Politics
Amaechi Mourns Eke, Briggs
Last week, the state lost two of its prominent sons, who
helped shape its political fortunes in the Second Republic. Former deputy governor and Eze Oha Evo, Dr. Frank Eke and former Speaker of the Rivers state House of Assembly from 1979 – 1983, Rt. Hon. Rosebery Briggs.
Governor Chibuike Amaechi paid condolence visits to both families last week Monday. He said of Eze Frank Eke, “I saw in him a man of great qualities, a wonderful character that you see that is full of honesty, you know him as a man that when he tells you I’am with you, he is with you”.
Amaechi further recalled the political contributions made by the deceased towards the enthronement of Goodluck Jonathan as the country’s President in the 2011 elections. He added that the Evo Monarch lived a fulfilled life and promised that his administration would contribute to give the the deceased a befitting burial. Shortly after, he paid a condolence visit to the family of late former Speaker Rt. Hon. Rosebary Briggs.
On Tuesday , Governor Amaechi presented the 2014 budget to the State House of Assembly at the old Government House Auditorium. About 26 House members were present to receive the Appropriation Bill.
The budget totals N485.524 billion and is N4.797 billion less than that of last year. The major thrust is to complete ongoing projects with a recurrent expenditure of N117.09 billion.
Few hours after deliberating on the budget, the House led by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Amachree passed the bill. Deputy Speaker, Barrister Leyii Kwane said the House took the action as a matter of expediency to ensure that governance is not truncated in the state.
On Wednesday, Rt. Hon. Amaechi signed the budget into law and commended members of the House for rising to the challenge of governance and defending democracy. He also promised that the government would ensure that all monies are spent according to the letter of the budget.
On the same Wednesday, Governor Amaechi received the Governing Council of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology led by its Pro-Chancellor, Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte. He later proceeded to the New Year Civil Service Prayer Day held at the Secretariat Complex, Port Harcourt.
Governor Amaechi commended Civil Servants for the support they have given to his administration, and promised that henceforth government would no longer make deductions from their salaries and would implement policies and programmes that would improve their lots. He gave the sum of N300 million as Christmas/New Year gifts to Civil Servants in the state.
On Thursday, shortly before embarking on projects tour with some foreign journalists, Governor Amaechi attended Ministers Prayer Network International at the Civic Centre Port Harcourt.
The Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum welcomed different participants who attended the programme all over Nigeria and beyond. He enjoined them to pray for his administration. “I believe that if all of you cry to God on my behalf God will hear”.
Later on Thursday, the Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari briefed newsmen on the alleged plot by supervising Minister of education, Nyesom Wike to obtain a court judgement to halt the implementation of the 2014 budget.
Semenitari noted that the alleged plan which is geared toward grounding governance in the state was being hatched to stop the monthly federal allocation to the State, she warned that if such plot succeeds then it would throw the state into more crisis.
On the same Thursday, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Amaechi Mr. David Iyofor, also briefed newsmen over ownership of Soku Oil Wells.
Mr. Iyofor described the statement as a ploy to twist the facts saying, “the facts on the Rivers State ownership of the Soku Oil Wells are immutable, no matter how the Bayelsa State Governor tries to stretch, twist or Spin them.
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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