News
Etche Legislative Leader Escapes Assassination …Accuses Council Boss Of Ordering CSO, Thugs To Vandalise Her Car …I’ve No Hand In Her Attack -ELGA Boss
The political supremacy in Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-controlled Etche Local Government Council took a new dimension, last Monday, as the Leader of the Legislative Assembly, Hon Cynthia Nweke, escaped alleged assassination attempt on her life at Okehi, the council headquarters.
Nweke is a loyalist of a chieftain of the party, Allwell Onyesoh.
The incident, an eyewitness account said, occurred at mid-day, causing great panic and pandemonium within and around Etche LG Council Secretariat, as passers-by and staff of the council who came to work on that fateful day were seen scampering for safety.
The Tide learnt that the incident happened at the gate of the council secretariat, when the leader and some of her aides were going back to Port Harcourt after the screening of the supervisory councillors which was an official duty she and her colleagues came to the council to perform before she was attacked.
The list of the supervisors was submitted to the Legislative Assembly by the Chairman, Hon Obinna Anyanwu for confirmation and approval.
It was gathered that the councillors had been successfully sworn-in before the incident occurred.
According to an eyewitness, trouble started when the leader, who is a female, took the mace and put it into her car and was driving back to Port Harcourt after the day’s legislative business.
It was learnt that the move to take the mace along was part of an agreement with other councillors to ensure the safety of the mace in the Legislative Assembly building which was undergoing reconstruction.
But unknown to her, some thugs allegedly led by the Chief Security Officer to the council chairman, popularly called Shino, had laid ambush on her.
The source further said that immediately they sighted her vehicle coming toward the council gate, the thugs locked the gate and stopped her from leaving the council premises.
However, in an attempt to inquire what the problem was, she was rebuffed and the CSO and the array of thugs pounced on her; tore her clothes and smashed her car rear windscreen and window glasses.
The Tide gathered that video and pictures of the incident had gone viral on social media platforms since Monday with various calls on the state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, to immediately wade in with a view to resolving the crisis bedevilling the council’s leadership in the state.
Some of the stakeholders have also urged the governor to ensure that the to inhuman treatment meted out to the leader of the Legislative Assembly was remedied and appropriate sanctions slammed on those behind the barbaric act.
When contacted on phone, the Leader of Etche Legislative Assembly, Hon Cynthia Nweke, accused the council chairman of masterminding the act, adding that she had put up a call to the chairman while the CSO and his thugs were harassing her, and the chairman promised to call the CSO to maintain the peace.
She lamented that the chairman never did.
She alleged that the CSO beat her up and tore her clothes, leaving her half-naked, adding that she took the house’s mace in order to protect it because the council secretariat was undergoing renovation.
“It was agreement with my colleagues that I should go home with the mace. There was no problem between me and the chairman. We screened all the candidates he submitted to the house, though I had before the time raised some points of observation on the submission of the list that the names should be spread across other communities rather than bringing person or persons from the same place where a councillor comes from because we shall soon go for election. We settled the matter, and we screened the candidates. So, why should CSO strip me half-naked, and uptill this moment, my chairman has not called me.
“I have reported the matter at Okehi Police Division and FIDA for necessary action”, she stated.
In his reaction, the council Chairman, Hon Obinnna Anyanwu denied sending anybody to beat the leader of the Legislative Assembly, adding that the council’s CSO only went to rescue her from the hands of her colleagues who were fighting her for carrying the mace to her private residence.
By: Amadi Akujobi
The ECOWAS Parliament has adopted a budget of 19,636,030 Units of Account (UA) (26 million dollars) for the 2026 fiscal year, and announced plans to commemorate its 25th anniversary in November.
The Speaker of the Parliament, Hadjia Memounatou Ibrahima, who announced this, said the development followed the recent conclusion of its 2025 Second Extraordinary Session in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
She said the budget was adopted by the Parliament during plenary, stressing that, beyond being a mere accounting act, it was the engine of parliament’s commitment to West Africans.
”It will enable us to carry out our priority missions, including implementing the conclusions of the seminar on AI, while ensuring virtuous and transparent management of public funds entrusted to us.
”This budget represents a five per cent increase compared to the 2025 fiscal year budget, reflecting an upward adjustment of UA 939,233 from last year’s UA 18,996,897.
”Out of the budget of UA 19,636,030 for 2026, the sum of UA19, 368,394 representing 98.64 per cent is expected to be financed through the proceeds from the Community Levy, while UA257,636, equivalent to 1.36 per cent, will accrue from other sources,” Ibrahima said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ECOWAS Community Levy is a mandatory 0.5 per cent tax imposed on goods imported into ECOWAS member states from non-ECOWAS countries.
Member states are under statutory obligation to pay the community levy, which is the main source of funding for ECOWAS institutions and their activities.
Ibrahima, however, expressed dismay that some members of the community were still defaulting on the payment of the levy, and warned that, going forward; such would be met with sanctions.
She also said that the commemoration of its 25th anniversary in November would highlight the ECOWAS Parliament’s achievements in deepening regional democracy, cooperation and growth, amid formidable challenges.
The Speaker described the forthcoming anniversary as “a chance to showcase resilience and chart a more innovative, youth-focused future for the community”.
The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has begun the celebration of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary with a Juma’at service where prayers were offered for the progress of the state and Nigeria.
Governor Fubara, who advocated for peace and unity of Nigeria during the prayers on Friday at the Rivers State Central Mosque, Port Harcourt, indicated that without peace, the accelerated development of Nigeria will remain in a limbo.
Governor Fubara, who was represented by Alhaji Abdurrazaq Diepriye, therefore urged citizens to remain patriotic.
According to him, “Allah has brought us this far. Without peace, we can not have progress and economic development. I call on all citizens irrespective of creed or tribe to remain patriotic.”
He thanked President Bola Tinubu for restoring peace in Rivers State while also using the forum to appreciate security agencies for their relentless effort in upholding the peace and unity of Rivers State and Nigeria.
The Chief Imam of Rivers State Central Mosque, Imam Ibrahim Yaloo, admonished Moslem faithful to always speak the truth, adding that those who obey Allah will be directed to good deeds and their sins forgiven.
Prayers were offered for Rivers State and Nigeria.
Other activities to mark the 65th Independence anniversary in the state include an Inter-denominational Church Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, 28th September and Parade Ceremony on Wednesday, 1st October.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima departed New York on Sunday after representing President Bola Tinubu at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
In a statement released on Sunday by the VP media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President is now headed to Germany, where he will hold strategic meetings with officials of Deutsche Bank.
The statement read, “Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed New York, United States, after successfully representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
“During his participation at UNGA 80, VP Shettima secured UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ commendation for Nigeria’s bid for a permanent UN Security Council seat.
“He also showcased Nigeria’s $200 billion energy transition opportunity to global investors and strengthened strategic partnerships with the UK on trade, defence, and migration issues.”
Nkwocha added that the VP delivered Tinubu’s national statement, calling for UN reforms and a permanent seat for Nigeria at the UN Security Council, and “demanded Africa’s control over its $700 billion mineral wealth, and digital inclusion initiatives.”
“He also engaged with the Gates Foundation on healthcare and education expansion, positioning Nigeria as the natural hub for the African Continental Free Trade Area’s $3.4 trillion market.
“VP Shettima was seen off at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, by cabinet Ministers who were part of the UNGA 80 delegation and Nigerian Mission officials.”
The aide noted that Shettima will return to Nigeria immediately after his engagements in Germany.
The Tide source recalls that the VP departed Abuja, yesterday.
He led other Nigerian officials at the Assembly.
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