PETER OBI IS NOT BETTER THAN ME - MINISTER DAVE UMAHI SAYS IT IS NOT YET IGBOS' TURN TO PRODUCE PRESIDENT

Minister of Works Dave Umahi has challenged those who claim that former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi is superior to him, asking them to point out what Obi has done better than him.

Umahi made the statement on Thursday in Benin City during the ‘Operation Rescue Benin-Asaba Road’ event, while responding to comments that Obi was not his “match.”

He said he took time to consider whether Obi could be regarded as superior to him based on their family backgrounds, intellectual capacity and contributions to the South-East.

“And when that guy says that Peter Obi is not my match, it took me ten minutes to think about it; is it in my larger family background that his is better than my own? Is it in intellectual capacity? Is it in what we have done for the people of South-East? Is it what we did when we were governors?

“So, when you say he is not a match, put it side by side and tell me what Peter Obi is better than this Dave Umahi. You can’t be tackling counsel without knowledge,” Umahi said.

The minister also described Obi as “a lucky person” while defending the Tinubu administration against those who criticise the President.

“If you are challenging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the president is working and is using us to work and you expect us to keep quiet, we are not keeping quiet,” he said.

Umahi added that although the Igbo would eventually produce Nigeria’s president, “it is not yet our turn, it is the turn of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

TRENDING ON RWGBLOG NEWS

SLEEPING FOR NINE HOURS A NIGHT LINKED TO HIGHER RISK OF EARLY DEATH THAN GETTING LESS THAN SIX HOURS OF SLEEP - STUDY

Image
Sleeping for nine hours or more every night could be linked to a higher risk of early de@th, according to a new study. Researchers tracked the sleeping habits of more than 3,000 people over 30 years and found that those who slept seven to eight hours nightly had the lowest mortality rate. The study recorded 10.57 de@ths per 1,000 people among those sleeping seven to eight hours. The figure rose slightly to 10.97 among those getting fewer than six hours of sleep, while people sleeping more than nine hours recorded the highest rate at 11.27 deaths per 1,000. The researchers said sleeping for longer was associated with a 17 per cent higher risk of dying from any cause, although the precise reasons remain unclear. They noted that people who sleep for longer may be more likely to have high blood pressure and increased inflammation, while excessive sleep could also affect the body’s internal clock, hormonal regulation and immune system. The Taiwanese researchers said sleep durati...
Continue Reading »

BREAKING NEWS: FUBARA EMERGES YPP GOVERNORSHIP CANDIDATE

Image
Blessing Fubara has emerged as the governorship candidate of the Young Peoples Party (YPP) ahead of the forthcoming governorship election in Rivers State. Fubara, who previously sought the governorship ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), contested the party’s governorship primaries alongside Dumo Lulu-Briggs before later resigning his membership of the party. He has now joined the YPP race, where he will represent the party in the governorship election.
Continue Reading »

VICTOR TOMBARI PIDOMSON URGES OGONI YOUTHS TO CHANNEL ENERGY ON OIL RESUMPTION TOWARDS POLITICAL LIBERATION

Image
Ogoni leader and political stakeholder, Victor Tombari  Pidomson, has called on Ogoni youths to channel the same energy and determination being demonstrated in discussions around oil resumption towards achieving greater political representation and liberation for the Ogoni people. Sir Tombari made the call following his recent comments concerning the KAGOTE body, which attracted significant attention across Ogoni. He had urged KAGOTE to support the emergence of an Ogoni governor, arguing that such a position would demonstrate its commitment to the political and economic interests of the Ogoni people. “Ogoni youths should funnel the same vitality and grit we are exhibiting on oil resumption towards political liberation,” he said. According to Victor, securing greater political power is essential to achieving sustainable economic development in Ogoniland. He further stressed that having an Ogoni person occupy the governorship would provide the people with greater access t...
Continue Reading »

PETROL STILL CHEAPER IN NIGERIA THAN U.S.A DESPITE FUEL SUBSIDY REMOVAL - MINISTER OF STATE FOR PETROLEUM, LOKPOBIRI

Image
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, has defended Nigeria’s petrol pricing, saying Nigerians are already benefiting from local refining despite the product being sold at a price linked to the global market. Speaking during an interview with journalist Seun Okinbaloye, Lokpobiri said Nigeria could not arbitrarily reduce petrol prices because the downstream sector is fully deregulated. According to him, the fact that crude oil is produced and refined locally does not mean Nigerians can be insulated from international crude prices. “Seun, we are already benefiting. That is why our price is lower than that of the US,” he said. Lokpobiri pointed to the United States, which he described as one of the world’s highest producers of crude oil and one of the countries with the highest refining capacity, arguing that petrol is still more expensive there than in Nigeria. “Today the price in the USA is higher than that of Nigeria,” he said. When asked whet...
Continue Reading »

