News
Impeachment Threats Against Fubara, Efforts In Futility, Group Asserts
A non-governmental organisation in Rivers State, the Gokana Good Governance Foundation, has said that the recent moves by the Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara over an alleged maladministration cannot stand, inasmuch as the lawmakers remain illegal occupants of the State Assembly.
This is contained in a statement released shortly after an enlarged general meeting of the group in Bodo City, recently.
The statement, signed by the group’s President, Secretary and Publicity Secretary, Dr. Burabari Kiebel, Barr. Churchill Kere and Comrade Abigail Kponabari respectively, stated that “At a time when economic issues top the priority list of every responsible government in Nigeria, prompting collaborative efforts between the executives and legislatures to ensure laws and policies that would alleviate the suffering of the masses are put in place in various states, one would focus on enacting laws to ease the immediate suffering of the masses and promote peace and development.
“However, rather than the embattled members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to focus on enacting laws that would take the masses out of penury, hardship and mis-governance of former governor and now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, they resorted to diminishing their political relevance by constantly putting down laws that supported the Wike’s failed administration, which they were part of simply because Wike was stopped from a third term arrangement through Governor Siminalayi Fubara.”
The group also said that while the parliaments in other states in the country are striving to make laws that promote development, the lawmakers in Rivers State are engaged in promoting darkness, adding that, “Otherwise, what has stopped them from passing many executive bills sent to them since October last year before they embarked on their path of perdition?”
The group noted that these executive bills, if passed into law, would see to the economic prosperity of Rivers State and even put infrastructural development and job creation on the fast track, “but over four months after, the people claimed to be Rivers State House of Assembly members representing the same people faced with economic hardship in today’s Nigeria have not even opened the file to at least see what it entails.
“This is because we are running an Assembly of one godfather. Rather than attending to these people-centred bills the Amaewhule-led coterie of political scoundrels have focused on amending and repealing laws that are of no relevance to alleviating the persisting economic challenges faced by the people of Rivers State.”
The group noted that “in their (lawmakers) usual rash and brash manner, they are threatening to commence another impeachment proceeding against the governor in their chase for vain glory. They have repealed by them several laws made by themselves, even when they are still not lawmakers in the eyes of the law. This is with particular reference to Section 109(1g) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.”
According to the group, “It is therefore naive for the supposed lawmakers to assume that such laws can take retrospective effect. There is prohibition law restricting retrospective laws.
“Why Amaewhule and his co-travelers always entangle in unconstitutionality? Why do they choose to allow themselves to be used as political tools and bootlickers for the purpose of destabilization just to satisfy the whims and caprices of one man, whose insatiable thirst for power and public wealth has altered the political landscape of Rivers State for bad and slowed down its developmental pace? How long will the people of Rivers State continue to be denied of effective legislation at this time of economic insecurity, while their supposed state legislators continue to play politics to the detriment of the prosperity of the state?”
The NGO, therefore, warned Amaewhule and other embattled lawmakers who it said, are sitting on a keg of gun-powder, to prepare for the wrath of Rivers people, adding that, “They have lost their taste as elected lawmakers and now turned over night to become law-breakers because of one man who, out of greed and rascality, is bent on doing otherwise.”
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.
News
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.