Politics
RSG, Ethiopian Airlines Sign Agreement On Permanent Flight To PH
Last week, Rivers State Government and the management of Ethiopian Airlines reached an agreement in principle for the operation of permanent international flights from the Port Harcourt International Airport. The agreement is however, subject to the approval of the relevant federal agencies.
Rivers State Governor Chief Nyesom Wike led a high powered delegation of the state government to the headquarters of Ethiopian Airlines in Addis Ababa on Wednesday and Thursday last week where they met with representatives of the management of the airlines and deliberated on the issue.
The Chief Commercial Officer of Ethiopian Airlines, Esayas Wolde Marian, in an address, said Ethiopian Airlines has agreed to fly permanently from Port Harcourt International Airport.
He solicited for the assistance of the Rivers State Governor to enable the airline get the nod of relevant federal agencies.
He said: “ We are willing and capable to fly into Port Harcourt on a regular basis. For now we have exhausted our bilateral Air Agreement Approval and we need another approval to operate the Port Harcourt route.
“ We need your help to ensure that approval comes from the federal authorities. At least there should be a temporary operating permit, pending the final approval “.
He promised that Ethiopian Airlines will also embark on advertisements to promote Port Harcourt as a tourism and investment destination.
In his response, Governor Wike declared the willingness of the state government to provide an enabling environment for Ethiopian Airlines to operate in the state and assured that he will meet with the Minister of Aviation to ensure that Port Harcourt International Airport is approved for Ethiopian Airlines as a destination.
He disclosed that his administration is working towards making Port Harcourt a regional air transport hub for greater economic development of the state.
Governor Wike said: “ As we therefore consolidate on our achievements, we want to also focus on making Port Harcourt city a regional air transport hub through the Private Public Partnership approach while leveraging on existing aviation infrastructure and related market and other advantages of the state.
“ I wish to assure you that we are willing to do everything within our powers and spheres of authority and influence to facilitate the realisation of your interest and desire to directly and sustainably fly from Port Harcourt to Addis Ababa and other parts of the world.
The state Chief Executive thanked the management of the airlines for its interest in expanding and retaining their services in Port Harcourt adding that Rivers State Government will offer it’s social partnership, goodwill and support.
He noted that Port Harcourt city is strategically located to serve as a transit point for the entire South South and parts of the SouthEast.
The Governor also stated that the state government will sponsor indigenes of Rivers State to study at the Ethiopian Aviation Academy, a subsidiary of Ethiopian Airlines.
Stressing that benefit derivable from the partnership are in many areas, the governor said as an emerging regional aviation hub, there was the need to train aviation professionals.
Wike directed his Executive Assistant on Research and Documentation, Dr Jacob Beredugo and Professor Kaisirm Nwuke, a Rivers professional working with an international agency in Ethiopia to liaise with the management of Ethiopian Airlines to actualise the goals of Rivers State Government/Ethiopian Airlines partnership.
Governor Wike was accompanied on the trip to Addis Ababa by the Former Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, Rt Hon Austin Opara, PDP Chairman of Rivers State, Bro Felix Obuah, the Director General, Rivers State Bureau of Public Procurement, Mr Thompson Emmanuel, a former member of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Felix Nwaeke, former chairman of Eleme Local Government Council, Chief Ejor N. Ejor, and President of Port Harcourt Investors and Entrepreneurs Forum , Ibifiri Bob- Manuel.
Another major event last week was inspection of ongoing projects by the governor, last Friday . He inspected hostels of the newly constituted Real Madrid Football Academy, Port Harcourt and ongoing road projects in the Phase 11 GRA.
The Governor urged contractors to ensure that they deliver their work on schedule.
The governor was accompanied by the Administrator of Greater Port Harcourt City Authority, Ambassador Desmond Akawor.
Chris Oluoh
Senator Makarfi’s resignation comes on the heels of the national convention that saw the emergence of the new Chairman of PDP, Dr Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN).
In his letter of resignation, which was addressed to the PDP BoT Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, and made available to journalists in Kaduna on Monday evening, the former governor said, “Chairman and Members of the Board of Trustees may recall that about two months ago I had resigned as Secretary of the Board and posted same on the Board’s WhatsApp platform.
“Mr Chairman, you may also recall that you personally urged me to stay on until after a convention that produced a Chairman.”
He added that the principal reason he initially tendered his resignation then “and now, was and is still my belief that the National Chairman of the Party and Secretary of the Board of Trustees should not come from the same geopolitical zone.
