Politics
FG Hails Wike’s Support For Flood Victims
Last Friday, Vice President of the country, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo led a Federal Government team to Rivers State to assess flood situation in the state.
Satisfied with what he saw on ground, Osinbajo commended Rivers State Government for the measures it took towards militating the impact of the disaster in the area.
“I want to thank the state government for what they have done so far. They have tried to contain the problem”, said the Vice President after visiting Mbiama and Akinima in Ahoada-West Local Government Area.
He stated that Federal Government will work with the Rivers State Government to resettle the people, adding that Federal Government plans to dredge the Orashi Rivers.
Ahoada West Local Government Council Chairman, Hope Ikiriko, said the council and the state government worked to relocate displaced persons to higher ground.
Ikiriko said, so far, six IDP camps have been developed while work is ongoing on two other camps.
In fulfillment of his promise to assist traders affected by the recent fire incident Rivers State Fruits and Vegetables market, Port Harcourt, the State Governor, Nyesom Wike on Friday announced approval for immediate reconstruction of a new market in the area.
Special Adviser to the governor on Special Projects, Dax George Kerley, disclosed this and said contractor handling the project will mobilize to site on Wednesday.
The projects include: four buildings (one storey each), and eight bungalows. Others facilities in the new market include 232 open stalls, 72 lock up shops, toilet block, car park, drainage, internal roads, a warehouse, generator, transformer, perimeter fence and a security house.
According to Kerley, Governor Wike equally approved the release of N440,000 compensation to each of the 213 traders operating in the market and N300,000 to each of the 200 other traders operating around the market.
Another major event last week in Government House, Port Harcourt was the hosting of Class 1984 of the Nigerian Law School who paid a courtesy visit to Governor Wike.
The team, led by its first Vice President, Bukharin Bello (SAN) commended Governor Wike for his investment towards building infrastructure in the justice sector.
The class urged other states to emulate Rivers State in building befitting quarters for judges.
Wike who thanked the group for coming, condemned APC-led Federal Government for intimidating the judiciary through unfounded allegations and trumped up charges.
The Governor noted that the illegal actions of the Federal Government had made it impossible for dispensation of justice in the country and charged lawyers to work towards sustenance of the nation’s democracy.
Wike said: “Time has come when we must rise up and speaks up against the failure of this government”, and challenged Nigerians to do everything possible to ensure that failed APC government is sacked in 2019.
Last week, the people of Etche restated their firm support to the re-election of Governor Nyesom Wike in 2019.
Chairman of Etche Local Government Area, Obinna Anyanwu reassured that come 2019, the good people of Etche will deliver 100 percent to Governor Wike.
The Council boss who was on project assessment tour noted that the governor delivered several projects in Etche and the only way people of the area can appreciate the governor was by voting him enmass come 2019.
“Governor Wike has given so much to the good people of Etche and what we owe him is to vote him again in 2019”, said the Council boss.
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.