Politics
Wike Tasks LG Chairmen On Security
River State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, last week, recalled the 12 local government council chairmen who were suspended on 18th April, 2019 for failure to attend state official function.
The Governor charged them to serve their people diligently and shun all forms of lackadaisical behaviour in governance.
He urged the recalled council bosses to tackle security challenges in their various local government areas,, and stressed that any chairman who continues to act in breach of extant laws would be shown the way out.
Meanwhile, the Governor, last Monday, fired his Commissioner for Power, Mr Shedrack Chukwu.
Though no reason was given for the sack, the affected Commissioner was directed to submit all government documents and properties in his possession to the Permanent Secretary of the ministry.
Last Tuesday, Governor Wike inaugurated the Rivers State Justice Reform Team at the NBA House, Port Harcourt. Represented by the Deputy Governor Dr (Mrs) Ipalibo Harry Banigo, the Governor restated the determination of his administration to fight crime and those behind them head on.
He said that inauguration of the team is in tandem with the resolution of the state government to bring criminality in the state to the barest minimum.
The team, he said, would plug all loopholes created by administrative lapses due to different command structures in the sector.
Within the week under review, Governor Wike hosted selected clergymen of Ikwerre extraction who paid him a solidarity visit in Government House, Port Harcourt.
Leader of the delegation and President of Ogbakor Ikwerre Worldwide, Rev Canon Simeon Achinewhu, congratulated the governor on his reelection.
Achinewhu noted that Wike’s reelection is a general acceptance by the good people of the state that he performed outstandingly well during his first tenure.
The group lauded the governor for his courage in extending Olive Branch to his political opponents and urged all to embrace the gesture and join hands with him for peaceful development of the state.
The governor in his response expressed sincerity with the peace process and said he was not playing politics with it.
He stated that it was as a result of the seriousness his administration attached to it that the Hon. Attorney-General entered a noble Prosequi for some persons.
He thanked the men of God for their role in promotion of peace and reconciliation stressing that the success recorded during the elections proved that prayers of clergymen of the state worked for the people.
The weekly State Executive Council Meeting, held on Wednesday. One of the major issues addressed was the problem of soot and its environmental challenges in the state.
The State Government set up a technical committee to implemente recommendations of the Scientific Committee established to investigate soot prevalence.
Environment Commissioner, Prof Roseline Konya, who briefed the press after the meeting, said the state government arrived at the decision after detailed consideration of the report of the scientific committee.
Another major event last week was the visit by Commander of Joint Task Force, Operation Delta State, Real Admiral Akinjide Akinrinade.
He thanked Wike for supplying gunboats, security vehicles and finances for security operations in the state.
The Commander who enumerated achievements of the task force assured the governor they will not relent in fighting crime in the state.
While speaking, Wike accused the GOC of the 6 Division of Nigerian Army, Major General Jamil Sarham of running an illegal oil bunkering squad for the purpose of financing his ambition to become the Chief of Army Staff.
Similarly, a delegation from the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, led by its Director, Prof Habu Galadima also paid a courtesy visit to Governor Wike in Government House, last week.
Last Saturday, Governor Wike also inspected two ongoing projects in the state. The projects are Real Madrid Sports Academy , and the Judges Quarters.
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.
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