Politics
PDP Chieftain Scores FG Low On Nigerians’ Welfare … Hails Fubara Over CTC Appointment
Against the current hard ship and hunger being endured by Nigerians, a notable grassroots politician and member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State, Pastor Joe Opanwa, says All Progressives Congress (APC) administration at the federal level is confused about how to tackle Nigeria’s economic and political challenges, especially poverty and insecurity.
Speaking with newsmen in Port-Harcourt recently, Pastor Opanwa said that Nigeria’s economic and political situation need to be overhauled to bring the expected dividends of democracy to Nigerians.
He maintained that, “This current Nigerian government under the administration of President Bola Tinubu remains a retrogressive one.
“Most of what they claim as growth is but the harsh redistribution of wealth from the bottom to the top.The bottom gets squeezed while the top expands. They are serving us the salad of hardship, hunger, corruption, insecurity and deaths”.
Pastor Opanwa said that the APC-led Federal Government promised peace, economic stability, abundant food, creation of jobs for Nigerians and security of lives and property, but noted that under its’ unwatchful eye’, insecurity, hunger and injustice have grown and Boko Haram/herders onslaught, among other insurgencies has turned large tracts of Northern Nigeria into ‘ no man’s land ‘.
He said that in the face of the economic crunch bedeviling Nigeria currently, there is no need for President Tinubu to continue in 2027 as the country’s president.
Pastor Opanwa, a stalwart of the Simplified Movement in the LGA, who also aspires for the position of Chairman of Oyigbo LGA in the scheduled October 5, 2024 Local Government election, further said that, “As leaders in Nigeria, we intend to pursue dynamic, time- tested and bold policies and programmes that will liberate our people by making sure our wealth works for all of us.”
He stated that Nigerians had become increasingly divided as a people because the APC-led federal government continues to take faulty steps in addressing poverty, hardship, hunger, insecurity, injustice and deaths, adding that, “They have ignored the cause and gone after the symptoms.”
The Chairmanship hopeful of the PDP in the area, urged the Federal Government to apply consistent policies and programmes of targeted law enforcement operations along with active programmes of economic development, negotiations and potential amnesty to lead Nigerians out of the present dire condition.
“The Bola Tinubu government set up multidimensional development committees, but all to no avail. This is symtomatic of a confused leadership.
If there is security in this jumbled policies and programmes of Bola Tinubu’s government, neither we nor the majority of Nigerians can find it”, he said.
He described the fact that those who control the system manipulate elections and governance with such impunity that they now see misconduct without sanction as a normal thing to happen.
Meanwhile, Pastor Joe Opanwa, has commended Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara over the appointment of Engr. Gogo Philip as Chairman, Caretaker Committee of Oyigbo Local Government Area.
He described the appointment as remarkable and a call to service of Oyigbo people for them to benefit from the dividends of democracy that had eluded them previously due to bad leadership in the area.
Pastor Opanwa, however, urged Engr. Philip and his team to operate an open door policy in governance, where quality contributions to the way forward of the LGA and its people can be made.
Bethel Toby
The event, jointly organised by LP and ADC to publicly acknowledge the movement of party members, was first scheduled to hold at the LP secretariat in Idimu.
However, chaos erupted when more than 100 suspected thugs reportedly stormed the premises, forcing party members and officials to flee.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers, some armed with knives, canes and other dangerous objects, assaulted individuals they encountered during the invasion.
The assailants were also heard chanting hostile slogans, declaring that LP and ADC were not welcome in Lagos State.
Several party members sustained injuries in the process, while party property, including furniture and flags, were vandalised.
Despite the disruption, officials of both parties quickly relocated the programme to an alternative venue, the Eco Centre Event Hall in Egbeda, in a bid to continue the ceremony.
Speaking on the incident, the LP Chairman in Alimosho, Mr Olanrewaju Olushola, popularly known as Heritage, condemned the attack, describing it as unprovoked and alarming, especially with the 2027 general elections approaching.
“What is most painful is that most of my members sustained varying degrees of wounds. This is in spite of the hoodlums going into our party secretariat in Alimosho and destroying our furniture and flags,” he said.
Mr Olushola clarified that the defection itself had already taken place, stressing that Saturday’s gathering was merely a symbolic ceremony to inform the public of their decision.
According to him, nearly all LP members in Alimosho, including the party’s leadership structure, had collectively agreed to move to the ADC.
Also speaking, the party’s Secretary in Alimosho, Mr Moses Akujuobi, explained that plans for an open defection ceremony had earlier been halted by the police, who cited the absence of formal approval.
He said the organisers had reached out to the Area M Commander, ACP Abaniwonda, who reportedly informed them that only the Commissioner of Police could authorise political events in the state.
“Incidentally, we could not reach the CP, but we informed the DSS, after which we went ahead since it wasn’t a rally but a quiet ceremony,” Mr Akujuobi said.
He added that the situation became more tense upon arrival at the initial venue.
