The President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, and former world richest man, Bill Gates, on Monday visited President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The visitation is part of the Gates Foundation’s commitment to working closely with communities and leaders to support innovation.
Details shortly…
President Bola Tinubu is due to embark on his first official foreign travel for signing of a New Global Financial Pact in Paris, the capital of France, between June 22 and 23.
President Tinubu, who will be jetting out of the country on Tuesday with members of the Presidential Policy Advisory Council, will return to the country on Saturday.
According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communication and Strategy, Mr Dele Alake, the new financial pact to be signed at the event will place the vulnerable countries at its heart.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will on Thursday, June 22, join world leaders in Paris, France, to review and sign a New Global Financial Pact that places vulnerable countries on priority list for support and investment, following devastating impact of climate change, energy crisis, and after effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The President will participate in the two-day Summit, June 22 and 23, that looks at opportunities to restore fiscal space to countries that face difficult short-term financial challenges, especially the most indebted; mobilize innovative financing for countries vulnerable to climate change; foster development in low-income countries, and encourage investment in “green” infrastructure for the energy transition in emerging and developing economies.
“President Tinubu and the other global leaders, multilateral institutions, financial experts and economists will take a more holistic look at the recovery of economies from the impact of COVID-19 pandemic, and rising cases of poverty, with a view to providing access to finance and investment that will leverage inclusive growth.
“The Summit, which will be hosted by President Emmanuel Macron of France, will be held at Palais Brongniart.
“The President will be accompanied by members of the Presidential Policy Advisory Council and senior government officials. He will return to Abuja on Saturday,” the statement reads.
The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has insisted on proceeding with its case before the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC), challenging the victory of President Bola Tinubu at the last election.
The APM is querying the legality of the joint ticket of Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, arguing among others, that Shettima had double nomination, which it claimed rendered the joint ticket invalid.
The PEPC had, on May 30 suspended proceedings in the matter to enable parties obtain and study a judgment delivered on 26 judgment by the Supreme Court, dismissing a case by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in which the party sought to void the joint ticket of Tinubu and Shettima as presidential and vice presidential candidates of the APC in the last election.
The PDP had, in its case, claimed that Shettima violated the Electoral Act by allowing himself to be nominated twice for two different offices – Borno Central Senatorial district and Vice President, and prayed the court to disqualify Tinubu and Shettima.
In its judgment,the Supreme Court held among others, that Shettima was not nominated twice and that a political party lacked the locus standi to challenge the process adopted by another political in nominating its candidates.
Lawyer to President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima (listed as the 2nd and 3rd respondents in the petition by the APM), Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), on May 30, drew the court’s attention to the Supreme Court judgment and argued that, in view of the apex court’s finding in the PDP case, there was no longer issues to be determined by the PEPC in the petition by the APM.
Lawyer to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) agreed with Olanipekun.
But, the petitioner’s lawyer, Shehu Abubakar denied knowledge of the judgment and sought time to be allowed to access the judgement, study it and decide what further steps to take.
When parties returned to court on Monday, a new lawyer, who represented the APM, G. A. Idiagbonya said he got a copy of the judgment from Fagbemi.
“We have gone through the judgment and we are of the opinion that we can still proceed with the petition,” Idiagbonya said and prayed the court for an adjournment to a later date for trial.
He said the petitioner intends to call a witness, but needed time to enable it retrieve some documents from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), with which it planned to conduct its case.
Lawyers to the respondents, including Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN) for INEC, Olanipekunq and Charles Uwensuyi-Edosomwan (SAN), did not object to Idiagbonya’s request.
Olanipekun said he has also read the judgment. He however, insisted that the petitioner must be allowed to return the next day for trial, a request Idiagbonya objected to, insisting that he needed time to get the documents from INEC.
Ruling, Justice Haruna Tsammani adjourned till Wednesday for trial.
Details Shortly…
Another mobile network operator, Airtel Nigeria, has officially launched services riding on the fifth generation (5G) technology in the country.
The launch brings to three the total number of operators offering services on the technology which promises to deliver super-fast data services and redefine services in other sectors of the economy including medicine, agric, and others.
MTN Nigeria pioneered the launch of the service which was followed by Mafab Communications.
Chief Commercial Officer at Airtel Nigeria, Femi Oshinlaja, said 5G services will be available in four major cities of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos, Ogun and Rivers States, adding that services would be extended to other parts of the country subsequently.
