Politics
Rep Candidate Promises To Tackle Insecurity In Constituency
Barely few weeks to the 2019 National Assembly elections in the country, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Ikwerre /Emohua Federal Constituency, Barrister Boniface Emerengwa, has pledged to partner with the security agents to tackle insecurity in Ikwerre clans.
Emerengwa, a one -time Chairman of Ikwerre local government Area (KELGA) also said he would ensure that peace reigned in all the communities in Ikwerre clans, if voted into power
The PDP candidate spoke with The Tide on Monday at Omagwa, shortly before the flag off of the PDP KELGA rally held in the honour of Governor Nyesom Wike and the chieftains of the party in the locality ahead of the general elections.
Emerengwa said he would also ensure the building of police stations in communities in Emohua and Ikwerre to curb insecurity and attract investors to the area
He personally said more police stations would be built in Ipo, Ubima, Rumuodogo and Rumuewhor communities to end cuilt-related activities and social vices in the areas.
Emerengwa, who won the election to the Federal House of Representatives in 2015 to represent Ikwerre and Emohua constituency under the umbrella of PDP, but was later removed by the court, said, he would also attract even development to the areas, if voted into power.
He said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) in both Ikwerre and Emohua LGAs is dead and buried as he boasted that PDP would win the polls.
Emerengware called that while in the House of Representatives, he masterminded the construction of the Airport, Omagwa road and the popular Aba road through his motions in the floor of the house for attention.
“We need more police stations in the Ikwerre and Emohua rural communities to curb crimes and criminalities and make the place more habitable for investors and the public”, he said.
The Ikweere and Emohua House of Representatives hopeful also hinted that, if elected into office, he would fight for more federal government presence in his constituency by ensuring that more primary healthcare services were provided in Ibaa, Ndele and Rumuji to cater for the health needs of the rural populace.
While admonishing the electorate in his constituency to collect their Permanent Voters Card ahead of the poll, Emerengwa urged the Ikwerre people to vote PDP enmass come February and March, 2019
He equally appealed to his constituency to vote Governor Nyesom Wike come March,2 and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar for President.
On vote buying, Emerengwa called on Ikwerre people to remain focused and not to be deceived by the antics of the opposition party, but vote wisely, shun any act of violence, and defend their votes in their various units.
He lauded Wike for the massive construction of internal road networks in Ikwerre communities, especially the Ipo, Ubima, Isiokpo, Aluu / Uniport road, Aluu/ Rumuekini link road and Igwuruta roads.
Describing PDP as Ikwerre political party, Emerengwa insisted that Wike deserved a second term in office due to his track records and his developmental agenda for the people of the state.
Chinedu Wosu
In a statement on Saturday, the former Senate Leader stated that the allocation of nominees across states and geopolitical zones falls short of the constitutional requirement for fair representation in the composition of the Federal Government.
The ex-Senate Whip warned that allowing the list to pass could deepen ethnic suspicion at a time when the administration should be consolidating national unity.
He highlighted disparities in the spread of nominees, noting that while some states have three or four slots, others have none. He also cited the inclusion of Senator Adamu Garba Talba from Yobe, who reportedly died in July.
“The entire North-East states have seven nominees in the list. Further checks revealed that the South-West geo-political zone has 15 nominees, while North-West and South-East have 13 and 9, respectively.
“North-Central region has 10 nominees in the list of career and non-career ambassadorial nominee while South-South parades 12 nominees,” Senator Ndume said.
According to him, such imbalances could heighten tensions and undermine Section 14(3) of the Constitution.
“My sincere appeal to President Tinubu is to withdraw this list. At this critical juncture in his administration, he should avoid missteps that could undermine national unity and foster ethnic distrust.
“I know him to be a cosmopolitan leader who is at home with every segment and stakeholder in the country. He should withdraw that list and present a fresh set of nominees that will align with the spirit of the Constitution on the Federal Character Principle,” Senator Ndume added.
He accused the legislators of undermining the sanctity of the legislature and acting as instruments of destabilization.
“The members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have, by their actions since they assumed office, shown that they are political puppets and a clog in the wheels of democratic progress,” Comrade Ememobong stated, adding that “They will go down in history as enemies of democracy and those who made mockery of the legislature.”
“So the easiest way to describe their action is a defection from APC to APC,” he said.
Comrade Ememobong announced that the party would deploy constitutional provisions to reclaim its mandate from those who have “ignobly and surreptitiously” abandoned the platform on which they were elected.
“Consequently, the PDP will take legal steps to activate the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999 as amended) to recover the mandate gained under the banner of our party which these people have now switched to another platform,” he said.
He urged party members in Rivers State to remain calm and steadfast.
“We urge all party members in Rivers State to remain faithful and resolute, as efforts are underway to rebuild the party along the path of inclusiveness, fairness and equity,” Comrade Ememobong assured.
As the news of the defection of 17 members of Rivers State House of Assembly from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP )to the All Progressives Congress (APC) continue to make the rounds, a cross section of Rivers people who spoke to The Tide have expressed varying views regarding the development.
At Etche, a senior lecturer with the Rivers State University, who did not want his name in print, said even though defection was the right of politicians, peace and stability remained more fundamental than any action that could further challenge the fragile political situation in the state at the moment.
He also warned that the situation should not be used to witch-hunt any one, adding that the state had suffered enough and needed to be at peace.
In his reaction, Engr Polycarp Geoffrey said even though citizens and residents of the state had cause to be concerned about the decision of the lawmakers, there was nothing to worry about if it was done in good faith.
“I don’t think there is any big deal about it – defection is defection. But people are worried because of past events in the state. So, for me, I don’t see anything about it”, he said.
Engr Geoffrey also urged the Governor Siminalayi Fubara to also openly declare political affiliation in a bid to douse the political tension in the state and to provide clarity regarding his future political direction.
Another respondent, Mr Ebere Alex, alleged ulterior motive behind the law makers’ defection but urged both the law makers and the governor to work for the peace and development of the state.
However, speaking on the development, a chieftain of the PDP in the state, Hon Nname Ewor, told The Tide that said his party would reach out to the remaining lawmakers who have not defected.
He also denied an alleged internal squabble within the PDP, adding that there was no crisis in the party.
It would be recalled that 17 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly led by the Speaker, Rt Hon. Martin Amaewhule, during plenary last Friday, announced their migration from the PDP to the APC, citing internal party crisis.
Other members who also defected were the Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon. Dumle Maol, representing Gokana Constituency; House Leader, Hon. Major Jack, representing Akulga Constituency 1 and Deputy Leader, Hon. Linda Somiari-Stewart, representing Okrika Constituency; Hon. Solomon Wami, Port Harcourt Constituency 1 and Hon Granville Tekena Wellington representing Asari Toru Constituency 1; Hon. Ofiks Kagbang, representing Andoni Constituency; Hon. Peter Abbey representing Degema Constituency; Hon. Arnold Dennis representing Ogu/Bolo Constituency; Hon. Chimezie Nwankwor representing Etche Constituency 2 and Hon. Franklin Nwabochi representing Onelga Constituency 1.
The rest were, Hon. Azeru Opara, representing Port Harcourt Constituency 3; Hon. Smart Adoki representing Port Harcourt Constituency 2; Hon. Igwe Afforji ,Eleme Constituency and Hon. Lolo Opuende representing Akuku Toru Constituency 2.
By: John Bibor
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