Politics
Wike Sacks Two LG CTC Chairmen
The Golden Jubilee Anniversary events took the shine off other activities in Government House last week. With a Church interdenominational service at St Paul’s Cathedral Diobu, last Sunday, the state dedicated its 50 years celebration to God.
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike read the only lesson at the church service. He told the congregation later that there was need for reconciliation in order to move the state forward.
In his words: “Irrespective of our affiliations, we should come together. It does not matter the party that we belong. Let us work together to move Rivers State forward”.
On his part, the Archbishop of Niger Delta Province (Anglican) Most Rev Ignatius Kattey said God has placed the governor to reposition the state.
Last Monday, the Appeal Court, in Port Harcourt upheld the legality of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by the Rivers State Governor Chief Nyesom Wike, to probe the sale of Valued Assets owned by the State Government by the immediate past administration of Chibuike Amaechi. The Appeal Court, in a lead judgement by Justice O.F. Omoleye, held that the Rivers State House of Assembly has the power to make the Commission Inquiry Law (CAP 30) under which the governor established the judicial panel of Inquiry.
Last Tuesday, another Golden Jubilee event took centre stage. The wrestling event was held at the Sharks Stadium. Participating local government areas were Obio/Akpor, Abua/Odual, Tai, Oyigbo, Etche, Omuma, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Khana and Gokana.
Presenting trophies to the winners, the State Governor said every wrestler who participated in the event was a winner. He noted that traditional wrestling is a sport with potentials, pointing out that the State Ministry of Sports will be empowered to improve on it.
Chief of Staff, Government House, Engr Emeka Woke received medical doctors on Wednesday. The doctors were on an awareness trek following the killing of their colleague by criminals. Speaking through the chief of staff, the State Governor assured that his administration is committed to the security of every person living and doing business in the state. That is why we have made massive investments in security”.
Chief Wike expressed worry that the state health sector will be affected if medical doctors continue to become victims of kidnap.
Last Thursday, the governor, his wife, Suzette and two former first ladies, Dame Patience Jonathan and Prof Uche Azikiwe attended the Women’s Day State Golden Jubilee Anniversary. Chief Wike used the event to clear the air that the women folk are being held back by men in participating in politics and governance. He urged women to stand up and get what belongs to them.
On Friday last week Governor Wike was at Bakana and Abalama in Degema and Asari-Toru local government areas, respectively to flag off shore protection and land reclamation projects in both communities. At Bakana, he told the people that the project was in fulfillment of his campaign promises, and assured that within six months, the project will be completed. At Abalama, he urged the chiefs and community leaders to help monitor the project to ensure quick completion.
Last Saturday witnessed the Golden Jubilee Boat Regatta Competition. The event was held at the Tourist Beach. Governor Wike lauded the participating local government areas, and announced the sack of two local government caretaker chairmen of Ogu/Bolo and Akuku-Toru.
The governor said the duo did not show commitment and failed to participate in the event, Akuku-Toru, Degema, Opobo/Nkoro Andoni, Ogu/Bolo and Okrika participated in the event.
Later on, the governor took former House of Representatives Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedoha to project sites.
In a timetable issued by its National Secretariat in Abuja and signed by the National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Argungu, the party said the activities were in line with provisions of its constitution guiding the election of party officials across all tiers.
According to the schedule, membership e-registration began on January 31 and ended on February 8, while notices of congresses were dispatched to state and Federal Capital Territory chapters on February 2.
Submission of nomination forms for ward and local government congresses closed on February 9, followed by screening and appeals between February 10 and February 14.
Ward congresses are fixed for February 18, with appeals the following day, while local government congresses will take place on February 21 and appeals on February 23.
At the state level, purchase of forms for state executive positions will run from February 22 to February 25, with screening set for February 27–28 and appeals from March 1–2. State congresses are scheduled for March 3, and appeals on March 4.
Activities leading to zonal congresses and the national convention include purchase and submission of forms between March 12 and March 16, inauguration of screening committees on March 23, and screening of aspirants on March 24. Zonal congresses across the six geo-political zones are slated for March 25, with appeals on March 26.
The party’s national convention will hold from March 27 to March 28.The APC also published fees for expression of interest and nomination forms across the different tiers.
At the ward level, expression of interest costs ?5,000, while nomination forms range from ?15,000 to ?20,000 depending on the position. For local government positions, nomination forms range from ?50,000 to ?100,000 after a ?10,000 expression-of-interest fee.
State executive positions attract ?50,000 for expression of interest, with nomination forms pegged at ?1 million for chairman and ?500,000 for other offices. Zonal offices require ?100,000 expression of interest and ?200,000 for nomination.
For national positions, the fees rise significantly, with expression of interest set at ?100,000. Nomination forms cost ?10 million for national chairman, ?7.5 million for deputy national chairmen and national secretary, ?5 million for other offices, and ?250,000 for National Executive Committee membership.
The party noted that female aspirants, youths and persons living with disabilities would pay only the expression-of-interest fee and 50 per cent of nomination costs. It also clarified that Ekiti, Osun, Rivers states and the FCT are excluded from ward, local government and state congresses, but will participate in electing delegates to the national convention.
Forms are to be completed online after payment verification, with payments directed to designated APC accounts at Zenith Bank and United Bank for Africa.
The congress cycle is expected to determine new party leadership structures ahead of future electoral activities.
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.”
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