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Local Govt Elections As A Referendum
The much-awaited local government elections in Rivers State would become a reality, by the Grace of God on the 5th of October, 2024. From all indications, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission would fulfil one of the landmark political directives of Governor Siminalayi Fubara on that date.
In the midst of unexpected distractions and challenges from the direction of the immediate past Governor of the state, Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike, it became absolutely necessary that Fubara must visibly assume control of the structures of government and governance which the former Governor had claimed to be under his control and even dared that they should not be tampered with.
That was inspite of the fact that Local Governments constitute a tier of government as contained in the Nigerian Constitution, just as other tiers of government like the Federal and State Governments.
Indeed, the Nyerishi Mbam as Wike is being currently addressed by his supporters surprisingly claimed that those whom he claimed to have fixed as Chairmen and Councillors of the 23 local government areas were members of his political structure and should remain untouched even after the end of his tenure.
To affirm that ridiculous claim, another arm of Wike’s superficial structures, the defected House of Assembly members, also purportedly enacted a law to extend the tenure of the chairmen and Councillors for a period of six months
That seemed to have broken the patience and tolerance of Governor Similayi Fubara to call off the bluff of Nyesom Wike and put the issue of the Local Governments on its proper perspective.
Secondly, it became absolutely necessary to conduct local government elections after the Supreme Court’s decision for the direct funding of all Local Governments in the country.
The apex court had clearly directed that only democratically elected Local Governments would be entitled to the allocations.
That was basically the reason to justify the holding of the elections which are also being held in other States around the country.
The supporters of the former Governor failed to make any justifiable case against the appointment of Care Taker Committees in the respective Local Government Areas to manage the affairs of that tier of government and avoid a vacuum while awaiting the election of substantive office holders.
Most previous administrations in the State had carried out similar exercises when the need arises including. the Wike administration.
It would be recalled that when the initial preparations for the Local Government elections were announced, the two parties of” a leprous hand”, as the Late Senior Advocate, Bola Ige would say, the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressive Congress in the State announced their intention not to participate in the elections.
The reason for that decision was not farfetched because the two parties were and being controlled by the former Governor, Nyesom Wike.
Chukwuemeka Aaron, the Chairman of Wike’s arm of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state repeated the party’s stand not to contest the elections.
However, the boycott of the elections by the Tony Okocha faction of the APC does not diminish the wide acceptance of the forthcoming elections. About 20 registered parties are falling over themselves on their decision to participate in the elections.
The elections would produce 23 Local Government Council Chairmen and almost 400 councillors.
Already, the State is agog with campaigns by the candidates and their respective parties, going round all the nooks and crannies of all the wards in the local governments.
Pundits are already predicting that voters would be more excited to participate in an election that is being touted as the most credible than previous and similar exercises ever held in the State.
Indeed, Tony Okocha, the most vitriolic critic of Governor Siminalayi Fubara had openly stated in a news interview that during their time, when he was the Chief of Staff in one of the previous administrations, they were writing the results or outcome of the elections in the (his) office rather than allowing the appropriate body, the Electoral Commission to do its job.
Contrary to that infamous practice, the Fubara administration had declared not to be involved in the electoral process.
The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, has indicated that it is on ground and it is adequately prepared for the elections.
The Rivers State citizenry is massively informed and educated on the need to turn-out in their thousand to vote for their candidates in all the wards and local governments of the States.
The parties and their candidates are demonstrating a positive sense of democracy which was so much lacking during the last Presidential and Legislative elections.
In view of the wide public acceptance of the elections, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission is being expected to produce a free, fair and transparent election.
Political pundits are pointing out an interesting scenario, arguing that the positive approval given to the holding of the elections is clearly transmuting to a referendum to finally nail the political reality on ground that a greater majority of people in Rivers State are solidly behind Governor Siminalayi Fubara in his policies, programmes and projects.
Those in this school of thought believe that despite the distractions, intimidations and blackmails from his political opponents, Sim is steadfastly carrying out his projects and programmes unperturbed.
Their argument is that the elections should equally rate as a referendum of approval for SIM.
The massive enlightenment programmes of the various Simplified movement are yielding positive results and political consciousness in the Rivers political space,
The Simplified Movement is present in all the Local Government Areas of the State. There is also the senior citizens’ version that is called the Supreme Council for Sim.
Indeed, there are numerous support groups for SIM, to the extent that it is being openly advertised that the Governor’s entry to politics has agitated and uprooted a political culture that was enmeshed in docility and disinterest in politics and its negative colorations we had witnessed in the past.
That is the reason why the elections could be tagged as a referendum of sorts.
