Connect with us

Politics

Amaechi To Admit Boko Haram Victims In State Schools

Published

on

Last weekend, during the Easter celebrations, Governor
Chibuike Amaechi sued for peace and peaceful co-existence to commemorate the death and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, saying the season should be used for sober reflections. The governor was represented by his wife, Dame Judith Amaechi at various occasions during the Easter period.
Also last week, Dame Amaechi and the Deputy Governor, Engr Tele Ikuru were among dignitaries who attended a special dedication service of the land of Ikuru to God.
General Superintendent of Redemption Ministries, Rev. Stephen Akinola prayed for the ancient town. The governor’s wife later took an excursion along the beautiful Ikuru beach.
She later attended the womanhood ceremony of the wife of the state Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mrs Gogo Levi Charles, saying women deserve to be honoured. She thanked the commissioner for honouring his wife in a grand style. According to her, such honour attracts God’s blessings and grace.
Her Excellency also attended the Womanhood Ceremony of Mrs Grace Sam Jaja at Opobo in Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area of the state.
Also during the week under review, Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Ibi, Semenitari wasat Opobo Town for a special womanhood ceremony sponsored by wife of former Deputy Governor of the state, Dame Christy Toby. About 10 maidens participated in the Bibite and Egerebite ceremonies held in Chief Toby’s compound in the ancient town.
Returning to the state on Tuesday, Governor Chibuike Amaechi visited Abonnema Town, headquarters of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, where he commissioned a 15KVA power generating line and Owukori Memorial Hall, including the Chibuike Amaechi Ultra-Modern Market constructed by the Chairman of the council, Theodore Georgewill.
The governor later visited the Amayanabo of Abonnema, HRH Gbobo Disrael. During the visit, he addressed the people of the area and promised to embark on a new sand-filling project and completion of abandoned projects in the area.
On Wednesday, the governor together with former Head of State, Gen Abdusalami Abubakar, the Nobel Laureatte, Prof. Wole Soyinka; former Minister of Education, Dr Oby Ezekwesili and representative of President Jonathan, Mrs Omolara Woods flagged off the World Book Capital in Port Harcourt.
Gen. Abubakar said the ceremony was momentous and has brought pride to the country. He, therefore, enjoined the organisers to ensure that all activities slated meet expectations of a Book Capital, as he enjoined Nigerians to work for peace and unity of the country.
In the same vein, Prof Wole Soyinka used the ceremony to call for a concerted efforts towards ending the menace of Boko Haram in the country. On his part, Governor Amaechi, while thanking God for the success, called for an urgent need to reverse the economic decline and leap from development by bringing back the book. He also promised to admit young girls who were abducted by Islamic fundamentalists in Borno State in the model secondary schools built across the state.
Non-indigenes in the state who are members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) paid a solidarity visit to the Governor in Government House. The group under the banner of Non-indigenes Political Forum of APC, led by Chief Williams Ubaka, described Rt Hon Amaechi as the best governor ever produced in Rivers State and Nigeria. They also thanked him for “the uncommon transformation which his leadership has brought to the state.”
On Friday, Head of the United States Bureau of Conflict and Stabilisation, Operations and the Assistant Secretary of States, Rick Barton together with the US Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle paid a courtesy visit to the governor. They intimated the governor that, they were in the state to promote a special programme to train youths in film production.
Mr Barton who expressed concern for a peaceful political transition in the country, assured that the USA was ready to offer assistance in ensuring the development of the country.
On Saturday, they governor was represented by his deputy, Engr Tele Ikuru at the Airport to welcome the President who was enroute Bayelsa State. The deputy governor later participated in the state congress of the APC at the Alfred Diete-Spiff Civic Centre, Port Harcourt, where the APC State congress produced new substantive executive led by Chief Ibiamu Ikanya.

Continue Reading

Politics

Makinde Renames Polytechnic After Late Ex-Gov

Published

on

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.

Continue Reading

Politics

10 NWC Members Oppose Damagum Over National Secretary’s Reinstatement

Published

on

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.”

Continue Reading

Politics

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

Published

on

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.

Continue Reading

Trending