Politics
Two ACN Groups Clash Over Leadership
Two opposing groups of the Action Congress of Nigeria in Rivers State clashed on Wednesday in Port Harcourt over leadership.
The Tide was informed that the two opposing groups were struggling over which of them controls the party in the state.
Sources informed our correspondent that the groups are loyal to the two governorship aspirants of the party, Dr. Abiye Sekibo and Dr. Itekena Michael Abel –Tariah.
It was alleged that Barrister Uche Okwukwu, the state caretaker committee chairman of of the party was beaten up and assaulted.
Sources claimed that Mr. Okwukwu was alleged to have attempted to connive with a group to hijack the leadership of the party.
Speaking with The Tide, the spokesman of the 23 local government chairmen of the party, Dr. Akolo Amonibia, accused the transition committee chairman, of allegedly sneaking materials for the purpose of rigging the state congress election.
Tariah also alleged that the transition committee members wanted to impose unpopular leaders on the party members and equally ignored the 60-40 per cent sharing formula agreement between the decampee supporters of Abiye Sekibo and the old members.
He, however, advised that the chairman and the committee members should be neutral by treating all party members with utmost fairness, as anything less, would be unacceptable to the party.
Speaking, the transition chairman of the party, Barr. Okwukwu said the issue of Dr. Abiye Sekibo and others wanting to hijack the leadership of the party was not the issue in contention.
He said Sekibo had only declared intention to join the party, stressing that it was agreed that he and his supporters should be welcomed into the party so as to help the party in the state.
He said there was no time the former Transport Minister declared to run for any election in the party, describing the rumours that he and others wanted to hijack the leadership of the party as false and unfounded.
When contacted, the party gubernatorial aspirant, Dr. Itekena Michael Abel-Tariah condemned the unfair disposition of the committee led by Barr. Okwukwu in the disrupted election.
He said ACN was known as a peaceful party, advising that those who dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the party should maintain and respect the peaceful disposition of the party and its rules and regulations.
The gubernatorial aspirant advised that the chairman of the transition committee, Barr. Okwukwu, should return all the materials for the exercise to the national secretariat of the party pending when the issue would be resolved amicably.
Enoch Epelle
Politics
Why I Won’t Help Tinubu’s Govt Overcome Economic Challenges – Sanusi
The 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, says he would not help President Bola Tinubu’s administration to correct the administration’s policies affecting the citizens.
Emir Sanusi spoke on Wednesday in Lagos as the chairman of the 21st Anniversary of Fawehinmiism (Gani Fawehinmi Annual Lecture 2025).
The emir stated that while there were “a few points” he could offer to explain the trajectory the administration had taken and how such decisions were predictable, he chose not to do so because “they don’t behave like friends.”
He said explaining the government’s policies would help the government, but he did not intend to assist them due to the way they had treated him.
“I can give a few points that are contrary, that explain perhaps what we’re going through and how it was totally predictable, most of it, and maybe avoidable. But I am not going to do that.
“I have chosen not to speak about the economy or the reforms or to even explain anything because if I explain, it would help this government, but I don’t want to help this government,” the emir said while addressing some of the points made by speakers about the economy.
He added: “You know they’re my friends, but if they don’t behave like friends, I don’t behave like a friend. So I watch them being stooges. And they don’t even have people with credibility who can come and explain what they are doing. I am not going to help. I started out helping, but I am not going to help. I am not going to discuss it. Let them come and explain to Nigerians why the policies that are being pursued are being pursued.
“Meanwhile, I’m watching a very nice movie with popcorn in my hands. But I will say one thing: What we are going through today is, at least in part, not totally, but at least in part, a necessary consequence of decades of irresponsible economic management.
“People were told decades ago that if you continue along this path, this is where you’re going to end up, and they refused to open their eyes. Now, is everything being done today correct? No.”
Emir Sanusi, who was deposed as the 14th Emir of Kano in 2020 by then-Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the current national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), was reinstated as the 16th Emir of Kano in 2024 by the New Nigeria People’s Party-led Kano State Government.
His emirship has faced ongoing challenges from forces believed to be backed by the federal government, including federal officials’ continued recognition of his predecessor, Emir Aminu Ado Bayero.
Last month, the police barricaded his palace, with the state government accusing the federal government of orchestrating the action to stir unrest in the peaceful state.
Politics
Reps Loses Deputy Chief Whip
The Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Oriyomi Onanuga, is dead.
Also known as Ijaya, Rt Hon. Onanuga, who was the member representing Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency, is said to have died following a brief illness.
This was confirmed in a tweet on the official X (formerly Twitter) account of the House of Representatives, on Wednesday night.
Rt Hon Onanuga, who was born in Hammersmith, London, to Nigerian parents on December 2, 1965, was a politician and entrepreneur. She held the position of Deputy Chief Whip in the Nigerian House of Representatives since 2023.
She contested and won a seat in the House of Representatives under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019. She also served as the Chairperson of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development.
Politics
Aiyedatiwa Dissolves Cabinet, Retains Finance Commissioner, Attorney-General
Gov. Aiyedatiwa, however, exempted two members of the cabinet from the dissolution due to the critical nature of their duties.
The two commissioners exempted include the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Kayode Ajulo, SAN, and the Commissioner for Finance, Mrs. Omowunmi Isaac.
This was contained in a statement issued by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
Mr Adeniyan said in the statement that “All the affected cabinet members are to hand over all government properties in their care to the accounting officers of their respective ministries.
Gov. Aiyedatiwa thanked the executive council members “for their service and contributions to the development of Ondo State under his administration and wished them well in their future endeavours”.
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