Politics
National Confab: Rivers Delegates Told To Protect State Interest
As the National
Conference kicks off in Abuja, today, Rivers State delegates to the conference have been advised to protect the interest of the state above their personal, socio – political or ethnic interests.
They were also warned not to allow their differences to becloud the pursuit for equity, justice, fairness and peace for the state and nation at large.
Rising from a mini conference which was organised by the Rivers Mainstream Coalition (RMC) at the Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt last Saturday, all speakers were unanimous that delegates should not be influenced by the current political cleavage in the state, saying that they were not there to respresent any political party but the interest of the Rivers people.
A 19-point resolution was drafted at the end of the conference which had Elder Gomba Osarollor, a former Commissioner for Agriculture in the old Rivers State as Chairman with Chief A. K. Horsefall, former Chairman of OMPADEC and former Director of State Security Service presenting the key note address.
Central to the issues discussed was the position of Rivers people on resource control, fiscal federalism, peace and security, protection of the environment from wanton and brazen destruction, among others.
The speakers which also include Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, Prof. Israel Owaite, Sen. Benet Birabi, Dr. Sofiri Peterside, Chief Tom Big-Harry, Mrs. Nimi Tom-Manuel, Hon. (Barr) Nimi Walson Jack, Dr. Briggs Damabo, Faye Dikio (SAN), Sara Igbe and Dr. Ben Ohia, were unequivocal in their support for a fiscal federalism where the federating units would contribute 50% of proceeds from its controlled resources to the central government.
Chief A.K. Horsefall who is the only Rivers delegate present at the mini conference, praised the Rivers Mainstream Coalition for initiating the event.
“If we segment ourselves, as we do at the moment, we get smaller. But if we do what you are doing today, we will advance and make much impact” he said.
Horsefall disclosed that his nomination to the conference was predicated on his security expertise, adding that although he was called upon essentially for security input, he would not be indifferent to lending his voice to issues of interest to Rivers State.
On the issue of fiscal federalism, the security expert said he had reservation about federating the country on basis of the six geo-political regions as, according to him, “it may work for the South East and South West because of common language and cultures, but may not be feasible in South South and the north because of diversity of language and cultures.”
Similarly, Faye Dikio (SAN) differed slightly on the issue of resource control and called for the abrogation of the Land Use Act which vested all lands on the government. This, according to him, would ensure a realistic control of resources by the federating units. He also advocated the repeal of the Oil Minerals Act.
Groups who participated at the event were Etche Ethnic Nationality ‘Voice of Rivers Citizens’, ‘I See You’ and Ogba ethnic nationality.
The communiqué read in part, “That the interest of ethnic nationalities having lived together in peace, should continue to be bound together in peace in a society in which political representations are broadly and equitably distributed. That we wish to control our resources in the state and have fiscal federation.
“That we want to own our lands and want the Land Use Act repealed. That we want the federation restructured to give more powers to the federating states. That states should have the powers to create the number of local government areas they can manage. That there is need to diversify the economy from oil and create wealth from other sectors. That we want a unicameral legislature and not a bicameral.
“That traditional rulers should have constitutional responsibilities. Obnoxious laws such as the Petroleum Act, Land Use Act, Pipeline Act, Mineral Resources Act etc, that inhibit the rights of our people be expunged and the Petroleum Industry Bill should be passed.”
Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (2nd left) obeying National Anthem. With him are former Prime Minister of Ireland, His Excellency John Bruton (2nd right), former British Foreign Secretary, His Excellency Jack Straw (right) and Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Engr. Tele Ikuru (left) during an International Conference on Democracy and Good Governance, organised by Rivers State government at Banquet Hall, Government House, Port Harcourt. Photo: Egberi A. Sampson
Civil Society Coalition for Good Governance, Budget and Accountability has condemned the defection of the 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Executive Secretary, Civil Society Coalition for Good Governance, Budget and Accountability, Amb. Emmanuel Nkweke, who said this in an interview with The Tide in Port Harcourt also described as illegal all legislations passed by the defected lawmakers.
Amb. Nkweke described the defection as “monkey politics’, queried the rational behind the action of the lawmakers few months after being sworn into office, adding that members of the civil society community were yet to be told reasons for the defection.
