[VIDEO] ‘So What?’ Wike Defends Use Of Rolls-Royce

FCT Minister Nyesom Wike says those questioning his source of wealth know little about his background and has defended his usage of a Rolls-Royce.  

A former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, had questioned Wike’s source of wealth during Thursday’s edition of Channels Television’s Politics Today, especially when he was spotted with the luxury car.

However, a day after, Wike said he was born into a comfortable family before taking up political leadership.

“I have a Rolls-Royce. So what? Nobody gave it to me. Before harmattan, there was cold. I didn’t come from the same background as Rotimi Amaechi,” the FCT minister said on Friday’s edition of the show.

“As a student, I was using a Mercedes-Benz. My father was the general manager of many companies. I will not say [my family was] too rich like the Dangotes. ”

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Watch Wike’s response to those questioning his source of wealth below:

2027: Coalition Not A Tsunami, We’ve Chased Buccaneers, Vampires Away — Wike

The Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, believes the newly formed coalition is ill-equipped to address the challenges facing the country, describing members of the group as buccaneers.  

Opposition politicians including ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP); a former Senate President David Mark; ex-governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, are some of the leading figures in the coalition which had adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its platform to unseat Bola Tinubu’s government.

However, Wike is unfazed by the development, which many in the political space have described as a tsunami.  

“No, that’s not a tsunami,” the FCT minister said on Friday’s edition of Channels Television’s Politics Today. “There’s no tsunami. The buccaneers and vampires—we have sent them away. ”

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Rebuild Crumbling Pillars of Democracy

President Tinubu in a handshake with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike

Talks about a coalition have been brewing in the past months. But on Tuesday, members of the group adopted the ADC as their party for the 2027 elections.

They appointed Mark as the ADC interim chairman and a former minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, as secretary.

In his acceptance speech, Mark said the coalition is poised to restore the country’s democracy and stop Nigeria from turning into a one-party state.

“Let it be known to all that this coalition of national political opposition groups goes beyond gaining political power. It is a concerted effort to rebuild the crumbling pillars of Nigeria’s democracy,” he said.

“The mission is clear: Rescue Nigeria. Rebuild Nigeria. Return power to the people,” Mark added.

Tinubu Took Over ‘Economy that Was Gone’

Shoe seller Bidemi Bello attends to a customer while selling sandals at her stall in the Balogun Market in Lagos on December 18, 2023. (Photo by Benson Ibeabuchi / AFP)

Members of the coalition accused the Tinubu-led government of destroying the economy and pushing more Nigerians into poverty.

Wike, however, accused the opposition politicians of pursuing a personal agenda and defended the policies of the administration.

“He took over, he took over an economy that was gone. Was totally gone,” Wike said on the show.

The minister claimed, “Nigeria was ready to be buried. Luckily, it has not been buried. Someone [Tinubu] came and said, ‘No, I will not allow you to be buried’. ”

Wike’s comment came a day after a former Rivers Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, claimed Tinubu’s government “buried” Nigeria’s economy.  

Benue Councillors Petition Otukpo LG Chairman Over Fraud Allegations

Otukpo local government legislative council has petitioned Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State and the State House of Assembly over alleged misappropriation of funds, gross misconduct, among other allegations levelled against the council chairman, Maxwell Ogiri.

The move was necessitated by an initial alarm raised by the Head of Revenue Department, Adina Victoria, on April 23, 3025, drawing the attention of the legislative house to the chairman’s financial recklessness and the need for authority to call him to order.

Aduma, while raising the alarm, accused the chairman of issuing revenue receipts without due approval by her office, inciting the revenue committee against the revenue department, and hijacking security levies, which, according to her, amounted to abuse of authority.

It is however, on the strength of this development that the legislators, after due diligence, wrote the petition dated June 17, 2025, and also sent to the Benue State Commissioner for Finance as well as Gubernatorial Liaison Officer(GLO) Otukpo, State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the media.

Titled, “Petition Against the Executive Chairman Otukpo LG, Prince Maxwell Ogiri Over Gross Financial Misconduct,” and signed by 11 legislators, including Honourables Amodu Philip Anya (Leader), Gloria Adu Harrison, Anthony Godwin, Idega Friday, Agbo Alapa, Otalu Musa Felix, Edit Johnson Onka, Ameh Sunday, Augustine Elaigwu, and Aaron Oono, listed a litany of weighty misconducts against the chairman and demanded his investigation by the various authorities.

The grassroot lawmakers further accused the council boss of blackmailing the governor and using his name to swindled N13 million from 13 councilors by asking them to pay N1 million each for their electoral appeal court in Abuja, operating illegal online bank account through alternative bank, illegal printing of revenue receipts, paying internally generated revenue into his accounts using PoS belonging to his assistant and spending government funds without budgetary approval.

