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Tag: Wike

  • ‘Nothing ‘ll stop Wike from contesting’

    ‘Nothing ‘ll stop Wike from contesting’

    Former Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, has said he would win the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDPs)’primaries and win next year’s governorship election, despite the opposition to his candidature.

    In a statement yesterday by his media aide, Simeon Nwakaudu, the former minister of state said: “The Rivers Mandate Group, an offshoot of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is gasping for breath, having lost the support of the ordinary Rivers people who have endured four years of (Governor Rotimi) Amaechi’s non-performance and misrule.

    “Members of this sponsored group are planted remnants of the outgoing governor, trying desperately to distract the party.

    “Wike will contest the December 8 PDP governorship primary, and no amount of sponsored press conferences and interviews will stop him and committed members of Rivers PDP. The PDP is firmly organised and will defeat the APC in all elections by January with Wike leading the party.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, Wike will contest the governorship election, beginning with the primary on December 8. The antics of sponsored moles will not affect his chances.

    “Already, the party has had successful ward and local government congresses. Moles, including the Rivers Mandate Group, will continue to address press conferences while Wike is building bridges of party growth with PDP members and Rivers people. At present, Wike has consulted with party delegates from seven local government areas. The consultation continues on Friday, November 14 (today) and he will meet all party delegates before the December 8 governorship primary.”

  • PDP torn between Wike and the rest

    SIR: When one considers the happenings in Rivers State PDP, it portrays the national organs of the party as lame, ineffective or corrupt. There is no doubt that Nyesom Wike, the immediate past Minster of State for Education and one of the frontrunners in the race for nomination as PDP flag bearer in the 2015 governorship election is carrying on here as if he is a god.

    Wike fought very hard to be recognized as the strongman that ensured PDP did not sink in Rivers State. Perhaps, unknown to the national organs of the party, Wike was doing all that for purely personal benefits. It should be recalled that Wike and his State PDP executive had gone to court, and obtained an order that challenged the authority of the national organ to supervise Rivers PDP. The court ruled that the headquarters of the PDP must not override or dictate to Rivers PDP. This was a terrible slap on the national leadership of the party. Doesn’t this show that Wike and his Rivers PDP feel above the laws of PDP?

    Hence, Rivers PDP executives and Wike continued to dish out unchallenged decisions. If this is allowed, it is possible that PDP would lose the state to APC. This is as simple as ABC. Wike and his group have continued to be openly supported by the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan. It is surprising that the First Lady’s continued meddlesomeness in the affairs of PDP at all levels is tolerated and condoned by certain element in the party leadership.

    At the PDP mega rally recently in Port Harcourt to drum up support for Jonathan’s re-election in 2015, all the governorship hopefuls in the PDP were present, except Wike. Again during the PDP congress to select delegates for the primaries, all the 16 aspirants boycotted the exercise; it became Wike’s show. Can Wike be an island?

    Wike is plotting to govern Rivers State; apparently trying to take over from the incumbent governor, Rotimi Amaechi, a fellow Ikwerre. This, naturally, will be resisted by almost every voter in Rivers State. How PDP intends to overcome this problem is yet to be known. This, of course, would make President Jonathan lose the votes of a good number of Rivers people.

     

     • Dr. Bernard Tamuno,

    Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

     

  • Rivers 2015: Is Wike favoured by zoning?

    Rivers 2015: Is Wike favoured by zoning?

    It is heart warming to note the shift in reasoning by Mr. Nyesom Wike, who has acknowledged the existence of zoning in the Rivers PDP. Wike shifted ground from his previous position, which has been re-echoed by the Rivers State PDP, which has been hijacked by him, to the effect that zoning doesn’t exist in the PDP.

    According to Mr. Wike in his recent interview, zoning only applies when the party is in power, which is the reason, in his thinking, that the 2015 gubernatorial contest in Rivers State should be thrown open, until power is gained before zoning of political and elective offices within PDP can become effective.

    This thinking is not only illogical; it falls on its face on several fronts. When juxtaposed with the crude and exclusive brand of politics within the State chapter of the party, which shuts out other aspirants and their supporters from Party activities and promotes Wike, it is plain hypocrisy for the same individual to advocate for a right to run while effectively denying others the right to participate in electoral activities within the Party.

