy from humiliating defeat, Wike speaks harshly amid crisis in party
Amid crisis between the defected members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and foundation members of the Peoples Democratic Party in Edo State over who controls the PDP, Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike on Saturday in Portharcourt reminded Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Comrade Philip Shaibu to remember how he rescued them from humiliating defeat.
Wike’s outburst is at the backdrop of Obaseki and Philip’s defection from the APC to PDP when they were denied a return ticket by the party when Com. Adams Oshiomhole was the National Chairman of the party.
Edo State PDP crisis continue to fester as Chief Dan Orbih leading other members of PDP to control party structure, while also expressing dissatisfaction at the governor’s handling of State affairs with regards to carrying PDP members along.
Reacting to the ill-feeling by some PDP members, the Deputy governor of Edo State had at a rally to welcome the PDP National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu to Edo State, threatened that PDP in Edo would lose members if harmonization was not carried out to see them controlling the party structure.
Shaibu feared that allies of his principal were planning to dump PDP if the national leadership does not quickly wade into the crisis and ensure a resolution in their favor.
The statement was considered a height of arrogance by Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, who fired back at the deputy governor, saying: “deputy governor’s conduct is irresponsible’, while he expressed dismay dismay at the actions of the Governor and his Deputy barely two years after the party rescued them from a humiliating defeat.
Wike wondered, saying, “how could an ordinary deputy governor who lost his local government during the election can be this audacious.”
Rivers governor’s scathing rebuttal was directed at Philip Shaibu than Godwin Obaseki over the crisis of supremacy rocking Edo State PDP.
Meanwhile, the deputy governor earlier disputed Obaseki’s assurances that he would not leave the party, saying that his resolve is conditioned on the continued membership of his “soldiers”, with no pushback from the Governor.
Wike continued: “This the same Deputy Governor (and his boss) that they were kneeling down for us to give them the umbrella. Today he has the effrontery to threaten PDP. Such a shame.”
“These are the same people when they were denied ticket under APC, they were running helter-skelter, begging everybody to give them umbrella and we gave them umbrella; we went and made sure that they won that election, today that Deputy Governor is ranting.”
“A Deputy Governor will come out on national television to tell PDP there are alternatives. I have written to the National Chairman of the party, if they do not constitute a disciplinary committee against the Deputy Governor, I will invoke sections of the party and ensure that they must discipline that Deputy Governor.”
“This is the same person who lost his local government during the election. A Deputy Governor wearing khaki, look at him,” Wike mocked to roaring laughter from his audience.
Wike vowed to give Edo deputy governor trouble he was looking for, asking, “who is his father?”
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has expressed his heartfelt condolences to the Governor of Katsina State, Malam Dikko Umar Radda, over the passing of his mother, Hajiya Safarau Umar Baribari.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu, Dr. Ganduje described Hajiya Safarau’s death as a profound loss that has left a deep void in the hearts of her family, friends, and the people of Katsina State.
Extending his sympathies, the APC National Chairman condoled with Governor Radda, the bereaved family, and the entire people of Katsina State during this difficult time.
He acknowledged the remarkable contributions of the late Hajiya Safarau and prayed for Almighty Allah (SWT) to grant her eternal rest in Jannatul Firdaus while strengthening the family to bear this irreplaceable loss.
Dr. Ganduje urged Governor Radda and others affected to find comfort in the cherished memories and enduring legacy of the deceased.
Reaffirming the APC’s support, the former Kano State governor assured the people of Katsina State of the party’s solidarity in their time of grief and prayed that Allah (SWT) grant the departed soul Al-Jannah Firdaus. Ameen.
The wife of Senator Isah Jibrin (Echocho), Hajia Aishat has offered cash and food items worth millions of naira to widows and vulnerable women across Dekina local government Councils, promises to take similar gesture across the nine local government in Kogi East.
The exercise which was tagged: “Widows Empowerment”, saw the Senator’s wife distributing cash and food items to cushion the effect of Ramadan.
Items distributed are bags of rice bags of salt, cartons of seasoning, maggi etc, which were evenly distributed to widows and vulnerable women across party lines.
A beneficiary who spoke with our correspondent at Odu in Dekina Local Government Council, Hon Fitumi thanked Hajia for her continuous effort in coming through for widows and vulnerable regularly.
She acknowledged similar gesture by Senator Isah Jibrin (Echocho), a fortnight ago at Ankpa when youths in their numbers from three Local Government Areas were trained in Agriculture and empowered, stressing that people are now living testimony to the effort of the lawmaker.
“”We are aware of several intervention projects, empowerment and developmental projects of Senator Echocho and we are not surprised seeing Hajia toeing the similar path.
“The distribution of food items and cash today is not only a rekindling of hope to the beneficiaries, but an encouragement that despite their condition, they were not forgotten.
Hajia Labran, and other APC Women leaders who spoke on behalf of women, applauded Hajia Aisha Echocho and pray Allah to strengthen her to carry on, urged others to emulate her sustainable initiatives.
The women advised other political office holders to emulate what is good and just, which they believed would strengthen the party.
As part of the activities to celebrate the golden anniversary of the University of Calabar, the wife of the President of the Senate, Mrs Ekaette Unoma Godswill Akpabio was on Saturday, March 22, 2025 conferred with an honorary doctorate degree in Education Management.
The ceremony held at the main campus of the institution in Calabar, Cross River State also saw the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike awarded the honorary doctorate degree in Law.
Other awardees included Major General Moses Bisong Obi (rtd) (Doctor of Peace and Conflict Studies) and Supreme Court Justice, Emmanuel Akomaye Obi (Doctor of Law).
In her acceptance speech after the conferment by the 15th Emir of Kano and Chancellor of the University, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, the wife of the Senate President, Mrs Akpabio thanked the Governing Council and Management of the University for finding her worthy of the honour.
A statement by the Special Assistant on Media/communication to the President of the Senate, Anietie Ekong quoted Mrs Akpabio as saying “I am happy to be honoured with this award from the prestigious University of Calabar that I have heard so much about from my dear husband, an alumnus of this great institution.
“I was wondering when I will join him as a great Malabress and that day has come and I am grateful to the University for this honour,” she said.
Mrs Akpabio promised to work with other awardees especially the Minister of the FCT to provide infrastructural assistance to the university.
In a citation the University extolled Mrs Akpabio for her philanthropic and humanitarian efforts towards uplifting the lives of women and the vulnerable of the society through her non governmental organisation, the Family Life Enhancement Initiative.
She was also recognized as a Champion of women’s rights and as one who used her position as the First Lady of Akwa Ibom State to fight for the inclusion of more women in governance.
On his part, Chief Wike said he was honoured to be among the recipients of award. He extolled the Visitor of the University, President Bola Tinubu for working tirelessly to promote tertiary education in the country.
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