Politics
Rivers Guber: Intrigues, Unveiling Of The ‘Battle Axes’
2014 politics in Rivers State
ended not without major milestones in the activities of both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the general elections slated for next month nationwide. But what started as gossips, political talk shops, then intrigues among the leadership and top notchers of APC and PDP, however, entered the crucial stage at the last quarters of 2014 when the political parties settled for their respective standard bearers.
First, it was the Rivers APC that unveiled its flag bearer for the gubernatorial race through a consensus arrangement that saw the emergence of Dakuku Adol Peterside, representing Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro federal constituency at the House of Representatives.
Unlike PDP in Rivers State where no fewer than 20 aspirants are known to have indicated interest in being Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi’s successor, it was a rumour mill sort of in the state APC of who had his eyes at the Rivers Brick House after the incumbent occupant. The rumours centred around Dakuku Peterside and Senator Magnus Abe majorly, but both of them or any unknown pretender(s) incubated their governorship ambitions, perhaps for fear not to incur the wrath of “Oga at the top.”
The visit of General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) to Rivers State to solicit the support and votes of Rivers APC delegates to the party’s presidential convention/primary, however, provided the opportunity for Governor Amaechi and leader of APC in Rivers, to open the lid on the choice of APC’s governorship candidate and the lot fell on the Opobo-born politician, Dakuku Peterside. The consensus choice of Dakuku Peterside was ratified at the APC’s ‘yes-vote’ primary that followed days later.
Dakuku Peterside’s choice and his emergence as Rivers APC governorship candidate sparked protests by youths in some major streets of Port Harcourt. The youths believed to be of the Ogoni extraction had protested over what they called ‘dumping of Senator Magnus Abe for Dakuku Peterside for the APC gubernatorial ticket in Rivers State” and the alleged reneged of Governor Amaechi in his purported promise to the Ogonis to use their son (Abe) for the ticket.
Though, the protests did not record any casualty, it was a day the police and other security operatives would not forget in a hurry of how they worked assiduously to prevent what would have resulted in a major breach of peace around Government House, the seat of power. Acting in a manner that all was well, the camp of Dakuku Peterside promptly exonerated the Ogoni youths in their involvement in the unfortunate protests, but the dust generated is yet to settle. Political observers argue that it may never be the same again between APC and the Ogonis despite moves to reconcile the irreconcilables arising from the choice of Rivers APC governorship candidate.
However, the Peoples Democratic Party gubernatorial aspirants in Rivers did not hide their ambitions right from onset. They came in their numbers and when the whistle was blown for the intent and nomination forms, over 20 aspirants applied for the governorship ticket of the party. The screening committee that examined all the aspirants for the job gave its verdicts; clearing the former Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Ezebunwo Wike and a few others and disqualified the bulk of the aspirants. Those cleared alongside Wike were Lee Maeba, Pawariso Samuel-Horsfall, Dumbari Ben Dimkpa and Atamuno Atamuno.
Nothing beats like politics but the losers did not allow the undercurrents of politics to carry them away just like that. They trooped to Abuja and protested to the appeal panel that subsequently gave them a clean bill of health to contest the governorship primary of PDP in the state. Bekinbo Dagogo-Jack, Tonye Princewill, Dumo Lulu-Briggs, Nemi Walson-Jack, Bernard Mikko, Don Baridam, Dein Ajumogobia, Lancelot Ayanya and Sampson Ngerebara were among the aspirants cleared by the appeal panel to try luck at the primary.
At the Rivers PDP gubernatorial primary held at the premises of community secondary school, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, 16 of the governorship aspirants boycotted the primary on December 8, 2014, alleging that processes leading to the primary were faulty and unacceptable.
But the boycott did not in any way invalidate the result of the primary that saw the former minister of state for education elected overwhelmingly as the PDP battle axe for what the party called ‘rescue mission.’ Rivers PDP explained that it was determined in every legitimate electoral means to recover its lost mandate to APC following the defection of Governor Amaechi and the state apparatus to APC, hence the need for a rescue mission.
