President Muhammadu Buhari shares in the joy of celebrating the 60th birthday of the General Manager/CEO of National Theatre, Prof. Sunday Enessi Ododo, on 21st October, 2022, congratulating the screenwriter, playwright, poet and renowned thespian on the milestone.
The President rejoices with the Professor of Performance Aesthetics and Theatre Technology, his family, friends and professional colleagues on the occasion of his birthday, knowing that he has invested many years in the development of performance arts in the country, with evidences in the entertainment industry, which currently impacts on global screens and stage acts.
President Buhari affirms that the works of dramatists and theatre-makers, like Prof. Ododo, have significantly contributed to the understanding and acceptance of Nigeria across the world, creating identities, lifting and giving relevance to folklores and cultures, and pushing barriers on performances that have culminated in recognitions and awards.
The President believes the scholar’s versatility and flexibility in teaching the theories and practice of theatre and other literary genres continue to inspire new interest in research on Nigerian and African culture, paving way for the younger generation to embrace theatre as participatory communication and platform for benchmarking and networking.
President Buhari applauds Prof. Ododo for his diligence in supervising the structural and operational turnaround of the National Theatre.
The President prays for the well-being of the award-winning director and actor, and that of his family.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
October 20, 2022

Delta PDP Chieftain, Anthony Akpeki, set to marry Endurance Ojokolo
Anthony Akpeki, a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain in Delta State, is set to marry Nigerian athlete, Endurance Ojokolo.
The marriage is billed to take place on Saturday, December 17, 2022, in Sapele.
Akpeki is a notable politician in Delta State and advocate for good governance and politics of development.
The traditional marriage will be held at 17 Ikpereva Street, Okirighwere in Sapele Local Government Area
“Finding a person who loves you is the best thing in life.” Anthony Ogheneyerowo Akpeki and Endurance Ojokolo said in a joint statement.
The reception will take place after the historic ceremony at Sapele Township Stadium.

Meanwhile, security is expected to be beefed up in Sapele and its vicinity in view of the presence of top government functionaries in the country, sports personalities, captains of Industry and royal fathers.

UK Prime Minister Liz Trust Resigns

The Prime Minister of United Kingdom, Liz Trust on Thursday resigned from office and will step down after a week-long emergency contest to find her successor, “I have therefore spoken to His Majesty the King to notify him that I am resigning as leader of the Conservative party’ she said.
Her resignation is coming only 44 days after she was chosen as PM .
Full text of her resignation speech is reproduced below:
I was elected by the Conservative party with a mandate to change this.

We delivered on energy bills and on cutting national insurance.

And we set out a vision for a low-tax, high-growth economy that would take advantage of the freedoms of Brexit.

I recognise, though, given the situation, I cannot deliver the mandate on which I was elected by the Conservative party.

I have therefore spoken to His Majesty the King to notify him that I am resigning as leader of the Conservative party.

This morning I met the chair of the 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady.

We have agreed there will be a leadership election to be completed in the next week.

This will ensure we remain on a path to deliver our fiscal plans and maintain our country’s economic stability and national security.

I will remain as prime minister until a successor has been chosen.

Thank you.

PRESS RELEASE

SANWO-OLU MOURNS EKITI SPEAKER, AFUYE
…Commiserates With Governor Oyebanji, Lawmakers
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has mourned the passing of the Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Mr. Funminiyi Afuye.
Afuye died at the age of 66 on Wednesday at an undisclosed hospital, where he was rushed, following a brief illness.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, on Thursday, described Afuye, who represented Ikere Constituency 1 at the Ekiti State House of Assembly, as one of the illustrious sons of the State who contributed immensely to the growth and development of Ekiti State during his lifetime.
The Governor described the deceased as a principled politician, progressive, loyal, trustworthy and committed member of the ruling party in Ekiti State.
He said the lawyer and human rights activist turned politician spent his life in the service of humanity, Ekiti State and Nigeria, especially as a Commissioner for Information, lawmaker and later Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly.
Governor Sanwo-Olu also commiserated with his Ekiti State counterpart, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, former Governor of the State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and the entire members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly on the death of the Speaker.
He urged Governor Oyebanji, the deceased family, friends, and the entire people of Ekiti State to preserve the legacy of the deceased by immortalising the good name and the struggle of the late Speaker for Ekiti.
“On behalf of the people and government of Lagos State, I sympathise with Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji and the entire people of the State on the demise of the Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Funminiyi Afuye.

