Politics
Kanu’s Prosecution Should Follow Due Process – Wike
As reactions continue to trail the eventual arrest of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB), Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has advised the Federal Government to follow due process in his prosecution.
Governor Wike emphasised the need for the Federal Government to make conscientious efforts towards ensuring that that due process was being observed in the prosecution efforts to allay the fear by some people that Nnamdi Kalu was being treated differently because he hails from a certain section of the country.
The governor who made the statement, during an interview with Arise Television, said for Federal Government to address insecurity crisis facing the country, the same dragnet deployed to arrest Kanu must as a matter of urgency be extended to bandits, Boko Haram and Miyethi Allah terrorising the country.
According to him, though I do not agree with Kanu in principle, that does not mean that you will not allow the law to take its course.
He insisted that government must arrest every wanted terrorists in its watchlist and ensure they faced the full wrath of the law.
“ You cannot afford to discriminate at this point. You cannot say because Nnamdi Kanu is from a particular area, let us prosecute him. The same thing must apply to all other people, the bandits, miyetti Allah”.
Last week witnessed the harvest of more key projects and flag-off of more people-oriented projects under Governor Wike’s administration.
The projects that were inaugurated last week were; the reconstructed Rumuigbo, Chief Johnson Amadi, Igbodo, Finima, Rumuopareli, Bauchi, Ohia and Isaac Boro streets in Old GRA,Port Harcourt, reconstructed William Jumbo, Ernest Ikoli, Eleme, Akassa, Abana, and Mbiama streets in Old GRA, Port Harcourt, Rivers State Rehabilitation Center, Iriebe in Obio/Akpor, and the Opobo axis of the Unity Road.
New projects flagged off included Mgbuitanwo community road, Emohua Local Government Area, Woji-Aleto-Alesa-Refinery road, and sandfilling and land reclamation of Okrika New Town and Okochiri Internal Roads in Okrika Local Government Area.
Governor Wike said the completion of the Opobo axis of the Unity Road was a dream come through both for the people of the area and the state government. He expressed happiness that he fulfilled the campaign promise he made to the people of Opobo that they would travel home by road.
He also expressed appreciation to the former Governor of the state, Dr Peter Odili for conceiving the project. The Governor also directed his Special Adviser on Special Projects to liaise with the king and leaders of Opobo on where they desired a new land to be sandfilled and reclaimed for them by the State Government.
Former Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources, Adamu Maina Waziri, who performed the inauguration, expressed gratitude to Governor Wike for solving critical needs of the Opobo people.
The Amanyanabo of Opobo, King Dandeson Douglas Jaja lauded Governor Wike and said that the people of his Kingdom would remain eternally grateful to him for the humanity he had brought to governance.
Also last week, the governor threatened to depose any monarch or leaders of the Community Development Committee (CDC) that attempted to extort money from companies handling government project.
Governor Wike who made the threat at the inauguration of the Rumuepirikom Flyover in Obio,/Akpor Local Government Area last Wednesday also warned youths in the state to resist the temptation of disrupting government projects in their communities, stressing that the era when government winked at such act was over.
Also within the week under review, the Rivers State Governor foresaw mass defection of politicians across parties. Disclosing this at the inauguration ceremony of the roads in the Old GRA, Port Harcourt, Governor Wike said defection was part of the game as politicians would align towards 2023.
Gov Wike further revealed that there are secret meetings involving some state and National Assembly members in Abuja and advised those involved in such nefarious meetings to desist or face dire consequences.
The Rivers State Government also restated it’s commitment to the well being of the less privileged in the state, noting that any Government that does not take care of the less privileged in the society is bound to fail.
The Gov who stated this last Friday during the inauguration of the Rivers State Rehabilitation Center, Iriebe in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area commended the State Commissioner for Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Mrs Inime Chinwenwo-Aguma for the success of her ministry particularly the new edifice being inaugurated.
As defection continue to rock the nation’s political landscape, Rivers State Governor , last week, reassured that Rivers State would ever remain the hub of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
He said no amount of crisis in the party would make the state loose it’s position in the party because of the numerous benefits enjoyed by the people of the state from the party.
He stated this last Thursday during the flag off ceremony for the sandfilling and land reclamation of Okrika New and Okochiri Internal Roads in Okrika Local Government Area.
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.