    Wike’s current position that zoning is only applied when the PDP is in power fails the test of sound reasoning because as at the time the PDP was formed, and zoning enshrined in the Constitution of the Party, it had not won any election. If, we are to discountenance this fact and even go by Mr. Wike’s current position, it would mean that an individual of a particular ethnic group, in this case, the Ikwerre ethnic nationality, can come to power through the PDP, exit the Party for political reasons, while sponsoring or colluding with another individual from the same ethnic group within the PDP to run for office, since the Party had lost power. The ramification of this thinking is better imagined than experienced and it is only deeply treacherous minds that can conceive and promote it.

    In the said interview, Mr. Wike also claimed he was the most suitable and best person to fly the Party’s flag to defeat the APC in Rivers State. Again, this is not true, if it was so, why then is there a desperate effort by Mr. Wike and his cronies, to deny others the right to participate in Party? The best and most suitable person to fly the Party’s flag can only be the outcome of open and transparent electoral processes within the Party. Electoral processes that have largely undermined both the Party’s constitution especially on a subject as zoning and restricted participants the right to participate in such processes within the Party, cannot logically result in producing the best candidate for the Party.

    Currently, 16 governorship aspirants are crying foul over the handling of the affairs of the Party in the State. Their grievances include: hijack of the PDP in the State by an ethnic based organisation; administration of the PDP to the exclusion of certain members who are not members of the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI); non-registration of new party members and revalidation of membership of old members who are opposed to the interests of a group in the PDP; illegal and unconstitutional removal of ward, local government and state  officers elected at the congress of 2012; the party’s position on zoning and rotation of elective offices, refusal of the State Chapter of the Party to issue Delegates Nomination Forms to members other than those of the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI); refusal to receive / collect Nomination Forms obtained from the national Secretariat by some aspirants; Chairman and Members of Congress Panel being loyalists, personal staff and associates of Mr Nyesom Wike, while as Minister of State for Education. Unfortunately, these issues are yet to be denied, given the weight of evidence that support them, which invariably cast a dark shadow over the avowed credibility and competence of Mr Wike.

    It is also very important to say that the debate on the next governor of Rivers State, is not necessary about defeating the All Progressives Congress, as Mr Wike alludes to, but about presenting the most competent person to neutralise the angst and charged political climate in Rivers, stabilise the polity and focus on the wellbeing of Rivers people. With such a person, the PDP is bound to succeed at the poll. The reality in Rivers State is that Rivers people are fed-up with politics of bitterness, perpetual conflicts and violence by key political actors. The implication, therefore, is that the education, pedigree, performance records, credibility, overall history of the aspirants will be the basis for arriving at such a critical life-impacting decision by Rivers people and evidence shows that a quarrelsome and garrulous character is not even qualified to be the least of those to be considered. The bar has definitely been raised beyond the reach of pedestrian standards of measurement. Rivers State is not in need of a fighter, but a leader to show direction and inspire productivity among our people.

    The argument that Mr. Wike fought to liberate PDP from the stranglehold of his kinsman and ally, Governor Amaechi, is not founded on sustainable logic. The PDP was never in shackles. Wike using Obuah as Chairman and Walter as Secretary, took over the leadership of the PDP and the governor and some of his supporters pulled out. Wike, the former Chief of Staff, was instrumental to the constitution of the same exco he dislodged. Now it is obvious he did all these for his selfish governorship ambition. An act that totally compromises the State Exco of the PDP.

    If one is to give him credit for ‘fighting’ an illusive battle, does it not make sense according to biblical injunction that ‘to whom much is given, much is expected’, for one who was appointed Minister in the Federal Government to defend the interest of his principal? Should that be the basis for the reward of Governorship of Rivers State? If one may ask, what is the outcome of the fight? Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi was not impeached, he is still the Governor of state resources. Chibuike has the House of the Assembly in his shadow. Amaechi has crippled the judiciary and is still antagonistic towards the President and the ruling PDP. Yet, they brag about a fight that was no more than a war of words, without any tangible outcome.

    The war of liberation in Rivers State was fought by Ijaw sons and daughters. Neither Wike nor his political associates participated in the fight against military dictatorship and for democracy in Nigeria. Many like him, have never confronted guns and bullets or even been detained while fighting for justice. So, the assessment and allusion of a liberation war does not  hold any truth. If the war in issue is the Amaechi vs Wike fight, then it does not qualify as a war, talk less of liberation. Only an ethnic bigot would not accept that Wike and his gang in GDI lost in the conflict with Amaechi.

