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“Northern Leaders Promised Diri Vice Presidential Seat”, Bayelsa APC On The Gov’s  Face-off With Wike

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Nyesom Wike and Douye Diri

By Adesina Soyooye

Stakeholders in the Bayelsa State All Progressives Congress, APC, have a message for President Bola  Tinubu that concerns Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri. They  also, have a revelation for Nigerians in connection with the Governor’s alleged ambition

For Tinubu, the Stakeholders want him to put an eye on  the Governor because of his alleged ambition. That ambition is, also, what they want Nigerians to be aware of. They said Diri has eyes on the  Vice Presidential seat come 2027. They allege that the Governor has been promised by Northern Leaders that he would be the Vice President under former Vice President Atiku Abubakar or under the Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed.

In a letter to President Tinubu, the Bayelsa APC Stakeholders’ Forum (BASF), said the Vice Presidential seat promised Diri is behind his face off with the FCT, Minister, Nyesom Wike.

Both men have been having a political spat. Diri raised an alarm that Wike is hell bent on importing the crisis in Rivers State which triggered the declaration of a State of Emergency in the State to Bayelsa.

In the heat of the crisis and tension in Rivers, a Group suddenly said it would, on April 12, hold a solidarity/ support rally for Tinubu and Wike. However, Diri, while insisting that he was not against such gatheringsl, said the timing is in bad faith and could trigger crisis in the State.

But in an open  letter  to President Tinubu signed by Chief Samuel Yousuo and Elder Ebigoni Gabriel,  Chairman and Secretary of the Forum respectively, the Group said that the problem between Diri and Wike is a product of an alleged promise by Northern leaders to Diri that he would be the Vice Presidential Candidate to either Atiku Abubakar or Mohammed in the 2027 general election.

The letter to Tinubu reads:

“Your, Excellency, you can recall that our group, Bayelsa APC Stakeholders Forum (BASF), had, last year, warned on the character of Bayelsa State governor, Senator Duoye Diri.

“We, the elders, had on behalf of the All Progressive Congress stakeholders, written to express our concerns and advised Your Excellency to be wary of any alliance between your good office and Governor Diri.

“Now we have it on authority that Governor Diri’s rage against the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, was to massage the ego of some Northern leaders that have allegedly assured him of the 2027 vice presidential ticket.

“He is being promoted to pair with either the former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, or the Bauchi State governor, Alhaji Bala Mohammed.

“An insider further informed that the promise for Diri to run with either of the two Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains led to his emergence as the Chairman of the South South Governors’ Forum, as he assured those dangling the VP kite of the region’s votes.

“To firm up his promise, Diri has allegedly embarked on keeping money for the 2027 project.

“Diri hasn’t judiciously managed the money accrued to Bayelsa which has reportedly unsettled key officers in the state.

“As part of non-judicious management of state resources, Diri came up with two white elephant projects, such as the 35,000-seater capacity stadium and a nine-floor secretariat, also estimated at over 100 billion naira, while the existing one that needs only refurbishing has been left to rot away.

“Governor Diri’s two-prong approach, allegedly facilitated by the Northern Leaders is that he runs with Atiku, who he believed he had in the bag, until Okowa displaced him for the 2023 race. The second deal is for him to run with the Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohamed.

“There is also another deal, with a former president, who Diri has promised to nominate the next Bayelsa governor; all are to enable him get his support for the Atiku or Bala Vice Presidential ticket.

“It is also interesting to note that since Diri secured his second tenure, instead of using the huge sums made possible by President Tinubu’s government policies, to work for the state, Diri hardly stays in office to do his work.

‘Rather he has been off to different countries without any investment attracted to the state as should be expected.

“It is equally important to point out here that Governor Diri has made a mess of the Supreme Court pronouncements on Local Government Council financial autonomy, by allegedly cornering the Local Government funds, even as he gives peanuts to the LGA Chairmen.

“We need you to also know that everything about Diri is propaganda and this is what the Northern Leaders railroaded him into, to also fund all legal battles and take on Wike.

