Politics
Amaechi Pledges Support For Widows Of Dead Soldiers
Campaign activities dominated activities in Govern
ment House last week, only on Thursday did the governor observe a break to honour the nation’s fallen heroes when he participated in the Armed Forces, Remembrance Day Celebrations.
Early in the week, Governor Chibuike Amaechi and other chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign train visited Owerri, capital of Imo State.
The penultimate week, the Buhari Presidential campaign had visited Enugu and Ebonyi states. But as at last weekend, the campaign had covered Edo and Anambra states.
Governor Amaechi returned to the state on Thursday to participate in the closing ceremony of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day. The Governor, his deputy, Tele Ikuru, security chiefs and chairman of the State Traditional Rulers Council, HRM Giniwa, were among those that laid wreath at the cenotaph of the unknown soldier, at Boro Park in Port Harcourt.
After the ceremony, the governor through the Secretary to the State Governor, Mr George Feyii addressed Legionnaires in Government House, Port Harcourt.
The governor said the State Government deeply appreciated the sacrifice made by members of the armed forces, saying the freedom and unity being enjoyed today in the country was as a result of hardwork and effort of the armed forces.
Amaechi, therefore, pledged to address the plight of widows and relatives of dead soldiers, while assuring that requests made by the state chairman of the Nigerian Legion, Col (Rtd) Philemon Chinda for loans and pilgrimage slots to members would be addressed.
On his part, Col. Philemon Chinda thanked the state government for its assistance and support, while using the occasion to seek for the construction of a permanent secretariat for the body.
Chairperson, widows of Ex-Servicemen in the state, Mrs Anidima Pepple challenged government to come to their aid. She pleaded that the State Government should provide loans, scholarships and other assistance to reduce the plight of relatives of ex-servicemen.
Shortly after addressing ex-servicemen as part of activities making the Armed Forces Remembrance Day, the governor headed straight to the State House of Assembly to present the state’s 2015 budget.
According to Governor Amaechi, the State is to expend about N335 billion, about 30 per cent less than that of 2014. He used the occasion to enumerate the achievements recorded in last year’s budget, which included increased employment, better infrastructure, better educational and health facilities.
A breakdown of the budget indicates that among the sectors, the economic sector got the largest chunk of N31.77 billion, social sector had N17.69 billion.
Among the different Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Works had the largest allocation of N20.3 billion, followed by Education, N10 billion, Rivers Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA), N10 billion.
The governor stated that the monorail project will be pursued to aid transportation in the city and further promised that the administration will not leave financial burden, as the budget will complete ongoing projects.
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.