Politics
Akawor Wants LG Chairmen To Emulate Wike
The Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP), Rivers State, Ambassador Desmond Akawor, has charged Local Council chairmen in the state to use the development model set by Governor Nyesom Wike in the state as template for the development of their various local government areas.
Speaking while commissioning the Remodelled Gokana Council Secretariat at Kpor, headquarters of the local government area recently, the PDP Chairman told them that securing second term ticket was a function of their performance in office.
The former Ambassador to South Korea who commended the Gokana council boss for remodelling the council secretariat to world class standard, recalled a bitter experience he had with the old structure during his trip to Gokana as Chairman of the Covid 19 Parliatives committee in the state.
“When l came to Kpor as chairman of the Parliatives Committee, I had the call of nature and was asked to be taken to the Chairman ‘s office. I had the terrible experience of my life managing myself from here back to Port Harcourt with the luggage inside my stomach. But for me to come here today to see the same structure looking like Zenith Bank, l can say that it is only God that can do this.
“Wherever I go, I always say one thing, that it is difficult for lion to produce a lizard. There is a wave of change in this state. God has given us a Governor that has decided to set a standard of which no chairman has any alternative but to key in. For all the chairmen, especially the crop of chairmen we have now, they actually know what it took them to emerge as chairman. They passed through the crucible and that is why virtually in every local government there is one performance or the other”.
While describing what was happening at the local government level as delivery of dividends of democracy to the people at the grassroots, the former Minister of FCT urged local government chairmen to always strive to bring development to their areas, saying that everything cannot be done by the state government.
“The local government as the third tier of government has its own portion of the dividends of democracy to deliver”.
Ambassador Akawor who said unlike the APC, the PDP government in the state had delivered on its electioneering campaign promises, describing the APC as a special purpose vehicles used to remove former President Goodluck Jonathan from office.
He noted that the Saakpenwa-Bori-Kono road which they promised in their campaigns to do and failed is currently being handled by Governor Nyesom Wike while the Bodo-Bonny road is being done by the Nigerian Liquifued Natural Gas, NLNG alone.
He also told the people how the APC-led Federal Government was playing politics with the Ogoni clean up and the Electoral amendment bill.
“We all saw what is happening now with the electoral bill. What is going on with a party that is in charge at the National Assembly. They took a decision and sent it to their President to sign, and after many months the date caught up with him and he refused to sign it and Nigerians are saying this is not what we wanted. There is no promise they have made that they have kept”.
He encouraged Nigerians, particularly the people of Gokana to stand with the party in whom they had absolute confidence that it would fulfill its promises to them, adding that in 2023 all Nigerians have a date with destiny.
The State PDP Chairman also praised Gokana sons serving in Governor Wike’s administration for their loyalty and support as well as the people of Gokana for believing in the PDP.
Chairman of Gokana Local Government Area, Confidence Dekoo, said he decided to embark on the project to give the council a befitting secretariat.
He thanked the state PDP Chairman , Ambassador Desmond Akawor, for coming to perform the commissioning ceremony and assured him that his tenure would witness a boom in project execution in the local government area.
Former Senior Special Assistant to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on Domestic Matters and Social Events, Dr Waripamowei Dudafa, has praised the Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri on his formal defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Dr Dudafa, who is also a former member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly and one time commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Development, described the governor’s decision as a wise and well-considered move that aligns the State with the centre for accelerated development and greater political inclusion.
“Governor Diri’s decision reflects his pragmatic leadership style which has always been guided by consultation, inclusiveness, and the pursuit of the common good.
“Your Excellency, your decision to work in harmony with the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu which is in synergy with your ‘Assured Prosperity’ vision will undoubtedly bring about the needed transformation and development for the people of Bayelsa State and the Niger Delta at large.
“Since assuming office, your guiding principle has been clear and consistent — to consult widely, act in the public interest, and deliver measurable development outcomes. That same principle has informed your latest political alignment, and it will continue to serve as a compass for your Assured Prosperity Administration”, he said.
He further praised the governor’s performance in office, stating that Gov. Diri’s administration has been characterized by purposeful governance and tangible results, reaffirming his continued loyalty and support for the governor, while also assuring that he and his associates will keep identifying with the Gov Diri’s administration in the collective effort to sustain peace, unity, and progress in the state.
