News
APC Alleges Allocation To PDP Govs Through Back Door
All Progressives Congress (APC), governors have accused the Federal Government of politicising its monthly hand-outs to states, saying, allocations to opposition states have increasingly dwindled over the past months despite the government’s claim that Nigeria is not broke.
With the APC states losing money and struggling to meet routine needs such as payment of salaries, states controlled by the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), appear to remain as buoyant, the governors said at a meeting in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, Wednesday.
They argued that the PDP states may be secretly receiving “backdoor” funding tucked in by the Federal Government to boost their delivery of services to their people.
“This has become a very serious concern to us as governors and we felt that issues that affect the lives of our people must never be politicized. We refuse to accept the fact that this nation is broke and thank God that the Federal Government has confirmed that the country was not broke,” Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, said.
“If the nation is not broke, what is due to states should be given to states. This idea of cutting down what should go to states does not in any way promote democracy and democratic dividends.
“As progressive governors, we call on the Federal Government to look into the issue of dwindling resources and convince us as to why the states should not get what is due to them.
“We don’t know why our colleagues from the PDP side are not talking on this matter. But if they are not talking, it is either they are not affected or somehow they are getting something from the backdoor,” Okorocha said.
The governors rose from a five-hour meeting with a resolve to meet President Goodluck Jonathan to discuss their concerns over dwindling revenues.
In attendance at the meeting were the host, Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State; Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Hashim Shettima (Borno), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), and Ibrahim Geidam (Yobe).
Raji Fashola of Lagos; Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun; Adams Oshiomhole of Edo, Umar Al-Makura of Nasarawa, Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara and Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto states were absent.
The governors’ resolution came on the same day as the government’s monthly Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC), meeting where allocations are shared to the states.
Wednesday’s meeting, which was for September and was attended by the Commissioners of Finance and the states’ Accountants General, lasted hours till about 8 p.m. on Wednesday, with the knotty issue of dwindling revenues again taking centre stage.
Throughout the meeting, representatives of the states engaged their federal counterparts, led by the Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda, in tough negotiations on what should be shared for the month.
The major point of disagreement was the outstanding N450 billion debt by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), to the Federation Account and what to do with the proceeds of the Excess Crude Account (ECA).
The state governments demanded full disclosure on the activities of the NNPC, especially how much has since been transferred to the Federation Account.
Midway into the negotiations, state finance commissioners filed out of the auditorium of the Federal Ministry of Finance venue for consultations, when discussion deadlocked on the offer by the Federal Government.
A proposal for money to be withdrawn from the ECA for sharing generated heated debate, with the Federal Government team canvassing “the no-sharing option” based on the view that the country’s savings should be boosted to mitigate any likely shock on the economy.
However, the states vehemently opposed the proposal on the ground that their governments needed more funds to execute various projects and programmes as well as pay civil servants and contractors.
At the end, the meeting resolved to draw about $2.7billion from the Excess Crude Revenue Account for sharing, meaning the account now holds a balance of $4.1billion.
The Minister of State, Yuguda, told journalists that a total of N603.529billion was shared for the month of September, lower than N611.767billion shared in August.
About N463.779billion was shared among the three tiers of government as statutory fund, N65.102 billion from Value Added Tax, VAT, N30billion as additional distribution from NNPC, N35.549billion from Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme , SURE-P, and N6.330billion was for NNPC refund to the Federal Government.
Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, had during her appearance at the Ministerial Platform in Abuja on Tuesday, lamented the impact of declining oil prices on the country’s economy and revenue yields.
She however insisted this was not significantly affecting the amount of revenue paid into government coffers.
The APC governors, who spoke at their meeting in Ilorin, said the government must be more open and share to the states what belongs to them to enable them meet their responsibilities.
News
Rivers DPOs Receive Awards For Outstanding Performance In Crime Prevention …As Students, Media Group Honour CSP Worgu, CSP Yusuf
Two Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in Rivers State have been honoured by separate groups for their contributions to security, crime prevention and improved community-police relations in their respective areas of responsibility.
The beneficiaries are the DPO of Afam Police Division, CSP Endurance Worgu and his counterpart at Oyigbo Police Division, CSP Bello Yusuf.
CSP Worgu was honoured by a group of students under the aegis of Rivers State Graduate Students Associations for what they described as his commitment and outstanding performance in the discharge of his duties.
The students, led by Chidi John Enyie, Esq. said CSP Worgu was selected based on his track record and status as one of the longest-serving young DPOs of Rivers State origin.
According to the group, CSP Worgu has made significant contributions to the protection of lives and property in the area since assuming office following the #EndSARS period.
The students said they were particularly impressed by the improvement in community-police relations under his leadership, noting that professionalism had remained a key feature of his service.
Enyie represented by Comrade Briggs Soku, said the students community was pleased to identify with a Rivers indigene who had distinguished himself in the police force.
He said the students considered it necessary to encourage and celebrate CSP Worgu because of his achievements as a young Rivers man excelling in a profession that many people from the state were often reluctant to join.
Receiving the award at his office in Afam, CSP Worgu expressed gratitude to God and the students for finding him worthy of the honour.
The DPO said the recognition had boosted his morale and encouraged him to sustain his efforts towards maintaining peace and security in the area.
He said he least expected the honour, particularly because it came from the students, adding that the recognition would further motivate him to serve the people better.
CSP Worgu assured residents of Afam that the police would sustain the existing peace in the area.
He appealed to members of the public to support the police by providing credible and timely information, stressing that useful information from residents would make the job of security personnel easier.
Meanwhile, the Ikwerre/Etche Media Association has also honoured the DPO of Oyigbo Police Division, CSP Bello Yusuf, for his efforts in tackling criminal activities in the area.
