Home Blog Page 922

Apprehension As Federal Government Abolishes Concessionary Foreign Exchange Rate For Hajj

October 9, 2024

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

NAHCON to refund Pilgrims

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria NAHCON, on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, informed that participants in the 2023 pilgrimage are to get a refund of 150 Saudi Riyals .

This is as the Commission announced the abolition of concessionary foreign exchange rate regime for the 2025 Hajj operations .

The number of lead companies for the 2025 Hajj, the Commission insisted, has been reduced from 20 to now 10 .

A statement issued by its spokesperson, Fatima Usara, said the decision to refund the about 95 000 pilgrims who took part in the exercise was due to the avalanche of complaints over poor service delivery by the pilgrims.

The decision as well as others she noted were reached at a joint meeting between the Commission and Private Tour Operators PTOs

The Meeting, conducted virtually, was presided over by the NAHCOM Commissioner of Operations, Olanrewaju Elegushi, according to the statement.

The Commissioner stated that all the 95,000 pilgrims from the states and private operators are to receive the refund ,noting that arrangements for the disbursement have reached advanced stage.

“As for the 2022 refund, the Commission is still awaiting further details . However, refund details have emerged only for PTOs that camped on Field Office 18 in 2022 .

“They are to collectively receive SR 62,602 as refund for poor feeding in the Masha’ir” Elegushi informed .

Instructively, while the refund is to be made, the Commission has announced there will be no subsidy regime, effective 2025 operations .

According to Elegushi, there will no more be concessionary exchange rate regime for all categories of pilgrims, be they State and or private Hajj operators .

The National Commissioner ,further stated that part of the decisions reached at the joint meeting was the approval of the use of Bank guarantees by operators ,instead of the usual N40 million caution deposit effective 2025 .

He noted operators who had already explored the old order are, however, permitted to ask for refunds to enable them migrate to the Bank guarantees regime

Similarly, Elegushi stated that the registration window has been extended to October 11, 2024 ,with the accommodation of both cash and bank guarantee deposits .

In the interim, those opting for the back guarantee can issue a bank draft pending the procession of the bank guarantee which can be submitted even after the end of the registration dateline.

According to the statement, as part of efforts to ensure a hitch free 2025 Hajj operations, , and avoid some of the challenges of the 2024 operations, the Commissioner informed that a delegation comprising NAHCON officials and PTO members will be visiting the Holy Land to iron out some gray issues .

The delegation he said will be attempting to resolve such matters as trapped IBAN deposits ,pending refunds and limited issuance of Umrah visas .

The Source reports that the Federal Government during the just concluded 2024 Hajj operation ,paid out about N90 billion to subsidize the exercise.

Similarly, most state Governments stepped in to cushion the harsh effects of the high exchange rate on their pilgrims.

Despite the intervention,

many intending pilgrims were priced out of religious exercise.

Not a few believe that with the decision to phase out concessionary exchange rate regime, the exercise will be limited to the super rich .

Holy Rosary Sisters Get N120m From Peter Obi

The Source

October 8, 2024

The Leader of the Labour Party in Nigeria and the party’s flag bearer in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has pledged a staggering sum of N120m over two years to support the Educational and Healthcare development of the Holy Rosary Sisters.

OBI’s pledge came during the centenary celebration marking 100 years of the Sister’s dedication to the Education and Healthcare development of the country.

Writing on his X handle on Sunday Obi said

“Today, Sunday, I had the honor of worshipping with the students of Holy Rosary College, Nsugbe, in celebration of their 10th anniversary—an important milestone for a school I had the privilege of laying the foundation for in 2013.

“This celebration also coincides with the Holy Rosary Sisters’ centenary, marking 100 years of their remarkable dedication to education, healthcare, and empowering individuals, thereby lifting them out of poverty since their founding by Bishop Joseph Shanahan in 1924.

