Politics
Wike Donates Vehicles To SWAN, Monarchs
Last week in Government House began on a thanks
giving note as Governor Nyesom Wike and some members of his cabinet attended the 23rd anniversary and convention of the Royal House of Grace Church in Port Harcourt.
Governor Wike pledged that his administration would be people oriented as it will encourage constructive criticism, especially as it regards ideas that will propel government to achieve success.
Earlier at the church service, popular evangelist. Rev. Uma Ukpai, called on the governor not to relent in his good works. He reminded him to always put hope in God who brought him to power while assuring him that,” if God is on your side all your enemies are wasting their tame.”
Activities at the Panel of Inquiry to probe sale of state assets by the former administration dominated part of last week, as the commission begain public hearing. The Justice George Omereji reassured that the body would be open, free and fair to all. He further emphasized that the Panel was not set up to witch –hunt anybody. The public sitting on Monday started with the enquiry into the N4 billion Agricultural loan from the Central Bank of Nigeria, obtained by the Amaechi led government.
The Panel of Inquiry continued its public hearing on Tuesday as the former commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Emma Chindah and 12 former Local Government Caretaker Chairmen failed to appear before the commission.
On Thursday, Director of Safety and Aviation at the Rivers State Ministry of Transport, Engr. Saya Antioch, told the Panel investigating sale of valued state assets and other matters that the immediate past governor, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi arm-twisted his cabinet into approving the construction of the abandoned mutti-billion Monorail project.
Engr. Antioch revealed that the project was backed by a guarantee that if it fails to deliver the project in two years, it would effect refund to the Rivers State Government. Unfortunately, the governor acted against the advice of the American Company Urbanords, which preferred underground tunnel since he wanted the people to see the project physically on pillars.
On her part, Permanent Secretary, Stella Wigwe, said the public private partnership reached between the Amaechi led administration and TST, a firm which later took up the project, indicated that the state government would contribute 20 percent, while TST will pay 80 percent, but that never came to be.
On Thursday, thee governor through the Chief of Staff, Hon. Emeka Woke donated an 18 seater Hiace Toyota Bus to the state chapter of the Sport Writers Association (SWAN). Governor Wike said the gift was part of the pledge he made to the association when they visited him in July.
Later on the same Thursday, the governor donated five Saloon cars and an 18 seator Toyota Hiace and an SUV Jeep to the state council of Traditional Rulers. The vehicles were received by the chairman of the Traditional Rulers Council and Amayanabo of Opobo, King Dandeson Jaja.
On Friday, Deputy Governor, Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo played host to members of Bible Society of Nigeria in Government House. She commended the body for their efforts in translating the Bible in some local languages in the state, and urged them to do more.
Politics
Alia Denies Calling For Ganduje’s Resignation
Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia, has denied calling for the resignation of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje.
This was contained in a press statement issued on Wednesday in Makurdi by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr Tersoo Kula.
The Tide source reports that the CPS was reacting to some media reports that the governor had called for the resignation of the APC national chairman.
Kula said the governor at no time called for the resignation of the APC national chairman.
He said the governor enjoyed a good relationship with the Ganduje-led leadership of the APC.
“It is imperative to clarify that at no point did Governor Alia assembled, attended and sent a representative or participated in any meeting to discuss the removal or call for resignation of Alhaji. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
“The Benue State governor remains firm in his support and allegiance to the leadership of the National Working Committee of the APC, under the leadership of Alhaji Ganduje.
“Furthermore, at no point, whether publicly or privately, has the governor advocated or expressed any desire for the resignation of the national party chairman”, he said.
He said the governor was focused on positively changing the fortunes of the state.
“He is alive to his responsibilities as the leader of APC in Benue State and is doing everything legitimate to reposition the party for future victories,” Kula said.
Politics
LP Re-Elects Abure As National Chairman
The embattled national chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Julius Abure, has been re-elected for a second term by a unanimous affirmation of delegates despite the protests by the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
The Chairman of the National Convention and Deputy Governor of Abia State, Mr. Ikechukwu Emetu declared him the winner during the party’s national convention that held in Nnewi, Anambra State, on Wednesday.
Other serving officers of the party were also returned unopposed.
Recall that the NLC had called for Abure’s resignation as party chairman and the immediate constitution of a caretaker transition committee to organize an all-inclusive national convention for the party.
Meanwhile, a factional chairman of the Labour Party in Anambra State, Mr Peter Okoye has boasted that the Nnewi national convention will not stand.
Describing the convention as a sham, Okoye said: “This is not a convention. We are on top of the matter. It’s purely illegal.
“There was no ward congress, no local government congress, no state congress, and now who and who are the elected delegates that are electing the National Working Committee, NWC, members?
“The NLC was not there, TUC was not there, the owners of the party and members of the NEC and BOT members were not there too. So, who is holding the convention?”
Politics
Suswam Blames External Forces For Problems In PDP
Former Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, has said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is being undermined by external forces which have rendered the party ineffective as a viable opposition.
Senator Suswam stated this during a live television interview on Wednesday.
He lamented that the party had since after the 2023 general elections failed to live up to expectations of Nigerians as a viable opposition.
Senator Suswam, who blamed the current PDP leadership for the ineffective state of the largest opposition party in the country, said unless there is an overhaul of its leadership, the party would “go nowhere” because the current leadership has lost focus.
He said, “I think there are subterranean forces inferring in the party and they are determining what is going on in the party. And the leadership is acquiescing to it.
“Subterranean suggests that people are trying to control the party from the outside. They are controlling the party from the outside and they are keeping the party in a comatose state.”
The Benue senator accused the party of refusing to call a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting to help resolve some of the issues arising in the party.
He regretted the inability of the party to resolve the fallout of the 2022 presidential primary election which saw a group of five governors work against the party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 presidential election.
He added that the inability of the Iliya Damagum-led leadership to discipline erring party members worsened the situation.
Senator Suswam said it was wrong for the party not to have sanctioned the G-5 governors and their allies who openly declared that they would remain in the party and work against its interest.
“They were not sanctioned which made others become emboldened to act anyway they wanted. PDP has been weakened since then,” he said.
He said no serious organisation does that, stressing that, “A serious organisation would apply sanctions” based on the laid down rules as contained in its constitution.
He further accused the acting national chairman of the party, Ambassador Iliya Damagum, of occupying the position which belongs to the North-Central zone, following the removal of the substantive chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, who hails from the zone.
Amb. Damagum, who was the Deputy National Chairman (North), hails from the North-East zone but was, as permitted by the party’s constitution, made acting chairman after Ayu’s removal by a court order.
The party’s law provides that the deputy chairman from the same region as the chairman takes over in the event of the latter’s removal from office.
Senator Suswam further lamented that “PDP is comatose now, and nothing can happen now,” adding that it was regrettable that politicians are now preferring to hold talks with smaller parties and not the PDP.
Noting that the PDP was at the precipice, Senator Suswam said, “Until we provide that leadership, PDP will not be a viable platform. We need to overhaul the leadership of the party. There is no pretence about it, everybody in PDP knows it. Without discipline and reconciliation, the party goes nowhere.”
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