Politics
RSG, Labour Resolve Issues
The planned protest by the organised labour in the state was averted last week following an agreement reached Monday night at Government House, Port Harcourt, between the Rivers State Government and leadership of labour unions.
The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba, who read the agreement before newsmen in Government House said the parties agreed to sign the agreement on the implementation of the new National Minimum Wage and its consequential adjustment.
He also said that the parties agreed to set up a tripatite committee to resolve the adjustment of pensions in line with the Constitution and payment of pension and gratuity.
The agreement also included the unsealing of the NLC Secretariat in the state by the state Government,payment of salary withheld from health workers due to the 2017 strike action, and remittance of check off dues to various labour unions and to discontinue all on-going litigations, among others.
Consequent upon the agreement, organised labour officially announced the suspension of the strike action expected to commence last Tuesday.
The NLC President commended Governor Nyesom Wike for his statesmanship that facilitated amicable resolution of the dispute.
In his reaction, Governor Wike expressed satisfaction that all contending issues were peacefully resolved during the meeting.
Speaking to journalists after inspection of on-going projects in Port Harcourt and Obio /Akpor Local government areas last Tuesday, Governor Wike said , the issues bordered on understanding.
“All the issues were mere understanding and now that they have understood our position, they said they have to suspend the protest.
“ So for me, I am happy that there was nothing like conflict. At the end of the day, those of them who were thinking that Rivers State would be shut down were highly disappointed”, he said.
The Rivers State Executive Council met last Wednesday and arrived at crucial resolutions. The meeting which was held at the Banquet Hall in Government House was presided over by Governor Nyesom Wike.
State Commissioner for Health, Prof Princewill Chike, who addressed the press after the meeting disclosed that the Council approved the revamping of Kelsey Harrison Hospital as well as the Dental and Maxilo-Facial Hospital, both in Port Harcourt.
Prof Chike said, with the approval, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital would get accreditation for internship for Dental Residency training by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.
Also speaking, the state Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mrs Tonye Oniyide said that the Council approved the sum of 472,92,88 million Naira for the rehabilitation of Port Harcourt Zoological Garden, and noted that the rehabilitation would boost tourism development in the state.
Also last week, the State Chief Executive, inaugurated a committee to revive Dormant Health Facilities owned by Rivers State Government.
The committee has as its Chairman, Her Excellency, Dr Ipalibo Harry Banigo, the Deputy Governor, and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Mrs Ndidi Uchay, as Secretary.
Other members of the committee were the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice,Prof Zaacheus Adango, Commissioner for Health, Prof Princewill Chike, Chairman Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH), Dr J N Hart, Chief Medical Director of RSUTH, Dr Friday Aaron, and the Chief Medical Director of Rivers State Hospital Management Board, Dr Kenneth Okagwa.
The Governor charged the committee to take all needed measures to revamp the dormant health facilities, particularly, the Kelsey Harrison Hospital, and to also reposition the Dental and Maxilo-Facial Hospital to serve the state better.
Chris Oluoh
The event, jointly organised by LP and ADC to publicly acknowledge the movement of party members, was first scheduled to hold at the LP secretariat in Idimu.
However, chaos erupted when more than 100 suspected thugs reportedly stormed the premises, forcing party members and officials to flee.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers, some armed with knives, canes and other dangerous objects, assaulted individuals they encountered during the invasion.
The assailants were also heard chanting hostile slogans, declaring that LP and ADC were not welcome in Lagos State.
Several party members sustained injuries in the process, while party property, including furniture and flags, were vandalised.
Despite the disruption, officials of both parties quickly relocated the programme to an alternative venue, the Eco Centre Event Hall in Egbeda, in a bid to continue the ceremony.
Speaking on the incident, the LP Chairman in Alimosho, Mr Olanrewaju Olushola, popularly known as Heritage, condemned the attack, describing it as unprovoked and alarming, especially with the 2027 general elections approaching.
“What is most painful is that most of my members sustained varying degrees of wounds. This is in spite of the hoodlums going into our party secretariat in Alimosho and destroying our furniture and flags,” he said.
Mr Olushola clarified that the defection itself had already taken place, stressing that Saturday’s gathering was merely a symbolic ceremony to inform the public of their decision.
According to him, nearly all LP members in Alimosho, including the party’s leadership structure, had collectively agreed to move to the ADC.
Also speaking, the party’s Secretary in Alimosho, Mr Moses Akujuobi, explained that plans for an open defection ceremony had earlier been halted by the police, who cited the absence of formal approval.
He said the organisers had reached out to the Area M Commander, ACP Abaniwonda, who reportedly informed them that only the Commissioner of Police could authorise political events in the state.
“Incidentally, we could not reach the CP, but we informed the DSS, after which we went ahead since it wasn’t a rally but a quiet ceremony,” Mr Akujuobi said.
He added that the situation became more tense upon arrival at the initial venue.
