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Senate Leader, Bamidele Leads Committee On Rivers Emergency Rule

May 6, 2025

By Ayodele Oni

As part of oversight functions on the emergency rule in Rivers State, the Senate has constituted an 18-member committee tasked with overseeing the activities of the Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.).

The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, made this known on Tuesday, during the resumption of plenary.

According to Akpabio, the Committee was created in a bid to strengthen transparency and accountability in the state’s governance.

Akpabio named Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele as chairman of the committee

He also highlighted the importance of the committee’s mandate, stating that its role is critical in ensuring effective legislative oversight in Rivers State.

Akpabio also hinted that the composition of the committee might be subject to review following further consultations.

The Senate President charged the committee to commence its oversight duties without delay, stressing the urgency of their assignment and reaffirming the Senate’s commitment to upholding democratic processes in Rivers State.

Members of the committee include Senators Adamu Aliero, Osita Izunaso, Osita Ngwu, Kaka Shehu, Aminu Abass, Tokunbo Abiru, Adeniyi Adebire, Sani Musa, Simon Lalong, Asuquo Ekpeyong, Adams Oshiomhole, Ireti Kingibe (Labour Party), Onyekachi, Idiat Adebule, Ide Dafinone, and Mohammed (APC, Jigawa), alongside the Clerk of the Senate.

The committee is a follow up to the earlier one constituted by the House of Representatives, which has met with the sole administrator after requesting for postponement twice.

Kano Police Command Arrests 20-year Old Ring Leader Of Robbery Operation

Ayodele Oni

May 6, 2025

By Ayodele Oni

A 20-year old suspect, who led a robbery operation in Kano state has been arrested by the state police command.

The Command stated that the 20 years old suspect, Aliyu Umar, during the operation, stabbed to death a 30-year-old man, Shehu Muhammad.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Monday, May 5, 2025, following an attack by suspected armed robbers at the victim’s residence in Danbare Quarters, Kano State.

According to a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer in Kano, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, the attackers stormed the victim’s home at around 6:40 a.m. and assaulted him with a long, sharp cutlass, inflicting multiple injuries.

“Upon receiving the report, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, PhD, immediately dispatched operational teams with detectives to the scene.”

Shehu Muhammad was taken to Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, where he was later confirmed dead.

The police recovered the weapon used in the attack from the arrested suspect, who is currently under investigation.

“The Command commends community members for promptly reporting the incident, assisting in the arrest of the suspect, and supporting the police in its efforts to maintain peace and security in the state.

“The Kano State Police Command assures the public of its commitment to maintaining law and order and bringing perpetrators to justice.”

Protesting Farmers Are Illegal Occupants Of Forest Reserves – Ondo Govt

Ayodele Oni

May 6, 2025

By Ayodele Oni

Ondo state government has clarified that protesting farmers claiming occupation of their plantations are illegal Occupants of government forests reserves.

The state government also accused the protesting farmers of not abiding by agreement reached with them on the forest reserves.

Government, in a statement on Tuesday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ebenezer Adeniyan exonerated the governor’s aide and other top bank officials of any wrong doing in handling the farmers issues.

Some farmers had early in the week took to the ever busy Benin – Ore road protesting alleged forceful take over of their plantations by private individuals under the guise of using them for farming.

The statement maintained that various efforts of government on the forests reserves were aimed at reforming and sanitising land use practices within government reserve areas across the state.

“The Ondo State Government reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the welfare of genuine farmers and the responsible, equitable, and legal use of only declassified degraded forest reserves for agricultural purposes. It is, however, necessary to clarify and correct the public narrative currently being circulated:

“Many of the aggrieved farmers currently occupying parts of the Oluwa Forest Reserve (OA3A) have breached existing agreements and exceeded designated land allocation parameters.

“Some have encroached into restricted forest zones without authorisation, while others have failed to comply with the agreed land use terms, posing serious environmental and security concerns.

“Contrary to the claims of contempt for court injunctions, the Ondo State Government and all related agencies; public and private, have acted strictly within the framework of the law.

“Where litigations are ongoing, every step taken has been guided by legal counsel, verified surveys, and documented notifications. No action has been taken arbitrarily.

