Politics
Wike Mourns Pa Obuah
The victory of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) in the supplementary National and State Assembly elections last week coincided with the thanksgiving and dedication of Award Church Service at St Paul Cathedral Diobu by the State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike.
It was however, the thanksgiving and the dedication service that threw the curtain open for other programmes and activities that took place in Government House last week.
Chief Wike attributed his award to God pointing out that the opposition and detractors do not want any thing good to come the way of Rivers State, but that God disappointed them.
He used the thanksgiving to rededicate his administration’s quest to transform the state by making, it the envy of other states in the federation. In his admonition, Bishop of Niger Delta North Diocese and former Dean of Church of Nigeria Anglican Commission, Rt Rev. Ignatius Kattey called on the governor to be an Ambassador of Peace and to always stand up for what is right.
Following the defeat of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the Etche Omuma Federal Constituency supplementary elections, Chief Wike said the people had shown that they were happy with the PDP led state government. The government averred, “They (APC) should forget about this state. No matter the level of security force, they will not be able to snatch Rivers State”.
Last Monday, the governor in company of former Commissioner for Transport, Chief Glory Emeh, inspected some ongoing projects which include the Federal High Court Complex in Port Harcourt being funded by his administration. He also inspected the landscaping architecture at the Airforce overhead bridge along Aba Road. He later visited the site of the Pleasure Park and Ecumenical Centre.
Last Wednesday, the state Chief Executive laid foundationb for the new Industrial Court Complex in Port Harcourt. The project is being funded by the State Government since there is no industrial court in the State.
Chief Wike berated the Federal Government for not meeting its responsibilities in touching the lives of the people in the State despite the fact that Rivers State produces the huge part of the national resource.
He said “all the facts point to the fact that Rivers State does not count in the development programmes of the Federal government. And this has sadly been the situation for decades”.
Last Thursday, the Governor in company of four legislators, Hon Evans Bipi (Chief Whip), Major Jack, Kelechi Nwogu and Tonye Adokiye visited some project sites. The projects are the Bonny/Bille Jetty in Town Area, the Woji/Akpajo Bridge, the Pleasure Park and Ecumenical Centre. The legislators expressed satisfaction over the projects and pledged to release more fund for them to be completed.
The governor and other stakeholders in the State last week Friday at Omoku, the headquarters of the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, paid last respects to the father of PDP chairman in the state.
Also at the burial were former state Governors, Dr. Peter Odili, Sir Celestine Owehia, former first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan and members of the State and National legislature.
At the burial, Chief Wike announced the setting up of a foundation in the memory of late Pa Bethel Obuah to sustain his phililanthropy to the less privileged. He described the late Pa. Obuah as one who is committed to the welfare of others.
Last Saturday, the governor attended the burial of Late Catherine Onuchukwu at Emohua from there he proceeded to Etche, for a Special Thank You Rally to Etche People who voted massively for the PDP during the supplementary National and State Assembly elections.
Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Alhaji Abubakar disclosed his intention to leave the opposition party in a letter addressed to the PDP ward chairman in Jada, Jada Local Government Area (LGA) of Adamawa state.
Alhaji Abubakar described his departure from the PDP as “heartbreaking”, saying the party has strayed from the ideals on which it was founded.
“I would like to take this opportunity to express my profound gratitude for the opportunities I have been given by the Party,” Alhaji Abubakar said.
“Serving two full terms as Vice President of Nigeria and being a presidential candidate twice has been one of the most significant chapters of my life.
“As a founding father of this esteemed Party, it is indeed heartbreaking for me to make this decision.
“However, I find it necessary to part ways due to the current trajectory the Party has taken, which I believe diverges from the foundational principles we stood for.
“It is with a heavy heart that I resign, recognising the irreconcilable differences that have emerged.
“I wish the Party and its leadership all the best in the future”, he added.
Alhaji Abubakar’s resignation from the PDP comes days after the opposition coalition politicians adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as their political platform for the 2027 elections.
Among the coalition leaders are Rotimi Amaechi, a former Transportation Minister; Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election; Nasir el-Rufai, former Kaduna State Governor; and John Oyegun, former Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Others include Sule Lamido, former Governor of Jigawa State; Uche Secondus, former PDP National Chairman; Babangida Aliyu, former Governor of Niger State; Sam Egwu, former governor of Ebonyi State; Aminu Tambuwal, former Governor of Sokoto State; and Liyel Imoke, former Governor of Cross River State, among others.
