Politics
No Substitute For Wike In 2017 – Hon Loolo
The clamour among Rivers political stakeholders for Governor Ezenwo Wike to contest for the 2019 governorship election come 2019 has continued to dominate the political centre stage in the state, with various groups endorsing the Governor for a second term in office.
A stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, Hon. Dinebari Loolo recently lent his voice to push frantically for Governor Wike to heed to what he described as the ‘clarion call’ of Rivers people to contest for the 2019 Governorship poll in the state.
Hon. Loolo, a former State lawmaker and grassroots politician, who spoke with The Tide Political Desk in an exclusive interview, recently said Governor Wike has placed Rivers State on a very solid developmental foundation within a short period in office.
Describing Governor Wike as a “charismatic and visionary leader” the immediate past Deputy Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, declared that “there is no substitute for Governor Wike in 2019, as he has performed exceedingly well, especially in the execution of “quality and people-oriented projects in the state.”
Apart from his track record in project execution in the state, Loolo said he has projected Rivers State on a high pedestal to take its pride of place among the comity of Nigerian States.
Insisting that Rivers people must take advantage of Wike’s landmark achievements and avail him a second term in office to consolidate on the gains of economic development in the state, he warned that the state cannot afford to experiment with “political greenhorns or hard sells” at this critical period of our political development.
He noted that any other candidate jostling for the position of Governor in Rivers State at the moment “would be struggling to grapple with Wike’s overwhelming popularity and development strides as better days awaited the people of the state in 2019 and beyond under his leadership.
Loolo was particularly impressed with Wike’s rural development agenda, especially in the construction of roads in the rural areas. “Wike has done so well in the development of Rivers State, there is no Local Government Area in the state that the Governor had not impacted in terms of development. We in Khana are very happy with the Governor over the Saakpenwa-Bori-Kono road project which the past administration politicised.”
Continuing, he said: “similar projects are being carried out in other parts of the state with a view to according the people of the state a deep sense of belonging. Wike truly earn the sobriquet “Mr. Projects” and this is justified by the various prestigious laurels he had won, locally and internationally.”
Loolo, a prominent attorney and grassroots mobilizer, vowed to mobilize the people of Khana to support governor Wike in 2019.
He said a socio-political platform known as “Akeere Khana” has been formed in the area to mobilize the people to know their political rights and participate actively in the polity.
The former lawmaker who represented Khana Constituency II in the Rivers State House of Assembly, disclosed that as the chairman, steering committee of the grassroots political platform, he has galvanized the body to embark on mass sensitisation of the people of Khana to participate in the ongoing voters registration to exercise their full political franchise.
Commenting on the Rivers re-run poll of December 10, 2016, Loolo described the exercise as a “rape of democracy.”
He said the All Progressives congress (APC) decided to use the military to rig the election against the wish of the people. “That re-run poll remains one of the greatest threat to our democracy. It was a case of military invasion and political arm-twisting. Even at the tribunal, officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) testified that there was no election in Ogoni. Of the eight wards in Khana Constituency II, only ward 8 and 9 partially held election and I won?
Assuring that the ugly scenario will not repeat itself in Ogoni or any other part of the state again, Loolo urged the people of Rivers State to defend their votes in 2019.
On the chances of the People Democratic Party (PDP) to retain power in the state in 2019, he said the entire Rivers State was a PDP State, noting that the opposition APC was “shadowy and lacking in ideological substance:” and as such has nothing to offer to the development of the state.
He described the APC as a marriage of strange bed fellows that is heading towards disbandment, and called on Rivers people to be vigilant against their “deceptive antics and anchorage on social media politics.”
He pointed out that the change mantra which was used by the APC as a campaign policy has failed, adding that “Nigerians had been yoked under the reign of terror and general impoverishment unleashed on them by the APC.”
The ex-lawmaker said the judiciary should rise up to their fundamental objectives and constitutional role as defenders of democratic institutions by resisting the penchants of politicians bent on infiltrating the judicial system.
In his candid views, part of measures of strengthening our democracy is to carry out radical judicial reforms in the country and practice the tenets of true federalism, rather than the centralized command system that has become a disincentive to true democratic practice in Nigeria. “Nigeria is a country of diverse ethno-religious background and interest. The views and interest of these various component groups must be respected, no group is expected to super impose its idiosyncrasies over the other. The beauty of democracy can only be felt in the country when justice and equity becomes the yardstick of our national life.”
Loolo who also vehemently criticised the proposed cattle colony, said such policy was an insult to the sensibilities of Nigerians insisting that it would be stoutly resisted.
Faulting the land use act which is used by some northern oligarchies to justify their claims on the grazing controversy, Loolo said: “Governors of the states are custodians of the land as trustees of the people and not of federal government.”
He called for the implementation of the 2014 National Conference report by the federal Government.
Taneh Beemene
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.
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