News
‘PDP ’II Retain S’South’
The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike says governors and leaders would do everything legal to ensure that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), retains the South-South geo-political zone in the next round of elections.
Wike made the declaration at the 2016 South-South Zonal Congress of the party held Saturday in Port Harcourt, with Elder Emmanuel Ogidi (Delta State) emerging as the national vice chairman (South-South).
Ogidi replaces Dr Cairo Ojougboh, whose tenure ended on Saturday after the dissolution of the Zonal Executive.
Addressing the South-South PDP Zonal Congress, Wike stressed that the governors will provide the required support to PDP members in Edo State to ensure the party wins the governorship election in September.
Wike spoke on behalf of the PDP governors of the zone.
He said: “The South-South Governors will make sure that PDP retains the zone. All the governors in the zone will work as a family.
“We shall give all necessary support to our party members in Edo State for the party to reclaim the state in September”.
The governor said that the National Convention of the party would be successfully held on May 21 in Port Harcourt, pointing out that the ranting of deflated politicians on sponsored television programmes would serve no purpose.
“The PDP Governors and leaders of the zone support the National Convention, which will hold successfully on May 21”, he said.
He said those issuing press statements on the National Convention were only struggling to be relevant because they know the strength of the party ahead of the next elections.
The governor explained that South-South PDP Governors have all proven to be high-class performers, having delivered on the developmental programmes of the party.
Wike called on PDP members to remain united in the zone, as that was the only way they can consolidate on their successes.
In his remarks, Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conclude the rerun elections in Rivers and other states.
Akpabio, added that South-South PDP National Assembly members worked hard to ensure that the Calabar-Lagos rail line was included in the 2016 budget.
The former Akwa Ibom governor said that Nigerians were now yearning for PDP to return to power because they have discovered that the party served them faithfully.
Also speaking, Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Leo Ogor, berated the Muhammadu Buhari -led administration for failing the Nigerian people.
Highpoint of the Zonal Congress was the successful election of the new executives of the party drawn from the six states of the zone.
In his post-election address, National Vice Chairman (South-South), Elder Emmanuel Ogidi, pledged to work as a committed and loyal servant to the party.
Those in attendance included: Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom); Prof Ben Ayade (Cross River); Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa); and Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta).
Also in attendance were: Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio; and Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Leo Ogor.
Meanwhile, the former President of the Senate, Sen. David Mark has urged the newly elected executives of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the North-Central zone to reclaim the zone for the party in 2019.
Mark gave them the task at the party’s North Central zonal congress held on Saturday in Abuja.
He said that both the party leaders and members in the zone must sacrifice individual interest and work in unity to lead PDP in north central and other zones to victory in future elections.
“The North Central use to be the hub and centre of PDP, unfortunately in the 2015 elections we lost and there is no PDP governor in the zone as we speak.
“We have realised our mistakes and we will correct them. Once those mistakes are corrected we will win all our elections.
“So far all the re-run that have been done PDP has won them. I think this is a track record and the only thing left is that we need to work a little more.
“The party must now stand united. Our strength is in our unity and our weakness will be if we divide ourselves and we will not be divided.
“We must subject our individual interest to party interest within the zone. That is the only way we can make progress,’’ Mark said.
He added that what gave him joy was that anytime PDP gathered “there is so much enthusiasm, interest and desires” as Nigerians now realised that “PDP is the right party to be in government.”
“We will exercise patient in any election that is done now and in the next three years I can assure you that PDP will win convincingly,’’ Mark added.
Our correspondent reports that all the new zonal executives of the party were elected by consensus.
Some of the elected zonal executives are Mr Theophilus Shan (Zonal Chairman); Mr Mourice Tsar (Zonal Secretary), and Mr Joel Adagadzu (Zonal Organising Secretary).
Sen. Philip Aduda, the Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), said it was commendable that the party was able to arrive at consensus on all the elected offices.
“This is important as it will put the party on the path of victory in future elections,” Aduda said.
The PDP National Legal Adviser, Mr Victor Kwon, who administered oath of office on the newly elected officials of the zone, expressed satisfaction with the peaceful conduct of the congress.
News
NDLEA Intercepts Saudi-Bound Drugs Hidden In Palm Oil Keg In Kano …Recovers N6.9bn Tramadol At Apapa Port
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted a Saudi Arabia-bound consignment of cannabis concealed in a gallon of palm oil at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano.
The agency also uncovered 8,725 kilograms of powdered tramadol worth over N6.98 billion at the Apapa Port in Lagos, and seized large quantities of illicit drugs across NDLEA intercepts Saudi-Bound drugs hidden in palm oil keg at the airport.
Chairman of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (retd), disclosed this in a statement issued by the NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, yesterday.
According to the statement, officers at Kano airport on Friday, October 16, intercepted a female passenger, Fatimah Ahmad, with a gallon of palm oil containing 511.75 grams of skunk during outward clearance of an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, via Addis Ababa.
She told operatives that the keg was given to her by her cousin, Abubakar Yahaya, who was arrested at the airport car park.
In another operation at APM Terminals, Apapa, Lagos, operatives in a joint examination with Customs on October 2 uncovered a large shipment of powdered tramadol from India declared as maize starch.
Laboratory test confirmed it to be tramadol hydrochloride powder. When separated from concealment on October 14, it came to 349 bags weighing 8,725kg with street value of over N6.98 billion.
In a separate operation at Tincan Port on October 12, NDLEA officers discovered 55kg of Canadian Loud worth N165 million hidden in brown cartons inside a Toyota Sienna conveyed in a 40-foot container.
In Lagos, operatives raided Idumota market on October 14 and arrested Elizabeth Chidera Kalu, recovering 10,600 ampoules of diazepam injection and 6,500 tablets of Molly from her store.
On October 15, two men were arrested in Mushin – Idowu Daudu with 59.95kg of skunk and Ahmed Oniyinde with 61.23kg. Same day, operatives intercepted a truck from Trade Fair market along Iyana Oba, arresting loading manager, Adeduntan and his assistant Azeez Sikiru, and recovering 18,000 pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in cartons labelled as Rambo insecticide.
In Edo State, operatives raided Warake, Ivhiaro and Ewe/Irue communities in Owan East LGA between October 15 and 16, arresting six suspects including 85-year-old Grace Ehimeka with 179kg of skunk at Warake; Ayo Aigberadion, 53, with 220.8kg; Ali Garba, 57, with 5.852kg; Habib Braimoh, 45; Musa Mubid, 35, with 2kg cannabis, seeds, tramadol, Swinol and diazepam; and Hope Okoro, 35, with 237 grams of Loud.
In Ondo State, operatives raided a cannabis farm in Okemoro Isinbode camp forest on October 17, destroying 7,500kg skunk on three hectares and arresting five suspects – Asikpo Ekpeyoung, 43; Solomon Okpani, 22; Ubong Friday, 35; Joseph Friday, 22; and Ekenimi Seth, 35.
Exhibits recovered were 92 bags weighing 1,267kg, 11kg seeds and 3kg stems.
In Owo on October 16, 53-year-old Okunebe Ndidi was arrested with 25 bags weighing 375kg.
In Bauchi, 894,800 pills of tramadol and Exol-5 were recovered from Shamsu Garba, 35, at Ragwam village, Katagum LGA on October 14, while 291 blocks of cannabis weighing 265kg were recovered from an abandoned car along Bauchi-Gombe road.
In Kano, Ali Abdullahi, 38, and Ibrahim Adamu, 23, were arrested along Zaria-Kano road on October 13 with 30,100 tablets of tramadol 225mg, while Murtala Dayyabu, 54, was arrested at Niger Street, Malan Kato on October 14 with 100,000 tablets of Exol-5.
