Politics
Kwanee Tasks Politicians On Good Conduct
Not withstanding the lull in parliamentary activities
at the Rivers State House of Assembly, the Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Leyii Kwanee was quite busy. At the dedication, official re-naming and inauguration of Babbe Circuit of the Methodist Church, Kanni Babbe, in Khana Local Government Area, he advised political leaders in Rivers State to emulate the exermplary life of late Elder Barido Ababeenwi Konya, who was a political leader in the PDP before his demise.
He said the late Konya was noted for peace an reconciliation of members of all shades of differences with the party.
Condemning what he described as “a situation where political leaders now enjoy causing disaffection within the party and utilizing it for their own aggrandizement”, he called on the country’s present political leaders to desist from such attitude.
He further noted that if they could emulate the political and Christian virtues of Konya, politics would no longer be seen as a dirty game. He thus advised politicians to play politics with the fear of God and leave a good legacy that people would remember and emulate.
The Deputy Speaker described Konya, who died 10 years ago, as a selfless man and a respected Ogoni and Rivers man whose vacuum would be difficult to feel.
Hon. Kwanee also used the occasion to mourn the death of Hon. Inuwa Sule Udi, the Deputy Speaker of the Jigawa State House of Assembly, who died penultimate Tuesday in a car accident. He noted that Udi played crucial role in the formation of the Forum of Deputy Speakers in Nigeria.
In another development, Hon. Kwanee urged youths in the state to avoid being used as stooges to selfish politicians in the state. Specifically, he called on the youths not to allow politicians use them as hired crowd just to discredit the State Government.
Also in the week under review, Kwanee, who represents Khana Constituency 11 in the Assembly, took time off to assure members of his constituency of the dividends of democracy until 2015, under the Governor Amaechi led administration.
He gave the assurance at the Commissioning of Water projects in his constituency. The projects were 7 water projects, 6 inches size boreholes with full treatment plant in 7 communities of Lunde, Seme, Ka-Loore, Ban-Loore, Yae, De-Luebe and Lua-Luebe.
The Deputy Speaker said although the projects were chosen by him as his 2013 constituency projects for the area in fulfillment of his campaign promises, the Amaechi’s administration deserves great commendation for the expeditious completion of the project on record time.
Hon. Kwanee said that the government was concerned about the source of portable clean water for the area given that many streams and rivers in Ogoniland had been contaminated by oil pollution.
According to him, this development is the crux of the UNEP report on Ogoniland which the people of the area have been fighting for without violence, knowing that one day the Lord will hear their cry.
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.