“As part of this special occasion, I attended a Mass yesterday at the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, Onitsha, where we reflected on the Sisters’ unwavering commitment to serving humanity.

“Their century-long mission has transformed countless lives, and I encouraged them to continue their invaluable work, especially in the areas of education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation.

“To support their immense work, I pledged ₦120 million over the next two years. Of this amount, ₦100 million will be directed through their headquarters in Enugu, dedicated to their educational, healthcare, and humanitarian efforts, including the facilities they are building in Nsukka.

“The remaining ₦20 million is specifically for Holy Rosary College, Nsugbe, as part of redeeming a cheque I signed for them towards the end of my tenure as Governor, which was later canceled by the succeeding government.

“My commitment to education during my governorship remains unwavering, and this pledge reflects my belief that these sectors are vital to our nation’s development and require continuous investment and support.

“I also encouraged the Sisters to continue serving the people of Nigeria without discrimination, as they have always done.

“The legacy of the Holy Rosary Sisters reminds us that through discipline, service, and unity, we can build a better society.

“I remain committed to supporting efforts that foster progress in education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation across Nigeria.

Signed

Ibrahim Umar

POMR SPOKESMAN

October 6, 2024

Suspended Alimosho LG Chairman Sue Obasa, Says Suspension Unlawful

Akinwale Kasali

October 8, 2024

Sulaimon Jelili Alimosho Local Government Chairman

By Akinwale Kasali

Lawmakers Say Suspended Chairman, Lawyer Ignorant Of The Law

Sulaimon Jelili Alimosho Local Government Chairman, has stated that his suspension by the State House of Assembly is illegal and unconstitutional.

A statement by his lawyer, Dr Abdul Mahmud, said the suspension constituted a blatant affront on the recent decision of the Supreme Court which affirmed the autonomy and independence of Local Government under the 1999 Constitution.

He condemned the decision of the House and the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, to suspend the chairman and direct his deputy to take over the Council affairs.

The lawyer said that the coercive actions of the Speaker and the encroachment of the Assembly on the constitutional power of the Local Government would be resisted within the ambit of law.

He said: “The autonomy of Local Government councils is a fundamental pillar of Nigeria’s Federal system, and any attempt to undermine that autonomy is a violation of constitutional provisions. The recent decision of the Supreme Court in Attorney General of the Federation vs. Attorney General of Abia State & 35 Ors (SC/CV/343/2024) expressly recognises that local governments are vested with powers to manage their own affairs independently, without undue interference from states’ Houses of Assembly. By allegedly suspending Hon. Jelili Sulaimon, the Speaker and the Lagos State House of Assembly have acted in clear defiance of the constitutional principles enunciated by the apex court, thereby exceeding their constitutional mandates.’’

The lawyer said that there was a pending suit, filed by his client before the Federal High Court challenging the powers of the Speaker and the Lagos State House of Assembly to exercise oversight functions over the affairs of Alimosho Local Government.

He stressed that the Assembly cannot exercise such oversight functions when the Council has its own legislative assembly charged with such functions.

The lawyer said that the defendants in the suit were duly served with the Court processes.

He stated. “In fact, the action of the Speaker and the Assembly, while this case is subsisting, constitutes an unlawful interference in a matter that has yet to be determined by the court. The Speaker and his cohorts in the Lagos State House of Assembly, in their attempt to ambush and foist helplessness on the Federal High Court, have merely displayed jejune rascality. If the government treats court order with levity and contempt, the confidence of the citizens in the courts will be seriously eroded and the effect of that will be the beginning of anarchy in replacement of the rule of law.’’

The lawyer stressed that his client “cannot be cowed by the legislative tyranny of the House or deterred by the Speaker’’.

He, therefore, called on the Speaker and the House to immediately reverse the decision.

The counsel reiterated that the suspension of an elected official without due process was a threat to democratic governance and should not be tolerated in any form or giving any recognition.