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Others are his failure to honour invitations by the legislators to clarify issues bothering on governance, diversion of motorcycles donated by the state governor to ease local security patrol, importing thugs to the council secretariat to disrupt legislative sittings, high hardness and total disrespect for constituted authorities including police and civil defence in the local government area.

The aggrieved councillors affirmed, “We first believe that the PoS was used for revenue generation for the local government, but when we verified, we discovered that no kobo was remitted to the Local Government Revenue Account, but to his PA PoS account.

“We consider this as an act of blackmail and casting of negative aspersion on the administration of Governor Alia and his image, hence his anti-corruption posture, which is globally acknowledged.

“Since our inauguration on October 24, the chairman has consistently ignored financial rules and regulations by spending public funds accruable to the legislative council, which contravenes section 87, subsection 3 of Benue State Local Government Law 2007. ”

Concluding the petition, the legislators asserted, “We therefore appeal to Benue State House of Assembly to suspend the chairman and his deputy from office to pave the way for in-depth investigation and apportion of appropriation sanctions to serve as a deterrent to others.

It is added, “We are not allowed to sit, but the Chairman pocketed our sitting allowance. The other day, he brought over forty(40) thugs to our council hall and disrupted all our sitting.

“He also prevented us from meeting with a three-man peace committee sent to the local government by the state leadership of the All Progressives Congress after our petition was forwarded to the party, calling for intervention.

“He has also embarked on a move to recall the affected councilors who signed the petition against him by lobbying their ward chairmen to suspend them.

“We appeal to all the aforementioned agencies and authorities to embrace justice on the matter to avert continual government of impunity in Prince Maxwell Ogiri, as this is the yearning of the whole council citizens. ”

The State commissioner for finance and economic planning, Michael Oglegba, confirmed that he has received a petition from councilors in Otukpo local government council concerning financial misconduct involving the council chairman.

He described the allegations as very weighty, adding that he has decided to carry out an independent assessment to ascertain the veracity of the documents.

“There is a process to follow in order to treat this kind of petition. As commissioner of finance, I will advise the various authorities, including the State House of Assembly, to act swiftly.

“The chairman has not called to tell me what is happening. Coincidentally, I’m also from Otukpo LG. So, I only heard this crisis from a third party, that there is a total breakdown of law and order in the local government area over finances.

“When this document is related to other parties, the chairman has to come to speak and defend himself. These documents are already in public view, and Fr. Alia has zero tolerance for anything that is negative to his administration. Incidentally, I have sent this document to the Fiscal Responsibility Commission to act on it. The allegations are weighty and weighty enough for them to take a second look and give advice that could be appropriate,” he said.

Meanwhile, when contacted, the embattled Chairman, Maxwell Ogiri, indicted the Auditor General for Local Government, whom he claimed gave him the advice to operate the Revenue Accounts with Online Banks.

“Nothing is dangerous to embark on than change. It’s dangerous because the people who are benefiting from the old order would bring all their arsenals to fight you so that it does not succeed, and the people who would benefit from the new order may be lukewarm in protecting the new change that is introduced,” Ogiri said.

“I cannot open a new account for the local government. I have no reason not to use any bank, the Zenith Bank as a company is aware of that. But when I discovered that the revenue of any local government is the index that is used to determine subvention from the federation account, I was determined to step it up.

“In the process of doing that, I have to seek the advice of the auditor general for local government, who accepted and advised that, whichever contractor I am going to use, must be registered in Benue and must be a tax-paying consultant.

“He advised that I either give it to those consultants wholly or allow them to be in partnership with the revenue department of the local government, which has the workforce with primary responsibility for collecting revenue. So I allowed different consultants to submit proposals, thereafter I called a town hall meeting where all the traditional rulers, market women, heads of security agents, and the members of the revenue department in Otukpo local government were invited, and the advice was adopted.

“The first consultant that was selected could not cover the entire revenue points, and a new one was brought in, which is the Alternative Bank, who suggested opening a wallet, although not a bank, but can serve as a pipe through which monies pass into the main account of revenue of the local government.

“This was not intentionally done to siphon money. So when the system was not functioning properly for more than two to three weeks, I got another expert’s advice that there is a way Monie Point can be synchronised for payments directly into the main account of Revenue”.

He explained that when the system became operational, he constituted an implementation committee to ensure the effectiveness of the machine instead of money passing through hands.

He denied all the other allegations leveled against him and his administration, describing them as an infringement on people’s imagination.

UNIJOS ASUU Declares Strike Over Unpaid Salaries

The University of Jos branch’s Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) members have announced that their services have been terminated because of what they described as a delay in the payment of their salary for June 2025.

