Politics

Wike Restates Commitment To Peace

Published

10 years ago

August 1, 2016

Last weekend in Government House ended in a mourning
note after the governor Chief Nyesom Wike attended the burial rites and obsequies of late second republic House of Representatives member, Hon. Ovundu Nsirim in Rumueme, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
Before attending the burial, the governor had visited the site of the burnt Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office at Bori, headquarters of Khana Local Government Area. Chief Wike described the arson as the handiwork of those who want to scuttle the re-run elections, since they were not prepared.
On the same Saturday in the evening, the governor attended a dinner nght and fund raising organized by the umbrella socio-cultural group, Ogbakor Ikwerre, USA chapter, at the Presidential Hotel. At the dinner, Chief Wike called for direct foreign investing in the state. As far as he was concerned, the state is safe and conducive for investors to do business.
Last Monday witnessed the commencement of the 2016 Annual Conference of Magistrates Association in the State. Governor Wike, at the event, urged judicial officers to play by the rules, so that they can address issues of low quality and poor output in the system. Wike reminded them that they are the bedrock of an effective judicial system and therefore should discharge their duties fearlessly.
The magistrates were later hosted at a state banquet attended by Governor Wike and other top government functionaries.
Following the news of the postponement of the re-run elections slated for July 30, 2016 by INEC, the state Deputy Governor, Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo in a statement on Tuesday, said the development was in confirmation of Governor Wike’s assertion when he visited Bori. At a campaign rally at Okehi in Etche Local Government Area he reaffirmed that neither INEC nor the APC were ready for the conduct of the elections.
Last Wednesday, the Governor attended the People Democratic Party (PDP) Rivers West Senatorial District Rally at Degema Town in Degema Local Government Area. He thanked the mammoth crowd of supporters that attended and used the rally to explain why he attended a Peace Meeting summoned by the Inspector-General of Police and the Director of State Security at Abuja.
Governor Wike explained that he attended the rally because peace and stability of Rivers State was above party or personal interest.
Last Thursday, the governor played host to the Management team of the federal owned University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH). The team was led by its Chief Medical Director, Prof. Aaron Ojule. After an address by Prof. Ojule commending the governor and listing areas of assistance, Governor Wike promised that, among other requests, the State Government would take up the completion of the repair of the hospital’s access road and the abandoned Doctors’ quarters.
The governor, on the same day, played host to the Managing Director of SAIPEM Nigeria Limited, Mr. Guido Daloisio. He assured the SAIPEM boss of state’s partnership in the development of manpower and growth of the oil industry. Assuring him of conducive business environment, the Rivers State Chief Executive hinted that by next year Government will harmonise the tax system and reduce duplication to encourage investors.
Friday last week was busy for the governor. Returning from Abuja he went straight to inaugurate three board. The are the State Universal Basic Education Board, newly established Private Hospital Fund Management Committee and the State Petroleum Task Force.
He specifically mandated the Petroleum Taskforce to ensure all-round availability of petroleum products and avoid touting. He tasked the Private Hospital Fund Committee to be prudent and ensure hospitals at the local centres are incorporated in the scheme. For the Universal Basic Education Board, he tasked them to ensure the reform and improvement in Basic Education.
Last Saturday the governor hosted Editors under the Nigeria Guild of Editors. He took them round to visit project sites and wished them a successful conference in the state.

Politics

LP Crisis: Ex-NWC Member Dumps Dumps Abure Faction

Published

1 week ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

A former National Organising Secretary of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Clement Ojukwu, has expressed regret that the several legal cases brought against the party since the 2023 general elections have impacted the party’s performance.

Mr Ojukwu, who recently returned to the interim National Working Committee led by Senator Esther Nenadi Usman, noted that the party had 34 elected members in the House of Representatives, eight Senators, and 80 members at the state Houses of Assembly after the 2023 general elections.

“Now we lost all of them,” he said. “I don’t think we have as many as five members in the National Assembly.”

The former national officer of the LP talked to journalists in Abuja and said he chose to join the caretaker committee led by Senator Nenadi-Usman because they are now the officially recognized leaders of the Party.

“I chose to work with the caretaker committee to help save the Labour Party, for the benefit of the party. I also want to use this chance to ask my colleagues at the national, state, and local government levels to come together and help rebuild our party.

“Another election is around the corner. We lost everything we have. They have left to other political parties. So I’ll reach out to all my friends in the other group to get together and work on making this party stronger again.

“The caretaker committee has formed a reconciliation committee. Let’s come together and talk so that we can restore the first opposition political party in Nigeria.”

Mr Ojukwu, who was part of the Julius Abure’s group, said there are no more factions in the LP.

He added, “There is a court ruling, and since it is valid, the right people are in the correct positions.”

He urged Barr Abure and others to drop the legal cases they have filed because they are not helping the party.

“Litigations are killing political parties”, he said. “They’ve seen many political parties disappear because of legal battles, and the Labor Party is losing support every day, which makes me feel sad.”

