Politics
RSG, Julius Berger Sign Fifth Flyover Contract

Crucial issues, with far reaching impact on the people and residents of Rivers State, were considered last week in Government House, Port Harcourt
Rivers State Government and the management of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc officially signed contract papers for the construction of yet another flyover in the state.
Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof Zaacheus Adango and the Commissioner for Works, Engr Austin Ben-Chioma, signed on behalf of the Rivers State Government while the Managing Director/ CEO of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Dr Lars Ritchter, signed for the company.
The fifth Flyover which is to be constructed at the GRA junction, along Aba Road in Port Harcourt, among others would cost the state N15.8 billion.
The Managing Director assured that his company would deliver the project in 12 months.
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, said that state Government will pay the German Construction firm 70 per cent of the contract sum upfront.
Also, last week, management of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Company (NLNG) led by its Managing Director , Tony Attah, paid a courtesy visit to Governor Wike in Government House. He announced that contract for Train Seven project has been signed to expand the existing Train Six Complex.
The MD explained that the Train Seven project would create about 12,000 job opportunities and boost the economy of both the host communities and the state.
Atta, who was accompanied on the visit by the Managing Director of Daewoo Nigeria Limited, Yeongsoep Jung and the Acting Managing Director of Saipem, Paviani Walker, commended the Governor for providing a conducive environment.
Responding, the Rivers State Governor noted that the Train Seven was critical to the economy of the state and that of the Federal Government and promised that the state Government would support the project to succeed.
He demanded, however, that Rivers people must be considered for both employment and contract. He said 50 per cent of the 12,000 jobs should go to the people of the state.
Within the week under review, Rivers State Government won her legal battle against the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) over the ownership of OML 11 and Kidney Island.
The Brick House landlord announced the cheering news at a public function held Friday in Government House.
Recall that the Attorney General of the state had filed a suit on behalf of Rivers State Government against Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) of Nigeria Limited over ownership of OML11 and Kidney Island.
Another major event in Government House, Port Harcourt, last week, was the dissolution of the state Taskforce on Illegal Street Trading and Motor Parks by the state government.
Consequent upon this development, SA to the Governor in charge of the Taskforce, Mr Bright Amaewhule, was relieved of his duties while members of the taskforce were directed to return property of the taskforce in their possession, including their identify cards to Secretary to the State Government.
Rivers State Government has frowned at encroachment of government lands in the state by residents, describing it as unfortunate.
Governor Wike made the remark last week when he visited Government Comprehensive Secondary School Borikiri, Port Harcourt.
The Rivers State PDP Chairman , Ambassador Desmond Akawor stated this when he led the body on a courtesy visit to the Governor in Government House, last week.
He noted that Governor Wike has restored the lost glory of the state and developed massive infrastructure across the state.
Chris Oluoh
Politics
Reps Constitution Review Committee Holds Zonal Hearing For Rivers, C’River, Akwa Ibom In Calabar

A press statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Cross River State Governor, Mr Linus Obogo, disclosed that the Calabar Centre — designated as Centre B — will host representatives and stakeholders from Cross River, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom States.
The public hearing is scheduled to take place on Saturday, July 19, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at the Transcorp (Metropolitan) Hotel, Calabar.
The initiative, according to the statement, is designed to promote inclusive dialogue and capture the aspirations of Nigerians from all regions.
It aims to serve as a platform for citizens to contribute meaningfully to the ongoing national efforts to refine and strengthen the country’s legal and institutional frameworks.
“Citizens, civil society groups, professional bodies, traditional rulers, and other interest blocs are invited to participate in this landmark engagement aimed at advancing a more just, equitable, and responsive Nigerian Constitution,” the statement read.
The hearing forms part of the broader review process of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), and is seen as a strategic move toward fostering national unity and addressing structural legal issues within the federation.
Politics
Tinubu’s Contribution To Buhari’s Presidency Marginal – Ex-SGF

