Politics
Count Odili Out Of Tribal Politics, Group Tells Obuah
A non-governmental political pressure group, the Ndoni Advocacy For Good Governance (NAFOGG) has charged former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, Bro. Felix Obuah, to count the former Rivers State governor, Dr. Peter Odili, out of tribal politics, describing Odili as a detribalised, peaceful and development-driven leader.
This is contained in a statement signed by the President of the group, Dr. Meshack Ekeh, Secretary, Apostle Cromwell Olisa and Director of Publicity and Mobilisation, Barrister Humphrey Jeremiah, respectively, and made public at Erema-Ndoni, recently.
The statement stressed that for the eight years, Odili, as governor of Rivers State, ran an administration without discrimination of any sort, adding that “Dr. Peter Odili who Obuah claimed is taking sides in the political crisis, which he and his godfather and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, among other political dissidents planned to unseat an elected and sitting Governor for unjustifiable reasons remains cheap political points to smear the good image of Dr. Odili”.
NAFOGG’s statement reads in part: “The attention of Ndoni Advocacy For Good Governance (NAFOGG) led by Dr. Meshack Ekeh, has been drawn to a purported condemnation of Dr. Peter Odili by Felix Obuah in a radio interview recently, accusing the former governor of taking side by supporting Governor Siminalayi Fubara, instead of former governor, Nyesom Wike, and as such, failed to broker peace between the duo, as to move the state forward developmentally as a father.
“We are not surprised that Obuah has forgotten in a hurry that it was the same Odili who brought Wike, Amaechi, Obuah and others to political relevance in the state and country. If Odili had taken sides with anybody, they would not have been part of his government. As long as we are concerned, Obuah should go and bury his face in shame for supporting Wike who is poised to corner Rivers wealth and fortunes at the detriment of the people.
“We are also aware that it was the same Odili that brought out Wike and others from the wood and beautified them by giving Nyesom Wike, Chairman of Obio/Akpor LGA for eight years, among other positions. He also championed the chairmanship cause of Felix Obuah for the sole of the PDP in the state. Obuah should stop biting the fingers that had fed him and made him, after God Almighty, who he is today.
“We, therefore, call on Felix Obuah to think of better things to do for himself rather than going from one media house to another to seek for sympathy”.
“What Odili did for Nyesom Wike, Chibuike Amaechi, Celestine Omehia and others, nobody has done one quarter of such in the business of governance. Therefore, Rivers, as a secular state, remained indivisible. As far as the group is concerned, we queue behind Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara who has surpassed the so-to-speak achievements of Nyesom Wike within the past seven months in the saddle of governance in the state”
The group accused Obuah and Wike of stirring political crisis across the 23 local government areas of the state because of their inability to have their way.
“Whether Obuah supports Wike or not, who God has ordained to rule the people, nobody can change it. Siminalayi Fubara is an ordained ‘servant-leader’ who has come to rescue Rivers people from political slavery, penury, hunger and deprivation”, they stressed.
The group warned that any further accusation against Dr Odili would be resisted, describing the claims of the former PDP boss in that interview as “cheap political propaganda of a failed political loser in the corridors of power”.
Bethel Toby
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.
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