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Tag: Wike

  • PDP crisis: I’m victim of proxy war against Wike, says Anyanwu

    PDP crisis: I’m victim of proxy war against Wike, says Anyanwu

    • Our tenure ends Dec 9, 2025

    • There’s no issue for us to quarrel about

    National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Samuel Anyanwu, said yesterday that the campaign to dislodge him from his post stemmed from his friendship with Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike.

    Anyanwu, who was restored to the position on Friday by the Supreme Court following protracted litigation, said he has all this while been a victim of some PDP members’ proxy war against Wike.

    Reflecting on the battle to save his political career, the PDP scribe said he would always “feel justified that I have fought for a good cause.”

    “I fought a battle for the truth, and that’s just the truth. As for those who assume or believe that I’m their enemy, I’m not anyone’s enemy,” he told The Nation in Abuja.

    He described his judicial triumph as a victory for the people, for the entire party, and for justice.

    He said: “I was elected as National Secretary of this party in October, 2021 and I have done my job diligently.

    “I’ve met virtually everyone in the National Working Committee, in the PDP Board of Trustees, in the National Executive Committee and I have not won or triumphed over anyone.

    “I have always believed that justice must prevail. The only thing that has just been proven is that no single person totally determines anyone’s fate in life.

    “As for me today, I am not celebrating but I am happy that God has vindicated me such that even tomorrow, if I decide to resign or leave, I will always feel justified that I have fought for a good cause.

    “As for those who assume or believe that I’m their enemy, I’m not anyone’s enemy.

    “I know that many of my friends who appear to be fighting me have only been fighting a proxy war. But let me emphasise this: what is most important is the party.

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    “Since the day that I joined the PDP, I have never left the PDP for another party or come back to rejoin; I have always remained in PDP.

    “So, I describe as an authentic member of PDP. Since 1999 to date, I have never gone to any other political party in Nigeria.”

    Asked how the party could resolve the crisis that hit it in the run-up to the 2023 presidential election, Anyanwu said: “The way forward is for us all to come back together. I work for the party.

    “As I said to my friends in the PDP NWC, we were all elected to serve the party. We may have our differences, but it is understandable.

    “Even in a nuclear family, people quarrel and then reconcile. But in this case, there’s not even any issue to keep quarrelling about.

    “I still believe that we are a family, and we came here together, and we shall continue to co-exist.

    “Our tenure ends on the 9th of December, 2025. So, in the little time ahead of us, we should all work together, stay together and put the party together.”

    He defended the authorities of the Federal Capital Territory over the recent revocation of PDP’s land on account of defaulting to pay ground charges.

    His words: “The fact is that it is not just the PDP that is affected; similar problem affects even INEC, CBN, NNPC’s building and so many others.

    “Let us not make a big issue out of it as if it is all about PDP.

    “Before now, even before we came in as members of PDP NWC, we had been having issues over our new national secretariat with Jimoh Ibrahim who claimed that the land is his own.

    “I know that the lawyers of the FCT stood by us.

    “As a matter of fact, before the current issues began, our National Legal Adviser wrote a letter to the FCT Minister, which the National Chairman and I delivered by hand to the FCT Minister, and he assured us that nobody would claim what belongs to PDP.

    “But you cannot be a tenant with my rent expiring and when you can’t renew it, you then start fighting your landlord.

    “It’s either one pleads and look for a way to pay so as to remain a tenant or expect that something else would happen.

    “That is what is going on!”

    On threats by some PDP members to defect to a new party if he was returned as National Secretary of the party, Anyanwu dismissed them as speculations.

    “Why would they be thinking of leaving just because I’m National Secretary? Most of those who are PDP governors today were not governors until after I came in as National Secretary.

    “I ushered them in, I signed their (nomination) letters that we took to INEC. Some of them have only done two years as governors, but ask them if I ever took anything from them before signing their nomination as PDP candidates.

    “Several of those who appear to be against me are only fighting a proxy war because of my relationship with the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, who is my bosom friend and remains my friend!

    “I cannot jettison my friends because of politics.

