Politics
Wike Pledges Support For AMAA
The successful hosting of the Africa Movie Academy
Award (AMAA) in the state took the front burner in most of the discourse last week in government circle. This may not be unconnected with the fact that Governor Nyesom Wike braced the harsh economic climate to sell Rivers State to the outside world.
No fewer than five countries in Africa, including Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa participated in the annual awards aimed at showcasing the best brains and productions in the movie industry.
Governor Wike was upbeat about the awards, as he pledged the state government’s support to the academy, to ensure that movie industry and budding talents from the state exploit the opportunities that abound in the industry.
He said Rivers State has become a darling in hosting national and international events, not only because it’s the oil capital of Nigeria, but because of the abundant human and natural resources it has.
Last week Tuesday and as part of activities to mark the World Blood Donor Day, Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr Ipalibo Harry-Banigo called on the media and the organised public/private sectors to step up awareness campaign on the need for voluntary blood donation to both public and private hospitals beyond the ceremonial day of celebration in the spirit of humanity.
Dr. Harry-Banigo emphasised on the need for proper screening of blood before transfusion as this would go a long way in checking the issues of blood related infections. She further called on eligible donors in the state to take advantage of the day, by donating generously to the State Blood Bank so as to save lives, stressing that blood donation awareness campaign should be a regular exercise by all stakeholders.
On the same Tuesday last week wife of the governor, Justice Suzette Nyesom Wike received a delegation of the British Council led by the Director of Society, Mr. Mohammed Ahmed at her office in Government House.
She used the visit to advocate for a collaboration between the Federation of International Women Lawyers (FIDA), the State Ministry of Women Affairs and the Rivers State House of Assembly as a team to work towards eliminating the said harmful practices.
Justice Nyesom Wike hinted that the Federation of International Women Lawyers and the State Ministry of Women Affairs will initiate a convention that will sponsor bills to the Rivers State House of Assembly which will give the needed impetus to eliminate traditional harmful practices against women and violence against the girl child.
The legal tussle over the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took centre stage last Thursday when a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt and presided over by Justice Abdullahi Liman heard the parties in the matter.
Justice Liman was informed by the PDP’s legal counsel Oladejo Laminkara, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria that erstwhile National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Modu Sheriff was legally removed from office following the national convention of the party in Port Harcourt in May.
According to Laminkanra, “the FCT High Court presided by Justice A.B Mohammed had in a judgment of 18th May rejected Sheriffs argument that he is PDP chairman until 2018”.
Worried over the labour action of Petrol Tanker Drivers under the aegis of the National Union of Petrol and National Gas Workers (NUPENG) and its effects on the citizen the State Government through the Office of Secretary to the State Government, intervened to broker peace as a way of ending petrol scarcity that hit the state by the weekend.
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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