Details Shortly…
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the weekend got pledges of support from Federal lawmakers and a pat on the back from eminent Nigerians on his actions in the last 22 days.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio at two different events reaffirmed his position that senators would support the President with legislation to enable him to deliver the dividends of democracy.
Similarly, House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas promised the House’s collaboration with the Executive in the interest of Nigerians.
Akpabio spoke at receptions for the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume in Abuja and former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike in Port Harcourt.
Former Governors Peter Odili (Rivers) and James Ibori (Delta) said President Tinubu has started well, adding that he deserves the cooperation of Nigerians.
First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, who reflected on the weight of responsibilities on Tinubu’s shoulders, said she and her husband are in Abuja to work for Nigerians.
‘Why Senate will partner Tinubu’
Speaking in Abuja, Akpabio said: “I believe strongly that Nigerians are in for the best of times under this administration.
“Members of the National Assembly will enjoy a lot of cooperation and support from the Executive because, for the first time, we are going to have a very serious accord between the Executive and the Legislature. I see good things coming for Nigerians.”
Akpabio said that in less than 20 days in office of the present administration, the stock market has gone up.
He stressed: “The world is already applauding Nigeria. I believe strongly that Senator Akume has a hand in most of the policies that are coming out and you are just starting.
“You can imagine the celebrations that would come again, in the first 100 days of this administration in office. You are indeed a square peg in a square hole.”
The Senate President described Akume as a man of excellence and humility.
He said: “We are celebrating two things tonight: excellence and humility. You are a man of excellence.
“You leave your mark in everything you do and I have no doubt you are going to leave your mark in the present administration of Tinubu. Your humility disarms all.”
Akpabio said the 10th Senate would work seamlessly with Senator Akume as the SGF to develop policies that will transform the economy.
Abbas said: “Senator Akume has a proven track record in coordinating government activities and stringing government.”
Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, described Akume as “a welfarist who puts the needs of others first”.
His appointment, he noted, is evidence of efficient representation of the Northcentral in the Tinubu administration.”
Akume thanked the dignitaries for their goodwill messages, assuring them that he will not disappoint President Tinubu and the ruling party.
In Port Harcourt yesterday, Akpabio maintained that within 20 days of Tinubu’s Presidency, the Stock Exchange had shown that the right person is in charge of the country.
Akpabio, who was joined at the podium by other senators in his entourage, commended Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima.
He said the National Assembly would cooperate with President Tinubu to take the country to greater heights
Akpabio added: “Thank the President for us for a seamless transition in the National Assembly. Being our first major outing together, we say that we should use this platform to thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Vice-President, Senator Kashim Shettima, for recognising the need to put the National Assembly in order before commencing the business of governance.
“In less than 20 days in office, even the stock exchange has shown that yes, indeed, the right person is in the saddle.
“We want to wish him well and we assure you that we will cooperate with him to ensure that Nigerians get the benefits of the democracy they have been yearning for, for so many years.”
Turning to Odili, Akpabio said though he was the President the country never had, his prayer of having a Class of 1999 Governors had been answered by Tinubu’s emergence.
He appealed to Odili to relocate to Abuja and help Tinubu to succeed as the President.
He said: “Thank God that the Class of 99 that you belong to have today produced a president, which was always your desire.
“It is time for you to come to Abuja and join your brother, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, advise him to do those things that you would have loved to do because we all thought you would have been the President from Southern Nigeria.”
Akpabio clarified that the money he used in supporting Wike’s governorship ambition in 2015 came from his savings from the telecom sector, where he was a managing director and not from the Akwa Ibom Government House.
He said: “Governor Nyesom Wike represents different things to different people. To us in the 10th Senate, he represents a pillar, a shoulder we can lean on. We are very proud of you and we are delighted to have you as an honorary member of the 10th Senate.
“You said in the church that the then Governor Akpabio assisted you with some money when you were running for office. That money came from my savings in the telecom industry where I was a managing director. It was not from the government of Akwa Ibom State.”
Akpabio thanked Wike and the G-5 for their efforts in promoting justice, fairness and equity during the last elections.
He said: “I want to thank you for all your efforts to bring justice to Nigeria. I want to thank the G-5 Governors. We are delighted to have you.
“Ensure that in 2027, another G-5 emerges so that the APC will continue to do well. It shows that you are a nationalist. You are a freedom fighter.”
