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Category: Politics

  • Rivers: Suspension of Fubara, lawmakers dents Nigeria’s image — Jonathan

    Rivers: Suspension of Fubara, lawmakers dents Nigeria’s image — Jonathan

    Former president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has said that the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and other elected officials of Rivers State, dents Nigeria’s image.

    Jonathan said this while speaking as the Chairman at the Haske Satumari Foundation Colloquium in Abuja on Saturday (today).

    He expressed disappointment that elected officials had been removed.

    Meanwhile, same day, the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, supported President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers.

    The party said no responsible government will allow a situation to deteriorate before taking decisive action in the best interest of its citizens.

    NNPP National Chairman, Dr. Agbo Major, told newsmen: “President Tinubu is the Chief Security Officer of Nigeria.

    “The information available to him as president from intelligence sources may not be in the public purview.

    “The government in Rivers was suspended and no one can actually say what would have happened by now, judging from the deepening crisis.

    “The crisis was further compounded by some leaders who, instead of offering advice or promoting peace during the turmoil, allowed it to escalate before later stepping in to criticize.”

    Jonathan…

    But for President Jonathan, “These actions by key actors in the executive and legislative arms of government paint the country in a negative light.”

    He said it was not the norm for former presidents to comment on issues, so as not to heat up the polity.

    However, Jonathan said, his comment became necessary after calls from many Nigerians, urging him to speak on the events in Rivers State.

    He added that the image of the country and how much investments a country attracts is dependent on the actions of the executive, legislature and judiciary of that country.

    Goodluck Jonathan faulted the situation where an individual can dictate to the judiciary, noting that it makes it difficult for anyone to have faith in the judiciary.

  • Blame PDP elders like Bode George for non-payment of ground rent for 28 years, not Wike – Lere

    Blame PDP elders like Bode George for non-payment of ground rent for 28 years, not Wike – Lere

    People’s Democratic Party (PDP) elders like Chief Bode George, should be blamed for the party’s failure to pay Ground Rent for 28 years, which is the reason for the revocation of the PDP’s national secretariat in Abuja, and not the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike.

    Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communication and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said in a statement in Abuja on Saturday, that it was funny that Chief Bode George, who was in the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) that failed to conclude purchase of the Wadata Plaza National Secretariat of the PDP, could come to national television to say “Wike has crossed the red line by revoking the PDP’s national secretariat in Abuja.”

    Bode George, had said during an interview on a television station on Friday, that Wike’s action was an open declaration of war against the PDP.

    Responding, Olayinka said it was painful that elders like Chief Bode George, could chose to play the ostrich on a matter so glaring as the revocation of 4,794 land titles for not paying Ground Rent for as much as 43 years.

    He asked; “Why didn’t the PDP pay Ground Rent for 20 years on its Plot No. 243 national secretariat (under construction), which is the only property belonging to the party among the 4,794 revoked titles? How’s government’s enforcement of the consequences of land title owners’ refusal to pay Ground Rent declaration of war? Should the FCTA under Wike have treated PDP differently from the 4,794 owners of land titles that were revoked over failure to pay Ground Rent?”

    While clarifying that the Wadata Plaza property being used as Secretariat by the PDP was not owned by the party, Olayinka said the property belonged to Senator Samaila Mamman Kurfi, who bought it from Wadata Enterprises Nigeria Limited.

    “The PDP offered to buy the Wadata Plaza property in 2005, and when the Minister’s Consent was sought, the party was asked to pay N26.9 million. The money was never paid.

    “The party wrote a letter to Malam Nasir El-Rufai, the FCT Minister then, to waive the payment, claiming that it lacked the financial capacity to pay, but he (El-Rufai) insisted the party must pay.

    “El-Rufai, who insisted PDP must do the right thing by paying the necessary fees to the government was a member of the party then, and Chief Bode George, who was in the PDP NWC, did not go to national television to accuse him (El-Rufai) of declaring war against the party. And if the owner of did not pay ordinary N2.8 million as 28 years Ground Rent, who is to blame?

    “On the PDP national secretariat at Central Area, is it the fault of Wike that a mere N7.6 million, was owed as 20 years Ground Rent despite that over N21 billion was raised in 2014 for the completion of the building?”

    While counseling Chief Bode George, to start functioning like an objective elder that he should be, the FCT Minister’s Spokesperson said “what should have been done was to seek information, rather than going on television to advertise hatred against a Minister who is simply doing his jobs without looking at people’s faces.

    “If Chief Bode George had sought necessary information and refrained himself from acting out of hatred for Wike, it would have been known to him that also affected by the revocation were government owned institutions like Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), Borno State Government, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), National Universities Commission (NUC), Kaduna State Government, Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Federal Ministry of Environment, Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company, University of Calabar and Nigerian Postal Service and Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

    “And like I asked earlier, if Chief Bode George were to be the FCT Minister, would he have treated PDP differently from the other 4,793 land title owners?”

    On loyalty and commitment to the PDP, Olayinka said the results in Wike’s Rivers State and Chief Bode George’s Lagos State from 1998 till date are clear for everyone to see and used as yardstick.

  • Trump revokes security clearances of Biden and senior aides

    Trump revokes security clearances of Biden and senior aides

    US President Donald Trump made good Friday on a threat to revoke the security clearances of his predecessor Joe Biden and several senior former White House and national security officials.

    The list of names stripped of their authorization to see state secrets included Biden, his family members, and former vice-president and Trump presidential rival Kamala Harris.

    Former secretary of state and defeated presidential candidate Hillary Clinton was on the list, along with Biden’s secretary of state Antony Blinken and national security advisor Jacob Sullivan.

    In a memorandum to agency heads and distributed by the White House communications office, Trump said the named officials should no longer be allowed access to classified material.

    “I hereby direct every executive department and agency head … to revoke any active security clearances held by the aforementioned individuals,” Trump said.

    “I also direct all executive department and agency heads to revoke unescorted access to secure United States Government facilities from these individuals.”

    Former US presidents and national security officials traditionally retain a security clearance as a courtesy, and some find it useful in seeking employment with private contractors.

    But Trump, who continues to falsely claim that Biden schemed to steal the 2020 election, which he lost, has remained furious with his predecessor and lashes out frequently.

    Trump was himself investigated for breaching security rules during the period between his first and second term in office, by storing classified White House documents in his Mar-a-Lago resort.

    The investigation was wound up after Trump returned to office.

    Many of the individuals on Trump’s list were high-profile political appointees of his Democratic predecessor, but former Republican lawmaker and vocal Trump critic Liz Cheney is also named.

    Fiona Hill, a British-born intelligence analyst who served under both Democrat and Republican administrations, including as an advisor in Trump’s White House, is targeted.

    She is joined by former colleague Alexander Vindman, a Kyiv-born retired senior officer in the US Army who fell foul of Trump after expressing concerns about White House contacts with Russia.

  • Ooni plotting my downfall – Oluwo alleges

    Ooni plotting my downfall – Oluwo alleges

    The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi on Friday lock horns over a pull-down allegation.

    The Oluwo in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Ibrahim Alli alleged that despite his effort towards the emergence of Oba Adeyeye as the Ooni of Ife in 2015, he (Ooni) has always plotted his downfall as Oluwo.

    He added apart from publicly embarrassing him before Governor Ademola Adeleke during a recent meeting of the traditional council in the state, Oluwo alleged that the Ooni plotted his suspension from the state traditional council despite the proof of his innocence.

