Politics
Wike Flags Off More Projects
Last week, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike rolled out more projects across the state.
Wike stormed Etche Local Government Area on Wednesday to flag off Odufor-Akpoku-Umuoye Road and said the 23.3 kilometers road will link rural communities in Etche and expand economic opportunities of the people.
Noting that the road was the fifth major road project in Etche by his administration, Wike said: “This is to show that politics must not be deceitful. If you make promise, you are under obligation to fulfil the promise”.
He said the project was in fulfilment of the promise he made to Etche people, describing Etche as key and important to Rivers State.
Wike regretted that Etche was relegated by past administrations and promised the commitment of his administration to reposition the area.
The governor also flagged-off the reconstruction of Eleme-Oyigbo Road in Alesa-Eleme, Eleme Local Government Area last Thursday.
According to the State Commissioner for Works, Mr Dum Dekor, the 11:5 kilometer road which could provide 540 direct employment opportunities has nine months to be completed.
Wike who commended the people of the area for their mandate and strong support to his administration, said the project was the dividend of their electoral mandate and promised to visit the area with more projects.
He charged Nigerians to hold elected and appointed political leaders accountable to them and refuse to accept excuses for failure.
He said: “My charge to Nigerians is that they must hold all public officials accountable. In 2019, before anyone campaigns, he must first show what he has done with his present office.
“Gone are the days when people listened to flimsy excuses. This is not the time for empty promises”.
The governor equally flagged off the reconstruction of Oyigbo Market Road in Oyigbo Local Government Area on Friday.
He also kick-started the construction of TAP to Iriebe Road and declared that time has come for the people of the area to witness the full transformational power of his administration.
Governor Wike stated that “aside these two road projects being flagged off, today, the Mbano Camp to Iriebe Road is nearing completion”.
In continuation of his project rollout across the state, Governor Wike was in Omuma Local Government Area, Saturday to flag-off the reconstruction of Umueze-Umuogba- Umuokpurukpu-Umueke-Umunju-Umuellechi-Eberi Road project.
The governor who had on some occasions stated that Omuma was one of the few local government areas that needed to benefit from projects said Omuma would continue to benefit because of their contribution to his administration.
He remarked that his administration had linked the area to the National Grid and commended the member representing Omuma in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon Kelechi Nwogu for his contribution and commitment to his administration.
Governor Wike last Tuesday told journalists that he will never betray the trust of Rivers people. He stated this while inspecting the ongoing reconstruction of Tourist Beach, the cultural centre, Captain Amangala Street, Produce House and Bonny-Bille-Nembe Jetty projects.
He said; “The love of the people who gave me their mandate is enough motivation for me to work hard”.
Another major event, last week in government house, Port Harcourt was the hosting of the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni women who had paid the Brick House Landlord a thank you visit in appreciation of his restoration of peace in the area.
The group lauded Governor Wike for his superlative performance in the state and pleaded with the governor to seek re-election.
Caretaker Committee Chairmen of some local government areas were also sworn in by governor Wike last week in Government House.
Chris Oluoh
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.