President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved new appointments to key leadership positions within the River Basin Development Authorities under the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.

The appointments aim to enhance efficiency in water resource management and rural development across the country.

In the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority, Abeokuta, Sowade Oluwakayode Adebayo has been appointed as the Executive Director of Engineering Services, replacing Engr. Julius Oloro.

At the Niger Delta River Basin Development Authority, Chucks Erhire has been named the new Executive Director of Engineering Services, taking over from Dr. Austin Nonyelim Izagbo.

Tinubu also appointed Sunday Kubba Hassan as the Executive Director of Planning at the Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority, succeeding Chief Chris Tarka.

Engr. Okibe Timothy retains his position as the Executive Director of Engineering at the Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority, ensuring continuity in leadership.

The Presidency emphasised that these appointments are part of the administration’s broader effort to improve water management, boost agricultural productivity, and enhance rural development.

The President urged the newly appointed officials to uphold the highest standards of integrity and efficiency in their respective roles, ensuring that Nigerians benefit from improved water resource management and infrastructure development.

The River Basin Development Authorities play a crucial role in Nigeria’s water sector, and these leadership changes reflect the government’s commitment to fostering sustainable development.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has outlined some projects that will be inaugurated in May to celebrate President Bola Tinubu’s second year in office.

Mr Wike, after inspecting some of the projects in Abuja on Thursday, identified the Abuja International Conference Centre (AICC), being rehabilitated by Julius Berger, as one of the projects.

He said the AICC would come back to life in May as a befitting international conference centre that Nigerians would be proud of.

Mr Wike expressed optimism that the centre would attract a lot of activities, adding, however, that it would no longer be business as usual.

“You know what happened last time. It was given out to one senator, who was making money but destroying the edifice.

“When we finish, we are going to have a maintenance contract with Julius Berger to address our poor maintenance culture.

“Nigeria needs an internal conference centre that is of standard and comparable with any centre in the world,” Mr Wike said.

The minister added that the two interchanges on Wole Soyinka Way (N20) would also be inaugurated in May.

He said Gilmor was constructing the interchanges, one at Murtala Mohammed Way and the other at Shehu Shagari Way.

Mr Wike said the interchanges, when completed, would connect Jahi, Jabi, Mabushi and Utako Districts and eventually connect to the FCT Division of the Court of Appeal.

He said the N16 interchange at NICON Junction would equally be inaugurated to connect Maitama and Katampe Districts through Gishiri village and be linked to Wole Soyinka Way.

“You can see all the other connecting roads leading to Judges Quarters are ongoing, and the contractor has promised that all these roads will be completed before May.

“We will also inaugurate the connecting roads to celebrate Tinubu’s second year in office,” he said.

The visibly elated minister added that projects in satellite towns would also be inaugurated.

He particularly identified some of the roads as A2-Pai rural roads in Kwali Area Council, Aguma Palace Road in Gwagwalada and the ongoing dualisation of Ushafa to Military Checkpoint Road in Bwari Area Council.

Another project to be inaugurated, according to the minister, includes the service lane from Apo interchange to Wassa, which is being constructed by CGC.

Speaking about funding the projects, the minister said the 2024 budget, which was being used to finance the project, would be implemented until June.

He added that he had submitted the 2025 budget to Mr Tinubu and expressed confidence that it would soon be transmitted to the National Assembly for approval.

“By the time the 2025 budget is passed, we will not have a problem with funding,” Mr Wike said.

The Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum (PDP-GF) has congratulated former president Goodluck Jonathan for winning the prestigious 2025 Founders Sunhak Peace Prize.

The congratulatory message was conveyed in a statement on Wednesday.

PDP-GF chairman Governor Bala Mohammed said that since leaving office in 2015, Mr Jonathan has been visible on the global scene advocating and propagating peace towards the development of humanity.

He said Mr Jonathan’s administration recorded several outstanding and yet-to-be-surpassed achievements.

According to him, these include rebasing the Nigerian economy and its gross domestic product for the first time in over a decade, making the country the largest economy in Africa by overtaking South Africa and Egypt.

Mr Jonathan was declared the winner of the 2025 Founder’s Sunhak Peace Award, a prestigious recognition by the Sunhak Peace Prize Foundation in Seoul, South Korea.