While restating his continued solidarity with the governor’s leadership in the state, Dr Dudafa promised to lend his support to ensure that he finishes strong.
“Governor Diri’s political maturity and developmental focus have repositioned Bayelsa for a brighter future”, he added.
The Tide further learnt that Dr Dudafa once served as Special Adviser to a former governor of the State on Youth Mobilization and Empowerment.
“I want to again commend the governor for his courage and vision. His alignment of the State with the federal government under the Renewed Hope Agenda is a step toward ensuring inclusive governance and attracting more federal presence to the state”, he said.
By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
A publication circulating online had quoted Alhaji Sheriff as saying, “It’s not me; it’s Shettima who created Boko Haram.”
But in a statement issued on Saturday, Alhaji Sheriff dismissed the report as a “complete fabrication” aimed at misleading the public and stirring political discord.
“The said story is a complete fabrication, devoid of truth, and a deliberate attempt to mislead the public, malign the person of Senator Sheriff, and sow discord within the nation’s political landscape,” the statement read.
Alhaji Sheriff said he never granted any interview or spoke to any journalist on the matter, adding that the falsehood was designed to undermine his long-standing commitment to peace and national unity.
“This false report is not only mischievous but also a dangerous piece of fake news aimed at undermining years of Senator Sheriff’s contributions to peace, national unity, and development, both in Borno State and across Nigeria,” the statement added.
The former governor urged members of the public and the media to disregard the publication, noting that he had directed his legal team to identify and pursue those behind the story.
“Senator Sheriff has instructed his legal team to take immediate steps to identify all individuals, bloggers, or media outlets responsible for the dissemination of this defamatory material.
“Should the false publication not be retracted and taken down forthwith, the Senator will not hesitate to seek full legal redress under the law”, his media office said.
Alhaji Sheriff reaffirmed his commitment to Nigeria’s security, stability, and democratic values and vowed to ensure that the spread of misinformation does not go unpunished.
Politics
Anambra Guber: I’m Not Impressed, LP Candidate Says …As Observers Lament Vote-buying, Low Voters Turnout
Mr Moghalu spoke to journalists on Saturday shortly after casting his vote at Uruagu Ward 1, Nnewi.
He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to rise to its responsibility of making the process credible.
He also alleged voter apathy, attributing it to people’s lack of confidence in the electoral process.
Mr Moghalu said that even though it was too early to say whether the process was free, fair, and credible, he was not impressed.
“I am not impressed; there were no issues of glitches, at least for now. As we go along to monitor the process, we’ll confirm. In terms of voting, there’s an improvement over previous elections.
“I can’t say it’s free and fair because if you monetise a process, you weaponise poverty. What’s free about it? There’s no doubt there’s low voter turnout, and that has been the trend,” he stated.
The LP’s flag bearer stated that it was incumbent on INEC to continually improve the process, as voter apathy is a manifestation of a loss of confidence in the people.
Reports from Yiaga Africa, European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) II, and other partner organisations indicated that voter turnout was low in most polling units across the 21 local government areas of the state.
Speaking to journalists in Awka, the Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, Mr Samson Itodo, identified vote-buying and low turnout as recurring issues observed in the thematic areas of the election.
Also, Asabe Ndahi of the Kukah Centre decried logistical challenges, including the late arrival of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security officials in high-risk areas, such as Nkwelle-Ezunaka, Ihiala, Ogbaru, and Nnewi South.
She added that incidents of vote-buying and voter intimidation were recorded in several local government areas.
that votes were being traded for between N15,000 and N30,000.
“It is sad that bad governance is fuelling vote buying and selling.
“For an unemployed youth who sells his vote for ?30,000, what will he be paid next month when there is no election?
“By selling your vote, you are saying no school, no hospital, no jobs and selling away your future. This is worrisome”, he said.
He called on journalists to play an active role in exposing and curbing the menace.
The former presidential candidate also described all the hopefuls in the governorship race as his friends.
“Whoever wins, let him serve the people. Nigeria needs service now. We need to pull our people out of poverty,” he said,
Earlier, Mr George Moghalu, LP governorship candidate, said despite the heavy deployment of security personnel for the election, he had received reports of widespread vote-buying.
He also described the trend as “most unfortunate”, and warned that the crime undermines the integrity of the electoral process.
Mr Moghalu added that he remained optimistic on the outcome of the election, as he had campaigned extensively and presented his manifesto to the electorate.