Politics

I made a mistake with Fubara, Wike slams Governor’s camp

Published

1 year ago

May 12, 2024

The Minister of the Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said backing Governor Siminalayi Fubara was a mistake he would correct at the appropriate time.

The FCT Minister insisted he made mistakes in his judgement of Fubara and asked the people of the LGA and political family to forgive him.

He said at the appropriate time they would correct the mistake insisting that he would continue to make his detractors angry so they would keep making mistakes.

Wike said: ” I want to say this clearly, in life we have made a mistake. I have made a mistake. I own it up and I say God forgive me. I have said all of you forgive me. But we will correct it at the appropriate time. I am a human, I am bound to make a mistake. So forgive me for making a wrong judgement. So nobody should kill”.

He also responded to some developments and actions from the camp of Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara, on the ongoing political crisis in the State.

Wike spoke on Saturday at the grand Civic reception held at Ogu-Bolo in honour of Chief George Thompson Sekibo to celebrate his 20 years of service at the National and 36 years of his life in public service.

The former Rivers Governor told Fubara’s camp that no injunctions obtained at 2am or 4am would stop the law and due process from taking its course in the state.

“If they like they can go to anybody by 2am or 4am to get injunction. The law will take its course. We must follow due process,” Wike said.

Reacting to Fubara’s remarks that he would not worship anybody, Wike said he had never asked anybody to worship him.

He said: “It is not easy to be a public officer and the people decide to honour you. Let me thank the Ogu council of chiefs and the entire community who insisted that their son should be honoured.

“You have refused politics to divide you. It shows that you have the interest of your community in mind. I came because I respect people, who appreciate what God has used people to do for them.

“God uses people to help others. So when you have been helped, you appreciate them. God will know you have appreciated him. Nobody can worship man. All of us believe that it is only God we will worship.

“As politicians we appreciate people who have helped us. When I came to ask you to support me, you supported me. Did I worship you? Did I ask you to worship me. If you had not supported me, I would not have been where I am. Did you tell me to worship you? So where does the issue of worship come from?”

Most political associates of Wike such as Senator Magnus Abe; Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Dr. Samuel Ogbuku; NDDC Director, Finance and Administration, Boma Iyayi, House of Assembly members, local government chairmen, senators among others attended the event

Wike told the lawmakers not to be afraid saying nobody would remove them as assembly members.

*Don’t be afraid nobody will remove you as a lawmaker. Most of you don’t understand. This is our work. Our business is to make them to fear. That is what I am doing. We will make them to be angry everyday and they will continue to make mistakes”.

The former Governor said he would continue to maintain peace in the state and called on his supporters to pursue peace.

He said: “So don’t worry yourselves. We won’t give money to anybody to go and buy arms to kill anybody. I have maintained peace and I want to beg all you to continue to maintain peace. Nobody will tell me that I can’t live in my house or go to my house. But all of you should maintain the peace. Follow law and sue process..we will get to the end

“As you see me I stand straight. I think well. I came with senator Magnus Abe. I work with people that have brains. On politics, when people with brains agree they disagree. Those, who don’t know what to do but said they would bring me down, who born them? They are nowhere. When you are in charge, you are in charge.

“Everything will calm down. All these people running around, they would come down. Boma worked for his appointment, he showed loyalty and commitment and that is why God placed him there. Don’t worry.

“Let me also advised you, forget about how they abuse us. You must be alive for people to abuse you. If you are dead, will they abuse you? At the appropriate time when the results will be announced, we will know who is who. We have defeated them severally.

“Some.of them ran to Abuja but when I went to Abuja, they ran back here. Have you not seen the way Abuja is moving? No amount of propaganda can help you. Ogu people have shown loyalty and I want to thank you”.

Reflecting on his political journey, Wike said: “In 2014 to 2015, we didn’t have anybody. I came here and you said you would work for it and you worked for it. We had nobody in government. Did we not win? What are you afraid of?

“While in a government I had a problem, I had a federal government that was hostile to me, did we not succeed? They are giving excuses. If you know you. When somebody cannot do something, say you cannot do it.