“We also recalled how he betrayed all the PDP bigwigs in the State that helped him, from former President Goodluck Jonathan, his predecessor, Senator Seriake Dickson, and Chief Timi Alaibe, who brought him from political oblivion to then president, Jonathan, and how Diri jettisoned Alaibe as soon as he got what he wanted.

“Diri should not be trusted, which has led many PDP members to distance themselves from him. As we speak, there are no serious PDP members with him in the State.

“But in his usual way, he found his way through your Chief of Staff, Rt. Hon. Gbajabiamila, and also to Speaker of the House of Representative, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, as well as some Presidential Aides.

“Also in his usual way, he has also been deceiving the Minister of State (Petroleum), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, who he is deceiving that he will support while at the same time concluding an arrangement with others in Bayelsa East to support them for governorship.

“We heard that Diri has been busy paying his lawyer and friend to handle all Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s legal battles, just as he footed the Atiku/Okowa legal bills against you in all the tribunals and courts.

“The same Diri turned around after you won your presidential elections, and reached out to you through Rt. Hon. Gbajabiamila, and the Speaker of the House of Representative, to beg for his reelection.

“He deceived Senator Lokpobiri and David Lyon to take him to Wike where he knelt down and begged for his reelection. This was because most Bayelsa PDP leaders that he betrayed had stayed away. With a little support from you, Sir, Sylva could have won that election.

“We are asking you to fully support APC chieftains in the State.

“We are also asking you to direct the  anti-corruption agencies to beam its light on Bayelsa treasury.

“Expectedly, Government officials are complaining that the state treasury is being depleted through variations and sand filling contracts running into hundreds of billions of naira that are allegedly questionably awarded.

“This has led most of the officials transferring their services from the Ministries of Finance, Works and State Treasury, as Diri’s administration, allegedly, has the highest number of variations from contracts original sum awarded.

“We are asking you to fully support APC chieftains in the state. We trust that you come to the aide of the state.”

An Elder in the State who pleaded anonymity because  he doesn’t want his name associated with he called “foolish” dismissed the allegations against Governor Diri as “childish stupid and trash” and added:” I will be surprised if the President would take this nonsense dripping of stupidity and emptiness seriously”*

Why Employees Killed Site Engineer In Delta

By
Adesina Soyooye
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0
Site Engineer Killed

By Adesina Soyooye

“They hit him on the head with a hammer when they discovered the amount of money in his Moniepoint Account, tied him up, and buried him in a shallow grave.”

For finding out that he had quite some money in his Moniepoint Account, a Site Engineer in Delta State, Chigozie Udalor, has been killed by those he employed to work for him.

Nobody knows how they discovered how much he had in his account, but Engineer Udalor was killed in a most heartless manner. He was hit with a hammer on the head by his employees, tied up, and buried in a shallow grave at the work-site. What has not been confirmed is whether he was already dead before he was buried, or buried while he was unconscious. An autopsy will confirm that.

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The road to his gruesome end began when he went to the site he was supervising on December 10, 2024, but did not return home. After two days, a cousin of his reported at the Akwu-kwu Igbo Police Division that his cousin’s whereabouts was unknown for two days running. He also disclosed that his missing cousin was the one looking after his fish ponds for him.

In a statement on Tuesday,  SP Bright Edafe, Spokesperson for the Delta State Police Command revealed  how the Engineer met his end.

He  said: “On December 12, 2024,  one Hyacinth Nnalue reported to Akwu-kwu Igbo Police Division that his cousin, Chigozie Udalor, had been missing since the 10th of December 2024. He also stated that the said Chigozie was his site manager at his fish pond in Bod camp Akwukwu Igbo community.

“Upon receipt of this information, the DPO commenced an investigation and later transferred the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department. The State Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, directed the DPO Ekpan CSP Aliyu Shaba to carry out a technically driven investigation.

“The DPO detailed Operatives who commenced an intelligence-led investigation. On 31st March 2025, they arrested one David Tacho ‘m’ who attempted to withdraw money from the victim’s account through his phone and also arrested Daniel Orshio who took part in the murder.

