…Says Fubara Has Emancipated Rivers State From Wike’s Slavêry
A former National Legal Adviser of the People’s Democratic Party, Barr Emmanuel Enoidem (SAN) has stated that the performance of Governor Umo Eno is good enough to earn him a second term.
Enoidem stated this when he played host to COOPA, an online publishers forum at his Shelter Afrique residence, Friday 17 May.
Speaking on the state of development in Akwa Ibom State, the former law teacher said that he is satisfied with the performance of the Governor, Pastor Umo Eno in less than a year since his assumption of office. He lauded the governor over the implementation of the ARISE Agenda, noting that the Governor’s performance under one year has exceeded expectations.
He said, “The Governor’s revamping of infrastructures in the education sector, investment in rural development and agriculture, Primary healthcare, road constructions and erosion control, payment of gratuity, bursary and pension, youth development, shelter for the aged and further investment in entrepreneurship is a testament to the visionary leadership of the governor which has endeared him to the people”.
While acknowledging the rapid development of rural communities by the governor, he stressed that no government can completely develop the entire rural communities in 4 or 8 years.
“Umo Eno’s government is a government for the people living in rural communities and this is a major shift in governance. The government has now taken a bottom to top approach. He has taken the government back to the people.
“The governor cannot develop the entire rural areas in 4 years or 8 years, but with his performance so far, even if he doesn’t do anything again, he will be re-elected by Akwa Ibom people
The chairman of Maintain Peace Movement lampooned the Minister of FCT and former Governor of Rivers State, Barr. Nyesom Wike over the political instability in Rivers State.
He noted that former Governor Wike’s overbearing influence while serving as an influential PDP Governor made the then Cross River State Governor, Mr Ben Ayade and his Ebonyi State counter, Mr Dave Umahi left the party for the ruling APC.
He observed that the attitude of the former governor made it difficult for him to accept contrary opinions which he said is against any known democratic tenet.
“Rivers state has been emancipated from Wike slavery and high handedness. It is a contradiction, nevertheless, what is happening isn’t a surprise as Mr Wike is tolerant of contrary views and may wish to lord it over the Governor Fubara.
” Former Governor Wike does not allow a contrary opinion and that isn’t allowed in democracy.
Ben Ayade and Dave Umahi both left the PDP because of Wike’s overbearing influence he even castigated both Governors Umahi Ayade for taking PDP’s vote to APC.
“Fubara worked under him and studied how he was able to use power, I am sure that Governor Fubara learnt a thing or two from him on what to do with power, but above all, Rivers State has been emancipated from Wike’s chokehold.”
On whether the Minister is still a member of PDP, Enoidem opined that it will be politically and morally wrong for the former Governor to claim that he is a member of PDP.
“A member of PDP cannot for any reason publicly endorse and work for a candidate of another political party as Wike did in 2023. A member of PDP cannot openly promise to support the presidential candidate of another political party in 2027 as Wike and his group have done.
This sort of attitude is against all known tenets of democracy and party politics.
“This is a clear case of anti party activities which by the express provisions of the PDP constitution deserve its outright expulsion from the party.
“What lesson in party politics and democracy is this group of persons passing on to the younger generations. Is it morally and politically correct and acceptable for them to claim to be in PDP while supporting the candidate of another political party. This is far from the truth. It would be honorable for them to leave the party and join APC if they have compelling reason to support the APC’s presidential candidate which is within their rights. Otherwise the whole show clearly smack of political brigandage, moral debauchery and social depravity” he reasoned.”
He lampooned the National Assembly over the proposed North West Development Commission, while questioning how the FG intends to fund the agency.
Enoidem argued that the proposed creation of the North East Development Commission in addition to the Northwest Development Commission will definitely lead to agitations for the creation of Development Commissions for all six the Zones in the country by the Federal Government. A situation he said will be contrary to the fundamentals of true federalism, increases the cost of governance at the centre instead of reducing it and a return of the country to a unitary system as against a federation that it is supposed to be, he said.
In his view, the National Assembly should rather return Nigeria to true federalism where the states are allowed to develop resources within their territories and only pay loyalties and taxes to the Federal Government as practiced in other true federal nations.
