Politics
RSG Begins Another Round Of Projects Inauguration
A release by the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Paulinus Nsirim, last week, said another round of projects inauguration would kick-start today with the commissioning of the Okoro-nu-Odo flyover bridge .
The former Governor of Cross Rivers State, Donald Duke will officially Commission the project.
According to the release, Rumuogba flyover will follow suit on Tuesday, 2nd March, 2021 and the former Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso will do the official commissioning.
Other legacy projects which would be inaugurated in the state include GRA Phase Two Road Projects, the New Government House Clinic and Press.
He explained that apart from unveiling of completed projects, this week would also witness the flag off of the two newly approved flyover bridges, one at Aba Road/ Rumukalagbor and the second one at Olu-Obasanjo/ Ikwerre Road .
The one week inaugurations would attract top political leaders and other personalities across the country to the state .
Another major event last week in Government House Port Harcourt was the courtesy visit by the new Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Friday Eboka. The Police boss said his visit was to solicit for effective synergy with the State Government which was needed for him to succeed in fighting crimes in the state.
The Commissioner of Police said: “ My duty in this state is to fight crime and criminality. I know I cannot do that work alone without synergy with other stakeholders”.
Eboka also informed the Governor that he had dissolved the E- Crack team of the State Police Command because of the uncanny report agaist it and redeployed the officers to other units.
The Rivers State Chief Executive advised the State Police boss to shun politics and concentrate on his mandate to fight crime without fear or favour.
He said there was so much criminality in the society and urged police officers not to abandon their duties of protecting lives and property. The Governor emphasised that nobody should be above the law and said if any criminal was arrested, such a person should be charged to court.
He further charged the police commissioner to get rid of bad eggs in the command and assured him of the state government support in fighting crimes in the state.
The Governor noted the increase in the level of kidnapping in the state and blamed the unfortunate situation on the immediate past Police Commissioner whom he accused of abandoning his duty.
Also within the week under review, Governor Wike played host to the Senate Committee on Niger Delta led by it’s chairman, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi.
The Governor expressed disappointment with the National Assembly for confirming the sacked Service Chiefs as Ambassadors. He wondered why Senators who agreed with Nigerians on the poor performance of the Service Chiefs should turn round and clear them for ambassadorial positions.
Wike lamented the failure of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to achieve it’s core mandate and blamed the situation on National Assembly, the Presidency and the ruling political party.
“ The National Assembly is part of the problem of NDDC. The Presidency is part of the problem of NDDC and the party in power is part of the problem of NDDC, whichever party it is. They don’t allow NDDC to perform. We too in N’Delta are not allowing them to perform. We are enemies of ourselves”, he said.
Chairman of the Committee, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi lauded Governor Wike for being a strong voice for the region and assured him that the committee would do everything possible within the limits of the Constitution through their oversight functions for them to achieve their objective.
Also last week, the Brick House landlord received the Chairman/ CEO of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier-General Mohammed Marwa (rtd) in his campaign against illicit drug in the country.
By: 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.
-
News2 hours agoFubara Promises To Commission N80.8bn Elele-Omoku Road In May
-
News39 minutes agoFubara Hails Umah Ukpai’s Contributions To Global Christian Evangelism
-
News40 minutes agoDHQ Allays Fears As US Deploys Drones To Nigeria
-
News39 minutes ago
Etche Monarch Alleges Death Threats, Assault
-
News39 minutes agoPerm. Sec Pats Rivers NUJ On The Back
-
News40 minutes agoNigeria Recorded Two World’s Deadliest Terror Attacks In 2025 –Report
-
News39 minutes agoRivers Muslims Laud Fubara’s Dev Strides
-
News39 minutes agoRSG Applauds FRSC, NDLEA For Enhancing Security In Rivers …As NDLEA Pushes For Drug Tests In Schools, NYSC Camps