Responding to Jelili’s Lawyer, the House, in a statement said he was ignorant of the law.

Hon. Stephen Ogundipe, Chairman, Committee of Information of the Lagos State House of Assembly said that the law does not recognise sentiment, emotions.

Ogundipe advised Jelili against ascribing self-made meanings to the laws empowering the lawmakers act where necessary in the interest of the people.

Read the full reaction below:

JELILI SULAIMAN’S SUSPENSION BACKED BY LAW

“The attention of the Lagos State House of Assembly has been drawn to a statement supposedly signed by Dr. Abdul Mahmud, counsel to the embattled Alimosho local government chairman, Mr. Jelili Sulaimon, claiming to condemn the unanimous agreement of the Assembly to suspend his client on Monday, October 7, 2024.

“Beyond the sensational rhetoric and half-baked details in the statement that is replete with emotions rather than deep-thoughts, it is pertinent to break down the real situation and puncture arguments as to the powers of the House to suspend Mr. Jelili.

“In his race to the public to ‘garner’ sentiments, Jelili’s lawyer forgot to remember that there are no local government areas that created themselves. In other words, the creation of a local government follows strict processes of the law and Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) creates the path to knowledge about this.

“The system of local government by democratically elected local government councils is under this Constitution guaranteed; and accordingly, the Government of every State shall, subject to Section 8 of this Constitution, ensure their existence under a Law which provides for the establishment, structure, composition, finance and functions of such councils.” Does this answer a question from the arguments of Jelili’s lawyer as to who has the power to create laws that regulate the activities of local government councils and their administration?

“For better understanding, that section provides for the existence of: democratically elected system of Local Government to be guaranteed by a law of the State House of Assembly.

“The same section provides that the House of Assembly is required to make provisions for statutory allocation of public revenue to Local Government Councils in a State. Section 8(3) highlights the procedure to be undertaken by a State House of Assembly in the creation of a new Local Government Area(s) in a State while Section 8(4) highlights the procedure to be undertaken by a State House of Assembly, through law, in the boundary adjustment of existing Local Government Areas.

“Now, Section 162 (8) of the Constitution stipulates that a Law of the State House of Assembly shall provide for the distribution of monies standing to the credit of Local Government councils in a State.

“Maybe we should remind him, his client and those travelling with him that Section 128 of the same Constitution further gives clarity to the powers of the House of Assembly.

“Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, a House of Assembly shall have power

by resolution published in its journal or in the

office Gazette of the Government of the State

to direct or cause to be directed an inquiry or

investigation into –

(a) any matter or thing with respect to which it

has power to make laws.

“Here and based on the above constitutional provision, we are moved to ask again: who is legally guaranteed to make the law that creates the running of the local government? It is definitely not the National Assembly which is granted the constitutional powers to create states and not local governments.

“This brings us to the Lagos State Local Government Administration Law (as amended) upon which the creation, administration and related activities of the local government system of Lagos State are based.

“For better public information and effective knowledge, Section 24(a) of the amended law gives powers to the Lagos State House of Assembly to pass a resolution for the removal or suspension of any chairman, vice chairman, or official of any local government area (LGA) or local council development area (LCDA) after conducting an investigation. It states further that all that is needed for this resolution is a simple majority of the Assembly members. This emphasis is further highlighted in Section 5 of the law.

“The amendment aims to ensure accountability and maintain order within the local government structure in Lagos State.

“With this level of enlightenment as to the position of the laws guiding the administration of local government councils, it is further important to avoid misinformation or misrepresentation of the recent Supreme Court judgement concerning local governments in Nigeria. There is a marked difference between financial autonomy (upon which the lawyer’s argument rests) and administrative powers of the House. The rush to churn out a defence armed, albeit, with inferior understanding of the Supreme Court judgement does not give a sufficient case against the action of the House of Assembly.