    “In 2015, I got a call from Akin Daodu, a close ally to the then Prince Adeyeye Ogunwusi, now Ooni Adeyeye Ogunwusi. He told me Prince Adeyeye was on the phone, that he needed to talk and seek my help on his aspiration to the throne of Ooni of Ife. I told Akin Daodu that I’m not aware they had chosen Ooni designate. I acknowledged my affinity with the family because we stayed around the same place at Akobo, Ibadan before I travelled. I know him then but I’m closer to his brother, Tunji Ogunwusi who was my peer then. Both myself and Tunji Ogunwusi popularly called Dodo were about 8 years older than him.

    We discussed and he disclosed almost all the stakeholders including the Governor have agreed but there is a litigation in court instituted by a few aggrieved people. He said his primary concern is court litigation. I asked him if that was all, and he said yes. I told him he is already a king”

    “In his presence, I called the person in charge and I told the person what I wanted. The case was decided on Friday and Adeyeye became Ooni on Saturday. This was before my own enthronement. I was not selfish. I did his own before my own. And a few months later, God used the same link for me to become Oluwo of Iwoland”

    “To my surprise, the same person I helped to the throne has been planning evil against me. He orchestrated my suspension from the Osun State Council of Obas meeting against the AIG who was a star witness to what transpired. He is using a few kings in Iwoland to destabilize my territory. He attacked me last month in the presence of the Governor that I’m discouraging deity worshipping. He was part of those who used my former wife against me. He wants me to be removed as Oluwo by all means. Such is a dream that can never come through. No one can remove me as Oluwo. No one can kill me and no one can bring me down. Adabi ti ki baase emi ni Mo ran e lowo tofi di Ooni”, he added.

    Reacting, Ooni’s spokesperson, Otunba Moses Olafare described the allegation of Ooni wanting to pull Oluwo down as baseless and reckless, saying his suspension from the council of traditional rulers was his own doing having fought a fellow traditional ruler in public.

    His words, “Oba Adeyeye was made an Oba by God, remember he was ordained to become an Ooni right from the time he was birthed, hence, his middle name ‘Enitan’. So irrespective of anybody’s effort, there was a prophecy that he would ascend the throne which manifested in 2015.

    “The Ooni could not have plotted his suspension, it was his recklessness that led to that, he fought, harassed a fellow monarch in public and a committee was set up by the council to investigate the matter which recommended his suspension.

    “Ooni don’t have the habit of embarrassing anyone either publicly or secretly. Ooni’s comment was an honest one before the arrival of the governor to the meeting, urging Oluwo to stop embarrassing traditional rulers who believe in traditional religion. He told him every traditional ruler cannot be Muslim or Christian and each one should be free to express his belief. What is embarrassing about that sincere counsel? Oluwo should not be reacting to that several weeks after the incident.

    “When he was to become the Oluwo, the Ooni supported him, gave money, gave car to honour his enthronement but you wouldn’t hear that from the Ooni. The palace also made effort to ensure he ascended the throne. He need to focus on real issues”, he added.

  • State of Emergency: It’s all about Rivers’ money – Anabs Sara-Igbe

    State of Emergency: It’s all about Rivers’ money – Anabs Sara-Igbe

    Sara-Igbe, who spoke on the Morning Show, an Arise TV programme, also said Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s suspension was an attack on the people of Rivers. Excerpts:

    What is your reaction to developments in Rivers State, the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and declaration of a state of emergency as well as its implications for the politics in Rivers?

    This is not the first time a state of emergency has been declared. As spokesman (Dr Reuben Abati) for former President Goodluck Jonathan, a situation like this came up. In three states, a state of emergency was declared. When you (Abati) were asked why the president did not sack the governors, you made it clear that the constitution does not empower Mr President to sack or suspend elected representatives or governors in the case of a state of emergency.

    Mr President relied on Section 305. If you look at Section 305 all through, Section 305 should also apply in the Northern part of Nigeria where we had war. In the case of Rivers State, there is no war, no fight, the whole place is quiet, and yet the state of emergency was declared. Not only that, an elected governor was suspended, the House of Assembly was also suspended. Somehow, this is not proper. It is an illegal action. The constitution did not empower Mr President in any way. I have looked at the condition under which a governor can be removed. This was not part of the conditions in the constitution. But I will tell you why Mr President may have taken this action. One, Mr President, seems to be very desperate to whip opponents to their nails.

    Wike is the hatchet man of Mr President. Last week, he came to Rivers State like a president. He came with the military, the army, the police, the navy, the air force, the DSS, gunboats, airplanes, tanks, artillery, all were mobilised for a visit of a minister, with the intention of causing a crisis so that this state of emergency could be declared. Mr President met with the two of them and set up an agreement. In that agreement, Governor Siminalayi Fubara was asked to withdraw his case from the court. He did but the other party refused to withdraw their case. It is like two men carrying guns. You asked one man to drop his gun and the other man refused to drop his gun and you did not care. You don’t blame him and you ask him to shoot the man and they shot him. That is how they got the Supreme Court judgment they are talking about.

    Mr President accused Siminalayi of not implementing the agreement. If you look at it closely, nowhere in the world where a man who has resigned will be forced to come back and the governor will accept him. But the governor accepted. When he was told to accept the House of Assembly members that have decamped from their party, he (Fubara) did. All the conditions, he (Fubara) complied with it. Yet you are not satisfied. The Rivers State elders looked at it and some of us felt, no. These eight conditions were not good for the state. So we went to court. Those things we were telling Mr Governor not to do that he applied are the ones that are now witch haunting him. You went to the Supreme Court with the same eight-point agenda. You asked the judges to write exactly what you wanted and they did for you. The governor was willing to implement the Supreme Court judgment and was ready to do that and they kept saying they wouldn’t accept it. Mr President never blamed them.

    PANDEF went to see Mr President and I was among them. Mr President blamed the governor, he never blamed the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike. Two people are fighting and if you want to make peace, what you would have done is to say: ‘Okay, I will fire my minister.’ At least you have the power to fire a minister that has been causing confusion not only in the Niger Delta, also in the North and in the South-East. You did not fire him, but you could fire the governor that you do not have power to fire. These are things that are obvious. Now, other governors will be watching. Today, it is the turn of Siminalayi Fubara. He (President Bola Tinubu) will apply it to the other states, particularly the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, states.

    National Assembly members are there, and the law says they have to confirm. But in this case, he has also gone contrary to the constitution. He has violated the constitution. And he is asking the National Assembly to approve for him that he violated the constitution and they all accepted it. If the National Assembly now thinks this is a president that they can trust, I worry, because definitely he will go after them.

    If you are saying that you are not happy with the decision the president has taken, what would you have expected him to do when you made calls for him to come in to intervene in the crisis? How would you have wanted the president to intervene?

    We are not against him intervening. It is like a father who has two children fighting. You must be fair to both children. You cannot beat one and leave the other causing trouble. It is not possible. It is not right. A father must be fair to all his children. You cannot love one and show the other child that I love this one more than you. In the context of declaring a state of emergency, nobody has quarrelled with the president because he has that power under Section 305.

