Politics
Fubara, Diri, Odili, Others Pay Tributes To Late Adeline Jaja
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara; his
Bayelsa State colleague, Senator. Douye Diri; Rivers State Deputy Governor, Prof Ngozi Odu; former Governor of Rivers State, Dr Peter Odili, his wife, Justice Mary Odili were among several other dignitaries from far and near who thronged Opobo Town last Saturday to pay their last respects to late Madam Adeline Jaja, mother in-law to the Rivers State Chief Executive.
Speaking at the funeral service held at St Paul’s Anglican Church, Opobo Town, Governor Fubara described his late mother in-law as a woman who lived a good life and made positive impact on the society.
The Governor, who declared that his administration is premised on the foundation of God, urged the living to borrow a cue from Mama’s life.
“We are here this afternoon to say bye-bye to Mama. I want us to take home something: how do we live our lives? Can we live in a way that when we’re no more, our name can open doors for our children? Mama lived a good life that opened doors for many”, he said.
In his remarks, the Governor of Bayelsa State, Sen Douye Diri, extended the deepest condolences of the government and people of Bayelsa State to the Rivers first family.
Governor Diri, who described life as transient, said humans should live a life of modesty and note that life is temporary and ultimate powers belong to God.
Delivering his sermon, the Bishop of Niger Delta Diocese, Rt Rev Oko Jaja, said Mama was a devout Christian of the Anglican faith who did her best before her passage from earthly existence, noting that death in Christ was a guarantee for eternity. Rt Rev Oko Jaja also expressed the condolences of the church to the bereaved family.
Wife of the Rivers State Governor, Lady Valerie Fubara read the only lesson at the funeral service which anchored on divine atonement and respite for those in grief.
The biography of the late matriarch, also read by Lady Fubara, was a testimony of a courageous leader who rose from a humble beginning and disciplined parentage to success, with a career in the Nigeria Police Force that spanned years of active service till her retirement in 1997.
The funeral ceremony was attended by dignitaries from all walks of life, including politics, business, traditional leadership, clergy, captains of industry, government ministries, departments, agencies and parastatals.
Earlier on Friday, a service of songs in honour of the late mother in-law to the number one citizen of Rivers State was held at St Andrew’s Anglican Church, Diobu, Port Harcourt.
In a related development, Governor Fubara, on Wednesday, declared that a major policy of his administration is to channel resources to the development of the educational sector.
Governor Fubara, who disclosed this during the inauguration of the newly constituted Governing Councils of the state-owned universities: Rivers State University and Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, and the Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic at Government House Port Harcourt, charged the council members to review the educational curriculum to address the deficits in our educational system to enhance the acquisition and application of functional skills.
The Rivers State Governor also approved the recommencement of the suspended Ignatius Ajuru University employment and cautioned against compromise in the employment process.
Governor Fubara flayed the critics of his administration over their warped sense of judgment, stating that he remained focused and determined to dispense good governance and democratic dividends in the state.
“There’s a lot of noise everywhere that we aren’t focused, that we are without direction, but I want to tell the world that if our energy is channeled to education, not just education but purposeful education that is creative and give you independence.
“We’ve left the world we’re we speak too much grammar, we are in a world were education is what you can do with your hand. I want you to bring back our academic programmes to ensure that at the end of study, you don’t need a job, you create a job and become employer of labour. Let’s add something different to the system, I want us to be remembered for standards, I believe that’s the only way we can overcome our challenges”, he said.
By: Beemene Taneh
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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