Featured

CHOGM: Admit Failure, PDP Tasks Buhari …Chides President Over Gaddafi Comment …No Second Chance For APC -Wike

Published

9 years ago

April 16, 2018

Ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), which opens in London today, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has charged President Muhammadu Buhari to use the forum to inform other world leaders of the depressing state of affairs in Nigeria under his watch.
In a statement issued by Kola Ologbondiyan, National Publicity Secretary, in Abuja yesterday, the party urged him to resist what it called the temptation of seeking to impress world leaders with false performance indices, but should present the real situation,
“particularly the pitiable state of our economy, escalated insecurity, human rights abuses, daily bloodletting, persecution of opposition and erosion of democratic values in the last three years.”
It said President Buhari should not forget to inform CHOGM that back home, there is a national indignation and general vote of no confidence against his administration for its abysmal performance and failure to fulfil the littlest in the long list of bogus promises they made during the 2015 Presidential campaign.
The opposition party also advised President Buhari to inform other world leaders that due to the harsh economic policies and gross incompetence of his administration, “our once robust economy, internationally rated as one of the fasted growing in the world and one of the best investment destinations, collapsed in his hands and went into a recession; that infrastructures are collapsing and that all sectors of public and private lives are now in shambles.”
The statement added: “He should not forget to tell the world that not only has he failed in his false promise to increase the value of naira from N1 to 1USD, his government has wrecked our currency from N160-N170 it met it in 2015 to a devastating N350-N400, with attendant horrible pressure on the economy.
“Mr President should not forget to inform CHOGM that under his administration, more than 16 million Nigerians became unemployed, 18 million more became underemployed while another 27.44 million refused to work in 2016 for various reasons not unrelated to frustration in the polity.
“Our dear President, who is already seeking re-election, should not forget to tell the world that due to his harsh policies, the middle class has been wiped off, families are in distress; hunger, poverty and strange diseases are now ravaging our people to the extent that Nigerians, once considered the happiest people on earth, are now resorting to slavery and suicide as options.
“President Buhari should not shy away from informing the world that his administration has failed in guaranteeing the safety of lives and property; that under his watch, our dear nation has become one of the most insecure countries to live in; bloodletting, violent attacks and sectorial crisis have become the order of the day; insurgents and marauders are having field day pillaging innocent citizens while our land has practically transformed into a large funeral parlour.
“Furthermore, President Buhari must tell the world that he has woefully failed in his much-touted fight against corruption; that his
the administration is merely engaged in the personal vendetta, direct persecution and media trial of opposition members, while known corrupt persons in the All Progressives Congress (APC) continue to enjoy the official cover of his Presidency.
“He should not forget to confess that his administration has done nothing about the Presidency cabal involved in the alleged stealing of N9 trillion ($25billion dollars) in NNPC and billions of naira National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) intervention funds.”
The PDP, therefore, urged the President not to allow his handlers to mislead him to colour his presentation at CHOGM as such will detract from his integrity as a leader.
“As for us in the repositioned PDP, we will continue to stand with Nigerians in their collective quest to end the APC misrule and return the nation to the path of truth, national cohesion and economic prosperity, come 2019,” the party stated.
In another development The Peoples Democratic Party has berated President Muhammadu Buhari for allegedly insulting Nigerians who criticised the way he handles insurgency as well as governance in the country.
The former ruling party said it was shocking that rather than being responsive to the views of the citizens, the Presidency resorted to abusing Nigerians had put their trust and confidence in the President.
It said those who trusted him three years ago with their votes were lamenting that his administration had failed abysmally.
The spokesperson for the PDP, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, said this in a statement in Abuja on Saturday.
Buhari had claimed that herdsmen in the country were trained by the late Libyan leader, Muammah Gadaffi.
Buhari’s media, Mr. Femi Adesina, had also criticised those who paid attention to the problem rather than the solution he said the President proffered in a statement.
Ologbodiyan said, “Rather than offering explanations, the Buhari Presidency, in the All Progressives Congress usual arrogance and disdain, opted to insult Nigerians, including federal legislators as well as the institution of the National Assembly.
“But Nigerians are still demanding answers. If the Buhari administration knew, in the course of the last three years, that the nation has been invaded by forces from outside or even deserters from Libya, why has it continued to admonish Nigerians to learn to live with their neighbours?
“If, in the course of investigations, it (Buhari Presidency) discovered that the insurgents were from outside Nigeria, why is the government reportedly paying ransoms to them and even considering amnesty options?
“Is it part of governance to pay ransom to invaders? These are the questions that Nigerians expect the Buhari Presidency to answer.”
Also, Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike says there is no second chance for the All Progressives Congress (APC) against 2019 elections.
Wike during the Rivers South East Senatorial District Rally of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that endorsed him for 2019 on Saturday at Bori urged the people to vote the President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government out of power.
The Rivers State Governor said the APC has failed in all its electoral promises and should be shown the way out.
“Thousands are dying every day in Benue, Nassarawa and Kogi states. So there is no second chance again for them for more people to die. “
He however said that his administration has fulfilled his promises to the people during his campaign in 2015.
Wike, while accusing the APC led government for failing to fulfill its promises, reminded the Ogonis the failure of the federal government to remediate their environment and plans to site prisons in Ogoniland.
He urged the people of the district to stand up and defend their votes in the upcoming elections emphasising that, “whatever they want we are equal to the task.”
Woke assured the senatorial district that he will not disappoint them, as he continues in his developmental drive in the state.
Meanwhile, Senator Lee Meeba has stated that there was no alternative to Governor Wike in 2019.
“This rally serves as a warning to those looking for governorship from this district,” he said.