“When we got to the venue this morning, we were shocked to see police vans with heavily armed policemen. They informed us that we cannot hold the event and referred us to the police commissioner.
“While we were at it, the hoodlums besieged the place and began to beat people, leading to our deserting the venue,” he explained.
Mr Akujuobi said party officials subsequently contacted members by phone to proceed to the second venue in Egbeda, where the programme resumed briefly.
“We, however, began to contact our members through phones to move to the second venue, which is the Eco Event Centre, and everyone witnessed what took place here.
“The hoodlums got wind of our second venue and equally attacked us, beating up our members again,” he added.
He noted that the decision to defect to the ADC was driven by internal leadership challenges within the Labour Party and protracted legal disputes affecting the party.
Shortly after the hoodlums vacated the second venue, several police vans carrying armed officers reportedly arrived at the location.
The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has strongly rejected calls by the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria seeking the removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, over comments he allegedly made on genocide.
The Fellowship described the demand as unjustified and a threat to constitutional freedoms.
In a statement signed by its National Secretary, Bishop David Bakare, the PFN insisted that Prof Amupitan, like every Nigerian, has the constitutional right to express his views on matters of national concern, irrespective of the public office he occupies.
According to the PFN, the comments attributed to the INEC Chairman were made in his personal capacity and had no link whatsoever with his official responsibilities or electoral duties.
The Fellowship stressed that elections and electoral activities were not involved in the matter, arguing that there was no basis to connect the alleged comments to Prof Amupitan’s role as INEC Chairman.
“We strongly oppose such calls because Prof. Amupitan, as a Nigerian, has the right to make comments on what he observes to be happening in the nation, regardless of his appointment or assignment,” the statement read.
The PFN said it condemned “in every ramification” the suggestion that the INEC Chairman should be removed from office on the basis of his personal views, warning against attempts to punish public officials for expressing opinions outside the scope of their official duties.
The Tide source reports that the Fellowship also cautioned against what it described as a growing tendency to interpret national issues through religious lenses, noting that such an approach only deepens divisions and undermines peaceful coexistence.
“We must resist the temptation of profiling or judging people based on their religious beliefs or positions. Prof. Amupitan has a right to bear his mind, and this should not be at the cost of his job,” the PFN added.
The PFN called on all stakeholders to exercise restraint, understanding and mutual respect in national discourse, particularly on sensitive issues.
It emphasised that unity and peace must remain paramount in addressing national challenges.
The Fellowship reaffirmed its commitment to fairness, justice and mutual respect, urging that these values guide public engagement and responses to issues affecting the country.
In A Statement Issued On Saturday, Mr Obiorah Ifoh, The Factional Spokesperson, Described The Decision Of The Electoral Body As Strange.
Mr Ifoh Also Said The Sacked Factional Leadership Of The Party Will Protest The Action Of INEC.
Stating That Judgment Of The Court And The Decision Of INEC Will Not Stop Its Members From Putting Up A Strong Appearance In The Forthcoming 2027 General Election, Mr Ifoh Noted Legal Redress Would Be Sought By LP.
He Said, “Some Persons Who Are Applauding The Impunity By Some Politicians Should Retrace And Do Some Introspection, Because This Was How In The Past They Applauded Injustice In Our Democracy Because They Were Beneficiaries.
“At The End Of The Day, When Their Enthroned Leaders Began To Abuse Power, They Started Complaining.
“For Us In Labour Party, Our Faith Is Strong That The Appellate Court Will Do The Right Thing And Therefore We Advise Our Members To Remain Calm. We Will Continue With The Struggle To Take Our Party From The Godfather,” Mr Ifoh Said.
He Also Stated That The Labour Party Is A Party Formed On The Basis Of Social Democracy Where No One Man Is Permitted To Appoint Everybody.
According To Him, It Is Against The Party’s Principles For “One Man To Sit At A Place And Gather Everybody And Appoint Everybody From The National Working Committee To The State.
“That Is Impunity Of The Highest Order. This, I Believe, Negates The Principles Of The Party.
“If We Say There Is No Party Ideology In Nigeria, This Is How It Starts. We Are Very Sure That It Will Be Quashed On Appeal,” He Added.
Mr Ifoh Also Described The Celebration And Excitement Showcased By Senator Nenadi Usman And The Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti As Temporary.
He Said Dr Otti, Senator Usman And Their Cohorts’ Names Which Were Already Listed On INEC’s Portal Will Be Short-Lived.
“It Is For A Short Time. Their Victory Is Pyrrhic And There Is Nothing To Celebrate Because Doomsday Is Closer Than They Will Imagine; Which I Believe Will Be Very Catastrophic For Them.
“Moreover, It Is Very Clear That The Appointment Of The Caretaker Committee Did Not Go Through The Normal Procedure. Proper Notice Was Not Given In Line With The Party Constitution And The Electoral Act,” He Said.
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