BAYELSA Governor Douye Diri has claimed his absolute faith in God earned him the sobriquet ‘Miracle Governor.’ Speaking during the KOLGA (Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area) Annual Day of Thanksgiving held in Sampou, his community, Diri revealed how in 2020, a senior citizen invited him to Abuja and advised him to perform certain rituals to be governor. But Diri claimed that he turned down the rituals offer. He had challenged the declaration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the November 2019 governorship poll as winner and the matter was then pending at the Supreme Court. Diri told the crowd…
Author: Eileen Peters
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THE Rivers State government has confirmed five cases of cholera and nine associated deaths in an outbreak that has affected two Local Government Areas of the state. The affected Local Government Areas are Akuku-Toru and Andoni. According to the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, the confirmed cases were recorded in Akuku-Toru, while the nine associated fatalities were reported across both Akuku-Toru and Andoni LGAs. Dr. Oreh stated that the ministry has activated emergency response teams in the affected areas to contain the outbreak and prevent further spread. Additionally, heightened sensitization efforts have been initiated across the state to educate…
GUNSHOTS disrupted the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal which began hearing on Wednesday in Benin City, the state capital. Hoodlums were also reportedly seen outside the turbo-charged venue of the tribunal where gunshots rent the air, leaving people to scamper for safety. The tribunal had commenced hearing on the petitions challenging the September 21, 2024, Edo governorship election where Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was declared as the winner. The main challenger at the tribunal is Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The electoral umpire INEC had declared Okpebholo winner of the poll with…
Calls For Immediate Action A DAY etched in the annals of Nigerian-Benin relations, Senator John Owan Enoh, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Industry, Federal Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment was in Cotonou to inspect the once-thriving sugar production facility, Savé Sugar Company, a joint venture between Nigeria and Benin Republic. On arrival in Cotonou,the Minister of State for Industry Sen. John Owan Enoh, paid a courtesy visit on his Benin Counterpart ,Shadiya Alimatou Assouman, Minister of Commerce and Industry Benin Republic, to express appreciation for the extra security measures put in place by the government of Benin Republic to…
GOODLUCK Jonathan, former Nigerian President, has stated that Niger Deltans will not subscribe to the Biafran Nation because of fear of subjugation. Jonathan, who delivered a lecture on Sunday at Texas, United States (US), said that the Niger Deltans will remain indivisible with Nigeria than joining forces with Biafrans in splitting the country. The former Nigerian President highlighted some reasons for his position such the leadership, capital of the proposed nation, language and fear of annexation. Jonathan pointed out that Biafra may not be better for Niger Deltans, because Niger Deltans may end up leaving one form of subjugation for…
DELTA State Governor, Chief Sheriff Oborevweri, has sacked the state’s Information Commissioner, Dr. Ifeanyi Osuoza, this newspaper gathered. It is not immediately clear why Osuoza was sacked. But Director General, Delta State Bureau for Orientation and Communication, Dr. Fred Latimor Oghenesivbe, said: “the former Commissioner for Information, Ifeanyi Osuoza had been briefed already of the state of affairs.” A source who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Governor Oborevwori directed the Commissioner for Works (Rural roads) Charles Aniagwu to take over the affairs of the Ministry of Information temporarily. According to Oghenesivbe, an official announcement to that effect will be…
THE International Association of World Peace Advocates (IAWPA) has announced its plan to launch the Crystal Sam Ogbuku Foundation in Kenya, coinciding with the UN-Habitat summit. This foundation is a testament to IAWPA’s commitment to promoting peace, tolerance, and sustainable development globally and also in recognition of her peace advocacy efforts which seeks to promote the welfare of the African Girl Child. A statement signed by the International Spokesman of IAWPA, Amb Emmanuel Nkweke said during the summit, Crystal Sam Ogbuku is expected to deliver a keynote speech, sharing her vision for a more peaceful and harmonious world. Her speech…
THE Cross River State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Abubakar Robert Ewa is dead. Ewa passed on Wednesday evening at the Arubah Specialist Hospital in Calabar, the Cross River State capital shortly after attending an Exco Meeting. As at the time of filing this report, members of the Cross River State Executive Council and other aides of Governor Bassey Otu are gathered at the facility to mourn with the deceased family. He was present at the state’s executive council meeting earlier on Wednesday which was presided Governor Otu. Ewa served as Secretary and later, Chairman of the Boki Local…
EDO state governor, Monday Okpebholo, revealed on Tuesday that the 18 local government chairmen were suspended for failing to address findings that approximately N12 billion had been allegely transferred to certain leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over a 15-month period. The governor made this disclosure during a courtesy visit by the acting chairmen and councillors of the 18 local government areas at the Government House. Governor Okpebholo commended the acting chairmen and councillors for their commitment to upholding democratic values and promoting transparency. He emphasised that public funds belong to the people and should not be misappropriated by…
SEVEN persons were rescued when a three-storey building under construction at Aboga along the Igwuruta-Etche Road in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State caved in. Eyewitnesses said the incident occurred at about 1:30 pm on Saturday while workers were on the site. Though no life was lost, it was said that seven of the nine workers who were working in the building were rescued with various degrees of injuries, while two of them jumped off the building. One of the eyewitnesses said, “Getting here, I saw the building collapsing. While some of the workers were able to jump out,…
