Politics
Opposition In Rivers, On Terminal Decline – Hon. Herbert-Miller
Hon. Herbert-Miller
Honourable
Damiete Herbert-Miller is the Rivers State Commissioner for Social Welfare and Rehabilitation. Speaking with Opaka Dokubo in his office in Port Harcourt, he bared his mind on sundry issues in the polity including the withheld State Constituency results of DELGA and the ongoing restructuring effort of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the National level. Excerpts:
How do the people of Degema Local Govt. Area feel about the withholding of their house of Assembly Constituency Result by INEC?
Terribly disappointed, Degema people are terribly disappointed in INEC and the reason is obvious. The election was very peaceful, collations were made and declaration also made by one Mrs Ihuoma Ibekwe, I won’t forget her name, as the AEO, Degema. I do not know where it is written that after declaration the REC in the State will choose to withhold or confirm the declaration.
I think that the law is very clear in that anyone who has any issues with the declaration should head to the tribunal. So, Degema people are indeed disappoint in INEC on their handling of this matter.
Even though the candidate has gone to Court, are the people of Degema contemplating any other means of expressing their grievances?
Of course you know that the court is where anyone not satisfied with any process heads to. As it stands, any other measure outside going to the court to seek redress could amount to taking the law into your hands and Degema people know this too well as law abiding people. No Degema person would want this injustice redressed outside the ambit of the law. I think the candidate has done the most appropriate thing.
However, what is most surprising is that even as the candidate has taken INEC to court to release his certificate of return, APC and their candidate have also gone to court asking the court to prevail on INEC not to uphold his (the candidate of the PDP) victory but to issue the certificate of return instead. Logically, the APC and their candidate have also acknowledged that the candidate of the PDP, Hon. Doctor Farah Dagogo won the election.
Our contention is that INEC should issue Hon. Farah Dagogo his certificate of return and let the APC proceed to the tribunal to argue their case.
How does this absence of a representative in the State House of Assembly affect your people?
How can we go on without a representative? It is affecting us very badly because beyond the issue of representation, if anyone needs a letter of recommendation, that is the simplest service any representative renders to his constituents. As it stands now, the people of Degema Local Government Area have no one to render them that service.
Secondly, should anyone have something to bring to the notice of the government like communal issues, who will speak for the people? I am a commissioner but I can’t speak because my service area is the entire Rivers State. But the member representing the constituency is responsible to the constituency primarily because he was elected to do just that. So, it is an understatement to say that the absence of a representative for the people of Degema Local Government Area is affecting the people very badly.
How would you assess the performance of the Governor so far?
Sometime in February I went on tour to out stations under my ministry and of course you know that we’re the ones in charge of the deaf, the dumb and the blind. At the end of that tour I said something. I said that when I went to the Special School, the deaf have heard, the blind have seen and even the dumb have spoken that Governor Wike is working. It is as simple as that.
You don’t need to be told, go round Port Harcourt. Recall that on the 27th of May when the former governor was celebrating this birthday, he said that he would see where Governor Wike will get money to pay salaries, not to talk of money to do projects. Has he not been paying salaries? Is he not carrying out projects everywhere? Even Federal projects are not left out. Go and see what is happening to the Eleme Junction to Onne axis of the East/West Road. He has done it with Rivers’ money. Wike in short is a miracle worker.
How prepared is your Ministry to accommodate repentant cultists vis a vis the amnesty office established by the Governor?
This ministry actually has three rehabilitation centre. We have one at Iriebe where we accommodate the mentally challenged. We also have a rehabilitation centre at Borokiri where we have shut down at the moment for safety reasons. And then we have a modern, state-of-the-art rehabilitation camp at Okehi, so it’s not something we will have to task our heads on how to do.
Of course, you know that in this ministry, 90% of our staff are social workers and they are well equipped to handle rehabilitation cases. We’re fully prepared should we be required to shoulder that responsibility.
What is your task as a Ministry and How do you assess that task?
My ministry’s functions are spelt out and we operate within the law. Essentially, we provide social services to persons living with disability and to the needy generally. We take care of returnees and deportees. Beyond that we also take care of and rehabilitate repentant militants, rape victims, etc.
Recently we met with FIDA. Before FIDA we met with the Doctors Without Borders whose programme is centred on rape victims at the moment and we are partnering with them to set up a safe home for women and children who are affected.
At the moment we have the case of a little girl who was raped by her father and who eventually got pregnant and has a baby. We have just taken her and her baby in at the Children’s home, Borokiri.
