EXPLOSION ROCKS RIVERS APC SECRETARIAT HOURS TO LG ELECTION
EXPLOSION ROCKS RIVERS APC SECRETARIAT HOURS TO LG ELECTION There is tension in Rivers State as individuals suspected of arson reportedly detonated explosives at the state secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday morning.Naija News reports that the APC is the principal opposition political party in Rivers State. The state is preparing to hold its local government elections today, Saturday, October 5. However, just a few hours before the exercise, the secretariat of the APC located in Port Harcourt was reportedly attacked. According to Leadership, video clips obtained online indicate that the incident, believed to involve dynamite, caused damage to the main gate and the security post of the APC secretariat, as well as to portions of a nearby building. In a brief message sent to journalists in the state, Chief Tony Okocha, the chairman of the party’s caretaker committee, attributed the attack on the secretariat to supporters of Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Okocha wrote: “At the wee hours of Saturday, pro-Fubara civilian soldiers detonated dynamites at our office. “The second attempt to set it ablaze was foiled as the security at the gate quickly put out the fire.” The APC had previously declared its intention to abstain from the local government elections scheduled for this Saturday throughout the state. In a surprising turn of events, the ruling party in the state, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), under the leadership of Hon. Chukwuemeka Aaron, also announced its decision to refrain from participating in the election.
LOCAL GOVT ELECTION GOES ON IN RIVERS STATE
LOCAL GOVT ELECTION GOES ON RIVER STATE The local government election in Rivers State is proceeding as scheduled despite calls from stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for Governor Siminalayi Fubara to suspend the process. Both sensitive and non-sensitive election materials have arrived at the Registration and Accreditation Centers (RACs) in some local government areas, including the Government Technical College in Ahoada East. The atmosphere in the state reflects typical election day conditions, with roads notably quiet, but with the absence of the Nigeria Police Force. Governor Fubara, speaking on Friday, reaffirmed his commitment to moving forward with the election, despite the Rivers State Police Command’s decision to withdraw from overseeing the process. The governor accused the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, of attempting to undermine the election in favor of “an Abuja-based politician.” The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, emphasized that the election would proceed as planned, encouraging residents to exercise their voting rights in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
Dons Eze
- Foreign Affairs
- October 5, 2024
- 128 views
RUSSIA WARNS NIGERIA ABOUT US UK INTERFACE
RUSSIA WARNS NIGERIA ABOUT US, UK ATTEMPTS AT INTERFERENCE The Russian government has issued a fresh warning to Nigeria, alleging that the United States and the United Kingdom are attempting to interfere in the country’s internal affairs and sabotage its bilateral relations with Russia. This is as the Russian Embassy in Nigeria has denied any involvement in the October 1st hunger protest that rocked the country. In a letter addressed to the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Russia’s official Press Secretary, Yury Paramonov, stated that his country respects Nigeria’s sovereignty and adheres to the principle of non-interference in internal affairs. Russia has accused Western countries, particularly the US, UK, and Ukraine, of spreading baseless accusations about its involvement in the protests. The Russian Embassy cited statements by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, former Director of the British Council in Nigeria David Roberts, and the Ambassador of Ukraine to Nigeria Ivan Kholostenko as examples of unfounded claims. “Statements by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, former Director of the British Council in Nigeria David Roberts, and the Ambassador of Ukraine to Nigeria Ivan Kholostenko have shamelessly and baselessly suggested that the use of Russian flags during recent protests is evidence of Russia’s interference,and have further warned that this could happen again in the future.”” the Russian Embassy stated. The statement added, “The Embassy categorically rejects such accusations and reiterates that the Russian Federation neither had any involvement in the protests that occurred in the recent past, nor does it have any connection to any potential future demonstrations or unrest. “Russia has always respected the sovereignty of Nigeria. We strictly adhere to the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of independent states.”
- Spirituality
- October 5, 2024
- 116 views
RELIGION HAS BLINDED, FINISHED NIGERIANS – VERYDARKMAN
RELIGION HAS BLINDED, FINISHED NIGERIANS – VERYDARKMAN Social media activist, Martins Ortse, also known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), on Friday said religion has “blinded and finished” Nigerians and Africans. VeryDarkMan was reacting to the apology by Pastor Enoch Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG. The cleric apologized for his earlier claim that Christians that are not paying tithe won’t make heaven. Pastor Adeboye had previously claimed that paying tithe was one of the prerequisites for going to heaven. But addressing his members, the clergyman apologized for the comment which he described as a “mistake”, stressing that the Holy Bible never said such. He emphasised that the Bible says peaceful and holy living are the prerequisites for making heaven. Reacting via his Instagram post, VeryDarkMan said: “I’m happy about what Papa Adeboye revealed so I’m waiting for all those pastors like David Ibieyomie that preach about giving tithe. “The number one man of all the religious people in Nigeria has come out to apologize that he’s sorry for saying if you don’t pay tithe you won’t make heaven; that it’s not in the Bible. “Which other things have they told us is not in the Bible? That’s what I’m concerned about; how many things have they manipulated that is not in the Bible? I’m glad that Papa Adeboye came out to say these things, so imagine the ones that would come out to apologise and have manipulated the people, they have twisted the right words of the Bible to suit their own narratives. “Religion has blinded and finished us in Africa and I will keep talking about how messed up religion has made us, carry your Bible. I’m waiting for those who will come tomorrow and say prayers won’t move Nigeria forward. I hope God will touch papa and the tithe collected will be used to touch the people of the country by creating jobs for millions.”