“Rt. Hon. Afuye was a committed public officer who served Ekiti State passionately and selflessly in different capacities. He did his best for Ekiti as a member of the executive and legislative arms of government. He was also a committed member of our great party, APC till his death.
”I pray that God would grant the soul of our beloved Rt. Hon. Funminiyi Afuye eternal rest and comfort the immediate and political families and the people of Ekiti State he left behind,” Governor Sanwo-Olu stated.

SIGNED
GBOYEGA AKOSILE
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
20 OCTOBER 2022

PRESIDENT BUHARI WISHES SIERRA LEONE WELL IN GENERAL ELECTIONS NEXT YEAR
President Muhammadu Buhari Wednesday received a Special Envoy from President Julius Mada Bio of Sierra Leone, wishing the West African country best of luck in its general elections billed for June, next year.
“I am pleased that you are pursuing your political programs effectively, just like us. We wish each other the best of luck,” President Buhari said.
The Special Envoy, His Excellency Andre Thomas Hope, said his country was bidding for a non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council, and solicited Nigeria’s support.
He also said his country, which saw the interventionist ECOWAS military force, ECOMOG, restoring normalcy in the past, was no longer defined by its inglorious history, “but is now a beacon of hope,” and thanked Nigeria for the role she played.
Special Envoy Andre Hope submitted that Sierra Leone has made progress in laying a foundation for free and fair polls in June 2023, and the citizenry has had unhindered access to registration.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media and Publicity)
October 19, 2022

ANTHONY AKPEKI MARRIES ENDURANCE OJOKOLO

Delta politician, Anthony Akpeki, will on Saturday, December 17, 2022 marry former African track queen, Endurance Ojokolo.
The ceremony will begin at 10:00am.
According to a press release issued by the families of Pa Emmanuel Ojokolo and Pa Stephen Amatowa Akpeki of Ukwuani Nation and Okpe Kingdom, the marriage is scheduled to be held at 17 Ikpereva Street, Okirighwere in Sapele Local Government Area.

The traditional marriage will bring together high-ranking gov¬ernment functionaries, sportspersons and administrators, prominent traditional rulers, professionals, 2023 candidates and leaders of political parties around the world.

‘’The high society marriage reception of the 100 metres specialist and the renowned politician will take place at Sapele Township Stadium’’.
Anthony Ogheneyerowo Akpeki is a unique and essential player in Delta State politics.

PRESS RELEASE

SANWO-OLU COMMISSIONS 150-CLASSROOM BLOCKS, HOSTELS IN 15 LAGOS SCHOOLS

•362,730 pupils benefit from Governor’s school infrastructure scheme

Education in Lagos State witnessed another remarkable moment of infrastructure expansion, with the addition of newly built 150 blocks of classrooms and 1,386-bed hostels to 15 existing schools across the six education districts in the State.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Wednesday, unveiled the iconic school projects and virtually commissioned them at a physical event organised by the Special Committee on Rehabilitation of Public Schools (SCRPS) in Agidingbi, Alausa.

The virtual commissioning was conducted in order not to disrupt academic activities at the beneficiary schools.

The projects were designed with the signature features of New School Design introduced by the Sanwo-Olu administration. Other facilities inaugurated by the Governor included composite furniture, lavatories and laundromats.

The projects were developed and delivered by SCRPS set up in 2019 by the Governor for the revamp of public schools and reduction of classroom deficit across the State.

The commissioning coincided with the unveiling of compendium of school infrastructural transformation carried out by the Committee since inception. Adding the new projects, SCRPS has successfully completed a total of 1,047 freshly-constructed and fully-furnished classroom buildings across public schools across the six education districts.

Inaugurating the school projects, Sanwo-Olu said his administration’s commitment to scale up access to education at all education levels was not in doubt, stressing that the State had committed more investment to Education and Technology in line with the cardinal objectives stipulated in the THEMES Agenda of his Government.

The Governor said his focus was predicated on complementary interventions in provision of physical infrastructure, technology, capacity building, teacher and student welfare, and reduction of the number of out-of-school children in the State.

He said: “When we came on board, one of the things we decided to do in building on the legacy of my predecessors in education was to inaugurate a Special Committee on the Rehabilitation of Public Schools in Lagos State (SCRPS) in November 2019, with a mandate to accelerate and actualise the core vision of revamping schools’ infrastructure in our State.

“Since its inauguration of SCRPS, we have started and completed several new building projects, including classrooms, hostels, security infrastructure like fencing and gate-houses, among others, and supplied new furniture for students and teachers. We have also embarked on several rehabilitation projects leading to the completion of rehabilitation projects in 197 schools.

