Politics
Forum Hails Amaechi Over Award
Last week, Government House activities commenced on a celebration mood with a solemn message from Governor Chibuike Amaechi on Easter to the people of the state.
Governor Amaechi said, “let me call on Christians to always pray for the growth of Nigeria. We should remember that it was out of love that Christ died and forgave us of our sins, so we should also learn to love and forgive one another. That is a sure path to building a better nation.”
On Easter Monday, the governor took time off to attend the coronation of Chief Ambrose Nwuzi as the “Ogbuga I” of Etche at Afara Town, in Etche Local Government Area of the state.
Returning from the Easter break on Tuesday, Governor Amaechi presided over the monthly inter-ministerial meeting held in Government House, Port Harcourt.
Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari briefed newsmen shortly after the meeting. She announced the prestigious award given to Governor Amaechi as “The Vanguard Personality of The Year 2012.”
The forum hailed the governor for clinching the title from other prominent Nigerians that were penciled down for the award, noting that, “the Governor has consistently provided leadership in ensuring that the dividends of democracy are delivered to the people of the state.”
Mrs Semenitari, however, used the briefing to confirm the recent outbreak of filiaris in the Andoni/Opobo axis, the lassa fever menace and measles attack on three local government areas of Obio/Akpor, Akuku-Toru and in some parts of Etche Local Government Area.
She, therefore, enjoined parents and guardians to immunise their wards from measles, urging the citizens to always sleep under insecticide-treated nets to avert filarial spread by mosquitoes, and to also report or take victims to health centres nearest to them.
The people of Ahoada-West Local Government Area played host to the governor as part of his local government town hall meetings. The forum was held at Akinima Town the headquarters of the council.
The governor used the forum to disclose plans of his administration to commence rural electrification project in all the communities across the state. He also assured the people that as soon as the survey plan covering 21 hectares of land is provided, the contractor will mobilise to commence the building of the Model Secondary School in the area.
He promised to build a primary health centre and a model primary school at Mbiama Community, and also to address the rising crime at Okogbe community, where he promised to provide power.
Later in his speech, Chairman of Ahoada-West Local Government Area, Barrister Awori Miller commended Governor Amaechi for initiating Town Hall meetings at the local government levels, saying those entrusted with the management of the people’s welfare should give account of their stewardship, while the governed are given unfettered opportunity to constructively share their views.
Governor Amaechi attended South-South Governor’s Forum otherwise known as Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Cross River and Edo States (BRACE) at Asaba. The forum deliberated on matters of development covering the Niger Delta region.
On Saturday, Governor Amaechi received the prestigious “Vanguard Personality of The Year” Award in Lagos.
Meanwhile, Governor Amaechi has assured the people of Ogoni that the Model Secondary School in Khana and Gokana will be completed before the expiration of his administration.
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.
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