Cloned Nigerian Anchor

Category: Politics Lite

  • Explosion rocks Port Harcourt

    Explosion rocks Port Harcourt

    There was pandemonium in Port Harcourt on Tuesday as a middle-aged protester carrying dynamite got killed while trying to discharge an explosive.

    The incident happened in front of Hotel Presidential at about 9.45am on Tuesday. 

    According to an eyewitness account, the corpse of the victim was taken away hurriedly as security agents trooped to the location where the incident occured. 
     
    Another eyewitness, who spoke under condition of anonymity, said that the protesters caused heavy traffic while on procession to their destination.

  • 2027: Northern Politicians Who Visited Buhari Plotting To Unseat Tinubu – Shehu Sani

    2027: Northern Politicians Who Visited Buhari Plotting To Unseat Tinubu – Shehu Sani

    Shehu Sani, a civil rights activist and social critic, has described the recent meeting of Northern politicians with former President Muhammadu Buhari as a strategic move to unseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

    The ex-president played host to former Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State on Sunday, less than 24 hours after ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar paid a similar visit to him at his residence in Daura, Katsina State.

    Like Atiku, El-Rufai is not on the same page with the All Progressives Congress (APC) at his home state of Kaduna and at the federal level.

    Reacting, Sani, who represented Kaduna Central in the 8th National Assembly, described the move as an effort to regroup Northern political forces for the next general election, predicting that it would ultimately fail.

    In a post via Facebook on Monday, he criticized the attempt to revive Buhari’s political influence and mobilize support, cautioning against stirring Arewa sentiment without regard for the potential chaos it could cause.

    He wrote: “The recent visits by some prominent Northern politicians to Daura appears to be the Usual Eid homage, but looking deeper and beyond the facade, it’s surreptitiously a new attempt to build a strong northern alliance using ex President Buhari as a rallying point to challenge and evict President Tinubu’s Government in 2027.

    “It’s a regrouping of Northern political forces for the next general election.A project that will eventually kiss the dust. They want to resurrect Buhari’s political charm, fanaticism and mobilise the gullible to another hollow and bewildering end. They want to stock up and light up the Arewa sentiment without considering the inferno it would eventually generate.

    “The same Buhari that led Nigeria for eight years and left the North Worst than he met it. It’s too early to forget. By the time he left power, poverty and insecurity was at its peak than at anytime in Nigeria’s history. They had power and wasted it; what do they want to do with it again?.

    “A Southerner is in power just for one year. It’s too early for the desperate and power hungry northern elite to start plotting. The south never did that to Buhari. Their intended action has the capacity of ruining the democratic process and wrecking the fragile unity of the country when the south is awakened to this reality.

    “Their obsession with power is condemnable. Opposition to Tinubu from the point of policies, promises and programs of his administration is a democratic right of any Nigerian. People have the right to speak and criticize the Government.

    “But attempts to whip up Northern sentiments to achieve their political ends is a dangerous political experiment and expedition at this material time. No serious southerner challenged Buhari for eight years;these power drunk Northern politicians are dragging the region to a new political journey through a land mine.

    “Buhari’s reign ensured nepotistical placement, installation and dominance of Northerners at strategic positions of authority and power for eight years. Results had shown that they only enriched themselves, pillaged the economy of the country and pauperised our country.

    “The Daura homage of the disgruntled and the obsessed will fail. Our people in the North should reject these faces and their plots. They have nothing to offer. From the abandoned Baro Port, Ajaokuta, Lake Chad basin refiling and Mambilla hydro power, they failed. They came to power when the North was in the hands of terrorists and left it in the joint hands of terrorists and Bandits. The Northern Talakawa should reject their antics.”

  • Gov Fubara swears in Rivers state caretaker committee chairmen

    Gov Fubara swears in Rivers state caretaker committee chairmen

    Rivers governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has sworn in new caretaker chairmen for the 23 local government areas of the state.

    The swearing-in was done on Wednesday at the Government House in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

    The ceremony comes a day after the governor forwarded the list to the state House of Assembly led by factional Speaker, Victor Jumbo.