“With the complementary activities of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA) and Ministry of Education, we have successfully delivered a total of about 2,280 classrooms so far, with associated sanitary facilities, potable water systems, and security infrastructure.”

Sanwo-Olu said no part of the State was left out of the interventions injected in education, maintaining his administration’s determination to ensure equitable distribution of the dividends of good governance to all divisions in Lagos.

The Governor urged communities yet to benefit from the scheme to be patient, noting that the Committee would not carry out rehabilitation projects at once and cover every school in the State within limited period of time, but he assured that his Government would continue to expand the scale of its interventions.

He asked the beneficiaries to make good use of the facilities provided and shun any form of vandalism that may render the Government’s effort useless.

Sanwo-Olu said: “We are working very hard to make sure as many schools as possible benefit from this intervention. We cannot do everything at once and cannot cover every school in the State within a limited period of time, but rest assured we will continue to expand the scale of our interventions. I ask for the patience and understanding of those schools that are yet to benefit.

“From the schools that have benefited from this rehabilitation programme, I ask that you use these facilities judiciously and responsibly. Shun all forms of vandalism and carelessness; treat these buildings and projects as public goods that must be maintained for future generations. I have no doubt that Lagosians will be proud to see what has been done, in terms of an infrastructure revolution in Lagos public education.”

Chairman of SCRPS, Hakeem Smith, said the Committee, in the last three years, had been strategic in rolling out the programme objectives under the guidance of the Governor and had achieved significant mileage in revamping decrepit schools’ infrastructure and reducing classroom deficits.

Smith said SCRPS employed the model of constructing and furnishing one block of classroom daily since inception, which translated to 52,350 students being properly seated in a standard and conducive environment.

“We have rehabilitated 197 schools, translates to over 2,280 classrooms with associated toilets and building up new fence walls where required. We have built 1,584-bed new hostels and improved facilities for students in model colleges with complimentary laundromat and reading areas. Our intervention has led to the provision of 181,365 school furniture and this translates to 362,730 students being provided with comfortable seats to learn,” SCRPS boss said.

The beneficiaries schools are Lagos State Junior Model College, Meiran, Lagos State Baptist Secondary School, Orile-Agege, Abesan Senior High School, Alimosho, Orisunbare Senior High School, Alimosho, Luwasa Senior High School, Ijede, Lagos State Girls Junior Model College Agunfoye (Ikorodu) and Ojota Junior Secondary School, Ojota.

Others are Eva Adelaja Junior Secondary School, Bariga, Muslim Junior College, Oworoshoki, Lagos State Model College, Badore, Lagos State Model College, Agbowa (Epe), Araromi-Ilogbo Junior Secondary School, Oko-Afo, Badagry Junior Grammar School, Badagry, Ajumoni Junior Grammar School, Daleko, Mushin, and St. Joseph Secondary School, Mushin.

SIGNED
GBOYEGA AKOSILE
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
19 OCTOBER 2022
PRESS RELEASE
WE’LL CONTINUE TO ENSURE MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, SAYS SANWO-OLU
As Heritage Bank MD commends Governor’s great works in Lagos
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Wednesday said his administration will continue to ensure a mutually beneficial relationship with financial institutions in the State.
Governor Sanwo-Olu made the statement when the new management of Heritage Bank led by its Managing Director, Mr. Akinola George-Taylor, paid him a courtesy visit at the Lagos House, Ikeja.
The Governor said his administration was poised to do more as it continued to play its roles in providing an enabling environment, improving the ease of doing business and being forward-looking in its dealings with financial institutions.
He said: “Lagos is the Centre of Excellence and the commercial, economic nerve centre, so we cannot but ensure that we have a very forward-looking mutually beneficial relationship with all of our financial institutions and of course, Heritage Bank is not an exception.
“I want to implore you and your team to be intentional and think something fresh; think something different that can indeed stimulate us. You can rest assured that we know how important it is to spread our businesses and to ensure that everybody gets a part of it knowing that you and your staff will also have a corporate responsibility on the Personal Income Tax component. It is expected that we will continue to play our roles and play our parts.”
Governor Sanwo-Olu congratulated the Managing Director and his new team on the huge and great responsibilities that shareholders and other stakeholders in Heritage Bank have reposed in them.
“I wish you the very best. On behalf of the Lagos State Government, we thank you for your validation of your endorsement of our government because it is a period of endorsement. We get endorsements on a daily basis. The endorsement of our government is saying that we are doing a good job and we are encouraged to do more. We are humble with those words and it will encourage us to do a lot more,” he said.
Speaking earlier, the Managing Director of Heritage Bank, Mr. Akinola George-Taylor, commended the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration in Lagos State and wished the governor well as the 2023 general elections approach.
He said the bank would continue to increase the wallet of its business transactions with the Lagos State Government.
“We are here to introduce ourselves as the new management of the Heritage Bank and being that we have had a relationship with the state (Lagos) for a number of years now, we felt it was necessary to come and present ourselves to the Governor; to say thanks for the business that we enjoyed with the government and that we align and commend the great work he is doing for Lagos State.
“And of course as bankers, we want to try and increase our own size of the wallet of the business that we do with the government and to extend our best wishes to him and his government. It was a courtesy call to say thank you and wish him well in the next coming elections,” he said.