    To this end, it is not profitable to continue to dwell in delusion and deception, reeling out weak and unbalanced argument to promote treachery that undermines social harmony in Rivers State. Mr. Wike’s recent acceptance of the existence of zoning in PDP should be followed through with good reason and responsible action. Zoning exists, irrespective of the party’s fortune in a state, since it is not stated as a condition in the party’s condition. The desperation by Mr. Wike to clinch power and violate the PDP’s constitution is unfortunate, which, if allowed to thrive by the hierarchy of the PDP, may spell doom for its fortune in Rivers State. Rivers people are watching how other aspirants of the party are being undermined by Mr. Wike’s cronies in the PDP. To forestall a possible break down of law and order in the state, it is advisable that the authorities step in and address the concerns raised by stakeholders of the party.

     

     •Davies writes from Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

  • Disqualify Wike, say PDP aspirants

    Disqualify Wike, say PDP aspirants

    Sixteen aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirants in Rivers State have urged the party’s national leadership to disqualify the former Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, from the governorship race.

    The aspirants accused Wike of compromising last Saturday’s ward congresses in the state.

    Allegations of irregularity reportedly marred the congresses in most wards.

    The aggrieved aspirants spoke yesterday in Abuja.

    They said the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) should cancel the “flawed” Rivers ward delegates’ elections or be sued.

    Leader of the Rivers Mainstream Coalition, Prof. Israel Owate, spoke on behalf of the 16 aspirants.

    He said the Rivers Ward Congress Electoral Committee, chaired by Dr. Yakubu Gambo, should also be disbanded.

    The aggrieved aspirants are: Major Lancelot Ayanya (rtd), Beks Dagogo-Jack, Bernard Mikko, Prof. Don Baridam, Dumo Lulu-Briggs, Gabriel Pidomson and Abieatedoghu Bob-Abbey.

    Others are: Senator Lee Maeba, Nimi Walson-Jack, Capt. Nwankwo Sunday, Oseleye Dennis Ojuka, Paweriso Samuel, Sampson Ngerebara, Dr. Silva Opusunju, Tamunososisi Gogo Jaja and Prince Tonye Princewill.

    They said: “We call on PDP’s NWC to cancel the flawed Rivers State ward delegates’ election. Wike should be disqualified as a governorship aspirant for compromising and corrupting the processes leading to the ward delegate elections and bringing the PDP to disrepute in Rivers State and the nation.

    “We call on the NWC of the PDP to invoke its constitutional powers as provided in Part viii Section 5, Sub-section 5 (2)(e) of the PDP constitution, as amended, to dissolve the docile and incompetent two-man Rivers State Working Committee and appoint a caretaker committee to run the party until another executive committee is elected.”

  • Wike criticises Amaechi for celebrating verdict

    Wike criticises Amaechi for celebrating verdict

    Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant Nyesom Wike has criticised Governor Rotimi Amaechi for celebrating the Supreme Court judgment that brought him to power while allegedly “crippling” the state’s judiciary.

    His Special Assistant (Media), Simeon Nwakaudu, said in a statement that the former minister of State for Education spoke at Abonema last Saturday at a rally where he addressed would-be PDP delegates from the four local councils of Akuku Toro, Asari Toro, Degema and Bonny.

    The aspirant said for a man, who benefited from the judiciary, it was unfortunate that the governor allegedly locked up the courts to deny the less-privileged indigenes access to justice.

    Wike regretted that instead of presenting his party’s candidate, the governor was busy campaigning for himself.

    He also wondered why Amaechi was losing sleep over PDP candidate.

    The aspirant said: “Amaechi is happy with the Supreme Court judgemetn that brought him to power but he has crippled the judiciary. Amaechi is siphoning Rivers money. But he will lose the presidential and governorship elections.

    “Amaechi is spending on PDP governorship aspirants because he cannot present a candidate of APC. I will win the PDP primary by the support of PDP members and will go ahead to win the governorship election.”

    Responding, an Ijaw leader, Chief Precious Elegema, said it’s no coincidence that Wike was visiting the Ijaws to promote his governorship candidacy.

    He thanked the aspirant for proposing to choose his deputy from the Ijaw.

    Elegema said though the Ijaw were interested in becoming the state’s governor, but at the moment, they fully support Wike.

