Wike noted that because the G5 had remained dogged on their demand, people had made several efforts to break their ranks but to no avail.

The Rivers State governor spoke at the new Banquet Hall of Benue State Government House, Makurdi, during a dinner on Sunday night organised in honour of the G5 by Governor Samuel Ortom.

Those efforts are failing, governor Wike asserted because the five governors were bonded to save Nigeria.

“And if you look at us here, the way we are, people have tried to see how they can break us, you cannot. We are bonded to save Nigeria.

“That is why when you see all of us, we are impenetrable. Nobody can divide us. They have tried everything in this world to divide us, but no way.

“The way we operate; I will talk, we have people who don’t talk. You may be underrating them. By the time they will shock you, you will think it is Wike, it is not Wike you are seeing.”

It was an evening of display of the rich culture of the Benue people in which Governor Ortom proclaimed, bestowing Honourary Citizen’s Status on governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike of Rivers, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, Seyi Makinde of Oyo and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State.

Wike said Nigerians were expecting the PDP to rescue the country, but it appeared that the leadership of the party was not showing serious commitment to that course.

He stated that inclusivity remains a precursor for peace and unity, because it would allow everybody to have equal sense of stake both in the party and to work together for the desired electoral victory.

“Agreement is agreement. Respect agreement, so that there will be peace, there will be unity. What we are asking for is inclusivity; include everybody.

“We are not talking about presidential candidate. We have finished that one. We have a presidential candidate, we have a vice presidential candidate.

“But that one that will go to the other people, give them so that everybody will move forward. That is what we are saying, nothing more.”

Concerning the 25 buses donated to Benue State PDP for their campaigns, Governor Wike made correction and gave what is said to be a clearer perspective to it.

Governor Wike explained that the buses were part of the bulk of vehicles his team acquired for his presidential campaigns if he had won the primary.

But since that ambition did not materialise, Governor Wike said, the team decided that the vehicles should be shared among those who supported the cause.

The buses, he noted, would help in easing their efforts as they re-enacted the winning position of the party.

“So, Ortom saying I gave you people vehicles, it is not correct. They are the vehicles that our team bought that time because of the (presidential primary) election, we would have won it, but to God be the glory.”

Governor Wike said they were in Benue State to show solidarity to Governor Ortom who he described as a good man.

The Rivers State governor thanked the government and people of Benue for bestowing on them the honourary citizen’s status of the state.

Governor Wike said the G5 constituted a people who have showed leadership in their various states, and on issues of national concern, taking the risk to speak the truth, maintained integrity and were consistent.

“I thank all of you for this honour you’ve done to all of us, the integrity governors. The governors who can come up and tell you black is black, yes is yes. We don’t bend, we say it as it is.

“Leadership is taking risk. Leadership is about integrity, and discipline.”

He further added, “Governor Ortom, what we have come here to do today is to give you solidarity for tomorrow’s (Monday) campaign, to tell the people of Benue, we are with governor Ortom.”

In his speech, the Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom acknowledged that as an Eagle of Tiv land, Governor Wike was the first to stand by them, spoke truth to power, and gave support when the Fulani bandits killed Benue people.

“Many have wondered why I have chosen to swim with Governor Wike. Many have wondered why I have chosen to work with him in darkness and in the midst of storms and threats and also trial and brimstone.

“This is a man who stood with us during our trying times and came out, did not fear about threats of the federal government or federal might, but came out and say look, if you kill Ortom, you have killed Nigeria.

“They call it farmers /herders fight. We say it’s all lies, Fulani is coming to invade us. Wike came out, brought stakeholders from Rivers State and they came here. Wike offered us solidarity and in faith with the Benue people and give his commitment.”

Governor Ortom revealed the monetary support that Governor Wike gave, was a demonstration of  his love for Benue people.

“As if that was going to be the end, he (Wike) committed money, then it was N250 million. I remember High Level Main Market got burnt, Governor Wike heard about it, we did not make any demand, Governor Wike came and donated N200 million.

“I remember when Katsina Ala Market got burnt, Governor Wike came and donated another N200 million. Subsequently, the money he has committed is over N700 million for our IDP’s. Is he not a friend enough that we should work with?

“We have never had it good. He was the same person who was able to convince our colleague and brother from Akwa-Ibom State who also donated N200 million. Then the governor of Taraba State donated N100 million to our IDP’s.”

Governor Ortom also clarified that the Rivers State governor was not against Dr. Ayu as a person, but he was  standing for what is true, fair, equity and justice in the PDP.

“I was the chairman of the zoning committee. The National Working Committee did not make me chairman, it was the group of those who were nominated that made me chairman.

“It was agreed in that meeting that since people have bought forms, let us allow everybody to contest, but  that once a presidential candidate comes from the North, the chairman will go to South. That was the arrangement.

“I want you to know that Governor Wike is not against Benue State. He is not against the national chairman being from here (Benue) because he is a title holder from Benue State.

“He (Wike) is not against it, but he just standing for the truth. Agreement is agreement and it is important we keep to the agreement. If you don’t keep to agreement, then you are creating problems.”

Governor Ortom informed that the G5 have all agreed to work together for the good of Nigeria and to deliver it from the basement bad leadership has plunged it.

“They (G5) have stood with us. They have supported us. They are here tonight. Tomorrow we are launching our campaign. That shows love.

“I want to thank them for standing for justice. I want to thank them for standing for equity. I want to thank them for standing for fairness. That is all that we need.

“We are where we are today because we have refused to respect the rule of law and respect justice, equity and fineness for all.