“The Local Government Administration law from which the council chairman and other elected officials of the local government system derive their powers is a product of the House of Assembly. The office of the Auditor-General for Local Governments that monitors the financial activities of this third tier of government is created by the law made by the Lagos State House of Assembly.

The Local Government Service Commission which handles issues relating to the officials of local governments is a creation of the House of Assembly. The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) that conducts elections into elective offices at the local government level is a creation of the House of Assembly. Therefore, jettisoning these facts will amount to a poor knowledge of the legislature. If you say the Lagos State House of Assembly does not have the power over local governments, it means all these laws created by the House should not be in place. If the laws should not be in place, then why would local governments exist?

“We learnt that in a bid to protect the chairman, the councillors of the Alimosho Local Government Area hurriedly suspended the Vice Chairman, Akinpelu Johnson. To show how laughable this is, it is good to note that the law guiding them does not have a provision for suspension. The Local Government Administration law gives them the opportunity to remove a chairman or vice chairman but this also comes with a process. Thus, the suspension of Johnson is simply invalid. It is therefore necessary to remind the council leader that he can also be removed in line with the Local Government Administration law of Lagos State. If he does not know this, then, it is a pity.

“For the few trying to juxtapose the functions of the National Assembly with those of the House of Assembly in this case, they should take a chill pill and request to be tutored. The National Assembly cannot interfere with the runnings of a State. It is not a part of its duty. On the other hand, the constitution grants the State House of Assembly powers over the local governments.

“It is to be noted that this is not the first time the Lagos State House of Assembly would be suspending the same council chairman. In May 2021, he was suspended with two others by the House for their total disregard for the local government guidelines created by the State Legislature.

“While we urge against mawkishness, we would also like to task residents of the council and members of the public not to allow themselves be swayed by positions and opinions that are opposite the law in this regard”.

However, Akinpelu Johnson, the Vice Chairman of the Council has been sworn in as the Acting Chairman of Alimosho Local Government Area.

LASWA Confirms 21 Drowned In Amuwo Odofin Boat Mishap

Akinwale Kasali

October 8, 2024

By Akinwale Kasali

The Lagos State Waterways Authority, LASWA, has confirmed that 21 persons drowned in a boat accident that occurred on Monday at Imore town in the Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State.

Two Boats ferrying 21 passengers, collided and capsized in the middle of the lagoon. 16 bodies have been recovered, but LASWA Officials disclosed that the bodies of five people who were unaccounted for earlier have been recovered.

Benjamin Hundeyin, the Lagos State Police Command Spokesperson had, in a press release on Tuesday, stated that the incident was reported to the Ilashe Police Division at about 7 pm.

According to him, emergency responders, including Marine Police and local divers, were swiftly mobilised to the scene and rescued 11 passengers who sustained injuries.

He added that the injured were rushed to the Naval Hospital in Navy Town, Alakija, for medical attention.

The statement read, “On October 7, 2024, at about 7 pm, a distress call was received at the Ilashe Division reporting that two unregistered passenger boats, each carrying 16 passengers, allegedly collided in the middle of the lagoon at Imore town. As a result, the boats capsized, and the passengers drowned along with their goods.

“Based on the report, teams of conventional and Marine Policemen, local divers, and other emergency responders were swiftly mobilised to the scene, where 11 passengers were rescued with injuries and rushed to the Naval Hospital in Navy Town, Alakija, for medical attention”.

PDP Plotting Violence In Imo, says Imo State Government

The Source

October 8, 2024

Imo State Government has raised the alarm over an alleged plot by the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to instigate violence in the state on account of the just concluded local government election.

The State Commissioner for Information, Public Orientation and Strategy, Hon Declan Mbadiwe disclosed that credible information at its behest indicated that PDP in the State wants to borrow a leaf from the recent violence in Rivers State against newly sworn in local government chairmen and councillors.

Emelumba said it was too much of a coincidence that just 24 hours after the Rivers violence, PDP in a statement on Tuesday warned elected Local Government Chairmen in Imo State to steer clear of the Council Secretariats in the 27 LGAs.