TINUBU IS IDEOLOGICALLY SOMERSAULTING, SHOULD LOOK AT THE LETTER HE WROTE JONATHAN – FAROUNBI
TINUBU IS IDEOLOGICALLY SOMERSAULTING, SHOULD LOOK AT THE LETTER HE WROTE JONATHAN – FAROUNBI Nigeria’s former ambassador to The Philippines, Yemi Farounbi, has said the Bola Tinubu that he knew when he was Governor of Lagos and as a believer in a restructured Nigeria, is no longer the man who is President. Dr. Yemi Farounbi said President Tinubu is ideologically somersaulting. He advised the President to look back at the letter he wrote to former president, Goodluck Jonathan, in 2012 and compare it with his current policies that are responsible for the economic hardship in the country. The former Nigeria’s ambassador to The Philippines stated this on Friday while speaking in an interview with Channels TV. “If I have that opportunity, I am going to ask him (Tinubu) to look back at what he was. I am going to ask him to look at the letter he wrote to Jonathan in 2012. I am going to ask him to look at the cases he took to the Supreme Court on local governments. “I am going to ask him why is he ideologically somersaulting. Why is he not appearing as the Tinubu that we knew, why is not the Tinubu that was committed to the restructuring of this country, a Tinubu that was interested in a sovereign national conference, a Tinubu that was committed to true federalism?” Farounbi said. The former envoy added, “I’m going to ask him what had happened. Can he be true to himself? Let him be himself as he was in the past and I think that a lot of these problems will not be there.” Farounbi explained that the idea of a progressive is to be able to provide for the welfare of the people, to be able to provide food and jobs for the people.
PDP SUSPENDS NATIONAL VICE CHAIRMAN, ALI ODEFA
PDP SUSPENDS NATIONAL VICE CHAIRMAN, ALI ODEFA The South-East zone national vice chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ali Odefa, has been suspended over alleged anti-party activities. Odefa was suspended by the party’s Oguduokwor Ward chapter in the Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. This suspension, which takes effect immediately, was disclosed on Friday in Abuja following a meeting of the Ward Executive Committee. During a press briefing in Abuja, Herbert Onyedikachi, the acting Chairman of the PDP Oguduokwor Ward, along with other committee members, provided details regarding the decision. He indicated that the suspension of Odefa was prompted by alleged anti-party activities and other actions deemed harmful to the party’s reputation and interests. He further noted that the Ward Executive Committee acted under Section 57(3) of the PDP Constitution to suspend Chief Odefa. Moreover, the Committee has referred Odefa to the Ward Disciplinary Committee for additional proceedings. “The suspension and disciplinary referral are intended to maintain party discipline and uphold the values and principles of the PDP. “The Ward Executive Committee urged party members to remain committed to the PDP’s objectives and goals,” the ward party leader stated.
TINUBU MAKES U-TURN, CONFERS GCON ON HOUSE OF REPS SPEAKER, TAJUDEEN ABBAS
TINUBU MAKES U-TURN, CONFERS GCON ON HOUSES OF REPS SPEAKER, TAJUDEEN ABBAS President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has conferred the nation’s second highest national honour, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, on the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, News360 Nigeria reports This follows a protest by members of the lower chamber of the National Assembly. In his 64th Independence Anniversary Speech on October 1, Tinubu had conferred the Commander of the Federal Republic( CFR) on the speaker and the deputy senate president. But this development led to a debate in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, calling on the President to confer a higher honour on the Speaker. In a statement on Friday, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, said Tinubu was persuaded by the House of Representatives position and has decided to remedy the “historical error and oversight”. “Thus, he has decided to upgrade the Speaker to GCON from CFR, in accordance with the National Order of Precedence. “The speaker, the Senate President, other principal officers of the National Assembly and the Chief Justice of Nigeria will be formally decorated with their new honours later.”