With this win, Mr Jonathan becomes the first African leader and only the third recipient of the Founder’s Prize, following in the footsteps of former UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon and Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen.

The Sunhak Peace Prize Committee lauded Mr Jonathan’s relentless peace efforts, highlighting his pro-democracy initiatives and mediation roles across Africa.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the nomination of four new members to the Governing Council of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), reinforcing the board’s capacity to drive local content growth in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

This was contained in a statement on Thursday by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

The new members include Mr. Olusegun Omosehin from the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) and Engr. Wole Ogunsanya of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN).

Also appointed are Mazi Sam Azoka Onyechi, representing the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum (NCCF) and Barrister Owei Oyanbo from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

These appointments follow the exit of previous institutional representatives, ensuring that the council remains fully constituted and capable of fulfilling its mandate.

The NCDMB Governing Council, established under Section 69 of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, 2010, plays a crucial role in overseeing and promoting Nigerian participation in the oil and gas sector.

It consists of representatives from key institutions, including the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), COREN, PETAN, NCCF, and NAICOM.

Tinubu urged the newly appointed members to apply their expertise and dedication to further enhance local content development, in line with his administration’s commitment to economic growth and job creation in the oil and gas sector.

Further to the statement issued yesterday, Tuesday 25th March 2025, the Commission hereby confirms that the contact address of representatives of the petitioners, their telephone numbers and e-mail addresses have now been provided in a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Commission dated today, Wednesday 26th March 2025.

As provided in Clause 2(a) of the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024, a letter has been written to notify the Senator sought to be recalled about the receipt of the petition and delivered to her official address. The same letter has been copied to the presiding officer of the Senate and published on the Commission’s website.

The next step is to scrutinise the list of signatories submitted by the petitioners to ascertain that the petition is signed by more than one-half (over 50%) of the registered voters in the Constituency. This will be done in the coming days. The outcome, which will be made public, shall determine the next step to be taken by the Commission.

We once again reassure Nigerians that the process will be open and transparent.

Sam Olumekun mni
National Commissioner and Chairman, Information & Voter Education Committee

Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti has petitioned the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee to investigate Edo lawmaker Neda Imasuen for disobeying a court ruling and concealing his criminal records and New York disbarment from Nigeria’s electoral body, INEC.

Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition received by the legal disciplinary committee on Monday said Mr Imasuen, chair of the Senate ethics committee, had a case to answer regarding a report by Peoples Gazette that exposed how the New York Supreme Court revoked his law licence in May 2010 after he absconded with the legal fees of his client, Daphne Slyfield, without representing her.

The Kogi senator accused Mr Imasuen of deliberately withholding this information on his INEC EC-9 form, depriving his constituents and other Nigerians of crucial details of his life and past run-ins with the U.S. government.

Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan said Mr Imasuen, “despite his disbarment which was hinged on unethical conduct,” launched his political career in Nigeria and got appointed to chair the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, “a position requiring unimpeachable integrity.”

“That the respondent did not remotely disclose his disbarment either in his Form EC-9 — Particulars of Personal Information submitted to INEC on oath at the time of aspiring for public office,” she added.

Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan further drew the attention of the legal disciplinary committee to Mr Imasuen’s alleged disregard for a court ruling that shielded her from being investigated and sanctioned by the Senate pending the determination of a suit where she was accused of misconduct for speaking from an unassigned seat.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court issued an ex-parte ruling on March 5 restraining the Senate ethics committee from penalising Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan.

However, Mr Imasuen, according to the Kogi senator, acknowledged Mr Egwuatu’s ex parte ruling but failed to honour it on the grounds that the legislative arm could not take orders from another arm of government.

“They presented to me a motion and a rule order from the court attempting to stop this committee from doing its work. This is unacceptable,” Mr Imasuen said. “We should actually let the world know that there is what they call separation of powers in our constitution.”

Consequently, he recommended Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan’s six-month suspension to the Senate on March 6.

The embattled legislator argued that Mr Imasuen’s actions violated Section 31 of the Rules of Professional Conduct for lawyers, which states that “a lawyer shall always treat the court with respect, dignity and honour.”