    See the names of the caretaker chairmen nominated by Fubara below:
    1. Abua/Odua LGA – Madigai Dickson

    2. Ahoada East LGA – Hon. Happy Benneth

    3. Ahoada West LGA – Mr. Daddy John Green

    4. Akuku Toru LGA – Otonye Briggs

    5. Andoni LGA – Reginald Ekaan

    6. Asari Toru LGA – Orolosoma Amachree

    7. Bonny LGA – Alabota Anengi Barasua

    8. Degema LGA – Anthony Soberekon

    9. Eleme LGA – Brain Gokpa

    10. Emouha LGA – David Omereji

    11. Etche LGA – John Otamiri

    12. Gokana LGA – Kenneth Kpeden

    13. Ikwerre LGA – Darlington Orji

    14. Khana LGA – Marvin Yobana

    15. Obia/Akpor LGA – Chijioke Ihunwo

    16. Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA – Princewill Ejekwe

    17. Ogu/Bolo LGA – Evans Bipi

    18. Okrika LGA – Princess Ogan

    19. Omuma LGA – Promise Reginald

    20. Opobo/Nkoro LGA – Enyiada Cookey-Gam

    21. Oyigbo LGA – – Gogo Philip

    22. Port Harcourt LGA – Ichemati Ezebunwo

    23. Tai LGA – Hon Matthew Dike

  • Wike loyalists storm council secretariat, vow to resist Fubara’s caretaker team

    Wike loyalists storm council secretariat, vow to resist Fubara’s caretaker team

    There is ongoing tension in Port Harcourt City Local Government Council (PHALGA) in Rivers State as youths, loyal to Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike, gathered around the council premises amidst a crisis over local government administration.

    Police presence was heightened around PHALGA and other local council areas across the state to maintain order following reports of unrest.

    Speaking to Channels Television, Maxwell Enwukwe, a former Council Executive and current coordinator of grassroots development initiatives in PHALGA, emphasized their commitment to ensuring peace and order.

    “These are youths from Port Harcourt Local Government Council. We have come to ensure peace and order in our local government council because yesterday, we received information that some individuals gathered hoodlums to besiege the council even during a public holiday,” Enwukwe stated.

    He further explained, “Today, we have come to see why that happened, but fortunately, the police have taken over the local government council premises, and everyone is here peacefully. These are supporters of grassroots development initiatives loyal to the Minister of FCT.”

    Despite the police presence, the crowd remained stationed at the PHALGA environment, which is near the Rivers State Government House, indicating heightened tensions over the leadership dispute.

    The crisis was triggered by the expiration of the tenure of local government chairmen in Rivers State on Tuesday, with conflicting claims over tenure extension by the State House of Assembly.

    Governor Siminalayi Fubara has, however, maintained that there was no official extension of tenure and has proceeded to nominate caretaker committees for the 23 local government councils in the state.

  • Rivers LGA crisis: No tenure extension for chairmen, Fubara declares

    Rivers LGA crisis: No tenure extension for chairmen, Fubara declares

    Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara has held a crucial meeting with heads of security agencies in the State amidst the ongoing local government succession crisis.

    Rising from the state council security meeting in Government House, Port Harcourt on Tuesday, the Governor warned against what he described as a grand plot to arrest his supporters.

    He said his administration would no longer allow arresting his supporters on trump-up charges, saying security agents must pass through him before undertaking such action.

    The Governor assured that he would fearlessly lead the way to ensure peace in the state and also protect all patriotic supporters for their stand on the path of truth.

    Fubara said no extension of tenure of elected local government chairmen, explaining that the law was unambiguous on it adding that the court also affirmed the position of the law.

    The Governor said: “Let me also say this. I’m also aware that there is a grand plan to come and arrest some of our supporters. This time around, you have to pass through me to arrest them because I don’t think there is anything that any of those people following us has done. Rather, thy are standing on the side of truth. 

    “If it will cost us our lives to stand on the part of truth, we will do that. And I will be the one that will lead the course”.

    Governor Fubara further said: “Let me assure everyone, more especially, the great and peace- loving people of Rivers State: the law is the law. The law has said that there is no extension of tenure. 