    He added that Rivers State was at a moment of decision, hence the need to support a strong candidate who would liberate the state.

    Former commissioner, Chief David Briggs, stressed that the Kalabari people were working with Wike for future reasons, adding that the people have entered a contract with the former minister for the state’s development.

    King Hope Dan Obusenga, a traditional leader of Oceania in Akuku Toro, said even before Wike started his aspiration, he had started his developmental projects in the area, touching the lives of the people.

    He stressed that Wike stopped Amaechi’s impunity in the area, by ensuring that soldiers were posted to maintain peace.

    According to him, if Wike as a minister could promote peace in the area, he would promote infrastructural development. He donated N10 million to the Wike campaign funds.

     

  • First Lady blesses Wike’s bid to govern Rivers

    First Lady blesses Wike’s bid to govern Rivers

    THE First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has blessed the governorship aspiration of former Minister of State for Education Ezenwo Nyesom Wike.

    Mrs. Jonathan, who  visited the former minister in his Abuja residence yesterday, said: “I am giving you the blessing of a mother. The blessing a mother gives to a beloved son.

    “Go and you will conquer. He is a minister that delivered while he served in the cabinet. Wike proved himself and is ready to serve in a higher capacity”.

    She noted that Wike was “a listening and respectful politician”, who listened to her when she asked him to drop his senatorial aspiration in 2011.

    Her words: “You listened to me and dropped your senatorial aspiration. I pray God to protect you, lead you and please go on with your aspiration.

    “I have handed you over to our father, Dr. Peter Odili, and the people of Rivers State. You are going to Rivers State for the betterment of all of us and to wipe our tears.”

    The first lady later handed Wike to Odili.

    Responding, Wike assured Mrs. Jonathan that PDP would emerge victorious in all elections next year, praising the First Lady for serving as a mother to Rivers’ people.

    Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Austin Opara, who was at the event, said with the support of Mrs. Jonathan, Rivers State PDP had gained more ground and ready to win next year.

    He said party’s leaders bought the governorship form for Wike because they were united in the quest to take over from the state’s APC government.

    Other prominent Rivers’ indigenes at the meeting include Senator Adewari Pepple; Speaker Evans Bipi; Chief Sergeant Awuse; former Deputy Speaker, Chibudom Nwuche; Executive Director (Finance), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Ogiri; former Commissioner of Sports, Boma Iyayi; and Ogoni politician Chief Kenneth Kobani.

    Also yesterday, Wike claimed that Governor Rotimi Amaechi pushed him away to be minister to make him (the former minister) lose his base and influence.

    He also noted that the State Executive Committee (SEC) of the PDP), led by Chief Felix Obuah, had decided that there would be no zoning, contrary to the provision of the party’s constitution, to have a governorship candidate with the capacity to contest against the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The former minister spoke yesterday on Africa Independent Television’s (AIT’s) live current affairs programme, Focus Nigeria.

    In his reaction, the Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Chief Tony Okocha, who is also Amaechi’s Political Adviser, described Wike as an unrepentant ingrate, who is living in a fool’s paradise by embarking on wild goose chase, with his governorship ambition.

    Okocha stressed that Wike was a product of zoning. Otherwise, he would not have been chairman of Obio/Akpor local council, declaring that PDP leaders would be daft to field the ex-minister as the party’s governorship candidate.

  • Wike to support PDP’s candidate in Rivers

    Wike to support PDP’s candidate in Rivers

    A former Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, who is running on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State to succeed Governor Rotimi Amaechi, has promised to support whoever emerges as the party’s governorship candidate.

    He, however, hoped he would emerge as the party’s standard-bearer at the primaries to be contested by over 10 aspirants.

    Wike, an ex-Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt and the Director-General of Amaechi Campaign Organisation in 2011, spoke yesterday in a live telephone interview monitored on a local radio station in Port Harcourt.

    He vowed that the PDP would produce the state’s next governor.

  • Group, others fault GDI’s plan to endorse Wike

    Group, others fault GDI’s plan to endorse Wike

    THE plan endorsement of the former Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike by his political group, Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI) with the name of Ikwerre ethnic nationality has begun to trigger reactions against the propose endorsement.

    Wike, an Ikwerre man from Obio/Akpor Local government area of Rivers State is the grand patron of GDI, a group that is fully in support of his governorship ambition in 2015 and has planned to endorse him any moment from now.