For the first time since 2022, when then-presidential aspirant Alhaji Bola Tinubu declared he made former President Buhari Nigeria’s President in 2015, Mr Mustapha dismissed the claims, stressing that the merger only contributed about three million votes in addition to Buhari’s existing 12 million votes in the North.
He insisted that former President Buhari’s integrity, national stature, and disciplined messaging were central to the breakthrough, not the three million votes from the merging parties, which he described as insignificant.
Speaking on the role of the merging parties, particularly President Tinubu, the leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Mr Mustapha, who was the keynote speaker at the launch of the book ‘According to the President: Lessons from a Presidential Spokesman’s Experience’ authored by Mallam Garba Shehu, described the impact of the votes from other merging parties as very insignificant.
In attendance were former Head of State Yakubu Gowon, chair of the event; immediate past Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; SGF George Akume, who represented President Tinubu; PDP’s 2023 presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar; former Chief of Staff to Buhari Ibrahim Gambari; elder statesman Babagana Kingibe; former governors Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Chris Ngige (Anambra), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Raji Babatunde Fashola (Lagos); former ministers Solomon Dalung and Sunday Dare; former Army Chief Tukur Buratai, and Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu’s spokesman, among others.
According to Mr Mustapha, “I do not intend to stir up any controversy. The merger in 2013 was midwifed to create a Buhari presidency. Let us look at the statistics. In the 2003 election, it was the Obasanjo-Buhari presidential contest where Buhari recorded 12.7 million votes. In 2007, it came to 6.6 million, and it went back to 12.2 million in 2011.
“When we were conceptualising the merger, what would give us a headstart? Obviously, it was at the back of our consciousness that the merger with the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), though it had only one state, the ACN had six states, ANPP three states, and when you sum up the total votes that we had as the presidency in 2015, the aggregate of the total votes was 15.4 million.
“So, basically, what we brought to the table after the merger outside the Buhari 12.5 million votes was three million. Before turning to that presidency, it is important to recognise the former President’s role in reshaping Nigeria’s political trajectory.
“In early 2013, as the leader of the CPC, Buhari formally requested and supported the creation of a CPC merger committee, part of a broader coalition-building process that brought together the ACN, ANPP, APGA faction, and elements of the ruling party through the breakaway ‘new PDP’ group. His endorsement and participation, along with other party leaders such as President Tinubu and Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, lent credibility and direction to the merger, helping to unify disparate party factions under the banner of the APC. That coalition-building paved the way for the first democratic defeat of an incumbent ruling party in Nigeria’s history.
“President Buhari’s integrity, national stature, and disciplined messaging were central to that breakthrough. No account of President Buhari’s tenure would be complete without acknowledging the extended periods he spent on medical leave. These moments, while politically delicate, were also telling of his leadership philosophy and personality,” he said.
In his remarks, President Tinubu promised to build on the legacies of former President Buhari, stressing that “nation-building is a relay. The efforts of one administration lay the foundation for the next.
“In this regard, I acknowledge the efforts of my predecessor, President Buhari, and assure all Nigerians that the reform-oriented path he initiated will be consolidated and strengthened under this administration. Our Renewed Hope Agenda is inspired by the desire to build a resilient, just, and inclusive Nigeria—a nation that delivers dividends of democracy to all its citizens”.
Politics
Your Lies Chasing Investors From Nigeria, Omokri Slams Obi
Speaking during an appearance on live television on Wednesday, Mr Omokri alleged that Mr Obi’s statements were misleading and damaging to the country’s economic prospects.
Mr Omokri said some investors currently operating in Nigeria were considering exiting the market due to Mr Obi’s remarks.
“That is not true. He doesn’t rile me up. I rile him up. The reason why I came here is because I’m a patriot. Peter Obi lied. You know, foreign direct investors are watching your programme, who are making investment decisions not to come to Nigeria. There are foreign investors in Nigeria that are making investment decisions to leave Nigeria because of the lie he told.
“One of the lies he told is that President Tinubu has borrowed more than the administrations of Yar’Adua, Jonathan, Buhari. That is a blatant lie”, Mr Omokri said.
To buttress his claims, Mr Omokri referenced figures from the Debt Management Office (DMO), maintaining that President Tinubu had actually reduced Nigeria’s external debt burden since assuming office.
“I have here with me data from the Debt Management Office, and Nigerians who are watching can go to DMO.com and search Debt Management Office, Nigeria State of Indebtedness 2015.
“As of 2015, Nigeria was owing a total of $63 billion. When Buhari was leaving office, Nigeria was owing $113 billion. Today, from the DMO, our debt has gone from $113 billion to $97 billion, meaning that Tinubu has reduced our debt by over $14 billion.
“We should be appreciating this man. Yet Peter Obi came here and lied to the Nigerian people. He took the debts and translated them into naira to make it look like the debts have increased”, he said.
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