Politics
Researcher Tasks Political Leaders On Empowerment
A research fellow at the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, (NILDS), Abuja, Dr. Charles Alfred has flayed the lack of proper documentation in the Niger Delta region.
This is as he called on political leaders in the region to make conscious efforts to empower people in the zone who will speak on their behalf and defend them when they would have left public office in the event of any attack directed at them.
Alfred spoke during the public presentation of a book ‘Footprints of Nkpoo Sibara, Dele Giwa and Ken Saro-Wiwa’ written by a Niger Delta activist and author, Patrick Naagbanton in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
He explained that it was one of the reasons the region cry of being marginalised over the years because of the failure of those who have the privilege of holding key political offices to do what was expected of them.
Alfred said, “The people of the Niger Delta have been complaining of marginalisation. But you cannot talk of marginalization when you yourself are not doing the things you are supposed to do for yourself. For instance we do not document our problems.
“We do not document our successes and we do not document and refute allegations against us. That is why the region is so porous in terms of documentation,” he stated.
Dr Alfred who edited the book expressed worry that such cavalier attitude towards documentation may affect the coming generations, saying, “Because we do not document, we and our children and children, children may not get a clear idea of what to follow.
“That is why for an issue like resource control now, it is difficult for one to get a proper definition of that because of the absence of accurate documentation.
“But if you talk about Arewa or the issues that concern the South West, a good number of the people can tell you what they want. So, we (Niger Delta) are suffering from a lot of documentation deficiency. Even in our universities we do not do it. We do not celebrate our own”.
The research fellow expressed unhappiness that nobody is speaking for the former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Allison-Madueke in all her travails, because she did not empower someone to be her official spokesperson.
Diezani Allison-Madueke do not even have a spokesperson. All the allegations against her like the issue of her health, nobody is talking because she failed to empower any of her people. Spokesperson goes beyond the tenure.
“You must empower the spokesperson. We have a lot of media people in Bayelsa, Rivers State and even the South South. She never deliberately cultivated the help and that is why nobody is talking. That is the problem of documentation I am talking about. All what she did there were no documentation. What we hear is that she is a thief.
“Is she really a thief? What is it she stole? It is not known and cannot blame the journalists that are not from the zone for feasting on it,” the research fellow noted with concerns.” He stated, pointed out that a serving or former President, a serving or former governor as well as minister should have an official spokesperson that will outlive the office.
Today, if you attack the immediate past Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonji Iweala, somebody will come out and refute it. If you attack late former President, Musa Yar’adua, Segun Adeniyi is there.
He however expressed happiness that the book addressed some of these issues, saying, “It is one of the finest works from the Niger Delta. It covers almost fifteen years of our lost history,” describing the book as a must read.
Dennis Naku
Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Alhaji Abubakar disclosed his intention to leave the opposition party in a letter addressed to the PDP ward chairman in Jada, Jada Local Government Area (LGA) of Adamawa state.
Alhaji Abubakar described his departure from the PDP as “heartbreaking”, saying the party has strayed from the ideals on which it was founded.
“I would like to take this opportunity to express my profound gratitude for the opportunities I have been given by the Party,” Alhaji Abubakar said.
“Serving two full terms as Vice President of Nigeria and being a presidential candidate twice has been one of the most significant chapters of my life.
“As a founding father of this esteemed Party, it is indeed heartbreaking for me to make this decision.
“However, I find it necessary to part ways due to the current trajectory the Party has taken, which I believe diverges from the foundational principles we stood for.
“It is with a heavy heart that I resign, recognising the irreconcilable differences that have emerged.
“I wish the Party and its leadership all the best in the future”, he added.
Alhaji Abubakar’s resignation from the PDP comes days after the opposition coalition politicians adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as their political platform for the 2027 elections.
Among the coalition leaders are Rotimi Amaechi, a former Transportation Minister; Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election; Nasir el-Rufai, former Kaduna State Governor; and John Oyegun, former Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Others include Sule Lamido, former Governor of Jigawa State; Uche Secondus, former PDP National Chairman; Babangida Aliyu, former Governor of Niger State; Sam Egwu, former governor of Ebonyi State; Aminu Tambuwal, former Governor of Sokoto State; and Liyel Imoke, former Governor of Cross River State, among others.