SIGNED
GBOYEGA AKOSILE
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
19 OCTOBER 2022

JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER SENDS CONDOLENCE TO PRESIDENT BUHARI OVER SEVERE FLOODS
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has offered his condolence to President Muhammadu Buhari after severe floods claimed many lives and affected millions in the country.
In a message issued on Wednesday, the Japanese Prime Minister expressed deep sadness over ”the recent floods caused by heavy rainfall in many states in the Federal Republic of Nigeria which have claimed many precious lives and forced many people to evacuate.”
He said: ”On behalf of the Government and the people of Japan, I would like to express my heartfelt condolences to those who lost their lives and their bereaved families.
”My sympathies are with those who are affected and I sincerely pray for the prompt reconstruction of the affected areas.”
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
October 19, 2022

SANWO-OLU: GIVE MEDIA PRACTITIONERS PRIVILEGES, RIGHTS TO DO THEIR JOBS WITHOUT HINDRANCES

•Governor to unveil NMMA Alumni Association in November

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has described media as one of the real engines of growth and a real barometer that gauges the mood of the nation and helps to stabilise the polity of any sovereign country.

He said press freedom is an important ingredient of any civilized democracy, noting that media practitioners in Nigeria should be given the rights and privileges to do their jobs without any hindrances.

Governor Sanwo-Olu spoke during a courtesy visit by the Board of Trustees of Nigeria Media Merit Award (NMMA) led by its Chairman, Dr. Haroun Adamu, at the Lagos House Marina, on Tuesday.

The Governor who commended the role of the media in Nigeria said media practitioners should be recognised and encouraged to continue to perform their roles in society.

He said: “Press Freedom is an important ingredient of any civilized democracy. The profession is noble and very sacred. It must also be given the rights and privileges to do its job. People must be able to continue to know that there is somebody that would be the voice for the voiceless. Media practitioners should continue to deploy their skills and intellect to check people in authority, speak truth to power and use their training and intellect to direct leadership to ensure that we are not in a banana republic.

“Personally, I see the media profession as one of the real engines of growth. I see them as a real barometer that gauges the mood of the nation and helps to stabilise the polity of any sovereign nation. I am sure Nigeria is not an exemption. You can see and measure where the country is based on what the media is saying. And if people have donated their time and intellect to be the voice for the voiceless, I think it is proper that such people should be recognised and be encouraged to continue to do that.”

Governor Sanwo-Olu, who praised the NMMA for appreciating media practitioners and their works in Nigeria, assured the organisation that Lagos State government will support the 30th anniversary of the award.

“I am happy that you have been able to explain to us that over the years Lagos and its citizens and businesses have played major roles and so we feel highly honoured and encouraged that a landmark celebration; 30th anniversary would be taking place in Lagos. We will not shy away from supporting the anniversary because that is something that is proper.

“On behalf of my entire team, we want to congratulate you for continuing to hold the space high and for continuing to ensure that you are identifying and encouraging men that have kept the profession. We also commend you for using the merit award as a proper yardstick to encourage others to continue to do what is right at all times and to continue to give proper and fair reportage because there is a body that is looking at them,” he said.

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Nigeria Media Merit Award, Dr. Haroun Adamu, said the choice of Lagos to celebrate 30 years anniversary of the awards in November is not accidental, noting that “Lagos is the birth place of Nigeria’s struggle for press freedom from which all other freedoms emanate.

He said Governor Sanwo-Olu during the 30th anniversary of the NMMA will unveil the Nigeria Media Merit Award Alumni Association, which comprised over 1,000 past winners in the print and electronic media categories on NMMA in the last 30 years.