“Now that a chairman has emerged from the North West, where I come from, it’s necessary to give him full space to do the needful. Accordingly, I hereby formally resign as Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party with effect from today, November 17th, 2025.”
While commending the BoT Chairman for his support during his tenure as Secretary of the Board, he stressed, “I truly appreciate the very respectful relationship between us during my period as Secretary,” adding that, “I also appreciate all Board members for their support and the good relationship that prevailed during my period as Secretary.”
Meanwhile, Dr Turaki on Monday pledged to ensure that power returns to the Nigerian people, urging the judiciary to uphold the tenets of democracy.
Dr Turaki, while giving his acceptance speech after the swearing-in of new officers at the end of the Elective Convention of the PDP in Ibadan, assured that there will be “no more impunity, no more suppression of the will of Nigerians”.
The chairman appealed to the judiciary to uphold the principles of stare decision, abiding by the decisions of the Supreme Court, and not to “willingly or unwillingly put yourselves in a situation where, rightly or wrongly, it may be assumed, correctly or incorrectly, that you are part and parcel of the process to truncate Nigerian democracy.”
According to him, the new leadership of the party would be open to listening to the yearnings of members, with a view to aligning with their will, declaring that “No more monkey dey work, baboon dey chop,” adding that “if baboon wants to chop, baboon must be seated to work.”
He noted that the PDP has maintained its original name, motto and logo, unlike the other parties that started with it, making it a recognised brand anywhere in Nigeria.
Mr Agboke, in a statement on Monday, said that conducting party primaries in line with the law was important ahead of the 2026 governorship election.
INEC has fixed August 8, 2026, for the governorship election in Osun State.
Mr Adegoke appealed to all registered political parties in the state to strictly adhere to the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022, the commission’s guidelines and regulations for the conduct of their primaries.
“The commission emphasises the need for the conduct of free, fair, and peaceful primary elections that reflect the will of the party members as a panacea for the reduction of pre-election litigations.
“We observed that primary elections have often been a source of pre-election litigation, which can be avoided if parties follow the laid-down procedures and guidelines.
“INEC, therefore, urges all political parties to ensure that their primaries are conducted in a transparent, democratic, and peaceful manner. All aspirants should be given equal opportunities to participate,” he said.
Mr Agboke stated that, in line with the guidelines released by INEC’s national headquarters, the political parties’ primaries for the 2026 governorship election in the state are scheduled to take place between November 24 and December 15.
He said INEC was prepared to provide necessary support and guidance to parties to ensure that their primaries are conducted in accordance with the law.
“We call on all stakeholders, including security agencies, to support the commission in its efforts to ensure peaceful and credible party primaries.
“INEC will continue to monitor the activities of political parties and take appropriate actions within the ambit of the law against any party that fails to comply with the electoral laws and regulations,” he said.
The Northern States Governors’ Forum has strongly condemned the attack on the Government Girls’ Comprehensive Senior Secondary School in Maga, Danko/Wasagu LGA, Kebbi.
The bandits’ attack led to the abduction of 25 female students as well as the reported killing of the vice principal of the school.
Reacting to the mass abduction on Monday, the chairman of the forum, Governor Inuwa Yahaya, described the kidnapping as tragic, senseless, and utterly unacceptable.
In a statement by his media aide on Monday, Gov. Yahaya stated that the continued targeting of schools posed a grave threat to the region’s stability and the nation’s educational future.
Gov. Yahaya, on behalf of the northern governors, commiserated with the government and people of Kebbi State, especially the families of the abducted students and those who lost their lives in the attack.
He assured Governor Nasir Idris of the forum’s solidarity and support during this difficult moment.
He said that schools must be sanctuaries of learning, not targets of violence, warning that continued assaults on educational institutions threatened to reverse gains made in improving school enrolment and curbing the out-of-school crisis in the region.
Mr Yahaya expressed deep concern over the trauma the abducted schoolgirls may be facing and called for an immediate and well-coordinated operation by security agencies to ensure their safe rescue and the arrest of the perpetrators.
Reaffirming the NSGF’s commitment to collaborating with the federal government and security institutions, Gov. Yahaya stated that the safety, education, and welfare of young Nigerians remain a top priority for the forum.
He urged communities to remain vigilant and cooperate with the security agencies in the collective efforts to rid the region of criminality.
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