Politics
Oyigbo Chairmanship: Residents Decry Ex-Lawmaker’s Ambition
As the 2024 local government elections in Rivers State draw closer, a cross section of residents of Oyigbo Local Government Area have passed a vote of no confidence on the yet to be declared chairmanship ambition of the immediate past federal lawmaker who represented the people of Oyigbo/Tai/Eleme Federal
Constituency in the National Assembly, Hon. Chisom Dike.
Some of the residents who spoke to The Tide recently in Okoloma-Ndoki urged Hon. Dike to shelve the ambition, noting that it would be an effort in futility.
They openly accused the lawmaker who recently dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for failing to attract meaningful development projects to the Local Government Areas that make up the Federal Constituency.
They described his time even as member of the Rivers State House of Assembly as lacking in quality service delivery.
According to a scholar, Dr. Ken Jamike Okere, “Since the government of Chisom Dike in all these years, after receiving the people’s nod to represent the area, effectively nothing boastful and tangible is seen physically as development projects in the 27 communities of Oyigbo, let alone, that which involves Oyigbo/Tai/Eleme Federal Constituency in the National Assembly in the four years of past dispensation.
“His plan to aspire to the number one seat of the LGA remains a mirage, unthinkable, laughable and a plot to create more rooms for perpetual hunger, poverty and deaths”.
He asserted: “What Oyigbo is in dire need of currently is nothing short of
vibrant, development-driven, articulative and God fearing new breed politicians in the next year’s poll whose interest would be to resuscitate the worn-off LGA administratively by bringing succour and quality service to the people, where employment generation, empowerment of the people, road construction in the area, especially internal roads and other infrastructural transformation should be given priority attention”.
Also responding, a petty trader at the Okoloma Ndoki modern market, Mrs. Jessica Iwela Ekekenta, said that the promises made to market women by the former lawmaker to empower them with financial support, rebuilding of the market to global standard, among others during his electioneering campaign turned out a hoax and total disservice to Oyigbo people.
Mrs Ekenkenta stressed that “This happened during his second term bid for Oyigbo State Constituency as member representing the LGA in the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“For me, I don’t think the young man has anything to offer to the people this time around, if at all, he is coming out for the soul of Oyigbo Chairmanship under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). I therefore admonish him to bow out of politics completely because the cap does not fit him.
“This time around, we are giving our support to ‘talk-and-do’ candidates and not the type of a failed leader like Chisom Dike”.
In his own response, a PDP Chieftain in Oyigbo Ward 3, Hon. Victor Ekendia admonished Chisom Dike to shun such an interest, noting that his antecedents both in the state and national assemblies were reasons why Oyigbo people would not queue behind him in the forthcoming Local Government polls next year.
“We cannot boast of projects executed currently by his leadership all these years while in the corridors of power. There is no need bothering to come out to contest election again if at all the rumour making the round is anything to go by.
“Oyigbo people are tired of being fooled by some disgruntled political dissidents who could not vacate the system. What we are shopping for currently are leaders who have the people’s perennial problems at their hearts”.
Furthermore, Dr. Chimaraoke Emuchay enjoined Oyigbo electorate to shop for more credible and God-fearing candidates to occupy any elective positions in the next three years in the area, describing the present leadership as “most
disappointing”.
However, Hon. Dike could not be reached for his response as at the time of going to press
By: Bethel Toby
Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly, on Monday, passed a vote of confidence in Mojisola Meranda as the Speaker of the Assembly.
The lawmakers expressed their confidence in her leadership at the plenary, which Rt Hon. Meranda presided over amidst tight security.
The Tide’s source reports that there was a growing tension at the assembly as legislative workers protested against the alleged plans to remove Rt Hon. Meranda as the Speaker of the Assembly.
The legislative workers also clashed with the operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) who, in the early hours of Monday, stormed the assembly and sealed Rt Hon. Meranda’s office alongside that of her Deputy and the Clerk.
Our source had reported how armed security personnel took over the complex at Alausa, Ikeja, leading to palpable tension among the lawmakers and workers of the assembly.
There are indications that the ongoing imbroglio at the assembly following the removal of Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker on January 13 has not abated.
The Monday’s drama came a few days after Mr Obasa, who was removed for alleged abuse of office and corruption, dragged the state lawmakers to court, challenging his removal as the Speaker of the Assembly.
There are alleged plans to return Mr Obasa as the Speaker, a development which has further heightened tension at the assembly.
The Tide’s source reports that when Meranda arrived the assembly complex amidst tight security around 11:15 am on Monday, many legislative workers showed solidarity with the first female Speaker over alleged plans to remove her.
“Meranda we want”, “Meranda We want”, the workers were chanting in a short video clip.