The Commissioner argued that such a warning was ominous and portends danger, and therefore demanded the immediate attention of the security agencies.

According to him, while PDP was free to rant and accuse the State of all unimaginable and unsubstantiated financial crimes, the threat of violence was not going to be tolerated.

He noted that it has been a while that the local government chairmen were sworn in after a successful election and wondered why PDP was threatening them just 24 hours after the violence in Rivers State.

” If you went through their incoherent and contradictory statement of Tuesday, October 8,2024, you will come out with the impression that they want to employ self help in addressing their colossal loss during the local government election. They said their candidates ought to be declared winners and in the same breath, they alleged there was no election’, the Commissioner pointed out.

He debunked the allegation by the PDP that the elected chairmen were forced to submit resignation letters in case they fail’ to do the bidding of the Governor

He also faulted PDP for claiming that Governor Hope Uzodimma has taken 50 percent of Local Government funds to finance the state electricity project, noting that all transactions regarding the project were transparent.

Describing PDP as a sore loser that was never prepared for the election, Emelumba urged it to approach the court for whatever remedy it seeks as advised by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He warned them against resorting to any kind of violence against the chairmen and councillors who were democratically elected by their people in their respective Local Government Areas.

Military, Yobe University Partner To Fight Boko Haram Insurgency

Suleiman Anyalewechi

October 8, 2024

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The authorities of the Yobe State University have signaled their readiness and commitment to work in concert with the Nigerian Army in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency and other criminal activities both in the State and the North East geo-political Zone.

The Source reports that Yobe and Borno States are considered the epicentre of the Boko Haram terrorist activities which for years now have ravaged the North East region of the Country.

The states are perceived as the operational sanctuary of the terrorist group, having also originated from there in the late 1990s.

In a statement on Tuesday October 8, 2024 from the Office of the University’s Information Officer, Abdulmumin Kolo Gulani, quoted the Vice Chancellor Professor Mala Mohammed Daura, as making the promise during a courtesy call on him by the new Commander of the Nigerian Army Logistics Base, Brigadier General EC Ineme, on Tuesday October 8, 2024.

Prof Daura, according to the statement, noted that the University is richly endowed with the expertise and manpower to meaningfully assist the Military in defeating insurgency in the region.

The Vice Chancellor particularly expressed confidence that the University is well positioned to collaborate with the Nigerian Army in conducting researches on the festering Boko Haram challenge and other criminal activities in the region.

The results of such researches, if religiously applied, would help security agencies in properly situating the problem, as well as overcoming it.

He assured the Service of the readiness of the Management of the University to engage in consultations and exchange of ideas with the Military when the need arises.

On his part, General Ineme whose visit was part of his familiarization tour of areas under his new duty post, promised to leverage the existing collaborative relationship between the University and the Army in the discharge of his duties.

He noted that the proximity between the University and the Army Logistics Base, makes it more imperative for the two institutions to work together.

Killing Of Nine Zamfara Guards: Gov Lawal Assures Support To Families

Suleiman Anyalewechi

October 8, 2024

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, condemned in the strongest terms, the killings of nine members of the State Security outfit- Community Protection Guards CPG by suspected banditry elements.

The Governor described the incident as barbaric, cowardly and unacceptable.

The Source reports that the CPG operatives, were, on Monday October 7, ambushed and killed at a checkpoint on the outskirts of Tsafe Local Government Area of the State by suspected bandits.

The Commander of the State Security outfit, Brigadier General Mohammed Lawal rtd, said the guards were drafted to the area to assist in halting the spate of abductions of travelers on the Gusau-Funtua highway by criminal elements .

While noting that the intervention of the CPG has assisted greatly in mitigating kidnappings and other criminal activities on the route, he regretted that the men were ambushed by some retreating bandits Monday morning.