Tinubu has made right decisions, says Odili
Odili lauded Tinubu, saying that he has so far taken the right decisions to put the country on the right path.
Odili and Ibori spoke at the reception organised by the Wike family at his Rumuepirikom’s country home Obio-Akpor.
Odili, who chaired the occasion, said they were very happy that the efforts of Wike and his group led to the emergence of Tinubu, who belongs to their class of 1999 governors, as the President.
He urged the other arms of the government to work together with the President to move Nigeria forward.
While observing that a good dance begins with the first step, Odili said Tinubu had “taken very correct steps”.
He said: “We need each other to keep Nigeria united. I want to congratulate the members of the other party that worked with them to produce what I am praying will be the best or at least, one of the best two Presidents Nigeria will have so far.
“Our President was a member of Class 99. My brother, James, is here. We have no doubts that the President that all of you have collectively voted for and who is in charge today as the Commander-in-Chief, Bola Tinubu, is going to change the narratives in Nigeria.
“So, Mr. President of the Senate, when you get back to Abuja as you begin the task of governance, recognise and put it into action the fact that no country has two governments. There’s only one Federal Government with three arms.
“Those three arms must work together for Nigeria to move forward. We want to use this opportunity to appeal to you and your colleagues to work with the President so that the dividends he has in mind can be delivered.
“A good dance begins with the first step. His first steps are very correct steps and the dance has started. We pray that the Almighty God will sustain your collective efforts to take Nigeria to where Nigeria should have been years ago. God’s time is always the best.”
Odili, who described Wike as an indomitable, irrepressible and courageous lion of the Niger Delta, said they had run out of words to qualify the former governor.
He said: “We have run out of words to describe this man. In 2015, he was called Mr. dynamic, hurricane. Today, he stands out in Nigeria as a household name. Mention the name Wike anywhere, heads will turn, the temperature will change and the atmosphere will be altered.
“Look at the rainbow nature of this gathering and you will appreciate the points being made. He is thanking God because for eight years, the Almighty God gave him the opportunity to govern Rivers State and he grabbed the opportunity with two hands and the Almighty God showed him the way.
“Wike stands in the history of Nigeria and in the history of democratic governance as the best governor that Nigeria has produced so far.
“The MC said Dr. Peter Odili was the golden governor of Nigeria. I can say that Odili is gladly handing over that title to Nyesom Wike”.
Ibori expressed confidence that Tinubu would do well for the country as the President.
He said: “We believe that President Tinubu will do what is good for Nigeria. We know he is courageous and daring and we know he can take risks. We need all of those combined to do what is right.”
No room for play, says Senator Tinubu
Senator Oluremi Tinubu said President Tinubu is not out to play but to build and unite the country.
The First Lady spoke when the Speaker led his deputy, Benjamin Kalu, and some members of the Joint Task group of the 10th Assembly on a thank-you visit to her.
While congratulating them on their victory, Senator Tinubu said with the calibre of leadership and membership of the 10th Assembly, Nigeria would be great again.
She said: “We didn’t come out to play. We came out to build and unite the path that generations will take. Nigeria deserves all that we can do to put it back on its feet. We have a great nation.
“Your victory, it’s God that did it because without God, even if we put all our strengths, it won’t happen. By the grace of God, we will work.”
Abbas assured that the 10th House would work for Nigerians and support Tinubu to succeed.
He said the overwhelming mandate given to him by his colleagues would spur him to work assiduously with every member to achieve a greater Nigeria.
Abbas said the current administration would have a smooth sail as the President, the Vice President, the First Lady, the Chief of Staff to the President, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation were members of the National Assembly.
Abbas said: “We’ll collaborate and partner, particularly in one area that you requested last time, which is to carry the women along.”
He said the 10th House would ensure that gender-based bills being passed by the Ninth Assembly but not signed into law were reconsidered and passed by the 10th House.
Kalu said the president and his wife inspired them before, during and after the contest for Speaker, noting that President Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) made the right choice by endorsing the current leadership of the National Assembly.
He added: “We want to pledge again. We won’t fail you. What happened means stability had been given to this government. He has encouraged people who believe in his mission and vision.”
Chairman of the Joint Task – 10th Assembly, Usman Bello, said: “We are here to say thank you to you for being supportive of your husband. Your Excellency, you are unique. The country is lucky to have you as the mother of the nation.