“Hon. Akinsola, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Agribusiness, is a government appointee overseeing agribusiness in the state.

“His role involves the strategic management of large-scale commercial agriculture investors granted concessions to develop extensive hectares of land, an effort that is expected to create thousands of jobs and boost the state’s revenue.

“Claims suggesting that he is involved in land grabbing are not only false but politically driven and completely at variance with the facts.

“It is equally important to clarify that Mr. Ayo Sotinrin is the Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture, a federal government institution. Allegations implying that he is using a private firm to seize farmlands are malicious, unfounded, and a clear attempt at character assassination.

“SAO Agro-Allied Services, on its part, has been operating under a Public-Private Partnership arrangement approved by the state since 2021.

“The firm’s acquisition and development of agro-industrial zones have followed due process and are under full government oversight. None of its activities involves the unlawful takeover of legally secured farms.

“Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa wishes to state emphatically that at no time, whether during electioneering or otherwise, did he make any promise to support illegal occupants of government land or forest reserves.

“His administration remains committed to legal, inclusive, and forward-looking agricultural development. An investigation is ongoing to identify genuine farmers with verifiable claims, separate from speculators and unlawful occupants.

“The Governor remains open to dialogue with all stakeholders and is determined to protect livelihoods without compromising the rule of law.”

Edo: Security Agents Probe Killing Of UBTH Medical Doctor

Ayodele Oni

May 6, 2025

University of Benin Teaching Hospital - UBTH

By Ayodele Oni

In line with the directive given by Governor Monday Okpebholo, Security Agencies in Edo state have commenced probe into the shooting of a medical doctor at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) Benin by yet-to-be identified gunmen.

This followed a petition by the UBTH Management to the Nigeria Police and the Department of State Security Service, (DSS) over the recent brutal attack on the institution by gunmen, resulting in the death of a Medical Doctor, Dr Alex Oguniyi and the injuring of two other health workers.

Chief Medical Director, UBTH, Prof. Darlington Obaseki who disclosed this in an interview on a private Radio station, in Benin, noted that the Department of State Security Service was also petitioned, which prompted the security agencies to begin probe.

The petition by the Association of Residents Doctors, (ARD), UBTH Chapter, was in response to a peaceful protest at the hospital premises over the attack by gunmen suspected to be cultists last week in Benin.

Obaseki who expressed regret over the incident, said, “We have gone to report the case to the Commissioner of police and Department of State Security Service, DSS. And on last week, Wednesday, they came to UBTH.

“We are not taking the matter lightly. Our philosophy is that people who work in hospital should be safe while saving lives. Hospital in any part of the world is a sacred ground.

“That is the premise of the letter we wrote to police and DSS regarding the incident. This attack is a sacrilege.

“What happened on the road that connect UBTH back gate and UNIBEN via Osasogie area, according to two of our doctors. One of the doctors was in his car, while another car overtook and block another car in front.

“Suddenly, somebody brought out a pump action gun and began to shoot the car. While the shooting was ongoing, the bullet hit his car, which managed to move forward a bit. But the bullet hit Physiotherapist who went to eat during break period, was hit by a stray bullet.”

The renewed cult war reportedly began two weeks ago, with the killing of the physiotherapist named Alex and another person near the back gate of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) in Ugbowo, Benin.

Report revealed that two rival cult groups, Aye and Maphite Confraternities, reignited their battle for dominance, resulting in the deaths of at least 15 people in Benin.

This resurgence of violence occurs just three months after Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, signed the Secret Cult Prohibition Bill into law, which imposes a 21-year prison sentence on cult members and their sponsors.

JAMB Results: Peter Obi Decries State of Nigeria’s Education Sector

The Source

May 6, 2025

Former Governor of Anambra State and Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Mr. Peter Obi, has expressed deep concern over the recently released results of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), describing them as a reflection of Nigeria’s deteriorating education system.

In a statement released via his verified social media handle, Mr. Obi reacted to the data published by JAMB, which revealed that 1,955,069 candidates sat for the 2025 UTME. Out of this figure, only about 420,000 scored above 200, while over 1.5 million candidates scored below the 200-mark.

