Politics
Sultan Of Sokoto Hails Gov Wike
After the marathon inauguration of people-oriented projects in the state for the past three weeks, Government House Port Harcourt recorded low activities last week.
However, as commendations continue to pour in over Governor Nyesom Wike’s good governance, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, last week praised the governor for his developmental strides in the state.
According to the Caliphate, the massive infrastructure of the Governor’s administration is an eloquent justification of the ‘ Mr Project ‘ title given to Wike by Nigerian Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbanjo.
Abubakar made the commendation, Wednesday, when the Rivers State Governor visited Sokoto State to commiserate with his Sokoto State counterpart, Rt Hon Aminu Tambuwal over the unfortunate fire that gutted Sokoto Central Market.
Governor Wike took advantage of the consolidatory visit to also visit the palace of the Sultan to commiserate with him over the demise of his younger brother, Hon Abdulkadir Jeli Abubakar, who was Sokoto State Commissioner for Home Affairs.
The Sultan said: “ I commend you and congratulate you for all what you have been doing for Rivers State in particular, because we have seen a lot of infrastructure being put in place and that is why they call you Mr Project in Rivers.
“ You have just some few more years, please do much more, so that nobody will beat you when he takes over from you”.
He described Governor Wike’s consolidatory visit and pledge to support Sokoto State over the unfortunate fire that gutted the market as a demonstration of what Nigeria is and should be.
The Sultan who acknowledged the age-long relationship between Sokoto and Rivers State, lauded Governor Wike for his wisdom in sustaining it.
The Rivers State Governor, after being conducted round the destroyed market, said he was saddened by the devastating fire that razed over 60 per cent of the shops there.
Governor Wike said: “ When I got the information last night, I was touched and I said, as brothers what affects you affects us. What affects Sokoto, affects Rivers State”.
He pledged that the governmen of Rivers State will support Sokoto State with the sum of N500 million to rebuild the market and ameliorate the plight of the traders.
Governor Tambuwal commended Governor Wike for his show of love and thanked the people of Rivers State for their kind gesture.
In a bid to check the current increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, in the second wave of the pandemic, Governor Wike, last week, directed all civil servants on salary Grade Level 01 to 13 , except those on essential duties, to stay away from duty with effect from last Wednesday, 20th January, 2021 till further notice.
Officers from grade level 14 and above were by this notice, directed to be on duty and assume full responsibilities, for their offices till further notice.
According to the directive, all Permanent Secretaries and Heads of extra ministerial offices were expected to ensure compliance with the directive and observe strictly all COVID-19 protocols.
Also last week, Governor Wike commiserated with the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Emmanuel Udom over the death of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) chairman, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (rtd) and the state chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) , Udo Ekpenyong.
Governor Wike who described the death of both the PDP Chairman in the state and the PANDEF chairman as painful, urged the Governor and People of Akwa Ibom State to take solace in God.
By: Chris Oluoh
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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