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We’ll Build Inclusive Party -Peterside …As New PDP Opens Secretariat In Abuja,Today
The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), Hon Dakuku Peterside, has described the new faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a necessary detour in the continuing battle to build an inclusive and all-embracing national party where opinion of all members will count.
Peterside, who represents Andoni/Opobo-Nkoro Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, made the statement yesterday following a walkout by seven PDP governors and other delegates at the PDP special convention which held in Abuja, the nation’s capital last Saturday.
The lawmaker, who is particularly pained by developments in the ruling party, however, urged Nigerians to be steadfast and lend their support to the new leadership because it represents hope and liberty which the Bamanga Tukur-led PDP seeks to destroy.
“Politics is about inclusion and participation. A political party is believed to have failed in its duties as an organisation when it deliberately stifles voices and discriminates against its members for no good reason. The most cherished element of democracy is freedom. I had prayed fervently for a truce but the events of today aptly show that many people are diametrically opposed to peace, freedom, and they are prepared to do everything possible to frustrate any peaceful resolution,” he said.
Peterside, who accused the old leadership of violating PDP constitution, coupled with the fact that it encouraged unnecessary witch-hunt, called on the new leadership to be fair and ensure that everybody was accommodated irrespective of age, sex or geo-political zone.
“The truth about our country today is that we can no longer pretend or take the electorate for granted. The political elite have provided a lot of lessons, whether consciously or unconsciously, and like some politicians, I know that the pattern of voting come 2015 will be greatly influenced by this knowledge base which will determine winners or losers,” he said.
Also speaking, the Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon Leyii Kwanee commended the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by the former acting national chairman, Abubakar Kawu Baraje for stamping their feet against the injustice in the party, and insisting on PDP where all members have equal rights, and are equal stakeholders in the democratic process.
Reacting to the split in the party at the national level in a chat with newsmen in Port Harcourt, yesterday, the deputy speaker said that he was excited that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, seven governors and many other top chieftains walked out of the convention to announce the emergence of a more inclusive PDP at a world press conference at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, in Abuja, with a pledge to respect the rule of law, and be guided by the constitution of the party.
Kwanee, who is also the chairman, Parliamentary Exchange and Mentorship Programme of the Pan African Parliament, said that this has confirmed what he has been reiterating that the PDP executive at the national level, the kangaroo executive in Rivers State and some other states had failed to follow the constitution of the party in their actions.
He accused the Felix Obuah-led PDP in the state of treating the party constitution as mere paper stuff, and described the so-called Bamanga Tukur-led PDP national executive as a rubber stamp at the whims and caprices of the Presidency.
The deputy speaker urged the new PDP executive to show that they are the authentic PDP leaders by sticking to the party’s constitution, and ensuring justice and fair play in the affairs of the party, adding that the Tukur-led PDP had lost its relevance.
He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the Baraje-led executive as the true leaders of the party as Tukur had severally flouted INEC directives; leading to the resignation of most members of the National Working Committee (NWC), pointing out that the guidelines of the party and constitution which INEC hammered on had been repeatedly violated with impunity.
The deputy speaker believed that there were many in Tukur-led faction of the PDP, who would return to the true PDP fold in no distant time, and assured them of a level-playing field in the new PDP.
Kwanee assured that the true PDP in Rivers State would garner the support and loyalty of Rivers people, and win any election in the state, and congratulated the new leadership of the party for the bold step aimed at preventing the collapse of the party in the country.
Leader of opposition parties and former chairman, defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Rivers State chapter, Hon Esuku E. Esuku, also lauded the bold decision of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the seven PDP governors and other delegates for walking out of the PDP mini-convention last Saturday.
Esuku hailed the former acting national chairman of PDP, Alhaji Abubakar Kuwa Baraje and Dr Sam Sam Jaja for emerging new leaders of the authentic PDP, saying that with the calibre of leaders in the new party, a new dawn was emerging for Nigerians.
Esuku, who is currently a stakeholder in Rivers All Progressives Congress (APC), noted that the action would reposition the party to provide good governance and bequeath quality democratic institutions for Nigerians.
Another stakeholder in the state’s political firmament, Chief David Ibiamu Ikanya, said the decision of the new PDP to break away from the totaliterian reign of Bamanga Tukur shows that Nigerians were beginning to realise that this nation belongs to all of us, and must stand up to challenge undemocratic forces anywhere in the country.
