Politics
Wike Preaches Peace, Love At Yuletide
There was an increased number of activities in Government House, Port Harcourt, last week, apparently because it happened to be the last week of the year.
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, on Monday, presented N480 billion 2019 ,Appropriation Bill to the Rivers State House of Assembly for consideration.
The budget which is christened “ Budget of Sustainable Growth and Development “, the Governor says will take as many Rivers people as possible out of poverty and improve the standard of living of the people.
According to him, the main thrust of the 2019 budget is to promote economic growth and diversification, create jobs and reduce unemployment.
It is premised on an oil price benchmark of 55 US Dollars per barrel, which is five Dollars lower than that of the Federal Government. It has N323, 288, 970, 085:00 as Capital expenditure, while Recurrent Expenditure will gulp N157,122,354,564: 15.
Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Ikuinyi – Owaji Ibani described the budget as one full of hope for the people of the state stressing that it took care of all sectors of the economy.
Meanwhile, Gov Wike has urged Nigerians to use this year’s Christmas to promote love, friendship, peace and reconciliation.
In his Christmas message, the governor particularly urged Rivers people to erect platforms of love, peace and reconciliation for greater development of the state, assuring that his administration will always focus on delivery of people- oriented projects.
He further assured of security throughout the period of celebration.
Still in the spirit of Christmas, wife of the Governor, Hon. Justice Suzzette Nyesom Wike, visited Christmas babies last Tuesday at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt.
The Governor’s wife visited Baby Emmanuel Emeshe who was delivered by 12. 05 am and Baby Ibia Goodness delivered by 12.20pm. The visit was in consonance with the established tradition of reaching out to mothers during Christmas and New Year.
She called on mothers to always persevere in looking after their families because God had put a lot in the hands of mother.
Similarly, the first lady of the state hosted hundreds of children at a Christmas party on 26th December, being the Boxing Day. She presented gifts to the children from various local government areas of the state who were in the party held in Government House.
On the same Boxing Day, Governor Wike was in Etche to attend the Ogbakor Etche 2018 Convention.
Wike made record as the first Governor to attend the convention in the history of convention.
The Governor was celebrated by the people of Etche nation because of the numerous projects executed in both Etche and Omuma local government areas as well as several appointment to sons and daughters of the area.
Wike received a special gift from Ogbakor Etche. He was assured of support for a second term in office.
Wike thanked the people of Etche for the strong support given to his administration and assured that he will execute more projects and appoint more Etche sons and daughters into positions of trust.
He noted that Etche Local Government Area was so large that even with the several road projects executed, it looked as if nothing was done and remarked that his administration will execute more road projects in Etche land.
In a similar manner, Gov Wike , assured the people of Ogoni that he will consolidate on his project delivery in the area during his second term in office.
Wike made the promise last Wednesday while commissioning the Akporo water project executed in the area by a member of the Rivers State Universal Basic Education Board, Mr Williams Nzidee, in Khan’s Local Government Area.
Wike was represented at the event by his Chief of Staff, Engineer Emeka Woke.
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.
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