Adamu said NMMA has become a cornerstone that has continued to promote the values and ideals of journalism in Nigeria, as well as freedom of speech.

SIGNED
GBOYEGA AKOSILE
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
19 OCTOBER 2022
PRESIDENT BUHARI CELEBRATES PROF PANTAMI AT 50, DESCRIBES HIM AS ‘A RESOURCEFUL, INNOVATIVE, EFFECTIVE PUBLIC OFFICIAL
President Muhammadu Buhari has described the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami as one of the most “resourceful, innovative and effective public officials that I have in the administration.”
President Buhari stated this in a goodwill message on Wednesday on the occasion of Professor Pantami’s 50th birthday anniversary, October 20, 2022.
According to the President, “the appointment of Pantami was one of the best choices I have made because he has added tremendous value to good governance.”
President Buhari explained that “Pantami’s depth of knowledge of complex issues is amazing and remarkable,” and that “his loyalty and dedication to duty is worthy of emulation.”
“As you attain this remarkable journey of life, I pray to Almighty Allah to continue to bless you with more good health and wisdom in the service of your country and humanity,” the President told the Communications Minister.
Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
October 19, 2022

Dettol, FG Commemorate 2022 Global Hand washing Day.

Leveraging its position as a foremost advocate of hand hygiene habits and regular handwashing, Dettol Nigeria has once again partnered with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources to commemorate the 2022 Global Handwashing Day. The event, which served as further emphasis on Dettol’s dedication to advance the cause of enhanced hand hygiene as a tool to decrease hygiene-related diseases held on the 17th of October 2022 in Abuja.

Expressing his belief in the theme “Unite for Universal Hand Hygiene”, the Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Sulaimon Hussein Adamu, Represented by Director, Mrs. Elizabeth Ugoh , while commending the stakeholders for their support, said, “Through this celebration, we are further raising awareness on the importance of handwashing with soap as a fundamental action of hygiene for our well-being — in line with the objectives of the United Nations General Assembly.”

“Though hygiene is a critical element of an integrated approach to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) service delivery, an estimated 2.3billion people globally and 171 million Nigerians do not have access to hygiene services. In Nigeria, only 13% of the rural population has access as against 25% of the urban population, while the wealthiest households are about four times more likely to have basic handwashing services compared to the poorest households.”

“The theme for this year’s celebration, ‘Unite for Universal Hand Hygiene’, is therefore, a call to action to build on the progress made from previous years by uniting to ensure hand hygiene access and practice for everyone, everywhere. On the part of government, there has been increased prioritization of hygiene programming and deployment of needed resources. I would also like to particularly appreciate the contribution of our partners for their financial and technical support, in the promotion of sanitation and hygiene, through programmes and activities aimed towards the attainment of the SDG Goal 6 for water and sanitation.”

Commenting on Dettol’s commitment to the importance of the international advocacy day, the Marketing Director, Reckitt Sub-Saharan Africa, Mr. Tanzim Rezwan, stated, “The purpose of the annual Global Handwashing Daay, which promotes handwashing with soap as an essential step in illness prevention, is to raise public awareness of the necessity of hand hygiene across the globe. With Dettol, we have made this vision more than a one-day activity and are devoted to seeing Nigerians inculcate a handwashing lifestyle as reports have stated that diarrhea prevention focused on safe water, improved hygiene and sanitation is not only possible, but cost effective.

He further asserted that “With our veritable cache of initiatives such as the Dettol Clean Naija Initiative, the introduction of the Hygiene Quest Curriculum, and recent partnership with Wellbeing Foundation Africa, we are well on our way to fulfilling our vision of impacting 6 million children with healthy hygiene and handwashing habits by 2025.”

Over the past 8 years, Reckitt Nigeria has, through the Dettol brand, become a hub of inspirational public health campaigns aimed at revolutionising the hygiene habits of Nigerians of all ages and gender. Through the School Hygiene Quest Program and New Mum’s Program, Dettol has furthermore begun to build new hygiene habits in children of all ages at various educational levels.