According to him, the legacy left behind by past leaders of the party had almost been rubbished by the poor leadership provided by Tukur, saying that the action would check the culture of impunity and abuse of power which had pervaded the party over the last couple of years.
He charged the true PDP leaders to carry every aggrieved member of the PDP along so as to provide a fertile ground for electoral victories in 2015 and beyond.
Meanwhile, basking in the euphoria of a successful emergence as a formidable force in the nation’s political landscape, the new faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje may today open its secretariat in a choice area of Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The Tide learnt last night that the new leadership of the true PDP is about now finalising strategies to open its secretariat within the precinct of one of the ever busy highbrow areas not too far from the present secretariat of the Bamanga Tukur-led faction.
Inside sources informed The Tide that since the emergence of the faction, more members of the party, hitherto loyal to the Tukur-led camp, have indicated their readiness to join the Baraje-led PDP to restore the party’s lost glory and reputation.
However, the Chairman of the true Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), formed last Saturday, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, has linked the reign of impunity and violation of party constitution as the core reasons behind the decision of the group to split from the Bamanga Tukur-led faction.
Baraje spoke extensively in a press conference at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja at the weekend, during which he assured Nigerians of a new dawn in the nation’s democratic journey.
He pledged to work towards bringing every aggrieved member together to guarantee electoral victory for the party in the 2015 general elections.
It would be recalled that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had led seven governors elected under the platform of the PDP and some other top chieftains of the party on a walk out of the mini-convention organised by the Alhaji Bamanga Tukur-led national executive at the Eagle Square, Abuja last Saturday.
The aggrieved seven governors include Sule Lamido of Jigawa, Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano, Abdulafatah Ahmed of Kwara, Babangida Aliyu of Niger, Aliyu Wammako of Sokoto, Murtala Nyako of Adamawa, and
Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State.
The faction had staged a walk out from the special national convention of the party to elect its own parallel national executive committee members headed by Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, who was a former acting national chairman of the PDP.
It also elected Dr Sam Sam-Jaja, a former deputy national chairman as Baraje’s deputy, and former Osun State governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, who was the former national secretary of the Tukur-led PDP as national secretary, among others.
In a swift reaction to the formation of the parallel PDP, Bamanga Tukur told journalists at the Eagles Square in Abuja that “those who staged the walk out and organised a kangaroo meeting are all self-seeking and treacherous individuals pursuing neither regional nor religious agenda except their own agenda and personal interests.”
He dismissed their action with a wave of the hand, saying that they were merely creating problem where non existed, even as he declared that his faction, backed by President Goodluck Jonathan, ”is studying the situation as it unfolds and will deal with it decisively as the situation warrants.”
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DEPLOY YOUR CAPACITY, TECHNICAL KNOWHOW TO REVITALISE SONGHAI FARMS, FUBARA TELLS TASK FORCE
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that diversifying the economy of the State has become inevitable because of the need to solve the problem of food shortages while also providing jobs for the teeming unemployed youths.
These, he said, are the reasons why great care has been taken to critically look at the prospects of revitalising the Songhai Integrated Farms, which is located in Bunu Tai, in Tai Local Government Area of the State.
Governor Fubara insisted that if the problem associated with food shortages is tackled with good intent and purpose, about 40 to 50 percent of current problems of economic hardship plaguing the country and its people would have been solved.
Governor Fubara made the assertion while inaugurating the Chairman, Mr Biedima Oliver, and members of the task force saddled with the responsibility of supervising the revitalization of Songhai Integrated Farms by its partners: Vitalcrop Ventures Limited and Imagine Adama Limited, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Other members of the task force included, the Rivers State Commissioner for Agriculture, Engr Victor Kii; Commissioner for Finance, Barrister Emmanuel Frank-Fubara; Dr Ayebaesin Beredugo; and Mr Maurice Ogolo.
The Governor explained that it took him time to approve the constitution of the task force being inaugurated because of the ugly experience with the previous group that shown such interest.
Governor Fubara stated that a process was initiated and driven halfway into the handing over of Songhai Farms on concession to an interested partner who latter showed a total lack of the needed capacity to undertake such task.
He said, “As a matter of fact, if few of you could remember, we even conceded the place to an investor who came in after he had made his presentation, and we, believing that he has the capacity, we said okay to him, and we had already signed up.
