₦airaland Forum

TimeManager:
Losers, this has nothing to do with militants. Same fake news you celebrated about PH refinery pipeline explosion. Fubara will complete his six months suspension and nothing will happen.

-Kiss the truth!

Rapmoney:
Lol. If Tinubu thinks that removing Fubara as governor will end the issues in Rivers State, then he is surely dreaming.

Truejihadistont:
This drama is just beginning

36STATES:
Yari-ba will come here to blame Igbos as usual, believing the can fool the Ijaws always. They believe Ijaws are too dense to figure out that Yari-bas hate them like hell.

Adenkunle killed Isaac Boro. Obasanjo removed Gov Alamasigha of Bayelsa State. Obasanjo massacred Odi people and destroyed their homes and drove them into the bush where many died. Drugie Tinubu is now erasing them in River state. All these are Yoruba people, doing everything on earth to undermine the Ijaw nation.

The Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) has commended the progress made by the federal government on the implementation of the Supreme Court’s judgment that granted financial autonomy to local governments in Nigeria.

The commendation was given during the association’s meeting in Abuja at the weekend.

“The federal government’s implementation committee has made significant strides despite encountering challenges,” the Chairman of ALGON’s Board of Trustees, Odunayo Ategbero, stated.

During the meeting, the implementation committee reminded the local government councils to open accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for seamless financial operations.

ALGON said the autonomy would address critical issues such as security, health, and education at the grassroots level.

“With over 80 per cent of Nigerians residing in local government areas, it is important to empower the third tier of government to rapidly drive social, political, economic, and infrastructural development at the grassroots.

“This includes implementing developmental issues, such as security, health, education, and more, to better the lives of citizens at the grassroots level,” Ategbero said.

The association noted that, with the autonomy, democracy has returned to the local government level, which will compel state governors to conduct genuine elections a departure from the past where tickets were handed out to favourable candidates.

On his part, a former National President of ALGON, Ibrahim Dasuki Jalo, stated that the association would partner with states and the federal government to achieve maximum results.

and has plans to establish a College of Medicine.

The Bishop of the Diocese of Sokoto, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, has said that the establishment of the Federal University of Applied Sciences in Kachia, Kaduna State, has solved about 60% of Southern Kaduna problems.

He stated this on Friday during the inauguration of the Governing Council and Principal Officers of the University by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa.

Kukah, who is the chairman of the governing council of the institution, stated that the realisation of the university was a result of God’s intervention.

“Nigeria may have its own problems, and will continue to have its own problems, but I can assure you, Honourable Minister, that 60% of the problems of Southern Kaduna now have been solved.

“We will not look back, because if God wanted us to look back, he would have given us at least one eye at the back of our head. We have, and we know absolutely no bitterness. We are, despite everything else, still one of the most educated parts of the whole of Northern Nigeria.

“Today, Southern Kaduna has no less than over 200 professors. The education that we have had, that has brought us so far, that people like me benefited from, the education that came from the missionaries. But I want to assure you that by locating this University of Applied Sciences, you have presented tools to us. And I want to assure you that we will do everything that is humanly possible. Don’t be disappointed, Mr. President,” he said.

While inaugurating the Council and Principal Officers, Minister Alausa said the university’s creation was part of broader educational reforms, which include a focus on technical and vocational training, STEM education, reducing the number of out-of-school children, and promoting girl-child education.

He stated that the university aims to offer high-tech courses in Applied Sciences and has plans to establish a College of Medicine. Alausa highlighted that the establishment of the university was a deliberate effort to stimulate development in Southern Kaduna and promote fairness and equality across the country.

We at the Ministry of Education will give you all the maximum support. We’ll walk down the clock to ensure that this starts. And I’ll tell you, let me read the processes that are taking place so far. We’ve written to JAMB to ensure that the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, is part of the portal when students begin to apply. NOK has been directed to ensure that every single thing that needs to be done is done.

“The resource verification is underway. When we spoke to the Executive Secretary of NUC just a few days ago, we discussed how we need to quickly ensure that this resource verification is completed. The visitation to the university will happen on April 7th. Once that happens, we will have completed our processes at the Federal Ministry of Education,” Alausa stated.

He further emphasised that the university would offer courses in Applied Sciences, Chemistry, Physics, Environmental Sciences, and Medical Sciences.

In his remarks, the Chief of Defense Staff, General Christopher Musa, assured that adequate security would be provided for the university and expressed confidence that the institution would become a center of excellence, fostering unity among all Nigerians in the region.

“It will bring a lot of goodwill to the people. I want to assure Mr. President that we are fully committed to providing security to Nigeria and to assure Nigerians that we should not be afraid of anything. God is on our side.

