Politics

Rivers Assembly Gets SOS Over Stool

Published

11 years ago

August 28, 2015

L-R: APC Deputy National Chairman, South, Mr Segun Oni, National Auditor, Dr George Moghalu, APC National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun and Deputy National Chairman, North, Alhaji Lawan Shuaibu, during the APC National and State Auditors Workshop in Abuja, yesterday

As the Ad hoc Commit
tee on Chieftaincy of the Rivers State House of Assembly prepares to submit its report, the people of Ken-Khana Kingdom, have raised alarm over plans to downgrade its chieftaincy stool to second class.
The Ken-Khana people in khana Local Government Area of Rivers State raised the alarm and warned that the plan if carried out may create disaffections among the people.
They gave the warning recently in a communiqué issued after a meeting of Ken-Khana Kingdom Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs held in Kenwigbara district Council, following issues raised recently at the public hearing on the amendment to the chieftaincy law of Rivers State 2014.
The communiqué which was made available to The Tide and the Ad hoc Committee of the State House of Assembly, noted that Ken-Khana chieftaincy area is distinct and autonomous with its own administrative structure and status attached to the present incumbent ruler who was selected according to established procedures accepted by the people, adding that a submission by one Chief Suanu Baridam of Nyo-Khana Kingdom was misleading as they called on the State Assembly to discountenance the call to downgrade the stool of Kenwigbara.
The communiqué signed by Chief Ueyaagu Leyira, Chief Nwidag Anthony Bywhite, Chief Keenam B. Chris and the Secretary, Ken Khana Council of Chiefs, Chief Koko Stephen, explained that the stools of the Gbemene Ken Khana, Mene-Bua Bom, Mene Bua Baem, Mene Bua Yaasere and Mene Bua Kenwigbara were inexistence before the advent of colonial rule in Nigeria and were subsequently recognized by the Eastern Nigerian government and also accorded recognition as first class, second class and third class respectively by the Rivers State government.
The communiqué argued that there has not been acrimony among the incumbents on the status of any of the stools in the various communities of Ken-Khana Kingdom especially on the upgrading of the Kenwigbara stool to second class status, insisting that the incumbent, Mene Barile Y. Deebom, was duly selected, installed and coroneted by his people and given recognition by the Rivers State Government according to laid down rules and procedures of the laws and customs of the people.
The communiqué noted that the Gbenemene Ken Khana, HRM M.S.H Eguru Gbala 11 recommended the upgrading of the Kenwigbara stool to second class status and was accepted by the Rivers State Government.
According to him, “we are surprised that Mene-Bua Bangha, HRH Suanu Baridam who is from Nyo-Khana Kingdom area council whose area of jurisdiction does not extend outside his district council went on air and before the Committee on Chieftaincy Amendment Law 2015 of the Rivers State House of Assembly not only to cast aspersions on the status of kenwighara stool and its occupant, Mene Deebom with a view to deceiving the committee to down grade the stool”.
The communiqué, however, dismissed allegations that the elevation of the stool of kenwigbara to its present status has political motives, describing Chief Suanu Baridam’s submission as false, malicious, vexatious and capable of creating disharmony to satisfy his alter ego.
“We wonder why Suanu Baridam did not concentrate his energy on his Nyo-Khana Kingdom area where there is a new second class stool and was given recognition as Mene Bua Baa bringing the total number of tools to two than to dissipate his energies on denigrating the only one upgraded in ken-Khana area”.
The Communique however called on the state government and the state House of Assembly ad hoc committee to not only continue to recognize the kenwigbara stool as second class but to extend the upgrading exercise to Bua-Bom, Bua-Baen and Bua-Yaasere stools of Ken-Khana as second class.

Ike Wigodo

Politics

Alleged Coup: Protests Rock N’Assembly As Detained Officers’ Children, Wives Demand Justice

Published

14 hours ago

April 2, 2026

The Tide

Scores of children and wives of military officers detained over an alleged coup plot yesterday staged a peaceful protest at the National Assembly, demanding a speedy trial and the release of the accused officials.

The protesters who gathered at the entrance of the National Assembly complex, moved in a slow procession while clutching placards with inscriptions such as “Don’t Kill Our Daddies,” “Detention Without Trial is Injustice,” and “Six Months of Torture: Enough Is Enough.”

Amid tears and trembling voices, the children appealed for justice and access to their detained fathers, many of whom they said they had not seen for months.

The appeal was made during a press briefing in Abuja attended by no fewer than 20 wives and several children of the detained officers, including a two-month-old baby.

The families were accompanied by human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju and activist Omoyele Sowore.

At the briefing, the families lamented that the officers had been held for over 160 days without trial or contact with their relatives, describing the situation as a violation of their fundamental rights.

Speaking on behalf of the families, Memuna Bashiru said the prolonged detention had thrown their households into uncertainty and emotional distress, noting that while allegations had been widely publicised, families remained in the dark about the fate of their loved ones.

