Politics
Jubilation As Amaechi Joins APC
As usual, activities in Government House were in top gear
last week. There was jubilation, Tuesday as the news of Governor Chibuike Amaechi’s movement to All Progressives Congress (APC) hit the air waves.
Governor Amaechi had together with four other G-7 governors met in Abuja on Tuesday morning after their reconciliation meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan was indefinitely postponed.
Following this development, the G-7 governors and other members of the new PDP met to review the current political developments in the country and fixed their meeting for Tuesday in order to meet with APC leaders.
It was at their meeting with APC leadership on Tuesday that Governor Amaechi alongside Kwara, Kano and Adamawa governors formally announced their merger with APC at the Kano State Governor’s lodge, Abuja.
Governor Amaechi returned to Rivers State on Tuesday while briefing newsmen over the development.
He said, “Yes I have moved to the APC this morning after the meeting we had with Buhari, Tinubu and interim National Chairman of APC, Chief Bisi Akande”.
On the out come of the reconciliatory meeting with the President, Governor Amaechi observed that though the meeting was postponed, it was already clear that the presidency was not ready for reconciliation, saying, the picture painted by the PDP was as if they were begging, while the real issues at stake were not looked into.
The Rivers State governor submitted that the G-7 governors and the new PDP had no option but to move out of the PDP to strengthen democracy and move the country forward. “I’ am elected to lead Rivers people. And I have looked at the interest of Rivers people and see that it’s not being protected by the PDP”.
On Wednesday, the Rivers State governor convened an emergency meeting, with members of the state executive council and party big wigs in the old PDP.
Shortly after the meeting most of the stakeholders and party leaders spoke to Government House reporters and pledged their support for the governor’s decision to join the APC.
Chairman of Bonny Local Government council, Barrister Edward Pepple described the development as democracy at work. He insisted that people must stand for the truth and that principle must be allowed to drive politics.
Degema local council boss, Hon. Ibigoni Pokima vowed to mobilise for the APC in his local government area, “I’m telling you that APC is going to win this state”, he enthused.
On his part, chairman of Port Harcourt local government council, Chimbiko Akarolo emphasised that the prospects of the APC werebright in Rivers State,” let me assure Rivers people that there is no problem. The people that make things happen are the ones that are in APC.
Also speaking, chieftain of the APC in the state and former Commissioner for Special Duties, Chief Davies Ibiamu Ikanya said the defection had changed the political equation in the state and the country.
On Thursday the Rivers State Government announced the dissolution of Obio/Akpor Local Government council.
A statement by the Secretary to the State Government George Feyii said the action was in line with the Rivers State Local Government Law of 2012 which confers, on the governor the power to do so.
Also on Thursday, Governor Amaechi in far away Britain presented a lecture at the British House of Commons. The paper entitled Security and Human Rights Challenges in the Niger Delta, mirrored the several phases of Nigeria’s civil and human rights struggle vis-a-vis the resource control.
On Friday, Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Mr. Worgu Boms and human rights lawyer, Ken Atsuete defended the dissolution of Obio/Akpor council. They stressed the need to divorce justice from politics, insisting that the governor acted in accordance with provisions of local government law No.2 of 2012.
Both Worgu Boms and Ken Atsuete urged the sacked Obio/Akpor council boss to seek redress of he so wishes. On the same Friday, Head of Local Government Administration of Obio/Akpor, Mr. Singer Azubuike Singer said had has resumed work as directed by government.
The Chief of Staff at the weekend issued a press statement denxing claims by the Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Onyeabor Azubuike Ihejirika that the fundamentalist Islamic fact Boko Harm is spreading in some states, including Rivers .
Chief Okocha said it was untrue that Boko Harm has spread in activities, adding that there is no evidence to show.
The former two-term governor went down memory lane to recall how they founded the APC but were used and dumped.
In his words, “…those calling on us to join APC, we have agreed to join the APC but on clear agreement that protects and respects the interest of my party, NNPP and my political movement, Kwankwasiyya. No state where you go that you don’t have NNPP and Kwankwasiyya. We have gubernatorial candidates, senatorial candidates and others.
“We are ready to join APC under strong conditions and promises. We will not allow anyone to use us and later dump us.
“We were among the founding fathers of the APC and endured significant persecution from various security agencies while challenging the previous administration.
“Yet when the party assumed power, we received no recognition or appreciation for our sacrifices, simply because we didn’t originate from their original faction.
“We are not in a hurry to leave the NNPP; we are enjoying and have peace of mind. But if some want a political alliance that would not disappoint us like in the past, we are open to an alliance. Even if it is the PDP that realised their mistakes, let’s enter an agreement that will be made public,” Sen. Kwankwaso stated.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has dismissed long-standing claims that he once sought to extend his tenure in office, insisting he never pursued a third term.
Speaking at the Democracy Dialogue organised by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation in Accra, Ghana, Chief Obasanjo said there is no Nigerian, living or dead, who can truthfully claim he solicited support for a third term agenda.
“I’m not a fool. If I wanted a third term, I know how to go about it. And there is no Nigerian, dead or alive, that would say I called him and told him I wanted a third term,” the former president declared.
Chief Obasanjo argued that he had proven his ability to secure difficult national goals, citing Nigeria’s debt relief during his administration as a much greater challenge than any third term ambition.
“I keep telling them that if I could get debt relief, which was more difficult than getting a third term, then if I wanted a third term, I would have got it too,” he said.
He further cautioned against leaders who overstay in power, stressing that the belief in one’s indispensability is a “sin against God.”
On his part, former President Goodluck Jonathan said any leader who failed to perform would be voted out of office if proper elections were conducted.
Describing electoral manipulation as one of the biggest threats to democracy in Africa, he said unless stakeholders come together to rethink and reform democracy, it may collapse in Africa.
He added that leaders must commit to the kind of democracy that guarantees a great future for the children where their voices matter.
He said: “Democracy in Africa continent is going through a period of strain and risk collapse unless stakeholders came together to rethink and reform it. Electoral manipulation remains one of the biggest threats in Africa.
“We in Africa must begin to look at our democracy and rethink it in a way that works well for us and our people. One of the problems is our electoral system. People manipulate the process to remain in power by all means.
“If we had proper elections, a leader who fails to perform would be voted out. But in our case, people use the system to perpetuate themselves even when the people don’t want them.
“Our people want to enjoy their freedoms. They want their votes to count during elections. They want equitable representation and inclusivity. They want good education. Our people want security. They want access to good healthcare. They want jobs. They want dignity. When leaders fail to meet these basic needs, the people become disillusioned.”
The dialogue was also attended by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Sokoto diocese of Catholic Church among others who all stressed that democracy in Africa must go beyond elections to include accountability, service, and discipline.
The Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday resumed plenary session after a six-month state of emergency imposed on the state by President Bola Tinubu elapsed on Wednesday midnight.
President Bola Tinubu had lifted the emergency rule on September 17, with the Governor of the state, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the state assembly asked to resume duties on September 18.
The plenary was presided over by the Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule, at the conference hall located within the legislative quarters in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
The conference hall has served as the lawmakers’ temporary chamber since their official chamber at the assembly complex on Moscow Road was torched and later pulled down by the state government.
The outgone sole administrator of the state, Ibok-Ete Ibas, could not complete the reconstruction of the assembly complex as promised.
Recall that on March 18, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers following the prolonged political standoff between Fubara and members of the House of Assembly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
He subsequently suspended the governor, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and lawmakers for six months and installed a sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.), to manage the state’s affairs.
The decision sparked widespread controversy, with critics accusing the president of breaching the Constitution.
However, others hailed the move as a necessary and pragmatic step.
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