Politics
Ahead 2011 Polls: Why Jonathan, Amaechi Should Return
The gains recorded in the power sector, the availability of petroleum products, the on-going peace process in the restive Niger Delta region and the maturity and stability brought into governance at the federal level in the past two years or so, have left Nigerians with no other choice than President Goodluck Jonathan in the upcoming general elections in the country.
Similarly, the unprecedented and on-going infrastructural development of Rivers State, especially in the health, education and health sectors and the restoration of peace in the hitherto cultism and abduction-plaqued oil and gas hub of Nigeria also favours the incumbent governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Ameachi as the candidate of choice for sustainable progress in the State.
Chief Okah Okechukwu, a prominent community leader in Rivers State, business man and philanthropist in a media chat in Port Harcourt said, the single -mindedness and commitment brought to bear on the Federal Government’s Amnesty Programme, the development of infrastructure in the Niger Delta region and restoration of sustainable peace in the area by Jonathan were commendable show of able leadership.
He therefore charged the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to key into the vision, commitment and zeal of the President, for the resolution of the Niger Delta challenge in the country.
Okechukwu, who holds the traditional title of Eze Omekwa-Ali I. of Elele in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State also made a case for a constitutional role for traditional rulers in the country.
He said that since human beings are political animals, shielding the traditional institution from partisan politics was not in the interest of national development, arguing that, as revered leaders of the people, traditional rulers Point to their people, the direction to follow at elections, which will benefit them in the long run.
Rallying support for Governor Amaechi, Okechukwu enumerated his achievements and asserted that: “Amaechi is building the state for all of us”. He called on his political opponents across party divides to bury the hatchet and support him to finish the good works he had started in various sectors of the state’s economy.
Answering a question, the Eze Omekwa-Ali I. of Elele berated the former secretary to the Rivers State government and ex-Transport Minister, Dr. Abiye Sekibo for what he called “his insincerity and attempt to divide the state.
Asserting that Rivers is a People Democratic Party (PDP) state in which Sekibo, now in Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) was once a key actor., Okechekwu said: Sekibo could have remained in the state PDP to wait for his turn to govern the state
“Abiye Sekibo made a political miscalculation to have moved to ACN to contest governorship of Rivers State. Amaechi has recorded landmark achievements that have made him popular and which have made Sekibo a mis-match in any political contest,” he said.
To another question, Okechukwu said any gang-up of Amaechi’s political opponents against him in the April elections will not work because, “Celestine Omehia, Abiye Sekibo, and Austin Okpara don’t own Rivers State. In this election, it is one man, one vote and I believe Rivers people appreciate Amaechi’s hardwork and will vote him”.
The community leader said it is not true that Amaechi was obliterating all legacies left by his political father and former governor of the state Dr. Peter Odili.
“Has he destroyed the gas plants?,” he queried. Okechukwu said the gas plants were still providing electricity to Rivers people and could have done far better under Amaechi but for the challenges from the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).
He likened the on-going infrastructural revolution of the Amaechi government to replacing a 6-inches Black/White television with a 14-inches colour television, insisting that the allegation of obliterating Odili’s legacies does not exist.
Replying to a question, the businessman and philanthropist said every good leader like Amaechi has capacity to tolerate and absorb allegations mostly concocted by detractors to distract him.
According to him, the press releases by a group known as Rivers State Project (RSP) should be seen in that light, especially the most recent story alleging that Amaechi dashed himself N27.5 billion Security Votes in three years. He called on Amaechi not to allow himself to be distracted.
Okechukwu, who is Managing Director Ocabique Group of Companies, said he was committed to the success of Jonathan and Amaechi at the April general elections because of the refreshing impact their leadership had made on the citizenry.
He therefore pledged to provide whatever legitimate assistance within his ability to ensure their free and fair election into their present positions.
The community leader said already, he is providing financial support to a group of ladies committed to non-violence, peace and the success of the PDP at state and federal levels, pointing out that a new bus has been made available to them to enhance the realisation of their objectives.
Politics
Alia Denies Calling For Ganduje’s Resignation
Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia, has denied calling for the resignation of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje.
This was contained in a press statement issued on Wednesday in Makurdi by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr Tersoo Kula.
The Tide source reports that the CPS was reacting to some media reports that the governor had called for the resignation of the APC national chairman.
