Politics
APGA Tasks Gov Otto On Abia Assembly Crisis
The All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, Abia State chapter, has advised Governor Alex Otti to quickly wade into the leadership tussle bedeviling the Abia State House of Assembly before it metamorphoses into an uncontrollable political crisis capable of endangering his administration.
APGA Chairman, Ambassador Friday Onukwubiri, who addressed a press conference in Umuahia on Monday, with members of his State Working Committee, said it was not in the best interest of the state for the State House of Assembly to be polarised along party lines.
Trouble started when the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which has 11 out of the 24 members of the House, was denied the opportunity to produce the Majority Leader of the House by the ruling Labour Party which has 10 members.
Since then, PDP members who staged a walkout during the session, have been boycotting sittings of the House.
APGA which only produced a Senator and a House of Representatives member in the state, expressed worry over the standoff in the House and urged Gov. Otti to intervene before it gets out of control.
APGA Publicity Secretary in the state, Mr Chukwuemeka Nwokoro, who read the text of the press conference, said only a peaceful and harmonious Assembly, would guarantee the realisation of the Governor’s efforts towards repositioning Abia.
“ Alex Otti should quell the crisis in the House of Assembly to have a peaceful Assembly that will help him deliver good governance to Abia.
“We advise the Governor not to pretend over the crisis rocking the State Assembly, as his inaction in stepping out to solve the problem may pose a serious obstacle to his administration.
“The Governor needs the 24 members of the Abia State House of Assembly for the smooth running of his government, and should not work with select few but should bring them together as one House”.
APGA also pleaded with the Governor to reconsider the disengagement of some workers who were sacked following their alleged illegal recruitment by the immediate-past administration.
The appeal, according to the party, became necessary given the biting economic hardship in the country.
“ APGA wants to appeal to the Government to reconsider its stand by recalling and re-integrating the over 5000 sacked workers in the interest of their respective families and dependants.”
Meanwhile, APGA commended Gov Otti for his swift response in tackling infrastructural decays, especially roads in parts of the state, urging him to sustain the tempo.
The party expressed delight over the renovation of strategic roads in Aba including Emelogu, Cemetery Road, Udeagbara Road, and the recent award of Port Harcourt Road, Aba.
It however, called on the Governor to closely monitor contractors handling some of the palliative road works in the state particularly in the Umuahia metropolis to speed up the project and ease traffic flow.
APGA which promised to play a responsible opposition in the state, further commended Gov Otti for his consistency in paying workers’ salary and urged him to sustain the gesture.
It also urged the Governor not to renege on his campaign promise of wiping out the backlog of pension arrears before the end of December.
“ We want to commend the government of Alex Otti for making sure Abia civil servants are paid their wages. He has shown a paradigm shift from the evil style of the previous administration that derived joy in the suffering of Abia workers.”
APGA also threw its weight behind the Governor’s move to sanitize the Lokpanta Regional Cattle Market by fencing and converting the market into a non-residential market.
It urged traders to cooperate with the Government as a necessary step towards curbing insecurity in the area.
The Tide source reports that the committee, reportedly backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, is making moves to reclaim the Wadata Plaza headquarters months after it was sealed following a violent clash between rival factions of the party.
Senior officers at the FCT Police Command told our source that while they had not received an official briefing, police personnel would be stationed at the secretariat and other key locations to maintain peace.
The Acting National Secretary of the Mohammed-led committee, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, announced last week that the secretariat would reopen for official activities on Monday (today).
He dismissed claims that ongoing litigation would prevent the reopening, saying, “There are no legal barriers preventing the caretaker committee from resuming work at the party’s headquarters.”
However, the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) has fiercely rejected the reopening move, insisting that Sen. Anyanwu and his group remain expelled from the PDP and have no authority to act on its behalf.
Speaking with The Tide source, the committee’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, declared: “They are living in fool’s paradise. The worst form of deceit is self-deceit, where the person knows he is deceiving himself yet continues with gusto.
