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Oil Theft Worries Governors

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Early last week there was a joyous move in Govern
ment House following the release of Archbishop of Province of Niger Delta  Most Rev. Ignatius Kattey, who spent eight days in the hands of his abductors.
Senator representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District, Magnus Ngei Abe was among the first dignitaries  that paid courtesy visit to Rev. Kattey at his country home in Eleme, Eleme Local Government Area.
While calling on Nigerians to join hands with security operatives to arrest the kidnappers of the Anglican Cleric, Abe said anybody involved in the criminal act should be  tracked done to prevent future occurence.
On Monday, Rivers State Deputy Governor, Engr Tele Ikuru issued a press statement over an alleged report that he had dumped Governor Amaechi.
In a statement signed by Ikuru’s press secretary, Godswill Jumbo, the deputy governor described the statement as malicious and interested to sow seed of discord between him (Ikuru) and Governor Amaechi.
Engr Ikuru while condemning such unethical journalism called on Rivers people to disregard the report saying, “it would be historically and eternally ignominious and disgraceful posterity-wise for anyone to abandon their leader in the middle of the road”.
While away in Abuja, Governor Amaechi convened a meeting of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) on Tuesday, after the meeting on Wednesday morning, the Rivers State governor told newsmen that the body was worried over the rising oil theft, and dwindling economy, the body therefore, called for the resignation of the Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala.
Governor Amaechi returned to Rivers State on Thursday and immediately declared open the Rotary District 9140 Youth Leadership Programme held at the campus of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST).
He charged the youths to be good ambassadors of the country by holding their leaders accountable.
Amaechi also used the occasion to comment on national issues as he deplored the poor management of the economy and the increasing poverty rate in Nigeria.
District Governor of Rotary 9140 International, Dr Charles Omianwan, said the programme was targeted at young people in universities and secondary schools in the South-South and South-East regions of Nigeria.
Before conducting members of the Rotary Youths Leadership programme on excursion to government projects on Friday, Governor Amaechi played host to organizers of the Port Harcourt Fashion show on Thursday night. He also attended an all-night vigil where he rededicated the state to God.
Police on Friday attempted to bar Rotary Youths from participating in an excursion to projects executed by Rt. Hon. Amaechi. The youths numbering about 600 were later permitted after          explanations by Rotary top hierarchy in the state that the programme was not a political campaign.
After a tour of four star projects comprising of the Elekahia Model Primary School,  Ambassador –Ine Kurubo Model Secondary  School Eleme , Afam Gas Turbine and Songhai Farm at Bumu-Tai, District Governors of Rotary 9140, Dr Omianwan said, “the facilities on ground are something one cannot comprehend. It’s very fantastic effort from the government of Rivers State”.
On Friday night, Rivers State Governor attended the opening programme of the Port Harcourt fashion show. On Saturday he equally participated in a media  programme hosted by Channels Television in Port Harcourt.

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Kwankwaso Agrees To Rejoin APC, Gives Terms, Conditions

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The 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has given terms and conditions to rejoin the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Sen. Kwankwaso, while addressing a gathering at his Kano residence, said any political alliance must recognise and respect the interests of his party and political movement.

The former two-term governor went down memory lane to recall how they founded the APC but were used and dumped.

In his words, “…those calling on us to join APC, we have agreed to join the APC but on clear agreement that protects and respects the interest of my party, NNPP and my political movement, Kwankwasiyya. No state where you go that you don’t have NNPP and Kwankwasiyya. We have gubernatorial candidates, senatorial candidates and others.

“We are ready to join APC under strong conditions and promises. We will not allow anyone to use us and later dump us.

“We were among the founding fathers of the APC and endured significant persecution from various security agencies while challenging the previous administration.

“Yet when the party assumed power, we received no recognition or appreciation for our sacrifices, simply because we didn’t originate from their original faction.

“We are not in a hurry to leave the NNPP; we are enjoying and have peace of mind. But if some want a political alliance that would not disappoint us like in the past, we are open to an alliance. Even if it is the PDP that realised their mistakes, let’s enter an agreement that will be made public,” Sen. Kwankwaso stated.

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I Would Have Gotten Third Term If I Wanted – Obasanjo 

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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has dismissed long-standing claims that he once sought to extend his tenure in office, insisting he never pursued a third term.

Speaking at the Democracy Dialogue organised by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation in Accra, Ghana, Chief Obasanjo said there is no Nigerian, living or dead, who can truthfully claim he solicited support for a third term agenda.

“I’m not a fool. If I wanted a third term, I know how to go about it. And there is no Nigerian, dead or alive, that would say I called him and told him I wanted a third term,” the former president declared.

Chief Obasanjo argued that he had proven his ability to secure difficult national goals, citing Nigeria’s debt relief during his administration as a much greater challenge than any third term ambition.

“I keep telling them that if I could get debt relief, which was more difficult than getting a third term, then if I wanted a third term, I would have got it too,” he said.

He further cautioned against leaders who overstay in power, stressing that the belief in one’s indispensability is a “sin against God.”

On his part, former President Goodluck Jonathan said any leader who failed to perform would be voted out of office if proper elections were conducted.

Describing electoral manipulation as one of the biggest threats to democracy in Africa, he said unless stakeholders come together to rethink and reform democracy, it may collapse in Africa.

He added that leaders must commit to the kind of democracy that guarantees a great future for the children where their voices matter.

He said: “Democracy in Africa continent is going through a period of strain and risk collapse unless stakeholders came together to rethink and reform it. Electoral manipulation remains one of the biggest threats in Africa.

“We in Africa must begin to look at our democracy and rethink it in a way that works well for us and our people. One of the problems is our electoral system. People manipulate the process to remain in power by all means.

“If we had proper elections, a leader who fails to perform would be voted out. But in our case, people use the system to perpetuate themselves even when the people don’t want them.

“Our people want to enjoy their freedoms. They want their votes to count during elections. They want equitable representation and inclusivity. They want good education. Our people want security. They want access to good healthcare. They want jobs. They want dignity. When leaders fail to meet these basic needs, the people become disillusioned.”

The dialogue was also attended by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Sokoto diocese of Catholic Church among others who all stressed that democracy in Africa must go beyond elections to include accountability, service, and discipline.

 

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Rivers Assembly Resumes Sitting After Six-Month Suspension

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The Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday resumed plenary session after a six-month state of emergency imposed on the state by President Bola Tinubu elapsed on Wednesday midnight.

President Bola Tinubu had lifted the emergency rule on September 17, with the Governor of the state, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the state assembly asked to resume duties on September 18.

The plenary was presided over by the Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule, at the conference hall located within the legislative quarters in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

The conference hall has served as the lawmakers’ temporary chamber since their official chamber at the assembly complex on Moscow Road was torched and later pulled down by the state government.

The outgone sole administrator of the state, Ibok-Ete Ibas, could not complete the reconstruction of the assembly complex as promised.

Recall that on March 18, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers following the prolonged political standoff between Fubara and members of the House of Assembly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

He subsequently suspended the governor, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and lawmakers for six months and installed a sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.), to manage the state’s affairs.

The decision sparked widespread controversy, with critics accusing the president of breaching the Constitution.

However, others hailed the move as a necessary and pragmatic step.

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