“This means that over 78% of the total candidates failed to meet the 200-mark threshold – a reflection of the deep-rooted challenges in our educational system,” Obi lamented.

He attributed this poor performance to long-standing neglect and underinvestment in the education sector, stressing that education must be repositioned as a cornerstone of national development.

“The latest JAMB results once again highlight the consequences of decades of underinvestment in education, a sector that should be central to our national development strategy,” he said.

Mr. Obi also drew comparisons between Nigeria and other countries with significantly stronger educational outcomes. He noted that Nigeria’s total university enrollment is currently about 2 million students. In stark contrast, Bangladesh’s National University, a single university, has an enrollment figure of over 3.4 million students, despite the country having only about 75% of Nigeria’s population.

“Bangladesh, which once lagged behind Nigeria in virtually every measurable development index, now surpasses us in all key areas of development and in the Human Development Index (HDI),” he remarked.

Citing another example, Obi referenced Turkey, which has a population of about 87.7 million but boasts more than 7 million university students — over three times Nigeria’s entire university enrollment.

He reiterated his long-standing position that education is not merely a social service but a strategic national investment.

“Education is the most critical driver of national development and the most powerful tool for lifting people out of poverty,” Obi asserted. “We must now invest aggressively in education at all levels if we are serious about building a prosperous, secure, and equitable Nigeria.”

Mr. Obi’s comments come at a time when stakeholders in the education sector continue to call for reforms, increased funding, and a comprehensive overhaul of the system to meet global standards and effectively prepare Nigerian youth for the future.

2027: How Tinubu’s Northern Support Base Crumbled, Why He Is Rallying South

The Source

May 5, 2025

By Akinjide Aina, Abuja Bureau Chief

In the run up to the 2027 presidential election, there are credible indications that President Bola Tinubu’s hitherto impregnable huge support base in the North of Nigeria has crumpled.

After massively voting the President in the 2023 Presidential election, the North has withdrawn its support for his re-election in 2027 and now wants the crown itself and are resolute in getting it, that’s, wrestling power from him and by extension, the South in 2027, this magazine can authoritatively reveal

The President’s trip to Kastina last week to confer with his immediate predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, the magazine was informed, was principally to seek his intervention and support in appealing to the Northern political establishment who have sworn to see his back in 2027. Buhari was reportedly non-committal

The North’s disenchantment with President Tinubu, it was gathered, is conditioned by two factors: The brazen Yorubanization of his government and the tax reform bill which the region’s political leaders and intelligentsia insist is skewed against it( the North).

The President himself, the magazine, has been informed, has come to the grim realisation that he has lost the North hence his frantic rallying of the South for support.

“President Tinubu is frantically building a strong southern front as a counterpoise to the lose of Northern support”, a source familiar with the intrigues told this magazine.

Atiku Abubakar — Atiku: Mega coalition arrowhead

He added that “I can tell you that all Southern governors across party lines and virtually all Southern National Assembly members across party line are supporting the President’s re-election. Apart from PDP’s Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta state who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC, one or two more opposition Southern Governors are on their way to the APC too.

“Those who for strategic political reasons will not be defecting to the APC have pledged to support the President 100 percent in his re-election bid.

“The idea is to prove to the so- called Northern political leaders who often boast of the region’s monopoly of choosing and installing presidents that such claim is hogwash”

The North’s opposition to the President Tinubu’s re-election, blew up in the open last year in the guise of the volcanic EndBadGovernance protests that gripped the region last August.

Late last year, a highly placed source in the presidency who is also an APC stalwart had confided in the magazine that the anti- Tinubu fervour that swept across the core North last August during the End BadGovernance protest was a rude awakening, for the President.The heartbreaking invectives hurled at him and insulting caricatures made of him by thousands of the angry protesters, this magazine was told, convinced him of his loss of support in the region.

Again sometimes in February, President Tinubu’s kitchen cabinet and trusted allies, after reviewing the groundswell of Northern opposition towards his 2027 re- election bid, realised that the president’s hitherto huge support base in the region has tumbled and that the majority of Northerners would outrightly reject him at the polls. It was also discovered that no politcal patronage, no matter how much, would placate majority of Northern elites and political leaders to support his re-election.