“When we got to the venue this morning, we were shocked to see police vans with heavily armed policemen. They informed us that we cannot hold the event and referred us to the police commissioner.
“While we were at it, the hoodlums besieged the place and began to beat people, leading to our deserting the venue,” he explained.
Mr Akujuobi said party officials subsequently contacted members by phone to proceed to the second venue in Egbeda, where the programme resumed briefly.
“We, however, began to contact our members through phones to move to the second venue, which is the Eco Event Centre, and everyone witnessed what took place here.
“The hoodlums got wind of our second venue and equally attacked us, beating up our members again,” he added.
He noted that the decision to defect to the ADC was driven by internal leadership challenges within the Labour Party and protracted legal disputes affecting the party.
Shortly after the hoodlums vacated the second venue, several police vans carrying armed officers reportedly arrived at the location.
The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has strongly rejected calls by the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria seeking the removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, over comments he allegedly made on genocide.
The Fellowship described the demand as unjustified and a threat to constitutional freedoms.
In a statement signed by its National Secretary, Bishop David Bakare, the PFN insisted that Prof Amupitan, like every Nigerian, has the constitutional right to express his views on matters of national concern, irrespective of the public office he occupies.
According to the PFN, the comments attributed to the INEC Chairman were made in his personal capacity and had no link whatsoever with his official responsibilities or electoral duties.
The Fellowship stressed that elections and electoral activities were not involved in the matter, arguing that there was no basis to connect the alleged comments to Prof Amupitan’s role as INEC Chairman.
“We strongly oppose such calls because Prof. Amupitan, as a Nigerian, has the right to make comments on what he observes to be happening in the nation, regardless of his appointment or assignment,” the statement read.
The PFN said it condemned “in every ramification” the suggestion that the INEC Chairman should be removed from office on the basis of his personal views, warning against attempts to punish public officials for expressing opinions outside the scope of their official duties.
The Tide source reports that the Fellowship also cautioned against what it described as a growing tendency to interpret national issues through religious lenses, noting that such an approach only deepens divisions and undermines peaceful coexistence.
“We must resist the temptation of profiling or judging people based on their religious beliefs or positions. Prof. Amupitan has a right to bear his mind, and this should not be at the cost of his job,” the PFN added.
The PFN called on all stakeholders to exercise restraint, understanding and mutual respect in national discourse, particularly on sensitive issues.
It emphasised that unity and peace must remain paramount in addressing national challenges.
The Fellowship reaffirmed its commitment to fairness, justice and mutual respect, urging that these values guide public engagement and responses to issues affecting the country.
In A Statement Issued On Saturday, Mr Obiorah Ifoh, The Factional Spokesperson, Described The Decision Of The Electoral Body As Strange.
Mr Ifoh Also Said The Sacked Factional Leadership Of The Party Will Protest The Action Of INEC.
Stating That Judgment Of The Court And The Decision Of INEC Will Not Stop Its Members From Putting Up A Strong Appearance In The Forthcoming 2027 General Election, Mr Ifoh Noted Legal Redress Would Be Sought By LP.
He Said, “Some Persons Who Are Applauding The Impunity By Some Politicians Should Retrace And Do Some Introspection, Because This Was How In The Past They Applauded Injustice In Our Democracy Because They Were Beneficiaries.
“At The End Of The Day, When Their Enthroned Leaders Began To Abuse Power, They Started Complaining.
“For Us In Labour Party, Our Faith Is Strong That The Appellate Court Will Do The Right Thing And Therefore We Advise Our Members To Remain Calm. We Will Continue With The Struggle To Take Our Party From The Godfather,” Mr Ifoh Said.
He Also Stated That The Labour Party Is A Party Formed On The Basis Of Social Democracy Where No One Man Is Permitted To Appoint Everybody.
According To Him, It Is Against The Party’s Principles For “One Man To Sit At A Place And Gather Everybody And Appoint Everybody From The National Working Committee To The State.
“That Is Impunity Of The Highest Order. This, I Believe, Negates The Principles Of The Party.
“If We Say There Is No Party Ideology In Nigeria, This Is How It Starts. We Are Very Sure That It Will Be Quashed On Appeal,” He Added.
Mr Ifoh Also Described The Celebration And Excitement Showcased By Senator Nenadi Usman And The Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti As Temporary.
He Said Dr Otti, Senator Usman And Their Cohorts’ Names Which Were Already Listed On INEC’s Portal Will Be Short-Lived.
“It Is For A Short Time. Their Victory Is Pyrrhic And There Is Nothing To Celebrate Because Doomsday Is Closer Than They Will Imagine; Which I Believe Will Be Very Catastrophic For Them.
“Moreover, It Is Very Clear That The Appointment Of The Caretaker Committee Did Not Go Through The Normal Procedure. Proper Notice Was Not Given In Line With The Party Constitution And The Electoral Act,” He Said.
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