    However, you don’t have any power in the Nigerian constitution from Section 182, 183, 188, 189, where it is mentioned how a governor or a deputy governor can be removed from office. You do not have such powers. Nothing like that to say Mr President has the power to suspend or remove a governor. When you infringe on the constitution, people will tell you. I am not a lawyer, but this is elementary law that everyone knows. The Attorney General has not advised him properly . This means democracy is at risk. Our democracy is at risk because you must stand by the truth. You are suspending a governor, an elected governor of Rivers State, and you are not suspending or sacking the minister who is fomenting all the problems. He (president) can declare a state of emergency, but he has no constitutional power to suspend the governor.

    His minister who is causing the whole trouble should be sacked. The other day, this man came and abused everybody and told Nigerians openly that it is not only the Ijaw that can bomb pipelines, adding that Ogoni can bomb pipelines, Etche can bomb pipelines, Ikwerre can bomb pipelines. Within the period he has been fomenting problems, Ogoni has bombed pipelines, as he promised. He has sent people to blow pipelines in the Omoku area, as he said. Yet, you are leaving him and you are crucifying a man, an innocent man, because he is peace-loving, because he is quiet, because he is not fighting, and you allow this man who insulted everybody, insulted Niger Delta as a whole and insulted Ijaw nation.

    You said: ‘Oh, Tompolo is the one looking after pipelines,’ so you want to blow pipelines in Ogoni so that you crucify Tompolo because you hate Ijaw. And Mr President is there watching these things.

    Can you provide me with evidence that Wike is behind the bombing of pipelines?

    I will give you the facts. A witch said a child would die today or tomorrow, and tomorrow the child died. That is what empirical facts are. Wike said on national television that Ogoni could bomb pipelines. Here is a man who came to a small community in Rivers State with over 700 soldiers, a DSS, gunboats, airplanes, jets, fire jets. What did he want? Was he going to war? The man wanted a state of emergency by all means. That was why he did what he did.

    What are the elders in the state doing? Where is Fubara, as we speak? Have you spoken to him?

    First, the Supreme Court said don’t release money until Fubara presents the budget. Fubara has been trying to present a budget, but he was prevented. The Supreme Court has not said anything. Money is released to somebody, a stranger, a complete stranger, who came illegally. And their interest is nothing but the money. Otherwise, why not be patient?

    The state has funds that they can use to run it. We have an internally generated fund that can run the state. When you saw that this man was commissioning projects every day, all you needed to do was to stall him. And you brought a stranger, illegally. You have no legal right to suspend the governor. You have no legal right to suspend state funds. You brought somebody, and you released money to him. We have not seen Fubara, and nobody has communicated with Fubara. We do not know what they have done to Fubara. We do not know where Fubara is. We have tried to reach him, but we cannot reach him (as at Thursday). He is in danger. We want Nigerians to know that Fubara’s life is in danger.

    Until we see Fubara speak face-to-face on television, we have not seen him. We have not heard from him. With all sincerity, ask anybody whether they have heard from him (Fubara). He was locked up in the Government House. We only see on social media that he has been released from the Government House. The Rivers people are worried. This is a war against Rivers State, not a war against Fubara.

    Fubara has done so well, and Rivers’ people are happy with him. If Nigerians keep quiet and allow this thing to happen, it will happen in other places. And what are we inviting? We are talking about democracy. This is not a democratic government. This is a dictatorial government. And if this dictatorship is allowed to stand, then the country is finished. As regards whether we are going to see the administrator, Rivers elders are not willing to do so. We are saying that is an illegality and we cannot join illegality. We cannot dine with illegality. We will continue to protest until the right thing is done in accordance with the law.

    Is it possible to imagine that even Wike himself is a loser or a victim in this matter?

    You may not know the background to this issue. Just on Monday, the Federal High Court sat in Port Harcourt. Martins Amaewhule, which is the Wike faction, brought a certified true copy of the Supreme Court judgment and asked the court to strike out the case. The judge said no, he wants to hear the case on its merits. And the judge had both sides and said he would give judgment on the 15th of next month. The moment they came out from court, what we heard was, they were serving an impeachment notice.

    When they realised that they could not go through with impeachment, despite the fact that they had the number, the next thing they thought of was the commando style – a state of emergency, bundle the governor away, I will take over the government and grab the money. They are interested in Rivers’ money and they have taken the money that the Supreme Court said nobody should touch until the governor presents a budget. The governor has written to them through the Secretary of Government. On his own (Fubara), he has written to them. He went to their house, their Assembly quarters and it was locked out. Nigerians are seeing it.

    When they saw that things were not going the way they wanted, all they did was a non-constitutional coup, to remove the governor. What else do we want? If Wike was honourable, he would resign. He is not causing problems to Rivers alone. The North is angry because of Wike, the way he communicates with them. The South-East is angry because of Wike, and the way he communicates with them. He insulted the Niger Delta, thinking the Niger Delta would be happy, and they would support Jonathan. Former President Goodluck Jonathan lost his second tenure because of Wike. It is because of Wike that former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, left with five other governors from the PDP. And Jonathan lost the election.

    Do you think President Tinubu will survive under this condition? He has created enemies for him. The next enemy he will create is the West. He will create an enemy between the West and Tinubu.  Mr President is supporting whatever Wike is doing. What we are saying is that if the president is sincere, then Wike should be sacked. Then we will know that he is sincere. Wike is the fomentor of all the problems in the Niger Delta and across the country.

  • Suspension of Rivers Gov, Lawmakers: South-south tackles Tinubu blow-by-blow

    Suspension of Rivers Gov, Lawmakers: South-south tackles Tinubu blow-by-blow

    •President lacks the power to sack elected gov, dep gov, lawmakers – Leaders, stakeholders
    •Brokered unrealistic peace accord between Gov Fubara, Wike
    •It’s incorrect to say the governor ignored the Supreme Court judgment
    •Fubara is wrong to demolish the Assembly complex without providing an alternative venue
    •Both Tinubu and Fubara mismanaged the crisis

    Is President Tinubu unaware that Fubara withdrew his case in court but the lawmakers refused to do so?

    Rising from a meeting with the nation’s security chiefs, leaders, and principal officials of the National Assembly on March 18, President Bola Tinubu, citing several other reasons, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending the governor, his deputy, and lawmakers.

    In a nationwide broadcast, he asserted, “I feel greatly disturbed at the turn we have come to regarding the political crisis in Rivers State. Like many of you, I watched the development with the hope that the parties involved would allow good sense to prevail as soon as possible, but all that hope burned out without any solution to the crisis.

    ”With the crisis persisting, there is no way democratic governance, which we have all fought and worked for over the years, can thrive in a way that will redound to the benefit of the good people of the state. The state has been at a standstill since the crisis started, with the good people unable to access the dividends of democracy.

    “Also, it is public knowledge that the Governor of Rivers State for unjustifiable reasons, demolished the House of Assembly of the state as far back as 13th December 2023 and has, up until now, fourteen (14) months after, not rebuilt same.

    “I have made personal interventions between the contending parties for a peaceful resolution of the crisis, but my efforts have been largely ignored by the parties to the crisis. I am also aware that many well-meaning Nigerians, Leaders of Thought, and patriotic groups have also intervened at various times with the best of intentions to resolve the matter but efforts were also to no avail. Still, I thank them.

    “On February 28, 2025, the Supreme Court, in a judgment in respect of about eight consolidated appeals concerning the political crisis in Rivers State, based on several grave unconstitutional acts and disregard of the rule of law that have been committed by the Governor of Rivers State as shown by the evidence before it pronounced in clear terms:

    ‘A government cannot be said to exist without one of the three arms that make up the government of a state under the 1999 Constitution as amended. In this case, the head of the executive arm of the government has chosen to collapse the legislature to enable him to govern without the legislature as a despot. As it is there is no government in Rivers State.’