In Kaduna, operatives arrested Mohammed Sani, 48, Zaharadeen Shafiu, 29, and Yakubu Abdullahi, 20, with 496.5kg cannabis at Kayimi village, and John Ayo David, 39, with 49,500 tablets of tramadol at Food Palace, Ali Akilu Road. In Abuja, Odo Jonas Ejike, 42, was arrested at Utako on October 17 with 29,500 capsules of tramadol.
The immediate past Commissioner for Health in Rivers State, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, has called for acceleration of enrollments into the State Contributory Health Insurance Scheme.
Oreh made the call in a keynote address at the Rivers State Health sectors Joint Annual Review (JAR) meeting in Port Harcourt, recently.
She said this was necessary in order to ensure that no Rivers family is pushed into poverty due to medical bills.
The former Commissioner also called for the training and retraining of medical and health workers in the State with a view to deploying skilled health professionals to underserved rural and the riverine areas of the State.
She also called for the sustenance of the ongoing health facilities and infrastructural upgrade across the State to ensure quality health services to the people.
Oreh harped on the need to strengthen accountability and institutional integrity in the healthcare system, saying, “progress without accountability is fleeting.
“To build the trust of our people and the state partners, accountability must be non negotiable.”
She described the event as a decisive moment in the healthcare programme of the State.
“We gather here today at a critical juncture in Rivers State’s health system’s journey. This assembly is not a mere ritual of administrative reporting; it is a decisive moment of reflection, evaluation, and strategic alignment.
“Today, we stand at the intersection of where we have been, where we are, and where we must go to guarantee the health and well-being of every resident of Rivers State.
“The mandate of this year’s JAR is clear: we must turn evidence into action, and data into tangible human impact,” she said.
The former commissioner said the administration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, has over the last three years prioritized the healthcare needs of the State through the provision of infrastructure and upgrading of healthcare centres across the 23 local government areas.
“Over the past year, under the leadership and vision of the State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, bold strides have been taken to fortify the health sector architecture.
“The baseline strength of healthcare delivery has been prioritised by upgrading primary healthcare centres across all our 23 local government areas, ensuring that basic health interventions are brought closer to where our people live and work,” she stated.
Oreh emphasised that public health intelligence systems have been reinforced by the Fubara administration, thereby ensuring rapid response capabilities to potential disease outbreaks and safeguarding our communities against health emergencies.
“Through targeted interventions and partnership programmes, there has been an expansion of access to essential care for our women and children, the very backbone of our state’s future.
“These achievements demonstrate what is possible when political will aligns with technical rigour. However, consolidation means ensuring that we step beyond achievement to determine that these gains are resilient, scalable, and resistant to disruption” Oreh said.
The former health commissioner also said that every resources allocated to health in Rivers State from public funds to partner contributions must yield measurable health outcomes.
“The systematic elimination of bottlenecks, reducing of waste, and enforcing strict stewardship of health sector investments is critical.
” Your ultimate accountability is to the citizens of Rivers State. Access to compassionate, high-quality, and respectful healthcare is a fundamental expectation, and you must be committed to upholding that trust across all communities.
“As we look toward 2027, your strategic priorities must be bold, realistic, and focused on lasting structural transformation. In this Joint Annual Review, our discussions must crystallize into four core strategic pillars,” she advised.
Oreh said since no government can succeed in isolation. the strengthening of multi-sectoral collaborations with development partners, private sector innovators, and civil society organisations must remain an unflinching commitment.
She stressed the need for participants at the meeting to challenge assumptions, examine the evidence critically, acknowledge gaps candidly, and co-create solutions that are tailored to the unique realities of Rivers State.
In his welcomes address the Permanent Secretary Rivers state Ministry of Health, Dr Vincent Wachukwu, said the task before the ministry this year is to examine what has changed for the people who depend on the services of the ministry.
According to him, the review this year was organised around six questions covering survival and equity, continuity of care, quality, system capability, health intelligence and implementation of corrective action.
“Our responsibilities are to identify the requirements relevant to Rivers State and organise the evidence and institutional action needed to meet them,” he said.
By: John Bibor, Francis Obomate & Jimoh Omosefe
Two senior police officers, including the Divisional Police Officer of the Abuloma Police Division in Rivers State, have been removed from their positions following allegations that suspected cultists renovated a police facility under their jurisdiction.
The other officer is the divisional officer overseeing the affected police outpost.
The Rivers State Police Command disclosed this in a statement issued by its spokesperson, ASP Blessing Agabe, in Port Harcourt, last Friday.
The Police said the action followed a viral video showing suspected cultists visiting the facility on Thursday, October 15, 2026, to celebrate the completion of the renovation.
The statement, titled ‘Rivers State Police Command Condemns Purported Renovation of Abuloma Police Outpost by Suspected Cultists, Relieves Officers, Orders Full Investigation’, said the command had ordered a full investigation into the incident.
The command condemned any action or association capable of compromising the integrity, discipline and professional standards of the Nigeria Police Force or conferring legitimacy, recognition or acceptance on suspected cult groups or other unlawful organisations.
The police image maker said the State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, had ordered a full-scale investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the renovation and the veracity of the allegations.
The identities and backgrounds of the individuals or groups that financed or facilitated the renovation would also be investigated, alongside the roles played by police personnel.
The statement read, “The Rivers State Police Command has taken cognisance of a trending social media report and circulating video alleging that suspected cultists renovated the Abuloma Police Outpost and visited the facility on Thursday, October 15, 2026, to celebrate the completion of the renovation.
“The Command strongly condemns any action or association capable of compromising the integrity, discipline and professional standards of the Nigeria Police Force or conferring legitimacy, recognition or acceptance on suspected cult groups or other unlawful organisations.
“Police facilities are public institutions established for the protection of citizens and the enforcement of law and must not become platforms through which criminal groups seek public validation or influence.
“Under the leadership of CP Olugbenga A. Adepoju, the Command maintains zero tolerance for criminality and any conduct that undermines public confidence in the Police.
“Consequently, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Abuloma Division and the Divisional Officer overseeing the affected Police Outpost have been queried and relieved of their duties pending investigation.
“Furthermore, the Commissioner of Police has ordered a full investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and the veracity of the allegations, including the identities and backgrounds of the individuals or groups who financed or facilitated the renovation.”
The statement added that the investigation would examine whether the project was authorised, whether due procedures were followed, and whether any police officer breached professional standards or compromised the integrity of the force.
It said, “The Command welcomes legitimate community support for improving police facilities, consistent with Section 26(1)(d) of the Nigeria Police Act 2020, which provides for gifts and contributions to the Police General Fund.
“However, such support must not compromise police independence, professional standards or security.
“The investigation will establish whether the necessary approvals were obtained and appropriate checks conducted on those who financed or facilitated the renovation.
“No donation or assistance confers immunity from investigation or prosecution.
“The Command reiterates that it will not condone unprofessional conduct or compromise any form of improper association with criminal elements by any police officer.
“All personnel are expected to uphold the highest standards of discipline, integrity and accountability in the discharge of their duties.”
The command said appropriate disciplinary and legal action would be taken against anyone found culpable, in line with the outcome of the investigation and extant laws.
It urged members of the public to remain calm and continue to provide credible and timely information to the police to enhance security across the State.
The Tide reports that a viral video circulated online had shown suspected cultists posing as students, occasionally chanting “greatest Nigerian students” before using what appeared to be cult-related slogans.
The individuals were seen wearing black trousers and white shirts, with some wearing red fez caps and others black berets, celebrating in front of the renovated facility alongside some police officers.
A popular online anti-cultism platform, Naija Confra, also posted videos and pictures showing the suspected cultists chanting slogans, including “Aromate”, at the station last Thursday, shortly after taking pictures with officers at the facility.
The incident, which occurred on October 15, 2026, was said to have coincided with activities marking the annual anniversary of the Vikings confraternity.