* Says ABC Nwosu resignation vindicates G5 govs -Wike

PORT HARCOURT – GOVERNOR Nyesom Wike has told the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) camp of national chairman, Iyorcha Ayu and presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to be ready to face repercussions if they fail to yield to the G-5 Governors camp’s demand to cede the party chairmanship to the South.

Wike gave the warning Saturday at the Government House, Port Harcourt, Rivers state while reflecting on the resignation of former health minister and PDP Trustee, Prof Alphonsus Bosah Chukwurah Nwosu from the party, a development he said has vindicated the G-5 governors in the demand for equity, fairness and justice.

Addressing visiting Stakeholders of Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area on the occasion, Wike said, “I have continued to challenge them. What are we fighting for? What I said and will continue to say is that all of us are from this country. Nobody is a second class citizen.

“We agreed that this is how our party will be. Recently Prof. A.B.C Nwosu resigned from the party saying his conscience will not allow him, that the constitution of the party is clear, if you take this, these other people will take that. Why now are we saying that we won’t do it again?”

“What the people are saying is look, you have taken this, let these people take that and you are saying you will take all. If you take all, you will also face the repercussions.”

He maintained that God has blessed Rivers state so much that he would not allow its adversaries to become victorious because the protective wall still remains difficult to penetrate.

He added, “You can not fight anybody God has blessed. God has blessed Rivers. Anybody fighting Rivers State, you are fighting yourself. Nobody can intimidate us. No one State in this country can intimidate Rivers.

“If you want to fight us, we will fight you to the last. If you want to make peace with us, we will make peace with you to the last. But thinking that anybody will come and intimidate us and then we will chicken out, that is not possible.”

Governor Wike chided the likes of Sen George Sekibo for allegedly fighting against interest of Rivers State, wondering what benefit he could attract to his people.

The Rivers governor accused Sekibo as an ungrateful politician who believes only him should be the leading light in his locality, recalling how he (Wike) allegedly prevented Mr. Akin Fakorede, former SARS Commander in Rivers, from stalling Sekibo’s 2015 senatorial election and footing legal fees through the election tribunal on his behalf.

He said it is time the Rivers people stood up boldly against those working against interest of the State, just as he announced award of contract for construction of Eli Town Landing Jetty and Eteo-Ogu Road in Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area.

He told Ogu/Bolo people to return 100 percent votes enthusiastically to PDP, to reciprocate projects they have benefited from his administration, so that the consolidation team that will be headed by Siminialayi Fubara, the PDP governorship candidate, will win at the polls.

The Ogu/Bolo delegation which included State Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Boma Iyaye and Amayanabo of Bolo Ama, King Acheseinimie Frank, thanked the governor as a source of inspiration to all Rivers people, pledging mass support to the PDP in the coming elections.

Theological education’s critical roles in raising capable leaders By Emmanuel Oyemomi Going back the memory lane, as far as Nigeria isconcerned, I don’t think we have a solid plan. What we have has been a legacy andthe impact of theological education has brought into the nation. Some greatinstitutions that are renowned for this – Harvard, Oxford, etc. have become thecream of the whole world. History made us know they started as seminaries butthese institutions later metamorphosed into other areas of education. JC Pool, the first Principal of the NigerianBaptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomosho was offered a license for a chartedUniversity by the then President, Dr Azikiwe which was rejected. The same Seminary later became the firstdegree awarding institution in Nigeria. As far as this nation and Africa are concerned,writing and education are not our heritage. Treasures not documented andwhatever education is in Nigeria is heritage and an aftermath of TheologicalEducation in Nigeria. All the schools government took over started as missionschools and government was not maintaining the legacy of the mission schools. Whenyou talk of academic integrity and soundness, we find them among the missionschools across the country. They are still functional and focused in providingsound education. Government keyed into education and made it apolitical matter to fight religion. This is through legislation against the schools.History was also doctored out of the curriculum. Several subjects have been removedas well. The nation has lost its bearing in terms ofeducation with consistent strikes by ASUU which affect the future of thestudents. We are yet to get our bearingin education. Late Chieg Obafemi Awolowo ensured education became a natural priorityto benefit the citizens but the reverse is the case today. It is worrisome thatwe have no value for education as the state of the nation’s educational systemis lamentable. Impact The impact of theological education is multifaceted, as Theological Education gave birthto several churches. It also gave birth to the proliferation of schools. These arethe immediate impact but in the 1950’s, primary school in those days werevirtually free education. If children were very intelligent, themissionaries gave scholarships to children. As a nation, we have no value foreducation. The people who had primary education to standard 6 in those days canbe compared with a graduate today. Themissionaries hired such standard 6 graduates and so many lives have beenuplifted. Missionaries hired them for several jobs in public sectororganizations. Help Theological Education must be given a space toshape leaders. We need to watch the track records of our leaders. Our leaderseven boast that our votes mean nothing to them. We have a crop of leaders who have notrack records and all they do is to manipulate. Theological education has been ostracized. In thelast few years, Theological Education has been waged war against. It is a threat/war against the source of Peacewhich is GOD. Theological Education can have a great impact on ourleaders which is a study about GOD. It is education that gives a transformationto be godly. In Theological Education,you are taught how you must have concern for fellow human beings, whenutilized, the impact is huge. Theological Education indicates that God isindivisible, most people with sound theological education act right. Theological education can train people who will useand lead the people. Theological education has produced leaders for the countrywho are functioning in various places. Theological education has helped peopleto be versatile but they are being massacred due to selfishness, nepotism andtribalism in the country. God authenticates Theological education as we willall return to God. – [ ] •Oyemomi, a professor, is Rector, Baptist College of Theology, Lagos.
PDP crisis: Atiku sends Adamawa gov to Wike, meeting deadlocked
August 12, 2022
In “Politics”