Elder statesman and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, Olorogun Morrison Olori, has attributed the political crisis in Rivers State to Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s inability to manage political interests and curb threats from militant groups targeting oil and gas installations in the Niger Delta.

Olori stated that President Bola Tinubu’s decision to impose emergency rule in the state was necessary to protect Nigeria’s economy, which was at risk following militant attacks on critical oil and gas facilities.

“All through the repeated threats by the militants to destabilize the Nigerian economy, Governor Fubara neither cautioned nor condemned their actions. That posture suggests that these militant groups had his blessing”, Olori said while addressing journalists at his Abuja residence on Saturday.

President Tinubu had on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Fubara, his deputy, and members of the State House of Assembly. The move followed escalating political tensions and security concerns in the state.

Olori, who also holds the title of Obaseki of the Great Ughelli Kingdom, praised the president’s intervention, arguing that no leader would sit back and allow a state governor to derail national stability.

“Nigerians should blame Governor Fubara for the current crisis in Rivers State. The state of emergency declared by Mr. President was to de-escalate the tension and curtail threats by militant groups who had sworn to cripple the nation’s economy.

“These militants matched their words with action by destroying pipelines, and yet, the governor remained silent”, he asserted.

He further emphasized that President Tinubu’s decisive move not only prevented an economic catastrophe but also shielded Governor Fubara from impeachment.

“President Tinubu should be commended for his proactive leadership. For once, we have a president who prioritizes Nigeria’s stability. His swift intervention has contained the crisis in Rivers”, Olori stated.

Olori also accused Governor Fubara of disregarding the Supreme Court’s judgment, which affirmed Martins Amaewhule as the recognized Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

“For a governor to disregard another arm of government—the legislature—which was equally elected, is a violation of the Nigerian Constitution.

“Fubara should count himself lucky that President Tinubu did not allow Wike’s men to remove him from office. Instead of vilifying Mr. President, people should thank him for saving Fubara from impeachment”, he said. The APC chieftain further argued that the governor’s alleged tacit support for militants amounted to economic sabotage.

“In a normal country, a governor who supports militant threats against national assets should be held accountable. The state of emergency is necessary to prevent further destruction and restore order in Rivers State”, Olori declared.

Suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has made his first public appearance after his suspension from office.

Fubara was seen attending a church service on Sunday at the headquarters of Salvation Ministries in GRA, Port Harcourt.

Fubara attended the service alongside his Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie.

His appearance comes days after President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers on Tuesday, citing political tensions and security concerns.

The declaration led to the suspension of Fubara, his deputy, Prof Ngozi Odu, and all members of the state House of Assembly.

The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has expressed deep sadness over the passing of the Chairman of Ayobo-Ipaja Local Council Development Area, Bola Shobowale.

The state APC Chairman, Cornelius Ojelabi, in a statement on Sunday, said the party would greatly miss the late council boss, who passed away on Friday.

According to Mr Ojelabi, Ms Shobowale’s death is a tremendous loss to the party, the state, and the people of Ayobo-Ipaja LCDA.

Mr Ojelabi, who highlighted her numerous contributions to the community, described her as a visionary leader, compassionate administrator, and dedicated public servant.

He said, “Chief Shobowale’s commitment to the well-being of her people was evident in her various initiatives that benefitted the residents of Ayobo-Ipaja LCDA. Her leadership and legacy will never be forgotten, and her memory will continue to inspire strength and peace.

Before her illness, she was a devoted servant of the people, a seasoned administrator, and a loyal party member. The Lagos APC, the community, her friends, and her family will deeply miss her vibrancy.’’.

Mr Ojelabi added that Ms Shobowale’s passing left a profound void in the community she served with unwavering commitment.

He noted that her transformative leadership and dedication to grassroots development were widely respected.

The party chairman, who prayed for strength for her family and loved ones, said, “The Lagos State APC will deeply miss her contributions to the party and the state.”

Ms Shobowale was the third executive chairman of Ayobo-Ipaja LCDA before she surrendered to the cold hands of death on Friday after battling an undisclosed illness for a long time.

The Supreme Court has set aside the December 22, 2024 majority judgment of the Court of Appeal in Enugu sacking Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

A five-member panel of the apex court, presided over by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji was unanimous, in a judgment on Friday, that both the High Court of Enugu State and Court of Appeal in Enugu lacked the jurisdiction to have heard the suit.

