Politics
PDP, APC Bicker Over Gov Alia’s Visit To Dongban-Mensem
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Benue State chapter, has raised suspicions over the visit of Governor Hyacinth Alia to Shendam, Plateau State, the country home of the President of Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Donogban-Mensem.
Alia, last Saturday, had attended the one year remembrance Mass in honour of late Prince Paeke Shepnaan, son of the President of Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, in Shendam, Plateau State.
PDP, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Bemgba Iortyom, said it viewed “The frolicking of Governor Alia around the Court of Appeal President with deep suspicion for the fact that the governor is having his election challenged by the party before the Benue State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal (BGEPT) sitting in Makurdi.”
The party said it was aware that the President of the Court of Appeal appoints the judges who sit on the vari-ous election petition tribu-nals, and that while the party has no reason to doubt the integrity of Dongban-Mensem and the judges, the same cannot be said of the Benue Governor.
The party warned the gov-ernor against any act that may seek to tamper with the course of justice at the tribunal, saying any attempt by Alia to tamper with justice at the tribunal will be stoutly resisted through every lawful means available to the party.
Reacting, the state chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) called on the opposition PDP not to think of getting justice through the back door.
The party’s Publicity Secretary, Daniel Ihomun, said Governor Alia was free to attend any event he is invited.
“PDP is just suffering from the defeat of March 18, 2023, as people of the state freely gave their mandate to the governor and our party, we will continue to defend the mandate and work towards the betterment of the people of the state. Governor Alia won the election free and fair and it is on record that no governorship election in the state has recorded such a huge margin, which is 250,000 votes difference.
“PDP should wake up from their slumber and accept the reality that it cannot get justice through the back door. Court deals with facts and reality on ground. Governor Alia and the party (is) poised to uplift the lives of people of the state which PDP had destroyed in the past years,” Ihomun said.
Similarly, the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Tersoo Kula, has asked former Governor Samuel Ortom and the PDP to “spare Alia of their desperation and confusion.”
Kula in response to the PDP allegation said “the insinuation contained in yet another vile attack on the judiciary for allowing Alia to attend a memorial mass for the late son of the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Bolna’an Dongban-Mensem is unfortunate. The memorial service in honour of late Prince Paeke Shepnaan, the son of the President Court of Appeal, was attended by prominent Nigerians including four serving Governors, former Governors as well as Senators.
“Governor Hyacinth Alia was at that event to also represent the Progressive Governors’ Forum just like Sayi Makinde represented NGF. Should we say Wike and Makinde were also there to frolic with the President of the Appeal Court on behalf of Ortom and the Benue PDP? It is laughable how the PDP has now shifted its hopes to the Tribunal, even after they were roundly defeated at the polls.
“Governor Alia and the judiciary must be spared this form of crude desperation and confusion. The law profession and the Judiciary arm of government are noble.”
A grassroots organisation known as Sir Siminalayi Fubara Peace Initiative, Friends For Good Governance, has passed a confidence vote on the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara over his development strides in the state within a short time in office.
Apart from the numerous development projects embarked upon by the governor in the state, the body expressed delight over the recent payment of N85,000.00 minimum wage to civil servants in the State to reduce the economic burden of workers and their dependants.
Spokesperson of the organisation, Chief Felix Ologara, who addressed newsmen in Bori, headquarters of Khana Local Government Area described Governor Fubara’s administration as the most compassionate, peace-loving and labour-friendly in Nigeria.
Coordinator of the NGO, Comrade Felix Nnaa, also lauded the governor of Rivers State for staying focused on the development of the state despite the challenges by detractors of his administration.
The NGO also commended the newly elected local government chairmen in the state, particularly the chairman of Khana LGA, Hon Martin Nwigbo and his Tai counterpart, Hon Mathew Dike for modelling their leadership style after Governor Fubara’s in providing essential services to the people.
On his part, the Chairman of Khana Local Government Area, Hon. Martins Nwigbo, who also spoke with the press assured that his administration will give priority attention to the development of Khana, particularly in providing security, economic empowerment, human capital development and restoration of power in the area.
Former President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Professor Atuboyedia Obianime, has called for a people centred governance in Nigeria.
Prof. Obianime said this at the Rivers Liberation Summit and Awards organised by the Ijaw Wari Initiative Worldwide in Port Harcourt.
He said projects execution are good but government must come up with policies that will create employment opportunities for the people.
The former INC president particularly urged the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, to revive all moribund industries with the view to creating jobs for the teeming unemployed youths in the state and stressed the need for the revamping of the agricultural sector in the state.
Also speaking, a former chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Dr Sam Sam Jaja, said the Ijaws will never surrender their rights for any reason.
“We know where we come from and we know where we are now; we know the battle we fought and we know the battle we are still fighting and one thing is very important among us, we will never surrender our rights for any reason”, he said.
Dr Jaja said the Ijaws have been known to fight against oppression and marginalisation and commended the Ijaw Wari Initiative for complementing the INC.
“What we are doing today is to honour Ijaw sons and daughters who deserve to be honoured and of course we have one of our elderly sons to tell us what we have done in terms of pursuing leadership”, he added.
He also described the Ijaws as symbols of leadership, adding: “it starts from us and it will continue to remain with us for a long time”
Dr Jaja also declared that with an Ijaw man at the saddle of leadership in the State, the people will see a new phase of governance, adding that areas neglected will be touched, while expressing optimism that the event would equip the participants to face the challenges ahead.
In his welcome address, the president of Ijaw Wari Initiative Worldwide, Somina Wokoma, said the event was to “commemorate the October 30th, 2023, failed attempt to impeach our dear Governor which marked a turning point in our democratic journey”.
“As we converge on this epoch making occasion, we celebrate the triumph of democracy, people oriented leadership and the resilience of Rivers people”, he said.
John Bibor
A non- governmental organisation in Rivers State, the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force ( (NDPVF), Opobo/Nkoro Chapter, has tasked Chairmen of the 23 Local Government Areas of the State to urgently focus on aggressive infrastructural and human capital development projects.
This is contained in a statement released by the group in Port Harcourt shortly after her Chapter Executive Council ( CEC) meeting in Opobo Town, and signed by its Coordinator, Commander Idawari Brown; Secretary, Comrade Success Dinne Ebranga and Public Relations Officer, Comrade Lucky Ubani.
The group urged the chairmen and councillors to be proactive in the discharge of their assignment of dispensing quality service delivery in their areas of jurisdiction and admonished them to follow the leadership example of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
“There is need for the Chairmen of various Councils in the state to ensure that they emulate the leadership style of the governor by building bridges of transformation, human capital development and youth inclusiveness in governance of their LGAs”, the statement said.
The group further admonished the chairmen of the various councils and their Councillors to put in their best in the leadership of their local areas for the well-being of the people.
“The people are in dire need of your contributions for better development bridges in terms of even distribution of development projects and programmes that will have direct- bearings on the people’s welfare and lives.
“They should include those who have what it takes to develop the areas through their contributions to move the area forward developmentally.
“We urge the chairmen of various councils and their councillors not to appoint anybody on political patronage in order to siphon the treasury of the councils.
“We would not tolerate this lackluster attitude from any council chairmen Councillors. The real thing should be done through those with leadership expertise and are ever ready to join forces with them to build a pleasant and virile Local Government Areas administration for posterity.
By: Bethel Toby