    “Where I was coming from, long ago when we became friends, I never knew that I was going to become a National Secretary in PDP.

    “And when he (Wike) needed me the most to support him while he was running as a presidential aspirant in PDP, I was not there for him.

    “So now, what have I done to injure the party or anyone in it? It’s just mere speculations!

    “PDP is too strong and too big to be drawn into being a mere part of any coalition. Rather, people should empty their platforms and come into PDP.”

  • Tinubu seriously committed to education – Wike

    Tinubu seriously committed to education – Wike

    The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike hailed the unwavering commitment of President Bola Tinubu, to the advancement of higher education in the country. 

    Wike said Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda has injected new life into the university system through landmark Interventions that are transforming the landscape of tertiary education.

    The Minister, who spoke at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), after he was conferred with the university’s Honorary Doctorate Degree in Law, during its 50th anniversary and 37th convocation ceremony, said the establishment of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has provided the needed financial relief for students and ensured that no willing mind is denied access to quality education due to financial constraints.

    According to a statement by the Minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media,  Lere Olayinka, he listed other interventions of the President in the higher education sector to include the Students Start-up Innovation and Enterpreneurship Grant, which he said has empowered young minds to translate knowledge into impactful enterprises, and removal of universities from the Intergrated Payroll Information System (IPPIS).

    Wike noted that the removal of universities from the IPPIS has restored financial autonomy to the institutions and enabled them to function with greater efficiency. 

    “Furthermore,  the kind approval for the domiciliation of TETFund Research Funds within the respective institutions has equally strengthened the capacity for groundbreaking research and innovation.

    “These bold and forward-thinking policies are undoubtedly positioning Nigeria’s university system to meet the demands of the 21st century,” he said.

    Expressing his appreciation to the UNICAL authorities for finding him worthy of the Honorary Doctorate Degree in Law,  the FCT Minister said the honour was a charge to him to remain steadfast in his contributions to national development, upholding ideals of excellence and service as an inspiration to the next generation. 

    Wike said; “As I proudly accept this honorary doctorate, I do so with renewed vigor to contribute even more meaningful to the advancement of education,  good governance and national development. 

    “I am deeply humbled and honoured by this recognition.  The University of Calabar has written my name in its golden records,  and I embrace this moment with great responsibility.”

  • Wike bags UNICAL Honorary degree in Law

    Wike bags UNICAL Honorary degree in Law

    Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Law by the University of Calabar. 

    The prestigious award was conferred on him by the university’s Chancellor, Emir Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero.

    Wike’s honorary doctorate degree is part of the university’s 37th convocation ceremony, which is also celebrating its 50th anniversary.

    His Honorary Doctorate degree was contained in a video by his spokesperson, Lere Olayinka, on Saturday, March 22.

    The caption reads: “FCT Minister,  Nyesom Wike,  being conferred with Honorary Doctorate in Law of the University of Calabar,  by the University’s Chancellor,  Emir Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero.”

  • Wike working for Nigerians, not APC –PDP chieftain

    Wike working for Nigerians, not APC –PDP chieftain

    National Vice-Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Dan Orbih, says the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, is working for Nigerians and not for All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Orbih in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Abuja on Saturday said having sought permission through the relevant organs of the party, PDP permitted Wike to serve in the President Bola Tinubu administration.

    He said that in view of this, there should not be any issue with Wike working with the APC-led Federal Government.

    “And I can tell you there is no record that the current acting national chairman and the members of the national working committee, or any of the organ wrote him in reply to his letter that he should not participate in this government.

    “He wrote to the South-South Zonal executive. We had a meeting in Port Harcourt and unanimously we said it was a call to national service, and we gave him our nod.

    “He wrote to the state chapter of his party and the response was positive; that he should take the appointment as a national call for service.

    “He wrote to his ward and Local Government chapters of the party. There is no organ of the party that came out to say no, don’t accept this appointment.

    “He wrote to the Governors Forum and I can tell you, that at the end of the first meeting held by the forum, a delegation of that body went to congratulate him in Abuja,” he said.

