Politics
Wike Picks His SSG, CoS
As curtain opens on the second term of his administration, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, last week announced the first set of his appointments.
Wike appointed Dr Tammy Danagogo as Secretary to the State Government, retained his former Chief of Staff, Engr Chukwuemaka Woke. He also retained his former Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Dr Zacheaus Adango and appointed his former Commissioner of Budget, Hon Isaac Kamalu as Commissioner of Finance.
The four top officials were also sworn-in today in Government House, Port Harcourt by Gov Wike with a charge not to take their appointments for granted.
Gov Wike who spelt out major criteria for appointments in the second term of his administration, stressed that absolute loyalty, commitment to the vision of his administration and capacity to deliver are sacrosanct.
The appointees assured that they would do their best to actualise the vision and mission of Wike’s administration.
The Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the Violent Invasion of the state Judicial Complex on 11th April 2018, and the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the Violence, Killings and other Related Matters during the 2019 General Elections, submitted their reports to the governor on Monday at Government House, Port Harcourt.
Gov Wike who received the reports thanked the chairmen and members of the two commissions for doing a diligent and comprehensive job.
He said: “ Let me assure you that by the time that the Executive Council is fully constituted, we will make sure that the white paper comes out and government will implemented the recommendations”.
However, Wike expressed disappointment that the state chapter of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) failed to condemn the unfortunate invasion of the Rivers State Judicial Complex by political hoodlums.
He wondered why NBA could not even submit a memorandum on the incident, stressing that the reason the country is not moving forward is because people refuse to condemn evil.
He said that because of the attitude of NBA on the matter, his administration would review its promises to the association.
Governor Wike, last week warned that the Rivers State Government would no longer tolerate shutting down of oil production facilities of companies operating in the state.
The governor announced this at a meeting with chairmen of Cluster Development Boards in Asari- Toru, Akuku-Toru and Degema Local Government Areas, oil companies and security agencies at Government House, Port Harcourt last Thursday.
Wike who stated that he would also not support any company not to carry out their Corporate Social Responsibility, urged the communities not to take laws into their hands.
He said in cases where companies fail to act within the expectations of the communities, the state government will mediate through the steering committee on Cluster Development Boards.
The governor noted that most problems in the Niger Delta were caused by the oil companies who engage criminal elements to the disadvantages of host communitie
The Anglican Bishops of the Niger Delta were at the Chapel of Everlasting Grace, Government House, Port Harcourt to give praises and Thanks to God for the electoral victory of Gov Wike.
The bishops declared that they chose to return to the Everlasting Grace, because they vowed to offer their gratitude to God at the same venue if Gov Wike wins the election .
In his sermon the Archbishop of the Anglican ,province of the Niger Delta, Most Rev Tunde Adeleye said with the victory of Gov Wike, the will of God has done for the state despite the tensions and fears that greeted the election process.
He commended the governor for rising above the evil machinations of the wicked to declare that he has forgiven everyone by offering the hand of reconciliation.
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.