    “The court said so, and whoever that is assuring anybody anywhere of whatever, I advise them to desist from it because peace is what we need in this State.

    “I assure everyone of you that whatever it takes to make sure that we maintain peace and order, we are not going back on that”.

     Fubara explained that the Security Council Meeting was called because of the recent threat to the peace of the state by the outgone chairmen of the local government councils.

    He said: “You are all aware that the tenure of the council chairmen ended yesterday, 17th June, 2024, and today, we have ordered the Heads of Local Government Administration to be in charge while they await further directives.

    “It’s really unfortunate that we started hearing some disturbing news from some LGAs of invasion of council secretariats, and it is really unfortunate. So, we have called the Security Council Meeting so that the needful will be done.

    “We are also aware that our enemy is also planning a lot of things. But we will not fall into that plot. We will not also allow him or them to destroy the peace that we are enjoying in the State,” he added.

    He thanked the media and the peace-loving people of the state for their support, and urged everyone to continue to remain law-abiding for the unity and progress of the state.

  • APC South-South Region Urges Tinubu to Contest Again In 2027

    APC South-South Region Urges Tinubu to Contest Again In 2027

    The All Progressive Party (APC) in the South-South region has called on President Bola Tinubu to re-contest for the office of the president in the 2027 election. 

    This was contained in a communiqué jointly signed by the APC Congress South-South Zonal Executive after a meeting in Calabar, Cross Rivers, on Sunday.

    It commended Tinubu for his policies, projects, and programmes, adding that the economic reforms were targeted at repositioning the country.

    The committee reaffirmed its unwavering support for the policies and programs of the Tinubu administration in areas of good governance, economic reforms, national security, and infrastructural development.

    Tinubu had on May 29, 2023, declared an end to petrol subsidies, a move that saw Nigeria’s headline inflation rising to 33.95 per cent in May, according to the latest report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The data revealed that on a year-on-year basis, the headline inflation rate was 11.54 per cent points higher compared to the rate recorded in May 2023, which was 22.41 per cent.

    The NBS report also revealed that the Food inflation rate in May 2024 was 40.66% on a year-on-year basis, which was 15.84 per cent points higher compared to the rate recorded in May 2023 (24.82 per cent).

    Despite the rising inflation rate, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has also implemented several money-tightening policies which have been criticised by the World Bank. Different tax policies to increase revenue have also been put in place by the apex bank.

    As if the inflation was not enough, the Federal Government is currently battling the duo of the Nigerian Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress, on a new minimum wage. FG has insisted on N62,000 despite rejection by labour.

    But the committee has expressed optimism with Tinubu’s reforms and also commended the president for his commitment to the coastal road project, and the commencement of the construction from both ends of the project.

    The committee said it has resolved to set up a reconciliation committee in the South-South region, to be headed by the Coordinator of the South-South geo-political zone, Senator Bassey Otu.

    The communiqué said the move is to bridge any existing gap, foster collaboration, and work towards a common goal of strengthening the party’s presence and influence in the region.

    It also resolved to mobilise available party assets towards winning more states; particularly using the forthcoming elections in Edo State as a test case.

    “Resolves to mobilise efforts towards the e-registration program of the All Progressives Congress by creating the required awareness to engender inclusivity, participation, and ownership of the party,” the communiqué added.

    It also passed a vote of confidence on the President of the Senate, Sen (Dr) Godswill Akpabio, as the Leader of the APC in the zone, and on Victor Giadom and the zonal executive members of the party.

    The meeting concluded with a call to action for all party members, to actively participate in the re-building and strengthening of the APC in the zone.

  • Why My Brother Is Not Fit To Be The President Of Nigeria – MKO Abiola’s Son, Abdul

    Why My Brother Is Not Fit To Be The President Of Nigeria – MKO Abiola’s Son, Abdul

    Abdul, one of the sons of the late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola (MKO Abiola), has claimed that his elder brother, Kola is not fit to be the president of Nigeria.

    Like his father, Kola contested for the presidency on the platform of Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) in the 2023 elections.

