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One Year In Office: ‘We’ve Made Tremendous Progress On Governance’ …As PDP Scores Opobo/Nkoro LG Council Boss High
The Chairman of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Council of Rivers State, Hon Enyiada Cookey-Gam, has declared that the six-point development agenda of his administration have received tremendous attention with measured successes over the last one year of his administration.
The six-point agenda include security, infrastructure, economy, education, agriculture, healthcare of the people, among others.
Cookey-Gam, who stated this, last Saturday, at Opobo Town while commissioning numerous projects executed by the administration to mark his one-year in office, vowed to build bridges of transformation, especially at the satellite communities with the electrification of the area, provision of more empowerment and welfare programmes for the rural folks and the promotion of peace, security and progress of the people.
He called on the people to support his government to give the people better opportunities to prosper, stressing that government would continue to provide people-oriented projects, if the relative peace enjoyed by the people was sustained.
Also commissioned as part of the event, was a remodelled office to accommodate the DSS, NSCDC, NDLEA and Nigeria Immigration Service, among others.
According to him, “We were able to, apart from the office complex; complete a police station building at Nkoro Town, security post at Opobo New Layout, Opobo/Nkoro Council Staff Quarters, the procurement of office furniture for the LGA, the establishment of Opobo/Nkoro educational reading centre, and the sponsorship of capacity building for Opobo/Nkoro indigenes.
Cookey-Gam used the opportunity to appeal to faithful of PDP in the area to support his leadership.
Also speaking while performing the commissioning of the projects, former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Deacon Clapton Ogolo, commended the giant strides of the Chairman of Opobo/NkoroLGA, Hon Enyiada Copkey-Gam,describing his feat in the past one year as remarkable.
Ogolo stressed that the provision of office complex for the accommodation needs of government agencies in the area, among other projects, would go along way to alleviate the challenges they were facing while urging the agenciesto utilise and protect the facilities from theft and vandalisation.
The former commissioner further described the performance of the chairman as good omen for the electorate in the area, adding that,”We should support the administration of the chairman to enable him and his team perform creditably and deliver victory for the PDP in the 2023 general election”.
He admonished the electorate to ensure that they vote PDP candidates to victory, warning that any attempt to vote in another party would be disastrous for them.
In his remark, the PDP House of Assembly hopeful in 2023 for Opobo/Nkoro State Constituency, Hon Adolphus Orubienimigha, lauded the efforts of the chairman on projects delivery, describing him as doyen of quality governance.
Also speaking, the Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, Opobo/Nkoro chapter, Mr Godwin Manfred Pepple, said that Cookey-Gam has performed fantastically well, rating his delivery of projects and people-oriented programmes very high.
Pepple said, “As we gather here today for the commissioning of the DSS, Immigration, Civil Defense, Road Safety Corp Office Complex in Opobo Town which is one of the impactful projects of the Chairman of our LGA, Hon Enyiada Cookey-Gam, I’m so delighted to be present on this great day, not only the commissioning of this beautiful structure, but also a beautiful one year anniversary of this administration”.
He said the Peoples Democratic Party, Opobo/Nkoro LGA, is proud of the achievements of Cookey-Ga in the last one year in office.
He listed some of the projects to include enrolment of 20 Opobo/Nkoro indigent students on scholarship into Nigeria Teachers Institution (NTI), Opobo chapter; re-established of two GCE centres in Opobo and Nkoro Town; sponsorship of 100 Opobo/Nkoro indigent students for the Nov/Dec 2021 GCE examination; re-opening of marriage registry and sponsorship for training of personnel from the LGA; sponsorship of members of Opobo/Nkoro 7th Legislative Assembly for training, retreats and seminar; procurement of executive office desks, file cabinets and chairs for council staff; and renovation of the chairman’s official lodge.
Other projects are the total renovation and refurbishment of Opubo Hotel and Resorts in Opobo Town; reticulation of water supply in the LGA Council Secretariat; procurement of security gadgets for all security units and personnel for enhancement of security architecture in the area; refurbishing of security outboard boats for Marine Police patrol; planting of about 800 Royal Palm trees along the Opobo/Nkoro axis of the Ogoni-Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro Unity Road, from Nkoro entrance to Opobo waterfront; completion of the abandoned Senior Civil Servants Staff Quarters; building and commissioning of Security Checkpoint at Opobo New Layout of the Opobo/Nkoro axis of the Unity Road within 12 days; Completion of the Nkoro Police Station, Nkoro Town; the ongoing building of the Multi-Purpose Hall/Museum in Opobo Town; and procurement of five Sienna buses and two mini buses, among other projects.
Pepple also passed a vote of confidence on the impactful performance of Cookey-Gam as he celebrates his one year anniversary as the council boss.
By: Bethel Toby
Spokesman to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Segun Sowunmi, has advised his principal, Atiku, to learn from President Bola Tinubu on how to form a coalition.
The Tide reports that in a bid to wrest power from President Tinubu in 2027, Atiku has been leading the movement by opposition politicians to form a coalition of political parties ahead of the next general election.
Last month, opposition politicians set up a team comprising former Minister of Transpiration, Rotimi Amaechi, and former Governor of Cross River State, Liyel Imoke, to decide whether to float a new party or fuse into an existing platform.
While the main opposition party, PDP, struggles with a perennial leadership crisis, the former Vice President is bent on establishing another political force to take power from the ruling party in 2027.
