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Why Obi, Wike meet again in RiversThe presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) Peter Obi, hurried to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Monday immediately he was told that the reconciliation team from Governor Nyesom Wike’s camp was in the State, The Nation has gathered.It was learnt members of Wike’s team had arrived Port Harcourt to wait for the team from the camp of the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, for a scheduled reconciliation talk when they heard that Atiku’s team was not coming.A source, who was in Port Harcourt with one of the Wike’s team members, said the Wike’s team was disappointed that Atiku’s camp postponed the meeting without adequately communicating to them.The source, who spoke in confidence, mentioned members of Team Wike, who were in Port Harcourt as Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue, former Governors Donald Duke, Olusegun Mimiko, Senator Olaka Nwogu, Dan Obi and PDP candidate for Bende Federal Constituency, Nnenna Ukeje among others.The source said: “There was supposed to be a reconciliation meeting between the team of Governor Nyesom Wike and that of the PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar. The meeting was supposed to hold at Wike’s private residence in Port Harcourt.”While team Wike was present, the team of Atiku Abubakar did not come. They didn’t communicate any shift of the meeting to Team Wike. The Wike’s team was already in Port Harcourt when they learnt that Atiku’s team was no longer coming. They shifted the meeting to this weekend. Wike’s team then accompanied the governor to the birthday celebration of former Governor Peter Odili”.He said Obi only learnt about the presence of Wike’s people and decided to rush down to Port Harcourt to meet with them. He said: “Someone must have told Obi about the presence of Wike’s team. He rushed down to Port Harcourt. He simply wanted to cash into the opportunity. They all met behind closed doors.”Though the subject matter was not disclosed, it bordered on the 2023 presidential election. He wanted Wike and his team to support him. Obi didn’t attend the Odili’s birthday”.Other sources in Government House also confirmed that Obi met with the Governor.

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Wike, Obi, three Govs, Southsouth leaders meet in RiversLabour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi was in a closed door meeting with Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike in Port Harcourt on Monday night.The meeting also had Benue Governor Samuel Ortom and his Abia counterpart, Okezie Ikpeazu as well as former Cross River Governor Donald Duke, some key politicians and statesmen in the South-South region in attendance.It lasted into early hours of Tuesday.The Special Assistant to Governor Wike on Media, Kelvin Ebiri confirmed the meeting.The meeting reportedly held at Wike’s private home along Ada George area of Obio Akpor Local Government Area.After the meeting, the participants were seen in a group picture beaming with smiles.Although details of the meeting was not disclosed, it may not be unconnected with 2023 polls.Governor Wike has been in a deep faceoff with the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) whonhe lost the ticket to.The crisis deepened in the past week as the highly aggrieved Governor Wike warned he should not be held responsible if PDP loses the elections.

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Again, Peter Obi meets Wike, Mimiko, othersBy Victoria Edeme16th August 2022IMG-20220816-WA0000Obi, Wike, Mimiko, and others at Wike’s private residence, Port Harcourt. Photo: MimikoThe presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has again met with the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, and the former governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko.The trio also met on Monday night with top politicians like former Cross River Governor, Donald Duke; Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom; Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, Gombe State ex-governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo; and a host of others at Wike’s private residence in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.Mimiko shared a photo with the aforementioned politicians on his Twitter page, adding that it was nice to share some time with them.He tweeted, “Nice to share some time last night with @GovWike @Donald_Duke @PeterObi @HEDankwambo @GovSamuelOrtom@GovernorIkpeazu, Mohammed Adoke SAN and many other friends.”Though the ex-governor did not give a reason for the meeting, The PUNCH confirmed that the meeting was held at Wike’s private residence in Port Harcourt, the Rivers capital.The Labour Party presidential candidate had also visited Wike two months ago.The closed-door meeting lasted for a few hours at the governor’s private residence in Port Harcourt.Though the outcome of the meeting was not known, the two politicians were seen shaking hands in front of Governor Wike’s residence in pictures online.Obi’s first visit to Wike came amidst speculations that Wike may dump the Peoples Democratic Party, due to the fallout over the presidential primary of the party and the failure of the party’s presidential standard-bearer, Atiku Abubakar, to pick the Rivers governor as his running mate for the 2023 general elections.

