Politics
Wike, Ekweremadu, Akpabio Eulogise Sekibo
Last week’s curtain raiser was Mothering Sunday. Wife of the State Governor, Justice Suzette Nyesom-Wike and the Deputy Governor were at Upper Room Anglican Church, Eligbolo in Eliozu Evo Diocese to celebrate with other mothers.
Justice Nyesom-Wike, represented by Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Ukel Oyaghiri advocated for improved welfare for the womenfolk. She said time has come for women to be given chance to show their leadership qualities. A woman can manage a home, a state and a country “, she stressed.
In a special message to mark this year’s Mother’s Day, the Rivers State Governor’s wife observed that society would have been significantly smaller, cooler and ill-mannered without contributions of mothers.
According to her, Mother’s Day is a celebration of the bond of love and affection between a mother and her child, noting that it’s a day when the society recognises the significant roles of mothers.
Last Monday, the state Governor Chief Nyesom Wike, through his deputy, Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo, flagged off the first round of the immunisation plus days (IPDs) at the Primary Healthcare Centre, Churchill Rod, Port Harcourt.
Governor Wike emphasised the importance of routine immunisation exercise for children and expressed the commitment of the government to ensure that children and mothers are in good health.
Last Tuesday, the deputy governor, Dr Ipalibo Harry-Banigo made award presentations to some youths, as a way of encouraging excellence. One Dr Nkiruka Vivian Ogmuegbu got the award following her performance as one of the best students in the University of Port Harcourt College of Health Sciences.
Last Wednesday, the deputy governor felicitated with Senator George Thompson Sekibo on his 60th birthday anniversary.
In the words of Dr Harry-Banigo, “Sekibo has distinguished himself as a serving senator, a prover leader, selfless and hardworking”, she pointed out that the Ogu born Senator has displayed effective representation of his people at the National Assembly. She wished him a purposeful diamond jubilee birthday.
Last Thursday, wife of the State Governor attended the 29th Convocation Lecture of Rivers State University of Science and Technology.
She noted that the University’s faculty of law has contributed to quality manpower in legal practice in the country.
Justice Nyesom-Wike stated that the university was undergoing tremendous development in infrastructure, especially under Chief Nyesom-Wike for instance, under the present administration the faculty of law building was completed.
Chief Wike, last Saturday, in company of top state dignitaries, attended the 29th convocation ceremony of the Rivers State University.
At the convocation, Wike announced that the university has seized to bear the name of Science and Technology, and therefore urged the school management to finetune their academic blueprint to reflect global standard.
The governor while pledging to ensure that programmes of the university get 100 percent accreditation, however frowned at some of the ongoing projects and called for speedy work toward the newly established. College of Health Sciences.
From the university convocation, the governor proceeded to the 60th birthday celebrations and book launch of Senator Thompson Sekibo at Presidential Hotel. He praised the intellectual enterprise of the Senator and pledged government support. Deputy Senate President Mr Ekweremadu, Senator Godwill Akpabio, Senator Lawan and other dignitaries graced the occasion and wished Sekibo more years.
The Tide source reports that Prof. Akinoso was elected alongside 38 other executive members of the party at the congress held on Saturday.
Other executive members are Dr Abiola Olaonipekun, who emerged as Secretary, Alhaja Latifah Latifu, Women Leader and Mr A. Adeleke, elected as Youth Leader.
It was learnt that the congress, which took place at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Oke Ado in Ibadan, was attended by representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Police, other security agencies and prominent members of the party.
The election was supervised by electoral committee members, among whom were Prince Diran Odeyemi, who served as Chairman, Hon. Awoniyi Tolulope, Mr Babatunde Gbadamosi, Queen Stepheine Oyechere, Alhaji Yusuf Abidakun, Mr Olumide Aguda and Dr Phillips Adeniyi, who served as Secretary.
Prof. Akinoso, in his inaugural address, urged members of the party to set aside intra-party differences.
