Politics
Rivers Panel Of Inquiry Begins Work May 2
Sequel to the outcome of the governorship and House
of Assembly elections last week, government did not experience any setback as Governor Chibuike Amaechi inaugurated a panel of Inquiry into Political Violence that took place in the state in the past few months.
The panel of inquiry has nine members and is chaired by Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, while Sir Samuel Egbe is to serve as Secretary.
While inaugurating the panel, Rt. Hon. Amaechi said the body is expected to investigate, study and make recommendations on causes and effects of the violence which rocked the state, with a view to punishing offenders in order to deter such occurrence in the future.
“The reason why this happens in this era is because of impunity and I believe as a governor that, if you don’t punish those who break the law, then human beings will no longer be protected. People were not allowed to carry out their responsibilities just because people will shoot them,” the governor stated.
He maintained that it was the responsibility of government to account for those that died and how many lives were lost in the violence witnessed in the state.
Amaechi used the inauguration to recall the incident at Okrika where the All Progressives Congress (APC) guber candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside and party members were targets of attacks during the campaigns.
Aside the incident at Okrika, the governor also decried the killings in Omoku, headquarters of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, where over 11 persons were reported dead due to political motivated killings.
On his part, Chairman of the panel, Prof. Odinkalu, assured that the body would carry out its functions without any political bias, noting that the inquiry is not a witch-hunt against perceived opponents of governor.
Prof. Odinkalu hinted that public hearing would commence on 2nd May and called on all aggrieved parties to attend.
On Tuesday, last week, a group of foreign observers at the Rivers State governorship and Assembly polls, Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement (YIAGA) discredited the Rivers State elections, claiming that they were riddled with violence, intimidation and harassment of voters.
YIAGA further claimed that the violence was perpetrated by political thugs and in some cases, party agents. The body therefore called for the cancellation and rescheduling of the elections by the electoral body.
On Wednesday, last week, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rives State, made a press statement, calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to heed the call made by Independent Election Observer and cancel the state Governorship and Assembly elections.
According to the statement, the African Centre for Leadership Strategies and Development led by one Humphrey Bekaren reported that, “what we saw did not meet international standard of electioneering, not even the ones set by the Electoral Commission (INEC).”
The party through its State Public Secretary, Mr. Chris Finebone, maintained that it will be unfair to overlook these weighty allegations, and called for fresh elections in the state.
The Tide source reports that the committee, reportedly backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, is making moves to reclaim the Wadata Plaza headquarters months after it was sealed following a violent clash between rival factions of the party.
Senior officers at the FCT Police Command told our source that while they had not received an official briefing, police personnel would be stationed at the secretariat and other key locations to maintain peace.
The Acting National Secretary of the Mohammed-led committee, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, announced last week that the secretariat would reopen for official activities on Monday (today).
He dismissed claims that ongoing litigation would prevent the reopening, saying, “There are no legal barriers preventing the caretaker committee from resuming work at the party’s headquarters.”
However, the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) has fiercely rejected the reopening move, insisting that Sen. Anyanwu and his group remain expelled from the PDP and have no authority to act on its behalf.
Speaking with The Tide source, the committee’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, declared: “They are living in fool’s paradise. The worst form of deceit is self-deceit, where the person knows he is deceiving himself yet continues with gusto.
“Even INEC, which they claim has recognised them, has denied them. They are indulging in a roller coaster of self-deceit.”
Mr Ememobong further revealed that letters had been sent to both the Inspector-General of Police and the FCT Commissioner of Police, stressing that the matter was still in court and warning against any attempt to “resort to self-help.”
“The case pending before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik was instituted by the expelled members. They cannot resort to self-help until judgment is delivered,” he said.
He warned that reopening the secretariat would amount to contempt of court.
A senior officer at the FCT Police Command, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that officers would be deployed to the area to avert a repeat of the November 19 violence that led to the secretariat’s initial closure.
“The command would not stand by and allow a breakdown of peace and order by the party or anyone else. Definitely, the police will have to be on the ground,” he said.
Another officer added, “There will definitely be men present at the secretariat, but I can’t say the number of police officers that would be deployed.”
When contacted, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, said she had not been briefed on the planned reopening and declined to comment on whether officers would be deployed.
Asked to confirm whether the secretariat was initially sealed by police, she responded, “Yes,” but refused to say more about the current deployment plans.
The Kano State House of Assembly has debunked the purported impeachment plan against the Deputy Governor, Aminu Gwarzo.
The Tide source recalls that the Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, recently sparked controversy during an interview session with a local radio station.
Mr Waiya called on the deputy governor to resign for failing to follow his principal, Gov. Abba Yusuf, in defecting from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, the spokesperson to the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Kamaluddeen Shawai, while addressing journalists in Kano on Saturday, described reports circulating in some media outlets about Mr Gwarzo’s impeachment as baseless and misleading, emphasising that no such plan is underway.
Mr Shawai further stated that the House remains focused on its legislative duties and oversight functions rather than engaging in speculative political manoeuvres.
The spokesperson urged members of the public and the media to verify information before sharing it, stressing the importance of accurate reporting in maintaining political stability in the state.
He said, “There is absolutely no motion or initiative within the House to remove the deputy governor.
“These reports are false and should be disregarded by the public. The deputy governor continues to serve in his capacity with full support from the House.
“Our priority is good governance and serving the people of Kano, not circulating rumours.”
She made the declaration during an interview with Nigerian football legend, Mr Segun Odegbami, during a live radio interview on Saturday.
Prof. Obasanjo, who is also former commissioner in the state, ruled out a return to the Senate, stating that her focus was firmly on the governorship race.
“So, moving ahead, I’m not going to be Commissioner. Like I said, I’m not even going back to the same party because I think that’s old and I don’t see the use of it. And I’m not going to go back to the Senate,” she said.
“Like the Americans would say, there’s no need. And this is what I told my associates, when this all started. I said, the only thing I’ll come back to do is the governorship.
“And we have started that journey. We are going to see it through. And so that’s the journey I’m on. And we are very serious about it. I mean we are very dedicated to it.”
The politician also confirmed that she recently joined the APC, explaining that her return to active politics followed persistent calls from supporters.
“Like I told you, a group of people who I did not bring together, have been working, I think, for two years now. And then they started talking to me about a year ago, saying, ‘Look, we think you are the best candidate. We want you back,’” she added.
Her declaration sets the stage for what may become a keenly contested governorship race in Ogun State ahead of the 2027 elections.
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