Politics
RVHA Okays 15 CTC Chairmen
The screening and confirmation of 15 Caretaker Committee Chairmen by the State House of Assembly dominated proceedings at the House last week.
Ahead of the screening, the House had a break of one week following the passage of three prominent bills. The bills are the Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Bill of 2018, the Secret Cult Prohibition Amendment Bill 2018 and the State Anti-Kidnap (Prohibition) Amendment Bill 2018.
The Secret Cult Bill and the Anti-kidnap Bills now carry death penalty as the House proposed that any offender found guilty by the court will face death penalty, while sponsors will face imprisonment and impoundment of property.
The new State Neigbourhood Safety Corps Bill is to provide support to security agencies, in the protection and security of the state through a civilian body.
During the screening of the chairman and members of 15 local government areas caretaker committees, the House specifically took special interest in Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt City Local Government Areas.
Members representing Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni II Constituency, Hon. Nathaniel Owaji frowned at the traffic, congestion around the Rumuokoro Junction, while blaming the situation on street trading. He said the Obio/Akpor chairman has to ensure the menace is checked.
On his part, Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani harped on the need for the CTC chairman of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area to concentrate on the area of sanitation and environmental cleanliness.
In the words of the speaker, “you must ensure that residents conform to law and ensure that the environment is clean. Port Harcourt and Obi/Akpor must always show leadership, to other areas, because these councils are in the heart of the city”.
Shortly after the screening, Chairman, House Committee on Information, Judiciary and Training, Hon. Sam Ogeh spoke to journalists. Hon. Ogeh noted that the two Caretaker Committees member nominees turned down by the Assembly was based on improper dressing, and would be screened administratively by the Speaker. Against this development, the legislator from Emohua affirmed that nobody was disqualified in the exercise.
Hon. Ogeh also said the petition placed before the House by the Chief Whip, Hon. Evans Bipi would be addressed by the House Committee on Public Petition.
Within the week, the Speaker through the House member representing Emohua State Constituency, Sam Ogeh, spoke at a one day special workshop organized by International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) to mainstream law against domestic violence. Ogeh assured the women lawyers of the House’s continued support through enactment of laws to check the menace.
Leader of the House, Hon. Martins Amaewhule last Friday took a facility tour of project in his constituency. He visited the Rumuodunawere Civic Centre at Elelenwo, Rumurolu Modern Market, and Oroigwe Civic Centre, the projects were his 2017 constituency projects.
Last Saturday, member representing Emohua, Sam Ogeh, interred his mother-in-law at Opobo Town. He poured encomiums on Mrs. Roselyn Wariso, who he said led a virtuous life.
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.