Justice Jamilu Tukur, in the lead judgment, held that the issues in the suit filed by Emmanuel Aniagwu at the HIgh Court of Enugu State bordered on matters relating to internal affairs of the PDP which are not justiciable and over which no courts have jurisdiction.

Justice Tukur also held that Anyanwu’s participation in the last governorship election in Imo State, as the candidate of the PDP was pursuant to the approval of the party’s leadership as against the claim by Aniagwu.

He also found that Aniagwu lacked the locus standi (the legal right) to have instituted the suit having not shown the injury he suffered and how Anyanwu’s conduct affected him personally, describe him as a busy body and an interloper.

Justice Tukur also noted that S. K. E. Ude-Okoye, who would have been the beneficiary of the case, was not made a party.

He affirmed the minority judgment of the Enugu division of the Court of Appeal, delivered by Justice Ekanem, where he held that the court was without the requisite jurisdiction to heard the case.

Justice Tukur proceeded to strike out the suit filed by Aniagwu before the High Court of Enugu State for want of jurisdiction.

Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde has condemned the declaration of a State of Emergency in Rivers State.

He also stated Governors elected under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) will be challenging the declaration in court.

According to Makinde, the decision to seek legal redress was taken at an emergency meeting of the PDP Governors on Wednesday.

He commended the PDP for demonstrating what he called “the needed strength and leadership”.

President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State suspendinh Governor Similayi Fubara; his Deputy Ngozi Odu, as well as the House of Assembly for six months.

The President appointed Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas (Rtd.) as Sole Administrator for the State.

Governor Makinde, in his biweekly newsletter, The Business of Governance Issue 110, noted that the suspension of democracy in Rivers State, through the declaration of State of Emergency, is an illegal act which must be condemned by all well-meaning Nigerians.

According to him: “I stand today to say that the declaration of the State of Emergency in Rivers State and the suspension of the executive and legislative arms of government by the presidency is an illegality that right-thinking members of society must oppose.

“Our democratic tenets must never be trifled with no matter our personal feelings and loyalties. This is the time to take a stand for fairness, equity and justice.

“As our democracy grows and unfolds, we must also be willing to speak up when we see anything that threatens our development as a nation. We must choose to stand up for what is right, even if it means standing alone.”

He added: “I am glad that our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is demonstrating the needed strength and leadership.

“Yesterday (Wednesday), the PDP Governors’ Forum rose from an emergency meeting where we unanimously decided to challenge the actions of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in a court of competent jurisdiction. We cannot fold our hands and watch the democracy we built for almost three decades be trampled upon.”

‎The suspended lawmaker representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has taken her frustration to the popular British television station, Sky News, where she narrated that she spent over a year enduring the alleged s*xual advances of Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

The senator reiterated during the interview with the British Television network on Wednesday that her suspension was a direct consequence of her outcry against Akpabio’s alleged s*xual harassment and not the gross misconduct the Senate reported.

According to her, the Senate president continually told her that she must “please him” if she wanted to enjoy her privileges and perks of office as a Senator.

She said, “I made an allegation of s*xual harassment against the President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, on March 5, 2025, and the very next day, I was suspended for six months. I believe my suspension is illegal, unjust, and just a way of silencing me.

“I experienced sexual harassment over the past year in the hands of the Senate President, and this s*xual harassment, because I refused to yield to his demands, turned into malice whereby my rights and privileges as a senator were deprived.

“I found the courage to speak up; yes, the breaking point was moving me from that seat; I have had to endure a whole lot in silence.”

When reminded that the Senate attributed her sanction to gross misconduct, the lawmaker refuted it, saying it was a calculated attempt to silence her.

“Yes, they did mention that I was suspended on grounds of gross misconduct, but can they please provide what the gross misconduct is that amounts to a six-month suspension the day after I submitted a petition? I was suspended because of that petition, not because of any gross misconduct.

“Let’s talk about the gross misconduct that had happened in the Nigerian chambers. I was only told to move, and I refused to move my seat because I deserved to be notified; I deserved to be given a chance to explain why I should retain my seat,” she noted.

