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Five Ex-Heads Of State Attend COS Meeting ‘Why Amaechi Was Absent’

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12 years ago

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Former Heads of State, Yakubu Gowon, Ibrahim Babangida, Abdusalami Abubakar and former President Shehu Shagari  attended the Council of State meeting in Abuja.
Former Head of Interim Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan was also at the meeting, presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House.
Vice President Namadi Sambo, Senate President, Sen. David Mark; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwa and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim, were also at the meeting.
The retired Chief Justices of Nigeria, Mohammed Uwais, Alfa Belgore, Legbo Kutigi and Dahiru Mustapher were also at the meeting.
Our Correspondent reports that 20 state governors attended the meeting which started at about 10.45 a.m.
Some of the other governors absent were represented by their deputies at the meeting.
The governors in attendance included Theodore orji (Abia), Peter Obi (Anambra), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa) and Rochas Okorocha (Imo).
Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Ramalan Yero (Kaduna), Aliyu Babangida (Niger), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom) and Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe) also attended.
Also at the meeting were Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Babatunde Fashola (Lagos) and Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Idris Wada (Kogi), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta) and Saidu Dakingari (Kebbi).
Our Correspondent also reports that Tambuwal stepped out of the meeting at about 40 minutes after it started and Fashola similarly left at about an hour after.
The council is an organ of the Federal Government with statutory function of advising the executive on policy making.
It consists of the President as the Chairman and the Vice President as the Deputy Chairman.
Other members include all former Presidents and Heads of State and all former Chief Justices of Nigeria.
The Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, all incumbent state governors and the AG-F are also members.
The council has the responsibilities to advise the president in the exercise of his powers with respect to the prerogative of mercy and award of national honours.
The council also advises the president on issues of elections, judiciary and population census as well as appointments of members of INEC, National Judicial Commission and National Population Commission.
It also advises the president, whenever requested to do so, on the maintenance of public order within the federation or any parts thereof and on such other matters as the president may direct.
Meanwhile, Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi was absent at yesterday’s National Council of State meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, at which President Goodluck Jonathan presided.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former head of State, Muhammadu Buhari were also absent at the first council of State meeting for the year. It is also the first Council of State meeting in one year.
However, The Tide has confirmed the reason for Amaechi’s absence from the meeting.
The Tide authoritatively reveals that Amaechi was out of the country on assignment, and had not returned as at the time of the meeting.
Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari, who stated this in an interview in Port Harcourt, yesterday while, confirming the governor’s absence at the meeting, said that the governor was out on an official state assignment, though she did not give further details.
“The governor is out of town and so could not attend the National Council of State Meeting today”” (Tuesday), she said.
Five former Heads of State and 20 governors attended the meeting, with deputy governors representing the governors who did not attend.

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HoS Hails Fubara Over Provision of Accommodation for Permanent Secretaries

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7 days ago

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February 2, 2026

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The Head of Service (HoS) of Rivers State, Dr. Mrs. Inyingi S. I. Brown, has commended Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, for approving befitting accommodation for Permanent Secretaries in the state.
This commendation was contained in a press release made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt.
According to the Head of Service, Governor Fubara has continued to demonstrate uncommon commitment to the welfare of civil servants in Rivers State, stressing that such gestures underscore his people-oriented leadership style. She urged civil servants across the state to remain supportive of the governor’s administration in order to sustain good governance and effective public service delivery.
Speaking on behalf of the Body of Permanent Secretaries, Dr. Brown congratulated Governor Fubara on the occasion of his 51st birthday, describing him as “a Governor who leads by serving.”
She further praised the governor’s service-driven and people-centred leadership approach, noting that it has significantly contributed to institutional stability and improved efficiency within the state’s public service. Special appreciation was expressed for the approval of a befitting accommodation complex for Permanent Secretaries, which she said reflects the governor’s commitment to staff welfare and enhanced productivity.
As part of activities to mark the governor’s birthday, the Body of Permanent Secretaries announced the sponsorship of 329 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) forms for indigent students across the state.
A breakdown of the initiative shows that 319 forms will be distributed across the 319 political wards in Rivers State, while five forms are allocated to non-indigenes and five forms to persons living with disabilities.
Interested applicants are advised to contact the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, for further details.
The Body of Permanent Secretaries wished Governor Fubara continued good health, divine wisdom, and greater accomplishments in his service to the people of Rivers State.
By John Bibor
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Allegation of Disrespect to President Tinubu Unfounded — Rivers Government

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7 days ago

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February 2, 2026

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The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to a statement credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), purportedly authored by one Bestman Innocent Amadi, alleging that the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, removed the official portrait of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, from the Government House, Port Harcourt.
For the avoidance of doubt, the Rivers State Government wishes to categorically state that there is no policy, directive, or intention on the part of the government or the Governor that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government.
On the contrary, the Rivers State Government, under the leadership of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, currently enjoys a robust, cordial, and collaborative relationship with the Federal Government, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Renewed Hope Agenda—a partnership that is already yielding positive and tangible benefits for the people of Rivers State.
Consequently, the insinuation that the Governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” is misleading, irresponsible, inflammatory, and entirely unsupported by verifiable facts, and should therefore be disregarded by the public.
It is regrettable that a body expected to promote youth unity, peace, and responsible engagement would resort to incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated claims capable of overheating the polity at a time when Rivers State requires calm, dialogue, and mature leadership.
The Rivers State Government therefore calls on well-meaning members of the public, particularly its esteemed and hardworking youths, to disregard and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups bent on advancing divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.
Rivers State belongs to all of us. Political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, peace, and the collective pursuit of progress.
Members of the public are further urged to remain vigilant and avoid lending credence to inflammatory statements or the activities of fifth columnists pursuing dubious agendas aimed at sowing discord.
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Rivers Government Dismisses Allegations of Disrespect to President Tinubu

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7 days ago

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February 2, 2026

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The Rivers State Government has dismissed as unfounded and misleading allegations that Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara removed the official portrait of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the Government House in Port Harcourt.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the state government reacted to claims credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), describing the allegation as false, irresponsible, and unsupported by any verifiable facts.
The government clarified that it has no policy, directive, or intention that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government. It emphasized that Governor Fubara maintains a cordial, respectful, and collaborative relationship with President Tinubu and the Federal Government.
According to the statement, the relationship between Rivers State and the Federal Government has grown stronger under the Renewed Hope Agenda, with tangible benefits and positive impacts already being felt by residents of the state.
The Rivers State Government described insinuations that the governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” as deliberately provocative, noting that such claims are capable of misleading the public and unnecessarily heating up the polity.
It further expressed concern that an organization expected to promote youth unity and peace would engage in what it termed incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated accusations at a time when the state requires calm, dialogue, and responsible leadership.
The government called on well-meaning members of the public, especially the youths of Rivers State, to disregard the claims and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups spreading divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.
Reaffirming its commitment to peace, unity, and progress, the state government stressed that political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, and the collective interest of the people.
Members of the public were also urged to remain vigilant and not give attention to inflammatory statements or individuals described as fifth columnists bent on causing division within the state.
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