News
S’South Not Ready For Joint Security Outfit -Okowa …Says Govs Favour Community Policing
The South-South governors have yet to make any moves for a joint security outfit like Operation Amotekun in the South-West region, says the Chairman of South-South Governors’ Forum, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa.
Amotekun was set up by the South-West governors to check insecurity in the zone.
But Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Edo and Delta States have yet to meet to consider a joint security outfit in the South-South despite glaring cases of security breaches, killings, kidnapping and rape of people in the region by criminal elements from other regions and outside the country.
The Delta State governor, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Olise Ifeajika, said at the weekend, that the South-South governors were in favour of community policing.
Okowa said, “No move has been made to set up such an outfit in the region. If any move has been made, I’m not aware of it. But to the best of my knowledge, no move has been made.
“As I said before, community policing is the answer to the criminal activities in the region.”
It would be recalled that a group in the North, recently, launched Shege-Ka-Fasa aimed at complementing the efforts of the police and other statutory security agencies to tackle insecurity in the region.
However, the northern governors have since dissociated themselves from the initiative.
Meanwhile, Cross River State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Asu Okang, said the state government was not aware if South-South governors were planning a regional security outfit.
Okang, however, said the establishment of such an outfit was a welcome development in view of the prevailing security challenges facing the country.
He said, “I am not aware of any such plans yet. I am not aware if South-South governors will attempt to duplicate what South-West governors have done.
“Operation Amotekun is a welcome development by all judgment and standards because it has got to a point in this country where zonal governments, even state governments and local governments, should be able to attempt and institute a security apparatus to be able to ensure that they protect their own people.
“The original intent of government or what the Constitution says about the primary responsibility of government is to provide security and welfare for its citizenry. Where you find the contrary, it is important that people rise up to find cooperative means of protecting themselves.
“You cannot sit in your house and wait for somebody to kill you first. A dead man doesn’t talk. So, I think that Amotekun is a welcome development, and I speak as Asu Okang. I am not speaking as Cross River State Government. I speak as an individual. The position of the state might be different, which I do not see being different.
Although Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike made efforts to establish the Neighbourhood Watch for the state, it is not clear if he is planning to mobilise his colleagues in the South-South on the way forward as far as security of the region is concerned.
In Edo State, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Crusoe Osagie, could not speak on the matter as a text message sent to him was ignored after he failed to answer several calls put across to him.
News
Be Patient With Us, Diri Tells Bayelsans … Inspects New 60mw IPP …Expresses Confidence In Technical Partners, BECL MD
The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has directed his lawyers to withdraw all ongoing defamation lawsuits against several individuals, saying he was moved by counsel during a New Year Mass.
Speaking at the Sacred Heart Parish in Uyo, yesterday, Akpabio said he had filed nearly nine lawsuits against individuals he accused of defaming him.
He said, “I had almost nine cases in court against some individuals who defamed me, who lied against me, who slandered my name.
“But I listened to the priest and suddenly realised he was talking to me, so I hereby direct my solicitor to withdraw all lawsuits against them.”
In 2025, Akpabio had filed several high-profile defamation lawsuits, including one against colleague Senator Natasha Akpoti?Uduaghan.
In late 2025, Akpabio filed a N200 billion defamation lawsuit against her over allegations of sexual harassment, which he denied and urged her to substantiate in court.
Earlier in the year, Akpabio’s wife also filed defamation suits against Akpoti?Uduaghan over claims she said had harmed her family’s reputation.
Relations between the two lawmakers soured after Akpoti?Uduaghan accused Akpabio of influencing her suspension from the Senate in March 2025, following her public allegations of misconduct.
The Senator had previously challenged actions taken against her in court, including a N100 billion defamation suit she filed against Akpabio and other defendants over alleged remarks that she said damaged her reputation.
With yesterday’s announcement, Akpabio has formally ended all pending legal disputes arising from defamation claims, signalling closure to the publicised litigations as the year begins.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that the best form of gratitude Rivers people owe President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for protecting the interest of the State is to galvanize massive support for the President in 2027.
Fubara disclosed this last Monday during the commissioning of Permanent Secretaries Quarters built by his administration at Elimgbu in Obio Akpor Local Government Area of the State.
He said that the State has what it takes to deliver the President during the 2027 general elections.
“We’ve taken a decision,our decision is for the good of Rivers State, our decision is to say thank you for the protection we have from Mr President, our decision is to prove that we have what it takes to deliver Mr President.”
Fubara expressed delight over the completion of the project, stating that the initiative was to provide accommodation, a basic need of life for public servants in the state to improve their productivity.
He explained that lack of effective social welfare was at the root of some incriminating actions that undermine the purpose of governance, noting that the commissioning of the newly built Permanent Secretaries Quarters marks a significant milestone in civil service welfare and institutional development.
“Insecurity begins when individuals are uncertain of what the next hour holds. This situation is especially challenging for family men and women, affecting confidence and decision-making,” he observed.
Fubara emphasized the need for proper maintenance of the facility and urged the beneficiaries to protect the project like a personal property, while directing the State Head of Service to appoint a facility manager to ensure long-term maintenance.
In her remarks, the Special Guest of Honour and Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who unveiled the project, expressed appreciation to the governor and Rivers State for inviting her to commission the project.
She commended Fubara for prioritizing the welfare of Permanent Secretaries who are senior public servants and accounting officers, noting that the project reflects purposeful and visionary leadership, and urged other states to borrow a cue from the Rivers State Governor.
Walson-Jack described the initiative as a strategic investment in staff welfare and institutional continuity which she noted is in line with Renewed Hope Initiative on provision of mass housing and social stability.
“The commissioning of these houses reflect a deliberate commitment to the dignity, welfare, and productivity of senior public servants responsible for policy coordination and service delivery,” she said.
In his goodwill message, the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibode Bashiru, who led a high powered delegation on a visit to the governor, congratulated Rivers people for aligning with the Pan Nigerian political party, assuring that the interest of Rivers State will be duly protected in the APC.
He described President Bola Tinubu as a detribalised Nigerian who anchors his leadership on equity, fairness and justice, adding that the APC will provide a level playing ground for all.
The APC chief scribe also commended Fubara for providing good accommodation for public servants, stating that it will address issues of sabotage, compromise and disloyalty on the part of public servants.
Giving the project description, Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Works, Dr. Austin Ezekiel-Hart, said the estate comprises 29 units, including nine standalone duplexes and 20 terrace buildings.
Facilities feature a water treatment plant, synchronized power generators, CCTV and alarm systems, a gym, recreational areas, and green spaces—designed to enhance comfort, performance, and productivity.
Earlier, the Head of the Rivers State Civil Service, Dr Mrs Inyingi Brown, had thanked the governor for his visionary initiative and unwavering commitment to the welfare of Rivers State Civil Servants, and restated the commitment of the State civil servants to the success of Fubara’s administration.
By: Taneh Beemene