Politics
Amaechi Attends APC Convention
One piece of good news that dominated most part of
last week in Government House was that the State House of Assembly and the governor rose to the stalemate that had almost grounded the Judiciary in the past six months.
The House had penultimate week mulled a bill as a way of engendering the adjudication and administration of justice in the state.
On Wednesday, after the massive protest by Rivers People led by two federal lawmakers, Senator Magnus Abe and Dr Dakuku Peterside at the State High Court, against the unilateral action of the National Judicial Council (NJC) to appoint an Administrative Judge, the House held a public hearing on the new bill.
Part of the new bill reads, “where the office of the Chief Judge is vacant and it is impracticable to appoint an acting Chief Judge or a Chief Judge, the Chief Registrar shall assign cases to any Judge and perform other administrative duties until an Acting Chief Judge or a Chief Judge is appointed.”
Chairman of the House committee on Judiciary representing Etche Constituency 11, Golden Chioma presided over the public hearing and gave reasons why the bill was crucial, saying the law was last amended in 2001.
Hon. Chioma said the public hearing was aimed at adding flesh and gauging public opinion, saying “it’s not the National Assembly that made the law, the law was made by the House and we want to amend it.”
About six memorneda were submitted for the public hearing, including that of the state chairman the People Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Felix Obuah. Defending the bill, the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Wogu Boms observed that a long hiatus in the leadership of the judiciary cannot be allowed to continue considering the huge untried cases in the state.
“I welcome this development to enable our people to access justice “Boms reiterated. The bill was later passed by 17 lawmakers and assented on Thursday morning by-Governor Chibuike Amaechi.
Before the judiciary matter took the centre stage on Wednesday, the state Governor, Rt. Hon. Amaechi had on Tuesday, inaugurated a 23-man state scholarship board. The board is chaired by Hon. Benjamin Orgbani.
While inaugurating the board, Governor Amaechi who spoke through Secretary to the state Government, George Feyii, revealed that the administration spent about N8 billion yearly to fund foreign scholarships, assuring that the benefits would soon be reaped in the form of qualified and expert manpower.
The governor enjoined them to show commitment in their new-assignmet, while reminding them that they were chosen as representatives of their various local government areas to touch the lives of the people.
Later part of last weekend in Government House was dominated by preparations ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Congress in Abuja. The state delegation was led by Governor Amaechi.
By Saturday morning, results of last Friday’s National Congress had filtered in with the announcement of former Edo State Governor, Chief John Odigie Oyegun as elected National Chairman, Chief Oyegun replaces Chie Bisi Akande who had been on acting capacity since the party emerged.
Even though the state preferred candidate, Dr, Sam Sam Jaja did not emerge, Rivers State registered its presence in the APC-National Executive with the emergence of caretaker chairman of Eleme Local Government Area, Oji Ngofa as the party’s new Deputy Secretary.
Also at the weekend, Governor Amaechi sent a message of condolence to the Senate over the death of its member, Senator Daliru Kuta who represented Niger East Senatorial District.
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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