Politics
Rivers, PDP State – Wike
The solidarity visit by the newly elected Executive Council
of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took the lead among other prominent events that took place in Government House last week.
But before the events, Governor Nyesom Wike attended the wedding ceremony of the first daughter of former Deputy national Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus. The governor who was Special Guest of honour called on the married couples to pay attention in building their families as the revival of the country depends on well matured families.
Last Monday Governor Wike through his Special Assistant on Electronic Media announced the re-constitution of the state Basic Education Board. The board is led by Ven. Fyneface Akah as Chairman. Others are Dr. William Nzidee, Barrister Opuada Willie-Pepple and Mr. Kio Tams.
The governor also approved the appointment of Mr. Chulendi Dimkpa as the Acting Managing Director of Rivers State Signage and Advertising Agency.
Also, last Monday, a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt upheld the new Caretaker Committee executive Council as appointed at the National Convention on May 21st, 2016.
The court held that the CTC Exco was duly constituted. Justice Liman said Article 31 (1) of the PDP Constitution vested the powers to commence a national convention of the National Executive Committee of the party. It then described the action of sacked National Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as ultravires and of no consequence after he was disqualified at the screening ahead the convention.
The visit of the State Executive Council of the PDP took the day.
But before the visit, the governor had assented to three newly passed bills at the State House of Assembly. The bills are Rivers State Taxes and Levies Miscellaneous Provisions law No. 2, 2016, Rivers State Hotel Occupancy and Restaurants Consumption Law N0. 3, of 2016 and Rivers State Polytechnic law Number 4 of 2016.
Addressing the leadership of the PDP who paid a solidarity visit Chief Wike said Rivers State is a traditional PDP State. He said, “Rivers State is a traditional PDP State. If they like let them bring American Marines or the American Navy Seals, PDP will win in Rivers State”.
He urged INEC to always work toward elections in the state to further deepen democracy, assuring that they are willing to support security agencies to conduct peaceful elections.
The governor, on Tuesday evening, felicitated with Muslims in the state over the completion of the Ramadan fast and celebration of Eidel-Fitri. Though the holidays were extended by one day due to delay in sighting the moon, Chief Wike congratulated Muslim faithful and called on all Nigerians to draw the lessons of piety, love, Justice fairness, equity, peaceful co-existence with others which the teachings of Prophet Mohammed exemplified.
Deputy Governor, Dr. Ipalibo Harry-Banigo also within the week called on residents to support the State Government onslaught against crime by reporting criminals and all forms of suspicious movement in their viscidity to the security agencies.
Last Thursday, the State Government donated additional 20 patrol vehicles to the Police to strengthen their surveillance and patrol in the state to curb crime. This is coming after the State and Local Government Areas, had released 110 patrol vans to security agencies in the state.
Ogoni people, last Friday, reiterated their support to the Governor Nyesom Wike led administration. In separate interviews, the people expressed happiness over the Bori/Sakpenwa Road and the total rehabilitation of Birabi Memorial Grammar School, Bori.
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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