“At the appropriate time, people will speak of the projects in the state. They will tell you who did what. It is not people who come now and claim what they didn’t do. Ogu continue to support your people, your politicians have done well. Sekibo has done well.

“Don’t mind these buccaneers, I know how to handle them. Leave them for me..they have been my children. I will continue to handle them. Let’s work together”.

The former governor added: ” It is not easy to be in power and begin to give excuses. You continue to run away from promises you made to people. Look at all the council chairmen, the assembly members, these were people I spoke to for the interest of all of us.

“They all responded but today somebody said they are nobody. Will you accept that? Assembly people sat down in their various constituencies. You never brought a dime. I never knew you were rich that your father was a managing director of shell before and now you are paying their school fees. It is unfortunate.

“But Ogu people I will never abandon you. There are some chiefs I wanted to recognise as traditional rulers. Their people said no. But I dared it and I did it. Nobody bothered to recognise the traditional rulers from 1999 down to 2014. It was me that came and recognize most of them. I did what I did because it believed it was the right thing to do. It takes he who has the balls to talk.

“Now you said you are making them first class. Who made them second class and third class before you are making him first class? Be grateful to whatever God has given to you. Anywhere you are as a traditional ruler, check your conscience, who lifted you up. They said the list of caretaker committee was released but it was fake. Everything is fake with them”.

Politics

Obolo: Akwa Ibom groups clash in Calabar over demands for new state

Published

15 minutes ago

July 20, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Many groups that traveled from Akwa Ibom State to Calabar, capital of Cross River State, venue for the South-South Centre B Zonal Public Hearing on the amendment of the 1999 Constitution, clashed over their demands for the creation of Obolo State from present Akwa Ibom State.

Pro-groups and anti-groups competed in shouting matches and for spaces to display their banners and posters at the venue in a bid to arrest the attention of the lawmakers and other dignitaries present.

Some of the banners against the creation of Obolo State carried inscriptions such as: We Say No to Obolo State on Ibibio Ancestral Land, Don’t Create Obolo State, Entire Akwa Ibom Coastline is Ibibioland, No Inch of Ibibio Land Will Be Ceded to Settlers for a State.

Pro-banners had messages like: Please Create Obolo State. We’re Marginalized, We’re Tired of Deprivations, We Own Oil Wells But No Development, etc.

The pro-groups demanding the creation of Obolo State, which they listed should comprise the five existing LGAs making up Oro Nation in Akwa Ibom—such as Oron, Okobo, Uruefong Oruko, Mbo, Udung Uko, as well as Ibeno, Eastern Obolo, and Andoni in Rivers State, complained of alleged “mindless marginalization” and deprivation by the domineering and majority Ibibio people.

They insisted that they can no longer be denied their freedom and greater opportunities, including infrastructure and development.

They refuted the claims by the larger ethnic group of Ibibio that they are settlers on their lands.

Speaking about the imperatives for the creation of Obolo State, President General of Oro-Obolo Peoples’ Union, Engr. Ngerebara Sampson Adumu, said the creation of Obolo State will right historical wrongs and unlock the vast potentials of the people to the country.

Citing historical and legal documents, Adumu refuted the claims by mainland people of Akwa Ibom State that the people who constitute the Obolo are settlers.

Pleading with the National Assembly to consider the creation of Obolo State, he disclosed that they have a population of over 1.3 million and vast oil potentials, and can survive as a state.

“The claims of Ekid-Ibibio ownership over Obolo, particularly Ibeno lands, are unfounded in law and history, with no credible evidence supporting them.

“We’re not settlers. We have a centuries-long history of habitation along the Atlantic coast, with a distinct cultural identity shaped by our maritime traditions and trade with European merchants dating back to the 17th century.”

One of the leaders of the Ibibio groups, Chief Umoh Ime, insisted that historically the Obolos were originally fishermen who came from today’s Rivers State and were allotted the lands by their forebears.

