Politics
Jubilation As Amaechi Joins APC
As usual, activities in Government House were in top gear
last week. There was jubilation, Tuesday as the news of Governor Chibuike Amaechi’s movement to All Progressives Congress (APC) hit the air waves.
Governor Amaechi had together with four other G-7 governors met in Abuja on Tuesday morning after their reconciliation meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan was indefinitely postponed.
Following this development, the G-7 governors and other members of the new PDP met to review the current political developments in the country and fixed their meeting for Tuesday in order to meet with APC leaders.
It was at their meeting with APC leadership on Tuesday that Governor Amaechi alongside Kwara, Kano and Adamawa governors formally announced their merger with APC at the Kano State Governor’s lodge, Abuja.
Governor Amaechi returned to Rivers State on Tuesday while briefing newsmen over the development.
He said, “Yes I have moved to the APC this morning after the meeting we had with Buhari, Tinubu and interim National Chairman of APC, Chief Bisi Akande”.
On the out come of the reconciliatory meeting with the President, Governor Amaechi observed that though the meeting was postponed, it was already clear that the presidency was not ready for reconciliation, saying, the picture painted by the PDP was as if they were begging, while the real issues at stake were not looked into.
The Rivers State governor submitted that the G-7 governors and the new PDP had no option but to move out of the PDP to strengthen democracy and move the country forward. “I’ am elected to lead Rivers people. And I have looked at the interest of Rivers people and see that it’s not being protected by the PDP”.
On Wednesday, the Rivers State governor convened an emergency meeting, with members of the state executive council and party big wigs in the old PDP.
Shortly after the meeting most of the stakeholders and party leaders spoke to Government House reporters and pledged their support for the governor’s decision to join the APC.
Chairman of Bonny Local Government council, Barrister Edward Pepple described the development as democracy at work. He insisted that people must stand for the truth and that principle must be allowed to drive politics.
Degema local council boss, Hon. Ibigoni Pokima vowed to mobilise for the APC in his local government area, “I’m telling you that APC is going to win this state”, he enthused.
On his part, chairman of Port Harcourt local government council, Chimbiko Akarolo emphasised that the prospects of the APC werebright in Rivers State,” let me assure Rivers people that there is no problem. The people that make things happen are the ones that are in APC.
Also speaking, chieftain of the APC in the state and former Commissioner for Special Duties, Chief Davies Ibiamu Ikanya said the defection had changed the political equation in the state and the country.
On Thursday the Rivers State Government announced the dissolution of Obio/Akpor Local Government council.
A statement by the Secretary to the State Government George Feyii said the action was in line with the Rivers State Local Government Law of 2012 which confers, on the governor the power to do so.
Also on Thursday, Governor Amaechi in far away Britain presented a lecture at the British House of Commons. The paper entitled Security and Human Rights Challenges in the Niger Delta, mirrored the several phases of Nigeria’s civil and human rights struggle vis-a-vis the resource control.
On Friday, Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Mr. Worgu Boms and human rights lawyer, Ken Atsuete defended the dissolution of Obio/Akpor council. They stressed the need to divorce justice from politics, insisting that the governor acted in accordance with provisions of local government law No.2 of 2012.
Both Worgu Boms and Ken Atsuete urged the sacked Obio/Akpor council boss to seek redress of he so wishes. On the same Friday, Head of Local Government Administration of Obio/Akpor, Mr. Singer Azubuike Singer said had has resumed work as directed by government.
The Chief of Staff at the weekend issued a press statement denxing claims by the Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Onyeabor Azubuike Ihejirika that the fundamentalist Islamic fact Boko Harm is spreading in some states, including Rivers .
Chief Okocha said it was untrue that Boko Harm has spread in activities, adding that there is no evidence to show.
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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