Politics
Replicating Wike Projects Agenda In DELGA
The Rivers State chapter Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Desmond Akawor, recently re-echoed the governor of the state, Chief Nyesom Wike, when he challenged local government chairmen in the state to positively affect the lives of the people in their various jurisdictions by executing projects that address the needs of the people.
The Rivers State PDP boss was said to have re-emphasised the charge of the state chief executive while representing the governor at the commissioning of the Eke Ukwu Ultramodern market at Ulakwo built by the chairman of Etche Local Government Area.
Amb. Akawor who was reported to have expressed happiness about the project’s capacity to boost economic activities in the area, commended the chairman and encouraged him not to relent in delivering people-oriented projects after the example set by Governor Wike at the state level.
Indeed, the impressive developmental story at Etche Local Government Area is but a tip of the iceberg of what true disciples and political scions of Governor Wike are doing in other local government areas across the state, a shining example of which is Hon. Michael John Williams of Degema Local Government Area who could scarcely wait to assume office before unleashing the Wike trademark of quality projects that directly impact the lives of the people in all the nooks and crannies of the LGA.
The DELGA boss who has not only commenced a string of projects in the area but has also made it a habit to visit work sites regularly, visited ongoing projects in Bakana and adjourning communities, last week.
According to a statement released by the Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman, Daerefa-a Christopher Braide, the Executive Chairman of Degema Local Government Area, Hon. Michael John Williams, condemned the recent vandalisation and carting away of armoured cables at the Bakana Power Station by yet to be identified vandals, warning the perpetrators to quietly return the stolen items or face the full weight of the law.
The Chairman, who made the condemnation while addressing community members after an inspection tour of various project sites in Bakana, also stated that his administration will not sit back and watch anyone or group of persons sabotage government’s huge investments in the LGA.
While urging parents to encourage their children and wards to shun criminality and be worthy ambassadors of the community, the Chairman vowed that the Council authority will not spare any effort at apprehending and bringing to book, perpetrators of the crime.
The Council boss who dismissed critics of the ongoing Ekine Sekiapu Society building, noted that the project was very relevant because the Kalabari Ekine Sekiapu Society were the custodians of the customs and traditions of the people, and are also the local arbitrators of disputes across Kalabari land.
He said that aside the aesthetics the project when completed will add to the community, given its strategic location, it was an aberration for an important traditional institution to be kept in a structure that looked like a shrine.
Speaking on the continued loss of man-hours, occasioned by the perennial low tide lockdown experienced by commuters on the Bakana-Port Harcourt waterways due to accumulated silt, the Chairman assured the people of Bakana that his administration will permanently address the situation before the festive season in December.
While acknowledging the earlier effort of the DAA-3 Cluster Development Board Chairman, Hon. Mpaka Botoye, at finding solution to the problem, Hon. Michael John Williams thanked him for his good intention for the community, adding that the Council will now undertake the project and bring to an end, the continued suffering of the people plying the route.
In the meantime, worried about the inability of the officials of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to adequately enrol Bakana residents in the ongoing National Identity Number (NIN) Registration, the DELGA Chairman extended the exercise by a week.
This, according to the Chairman, was to give the people of the area who daily turned out in their large numbers, the opportunity to be captured by the Commission.
In the same vein, the Council boss also disclosed that his administration would soon embark on the rehabilitation of the dilapidated Bakana Footbridge linking the island on the Oguruama end.
While inspecting the Footbridge, the Council boss stated that the intervention was necessary to avert its imminent collapse, loss of lives and interruption of business activities.
Meanwhile, the Council Chairman has also approved the construction of a security sentry post and lodge for officers of the security Joint Taskforce (JTF) at the new site in Bakana.
The structures, which will be completed before December, is expected to address the perennial pirate attacks along the Bakana-Port Harcourt waterways.
The Chairman, while inspecting the location of the proposed military base, re-iterated his administration’s zero tolerance for criminal elements and their activities across all communities of the LGA.
The LGA Chairman as well visited other project sites including the ongoing Oguruama Community Footbridge and Pedro’s Compound Memorial Hall.
The excited community members on their part, gave glory to God for blessing them with a kind-hearted, proactive, compassionate and projects-oriented Chairman, whom they described as a ‘Godsent’ leader, on a mission to return DELGA to its lost glory.
Indigenes of the area who are closely monitoring the activities of the chairman, Michael John Williams, who is less than two months old in office, commend him for first engaging with the locals and determining their most pressing needs, instead of just throwing projects at them. The people of DELGA are indeed hopeful that an administration that is committed to changing their age-long story of neglect and abandonment may be here after all.
By: Opaka Dokubo
Governor Douye Diri has set a target of at least one million votes for President Bola Tinubu in Bayelsa State in the 2027 presidential election, while charging the newly inaugurated All Progressives Congress (APC) State Campaign Council to prioritise reconciliation, party unity and collective electoral mobilisation.
Governor Diri gave the charge at the inauguration of the 20-member campaign council at the APC secretariat in Yenagoa, where he warned that internal divisions could undermine the party’s efforts to secure victory for President Tinubu and other candidates at the federal and state levels.