The arrest of the indicted officers was first announced on October 4, 2025, by the then Director of Defense Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, who disclosed that 16 officers were taken into custody for alleged breaches of military regulations and acts of indiscipline.

However, an interim investigation later suggested the existence of a clandestine network of officers, allegedly coordinated by a senior Army officer, which had begun preliminary planning for a coup.

According to the report, the alleged plot involved surveillance of key national assets, including the Presidential Villa, Armed Forces Complex, Niger Barracks in Abuja, and major international airports, with October 25, 2025, cited as the planned date for the operation.

Those reportedly in custody include Brig Gen M. A. Sadiq, Col M. A. Maaji, Lt Col S. Bappah, Lt Col A. A. Hayatu, Lt Col P. Dangnap, Lt Col M. Almakura, Maj A. J. Ibrahim, Maj M. M. Jiddah, Maj M. A. Usman, Maj D. Yusuf, Capt I. Bello, Capt A. A. Yusuf, Lt S. S. Felix, Lt Cdr D. B. Abdullahi, Sqn Ldr S. B. Adamu and Maj I. Dauda.

The alleged plot, according to findings, targeted senior government officials, including President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.

Politics

APC Resumes Electronic Membership Registration Nationwide

Published

16 hours ago

April 2, 2026

The Tide

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced the resumption of its electronic membership registration exercise across the country.

In a statement issued yesterday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Felix Morka, said the exercise would take place in all wards and designated centres nationwide.

He called on existing members to update their records, while encouraging new entrants to join the party through the digital platform.

“As the electronic membership registration exercise resumes in all wards and designated locations nationwide, we urge existing members to validate their membership while new members are encouraged to register and join the progressive family,” Mr Morka said.

According to him, eligibility for registration is limited to individuals aged 18 and above who possess a valid National Identification Number (NIN).

The party said the initiative is part of efforts to modernise its operations by transitioning to a digital database that would enhance record accuracy and accessibility.

Mr Morka noted that the e-registration would “digitise the party’s membership register, ensure the integrity of records, and enhance efficient access to membership data for planning and management decisions.”

He added that the move is also aimed at promoting internal democracy within the party and strengthening its commitment to democratic innovation.

The APC had previously introduced electronic registration as part of broader reforms to streamline its membership system and improve organisational efficiency.

Politics

AKPABIO, DIRI, OBOREVWORI, OTHERS VOW TO REELECT TINUBU …AS GIADOM RETAINS APC ZONAL CHAIR

Published

3 days ago

March 30, 2026

The Tide

Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has declared that with the six South-South states now being controlled by the All Progressives Congress (APC), the zone is set to return the highest votes cast for the reelection of President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

He stated this in Asaba, Delta State, at the party’s zonal congress, noting that the coming together of the governors of the region in the APC was made possible by its zonal Vice Chairman, Chief Victor Giadom.

Senator Akpabio also praised the outgone zonal chieftains of the party, saying they worked hard for the unity of the party and the zone.

“Now that we are complete and focused, we will be the geo-political zone in Nigeria that will turn out the highest votes in 2027 for President Tinubu.

“In the last 46 years or so, our region had not produced a senate president. But under President Tinubu, the South-South region is recognised. We thank the president for giving the South-South a senate president”, he said.

In his speech, the Bayelsa State Governor, and Chairman of the South-South Governors Forum, Senator Douye Diri, described the APC adoption of the consensus option for electing its officials as the best way to foster unity and consolidation in the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He expressed satisfaction that politically, the South-South zone now speaks with one voice under the APC, stressing the need for the region to be part of the decision-making process at the national level.

The governor recalled that when he contested for the governorship in 2019, the delegate election process for primaries in the political parties made the exercise rancorous, saying

the slogan then was that without delegates, there will be no governor, but that that has since changed with the consensus mode.

“I like to align myself with the previous speakers on the unity of the South-South zone. In this region politically, the South-South now speaks with one voice. This is important because of the strategic nature of the zone.

“If you are not on the sharing table, in terms of decision-making process, you will be left behind. We need to be united that we will not allow petty divisions among us.

“Let us work together for the unity and protection of APC in the South-South and God willing, all our candidates will come out tops in the 2027 elections. There cannot be anything better than a united family.

“Let me congratulate President Bola Tinubu for his remarkable achievements so far. Political events such as elective congresses like this were usually filled with rancour and violence. But, today, we have adopted the consensus model to produce our party executives from the wards to the regional level”, Senator Diri said.

In their goodwill messages, the Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, and others all spoke on unity of purpose to be able to re-elect the President for a second term.

Meanwhile, Chief Victor Giadom was returned as the party’s zonal chairman alongside seven other zonal executives of the party.

Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Emomotimi Guwor, moved the motion for the dissolution of the immediate past zonal executive of the party and was seconded by his Bayelsa State counterpart, Abraham Ingobere.

In his remarks, the reelected zonal Vice Chairman, Chief Victor Giadom, said the gathering of the six governors of the region, lawmakers, ministers and other major stakeholders was an indication of the zone’s commitment to return all APC candidates in next year’s poll.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa