Politics
Keep Late Statesmen Legacies Alive, Igali Tasks Rivers, Bayelsa Govts
Former Nigerian Ambassador to the Scandinavian, Dr Godknows Igali, has charged the governments of Rivers and Bayelsa states to do all within their power to keep the legacies of their late statesmen alive.
He stated this while delivering a public lecture on the theme, “Okilo: The Bridge-Builder and His Role in the Political Stability of Nigeria” during the 16th anniversary memorial of the late first civilian governor of the old Rivers State, Chief (Sen) Melford Obiene Okilo, in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
Dr Igali described the late Chief Okilo as the very epitome of integrity, patriotism and selfless service to society.
The diplomat averred that late Chief Okilo was truly a bridge-builder with an unblemished public service career that spanned from the First Republic to the present one that began in 1999, when he was elected Senator to represent the Bayelsa East Senatorial District.
He gave justification for the annual event, urging the Rivers and Bayelsa states governments to continually honour departed heroes such as Chief Dappa Biriye, Major Isaac Adaka Boro and others who made significant contributions towards the creation and development of the two states.
Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State Government has promised to renovate the personal residence of the late ex-Rivers State Governor at his home town, Emakalakala in Ogbia Local Government Area of the state.
The state governor, Senator Douye Diri, made the pledge while making his remarks at the Memorial Public Lecture.
Represented by his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, Governor Diri also promised to renovate the St Bartholomew’s Anglican Church, Emakalakala which was built by the late sage.
The Tide reports that the two-day 2024 memorial activities ended last Friday with a thanksgiving service at the St. Bartholomew’s Anglican Church, Emakalaka, followed by a wreath laying ceremony at his mausoleum.
In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Deputy Governor, Mr Doubara Atasi, quoted him as saying that the state government was undertaking the renovation projects as a mark of honour to late Chief Okilo’s patriotism and selfless service to Nigeria and humanity in general.
The Bayelsa Chief Executive noted that the late Chief Okilo was the first governor in the history of Nigeria to conceive and establish a state-owned university and an independent power plant in the country, in the early 1980s.
He stressed that if successive governments had built on what the late sage started in the power sector, Rivers and Bayelsa states would have been completely lighted up by now.
Governor Diri eulogized the departed parliamentary secretary to Nigeria’s first Prime Minister, Alhaji Tafawa Balewa, in the First Republic, pointing out that late Chief Okilo lived “his yesterday for today” through a sacrificial and visionary lifestyle.
”From all that has been said, Chief Melford Okilo was a man who lived his yesterday for today. There are things we have started today which we ought to have started yesterday.
“Like the issue of power, if we had built on what Okilo did in the early 1980s, by now the whole of Rivers and Bayelsa states would have been lighted up, and we wouldn’t have had issues with NEPA or PHCN.
“He started the first independent power plant in Nigeria. He saw quality education as a weapon and tool for emancipation, and that is why he also established the first state university in the country, which is the Rivers State University.
“As a government we can’t talk about Melford Okilo sufficiently. But we will continue to honour his patriotic and selfless service to Rivers, Bayelsa, Nigeria and humanity in general.
“In that regard, I want to announce that the Bayelsa State Government is undertaking to renovate the personal residence of Chief Melford Okilo at Emakalakala in Ogbia LGA, as well as the church building where his memorial services had always been held at Emakalakala”, he said.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government, Prof. Nimibofa Ayawei, emphasized that late Chief Melford Okilo deserved to be celebrated for his monumental contributions to the development of the Ijaw nation.
In attendance were former President Goodluck Jonathan, represented by a former Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Edmund Allison-Oguru, former Deputy Governor of the state, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (Rtd.), serving and past House of Assembly members, commissioners, traditional rulers, amongst others.
By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
In a timetable issued by its National Secretariat in Abuja and signed by the National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Argungu, the party said the activities were in line with provisions of its constitution guiding the election of party officials across all tiers.
According to the schedule, membership e-registration began on January 31 and ended on February 8, while notices of congresses were dispatched to state and Federal Capital Territory chapters on February 2.
Submission of nomination forms for ward and local government congresses closed on February 9, followed by screening and appeals between February 10 and February 14.
Ward congresses are fixed for February 18, with appeals the following day, while local government congresses will take place on February 21 and appeals on February 23.
At the state level, purchase of forms for state executive positions will run from February 22 to February 25, with screening set for February 27–28 and appeals from March 1–2. State congresses are scheduled for March 3, and appeals on March 4.
Activities leading to zonal congresses and the national convention include purchase and submission of forms between March 12 and March 16, inauguration of screening committees on March 23, and screening of aspirants on March 24. Zonal congresses across the six geo-political zones are slated for March 25, with appeals on March 26.
The party’s national convention will hold from March 27 to March 28.The APC also published fees for expression of interest and nomination forms across the different tiers.
At the ward level, expression of interest costs ?5,000, while nomination forms range from ?15,000 to ?20,000 depending on the position. For local government positions, nomination forms range from ?50,000 to ?100,000 after a ?10,000 expression-of-interest fee.
State executive positions attract ?50,000 for expression of interest, with nomination forms pegged at ?1 million for chairman and ?500,000 for other offices. Zonal offices require ?100,000 expression of interest and ?200,000 for nomination.
For national positions, the fees rise significantly, with expression of interest set at ?100,000. Nomination forms cost ?10 million for national chairman, ?7.5 million for deputy national chairmen and national secretary, ?5 million for other offices, and ?250,000 for National Executive Committee membership.
The party noted that female aspirants, youths and persons living with disabilities would pay only the expression-of-interest fee and 50 per cent of nomination costs. It also clarified that Ekiti, Osun, Rivers states and the FCT are excluded from ward, local government and state congresses, but will participate in electing delegates to the national convention.
Forms are to be completed online after payment verification, with payments directed to designated APC accounts at Zenith Bank and United Bank for Africa.
The congress cycle is expected to determine new party leadership structures ahead of future electoral activities.
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.”
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