Politics
Rivers West Endorses Wike For Second Term
Government House activities began last Monday with adorning of Eagle feather on the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike in Ahoada by the traditional rulers of Rivers West Senatorial district.
The Eze Ekpeye Logbo, Eze Robinson O. Robson who performed the rite on behalf of traditional rulers of the eight local government areas that make up the district said, Eagle is the King of the birds of the air and the honour is a mark of endorsement on the Governor to go for re-election in 2019 as resolved by sons and daughters of the area.
The people of the area, at the event tagged Rivers West-Senatorial District 2018 Mega Rally endorsed Wike for second term. Political Leader of the District, Chief Ferdinand Alabraba said the resolution was predicated on Wike’s rapid development strides in the local government areas in the district.
The death of the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Emmanuel Aguma (SAN0 also affected activities in Government House as individuals, groups and organisations from within and outside the state besieged Brick House to condole the governor and Rivers people over the demise of the legal luminary.
The former Governor of Kano State and Presidential aspirant of the PDP, Rabiu Kwankwaso, paid the governor a condolence visit on Monday night in Government House.
He expressed shock at the news of the Attorney-General’s death and urged the Governor, the people of the state and the bereaved family to take heart.
The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN) visited with his team last Thursday, saying late Aguma left indelible marks on the legal profession.
“Aguma was an accomplished lawyer. He was one of our very serious lawyers that we are proud of, not only in Rivers State but across the country”, Mahmoud said.
The Service Commanders of Rivers State Security Council also paid Governor Wike a condolence visit in Government House last Monday.
The council, led by the Assistant Comptroller of Nigeria Customs Service, Zone C, Sanusi Umar, comprised of the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Air Force, Nigerian Navy, DSS, Nigeria Police, Civil Defence, NDLEA, Nigerian Immigration Service, Customs and the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC).
The council described late Aguma as a reliable and industrious public officer who exhibited professionalism in the discharge of his duties and condoled with the government and people of the state.
Also, the Chairman of Daar Communication Plc, Chief Raymond Dokpesi was in Government House last Friday to pay condolence visit to Governor Wike on the demise of late Aguma.
Dekposi described Late Aguma as a patriot of the First Order and a person committed to the development of Rivers State and the entire South-South geo-political zone.
Wike had announced 14th and 15th September as burial dates for the late Attorney- General and also inaugurated a burial committee for the deceased.
The committee chairman regretted that instead of a committee to celebrate the patriot at this time, such an illustrious son of the state was to be buried. He promised that the committee would do its best to give the deceased a befitting burial.
The committee, made up of 55 persons drawn from the church, legal profession, the family, government and other walks of life, was given next Wednesday to work out a budget for the state burial.
Another major event in Brick House last week was the 70th Birthday celebration of a former governor of the state, or Peter Odili which was organised by Rivers State Government. The ceremony which opened with a thanksgiving ceremony Penultimate Sunday also had a public lecture and state banquet at Presidential Hotel, Port Harcourt.
Wike also made a state wide broadcast last Friday to sue for peaceful conduct of Port Harcourt constituency III bye-election and revealed plans by some politicians to disrupt the election.
He warned that any attempt by any person or group to disrupt the election would attract the wrath of the law.
A music mega star, David Adeleke popularly called Davido also visited the Brick House last Friday. The Star who announced his intention to develop music talents in the state solicited for state government’s partnership.
Chris Oluoh
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.