Politics
Kalango Hails Wike’s Dev Strides
Rivers State Governor, Bar. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has been commended over the judicious management of scarce resources for the development of the state which has brought him accolades from even the opposition.
The Rivers State Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Pastor O.D. Kalango made the assertion in an interview with The Tide in his office yesterday.
Pastor Kalango said that the level of infrastructural decay, roads, schools, hospitals which Wike inherited from the past administration could overwhelm anybody but not the steel-hearted like Governor Wike.
According to him the Governor who refused to be daunted with pressing needs in the state went ahead to confront road construction, rehabilitation of hospitals and re-introduction of boarding facilities to boost education in the state, even with the lean resources that greeted his administration.
Kalango described Wike as a man ready for governance as a full-blood Rivers son, saying that what he has achieved in one year is more people-oriented if compared to what past administration struggled to achieve for more years without appreciable impact on the lives and well-being of the entire residents of the state.
Kalango noted that there are no pot holes anywhere on the roads of the state-capital, Port Harcourt and praised the governor’s vision for re-introducing traffic lights on the highways for effective control of vehicular movement.
Pastor kalango while calling for total support for Wike administration noted that his union, NURTW is partnering the government to boost the state revenue base through collaborative effort with the Rivers State Board of Internal Revenue.
He said that the NURTW has held fruitful deliberation with the commissioners for Transport, Environment and Urban and Physical Development to map out the way forward, particularly on how to decongest the major highways in Port Harcourt metropolis for free flow of vehicular traffic.
The state NURTW boss who was quick to observe that not all commercial drivers were members of his union said that with the joint efforts of his union, the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC and the Port Harcourt City Local Government Council, road users are already attesting to the fact that there is free flow of traffic in the Port Harcourt metropolis.
Speaking further on Governor Wike’s strides in the education sector, Kalango cited the upgrading of the Rivers State College of Arts and Science to full-blown Polytechnic as a step in the right direction.
He said the move would engender employment and increase the opportunities open to residents of the state to access quality education.
Kalango further described Wike as a full-blooded Rivers son who has the desire and determination to improve the lot of the people of the state through verifiable developmental strides.
Citing the recent offer of amnesty to some misguided youth who are willing to eschew militancy and brigandage, Kalango described the move as a panacea to the reign of disturbances in the state and enjoined the youths to embrace it.
He however, noted that the scope of the state governments is limited in terms of ensuring security since state governors do not control the security apparatus in their various states.
Victor Tew
Claiming that elections in the country are typically characterized by vote buying, Mr Nwosu said a repeat of such phenomenon would taint the credibility of the forthcoming gubernatorial poll.
Mr Nwosu is among the 16 governorship candidates listed by INEC in a June 4, 2025 statement to participate in the November 8, 2025 election in Anambra State.
His party, the ADC, will battle it out with other parties to unseat incumbent Governor Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Mr Nwosu, in a statement on Saturday, said it was baffling seeing voters openly selling their votes to party agents and other representatives around polling units on election day.
According to him, “such practices not only derail the true will of the people but also reduce elections to an auction, where the state is effectively handed over to the highest bidder.”
Mr Nwosu urged INEC to introduce secure voting cubicles that would safeguard the legitimate rights of voters and uphold the sovereignty of democracy.
“INEC must provide secure voting cubicles to ensure ballots remain private and secret. Currently, many polling areas are too exposed, allowing others to see the voting process. This not only encourages vote buying but also undermines the integrity of the elections.
“Voting must remain secret. Nigeria already has strong electoral laws which, if properly enforced, can deliver outcomes that truly benefit society”, Mr Nwosu said.
He held that the Anambra governorship election was another opportunity for INEC to secure the trust of Nigerians about its commitment to transparency and fairness during polls.
He also noted the role of security agencies in tackling the menace of vote buying on the day of election.
He said, “The success of any political activity depends largely on security, because security is key. While it is not solely INEC’s duty to ensure elections are properly conducted, the Commission must create an enabling environment that allows citizens to participate freely, conduct themselves properly, and exercise their right to vote.”
The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, called on the relevant security agencies to investigate the attackers and their sponsors.
“The Labour Party is perplexed by the physical attack on our National Chairman, Barrister Julius Abure, by agents suspected to be working for anti-democratic elements who have tried unsuccessfully to wrestle the leadership of the party from him.
“Few hours ago, a prominent member of a known political family, Ms Precious Oruche, alias ‘Mama P’, accosted Barrister Abure while on a queue at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport Abuja, boarding a Max Air flight en route to Benin, and attacked the Labour Party’s National Chairman unprovoked.
“The attacker, Madam P, who is also a known content creator, continued the attack all through the duration of the flight, defying all attempts by the Max Air flight attendants to calm her.
“The assault, which attracted a large population of onlookers, continued unabated on disembarkment at the Benin Airport while she continued recording the scene.
“It took the intervention of the security agents on hand to whisk Abure to safety while the attacker was handed over to the police for questioning.
“In one of her films released, the lady, who is a prominent member of the ‘Obidient’ and claimed that she has contacts with the highest police hierarchy, boasted that nothing will happen to her.
“She vowed that she will not stop attacking Abure or any member of the Labour Party executive because, according to her, ‘you have killed Labour Party and you are the reason why Obi is no longer in the Labour Party.’
“The leadership of the Labour Party is completely troubled with this cyber-bullying and the consequences of the action of this political agent on the party. We are by this statement calling on the Inspector General of Police to thoroughly investigate this suicidal aggression against the leadership of the Labour Party and Barrister Julius Abure in particular.
“We sincerely believe that the lady-agent was on an assignment to accomplish the desires of her paymasters. Assault and cyber-bullying are severe crimes under our laws and we think that the Police must fish out her sponsors and cohorts, and bring them to book.
“We are calling on the members of the Labour Party to be calm, even in the face of this unwarranted provocation and wait for the outcome of the investigation on the unprovoked attack against the leadership of the party,” the statement read.
Speaking during the party’s congress in Yola, the state capital, on Saturday, Mr David Lorhenba, the chairman, Adamawa Congress Committee, described the exercise as hitch-free.
He said that a total of 2,656 delegates from 21 local government areas came out and elected 39 officials.
Mr Lorhenba commended the delegates for conducting themselves in an orderly manner.
“The conduct of the congress is very successful, all the delegates come from 21 Local Government Areas and cast their votes peacefully.
“We have a total of 2,656 delegates and we have announced the winners very successfully”, he said.
In his remarks, Alhaji Attahiru Shehu, the outgoing chairman, congratulated the new executives and charged them to continue on what they have already done for the party to remain strong.
According to him, they started as opposition in the state and produced Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri who is serving his second term, opining they “he has done well for the state.”
In his acceptance speech, Mr Madagali thanked the delegates for the confidence they reposed in him.
He promised to run an open door policy in manning the affairs of the party.
“Let us continue the legacy of good governance and prepare ahead for 2027 with focus, discipline and unity.
“To those outside our party, especially the youths and women of Adamawa, we invite you into our party.
“PDP is your home. Our doors are open to all who wish to contribute positively to the development of our state.
“Our party will continue to be a shining example of people-focused on leadership,” he said.
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