“You’re coming from the point of knowledge because you were with him when he was governor, you were in the National Assembly, and now you’re the mother of the nation.
“You have given us a lot of support for Tajudeen and Kalu to emerge. We also want you to thank our father, the father of the nation, for what he did to us.
“We want to reiterate our unflinching loyalty to the President and the country. We know you’d advise him from the point of knowledge to make the country better.”
‘Nigeria on path of recovery’
The Peace Development and Conflict Resolution Centre (PDCRC) hailed President Tinubu for his achievements in office.
The group said with the steps taken by the President, Nigeria was on the path of recovery.
In a statement by its National Coordinator, Sulaiman Idris, the group said there is hope for Nigeria.
The group, however, appealed to Tinubu to allow heads of some agencies that were appointed during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari to complete their tenure.
The statement reads: “It is clear that the president is on the path of making new appointments of heads of agencies and other parastatals by replacing those that served under President Buhari.
“We are aware that these steps are being taken by the president with very good intentions to save Nigeria from collapse and set it on the path of developmental progress.
“However, we wish to draw the attention of the presidency that there are some appointments made towards the end of the last administration that have hardly lasted seven months and whose removal will be detrimental to the nascent peace being enjoyed in the country.
“We wish to draw the attention of the presidency to the appointment of the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NNDC).
“It would be recalled that following a debate on the leadership of the commission, a compromise was reached where the position would be rotated within the nine oil-producing states in alphabetical order of Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers.
“More so, a quota system is adopted in all the states to ensure that the position circulates across all the constituencies.
“Being that the current leadership has not completed the tenure for which he was appointed, it is the humble opinion of this organisation that he be allowed to complete his tenure as a way of sustaining peace among the affected constituencies.
“Our organisation, though based in the North, is saddled with the responsibility of promoting peace and resolving conflicts for the purpose of development of Nigeria as a whole.”
Nigerian equities outpaced major global equities at the weekend in a sustained rally that had seen investors gaining about N3.3 trillion in the past three weeks.
With more than three-quarters of deals at the stock market struck at premium, equities closed at the weekend with average return of 5.49 per cent, the highest among the major global indices.
The sustained rally, triggered by the inauguration of President Bola Tinubu on May 29, has seen Nigeria’s average year-to-date return climbing to 15.12 per cent, within the top bracket of global share price appreciation, so far this year.
The All Share Index (ASI)- the common value-based index that tracks all share prices at the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), rose to 59,000.96 points at the weekend, representing a return of 5.49 per cent on the week’s opening index of 55,930.97 points. This implied net capital gain of N1.67 trillion within the four-day trading session last week.
The performance of equities was ahead of other global indices, which also showed a broadly positive global sentiment.
In the United States (U.S.), the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S & P 500 Index closed the week with average return of 1.6 per cent and 3.0 per cent respectively.
The FTSE 100 Index in the United Kingdom (UK) appreciated by 1.3 per cent, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index rose by 4.5 per cent. China’s SSE posted average gain of 1.3 per cent.
The STOXX Europe – a regional index that tracks European markets, recorded average gain of 1.2 per cent.
The MSCI EM- which tracks emerging markets, rose by 2.1 per cent while the MSCI FM – which tracks frontier markets, appreciated by 1.0 per cent.
For three consecutive weeks, the local equities have sustained a strong bullish momentum as the Tinubu administration begins implementation of key policy reforms encapsulated in his manifesto and further enunciated in the May 29 inaugural address.
In a speech that had been described as market-friendly, Tinubu had addressed general issues of security, economy, infrastructure and monetary outlook. The president also directly addressed investors’ concerns on multiple taxations, returns repatriation and foreign exchange (forex) among others.
“I have a message for our investors, local and foreign, our government shall review all their complaints about multiple taxation and various anti-investment inhibitions. We shall ensure that investors and foreign businesses repatriate their hard earned dividends and profits home,” Tinubu said, immediately after his inauguration at the Eagle Square, Abuja.
The new administration has since gave effect to the stoppage of the fuel subsidy, abolished the multiple forex rates and instituted probes into major issues of public finance.
The ASI, which opened May 29 at 52,973.88 points, has gained 11.38 per cent over the past three weeks, equivalent to net capital gains of N3.28 trillion.