He advised them to concentrate their resources on the promotion of the party, saying, “The primary responsibilities of party executive members are to coordinate party activities, ensure harmony among members, and ensure party victory during general elections.
“Our immediate assignments are to key into INEC released 2027 general election time-tables. As directed by the National Caretaker Committee of PDP, our party e-membership registration starts next week. We must be fully involved and do a membership drive.
“A political party is only relevant and benefits its members if it wins the election. This is our goal. We should set aside intra-party differences; concentrate our resources towards the promotion of the party. We will make necessary consultations and dialogue to actualise this”.
President Tinubu disclosed this during an interfaith breaking of fast with senior journalists and media executives at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Saturday.
He also disclosed that his administration had opened up on the principles of true federalism to the extent that local governments now get direct allocation from the Federal Government.
“There’s no morning that I ever leave my house without going through the newspapers. It’s an addiction. I read all of you.
“It might not be in full detail, but headline, the one that would hit me and the ones that won’t.
“At the beginning of this administration, I was just a little bit stubborn, looking at opportunities to correct things and make life more easier for the downtrodden.
“We’ve opened up the principle of federalism to the extent that local governments are now getting their money, but how they use it is in your hands. So, don’t bombard me alone,” President Tinubu said.
The ruling party said the ADC had turned criticism of the APC-led administration into its operating manifesto instead of presenting concrete solutions to Nigeria’s economic challenges.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Mr Felix Morka, the party dismissed the ADC’s interpretation of a report presented at a policy dialogue organised by Agora Policy which suggested that the country’s poverty rate had risen from 49 per cent to 63 per cent.
Mr Morka said the opposition party’s reaction to the report as a “damning verdict” on the government’s economic policies reflected either ignorance of economic realities or deliberate political mischief.
“The African Democratic Congress’ attempt to spin a recent report presented at the Agora Policy dialogue indicating a rise of poverty rate of 63 per cent from 49 per cent as a damning verdict on this administration’s economic policies speaks either to its shocking ignorance of economic policy or its wilful blindness to the justification for, and transformative impacts of, ongoing economic reforms,” he said.
The APC spokesman noted that the report itself recognised the necessity of reforms aimed at correcting long-standing structural distortions in the economy.
According to him, the ADC had failed to present any credible alternative policy direction for Nigerians.
“Clearly, the ADC does not recognise itself as a political party. The ADC has not articulated a single alternative policy position or prescription of benefit to Nigerians. Condemning the APC and its policies has become its operating manifesto,” Mr Morka said.
He explained that major economic decisions taken by President Bola Tinubu, including the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of multiple foreign exchange windows, were necessary steps to rescue the country’s economy from collapse.
Mr Morka said the subsidy regime had for years placed a heavy burden on public finances, consuming trillions of naira annually while encouraging corruption, fuel smuggling and inefficiencies in the system.
He added that the reforms had helped redirect national resources to key sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare, education and social development.
The APC spokesman acknowledged that economic reforms often come with short-term hardship but stressed that the measures were essential to build a stronger and more resilient economy.
“Economic reform is never cost-free anywhere in the world. The transient hardship experienced by Nigerians was an inevitable cost of reforms meant to build and guarantee a better future for all Nigerians,” he said.
Mr Morka maintained that the country’s economic outlook was already improving, citing recent growth figures and stronger external reserves.
“Our economy has rebounded and is expanding steadily. The country’s Gross Domestic Product grew by 4.4 per cent last year and is projected to expand by 5.5 per cent this fiscal year, with foreign reserves now exceeding $50 billion,” he stated.
He also pointed to government initiatives designed to cushion the effects of economic adjustments on citizens, including cash transfer programmes, student loan schemes and the rollout of compressed natural gas (CNG) initiatives to reduce transportation costs.
Mr Morka reaffirmed that the APC-led administration would remain focused on rebuilding the economy and expanding social investments to support vulnerable Nigerians.