Politics
Assembly Confirms Aguma, Others
A plenary session and the visit of the new Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Rivers State, Imoh Etuk, were among events that dominated activities in the Rivers State House of Assembly (RVHA) last week.
Nonetheless, the Assembly Complex in Port Harcourt was besieged by protesting public primary school teachers.
All those took place last Thursday amidst jubilation at the Assembly Complex following Tribunal victories in favour of some lawmakers involved in the December 10, 2016 re-run election in the state.
First, the Assembly, in plenary last Thursday, screened and confirmed the former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Emmanuel Aguma (SAN) as commissioner designate in the state.
The House, also in the same plenary, screened and confirmed chairmen and members of Caretaker Committees (CTCs) for Abua/Odual and Port Harcourt Local Government Areas of the state.
The CTC Chairmen designates for the two LGAs include Mr Oladipo Ogu and Mr Charles Chima Orlu for Abua/Odual and Port Harcourt LGAs, respectively.
Unlike the CTC Chairmen and members who were thoroughly grilled by the House, the Commissioner Designate, Emmanuel Aguma (SAN) was only asked to take a bow and go .
However, the Speaker of the House, Rt Hon Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani, appealed to the commissioner designate to look into the situation where tyres are used in burning meat by butchers in the state.
Ibani urged the commissioner designate to speedily implement aspects of the law regarding tyre burning in the state, if sworn-in as Commissioner for Justice in the state.
The Assembly same day, quized the Managing Director of Halliburton Energy Services, Mr Henry Okey and the Human Resources Manager of the company, Mrs Ijeoma Suzzy over alleged systematic discrimination of Rivers indigenes in the company.
The managing director and the human resources manager were summoned to appear before the House to defend the petition from some staff of the company for alleged unlawful dismissal and retirement of some indigenes of the state without any compensation.
However, the Assembly Speaker announced the resolution of the House requesting the company’s management to re-appear before the House with some vital documents like nominal roll, list of retired and retrenched staff, list of top management staff and document showing the redundancy policy of the company in the state. Though, the MD of the company, Mr Okey and the Human Resources Manager, Mrs Suzzy, denied all the allegations, promising that Rivers indigenes in the company would not be discriminated against in the state.
Immediately after the plenary, the speaker, in company of two lawmakers, hosted the FRSC delegation led by Etuk in his office.
Interacting with them, Ibani charged them to be proactive in discharging their statutory duties to reduce road accidents in the state.
The speaker lauded the Governor of the state, Chief Nyesom Wike for embarking on massive road construction and rehabilitation that has helped to reduce the work load of the FRSC in the state.
He stressed the need for the corps to intensify efforts to drastically reduce road accidents in Rivers State.
The FRSC sector commander in the state had earlier said the visit to the House was to seek the support of the legislative arm for awareness and legislative backing on the behaviours of some road users in the state.
Same last Thursday, public primary school teachers blocked the entrance to the state House of Assembly Complex over a purported move to transfer pay rolls of primary school teachers back to the local government authorities in the state.
Enoch Epelle
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.
-
Maritime13 hours agoOver 6,223 Seafarers Abandoned In 2025 – Says ITF
-
News14 hours agoNLC Threatens Nationwide Protest Over Electoral Act Amendment
-
Politics12 hours agoI DEFECTED OUT OF CONVICTION …NO ONE COULD’VE IMPEACHED MY LATE DEPUTY ~ DIRI
-
Maritime12 hours agoCustoms Hands Over Seized Cannabis Worths N4.7bn To NDLEA
-
Politics12 hours agoWe’ve Not Recognized Any PDP Faction — INEC
-
Environment9 hours agoRivers State Government Suspend Fire Service Collection Levies
-
Sports10 hours agoArsenal Women End Man City’s Invincibility
-
News14 hours agoTinubu Embarks On Two-Day State Visit To UK, March 18