Wike, a two-term chairman of Obio/Akpor local government council and former chief of staff to Governor Amaechi determined to change the direction of the political wind in the state, he and the Felix Obuah-led PDP leadership in Rivers, however, adjusted the political seat and sails, apparently to reach the destination point of recovering Rivers State from APC. That prompted the setting up of peace committees across the three senatorial districts to go all out and mend fences with the aggrieved members towards enhancing the party’s electoral chances. though a hard nut to crack, the Rivers PDP is optimistic that it would overcome its challenges as it did in the past before the general elections proper.
Even as the PDP leadership has not given any thing to chance to keep its house in order before the d-day, protest is still far from over. Only recently, Chief A.K. Horsfall-led Kalabari elders’ forum reopened the old wound when it gave a seven-day ultimatum for the national working committee (NWC) of PDP to substitute the governorship candidature of Wike with any Kalabari candidate in the interest of justice and fair play.
The reaction of Rivers PDP leadership over the ultimatum was prompt and understandable. In a press release, Obuah in an unmistaken terms accused Horsfall’s forum of playing the script even as he said what the forum asked was not feasible going by the transparency of the primary.
Barring any last minute somersault which many believe is not likely to happen, both the PDP and the APC appeared set to go into the governorship contest having baptized their candidates – Wike (PDP) and Peterside (APC) for the battle of Rivers Brick House.
As Wike and Peterside secured the driving seats of their respective parties, they also chose co-pilots or better put running mates for the governorship race. While Wike presented a female from Degema-Kalabari axis of Rivers State, Peterside unveiled a male from the Orashi area of the state.
Presenting Dr. Ipalibo Gogo Banigo , in a bold attempt at wooing women in the state, Wike explained that he decided to choose a woman as his running mate because of his desire to create room for women to play active role in the political and economic development of the state.
Though, the task of choosing his running mate took Wike some time because of what he described as “rot in the governance in the state,” the PDP guber candidate said the history of the state was awash with the input of women, but regretted that none had been given the opportunity to hold an office as high as that of the state deputy governor.
The time, according to Wike, has come to give women the chance to play active role in the politics of the state, and this informed the choice of Dr. Banigo whom Wike described as a rare breed and a leader with uncommon traits to join in the task of rebuilding the state.
“The Rivers PDP is determined to move away from the primordial era of treating women with disdain and indignity. We want to move away from the acts of our opponents, who relish giving out token to women. As a step, the Rivers PDP decided that a woman should occupy the post,” Wike said, while presenting Dr. Banigo – a senior medical practitioner, ex-permanent secretary, former Head of Service in the state and Secretary to the State Government.
Banigo, in his acceptance speech, expressed gratitude to the party and Wike for picking her as his running mate. The smile at her face did not betray her loyalty and commitment to drive along with Wike to Government House, God’s willing.
Pleasant luck came the way of Honourable Asita who hails from Okaki in Ahoada West LGA of Rivers State as he was picked as Peterside’s running mate. Asita, a former commissioner for youth development during Dr. Peter Odili administration, is currently a member of the lower chambers of the National Assembly.
Adjusting to political realities, Buguma-born prince, Tonye Princewill did not allow the blow of political faith lie him low when he lost out amongst others at the PDP guber race. He moved on: this time to the Labour Party (LP) where he subsequently edged out other contenders in the race and secured the LP guber ticket.
Now that the coast is clear of who and who are contending for Amaechi’s shoe, it stands to reason that the acceptability of the political party in the state, the meaning the contenders bring into play and of course, the candidate’s grassroots support will largely determine which party and governorship candidate that will carry the crown of glory at the end of the day.
Samuel Eleonu
Politics
Reps Seeks To Retain Immunity For President Only
On Wednesday, the House of Representatives passed, through a second reading, a bill seeking to retain immunity for the Office of the President and remove immunity from the Vice President, the Governors and the Deputy Governors.
The bill was one of the 42 considered and passed through the second reading stage during plenary presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Mr Benjamin Kalu, in Abuja.
Sponsored by Hon. Solomon Bob (Rivers PDP), the bill is seeking the amendment of Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution to guard against abuse of office and to ensure transparency in governance.