“When I got to know about the bandits route around that area which they used to kidnap travelers, I told the Governor and we deployed the CPGs to that side, armed with two Hilux vehicles.The area is covered by mountains.

For about two months now, they have been there (CPGs). They will resume early in the morning and vacate around 6.30pm for other patrols. Since then, kidnappings along that axis have been reduced.

The bandits slept in a community around the area. In the morning when the CPG Hilux vehicle dropped the first set of our personnel ,and returned to pick others, the bandits who had already laid ambush opened fire on them and unfortunately, we lost eight of our men and one traveler was also shot”, General Lawal told Channels TV.

In a statement issued by his media aide, Governor Lawal lauded the gallantry of the fallen CPG members and other security operatives in the efforts to protect lives and properties in the state.

“I received the unfortunate report of the an ambush by bandits yesterday (Monday) in Tsafe Local Government Area during which nine of our brave Community Protection Guards were killed.

“The guards ambushed and killed are; Nasiru Aliyu, Jubiru Hassan ,Abullahi Dangude ,Bashar Bawa, M’uazu Musa, Anas Dahiru, Anas Yakubu ,Lawal Yunusa, and one other.

The bandits ambush on our guards is a cowardly act, as they were dispersed and on the run due to sustained troop onslaught across the State.

The troop will continue the renewed onslaught to defeat bandits in the State and the entire region” Governor Lawal stated.

While commiserating with the families, relations, friends of the victims and the entire residents on the unfortunate development, the Governor assured that the heroic sacrifices of the fallen CPG personnel shall not be in vain..

“My Government is committed to providing support to the families of the frontline guards who lost their lives” the Governor assured.

Anxiety As Abductors Fail To Release Kebbi District Head, Free Nine

Ayodele Oni

October 8, 2024

District Head of Kanya - Alhaji Aliyu Isah Kanya

By Ayodele Oni

Kebbi State Government has announced the release of nine abducted residents of Kanya in Danko Wasagu Local Government.

Names of those released indicate that only the District Head of Kanya, Alhaji Aliyu Isah Kanya, is still being held.

Their release, according to Government statement, was facilitated by the effort of joint security team, which rescued all of them except one of the abducted persons.

A statement on Tuesday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ahmed Idris, stated that:

“The galant efforts of joint security personnel have yielded a positive result as all the nine abducted Kanya residents in Danko Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State have been rescued except one person, an official disclosed.”

The statement added that AbdurRahman Usman Zaga, Director, Security, Cabinet Office, who disclosed this in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday, also said the gallant team engaged the bandits in a gun duel and forcefully rescued the victims “but one is still in captivity.”

He explained that the success story was possible following the consistent efforts of the governor, Nasir Idris, in supporting the security agencies with all the necessary tools to achieve results.

According to the director, the governor prioritizes anything that has to do with security of lives and property of good people of Kebbi State, adding that His Excellency is very keen in providing logistics, allowances and all other motivational support to the security personnel.

While commending the governor and the security agencies for the wonderful feat, Zaga assured that the security personnel were on top of the situation to rescue the only victim unhurt.

He gave the names of the rescued victims as; Alhaji Almustapha Almu, Hajara S. Maikano, Rukayya Isah Daya, Bello Isa Daya, Fa’iza S. Maikano, Amina S. Maikano and Jidah Babangida.

It could be recalled that the governor had pledged the state government’s commitment to rescue the victims.

The governor said he was highly disturbed on receiving the news of the abduction, however, assured that government in collaboration with security agencies were doing everything possible to rescue all the abducted persons.: Abducted District Head Yet To Regain Freedom As Nine Others Freed

Ayodele Oni

Kebbi state government has announced the release of nine abducted residents of Kanya in Danko Wasagu local government.

Names of those released indicate that only the district head of Kanya, Alhaji Aliyu Isah Kanya, is still being held.

