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Amaechi Urges Military To Remain Neutral

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Political activities and celebration of Christmas on the political angle, the week began with the Save Rivers Movement rally attended by political heavy weights in the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The likes of Rtd Major-General Buhari, Chief Tom Ikimi, Bola Tinubu and Chief Bisi Akande were at the Liberation Stadium last Mondayto commend the people of Rivers who have joined their governor into the APC.

Former Lagos State governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu said the state will not regret joining the APC. Gen. Buhari also said, “I congratulate the people of Rivers state for coming behind the governor for standing for APC”.

Later on Chief Tom Ikimi together with Chief Akande presented party flags to the ‘Interim Executive Council of the APC in the state. The state Exco of the party is led by Chief Davies Ibiama Ikanya.

Governor Amaechi remarked that APC has come to stay in Rivers with the mandate to change the atrocities of the past.

“The metaphor of the brooms is that it sweeps and sweeps clean”, he said.

Last Tuesday, Governor Amaechi unveiled the 2014 Armed Forces Emblem Appeal Launching in Port Harcourt.

He enjoined the military to always remain neutral and not take sides in the current struggle by politicians for 2015.

He also called on the Nigerian Police to remain neutral in the current political situation in the country. Amaechi lamented the absence of good leadership and of security, water, power, health and other essential needs of the Nigerian people.

Also last week, Wife of Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr. Mina Ikuru called on married couples to put their trust in God. She spoke penultimate Saturday in Lagos at the wedding of Mr. Samuel Ogbeiwi.

On Christmas Day, Governor Amaechi and his wife attended a church Service at St. Vincent De Paul catholic Church and recounted the ordeal the state was facing from political enemies of the state.

In his words, “As a government led by me, a government installed by Christ, if anybody tells you he installed me, tell him it’s a lie, tell him that I said I prayed for 10 months and I fasted from 6am – 6pm, calling on Christ to come down and Christ came down mightily and installed me as a governor”.

Shortly after attending Christmas Church Service with her husband, Dame Judith Amaechi visited the Orphanage Homes, and charge Nigerians to renew their love and cater for the well being of less privileged children.

Describing Christmas as a time to show love, the Rivers First Lady stressed that Nigerians must learn to emulate Christ whose birth symbolizes redemption for mankind, she also vowed to ensure that children are given their pride of place in the policy thrust of Governor Amaechi administration.

Also last week, Governor Amaechi played host to lawyers under the umbrella of Nigerian Bar Association. But last Friday he hosted journalists in Rivers state. He said the crisis rocking in the state stems from a attempt by the wife of the President to governor Rivers state from Abuja.

“The wife of the President wanted to macro-manage governance in Rivers State and I said no, you cannot. I was elected. If I fail, they will not say the wife of the President failed”.

Amaechi also lampooned the Federal government for playing politics with Rivers State development”, … tell me one thing that Rivers State has gained from being part of the South-South under Goodluck Jonathan Presidency”.

On Saturday, Governor Amaechi commissioned the 8,000 sitting capacity Gokana Central Stadium complex in Gokana Local Government Area of the state.

He congratulated the council Chairman, Hon. Demua Ledee Demna and his predecessor, the current state Commissioner for Works, Hon. Victor Giadom for initiating and completing the project.

Super eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi and representative of the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Aminu Maigari, and former green Eagles Skipper, Segun Odegbami, who commended Rivers state for setting another example for the rest of the country.

While in Gokana, Governor Amaechi also paid a courtesy call on King Barnabas Pagia, the Gberemene of Gokana at his palace. He also sympathized with the people of Bodo City over the demise of their monarch, late HRH, Felix Beredon.

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Makinde Renames Polytechnic After Late Ex-Gov

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Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has renamed The Polytechnic, Ibadan as Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan, in honour of a late former governor of the State, Dr Omololu Olunloyo.
Dr Olunloyo, who died on April 6, 2025, was the pioneer Principal of the Polytechnic, Ibadan, while he also served as Governor of Oyo State between October 1 and December 31, 1983.
Governor Makinde made the announcement at the state interdenominational funeral service held yesterday in honour of the late former governor at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Liberty Road, Ibadan.
Governor Makinde said Dr Olunloyo lived an eventful life, adding that his attainment and personality could not be summarised in one sentence.
“He was not a man we could summarise in one sentence. He was a scholar, a statesman, a technocrat, a lover of culture and, above all, a man of deep conviction.
“While giving the exhortation, I was listening to Baba Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu and he said in 1983, Baba became Governor of Oyo State. Though his time in office was brief, his election victory over a popular incumbent remains a powerful testament to the trust people gave him.
“I talked about preserving and digitising his library yesterday [Wednesday] as a mark of honour to Baba Olunloyo.
“Today, we will be giving Baba another honour to immortalise him. He was the first Principal of The Polytechnic, Ibadan; that institution will now be named Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan.”
Earlier in his sermon, a retired Methodist Archbishop of Ilesa and Ibadan, Ayo Ladigbolu, described the late Olunloyo as a role model with intellectual inspiration and unassailable integrity.
The cleric said the deceased also demonstrated leadership in most superior quality during his lifetime.
In attendance were the state Deputy Governor, Chief Abdulraheem Bayo Lawal; wife of a former Military Governor of the old Oyo State, Chief (Mrs) Dupe Jemibewon; wife of a former Governor of Oyo State, Chief (Mrs) Mutiat Ladoja; former Deputy Governor and PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja; and former Deputy Governor, Hazeem Gbolarumi.
Others were the member representing Ibadan North-East/South-East Federal Constituency, Hon Abass Adigun Agboworin; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi; Oyo State Exco members; Chairman of Oyo State Elders’ Council, Dr Saka Balogun; Chairman of All Local Government Chairmen in Oyo State, Hon Sikiru Sanda; President-General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Chief Adeniyi Ajewole; religious leaders and family members, among other dignitaries.

