Politics
LG Poll: As PDP Campaigns In Degema
From the length and breadth, the nooks and crannies of the local government area, the faithful and sympathisers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Degema Local Government Area Council converged at the headquarters of the council, Degema. They milled out in their multitude from the towns, villages, the fishing and farming settlements. They even came from the cities and the metropolis across the state. They came in their numbers. They came in their colours. They came with jubilant drum beats.
They came singing songs of celebration and trumpeting tunes of inspiration and hopes of victory.
They traversed the tributaries and the rivulets. They crossed the creeks, the rivers and the seas, riding upon the storms and the waves to the consulate and erstwhileprovinvial headquarters to galvanise themselves into action, electoral action that is. They came under the umbrella to take back messages of hope, of new visions and of renewed commitments to deliver democratic dividends. They gathered knowing it is their election, their government, the one that is closest to them. The occasion was the party’s campaign flag-off at the local government area. The date was Thursday, April 1, 2021. And the venue was the Rt Hon. Tonye Harry Sports Complex, Degema.
In attendance were the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Her Excellency Ipalibo Harry-Banigo in representative capacity, other top state government functionaries from the local government area, incumbent chairman of the council, Dr Tony Philmoore, Chairman of the party in the LGA, Mr Peter Abbey, Chairmanship candidate, Mr John Williams, the councillorship candidates in the 17 Wards, traditional rulers, chiefs, and opinion leaders of the LGA.
Describing the PDP DELGA Chairmanship flagbearer as tested, tried and, trusted the Rivers State Commissioner for Power, Hon. Damiete Herbert-Miller who represented the Deputy Governor, Dr Ipalibo Harry-Banigo at the occasion said that the choice of Mr Michael John Williams would usher in a new dawn in which the people of DELGA would be mobilized for a greater future.
Hon. Herbert-Miller described the PDP chairmanship candidate as detribalized, focused and coolheaded, affirming that “Michael John Williams, no doubt, will perform beyond expectation. He is a shining light and emerging good leader.
In his own address, the chairman of Degema Local Government Council, Dr Tony Philmoore who outlined his achievement in the nearly three years in office amidst cheers remarked that he had implicit confidence in the ability of Mr Williams in developing the LGA.
The council boss expressed hope that the PDP candidate would continue the projects initiated by his administration for the benefit of the people, adding that “John Williams is capable of providing innovative leadership where service in humility would be the hallmark”.
Dr Philmoore declared his total support for the party’s standard bearer and urged the people to continue to drum support for the “incoming administration”, while imploring the party faithful to deseminate the message to all the wards as his government was prepared to provide the logistics required to reach all the units in the council area.
In his own contribution, the chairman of PDP in Degema Local Government Area, Hon Peter Abbey opined that Mr Williams would replicate the legacies of Governor Nyesom Wike in Degema and called on the people of the area to vote massively for the PDP and its candidates come April 17 for them to have a taste of the Wike project experience.
“Michael John Williams will turn DELGA into a construction site as Wike turned the state into a projects’ site”, the LGA party chairman enthused.
In his own address, the chairmanship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Degema Local Government Area, Mr Michael John Williams pledged to reward all the communities in the LGA with people-oriented projects if elected into office on Saturday, April 17, 2021.
Mr Williams enjoined the people of Degema Local Government Area to go out enmass and vote for all the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, assuring that his administration would ensure a paradigm shift in service delivery where the people’s interest will receive priority attention over and above any other consideration.
“Projects must be executed in all the communities that make up DELGA. The councilors will be integral part of the projects execution. The people must be carried along in consultation during policy decisions and my government must truly be government of the people”, he said.
The chairmanship candidate of the PDP further appealed to the people of the area for support while promising not to let them down or take them for granted in the management of their affairs and resources.
“I will not fail you people. Together we shall bring back our LGA on stream”, he pledged while extending an olive branch to all the aspirants of the party who could not make it through the primaries, calling on them to join efforts with him, not just to win the election but also to deliver a result-oriented and people-focused governance to Delgans.
Speaking exclusively to The Tide on the sidelines of the occasion, the Director-General of the Michael John Williams/PDP Campaign Organisation, Michael D. C. Ekineh described his principal as a man with a burning craving for projects and programmes that will uplift the living condition of the people.
“Michael John Williams is a listening leader. He has well articulated programmes of action, especially for the youths, which would be laid bare during the course of the campaigns,” the DG said, adding that he was confident of his candidate’s capacity and ability to deliver on all the promises made to the people of Degema Local Government Area.