Rt Hon. Meranda visibly overwhelmed by emotion was surrounded by her security details amid the chaotic atmosphere.
Inside the chamber, officials of the DSS clashed with the legislative workers, leading to commotion.
The DSS officials, dressed in black jackets and helmets and armed with weapons, struggled with the workers at the door.
The Tide’s source gathered that, with support from the legislative workers, lawmakers had earlier forced their way into the chamber around 12:30 pm.
It was further gathered that Rt Hon Meranda and about 32 members were present at the plenary.
A short video clip of the plenary showed that all the lawmakers in attendance had passed a vote of confidence on Rt Hon Meranda.
“Madam Speaker, all members standing before you, I move a motion to say that we do pass the vote of confidence on Rt Hon Mojisola Lasbat Meranda”, a lawmaker said.
The motion was supported by all members in attendance.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, on Monday, traded words over the alleged killing of three persons.
Members of both parties were locked in battle for the control of some local government secretariats. While two persons were killed in Iragbiji in Boripe Local Government Area, another was killed in Irewole Local Government Area.
There had been tension across the state over the Court of Appeal judgment in respect of the sacked APC council chairmen and councillors.
While the PDP claimed that the Feb. 10 judgment of the Court of Appeal, Akure, did not reinstate the sacked APC chairmen and councillors elected in 2022, APC insisted on their return.
Speaking with journalists in Iragbiji, Korede Ajeigbe, the commissioner for government affairs and protocol, claimed that two PDP members were killed while trying to prevent APC members from taking over a secretariat.
Mr Ajeigbe also said that six PDP members were seriously injured and were currently receiving treatment in the hospital.
APC, however, alleged that PDP members attacked its members while trying to enforce the Court of Appeal judgment.
Addressing a news conference in Osogbo, Bayo Adeleke, a chieftain of the APC, claimed that one of the party’s prominent members was killed during the crisis.
He also alleged that another member of the party, Remi Omowaye, escaped an assassination attempt in Ilesa.
Mr Adeleke, a former commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, urged the state government to allow peace to reign by allowing the APC chairmen and councillors to return to office.
Another chieftain of the party, Jamiu Olawumi, claimed that APC chairmen had resumed in 15 local governments of the state.
This claim, however, could not be immediately verified.
When contacted, the police spokesperson in the state, CSP Yemisi Opalola, said she was yet to be briefed on the alleged killings.
Ms Opalola, however, said police officers had been deployed to all the local government secretariats in the state to prevent breakdown of law and order.
Meanwhile, Gov. Ademola Adeleke has directed workers as well as politicians to stay away from local government secretariats to avoid further bloodshed.
Mr Adeleke, in a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, said only security agents would be allowed to keep watch at the secretariats.
He condoled with families of victims of the crisis.
Leader of the 8th Opobo/Nkoro Legislative Assembly, Barrister Samuel Nengia, has passed a vote of confidence on the Chairman of the LGA, Dr. Enyiada Cookey-Gam, as he marked his first one hundred days in his second term in office.
Speaking with newsmen recently in Port-Harcourt on Dr Cookey-Gam and the celebration of his first one hundred days in office, among other people-oriented development projects and programmes, Nengia argued that the Chairman and his team have recorded unprecedented developmental strides, which includes infrastructure transformation, empowerment, security, human capital development, payment of the approved N85,000. 00 minimum wage to Opobo/Nkoro workers’, among others.
He pointed out that his commendation was apt as the activities of the Chairman had been monitored and discovered to reflect the expectations and yearnings of the people, especially, the promotion of council staff, the refurbishment of the Assembly Complex to standard, the construction of Corpers’ Lodge, the provision of effective transportation system for the well-being of the people in the area.
Hon. Nengia, representing Opobo/Nkoro Ward 6, averred that the people of the LGA could now sleep with their eyes closed owing to Dr Cookey-Gam’s achievements in in the security sector.
He added that the vote of confidence the Council’s number one citizen would strengthen him to deliver more democratic dividends to Opobo/Nkoro people.
He admonished Opobo/Nkoro people to rally support for the Chairman to perform creditably well for the well-being of the electorate in the area.
Meanwhile, Barr. Samuel Nengia, has thanked Governor Siminalayi Fubara for appointing three illustrious sons of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area into positions of trust vis former Commissioner for Education, Dr. Tamunosisi Gogo Jaja, as Chairman, Rivers State House of Assembly Service Commission; former Secretary of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, Engr. Edward Namiesimagha, as Chairman, Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA) and Surveyor Peter Ogolo, as Surveyor-, General of the state.
Hon. Nengia, who described the appointments as well deserved, however, enjoined the appointees to bring their leadership wealth of experience to bear in the herculean tasks of reviving their various areas of jurisdiction.
Bethel Toby