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Gov Orji Accuses Deputy of Disloyalty
Governor Theodore Orji has accused his Deputy, Comrade Chris Akomas of disloyalty, declaring that he could work without him.
He alleged that Akomas was plotting his downfall in the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) so that he would take over from him.
In what would now shift attention to relations between the duo in the unfolding political realignment in Abia State, Orji told his Ibeku kinsmen who were in Government House, Umuahia, midweek to demonstrate their solidarity for the governor in his recent cross-carpeting from PPA to All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) that his deputy was plotting to take over from him in PPA.
In an interview with newsmen later, Orji repeated the same allegation when asked why he accused his deputy of disloyalty earlier, adding that he could work without a deputy.
“Yes, what I said is correct. My deputy is not a loyal deputy for sure. You know he’s been trying to push me away; he wants to take over my seat and that wouldn’t happen. No governor will tolerate that type of thing,” Orji said.
He noted that the Deputy Governor parried a question during a Press interview on whether he would contest the governorship in 2011 and stressed that only the party and the structure would determine would be its candidate.
“You all read what he said on the pages of newspapers when he was asked whether he wants to be governor. That is a direct question of either yes or no.
“Instead of saying yes, I want to be governor or no, I don’t want to be governor, he said it is the structure that would decide who would be governor. That is a clear testimony of his intentions”.
He also called the Deputy Governor a “spare tyre.”
“I have repeatedly said I don’t need a spare tyre. My tyre is bullet proof. It can’t be deflated.”
He added: “I can operate without a Deputy Governor but the constitution allows the office of the deputy governor. He is still there as the deputy governor but I am operating as Governor and he is operating as a Deputy Governor.”
There have been speculations that Akomas may be impeached for refusing to decamp to APGA with the governor.
While addressing his kinsmen, Orji alleged that his deputy collaborated with the party’s chieftains to undo him. He said Akomas, would who pledged before his kinsmen at the Isieke ancestral headquarters of the Ibeku clan, later turned against him.
“He was the arrowhead of the plot for my removal. He was disloyal to me,” the governor said.
This is the first time the governor would be accusing his deputy of disloyalty in public. Observers expressed the belief that both had good working relations until the incidents that forced the governor to quit PPA.
It would be recalled that Orji had last year, when Abia hosted the National Cocoa Day event, described his deputy as “the most loyal deputy in Nigeria” when members of the National Cocoa Committee paid him a courtesy visit at Government House.
Also, earlier this year, the governor had denied that he had frosty relations with his second in command. He told newsmen in Lagos that he had the best of cordial relations with Akomas.
Officials in the Deputy Governor’s office could not be reached for comment as at press time.
President Bola Tinubu has expressed confidence that the country would win the fight against insecurity.
The President gave the assurance at the Argungu International Fishing Festival in Argungu town, Kebbi State, on Saturday.
He noted that the relative peace currently being enjoyed in Kebbi and neighbouring states was the result of sustained investments in security intelligence, coordination among security agencies, and community engagement.
Tinubu assured farmers and fishermen of sustained federal support to guarantee food security and safety across the country.
“The peace we are witnessing today is not accidental. It is the outcome of deliberate and sustained efforts. I assure you that the fight against banditry, insurgency, and insecurity will be won.
“Our farmers, fishermen, traders, and families will go about their lawful activities without fear,” he assured.
The President commended the organisers of the festival for sustaining the cultural event for decades, noting that it had endured for 83 years despite social and security challenges.
Describing the Argungu festival as a powerful symbol of unity, resilience, and peaceful coexistence, Tinubu stated that it reflects the richness of the country’s culture and the opportunities to harness its natural and human resources for national growth.
He said, “Today, this festival stands as a powerful symbol of unity, resilience, and peaceful coexistence among our people.
“It reflects the richness of our culture, the strength of our traditions, and the opportunities inherent in harnessing our natural and human resources for national development.”
The President was received by a large crowd of residents, traditional rulers, fishermen, tourists, and government officials from across the country.
The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to youth and women empowerment, irrigation development, rural electrification, and agricultural productivity.
Earlier, the Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, said his administration was determined to elevate the Argungu Fishing Festival to full international standards while pursuing aggressive development across critical sectors of the state.
The United States Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will be closed today, in observance of Presidents’ Day.
The mission made this known in a notice shared on its official X page, yesterday.
“The U.S. Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will be closed on Monday, February 16, 2026, in observance of Presidents’ Day,” the post read.
According to the embassy, Presidents’ Day was originally established to honour the birthday of the former US President, George Washington, but has evolved into a day to celebrate all U.S. presidents and their leadership in shaping the country’s history.
The embassy noted that the holiday also recognises the influence of U.S. presidents on global affairs.
In a related message, the mission highlighted that Washington created the first “Badge of Military Merit,” which later became the Purple Heart. The medal still bears Washington’s image today.
Presidents’ Day is observed on the third Monday of February annually in the United States as a federal holiday.
News
Guterres Backs Nigeria’s Bid For UN Security Council Seat …Hails Tinubu’s Reforms, Regional Security Role
United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has charged Nigeria with spearheading Africa’s quest for a restructured global order, describing the country as uniquely positioned to lead the continent toward superpower status.
Guterres, who backed Nigeria’s bid for the world body’s security council seat, also praised the economic reforms of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration as well as Nigeria’s leadership in stabilising the Sahel and ECOWAS regions, despite facing its own security challenges.
The UN scribe made the remarks last Friday night during a high-level bilateral meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima on the sidelines of the 39th African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Speaking during the meeting, Guterres said Nigeria’s large population, sustained democratic governance, vast natural and human resources, and longstanding commitment to multilateralism placed it in a unique position to lead Africa in the evolving global order.
“Given Nigeria’s demographic strength, democratic continuity and deep resource base, the country stands a real chance of leading Africa to becoming the next superpower in the evolving global architecture,” he said.
The UN Secretary-General and the vice president discussed key developments in Nigeria and the country’s expanding leadership role in promoting regional stability across West Africa and the Sahel.
Guterres commended the remarkable and outstanding reforms of the administration of President Tinubu, noting that Nigeria’s bold economic restructuring and security commitments have strengthened its continental standing.
The meeting focused on strengthening Nigeria–UN collaboration to advance global economic growth, peace and security, sustainable development, and a coordinated humanitarian response across Africa.
In his remarks, Shettima thanked the UN Secretary-General for his leadership in advancing global peace, noting that Africa has benefited immensely from his tenure, even as the United Nations undergoes internal restructuring.
“We remain committed to multilateralism and to deepening our partnerships with the United Nations and other global institutions,” the vice president said.
Shettima also reiterated Nigeria’s longstanding call for comprehensive reform of the United Nations system to reflect evolving global realities.
He emphasised that Africa must have stronger representation in global decision-making structures and declared that Nigeria deserves a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.
Both leaders pledged to deepen cooperation, with Guterres reaffirming the UN’s support for Nigeria’s reform agenda and its growing leadership role in advancing peace, security, and development across Africa.