Politics

Wike Hails Secondus, Speaker

Published

8 years ago

January 1, 2018

Last week, which happened to be the last week of the year 2017 was dorminated by Church activities in Rivers State Government House, Port Harcourt.
Events kicked off with Thanksgiving Service at Ecumenical Centre, Port Harcourt in honour of the National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus who hails from the state.
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, who hosted PDP Governors and major stakeholders in the service restated that PDP governors and well-meaning stakeholders testified that the election that brought Secondus was transparent.
He lauded the PDP chairman for not allowing himself to be swayed by money or other baits as a party leader who stands for the success of the party, inspite of challenges.
While Secondus promised to lead the party to victory in 2019 election, the governors and other heavy weights commended him and assured him of their support.
In a similar vein, Wike also attended the 50th birthday and election victory thanksgiving service of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Ikunyi-Owaji Ibani at Saint James Anglican Church, Ataba in Andoni Local Government. He described the Speaker as one who exhibits exemplary leadership qualities in the discharge of his responsibilities.
Wike commended Ibani for his worthy contributions to the development of Rivers State.
Last Monday which was the Christmas day, the Governor in his message to the people of the state urged Christians to use this year’s Christmas to promote love, friendship, peace and reconciliation.
He challenged Rivers people to use the Yuletide to erect platform of love for the greater development of the state.
Another crucial event in Brick House was the reception of hundreds of APC decampees from Opobo-Nkoro Local Government Area to PDP.
Chairman of APC Caucus in Opobo-Nkoro, Arthur Jaja said Wike’s sterling qualities gave impetus to their defection.
The governor who received the decampees in company of the party chairman in the state, Bro Felix Obuah and other stakeholders commended the decampees for coming to PDP, assuring them of equal opportunities with old PDP members.
Wike who noted that APC is deceiving Nigerians, challenged the party to show federal projects executed in the state, stressing that inspite of the harsh economy which made Federal Government and APC-controlled states not to deliver projects, Rivers State has been flourishing with projects.
Conferrment of awards on Wike remains ceaseless as Uzugbani Ekpeye, last Saturday, honoured him with an award of excellence, in appreciation of his good governance.
Speaking at the award ceremony in Ahoada, Wike said the honour would spur him to do more and advised politicians in the area to work in unity and in the interest of the area.
He announced the official flag off of the reconstruction of Western Ahoada County High School on January 4, 2018. He said the kingdom supported him in 2015 governorship election and that his administration will continue to execute projects in the area.
In a similar manner, Wakirike Ethnic Nationality endorsed Wike for a second term, saying that he has treated them fairly through projects execution and appointment.
Chairman of Okrika Divisional Council of Chiefs, Chief Sunday Kalaowolo who spoke on behalf of the nationality said, “As the political drum beat starts in 2018, we the Wakirike people under God, ask you to run for a second term in office.
“We will lay down our lives, not only to vote for you, but to defend our votes. All Okrikans are solidly behind you”.
Wike commended them and assured them of continued projects in the area. He elevated the Amayanabo of Ogoloma to first class status, while Amayanabo of Okrika Town elevated to second class. He also recognise Amayanabo of Okochiri King Ateke Michael Tom as second class traditional stool.
On Boxing Day, Wike inspected ongoing projects in the state and told traders at Mile 1 Market that his administration is in a haste to complete reconstruction of the market as soon as possible.
He noted that the step would check street trading which poses dangers to them and urged them to remain patient.
The governor also met Bolo people of Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area who also endorsed him for a second term. They tied their decision to Wike’s good governance.
Wike, at the function which held in Brick House and attended by Senator Thompson Sekibo, former Minister of Transport, Dr Abiye Sekibo and other traditional and political leaders from the area, commended them and upgraded Amayanabo of Bolo stool, to second class.

Chris Oluoh

Politics

LP Crisis: Ex-NWC Member Dumps Dumps Abure Faction

Published

1 week ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

A former National Organising Secretary of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Clement Ojukwu, has expressed regret that the several legal cases brought against the party since the 2023 general elections have impacted the party’s performance.

Mr Ojukwu, who recently returned to the interim National Working Committee led by Senator Esther Nenadi Usman, noted that the party had 34 elected members in the House of Representatives, eight Senators, and 80 members at the state Houses of Assembly after the 2023 general elections.

“Now we lost all of them,” he said. “I don’t think we have as many as five members in the National Assembly.”

The former national officer of the LP talked to journalists in Abuja and said he chose to join the caretaker committee led by Senator Nenadi-Usman because they are now the officially recognized leaders of the Party.

“I chose to work with the caretaker committee to help save the Labour Party, for the benefit of the party. I also want to use this chance to ask my colleagues at the national, state, and local government levels to come together and help rebuild our party.

“Another election is around the corner. We lost everything we have. They have left to other political parties. So I’ll reach out to all my friends in the other group to get together and work on making this party stronger again.

“The caretaker committee has formed a reconciliation committee. Let’s come together and talk so that we can restore the first opposition political party in Nigeria.”

Mr Ojukwu, who was part of the Julius Abure’s group, said there are no more factions in the LP.

He added, “There is a court ruling, and since it is valid, the right people are in the correct positions.”