But Sowunmi, who has been Atiku’s ally for many years, disagrees with his move, saying instead of forming a coalition with another political platform, he should coalesce opposition politicians into the PDP.
Speaking during an interview on TVC on Tuesday, Sowunmi, who was Atiku’s campaign spokesperson in the last election, asked his principal to learn from President Tinubu on how to form a coalition.
Sowunmi believes Atiku, having benefitted from the PDP as a former Vice President and getting the party’s presidential ticket twice, should not seek to form a coalition that will not have the PDP as its base.
He said, “I’ve always said to people, people love with their hearts. I love atiku with my bones. But I can’t help him against himself. You can’t run vice presidency on PDP two times with Obasanjo, get presidential candidate on that same party two times. I don’t agree with him that the next best thing is to be shopping for…(a platform) If you want a coalition, why are you not coalescing them into your party?” he asked.
The former PDP governorship candidate in Ogun State advised the ex-VP to learn from Tinubu on how to build a coalition without dumping his political party.
“Look at your rival, your friend. You guys started together. At best, even if you want to say he’s building a coalition is he not coalescing opponents into his place”? Sowunmi asked again.
The PDP chieftain, who recently showered praises on Tinubu after he visited him, said the President has an “uncanny ability to make everybody individually feel special” regardless of political affiliations.
His words: “That guy (Tinubu) is something oh, he has this uncanny ability to make everybody individually feel special. It doesn’t matter whether you are a former foe or a president’s friend, every moment you share with him, I don’t know how he does it, though you’re going to leave the place feeling that you matter, feeling that he gets it, feeling that what you guys are talking about is important. And there’s something about him, when he gives you his word, he will say something like ‘ko le ye’, meaning that to the best of human ability, it will stand.”
Meanwhile, there have been conversations about Sowunmi’s political stance as many questioned his relationship with Atiku, with whom he shares a longstanding political relationship.
Asked about his relationship with Atiku following his meeting with Tinubu, Sowunmi said he doesn’t know if the former Vice President is upset.
“I don’t know whether Atiku is upset or not upset, but I know a lot of our followers are talking a lot of nonsense, and I’m wondering how I became attached to Atiku when I’ve been in PDP since 1999 never leaving,” he responded.
The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has introduced a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to fix inconsistencies in tax services across its over 300 offices nationwide.
The move aims to make tax processes clearer, more transparent, and easier for Nigerians.
In a statement, Special Adviser on Communications and Advocacy to the FIRS Executive Chairman, Mr. Collins Omokaro, said the updated SOP is a key part of the agency’s plan to improve taxpayer experience.
He explained that, in the past, different FIRS offices used different methods, which often confused taxpayers.
“This is about people, experience, and impact. It’s a step towards a tax system that supports voluntary compliance and national development,” Omokaro said.
The new SOP provides a single guide for key processes like registration, payment, audit, and enforcement. This will ensure all FIRS offices follow the same steps, making the system fairer and more predictable.
FIRS Executive Chairman, Dr. Zacch Adedeji, described the SOP as more than just a set of rules.
“This SOP is not just a technical document; it is a declaration of who we are becoming as a service. It reflects our commitment to transparency and service to the Nigerian people,” he said.
The SOP also supports FIRS’s digital transformation, combining human and technological systems to deliver faster and more reliable services. It will also improve internal efficiency by providing clear guidance and better training for staff.
“With this rollout, every FIRS staff member has a clear mandate: study it, apply it, and embody it. That’s how we’ll earn the trust of Nigerians,” Omokaro added.
The reform is part of FIRS’s efforts to become a more service-driven organisation, focused on clarity, consistency, and national growth. The agency hopes the new SOP will make tax services better for Nigerians and increase public trust in the system.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, says the Federal Government is committed to building a world-class public service in Nigeria.
Walson-Jack made this known in Abuja, on Wednesday, at a World Press Conference ahead of the International Civil Service Conference and the African Public Service Week scheduled for June 25 to 26 in Abuja.
She said a recent study tour to Singapore was part of preparatory activities aimed at positioning Nigeria’s civil service for excellence and attracting global participation in the upcoming events.
“The study tour to Singapore was the first major activity we undertook under the collaboration between the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation and the Heads of Service of the 36 states and the FCT,” she said.
According to her, the visit, supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), involved 20 State Heads of Service and was designed to benchmark best global practices and enhance Nigeria’s public service delivery.
“The idea was born out of our ongoing collaboration, where we share ideas and knowledge across federal and state levels.
“Singapore was chosen because it is globally recognised for excellence in public service,” she explained.
Walson-Jack noted that the second phase of the tour will involve the remaining 17 heads of service later this year.
She said the tour provided participants with the opportunity to engage with both public and private sector institutions in Singapore, compare administrative practices, and gain insights into global standards.
“It was an eye-opener and a capacity-building opportunity.
“Since our return, several state civil services have begun implementing reforms in collaboration with the federal service, particularly in areas such as capability development and digital transformation,” she added.
Walson-Jack further disclosed that Nigeria would host a reciprocal study tour during the upcoming African Public Service Week, where foreign delegates will engage with various federal institutions.
“They will see firsthand our digitalisation efforts, performance management systems, and other reform initiatives aimed at transforming our civil service.
“We hope the experience will inspire similar actions in their home countries,” she said.