“They can’t come to claim our lands. They should leave the land, as we shall never cede any parts for a state to be created inside our state.”

Addressing journalists, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review, Mr. Kingsley Chinda, disclosed that the idea of holding zonal engagement was for the Representatives to speak with the people on their concerns on the 1999 Constitution.

Chinda, who is the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, said they want to ensure that Nigerians own their constitution by making inputs on its amendment.

“We want to make our Constitution one that is owned by the people, which is why we are speaking with the people who elected us.

“In this Centre B, we have discussed with the people of Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River, and we have gotten their inputs. We will take these inputs back to the Parliament for further deliberations,” he noted.

“Some of these inputs will reflect in the about-to-be-amended Constitution, but it would be sent to state assemblies to look at and return to them to conclude actions.”

Several groups from Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Cross River States attended the session and made their presentations.

Two groups from Rivers State also presented their pleas for the creation of Bori and Atlantic City States.

Movement for the Creation of Ogoja State also made input.

Politics

Gov. Hope Uzodimma’s Key Demands at Constitution Review Public Hearing

Published

2 hours ago

July 20, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Gov. Hope Uzodimma

— Governor-General of Ndi Igbo in Action

By Ambrose Nwaogwugwu | July 20, 2025.

At the public hearing in Owerri, Governor Hope Uzodimma made bold, patriotic demands to correct historical injustices and strengthen national unity. His key advocacies include:

1. Creation of more South East states — at least two, including Anim State, to end underrepresentation.

2. Rotational Presidency — constitutionally rotate presidency among the six geopolitical zones.

3. Indigeneship by birth or 10-year residency — to promote inclusion and national unity.

4. State Police — decentralize policing for better grassroots security.

5. Peaceful engagement — urged Ndi Igbo to push their demands through dialogue, not agitation.

With these strong positions, Gov. Uzodimma once again proves himself the Governor-General of Ndi Igbo, boldly speaking truth to power.

— Ambrose Nwaogwugwu is the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Electronic and Creative Media.

Politics

Dogara opposed Muslim-Muslim ticket, then begged for appointment – Ex-aide

Published

6 hours ago

July 20, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

A former close associate of ex-Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, Barrister Maigida Yakubu, has strongly criticised the former lawmaker, describing him as a “master manipulator who has traded honour for deceit, unity for chaos, and trust for betrayal.”

He also accused Dogara of leading the Zaar (Sayawa) community towards division and crisis.

In an eleven-page open letter titled “Behind the Curtain of Deceit: Unmasking the Architect of the Zaar Identity Crisis and Division,” Maigida said Dogara’s recent acceptance of a political appointment from the same government he openly opposed during the 2023 campaigns shows hypocrisy.

He criticised Dogara’s role during the 2023 presidential election, especially his public rejection of the APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket. Maigida said Dogara presented himself as a moral voice but later went behind the scenes begging for appointments from the same party he attacked.

“Your trademark deceit and constant mistakes have finally received the attention they deserve. If awards were given for political self-destruction, you would win them all. You acted like a hero opposing the APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket, pretending to be a moral leader. Yet, for the past two years, you’ve been chasing the same people for political favours without shame,” he wrote.

He further mocked Dogara for organising a fake Christian protest crowd, mostly from the Middle Belt, to support his political stand, saying he only does things when they serve his selfish interest.

Maigida said the Tinubu administration only gave Dogara a minor appointment to keep him quiet politically.

“The government knows who you are; that’s why they gave you a small chairmanship position—not out of respect, but to silence you. These days, you move around political offices like a desperate fly, trying to get attention,” he added.

He accused Dogara of using and dividing his people, especially the youth, for personal gain without helping anyone. “Tell us, is there any Basayi son or daughter who can truly say they were empowered during your time in office as Representative and Speaker?” he asked.

According to him, Dogara is more known for acquiring property and building estates using money he made from years of shady dealings in the National Assembly. “In fact, ‘padding’ might be your most memorable legacy from the 8th Assembly, and it will always follow your name like a shadow,” Maigida added.