Politics
Wike Inspects Projects
Activities in Government House continued on a
strong note with Governor Nyesom Wike hosting various groups such as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senate caucus led by former governor of Akwa Ibom State and Senate Minority Leader, Chief Godswill Akpabio in Government House last week.
During the Easter celebrations, Governor Wike had earlier felicitated with the people of the state urging them to use the season to pray for the peace of the state and her sustained development.
The governor advised Christians to rededicate themselves to sacrificial living as exemplified by Jesus Christ for the growth of the state.
On Easter Monday, Governor Nyesom Wike appeared on Channels Television’s “Sunrise Daily” programme television live from Government House. He hinted that his administration has taken concrete measures to improve the security of the state through funding of security interventions and provisions of necessary logistics for all security agencies.
He added that, “the Federal Government need to allow security chiefs remain in Rivers State to do their jobs and clouse the tensions. I have had over three Commissioners of Police removed since I became governor”.
On the same Easter Monday, wife of Governor Wike, Justice Suzettee Wike and the deputy governor, Dr Ipalibo Harry-Banigo attended a Special Easter programme for Children tagged, “Kids Without Limit” in Port Harcourt.
Speaking through Finance Commissioner, Mrs Anthonia Kpakol, Justice Wike urged the children to practice the lessons taught at the programme to enable them grow up as future leaders with the fear of God.
On Tuesday, while playing host to Ogbakor Ikwerre, United States and Canada branch Barrister Wike decried the continued delay in the release of results of last rerun election’s in the state by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Wike observed that what took place in March 19, 2016 was the will of the people of the state to resist any form of rigging and manipulation of electoral process.
Shortly after playing host to Ogbakor Ikwerre, the governor welcomed the PDP Senate Caucus to Government House. The delegation was led by Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godwill Akpabio.
Wike recounted what transpired at the elections adding that, “It’s good that the elections were held so that Nigerians will know the truth about the polity. If elections are held 20 times PDP will win”.
A statement from the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Dr Austin Tam-George challenged former Governor Amaechi for the failed projects the past administration embarked upon. On the same-Thursday, Governor Wike assured that his administrator will not leave my abandoned project unattended to. He made the promise after he inspected the level of work at Obio/Akpor Local Government and Etche Local Government Areas.
On Thursday, Deputy Governor, Dr Ipalibo Harry Banigo sent words of condolence to Senator Olaka Nwogu over the demise of his father, Chief Johnson Olaka Nwogu. She said the late patriarch has left a big vacuum to be filled. Governor Wike later inaugurated Committees ahead NBA Conference in Port Harcourt.
Governor Wike on Thursday might attend the wake keep and burial ceremonies of mother to Ebonyi State governor, Mrs Magaret Umahi at Ebonyi State. The governor returned to the state on Friday to inspect ongoing projects. He announced the suspension of Works-Commissioner due to failure to supervise work at Ozuoba/Rumuosi and Rumuoparali roads.
On Saturday, Governor Wike took time off to inspect ongoing projects at the Phase ll Nkpogu Bridge and later to the Abattior site at Akpajo where a new slaughter complex is to be built for the state.
Politics
LP Crisis: Ex-NWC Member Dumps Dumps Abure Faction
Mr Ojukwu, who recently returned to the interim National Working Committee led by Senator Esther Nenadi Usman, noted that the party had 34 elected members in the House of Representatives, eight Senators, and 80 members at the state Houses of Assembly after the 2023 general elections.
“Now we lost all of them,” he said. “I don’t think we have as many as five members in the National Assembly.”
The former national officer of the LP talked to journalists in Abuja and said he chose to join the caretaker committee led by Senator Nenadi-Usman because they are now the officially recognized leaders of the Party.
“I chose to work with the caretaker committee to help save the Labour Party, for the benefit of the party. I also want to use this chance to ask my colleagues at the national, state, and local government levels to come together and help rebuild our party.
“Another election is around the corner. We lost everything we have. They have left to other political parties. So I’ll reach out to all my friends in the other group to get together and work on making this party stronger again.
“The caretaker committee has formed a reconciliation committee. Let’s come together and talk so that we can restore the first opposition political party in Nigeria.”
Mr Ojukwu, who was part of the Julius Abure’s group, said there are no more factions in the LP.
He added, “There is a court ruling, and since it is valid, the right people are in the correct positions.”
He urged Barr Abure and others to drop the legal cases they have filed because they are not helping the party.
“Litigations are killing political parties”, he said. “They’ve seen many political parties disappear because of legal battles, and the Labor Party is losing support every day, which makes me feel sad.”
Mr Ojukwu said he did not think joining the Senator Nenadi-Usman’s NWC was a betrayal of the Abure group, describing himself as “the oxygen” of that faction.
“I’m with this group because of the verdict. But I never betrayed anybody. Rather, I was betrayed,” he added.
