Politics

Govt House In Retrospect

Published

13 years ago

March 18, 2013

Governor Chibuike Amaechi returned from the United Kingdom (UK) last week after participating in the commonwealth observers’ day.

He delivered a speech in the forum on how he had to tackle poverty and empower the youths. Amaechi had used his success story in Rivers State to demonstrate government capability in transforming lives of young persons and giving them a future.

On returning from the London forum, Tuesday the Rivers State Chief Executive participated in the National Council of States meeting at Abuja. The council deliberated and approved presidential pardon to some prominent Nigerians, including former Bayelsa State Governor, Diepriye Alamieseigha among others on Thursday, the Governor proceeded to Okrika Local Government Area for a Town Hall Meeting with the people of Wakrike. He enumerated the programmes, and policies implemented in the area, which include primary schools, health centres and roads.

Aside infrastructure, Governor Amaechi stated that his administration has also carried out sandfilling and shore protection in some Okrika communities.

More importantly, he disclosed the need to provide water for the people of the area. Amaechi used the forum to explain why government pulled out from the real water scheme, recalling that the federal government had intervened, hence the state government opted out.

He, however, assured that in the interim the state government will resume the water scheme to avert epidemic, since the people of the area lack access to safe, potable water.

On Friday, the new Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mbu Mbu told Amaechi that he was on a familiarization tour with the cream of police officers in his team to rub minds with the state government on ways to enhance security in the state.

Later the same day, Governor Amaechi received the new Exco of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) led by its President, Femi Adesina who commended the Governor’s developmental strides.

Adesina, while canvassing support for Governor Amaechi as Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), said the guild “will gladly stand and support anybody who stands by the people.”

The NGE President further said of Governor Amaechi, “we have seen what your government does and more for the people,” assuring that the body would always stand by people-oriented leaders.

Responding, the Rivers State Governor decribed the guild as the voice of the voiceless,” you constitute the part of the elites who stand for conscience and are sort of speaking for the poor. You speak to make sure things are corrected.

On Saturday, Governor Amaechi was among dignitaries who celebrated the 70th birthday of Rivers State first Military Governor and Amayanabo of Twon Brass, King Alfred Papapreye Diete-Spiff.

The Rivers State Government threw a lavish party for King Spiff in Government House, as Governor Amaechi reiterated the administration’s plan to build a house for the former celebrated governor.”

While congratulating Commander (Rtd) Diete-Spiff, the Governor remarked, “I wish you a wonderful birthday. I wish and pray to be 70 years one day”…

On security, Governor Amaechi harped on the need for peace and reiterated the resolve of government to flush out miscreants who would want to break the fragile peace witnessed in the area since he assumed office.

Governor Amaechi played host to the new state Commissioner of Police on Friday. Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu had paid a courtesy visit to him at Government House.

When commending the police in the state for their efforts so far in combating crime, he urged the new state police to beef up efforts in checking the upsurge of crime in recent times.

“I must tell you that 80 per cent of those who commit crime in the state are arrested,” the Governor observed, “so I must commend your officers for that, but I’ am also aware that there is little upsurge in crime, and I think we must address it now.”

Politics

LP Crisis: Ex-NWC Member Dumps Dumps Abure Faction

Published

1 week ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

A former National Organising Secretary of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Clement Ojukwu, has expressed regret that the several legal cases brought against the party since the 2023 general elections have impacted the party’s performance.

Mr Ojukwu, who recently returned to the interim National Working Committee led by Senator Esther Nenadi Usman, noted that the party had 34 elected members in the House of Representatives, eight Senators, and 80 members at the state Houses of Assembly after the 2023 general elections.

“Now we lost all of them,” he said. “I don’t think we have as many as five members in the National Assembly.”

The former national officer of the LP talked to journalists in Abuja and said he chose to join the caretaker committee led by Senator Nenadi-Usman because they are now the officially recognized leaders of the Party.

“I chose to work with the caretaker committee to help save the Labour Party, for the benefit of the party. I also want to use this chance to ask my colleagues at the national, state, and local government levels to come together and help rebuild our party.

“Another election is around the corner. We lost everything we have. They have left to other political parties. So I’ll reach out to all my friends in the other group to get together and work on making this party stronger again.

“The caretaker committee has formed a reconciliation committee. Let’s come together and talk so that we can restore the first opposition political party in Nigeria.”

Mr Ojukwu, who was part of the Julius Abure’s group, said there are no more factions in the LP.

He added, “There is a court ruling, and since it is valid, the right people are in the correct positions.”

He urged Barr Abure and others to drop the legal cases they have filed because they are not helping the party.

“Litigations are killing political parties”, he said. “They’ve seen many political parties disappear because of legal battles, and the Labor Party is losing support every day, which makes me feel sad.”