BE DECENT WITH YOUR POLITICAL GOAL – POLICE TELLS FUBARA
BE DECENT WITH YOUR POLITICAL GOAL – POLICE TELLS FUBARA Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun,The Nigeria Police Force has slammed the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, for calling the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, unprintable names and making unfounded allegations against the force. Fubara on Friday at a press conference in Port Harcourt, the state capital, warned the IG to be conscious of his role as head of the police force. He accused the Nigeria Police Force and its Rivers State command of attempting to steal election materials before their actions were foiled. The governor vowed to hold the IG responsible if there is a breakdown of law and order in the state. However, the police in a statement on Friday by the Force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, advised the governor to be cautious and apply decency while pursuing his political goals. He said, “It is therefore shocking to see the state governor storming the RIEC office at night, wrongly accusing the police of unlawful duties, deriding the police institution and using unprintable words to describe the Inspector-General of Police. “The Nigeria Police takes exception to the unwarranted outburst of the governor and particularly the weighty accusations which he falsely levied against the Inspector-General of Police and the entire Nigeria Police Force and advise caution and decency in the pursuit of individual political goals.” Adejobi noted that there was a court order restraining the police from participating in the Rivers State local government election, adding that the IG instructed the Commissioner of Police to obey the order. He said, “Firstly, it is important to clarify that there is a subsisting Federal High Court order barring the Nigeria Police Force from participating in the Rivers State election “This order was duly served on both the NPF and the Rivers State Government. As a law-abiding institution, the IGP instructed the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State to strictly adhere to this court order by refraining from any direct involvement in the election process. “However, on the evening of 3rd October 2024, the commissioner of police in Rivers State received reports that policemen from Rivers State Government House had been deployed to the office of Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RIEC) to aid the conduct of the election. “This report was also relayed to the Inspector-General of Police who gave clearance to the Commissioner of Police to withdraw the policemen from the Government House and replace them with policemen from the Command Operations department. “The mandate of the men from the Operations Department was to provide overnight security for the RIEC to prevent any attack on the facility.” Adejobi stated that the response of the command to secure RIEC overnight was professional and supported by the IG. He said, “It is also important to note that prior to this, there had been a series of security breaches in the state following the spate of court orders and counter orders and reactions to them by supporters of the different political parties involved. “The response of the command to secure RIEC overnight was therefore professional and supported by the Inspector-General of Police. For emphasis sake, the policemen deployed to RIEC from the operations department of Rivers State Command on the night of 3rd October 2024 were with the sole mandate to protect the RIEC office from attack overnight. “This action was proactive and responsive to intelligence at the disposal of the State Command.”
SUSPEND RIVERS LG ELECTION – ELDERS TELL FUBARA
SUSPEND RIVERS LG ELECTION – ELDERS FORUM TELL FUBARA The Rivers State Elders Forum has condemned the state government’s decision to defy a Federal High Court ruling and proceed with the scheduled Local Government Election on October 5, 2024, as reported by TVC News. In a video shared by TVC News on October 4, the group insisted that the election exercise should be suspended, citing legal and ethical concerns. A representative of the Forum stated, “We urge the government to respect the rule of law and halt this election until the court’s judgment is properly addressed.” The Forum expressed its frustration over the government’s perceived disregard for judicial rulings, arguing that moving forward with the election could have serious legal and political consequences. “The court has spoken, and it is incumbent upon the state government to respect that decision,” the representative added. The Federal High Court had earlier issued a ruling regarding the legality of the election, but the state government opted to continue with the process despite the judgment. This defiance has raised concerns among civil society groups and political analysts, many of whom see it as a dangerous precedent that undermines the judiciary’s role in governance. The Rivers State Elders Forum echoed these sentiments, warning that failure to uphold the court’s ruling could lead to instability and erode public trust in the government. The state government, however, has maintained its stance, claiming that preparations for the election were already in advanced stages and suspending it at this point would create chaos. A government spokesperson noted, “The administration remains committed to ensuring a fair and credible election, and we believe that all actions taken are within the legal framework.” Despite these assurances, tensions are escalating, with the Elders Forum urging political leaders to prioritize peace and the rule of law. As the election date approaches, the clash between the government’s determination to proceed and the court’s ruling continues to draw attention, with many stakeholders watching closely for the outcome.
WE’RE BOYCOTTING RIVERS LG ELECTION – POLICE
WE’RE BOYCOTTING RIVERS LG ELECTION – POLICE The Nigeria Police Force has announced its decision to comply with recent court rulings that prohibit security agencies from participating in the forthcoming Local Government Chairmanship Election in Rivers State, scheduled for October 5, 2024. In a statement issued on October 3, 2024, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, Public Relations Officer for the Rivers State Police Command, confirmed that the police will adhere to a Federal High Court ruling from September 30, 2024, which reaffirmed an earlier judgment issued on July 19, 2024. Both rulings bar the police and other security agencies from providing security or participating in the election process. The Force Legal Department advised that the September 30 ruling takes precedence, and all law enforcement personnel must act in accordance with the court’s directive. Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers, and Tactical Commanders have been instructed to ensure full compliance with the court’s order. The announcement comes after opposition parties staged protests, demanding strict adherence to the court rulings. The Nigeria Police Force encouraged any aggrieved parties to pursue legal channels for redress, reaffirming its commitment to upholding law and order. The police have urged all citizens to remain peaceful, orderly, and cooperative during this crucial period. Other security agencies have also been called upon to respect the court’s judgment and refrain from involvement in the election.