    He noted that political parties must be careful how they treat their members.

    “Now I have told you that his participation in this government is not an issue, except for those who are mischievous.

    “When he was given an invitation to serve in this government, he wrote to every critical organ of the party, informing them that Mr President has invited him to be part of his government.

    “I am also aware, that not too long ago, the members of the Board of Trustees met him in his official residence, and throughout that meeting, none of them raised this issue.”

    “So, Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, is not working for APC; he is working for the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.

    The PDP National Vice-Chairman also said that his relationship with the FCT minister and his friends in other political parties could not be defined by his politics.

    “Let me make it abundantly clear here that my membership of PDP cannot determine those who are my friends and those who should be my enemies.

    “If at my age, I now belong to a political party and the party tells me, this man cannot be your friend, then it is wrong.

    “I have friends across board. I have friends in Labour Party, APC, and in many other parties, but that doesn’t affect my membership and commitment to the PDP.

    “I want to say it very clearly, PDP cannot determine my friendship with Nyesom Wike, a very dependable, hard-working friend of mine, he added. (NAN)

  • Land revocation: Wike’s aide knocks PDP over non-payment of Ground Rent for 28 years

    Land revocation: Wike’s aide knocks PDP over non-payment of Ground Rent for 28 years

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) elders like Chief Bode George should be blamed for the party’s failure to pay Ground Rent for 28 years. 

    Senior Special Assistant to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister on Public Communication and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said this in a statement in Abuja on Saturday. 

    Olayinka advised George not to blame the FCT Minister,  Nyesom Wike.

    He said it was funny George, who was in the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) that failed to conclude purchase of the Wadata Plaza National Secretariat of the PDP,  could come to national television to say; “Wike has crossed the red line by revoking the PDP’s national secretariat in Abuja”.

    George had said during an interview on a television station on Friday hat Wike’s action was an open declaration of war against the PDP.

    Responding, Olayinka said it was painful that elders like George, could chose to play the ostrich on a matter so glaring as the revocation of 4,794 land titles for not paying Ground Rent for as much as 43 years.

    He asked: “Why didn’t the PDP pay Ground Rent for 20 years on its Plot No. 243 national secretariat (under construction), which is the only property belonging to the party among the 4,794 revoked titles? 

    “How’s government’s enforcement of the consequences of land title owners’ refusal to pay Ground Rent declaration of war? Should the FCTA under Wike have treated PDP differently from the 4,794 owners of land titles that were revoked over failure to pay Ground Rent?”

    While clarifying that the Wadata Plaza property being used as Secretariat by the PDP was not owned by the party, Olayinka said the property belonged to Senator Samaila Mamman Kurfi, who bought it from Wadata Enterprises Nigeria Limited. 

    He said: “The PDP offered to buy the Wadata Plaza property in 2005 and when the Minister’s Consent was sought, the party was asked to pay N26.9 million.  The money was never paid. 

    “The party wrote a letter to Malam Nasir El-Rufai, the FCT Minister then, to waive the payment, claiming that it lacked the financial capacity to pay, but he (El-Rufai) insisted the party must pay. 

    “El-Rufai, who insisted PDP must do the right thing by paying the necessary fees to the government was a member of the party then, and Chief Bode George, who was in the PDP NWC, did not go to national television to accuse him (El-Rufai) of declaring war against the party. And if the owner of did not pay ordinary N2.8 million as 28 years Ground Rent, who is to blame?

    “On the PDP national secretariat at Central Area, is it the fault of Wike that a mere N7.6 million, was owed as 20 years Ground Rent despite that over N21 billion was raised in 2014 for the completion of the building?”

    While counseling George to start functioning like an objective elder that he should be, the FCT Minister’s spokesperson said: “what should have been done was to seek information, rather than going on television to advertise hatred against a Minister who is simply doing his jobs without looking at people’s faces.  