A group, ‘Concerned Bayelsa Stakeholders Forum (CBSF),’ has intensified calls on the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The CBSF which comprises members of various political parties, non-partisan citizens and residents of the state also has non-indigenes and people from different religious organisations as members.
Speaking at a world press conference held in Yenagoa, the State capital on Tuesday, the group, through its convener who doubles as Technical Adviser to the Governor on Media/Public Affairs, Snr. Comrade Wisdom Ikuli, passed a confidence vote on Governor Diri, commending his selfless service to the State and the Ijaw nation.
Mr Ikuli averred that there was need for the state to align with the federal government. Citing the benefits of having a government at the centre that can attract development to the state, he noted that the PDP at the national level had been long enmeshed in crisis.
“The current leadership of the PDP under whose platform the governor is leading the state has been hijacked by few individuals. This poses threats to the interest of the state.
“Presently, our state is standing alone as the only PDP state in the whole of the South South region. The above may not be too much an issue. The greatest challenge here is the hijack of the PDP by few individuals and the very dangerous traps that they have set for Bayelsa in 2027, particularly those that intend to fly the flag of PDP.
“There are concluded arrangements to hide under the excuse of crisis and countless court cases in PDP at different levels to work to nullify the nomination of all candidates that will emerge under the party platform. So, we can imagine the pains, agony and disarray that the state shall experience if the state remains in PDP.
“The ongoing Coalition is also an embodiment of people who conspired to deny Bayelsa State and indeed the entire Ijaw Nation, a second term at the Presidency in 2015. Thus, the coalition can never be an option.
“ It is based on the above that we unanimously appeal to the Governor to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to show southern solidarity with other southern governors who are with Mr. President”, the group said.
“But as we move forward, one of the greatest priorities in the alliance with the centre should be the actualisation of the Agge Seaport that will help to boost the state economy and also bring about unimaginable transformation and prosperity. In the next few days we shall begin a daily rally on the streets of Yenagoa to prevail on His Excellency to do the needful.
“Finally, His Excellency should ignore all opposing voices against his defection. We say this because they are all fighting to protect their individual political interest without prioritising that of the state and the entire Ijaw nation.
“ We wish to reassure His Excellency that vast majority of Bayelsans are with him and together, we shall move forward”, the CBSF added.
The group thanked President Bola Tinubu for appointing Ijaw sons and daughters into key positions, including Senator Heineken Lokpobiri as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources; Chief Samuel Ogbuku as Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC); Chief Ebitimi Amgbare as Managing Director, Niger Delta Basin Development Authority (NDBDA), amongst others.
Meanwhile, the CBSF has also charged Governor Diri to prioritize the actualization of the Agge Deep Seaport project, saying it will boost the economy of the state and bring about transformation and prosperity, noting, however, that plans have reached advanced stages for the CBSF to hit the streets of Yenagoa with rallies with a view to prevailing on the governor to defect to the APC.
Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
The Speaker made the call on Wednesday while hosting councillors from the 13 local government areas of the State in his residence in Lafia, the state capital.
Rt Hon. Jatau said that a good working relationship among the arms of government at the council level was key to development, hence, the need for his call in that direction.
He appreciated the councillors for condoling with him over the death of his younger sister, Hajaratu Jatau, and prayed to God to bless them abundantly.
“I started as a councillor, and today I am the Speaker. There is the need for a good working relationship between you and the elected chairmen for development to thrive at the grassroots. It is in view of this that I want to call on you to give your elected chairmen all the necessary and needed support to succeed. For development to thrive at the grassroots, you must embrace one another and see yourselves as team players,” the Speaker said.
Rt Hon. Jatau also called on them to coexist peacefully among themselves and continue to drum up support for Governor Abdullahi Sule’s administration to succeed.
Besides, he assured them that the state government would soon organise training for them to deliver effective service.
Rt Hon. Jatau also assured them that the state government would pay them their furniture allowance, as well as other benefits, to enhance their legislative work.
Earlier, the chairman of the Nasarawa State Councillors Forum, Mohammed Madaki, who is the Leader of Lafia LGA Legislative Assembly, said that the visit was to identify with the Speaker over the death of his sister.
The leader of the delegation urged the Speaker to see the death of his sister as an act of God and bear the irreplaceable loss.
Mr Madaki assured the Speaker of their loyalty and support at all times.
The chairman, however, appealed to the Speaker to intervene in the training of the councillors as well as the payment of their furniture allowance.
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