Featured

RSG Floats MNET Culture Content Promo

Published

12 hours ago

November 6, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Ministry of Culture and Tourism has floated a culture content platform in collaboration with digital television group, Multichoice.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mr. Freddy Ndigbara, disclosed this after a meeting with MultiChoice Head of Content Acquisition, Don Dotun Ojon, in Port Harcourt.

He assured that content entrepreneurs and film makers would enjoy the platform by promoting culture and other contents to sell the states tourism potentials.

He said MultiChoice M-net was now open to increase its patronage for content shots on locations in Rivers State, describing the State as one that has numerous potentials for film tourism.

“We were privileged to have Don Ojon with us at the Rivers International Film Festival (RIFF) at the weekend in Bonny and he saw, first hand, the numerous sites and opportunities that are open to creatives in the State. After that, we felt it was important to deepen the conversation and he obliged. This is a cheering news for the sector in the State,” he said.

Ndigbara stated that “Rivers State has many more untold stories to tell, many more contents to reel out and the assurances from the M-net Acquisition Manager is an indication that the industry in the state will soon enjoy a new lease of life”.

The Permanent Secretary thanked Ojon for the visit and assured that creatives in the State would grap this opportunity and show the world that Rivers State is a major hub for film tourism in Nigeria.

On his part, Ojon said the visit was to discuss on ways of promoting tourism in the State using creatives and film.

Ojon said although the company has recently been acquired by canal+ France and is undergoing restructuring, he would promote the chances of Rivers State to host the MultiChoice talent factory in the State.

With Asaba, capital of Delta State, being saturated, Ojon said the next port is Rivers State, which he said is capable of building fresh crop of creatives, new locations, new story lines and concepts.

He, therefore, called for collaboration from stakeholders in the State.

Kevin Nengia

Featured

APC Presidential Campaign Storms PH, ‘Morrow

Published

13 hours ago

November 6, 2026

The Tide

Barring last minute changes, the presidential campaign train of the All Progressives Congress (APC) will storm Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, tomorrow.

This is according to a campaign timetable released by the APC Campaign Council last month.

