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Unity Road: Andoni Monarchs Pass Confidence Vote On Wike …As Gov’s Approval Of Allowances Excites NYSC
The Andoni Area Traditional Council of Chiefs has passed a vote of confidence on Governor Chief Nyesom Wike for the continuation of work on the Andoni section of the unity road despite the recent kidnapping and released of expatriates working on the road.
Chairman of the council, His Majesty, King Aaron Miller Ikuru who said this at a thanksgiving service at the St. Simon’s Anglican Church Ikuru Town said that the traditional rulers are grateful to Governor Wike that despite the kidnapping incident, work was not stopped at the Andoni section of the road.
King Ikuru who is also the Okan-Ama of Ikuru Town said that the gesture was indication of Governor Wike’s love for the Andonis and the entire Obolo nation.
The monarch also thanked some prominent Andoni sons among who are; the National chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Prince Uche Secondus, the Speaker, Rivers State of House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ikuinyi- Owaji Ibani, the State Attorney General/Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Zacheus Adango and the Andoni Local Government Chairman, Paul Lawrence Paul for playing crucial roles in the timely released of the expatriates.
Meanwhile, King Ikuru has appealed to cultists in Andoni to either lay down their arms or leave the area.
He said that the security agencies have been directed to arrest and prosecute any youth who is involved in cultism.
According to him, the thanksgiving service was to appreciate God for ensuring the timely released of the expatriates
In his sermon, the Vicar, St Simon’s Anglican Church Ikuru Town, Venerable Wisdom Edighotu urged parents to live up to their responsibilities of bringing up their children in the ways of the Lord.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has approved the immediate payment of monthly allowances to Corps members serving in the state with effect from July, 2019.
It would be recalled that the immediate past All Progressives Congress-led administration in Rivers State had stopped the payment of allowances to corps members serving in the state.
But speaking, last Saturday at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Permanent Orientation Camp in Nonwa-Gbam, Tai Local Government Area during an interaction with corps members, Wike directed immediate payment of the allowances from this month.
Wike said: “As from July, 2019, the state government will begin the payment of allowances to corps members. The state coordinator should send the list and account numbers of corps members to the office of the Secretary to the State Government.
“Recall that the allowances were stopped by the immediate past administration. If I had started payment before the elections, they would have said I was playing politics. Now, I am no longer seeking another term”, he said.
Wike also directed the resumption of the posting of some professionals to ministries with shortage of manpower.
The governor donated an official Prado Jeep to the state coordinator of NYSC, a transformer to power the camp, and ordered the furnishing of the hostels constructed by the Rivers State Government, just as he further directed the immediate reconstruction of the road to the camp.
Wike inspected the 5,000-capacity auditorium being constructed at the Permanent Orientation Camp by his administration.
At the ongoing construction site, the governor directed the immediate cessation of the illegal levies being imposed on the contractors by youth groups in the area.
He charged the host community to support the contractor to deliver on the project, while the contractor should engage the youth in the supply of materials for the project.
In his remarks, NYSC Rivers State Coordinator, Mr Chinwendu Chukwu, congratulated Wike on his victory at the polls, adding that his victory was a testimony that Rivers people appreciate his outstanding projects’ delivery.
Chukwu appealed to the Rivers State governor to continue to promote the welfare of corps members in the state, and also address some immediate needs at the NYSC Orientation Camp.
Highpoint of the interaction was the celebration of Wike by the corps members who sang with his name.
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.
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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.