Politics
Lawmakers Grieve Over Akere’s Death
The Rivers State House of Assembly (RVHA) last week held two plenary sessions and a valedictory session in honour of a former legislator who represented Gokana constituency in the 2nd Assembly, Justice Peter Akere who died in January 2017 at the age of 73 years.
Last Tuesday, the State House of Assembly resolved to come out with a bill to check the activities of herdsmen in the state.
The House’s decision followed a motion moved by the lawmaker representing Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Constituency II, Hon Nathaniel Uwaji at the plenary session in Port Harcourt.
The motion titled: “Motion to forestall the breakdown of law and order in some communities of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni constituency as a result of activities of some herdsmen”, wants security agencies, particularly the police to be called upon to take necessary steps to forestall breakdown of law and order in the area.
The motion also wants local government councils, traditional rulers and state government to liaise with the police to ensure lasting solutions to the activities of herdsmen in the area.
After an exhaustive deliberation on the motion, the Assembly resolved to liaise with the police to ensure a peaceful atmosphere between the farmers and the herdsmen in the area and in the state at large.
The House also resolved to come out with a bill as part of measures to ensure lasting peace between the herdsmen and farmers in the state.
On Thursday, the house held valedictory session to commiserate with the family of late Peter Akere, a second republic lawmaker in the Rivers State House of Assembly who served just before the military ousted the government of former Nigerian President Shehu Shagari in 1983.
At the session, the Speaker of the House, Rt Hon Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani described the late lawmaker as a man of honour.
Late Justice Akere was a former chairman of Old Bori Local Government Area that comprised the present Khana, Gokana, Eleme, Tai and Oyigbo. He was later appointed a High Court Judge in Rivers State.
According to the biography read by the Majority Leader of the House, Hon Martin Amaewhule, late Justice Akere was a member of the National Conference in 2009 under president Goodluck Jonathan and one of the pioneers of KAGOTE, a socio-cultural organisation of the Ogonis.
The speaker, urged the family of late Justice Akere to take heart, saying that his demise has created a very big vacuum in the family and the state at large.
On Friday, the speaker lead lawmakers to the burial of late Paa Bethel C. Obuah, the father of Bro Felix Obuah, the PDP Chairman in the state.
The Speaker, Rt Hon Ibani and the lawmaker representing Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Constituency, Hon Nathaniel Uwaji, at the event, described late Pa Bethel Obuan as a man of principle.
The lawmaker commiserated with Bro Felix Obuah, assuring that God will grant him and members of his family the fortitude and strength to bear the loss.
Enoch Epelle
The Tide source reports that the committee, reportedly backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, is making moves to reclaim the Wadata Plaza headquarters months after it was sealed following a violent clash between rival factions of the party.
Senior officers at the FCT Police Command told our source that while they had not received an official briefing, police personnel would be stationed at the secretariat and other key locations to maintain peace.
The Acting National Secretary of the Mohammed-led committee, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, announced last week that the secretariat would reopen for official activities on Monday (today).
He dismissed claims that ongoing litigation would prevent the reopening, saying, “There are no legal barriers preventing the caretaker committee from resuming work at the party’s headquarters.”
However, the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) has fiercely rejected the reopening move, insisting that Sen. Anyanwu and his group remain expelled from the PDP and have no authority to act on its behalf.
Speaking with The Tide source, the committee’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, declared: “They are living in fool’s paradise. The worst form of deceit is self-deceit, where the person knows he is deceiving himself yet continues with gusto.
“Even INEC, which they claim has recognised them, has denied them. They are indulging in a roller coaster of self-deceit.”
Mr Ememobong further revealed that letters had been sent to both the Inspector-General of Police and the FCT Commissioner of Police, stressing that the matter was still in court and warning against any attempt to “resort to self-help.”
“The case pending before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik was instituted by the expelled members. They cannot resort to self-help until judgment is delivered,” he said.
He warned that reopening the secretariat would amount to contempt of court.
A senior officer at the FCT Police Command, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that officers would be deployed to the area to avert a repeat of the November 19 violence that led to the secretariat’s initial closure.
“The command would not stand by and allow a breakdown of peace and order by the party or anyone else. Definitely, the police will have to be on the ground,” he said.
Another officer added, “There will definitely be men present at the secretariat, but I can’t say the number of police officers that would be deployed.”
When contacted, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, said she had not been briefed on the planned reopening and declined to comment on whether officers would be deployed.
Asked to confirm whether the secretariat was initially sealed by police, she responded, “Yes,” but refused to say more about the current deployment plans.
The Kano State House of Assembly has debunked the purported impeachment plan against the Deputy Governor, Aminu Gwarzo.
The Tide source recalls that the Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, recently sparked controversy during an interview session with a local radio station.
Mr Waiya called on the deputy governor to resign for failing to follow his principal, Gov. Abba Yusuf, in defecting from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, the spokesperson to the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Kamaluddeen Shawai, while addressing journalists in Kano on Saturday, described reports circulating in some media outlets about Mr Gwarzo’s impeachment as baseless and misleading, emphasising that no such plan is underway.
Mr Shawai further stated that the House remains focused on its legislative duties and oversight functions rather than engaging in speculative political manoeuvres.
The spokesperson urged members of the public and the media to verify information before sharing it, stressing the importance of accurate reporting in maintaining political stability in the state.
He said, “There is absolutely no motion or initiative within the House to remove the deputy governor.
“These reports are false and should be disregarded by the public. The deputy governor continues to serve in his capacity with full support from the House.
“Our priority is good governance and serving the people of Kano, not circulating rumours.”
She made the declaration during an interview with Nigerian football legend, Mr Segun Odegbami, during a live radio interview on Saturday.
Prof. Obasanjo, who is also former commissioner in the state, ruled out a return to the Senate, stating that her focus was firmly on the governorship race.
“So, moving ahead, I’m not going to be Commissioner. Like I said, I’m not even going back to the same party because I think that’s old and I don’t see the use of it. And I’m not going to go back to the Senate,” she said.
“Like the Americans would say, there’s no need. And this is what I told my associates, when this all started. I said, the only thing I’ll come back to do is the governorship.
“And we have started that journey. We are going to see it through. And so that’s the journey I’m on. And we are very serious about it. I mean we are very dedicated to it.”
The politician also confirmed that she recently joined the APC, explaining that her return to active politics followed persistent calls from supporters.
“Like I told you, a group of people who I did not bring together, have been working, I think, for two years now. And then they started talking to me about a year ago, saying, ‘Look, we think you are the best candidate. We want you back,’” she added.
Her declaration sets the stage for what may become a keenly contested governorship race in Ogun State ahead of the 2027 elections.
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