The Tide reports that the APC presidential campaign kicked off in Kaduna on October 24 with President Bola Tinubu in attendance.

The campaign train later moved to Cross River, Gombe, Nasarawa, and Ekiti on November 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively with the Vice President, Kashim Shettima representing the President at the rallies.

President Tinubu is personally scheduled to attend 12 states including Rivers, Kaduna, Plateau, Oyo, Borno, Enugu, Bauchi, Sokoto, Delta, Kano, Adamawa and Lagos.

The Rivers State rally, scheduled to hold at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, is expected to witness a large crowd of party supporters drawn from a coalition of political parties in the State.

The party is expected to round off its presidential campaign in Lagos State on January 9, 2027.

The Tide reports that Tinubu has not visited Rivers State as President since he assumed office in May 2023. His last physical visit to the State was before his inauguration on Wednesday, May 3 – Thursday, May 4, 2023, when he was hosted by then Governor Nyesom Wike in Port Harcourt to commission the Rumuola/Rumuokwuta Flyover and the Magistrates’ Court Complex.

Tomorrow’s visit will be his first to the State since assuming office.

Featured

2027: Be Politically Neutral, Fubara Tasks Traditional Rulers

Published

1 week ago

October 30, 2026

The Tide

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has charged traditional rulers in the State to maintain neutrality, ensure fairness and uphold peace in their domains as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections.

Fubara gave the charge on Wednesday while declaring open the 126th, 127th and 128th Combined Quarterly Meeting of the Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council, in Port Harcourt.

The governor said the primary function of traditional rulers is to administer justice and ensure fairness, saying their conduct must not lead to division and unmanageable crises.

“Let me therefore, request, if that is the right word to use, that please, as we are entering into this political season actively, everyone should ensure that your conduct promoted peace in your place. Your actions should not be what would lead to the division and multiple crisis that we cannot manage as a government.

“I think with that, we can all live as one and we can also continue to make this progress that we are trying with all our mind, our body and our soul, to ensure that we deliver to our dear State,” he said.

Fubara urged the royal fathers to abide by the oath and constitution they swore to before ascending their respective stools, in the interest of stability and progress of the State.

He also enjoined them to set aside individual sentiments and place the interest of Rivers State above personal considerations, noting that this principle has guided his own day-to-day governance of the State.

“I want to enjoin everyone to keep aside issues of individual sentiments and ensure that the interest of our state supersedes whatever thing that we have in our mind. This is not just what I’m saying here, it is what I’ve also practiced and displayed in my day-to-day life in the governance of our dear State,” he said.

On the appeal for improved welfare for traditional rulers, the governor clarified that the delay in actualising some of the requests they made in the past was not from the government but from the inability of the Council to put its house in order.

Fubara explained that the issue of stipends paid to the traditional rulers by the local government councils, was a statutory benefit provided for in the constitution and not what a state governor can change by mere verbal pronouncements.

He assured that he remains a man of his word and will fulfill his promises to the traditional rulers before leaving office, next year.

He reaffirmed his respect for the traditional institution as custodians of culture and the closest link to the people, thanking them for their prayers and support.

The governor urged the royal fathers to ensure that the combined quarterly meeting featured fruitful deliberations that will strengthen peace and development in the State.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers and Paramount Ruler of Apara Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Eze Chike Amadi Worlu Wodo, expressed profound gratitude to the State Government for its efforts in maintaining a cordial relationship with the traditional institution.

Wodo highlighted the importance of traditional rulers in conflict resolution, noting that their closeness to the people places them in a strategic position to mediate in disputes involving chieftaincy matters, family disputes and land ownership in their respective communities.

The royal father drew the attention of the State Government to some challenges affecting the performance of the traditional institution, particularly the lack of official utility vehicles and logistical support needed to discharge its responsibilities effectively.

He also appealed for improved monthly stipends and better welfare provisions to reflect prevailing economic realities.