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Rivers PDP Opens Door For APC Members …As NWC, Govs Disagree Over Secondus
The Chairman of Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Felix Obuah has urged members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state to take advantage of Governor Nyesom Wike’s invitiation to join the party in the collective efforts to move the state forward.
The state PDP chairman made the appeal through a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Jerry Needam, in appreciation of Wike’s resolve to be magnanimous in victory, as the best way to appreciate God for His mercies.
Obuah said Wike’s extension of hands of fellowship to the APC was born out of genuine love for all, irrespective of party affiliations, and a burning desire to lift the state from a primordial base of precarious politics to that directed by progressive and patriotic statesmen.
He therefore, enjoined ward chairman of the PDP to take advantage of the governor’s hand of fellowship by accepting APC members willing to join PDP and move the state forward.
The Rivers PDP Chairman assured that members of the APC, who are willing to join PDP, would be accorded due respect and treated fairly.
Meanwhile, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has defied a directive by the party’s governors, asking the Acting National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, to hand over to the National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo.
The governors, in a communiqué issued at the end of a meeting in Abuja, Wednesday night, had ordered Secondus to hand over to Oladipo pending the emergence of a substantive chairman to be picked from the Northeast zone.
But the party in a statement issued, yesterday by its National Legal Adviser, Mr. Victor Kwom, insisted that Secondus remains the acting chairman.
The statement said, “The NWC of the PDP wishes to assure all members of the party nationwide that there has not been any change whatsoever in the leadership composition of the party at the national level.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the statutory organs of the party, the NWC, National Caucus, BoT and NEC will be meeting next week to deliberate on some developments including the replacement, from the North East of Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, who resigned as the national chairman of the party.”
The statement added that replacement will be in strict adherence to the provisions of the party’s constitution, as specified in section 47(6).
“Until then, the status quo remains, which means the Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, remains as the Acting National Chairman.
“Furthermore, it must be reiterated that all relevant stakeholders of our party, including the PDP Governor’s Forum, National Caucus and the Board of Trustees (BoT) as well as our leadership structures at all levels are united behind the current National Working Committee in the efforts to rebuild, reposition and strengthen our party for the challenges ahead,” the statement added.
However, governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have asked the party’s Acting National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus to step down.
The governors directed Secondus to hand over the leadership baton to the party’s National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo in line with provisions of the party’s constitution.
In a communique issued at the end of a meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, the governors chided a former presidential adviser, Ahmed Gulak for what they described as his unacceptable conduct.
Gulak had on Wednesday invaded the party secretariat where he declared himself the national chairman of the PDP.
The governors frowned at the refusal of Secondus to respect the judgment of an Abuja high court ordering him to vacate the office for a member from the Northeast zone to take the position.
“We take cognizance of the judgment by the court in Abuja which ordered the acting chairman to vacate office for any other person from the Northeast zone of Nigeria.
“Our party constitution has enough provisions for that and the necessary process has been put in motion,” the communique said.
Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, read the communiqué on behalf of his colleagues.
The governors flayed Gulak’s invasion of the party secretariat where he declared himself national chairman without recourse to the appropriate organs of the party.
“The invasion of the party headquarters by Ahmed Ali Gulak, who reportedly assumed the chairmanship of the Peoples Democratic Party is regrettable and condemnable,” Mimiko said.
According to the governors, the issue of the chairmanship of the party would soon be resolved to enable someone from the North-East complete the tenure of the last national chairman, Adamu Muazu who resigned in May 2015.
“The appropriate organs of the party will meet soonest to elect a national chairman of the party from the appropriate zone,” he said.
Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Dr Austin Tam-George (middle), General Manager, Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, Mr Celestine Ogolo (right),General Manager, RSTV, Pastor Dafini Gogo Abbey (2nd right), General Manager Radio Rivers, Mr Sampson Fiberesima (left) and General Manager, Garden City Radio, Mr Ezekiel Hart, during a press briefng by the commissioner at the Nigerian Union of Journalist Press Centre, Port Harcourt, yesterday
The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, has teamed up with a renowned hospital group in Port Harcourt, the Meridian Hospitals, which is in partnership with the Pilgrims Health Foundation, to carry out a one-day medical outreach last Tuesday.
The free treatment scheme took place at Oromenike Government Girls Secondary School in D-Line, Port Harcourt, with over 100 persons accessing free treatments, including free eye-glasses and booking for eye surgeries.
Other areas of treatment included general health consultations and treatment; blood pressure and sugar level testing; malaria testing and treatment; free prescriptions; preventive health talks focusing on hygiene, maternal health, and nutrition.
The scheme was conducted under the theme: ‘Bringing Healthcare to the Community.’
Newsmen who visited the venue of the scheme found that enthusiastic beneficiaries had thronged the area as early as 7a.m. After setting up, the medical team began attending to the patients.
Mr. Jerry Onwuso, a 63-year-old patient, who was first to see eye doctors and got eye glasses and drugs, told newsmen that he was pleased with the medical intervention.
He made it clear he did not pay any money to get all the treatments and glasses, and pleaded that the scheme be sustained.
Another patient, Loveth Sam, expressed satisfaction with the scheme and appealed to the sponsors to continue to increase the benefits.
Throwing some light on the scheme, Mr. China said he worked in Meridian Hospitals as a Lab. Scientist 19 years ago, but resigned because he could not bear to see patients struggling for life because they had no money to pay for treatment.
He said he came back to help extend free medical treatment to the less privileged.
Sources said China was always having issues with the hospital authorities when he would insist on critical patients being allowed to be treated first, with or without money.
Years later, China, who now goes by a brand name, the Mayor of Housing, returned to the Meridian Hospital headquarters to support free medical scheme.
He also went the next day to the headquarters of Meridian, after the one-day medical outreach, to give cash gifts and palliatives to workers he met when he worked there but had remained in service since he left.
He encouraged them to continue to give their all to humanity through the hospital. The Mayor of Housing called most of them by name and a cloud of emotions descended on them during the reunion.
Appreciating the gesture, the Founder and Chief Medical Director, Dr. Iyke Odo, said China had always manifested hard-work, ambition, and impulsive giving.
According to him, the then young bright boy was full of humanity, kindness, love, and made friends easily, adding that “not everybody that gives is a giver. The difference is that givers are given to give.”
Dr. Odo used the opportunity to call on governments to review Nigeria’s health insurance system and make it work in Nigeria to save lives.
He said it was sad watching critically sick persons abandoned because they did not have money for treatment.
He also condemned harsh tax and electricity tariffs whereby facilities like his now pay N12 million instead of N500,000 few years back.
He wondered why hospitals were being made to pay tariffs like oil companies, citing many other countries where medical facilities were placed on low rates and tariffs so they could charge moderate fees from patients.
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