Amabipi Martins
Elder Martins is former General Manager of Rivers State Newspaper Corporation resides in Port Harcourt.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the nomination of four new members to the Governing Council of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement yesterday, said the appointment is to fill existing vacancies and strengthen the board’s capacity.
The statement said the approved nominees are Mr. Olusegun Omosehin of the National Insurance Commission and Engr. Wole Ogunsanya of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria.
Tinubu also endorsed the nomination of Sam Onyechi, who represents the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum and Barrister Owei Oyanbo from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
The President encouraged the new members to leverage their expertise and dedication to enhance local content development within Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
It added, “The nominations arose from the exit of previous institutional representatives from the Governing Council.
“The NCDMB Governing Council, established under Section 69 of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act, 2010, comprises representatives from key institutions.
“These include the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria, the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum, and the National Insurance Commission.”
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has announced plans to construct additional hostels, rehabilitate roads, and enhance power supply in the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT).
NDDC’s Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, disclosed this during a visit to the commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, yesterday by a delegation from the UNIPORT’s Governing Council.
Ogbuku stated that the NDDC had committed to upgrading facilities at UNIPORT as part of efforts to foster partnership with educational institutions across the Niger Delta.
According to him, the implementation of additional projects at the university forms part of a broader strategy to improve education standards in the region.
“Aside from the construction of new hostel blocks and installation of a 300 KVA solar inverter system, the NDDC will also facilitate more projects in the university.
“The commission will also deploy its engineers to assess the condition of UNIPORT’s roads and hostels for potential rehabilitation,” he said.
Ogbuku noted that upon completion, the projects would add to various initiatives previously undertaken by the commission at the university.
“These and other projects reflect our commitment to actualising President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda in the Niger Delta region,” he added.
He reaffirmed the NDDC’s dedication to fostering development and strengthening partnerships across the region.
Earlier, Sen. Mao Ohuanbunwa, Chairman of UNIPORT’s Governing Council, who led the delegation commended the current leadership of the NDDC for its achievements in accelerating development in the Niger Delta.
He highlighted the university’s infrastructural challenges, noting that it lacked adequate facilities to accommodate its growing student population, and appealed for the NDDC’s support in addressing the shortfall.
“Currently, UNIPORT has a total student population of about 50,000, while its hostel accommodation capacity can only cater for 5,000 students.
“We therefore urge the NDDC to assist in the construction of additional hostels, improve transportation facilities, and facilitate the acquisition of gas turbines to enhance power supply for our students,” Ohuanbunwa pleaded.
The Vice Chancellor of UNIPORT, Prof. Owunari Georgewill, commended NDDC for its impactful projects across the Niger Delta and extended an invitation to the commission to participate in the institution’s forthcoming 50th anniversary celebrations.
The Senate has rejected a motion to rename the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters after the former chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission, late Prof Humphrey Nwosu.
Nwosu presided over the June 12, 1993, presidential election, which was truncated by the former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd).
The election which was won by the late business mogul, Chief MKO Abiola, was adjudged to be the freest and fairest in the electoral history of Nigeria.
The motion to rename INEC after Nwosu was re-sponsored by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe yesterday after lawmakers threw it out last Wednesday.
Abaribe called for posthumous national honours to be conferred on Nwosu in recognition of his role in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.
However, the proposal sparked a heated debate once again, with lawmakers deeply divided over Nwosu’s legacy.
Senator Osita Ngwu acknowledged that Nwosu operated under a military regime, which restricted his ability to announce the results.
He argued that “there was no way he would have announced the results with a gun to his head. That doesn’t change the fact that some of us see him as a hero.”
Senator Austin Akobundu, however, described it as most uncharitable for lawmakers to dismiss Nwosu’s contributions, insisting that he deserved a place in Nigeria’s hall of honour.
On the other hand, several senators like Senator Jimoh Ibrahim dismissed the idea outright, questioning why the Senate should honour someone who failed to announce the results insisting that “nothing should be named after him”.
Senator Cyril Fasuyi argued that history does not reward efforts, but only results.
“As long as he did not announce the result, whether under duress or not, I am against naming INEC headquarters after him,” he submitted.
Also, Senator Sunday Karimi criticised Nwosu for lacking the courage to speak out, while Senator Afolabi Salisu warned that immortalising him would undermine the memory of MKO Abiola, the widely accepted winner of the June 12, 1993, annulled election.
“Any attempt to do anything beyond a one-minute silence is to rubbish Abiola’s legacy,” he tendered.
After intense deliberation, most senators rejected the motion through a voice vote.
They, however, agreed to honour him with a one-minute silence and extend condolences to his family, effectively dismissing the other prayers to immortalise Nwosu.