Politics
Rivers Assembly Gets SOS Over Stool
L-R: APC Deputy National Chairman, South, Mr Segun Oni, National Auditor, Dr George Moghalu, APC National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun and Deputy National Chairman, North, Alhaji Lawan Shuaibu, during the APC National and State Auditors Workshop in Abuja, yesterday
As the Ad hoc Commit
tee on Chieftaincy of the Rivers State House of Assembly prepares to submit its report, the people of Ken-Khana Kingdom, have raised alarm over plans to downgrade its chieftaincy stool to second class.
The Ken-Khana people in khana Local Government Area of Rivers State raised the alarm and warned that the plan if carried out may create disaffections among the people.
They gave the warning recently in a communiqué issued after a meeting of Ken-Khana Kingdom Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs held in Kenwigbara district Council, following issues raised recently at the public hearing on the amendment to the chieftaincy law of Rivers State 2014.
The communiqué which was made available to The Tide and the Ad hoc Committee of the State House of Assembly, noted that Ken-Khana chieftaincy area is distinct and autonomous with its own administrative structure and status attached to the present incumbent ruler who was selected according to established procedures accepted by the people, adding that a submission by one Chief Suanu Baridam of Nyo-Khana Kingdom was misleading as they called on the State Assembly to discountenance the call to downgrade the stool of Kenwigbara.
The communiqué signed by Chief Ueyaagu Leyira, Chief Nwidag Anthony Bywhite, Chief Keenam B. Chris and the Secretary, Ken Khana Council of Chiefs, Chief Koko Stephen, explained that the stools of the Gbemene Ken Khana, Mene-Bua Bom, Mene Bua Baem, Mene Bua Yaasere and Mene Bua Kenwigbara were inexistence before the advent of colonial rule in Nigeria and were subsequently recognized by the Eastern Nigerian government and also accorded recognition as first class, second class and third class respectively by the Rivers State government.
The communiqué argued that there has not been acrimony among the incumbents on the status of any of the stools in the various communities of Ken-Khana Kingdom especially on the upgrading of the Kenwigbara stool to second class status, insisting that the incumbent, Mene Barile Y. Deebom, was duly selected, installed and coroneted by his people and given recognition by the Rivers State Government according to laid down rules and procedures of the laws and customs of the people.
The communiqué noted that the Gbenemene Ken Khana, HRM M.S.H Eguru Gbala 11 recommended the upgrading of the Kenwigbara stool to second class status and was accepted by the Rivers State Government.
According to him, “we are surprised that Mene-Bua Bangha, HRH Suanu Baridam who is from Nyo-Khana Kingdom area council whose area of jurisdiction does not extend outside his district council went on air and before the Committee on Chieftaincy Amendment Law 2015 of the Rivers State House of Assembly not only to cast aspersions on the status of kenwighara stool and its occupant, Mene Deebom with a view to deceiving the committee to down grade the stool”.
The communiqué, however, dismissed allegations that the elevation of the stool of kenwigbara to its present status has political motives, describing Chief Suanu Baridam’s submission as false, malicious, vexatious and capable of creating disharmony to satisfy his alter ego.
“We wonder why Suanu Baridam did not concentrate his energy on his Nyo-Khana Kingdom area where there is a new second class stool and was given recognition as Mene Bua Baa bringing the total number of tools to two than to dissipate his energies on denigrating the only one upgraded in ken-Khana area”.
The Communique however called on the state government and the state House of Assembly ad hoc committee to not only continue to recognize the kenwigbara stool as second class but to extend the upgrading exercise to Bua-Bom, Bua-Baen and Bua-Yaasere stools of Ken-Khana as second class.
Ike Wigodo
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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