ELEME CHAIRMAN MUST ANSWER QUESTIONS OVER ALLEGED SAFE HAVEN FOR ARMED ATTACKERS - PRINCE DIVINE MANSON BARIFODUM

Image
Prince Divine Manson Barifodum has called on the Chairman of Eleme Local Government Area, Chief Obarilomate Ollor, to address allegations concerning the presence of armed men and suspected bandits around Agbalor/Ebubu, amid growing security concerns in communities along the Eleme–Tai axis. Barifodum, in a statement on the security situation, alleged that armed groups operating around Agbalor/Ebubu may have been involved in attacks on neighbouring Ogoni communities. He called for an immediate investigation into the allegations, stressing that the claims should not be ignored or treated as established facts without proper investigation by the relevant authorities. According to him, communities around the Eleme–Tai axis have continued to face concerns over alleged armed attacks, killings and displacement, with community accounts claiming that more than 30 Ogoni people may have lost their lives in incidents allegedly linked to armed herders or bandits. Barifodum said the report...
Continue Reading »

IN MY ALMOST 40 YEARS IN POLITICS, I HAVE NEVER SEEN A PRESIDENT WITH BETTER PLAN FOR NIGERIA THAN TINUBU - AMINU MASARI

Image
Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Masari, has praised President Bola Tinubu, saying that in his almost 40 years of political involvement, he has never seen a Nigerian president with better plans for the country. Masari made the statement while addressing a group of women at a recent public function in Kaduna. His remarks were contained in a video shared by Hausa-language media outfit HM Arewa on Facebook on Tuesday. “Even if I were asked to swear, on my age and my political involvement for almost 40 years, I can confidently say I have never seen a president with better plans to make Nigeria great than Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I have simply never seen anyone like him,” Masari said. He also dismissed claims that Tinubu’s administration has achieved little, saying such criticism is similar to attacks faced by previous presidents. Masari cited former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who he said was accused of tribalism and sectionalism after his first term ended in 19...
Continue Reading »

IBOM FEAST 2026: RIVERS STATE SET TO HOST A GRAND CELEBRATION OF AKWA IBOM CULTURE

Image
Sound Palace Events is set to host IBOM FEAST 2026, a major cultural and entertainment festival described by the organisers as one of the biggest gatherings of its kind in Rivers State. The event will bring together Akwa Ibom indigenes and non-Akwa Ibomites for a memorable celebration filled with food, culture, entertainment and togetherness. According to the organisers, IBOM FEAST 2026 will feature exciting entertainment, traditional cultural displays, live musical performances, food and other activities designed to create an unforgettable experience for attendees. The festival is scheduled to hold on November 22, 2026, at Verde Garden, opposite Elekahia Stadium, by Elekahia Housing Estate, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. For enquiries and more information, call: +234 803 689 8060
Continue Reading »

2027: I'LL SEND NIGERIAN YOUTHS BACK TO FARMS, IF I'M ELECTED PRESIDENT - PETER OBI

Image
Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has promised to return Nigerian youths to farming and small-scale businesses if elected president in 2027. Obi made the promise on Saturday in Kaduna during an NDC political gathering, where he and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, spoke about their plans for job creation and economic development. He said his administration would focus on moving Nigeria from consumption to production while creating jobs and running an inclusive government anchored on unity and investment. “If you elect us to serve, we will only borrow money for investment,” Obi said. “We’re no longer going to borrow money for consumption. We want to move Nigeria from consumption to production. By that, we will create jobs.” Comparing Nigeria with Indonesia, Obi said the Asian country is performing better despite having a larger population because more of its youths are employed. “Our population is about 230 million. Indonesia is 28...
Continue Reading »

THROWBACK: "WIKE, OK CHINDA AND OTHERS ARE ENEMIES OF RIVERS STATE AND RIVERS PEOPLE HAVE REJECTED THEM," - CHIJIOKE IHUNWO

Image
A fierce political storm is brewing in Rivers State as Ambassador Chijioke Ihunwo, a prominent loyalist of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, has launched a blistering attack on Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, declaring him a persona non grata among his own people. Speaking forcefully on the ongoing power struggle, Ihunwo accused Wike—along with House of Representatives member O.K. Chinda and their allies—of acting as "enemies of Rivers State" whom the populace has outrightly rejected. "Wike has disgraced my people, for God's sake," Ihunwo stated, asserting that the former governor's actions bring embarrassment to both the Ikwerre ethnic nationality and the Obio-Akpor Local Government Area. In an emotional appeal, he urged Wike’s father to "call him to order." Firmly rejecting any attempt by the FCT Minister to control the state's governance, Ihunwo insisted that "Wike cannot be governor by proxy" and argu...
Continue Reading »

U.K REMOVES NIGERIAN AND GHANAIAN-TRAINED TEACHERS FROM U.K TEACHING QUALIFICATION

Image
The United Kingdom has removed Nigeria and Ghana from the list of countries whose teacher-trained professionals are eligible to apply for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), a requirement for teaching in many schools across England. The change took effect on September 9, according to the UK Department for Education (DfE). The department said overseas teaching qualifications and experience are assessed against strict requirements to ensure teachers awarded QTS meet its standards. For countries to remain eligible, they must have a national regulator capable of confirming a teacher’s professional standing and provide authenticated references. However, the DfE said Nigeria and Ghana failed to meet the reference requirement. “Our data shows that more than 70% of applications from teachers in Ghana and Nigeria include work history references that use public email addresses, such as Gmail or Hotmail, rather than a school’s official email domain,” the department said. India was also re...
Continue Reading »