Their release, according to government statement, was facilitated by the effort of joint security team, which rescued all of them except one of the abducted persons.

A statement on Tuesday by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Ahmed Idris, stated that

He explained that the success story was possible following the consistent efforts of the governor, Nasir Idris, in supporting the security agencies with all the necessary tools to achieve results.

While commending the governor and the security agencies for the wonderful feat, Zaga assured that the security personnel were on top of the situation to rescue the only victim unhurt.

He gave the names of the rescued victims as; Alhaji Almustapha Almu, Hajara S. Maikano, Rukayya Isah Daya, Bello Isa Daya, Fa’iza S. Maikano, Amina S. Maikano and Jidah Babangida.

It could be recalled that the governor had pledged the state government’s commitment to rescue the victims.

Rivers: The Plot That Failed

The Source

October 8, 2024

By Akinjide Aina, Abuja Bureau Chief

The various schemes to torpedo the October 5th Local Government Election in Rivers state having failed, impecable sources familiar with the current political situation in the state told this magazine that “Monday, the 7th of October was to be the day hell descended on Rivers had the linchpins of the anti-Fubara elements played their assigned scripts to latter”

Recall that during the swearing- in ceremony of the newly elected Chairmen on Sunday, the 6th of October, Governor Siminalayi Fubara spoke about an intelligent report which indicated that his opponents had concluded plans to invade the State’s 23 Local Government Area secretariats the next day( Monday, the 7th October).

However, it was either the Governor didn’t know or the intelligent report failed to reveal to him that what was actually in the offing was much more than an invasion.

Irked by the successful conduct of the Council Polls despite attempts to stop the exercise through the procurement of Federal High court judgement and the alleged failed attempt to take over of the River State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, offices by security agents, the next move by the Governor’s opponents, the magazine was informed, was to stop the newly sworn-in Chairmen from accessing the Council Secretariats to assum office.

Nyesom Wike — **Wike: Insists on controlling Rivers political structure**

This was to be done by a simultaneous, but complete destruction of the council Secretariats in the early hours of Monday to coincide with the withdrawal of Police from the facilities. This was to be followed by wanton destruction and anarchy across the State. The intention, the magazine was further informed, was to provoke President Bola Tinubu into declaring a state of emergency in the State by dissolving all democratic structures, including the State House of Assembly, Governor Fubara and the newly elected and sworn-in council Chairmen in which case those opposed to the Governor would have proclaimed victory.

However, Monday came and only three Council Local Government Secretariates -Eleme, Ikwerre, Emouha and Etche faced destruction while minor skirmishes were reported in other Council Areas. It was gathered that many of the hired goons, apparently either overcame by guilt or overwhelmed by their love for Rivers and the enormity of the destruction they had been commissioned to wrought on the state, dramatically had a change of heart and then backed out of the plot.

Despite its repeated claim of neutrality in the debilitating political crisis in Rivers, analysts and followers of the situation in the state are now questioning the hasty and dramatic withdrawal of the police from the council secretariats.

A member of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the State loyal to the Emeka Bekee led- faction of the party (a faction loyal to former Governor Chibuike Amaechi), and who pleaded for anonymity “given the current dangerous and volatile political situation in our state”, opine that police neutrality in the Rivers crisis is questionable.

“Looking at the whole imbroglio and how the Police stood akimbo while political thugs unleashed mayhem on the Council Secretariates, one cannot but feel that the police allegiance is heavily tilted towards the main actor in this crisis, the Police sympathy appears to lie with Abuja. Looking at the whole scenario, one cannot but feel a nexus exists between the withdrawal of the police from the Council Secretariates and the destruction that followed hours later” he said.

“Note that the Police took over the Secretariates in June to prevent the Fubara- appointed Caretaker Committee members from accessing them, so why the hasty withdrawal now? Why didnt the police provide security cover to the Councils as the elected Council chairmen prepared to assume office?, he queried.

