Politics
High Court Verdict: Amaechi’s Support Base Swells
Since the judgement of Justice Ishak Bello of Abuja High Court on Monday, April 15, which sacked the executive of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State,led by Chief Godpower U Ake,the people have protested in many ways.
The Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) was the first to condemn the judgement,followed by the members of House of Representatives from the state,traditional rulers,Niger Delta Youth Leaders Council (NDYLC) and majority of members of the party.
Those who protested and condemned the judgement alleged that it fell short of being an empty judgement borne out of sycophantic wisdom designed to lure and lull the unwary into a false complacency and unprincipled expectation.
While majority of party members in the state vowed not to recognise the new party executive led by the former Ogba/ Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Chairman,Mr Felix Obuah,Chief G.U Ake said he would appeal the judgement.
Political analysts say they see the voice of Jacob but the hand of Esau in the whole political saga unfolding in the state, insisting that there are greater forces fighting behind the scene.
Some of the protests came to the fore last Friday,five days after the judgement was delivered when Chief Godpower U.Ake spoke as the chairmen of the 23 local government areas of the state visited him to identify with him and pledge their support.
Chief Ake informed them that he was not the target but Governor Chibuike Amaechi.
Ake noted that the plot was to remove and destroy the political structures built by Governor Amaechi whom he believed had done well in office.
The embattled PDP chairman regretted that some people who helped build the house are joining enemies to destroy the house they built.
According to him,”it is disheartening for people to build a house and turn round to destroy it.
“I met “Go Round”, Felix Obuah sometime in the past and he told me that Wike invited him to destroy Amaechi’s political structures. Wike is however, not alone in the fight against Amaechi. There are others at the top conspiring to destroy Amaechi’s structures”, he said.
He faulted the action of the National Executive Committee of the party for swearing in the Obuah-led exco in Abuja.
“The swearing in of an exco in Abuja is wrong, it has always been the responsibility of the governor to maintain peace. I’m not a violent man and I urge PDP supporters in the state to remain calm”.
He however, said the party was actually not the target but the Rivers State governor whom the arsenal was targeting at.
The Mayor of Port Harcourt, Mr Chimbiko Akarolo, who led other council chairmen to register their solidarity as members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON),said they were with Chief G.U Ake as the chairman of the PDP in the State.
Akarolo disclosed that they were very much concerned about the issue at stake in Rivers State, adding that they were aware that there was a judgement in Ake’s favour which had not been set aside and were also aware that the Ake-led executive had appealed the matter.
“As concerned PDP members, we frown against the unbecoming activities of disgruntled elements within the party who are bent on derailing the party. We have always seen you as a role model in the party, and in the present circumstance, we will remain calm and allow the law to take its course”,he said.
The Ogu Bolo Local Government council Chairperson,Hon Maureen Tamuno expressed confidence in Chief G U Ake as the chairman of the party in the State and pledged that members of ALGON would continue to stand behind the truth and always defend the mandate given to Ake and the Governor the Rivers State.
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.