Politics
Wike Swears-In New Perm Secs, Others
The swearing-in of new Permanent Secretaries, Caretaker Chairmen Attorney-General, took the lead among activities in Government House last week.
But before last weekend’s event, the governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, was in Atlanta United States of America (USA), where he addressed Rivers people of Ikwerre extract in diaspora.
At Atlanta during 20th National Convention of the Ogbakor Ikwerre USA, the governor observed that the repeated use of the security agencies to rig elections would endanger the unity of the country more than agitations of different ethnic groups.
He charged Ikwerre people across the globe to rise up and resist any attempt by treacherous Ikwerre politicians bent on truncating the political ascendancy of the Ikwerre Ethnic Nationality in the politics of Rivers State and Nigeria.
Wike explained that the state is on the path of growth, after his administration revived critical sectors of the economy and governance structure despite inheriting a state without basic infrastructure as the immediate past administration failed after eight years.
Last Tuesday, the office of the state Deputy Governor, Dr Ipalibo Harry-Banigo in a statement assured that the state government was working with security agencies to ensure the release of Dr Alex Akani. The statement came on the trail to assuage fears that the medical doctor had died in the hands of his captors.
Dr Harry-Banigo appealed to the Medical and Dental Consultants of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital to suspend the proposed strike occasioned by the abduction of Dr Alex Akani and assured them that the state Government would work assiduously with security agencies to secure his release.
Speaking at a two-day workshop organized by the Christian Medical and Dental Association in partnership with the Rivers State Government on Wednesday last week, Dr Harry-Banigo expressed readiness of government to partner non-governmental organizations and civil societies to bring peace, development and progress to the Rivers people.
Last Saturday, the governor has engaged in three programmes, as new sets of permanent secretaries, caretaker committee chairmen and Attorney-General were sworn-in.
At the event which took place in the Exco chambers of the Government House, the governor directed the re-appointed of Rivers State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Emmanuel Aguma to ensure conclusive prosecution of former majority leader of the State House of Assembly, Chidi Lloyd and ex-chairman of Asari-Toru Local Government Area, Ojukaye Flag-Armachree.
He advised the Attorney-General to sustain the entronement of the rule of law, to avoid a situation where people resort to self help on account that the state cannot prosecute criminal offenders.
On the newly sworn-in CTC chairmen, Chief Wike advised them to concentrate on the maintenance of security and environmental sanitation.
He advised the council chairmen to work with security agencies to address security challenges in their respective local government areas. Chief Wike later swore-in 17 permanent secretaries and urged them to be loyal and contribute to state development.
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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