Connect with us

Politics

Amaechi Speaks On PDP Reconciliation

Published

on

Last week the Government House was full of activities.  Sunday set the tone of a busy week with Governor Chibuike Amaechi receiving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee on a reconciliatory town hall meeting in Port Harcourt.

Amaechi, while playing host to the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, said the state will still be largely PDP, while lauding the reconciliation meeting as welcome, since it will reconstruct and rebuild the party.

“We are in PDP, I have told my cabinet members that if we want to win election, we must work in such a way that the people are happy with us. Currently, we are popular in Rivers State, we have to maintain our popularity while in office and thereafter, and the only way to maintain that popularity is to continue to do what we are doing now, putting the people first”, Amaechi said.

Both Tukur and Amaechi later proceeded to the Civic Centre  where the party had a town hall meeting with party faithful.  Governor Uduaghan of Delta State and Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom were present at the forum, while Governor Liyel Imoke and Bayelsa Governor, Seriake Dickson sent their representatives.

Proceeding to Abuja on Monday for National Council of State meeting, Governor Amaechi delegated State Commissioner for Agriculture, Emma Chindah to represent him at the 38th Annual Conference and 40th Anniversary of the Nigerian Society for Animal Production (NSAP) held in the State University of Science and Technology (RSUST).

Amaechi who spoke through Chindah tasked NSAP on evolving practical ways of achieving sustainable development in animal production.

He said, “we are happy to share with you some of our strides in the area of economic development which agriculture cannot be removed from.  We believe that we can develop infrastructure to the best extent that we can do to stimulate our economy”.

Governor Amaechi presided over the State Executive Council meeting on Tuesday on returning from Abuja.  The meeting which sat for about six hours decided and announced the appointment of Prof. Otonti Nduka as the first Chairman of the State Education Quality Assurance Agency Board.

Also discussed and approved by the Exco is the Education Summit to be held on 25th and 26th of March and the body also announced the plan to set up the Garden City Private Equity Investment Corporation Law of 2013.

With the announcement of the Garden City Private Equity Investment Corporation, the State Executive Council directed the Secretary to the State Government and Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General to work on the law to be forwarded to the House of Assembly for approval.

The Governor on rising from the Exco meeting proceeded immediately to receive three Scandinavian envoys from Norway, Finland and Austria.

The Ambassadors expressed their desire to enter into multilateral agreements with Rivers State in the areas of education, commerce and energy, Mrs Riita Korpivaara of Finland said, “we plan to visit the University of Port Harcourt to discuss education development in Rivers State and how our countries could partner with Rivers State in the field of education which is an area that is especially dear to me and my country, Finland”.

On Wednesday, Governor Amaechi played host to Committee on Finance, led by its Chairman, Senator Ahmed Makarfi.

The State Governor used the visit to demand for a new revenue sharing formula in the country, arguing that the current revenue sharing formula does not give states fair share of the country’s revenue and urged the National Assembly to amend the constitution.

Aside asking for a better revenue formula, Amaechi decried the poor use and tariff in the Port Harcourt and Onne Ports. “Ordinarily you should expect people from Anambra, Imo, Abia State  to import through Port Harcourt, than import through Lagos.  So, we will be glad if you can either investigate or find a way to appeal to those who collect those monies to please try and pity the Rivers people”.

On hearing the death of Nigeria’s literary icon, Prof Achebe on Thursday, Governor Amaechi through his Chief Press Secretary, David Iyofor sent condolence messages to the family.

The Chairman of Nigeria Governor’s Forum (NGF) who presided over a meeting of the body (NGF) on Thursday made public results of study of Polio eradication in the various states.

Amaechi also on Thursday received the state share of certificate in the disbanded Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) alongside other states.

Lamenting the demise of Prof. Achebe in a statement on Friday, the governors said, “As the nation mourns this irreparable loss, I pray that God grants his family the strength to bear this great loss and to all of us”.

Continue Reading

Politics

Makinde Renames Polytechnic After Late Ex-Gov

Published

on

Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has renamed The Polytechnic, Ibadan as Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan, in honour of a late former governor of the State, Dr Omololu Olunloyo.
Dr Olunloyo, who died on April 6, 2025, was the pioneer Principal of the Polytechnic, Ibadan, while he also served as Governor of Oyo State between October 1 and December 31, 1983.
Governor Makinde made the announcement at the state interdenominational funeral service held yesterday in honour of the late former governor at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Liberty Road, Ibadan.
Governor Makinde said Dr Olunloyo lived an eventful life, adding that his attainment and personality could not be summarised in one sentence.
“He was not a man we could summarise in one sentence. He was a scholar, a statesman, a technocrat, a lover of culture and, above all, a man of deep conviction.
“While giving the exhortation, I was listening to Baba Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu and he said in 1983, Baba became Governor of Oyo State. Though his time in office was brief, his election victory over a popular incumbent remains a powerful testament to the trust people gave him.
“I talked about preserving and digitising his library yesterday [Wednesday] as a mark of honour to Baba Olunloyo.
“Today, we will be giving Baba another honour to immortalise him. He was the first Principal of The Polytechnic, Ibadan; that institution will now be named Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan.”
Earlier in his sermon, a retired Methodist Archbishop of Ilesa and Ibadan, Ayo Ladigbolu, described the late Olunloyo as a role model with intellectual inspiration and unassailable integrity.
The cleric said the deceased also demonstrated leadership in most superior quality during his lifetime.
In attendance were the state Deputy Governor, Chief Abdulraheem Bayo Lawal; wife of a former Military Governor of the old Oyo State, Chief (Mrs) Dupe Jemibewon; wife of a former Governor of Oyo State, Chief (Mrs) Mutiat Ladoja; former Deputy Governor and PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja; and former Deputy Governor, Hazeem Gbolarumi.
Others were the member representing Ibadan North-East/South-East Federal Constituency, Hon Abass Adigun Agboworin; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi; Oyo State Exco members; Chairman of Oyo State Elders’ Council, Dr Saka Balogun; Chairman of All Local Government Chairmen in Oyo State, Hon Sikiru Sanda; President-General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Chief Adeniyi Ajewole; religious leaders and family members, among other dignitaries.

