Politics
Rivers PDP Campaign: Wike Rates Obio/Akpor, Khana, Akuku Toru Best In Mobilisation
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State on Saturday concluded its campaign rallies in a grand finale at Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
The Obio/Akpor campaign rally, which held at the Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Rumuola, was attended by a mammoth crowd of party supporters and other stakeholders who thronged the venue to register their solidarity with the party.
Impressed by the huge turn out, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, while addressing the crowd, described the Obio/Akpor outing as the ‘Mother of all rallies’.
In his assessment of the entire campaign across the 23 LGAs of the state, Governor Wike rated Obio /Akpor, Khana and Akuku Toru LGAs respectively as the best in organisation and mobilisation and applauded the PDP leaders in these LGAs for their tactfulness and great capacities for coordination.
Governor Wike urged the people of Obio/ Akpor to convert their huge voting strength to victory for all candidates of the PDP in the state.
On the forthcoming Presidential polls, Governor Wike urged Rivers people not to vote for those who arrogate exclusive political powers to themselves without considering other parts of the country.
He reiterated that Rivers State would not trade its votes away without proper recompense and recognition in the scheme of things, noting that those who do not have Rivers State at heart should not expect votes from the state.
In similar vein, the Rivers State PDP last Friday held its campaign rally at Ngo, headquarters of Andoni LGA where Governor Wike used the opportunity to express his discontent over the implementation of currency swap policy by the President Muhammadu Buhari government, stating that the manner of implementation of the policy was insensitive to the plight of the masses.
He pointed out that the President’s decision to flout the orders of the Supreme Court was a threat to the rule of law and a constitutional democracy and therefore a prelude to anarchy.
The Rivers State Governor dissociated himself from the policy which he noted had caused Nigerians severe hardship.
In his campaign message, Governor Wike said a new era of political freedom and liberty that will fast-track development had heralded in Andoni. He urged the people to protect their political freedom from the shackles of bad leadership that previously denied them democratic dividends.
He described the completion of Andoni axis of the Ogoni-Andoni-Opobo Unity Road which led to the successful driving to Ngo Town for the campaign as a major breakthrough for the people and urged the people to vote for Siminialayi Fubara and other candidates of the PDP in the area to attract more development projects to Andoni.
The PDP campaign train also landed at Tai LGA on Thursday with Gov Wike insisting that the PDP in Rivers State would refuse to be distracted by opposition forces but galvanize its support base to coast home to victory for all its candidates.
The Governor charged the people of Tai to remain supportive of the PDP by voting massively for Sir Siminalayi Fubara and other candidates of the party in the state to consolidate on the development gains already achieved by his administration.
AkukuToru and Ahoada LGAs also on Monday and Tuesday respectively, hosted the campaign rallies of the PDP, with Governor Wike charging the people to vote for Siminialayi Fubara and other candidates of the party for continuity and consolidation.
The Governor on Wednesday played host to Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and his entourage who were on a courtesy call in Government House, Port Harcourt, shortly after the presidential campaign rally of the APC in the state capital.
Addressing the APC Presidential Candidate, Governor Wike expressed concern over the unfolding events in the country which he noted were not palatable to the country’s democratic transition. He called on the APC presidential candidate to prevail on his party to exercise restraint and caution in their policies in order not to derail the present transition process.
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.