The most devastating of it all, The Source was informed, was the realisation that a number of APC Governors in the Northwest and Northeast and two in the North central are not in support of his second term but are instead in bed with the emerging mega coalition of opposition spearheaded by former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar.

A highly placed APC source from the North corroborates this: “Virtually all APC governors in the North, particularly North West and North East, are poised to shock Tinubu and the APC. They will defect to the Atiku coalition few months to the 2027 presidential election to replicate and overwhelm Tinubu’s Southern solidarity. The 2027 presidential election will be the most divisive in the history of Nigeria, it will pit the two halves of Nigeria- North and South against the other”

“Proffer Solutions To Country’s Security Challenges” – Ibas

Suleiman Anyalewechi

May 5, 2025

Senior Course 47 of the Command and Staff College Jaji visits Solad Ibas

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Rivers State Sole Administrator retired Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas has urged participants of the Senior Course 47 of the Command and Staff College Jaji to come up with some practical and realistic measures towards tackling the festering security challenges in the country.

He enjoined them to incorporate into their reports effective and pragmatic ways of getting the country out of its present challenges, particularly, in the area of security.

Admiral Ibas, who spoke on Monday May 5, 2025, when the course members paid him a courtesy call, highlighted the importance of their study tour reports to Rivers, in view of its political and security crises.

A statement issued by his media aide, Hector Igbikiowubo, also quoted the Sole Administrator as emphasising the importance of credible intelligence gathering to the effective combating of the country’s security challenges.

Represented by the Secretary to the state Government SSG , the Sole Administrator expressed concern over the negative impacts of security challenges on the economic growth and development of both the state ,and the country in general.

He noted that the situation has tended to reduce productive activities, Government revenue, as well as hindering investment opportunities.

“It is a fact that most of the human capital that fuel insecurity in the urban and remote areas are being provided by the rural populace.

“Hence, any study channeled towards harvesting grassroots intelligence is worth embarking upon as internal security without proper feedback mechanicisms will be an illusion”, Ibas stated

He charged the participants to ensure that their study goes beyond the level of a mere academic exercise to providing relevant data which can translate into practicable and actionable strategies for the enhancement of security in the country.

Speaking, the team leader, Commodore S O Abdularaheen, informed that participants are strictly guided by the theme of the study – “Harnessing Grassroots Intelligence for Enhanced Internal Security”

Commodore Abdularaheen, who is the Director of Logistics at Jaji, noted that his team is one of the nine teams presently on the study tour of some states in the country. He said that their key mission is on how to relate their findings to national security challenges .

Electoral Fraud: CSOs Insist Senate President Akpabio Must Step Down

Ayodele Oni

May 5, 2025

Godswill Akpabio - Senate President — Godswill Akpabio, Senate President.

By Ayodele Oni

A coalition of 56 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has called on Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, to step down following the Court of Appeal’s confirmation of electoral fraud in the 2019 Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial election.

The Court, sitting in Calabar, upheld a three-year prison sentence against Prof Peter Ogban, the Returning Officer in that election, who was convicted of falsifying results to favour Akpabio, then the APC candidate.

In a joint statement, the CSOs said: “This ruling raises serious concerns about the legitimacy of Senator Akpabio’s mandate.”

They argue that even though Akpabio denies personal involvement, the conviction of the official who declared him winner casts a shadow on the process.

They are demanding that Akpabio temporarily vacate his position to uphold public trust, democratic values, and the rule of law.

The groups also questioned his eligibility to contest the 2023 elections, given the court-confirmed fraud linked to his 2019 victory—an office he later left to serve as Minister of Niger Delta.

The CSOs praised INEC and former Akwa Ibom REC, Mike Igini, for pursuing the case to a conclusion and urged the APC to initiate a rerun or revalidation of the senatorial seat to reinforce public confidence.

“The judiciary has spoken. It is now up to political leaders to act responsibly and prove that no one is above the law—not even the Senate President.”

“He has been a confirmed beneficiary of electoral fraud in the 2019 election to the 9th Senate—which he did not even complete due to his later appointment as Minister of Niger Delta.