Continue Reading

Politics

10 NWC Members Oppose Damagum Over National Secretary’s Reinstatement

Published

on

Ten members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC) have countered the Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, on the reinstatement of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary.
The dissenting members, led by the Deputy National Chairman ( South), Taofeek Arapaja, in a joint statement, said no organ of the opposition party could overturn the decision of the 99th meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC).
The dissenting NWC members include Arapaja; Setonji Koshoedo, Deputy National Secretary; Okechukwu Obiechina-Daniel, National Auditor; Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary; Ologunagba; Woyengikuro Daniel, National Financial Secretary and Ahmed Yayari Mohammed, National Treasurer.
Others are Chief Ali Odefa, National Vice Chairman (South East); Emmanuel Ogidi, Caretaker Committee Chairman (South South); Mrs. Amina Darasimi D. Bryhm, National Woman Leader and Ajisafe Kamoru Toyese, National Vice Chairman (South West).
The group also insisted that contrary to the position of the acting National Chairman, the 100th NEC meeting of the party would be held on June 30 as earlier scheduled.
The statement read: “The attention of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to a press briefing by the acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum, today Wednesday, June 25, wherein he attempted to overturn the resolution of the 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting which scheduled the 100th NEC meeting for Monday, June 30.
“The acting National Chairman in the said press briefing also reportedly announced that Senator Samuel Anyanwu has been asked to resume as National Secretary of the party contrary to the resolution of the 99th NEC meeting, which referred all matters relating to the office of the National Secretary to the 100th NEC meeting.
“The pronouncements by the acting National Chairman have no foundation as no organ of the party (including the NWC), individual or group has the power to cancel, overrule, veto or vary the resolution of the National Executive Committee (NEC) under the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).
“For the avoidance of doubt, the NEC is the highest decision-making organ of the party, second only to the National Convention. By virtue of Section 31 (3) of the PDP Constitution, the resolution of the NEC to hold its 100th meeting on Monday June 30, is binding on all organs, officers, chapters and members of the party and no organ, group or individual can vary or veto this resolution of NEC.
“Furthermore, the claim by Damagum that Sen Anyanwu has been asked to resume office as the National Secretary of the party is, therefore, misleading being contrary to the resolution of NEC.
“In the light of the foregoing, the 100th NEC meeting as scheduled for Monday, June 30, has not been canceled or postponed.”

Continue Reading

Politics

Presidency Slams El-Rufai Over Tinubu Criticism …Says He Suffers From Small Man Syndrome

Published

on

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has fired back at former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, following the latter’s scathing criticism of President Tinubu’s administration and his 2027 re-election prospects.
In an interview on live television, Mallam El-Rufai said it would take a “miracle” for President Tinubu to be re-elected in 2027, citing an internal poll that purportedly shows a 91 percent disapproval rating for the president across key regions in the country, including the South-East and the North. He also claimed that President Tinubu’s disapproval rating in Lagos stood at 78 percent.
Reacting on Wednesday via a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mr Onanuga took a swipe at the ex-governor, quoting a harsh assessment of Mallam El-Rufai’s character from former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s memoir, My Watch.
“Nasir’s penchant for reputation savaging is almost pathological,” Mr Onanuga wrote, citing Chief Obasanjo’s words. “Why does he do it? Very early in my interaction with him, I appreciated his talent. At the same time, I recognised his weaknesses; the worst being his inability to be loyal to anybody or any issue consistently for long, but only to Nasir El-Rufai.”
The presidential adviser emphasised Chief Obasanjo’s remarks that Mallam El-Rufai often tries to elevate himself by diminishing others. “He lied brazenly, which he did to me, against his colleagues and so-called friends,” Mr Onanuga continued, quoting the former President. “I have heard of how he ruthlessly savaged the reputation of his uncle, a man who, in an African setting, was like a foster father to him.”
Chief Obasanjo, who appointed Mallam El-Rufai as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory between 2003 and 2007, did not mince words in the memoir, describing Mallam El-Rufai as suffering from “small man syndrome.”
Mr Onanuga’s post is seen as a direct rebuttal to Mallam El-Rufai’s recent criticism and growing opposition role. The former governor is reportedly playing a central role in forming a new coalition to challenge President Tinubu in the 2027 general election.
In March 2025, El-Rufai officially dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP), intensifying speculations about his 2027 political ambitions.
As the political rift deepens, Mallam El-Rufai remains one of the most vocal critics of the Tinubu administration, while Mr Onanuga and other presidential allies continue to push back against what they describe as “reckless” opposition rhetoric.

Continue Reading

Trending