News
Rivers PDP Congress: ‘Ake, An Exemplary Leader’
The Governor of Rivers State, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi has described the re-elected state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Godspower Ake as an exemplary leader, whose sterling qualities have enhanced the electoral value of the party in the state.
Governor Amaechi made the remarks at the 2012 state congress of the party which took place at the Alfred Diete Spiff Civic Centre, Port Harcourt,on Saturday.
Represented by his deputy, Engr Tele Ikuru, the state chief executive congratulated the out-going executives of the party for successfully piloting its affairs in the past years, noting that the outstanding performance of the party in past elections was a testament to the way party affairs were conducted.
He thanked all the outgoing party executive for their contributions to the success of the party, saying “those of them that were not returned will not be forgotten as their good works will always speak for them.
Governor Amaechi called on the in-coming party executives to work harder in building on the achievements of the past four years to deliver a better, robust, and united party that would ensure the deliverance of the dividends of democracy to the people.
Of the 984 accredited delegates at the party congress conducted by Mr Steve Emelieze, and supervised by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Chief Ake, polled 777 votes out of 824 to emerge state chairman, alongside Senibo Dagogo Legg-Jack, Deputy state chairman, and Barr Adokiye Oruwari, state Secretary in a 29 member executive of the party for the next four years.
In his acceptance speech, Chief Ake thanked party faithfuls in the state for the confidence reposed in his executives that had seen the party winning all elective positions contested for in the state in the past four years.
He called on the new executives to work harder than the outgone exco to ensure that the PDP continues in its winning ways in the next four years.
Also speaking, the state Deputy chairman, Mr Legg-Jack thanked Governor Amaechi for being supportive to the party, ‘as much support has been translated into a peaceful congress witnessed today”.
In a related development, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) last Saturday held its state congress across the country in a peaceful manner, with some states returning candidates through consensus.
In Kaduna, Vice-President Namadi Sambo said the successful conduct of PDP congress in Kaduna State was a clear demonstration of the party’s focus towards delivering good governance.
The Vice-President who spoke during the PDP congress in Kaduna last Saturday congratulated the newly elected officials, saying the party was committed to implementing the transformation agenda of the Federal Government.
He urged the elected officials to work as a team to promote the party’s virtues and ensure sincere representation of the people who voted for them.
Amb. Nuhu Audu, the newly elected chairman of the party in Kaduna , said the new officials would ensure justice and equity in carrying out their mandate.
In Sokoto State, the 29-member state executives of the PDP were returned unopposed.
The election was presided over by a five-man congress committee from the PDP national secretariat, headed by Chief Sergeant Awuse.
Wamakko commended the delegates for the orderly and peaceful congress, saying there had been absolute respect and trust between the followers and leadership of the party in the state.
In his acceptance speech, the chairman commended members of the party for the confidence reposed in him.
Waziri urged the people of the state to pray fervently for Nigeria, saying it is in dire need of prayers.
In Dutse, capital of Jigawa State, the party elected its new officials by consensus arrangement without any contest.
The former state commissioner for Economic and Youth Empowerment, Alhaji Salisu Mahmuda, was elected chairman of the party while former Special Adviser to Gov. Sule Lamido on Personal Matters, Alhaji Aliyu Gantsa, was elected secretary.
In Asaba, Delta, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi, state chairman of the PDP was returned unopposed Chief Solomon Ogba, secretary of the party; Chief Arthur Akpowowo, youth leader and Chief Edwin Uzor, state auditor of the party were also returned unopposed.
In his acceptance speech, Nwaoboshi thanked the delegates and other party members for another opportunity to serve.
Meanwhile, Gov. Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta has appealed to citizens of the state not to overheat the political system.
He urged all to sustain the new spirit of unity as no meaningful development could be achieved in a chaotic and rancorous atmosphere.
In Makurdi, Benue State, elections into various executive offices of the PDP commenced with newsmen barred from the venue.
They advised the delegates to put aside sentiments and work for the good of the party in particular and the state in general.
In Awka, Anambra State, the state Police Command, cordoned off St. Augustine Anglican Church, Amawbia, near Awka, stopping the conduct of PDP congress in the state.
In Jos, Plateau State accreditation for the PDP state congress commenced at about 11.30 a.m. amidst tight security.
The Tide reports that there was heavy presence of security operatives at the various centres.
In Gombe, Mr Jack Gumpy, was re-elected chairman of the party.
Our correspondent reports that the congress which was based on consensus, also had Alhaji Nasiru Gwani as Vice Chairman and Alhaji Abubakar Shanu as Secretary.
In Enugu, all the 29 executive officers, including two women, were returned unopposed.
The Tide correspondent reports that former chairman, Mr Vita Abba, was re-elected while Mr Steve Oruruo was returned as the secretary.
In his remarks, the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu described the congress as the “best organised in the country’’.
Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.
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