    “The above pronouncement came after a catalog of judicial findings of constitutional breaches against Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

    “In their judgment, having found and held that 27 members of the House who had allegedly defected,
    ‘are still valid members of Rivers State House of Assembly, and cannot be prevented from participating in the proceedings of that House by the 8th Respondent (that is, the governor) in cohorts with four members.’
    “The Supreme Court, then, made orders to restore the state to immediate constitutional democracy. These orders include the immediate passing of an Appropriation Bill by the Rivers State House of Assembly, which up till now, has not been facilitated.

    “Some militants had threatened fire and brimstone against their perceived enemy of the governor who has up till now NOT disowned them.

    “Apart from that, the House and the governor have not been able to work together.

    “The latest security reports made available to me show that between yesterday and today there have been disturbing incidents of vandalization of pipelines by some militant without the governor taking any action to curtail them. I have, of course, given stern orders to the security agencies to ensure the safety of the lives of the good people of Rivers State and the oil pipelines.

    ”With all these and many more, no good, and responsible President will stand and allow the grave situation to continue without taking remedial steps prescribed by the Constitution to address the situation in the state, which no doubt requires extraordinary measures to restore good governance, peace, order and security.

    “In the circumstance, having soberly reflected on and evaluated the political situation in Rivers State and the Governor and Deputy Governor of Rivers State, having failed to request me as President to issue this proclamation as required by section 305(5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, it has become inevitably compelling for me to invoke the provision of section 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State with effect from today, 18th March 2025 and I so do.

    “By this declaration, the Governor of Rivers State, Mr Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Mrs Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State are hereby suspended for an initial six months.”

    He announced his nomination of a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Retd.) as Administrator of the state.

    Some Nigerians blamed the president for his action, which they described as unconstitutional, and others said it was timely and pragmatic of him to prevent the political crisis in Rivers State from consuming the state and nation.

    Many believe those who blew up the pipelines played into the hands of President Tinubu and Wike. However, there was palpable fear that militants, who, in 24 hours, exploded two oil facilities in the state could inflict more havoc on the nation’s economy if not quickly checked by Tuesday evening when the president declared a state of emergency in the state.

    Destroying oil facilities was the last card some Ijaw tribesmen of the governor, Siminalayi Fubara, believe they could use to countermand Tinubu and the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike, should the Speaker, Martin Amaehule- led House of Assembly, devoted to the minister, play the impeachment card.

    And, as soon as the lawmakers served the governor and his deputy, Mrs. Ngozi Odu notices of misconduct on Monday, March 17, the boys in the creek swung into action. First was a detonation of the Tran Niger Pipeline in Bodo, Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State, on the same day. The second was an oil facility in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA, on Tuesday, less than 24 hours.

    Unknown to them, these two attacks and the danger they posed to the nation’s economy were the picture-perfect alibi President Tinubu and Wike sought to consummate the declaration of a state of emergency in the state. This is in addition to the Supreme Court ruling last month that, “There is no government in Rivers State.”

    Those familiar with the political dynamics unfolding in Rivers State know that Tinubu has done everything to satisfy his political ally, Wike, who installed Fubara. An entitled Wike thinks Fubara betrayed him after he made him governor, and swore to deal with him.

    The probability is that within six months of the Administrator, Fubara will come cap in hand begging for a cease-fire with Wike. In the circumstance, they would arm-twist him to kowtow to Wike’s orders to govern the state and finally, embrace all steps to hand over the state to APC in 2027.

    Fubara had thought the central road they would follow to oust him was impeachment which he and his strategists had planned to frustrate, they did not imagine an elected governor being suspended under a state of emergency in a democratic dispensation.

    Many South-South leaders and stakeholders, who picked point by point the president’s excuses for his action, faulted most of his claims, while a few others vindicated him.

    The Ibenanaowei (traditional ruler) of Ekpetiama Kingdom in Bayelsa State, and Chairman of the Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council, King Bubaraye Dakolo; Coordinator General of Edo Unity League, in Benin City, Edo State, Prof Akenuwa Obarogie; and a former national spokesman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) HRH Anabs Sara-Igbe, who scrutinized the president’s explanations for his action, and faulted most of his claims.

    The former national spokesperson of the Movement for the Survival of Ijaw Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta, Clarkson Amaebi; and Lawson Oyoyo, a legal practitioner and activist, and the convener of the Ogoni Development Drive, ODD, Comrade Solomon Lenu, also put the president on the hot seat.

    But, the Convener of the Convener South- South Reawakening Group, Elder Joseph Ambakederimo, exonerated the president in some areas, while Zik Gbemre, Coordinator of the Niger Delta Peace Coalition vindicated him.

    Tinubu’s peace terms for Fubara and Wike – Prof Obaragie

    ”In fairness, the President brokered a half-baked peace accord. The accord was euphemistic because it merely scratched the surface, rather than a root cause analysis of the crisis.”

    “ Rather than instruct the FCT Minister to stop meddling in Rivers State political issues, and refrain from waging native war against the governor, the president merely asked the governor to continually accord Wike his due respect, and allow the 27 warmongering Assembly members to do their legislative business.

    It was a poor judgment on the part of the president – HRM Dakolo

    “Yes, the intervention of Mr. President may be good from his point of view, but is it the same way the people of River State see those interventions?

    “Some said that the intervention, which Governor Fubara followed hook line and sinker was not obeyed by the Wike’s group.”

    HRH Sara-Igbe

    “It is a one-sided agreement by Mr. President, and Governor Fubara complied with the peace terms.
    “As a peace-loving man, he immediately withdrew all his cases in the court but Amaewhule and the 26 lawmakers refused to do so. Is Mr. President saying that he is not aware of that fact? Nigerians have been watching the trend of events in the state and they know the truth”.

    “Fubara craved for peace but Wike and the lawmakers were busy stoking the crisis. Wike was busy threatening and insulting elders in the state. He was boasting about impeaching Fubara. We all saw what his handpicked loyalists in the Assembly did even after the Supreme Court judgment by serving the governor an impeachment notice”.

    Amaebi

    “The president did not make any genuine effort to resolve the crisis. He only gave an eight-point directive to the governor without any corresponding directive to Wike. Despite the skewed directive, Fubara initiated the implementation by withdrawing the pending suit against the House of Assembly which turned out to be his nemesis.”

    Oyoyo Esq.

    “In what many Nigerians remarked to be a pre-arranged peace agreement between Governor Fubara and Nyesom Wike, the FCT Minister, President Tinubu, in his second effort to broker peace between them came up with an 8-point agenda.”

    Gbemre

    “I will not blame Bola Ahmed Tinubu on this, he called both parties involved in the Rivers State crisis to the Presidential Villa, and we are told both parties signed a written agreement. And that Governor Siminalayi Fubara did not implement his side.

    ”The President said he tried publicly and privately to resolve the disagreements between the governor and 27 lawmakers but it did not work.”

    Fubara not implementing Supreme Court judgment: HRM Dakolo

    “No, it is not true. As far as we know, Fubara obeyed everything in this recent Supreme Court judgment. Fubara wrote to the House of Assembly, he went to the House of Assembly. As you know, that Supreme Court judgment has been adjudged as anti-people judgment. It is the Supreme Court no doubt, but since that judgment came, there has been heightened tension in the land.

    “And the purpose of such a body is not to aggravate; not to cause more problems but to do justice in the interest of the majority of the people, not justice that seemed to be in the interest of one character. So, if today, after that judgment, you have a purported state of emergency, you see explosions here and there, and unrest, it means that those judges should go and hide themselves in shame.

    “If there is a way to adjust that judgment, they should do that, otherwise they will go down in history if there is a book of infamy, which is where their names will be written clearly. As you know, I am not a lawyer but lawyers have said, and judges have said that a five-man panel cannot override a seven-man panel.

    “So, if a seven-man panel has decided in the past, which is the precedent. Five men cannot come today, alter and override it. There is a whole problem in the judiciary and the world is watching. Fubara has done quite well.”

    HRH Sara-Igbe

    “In its recent statement, THE Rivers Elders and Leaders Forum comprising eminent personalities like the former Governor of Rivers state, Chief Rufus Ada-George re-echoed that Gov. Siminialayi Fubara made genuine efforts to present the budget as directed within the specified period.

    ”He wrote to the House through the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), but it was rejected. He went to the House of Assembly himself, only to be locked out by the lawmakers. Following this development, the governor formally notified the Assembly of his intention to present the budget on March 19, 2025, or any other date convenient to the House within that month.

    ”Despite all these efforts, the lawmakers failed to respond. Instead, they adjourned plenary indefinitely, and resumed on Monday, only to serve an impeachment notice on the Governor and Deputy Governor. These actions were intended to prevent the Governor from presenting the budget, as directed by the Supreme Court, and to provide a pretext for the President to impose a state of emergency as he has done now on Rivers State.

    ”The President’s portrayal of Governor Sim Fubara as non-compliant, while disregarding the misconduct of the 27 House of Assembly members, is misleading and unfair. By doing so, the President has created a narrative that places the blame solely on the Governor which is not the true position of the events.

    ”This biased perspective overlooks the role of the lawmakers, acting, under the influence and direction of the minister of FCT, thus, perpetuating an unjust and one-sided view of the situation”.

    ”The above reflection of the realities of the state of events in Rivers put to question President Tinubu’s assertion that ‘Fubara had practically done nothing to obey the Supreme Court’s verdict’. Again, it points to the total disregard to genuine information either on the part of the President or his media experts.”

    Prof Obarogie

    ”It is not correct to accuse Fubara of doing nothing to implement the Supreme Court judgment, as the 27 warmongering Assembly members denied him every opportunity for an amicable engagement, especially the budget presentation.”

    Ambakederimo

    “Governor Fubara has been magnanimous so far in trying to get this matter resolved, more antagonism has come from his protégé and his foot soldiers, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who violated the Supreme Court order by shutting out the governor that is willing and have pledged to abide by every item in the order sheet.

    “So far, the House members exhibited reckless behavior not fit of lawmakers; this is where l again supported the president on his action for suspending the members of the House of Assembly along with the governor.”

    Amaebi

    “Fubara wrote the Assembly following the Supreme Court judgment. He wrote the Assembly for them to meet on how to implement the decision of the court, including paying outstanding allowances, but they ignored him.

    He wrote to the House to submit the 2025 Appropriation Bill, they again ignored him, and also barred him from gaining access to the Assembly complex.”

    Demolition of the Rivers Assembly: Prof Obarogie

    ”In the first place, demolishing the Rivers State House of Assembly was an unconscionable, barbaric, and reckless action by the governor. In saner climes, the Governors Forum and the National Assembly would hand him an ultimatum within which to rebuild the legislative building.”

    HRM Dakolo

    “In terms of demolishing the House of Assembly, it is neither here nor there. The House of Assembly building was built by the executive, okay? Governor Fubara said that there have been requests to rebuild, refurbish the assembly, or whatever. He looked at it and felt, okay, that is what we should start doing.

    “After all, were billions not used in refurbishing the vice president’s gatehouses, president’s cottages, and so on? It is in line. And that should not be a problem. That should not be counted as an offense against a governor.

    “More so, he is the governor of his state. Are the people protesting? Why should anybody somewhere else cry more than the Rivers people? Why should anybody somewhere, whether Abuja or London or Frankfurt cry more than the River’s people? The governor is there. He was voted in by the people.

    “If the people do not want him, they will do the needful. It is not for anyone else who does not understand what is going on to begin to use sentiments and say he is demolishing the house. Demolishing which house? Do people not buy houses, demolish them, and build skyscrapers on top of it?

    “As far as I am concerned, I do not think it is about the members of the House of Assembly. The House of Assembly people who are against him are doing that because they belong to that cartel that wants to keep sharing N19 billion every month. So people must see this.”

    Ambakederimo

    “The demolition of the House of Assembly for me is a very crude and blatant use of power. This is how the political class abuse power and it is becoming a trend in our body politic. Going further, it is a waste of scarce resources. No reason given for the demolition should be justified, if the building was not good enough, the House of Assembly can be used for other facilities and a new one put up.

    “For the governor not to have deemed fit to provide for a new building smacks of deliberate and premeditated action that should call for an administration panel of inquiry. But to also use this as one reason to oust the governor is not strong enough. In all these, the governor goofed.”

    Amaebi

    “The much talked about demolition of the House of Assembly is a lame excuse. It is within the prerogative of the governor to destroy and build if he feels that it is no longer befitting for the purpose it was built. After all, President Tinubu also rebuilt the vice president’s house with multi-billion naira.”

    Gbemre

    “Let us face the fact squarely. Tinubu did not force Governor Fubara to break down the River State legislative building. That is the height of abuse of power. Being a governor does not give him the audacity to break a different arm of the government’s building.

    ”Was he drunk when he sent bulldozers to break River State legislature building for personal ego? No person knew what he would have done the day he visited the building where the lawmakers were sitting if the gate was open.

    ”Maybe he would have ordered his thugs to beat up 27 lawmakers against him. There are processes to follow. He won’t just drive to the River State Legislative Quarters. He should have properly informed them.

    ”He asked his illegal appointees to write the lawmakers. What stops him from signing the letter when he is fully aware that his appointees were not approved by the River State legislature?

    ”I want to ask Governor Fubara, so it is constitutional to demolish the Rivers State House of Assembly building? It is constitutional to appoint commissioners without approval of the Legislature?

    ”It is constitutional to spend state money without approval of legislature? Does Governor Fubara have the constitutional power to undermine Supreme Court judgment? No.

    ”They say ‘he who comes to equity must come with clean hands’. Tinubu’s action was to save the state from burning further, hence both parties were asked to go on six months’ vacation. Those praising Fubara for being autocratic are not helping him and River State.

    ”On Sunday, March 16 evening precisely, I discussed with a Deltan politician who said if it were him as governor of River State, he would have pursued the 27 lawmakers from the state.

    ”These are kinds of words they told Gov Fubara. It is only a moron that will set his house on fire, and beg his neighbors to help to extinguish the fire. Fubara is the governor of his state and he has to use a lot of natural wisdom to handle this matter.”

    Lenu:

    ”The reconstruction of that edifice is almost at the lintel level. Physical structures do not lie. Anybody can access the Moscow Road where the Assembly Complex is situated to confirm this”.

    Gov Fubara not renouncing militants: HRM Dakolo

    “Is it the job of the governor to disown militants? Did they come to the Government House to threaten? If they threaten in social media, is the governor so jobless that he has to monitor everything? Is he the Commander of the Delta Safe? Is the governor the Chief of Defence Staff? Is the governor the Inspector General of Police? Is he the governor of the NNPCL that gave contracts for the protection of oil and gas pipelines to people? What kind of joke is this?

    Prof Obarogie

    “The President should know that militants are fiefs and have divergent alliances. The governor may not have their ears. The governor also shares in the blame by not openly condemning the threats made by the militants. There is a conspiracy theory to the effect that the militants’ threats and the eventual bombing of the pipeline were premeditated to lay the ground for the state of emergency declaration.”

    Ambakederimo

    “The governor did not conduct himself well in terms of spoken words concerning violence. He gave himself away too quickly. My take on attacks on oil pipelines may have been different from the assumption out there. I say this from an advantageous position as someone who has interacted with many of the militant principal actors in finding alternative incentives to make them look away from the destruction of oil infrastructure and operations of unlicensed refineries.

    “Many of these principal actors are feeling aggrieved that they are left out of the pipeline security contracts, and these guys may capitalize on a crisis like this, and vent their anger on the pipelines.
    “So as of now, no one can say for sure who is responsible for hitting the pipelines. Militarization of the region is not the solution, strategic engagement with the people of the oil-bearing communities is the best way to go.

    “I will encourage the government to engage with the leadership of the Community Development Committees of Niger Delta Oil and Gas Producing Areas (CDC) to find a lasting pathway forward to incessant attacks on oil infrastructure.”

    Amaebi:

    “The President is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and has the responsibility to protect lives and properties, including critical infrastructures. If some persons threaten to destroy oil facilities, they must direct the necessary security agencies to arrest such persons. It is not within the ambit of any state governor, including Fubara, to bear that responsibility.”

    Suspension of Fubara, others: HRM Dakolo

    “Mr. President should not allow himself to be used in this manner, I have read what the Attorney General of Federation said; that should not come from an Attorney General, and he is not a personal lawyer of somebody, he is the Attorney General of the Federation.

    “I am the King of Ekpetiama Kingdom, I should not side with one group against another group in my kingdom, and I should be fair to all. They should guide the President correctly. They have led the president astray consciously or unconsciously, and the earlier he retraces his steps the better.

    I would not know why Mr. President did not rebuke Wike, but all of these underscore the fact that he may just be one-sided and the result speaks for itself. It is obvious they are out for the oil and nothing else, and so long as he (Fubara) feels that Rivers State money should not be shared with any group of people other than the Rivers people, he will keep having problems.

    “This is unbelievable, am still looking through the constitution to see where Mr. President elected by the people can just wake up one day, and say to an elected governor like himself, you have been suspended for six months. What kind of democracy is that?

    “Even in a banana republic, it will not happen. Why should this happen because the pipelines have been affected? Any time oil is involved, the temperature, the character, the attitude, and the behavior of the government of Nigeria are different. We have been living with 87 deprivations and then one oil well or one pipeline and something is sabotaged, the head of the security apparatus of Nigeria is the one to resign not a governor. A governor whose security is being tele-guided by the Inspector General from Abuja, by some military chiefs in Abuja?

    Prof Obarogie

    “The presidential broadcast painted a miscarriage of justice coloration, as the President tends to rob the back of Nyesom Wike by all available means than to justly act in a manner that assuages the tangible suspicion of stakeholders. It was an overtly mishandled crisis, both by the Governor and the President.”

    Ambakederimo

    “Whether the President has the power to suspend an elected governor is what l cannot say, but public commentators have referred to relevant sections of the constitution to say the president has no constitutional powers to do so.

    ”My submission is that this matter can still be resolved even at this stage. It is just a matter of being strategic and application of strategic intelligence. There are individuals in this country that President Tinubu cannot say no to, the governor should listen to wise counsel, Nyesom Wike can be reined- in by the intervention of these persons, who influence the President. This is the real political solution to resolve this Rivers State political imbroglio.”

    Amaebi

    “The president’s suspension of Fubara, an elected governor, is unconstitutional. It is procedurally flawed. It is pure impunity taken too far. It is akin to military dictatorship which is highly condemnable.

    “The president did not act as the statesman. He is too partisan and clearly showed his hand that his one-sided stance is stimulated by the 2027 elections. He applauded the actions of his appointee. This is a very sad testimony.”

    PANDEF intervention Prof Obarogie

    ”The President must have believed a security report available to him to the effect that PANDEF was aiding and abetting the governor against the 27 warmongering Assembly members, and Nyesom Wike, notoriously known as their patron-clientele.

    ”So, when they visited him, he did not receive them with an open mind. He saw them as a party to the crisis, rather than a willing party to the peaceful resolution of the crisis.”

    HRM Dakolo

    Governor Fubara welcomed the PANDEF intervention, but Wike refused to pay them any attention till tomorrow morning. And of course, what Wike did a few days ago was to abuse the hell out of them. Abuse their head, abuse the dead, abuse the living, so he does not want to settle.

    All he wants is for Fubara must agree to that agreement they had in the dark. Any such agreement is personal and once it is about the people, such agreement is balderdash. If Fubara was a dubious man, he could cut a deal but that is not serving the people.

    “The man said even if I have been bad before now, I am the governor and I want to be good. Yes, someone can opt to be good for once in his lifetime, you can be bad forever, and the people are paramount.”

    Ambakederimo

    “With the benefit of hindsight, again, I say that the PANDEF and other leaders, be it from our ethnic divide, have not done well, and did not do well even up to this stage. We lack strategic engagement when it comes to political engineering.

    “A positive intervention can still be achievable even at this stage if the right contacts are invoked. Governor Fubara still can do much more and straighten out this matter, and also Minister Nyesom Wike. I know and see the body language of the President as a man who is amenable to rescind this decision for the sake of the people of Rivers State.”

    Amaebi

    “When well-meaning Nigerians, including PANDEF, waded into the matter to resolve it, Wike was not forthcoming and was evasive. Even when PANDEF met with the president, he told them that the Supreme Court has given judgment on it, and Fubara should implement the judgment of the Supreme Court.”

    That Fubara, lawmakers couldn’t work together anymore/dividends of democracy – Prof Obarogie

    ”The President was partially correct in his assessment of the dividends of democracy delivery. He must be mindful of making simplistic fallacies, by thinking that the dividends of democracy are wholly delivered by the governor or the executive arm of government.

    ”The legislators have both legislative and oversight functions to make for a holistic delivery of the dividends of democracy. By dismantling the Assembly complex, he rendered the temple of legislation non-existent.”

    HRM Dakolo

    “It is obvious with the type of judgment where people decamped, swore to an affidavit that they have decamped, and somehow because of his (Tinubu) intervention, a bit of it was withdrawn but the other party continued.

    ”You are now saying people who have decamped do not seem to have decamped. Some have even said the National Assembly was supposed to have taken over the Rivers State House of Assembly because 27 persons have decamped, and so they have lost their seats, and this other group is too small to do the legislative business. In that kind of situation, they are supposed to come and help out.

    “What you are seeing in Rivers State is an oil war, if you remove that, you can talk from now till eternity, but you will not get it right. Certain interests want to take over the control of the oil and gas fields and ensure the continuous flow of oil. So, aside from Fubara, and the majority of the Rivers people interested in their lives and safety, I can tell you, unfortunately, pitiably and shamefully, the federal government of Nigeria is not interested in the safety of the people of Rivers State.”