As the people of Degema Local Government Area wait for Saturday, April 17, 2021 to cast their votes for the parties and candidates of their choice, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidates have since taken their messages to them (people) in the communities and electoral wards and units.
By: Opaka Dokubo & Iminabo Fyneface
The Tide source reports that the committee, reportedly backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, is making moves to reclaim the Wadata Plaza headquarters months after it was sealed following a violent clash between rival factions of the party.
Senior officers at the FCT Police Command told our source that while they had not received an official briefing, police personnel would be stationed at the secretariat and other key locations to maintain peace.
The Acting National Secretary of the Mohammed-led committee, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, announced last week that the secretariat would reopen for official activities on Monday (today).
He dismissed claims that ongoing litigation would prevent the reopening, saying, “There are no legal barriers preventing the caretaker committee from resuming work at the party’s headquarters.”
However, the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) has fiercely rejected the reopening move, insisting that Sen. Anyanwu and his group remain expelled from the PDP and have no authority to act on its behalf.
Speaking with The Tide source, the committee’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, declared: “They are living in fool’s paradise. The worst form of deceit is self-deceit, where the person knows he is deceiving himself yet continues with gusto.
“Even INEC, which they claim has recognised them, has denied them. They are indulging in a roller coaster of self-deceit.”
Mr Ememobong further revealed that letters had been sent to both the Inspector-General of Police and the FCT Commissioner of Police, stressing that the matter was still in court and warning against any attempt to “resort to self-help.”
“The case pending before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik was instituted by the expelled members. They cannot resort to self-help until judgment is delivered,” he said.
He warned that reopening the secretariat would amount to contempt of court.
A senior officer at the FCT Police Command, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that officers would be deployed to the area to avert a repeat of the November 19 violence that led to the secretariat’s initial closure.
“The command would not stand by and allow a breakdown of peace and order by the party or anyone else. Definitely, the police will have to be on the ground,” he said.
Another officer added, “There will definitely be men present at the secretariat, but I can’t say the number of police officers that would be deployed.”
When contacted, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, said she had not been briefed on the planned reopening and declined to comment on whether officers would be deployed.
Asked to confirm whether the secretariat was initially sealed by police, she responded, “Yes,” but refused to say more about the current deployment plans.
The Kano State House of Assembly has debunked the purported impeachment plan against the Deputy Governor, Aminu Gwarzo.
The Tide source recalls that the Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, recently sparked controversy during an interview session with a local radio station.
Mr Waiya called on the deputy governor to resign for failing to follow his principal, Gov. Abba Yusuf, in defecting from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, the spokesperson to the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Kamaluddeen Shawai, while addressing journalists in Kano on Saturday, described reports circulating in some media outlets about Mr Gwarzo’s impeachment as baseless and misleading, emphasising that no such plan is underway.
Mr Shawai further stated that the House remains focused on its legislative duties and oversight functions rather than engaging in speculative political manoeuvres.
The spokesperson urged members of the public and the media to verify information before sharing it, stressing the importance of accurate reporting in maintaining political stability in the state.
He said, “There is absolutely no motion or initiative within the House to remove the deputy governor.
“These reports are false and should be disregarded by the public. The deputy governor continues to serve in his capacity with full support from the House.
“Our priority is good governance and serving the people of Kano, not circulating rumours.”
She made the declaration during an interview with Nigerian football legend, Mr Segun Odegbami, during a live radio interview on Saturday.
Prof. Obasanjo, who is also former commissioner in the state, ruled out a return to the Senate, stating that her focus was firmly on the governorship race.
“So, moving ahead, I’m not going to be Commissioner. Like I said, I’m not even going back to the same party because I think that’s old and I don’t see the use of it. And I’m not going to go back to the Senate,” she said.
“Like the Americans would say, there’s no need. And this is what I told my associates, when this all started. I said, the only thing I’ll come back to do is the governorship.
“And we have started that journey. We are going to see it through. And so that’s the journey I’m on. And we are very serious about it. I mean we are very dedicated to it.”
The politician also confirmed that she recently joined the APC, explaining that her return to active politics followed persistent calls from supporters.
“Like I told you, a group of people who I did not bring together, have been working, I think, for two years now. And then they started talking to me about a year ago, saying, ‘Look, we think you are the best candidate. We want you back,’” she added.
Her declaration sets the stage for what may become a keenly contested governorship race in Ogun State ahead of the 2027 elections.
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