To further back up her claim, the Kogi legislator recalled that she has witnessed some male colleagues fighting, screaming, and insulting one another with no sanction meted out.

Akpoti-Uduaghan argued that using her as a scapegoat only reflects the hypocrisy and double standards in the Senate.

She said, “I have seen in that chamber where men fight, where Senators throw items at each other, curse each other, shout at each other, but they were not suspended. Why? Because they were men. Things got difficult for me; I was always complaining.

“My husband would actually walk up to him because they are friends, saying, ‘My wife has a very important bill, her constituency needs this, why don’t you give her a chance to speak? And he would tell me, ‘Next time. So he deliberately kept on denying me this.

“Each time I walked to him he’d tell me, ‘Right here I am the chief presiding officer of the National Assembly, so you have to please me, make me happy to get these privileges.’ And that happened several times because I refused. It developed into malice. Which other way was I supposed to make my voice heard?”

Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for six months by the House for breaking the Senate rules after she objected to her new sitting arrangement.

Her appearance as a guest on Sky News comes barely one week after she escalated her dispute with Akpabio, presenting her case at a United Nations forum, the International Parliamentary Union, where she alleged political victimisation.

She was suspended on March 6 after a heated confrontation with the Senate leadership over a new seating arrangement, which she claimed was designed to undermine her.

Tensions intensified when the Kogi politician accused Akpabio on Arise TV of punishing her for rejecting his alleged s*xual advances.

Speaking at the Women in Parliament session during the Inter-Parliamentary Union meeting at the United Nations in New York, Akpoti-Uduaghan called for international intervention to hold the Nigerian Senate accountable.

She further decried stringent conditions imposed on her, including withdrawal of security, salary cuts, and a ban from the National Assembly for six months.

President Bola Tinubu has sworn- in the sole administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas (retd.), into office.

Tinubu swore Ibas into office at about 03:00 pm at the State House, Abuja.

The brief ceremony was witnessed by the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and the Principal Secretary to the President, Mr Hakeem Muri-Okunola.

Ibas arrived at the Presidential Villa at about 12:48 pm (local time).

On Tuesday night, Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.

In a national broadcast, Tinubu cited prolonged political instability, constitutional breaches, and security threats as reasons for the extraordinary measure.

The crisis, which had paralysed governance in the oil-rich state, stems from a power struggle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

As part of the directive, the President also appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas (retd.) as the sole administrator to oversee the state’s affairs until normalcy is restored. Ibas served as Chief of Naval Staff from 2015 to 2021 under former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Tinubu announced, “In the circumstance, having soberly reflected on and evaluated the political situation in Rivers State the Governor and Deputy Governor of Rivers State has failed to make a request to me as President to issue this proclamation as required by section 305(5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, it has become inevitably compelling for me to invoke the provision of section 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State with effect from today, March 18, 2025 and I so do.

“By this declaration, the Governor of Rivers State, Mr Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Mrs Ngozi Odu and all elected members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State are hereby suspended for an initial period of six months.

“In the meantime, I hereby nominate Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (retd.) as Administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state in the interest of the good people of Rivers State. For the avoidance of doubt, this declaration does not affect the judicial arm of Rivers State, which shall continue to function in accordance with their constitutional mandate.”

The Peoples Democratic Party has rejected the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers, stating that the president has no power to suspend a democratically elected governor. It warned that the emergency rule is a recipe for political chaos in Nigeria.

The party stated this in a statement on Tuesday.

President Bola Tinubu had on Tuesday in a national broadcast declared a state of emergency in Rivers suspending both the legislative and executive arms of the state for six months, as part of efforts to restore peace in Rivers.

The main opposition party, however, described Mr Tinubu’s action as an “utter violation” of the 1999 Constitution.

“The PDP outrightly rejects this attempt by the president to override the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and undermine the votes and will of the people of Rivers by seeking to depose a democratic government and foist an undemocratic rule in the state.

“The unconstitutional declaration by President Tinubu of the suspension of the democratically elected Governor of Rivers, Siminalayi Fubara and appointment of an unelected individual, Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (retd) to govern the state is a clear attack on our nation’s democracy,” said the PDP.

