Politics
PDP Leaders Hail Ariolu’s Performance On Infrastructure, Human Capacity Dev
The leadership of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area has passed a vote of confidence on the administration of Barrister George Ariolu’s owing to his sterling performance in his first one year in office.
Speaking at the council headquarters, Rumuodomaya, member representing Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Kingsley Ogundu Chinda, described Ariolu’s one year in office as laudable.
He said this when he led a delegation of PDP leaders from Obio/Akpor extraction on a courtesy call to the chairman at the council headquarters, Rumuodomaya, commending Ariolu’s efforts in promoting infrastructure development, human capacity upgrade and tackling touting in the area.
Ogundu, in his speech, commended the chairman for deploying his vast knowledge and experience in administration for the enhancement of quality programmes and policies which had impacted greatly on education and infrastructure.
He eulogised the council boss for his uprightness and steadfastness towards achieving a better Obio/Akpor, commending him for his prudence in management of scarce resources to develop key sectors in the area.
According to him, Ariolu’s one year in office was a clear indication to the good people of Obio/Akpor that he came prepared with a blueprint to develop, reconstruct and transform the area.
Other leaders, who spoke at the sideline of the council headquarters’ inspection,last Wednesday, affirmed the huge impact that Ariolu’s administration has had in the area of security, stating that the local government area was now a safe haven for citizens to live and carry out their businesses.
The leaders stated that Ariolu’s scorecards in his first one year in office have demonstrated his desire to reposition and re-engineer Obio/Akpor to an enviable height to the envy of others, noting that his actions and performance has proved naysayers and agents of destabilisation in the area wrong with his landmark achievements in human capacity development throughout the nooks and crannies of the area.
The Obio/Akpor Local Government Council, Barrister George Ariolu, who conducted the leaders round some projects being undertaken by his administration, expressed delight with the visit which he noted is in the interest of the people and will spur his administration to carry out more people-oriented projects.
He used the opportunity to appreciate Rivers State Governor, Chief NyesomWike, for entrusting such a tasking job on him and recognising his administrative capabilities, which is being put to good use for the benefit of the people, acknowledging the roles of the governor in ensuring that he emerged as chairman of Obio/Akpor.
Ariolu equally used the opportunity to appreciate the leaders for the trust and confidence reposed on him during the electioneering period.
He described his achievements as superlative while affirming support of his administration to Wike’s leadership which has transformed the state and placed it in the comity of states in Nigeria.
The leaders, who spoke included, Majority Leader, Rivers State House of Assembly, representing Obio/Akpor State Constituency 1, HonMartin ChikeAmaewhule; member, Rivers State House of Assembly representing Obio/Akpor State Constituency II, Hon Michael Chinda; and Deputy Chairman, Rivers State PDP,Chukwuemeka Aaron.
Others includeformer Special Adviser to Rivers State Governor on Lands, Dr.AnugbumOnuoha; Chairman, PDP, Obio/Akpor Chapter, Hon. ChidiAmadi; PDP Leader, ObioAkpor Constituency 1, Elder Peter Chinwo; PDP Leader,Obio/Akpor Constituency II, Elder Lawrence Amadioha.
By: Nelson Chukwudi
The Tide source reports that Prof. Akinoso was elected alongside 38 other executive members of the party at the congress held on Saturday.
Other executive members are Dr Abiola Olaonipekun, who emerged as Secretary, Alhaja Latifah Latifu, Women Leader and Mr A. Adeleke, elected as Youth Leader.
It was learnt that the congress, which took place at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Oke Ado in Ibadan, was attended by representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Police, other security agencies and prominent members of the party.
The election was supervised by electoral committee members, among whom were Prince Diran Odeyemi, who served as Chairman, Hon. Awoniyi Tolulope, Mr Babatunde Gbadamosi, Queen Stepheine Oyechere, Alhaji Yusuf Abidakun, Mr Olumide Aguda and Dr Phillips Adeniyi, who served as Secretary.
