Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has stated that the mass defection of party leaders and state governors from the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party to the ruling All Progressives Congress has justified his support for President Bola Tinubu, as those who previously criticized him are now APC members.
Wike made the statement on Wednesday in Abuja at the start of construction of the outer southern expressway’s main carriageways.
Wike stated that several governors had previously criticized him for destabilizing the PDP and working for the APC, but that the governors should instead praise him for “doing a good job” in clearing the way for them to join the ruling party.
“I have been watching on daily television and social media people who said I want to destabilize the party; I am working for the APC. All of them are now in the APC. So, which means if it is true, they should commend me for working for where they are heading. So, I should be commended for doing a good job for them,” he said.
Chronicle NG reports that in the past 48 hours, the Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, had resigned his membership of the PDP and joined the ruling All Progressives Congress, stating that his decision was in the interest of national development under President Tinubu’s leadership.
The Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, also resigned his membership of the party on Wednesday, along with 19 members of the State House of Assembly, making him the fourth PDP governor to defect ahead of the 2027 general elections, bringing the number of PDP governors from 11 as of October 2024 to only eight as of today.
Wike noted that the governors no longer had an excuse, as the “decisive leadership” of President Tinubu had ensured that every state had enough resources to pay salaries and embark on credible projects and activities.
“Let every state be sincere to their people and to Nigerians. I was a governor for eight years. I was a governor running around banks to look for money to do projects. Sometimes, every month, the money that comes will not be enough to pay salaries and all other allowances, not to mentiondoing projects.
“Today, by the leadership of somebody, by the decisive leadership of somebody who has made it possible for all the states and the Federal Capital Territory not to be running around banks again. Rather, banks are now looking for states to say, ‘Look, don’t throw us away; we are here.’
“Somebody has made that possible; every state now has money. Not only to pay salaries, not only to carry out government activities, but also to embark on projects. It was not like that before,” Wike said.
He hailed his decision to defect and assist Tinubu’s administration as “worthwhile,” adding that no governor will leave debts for their successors as in the past.
“So, if, for that reason, so many people are going to support Mr. President, I think it is worthwhile. Now, no governor will talk about leaving debts for his successor, unlike what used to happen before. That is the leadership of somebody.
“And that’s what this country needs for now. Visionary leadership, purposeful leadership, that will be able to take decisions. Decisions that people were running away from taking when they had the opportunity,” Wike said.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
