Author: Festus Adeloye

The Rivers State House of Assembly has endorsed President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in the state. This was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday, by the Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule. Amaewhule said the Assembly would abide by the president’s decision, even though it was not what they had hoped for. “We assure our constituents that we will abide by this declaration, even though it is not what we prayed for. Mr. President has acted in the best interest of the country,” Amaewhule said. The Speaker blamed Governor Siminalayi Fubara for the crisis in…

The Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum has berated President Bola Tinubu, describing his declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State as unstatesmanlike, biased, and divisive. The forum led by Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, issued a statement on Wednesday expressing concern that under Tinubu’s leadership, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has become a law unto himself. The forum criticised Tinubu’s silence regarding the minister’s active involvement in the state crisis, describing it as both passive and enabling. READ ALSO: Emergency Declaration: US, UK Other Nations Perplexed At Tinubu’s Style Of Governance – Deji Adeyanju…

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, describing it as “political manipulation and outright bad faith.” Atiku accused Tinubu of being a “vested partisan actor” in the ongoing political turmoil in the state, alleging that his administration either enabled or failed to prevent the crisis. “His blatant refusal or calculated negligence in preventing this escalation is nothing short of disgraceful,” Atiku said in a statement on Tuesday via X. He further condemned the security breaches that led to the destruction of national infrastructure in Rivers, insisting that the…

President Bola Tinubu has declared a state of emergency in Rivers state. The president made the announcement on Tuesday in a nationwide broadcast over the political crisis and instability in the state. READ ALSO: Tinubu Sacks Governor Fubara, Appoints Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas As Sole Administrator Tinubu said Siminalayi Fubara, governor of the state; his deputy, Ngozi Odu; and all members of the Rivers assembly are “hereby suspended for an initial period of six months”. “Having soberly reflected on and evaluated the political situation in Rivers State and the Governor and Deputy Governor of Rivers State having failed to make a…

Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has opened a TikTok page. Obi made the announcement on his X handle on Tuesday. READ ALSO: Peter Obi Backs NYSC Member Who Criticised Tinubu’s Government On the TikTok page, the ex-Anambra State governor uploaded a video seeking followership and moves to build a new Nigeria that is possible. He said, “This is my official and only TikTok page. Kindly join me towards building a new Nigeria that is possible.”

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out the preliminary objection of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), challenging the competence of the ₦100 billion import license suit instituted by Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals. In a ruling, Justice Ekwo held that the NNPCL failed to file a counter affidavit against Dangote Refinery’s suit but rather filed a preliminary objection, contrary to relevant laws guiding court proceedings. The judge added that where the issue of jurisdiction is raised, the court can address it at the time of judgement. He faulted the NNPCL for flouting…

The Nigerian Air Force has said a precision airstrike against Boko Haram enclaves in Chikide and Degbewa in Borno State has inflicted heavy losses on the terrorist group. Acting on credible intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance reports, the NAF said it targeted key insurgent hideouts within the rugged Mandara Mountains, where notorious terrorist leader Ali Ngulde and his fighters were believed to be meeting. A statement on Tuesday by the Deputy Director of Public Relations and Information, Group Captain Kabiru Ali, said surveillance confirmed the presence of a fortified command hub with solar-powered installations, prompting the service to execute a surprise…

A trade war sparked by U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs may drive up global inflation, stoke market volatility and slow economic growth, the CEOs of two top Australian banks said on Tuesday, but added Australia was insulated from the disruption. The heads of No. 1 retail lender Commonwealth Bank of Australia and No. 1 business lender National Australia Bank told a conference the new U.S. administration’s protectionist policies would likely strain the global economy in the medium term with higher costs and lack of certainty, according to a Reuters report. But Australia’s roughly $15 billion a year in exports to…

An explosion has rocked the Trans-Niger Pipeline at Bodo, Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State. The affected section of the major pipeline is currently on fire, though the exact cause of the explosion remains unknown at this time. Authorities have yet to determine whether the incident resulted from human interference, especially amid recent threats by militant groups to attack oil installations in response to the Federal Government’s withholding of Rivers State’s allocation due to the ongoing political crisis. The explosion reportedly occurred on Monday night along the critical export pipeline that transports crude to the Bonny Terminal.

Aliko Dangote has revealed plans to build a seaport and expand cement production in Ogun State. During a meeting with the Ogun State officials on Monday, Dangote told Governor Dapo Abiodun and the Executive Council that his company will construct what he described as “the largest port in the country” at Olokola Free Trade Zone, reviving previously abandoned investment plans in the area. The businessman also announced that two new cement production lines with a combined capacity of 6 million metric tons per annum are being constructed at Itori. When completed, the facilities will operate alongside the existing 12 million…