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Ex-Gov Wike Delivered Tinubu, Fit To Lead Rivers APC – Iyke Ejie

Published

2 years ago

June 26, 2023

….Describes Wokocha, Nwauju’s claims as baseless

A prominent APC leader in Obio/Akpor LGA of Rivers State has dismissed as untrue the claims made by some unscrupulous, feckless persons that the ex-governor Wike didn’t work for the emergence of President Bola Tinubu in the February 25 Presidential election in Rivers State.

Comrade Ejie, in a press statement in Abuja, yesterday, called on the people of the state to disregard the claims of Mr Austin Wokocha, described it as baseless. He stated that the ex-chief of staff, who doubles as the authentic APC leader in Rivers State at a news briefing in Port Harcourt, on behalf of the Rivers State authentic APC called on Wike to cross over and lead the state APC amid rumours of Wike’s anticipated defection.

Ejie said, “Wike, like any other person has the constitutional rights to belong to any political party. And the authentic APC members agreed that Wike should join the party and lead them as a man of vision.
Recall that over the weekend, Wokocha in a press statement said that Rivers State APC never called, invited or appealed to Wike to lead the party over his support in the last election.

Comrade Iyke Ejie who was a member, APC Presidential Campaign Council and ICC for Asiwaju-Shettima, a strong and authentic APC member who witnessed all the drama that took place in Rivers State before, during and after the Presidential election, in his response to set the records straight that, “If not ex-governor Nyesom Wike’s support, the APC wouldn’t have won in the State”.

When the chips were down, Wike threw his weight behind Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who had more political spread and acceptability. Remember, he led the G-5 governors who stood by equity, fairness and inclusiveness and insisted on a president from the southern extraction against all odds delivered President Tinubu which Mr President himself has acknowledged, came to Rivers State for a thank you visit.

Let me state without mincing words, the public should disregard those acclaimed Rivers State APC leaders feckless press statement against the real and authentic Rivers APC members led by Chief Tony Okocha who fought, campaigned for Asiwaju ‘s victory.

While some unscrupulous, shameless elements who acted as moles within the APC were working for Mr Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and Sen. Magnus Ngei Abe against Asiwaju’s victory. How can Austin Wokocha claimed to have worked for the APC when he made away with N65 million Presidential campaign rally fund on the eve of the rally in Port Harcourt, and was never seen until after the rally. It is a fact that Wokocha is not a member of the APC because he was planted by Sen Abe of the SDP who left the APC after he lost the primary election. So, Wokocha worked for Abe. Let it be on record, that Sen.Abe and Wokocha are no longer members of the authentic APC in Rivers State, never campaigned for Asiwaju but today want to decide who becomes APC member or not. He has no locus standi to do so.

Also a supposed grown man, “Darlington Nwauju who claimed to be the APC spokesman in the State had never spoken for the APC, during and after the election rather was in cahoot with Chibuike Amaechi, campaigned and worked for the PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar but failed and wants to come through the backdoor to speak for the APC in Rivers State, is not done”, Ejie said.

Let me state without equivocation, “Wike delivered Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who is from the Southern region, inline with his resolve and that of the G-5 governors for power shift to the South”, Ejie said.

The authentic APC members has caretaker committee members in the 23 LGAs of Rivers State, agreed to invite Wike over to lead them, is a call in the right direction. The fact remains that Chief Tony Okocha is the leader of APC in Rivers State and “I reiterate the call for Wike to join the APC in Rivers State, lead us because he is a man with vision and can be trusted”. It is his constitutional rights to belong to a party of his choice. Mr Austin Wokocha, Darlington Nwauju are no longer members of our party but are members of the SDP and Amaechi’s party if he has any”, Ejie concluded.

I urge Wokocha, Nwauju and there cohorts to keep off from all our activities and decisions in the state pending when they will come back to the party and should reap where they worked. Wike is welcomed in Rivers State APC and very fit to lead the party as Chief Tony Okocha on behalf of the authentic APC members stated in a press conference.

