Politics
Customary Court Bill Divides RVHA
Within the week under review, the Rivers State House of Assembly sat only on Wednesday when the second reading of the Customary Court Bill was taken and the introduction of a repackaged Waste Management Agency Bill scaled first reading.
Debate on the improved Customary court bill opened with Hon Onari Brown who eulogised the sponsor of the draft law particularly for the innovation in giving chieftaincy and traditional marriage issue to the customary courts to handle.
He, however, disagreed with the provision on membership of the court, arguing that the composition should include at least one person who is not a lawyer but vast in customs and traditions of the people.
This position gained more support from members and it was expected to move further to the committee stage where public hearing to elicit contributions from the public is required.
The argument which the House presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Leyii Kwanee, could not resolve whether the public hearing should be done in Port Harcourt or in the rural communities considering the localised nature of the bill.
Majority agreed with the proponents of holding the hearing in constituencies to ensure adequate participation, but it was apparently stalled by the possibility of financing the exercise. The inability to resolve the funding led the presiding speaker to defer the matter to a later date.
The leader of the House, Hon. Chidi Lloyd, presented a repackaged Waste Management Agency Bill that was earlier rejected for containing clauses that would make the law if passed difficult to be implemented.
He urged the lawmakers to give the new improved bill their support because concerted efforts had been made to remove all harsh sections from the bill as it provides that the Ministry of Environment will play a supervisory role to ensure adherence to laid down rules.
Within the week under discussion, members of the Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi Football Club of Yokhana, in Khana Local Government were in the office of the Deputy Speaker. Hon. Leyii Kwanee on a thank you visit.
The Deputy Speaker, who represents Khana Constituency 11, said he was elated to watch one of the players from the team, Dumate Piagbara score two goals in the current campaign of the Flying Eagles.
He observed that the positive exploits of the team within a short period of its existence has spurred him to continue to invest on the young players that would be the future brided of the state and the nation at large.
Similarly, the chairman of the House Committee on Information and Training, Hon. Onari Brown, has been honoured by the Sea View Poetry Club of Port Harcourt for his contribution to the development of youths in the state.
Speaking while hosting the celebration of this year’s World Poetry Day with members of the club, Hon Onari, told them to continue to explore their inherent talents because the contributions they make were being appreciated.
He assured that the Assembly under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Amachree would partner with them to improve the platform and frontiers of knowledge which they seek to achieve.
The Tide source reports that the committee, reportedly backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, is making moves to reclaim the Wadata Plaza headquarters months after it was sealed following a violent clash between rival factions of the party.
Senior officers at the FCT Police Command told our source that while they had not received an official briefing, police personnel would be stationed at the secretariat and other key locations to maintain peace.
The Acting National Secretary of the Mohammed-led committee, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, announced last week that the secretariat would reopen for official activities on Monday (today).
He dismissed claims that ongoing litigation would prevent the reopening, saying, “There are no legal barriers preventing the caretaker committee from resuming work at the party’s headquarters.”
However, the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) has fiercely rejected the reopening move, insisting that Sen. Anyanwu and his group remain expelled from the PDP and have no authority to act on its behalf.
Speaking with The Tide source, the committee’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, declared: “They are living in fool’s paradise. The worst form of deceit is self-deceit, where the person knows he is deceiving himself yet continues with gusto.
“Even INEC, which they claim has recognised them, has denied them. They are indulging in a roller coaster of self-deceit.”
Mr Ememobong further revealed that letters had been sent to both the Inspector-General of Police and the FCT Commissioner of Police, stressing that the matter was still in court and warning against any attempt to “resort to self-help.”
“The case pending before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik was instituted by the expelled members. They cannot resort to self-help until judgment is delivered,” he said.
He warned that reopening the secretariat would amount to contempt of court.
A senior officer at the FCT Police Command, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that officers would be deployed to the area to avert a repeat of the November 19 violence that led to the secretariat’s initial closure.
“The command would not stand by and allow a breakdown of peace and order by the party or anyone else. Definitely, the police will have to be on the ground,” he said.
Another officer added, “There will definitely be men present at the secretariat, but I can’t say the number of police officers that would be deployed.”
When contacted, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, said she had not been briefed on the planned reopening and declined to comment on whether officers would be deployed.
Asked to confirm whether the secretariat was initially sealed by police, she responded, “Yes,” but refused to say more about the current deployment plans.
The Kano State House of Assembly has debunked the purported impeachment plan against the Deputy Governor, Aminu Gwarzo.
The Tide source recalls that the Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, recently sparked controversy during an interview session with a local radio station.
Mr Waiya called on the deputy governor to resign for failing to follow his principal, Gov. Abba Yusuf, in defecting from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, the spokesperson to the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Kamaluddeen Shawai, while addressing journalists in Kano on Saturday, described reports circulating in some media outlets about Mr Gwarzo’s impeachment as baseless and misleading, emphasising that no such plan is underway.
Mr Shawai further stated that the House remains focused on its legislative duties and oversight functions rather than engaging in speculative political manoeuvres.
The spokesperson urged members of the public and the media to verify information before sharing it, stressing the importance of accurate reporting in maintaining political stability in the state.
He said, “There is absolutely no motion or initiative within the House to remove the deputy governor.
“These reports are false and should be disregarded by the public. The deputy governor continues to serve in his capacity with full support from the House.
“Our priority is good governance and serving the people of Kano, not circulating rumours.”
She made the declaration during an interview with Nigerian football legend, Mr Segun Odegbami, during a live radio interview on Saturday.
Prof. Obasanjo, who is also former commissioner in the state, ruled out a return to the Senate, stating that her focus was firmly on the governorship race.
“So, moving ahead, I’m not going to be Commissioner. Like I said, I’m not even going back to the same party because I think that’s old and I don’t see the use of it. And I’m not going to go back to the Senate,” she said.
“Like the Americans would say, there’s no need. And this is what I told my associates, when this all started. I said, the only thing I’ll come back to do is the governorship.
“And we have started that journey. We are going to see it through. And so that’s the journey I’m on. And we are very serious about it. I mean we are very dedicated to it.”
The politician also confirmed that she recently joined the APC, explaining that her return to active politics followed persistent calls from supporters.
“Like I told you, a group of people who I did not bring together, have been working, I think, for two years now. And then they started talking to me about a year ago, saying, ‘Look, we think you are the best candidate. We want you back,’” she added.
Her declaration sets the stage for what may become a keenly contested governorship race in Ogun State ahead of the 2027 elections.
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