It has to be understood that our ministry is a service ministry where you don’t see physical projects. The projects we carry out are mainly on human beings. That’s why many people fail to appreciate what we are doing. For instance, about two days ago I saw a youngman rolling on improvised means of mobility and I asked him to follow me. We got to the office and I handed him a wheel chair.
He could hardly contain himself with joy. If you go to the prison now, you will see a lot of juvenile inmates. They are our responsibility and where we accommodate them is the Remand Home.
If you go to our family Welfare unit, we handle more than 20 cases on a daily basis. We also take the responsibility of not only rehabilitating the mentally challenged but we also take the task of reuniting them with their families, sometimes outside the state, after a successful programme. Only a few months ago, we took somebody to Ogun State. At the moment we’re considering repatriating 10 young people to Cross River State to reunite with their families.
We need a lot of money to successfully run our programmes that includes giving assistance to the physically challenged as well we’re presently seeing one physically challenged through the University of Calabar. Of course government cannot carry this responsibility alone and that’s why we expect support and partnership from public spirited individuals and Corporate bodies.
Do you have confidence in the ongoing restructuring effort in the Peoples Democratic Party?
From 1998 when I joined the PDP until now, I have never lost confidence in the party. My confidence in the PDP can never be shaken. In a manner of speaking and at the risk of being misrepresented, I wish to say that it is after all blessing in disguise that the PDP allowed the APC to take poltical power at the federal level because today the emptiness of the APC has been exposed to the world.
Of course, Nigerians are wiser now and 2019 is as sure as the morning sun for the PDP to take back power in Nigeria. In terms of the economy, in what ways have they fared better? Everything they promised, has it not failed? Is the pump price of fuel now N40 as they said? Is the Naira now exchanging for one Naira to the US dollar? What is it they promised that they have delivered?
Of course, for as many as have left the PDP will come back because we will get stronger and stronger. Indeed, the results of the last elections in Rivers State is a testimony to the fact. In my particular village and ward, the leaders of the APC refused to show up during the elections because they know they were not on ground. Who will vote for them when all that they promised are collapsed? Their minister has nothing to lie about any more. They are on a terminal decline.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Obiora Ifoh, the party said it had taken note of Mr Obi’s defection alongside some of his supporters, as well as what it called a “lacklustre speech” delivered by the former Anambra State governor at the defection event.
“We wondered what new he intends to sell to Nigerians,” the party said, adding that it was not surprised by the move, having “since September 2024, parted ways with Peter Obi and some of his blind supporters in the National Assembly.”
According to the statement, the faction said it had patiently awaited Mr Obi’s exit, describing it as a blessing.
“The party is finally liberated by this defection and as party leaders, we count it as a blessing,” the party said.
The faction further disclosed that it had previously urged Mr Obi and his supporters to leave if they were unable to work with the party leadership.
It claimed that several lawmakers had been suspended for anti-party activities and that similar action would have been taken against Mr Obi but for the intervention of “some well-meaning Nigerians.”
It also blamed its internal crisis on Mr Obi and Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, accusing them of sponsoring what it described as an insurrection against the Julius Abure-led leadership.
“The crisis we had in the Labour Party was caused by Peter Obi and the Abia State governor, Alex Otti,” the statement alleged, adding that it was surprising Dr Otti had not followed Mr Obi out of the party despite his suspension.
Reacting to Mr Obi’s defection event in Enugu, the faction claimed the gathering was largely boycotted by prominent political and traditional institutions in the South East, insisting that those present were “political spent forces who cannot win in their wards should there be an election today.”
It warned that this development signalled the failure of any future Mr Obi presidential or vice-presidential ambition, claiming he had “clearly lost the charm that had endeared him to the people prior to 2023.”
The faction also accused Mr Obi of misleading the South East during the 2023 elections, alleging that the region suffers political marginalisation under President Bola Tinubu’s administration as a result.
“He must be told that the South East lost out completely in President Ahmed Tinubu’s government because they trusted and believed in him in 2023,” the statement said, alleging disparities in ministerial appointments and infrastructure allocation to the zone.
The Abure-Led LP apologised to Nigerians for its decision in the last election.
“We gave Nigerians a candidate we thought was good for the nation in 2023, but time has since proved that we made the greatest political mistake. We plead for forgiveness from Nigerians,” the party said.
It urged Nigerians to watch out for a rebranded Labour Party, promising to present “the best prospect” capable of returning Nigeria to what it described as its “glorious days.”
steadily toward unity, justice, and shared prosperity”, he said.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday at his country home in Ikere-Ekiti, Dr Oluyede said the development came as a shock, stressing that INEC supervised and monitored the PDP governorship primary that produced him as the party’s candidate.