‘’Investigation also revealed that David Tacho is a brother to one Victor Tacho who conspired with Pius  Daniel, (both presently at large) and Daniel Orshio, and murdered the victim.

“The two suspects are presently in custody.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that all four suspects were employed by the deceased who was the site engineer, but they discovered he had some money in his Moniepoint account and they conspired, used a hammer to hit him on his head, tied him and buried him in a shallow grave at the site.

“Two of the suspects, David Tacho and Daniel Orshio, are presently in custody while two other suspects Pius Daniel and Victor Tacho are still on the run.

“The body of the deceased has been exhumed and awaiting autopsy while efforts to arrest the other two suspects are ongoing.”

Update: Why Petition To Recall Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan Failed – INEC

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
INEC Receives Recall of Natasha Akpoti

By Ayodele Oni

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained that petition to recall Kogi Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was rejected because those that signed it were not up to 50 percent of voters as stipulated by the constitution.

INEC, in a statement signed by Rose Oriaran-Anthony on behalf of the commission’s secretary stated that only 208,132 voters signed the petition which is just 43.86 percent.

The constitutional mandate is that fifty percent of the voters in the senatorial district must sign the petition before it could be processed.

The number of registered voter at the senatorial district is 474,554. The commission maintained that no further action shall be taken on the petition.

INEC had declared that the petition failed to meet the constitutional threshold required for such a process.

The electoral body made this disclosure on Thursday afternoon in a post on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle.

“The petition for the recall of the Senator representing the Kogi Central Senatorial District has not met the requirement of Section 69(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended),” INEC wrote.

This latest twist in the recall saga comes barely a week after INEC initially accepted the petition, following the submission of contact details and addresses by the petitioners.

INEC’s sudden rejection of the petition raises questions, especially considering that just days ago, the Commission confirmed it had moved to the verification stage to determine whether the petition had the support of more than 50 per cent of the 474,554 registered voters in Kogi Central Senatorial District.

“In Akpabio’s House, Senators Serve Him Tea” – Senator Abbo

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0
Ishaku Elisha Abbo and Godswill Akpabio

By Akinwale Kasali

 “Akpabio orchestrated the sack of five Senators from the Senate. He told me. He runs the Senate like his personal empire” – Abbo

Ishaku Elisha Abbo, former Senator representing Adamawa North Senatorial District, has alleged that the Senate President,  Godswill Akpabio, is running the Nigerian Senate like he would run his personal empire. He revealed that Akpabio targets lawmakers who oppose his leadership.

Speaking on Arise News Television’s PrimeTime Show, Abbo claimed that Akpabio orchestrated the removal of Senators who did not align with him.

He said, “He told me that five senators would be removed. I asked how he knew, and he said, ‘I am the Senate President. I know.’ True to his words, five of us were removed. I had no idea that I was one of them,” he stated.

Abbo spoke on the emergence of Akpabio as Senate President, and claimed he rejected Akpabio’s request for support.

“When I won election into the 10th Senate, I became the de facto DG campaign to Senator Abdulaziz Yari. He (Akpabio) came to my hotel room around 2.00 am, asking for my support. I told him I was already committed to Yari and wished him good luck,” he said.

Abbo further alleged that financial inducements were offered to Senators to support Akpabio.

“At a meeting at Transcorp Hilton, $10,000 was being distributed, but I refused to take any money,” he revealed.

He furthermore accused Akpabio of denying him certain privileges after his removal. “Every other Senator who was removed by the Courts got their vehicles, but I was excluded. This is the level of vindictiveness displayed by Akpabio,” he said.

He also pointed to the case of Senator Ali Ndume. He alleged that Akpabio sidelined Ndume for challenging the Senate’s leadership.

He said, “Now, let’s look at Senator Ali Ndume. He was the DG to Akpabio. When he raised concerns about the way things were being run in the Senate, he was removed as Chief Whip and stripped of his position as Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations.