    “If Chief Bode George had sought necessary information and refrained himself from acting out of hatred for Wike, it would have been known to him that also affected by the revocation were government owned institutions like Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), Borno State Government, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), National Universities Commission (NUC), Kaduna State Government, Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Federal Ministry of Environment, Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company, University of Calabar and Nigerian Postal Service and Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

    “And like I asked earlier, if Chief Bode George were to be the FCT Minister, would he have treated PDP differently from the other 4,793 land title owners?”

    On loyalty and commitment to the PDP,  Olayinka said the results in Wike’s Rivers and George’s Lagos State from 1998 till date are clear for everyone to see and used as yardstick.

  •  Wike pays medical bill of victims

     Wike pays medical bill of victims

    The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, yesterday sympathised with victims of the accident that occurred in Karu, Abuja.

    The Federal Caital Territory Administration, according to Wike, will  foot the medical bills of the casualties.

    The minister, who described the accident as avoidable, expressed condolences to the families of those who  died, and directed continuation of treatments of the injured.

    Speaking through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, the FCT minister said when he heard about the accident, he immediately directed the Mandate Secretary on Health and Environment, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, to ensure prompt treatment of the injured, which she did.

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    “On my directive, the Mandate Secretary on Health and Environment, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe was in Asokoro District Hospital, till this (yesterday)  morning and she was among the medical personnel who attended to the 17 casualties brought to the hospital.

    “She briefed me that after initial stabilization, seven of the 17 casualties received were referred to National Hospital, six with minor injuries were treated successfully, three with severe burns and inhalation and crush injuries are currently receiving treatment. However, one of the casualties with third degree burns passed away while being resuscitated,” he said.

    Urging road users, especially heavy-duty vehicle drivers, to always be cautious and adhere strictly to speed limits while driving, Wike said it was painful that precious lives were lost and vehicles were destroyed in an accident that could have been avoided.

    He called on the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other agencies saddled with the responsibility of ensuring safe usage of the roads to intensify efforts aimed at maintaining strict compliance.

  • Demolition: Wike orders FCDA to allocate land to Gishiri victims

    Demolition: Wike orders FCDA to allocate land to Gishiri victims

    The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has directed the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to allocate new land to residents of Gishiri village displaced by the construction of Arterial Road N16 in Katampe District, Abuja.

    During a recent meeting with stakeholders from Gishiri, Wike expressed dissatisfaction with reports from both FCDA officials and affected residents. 

    He pledged to visit the community for an on-site assessment.

    Speaking to the affected residents on Wednesday, the minister instructed the Director of Resettlements and Compensation, Nasiru Suleiman, to ensure compensation payments are completed within one week.

    Wike urged those whose buildings were demolished for the project to accept financial compensation first while awaiting land allocation.

    Wike said: “If you don’t take the money, I’ll not give you people the land again. Go and collect the money. So, as you take the land, you start developing it, if I hear that you did not take it, I would not also give you the land and you would be the one that will suffer it”.

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    Wike had earlier said the initial compensation budget of N655m was increased to N1.3bn due to the economic situation in the country.

    He clarified that the compensation rates were determined by government valuation standards and assured that due process should be followed to ensure fairness and transparency.

    The victims claimed that they were given an area covered by water which they said would not be good for habitation, insisting that they should be given the land behind the Local Education Authority (LEA) Primary School, Gishiri.

  • Rivers stakeholders back Wike’s position on Rivers, Ijaw 

    Rivers stakeholders back Wike’s position on Rivers, Ijaw 

    Stakeholders under the auspices of the Rivers Restoration Movement (RRM) have thrown their weight behind the recent comments of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Chief Nyesom Wike on Rivers State crisis and the Ijaw ethnic nationality.

    RRM in a statement signed by its Director-General, Johnson Georgewill and Secretary, Mrs Sarima Akpata, said “when the law speaks, violence, threats and unguarded statements cannot reverse the law”. 

    The group said, “If the governor of any state commits an impeachable offence, the House of Assembly of that state can commence the process of impeachment as enshrined in section 188 of the Nigerian Constitution”.

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    The stakeholders echoed the sentiment of Wike saying that apart from Bayelsa State, the Ijaws could not singlehandedly produce a governor in Delta, Edo, Ondo, Akwa Ibom or Rivers State. 