“As a mark of honour tonight for our very distinguished personalities, by the powers conferred on me as the Governor of Benue State, I have given these four governors, Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and Engr. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Honorary Citizens of Benue State.”

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Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, who also wears the hat of the Chairman, National Frequency Management Council, NFMC, presented the official document on the 3.5GHz spectrum allocation to the commission at a public event which took place at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja on Thursday, February 17, 2022.

The 5G spectrum allocation document was received by the Chairman, NCC Board of Commissioners, Prof. Adeolu Akande, and the Commission’s Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, on behalf of the commission.

Speaking at the event, which also witnessed the public presentation of the National Policy on 5G Networks, a document earlier launched by President Muhammadu Buhari on January 25, 2022, the minister commended the NCC leadership for ‘a transparent, fair and credible 3.5GHz spectrum auction’ conducted on December 13, 2021.

Pantami stated that the NFMC, which he chairs, has the responsibility for managing the allocation of commercial and non-commercial spectrum resources in the country while the NCC is facilitating the deployment of spectrum in the country.

Hence, the Council decided to allocate the assigned spectrum for 5G network to the NCC to enable it assign same to the winners of the 3.5GHz spectrum auction.

Pantami also stated that the 5G network, when deployed, would bring a lot of benefits and opportunities that would engender accelerated growth and smart living in the country.

He asserted that the technology would bring substantial network improvements, including higher connection speed, mobility and capacity, as well as low-latency capabilities.

Earlier in his remarks, Akande appreciated the minister for his efforts in ensuring that every clog that could hinder successful deployment of 5G services were addressed, thus paving the way for mutual understanding and trust among all stakeholders to ensure that the derivable benefits of the new technology were harnessed timely for the nation’s socio-economic development.

He said the effective implementation of the National Policy on 5G, which the commission was driving, would help in the actualisation of the national targets in the Nigerian National Broadband Plan, NNBP, 2020-2025, the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy 2020-2030, as well as other sectoral policies designed to enhance Nigeria’s digital culture.

The EVC of NCC, Danbatta, while expressing appreciation to the minister and all stakeholders for the role played in the emerging 5G network policy implementation initiatives, said the collective efforts of the private sector and government support would make deployment of 5G network transform every aspect of the nation’s economy.

He was optimistic that the expected transformation would be greater than what the nation witnessed with the 1G, 2G, 3G and 4G.

Recalling the diligence that attended the implementation of 5G policy by the NCC since the process started in 2019, Danbatta said Nigeria had taken proactive and meticulous steps to be among the leading players in the global digital economy.

“We have been meticulous all the way in our 5G deployment journey, from trial across selected states in the country, to review and stakeholder engagement, to approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), to the 3.5GHz spectrum auction, and up to the official launch of the national policy on 5G network by the President. Now we have the official allocation of the spectrum to the NCC for onward assignments to the winners. So, the coast is clear for the country to assign the specific reference in the spectrum to the winners, upon announcement of payments,” Danbatta said.

Meanwhile, eminent stakeholders and dignitaries at the event, commended Danbatta for ensuring sterling record of transparency and accountability in the sale of the 3.5GHz Spectrum Band allocated for deployment of 5G network in Nigeria.

The stakeholders include the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital economy, Mr. Bitrus Nabasu; the former Executive Secretary of the Commonwealth Telecommunication Organisation (CTO), Mr. Shola Taylor; Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Abdullahi; Managing Director of Galaxy Backbone Plc, Prof. Muhammed Abubakar; and the Director General of National Identity Management Commission, Dr. Aliyu Aziz, among others.

Earlier in a presentation on the Benefits of 5G, Engr Shola Taylor, a former Secretary of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation, declared that 5G will have far-reaching transformational impact on major sectors of the Nigerian economy, which will bring about rapid social-economic development of the country.

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The event is part of activities lined up for the implementation of the Fifth Generation (5G) Technology Deployment Plan in the country.

The forum will afford industry stakeholders the opportunity to discuss the draft Information Memorandum (IM) for the upcoming auction of the 3.5 gigahertz (GHz) spectrum band.

Scheduled to hold at the Lagos Marriot Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, Thursday November 4, 2021 at 10:00 am prompt, the commission has confirmed that the attendance at the event is open to all interested stakeholders in the telecoms sector and beyond.

The decision to host the stakeholder engagement is in keeping with the provisions of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003 and NCC’s distinctive tradition of robust stakeholder consultation on all telecom regulation-related issues.

In June, the commission inaugurated a committee to develop the IM for the auction of 3.5 GHz spectrum band, which will be utilized for early deployment of 5G technology services in the country.

The Information Memorandum (IM) is a comprehensive document, which defines the process emplaned by the commission for the auctioning of the 3.5GHz spectrum band.

It also provides information on the Nigerian telecommunications market, details of the spectrum to be made available, the pre-qualification process, the auction process as well as the indicative timetable.

The stakeholder engagement forum is, therefore, an important regulatory prerequisite for the planned auction of 3.5Ghz spectrum before the end of this year.

Accordingly, the commission has called on interested stakeholders and members of public to participate and make contributions to discussions around this important draft document.

In line with the objectives of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy, NDEPS, for a Digital Nigeria, and the positioning of Nigeria as an early adopter of digital technology as well as a major participant in the growing global digital economy, the successful and timely deployment of 5G is crucial for the country.

The 5G technology is expected to facilitate several emerging technologies, generate innovate new use cases, spur significant socio-economic growth and create jobs.

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