Politics
Wike Pledges More Support To Legionnaires
Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebrated last week nationwide and issues relating to Nigerian War Heroes and the welfare of their families, dominated activities in Government House, Port Harcourt , last week.
At the Jumaat Service to kick off the celebration penultimate Friday, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, declared the commitment of his administration to work with the armed forces to promote security of lives and property.
Represented at the service by his Special Adviser, Mohamed Aribitonye, the Rivers State Governor commended the armed forces for their contributions and promised that Rivers State Government will continue to support ex-servicemen and the families left behind by war heroes who paid the supreme price defending the country.
Governor Wike led officials of the state government to an interdenominational church service marking the 2020 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration at St Peter’s Anglican Church, Rumuepirikom, penultimate Sunday where he implored members of Nigerian Armed Forces to be professional and apolitical
Speaking at the wreath laying ceremony Wednesday at Isaac Boro park, Port Harcourt, the Governor called on Nigerians to unite and motivate Nigerian Armed Forces to defeat the insurgents in the Northeast.
He donated the sum of N100 million for the scholarship of children of fallen heroes to university level and directed Secretary to Rivers State Government, Dr Tammy Danagogo, to work out modalities on how the state government could further support the Nigerian Legion and soldiers of Rivers State origin who paid the ultimate price.
Recall that last December, Rivers State Government organised an Emblem Appeal Fund Launch at Obi Wali International Conference Center, Port Harcourt for the benefit of the state chapter of the Nigerian Legion.
Chairman, Rivers State Command of the body, Justice Chichi, praised Governor Wike for his extraordinary kindness towards the welfare and support of ex-servicemen and families of fallen heroes.
Also last week, civil servants in the state had reason to celebrate as Governor Wike officially approved the immediate implementation of N30,000 minimum wage and consequential adjustments as approved by the Federal Government.
Another major event in Government House within the week under review was the visit of the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare 11 to Governor Wike.
The Oba who led other traditional rulers from Edo on the visit, appreciated the cordial relationship existing between the people of Edo and the people of Rivers State.
He stated that his visit was in line with the tradition established by his late father aimed at strengthening friendly and close relationship between the peoples, noting that history has it that some of the tribes in Rivers State, as Ikwerre, Ahoada and Omoku, among others traced their ancestry to Benin.
He lauded Governor Wike for the huge progress made in the state, stressing that the Governor remained one person he listened to with passion whenever on news.
In his response, Governor Wike thanked the Oba for the visit and remarked that Benin culture is a source of pride in the sense that it remains intact in the face of Western incursion that has influenced other traditions in the country.
He urged the Oba to initiate regular interactions with other traditional rulers in the region to protect the cultural heritage and development in the region.
Still last week , a delegation of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) was in Brick House on a courtesy visit to the Rivers State Governor.
NMA President, Dr Francis Faduyile, excited by the impressive performance of Governor Wike, described the Governor as the Doyen of Infrastructural Development In Nigeria”.
Represented by the association’s Vice President, Dr Ofem Enang, the President commended the cordial relationship existing between the state government and NMA.
He said that the visit was to intimate the Governor about the forthcoming Nigerian Medical Doctors Games to be hosted in Port Harcourt and solicited for the Governor’s support.
Chris Oluoh
The former two-term governor went down memory lane to recall how they founded the APC but were used and dumped.
In his words, “…those calling on us to join APC, we have agreed to join the APC but on clear agreement that protects and respects the interest of my party, NNPP and my political movement, Kwankwasiyya. No state where you go that you don’t have NNPP and Kwankwasiyya. We have gubernatorial candidates, senatorial candidates and others.
“We are ready to join APC under strong conditions and promises. We will not allow anyone to use us and later dump us.
“We were among the founding fathers of the APC and endured significant persecution from various security agencies while challenging the previous administration.
“Yet when the party assumed power, we received no recognition or appreciation for our sacrifices, simply because we didn’t originate from their original faction.
“We are not in a hurry to leave the NNPP; we are enjoying and have peace of mind. But if some want a political alliance that would not disappoint us like in the past, we are open to an alliance. Even if it is the PDP that realised their mistakes, let’s enter an agreement that will be made public,” Sen. Kwankwaso stated.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has dismissed long-standing claims that he once sought to extend his tenure in office, insisting he never pursued a third term.
Speaking at the Democracy Dialogue organised by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation in Accra, Ghana, Chief Obasanjo said there is no Nigerian, living or dead, who can truthfully claim he solicited support for a third term agenda.
“I’m not a fool. If I wanted a third term, I know how to go about it. And there is no Nigerian, dead or alive, that would say I called him and told him I wanted a third term,” the former president declared.
Chief Obasanjo argued that he had proven his ability to secure difficult national goals, citing Nigeria’s debt relief during his administration as a much greater challenge than any third term ambition.
“I keep telling them that if I could get debt relief, which was more difficult than getting a third term, then if I wanted a third term, I would have got it too,” he said.
He further cautioned against leaders who overstay in power, stressing that the belief in one’s indispensability is a “sin against God.”
On his part, former President Goodluck Jonathan said any leader who failed to perform would be voted out of office if proper elections were conducted.
Describing electoral manipulation as one of the biggest threats to democracy in Africa, he said unless stakeholders come together to rethink and reform democracy, it may collapse in Africa.
He added that leaders must commit to the kind of democracy that guarantees a great future for the children where their voices matter.
He said: “Democracy in Africa continent is going through a period of strain and risk collapse unless stakeholders came together to rethink and reform it. Electoral manipulation remains one of the biggest threats in Africa.
“We in Africa must begin to look at our democracy and rethink it in a way that works well for us and our people. One of the problems is our electoral system. People manipulate the process to remain in power by all means.
“If we had proper elections, a leader who fails to perform would be voted out. But in our case, people use the system to perpetuate themselves even when the people don’t want them.
“Our people want to enjoy their freedoms. They want their votes to count during elections. They want equitable representation and inclusivity. They want good education. Our people want security. They want access to good healthcare. They want jobs. They want dignity. When leaders fail to meet these basic needs, the people become disillusioned.”
The dialogue was also attended by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Sokoto diocese of Catholic Church among others who all stressed that democracy in Africa must go beyond elections to include accountability, service, and discipline.
The Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday resumed plenary session after a six-month state of emergency imposed on the state by President Bola Tinubu elapsed on Wednesday midnight.
President Bola Tinubu had lifted the emergency rule on September 17, with the Governor of the state, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the state assembly asked to resume duties on September 18.
The plenary was presided over by the Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule, at the conference hall located within the legislative quarters in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
The conference hall has served as the lawmakers’ temporary chamber since their official chamber at the assembly complex on Moscow Road was torched and later pulled down by the state government.
The outgone sole administrator of the state, Ibok-Ete Ibas, could not complete the reconstruction of the assembly complex as promised.
Recall that on March 18, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers following the prolonged political standoff between Fubara and members of the House of Assembly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
He subsequently suspended the governor, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and lawmakers for six months and installed a sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.), to manage the state’s affairs.
The decision sparked widespread controversy, with critics accusing the president of breaching the Constitution.
However, others hailed the move as a necessary and pragmatic step.
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