Politics
‘Rivers May Not Have Senators Till 2019’
Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Adams Dabotorudima (right) chatting with Hon Tonye Adoki, during the sitting of the House yesterday.
Rivers State may not have
representatives in the upper chambers of the National Assembly till after 2019, a Public Affairs Analyst, Martins Ikhilae has warned.
The Appeal Court had last December nullified the election held last year and ordered for a rerun in the state, but unfortunately, some of the rerun elections were cancelled following violence that characterized the process.
Twelve out of thirty seats in the Federal House of Representatives were nullified while the three Senatorial seats were ordered for a rerun. But the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)said the Commission will not conduct further elections in the state unless the state is save.
This development has stalled the conclusion of the elections in the state. The State only has five House of Representatives in the lower chambers thereby short changing the state.
Ikhilae who spoke with The Tide in an exclusive interview in Port Harcourt said the state is losing in all ramifications since the politicians and political class are fighting over political positions.
He noted that those currently representing the state at Federal House of Representatives are lonely voices and cannot in any manner, either in majority or as individuals represent the state properly.
Ikhilae regretted that the state has been polarized either your in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or All Progressive Congress, (APC) stressing that this would lead to a total disconnection between the people and the government.
Ikhilea further noted that the state has lost more that it has gain in the last three years due to internal political wrangling, stressing that the state not to have senate representatives and some members of the House of Representatives is a minors for the state because it will not attract better representation for the state.
According to him,’’ when matters of importance concerning the state is before the floor of the house, no representative will speaks for the state.
He however urged politicians to come together and work for the development of the people and the state, stressing that the interest of the state should be paramount to all.
It would be recalled that INEC has vowed not to conduct election in Rivers State till peace is return.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Aniedi Ikoiwak stated this while declaring some of the state House Assembly results and warned Politicians to always conduct themselves in a better manner.
Many were legibly killed including a corps member working as an adhoc staff during the last rerun elections in the state.
The Tide source reports that the committee, reportedly backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, is making moves to reclaim the Wadata Plaza headquarters months after it was sealed following a violent clash between rival factions of the party.
Senior officers at the FCT Police Command told our source that while they had not received an official briefing, police personnel would be stationed at the secretariat and other key locations to maintain peace.
The Acting National Secretary of the Mohammed-led committee, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, announced last week that the secretariat would reopen for official activities on Monday (today).
He dismissed claims that ongoing litigation would prevent the reopening, saying, “There are no legal barriers preventing the caretaker committee from resuming work at the party’s headquarters.”
However, the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) has fiercely rejected the reopening move, insisting that Sen. Anyanwu and his group remain expelled from the PDP and have no authority to act on its behalf.
Speaking with The Tide source, the committee’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, declared: “They are living in fool’s paradise. The worst form of deceit is self-deceit, where the person knows he is deceiving himself yet continues with gusto.
“Even INEC, which they claim has recognised them, has denied them. They are indulging in a roller coaster of self-deceit.”
Mr Ememobong further revealed that letters had been sent to both the Inspector-General of Police and the FCT Commissioner of Police, stressing that the matter was still in court and warning against any attempt to “resort to self-help.”
“The case pending before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik was instituted by the expelled members. They cannot resort to self-help until judgment is delivered,” he said.
He warned that reopening the secretariat would amount to contempt of court.
A senior officer at the FCT Police Command, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that officers would be deployed to the area to avert a repeat of the November 19 violence that led to the secretariat’s initial closure.
“The command would not stand by and allow a breakdown of peace and order by the party or anyone else. Definitely, the police will have to be on the ground,” he said.
Another officer added, “There will definitely be men present at the secretariat, but I can’t say the number of police officers that would be deployed.”
When contacted, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, said she had not been briefed on the planned reopening and declined to comment on whether officers would be deployed.
Asked to confirm whether the secretariat was initially sealed by police, she responded, “Yes,” but refused to say more about the current deployment plans.
The Kano State House of Assembly has debunked the purported impeachment plan against the Deputy Governor, Aminu Gwarzo.
The Tide source recalls that the Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, recently sparked controversy during an interview session with a local radio station.
Mr Waiya called on the deputy governor to resign for failing to follow his principal, Gov. Abba Yusuf, in defecting from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, the spokesperson to the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Kamaluddeen Shawai, while addressing journalists in Kano on Saturday, described reports circulating in some media outlets about Mr Gwarzo’s impeachment as baseless and misleading, emphasising that no such plan is underway.
Mr Shawai further stated that the House remains focused on its legislative duties and oversight functions rather than engaging in speculative political manoeuvres.
The spokesperson urged members of the public and the media to verify information before sharing it, stressing the importance of accurate reporting in maintaining political stability in the state.
He said, “There is absolutely no motion or initiative within the House to remove the deputy governor.
“These reports are false and should be disregarded by the public. The deputy governor continues to serve in his capacity with full support from the House.
“Our priority is good governance and serving the people of Kano, not circulating rumours.”
She made the declaration during an interview with Nigerian football legend, Mr Segun Odegbami, during a live radio interview on Saturday.
Prof. Obasanjo, who is also former commissioner in the state, ruled out a return to the Senate, stating that her focus was firmly on the governorship race.
“So, moving ahead, I’m not going to be Commissioner. Like I said, I’m not even going back to the same party because I think that’s old and I don’t see the use of it. And I’m not going to go back to the Senate,” she said.
“Like the Americans would say, there’s no need. And this is what I told my associates, when this all started. I said, the only thing I’ll come back to do is the governorship.
“And we have started that journey. We are going to see it through. And so that’s the journey I’m on. And we are very serious about it. I mean we are very dedicated to it.”
The politician also confirmed that she recently joined the APC, explaining that her return to active politics followed persistent calls from supporters.
“Like I told you, a group of people who I did not bring together, have been working, I think, for two years now. And then they started talking to me about a year ago, saying, ‘Look, we think you are the best candidate. We want you back,’” she added.
Her declaration sets the stage for what may become a keenly contested governorship race in Ogun State ahead of the 2027 elections.
-
Sports2 days agoArsenal Women End Man City’s Invincibility
-
Sports2 days agoInsurance Deepen Enyimba’s Trouble
-
Sports2 days agoU-20 WWC: Falconets claim qualifier win
-
Sports2 days agoYouth Olympics preparation Gears up
-
Sports2 days agoCologne Youth Team Set Crowd Record
-
Sports2 days agoTornadoes Set For NPFL exit over Stadium Ban
-
Environment2 days agoRivers State Government Suspend Fire Service Collection Levies
-
Environment2 days agoLASEMA pushes attitudinal change to cut fire outbreaks in Lagos