How I poached Tinubu for PDP – Wike

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has explained how he attempted to poach the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, to dump the All Progressives Congress for the Peoples Democratic Party in 2018.

He said he met the former Lagos State governor in 2018 at his Bourdillon home in Lagos around 2 am in his bid to convince Tinubu to join the main opposition party.

Wike revealed this during a state banquet in honour of the President-elect on Wednesday in Port Harcourt.

The governor, however, said Tinubu turned down his offer after he (Wike) listed possible presidential candidates in PDP.

Wike said, “I met him first in 2018 around 2 am in his house -Bourdillon. I was sent to go and talk to him, how he can join us. I went to him, I said sir, I hear you can’t find your feet again in APC. Why not join us and let’s support one of these our candidates to win the 2019 election?"

“He asked me. Who are these your candidates, I mentioned them. He said look, if it is these ones you have, I will support (Muhammadu) Buhari 200 times. He told me that. And I respected him.”

On his support for Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election, the governor said, “We didn’t do anti-party, we supported the unity of Nigeria which is more important than any political party. Those who did anti-party are those who violated the provision of the constitution of their political party, they did anti-party.”

Wike said since they insisted that they “must obey the constitution of our party, we cannot be held for anti-party”.

We Need More Aircraft To Evacuate Nigerians – FG

The federal government has said more aircraft need to be made available to evacuate Nigerians affected by Sudan war from Egypt.

Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabir, stated this at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, while awaiting the arrival of 376 stranded Nigerians from Egypt.

She said if four airplanes can move at once, everyone would definitely arrive.

According to her, Egypt officials insist that the airplanes sent from Nigeria must be able to accommodate the number of Nigerians available to travel, else they would not let them evacuate anyone.

“If four planes go at the same time, they will bring everybody back. So, NEMA has assured that they have done that for Egypt."

EFCC Arrests 17 Suspected Internet Fraudsters In Enugu

Operatives of the Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 arrested 17 suspected internet fraudsters in a sting operation in Enugu.

The suspects are: Egwin Aguh Chinonso, Chukwudi Christain Onuonicha, Odo Emmanuel Sunday, Obaje Christain Peter, Ogbe Samuel Chukwuebuka, Eze Kingsley Chisom, Ezema Aiugustine Izuchukwu and Edeh Nnamdi Benjamin.

Others include Ogbe Joshua Chinonso, Chinagorom Victor Ani, Ebere Arinze Emmanuel, Chukwuemeka Donald Anih, Ogbe Christopher Arinze, Chinedu Joshua, Edeh Kelechukwu, and Emmanuel Aninweke Mmesoma.

Item recovered from them include mobile phones, laptops and a Mercedes Benz E350.

The EFCC noted that the suspects have made useful statements and will be charged to court soon.

Dabiri-Erewa seeks clemency for Ekweremadu

Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), has appealed to the UK government to be lenient with Ike Ekweremadu, former deputy senate president.

Ekweremadu was convicted of attempting to harvest the organ of a 21-year-old for the treatment of Sonia, his daughter.

The sentencing is scheduled for Friday at the Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey.

Dabiri-Erewa, in a statement signed by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, head of media, NiDCOM, pleaded with the UK government to temper justice with mercy, saying “mistakes have been made, and lessons learnt”.

“I join men and women of goodwill to plead for clemency for Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, if only even considering the psychological trauma that Sonia, the daughter, would be going through knowing that her parents are in jail because they tried to save her from a health condition she had no control over,” Dabiri-Erewa said.

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