“I also moved a motion to amend the Senate Standing Rules so that only Senators who had served at least one term could contest for Senate leadership. But what did Akpabio do? He rewrote the rules to allow first-term senators to become leaders of both the majority and minority caucuses—just so he could control them.

“Do you know that in Akpabio’s house, Senators serve him tea?”

“Well, I am telling you now. And I told him, ‘You are no longer a Governor. These Senators are our colleagues, not your Commissioners. They are not here to serve you tea,’” Abbo alleged.

Court Strikes Out Case Against Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road Project

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0
Flag-off of the 700 km Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road Project

By Akinwale Kasali

Indigenes of Okun-Ajah Community, Eti-Osa Local Government Area, Lagos State, and other property owners around there, are set to appeal the suit against the Lagos-Calabar Coastal  Road Project following the verdict of Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court, Lagos, who struck their case out.

Justice Aluko ruled that the suit, marked FHC/L/CS/1488/2024, lacked jurisdiction.

Consequently, he transferred the case to the Lagos State High Court as the appropriate court to hear the case.

The plaintiffs in the suit are Chief Saheed Olukosi (Akogun of Okun-Ajah Community), Noibi Issa Afolayan, Yussuf Odunuga Sulaiman, Olufemi Fasehun and Adeola Tokunbo, all representing Okun-Ajah Community and other Concerned Property Owners at Okun-Ajah Community.

The defendants/objectors are the Minister, Dr. Dave Umahi; Olukorede Keisha; Federal Ministry of Works & Housing; Attorney-General of Lagos State; Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development; Surveyor-General of Lagos State; General Manager, Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority; General Manager, Lagos State Building Control Agency and Hitech Construction Limited.

The plaintiffs, through their lawyers, A.O. Ajiboye and E. C. Okorie, had asked the Court to stop the project on several grounds.

They sought the following reliefs: “An order to set aside acts of encroachment on their landed properties, setting aside designs, plans of Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road on their parcels of land.

“An order restraining the first to the third and ninth defendants from encroaching, trespassing and diverting the construction of the Lagos – Calabar Coastal Road into their land.”

The plaintiffs also made claims for damages for acts of trespassing on the land in dispute.

But the defendants/objectors urged the court to strike out the suit for lack of jurisdiction.

“Specifically, the first, second, third and ninth defendants/objectors in their separate preliminary objections filed through their lawyers Prof. J.O. Olatoke, (SAN), Y.A.H. Ruba (SAN), Roy U. Nwaeze (SAN) and Ibukun Fasoro, asked the court to strike out or dismiss the suit for want of jurisdiction.

The defendants/objectors premised their preliminary objections on seven grounds, supported by a paragraph’s affidavit.

Following the defendants/objectors’ preliminary objections, the plaintiffs filed a counter affidavit of 11 paragraphs.

Delivering a ruling on the arguments submitted by parties, Justice Aluko held that: “Coming from the foregoing, the issues in the two NPO of the first to third defendants and that of the ninth defendant are resolved in favour of the objectors against the plaintiffs.

Counsel to the plaintiffs made an alternative submission in his written address urging the court not to strike out this suit if the court finds that it lacks jurisdiction to adjudicate over the case.

“Counsel urged the court to transfer this suit to the State High Court instead of striking it out.

“I agree with Counsel on this request as this court possesses the needed power and jurisdiction to accede to such prayer.

“This court is fortified under Section 22(2) of the Federal High Court Act which provides thus: ‘No cause or matter shall be struck out by the court merely on the ground that such cause or matter was taken in the court instead of the High Court of a State or of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in which it ought to have been brought, and the Judge of the court before whom such cause or matter is brought may cause such use or matter to be transferred to the appropriate High Court of a State or at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in accordance with Rules of Court to be made under section 44 of this Act.”

“The Objections of the first to third and ninth defendants/objectors are therefore sustained. This court has no jurisdiction to adjudicate over the subject matter in this case.

“Pursuant to section 22(2) of the Federal High Court Act, this suit is accordingly transferred to the Lagos State High Court as the appropriate court for adjudication,” he held.