Governor Diri urged party members who were not appointed to the council to support its activities by taking the APC’s message to communities, wards and polling units across the state.
He specifically charged the campaign team to mobilise at least one million votes for President Tinubu, arguing that Bayelsa’s voting strength had increased and should be reflected in the 2027 election results.
“I give you a target that in Bayelsa, we must not bring less than one million votes for Mr President. You are going to campaign, and you have a lot to talk about the President. He has done so much for our people,” the governor said.
He listed the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the second phase of the Nembe-Brass Road, interventions in the power sector, federal appointments for Bayelsa indigenes and the establishment of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy among the achievements the campaign should present to voters.
The governor particularly praised President Tinubu for the coastal highway project, arguing that it reflected federal attention to the development needs of coastal communities.
“No president, alive or dead, has remembered the coastal people and coastal states to say let us do this signature project from Lagos to Calabar. The first president to think about it is Bola Tinubu, and those were the demands of the Ijaw people,” he said.
Governor Diri also expressed hope that a second term for President Tinubu would provide an opportunity to advance demands for fiscal federalism, greater resource control and state policing, which he described as longstanding aspirations of the Niger Delta.
He said the President had shown indications of addressing some of the demands of younger Nigerians and argued that re-election would allow the administration to consolidate its reforms.
The governor further cautioned campaigners against personal attacks and abusive exchanges with political opponents, insisting that the APC should focus its campaign on issues, policies and achievements.
The governor’s mobilisation directive comes amid criticism from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which has questioned his commitment to President Tinubu’s re-election campaign, alleging that APC campaign billboards erected across Yenagoa promote other party candidates without featuring the President.
The PDP, through its Publicity Secretary, Mr Ikaebimo Mark, said the billboards showed Governor Diri urging voters to support APC candidates for the National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections without identifying President Tinubu as the party’s presidential candidate.
Mr Mark described the omission as an indication that the governor was not fully aligned with the APC’s national leadership.
“When we said that the governor, Senator Douye Diri, is not supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we knew exactly what we were saying. Now Governor Douye Diri has erected APC campaign billboards across Bayelsa State without Tinubu’s picture. He is even afraid to associate himself with the photograph of the presidential candidate of his own party. How can this governor claim to be supporting President Tinubu?” he said.
The PDP, however, maintained that the governor’s public campaign posture raised questions about his commitment to the President’s re-election bid. Its allegation over the billboards now places the issue of the relationship between the state APC leadership and the party’s national campaign among the political questions likely to feature in Bayelsa’s preparations for 2027.
The PDP’s allegation has introduced a fresh political dimension to the APC’s preparations in Bayelsa, even as Governor Diri publicly called on party leaders and members to close ranks and mobilise support for all its candidates.
“Every person picked as a member of this campaign council was carefully scrutinised. I want to tell you that our campaign team is loaded. We parade the best candidates among all the parties in Bayelsa State, and there is no doubt about that,” he said.
He urged members to remain focused and united, warning that political opponents could exploit any divisions within the party.
“Our unity is very important because they would want to feast on our disunity. We will not give them that opportunity. Please, as you carry out this assignment, do not take your eyes off the target,” Hon. Ogoriba said.
SP Edafe explained that during the meeting, the organisers were briefed on the identified security threats and advised against embarking on an open-road procession.
Instead, the police reportedly recommended that the political activities be conducted at a designated venue where adequate security arrangements could be provided.
However, the Command alleged that the organisers disregarded the security advice and proceeded with the road procession.
Meanwhile, the Delta State Government has condemned the political violence that erupted in Asaba, the state capital, on Saturday, confirming that one person was killed while four others sustained serious injuries.
The government described the incident as unfortunate and unacceptable, warning political parties and their supporters against actions capable of threatening public peace, security and democratic participation in the state.
In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, the government reiterated its zero tolerance for political violence, intimidation and other forms of political misconduct.
Mr Aniagwu said the government had repeatedly cautioned political parties against engaging in activities capable of disrupting the peace, insisting that the incident could have been avoided if the organisers had followed security advice.
According to him, the police had advised the organisers to cancel the proposed street march and instead conduct their political campaign at a designated venue where adequate security arrangements could be provided.
He expressed concern that the advice was allegedly disregarded, resulting in a confrontation that claimed one life and left four other people seriously injured.
The government subsequently called on the police to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the violence and ensure that anyone found culpable is brought to justice.
Mr Aniagwu further warned that the state government would not tolerate politically motivated attacks against any individual, regardless of political affiliation.
He maintained that Delta State remained safe for residents and visitors, stressing that the government would not allow the actions of individuals or groups to undermine the prevailing peace and security in the state.
The government also urged political parties, their leaders and supporters to conduct their political activities within the confines of the law and demonstrate respect for human life, public order and the rights of other citizens.
The latest development follows an attack on supporters of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) during a political procession in Asaba, which reportedly left several participants injured and campaign vehicles vandalised.
The government’s condemnation comes amid growing concerns over political violence and the safety of opposition supporters as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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