    However, Abdul stated that Kola failed in his duty to manage Abiola’s empire.

    He lamented over his brother’s failure to sustain Abiola’s political legacy and unite the family.

    Abdul stated this while speaking on Seun Okinbaloye’s Podcast, Mic On.

    According to him, “MKO Abiola’s legacy would have been properly sustained if Kola was in a better position and could have been a voice of better democratic values, but he chose not to.

    “During the time my father was still in jail, he was having a relationship with Babangida’s daughter. It’s sad, but I’m a little pleased that my father didn’t come out to see what his first son has turned out to become.

    “I’m unhappy with him, and even Nigerians are unhappy. You can see how many people voted for him when he campaigned for the presidency. I wondered how he thought he could be president when he could not manage Abiola’s empire. How will he manage Nigeria?

    “This is the problem in Nigeria: people are not showing capacity in their own little sphere of work but want a higher position.”

  • Off-cycle Elections: INEC Adds 269,992 new Voters to Preliminary Register

    Off-cycle Elections: INEC Adds 269,992 new Voters to Preliminary Register

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the release of the preliminary register of new voters for the upcoming governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States.

    In a press statement signed by Mr. Sam Olumekun, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, the Commission outlined the next steps in the electoral process.

    According to the release, the register will be displayed for claims and objections by citizens for a period of seven days starting from Wednesday, June 12, 2024. The display will take place in all 395 wards across both states and will also be available on the INEC website.

    Citizens are encouraged to identify any ineligible persons on the register and file objections using Forms EC2 and EC3, which can be obtained from INEC officials or downloaded from the INEC website.

    Additionally, individuals who have recently registered, applied for transfer, correction of personal details, or replacement of lost or damaged PVCs are urged to draw the Commission’s attention to any errors or wrong entries for further action.

    The commission also provided statistics from the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) process, indicating a total of 269,992 new voters in the two states following the suspension of registration on June 9, 2024.

    The majority of registered voters are youths aged 18-34, with students comprising the largest occupational group. Requests for replacement of PVCs, voter transfer, and information updates were also noted.

    The commission emphasized that these figures are preliminary and subject to further verification, as final figures will be published on a state-by-state basis after the claims and objections period and the use of the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) to clean up the register. The date for the commencement of collection of new PVCs will be announced thereafter.

    The Commission urged the public to take advantage of the register display period to assist in cleaning up the register as required by law.

    The commission reiterated the importance of public participation in ensuring the accuracy and integrity of the voter register for the upcoming elections.

  • Rivers crisis: Court affirms 27 defected legislators as PDP Members 

    Rivers crisis: Court affirms 27 defected legislators as PDP Members 

    A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has affirmed that 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, who defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC, are still members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. 

    Justice Okogbule Gbasam of the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt stated on Monday that the claimants were unable to demonstrate that Martin Amaewhule and the 26 other legislators had switched to the APC.

    Justice Gbasam emphasized that party membership is established through being on the party’s register or possessing a membership card, stating that televised events or verbal declarations were insufficient proof.

    The PDP had requested to be part of the case and was included as the fourth defendant.

    Additionally, Justice Gbasam emphasized that the Rivers State government must adhere to all laws enacted by the Assembly since the members are still part of the PDP, and their inclusion in the party’s membership register is the determining factor.

    He also mentioned that the state government must follow the laws created by the Assembly since the members are still part of the PDP and have not forfeited their positions.

  • APC Suspends Assistant Woman Leader In Niger

    APC Suspends Assistant Woman Leader In Niger

    An Assistant Women Leader of the Niger State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Amina Shehu, has been suspended for six months, over alleged political appointments and job racketeering.

    This is the outcome of the 5-member committee set up by the party Deputy Chairman, Zakariyya Aramm, to investigate the matter and come up with possible findings.

    In a statement by the State Publicity Secretary, Musa Sarkinkaji, the suspension was handed down to her by the State Working Committee under the chairmanship of Aminu Bobi.

    It was gathered that the State Assistant Woman Leader’s suspension is in line with Article 21, sub-section (5) xii of the APC Constitution 2022 as amended.