Akpoti-Uduaghan: INEC Declares Recall Petition Unconstitutional

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

By Ayodele Oni

There is a twist in the recall process of Kogi Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, as the  Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has  declared that the petition failed to meet the constitutional threshold required for such a process.

The Electoral body made this disclosure on Thursday afternoon in a post on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle.

“The petition for the recall of the Senator representing the Kogi Central Senatorial District has not met the requirement of Section 69(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended),” INEC wrote.

This latest twist in the recall saga comes barely a week after INEC initially accepted the petition, following the submission of contact details and addresses by the petitioners.

INEC’s sudden rejection of the petition raises questions, especially, considering that just days ago, the Commission confirmed it had moved to the verification stage to determine whether the petition had the support of more than 50 per cent of the 474,554 registered voters in Kogi Central Senatorial District.

In its statement on March 26, INEC announced that the petitioners had rectified earlier deficiencies by providing their contact information, which led to the Commission notifying Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and proceeding with scrutiny of the signatures.

However, Thursday’s announcement suggests that the petition has failed at this critical stage, though INEC has yet to provide details on the specific shortfall.

This development is likely to fuel further speculation that the recall effort was politically motivated.

Tinubu Flags Off First Ever Niger Delta Sports Festival, In Uyo

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Niger Delta Sports Festival
Niger Delta Sports Festival

By Ayodele Oni

The first Niger Delta sports festival has kicked off in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State with President Bola Tinubu declaring it open.

The president  commended the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for initiating the first-ever Niger Delta Sports Festival, describing it as a groundbreaking event that will harness youth potential, foster unity, and drive community development in the region.

Speaking at the festival’s opening ceremony President Tinubu, represented by the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Alhaji Shehu Dikko, lauded the NDDC for its vision in using sports as a tool for peacebuilding and economic growth.

“The Niger Delta Sports Festival will not only discover new talents but also contribute to grassroots sports development and national security.”

NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, announced that bidding was open for the next edition of the festival.

Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh, emphasised the festival’s potential to drive national development, urging young athletes to seize the opportunity to showcase their talents.

“With strong backing from the Federal Government and regional stakeholders, the Niger Delta Sports Festival is set to become a catalyst for youth empowerment and regional progress.”

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, proposed a rotational hosting system among states in the region.

Aiyedatiwa, charged Team Ondo to bring home laurels at the ongoing  Sports Festival in Uyo.

The Niger Delta Sports Festival, promoted by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), is taking place in Akwa Ibom State from April 1 to 9, 2025, with participating states from the Niger Delta region.

Governor Aiyedatiwa commended the NDDC management for organizing the competition, emphasizing its potential to promote grassroots sports and engage the region’s youths.

He also expressed gratitude to the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, for hosting the event, describing the atmosphere at the venue as electrifying.

During the ceremony, Governor Aiyedatiwa interacted with members of the Ondo State contingent, urging them to make the state proud by winning laurels.

Sack of Imo Chief Judge For Age Falsification, Disgraceful – Uzodimma

By
The Source
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0
Justice Theresa Chikeka and Hope Uzodimma

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has recalled the disgraceful circumstances which led to the sack of the immediate past Chief Judge of Imo State, Justice  Theresa Chikeka.

The Governor spoke Wednesday evening, April 2, 2025, when he swore-in the Honourable Justice Theophilus Nnamdi Nzeukwu as the Acting Chief Judge of the State pending confirmation by the National Judicial Council, NJC.

Uzodimma, also, at same ceremony, swore-in two new Commissioners as members of his Cabinet- Professor Bernard Ikegwuoha and Dr (Mrs.) Chioma Egu.

They were sworn-in at the Executive Council Chambers, Government House, Owerri in the presence of officials from the Three Arms of Government and critical stakeholders from the State.

Justice Chikeka was sacked by the NJC after she was investigated and indicted of age falsification.

Speaking after he administered the oath of office on the Acting CJ, the Governor reiterated his commitment to ensuring a most dependable and responsible judiciary in Imo State. He, also described as disgraceful the manner Chikeka was removed from office by the NJC, and the events that followed  thereafter. He, therefore, warned against a repeat of the “dishonourable incident where a Chief Judge is suddenly  removed from office for such an ugly indictment of age falsification.”