    Reacting yesterday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital on the planned endorsement of Wike in the name of Ikwerre ethnic nationality by GDI, the President- General of Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural organisation, Prof. Augustine Onyeozu said he is not aware of such plan. He said Ogbakor Ikwerre which is the highest consultative assembly in Ikwerre ethnic Nationality is not a political group and would be against anyone who drags her name into politics.

    “I am not aware, but I want to state it clear that we are not supporting any political party or group, any other Ikwerre group can decide to support whoever they want to support but not to use the name of Ogbakor Ikwerre to endorse anybody.” A Group, Ikwerre Reality Movement (IRM) which has protested against the plan endorsement by GDI in the name of Ikwerre Ethnic Nationality said it would be an embarrassment on the people of Ikwerre if GDI endorses Wike in the name of Ikwerre.

  • Wike’s resignation will help bury Rivers PDP, says APC chair

    Wike’s resignation will help bury Rivers PDP, says APC chair

    THE Rivers State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, stated yesterday in Port Harcourt that the resignation of the Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, would help to formally bury the dead Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State. Ikanya also declared that Wike’s resignation would not have any effect on Rivers APC producing in 2015, the successor to Governor Rotimi Amaechi, but would rather enhance it.

    Rivers APC chairman maintained that another Ikwerre person would not succeed Amaechi. The Rivers governor, who is also the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), along with Wike, are Ikwerre, in the multi-ethnic Rivers state.

    Ikanya said: “Wike’s resignation might have been informed by four major factors: He has achieved successfully the destruction of both our higher education and ensuring that the vision behind the setting up of the unity schools is a thing of the past. Wike has nothing else to destroy. He has to resign after this negative feat.

    “Wike has concluded his plot to ensure that Jonathan’s political career is totally destroyed, by assisting him to ensure that Rivers State does not have any Federal Government presence and ceding our oil wells to Bayelsa and Abia States, after our ensuring that Dr. Goodluck Jonathan was elected as President with our over 2 million votes.

    “Wike’s resignation is also to assist the APC to formally bury the dead PDP in Rivers State. He has already directed Rivers State people and his Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI) members to vote out PDP and President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 and that we will surely do.

    “Wike might have also resigned to retire politically, because Rivers people have vowed not to vote him for any reason, as we cannot vote another Ikwerre man as governor after Rt. Hon. Amaechi.” The Rivers APC chairman also admonished Rivers people to continue to support the focused Amaechi’s administration. It will be recalled that the Rivers governor stated in Port Harcourt on Thursday that the PDP in Rivers state lacked quality governorship candidate.

    The ruling APC is also targeting 69,000 supporters for its mega rally on October 25, to mark seven years of Amaechi’s Supreme Court victory of October 25, 2007, through the landmark judgment. Amaechi maintained that the opposition PDP in Rivers state had nothing to offer the people in the 2015 general elections, with the PDP in Rivers made up of corrupt politicians.

  • Obanikoro, Maku, Wike resign to run for governor

    Obanikoro, Maku, Wike resign to run for governor

    Seven ministers are leaving the cabinet to run for governor.

    PresidentGoodluck Jonathan led the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to thank the ministers who are expected to quit before or on Monday.

    Leaving are Labaran Maku (Information), Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu (Health), Nyesom Wike (Education) and Emeka Wogu (Labour).

    Others are Minister of State for Trade and Investment Samuel Ortom, Minister of State for Defence Musiliu Obanikoro and Minister of State for Niger Delta Darius Ishaku

    The President noted that they had not officially resigned as they were yet to send their letters of resignation to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

    According to him, those leaving have up till October 20 to make their intentions known.

    He said: “If you are a public officer or you are a civil servant, if you have to go into an elective office you have to disengage on or before 20th of this month.

    “Going by that, that means that any of our colleagues who has the interest to contest any level of election may not be with us the next council day, that is next Wednesday.”

    “I think people may want to know what is the fate of XYZ. But I want to make it very clear that as at this morning, about seven members of council may, and I use the word ‘may’ because you don’t conclude anything in politics until… so seven of us may not be here next Wednesday, if their plans continue.”

    Continuing, he said: “But we may not say they are not with us until they write to us through the secretary of government. As we are talking, nobody has written and we have not dropped anybody. People should not say we have dropped ministers; no. We have not dropped ministers; they are still ministers of council, but assuming between now and next council if they decide to go on with their plans, it is only proper we wish them well assuming we don’t see them again.

