Politics
WHO Hails Wike Over Lasser Fever, Polio
Last week in Government House was ushered in with the
governor attending the third synod of the Diocese of Ikwerre at St. Stephen’s Anglican Church Omerelu in Ikwerre Local Government Area.
Wike, represented by his Deputy, Dr (Mrs) Ipalibo Harry –Banigo, assured of the state government’s intervention to ensure the smooth completion of the airport project, in order to ease hardship faced by air travellers.
He said the Rivers State Road Maintenance Agency would be mobilised to Omerelu to rehabilitate internal road network in the area.
On Monday last week Governor Wike swore-in the substantive president of the customary court of Appeal, Justice Gabriel Nwankwo in government House. The governor charged her to work in conjunction with the Chief Judge of the state as there was no need to contend seniority. Wike, reminded Justice Nwankwo that the stability and efficiency in justice delivery is primary urging her to carry her colleagues along in the course of her administration.
Shortly after, Governor Wike played host to students of National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru (NIPSS). During the visit governor Wike promised that his primary focus will be to work toward bettering the lives of the common people of Rivers State.
Further stating, Wike said, “I will support any policy of the Federal Government that will enhance the living standard of the people of Rivers State. It doesn’t matter who initiated such policy as long as it favours our people”.
On the same day, Governor Wike tavelled to Jigawa State to attend the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) membership drive at Dutse. At the registration rally to senitise the people, the Rivers State governor declared that “what happened in 2015 has opened the eyes of Nigerians. Nigerians have lost faith in APC, from what we have seen. Its obvious that Nigerians were deceived”.
On his part, former Jigawa State governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido declared that the PDP is the antidote of the APC and promised that PDP will provide answers to the developmental needs of Nigerians.
The Rivers State Chief Executive received the new branch controller of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in Port Harcourt, Mr Kazeem Alaka and promised that his administration will focus on oil palm produce and cassava allocated to the state by the CBN.
Wike commended the CBN Governor for being firm and consistent in the application of monetary policies. He stated that policy somersaults in the past negatively affected the economy.
Later on the same day, the governor conducted inspection of some ongoing projects in the state. He visited the second phase of the Nkpogu Bridge.
Also Tuesday, the African Bar Association (ABA) led by its President Hanmibal Unalo paid a courtesy visit to the governor during which the body conferred on Wike life membership title. Unifo disclosed that the award was in recognition of Governor Wike’s effort in reviving the indecency in Rivers State, adding that the Rivers State governor has proved himself to be a good ambassador of the legal profession.
On Wednesday, the governor played host to the World Health Organistion’s representative in Nigeria, Dr Riv Game Vas in Government House. The WHO representative was full of praises for Governor Wike most especially in combating the menace of Lassa Fever in the state early this year and sustaining the effort in making the country polio free in the past 21 months.
On the same Wednesday the governor through his media aide, Simeon Nwakaudu commiserated with Enugu State Government over deaths arising from attacks by Fulani herdsmen. He also commiserated with the people of Ekiti State over the death of six medical doctors and their driver on their way to Sokoto State for NMA meeting.
Returning to the state on Friday after attending Nigeria Governor’s Forum meeting with President Buhari on Thursday, governor Wike paid a condolence visit to the Aptiti of Rumueme, Nyeweli Nyeche Nsirim over the untimely death] of his son Ovunda, Nsirim, a former member of House of Representatives. He also condoled with Edo people over the demise of Oba of Benin. But on Saturday the governor attended the PDP Ward Congress in his ward at Rumueprikom.
The former two-term governor went down memory lane to recall how they founded the APC but were used and dumped.
In his words, “…those calling on us to join APC, we have agreed to join the APC but on clear agreement that protects and respects the interest of my party, NNPP and my political movement, Kwankwasiyya. No state where you go that you don’t have NNPP and Kwankwasiyya. We have gubernatorial candidates, senatorial candidates and others.
“We are ready to join APC under strong conditions and promises. We will not allow anyone to use us and later dump us.
“We were among the founding fathers of the APC and endured significant persecution from various security agencies while challenging the previous administration.
“Yet when the party assumed power, we received no recognition or appreciation for our sacrifices, simply because we didn’t originate from their original faction.
“We are not in a hurry to leave the NNPP; we are enjoying and have peace of mind. But if some want a political alliance that would not disappoint us like in the past, we are open to an alliance. Even if it is the PDP that realised their mistakes, let’s enter an agreement that will be made public,” Sen. Kwankwaso stated.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has dismissed long-standing claims that he once sought to extend his tenure in office, insisting he never pursued a third term.
Speaking at the Democracy Dialogue organised by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation in Accra, Ghana, Chief Obasanjo said there is no Nigerian, living or dead, who can truthfully claim he solicited support for a third term agenda.
“I’m not a fool. If I wanted a third term, I know how to go about it. And there is no Nigerian, dead or alive, that would say I called him and told him I wanted a third term,” the former president declared.
Chief Obasanjo argued that he had proven his ability to secure difficult national goals, citing Nigeria’s debt relief during his administration as a much greater challenge than any third term ambition.
“I keep telling them that if I could get debt relief, which was more difficult than getting a third term, then if I wanted a third term, I would have got it too,” he said.
He further cautioned against leaders who overstay in power, stressing that the belief in one’s indispensability is a “sin against God.”
On his part, former President Goodluck Jonathan said any leader who failed to perform would be voted out of office if proper elections were conducted.
Describing electoral manipulation as one of the biggest threats to democracy in Africa, he said unless stakeholders come together to rethink and reform democracy, it may collapse in Africa.
He added that leaders must commit to the kind of democracy that guarantees a great future for the children where their voices matter.
He said: “Democracy in Africa continent is going through a period of strain and risk collapse unless stakeholders came together to rethink and reform it. Electoral manipulation remains one of the biggest threats in Africa.
“We in Africa must begin to look at our democracy and rethink it in a way that works well for us and our people. One of the problems is our electoral system. People manipulate the process to remain in power by all means.
“If we had proper elections, a leader who fails to perform would be voted out. But in our case, people use the system to perpetuate themselves even when the people don’t want them.
“Our people want to enjoy their freedoms. They want their votes to count during elections. They want equitable representation and inclusivity. They want good education. Our people want security. They want access to good healthcare. They want jobs. They want dignity. When leaders fail to meet these basic needs, the people become disillusioned.”
The dialogue was also attended by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Sokoto diocese of Catholic Church among others who all stressed that democracy in Africa must go beyond elections to include accountability, service, and discipline.
The Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday resumed plenary session after a six-month state of emergency imposed on the state by President Bola Tinubu elapsed on Wednesday midnight.
President Bola Tinubu had lifted the emergency rule on September 17, with the Governor of the state, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the state assembly asked to resume duties on September 18.
The plenary was presided over by the Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule, at the conference hall located within the legislative quarters in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
The conference hall has served as the lawmakers’ temporary chamber since their official chamber at the assembly complex on Moscow Road was torched and later pulled down by the state government.
The outgone sole administrator of the state, Ibok-Ete Ibas, could not complete the reconstruction of the assembly complex as promised.
Recall that on March 18, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers following the prolonged political standoff between Fubara and members of the House of Assembly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
He subsequently suspended the governor, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and lawmakers for six months and installed a sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.), to manage the state’s affairs.
The decision sparked widespread controversy, with critics accusing the president of breaching the Constitution.
However, others hailed the move as a necessary and pragmatic step.
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