    Ambakederimo

    ”It is a truism that the cordial working relationship between the House members and the governor has irretrievably broken down, things have shown a proclivity to the sloppy slope. Again, as I said, the governor did not engage strategically, the President is right when he said the governor did not come to him.

    ”In terms of governance in Rivers State, there was seamless governance going on in Rivers State until the Supreme Court ordered stopping legitimate funds to be released to Rivers State even when there was calm.”

  • PDP Scribe: Supreme Court passes buck to party

    PDP Scribe: Supreme Court passes buck to party

    THE Supreme Court, yesterday, practically returned the decision on who should be the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the party’s hierarchy. It quashed lower courts’ verdicts on the issue and faulted the Court of Appeal and High Court in Enugu for dabbling into what it described as a domestic affair of a political party.

    Senator Sunday Anyanwu, who left the secretaryship to fly PDP’s flag as Imo governorship candidate in 2023, is in a tug of war with SKE Udeh-Okoye for the post.

    Following the apex court’s verdict, the Udeh-Okoye and Anyanwu camps claimed victory, yesterday, as they prepare to return to Court on March 25 for hearing the suit Senator Anyanwu filed to stay execution of the judgments the apex court nullified, yesterday.

    Indeed, the National Working Committee, NWC, of the PDP, said with the Supreme Court decision, Udeh-Okoye remains the national secretary of the party.

    Udeh-Okoye’s backers

    Those backing Udeh-Okoye for the PDP national secretaryship include 2023 Presidential Candidate of the party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; Chairman and Secretary of the BoT: Senator Adolphus Wabara and Senator Ahmed Makarfi; majority of the BoT; majority of the South-East caucus; majority of the Senate and House of Representatives caucus of the PDP; 10 of the 12 members of the PDP Governors Forum; and National Chairman of the party, Umar Damagum (a latter day convert) among others.

    Anyanwu’s supporters

    Conversely, Senator Anyanwu’s supporters include FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, and members of his now defunct G-5 governors -Samuel Ortom, Okezie Ikpeazu, serving Governors Umaru Fintiri (Adamawa) and Seyi Makinde (Oyo), former National Vice Chairman, South South, Chief Dan Orbi among others.

    Supreme Court verdict

    Nullifying lower courts’ judgments that removed Senator Anyanwu as the national secretary of the PDP, the apex court, in a unanimous decision by a five-member panel, faulted the Court of Appeal and High Court in Enugu for dabbling into what it described as a domestic affair of a political party.

    The high court had on the strength of a suit that was brought before it by a member of the PDP, Mr. Aniagu Emmanuel, removed Anyanwu as the national scribe of the party.

    The decision of the trial court was subsequently upheld by the appellate court, which recognised Chief Udeh-Okoye as Senator Anyanwu’s replacement.

    The appellate court held that Anyanwu’s continued stay in office as national secretary was in breach of PDP’s Constitution, having contested and emerged as the party’s candidate in the governorship election that held in Imo State in 2024.

    Dissatisfied with the judgments, Anyanwu approached the Supreme Court to set them aside.

    Delivering its judgment in the matter on Friday, a five-member panel of the Supreme Court led by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, held that the two lower courts were wrong to have meddled in an internal affair of the PDP.

    When Judiciary can interfere in party affairs

    It held that the party has its own dispute resolution mechanisms embedded in its constitution.
    The apex court, in its lead judgment that was delivered by Justice Jamilu Tukur, stressed that the judiciary would only intervene, when a political party is accused of sidelining its own laws and regulations.

    It held that it is not the duty of courts to involve itself in the leadership selection process of political parties but to ensure adherence to due process, equity, justice, fairness and the rule of law.

    Besides, the Supreme Court noted that the plaintiff, Aniagu Emmanuel, whose substantive suit led to Anyanwu’s removal, failed to establish his locus standi (legal right) to institute the action.

    Consequently, it vacated the judgments of the two lower courts for want of jurisdiction to entertain the dispute surrounding the office of a National Secretary in the PDP.

    It will be recalled that the Board of Trustees, BOT, and the National Working Committee, NWC, of the PDP, had earlier endorsed Chief Udeh-Okoye as the National Secretary of the party, in line with the judgments the apex court vacated on Friday

    Anyanwu had outright rejected the decisions of the BOT and NWC, insisting that the position was the subject of a pending litigation.

    On his part, Chief Udeh-Okoye, in a recent process he filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, maintained that Senator Anyanwu had ceased to be the national secretary of the PDP.

    He told the court that though the Senator Anyanwu was elected at a National Convention the party held on October 30, 2021, for a four-year tenure, he, however, lost the position after he was nominated as candidate of the party for the governorship election that held in Imo State in 2023.

    Chief Udeh-Okoye told the court that whereas Article 47(5) of the PDP Constitution requires any officer elected into the party’s Executive Committee at any level, to resign before running for any elective office, Article 47 (6) made provision for the appointment of someone from the same area or zone, to serve out the tenure of such officer.

    According to him, following Senator Anyanwu’s refusal to vacate the office, the Board of Trustees of the PDP, in a letter dated October 12, 2023, drew the attention of the National Chairman of the party, Ambassador Umar Damagun, to the constitutional breach.

    He said the South East zone Executives of the party, in a meeting held at Enugu on October 16, 2022, nominated him to serve out the residue of Senator Anyanwu’s remaining tenure in office.

    Chief Udeh-Okoye told the court that the litigation that led to the concurrent judgments of the courts in Enugu, was a fallout of the meeting where he was nominated.

    Justice Inyang Ekwo had fixed March 25 to hear the suit Senator Anyanwu filed to stay execution of the judgments the apex court nullified on Friday.

    Jude-Okoye remains our secretary – PDP

    Reacting to the apex court verdict, the PDP NWC, in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, explained that the judgment affirmed that the issue of party leadership positions, including the National Secretary, is entirely an internal affair of the Party requiring only the Party internal mechanism to which the courts have no jurisdiction.

    He said: “Today’s judgment of the Supreme Court reaffirms the standing position of the Party and emphatically settles the emergence of Rt. Hon. SKE Udeh Okoye as the substantive National Secretary of the PDP having been duly nominated, endorsed and ratified through the internal mechanism of the PDP statutory Organs and bodies in line with provisions of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017).

    “For clarity, the NWC at its 576th meeting held on the 11th of October, 2023, directed the South-East Zonal Executive Committee to nominate a replacement for Senator Samuel Anyanwu upon Senator Anyanwu’s nomination as the governorship candidate of the PDP to contest the November 2023 Governorship election in Imo State.

    “Consequent upon the directive of the NWC, the South-East Zonal Executive Committee at its meeting held on the 20th of October 2023 passed a resolution approving the emergence and forwarding of the name of Rt. Hon. SKE Udeh Okoye to the NWC as the National Secretary of the Party.

    “Accordingly, the NWC at its 577th meeting held on 7th of November 2023 pursuant to its powers under the PDP Constitution, duly received, deliberated upon, accepted and approved the emergence of Rt. Hon. SKE Udeh Okoye as the National Secretary of the Party, which appointment has also since been endorsed by relevant Organs and bodies of the PDP including the Board of Trustees (BoT), South-East Zonal Caucus, the PDP Governors’ Forum and officially communicated to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the general public.

    “The PDP commends the Supreme Court for upholding the principle of the supremacy of the Party in the management of its internal affairs, describing it as victory for democracy.

    “The NWC urges all patriotic members of the PDP to remain united as we work together to move our great Party forward.”

