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Tag: FCT Minister Nyesom Wike

  • Wike visits China over water project for FCT satellite towns

    Wike visits China over water project for FCT satellite towns

    The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Mr Nyesom Wike, is enroute to China for a series of official engagements toward the provision of water for satellite towns in the FCT.

    Mr Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant to the minister on Public Communications and Social disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Thursday.

    Olayinka said that the minister was currently in  Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, en route to China.

    He explained that while in China, Wike would meet with officials of the China Geo-Engineering Corporation Overseas Construction (CGCOC) Group over the water project.

    He recalled that President Bola Tinubu had visited China in September 2024 and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) and CGCOC Group.

    The MoU, he said, was to improve electricity and water supply in the FCT, particularly in satellite towns.

    He added that projects were part of Tinubu’s agenda to renew the hope and confidence of FCT residents in the government, through the execution of people-oriented projects.

    He said that Tinubu had approved N50 billion for the provision of potable water in FCT satellite towns.

    The spokesman said that Wike’s trip to China was to finalise discussion with CGCOC on the project in fulfillment of Tinubu’s directive to ensure water supply in Gwagwalada, Kwali and Kuje area councils.

  • No apology from Fubara yet – Wike replies Tompolo

    No apology from Fubara yet – Wike replies Tompolo

    The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has rejected calls for reconciliation from former militant leader Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, stating that Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has not approached him for forgiveness.

    In a statement issued by Wike’s media aide, Lere Olayinka, the minister made it clear that forgiveness requires an acknowledgment of wrongdoing and a direct plea for pardon, neither of which Fubara has made.

    Tompolo had earlier called for Wike to temper his anger and reconcile with Fubara for the sake of peace in Rivers State. The Niger Delta leader said, “And just like I will not accept rebellion from my son, I will also not cause more problems. Wike is angry, but he has to bring his temper down for the good of all. We will have a dialogue and resolve all lingering issues, and again Fubara will return to his seat.”

    When asked about Tompolo’s appeal, Wike’s camp responded with scepticism.

    “There is no offence. It is when somebody has offended you personally that you are talking about the person seeking forgiveness or whatever. As Christians, let’s now assume that Fubara has offended the minister, do you forgive someone who has not come to you to seek forgiveness?

    “The person who has wronged you must first agree that in his mind he has wronged you. Let’s assume that Fubara has offended the minister, has he come to seek forgiveness? I’m not saying there is an offence and there should be forgiveness, but he has not even come for forgiveness.”

    Olayinka explained that Wike’s concerns were rooted in governance principles, rather than being of a personal nature.

    “The minister has never said that Fubara offended him personally. He only said that Fubara should govern in accordance with the rule of law and that Fubara should not throw away those who risked their lives and resources—and that is not too much to ask. He said, ‘Those who worked to make you governor, don’t throw them away like that’. So, that is not about forgiveness. If there is one person Fubara would say he has offended, it should be the president.

    “He is the one to go for soul-searching because throughout the time he was working with this same Wike, throughout the time Wike was facing the bullet for him, Wike was not a bad person then. So, at what point did Wike become a bad person to him? He should ask himself. When did Wike become somebody that Fubara would be so bold as to tell him that he would deal with him? At what point?”

    Concluding with a proverb, Olayinka said, “It’s like asking a doctor to prescribe medicine for a sick person, but not convincing the sick person to take it. What’s the result?”

  • Wike hosts suspended Rivers lawmakers to dinner in UK

    Wike hosts suspended Rivers lawmakers to dinner in UK

    Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, hosted a group of suspended lawmakers from the Rivers State House of Assembly in the United Kingdom on Monday.

    According to a post by Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, the lawmakers—currently in the UK for a “legislative capacity building” program—were treated to a dinner by the minister.

    “Yesterday, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, hosted Rivers State House of Assembly members who are in the United Kingdom for Legislative Capacity Building, to a dinner,” Olayinka shared on X.com.

    Wike left Nigeria on Sunday after meeting with political allies in Port Harcourt.

    The suspended lawmakers, led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, are in the UK for a legislative tour. Amaewhule reportedly opened the 10th Rivers Assembly Legislative Tour last Friday, stating that the trip would expose members to global legislative practices and enhance their effectiveness.

    This development follows President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State on March 18. The president also suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Prof. Ngozi Odu and members of the House of Assembly.
    Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), a former Chief of Naval Staff, was appointed as the state’s sole administrator for an initial six-month term.

    The crisis in Rivers State stems from a power tussle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Wike.

  • Court stops pro-Wike rally in Bayelsa

    Court stops pro-Wike rally in Bayelsa

    The High Court of Bayelsa State, sitting in Yenagoa, has issued an order restraining associates of the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, from holding a mega rally in the state pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.

    The proposed rally is scheduled for Yenagoa, the state capital, on April 12, 2025.

    Hon. Justice I. A Uzakah, on Thursday, granted the Motion Ex-Parte in Suit No. BYHC/YHC/CV/133/2025 filed by the state’s Attorney General, Mr. Biriyai Dambo SAN.

    Listed as first and second defendants/respondents in the suit are the lead convener of the NEW Associates, organisers of the rally, Mr. George Turnah, and the FCT Minister, Wike.

    The other defendants are the Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector-General of Police and the Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State Police Command.

    The enrolled court order read: “An order of the interim injunction is hereby made or granted restraining the 1st and 2nd Defendants, whether by themselves, their agents, associates, privies, representatives (or any person whatsoever acting at their behest), from conducting, convening, coordinating, engaging in, organizing, participating in, holding, hosting, or facilitating any political assembly, rally meeting, or gathering within Bayelsa State for solidarity, hosting and celebrating the 2nd Defendant in Bayelsa State, pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice for Interlocutory Injunction.”

    The matter was adjourned to April 11, 2025, for hearing.

  • Despite banning group from hosting Wike in Bayelsa, Diri says he’s not against rallies

    Despite banning group from hosting Wike in Bayelsa, Diri says he’s not against rallies

    Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has said his administration will always abide by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in respecting the fundamental rights of individuals and will ensure that the prevailing peace and security of the state are not compromised.

    Diri stated this on Wednesday at the 158th State Executive Council meeting in Government House, Yenagoa.

    In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, the governor explained that the administration would not stop any group from holding rallies in the state but emphasised that it would be unwise and counterproductive to do so at a time when lasting peace was being sought to address the political crisis in Rivers State.

    He noted that Rivers and Bayelsa were sister states and that whatever happened in Rivers had a ripple effect in Bayelsa. He enjoined well-meaning Bayelsans to work with the government to maintain law and order in the state.

    His words, “Let me make this clear. We are not a government that goes against the rule of law. We cherish and protect the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. And in so doing, we abide by every bit of the Constitution.

    “A state of emergency has been imposed in Rivers State. President Bola Tinubu has the power to do so. All we can do from our end is to see how we can bring lasting peace to Rivers State.

    “Bayelsa and Rivers are sister states, and whatever happens there has some degree of effect on our state and vice versa. Some people say they want to hold a mega rally and all that here.

    “We are not yet in a political season. l am not stopping anybody from exercising his fundamental human rights but as the chief security officer of the state and with information at my disposal, we must keep the peace of the state. Nobody should come and rock the peace and security of this state.”

    The governor noted that the proper protocol for such rallies should be followed by first informing the state government, just as the wife of the President and First Lady had done about her visit to the state on Thursday on the invitation of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    He urged people of the state to turn out en masse to accord the First Lady a rousing reception.