“But something happened. He came back to tell us that he wanted us to give him a N5billion bank guarantee. We then asked him, why? If we have the N5billion, why do we need you to come and even revitalize Songhai Farms? We would have put that N5billion there ourselves. For that reason, we cancelled that arrangement.”
Governor Fubara said now that two separate companies have come together to indicate interest and given the assurance of having the needed capacity to drive the process, he is delighted to see them meeting that expectation.
Governor Fubara pointed to the expectation of the people who want to see the Songhai Farms back on stream on a sustainable basis.
That expectation, he insisted, is also what his administration wants to see actualised within its lifespan.
He noted, “We want to see food sufficiency, because we know when Songhai Farms comes on board, there will be food, which is one of the problems we are having in this country. If we are able to tackle the issue of food, 40 to 50 percent of our problem will be solved.”
Governor Fubara also stated that although he believes in the presentation made by the group and has taken their assurance to heart, but warned that he would not tolerate a repeat of what happened before.
The Governor said, “I hope your story will not be (end) halfway too. I hope you have the capacity and all the technical knowhow to handle it. It is not when we start now, after we had finished inaugurating the task force, you will come back to tell us that you need $2million. If we have $2million, we won’t need you. We will invest it by ourselves.”
Governor Fubara, however, praised the capacity of the Chairman of the task force, Biedima Oliver, saying that incidentally, he was one of the personnel that convinced the then administration to develop the Songhai Farms, and had worked with the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) to manage the project.
He said, “He knows and understands the workings of Songhai, and now that we are making you the chairman of the task force, we want to believe that you will make that place come back to life.
“I don’t have any doubt in your capacity. A few things you’ve touched, you turned them to gold. Please, bring it back to what we used to see in Songhai. Bring it back with the help of your committee.”
Governor Fubara assured that his administration will remain committed to providing all the necessary support that they may require to make their assignment a success.
He added, “So, I hereby inaugurate you. Your task is very simple: Do everything within your powers and with our support to make sure that Songhai becomes operational to the benefit, not just the people of Tai, but to the entire Rivers State and Nigeria as a whole”.
In his acceptance speech, the Chairman of the Task Force to Supervise the Revitalization of Songhai Farms with Vitalcrop Ventures Limited and Imagine Adama Limited, Mr. Biedima Oliver, expressed appreciation to Governor Fubara for the opportunity and confidence reposed in them to revive Songhai Farms.
Mr. Oliver assured that they will deliver the expected goal on Songhai Farms, and doing so on time and on target so that the good people of Rivers State can eventually be happy and also benefit from the huge investment.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that all the policies and programmes of his administration are tailored towards the protection of interest of Rivers people, especially the youths.
This, he said, is borne out of the importance his administration attaches to youths’ development and empowerment as leaders of tomorrow.
Fubara, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, disclosed this when he received the youths of Emohua Local Government Area under the auspices of “Emohua Youths For SIM” on solidarity visit to Government House, Port Harcourt, last Friday.
He said that his administration has put in place modalities that will boost the livelihoods and well-being of Rivers citizens, which youths of Emohua will also benefit when they materialise.
The governor, who spoke through the Rivers State Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, pointed out that the recently awarded Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku Road, the ongoing Emohua-Kalabari Road, reinstatement of illegally sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Area and the approval for electrification of the area, are part of deliberate measures to open up the area to make life conducive and more meaningful for the people.
According to him, “Everything about the governor is putting the interest of Rivers State first. He is looking at and taking action on those things that we need to do to restart the wheels of progress in Rivers State.
“There are many things the governor has planned and is already doing that will boost the life and welfare of every citizen of Rivers State, but most importantly the youths.
“Growing up, I learnt that Egbeda is one of the biggest communities in the whole of Ikwerre, and it’s predominantly an agrarian community. They have food in Egbeda, they have food in Ubimini, they have food in Omudiaga and other natural resources. The whole world is tilting to agriculture, and this is the way to go.
“The Elele-Umudioga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Omoku road, when completed, will open up the area for real development. Your food and everything you produce there will now have value, they will no longer be thrown away. In all these, you the youths are going to be the utmost beneficiaries.”
He added, “Same will be applicable to the Emohua-Kalabari Road which will also, trigger development in the area, and you will be the greatest beneficiaries. When the LGA is also electrified, you will be having 24 or 20 hours of electricity, and those things the youths can do with electricity, you can stay at home and create wealth for yourself and children.
