Politics

Heed Calls For Restructuring, True Federalism, Wike Urges Buhari

Published

5 years ago

November 30, 2020

The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to heed the calls from various geopolitical zones of the country for restructuring and true Federalism so as to douse brewing tension in the country.

Governor Wike gave the advice last week when he featured as a guest on Channels Television programme, Sunrise Daily monitored from Port Harcourt.

He said stakeholders in South-South and other geopolitical zones that met with the delegation led by Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari had expressed their grievances which must be genuinely addressed.

Noting that stakeholders in the South-South, on Tuesday in Port Harcourt ventilated their expectations, Governor Wike said what was required was the political will by the President to implement the demands.

He advised President Buhari that whenever the National Assembly carries out constitutional amendment as it concerns restructuring, true Federalism and Resource Control, he should be courageous enough to assent to it.

The victory of Rivers State Government Against the Dutch Oil Shell at the Supreme Court last Friday, was a major source of joy last week in Brick House.The apex court, last Friday affirmed the state’s acquisition of 45 per cent equity stake in OML 11 and the Kidney Island, Port Harcourt.

Recall that the Supreme Court had in January 2019, upheld the judgement of the Court of Appeal, which awarded N17 Billion damages against Shell for a devastating oil spill that ravaged farmlands, rivers, and streams in Ejama-Ebubu in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State decades ago.

In July 2019, Shell which was the operator of the OML11 and Kidney Island Port Harcourt, filed a suit at the Supreme Court to set aside it’s earlier judgement on the ground that the appellate court did not go into the merit of their appeal before upholding the decision of the Court of Appeal.

But the Supreme Court, in a unanimous judgement prepared by Justice Centus Nweze and delivered by Justice Samuel Oseji, asserted that the appeal filed by Shell was frivolous and lacked merit.

Another major event in Brick House in within the week under review was the courtesy visit by a delegation of Chiefs, Elders and Women leaders of Opobo led by the Amayanabo of Opobo Kingdom, King Dandeson Douglas-Jaja.

The visit was to inform that Governor and also invite him to be their Special Guest of Honour at the planned Opobo Kingdom Sesquicentenary celebration billed to hold between 24th and 28th December, 2020.

King Jaja who also is the Chairman, Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers said the people of Opobo Kingdom have lined up several activities to celebrate Opobo Kingdom as they mark 150 years of it’s establishment.

The Governor directed the State Surveyor-General to commence surveying and measuring of the land recently reclaimed by the Rivers State Government in Opobo kingdom so that the land can be allocated to the benefitting families.

He commended the Amayanabo and the people of Opobo Kingdom for being very supportive to his administration and urged them not to relent.

Governor Wike underscored the importance of the Ogoni- Opobo-Andoni Unity Road to the state and restated the determination of his administration to complete the project before his administration is over..

Also last week, Gov Wike added another feather to the long list of his awards as he emerged the Hallmark Man of The Year 2020.

Business Hallmark Newspaper, gave Governor Wike the award as it recognises outstanding individuals and institutions who have affected national development in productive ways.

Chief Told Adeniyi, a member of Business Hallmark Advisory Board, and Co-chair of it’s Public Policy Forum, said Wike was chosen in recognition of his developmental strides in the state as well as his staunch defense of democracy.

The State Government also imposed a 24 hour curfew for two weeks on the entire area around the Okoro-nu-Odo flyover in Rumuokoro due to the upsurge of cult activities and related violence.

Governor Wike also received a delegation of the Tiv People living in the state under the aegis of Mdzough U. The delegation which was led by Mr Caleb Yashi.u

By: Chris Oluoh

Politics

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

Published

4 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

7 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