Politics
2011 LG Polls: Intrigues, Power Play In Rivers State
As the preparations for the 2011 elections gather momentum, political intrigues continue to play itself out in the political terrain of some of the local government areas in Rivers State.
Some of the local government areas where politicians have started to warm up to wrest power from the incumbent chairmen include Opobo/Nkoro, Eleme, Ikwerre, Tai, Emohua, Degema, Oyigbo and Obio-Akpor.
Several of the candidates on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are contesting. They are applying political intrigues to solicit support for their ambition to rule their respective local government councils, while others are searching for political relevance in their constituencies.
Again, with the end of the tenure of the present local government council chairmen gradually drawing to a close, primaries and nomination for PDP candidates would start soon to determine who takes over control of leadership at the third tier of the democratic governance.
This scenario has created political anxiety among candidates vying for one elective office or the other to control political power at the grassroots level in the state.
The intrigues continue to play out to the extent that some powerful political gladiators at the corridors of power and close associates of the various candidates are engaging themselves in power play to get party tickets.
Some individuals who are ready to circumvent the rules of existing political equation within the political structure of the grassroots politics of their local government areas seem to have their way politically. The political anxiety is further heightened by the need for some political leaders to jettison the prevailing political power sharing arrangements within their constituencies that tend to ensure fairness, equity and justice.
In Khana Local Government Area, for example, Barr. Patrick Igbara, a prominent politician from the area, said political offices especially the chairmanship slot rotates between two political blocs of Nyo-Khana and Ken-Khana/Babbe blocs.
Igbara said: “The current council’s chairman, Hon. Greg Nwidah is from Ken-Khana/Babbe political bloc, while two elected former council chairmen, Hon. Letam Korsi and Hon Legborsi Lee are from the Nyo-Khana political bloc.”
Mr. Patrick Igbara stated that “it is fair for the Ken-Khana/Babbe constituency to still retain the chairmanship slot for justice and equity to prevail in the area.”
But there are indications that candidates from the Nyo-Khana are determined to take over the control of the Khana council come 2011 local government elections.
A stalwart of PDP in Khana, Chief Promise Poronee of the Ken-khana/Babbe constituency was prepared to retain the council’s chairmanship slot despite what he said was the misguided PDP stakeholders resolution against the Ken-Khana/Babbe political bloc and the current council chairman, Hon. Greg Nwidam.
In his words, “the council chairmanship contest is a straight contest between the current chairman, Hon. Greg Nwidam and Mr. Dominic Pianen, Board member, Universal Basic Education (UBE), who has already indicated interest to contest.
In Gokana Local Government council, no person has emerged to challenge the current chairman, Hon. Victor Giadom.
However, a politician in the area, Hon. Lucky Baridam said the Gokana race was also a fierce contest between the Panumu bloc and Kibangha political bloc.
But Hon. Baridam said for now, the Kebangha political bloc was totally in control of the grassroots politics of Gokana and power.
It is believed that Hon. Victor Giadom has performed to the satisfaction of major Gokana political stakeholders and they observed that Giadom deserved a second term.
In Tai Local Government Area, there are also two political blocs, which are Tua-Tua and Nonwa political blocs.
Hon. John Aminikpo said the Tua Tua political bloc had dominated Tai political leadership positions over the Nonwa bloc.
Hon Aminikpo stated that the 2011 local government election promised to be a fierce battle as the Nonwa bloc was politically battle ready to take the chairmanship.
However, the current secretary of the council, Mr Gbenekanu Kuapie and Dr Batam Ndedgwe from Nonwa political bloc have both indicated interest to contest as the current chairman, Hon Barry Mpigi is serving his second term in office.
In Eleme Local Government Area, the power game is always between the Nchia and Odido blocs.
The current chairman, Hon Oji Ngofa from Nchia is interested in coming back for second term.
However, strong contenders have emerged to challenge Hon Oji Ngofa for the chairmanship slot.
Hon Sunny Ogbu, a former councillor added that Mr Chidi Chu, Hon Sylvanus Sanwi, all from Eteo have indicated interest to challenge Oji Ngofa for the council’s chairmanship position.
In Akuku Toru Local Government Area, 10 aspirants have emerged to wrest power from the current council chairman, Hon. Paul Awoyesuku.
The list include Hon. Theodore Georgewill, Chief Dr Owunari, Georgewill, Hon Otuka Georgewill, Hon Soberekon Clerk Georgewill, Hon Tonye Wellington Granville, Hon Asie Kala Otaji, Tonye Lolomari, Hon Iboroma Kitchner, member, House of Assembly is also interested in contesting the Akuku Toru local government council chairmanship position, and Isobo Jack.
Reliable sources indicated that it was the turn of Georgewill compound to produce the council chairman in the 2011 local government elections.
However, all the political intrigues are only expected to add colour to the emerging political senario in Rivers State.
Philip-Wuwu Okparaji
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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