“Even INEC, which they claim has recognised them, has denied them. They are indulging in a roller coaster of self-deceit.”
Mr Ememobong further revealed that letters had been sent to both the Inspector-General of Police and the FCT Commissioner of Police, stressing that the matter was still in court and warning against any attempt to “resort to self-help.”
“The case pending before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik was instituted by the expelled members. They cannot resort to self-help until judgment is delivered,” he said.
He warned that reopening the secretariat would amount to contempt of court.
A senior officer at the FCT Police Command, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that officers would be deployed to the area to avert a repeat of the November 19 violence that led to the secretariat’s initial closure.
“The command would not stand by and allow a breakdown of peace and order by the party or anyone else. Definitely, the police will have to be on the ground,” he said.
Another officer added, “There will definitely be men present at the secretariat, but I can’t say the number of police officers that would be deployed.”
When contacted, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, said she had not been briefed on the planned reopening and declined to comment on whether officers would be deployed.
Asked to confirm whether the secretariat was initially sealed by police, she responded, “Yes,” but refused to say more about the current deployment plans.
The Kano State House of Assembly has debunked the purported impeachment plan against the Deputy Governor, Aminu Gwarzo.
The Tide source recalls that the Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, recently sparked controversy during an interview session with a local radio station.
Mr Waiya called on the deputy governor to resign for failing to follow his principal, Gov. Abba Yusuf, in defecting from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, the spokesperson to the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Kamaluddeen Shawai, while addressing journalists in Kano on Saturday, described reports circulating in some media outlets about Mr Gwarzo’s impeachment as baseless and misleading, emphasising that no such plan is underway.
Mr Shawai further stated that the House remains focused on its legislative duties and oversight functions rather than engaging in speculative political manoeuvres.
The spokesperson urged members of the public and the media to verify information before sharing it, stressing the importance of accurate reporting in maintaining political stability in the state.
He said, “There is absolutely no motion or initiative within the House to remove the deputy governor.
“These reports are false and should be disregarded by the public. The deputy governor continues to serve in his capacity with full support from the House.
“Our priority is good governance and serving the people of Kano, not circulating rumours.”
She made the declaration during an interview with Nigerian football legend, Mr Segun Odegbami, during a live radio interview on Saturday.
Prof. Obasanjo, who is also former commissioner in the state, ruled out a return to the Senate, stating that her focus was firmly on the governorship race.
“So, moving ahead, I’m not going to be Commissioner. Like I said, I’m not even going back to the same party because I think that’s old and I don’t see the use of it. And I’m not going to go back to the Senate,” she said.
“Like the Americans would say, there’s no need. And this is what I told my associates, when this all started. I said, the only thing I’ll come back to do is the governorship.
“And we have started that journey. We are going to see it through. And so that’s the journey I’m on. And we are very serious about it. I mean we are very dedicated to it.”
The politician also confirmed that she recently joined the APC, explaining that her return to active politics followed persistent calls from supporters.
“Like I told you, a group of people who I did not bring together, have been working, I think, for two years now. And then they started talking to me about a year ago, saying, ‘Look, we think you are the best candidate. We want you back,’” she added.
Her declaration sets the stage for what may become a keenly contested governorship race in Ogun State ahead of the 2027 elections.
-
News15 hours agoNLC Threatens Nationwide Protest Over Electoral Act Amendment
-
Maritime14 hours agoOver 6,223 Seafarers Abandoned In 2025 – Says ITF
-
Maritime13 hours agoCustoms Hands Over Seized Cannabis Worths N4.7bn To NDLEA
-
Politics12 hours agoI DEFECTED OUT OF CONVICTION …NO ONE COULD’VE IMPEACHED MY LATE DEPUTY ~ DIRI
-
Politics12 hours agoWe’ve Not Recognized Any PDP Faction — INEC
-
Environment10 hours agoRivers State Government Suspend Fire Service Collection Levies
-
Sports11 hours agoArsenal Women End Man City’s Invincibility
-
Education12 hours agoFG commends FUET over historic beginning as VC lament over poor funding