OIL marketers have started loading Automotive Gas Oil (diesel), and Kerosene from the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company. Dealers confirmed this to this newspaper on Friday, as they demanded Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) from the recently rehabilitated plant. WRPC, under the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, came on stream on December 30, 2024, after the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Mele Kyari, announced its resumption of operations during a tour of the facility. Speaking with one of our correspondents on Friday at the refinery, the Chairman of the Delta State chapter of the Independent Petroleum Marketers…
THE crisis in the Edo State local government councils took a different dimension on Thursday. Several persons were wounded as gunmen allegedly invaded the Uhunmwode Local Government Council headquarters in Egor. The chairman of the council, Kenneth Adodo, alleged that the people involved in the shooting were policemen from the Edo State Government House. This followed reports of impeachment of the chairmen of Uhunmwode and Orhionmwon local government councils by the elected councillors. Their Owan East counterpart; Prince Aminu Okodo-Kadirihas, reacted swiftly to his impeachment. He maintained that his purported impeachment and that of his Vice, Hon Clement Ojebuovbo was…
RIVERS Governor Siminalayi Fubara has boasted that nobody or group of persons will stop his government in the State. The Governor in an obvious chide at FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike also assured that with the strong support of the pillars and frontiers of the political class and leaders, particularly those who built the foundational structures of Rivers politics, his administration would not allow any detractor take the state and its people for a ride. Fubara in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Nelson Chukwudi, spoke at a 2025 New Year State Banquet in Government House, Port Harcourt, on…
THE Senate President and Chairman of the 10th National Assembly, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has said the country was on a “life support” as at the time President Bola Tinubu assumed office in May 2023. Speaking at his 2024 Constituency Briefing and Empowerment Programme held at the Ikot Ekpene Township Stadium, Akpabio, who represents Akwa Ibom Northwest Senatorial District, he called on Nigerians, particularly the people of Akwa Ibom State, to continue supporting President Tinubu as he works to address Nigeria’s economic challenges. “Nigeria Was on Life Support,” he said. His stance comes following ongoing major reforms such as the introduction…
THE 125, 000 barrels per day Warri Refinery is now operating at 60 per cent capacity. This was revealed by the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited during the tour of the facility on Monday. A breakdown shows that 60 per cent of 125, 000 barrels per day production draws down to 75, 000 barrels of crude oil per day being processed by the facility. Before the tour of the facility began, Kyari was seen addressing the team, saying “We are taking you through our plant. This plant is running. Although it is not 100…
MINISTER of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has fired back at the former Governor of Rivers State, Dr Peter Odili, saying that “an elder statesman should not be a political trader and a sycophant all the time.” Wike, who was speaking at the Special Thanksgiving Service organized by Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule, at the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Oro-Igwe/Eliogbolo Archdeaconry Church of the Holy Spirit, Eliozu Parish, Port Harcourt on Sunday, said it was unfortunate that somebody who is supposed to be seen as an elder statesman and called…
THE 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, says its troops have dismantled 20 illegal refining sites, deactivated 21 boats used for the crime and recover over 90,000 litres of stolen petroleum products in the ongoing anti bunkering operations in the Niger Delta region. A statement issued in Port Harcourt at the weekend by the Division’s Deputy Director of Public Relations, Lt. Col. Danjuma Jonah, said eight suspects were arrested in the operations carried out from 23-29 December 2024. Lt. Col. Jonah said following a tip-off on illegal activities around Buguma general area in Asari-Toru LGA, troops responded effectively leading to…
THE Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has stated why he had no regret for supporting President Bola Tinubu in the 2023 general elections. Prior to his ministerial appointment, he governed the oil-rich Rivers State for eight years under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform. He was later called by Tinubu to serve as FCT Minister in the All Progressives Congress (APC) led Federal Government. Speaking during a thanksgiving service in Ochigba by the PDP in Ahoada East and West Local Government Areas of the state, he thanked President Tinubu for believing in him. Wike said that he…
THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested Mrs. Joy Enwa, the Accountant General of Delta State, as part of investigations into the alleged misappropriation of N1.3 trillion linked to former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa. The anti-graft agency has also questioned other officials, including a former Director of Finance and Administration and a senior Government House official. According to EFCC sources, the funds in question reportedly include portions of the 13 percent derivation allocation meant for oil-producing states. In November, former Governor Okowa was detained at the EFCC’s Port Harcourt office over allegations of using his office to divert state…
RIVERS State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has approved the sum of ₦100,000 for civil servants, public servants, and pensioners in the state. The approval was communicated in a statement that was signed and released by the States Head of Service, George Nwaeke, on Tuesday. Dr. Nwaeke said the approval, which was given on Monday, is to enable the workers and senior citizens have a fulfilled Christmas celebration. This is the second time within the administration of Fubara that civil servants in the state will be receiving Christmas bonus, to the tune of one hundred thousand naira, an amount which is above…