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Now That Mbu Is Out …

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Last Thursday’s
redeployment of erstwhile Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu, to Abuja may have calmed some frayed nerves, but events that characterised his regime in the State are still fresh in some minds.
The reason for this is obvious. Never had Rivers State witnessed a situation in which a Commissioner of Police was at daggers drawn with a Governor of the State to the point of arrant impunity becoming the order of the day for almost one year.
While many have hailed Mbu’s redeployment in Abuja, some sections of the political class are not in a haste to say it is uhuru yet.
In the words of Hon. Victor Amadi, the legislator representing Etche Constituency I in the Rivers State House of Assembly, “it (Mbu’s redeployment) is a welcome development, and I can say it is in the spirit of democracy. But let me say that the Police is a professional institution.
“So, if Mbu goes, and the person that takes over from him does not play the script of his ‘paymasters’ in Abuja, and decides to be professional, it will be good for our democracy”.
In the same vein, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Amachree, also hailed the development, but added that unless the new Police boss decides to be guided by the Constitution, it will merely amount to putting a new wine in an old bottle.
Speaking through his Press Officer, Jim Opiki, Rt. Hon. Amachree said, “We feel that the Police authorities have finally listened to genuine complaint about its officers. We, therefore expect that the in-coming Commissioner of Police will operate in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.
He recalled that one of the allegations against the former Commissioner of Police was that he was not operating in accordance with the Constitution.
“The law is not respecter of anybody; it should be fair to everybody, organization, etc, in the State.
“Don’t change the rules; apply the same rules to everybody. We also hope that the in-coming Commissioner  will operate in accordance with the Constitution, in alliance with the government”.
As Ogunsakin resumes as the Commissioner of Police in the State, political pundits have reiterated the need for him to do away with what they prescribed as “Mbu’s diary of impunity”.
Mbu’s trouble started on April 15, 2013 when Justice Ishaq U. Bello gave the judgment that declared Felix Obuah as the State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in place of Godspower U. Ake. The same day, Mbu sent five troopers and over 25 Policemen to seal the state PDP Secretariat in apparent anticipation of an onslaught from the opposition.
Four days later, Mbu, in an attempt to justify his action, told reporters, “We are supposed to obey the court’s judgment. We are here to enforce the law. For now, judgment has been given and we stand by that judgment until there is a contrary order. Anybody or group of persons that attempts to cause tension in the State will be dealt with ruthlessly”.
On the 22nd of the same month, the State House of Assembly suspended the Obio/Akpor Council Chairman and other council members based on petitions bordering on allegations of financial impropriety and other fraud-related allegations. The next day, a Caretaker Committee led by Mr. Chikodi Dike was constituted and sworn in.
On the 3rd of May, 2013, Mbu without recourse to Governor Amaechi sealed the Obio/Akpor Council Secretariat with riot policemen and Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC), claiming there was a bomb scam. Nine days later, Hon. Justice H. A. Nganjiwa of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, ordered the Police to vacate the barricade at the Obio/Akpor Council headquarters to allow the caretaker members and staff access into the council. But within 30 minutes of the withdrawal of the policemen, the power generating house at the council was set on fire. As soon as the fire started, documents were carted away. Shortly after, Police returned and sealed up the premises till date. This, was allegedly done under the guise of protecting the council, thus compelling the caretaker members to operate from outside.
On July 9, 2013, the infamous fracas in the hallowed chambers of the State House of Assembly which led to fatal injuries sustained by some members happened in the full glare of the Police. It took the intervention of the Police details attached to the Governor to check the havoc done that day.
The impunity by Mbu continued on September 9, 2013 when he unilaterally withdrew the Escort Commander and some security officers attached to the Governor on the allegation that the Escort Commander and affected officers refused to furnish him with prior notice of the governor’s itinerary.
Three days later, Mbu ordered the Police to prevent Governor Amaechi and his guests, who were members of the Conference of Speakers from having access to the Government House.
The disruption of a rally by the Rivers State Movement on January 12, 2014 by the police at Rumuola where Senator Magnus Abe, representing Rivers State-East Senatorial District, was allegedly shot by the police was another sad memory Mbu left behind in the State.
Political pundits, however, say Mbu’s redeployment and subsequent replacement by Ogunsakin is one of the ploys by the new National PDP Chairman, Alhaji Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu, to ease frayed nerves in his quest to heal the wounds inflicted by erstwhile Chairman, Bamanga Tukur, on some key members, most of whom have defected to the opposition party, APC.
One impact that the whole imbroglio has made on the people is that Rivers people, and indeed Nigerians, have become more aware of the extent to which the Police can be compromised.
With the new man at the helm of the police affairs in the State, it is expected that the State will begin to experience peace and a crisis-free political landscape.

Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi And Joseph Mbu

Joseph Mbu And Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi

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Makinde Renames Polytechnic After Late Ex-Gov

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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.

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10 NWC Members Oppose Damagum Over National Secretary’s Reinstatement

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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.”

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Presidency Slams El-Rufai Over Tinubu Criticism …Says He Suffers From Small Man Syndrome

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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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