It was the visit of President Tinubu on “a thank you tour” to Port Harcourt, reconciled Wike and Abe , leading to subsequent withdrawal of the SDP/ Abe’s petition against the victory of the PDP in the state, that gave Wokocha the impetus to assume he is a member of the APC in Rivers State, whereas he is no longer our member until he decides to rejoin the party.

However, Sen. Abe’s claim of campaign of calumny against his person to curry favour for a Federal appointment is baseless rather we set the records straight, that he reconciling with Wike doesn’t make him a member of the APC. He and his co-travelers should rejoin the APC, if they so desired.

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PSIN Administrator Commends Yobe Government for Championing Leadership Continuity and Institutional Sustainability

Published

13 hours ago

November 5, 2025

The Gleamer

Cyril Igele

The Administrator and Chief Executive Officer of the Public Service Institute of Nigeria (PSIN), Barrister Imeh Okon, has applauded the Yobe State Government for its strong commitment to leadership continuity and sustainable governance through strategic investment in human capital development.

Barrister Okon gave the commendation at the opening of a Management Retreat for Yobe State Permanent Secretaries, held at the PSIN headquarters in Abuja.

The retreat, themed “Succession Planning, Leadership Continuity, and Institutional Sustainability in the Yobe State Public Service,” convened senior bureaucrats and resource persons to discuss strategies for strengthening leadership and governance within the state’s civil service.

In her remarks, the PSIN Administrator praised Governor Mai Mala Buni for his foresight and partnership in prioritizing public sector training and capacity development. She described the theme of the retreat as both “timely and visionary,” emphasizing that institutions endure only when leadership is continuous, knowledge is shared, and systems—not individuals—drive performance.

“Institutions thrive not merely on structures or policies, but on the deliberate cultivation of capable leaders who can sustain progress across generations,” she said. “By prioritizing leadership continuity and institutional resilience, Yobe State is leading by example.”

Barrister Okon reiterated PSIN’s mandate to build a competent, ethical, and innovative public service capable of delivering tangible results to citizens. She stressed that effective succession planning must be anchored in continuous training, mentorship, and exposure to emerging governance trends.

Citing best practices from Singapore and the United Kingdom, Okon noted that successful public service systems deliberately identify and nurture potential leaders through structured talent pipelines and transparent career development programmes. According to her, Yobe State’s initiative reflects its readiness to sustain excellence in governance.

She also highlighted PSIN’s flagship programmes—SMART-P, which builds administrative and technical capacity; LEAD-P, designed to groom emerging leaders; and the Exit from Service Masterclass, which prepares officers for life after service. Okon urged the Yobe Government to adopt the Exit Masterclass into its human resource framework to ensure a smooth transition for retirees, preserve institutional knowledge, and promote productivity through entrepreneurship and consultancy.

“Succession planning is not an event but a culture that must be institutionalised at every level of public administration,” she added. “When we prepare successors in advance and invest in continuous learning, we guarantee the sustainability of reforms and consistency in governance.”

Declaring the retreat open, the Acting Head of Service of Yobe State, Alhaji Abdullahi Shehu, reaffirmed Governor Buni’s commitment to building a results-driven and high-performing public service.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Public Service, Alhaji Shehu, the Acting Head of Service expressed gratitude to God and lauded PSIN as the “mother institution of public service learning.” He stated that Governor Buni has consistently directed the Office of the Head of Service to promote seamless succession planning and capacity building to enhance efficiency and accountability across government institutions.

“In line with this directive, we have brought the top echelon of the state civil service to PSIN—being the drivers and core implementers of government policies and programmes—to strengthen continuity and sustainability in our reforms,” he said.

He urged participants to fully engage in the retreat, share experiences, and cascade the knowledge gained to officers across ministries, departments, and agencies. The exercise, he explained, forms part of a deliberate strategy to institutionalize effective succession planning within the Yobe State Civil Service, thereby ensuring sustained productivity and improved service delivery to citizens.

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