“The federal government means very well for us as Nigerians, so we will all put our hands together to ensure that this university thrives. I want to appreciate everybody for being here today. I want to say a very big thank you,” General Musa stated.

The Simplified Movement Worldwide, a major grassroots mobilisation group for Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, has welcomed Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd) as the newly appointed Sole Administrator of Rivers State under the Emergency Rule declared by President Bola Tinubu.

In a statement signed by its Director General, Evans Bipi, the group expressed confidence in Ibas’ ability to manage the state’s affairs, citing his vast experience as a former naval chief and Nigeria’s immediate past High Commissioner to Ghana.

However, the group strongly refuted comments attributed to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, which suggested that the Emergency Rule was necessitated by rising insecurity in Rivers State.

The Simplified Movement described these claims as “baseless and fallacious,” insisting that the state had remained largely peaceful under Governor Fubara despite the political tensions. The group argued that the President may have been misled into declaring the Emergency Rule and emphasized Governor Fubara’s commitment to upholding the rule of law.

According to the statement, the governor had made multiple attempts to present the 2025 budget to the Rivers State House of Assembly in compliance with the Supreme Court ruling but was met with resistance.

“The Governor was denied access to the Assembly Quarters despite formally notifying lawmakers of his intention to present the budget. Even after scheduling a third attempt for March 19, the House rebuffed the invitation, only for the Emergency Rule to be declared on the night of March 18,” the statement read.

The group accused the Assembly of deliberately frustrating the governor’s efforts, claiming that their ultimate goal was impeachment rather than legislative oversight. It reaffirmed its unwavering support for Governor Fubara, portraying him as a victim of political manoeuvring aimed at wresting control of the state’s resources.

“Your Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, an epitome of Nigeria’s democracy, rest assured that the Simplified Movement Worldwide, the most formidable socio-political movement in Rivers State and beyond, stands solidly behind you,” the statement concluded.

The Simplified Movement urged continued prayers for Governor Fubara and called for peace amid the unfolding political crisis.

Enough of embarrassing the entire country on the world stage over ridiculous allegations backed by no evidence,” they declared.

Kogi Central constituents have described the recent court injunction obtained by the embattled Senator representing the Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from receiving a petition for her recall, as a sign that “she has realised that she is as good as gone.”

According to the constituents, who cut across the five local government areas of the Senatorial District, once intentions are not pure, individuals are bound to commit irreversible blunders, “which is the case of Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan, even in the construction of her court injunction statement.”

In a statement released on Friday by the Kogi Central Renaissance Assembly, the constituents claimed that desperation had pushed the suspended Senator to describe the recall signatures as fictitious, saying that should have been left for INEC to unravel during its verification exercise.

“It is laughable that the same person who has called the recall process a sham is the same person that has gone to tell the court to restrain the electoral umpire from receiving or acting on the petition, even when she says the signatures are fictitious.

“We understand your plight. This is last-minute desperation to save yourself the embarrassment of a recall. But we, Constituents of Kogi Central, insist that you have already embarrassed both yourself and the District, and home you shall come.

“The courts are for everybody. You can’t force yourself on us. Even you should know that this your course of action is dead on arrival,” the statement, signed by the Coordinator, KCRA, Adeku Joshua; and Secretary, Maleek Sule, said.

The Kogi Central constituents insisted that they would follow the recall process through in order to redeem their image, the image of Kogi State and that of Nigeria at large.

We, Ebiras, are not enablers of blackmail and unruly behaviour. We stand by this recall and will see it through. The world should know that we are people of integrity. Enough of embarrassing the entire country on the world stage over ridiculous allegations backed by no evidence,” they declared.

LEADERSHIP reports that a Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State capital, had earlier this Friday, granted an interim injunction restraining INEC, its staff, or agents from receiving, accepting, or acting on any petition containing what the Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan called “fictitious signatures of purported members of the Kogi Central Senatorial District.”

Amumaigwe:
This means that it was Tinubu that withheld the Rivers State allocations not supreme Court. Since the Supreme Court did not make any counter order before the allocations were released, they have turned to a rubber stamp SC. Every arm of government is now reduced to rubber stamp.

ddippset:


With each passing day you find yourself at a loss as to how to understand Nigeria..

You cannot release allocation to a democratically elected Governor who is working with a budget passed by 4 lawmakers under the logic that "those 4 lawmakers only represent 12 percent of the state"

But you can release allocation to a man who is not even from the state , appointed by the President, without even one single lawmaker to make appropriation.


I need someone to help me understand this..

Surely the Nigeria Constitution never could have contemplated this absurdity.

The government of Cross River State has said that the State of Emergency declared in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu was done in the interest of the Nigerian nation.

Cross River State government also said dissociated itself from the remarks made by the South-South Governors’ Forum rejecting the president’s proclamation and suspension of the Rivers State governor, Siminalyi Fubara and other elected officials of the state.