Mr Ojukwu said he did not think joining the Senator Nenadi-Usman’s NWC was a betrayal of the Abure group, describing himself as “the oxygen” of that faction.

“I’m with this group because of the verdict. But I never betrayed anybody. Rather, I was betrayed,” he added.

Politics

2027: NIGERIANS FAULT INEC ON DIGITAL MEMBERSHIP REGISTER DIRECTIVE

Published

1 week ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

A number of Nigerians have strongly criticized the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its directive to all political parties in the country to submit digitalized membership register within 32 days.

It would be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following it’s reversed timetable, directed all political parties in the country to submit their digitalized membership registers within 32 days.

Speaking on the reversed timetable in an interview with The Tide in Port Harcourt, respondents said the directive amounted to disqualifying opposition political parties from fielding candidates in all the elections next year.

They said if the directives by the commission is implemented, only the All Progressives Congress (APC) would participate in the elections since it started it’s digital membership registration since February, last year.

Responding, an elder statesman in Rivers State, Chief Sunnie Chukumele, said the revised timetable was okay, but the timeframe for submission of digital membership register was being made at the wrong time.

Chief Chukumele said, for the past two years, all opposition political parties have been battling various issues in court, adding that they did not have the time to embark on membership drive, talk less of digitalizing their membership registers.

“My reaction is that the only issue with this revised timetable is the timeframe given by INEC for parties to submit digitalize memberships register in all the states of the federation, while giving notice of Congresses and convention. That is not possible”, he said.

He said only the ruling APC is likely to meet up with the directive, since it began its registration since last year.

Chief Chukumele, who is also the National Coordinator of Coalition of Rivers State Leaders of Thought (CORSLOT), alleged that the directive of the electoral body may have been targeted to prevent other parties from fielding candidates for the elections next year.

“When you say all the parties should submit digitalized registers of membership in 32 days, how will that be possible to conclude it in 32 days”, he queried.

He noted that “APC used one year ago to do, so APC has one year in the kitty plus 30 days. This is highly regrettable”.

The CORSLOT national leader urged the election umpire to do away with stringent conditions that will make it hard for opposition political parties to field candidates in the elections.

Also speaking, Mr Jacob Enware from Edo State queried the rationale behind the directive, especially when some opposition political parties are still having cases in court.

In his words, ”What opposition political parties are you talking about, is Labour Party not in court or PDP that is yet to resolve their issues?

”For me, INEC should provide a level playing field for all, because aside the APC, no party can meet up this criteria.”

In his own response, Mr Nathaniel Ebere said he was not prepared to vote for anybody whether INEC provides a level playing field or not.

He alleged that his vote would not count, “so I will not waste my time”.

By: John Bibor

Politics

IT’S A LIE, G-5 GOVS DIDN’T WIN ELECTION FOR TINUBU – SOWUNMI

Published

1 week ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Convener of The Alternative, Otunba Segun Sowunmi, has expressed reservations about the political stance of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, while calling for reconciliation among key party figures.

Otunba Sowunmi made the remarks during a television interview on Saturday, when asked about the relationship between Gov. Makinde and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike.

He said, “I don’t believe Seyi Makinde. Because I know them all. I’ve been in this party since it was registered. And I’ve been loyal, faithful, diligent with this party from the get-go, and I’ve never left.”

He underscored his longstanding commitment to the PDP, referencing prominent figures who had exited the party at different times: “I’ve had the grace, and the honor, and the dignity of watching even my father, Obasanjo, shed his card. As much as I love him, I didn’t leave the party”.

He added, “I’ve had the privilege of watching my beloved senior brother, Governor Gbenga Daniel, leave the party a few times. As much as I respect his vision and his ideas, I’ve never left. I’ve watched my former principal, Atiku Abubakar, leave a few times. I’ve never left.”

Otunba Sowunmi stressed that his comments were rooted in deep involvement with the party: “So when I talk about PDP, I’m not talking as an outsider, I’m talking as one of their totems, who was actually carrying them.”

He disclosed that he wrote to Makinde during the governor’s last birthday, urging reconciliation among a bloc of five governors who had formed a movement during the 2023 elections.

“At Governor Seyi Makinde’s last birthday, I wrote him a letter where I tried to say, look, you guys, the five of you, succeeded to the extent of creating a movement of your own”, he said.

He added, “And you fought very hard to make a point in the 2023 election. Although I don’t believe you won the election for the president, that’s a lie. They contributed, but I hate when people take the glory of other people’s work.”

Otunba Sowunmi warned that unresolved differences among the group could weaken the party: “You guys, you must go back to your four friends, your five friends, and you guys go and sort it out. Because not sorting it out with your five friends is going to leave the party worse off.”

He added, “But now that you’re fighting, or you’re not agreeing with yourselves, why don’t you go back to that same energy that allowed you to agree, so that you can use that energy inside to agree, and then we can lead the party.”