Backed by his immediate predecessor and the current Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, Fubara emerged Governor on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2023 Rivers gubernatorial election but godfather and godson would soon fall apart. While Fubara pushed to assert himself as the Chief Executive officer of Rivers state, Wike insisted he remained the political godfather of the state and must therefore control Rivers political structures and levers of power.

The political crisis has since polarised, not only governance and political institutions in the state including the state House of Assembly with a faction supporting Fubara and another aligning with Wike, but also the two main political parties in the state- APC and PDP.

While Wike, though nominally still a PDP member, straddles both APC and PDP in the state as “leader”, Governor Fubura on the other hand has opted to build separate and independent political structures with fringe political parties, particulary the little known Action Peoples Party, APP which made a clean sweep of last week’s council polls- winning 22 out of the 23 chairmanship positions and almost all the councilorship positions- and a faction of the APC aligned to a former governor of the state and the immediate past Transport Minister, Chibuike Amaechi. While the Rivers PDP and APC factions loyal to Wike boycotted the council polls, the APC faction loyal to Amaechi and PDP faction loyal to Fubara but masquerading under other opposition parties participated in the election. Apart from the APP, one of such parties is the Action Alliance, AA which won a local government in the polls.

Sources close to the National Leadership of the PDP told the magazine that “what Fubara has done is a strategic political maneuvering, a political masterstroke. Governor Fubara has successfully out-foxed his opponents and at the fullness of time which is very very soon, the leadership of the PDP in Rivers will be divested from the “pharaoh” who is obviously headed to the APC but still pretending to be Lord of the Manor in Rivers PDP and handed over to Governor Fubara who is the rightful leader of the party in the state.

“When that happens, all those who contested the Council Election under different platforms will be united under the expansive PDP umbrella”

“Mr President, Invite These Four People To Solve Rivers Problem”, Tonye Cole

Adesina Soyooye

October 8, 2024

By Adesina Soyooye

An entrepreneur, politician, and a former Governorship Candidate, Tonye Cole, has revealed to the President and Nigerians the solution to the political upheaval in Rivers State.

Cole was a two-time Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Rivers State. A son of a former Nigeria’s Ambassador to Brazil, Dele Cole, was the Governorship choice of then strong man of Nigerian politics, and former Governor of the State, Rotimi Amaechi.

Amaechi, aside from being a two-term Governor of Rivers State, a two-term Minister for Transportation under former President Muhammadu Buhari, he was, also, for two times – 2015 and 2019 – President Buhari’s Presidential Campaign Director General.

Yet, none of those high profile positions could push his Governorship Candidates through to victory – Dakuku Peterside in 2015, and Cole in 2019 and 2023. They were defeated by Nyesom Wike, Minister for the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

Reacting to the political crisis in Rivers State between Wike and his political godson and successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Cole, who spoke on Arise Television’s Morning Show, said the solution to Rivers State Crisis lies in the hands of four men. He said unless the four men sit together, with President Bola Tinubu as supervisor, and discuss Rivers, peace will continue to elude the State.

First on Cole’s list is Dr. Peter Odili, a two-term Governor of Rivers State and one of the most powerful Governors during his set. Odili is also regarded as the patriarch of Rivers politics, and the political mentor of most of the gladiators in Rivers State today. The second person, according to Cole, is Amaechi. The other two are Wike and Fubara.

Cole said these four men should sit them, resolve their differences, and prioritize Rivers State’s future over their personal ambitions.

Both Amaechi and Wike are known, especially, to be “Odili’s sons”, even though in recent times, political differences have crept in, making shaky, a once very closely knit political family.

Said Cole an Amaechi ally: “The State is larger than any single person or personal interest. Until these key actors sit down together and make the decision that Rivers State is more important than their individual interests, we will continue to see chaos.”

He wants President Tinubu to superintendent over the dialogue between the four people.

1...921922923...2,952 Page 922 of 2,952