    SE PDP Congratulates Udeh-Okoye, Hails S/Court for affirming Party Supremacy

    The South East Zonal Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has congratulated Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye on the affirmation of his position as the National Secretary of the PDP by the Supreme Court.

    The South East PDP, in a statement co-issued by the Chairman of the Zonal Executive Committee, Chief Ali Odefa, and the Zonal Secretary, Hon. James Ugwu, on Friday, equally hailed the Supreme Court for saving, not just the party, but also the nation’s democracy from the hands of those bent on destroying it for their selfish political capital.

    Reacting to the apex court ruling, the statement said, “This is not just a victory for Rt. Hon. Udeh-Okoye as a person, but also for the party as a whole and for the nation’s democracy in general.

    “This judgment expressly ratifies the South Zonal Executive Committee’s nomination of Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the party’s National Secretary to serve-out the remaining tenure of Senator Samuel Anyanyu, who had won the party’s nomination as its flag bearer in the Imo 2023 governorship election. It equally validates Udeh-Okoye’s ratification by the National Working Committee (NWC) on November 7, 2023 and his endorsement by various organs of the party.

    “Consequently, the South East heartily congratulates our party leaders, party faithful, and, of course, Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye on this momentous victory.

    “We are happy that this judgment has finally reestablished party supremacy and the ramifications of this decision is a big win for not just the PDP, but for all the political parties in Nigeria. By this decision, the Supreme Court has reaffirmed that, as our people would say, the okro can never be taller than the person that planted it. The party is supreme.”

  • State of emergency: Akpabio opens up on alleged $15,000 bribe to senators

    State of emergency: Akpabio opens up on alleged $15,000 bribe to senators

    Senate President Godswill Akpabio has debunked insinuations of a $15,000 bribe allegedly parceled to senators to endorse the proclamation of a state of emergency on Rivers State. He has described the rumours as part of a hate campaign directed against his person.

    Akpabio spoke for the first time on the swirling rumour in the social media space that he facilitated the disbursement of the dollar for votes in his Maitama residence during the breaking of fast with senators.

    Saturday Vanguard reports that the Senate President was alleged to have facilitated the disbursement of the dollars on two consecutive days; first $5,000 on Tuesday and then $10,000 on Wednesday, the eve of the vote on the proclamation.

    However, dismissing the allegation as part of the campaign of hate and malice against his person, Akpabio speaking through his Special Adviser on Media, Hon Eseme Eyiboh said:

    “I am aware and it is true that since Senator Godswill Akpabio, the president of the Senate assumed that position he has been breaking fast. He did it last year, he did it this year, so why is it turning it into a rumour?”

    Asking why Akpabio would be giving out dollars to his colleagues, he continued:
    “On the issue of the dollars, he is giving the money for what? I am aware of the breaking of the fast but I can tell you I am not aware and it is not true of the dollars, whether $5,000 or $10,000, people are just conjuring it to be able to give flavour to their malice and hate campaign.

    “People are just conjuring the story of the $5,000, $10,000 to add flavour to their malice and hate campaign. He has been doing it. He did it last year, so why is this one associated with money,” Eyiboh asked?

    Saturday Vanguard reports that the Senate and the House of Representatives passed the proclamation on a state of emergency in Rivers State with a unanimous voice vote on Thursday.

  • ‘They’re making a mistake’ — Bode George faults opposition coalition move

    ‘They’re making a mistake’ — Bode George faults opposition coalition move

    Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Bode George has faulted some politicians’ plan to form a mega party ahead of the 2027 general election, saying their move is driven by personal ambition.

    Since the former Governor of Kaduna, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the conversation about forming a mega party that will wrestle power from the APC in 2027 has intensified.

    El-Rufai has invited opposition politicians, including Peter Obi of the Labour Party and Atiku Abubakar of the PDP, to strengthen his new party and make it the main challenger to the APC in the coming general election.

    If El-Rufai’s plan to get top opposition politicians to join the SDP succeeds, it would mark the end of the PDP, a party that ruled Nigeria for 16 years before the APC took over power in 2015.

    However, the idea of the mega party does not seem to sit well with George, who believes the lingering crisis in the PDP should not be grounds for the party to collapse its structure and form an alliance with other fringe opposition parties.

    Speaking on Arise Television on Friday, March 21, 2025, the PDP chieftain said some of those pushing for coalition have the ambition to become president.

    When the PDP crisis started, George warned that the party was not anybody’s private enterprise, but nobody listened to him.

    He warned that the coalition advocates are making ‘monumental mistakes’ and added that no nation or party is without crisis.

    He said, “All those people saying they are going to float a mega party, is there any of them who is not ambitious to be president of Nigeria? Is that the real approach to solving this problem?

    “For me, it started like a little mess at our national convention. Some of us advised that our party is not a private enterprise of anybody, but nobody listened. Then Wike started on his own, and he has gone beyond the red line.

    “Do you think there is any nation or party that does not have a crisis? All these groups who are running around for their personal ambition, they are making a monumental mistake and they are all dancing on the graves of our founding fathers.”

    On the state of emergency controversy in Rivers State, George urged President Bola Tinubu to be very careful.

    He also advised the people of Rivers State to eschew violence and avoid any situation that would further escalate the state’s tense atmosphere.

  • Kogi Central constituents defend recall process against Natasha

    Kogi Central constituents defend recall process against Natasha

    A coalition of Ebira indigenes from across the five local government areas of Kogi Central has dismissed claims that the ongoing recall process against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is being manipulated, insisting that it represents the genuine will of the people.

    In a statement issued on Thursday, the Kogi Central Elites Forum (KCEF), led by President Ibrahim Abdulazeez Ibrahim and Secretary Prince Akerejola Johnson, emphasized their determination to bring the embattled senator back home due to the alleged embarrassment she has caused the district, which they claim has taken an “international dimension.”

    The group urged Nigerians to disregard insinuations that the recall process was a ploy orchestrated by political opponents, insisting that the people of Kogi Central were fully united in the effort.

    “No one is sponsoring this recall. Our people are largely united on this cause. From the history of Ebiras, you know we cannot be deceived. Even those who once supported her on social media have distanced themselves from her. We cannot trade the integrity of our state and Nigeria for the selfish, juvenile tendencies of a Senator,” the statement read.

    The group cited the Senator’s recent altercation in the National Assembly over an assigned seat as an instance of what they described as “reckless conduct that brought unnecessary national embarrassment.”

    Responding to reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) disclaimed the recall exercise, the group clarified that the commission’s involvement only comes at a later stage.

    “INEC has no official role until after this signature collection phase. We, the petitioners, are handling the recall process at this stage. Once we meet the required threshold, we will then submit it to INEC for verification,” the statement clarified.

    Senator Asked to Return Home and Learn “Purposeful Representation”

    The group emphasized that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan must return home to learn the proper ethics of legislative representation, stating that her approach to politics had been too focused on social media publicity rather than effective lawmaking.

    “Ordinarily, we would never allow anyone to intimidate our daughter if she was right. But in this case, she disrespected the Senate and introduced narratives that have never been heard in the history of the National Assembly. We investigated and we know the truth,” the statement read.

    The recall process follows controversy in the National Assembly after Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment, an allegation her critics claim was politically motivated following a disciplinary action against her.

    The Kogi Central constituents insist that the recall process is a step toward restoring the district’s credibility, adding that “the Senate is not a place for social media content creation.”