He disclosed that the incident provoked his Government to collaborate with the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) for a record check to ensure that all Judges appointed by Imo State Government have clear and clean records that will not lead to any form of disrepute by any mandate given to any of them.

The Governor noted that the appointment of Justice Nzeukwu in Acting capacity followed a “painstaking review and findings of the JSC, and in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

He therefore charged the JSC to expedite action that will help in producing a substantive Chief Judge for the State.

The Governor used the occasion to call on

all Judicial Officers in the State to see their mandate as a sacred one.

“You must do only those things that would be acceptable to both God and man. Always discharge your duties with the fear of God and bring justice and equity to the people of Imo  State,” he advised.

To the new Acting Chief Judge, the Governor entrusted him to bring dignity back to the service and prayed God to protect and guide him in his new office.

Addressing the new Commissioners, Governor Uzodimma reminded them that they were appointed to come and add value to the system, and urged them to do just that.

He noted that rejigging of the system helps in ensuring that the people are served better, and encouraged them to work with their colleagues to serve Imo citizens well.

In his acceptance remarks for the job of Acting Chief Judge of Imo State, Justice Nzeukwu expressed gratitude to the Governor and the Judicial Service Commission for finding him worthy for the appointment, and assured that he will not betray the confidence reposed on him.

He acknowledged that the Judiciary has been grappling with the issue of corruption in many spheres but maintained that under his watch in Imo State as the Acting Chief Judge such era was over.

“We want to send out a message loud and clear that it cannot be business as usual.The time has come to restore the confidence of the populace in the judiciary by truly  ensuring that the judiciary indeed becomes the last hope of the common man,” Justice Nzeukwu averred.

He however expressed optimism that the future of judiciary in Imo State is bright and appealed to the judiciary staff to be patient and “resist the temptation of being controlled by people, money or past experiences.”

Also speaking on behalf of the newly sworn-  in Commissioners, Prof Ikegwuoha who had earlier served as a Commissioner for Education, thanked the Governor for, “the distinct privilege” of appointing them to serve in his Executive Council.

He promised that they will persistently work to uplift the single reason why they were appointed.

The Deputy Governor of Imo State, Lady Chinyere Ekomaru, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Chike Olemgbe, his deputy, Rt. Hon Amara Iwuanyanwu,  Secretary to the State Government, Chief Cosmos Iwu, Chief of Staff, Barr. Nnamdi Anyaehie, Members of the Imo State expanded Executive Council, Clerk of the House, Barr Chinelo Emeghara, senior judicial officials from Imo State, members of the Judicial Service Commission, and key stakeholders such as Chief Tony Chukwu, witnessed the swearing in ceremony.

Govt Calls Natasha’s Assassination Allegation  “Reckless’

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0
Natasha and Bello and Akpabio

By Akinwale Kasali

The Governor Kogi State Government has reacted to the allegation of a planned assassination of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan leveled against the Governor and the former Governor of the State, Yahaya Bello, by the suspended Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan representing Kogi Central Senatorial

It described the statement as malicious and reckless.

Akpoti-Uduaghan had, on Monday, alleged that if anything happens to her, the Senate President, Godswill Obot Akpabio, Bello and the Kogi State Government should be held responsible.

However, a statement issued by the State Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, stated that: “The attention of the Kogi State Government has been drawn to the reckless, malicious, and utterly false allegations made by the suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan in her verified Facebook Page, in which she claims that Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, former Governor Yahaya Bello, and the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, should be held responsible if anything happens to her.

“This is yet another desperate and calculated attempt by an incurable liar and serial manipulators to mislead the public, incite unrest, and present herself as a victim after deliberately violating the ban on political gatherings imposed by the state government to maintain law and order. Her statement exposed her plans to use her visit to stir trouble and violence in Kogi Central Senatorial District. We will not allow any part of the state to go up in flames nor permit killing of innocent souls by the actions of the suspended Senator.