According to him, INEC officials documented the process, completed all required forms, and even affirmed his candidacy in court through sworn affidavits arising from cases linked to the primary election.
He maintained that no court order or injunction currently restrains INEC from listing his name as the PDP candidate, arguing that the electoral body lacks the constitutional power to determine who emerges as a party’s nominee.
Dr Oluyede described such decisions as the exclusive responsibility of political parties, not the electoral umpire.
While playing down panic over the released list, Dr Oluyede noted that electoral processes often involve reviews and corrections.
He disclosed that he had commenced wide consultations, including engagements with PDP leadership and formal correspondence with INEC, to seek clarification on the omission and determine the next line of action.
The PDP candidate assured his supporters across Ekiti State that he would appear on the ballot, expressing confidence that the situation would be resolved in his favour.
He described attempts to exclude candidates from elections as dangerous and undemocratic, warning that such tactics undermine the people’s right to freely choose their leaders.
Dr Oluyede called on the people of Ekiti to reject any form of disenfranchisement, insisting that elections should be contests of ideas, records, and acceptance by the electorate rather than exclusionary maneuvers.
He also declared that the PDP in Ekiti had resolved its past internal crises and was now united, focused, and ready to win the forthcoming governorship election.
He urged party members and supporters to remain calm and focused, expressing optimism that, with divine grace and the will of the people, the PDP would emerge victorious at the polls.
Mr Obi spoke while formally declaring for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) at a well-attended event in Enugu on Wednesday, where he outlined what he described as a fresh roadmap for rescuing the country from its socio-economic challenges.
Addressing party members, supporters and other stakeholders, the former governor stressed that leadership must be driven by integrity and accountability, warning against the culture of double standards in public office.
“We cannot continue to deceive our people. Leadership is about telling the truth and leading by example. You cannot promise one thing in public and do another in private. That is not leadership, and that is not the change Nigeria needs”, Mr Obi said.
He maintained that genuine national rebirth would only be possible if entrenched wrongs were corrected, adding that governance must be guided by competence, discipline and a clear sense of purpose.
Mr Obi also underscored the need for fresh thinking in the nation’s political space, urging political actors to move away from recycled ideas that have failed to deliver sustainable development.
“We must come with new ideas,” he said, adding that “Nigeria’s problems are not mysterious; what has been lacking is the courage and competence to address them differently. We need a new approach that puts people first and focuses on production, not consumption.”
Calling for a broad based political collaboration, Mr Obi appealed to parties and stakeholders across ideological divides to work together in the national interest.
“This country is bigger than any party or individual. All parties must come together to change the present trend. What matters is not the platform, but the future of Nigeria and the wellbeing of its citizens”, he declared.
Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, Mr Obi challenged aspirants seeking elective offices to ensure transparency in their credentials, warning that the era of falsified certificates was drawing to a close.
“Anyone contesting for any position in 2027 must come with genuine certificates. All the machinery is now in place to verify what is genuine and what is not. Integrity must start from the very foundation of leadership”, he stated.
Drawing lessons from international development models, Mr Obi cited Rwanda and Indonesia as examples of countries that rose from difficult beginnings to become thriving economies through disciplined leadership and sound policies.
“These countries were once behind us,” he noted, adding that “Today, they are moving ahead because they chose competent leadership, clear vision and policies that support local production and human capital development.”
He also criticised the economic policies of the present administration, particularly the continued importation of food items that can be produced locally, describing such practices as inimical to national development.
“You cannot grow an economy by killing local production. Importing food that we can produce in Nigeria destroys jobs, weakens our farmers and drains our foreign exchange. A serious country must produce what it consumes”, he argued.
The event featured renewed calls from ADC supporters for sustained engagement and mobilisation, as Mr Obi reiterated his belief that Nigeria remains redeemable if led with honesty, competence and a commitment to shared national progress.
In his remarks, the National Chairman of the ADC, Senator David Mark, expressed confidence in the emerging coalition, assuring Nigerians that the party would deliver good governance at all levels of administration if entrusted with power.
The gathering also witnessed the defection of several prominent politicians from different political parties across the South-East and beyond.
The motion endorsing the defection was moved by a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, and seconded by former economic adviser to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, Prof. Osita Ogbu.
Goodwill messages from notable political figures, including Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Mrs. Aisha Yesufu, Chief Sam Egwu, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, Chief Achike Udenwa, Mr Onyema Ugochukwu and Senator Gilbert Nnaji among others, further underscored the growing momentum within the ADC.
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