Politics
Rivers Remains PDP Stronghold – Wike
As the campaign train of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) moves round the various Local Government Areas of the state, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has maintained that Rivers State remains a stronghold of the Party, and as such its candidates will win all the elective positions in the forthcoming general elections.
Speaking at Omoku in Ogba Egbema Local Government Area on Monday during the official flag-off of the PDP campaign in Rivers State, Governor Wike said the PDP Government in the state had kept faith with the social contract with the people of the state, having performed exceedingly well in the delivery of critical infrastructures in the state.
To consolidate on the achievements and gains of his administration, Governor Wike urged the people of ONELGA to vote for the Governorship candidate of the PDP, Sir Siminalayi Fubara and other candidates of the party in the state.
He urged the people to be cautious against the moves by the ‘enemies’ of the state whose only interest in contending for political power is to plunder the resources of the state.
Governor Wike recalled that the people of Ogba /Egbema /Ndoni, Abua/ Odual, Ahoada West and Ahoada East LGAs were abandoned to their fate by the ‘enemies’ of the state who showed no empathy at a dire moment when the people experienced a ravaging flooding and needed assistance most, noting that there was no justification for them to earn the people’s vote.
Governor Wike further declared that the unprecedented and unparalleled achievements of his administration in the state were glaring evidence and testimonials of good governance which will be sustained by his successor, adding that other political parties seeking elective positions in the state were unpopular and unserious, and as such have nothing to offer the people.
The PDP campaign train on Tuesday moved to Ikwerre LGA with an explosive turn out of party faithful and supporters.
Addressing the mammoth crowd at St Martin’s Anglican Church, Omagwa Town, the Rivers State Governor said the beauty of the forthcoming general elections is that the people will have the opportunity to participate actively in the electoral process with the confidence of having their votes secured against any form of manipulation and intimidation from security personnel.
Governor Wike said the PDP government in Rivers State had done well and urged the people to reciprocate the gesture by voting massively for all PDP candidates in the state. On the preferred Presidential Candidate for Rivers people to vote for, Governor Wike maintained that Rivers State has a significant political bearing which cannot be undermined or glossed over, and as such the state must take its pride of place in Nigeria’s political space.
He urged the people to be patient as he would not compromise on the interest of Rivers State.
The Emuoha campaign rally which held at Community Primary School field Rumuji, Odegwe Town, on Wednesday also witnessed a massive turn out.
Governor, Wike who described Emuoha LGA as one the major beneficiaries of his administration, used the opportunity to implore the people of the LGA to vote for the candidates of the PDP in the general elections.
At the Oyigbo rally on Friday, there was a high display of funfare among the teeming PDP supporters.
Speaking at the rally, Governor Wike urged the people of Oyigbo to vote for Siminalayi Fubara and other PDP candidates to attract more dividends of democracy to the area.
The PDP rally in Khana LGA on Saturday was also a huge success. Governor Wike said the huge turn out was an indication that the PDP leaders in the area were working in unity.
The Rivers State Governor who kicked against the desolution of the PDP executive in Ekiti State and the suspension of some PDP members by the Iyorchia Ayu led national executive of the party, described the action as illegal and has the potential of causing more damage to the party.
By: Taneh Beemene
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.