“Up till now, we are yet to be told why they defected just few months of being sworn into office. For me, that is monkey politics”, he said.
He urged the lawmakers to go back to their former party and beg Rivers people for forgiveness, adding that if that is done, they may be welcomed back.
Amb. Nkweke also cautioned the lawmakers not to allow themselves to be used to do the bidding of an individual, adding that the present administration in the state needs the support of all to move forward.
Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of the group has commended Governor Siminalayi Fubara for giving civil societies the latitude to operate freely in the state.
He alleged that civil societies were caged in the last eight years, adding that there was no breathing space for civil societies in the last eight years in the state.
Amb. Nkweke described civil society as the engine room of democracy as it engages in sensitisation on the policies and programmes of government, regretting, however, that their inputs were never taken into considerations.
“Civil societies give signals, civil society creates the awareness and sensitize the people towards achieving a reliable democracy.
‘’i want to let you know, very frankly, that civil society space in Rivers State, for the past eight years, was suffocated. There was no breathing space, they didn’t breathe. Civil society was dead completely”, he said.
Amb. Nkweke said the situation also affected upcoming activists as some of them had to operate from hideouts.
By: John Bibor
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on President Bola Tinubu not to condone incompetent personalities in his government.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja, NANS President, Comrade Pedro Obi, expressed concerns about the competence of the Minister of State for Youth Development and the SSA to the President on Student Engagement.
Comrade Obi, after staging a peaceful protest at the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), reiterated that the NANS will not be intimidated and will continue to fight for the interests of Nigerian students.
He said, “The message is very simple, we have incompetent people who have been appointed to offices. It’s unfortunate and it’s not the President’s fault, of course he believes in Nigerian youths and has also given us the opportunity to showcase our capacity in various roles that he has given us.
“We have the SSA to the President on Student Engagement, who has shown incompetence. He cannot continue to hold that office and we are calling on Mr. President that he should be sacked with immediate effect.
“Also we have the Minister of State for Youth Development. We are also calling that immediately he should be sacked, because he has left what he ought to do and has dabbled into the affairs of NANS.
“These people have displayed incompetence and are destroying the youth community. There are so many competent youths that President Tinubu can pick from.
“NANS can never be intimidated. This is an organisation that we grew up to meet and we will continue to protect the dignity of this organisation.”
Receiving the NANS on behalf of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, the Permanent Secretary, General Services Office in the SGF, Dr. Maurice Nnamdi Mbaeri, assured the NANS of relaying back their complaints to the SGF which he said will land on the listening ears of President Tinubu.
According to him, “I have listened to the complaints you raised. I assure you that your complaints will get to the listening ears of Mr. President.
“Let me assure you that I’m happy this was also re-echoed in the NANS President’s speech that President Tinubu has indebt love for the youths of Nigeria and also for the students of Nigeria. This has been demonstrated by polices that (has) been put in place for the youths.
“I want to assure you that the President has your concerns in his heart and he’s always ever ready to attend to your needs.
“With this, I am going to report back to my boss the SGF, who will take up the matter with the President. I urge you to continue to maintain peace and tranquillity. Don’t do anything that will make Mr. President feel bad about you.”
Former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Iyiorchia Ayu, has withdrawn the court action he instituted against the party over his controversial removal from office barely two years into his four year term.
His action has removed legal impediments likely to militate against the emergence of his replacement from the North Central.
Several meetings have been held and being planned following this new development.
On Tuesday, the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) passed a vote of confidence on the Ag. National Chairnan, Amb. Umar Damagum, whom members said has discharged his functions creditably.
It was gathered that the North Central Caucus of the party had long before now started mobilizing to ensure that the zone produces Ayu’s replacement to complete his tenure which expires in 2025.
In a related development, Amb. Damagum has held series of meetings with various groups to perhaps shore up his chances of retaining his seat as acting chairman.
He led the members of the NWC on Wednesday to interact with the PDP National Ex-officio ahead of the NEC meeting.
Immediately after the meeting with them, he led the NWC members to another meeting with the State Party Chairmen from the 36 States, including FCT, Abuja.
The meetings were held at the NEC Hall, PDP National Secretariat at Wadata Plaza, Wuse Zone 5, in Abuja.
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