A group, ‘Concerned Bayelsa Stakeholders Forum (CBSF),’ has intensified calls on the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The CBSF which comprises members of various political parties, non-partisan citizens and residents of the state also has non-indigenes and people from different religious organisations as members.
Speaking at a world press conference held in Yenagoa, the State capital on Tuesday, the group, through its convener who doubles as Technical Adviser to the Governor on Media/Public Affairs, Snr. Comrade Wisdom Ikuli, passed a confidence vote on Governor Diri, commending his selfless service to the State and the Ijaw nation.
Mr Ikuli averred that there was need for the state to align with the federal government. Citing the benefits of having a government at the centre that can attract development to the state, he noted that the PDP at the national level had been long enmeshed in crisis.
“The current leadership of the PDP under whose platform the governor is leading the state has been hijacked by few individuals. This poses threats to the interest of the state.
“Presently, our state is standing alone as the only PDP state in the whole of the South South region. The above may not be too much an issue. The greatest challenge here is the hijack of the PDP by few individuals and the very dangerous traps that they have set for Bayelsa in 2027, particularly those that intend to fly the flag of PDP.
“There are concluded arrangements to hide under the excuse of crisis and countless court cases in PDP at different levels to work to nullify the nomination of all candidates that will emerge under the party platform. So, we can imagine the pains, agony and disarray that the state shall experience if the state remains in PDP.
“The ongoing Coalition is also an embodiment of people who conspired to deny Bayelsa State and indeed the entire Ijaw Nation, a second term at the Presidency in 2015. Thus, the coalition can never be an option.
“ It is based on the above that we unanimously appeal to the Governor to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to show southern solidarity with other southern governors who are with Mr. President”, the group said.
“But as we move forward, one of the greatest priorities in the alliance with the centre should be the actualisation of the Agge Seaport that will help to boost the state economy and also bring about unimaginable transformation and prosperity. In the next few days we shall begin a daily rally on the streets of Yenagoa to prevail on His Excellency to do the needful.
“Finally, His Excellency should ignore all opposing voices against his defection. We say this because they are all fighting to protect their individual political interest without prioritising that of the state and the entire Ijaw nation.
“ We wish to reassure His Excellency that vast majority of Bayelsans are with him and together, we shall move forward”, the CBSF added.
The group thanked President Bola Tinubu for appointing Ijaw sons and daughters into key positions, including Senator Heineken Lokpobiri as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources; Chief Samuel Ogbuku as Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC); Chief Ebitimi Amgbare as Managing Director, Niger Delta Basin Development Authority (NDBDA), amongst others.
Meanwhile, the CBSF has also charged Governor Diri to prioritize the actualization of the Agge Deep Seaport project, saying it will boost the economy of the state and bring about transformation and prosperity, noting, however, that plans have reached advanced stages for the CBSF to hit the streets of Yenagoa with rallies with a view to prevailing on the governor to defect to the APC.
Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
The Speaker made the call on Wednesday while hosting councillors from the 13 local government areas of the State in his residence in Lafia, the state capital.
Rt Hon. Jatau said that a good working relationship among the arms of government at the council level was key to development, hence, the need for his call in that direction.
He appreciated the councillors for condoling with him over the death of his younger sister, Hajaratu Jatau, and prayed to God to bless them abundantly.
“I started as a councillor, and today I am the Speaker. There is the need for a good working relationship between you and the elected chairmen for development to thrive at the grassroots. It is in view of this that I want to call on you to give your elected chairmen all the necessary and needed support to succeed. For development to thrive at the grassroots, you must embrace one another and see yourselves as team players,” the Speaker said.
Rt Hon. Jatau also called on them to coexist peacefully among themselves and continue to drum up support for Governor Abdullahi Sule’s administration to succeed.
Besides, he assured them that the state government would soon organise training for them to deliver effective service.
Rt Hon. Jatau also assured them that the state government would pay them their furniture allowance, as well as other benefits, to enhance their legislative work.
Earlier, the chairman of the Nasarawa State Councillors Forum, Mohammed Madaki, who is the Leader of Lafia LGA Legislative Assembly, said that the visit was to identify with the Speaker over the death of his sister.
The leader of the delegation urged the Speaker to see the death of his sister as an act of God and bear the irreplaceable loss.
Mr Madaki assured the Speaker of their loyalty and support at all times.
The chairman, however, appealed to the Speaker to intervene in the training of the councillors as well as the payment of their furniture allowance.
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