By David Owei,Bayelsa

Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Dr. Peter Akpe, on Tuesday tasked new entrants in the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to deliver the party’s candidates from the presidency to the ward level in the forthcoming 2027 general elections.

Dr. Akpe, gave the charge in his office at Government House, Yenagoa, while receiving more defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling APC.

The calibre of persons leading the pack of the defectors were, former Secretary of the state chapter of the PDP, Deacon James Agari, a Technical Adviser to Governor Douye Diri on Special Duties and one time Legal Adviser to the PDP, Mr Richard Perekeme, a serving Councillor representing Ward Six
in Sagbama Local Government Area of the state.

The Bayelsa deputy governor expressed delight over their gesture, describing it as genuine solidarity with the Prosperity Government and the ruling party in consolidating the peace, development and progress of the state.

According to Dr. Akpe, contrary to what is being alleged in some quarters, the pattern of the Governor Douye Diri-led administration is against the application of tactics such as coercion or financial inducements to compel opponents in joining the state’s APC.

His words: “As I said the other day, His Excellency, Governor Douye Diri does not believe in the use of coercion or financial inducement to compel political opponents to join the APC, contrary to what is being alleged in some quarters, especially in the social media.

“The governor gives you time to think about it. We accept decamped members wholeheartedly and intrinsically without having to cajole them.

“And so, I join the party’s leadership to welcome you with great delight. I want to appreciate you for your gesture which is the right move. In Sagbama Local Government Area, we are together and together we should forge a formidable team.

“Your political clout is not something you built today and you cannot afford to let it go to waste. The party leadership will ensure that you get what is due you by way of recognition.

“Let us come together and work for the progress of our state. Work towards consolidating the strength of our party in Sagbama even more than you have been doing. Our first mandate is to deliver the president, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all candidates of the APC at all levels.”

Dr. Akpe, stressed the need for members of the party to imbibe the virtues of unity, peace and tolerance, assuring that the party leadership would accord due recognition to all members.

The state APC senatorial vice chairman (West), Mr. Akuakwa B. Akuakwa, formally welcomed the defectors to the party, describing the development as a step in the right direction.

Mr. Akuakwa, urged members of the party in the West senatorial zone to work harmoniously with a view to ensuring a successful outing at all levels in next year’s poll.

Earlier in his remarks, leader of the delegation and former state Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Deacon James Agari, said their decision to defect to the APC was necessitated by the disintegration and collapse of the PDP as well as the need to identify with the Prosperity Government under the leadership of Governor Douye Diri.

Deacon Agari, who lauded Governor Diri’s inclusive leadership, stressed the need to continually support and work with the present administration for the good of all Bayelsans.

He said: “When our leader, the Governor of Bayelsa State decamped to the APC, some of us did not follow. The Governor told us ‘I will lead and I will not force anybody to follow me. But when you see the scenario, you will also follow.’

“We stayed behind, but now we have seen that the PDP is dead. And so, we cannot waste our time and that of our supporters. So we held a meeting as a group and agreed that this is the right time to defect and join our leader, the governor, in the APC for the good of Bayelsa State and our people.”

By George Mgbeleke

Alarmed at the rising cost living in country, a Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL), the apex sociopolitical youth group in the South East geopolitical zone has expressed deep concern over the alarming increase in the prices of petrol, food items, goods, and essential services across Nigeria.

In a statement signed by COSEYL President General, Comrade Goodluck Ibem and made available to Journalists on Tuesday, the group said the current economic situation in the country has placed unbearable hardship on millions of Nigerians who are already struggling to meet their daily needs.

The statement reads in part, “In recent times, the price of petrol has reportedly risen from about ₦900 to as high as ₦1500 per litre in several parts of the country. This sharp increase has triggered an astronomical rise in the cost of transportation, food, goods, and services.

” Similarly, the prices of diesel and other petroleum products have also increased significantly, further worsening the economic pressure on businesses and households.

“These developments have created a situation where the cost of living continues to rise daily, while the salaries and incomes of citizens remain largely static. Many Nigerians can no longer afford basic necessities such as food, transportation, and healthcare. Small businesses are also struggling to survive due to the high cost of energy and logistics.”