The long title of the proposed legislation read: “A Bill for an Act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to qualify the immunity conferred on the President, remove the immunity conferred on the Vice President, the Governors and their deputies, in order to curb corruption, eradicate impunity and enhance accountability in public office and for related matters.”
Key amendments include changes to Section 308 of the Constitution, which currently grants immunity to the president, vice president, governors, and deputy governors while in office.
The proposed bill will amend subsection 3 to ensure that immunity only applies to the President and the vice president when acting as President under Section 145 of the Constitution.
Additionally, a new subsection 4 will be introduced to make the immunity clause inapplicable if the office holder is acting in an unofficial capacity, engaging in actions beyond the powers of the office, or involved in criminal conduct.
“The bill seeks to foster transparency and strengthen the fight against corruption by making public officials more accountable for their actions, both in and out of office.”
“Section 308 of the principal Act is amended by:(a) substituting a new subsection (3) as follows: “(3) This section applies to a person holding the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Vice President only when acting as President, in line with Section 145 of this Constitution.
Creating sub section (4) thereto as follows:”(4) The foregoing provisions of this section shall be inapplicable where the person to whom this section applies is acting in an unofficial capacity or where the conduct of the person is beyond the powers of his office or the conduct is criminal in nature.
“This Bill may be cited as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) Act 2024.
The bill is currently awaiting further debate and consideration by the National Assembly.
Politics
Recall From NASS: INEC Confirms Petitioners’ Contact Details Receipt, Notifies Natasha
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has written to notify Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the senator representing Kogi Central, about the petition by constituents seeking her recall from the national assembly.
INEC said it has also received the contact details of the petitioners.
“Pursuant to section 69 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended, I write to notify you of the receipt of a petition from representatives of registered voters in your constituency seeking your recall from the senate.
“The notification is in line with the provisions of clause 2 (a) of the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024.
“This letter is also copied to the presiding officer of the senate and simultaneously published on the commission’s website. Thank you”, the letter read.
The letter was signed by Ruth Oriaran Anthony, secretary to the commission.
Meanwhile, in a statement issued on Wednesday, INEC said it has now received the updated contact details from representatives of petitioners seeking to recall the senator.
In the statement, Sam Olumekun, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education, said a letter notifying the senator of the petition has been delivered to her official address, copied to the senate presiding officer, and published on the commission’s website.
“The next step is to scrutinise the list of signatories submitted by the petitioners to ascertain that the petition is signed by more than one half (over 50%) of the registered voters in the constituency. This will be done in the coming days.
“The outcome, which will be made public, shall determine the next step to be taken by the Commission. We once again reassure Nigerians that the process will be open and transparent”, Mr Olumekun said.
Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan had recently accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexually harassing her.
The allegation came in the wake of seating arrangement related altercation between Senator. Akpabio and the Kogi Central senator at the red chamber
She was subsequently suspended from the senate for six months for “gross misconduct” over the incident.
The constituents behind the recall move also accused her of “gross misconduct, abuse of office, and deceitful behaviour”.
The senator has denied wrongdoing and called the recall effort a “coordinated suppression” of her voice.
Politics
Bill To Upgrade Lagos LCDAs To LGAs Pass Second Reading
The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed the second reading of a bill to upgrade the Lagos State 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) to full-fledged Local Government Areas (LGAs ).
The bill, was sponsored by James Faleke, Babajimi Benson, Enitan Badru, and 19 other lawmakers.
The bill is titled “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) to Accommodate the Thirty-Seven (37) Development Area Councils of Lagos State as Full-Fledged Local Government Areas, Increasing the Total Number of Local Government Areas in the Federation to Eight Hundred and Eleven (811), and for Related Matters (HB. 1498),”
Once fully enacted, Nigeria’s total number of LGAs will rise from 774 to 811, with Lagos overtaking Kano and Katsina, which currently have 44 and 34 LGAs, respectively.
Proponents of the bill argue that granting full LGA status to the LCDAs would bring governance closer to the people. The 37 LCDAs were created by President Bola Tinubu in 2003 when he was governor of Lagos State.
However, it’s worth noting that the Lagos State House of Assembly has been working on a bill to replace the 37 LCDAs with newly designated administrative areas.