The aggregate market value of all quoted equities at the NGX rose concurrently from its opening value of N28.845 trillion on May 29, to N32.126 trillion at the weekend, an increase of N3.28 trillion.
Market analysts were unanimous that the sustained rally was in response to Tinubu’s pro-market stance, with many of them predicting that a rebound in foreign direct and portfolio inflows would lead to repricing of Nigerian stocks, which had been underpriced by long-running apathy from foreign investors.
Managing Director, APT Securities and Funds Limited, Mallam Garba Kurfi, said the market was responding to the expectations of reforms implied in the president’s address.
Kurfi said: “The speech is excellent, especially as regards converging exchange rate into one; that will attract inflow of foreign Investors. The removal of fuel subsidy will attract more investments in the refineries and removal of double taxes will also bring more Investments into the country, and all these will reduce unemployment and increase productivities.”
Group Executive Director, Investment Banking, Cordros Capital, Mr. Femi Ademola, said the market was expectedly responding to pro-economy outlook of the Tinubu administration.
He said the peaceful transition of power and the inaugural speech of the president “struck the right cords”, since markets react to sentiments.
According to him, the market is expected to react very strongly and positively to the government agenda including end to fuel subsidy, lower interest rates, end to multiple exchange rates and ease of capital repatriation by foreign investors.
He said: “These are expected to attract investments back into the country as investors return and strengthen the country’s exchange rate. Perhaps, one very notable issue is the issue of lower interest rates.
“This may indicate that the administration will not be looking at attracting portfolio investment with high interest rates but more likely direct and patient investment that would stay for a longer period.
“While the market may still continue with its usual zigzag movements, the implementation of these policy reforms would ensure more positive movements on the market than negative.
“Supporting the monetary policy changes with the required fiscal reforms such as infrastructure development would add to the sustainability of the growth plan for the economy.
“I am happy with the inaugural speech and the plans of action as it is what is needed at this time. However, it has to go beyond words and intentions; the administration must hit the ground and run with the implementation of the policies.”
Chief Operating Officer at GTI Capital Group, Mr. Kehinde Hassan, said the general economic outlook enunciated by the president would herald new thematic growth for the economy.
He said investors appeared favourably disposed to the various initiatives, noting that the market response was a sort of a vote of confidence in the president’s economic direction.
Afrinvest Securities said “economy reform optimism” bolstered the market performance, noting that the “the rally in the market followed the promise of critical reforms by the President Bola Tinubu administration”.
Coronation Securities Limited said: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s inaugural address was given yesterday (Monday), and it sparked the equity market’s imagination, with a rally of 5.23 per cent today (yesterday).
“The announcement of key market reforms, including phasing out fuel subsidies and unifying foreign exchange rates, shows that pro-market policies were not just items in the manifesto but issues which he is setting out to fix. If they are fixed, we expect much more from the equity market.”
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has lifted restrictions of the operation of domiciliary accounts by individuals.
This is contained in a “further guidance on operational changes to foreign exchange market” issued by the CBN on Sunday.
Director, Corporate Communications, Dr. Isa Abdulmumin said “these policy changes aim to promote transparency, liquidity and price discovery in the FX market in order to improve FX supply, discourage speculation, enhance customer confidence and ensure overall stability in the FX market”.
The decision to issue new guidance on Forex market operations, Isa said was taken at an extraordinary Bankers’ Committee on Friday, June 16, 2023.
According to the new guidance, “ordinary domiciliary account holders shall have unfettered and unrestricted access to funds in their accounts”.
Domiciliary account holders are henceforth”permitted to utilize cash deposits not exceeding USD$ 10,000 per day or its equivalent via telegraphic transfer.
“Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) have now been ordered to “provide returns to the CBN, including the “purpose” for such transactions”.
Other additional changes introduced in the Forex market by the CBN are: “cash deposits into domiciliary accounts will not be restricted, subject to DMBs
conducting proper KYC, due diligence and adhering to the spirit and letter of
extant AML/CFT laws and other relevant rules and regulations”.
The CBN has also decided that it “will prioritize orderly settlement of any committed FX forward transactions as they fall due in order to boost market confidence further.
Regarding foreign exchange for visibles and invisibles, the apex has decided that “all visible and invisible transactions (medicals, school fees, BTA/PTA, airline
and other remittances) will now be eligible for the Investors’ and Exporters’ (I & E) window.
