Politics
RVHA Considers Bill On Violence
Matters of urgent public interest formed the major
plank of legislative activities at the Rivers State House of Assembly last week in Port Harcourt.
The House, last Thursday, witnessed a swam of both past and present lawmakers, including visitors who had come for the valedictory session held by the Assembly in honour of the deceased elder statesman and its Second Republic Deputy Speaker, Chief Godspower Umejuru Ake.
The Deputy Speaker of the 8th Assembly, Hon Marshal Uwom standing for the Speaker, Rt Hon Adams Dabotorudima who was away for other official duties, described the late Ake as a very humble politician whose legacy is worthy of emulation by all politicians in the state.
Ake, Uwom noted, was a selfless leader, whose political career was devoid of violence, acrimony and greed.
Assuring the family of the full support of the House for burial arrangement, the Deputy Speaker constituted a five-man committee headed by the lawmaker representing Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Constitutency 1, Hon Christian Ahiakwo, for a befitting burial.
Speaker after speaker, cutting across political divides, showered encomiums on the deceased politician who, at various times, served as State Chairman and National Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Among them were former Acting National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, Hon Christian Ahiakwo, former House Leader, Hon Tamunosisi Gogo-Jaja who urged the political class in the state to emulate the peaceful disposition of the late Ake and work for the unity, peace and progress of the society, irrespective of party affiliation.
The House had on Tuesday entertained a bill for a law to eliminate violence in private and public life, prohibit all forms of violence against persons and provide maximum protection and effective remedies for victims and punishment of offenders.
The bill, sponsored by the Leader of the House, Hon Martins Chike Amaewhule and the lawmaker representing Emohua Constituency, Hon Samuel Ogeh and entitled: “Rivers State Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Bill 2016”, sought to raise years of imprisonment for rape to 20, 14 and 12 years respectively without option of fine, depending on the level and manner of the offence and the ages of person or group involved.
The bill also seeks 3 years or fine of N500,000.00 or both to anyone who abandons a wife or husband, children or other dependants without any means of sustenance.
The bill passed through the first reading at the plenary session of the house after a motion raised by the Chief Whip of the House, Hon Evans Bipi and seconded by the Leader of the House, Hon Amaewhule.
The Speaker of the House, Rt Hon Adams Dabotorudima who adjoined the debate on the bill, to the next sitting, commended its sponsors, saying that the bill, when passed into law, would reduce crime and violence rates against persons, especially against women, children and persons living with disabilities in the state.
Subsequently the house also adopted the resolution submitted by Hon Evans Bipi Leader, House Committee on Public Complaints and Petitions on the matter between Abua/Odual communities and the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) in the state.
According to the Committee Chairman, Hon Bipi, Abua/Odual Council was directed to pay N1,500,000 installmentally to settle the N15,000.000 claimed by PHED as debts owed by the communities in the area.
The House also directed the company to supply steady power to the people, as the council agreed to comply with the Assembly directive.
On the same Tuesday, the Assembly led by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Marshal Uwom and the Information and Training Committee Chairman, Hon Samuel Ogeh addressed protesting members of the National Association of Plant Operators, who alleged that Daewoo Construction Company sacked them without severances.
Addressing the protesters Uwom reiterated the assembly’s commitment to the protection of the rights of the citizenry.
Enoch Epelle
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.