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10 NWC Members Oppose Damagum Over National Secretary’s Reinstatement

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Ten members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC) have countered the Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, on the reinstatement of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary.
The dissenting members, led by the Deputy National Chairman ( South), Taofeek Arapaja, in a joint statement, said no organ of the opposition party could overturn the decision of the 99th meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC).
The dissenting NWC members include Arapaja; Setonji Koshoedo, Deputy National Secretary; Okechukwu Obiechina-Daniel, National Auditor; Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary; Ologunagba; Woyengikuro Daniel, National Financial Secretary and Ahmed Yayari Mohammed, National Treasurer.
Others are Chief Ali Odefa, National Vice Chairman (South East); Emmanuel Ogidi, Caretaker Committee Chairman (South South); Mrs. Amina Darasimi D. Bryhm, National Woman Leader and Ajisafe Kamoru Toyese, National Vice Chairman (South West).
The group also insisted that contrary to the position of the acting National Chairman, the 100th NEC meeting of the party would be held on June 30 as earlier scheduled.
The statement read: “The attention of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to a press briefing by the acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum, today Wednesday, June 25, wherein he attempted to overturn the resolution of the 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting which scheduled the 100th NEC meeting for Monday, June 30.
“The acting National Chairman in the said press briefing also reportedly announced that Senator Samuel Anyanwu has been asked to resume as National Secretary of the party contrary to the resolution of the 99th NEC meeting, which referred all matters relating to the office of the National Secretary to the 100th NEC meeting.
“The pronouncements by the acting National Chairman have no foundation as no organ of the party (including the NWC), individual or group has the power to cancel, overrule, veto or vary the resolution of the National Executive Committee (NEC) under the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).
“For the avoidance of doubt, the NEC is the highest decision-making organ of the party, second only to the National Convention. By virtue of Section 31 (3) of the PDP Constitution, the resolution of the NEC to hold its 100th meeting on Monday June 30, is binding on all organs, officers, chapters and members of the party and no organ, group or individual can vary or veto this resolution of NEC.
“Furthermore, the claim by Damagum that Sen Anyanwu has been asked to resume office as the National Secretary of the party is, therefore, misleading being contrary to the resolution of NEC.
“In the light of the foregoing, the 100th NEC meeting as scheduled for Monday, June 30, has not been canceled or postponed.”

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Presidency Slams El-Rufai Over Tinubu Criticism …Says He Suffers From Small Man Syndrome

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The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has fired back at former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, following the latter’s scathing criticism of President Tinubu’s administration and his 2027 re-election prospects.
In an interview on live television, Mallam El-Rufai said it would take a “miracle” for President Tinubu to be re-elected in 2027, citing an internal poll that purportedly shows a 91 percent disapproval rating for the president across key regions in the country, including the South-East and the North. He also claimed that President Tinubu’s disapproval rating in Lagos stood at 78 percent.
Reacting on Wednesday via a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mr Onanuga took a swipe at the ex-governor, quoting a harsh assessment of Mallam El-Rufai’s character from former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s memoir, My Watch.
“Nasir’s penchant for reputation savaging is almost pathological,” Mr Onanuga wrote, citing Chief Obasanjo’s words. “Why does he do it? Very early in my interaction with him, I appreciated his talent. At the same time, I recognised his weaknesses; the worst being his inability to be loyal to anybody or any issue consistently for long, but only to Nasir El-Rufai.”
The presidential adviser emphasised Chief Obasanjo’s remarks that Mallam El-Rufai often tries to elevate himself by diminishing others. “He lied brazenly, which he did to me, against his colleagues and so-called friends,” Mr Onanuga continued, quoting the former President. “I have heard of how he ruthlessly savaged the reputation of his uncle, a man who, in an African setting, was like a foster father to him.”
Chief Obasanjo, who appointed Mallam El-Rufai as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory between 2003 and 2007, did not mince words in the memoir, describing Mallam El-Rufai as suffering from “small man syndrome.”
Mr Onanuga’s post is seen as a direct rebuttal to Mallam El-Rufai’s recent criticism and growing opposition role. The former governor is reportedly playing a central role in forming a new coalition to challenge President Tinubu in the 2027 general election.
In March 2025, El-Rufai officially dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP), intensifying speculations about his 2027 political ambitions.
As the political rift deepens, Mallam El-Rufai remains one of the most vocal critics of the Tinubu administration, while Mr Onanuga and other presidential allies continue to push back against what they describe as “reckless” opposition rhetoric.

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