Politics
RSG Harps On Voters’ Registration
Activities to herald the State’s 50th Anniversary heralded Government House activities last week, when the governor through the Secretary to the State Government, Sir Kenneth Kobani participated in a Polo Tournament.
While the State team won the Anniversary Committee team by 3-0 goals, Chief Wike explained why Polo Sport was used to commemorate the anniversary, saying the aim was to popularise the sport.
Last Tuesday, and ahead the Continuous Voter Registration Exercise, the State Deputy Governor, Dr Ipalibo Harry-Banigo in a statement called on the people of the state to participate massively in the exercise to enable them vote in 2019 general elections.
The deputy governor enjoined traditional rulers, politicians and other stakeholders in the state to mobilise their subject who are 18 years and above, as well as those who have lost their voter’s cards.
Last Wednesday, the governor played host to Minister of Agriculture Chief Audu Ogbeh in company of Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri.
The Minister was in the state for the National Council of Agriculture Meeting being hosted by Rivers State. He used the visit to call on State Government to revive the moribund Agriculture Training School at Onne.
On his part, Chief Wike said they are already working, reviving moribund agric companies owned by the State Government. He identified agriculture as job provider for teeming youths and said Rivers State will soon boast of being food provider for the country.
Chief Wike, last Thursday, declared the National Council on Agriculture open. He reiterated his earlier stance that agric is being made an area of priority for Rivers State.
“The Rivers State Government has, over the years channelled enormous public funds into the development of Agriculture without measurable outcome”, he said his administration will reverse such fortune.
Shortly after declaring the Agriculture Council Meeting open, Governor Wike took former Abia State Governor, Senator Theodore Orji round projects in the state. Senator Orji is the Senate Committee Chairman on Agriculture.
After visiting some projects in Port Harcourt, the former governor said, “this transformation is wonderful. You need to come to Rivers State to see things physically”.
The governor last Friday, was at Onne to donate eight Gunboats acquired by the State for Coastal Security. He emphasised the need to stamp out sea piracy and other criminality on the sea way.
Later on Friday, Chief Wike participated in a birthday ceremony, for Chairman of State Traditional Rulers Council and Amanyanabo of Opobo Kingdom, HRM Dandison Jaja.
Last Saturday, Chief Wike attended a burial ceremony for late sister of prominent lawyer, Onueze Ikocha (OCJ) at Rumukpakulusi. From there, the governor attended a Building and Fund Raising Event organised by Rumuokwuta Community.
On returning from the events back to Government House in the evening, Chief Wike addressed the press where he disclosed the grand plan by Police authorities to rope him in and raid his private home in Abuja. He says the move confirms an earlier alarm he raised that Federal Government wants to to kill him.
The Tide source reports that the committee, reportedly backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, is making moves to reclaim the Wadata Plaza headquarters months after it was sealed following a violent clash between rival factions of the party.
Senior officers at the FCT Police Command told our source that while they had not received an official briefing, police personnel would be stationed at the secretariat and other key locations to maintain peace.
The Acting National Secretary of the Mohammed-led committee, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, announced last week that the secretariat would reopen for official activities on Monday (today).
He dismissed claims that ongoing litigation would prevent the reopening, saying, “There are no legal barriers preventing the caretaker committee from resuming work at the party’s headquarters.”
However, the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) has fiercely rejected the reopening move, insisting that Sen. Anyanwu and his group remain expelled from the PDP and have no authority to act on its behalf.
Speaking with The Tide source, the committee’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, declared: “They are living in fool’s paradise. The worst form of deceit is self-deceit, where the person knows he is deceiving himself yet continues with gusto.
“Even INEC, which they claim has recognised them, has denied them. They are indulging in a roller coaster of self-deceit.”
Mr Ememobong further revealed that letters had been sent to both the Inspector-General of Police and the FCT Commissioner of Police, stressing that the matter was still in court and warning against any attempt to “resort to self-help.”
“The case pending before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik was instituted by the expelled members. They cannot resort to self-help until judgment is delivered,” he said.
He warned that reopening the secretariat would amount to contempt of court.
A senior officer at the FCT Police Command, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that officers would be deployed to the area to avert a repeat of the November 19 violence that led to the secretariat’s initial closure.
“The command would not stand by and allow a breakdown of peace and order by the party or anyone else. Definitely, the police will have to be on the ground,” he said.
Another officer added, “There will definitely be men present at the secretariat, but I can’t say the number of police officers that would be deployed.”
When contacted, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, said she had not been briefed on the planned reopening and declined to comment on whether officers would be deployed.
Asked to confirm whether the secretariat was initially sealed by police, she responded, “Yes,” but refused to say more about the current deployment plans.
The Kano State House of Assembly has debunked the purported impeachment plan against the Deputy Governor, Aminu Gwarzo.
The Tide source recalls that the Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, recently sparked controversy during an interview session with a local radio station.
Mr Waiya called on the deputy governor to resign for failing to follow his principal, Gov. Abba Yusuf, in defecting from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, the spokesperson to the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Kamaluddeen Shawai, while addressing journalists in Kano on Saturday, described reports circulating in some media outlets about Mr Gwarzo’s impeachment as baseless and misleading, emphasising that no such plan is underway.
Mr Shawai further stated that the House remains focused on its legislative duties and oversight functions rather than engaging in speculative political manoeuvres.
The spokesperson urged members of the public and the media to verify information before sharing it, stressing the importance of accurate reporting in maintaining political stability in the state.
He said, “There is absolutely no motion or initiative within the House to remove the deputy governor.
“These reports are false and should be disregarded by the public. The deputy governor continues to serve in his capacity with full support from the House.
“Our priority is good governance and serving the people of Kano, not circulating rumours.”
She made the declaration during an interview with Nigerian football legend, Mr Segun Odegbami, during a live radio interview on Saturday.
Prof. Obasanjo, who is also former commissioner in the state, ruled out a return to the Senate, stating that her focus was firmly on the governorship race.
“So, moving ahead, I’m not going to be Commissioner. Like I said, I’m not even going back to the same party because I think that’s old and I don’t see the use of it. And I’m not going to go back to the Senate,” she said.
“Like the Americans would say, there’s no need. And this is what I told my associates, when this all started. I said, the only thing I’ll come back to do is the governorship.
“And we have started that journey. We are going to see it through. And so that’s the journey I’m on. And we are very serious about it. I mean we are very dedicated to it.”
The politician also confirmed that she recently joined the APC, explaining that her return to active politics followed persistent calls from supporters.
“Like I told you, a group of people who I did not bring together, have been working, I think, for two years now. And then they started talking to me about a year ago, saying, ‘Look, we think you are the best candidate. We want you back,’” she added.
Her declaration sets the stage for what may become a keenly contested governorship race in Ogun State ahead of the 2027 elections.
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