Politics
Amaechi Urges Writers To Mirror Society
Last weekend, South-South office of the African In
dependent Television (AIT) and Raypower FM paid a courtesy visit to the Chief of Staff, Government House, Sir Tony Okocha.
The group was led by its new South-South Director of Operations, Mr. Barri Peremongo, who commended the development efforts of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi’s administration, and the peaceful atmosphere it has provided for media outfits to operate.
The Director of Operations of AIT also pledged the support of the group in promoting good governance in the state. Reacting, Sir Okocha thanked them for the visit and assured them that the Amaechi-led administration would do all in its power to meet the expectation of the citizenry.
On the same Friday, Commissioner for Youth Development, Mr. Owene Wonodi addressed newsmen over plans by some youths to form a parallel National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN). He said the government recognised the NYCN leadership of Kingsley Igbanichuka.
According to the Commissioner, since the tenure of Igbanichuka was yet to elapse, the new body remains illegal, as he urged security agencies in the state to arrest any group capable of breaching public peace in the state.
Governor Amaechi returned to the state at the weekend and immediately commenced state duties. On Sunday last week, he carried out a tour of projects sites in the company of DSTV media team.
The project tour continued on Monday with the DSTV media crew. However, later in the day the governor presided over an exco meeting which dragged on into the night.
On Tuesday, Governor Amaechi flagged off the sixth edition of the Port Harcourt Book Festival at Presidential Hotel. He tasked writers to mirror the society, regretting that present writers have failed to correct societal ills.
“Outside writers like Wole Soyinka and Chinua Achebe that responded to society… who else among the current writers are doing such a thing?”, the governor queried.
The governor also charged the organisers of the book festival to ensure that the programme was organised independent of government support. He said he would like to see the festival continue after his exit from office in 2015.
The Rivers State Chief Executive played the Chief Host at the Nigeria Oil and Gas Trade and Investment Forum 2013, at Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone in Eleme Local Government Area, on Thursday.
He used the forum which attracted the Ministers of Trade and Investment, Transport and Petroleum to woo foreign investors into Rivers State, “I charge investors to take advantage of the peaceful investment, conducive business climate put in place by my administration”.
Amaechi also praised the efforts of the managers at the Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone for the success recorded so- far” I think the operators of the Oil and Gas Free Zone are doing well interms of capturing and integrating investors in the development of Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Industry”.
On Friday Governor Amaechi received Senate President David Mark who was in the state to attend the 2013 Nigeria Oil and Gas Trade and Investment Forum at Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone, Eleme.
Senator Makarfi’s resignation comes on the heels of the national convention that saw the emergence of the new Chairman of PDP, Dr Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN).
In his letter of resignation, which was addressed to the PDP BoT Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, and made available to journalists in Kaduna on Monday evening, the former governor said, “Chairman and Members of the Board of Trustees may recall that about two months ago I had resigned as Secretary of the Board and posted same on the Board’s WhatsApp platform.
“Mr Chairman, you may also recall that you personally urged me to stay on until after a convention that produced a Chairman.”
He added that the principal reason he initially tendered his resignation then “and now, was and is still my belief that the National Chairman of the Party and Secretary of the Board of Trustees should not come from the same geopolitical zone.
“Now that a chairman has emerged from the North West, where I come from, it’s necessary to give him full space to do the needful. Accordingly, I hereby formally resign as Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party with effect from today, November 17th, 2025.”
While commending the BoT Chairman for his support during his tenure as Secretary of the Board, he stressed, “I truly appreciate the very respectful relationship between us during my period as Secretary,” adding that, “I also appreciate all Board members for their support and the good relationship that prevailed during my period as Secretary.”
Meanwhile, Dr Turaki on Monday pledged to ensure that power returns to the Nigerian people, urging the judiciary to uphold the tenets of democracy.
Dr Turaki, while giving his acceptance speech after the swearing-in of new officers at the end of the Elective Convention of the PDP in Ibadan, assured that there will be “no more impunity, no more suppression of the will of Nigerians”.
The chairman appealed to the judiciary to uphold the principles of stare decision, abiding by the decisions of the Supreme Court, and not to “willingly or unwillingly put yourselves in a situation where, rightly or wrongly, it may be assumed, correctly or incorrectly, that you are part and parcel of the process to truncate Nigerian democracy.”
According to him, the new leadership of the party would be open to listening to the yearnings of members, with a view to aligning with their will, declaring that “No more monkey dey work, baboon dey chop,” adding that “if baboon wants to chop, baboon must be seated to work.”
He noted that the PDP has maintained its original name, motto and logo, unlike the other parties that started with it, making it a recognised brand anywhere in Nigeria.
Mr Agboke, in a statement on Monday, said that conducting party primaries in line with the law was important ahead of the 2026 governorship election.
INEC has fixed August 8, 2026, for the governorship election in Osun State.
Mr Adegoke appealed to all registered political parties in the state to strictly adhere to the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022, the commission’s guidelines and regulations for the conduct of their primaries.
“The commission emphasises the need for the conduct of free, fair, and peaceful primary elections that reflect the will of the party members as a panacea for the reduction of pre-election litigations.
“We observed that primary elections have often been a source of pre-election litigation, which can be avoided if parties follow the laid-down procedures and guidelines.
“INEC, therefore, urges all political parties to ensure that their primaries are conducted in a transparent, democratic, and peaceful manner. All aspirants should be given equal opportunities to participate,” he said.
Mr Agboke stated that, in line with the guidelines released by INEC’s national headquarters, the political parties’ primaries for the 2026 governorship election in the state are scheduled to take place between November 24 and December 15.
He said INEC was prepared to provide necessary support and guidance to parties to ensure that their primaries are conducted in accordance with the law.
“We call on all stakeholders, including security agencies, to support the commission in its efforts to ensure peaceful and credible party primaries.
“INEC will continue to monitor the activities of political parties and take appropriate actions within the ambit of the law against any party that fails to comply with the electoral laws and regulations,” he said.
The Northern States Governors’ Forum has strongly condemned the attack on the Government Girls’ Comprehensive Senior Secondary School in Maga, Danko/Wasagu LGA, Kebbi.
The bandits’ attack led to the abduction of 25 female students as well as the reported killing of the vice principal of the school.
Reacting to the mass abduction on Monday, the chairman of the forum, Governor Inuwa Yahaya, described the kidnapping as tragic, senseless, and utterly unacceptable.
In a statement by his media aide on Monday, Gov. Yahaya stated that the continued targeting of schools posed a grave threat to the region’s stability and the nation’s educational future.
Gov. Yahaya, on behalf of the northern governors, commiserated with the government and people of Kebbi State, especially the families of the abducted students and those who lost their lives in the attack.
He assured Governor Nasir Idris of the forum’s solidarity and support during this difficult moment.
He said that schools must be sanctuaries of learning, not targets of violence, warning that continued assaults on educational institutions threatened to reverse gains made in improving school enrolment and curbing the out-of-school crisis in the region.
Mr Yahaya expressed deep concern over the trauma the abducted schoolgirls may be facing and called for an immediate and well-coordinated operation by security agencies to ensure their safe rescue and the arrest of the perpetrators.
Reaffirming the NSGF’s commitment to collaborating with the federal government and security institutions, Gov. Yahaya stated that the safety, education, and welfare of young Nigerians remain a top priority for the forum.
He urged communities to remain vigilant and cooperate with the security agencies in the collective efforts to rid the region of criminality.
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