Mr Ojukwu said he did not think joining the Senator Nenadi-Usman’s NWC was a betrayal of the Abure group, describing himself as “the oxygen” of that faction.

“I’m with this group because of the verdict. But I never betrayed anybody. Rather, I was betrayed,” he added.

Politics

2027: NIGERIANS FAULT INEC ON DIGITAL MEMBERSHIP REGISTER DIRECTIVE

Published

1 week ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

A number of Nigerians have strongly criticized the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its directive to all political parties in the country to submit digitalized membership register within 32 days.

It would be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following it’s reversed timetable, directed all political parties in the country to submit their digitalized membership registers within 32 days.

Speaking on the reversed timetable in an interview with The Tide in Port Harcourt, respondents said the directive amounted to disqualifying opposition political parties from fielding candidates in all the elections next year.

They said if the directives by the commission is implemented, only the All Progressives Congress (APC) would participate in the elections since it started it’s digital membership registration since February, last year.

Responding, an elder statesman in Rivers State, Chief Sunnie Chukumele, said the revised timetable was okay, but the timeframe for submission of digital membership register was being made at the wrong time.

Chief Chukumele said, for the past two years, all opposition political parties have been battling various issues in court, adding that they did not have the time to embark on membership drive, talk less of digitalizing their membership registers.

“My reaction is that the only issue with this revised timetable is the timeframe given by INEC for parties to submit digitalize memberships register in all the states of the federation, while giving notice of Congresses and convention. That is not possible”, he said.

He said only the ruling APC is likely to meet up with the directive, since it began its registration since last year.

Chief Chukumele, who is also the National Coordinator of Coalition of Rivers State Leaders of Thought (CORSLOT), alleged that the directive of the electoral body may have been targeted to prevent other parties from fielding candidates for the elections next year.

“When you say all the parties should submit digitalized registers of membership in 32 days, how will that be possible to conclude it in 32 days”, he queried.

He noted that “APC used one year ago to do, so APC has one year in the kitty plus 30 days. This is highly regrettable”.

The CORSLOT national leader urged the election umpire to do away with stringent conditions that will make it hard for opposition political parties to field candidates in the elections.

Also speaking, Mr Jacob Enware from Edo State queried the rationale behind the directive, especially when some opposition political parties are still having cases in court.

In his words, ”What opposition political parties are you talking about, is Labour Party not in court or PDP that is yet to resolve their issues?

”For me, INEC should provide a level playing field for all, because aside the APC, no party can meet up this criteria.”

In his own response, Mr Nathaniel Ebere said he was not prepared to vote for anybody whether INEC provides a level playing field or not.

He alleged that his vote would not count, “so I will not waste my time”.

By: John Bibor

Politics

IT’S A LIE, G-5 GOVS DIDN’T WIN ELECTION FOR TINUBU – SOWUNMI

Published

1 week ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Convener of The Alternative, Otunba Segun Sowunmi, has expressed reservations about the political stance of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, while calling for reconciliation among key party figures.

Otunba Sowunmi made the remarks during a television interview on Saturday, when asked about the relationship between Gov. Makinde and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike.

He said, “I don’t believe Seyi Makinde. Because I know them all. I’ve been in this party since it was registered. And I’ve been loyal, faithful, diligent with this party from the get-go, and I’ve never left.”

He underscored his longstanding commitment to the PDP, referencing prominent figures who had exited the party at different times: “I’ve had the grace, and the honor, and the dignity of watching even my father, Obasanjo, shed his card. As much as I love him, I didn’t leave the party”.

He added, “I’ve had the privilege of watching my beloved senior brother, Governor Gbenga Daniel, leave the party a few times. As much as I respect his vision and his ideas, I’ve never left. I’ve watched my former principal, Atiku Abubakar, leave a few times. I’ve never left.”

Otunba Sowunmi stressed that his comments were rooted in deep involvement with the party: “So when I talk about PDP, I’m not talking as an outsider, I’m talking as one of their totems, who was actually carrying them.”

He disclosed that he wrote to Makinde during the governor’s last birthday, urging reconciliation among a bloc of five governors who had formed a movement during the 2023 elections.

“At Governor Seyi Makinde’s last birthday, I wrote him a letter where I tried to say, look, you guys, the five of you, succeeded to the extent of creating a movement of your own”, he said.

He added, “And you fought very hard to make a point in the 2023 election. Although I don’t believe you won the election for the president, that’s a lie. They contributed, but I hate when people take the glory of other people’s work.”

Otunba Sowunmi warned that unresolved differences among the group could weaken the party: “You guys, you must go back to your four friends, your five friends, and you guys go and sort it out. Because not sorting it out with your five friends is going to leave the party worse off.”

He added, “But now that you’re fighting, or you’re not agreeing with yourselves, why don’t you go back to that same energy that allowed you to agree, so that you can use that energy inside to agree, and then we can lead the party.”