COSEYL noted with serious concern that if urgent measures are not taken to address this situation, the economic hardship facing Nigerians may deepen further and lead to severe social consequences.

“We therefore call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Government to take immediate and decisive steps to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians. Such measures should include policies aimed at stabilizing the price of petroleum products, strengthening the value of the naira, supporting local production, and providing relief programs for citizens and small businesses.

“We also urge the Federal Government to engage relevant stakeholders in developing sustainable solutions that will reduce the cost of living and restore hope to Nigerians.

“Nigeria is blessed with abundant resources and hardworking citizens. What Nigerians need at this critical time is responsive leadership and practical economic policies that will ease the burden on the people.

“The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders remains committed to promoting peace, unity, and constructive engagement in national development. We believe that with urgent intervention, the current economic challenges can be addressed for the benefit of all Nigerians,” it noted.

ADC Condemns Maiduguri Bomb Blasts, AppealsTinubu to return home.
-Says President should focus less on politics.

By George Mgbeleke

Saddened by the increasing insecurity in parts of the country,African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned the bomb blasts that struck Maiduguri, Borno State, on Monday night leaving 23 people dead and hundreds others injured. In a statement issued on Tuesday by Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party expressed sympathy with the victims and their families.
The ADC also raised concerns about what it described as a lack of leadership focus at a critical moment, noting that President Bola Tinubu is currently outside the country while senior officials responsible for national security are reportedly engaged in partisan political activities. According to the ADC, the protection of lives and property must take precedence over political distractions and diplomatic ceremonies. It therefore calls on President Tinubu to urgently return to the country and attend to his primary job of protecting lives.

The full statement read:

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) strongly condemns the bomb blasts that have shaken Maiduguri, Borno State, leaving innocent Nigerians dead and many others injured.

Our hearts go out to the victims, their families, and the people of Maiduguri, a city that has endured more than its fair share of pain over the years. Terrorism anywhere in Nigeria is an attack on all Nigerians. At moments like this, the country must stand together with the people who have been affected.

We commend the courage of first responders and security personnel who are working to assist the injured and restore calm. But this tragic incident also raises the persistent questions about the state of security in our country. Maiduguri, which in recent years had begun to experience a measure of stability after the darkest days of the insurgency, should not be returning to a situation where coordinated bomb attacks once again threaten the safety of ordinary citizens going about their daily lives.
Moments like this demand the full and undivided attention of the nation’s leadership. It is therefore troubling that the President is currently outside the country at a time when such a serious attack on national security occurred.
At a time when Nigerian soldiers and civilians are being wilfully killed by terrorists, those charged with protecting the country are focused on politics of self-succession. The National Security Adviser is going after opposition figures and calling bandits his “brothers”, while the Minister of Defence is on television planning the APC national convention. This is not leadership. It is a dangerous distraction, and it is costing lives.

In case this government has forgotten, those being killed by terrorists are not just numbers. Those soldiers being mowed down by bandits are people’s children, husbands, fathers and families. In any serious country, a devastating security breach would command the full attention of government. Leaders would return home, address the nation, and take responsibility.
Instead, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is abroad, exchanging pleasantries with the King and Queen of England while Nigerians mourn and soldiers are being buried. Not a word has been spared for the victims or the brave soldiers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in service of Nigeria. The oath of office is clear, the primary duty of government is the protection of lives, and that duty is certainly not being met by this APC government.
The protection of lives and property is the most basic responsibility of any government. It cannot be treated as secondary to political distractions or competing priorities. The ADC therefore calls on President Tinubu to return immediately to the country and show, for once, that he cares about something else other than his politics.
We also think it is about time that government started to take full responsibilities for every life lost that could have been protected by paying compensation to the families of victims, whether military or civilians. Although no amount of money can fully compensate for a lost life, but by penalising itself this way, government would have started to accept responsibility.
It is no longer enough for government to merely issue condolences and condemnations. It is its first job to protect lives. And Nigeria cannot continue on a path where the loss of lives becomes routine. We are only in the third month of the year, and already thousands of Nigerians have been killed in violent attacks across the country, while the President continues to make merry, enjoying the sweetness of the only thing he truly cares about: politics. This is unacceptable, as it is condemnable.