Politics
RSG Flags Off Three New Campuses Of RSU

Rivers State Government , last week, flagged off three new campuses of the state-owned university, amongst other critical projects in the state.
The are ; the Emohua Campus, the Etche Campus and the Ahoada Campus. At the official flag – off of the Emohua Campus, last Monday, Governor Wike disclosed the intention of his administration to also develop the Ogoni Campus of the university.
The Governor who noted that establishing more new universities was not the best approach to solve the problems associated with higher education said more concern should be on how more funds should be committed to the existing universities to enable them to effectively train the manpower needed in the country.
“ Why I cannot build more universities is not because I don’t have where to build them. But it is to have the money to fund the universities. The ones we have, we have not been able to fund them”, Governor Wike said.
Former Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Prof Ndowa Lale flagged – off the Emohua Campus, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Don Baridam officially flagged -off the Etche Campus last Tuesday, while former Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Prof Joseph Ajienka Flagged off the Ahoada Campus of the state university.
Performing the flag-off of the Etche Campus, Prof. Don Baridam said Governor Wike was spreading development using siting of campuses of the state university in other local government areas.
The move , he said , would solve the usual complaint of over-crowding of classrooms, increase the carrying capacity of the institution as well as check the challenge of inadequate hostel accommodation amongst others.
The Vice Chancellor of the Rivers State University, Prof. Nlerum Okugbule, said the Senate and Council of the University approved that Faculty of Agriculture be located in the Etche Campus in cognition of the acknowledged agrarian economy of Etche as the famous Food Basket of the state.
Last Saturday, the state government also inaugurated the Senate Building of the University and also performed foundation stone laying for the construction of the College of Medical Sciences comprising Faculties of Basic Clinical Sciences, Clinical Science, and Pathology.
The Governor further announced the award of full scholarship for all the 55 students already admitted into the institution. According to him, the scholarship covers the entire period of the programme .
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) President, Prof. Innocent Ujah, who laid the foundation for the construction of the buildings, said under Governor Wike’s administration, the health sector had received unprecedented attention geared toward the sustainable development goal.
Also within the week under review, the state Chief Executive flagged off two hostel blocks (450 bed spaces each ) and a 1500 capacity auditorium being constructed by the Rivers State Government at the Yenegoa Campus of the Nigerian Law School .
The Rivers State Governor who further requested for the approval of the Federal Government for the establishment of a campus of the Nigerian Law School in Port Harcourt said the existing six campuses of the school across the country can only admit 6,000 out of the 10,000 applicants that seek legal education every year.
He stated that the state government was willing to provide the basic infrastructure required in establishing another law school within six months in order to accommodate more students desiring legal education in the country.
Also last week in Brick House, Governor Wike bagged the Blueprint Newspaper’s Governor of the year Award.
At the event which took place at the Congress Hall , Trsnscorps Hilton Hotel, Abuja, former President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan was named Icon of Democracy in Africa while eleven other governors also received different awards.
The Chairman/CEO of Blueprint Newspapers Limited… described Gov Wike as a development strategist who has used Infrastructural revolution, healthcare, education, agriculture and sports to honoure his social contract with Rivers people.
The state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Paulinus Nsirim, commended the management of Blueprint Newspapers for recognising the giant strides of the Rivers State Governor, noting that Gov Wike has within the last six years demonstrated that he is a visionary leader and prudent manager of resources.
“ When his contemporaries are complaining of economic downturn, Gov Wike is commissioning projects and flagging off new ones”, Nsirim said.
Also last week, the state government inaugurated and handed over National Industrial Court Judges in Port Harcourt.
By: Chris Oluoh
Politics
Makinde Renames Polytechnic After Late Ex-Gov

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.
Politics
10 NWC Members Oppose Damagum Over National Secretary’s Reinstatement
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.”
Politics
Presidency Slams El-Rufai Over Tinubu Criticism …Says He Suffers From Small Man Syndrome
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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