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

Published

3 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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AWESSA 2026: Customs Assures Border Cooperation for Women Entrepreneurs

Published

16 hours ago

October 25, 2026

The Gleamer

By James Samuel, Abuja

The Nigeria Customs Service has said the nation’s borders must become gateways of opportunity for African women entrepreneurs, not obstacles that kill their businesses.

This was disclosed at the African Women’s Economic Sovereignty Summit and Awards (AWESSA) 2026 held at the Customs House, corporate headquarters of the Nigeria Customs Service in Abuja.

Representing the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, his representative, an Assistant Controller, said hosting the summit inside Customs premises was deliberate.

“That this summit holds within the Customs premises is no accident. It is a statement of intent,” he said.

“The border is where the promise of every African trader either comes alive or dies quietly. And the men and women of this Service have resolved that for every woman entrepreneur of this continent, that promise will never die.”

He said women account for an estimated 70% of informal cross-border trade in Africa and over half of agricultural labour, yet they face documentation, standards, finance and harassment challenges.

“Too often she meets the border as an obstacle rather than a gateway. Because she trades in small volumes, in cash, in informality without formal papers, capable business women are now trapped in informality, invisible to trade statistics,” he noted.

He added: “AfCFTA will not be delivered by treaties alone. It will be delivered at border posts, in conference halls, and in market stores.”

Also speaking, the Executive Director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Mrs. Nonye Ayeni, represented by a Director, said women are central to Nigeria’s non-oil export sector.

According to her, NEPC’s focus is now on building export- ready competitive enterprises through programmes like the Women in Export Initiative, Export Clinic, and Zero to Export.

“Our focus is no longer on encouraging exports alone, it is on building competitive export-ready enterprises. We are supporting women to move beyond production into value addition, quality assurance, standard compliance, branding and market positioning,” she said.

She said AfCFTA offers a market of over one billion people, but women need knowledge, certifications and institutional support.

“Empowering women economically is one of the most effective tools for achieving poverty reduction, food security, job creation and inclusive growth,” she stated.

The Convener, Helen Okon, who is the Publisher of Business Review Africa & Africa Today Magazine, as well as representatives of NAFDAC DG and NEXIM Bank MD, reaffirmed commitment to supporting women-owned businesses access standards, certification and finance.

The summit, with the theme of positioning women as drivers of trade and sustainable development, is part of activities marking the International Year of the Women Farmer.

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