“All the totality of what the governor is doing, when they are completed, or even as some are completed now, the youths are going to be utmost beneficiaries.”
While acknowledging that youths are the true leaders of tomorrow and any government that fails to carry them along in the scheme of things is doomed to fail, the governor assured them of his administration’s commitment to always address issues concerning youths and ensure that they are part of his government.
He commended the youths for toeing the path of truth by identifying with his administration, urging them to sustain the tempo and shun evil, as his government will ensure that the trend whereby politicians turn youths to beggars are over.
He said, “Youths are, indeed, the leaders of tomorrow. The time of youth is a very important time. It a time that your parents or whoever is your leader at that time have to make the greatest investment in you. And any Government that decides to only carry the elderly, chiefs aling and abandon the youths is bound to fail,” he asserted.
“But I am happy that Governor Fubara has concentrated his energy on everything that will benefit the society, especially the youths.
“And based on these, I want to thank you for recognising what is good and calling it good, for shunning what is evil, for saying the Governor is standing for you.
“Let me tell you, you are on the right direction. Let me tell you again, Rivers State is the bride of Nigeria. The whole Nigeria is looking at what will happen here. As they look here and see you standing on the path of truth, this is a very important step that you have taken to right all the wrongs of the past, to make Rivers State stand on the tripod of justice, peace and security. That is what we are going to gain through the governor, taking all the wise actions that he has already initiated.
“The projects the governor is embarking on are meant to prepare nets for the youths to fish and put food on their table, hence you should continue to follow him.
“The SIMplified Movement brought upon by the governor will ensure that Rivers youths stop the habit of going to bow down before politicians, pledging loyalty before they can eat.”
Earlier, spokesman for the Emohua Youths for SIM, Comrade Ovamale O. Ovamale, had said that the visit by youths from the 14 political wards in Emohua Local Government Area was to thank the governor for the award of the Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku road, the approval for electrification of the area and reinstatement of sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Council, of which the youths were mostly affected.
According to him, “Siminalayi Fubara of recent has given Emohua Local Government road that links Elele to Omoku, which comprises over four communities in the local government.”
“Emohua Local Government has also been in darkness for eight years. No community in the local government that has light. But, of recent, because of the passion and love the governor has for the people of Emohua, he has approved the electrification of the local government.
“Also, the illegal sack of Emohua Local Government workers, for which the youths were mostly affected and without the approval of the Local Government Service Commission, the governor, in his compassionate nature, has reinstated them, and that is why we said we must come and thank His Excellency”, he said.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has assured that his administration will collaborate and continue to consult widely in delivering a liberated State experiencing enduring peace.
Fubara said, in doing so, he would not operate as a dictator but as a member of a team that has the best interest of the State at heart and determined to leave a lasting legacy that can be celebrated.
The governor spoke during the formal presentation of Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office to the Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, King Ateke Michael Tom, as first class tradition ruler, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Fubara stated that, during the Sixth State Executive Council meeting, N80.8billion was approved with 50 percent contract value paid already as the Government awarded the construction of the Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road.
He said the project will be funded from the savings from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to underscore his administration’s prudence without also borrowing to complete the project.
“We are at a crossroad in our State where we all need to stand for what is right. It happens once in a life time. So, for now, be one of those people that will be in the course to liberate and free our dear State.
“And I know strongly that having the support of a peace-loving Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, having the support of the wonderful Council of Chiefs, having the support of the great people of Rivers State, we will bring peace in our State. We will do those things that are right to develop our State.
“We will continue to consult. We will not act as dictators. We will act as people who know that one day, we will leave, and when we leave, the way we have acted will speak for us. We will not force people to talk good about us. Our legacy will be a signature for how we led”, the governor said.
Fubara explained that he acted within the ambit of the law to upgrade the traditional stool upon which King Ateke Tom sits in recognition of his efforts in promoting peace in Okrika, and indeed, the State, and urged him to continue to do justice to everyone.
In his speech, Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Hon Charles Amadi, congratulated King Ateke Tom for being formally presented with the Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office as first class traditional ruler.
Also speaking, former Transport Minister, Chief Abiye Sekibo, thanked the governor for fulfilling his promise of upgrading the traditional stool of Okochiri Kingdom, and pledged the support of Kirike Se people to his administration.