In a statement issued by Fred Ekpong, the chief press secretary of the state on behalf of the acting governor Peter Odey, the state said Cross River was never consulted before the Forum made is stance pubic.

Odey said: “The position of the forum does not reflect the views of the government of Cross River, which fully aligns with the decision of Mr President, taken in the best interest of national security, peace, and stability.

“Every responsible government must prioritise the protection of lives and property, and where circumstances necessitate decisive action, such measures should be supported for the greater good of our democracy and national unity,” he said.

He further noted that Cross River remains committed to providing good governance in line with the provision of the Constitution.

NAN also reports that Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo disassociated himself from the forum’s rejection of the emergency rule in Rivers.

According to a statement on Thursday from his spokesman, Fred Itua, Okpebholo said the forum’s statement did not receive his approval and that he was neither consulted nor informed about it.

“President Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, understands the issues at stake.

“Okpebholo supports actions so far taken by President Tinubu that will bring lasting solutions and peace to Rivers State and the South-South geopolitical zone,” the statement read.

NAN reports that the National Assembly on Thursday approved the declaration of a state of emergency by President Tinubu in Rivers.

The red chamber, which met behind closed doors, ratified the six-month suspension of Governor Sim Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the state House of Assembly, as announced by Tinubu, through voice votes.

In approving the emergency rule, the senate, however, said the National Assembly should oversight the activities of the sole administrator, Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, a former Chief of Naval Staff.

The senate also recommended the setting up of eminent Nigerians, who would meet with the warring parties in the Rivers State political tussle.
NAN also reports that the House of Representatives, which sat earlier, also approved Tinubu’s emergency rule in Rivers State.

Namecantbeblank:
I hardly read anything about him. Is he still alive?

advanceDNA:
Vice-president na figure head position...na follow follow and representative work then dey do....

They just chop money and allowances then start contesting for the power they only carried the title but no mantle for 8 years

“These opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Anambra state Governor, Peter Obi and former Kaduna state Governor, Nasir El-Rufai [b]stood idly by, did nothing to help defuse the crisis that had become a clear and present threat to peace, safety of lives and national assets in Rivers state.

“Today, these self-serving individuals did what they do best – issued a lengthy, convoluted and utterly meaningless statement intended to score their names on news headlines and drum up tension.

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has applauded the National Assembly for the swift approval of President Bola Tinubu’s Proclamation of a State of Emergency in Rivers State as constitutionally stipulated.

The party carpeted the Atiku Abubakar-led leaders and political stakeholders for condemning the presidential declaration, accusing them of seeking to exploit the situation in Rivers State to escalate tension in the country.

A statement in Abuja on Thursday by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka praised the lawmakers for demonstrating high sense of patriotism by expeditiously approving the presidential declaration.

The statement reads: “Today, the 10th Assembly demonstrated patriotism by putting the interest of peace and security of the people of Rivers state first, and uniting in the national interest.

“In this regard, we particularly applaud the opposition caucus for rising above partisanship in support of the proclamation.”

Morka emphasised that the President is committed to ensuring peace, maintaining law and order, protecting critical national assets in Rivers state, and ultimately, restoring constitutional order in which all three arms of government – executive, legislature and judiciary – co-exist and perform their constitutionally assigned functions for the well-being and good governance of Rivers state.

Reacting to Abubakar-led opposition leaders’ condemnation of President Tinubu’s action, describing it unconstitutional, the APC spokesman advised Nigerians to ignore them, stressing that they had failed to do anything in the past to defuse the crisis.

Morka said: “We urge Nigerians to ignore roving opposition opportunists seeking to exploit the situation in Rivers state to escalate tension in the country.

“These opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Anambra state Governor, Peter Obi and former Kaduna state Governor, Nasir El-Rufai stood idly by, did nothing to help defuse the crisis that had become a clear and present threat to peace, safety of lives and national assets in Rivers state.

“Today, these self-serving individuals did what they do best – issued a lengthy, convoluted and utterly meaningless statement intended to score their names on news headlines and drum up tension.

“We urge the good people of Rivers state and all well-meaning Nigerians to support President Tinubu in his effort to secure peace, protect lives and property, and eventually restoring effective constitutional governance in the state.”

Mariangeles:
I sense a tone of dictatorship in that statement.

Don't feel too comfortable on that seat, sir.
This is not military era.

Let it be clarified that the former Governor and now FCT Minister repeatedly criticized the dilapidated and leaking Assembly Complex, and during the commissioning of the Assembly Quarters in August 2022, challenged the lawmakers to take responsibility for the poor state of the edifice, rejecting requests to rebuild it to ensure a conducive legislative environment for the lawmakers.