    “But if they change their plans, they will continue to be with us, but after receiving the letters and they change their minds, it will be too late. So, if they have to change their minds they have to change their minds before sending the letter to the secretary of the government.

    “So those that may not be with us next wednesday are Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, Minister of Health, Prof. Onyeabuchi Chukwu, Minister of State Education, Nyesom Wike, Minister of State, Industry, Trade, Investment, Samuel Ortum, Minister of State Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, Minister of State, Niger Delta Affairs,  Dairu Dickson Ishiaku, Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu.”

    Wishing the outgoing ministers well and thanking them for their service to the nation on behalf of FEC, the Minister of Power, Chinedu Nebo said: “We appreciate the service rendered by these our brothers who have rendered distinguished service to this cabinet and to our country. They have a strong call, a notching to serve our nation in other capacities  as core hard politicians. One will say that they came, they saw, they acquired knowledge and then want to go out and serve their own people in their states.”

    “They have served very well. They gave us their best. They stood by you and by us their cabinet members. They identified with us and with our great leader’s transformation agenda. And now that they have decided to become your excellency’s ambassadors in their various areas, we wish them well. We wish them the best of God’s guidance and protection.”

    Maku, on behalf of the outgoing ministers, expressed gratitude to the President for giving them the opportunity to serve.

    He said: “This is truly a very difficult and an emotional moment for me and my colleagues who are about to take a leap of fate in our lives as individuals and as officers of state.

    “For me and Chukwu and a few others, we have been here with you for the last four and half years in this hallowed chambers, going through all the experiences we have gone through as the leader of this country so far.”

    “Your excellency, we believe in you, we believe in this country. Under you, this country has undergone fundamental changes, both in terms of leadership style, in focus and policy implementation for the transformation of our country.”

    Maku added: “Let me say sir that I mentioned something here last week when we were discussing Ebola virus disease conquest by your leadership, that you may not be appreciated now sir, but don’t worry, a time is going to come when this country will celebrate you because from what we have seen, the experiences we have gone through and the talent you have shown as a leader, it is very clear that God brought you purposely to stabilise this country and to give us a new direction out of a crisis of several decades.”

    “Your cabinet, maybe apart from First Republic and Gen. Gowon, no ministers have had this stability of tenure in this country for a very long time. And today, this stability is impacting positively in the live of our country.”

    Maku said: “In the first two years or so, you were maligned but today as result continues to come in from different sectors  because of stability of leadership, your focus, your vision, the nation is beginning to read you differently.”

    “The last in my opinion which is very important, is that you have a cosmopolitan approach to leadership in Nigeria. You have been able to bring together diverse people from all walks of life, you have resisted temptations to religious sentiments, resisted persuations for ethnic or sectional sentiments, you have remained a unifyer as every leader in a diverse country should be.

    And so we are going out with some of these lessons which we have learnt quietly from you in the last for yours.”

    He asked the President to forgive any of the outgoing ministers who might have offended him.

    “But Mr. President in the last four years and know that in several respects a lot of us would have done things that you didn’t approve of but because of your kind of personality,  you may not feel like telling us and you may not never tell us maybe in your memiors one day if you choose to vouch.”

    “But let me say that in any ways we have fell short of your vision for us, expectations in the execution of our public duties, we seek your forgiveness, sincerely. I want to assure you that that would not have come intentionally for those of us who truly believe in you.”

    “But we know we are human beings we must have offended you, sir, we seek your forgiveness, your understanding wherever we have failed you in the discharge of these duties.”

    “One of the difficulties we have had as a government is that people outside hardly believe in you so if those of us inside do not believe in you, others are always attacking you inspite of the things you are doing. It is my hope and prayer that as we go out that we will remember that once we have come to this level of trust, it is expected of us to return home and do better for you than we are doing now to find ourselves in the future.”

    “Finally, the challenges Mr. President faces, the challenges of national unity, terrorism, distraction within the Nigerian federation because of the dysfunctional nature of ruling class here and challenges of our divisiveness where we quarrel even when our nation ought to be together, when we quarrel even when we have best opportunity to build a nation. If those challenges were not brought on you after the 2011 elections, today Nigeria would have been playing at a very high league with Brazil and others.”