Kula said the governor at no time called for the resignation of the APC national chairman.
He said the governor enjoyed a good relationship with the Ganduje-led leadership of the APC.
“It is imperative to clarify that at no point did Governor Alia assembled, attended and sent a representative or participated in any meeting to discuss the removal or call for resignation of Alhaji. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
“The Benue State governor remains firm in his support and allegiance to the leadership of the National Working Committee of the APC, under the leadership of Alhaji Ganduje.
“Furthermore, at no point, whether publicly or privately, has the governor advocated or expressed any desire for the resignation of the national party chairman”, he said.
He said the governor was focused on positively changing the fortunes of the state.
“He is alive to his responsibilities as the leader of APC in Benue State and is doing everything legitimate to reposition the party for future victories,” Kula said.
Politics
LP Re-Elects Abure As National Chairman
The embattled national chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Julius Abure, has been re-elected for a second term by a unanimous affirmation of delegates despite the protests by the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
The Chairman of the National Convention and Deputy Governor of Abia State, Mr. Ikechukwu Emetu declared him the winner during the party’s national convention that held in Nnewi, Anambra State, on Wednesday.
Other serving officers of the party were also returned unopposed.
Recall that the NLC had called for Abure’s resignation as party chairman and the immediate constitution of a caretaker transition committee to organize an all-inclusive national convention for the party.
Meanwhile, a factional chairman of the Labour Party in Anambra State, Mr Peter Okoye has boasted that the Nnewi national convention will not stand.
Describing the convention as a sham, Okoye said: “This is not a convention. We are on top of the matter. It’s purely illegal.
“There was no ward congress, no local government congress, no state congress, and now who and who are the elected delegates that are electing the National Working Committee, NWC, members?
“The NLC was not there, TUC was not there, the owners of the party and members of the NEC and BOT members were not there too. So, who is holding the convention?”
Politics
Suswam Blames External Forces For Problems In PDP
Former Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, has said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is being undermined by external forces which have rendered the party ineffective as a viable opposition.
Senator Suswam stated this during a live television interview on Wednesday.
He lamented that the party had since after the 2023 general elections failed to live up to expectations of Nigerians as a viable opposition.
Senator Suswam, who blamed the current PDP leadership for the ineffective state of the largest opposition party in the country, said unless there is an overhaul of its leadership, the party would “go nowhere” because the current leadership has lost focus.
He said, “I think there are subterranean forces inferring in the party and they are determining what is going on in the party. And the leadership is acquiescing to it.
“Subterranean suggests that people are trying to control the party from the outside. They are controlling the party from the outside and they are keeping the party in a comatose state.”
The Benue senator accused the party of refusing to call a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting to help resolve some of the issues arising in the party.
He regretted the inability of the party to resolve the fallout of the 2022 presidential primary election which saw a group of five governors work against the party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 presidential election.
He added that the inability of the Iliya Damagum-led leadership to discipline erring party members worsened the situation.
Senator Suswam said it was wrong for the party not to have sanctioned the G-5 governors and their allies who openly declared that they would remain in the party and work against its interest.
“They were not sanctioned which made others become emboldened to act anyway they wanted. PDP has been weakened since then,” he said.
He said no serious organisation does that, stressing that, “A serious organisation would apply sanctions” based on the laid down rules as contained in its constitution.
He further accused the acting national chairman of the party, Ambassador Iliya Damagum, of occupying the position which belongs to the North-Central zone, following the removal of the substantive chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, who hails from the zone.
Amb. Damagum, who was the Deputy National Chairman (North), hails from the North-East zone but was, as permitted by the party’s constitution, made acting chairman after Ayu’s removal by a court order.
The party’s law provides that the deputy chairman from the same region as the chairman takes over in the event of the latter’s removal from office.
Senator Suswam further lamented that “PDP is comatose now, and nothing can happen now,” adding that it was regrettable that politicians are now preferring to hold talks with smaller parties and not the PDP.
Noting that the PDP was at the precipice, Senator Suswam said, “Until we provide that leadership, PDP will not be a viable platform. We need to overhaul the leadership of the party. There is no pretence about it, everybody in PDP knows it. Without discipline and reconciliation, the party goes nowhere.”
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