PDP SHOULD APOLOGISE IF ATIKU’S COMMENTS ON NORTHERNISING PRESIDENCY IS TRUE-WIKE
*Insists Ayu Didn’t Inform NWC, Govs, About N1.1B He Received
Rivers State governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has expressed mixed feelings over comments credited to the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar that what the north needs is a northerner, not an Igbo or a Yoruba person as next president of Nigeria.
Such statement, if true, Governor Wike said, is a threat to the unity of Nigeria at a time when efforts should be concerted in giving every Nigerian a sense of belonging.
Governor Wike spoke on Monday at the international wing of the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa in Ikwerre Local Government Area, shortly on arrival from Spain. Governor Wike, was accompanied by the governors, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Samuel Ortom (Benue).
“I don’t believe that my candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) could make such statement. But assuming he did make that statement, and this is one of the things we have been saying, this country needs to be united and part of the way you unite it is to include everybody.”
Governor Wike expressed his stances against anything that relegates any section of Nigeria and treat them as second fiddles.
The Rivers State governor is of the thinking that the handlers of Alhaji Atiku should also share in the blame for allowing their principal to make such comment in public which is capable of heightening tension and deepening the feeling of alienation among Nigerians.
“That has now confirmed to me one of the reasons why those of them in their camp, do not want Ayu to resign because they do not want inclusivity.
“I don’t know how those who are packaging the presidential candidate will allow him to make such statement. I was reading where somebody was saying that it was a direct response to a question he was asked.”
Given that the statement is now in the public domain, Governor Wike advised the leadership of PDP to tender apology to Nigerians while explaining the circumstances in which the statement was made.
“Be that as it may, I don’t think that it was necessary at this time, as people who are going in for election, as people who want Nigerians to trust them to have allowed such a statement to be made. “If it (statement) was made, as they said, I think, as a party, we need to apologize to Nigerians, assuming the (statement) was made.
“People are denying that it was made but if you watch the video, it appears true but people are saying with recent technology, anything can be done.
“This requires further explanation by our party, because Nigerians, as it is today, we can’t go this way if we want this country to remain as the way our finding father’s struggled, laboured, and toiled all the night to see that there is a country called Nigeria.”
Speaking further, Governor Wike took a swipe at the PDP national chairman, Senator Iyorciha Ayu, saying going by his responses to the allegations levelled against him, he stands indicted except proven otherwise.
“Luckily for me, he (Ayu) has now mentioned that he went to the presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the Waziri of Adamawa where they discussed on the issues of borrowing.
“Now, the question is, when you talk about borrowing, who approves borrowing? You must go to the National Working Committee (NWC) to say you want to borrow money.
“I challenge him to bring the records where NWC approved that the party should go and borrow N1billion. What is the collateral?”
Governor Wike explained that in matters of funding the party, the governors had been up to that responsibility dutifully. According to him, it was therefore unthinkable that the national chairman would, in the guise of seeking funding for the party, opt to collect loan on behalf of the party without notifying the NWC and governors.
“Be sincere, how can you talk of N1 billion loan without the NWC mooting the idea, without the governors knowing. Then you talk about the N100million (One Hundred Million Naira) he said he told the Board of Trustees (BOT).
“If any governor gives you One Hundred Million Naira in order to rebuild one of the structures of the party, the Democratic Institute, let him show the minutes of the NWC where he said a governor has contributed N100million. Let him show the account to reflect this N100million.
“Let him also say that the N100m was in Naira or in Dollars. He said he gave it to the treasurer. I thought he would have told the world that NWC was aware.
Governor Wike stated for emphasis that his allegations against Ayu were categorical and it was expected that his responses should address each of the issues separately.
“In fact, the normal thing is that when once any governor or any party person has donated money to the party, you will go and tell NWC that so and so person has donated money. Let him (Ayu) show us the account where this money was paid into.
“Coming out to do a general denial is not denial. You (Ayu) must deny specifically to the allegations that were made.”
Governor Wike also wants Ayu to mention names of those he has contacted to handle the rehabilitation works going on at the PDP Democratic Institute and at the National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Wuse Zone in Abuja.
“Ask him, the contracts that are going on in this Democratic Institute and that of Wadata, who is doing that contract, is it not one of his sons?
“As a party, we believe that Nigerians must trust us. We must show leadership and part of that leadership is integrity. You don’t just come and deceive Nigerians that you did not collect one billion naira.
“So, let Ayu come out and tell us, tell the PDP people and tell the public that this matter was discussed in NWC.”
Governor Wike also described as out of order the PDP Board of Trustees resolution that mandated Ayu to make commitment that he would resign after the 2023 elections.
The governor wondered why the BOT could not make Ayu to fulfil his initial commitment that he would resign if a northerner emerges as presidential candidate from the PDP convention.
“To say he should make another commitment that he will resign after the elections, for me, BOT resolution is ridiculous.”