The media group presented the award following the swift tracking and arrest of five suspected kidnappers who had allegedly terrorised residents of the Kom-Kom axis and other parts of Oyigbo.
The group commended CSP Bello for what it described as his determined efforts to restore confidence and security in the affected communities, particularly Kom-Kom and Obeama.
According to the group, the arrest of the suspects demonstrated the DPO’s commitment to tackling criminality and safeguarding residents.
The media association said residents had received the development with relief, noting that the police action had sent a strong message to criminal elements operating in the area.
Responding, CSP Yusuf appreciated the group for the recognition and reaffirmed that there would be no room for criminality in Oyigbo.
He also commended the media for its role in disseminating credible information to the public, saying the media had remained supportive of the police in the fight against crime.
CSP Yusuf warned criminal elements operating in Oyigbo to leave the area or be prepared to face the full weight of the law.
He assured residents that the police would continue to pursue criminals and work to dismantle their hideouts, regardless of where they might be operating.
News
College Of Bishops Endorses Tinubu, APC Candidates For 2027 Polls
The 5000 Achievers Christian Forum and Colleges of Bishops, Archbishops and Apostles, a Christian interdenominational organisation, has endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State for the 2027 general elections.
International President of the forum, Archbishop Lucky Aroh, disclosed this during the ordination and consecration of three new Bishops, as well as an award ceremony held in Port Harcourt.
Aroh said the performance of the APC-led Federal Government had endeared the party to the organisation, prompting the forum to declare its support for President Tinubu and other APC candidates in Rivers State.
He said the forum would support all APC candidates in the state during the 2027 elections and urged Nigerians to vote for the party.
Aroh, who is also the General Overseer of Caring Peoples Church, Port Harcourt, charged the newly consecrated Bishops to see their new positions as a great responsibility and dedicate themselves to the advancement of the kingdom of God.
He cautioned them against conduct capable of bringing their offices into disrepute, stressing that their activities would be closely watched by members of the public.
“As Bishops, the eyes of the public are on your activities. You must therefore conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of your calling,” he said.
Also speaking, the International Coordinator of the forum, Bishop Saint Robinson, urged the newly consecrated Bishops to work diligently towards winning souls for the kingdom of God.
Robinson, who was the guest speaker at the event, stressed that the activities of Bishops must at all times be guided by godly principles.
He also called on members of the church to support and cooperate with the newly consecrated Bishops in the discharge of their responsibilities.
The Secretary of the College, Apostle Elizabeth Ayadi Abaye, said the organisation was established to advance the kingdom of God and promote spiritual development.
According to her, the forum has organised several crusades, conferences, prayer meetings, ordinations, consecrations, enthronements, empowerment programmes and other spiritual development activities across the country as part of efforts to win souls for Christ.
Abaye said the organisation has members across the world and disclosed that more programmes had been scheduled to promote the spiritual development and wellbeing of humanity.
The three Bishops consecrated at the ceremony were Prince Alban Chike, Testimony Omenihu Shedrach and Prince Ifemena.
Among those honoured at the event were the Chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC), Abali Community, Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Manuchimso Prince Lemmy Wopara, and Clifford Oko Jaja, Coordinator of the 5,000 House-to-House for President Tinubu.
By: John Bibor
News
Police Arrest Fake Soldier, Others For Armed Robbery, Kidnapping
The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a 49-year-old suspected fake soldier, Andrew Atausi, and several other suspects in connection with various criminal activities, including kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, one-chance robbery and the alleged murder of police officers.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, disclosed this in Port Harcourt, recently during a press briefing at the Command Headquarters, where he said the arrests formed part of the operational achievements recorded by the Command between June and August 2026.
Adepoju said Atausi was arrested on August 10 by police operatives along Ada George, Port Harcourt, while dressed in military uniform and driving a Toyota Hilux painted in Army colours.
The Commissioner said investigation revealed that Atausi was not a member of the Armed Forces, adding that he was suspected to be a serial car snatcher, with three suspected stolen vehicles recovered from him.
He said the recovered vehicles included three Toyota Hilux vehicles without registration numbers and a Toyota Corona Premio with registration number BNY 380 ES, noting that the chassis and engine numbers of the vehicles had allegedly been tampered with.
Adepoju added that an axe and military accoutrements were also recovered from Atausi, as investigation continued into the circumstances surrounding the vehicles and other items recovered from him.
On the June 29 attack on police officers at Aluu Division, the Commissioner said three members of the gang allegedly responsible for the incident had been arrested by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit, VCRU-AKU.
The suspects, identified as Maduabuchi Emeka, 34, alleged gang leader; Doctor Chinedu Owhor, 42, and Kamachi Joe, 28, alleged armourer, reportedly led operatives to their hideout at Omagwa where two AK-47 rifles stolen during the attack were recovered.
Adepoju recalled that two police officers were killed during the Aluu attack, while others were wounded and one officer had his leg amputated, stressing that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fourth suspect.
On kidnapping, the Commissioner said five members of a suspected kidnapping syndicate were arrested in Oyigbo Local Government Area, adding that they allegedly confessed to operations in Kom-Kom, Railway, Obeama and Afam communities.
He said two other suspects from the same network, Anele Ogbogu, 35, alleged to be the gang’s armourer, and Kenneth Eke, 38, were arrested on July 27, with one AK-47 rifle and one SMG rifle recovered.
The Commissioner further disclosed the arrest of suspects in connection with alleged firearm offences, armed robbery, cultism and one-chance robbery, with firearms, ammunition and other exhibits recovered during the operations.
Adepoju assured residents that the Command would sustain intelligence-led, proactive and community-oriented policing in collaboration with other security agencies, while urging members of the public to continue providing credible information that would assist the police in combating crime across Rivers State.
By; King Onunwor
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