Jurbe Molwus, the branch chairperson, stated that the termination would continue until the government had reached an agreement.

The union claimed that its members have abstained from lectures and statutory meetings as a follow-up to the National Executive Council’s resolution, which directed branches to take action when salaries are not paid by the third day of the following month.

The chairperson added that the lecturers would continue to resign from their positions whenever the salary was not paid by the third day of the month.

Additionally, he added, that the branch’s strike monitoring team had been set up to monitor compliance.

If our salaries for the month of June 2025 are not paid by today, July 3rd, 2025, he said in a message sent to members that read, “Dear comrades, this is request all members to abstain from lectures and statutory meetings.”

This is in line with our congress resolution of June 4, 2025, which affirms this position and the existing NEC resolution that “branches should take action when salaries are not paid by the third day of a new month.”

” The action takes effect from 12: 01 am on Friday, July 4, 2025.

Tinubu Mourns Ex-Eagles Goalkeeper Peter Rufai

Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Peter Rufai has been immortalized in the sporting annals of Nigeria and the continent of Africa, according to President Bola Tinubu.

The President paid tribute to the football legend, known as “Dodomayana,” in a statement released by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on June 3, 2025.

The 61-year-old football legend passed away on Thursday.

President Tinubu recalled with fond memories Peter Rufai’s bravery in the Super Eagles’ historic victory in Tunisia in 1994 as the first-choice goalkeeper.

“He followed up with Nigeria’s equally epoch-making, first-ever appearance at the FIFA World Cup, dubbed USA ’94.”

Tinubu predicted that Nigerians and football fans around the world would continue to venerate the late footballer’s legacy.

The President also praised Rufai’s involvement in the 1998 World Cup in France and his pioneering contribution to the development of Nigerian football, having worked in Portugal, Spain, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

Rufai, who started his career with Stationery Stores of Lagos in 1980, was one of the first footballers to enter the professional ranks, participating in numerous European nations and promoting the country as a whole, he said.

Rufai, a prince of the royal family in Idimu, Lagos, received praise for his efforts to train the next generation through his Staruf Football Academy in addition to his footballing accomplishments. President Tinubu praised him for continuing to inspire, mentor, and nurture young footballers.

The President offered comfort to his family and all those who mourned him in addition to praying for his soul’s repose.

President Bola Tinubu’s photo. Bayo Onanuga deserves credit.

The political and football fields have received tributes in recent weeks. Atiku Abubakar, the former vice president, described Rufai’s passing as a “profound loss.”

Atiku said, “Peter Rufai’s remarkable contributions to the beautiful game will always be remembered, and he will be greatly missed.”

Ahmed Musa, the Super Eagles’ forward, wrote, “Can’t believe I’m typing this – a post to bid farewell to a true giant of Nigerian football, Peter Rufai. Your bravery and unwavering standing between the posts earned us moments of national pride.

Your legacy soars higher than any other trophy, despite the loss you’ve had. Dodomayan, the country mourns a hero, shouts high. Condolences to your fans, teammates, and loved ones. Rest in peace, legend.

Rufai, who won 65 caps for the nation, won the Super Eagles’ 6–0 victory over Ethiopia in 1993, making history. He was dubbed “Dodomayana” for his quick reflexes and acrobatic saves.

He was also known for his passion for education up until his passing, when he attended the Lagos-based National Institute for Sports to obtain official coaching credentials.

FG Inaugurates Board Of National Credit Guarantee Company To Boost MSME Financing

The Federal Government has inaugurated the board of directors of the National Credit Guarantee Company Limited (NCGC Ltd. ), a strategic institution designed to enhance access to affordable financing for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across the country.

The inauguration ceremony was held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday.

According to a statement by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communications, Vice President Kashim Shettima presided over the event, describing the NCGC as “a critical engine in our pursuit of economic inclusion and sustainable growth”.

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Shettima noted that the establishment of the NCGC reflects the Federal Government’s determination to bridge the longstanding financing gap faced by small businesses.

He said, “These entrepreneurs do not ask for handouts; they ask for the credibility of their ideas to be matched by the confidence of our financial institutions”.

The NCGC, which was set up by President Bola Tinubu on May 29, 2025, with an initial capital of ₦100 billion, is expected to serve as a vital link between MSMEs and financial institutions by providing credit guarantees to underfunded entrepreneurs nationwide.

The Vice President described NCGC as “a critical engine” in the drive toward economic inclusion, noting that it will act as a bridge between financial institutions and business owners in sectors ranging from agriculture to technology.

President Tinubu also approved the constitution of the company’s board, appointing former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, as chairman.