News
APC in Rivers is ready to work with Fubara, says APC Chairman
The APC said collaborating with the governor will not stop the main opposition in the state from holding Fubara accountable on issues of governance.
The state APC Chairman, Chief Tony Okocha, made the declaration during a news briefing in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, on Tuesday.
Okocha assured all that the APC would continue to consolidate on its membership base while also offering constructive criticism of the Fubara administration after his return.
He said, “The governor who was suspended will return to office on September 18. The APC will work with him when he returns.
“There are states where the governor and assembly members are in different parties, so we are going to work with him.
“However, that will not take away our right to criticise him when he does wrong. But for us, the LG chairmen will work with him, except that we will not agree to vicious policies.”
Okocha described the just-concluded local government elections in the state as an introduction to the 2027 general elections, noting that the APC deliberately chose not to field candidates in strongholds of the Peoples Democratic Party but concentrated on areas where it had a comparative advantage.
“The Rivers State LG election is a prelude to what will happen in 2027.
“Whilst we were campaigning, I told our people that there is a need for us to believe in the centre and leave the periphery.
“We did not field candidates in Obio/Akpor, Port Harcourt City, and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGAs because we do not have the strength in those areas.
“It was our own calculated strategy not to field candidates in those LGAs and concentrate only where we have a comparative advantage. Remember that Rivers State was a PDP state,” Okocha explained.
He expressed optimism about the party’s growing influence, contrasting its position in the 2023 elections with its current status.
“In 2023, APC in Rivers State had no shoes. Now we are wearing psychedelic shoes.
“We are going to double and redouble our membership for the President. As far as my party is concerned, we will be fielding him for a second term in 2027,” he said.
Okocha took a swipe at the PDP, saying the party was collapsing and its members were defecting in droves to the APC, which he said now calls the shots.
He stressed, “PDP is in tatters and people are leaving them in droves for other parties, and we’re privileged to have them.
“We’ll continue our pleas for the PDP members, particularly the FCT Minister, to come over to the APC and have peace. The PDP is in tatters.”
Recall that Fubara was suspended from office by President Bola Tinubu on March 18, after he declared a state of emergency in Rivers State following rising political tensions in the state.
Tinubu had based his action on the attack on oil facilities in the state by militants who were allegedly sympathetic to the governor, accusing Fubara of not doing anything to stop the threats to cause mayhem.
The President then appointed former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.) as Administrator of the state for an initial six-month period.
Last Saturday, while speaking to newsmen after casting his vote in the just concluded local government elections, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, said that with the poll, the ‘coast’ was now clear for Fubara to be reinstated.
Former Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy has shared an amusing anecdote about the unique injury treatment preferred by his Nigerian ex-teammates, Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi.
Iheanacho and Ndidi became integral members of the Foxes squad after joining in 2017, playing a crucial role in the club’s historic 2021 FA Cup victory.
The duo shared a strong bond with Vardy during their time at the King Power Stadium, often engaging in light-hearted banter with their teammates.
Vardy, a Leicester City legend after 13 years with the club, departed last summer for Serie A side Cremonese. Iheanacho and Ndidi have also since moved on from the Foxes.
Speaking on a recent podcast, Vardy recounted how the Super Eagles stars had a peculiar remedy for minor injuries.
He explained that Iheanacho and Ndidi would insist on using a special “juju cream” brought back from Nigeria, refusing any other oils or balms offered by the club’s medical staff.
“They used to get injured, just little knocks, then they’d go back to Nigeria for one day literally, come back, and then they’ve got a nice big tub of juju cream,” Vardy said.
“That was the only thing that the masseuses were allowed to massage on the injured areas. They used to tell us that they used to get it from a Nigerian witch doctor.”
While Vardy’s story adds a humorous, if slightly controversial, layer to the players’ time at the club, the “juju cream” was likely part of a running joke.
Ndidi later clarified on social media that the substance was simply local shea butter, known as ‘ori’ in Nigeria.
Some aspirants loyal to Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who failed to secure the All Progressives Congress (APC) tickets in the recently concluded National Assembly primaries, have approached the court to challenge the outcome of the exercise.
The aggrieved aspirants are challenging the APC National Working Committee (NWC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the results of the primaries and the list of candidates submitted by the party to the electoral body.
Report quoted sources within the party as saying the aspirants decided to seek judicial redress after expressing dissatisfaction with the outcome of the primaries.
The aspirants have reportedly engaged the services of the law firm of Remi Olatubora, SAN, to challenge the outcome of the exercise, the report also mentioned.
Those involved include Gbenga Elegbeleye (Ondo North Senatorial District), Dr Taiwo Fasoranti (Ondo Central Senatorial District), Leke Akingboye (Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency), Rasaq Obe (Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency), Kayode Ijalana (Owo/Ose Federal Constituency), Oyerinmade Matthew (Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo/Odigbo Federal Constituency), and Olumuyiwa Daramola (Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency).
The legal action has reportedly generated concerns among some party stakeholders, who fear it could affect the APC’s preparations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has slammed the Federal Government over its gifts of houses to judges.
Speaking at the Housing TV Africa on Thursday, Falana demanded the provision of the law that stipulated such a gesture.
He charged the Federal Government to also build houses for university professors and other civil and public servants, noting that what is good for the goose is equally good for the gander.
“”We have got to a stage in the country where we have to challenge the special privileges given to the rich and top public officers in the country.
“I was very sad when I saw that the Federal Government was handing over the keys of houses to judges, and I asked myself, ‘Under what law are we operating?’ Because it’s discriminatory and illegal.
“You treat everyone equally in our country. So you can’t take out judges. Judges are entitled to accommodation by the way. They must live comfortably and we’ll secured.
“But, other citizens must be equally provided for. If you don’t do it, you can be challenged, and that is going to happen very soon because what is good for the goose is good for the gander,” he said.
-
Health & Wellness11 months agoPresident Tinubu Directs Cut in Dialysis Cost from ₦50,000 to ₦12,000
-
News12 months agoPICTURE: In Lagos Couple Sentenced to 22½ Years for Cannabis Trafficking
-
Trending News11 months agoNELFUND Disburses ₦86bn To 449,000 Beneficiaries
-
Business4 months agoDangote Refinery Reduces Petrol Gantry Price To ₦1,200 Per Litre
-
International News4 months agoIndian Police Arrest Nigerian Over ₦290m Drug Haul
-
Business2 years agoHeritage Bank Customers’ Path to Securing ₦5m Insured Funds: A Step-By-Step Guide by NDIC”
-
Business4 months agoAfter Plea Bargain, Court Discharges Stella Oduah of ₦2.5bn Fraud
-
Business2 years ago
Dangote; We Did Not Fix ₦600/Litre Petrol Price