    The statement said: “RRM as a group believes the governor has committed several impeachable offences, so our appeal as a group that worked tirelessly to ensure an Ijaw man emerges in 2023 as governor is that in case the Rivers State House of Assembly decides to wield the big stick of impeachment, our father and leader of Rivers State politics Nyesom Wike, a man God used to liberate the Rivers Ijaws in 2023 should consider another Ijaw man as governor.

    “Our request is based on the foundation of equity, fairness and justice to complete the tenure of the Ijaws in Rivers State.”

  • BREAKING: Wike revokes PDP national secretariat land allocation in Abuja

    BREAKING: Wike revokes PDP national secretariat land allocation in Abuja

    The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has revoked the land allocation for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national secretariat in Abuja.

    The decision was conveyed in a letter dated March 13, 2025, titled “Notice of Right of Occupancy with File No: MISC 81346 in Respect of Plot No: 243 within Central Area District, Abuja.”

    Signed by the Director of Land Administration (FCT), Chijioke Nwankwoeze, the letter cited the PDP’s failure to pay annual ground rents from January 1, 2006, to January 1, 2025, as the reason for the revocation.

    The letter read, “I have been directed to refer to the above Right of Occupancy granted to PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP), NATIONAL SECRETARIAT and inform you that the Minister of Federal Capital Territory has in the exercise of powers conferred on him under the Land Use Act No. 6 of 1978, Cap. L5, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, revoked your rights, interests and privileges over Plot No. 243 within Central Area, Cadastral Zone A00, Abuja.

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    “The revocation is in view of your continued contravention of the terms and conditions of grant of the Right of Occupancy by failing to pay the annual ground rents due on the property for twenty (20) years, from Ist of January 2006 to 1st of January 2025. This is despite the many publications made by the FCT Administration since 2023 in several national dailies and on electronic media requesting all allottees of plots in the Federal Capital Territory to pay up every outstanding bill and ground rent on their property.

    “You would please note that the said breaches by PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP), NATIONAL SECRETARIAT (MISC 81346) run contrary to the provisions of Section 28, Subsection 5 (a) and (b) of the Land Use Act.”

    Details shortly…

  • Wike threatens to sack FCDA secretary over compensation saga

    Wike threatens to sack FCDA secretary over compensation saga

    The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike on Monday threatened to sack the acting Executive Secretary of Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) Richard Dauda over alleged misdeeds in the ongoing compensation of those whose houses were affected by the road construction at Gishiri village in Kàtampe District.

    Few days ago, about 455 structures were demolished by officials of the FCDA to pave the way for the N16b road project in the area.

    The officials of FCDA earlier estimated N655m for the compensation but the Minister said due to economic situation the amount should be increased to N1.3bn.

    Speaking in a meeting with stakeholders from the affected village on Monday, the youth leader, Adamu Godwin disclosed that the officials relocated them to an area that was not comfortable and offered an amount that would not afford them another house or accommodation.

    Godwin and some members of the delegation accused the officials over the shady deals which the ES was allegedly promoting in the compensation of the victims.

    Read Also: Wike revokes 4,794 land titles over non-payment of ground rent in FCT

    Troubles started for Dauda when the youth leader accused him of changing the Minister’s instructions on their relocation.

    Godwin said the ES without recourse to the Minister’s directives has proposed a water-logged environment where the victims of the demolition will not be able to build any structure.

    The Minister became enraged when he heard that the ES in collaboration with the department of Compensation and resettlement was offering the victims far below what was approved.

    Wike said he was annoyed about the alleged shady deals because the ES, who is an indigene of Abuja, has betrayed the trust reposed in him by his people and government.

    The Minister warned him to retrace his steps immediately and pay the victims what he approved or get sacked.

    He also warned the officials against scheming out some residents affected in the name of non-indigene.

    Wike said: “Pay them what is due for them or I will sack you. You are from Abuja, why do all these?

    “All those affected should be compensated, nothing like indigene and non-indigene, I would not accept that.”