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Protests Greet Rivers Govt House

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Last week, Rivers State Government House was
innundated with protests. As at the last count, not less than five groups visited the Brick House to register their grievances over issues of state and national concern.
Some of the groups include women, civil rights groups who registered their grievances over the abducted Chibok school girls in Borno State.
On Monday, last week, Chairman of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Council, Hon. Augustine Ahiamadu addressed pressmen during which he accused Supervising Minister of Education, Barrister Nyesom Wike for sponsoring youths and a rebellion to remove him from office.
He alleged that the steps taken by Wike include the circulation of a letter from the Presidency authorizing the suspended community development committee and the youth body to take over the activities of the council.
On Tuesday, a group known as Egi Traditional Rulers Council protested against the closure of the conucil and  for a new local government area.
They expressed worry that the crisis was a ploy to attack their son and chairman of the Council, Mr. Ahiamadu.
High Chief Shedrack Orikoha led the traditional rulers on the protest, alleging the attack and closure of the council by some hired thugs by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The group was addressed by Permanent Secretary, Government House, Mr. Fortune Oguru. He called on all parties, especially the youths to maintain peace, “follow peace and abhor violence”.
Returning to the state on Wednesday, Governor Chibuike Amaechi presided over the weekly Executive Council Meeting from where he proceeded to receive Senate Committee on Privatization led by its Chairman, Senator Olugbenga Obadara.
He used the visit to enumerate the State’s investments in power sector. He expressed dismay over the situation whereby the State generates power while the Federal Government collects the revenue and never remit any to the state.
He urged beneficiaries of the government privatized agencies to employ people as exemplified by Indorama Eleme Petrochemical to solve the problem of restiveness.
In the words of Governor Amaechi, “I believe that one solution to this insurgency is education and employment. The easiest employment is farming, because a large number of them are not educated and unskilled. I applied it here in Rivers State and it worked”.
On Thursday, the governor  took time off to visit ongoing projects in the state. Someof the project visited include the Woji/Elelenwo Link Road currently being expanded. He also inspected the level of work at the Dr. Odili/Woji/Akpajo bypass.
On Friday, the governor conducted two swearing in sessions during which the judicial Service Commission (JSC) and the Chairperson of the State Internal Revenue Board was inaugurated.
The Rivers State Chief Executive charged the new Revnue Board boss, Mrs Orila Obele-Oshoko thus, “we believe that in the two months, we should see substantial improvement. You don’t need to increase taxes.
If you plug all those loopholes where people are stealing money from and reduce the number of touts that hang around, you will see a substantial increase in the IGR. I think that there are still so many holes that you need to close up so that we can get more money”.
She said, “Don’t pay cash to anybody. It is very important, so even when you go to the bank, go to the bank, we have the pay direct, you get there, you tell them that you want to pay revenue to Rivers State Government, the banks will attend to you because this money that we are collecting … is going to government”.
Shortly after the searing-in ceremonies at the executive Chambers, the governor moved to the Banquet Hall to declare open the monthly Inter Government Forum.
From there he proceeded on project inspection at Tai Local Government Area in company of Shell Petroleum Development Company Managing Director, Mr. Mukiu Somonu and Commissioner for Envrionment, Dr. Nyema Wali.
After a tour of the State Waste to Wealth Plant the governor spoke to the press on the N3.2 billion recyclying plant.
On Saturday, the governor attended the birthday thanksgiving service of Venerable Jolly Ndubuisi at St. Barnabas Anglican Elekahia, Port Harcourt. He thanked God for the life of the Anglican priest who was among men of God who prophesied of him becoming the governor of Rivers State.
He later on proceeded to the new International Conference centre along Chief Ake By Pass for the 7th birthday of Former Minister of Sports, Alabo Tonye Graham – Douglas.
He said of the Kalabari Chief “He is a great man. The only Rivers man who has been minister four times. He has been a Commissioner and a Chief of the Kalabari Kingdom”.

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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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