Politics
Wike Harps On Effective Revenue Drive
The Holy Ghost Rally organised by the Redeemed Christian Church of God at the Amiesimaka Stadium, Igwuruta was the curtain raiser for activities in Government House last week.
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom. Wike and his wife, Justice Suzette Wike attended the rally together with other top government functionaries. In his remarks, Chief Wike hailed the church for the success of the programme and promised that his administration will tap from it by sponsoring next year’s edition.
The governor recalled that it was during the rally last year that he got a word of revelation about his triumph at the Supreme Court, noting that there is nothing God cannot do. He reiterated that Rivers State is a Christian state and will do any thing to support the growth of the church.
On his part, General Overseer Worldwide of the Redeemed -Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye prayed and ministered for over 40,000 participants at the prayer meeting. Last Monday, the State Governor, declared open the 105th Quaterly and General Session of the Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council. He announced that government will take delivery of new vehicles for the royal fathers, but said the car donation will be done in batches.
The governor at the Traditional rulers meeting also announced plan to build a befitting Secretariat for the council and reiterated his resolve to ensure that each of the 23 Local Government Areas has one first class traditional ruler.
Old Port Harcourt Township was agog last Tuesday when the governor flagged off the reconstruction of 10 roads in the area. Wike said the project is in fulfillment of his electoral campaign promise that the area will wear a new look after long years of abandonment.
On his part, caretaker chairman of the Port Harcourt City Local Government, Mr. Christian Chiokwa thanked the governor for the various projects he has done in the area which included roads, installation of street and traffic lights.
The weekly State Executive Council took place last Wednesday and was presided over by governor Wike. Shortly after the meeting, Wike took time out to visit various project sites including the Pleasure ParK at Rumuola and the Emmanuel Centre at Njemanze and Abonnema Wharf Roundabout.
Last Thursday, two boards were inaugurated by the governor in Government House. They are: State Pensions Board and State -Hospital Management Board. The governor also hosted Bank Executives the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) the and later Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Oluyole.
Addressing the board members, Chief Wike congratulated them for the appointment, saying the inauguration of the State, Hospital Management Board is overdue. The board is chaired by Chief Silas Eneyo.
The governor said the Board needs to start work immediately considering the renovation and rehabilitation of the various general hospitals in the state. He urged them to remove all hiccups in the state secondary health care management system.
For the State Pension Board, he charged them to be transparent and firm in the discharge of their duties. “We need to radically purge the system and ensure that the right thing is done”, he said.
Shortly after the board inauguration, Chief Wike met with Bank Executives in the State. During the meeting, the State Governor informed them that government want to eliminate all tax duplications and hiccups. Wike also announced that all multiple accounts will also be eliminated to allow for an effective revenue drive and reduction of leakages in the system.
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.