Politics
National Confab: Rivers Delegates Told To Protect State Interest
As the National
Conference kicks off in Abuja, today, Rivers State delegates to the conference have been advised to protect the interest of the state above their personal, socio – political or ethnic interests.
They were also warned not to allow their differences to becloud the pursuit for equity, justice, fairness and peace for the state and nation at large.
Rising from a mini conference which was organised by the Rivers Mainstream Coalition (RMC) at the Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt last Saturday, all speakers were unanimous that delegates should not be influenced by the current political cleavage in the state, saying that they were not there to respresent any political party but the interest of the Rivers people.
A 19-point resolution was drafted at the end of the conference which had Elder Gomba Osarollor, a former Commissioner for Agriculture in the old Rivers State as Chairman with Chief A. K. Horsefall, former Chairman of OMPADEC and former Director of State Security Service presenting the key note address.
Central to the issues discussed was the position of Rivers people on resource control, fiscal federalism, peace and security, protection of the environment from wanton and brazen destruction, among others.
The speakers which also include Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, Prof. Israel Owaite, Sen. Benet Birabi, Dr. Sofiri Peterside, Chief Tom Big-Harry, Mrs. Nimi Tom-Manuel, Hon. (Barr) Nimi Walson Jack, Dr. Briggs Damabo, Faye Dikio (SAN), Sara Igbe and Dr. Ben Ohia, were unequivocal in their support for a fiscal federalism where the federating units would contribute 50% of proceeds from its controlled resources to the central government.
Chief A.K. Horsefall who is the only Rivers delegate present at the mini conference, praised the Rivers Mainstream Coalition for initiating the event.
“If we segment ourselves, as we do at the moment, we get smaller. But if we do what you are doing today, we will advance and make much impact” he said.
Horsefall disclosed that his nomination to the conference was predicated on his security expertise, adding that although he was called upon essentially for security input, he would not be indifferent to lending his voice to issues of interest to Rivers State.
On the issue of fiscal federalism, the security expert said he had reservation about federating the country on basis of the six geo-political regions as, according to him, “it may work for the South East and South West because of common language and cultures, but may not be feasible in South South and the north because of diversity of language and cultures.”
Similarly, Faye Dikio (SAN) differed slightly on the issue of resource control and called for the abrogation of the Land Use Act which vested all lands on the government. This, according to him, would ensure a realistic control of resources by the federating units. He also advocated the repeal of the Oil Minerals Act.
Groups who participated at the event were Etche Ethnic Nationality ‘Voice of Rivers Citizens’, ‘I See You’ and Ogba ethnic nationality.
The communiqué read in part, “That the interest of ethnic nationalities having lived together in peace, should continue to be bound together in peace in a society in which political representations are broadly and equitably distributed. That we wish to control our resources in the state and have fiscal federation.
“That we want to own our lands and want the Land Use Act repealed. That we want the federation restructured to give more powers to the federating states. That states should have the powers to create the number of local government areas they can manage. That there is need to diversify the economy from oil and create wealth from other sectors. That we want a unicameral legislature and not a bicameral.
“That traditional rulers should have constitutional responsibilities. Obnoxious laws such as the Petroleum Act, Land Use Act, Pipeline Act, Mineral Resources Act etc, that inhibit the rights of our people be expunged and the Petroleum Industry Bill should be passed.”
Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (2nd left) obeying National Anthem. With him are former Prime Minister of Ireland, His Excellency John Bruton (2nd right), former British Foreign Secretary, His Excellency Jack Straw (right) and Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Engr. Tele Ikuru (left) during an International Conference on Democracy and Good Governance, organised by Rivers State government at Banquet Hall, Government House, Port Harcourt. Photo: Egberi A. Sampson
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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