Politics
RSHA May Not Sit this Year
After the relatively protracted adjournment following the disruption of its last planned sitting by protesters earlier in the year, news of the House reconvening last Tuesday came with a sigh of relief. Unfortunately, among the events that ensued on that day, the violence witnessed in the hallowed chambers and the resultant allegations and counter allegations over what really transpired may go down in record books as a day to remember in the history of the state.
Trouble started when the five anti-Governor Chibuike Amaechi lawmakers attempted to remove the leadership of the House from office by impeaching the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Dan-Amachree.
To accomplish this motive, no sooner had the members settled down for the business of the day than the leader of the five opposition lawmakers, Hon Evans Bipi, moved up to where the leader of the House, Hon Chidi Lloyd, was seated and assaulted him, using the tripod of a video camera.
The reaction that followed the persistent assault on the leaders of the House, which was extended to the Speaker and other 27 lawmakers loyal to the leadership of the House present, resulted in a bloody pandemonium characterized by a free-for-all fight. By the time the dust raised by the pandemonium settled, particularly following the intervention of state Governor and his Security details, several lawmakers had sustained various degrees of injury with Hon. Michael Okey-Chinday, one of the opposition five, worst hit.
The development momentarily stalled the purpose for which the House was reconvened by the Speaker, which was to enable the Governor, represented by his deputy, Engr Tele Ikuru, to present an executive request. The request was for the amendment of the state 2013 Appropriation Act.
Presenting the request shortly after the initial violence that rocked the Assembly, Engr. Ikuru explained that the state Government required the amendment to enhance effective implementation of capital needs of the budget, urging the House to approve it. After due consideration, the House approved it with a voice vote of all 23 members present.
Shortly after the pro-Amaechi lawmakers left, three of the five opposition members, led by Hon. Bipi organized an impeachment of the speaker and other key office holders, while also installing Hon. Bipi as the new speaker.
Sequel to the events of last Tuesday, Hon. Bipi made various pronouncements as the new speaker of the House, alleging that a reasonable number of the 27 pro-Amaechi lawmakers were no more with the leadership of the House.
In response, the Speaker, Rt. Hon Amechree, debunked Bipi’s allegation, saying that the pro-Amaechi 27 members were still intact, and called on the citizenry to disregard Bipi’s impeachment claim. In the same vein, the immediate past Speaker, Rt Hon. Tonye Harry, reiterated the loyalty of the 27 members to the leadership of the House and the Governor. As a proof of them being intact, he said the 27 would sit on Wednesday. Unfortunately, the Wednesday sitting could not hold as a multitude of people, believed to be thugs of Hon. Bipi thronged the Assembly complex, compelling the police to disperse the lawmakers and shutting the gates of the Assembly complex up till last Friday.
Given the development of last Tuesday and Wednesday, and the fact that the House had prior to last week met its mandatory 189 sittings for the year, there is little doubt that the House may not sit again this year.
The Tide source reports that Prof. Akinoso was elected alongside 38 other executive members of the party at the congress held on Saturday.
Other executive members are Dr Abiola Olaonipekun, who emerged as Secretary, Alhaja Latifah Latifu, Women Leader and Mr A. Adeleke, elected as Youth Leader.
It was learnt that the congress, which took place at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Oke Ado in Ibadan, was attended by representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Police, other security agencies and prominent members of the party.
The election was supervised by electoral committee members, among whom were Prince Diran Odeyemi, who served as Chairman, Hon. Awoniyi Tolulope, Mr Babatunde Gbadamosi, Queen Stepheine Oyechere, Alhaji Yusuf Abidakun, Mr Olumide Aguda and Dr Phillips Adeniyi, who served as Secretary.
Prof. Akinoso, in his inaugural address, urged members of the party to set aside intra-party differences.
He advised them to concentrate their resources on the promotion of the party, saying, “The primary responsibilities of party executive members are to coordinate party activities, ensure harmony among members, and ensure party victory during general elections.
“Our immediate assignments are to key into INEC released 2027 general election time-tables. As directed by the National Caretaker Committee of PDP, our party e-membership registration starts next week. We must be fully involved and do a membership drive.
“A political party is only relevant and benefits its members if it wins the election. This is our goal. We should set aside intra-party differences; concentrate our resources towards the promotion of the party. We will make necessary consultations and dialogue to actualise this”.
President Tinubu disclosed this during an interfaith breaking of fast with senior journalists and media executives at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Saturday.
He also disclosed that his administration had opened up on the principles of true federalism to the extent that local governments now get direct allocation from the Federal Government.
“There’s no morning that I ever leave my house without going through the newspapers. It’s an addiction. I read all of you.
“It might not be in full detail, but headline, the one that would hit me and the ones that won’t.
“At the beginning of this administration, I was just a little bit stubborn, looking at opportunities to correct things and make life more easier for the downtrodden.
“We’ve opened up the principle of federalism to the extent that local governments are now getting their money, but how they use it is in your hands. So, don’t bombard me alone,” President Tinubu said.
The ruling party said the ADC had turned criticism of the APC-led administration into its operating manifesto instead of presenting concrete solutions to Nigeria’s economic challenges.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Mr Felix Morka, the party dismissed the ADC’s interpretation of a report presented at a policy dialogue organised by Agora Policy which suggested that the country’s poverty rate had risen from 49 per cent to 63 per cent.
Mr Morka said the opposition party’s reaction to the report as a “damning verdict” on the government’s economic policies reflected either ignorance of economic realities or deliberate political mischief.
“The African Democratic Congress’ attempt to spin a recent report presented at the Agora Policy dialogue indicating a rise of poverty rate of 63 per cent from 49 per cent as a damning verdict on this administration’s economic policies speaks either to its shocking ignorance of economic policy or its wilful blindness to the justification for, and transformative impacts of, ongoing economic reforms,” he said.
The APC spokesman noted that the report itself recognised the necessity of reforms aimed at correcting long-standing structural distortions in the economy.
According to him, the ADC had failed to present any credible alternative policy direction for Nigerians.
“Clearly, the ADC does not recognise itself as a political party. The ADC has not articulated a single alternative policy position or prescription of benefit to Nigerians. Condemning the APC and its policies has become its operating manifesto,” Mr Morka said.
He explained that major economic decisions taken by President Bola Tinubu, including the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of multiple foreign exchange windows, were necessary steps to rescue the country’s economy from collapse.
Mr Morka said the subsidy regime had for years placed a heavy burden on public finances, consuming trillions of naira annually while encouraging corruption, fuel smuggling and inefficiencies in the system.
He added that the reforms had helped redirect national resources to key sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare, education and social development.
The APC spokesman acknowledged that economic reforms often come with short-term hardship but stressed that the measures were essential to build a stronger and more resilient economy.
“Economic reform is never cost-free anywhere in the world. The transient hardship experienced by Nigerians was an inevitable cost of reforms meant to build and guarantee a better future for all Nigerians,” he said.
Mr Morka maintained that the country’s economic outlook was already improving, citing recent growth figures and stronger external reserves.
“Our economy has rebounded and is expanding steadily. The country’s Gross Domestic Product grew by 4.4 per cent last year and is projected to expand by 5.5 per cent this fiscal year, with foreign reserves now exceeding $50 billion,” he stated.
He also pointed to government initiatives designed to cushion the effects of economic adjustments on citizens, including cash transfer programmes, student loan schemes and the rollout of compressed natural gas (CNG) initiatives to reduce transportation costs.
Mr Morka reaffirmed that the APC-led administration would remain focused on rebuilding the economy and expanding social investments to support vulnerable Nigerians.
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