“Did Senator Akpabio have the legal or moral standing to contest for a seat in the 10th National Assembly, let alone serve as its President?

“This is not just about one individual. It is about restoring public trust in our electoral process. Allowing the Senate President to remain in office under such serious ethical questions undermines democratic values and sends a dangerous signal ahead of the 2027 general elections.”

They urged the National Assembly, INEC, and the judiciary to take this judgment as a clarion call to strengthen mechanisms that prevent electoral manipulation at all levels.

They further called on the APC leadership to demonstrate its commitment to electoral reform and democratic accountability by initiating a rerun or revalidation process for the Akwa Ibom North-West senatorial seat.

NELFUND Calls For More Student Participation From South-south, South-east

Suleiman Anyalewechi

May 5, 2025

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The authorities of the Nigerian Educational Loan Fund ,NELFUND, have decried the lackadaisical attitude to the scheme by students of the South- south ,and South-east extraction.

At the opening ceremony of a three-day stakeholders engagement session and technical workshop on system automation and the loan application processes,for Heads of Tertiary Educational Institutions in Abuja on Monday, May 5, 2025, NELFUND Executive Director, Operations, Iyal Mustapha, informed that the application figures from the two geo-political zones are the smallest in the country.

Conversely, the North-west region is said to have the highest number of applicants with over 157,000.

The North-west is followed closely by the North- east which, as at May 4, 2025, had a total student applications of about 127,000 .

This is just as the South- west is projected to have about 92,850 applicants.

The South-east and the South-south are having a little above 27,000 and 37,000 applications respectively.

Mustapha blamed the relatively low figures from the South-south and South- east on scepticisms by students about the authenticity or otherwise of the scheme.

So far, the interventionist agency said it has processed and disbursed over N53 billion in loan to about 516,212 students across the six zones of the country,with about 484 ,254 being paid upkeep allowances .

According to the NELFUND Director, so far, a total of 567 ,058 registered on its loan application portal,while over N170 billion is available for the scheme at the moment.

On his part, the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of the agency, Akintunde Sawyerr, appealed to students from the South- south and South-east to redouble their efforts in accessing the loan facility.

He underscored the imperativeness of the stakeholders workshop, noting that it is a critical step towards delivering fully digitized transparent and student-friendly financial aid system for the Tertiary educational institutions in the country.

According to Sawyerr, the first day of the gathering will be for the University administrators ,while their Polytechnic, Colleges of Education counterparts and others will make use of the remaining two days of the talk shop.

In all, he informed that the workshop is principally aimed at evolving pragmatic frameworks for the seamless operation of the scheme, as well as strategies on how to address emerging challenges.

Stakeholders Call For Shakeup In JAMB, Decry Anomalies In 2025 UTME Examination

Ayodele Oni

May 5, 2025

By Ayodele Oni

On the release of this year’s UTME result, parents and other stakeholders in the education industry have called on President Bola Tinubu to carry out a major shake up in the Joint Admissions And Matriculation Board, JAMB.

They have also urged the President and the Minister of Education to probe the activities of the Board, complaining that the mode of coordination has not only been frustrating but discouraging.

JAMB had announced that results of the last UTME results will be announced soon and released statistics about the examination.

Spokesperson of Concerned Nigerian Parents, Dr. Ileola Olatunji and the Vice President, Dr.(Mrs) Chinwe Mehibe urged Tinubu to save the future of Nigerian youths by effecting a major shake-up in the board.

According to a statement, “they are of the opinion that if the present leadership is allowed to continue, the education aspect of the Renewed Hope Initiative of President Bola Tinubu will be threatened.

“President Tinubu should just sack all leadership of JAMB with immediate effect before they truncate the future of many like NNPC had been doing to innocent Nigerians.

“The poor handling of the UTME should stop. Ordinary CBT, we failed as a nation. Many of the computers used malfunctioned.

“Some questions had no answers. Scheduling and posting of candidates was just frustrating.

“That is exactly why there is always poor output and it deteriorates annually and federal government must come in at this time before it is too late like NNPC had been.

“This is the JAMB we are trusting the future of our children with. President Bola Tinubu should just wade in immediately.”

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