As a result of this, DMBs have been told to “ensure expeditious processing of all eligible invisible transactions on behalf of their customers using the applicable rate at the I & E window”.
The CBN in its guidance has resolved to “normalize its Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) maintenance processes and ensure equity in its implementation across the banking industry.
The CBN said it will issue further guidance as it implements the ongoing reforms as well as continue to engage stakeholders.
The Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Rivers and Delta Governors Dr. Peter Odili and Chief Onanefe Ibori have appraised the performance of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying he has so far taken the right decisions to put the country on the right path.
The trio spoke on Sunday at a reception for dignitaries that attended the Thanksgiving Service organised by the family of former Governor Nyesom Wike at Wike’s Rumuepirikom’s country home Obio-Akpor.
Odili, who was the chairman of the occasion, said they were very happy that the efforts of Wike and his group led to the emergence of Tinubu, who belongs to their class of 1999 governors, as the President.
He said they were confident that Tinubu would change the narratives in the country and urged the other arms of the government to work together with the President to move Nigeria forward.
While observing that a good dance begins with the first step, Odili said Tinubu had “taken very correct steps” as the dance had started.
Odili said: “We need each other to keep Nigeria united. I want to congratulate the members of the other party that worked with them to produce what I am praying will be the best or at least one of the best two Presidents Nigeria will have so far.
“Our President was a member of class 99. My elder brother James is here. We have no doubts that the President that all of you have collectively voted for and who is in charge today as the Commander-in-Chief, Bola Tinubu, is going to change the narratives in Nigeria.
“So, Mr. President of the Senate, when you get back to Abuja as you begin the task of governance, recognise and put it to action the fact that no country has two governments. There’s only one federal government with three arms.
“Those three arms must work together for Nigeria to move forward. We want to use this opportunity to appeal to you and your colleagues to work with the President so that the dividends he has in mind can be delivered.
“A good dance begins with the first step. His first steps are very correct steps and the dance has started. We pray that the almighty God will sustain your collective efforts to take Nigeria to where Nigeria should have been years ago. God’s time is always the best”.
Odili, who described Wike as indomitable, irrepressible, courageous lion of the Niger Delta said they had run out of words to qualify the former governor.
He said: “We have run out of words to describe this man. In 2015 he was called Mr. Dynamic, hurricane. Today he stands out in Nigeria as a household name. Mention the name Wike anywhere, heads will turn, the temperature will change and the atmosphere will be altered.
“Look at the rainbow nature of this gathering and you will appreciate the points being made. He is thanking God because for eight years the almighty God gave him the opportunity to govern Rivers State and he grabbed the opportunities with two hands and the almighty God showed him the way.
“Wike stands in the history of Nigeria and in the history of democratic governance as the best governor that the Nigeria has produced so far. The MC said Dr. Peter Odili was the golden governor of Nigeria. I can say that Odili is gladly handing over that title to Nyesom Wike”.
Akpabio observed that within 20 days of Tinubu’s Presidency, the Stock Exchange had shown that the right person is in charge of the country.
Akpabio, who was joined at the podium by other senators in his entourage, used the occasion commend Tinubu and the Vice-President, Senator Kassim Shettima for ensuring seamless transition at the National Assembly.
He said the National Assembly would cooperate with President Tinubu to take the country to greater heights
He said: “In less than 20 days in office, even the stock exchange has shown that yes indeed the right person is in the saddle. We want to wish him well and we assure you that we will cooperate with him to ensure that Nigerians get the benefits of the democracy they have been yearning for for do many years”.
Ibori expressed confidence that Tinubu would do well for the country as the President.
He said: “We beleive that the President, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will do what is good for Nigeria. We know he is courageous, daring and we know he can take risks. We need all of those combined to do what is right”.
A former Rivers Governor Peter Odili has said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has stated well.
He said the decisions taken by the President in the past two weeks have shown what his government has in store for Nigerians.
Odili spoke at a reception organised in honour of the immediate-past Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike, in Port Harcourt.
According to him, the President has shown that he has the wherewithal to make a difference in governance.
Details Shortly …
The immediate past Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike, has disclosed some life-threatening scenarios he kept as secrets during his eight-year tenure..
The former Governor, in a special Thanksgiving service on Sunday organised by his family at the St. Peters Deanery, Rumuepirikom, Obio-Akpor, revealed that he was poisoned at the secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in December 2018.