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LAUTECH calls off strike, resumes academic sessionThe management of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, has called off its union’s six months old strike.The institution announced this today August 16 in a circular titled: “Release to Staff and Students: Continuation of the First Semester of the 2021/2022 Academic Session”, and signed by the Registrar of the University, Dr. Kayode Ogunleye. The institution also announced the date for the commencement of academic activities for the 2021/2022 academic session which will be on Thursday, August 18, 2022.

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Aggrieved Rivers PDP elders plotting against me – WikeRivers Governor, Nyesom Wike, has berated some elders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the State saying they have relocated to Abuja to plot against him.Wike said his detractors were angry that they failed to clinch the governorship ticket of the party for the 2023 election.The Governor recalled how some of them visited him during his birthday in 2021 and urged him to contest the presidential ticket.But he said having failed in their ambitions, they ran to Abuja to join forces against him.Wike spoke on Monday during the 74th birthday reception organised to honour the former Governor Peter Odili at the private residence built and donated to him by the State government in Old Government Residential Area, Port Harcourt.Wike said those elders came to him on their own accord and showed a commitment that they would stay to support him and his decisions…

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Obi Rally: Knocks For El-Rufai Over ‘Imports’ TweetGovernor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, has been receiving some knocks on social media over his reaction to a planned rally in support of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, in his state capital, Kaduna.A tweep, Abdullahi Umar Zarma, had tweeted a call for a two-million man march in Kaduna for Peter Obi. Quoting the tweet, El-Rufai dismissed the possibility of 200 persons coming for the rally and referred to south-easterners as ‘imports’.He said, “In Kaduna? Not Kaduna Twitter? – I hope you get Two Hundred persons on the streets… including those ‘imports’ that can’t open their shops on Mondays and came on overnight bus last night!! I jus’ dey laff, wallahi tallahi!!”Reactions have been trailing the governor’s tweet, with a number knocking him for being insensitive.Aisha Yesufu said, “As Governor who has been muscled by terrorists you surely know better right? Since even you as Governor has been restricted and left with writing letter to ICCIF!”“The beautiful thing about the democratisation of social media is that you are not powerless. This hateful tweet disgracefully employs a racial stereotype that might expose peaceful marchers to real world harm. But you CAN act,” Ose Anenih tweeted.Another tweep, Oyin D said, “El Rufai just called the Obidient Movement IPOB by talking about shops that don’t open on Monday. My Kaduna people, you guys have been affected by terrorism in the last couple of years, this is the time to show this man that power truly belongs to the people. Come and walk with us.”Adewale Adetona tweeted, “From a sitting governor? This is so unnecessary and definitely not a way to foster a United Nigeria. Our so-called leaders keep fuelling unnecessary hate and bigotry.”Alhaji Yusuf tweeted, “What about us that can’t travel from Kaduna to Abuja throughout the week because of bandits? Decorum and civility is what you El Rufai should understand. Your tweet lack appropriate social behaviour, hence you should keep quiet.”–Follow us for more breaking news and videos

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EFCC Arrests 7 suspected Internet Fraudsters in AbujaOperatives of the EFCC have arrested a syndicate of 7 suspected internet fraudsters.The suspects, Nnonyelu Favour Chioma, Ajator Henry Sopulu, Ego Andy Seji, Okeke Ikechukwu Jude, Oshioriamite Perfect, Ego Akin and Okeke were arrested on August 12, 2020 in a sting operation at Tunlapal Estate, Kurudu, AbujaItems recovered from them include mobile phones and computer devices.For details of this and other stories visit our website: www.efcc.gov.ng