Politics
Gov Restates Commitment To Quality Education
Most of the activites of last weekend in Government House, Port Harcourt centred around the 53rd Independence Anniversary. The celebrations commenced with a non-denominational thanksgiving service at the Rdemption Ministries, Port Harcourt.
Governor Amaechi was however represented by his Deputy, Engr. Tele Ikuru at the church thanksgiving service.
The governor emphasised that Nigeria at 53 years of independence needs leaders who are focused and purposeful to take it to the next level.
“With over 160 million people, Amaechi said “the country is blessed with enormous human and natural resources, which is supposed to be harnessed properly to place it tops among progressive nations in the world”.
On Tuesday, Governor Amaechi returned to the State after spending a week in the United States where he had gone to receive an Award given to him by Black Writers in Diaspira.
Shortly after his arrival, Rt. Hon. Amaechi attended the Independence Anniversary march past at the Elekahia Stadium in Port Harcourt where he addressed the mommoth crowd that participated in the ceremony.
According to him “we must come together as a people to chase away those who want to turn Rivers State into a military state. This state is identified by an elected government and we must indentify with a civilian government. We will not allow what is going on to continue”.
The governor’s speech came barely one week after the Police barred newly employed 13,000 teachers to gather at the Liberation Stadium where they were supposed to pick up their posting letters.
While thanking Rivers people for participating in the National Day Anniversary, Amaechi however assured school children of his administration’s commitment to promote quality education including infrastructure development.
On Wednesday, a member of the House of Representatives, Chief Andrew Uchendu addressed pressmen over an alleged assault on him, by former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives Rt. Hon Austin Opara at Abuja International Airport.
Chief Uchendu who is the Chairman of Rivers Caucus in the National Asembly claimed that Hon. Opara accosted and insulted him in the presence of the member representing, Ahoada-West and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Federal Constituency, Honourable Asita.
On the late night of Thursday, Governor Chibuike Amaechi and other five states of the South-South namely – Bayelsa, Akwa-Ibom, Edo, Delta, Cross River under the aegis of BRACED States met to review policies and programmes.
Chairman of the BRACED States, Senator Liyel Imoke addressed pressmen after the meeting which ended last Friday morning in Benin, capital of Edo State. He reiterated the plan by the governors to pursue the infrastructural and educational development of the South-South.
On Friday, the Governor and his wife, Dame Judith Amaechi made a press statement over the shocking news of former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Tonye Harry.
Dame Amaechi described the late lawmaker as an embodiment of friendship and a lawmaker per excellence who had distinguished himself and provided quality representation in the state.
For Rivers State Deputy Governor, Tele Ikuru, “the news of the death of my friend and brother Tonye Harry came to me as a shock. In his death, Rivers State and indeed Nigeria have lost an erudite politician par excellence”.
Also reacting to Rt. Hon. Harry’s sudden demise, Governor Amaechi remarked, “I’ am still traumatised by the sad news of the death of Rt. Hon. Tonye Harry. Still find it impossible to come to terms that Tonye is no more”.
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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