He said the poison ravaged his internal organs, affecting his liver and kidneys and almost killed him but for God’s interventions.
Hundreds of dignitaries, who attended the service, listened in shock as the former Governor disclosed his kept secrets.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was represented at the event by Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The service was attended by the Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Deputy Senate President, many senators, over 35 members of the House of Representatives, many former Governors, former ministers, royal fathers, captains of industries, the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) among other Very Important Persons (VIPs).
Narrating how he almost died of poisoning, Wike said: “God was in charge, everybody who knew how we came to power in 2015, knew it was turbulent. But God saw us through. When you are in office, many people think things are going well with you. Nobody wants to find out the problems you are facing as a human.
“In December 2018, it was a day my former Chief of Staff was going to have Thanksgiving. I was to attend that Thanksgiving. From that Sunday I never came down from my room. It was bad. But those who attended the January 1st state banquet of 2019 will know that I never spoke that day. I just sat down there and told the Deputy Governor to speak on my behalf. I thought it was over”.
Wike said he was flown to a hospital in Beirut at 12 midnight where doctors after running series of tests told him that his liver and kidney were all gone.
“I didn’t know I had been poisoned at our party’s secretariat”, he said adding that the doctors after some treatments returned and told him his organs had started working again.
He said the doctors discharged him after about a week and asked him to return home noting that he altered his itinerary during the campaigns for his second term.
The former Governor said everybody became a suspect as he decided that he would not enter any party leader’s home during the course of his campaigns.
He recalled that the second incident of God’s intervention in his life was when his wife called him during his presidential primary campaign and told him that she had been diagnosed of cancer.
Wike said he called the leaders in his campaign team including the G-5 Governors that there was a problem and he was planning to quit the race.
But he said his wife encouraged him to continue with his campaigns that all would be well.
The Governor also recalled that after the primary when he was on a trip to Abuja in the company of his wife, he got information that a mysterious fire gutted his wife’s room and destroyed everything she had as a woman.
Despite all the challenges, he said: “Being a strong woman, my wife never showed it. But today my wife is hale and hearty. The cancer incident was the one I knew that God had done all for me”.
Wike further recalled that on another occasion, God saved him and three other leaders from a plane crash.
He said while they were travelling to Abuja after the presidential primary, one of the engines of the aircraft exploded 15 minutes after take-off.
“15 minutes of take off at the airforce base, we heard an explosion. They locked the cockpit. One engine is gone and the pilot said it was safer to turn back to Port Harcourt. Before we landed there were many ambulances and fire service trucks lined up. We landed safely by the Grace of God. I didn’t tell anybody,” he said.
The former Governor said he kept most of the incidents secret to avoid frightening his supporters, who could begin to behave anyhow.
Wike said he decided to thank God for allowing a peaceful transition in Rivers and granting him victories in all the elections held in the state.
“Ask my colleague how they felt that their candidates didn’t make it as their successors. Even those not sworn-in yet started tormenting their predecessors. But nobody is tormenting me”.
The former governor said there was a gang-up in his party at the national level to arrest him if his decisions had failed adding that at some points his loyalists were scared that they would all be in trouble.
He disclosed that all the forms for all elections in the party were acquired by him noting that no candidate of the party paid a dime to buy forms.
“I paid for every form. Nobody would say he paid any money to buy forms from governorship to House of Assembly. We agreed to work as a team. In the House of Assembly only one form, Senate same. We didn’t want to have anything called post election crisis,” he said.
He said all the governorship aspirants signed an agreement drafted by the party elders that they would support the choice of the party for the governorship poll
But Wike said: “When somebody was chosen, there was a gang-up. They moved to Abuja and started plotting how they would arrest me after winning at the centre. All evil plots against me failed.
“Those close to me were worried. But I told them to have faith they would not be finished. God never abandoned us.Today we have a governor, who is our successor. I don’t look back because I know I am protected everywhere”.
Wike disclosed why he supported Akpabio for Senate Presidency saying the former Akwa Ibom Governor defied criticisms to back his governorship ambition in 2015.
He said Akpabio donated N200m to his campaign adding that one good turn deserves another.
He said: “When I was running in 2014 and 2015 he came out and supported me. He gave me N200m for that election. That is why I said one good turn deserves another. I supported him this time and I thank God he won”.
Wike thanked all members of the G-5 and Integrity Group for the roles they played during the presidential election.