“Although she has since deleted the post after realising what the lie would cost her, we have a screenshot of it which was saved before she deleted the post. Her actions since the early hours of today (Tuesday) have confirmed the authenticity of the security report that certain elements were planning to foment trouble in Kogi Central.

“Let it be categorically stated that Governor Ododo absolutely has no interest in the political theatrics of the suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. Her baseless allegations are nothing but a feeble attempt to stir unnecessary controversy and cover up her blatant disregard for the law. She has once again proven that she has no respect for rules and the laws.

“Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has consistently demonstrated a pattern of lawlessness, using lies and deceit as her tools of political engagement. The recent disturbances in Kogi State, orchestrated by her defiance of the state’s security directives, have further confirmed her status as a security threat to the people of the State.”

The State Government added: “She deliberately violated the state government’s ban on political gatherings, which was put in place to prevent security breaches and maintain peace. Instead of respecting the law, she chose to incite chaos, disregarding the safety and stability of the state. When confronted with the consequences of her actions, she resorted to her usual tactics of playing the victim and fabricating baseless accusations against respected leaders of the state and the nation.

“The people of Kogi State and Nigerians at large should see through her deceptive ploys and reject her attempt to manipulate public perception with outright lies. Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is not a victim; she is an instigator of disorder who thrives on spreading falsehoods to gain public sympathy.

“The Kogi State Government will not be blackmailed or intimidated by the antics of a desperate politician who has built her political career on falsehoods. We remain committed to upholding law and order and will take all necessary steps to ensure that no individual, no matter how highly placed, is allowed to breach public peace with impunity. The building tension and cloud of violence hanging on Kogi Central wouldn’t have been necessary if Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan had complied with the position of the state government and cooperated with security agencies. She would be held responsible if her actions result in any violence in Kogi Central or any part of the state.”

Group Applauds Tinubu  For Kyari’s Sack, Calls for Probe Into Fake Refinery Projects

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0
Mele Kyari - NNPC GMD
Mele Kyari

By Akinwale Kasali

President Bola  Tinubu has been applauded for the  sack of  Mele Kyari as the Group Chief Executive Officer, GCEO, of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL.

The Energy Reforms Advocates, ERA, showered encomium on President Tinubu for taking such a bold and decisive decision.

A statement on Wednesday by Abdulkadri Isah, ERA’s President,  described the move as a courageous step toward reforming Nigeria’s oil sector and tackling entrenched corruption.

He said Kyari’s removal would allow a full investigation into alleged fraudulent refinery projects under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

“The dismissal of Mele Kyari signals a new dawn in our nation’s commitment to eradicating corruption in the oil and gas sector. We commend President Tinubu for demonstrating the political will to confront these challenges head-on,” Isah said.

He urged the newly appointed leadership of the NNPCL to prioritise an audit of past projects and ensure accountability in the sector.

“The probe into fake Refinery projects must be swift and thorough. Nigerians deserve to know how billions of dollars were allocated to non-existent or uncompleted projects while the country continued to rely on fuel imports,” he stated.

ERA called on relevant anti-corruption agencies to support the process, warning that failure to expose past mismanagement would hinder any meaningful reform.

“This investigation should not end with a change in leadership. There must be consequences for those who mismanaged funds and deceived Nigerians. The government must set a precedent that corruption will no longer be tolerated,” Isah added.

The group also expressed optimism that under a fresh leadership, the NNPCL could regain public trust and reposition itself as a driver of economic growth.

“With competent leadership, the NNPC can finally fulfill its mandate. We expect reforms that will boost local refining capacity, attract investment, and ultimately reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported petroleum products,” the statement read.

Kyari’s removal was part of a broader shake-up of NNPCL’s Board. Former Shell Executive, Bashir Bayo Ojulari was appointed the new GCEO and Ahmadu Musa Kida as non-executive Chairman.

The restructuring aligns with the Government’s  vision of revitalising the oil sector and increasing Nigeria’s crude oil production and refining capacity.

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