Politics
PDP Has Capacity To Rescue Nigeria – Akawor
The Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Desmond Akawor, has expressed optimism that the new national leadership of the party would work relentlessly and cooperatively with PDP Governors to rescue Nigeria from bad governance.
Speaking in an interview with newsmen in his office in Port Harcourt on Monday, Ambassador Akawor who said Nigerians were fed up with the APC, opined that they would support the PDP to return to power, having compared what their condition of living was when the PDP was in power at the centre and the current situation under the APC-led government.
The state PDP Chairman regretted that Nigeria which was the fastest growing economy in Africa under the PDP-led Federal Government is now the World’s Poverty Capital under the APC administration.
He said under the APC-led Federal Government, insecurity had become the order of the day, noting that no day passed without news of people being killed in parts of the country.
“There is no way PDP Governors will meet without discussing about the security situation of the country. Security is very crucial because people are dying everyday. Everyday people wake up in the morning to hear that 30 people have been killed in Kaduna, 20 people have been killed in Benue so so number of people in Borno. It is happening everyday, even yesterday 25 people were killed in Kaduna.
“I am sure you are aware that the country is in the intensive care unit, (ICU) and bleeding. Listening to our brothers from North East, North West and North Central, you will know that Nigerians are going through excruciating pains and these Governors and the National Working Committee are determined to rescue Nigerians from the problem of bad leadership”.
Ambassador Akawor asserted that Rivers People were happy and elated that the 13 PDP Governors were in the state, saying what is particularly unique about the visit is that they are in a state that is totally PDP.
”They are in a state where the DNA of the people is PDP and the texture of the soil is also PDP”.
Commenting on the ban on the activities of artisenal refiners by Governor NyesomWike, the former Ambassador to South Korea said the move was a step in the right direction as it was aimed at ending the continuous emmission of soot caused by incomplete combustion of gas into the atmosphere due to the illegal activities of oil bunkerers, otherwise known as ‘Kpofire’.
Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has appointed Nigerian music legend, Innocent Idibia, popularly known as TuFace, as his Technical Adviser on Entertainment and Community Outreach.
In a viral video on Wednesday, Governor Alia praised TuFace for all the support towards his administration.
The Governor stated that TuFace can do more.
He stated, “On behalf of the Benue State Government and our very good people, we want to give you some more responsibility plus the ones you have been doing because you have the capacity to do some more and help us chart a way forward to improve other people’s lives and to gain more from your wisdom and advice as well.
“So, I’m pleased to announce that we will make you a Technical Adviser to the Governor on Entertainment and Community Outreach.”
Governor of Delta State, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The announcement was made following a closed-door meeting at the Government House in Asaba on Wednesday.
The Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, confirmed the development in a telephone conversation with The Tide’s source.
Similarly, the defection of former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa was announced on Wednesday in Asaba by Senator James Manager, following a meeting that lasted over six hours at the Government House.
Senator Manager said all PDP members in the State, including the Governor, former Governor Okowa, the Speaker, the state party chairman, and all local government chairmen, had agreed to join the APC.
“We cannot continue to be in a sinking boat,” he said.
The decision to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) followed extensive consultations with political stakeholders and was made in the interest of Delta State’s long-term development.
Governor Oborevwori, who won the 2023 gubernatorial election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was received by senior APC officials in what political analysts are already describing as a strategic realignment with far-reaching implications ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria has condemned the recent wave of killings in Plateau, Borno, Benue, Niger State and most recently, Kwara State, calling on the federal and state governments to take urgent steps to stem the tide.
Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, Adebo Ogundoyin, stated this in a statement issued in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Rt Hon. Ogundoyin, who is the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, said the gruesome killings had led to tragic loss of lives, widespread displacement, and unimaginable trauma for thousands of Nigerians.
“We are alarmed by the escalating insecurity in the land and the seeming helplessness with which these attacks are met. The time for mere condemnation and rhetoric has passed; urgent and coordinated action is now required at all levels of government to end these bloodbaths and restore peace and order.
“While we acknowledge that defence and national security fall within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal Government, we must stress that every level of government bears responsibility for the security and welfare of the people. State governors, in particular, must rise to the occasion and fully understand that governance is not limited to road construction and ceremonial functions. True governance is rooted in the protection of lives, the preservation of order, and the alleviation of suffering,” he said.
He called on state governments to complement the efforts of the Federal Government by making and enforcing enabling laws for community policing and other grassroots-driven security models.
According to him, States must develop proactive frameworks that integrate local intelligence, social support systems, and youth engagement in the fight against insecurity.
The conference also urged the Federal Government to meaningfully engage the citizenry and introduce bold, practical measures to cushion the hardship caused by its current economic policies.
“Millions of Nigerians are groaning under the weight of inflation, unemployment, and a cost-of-living crisis. It is imperative that relief initiatives—targeted, transparent, and impactful—are rolled out without delay. Dialogue, not distance, must define the relationship between the government and its people at this critical time.
“The Conference of Speakers affirms its commitment to supporting all legislative actions necessary to restore security, promote justice, and foster inclusive governance across the country. The killings in Benue, Niger, Plateau, Borno, Kwara, and any part of Nigeria must not be allowed to continue unchecked. Justice must prevail, and peace must be restored.
“Let it be known: the safety, dignity, and well-being of every Nigerian must remain the top priority of all arms and levels of government,” Rt Hon. Ogundoyin said.