Prof. Akinoso, in his inaugural address, urged members of the party to set aside intra-party differences.
He advised them to concentrate their resources on the promotion of the party, saying, “The primary responsibilities of party executive members are to coordinate party activities, ensure harmony among members, and ensure party victory during general elections.
“Our immediate assignments are to key into INEC released 2027 general election time-tables. As directed by the National Caretaker Committee of PDP, our party e-membership registration starts next week. We must be fully involved and do a membership drive.
“A political party is only relevant and benefits its members if it wins the election. This is our goal. We should set aside intra-party differences; concentrate our resources towards the promotion of the party. We will make necessary consultations and dialogue to actualise this”.
President Tinubu disclosed this during an interfaith breaking of fast with senior journalists and media executives at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Saturday.
He also disclosed that his administration had opened up on the principles of true federalism to the extent that local governments now get direct allocation from the Federal Government.
“There’s no morning that I ever leave my house without going through the newspapers. It’s an addiction. I read all of you.
“It might not be in full detail, but headline, the one that would hit me and the ones that won’t.
“At the beginning of this administration, I was just a little bit stubborn, looking at opportunities to correct things and make life more easier for the downtrodden.
“We’ve opened up the principle of federalism to the extent that local governments are now getting their money, but how they use it is in your hands. So, don’t bombard me alone,” President Tinubu said.
The ruling party said the ADC had turned criticism of the APC-led administration into its operating manifesto instead of presenting concrete solutions to Nigeria’s economic challenges.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Mr Felix Morka, the party dismissed the ADC’s interpretation of a report presented at a policy dialogue organised by Agora Policy which suggested that the country’s poverty rate had risen from 49 per cent to 63 per cent.
Mr Morka said the opposition party’s reaction to the report as a “damning verdict” on the government’s economic policies reflected either ignorance of economic realities or deliberate political mischief.
“The African Democratic Congress’ attempt to spin a recent report presented at the Agora Policy dialogue indicating a rise of poverty rate of 63 per cent from 49 per cent as a damning verdict on this administration’s economic policies speaks either to its shocking ignorance of economic policy or its wilful blindness to the justification for, and transformative impacts of, ongoing economic reforms,” he said.
The APC spokesman noted that the report itself recognised the necessity of reforms aimed at correcting long-standing structural distortions in the economy.
According to him, the ADC had failed to present any credible alternative policy direction for Nigerians.
“Clearly, the ADC does not recognise itself as a political party. The ADC has not articulated a single alternative policy position or prescription of benefit to Nigerians. Condemning the APC and its policies has become its operating manifesto,” Mr Morka said.
He explained that major economic decisions taken by President Bola Tinubu, including the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of multiple foreign exchange windows, were necessary steps to rescue the country’s economy from collapse.
Mr Morka said the subsidy regime had for years placed a heavy burden on public finances, consuming trillions of naira annually while encouraging corruption, fuel smuggling and inefficiencies in the system.
He added that the reforms had helped redirect national resources to key sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare, education and social development.
The APC spokesman acknowledged that economic reforms often come with short-term hardship but stressed that the measures were essential to build a stronger and more resilient economy.
“Economic reform is never cost-free anywhere in the world. The transient hardship experienced by Nigerians was an inevitable cost of reforms meant to build and guarantee a better future for all Nigerians,” he said.
Mr Morka maintained that the country’s economic outlook was already improving, citing recent growth figures and stronger external reserves.
“Our economy has rebounded and is expanding steadily. The country’s Gross Domestic Product grew by 4.4 per cent last year and is projected to expand by 5.5 per cent this fiscal year, with foreign reserves now exceeding $50 billion,” he stated.
He also pointed to government initiatives designed to cushion the effects of economic adjustments on citizens, including cash transfer programmes, student loan schemes and the rollout of compressed natural gas (CNG) initiatives to reduce transportation costs.
Mr Morka reaffirmed that the APC-led administration would remain focused on rebuilding the economy and expanding social investments to support vulnerable Nigerians.