He urged Barr Abure and others to drop the legal cases they have filed because they are not helping the party.

“Litigations are killing political parties”, he said. “They’ve seen many political parties disappear because of legal battles, and the Labor Party is losing support every day, which makes me feel sad.”

Mr Ojukwu said he did not think joining the Senator Nenadi-Usman’s NWC was a betrayal of the Abure group, describing himself as “the oxygen” of that faction.

“I’m with this group because of the verdict. But I never betrayed anybody. Rather, I was betrayed,” he added.

Politics

2027: NIGERIANS FAULT INEC ON DIGITAL MEMBERSHIP REGISTER DIRECTIVE

Published

1 week ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

A number of Nigerians have strongly criticized the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its directive to all political parties in the country to submit digitalized membership register within 32 days.

It would be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following it’s reversed timetable, directed all political parties in the country to submit their digitalized membership registers within 32 days.

Speaking on the reversed timetable in an interview with The Tide in Port Harcourt, respondents said the directive amounted to disqualifying opposition political parties from fielding candidates in all the elections next year.

They said if the directives by the commission is implemented, only the All Progressives Congress (APC) would participate in the elections since it started it’s digital membership registration since February, last year.

Responding, an elder statesman in Rivers State, Chief Sunnie Chukumele, said the revised timetable was okay, but the timeframe for submission of digital membership register was being made at the wrong time.

Chief Chukumele said, for the past two years, all opposition political parties have been battling various issues in court, adding that they did not have the time to embark on membership drive, talk less of digitalizing their membership registers.

“My reaction is that the only issue with this revised timetable is the timeframe given by INEC for parties to submit digitalize memberships register in all the states of the federation, while giving notice of Congresses and convention. That is not possible”, he said.

He said only the ruling APC is likely to meet up with the directive, since it began its registration since last year.

Chief Chukumele, who is also the National Coordinator of Coalition of Rivers State Leaders of Thought (CORSLOT), alleged that the directive of the electoral body may have been targeted to prevent other parties from fielding candidates for the elections next year.

“When you say all the parties should submit digitalized registers of membership in 32 days, how will that be possible to conclude it in 32 days”, he queried.

He noted that “APC used one year ago to do, so APC has one year in the kitty plus 30 days. This is highly regrettable”.

The CORSLOT national leader urged the election umpire to do away with stringent conditions that will make it hard for opposition political parties to field candidates in the elections.

Also speaking, Mr Jacob Enware from Edo State queried the rationale behind the directive, especially when some opposition political parties are still having cases in court.

In his words, ”What opposition political parties are you talking about, is Labour Party not in court or PDP that is yet to resolve their issues?

”For me, INEC should provide a level playing field for all, because aside the APC, no party can meet up this criteria.”

In his own response, Mr Nathaniel Ebere said he was not prepared to vote for anybody whether INEC provides a level playing field or not.

He alleged that his vote would not count, “so I will not waste my time”.

By: John Bibor

Politics

IT’S A LIE, G-5 GOVS DIDN’T WIN ELECTION FOR TINUBU – SOWUNMI

Published

1 week ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Convener of The Alternative, Otunba Segun Sowunmi, has expressed reservations about the political stance of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, while calling for reconciliation among key party figures.

Otunba Sowunmi made the remarks during a television interview on Saturday, when asked about the relationship between Gov. Makinde and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike.

He said, “I don’t believe Seyi Makinde. Because I know them all. I’ve been in this party since it was registered. And I’ve been loyal, faithful, diligent with this party from the get-go, and I’ve never left.”

He underscored his longstanding commitment to the PDP, referencing prominent figures who had exited the party at different times: “I’ve had the grace, and the honor, and the dignity of watching even my father, Obasanjo, shed his card. As much as I love him, I didn’t leave the party”.

He added, “I’ve had the privilege of watching my beloved senior brother, Governor Gbenga Daniel, leave the party a few times. As much as I respect his vision and his ideas, I’ve never left. I’ve watched my former principal, Atiku Abubakar, leave a few times. I’ve never left.”

Otunba Sowunmi stressed that his comments were rooted in deep involvement with the party: “So when I talk about PDP, I’m not talking as an outsider, I’m talking as one of their totems, who was actually carrying them.”

He disclosed that he wrote to Makinde during the governor’s last birthday, urging reconciliation among a bloc of five governors who had formed a movement during the 2023 elections.

“At Governor Seyi Makinde’s last birthday, I wrote him a letter where I tried to say, look, you guys, the five of you, succeeded to the extent of creating a movement of your own”, he said.

He added, “And you fought very hard to make a point in the 2023 election. Although I don’t believe you won the election for the president, that’s a lie. They contributed, but I hate when people take the glory of other people’s work.”

Otunba Sowunmi warned that unresolved differences among the group could weaken the party: “You guys, you must go back to your four friends, your five friends, and you guys go and sort it out. Because not sorting it out with your five friends is going to leave the party worse off.”

He added, “But now that you’re fighting, or you’re not agreeing with yourselves, why don’t you go back to that same energy that allowed you to agree, so that you can use that energy inside to agree, and then we can lead the party.”