It called the emergency rule an “abrogation of the votes and democratic right of the people of Rivers State to choose their leader under the Constitution.”

The party also described it as a clear attempt at state capture and a well-oiled plot to take over Rivers for the All Progressives Congress forcefully, claiming that the reasons adduced by Mr Tinubu could not justify the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers under the 1999 Constitution, rendering the declaration completely incompetent.

The PDP said the unwarranted imposition of emergency rule in Rivers was part of a plot to foist a siege mentality across Nigeria, decimate the opposition and impose a one-party state.

“Mr President should recognise that his order to an unelected individual to forthwith take over government of Rivers State is illegal and a clear recipe for crisis, threat to the peace and stability of not only Rivers state but the entire nation,” the PDP warned.

It added, “The PDP, therefore, cautions Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (retd) to respect the Constitution and ensure that he does not take any action or step which is capable of derailing smooth democratic governance in Rivers state.

“Nigeria is not under a military rule where the governance of a state is by appointment by a junta.”

Two Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) and a professor of law disagreed yesterday on the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.

Eminent lawyer Dr. Wahab Shittu argued that the president acted in the overall interest of the country.

He said: “Law and order is central to democratic governance, and the situation in Rivers State was getting out of hand. A threat to security anywhere is a threat to security everywhere.

“The president as the chief security of the country has a responsibility to deliver peace and security in any part of the country.”

But, another SAN, Kunle Edun, argued that the President lacked the powers.

He said: “The provisions of Section 305 relied upon by President Tinubu do not empower the President to remove or suspend elected state officials.

“Section 305(3) of the Constitution prescribed the grounds upon which a State of Emergency can be declared and none of the reasons alluded to by the President justifies the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.

“As a matter of fact, under Section 305(4), the governor of a state, supported by a resolution of 2/3 majority of the members of the House of Assembly, may request the President to declare a state of emergency on any part of the state.

“The Supreme Court has already settled the issues causing the crisis in the state and the House of Assembly had started sitting.

“Governor Fubara was at the House of Assembly complex to present the 2025 budget in response to the demand of the Rivers’ State House of Assembly.

“So, Mr. President was very wrong to say that there was no longer a functional government in Rivers State simply because the House of Assembly complex was demolished.

“Furthermore, the Constitution has already provided remedial provisions to take care of situations where a House of Assembly is unable to perform its Legislative functions.

“Section 11(4) of the Constitution provides that at any time when a House of Assembly is unable to perform its functions by reason of situations prevailing in that State, the National Assembly may make law for the peace, order and good government of that state with respect to matters which the House of Assembly have power to make laws until such a time when the House is able to resume its functions.

“The proviso to Section 11(4) is very apposite to understand the limitations of the power of the President.

“The proviso provides that the intervention of the National Assembly by virtue of its powers under section 11(4) shall not confer on the National Assembly the power to remove the governor or deputy governor of the state.

“Therefore, the Constitution is clear that there is no power conferred on any authority to remove or suspend a governor, the deputy or the House of Assembly of a state during a period of State of Emergency.

“As a matter of fact and clear law, the President violated his oath of allegiance to protect, defend and abide by the provisions of the Constitution.

“A state House of Assembly cannot be suspended by the President.

“Rather, it is the National Assembly that has the constitutional power to take over the legislative functions of the State.

“Therefore, the Constitution did not envisage a situation where a State will be without a legislature at any time.”

For professor of law Sam Erugo, the declaration is in order given the circumstances.

Erugo said: “It is obvious there is a breakdown of law and order in the state.

“However, the situation could have been contained before it got to this point by the presidency.”

Lawyer and Executive Director Cadrell Advocacy Centre, Evans Ufeli, agreed, noting that the political tension and crisis in Rivers State has reached a state of “clear and present danger” which represents the ground for drastic action.

He said: “The action is, however, not completed; the President has published same in the Official Gazette containing a proclamation and transmitted it to the National Assembly in compliance with section 305 of the 1999 constitution as amended.

“The National Assembly must within two days act on same by giving its concurrence to it before the process can become valid in the eyes of the law.

“A state of emergency is more like an equitable remedy targeted at restoring peace to a country or any part thereof in the face of a clear and present danger.

“The purpose of this is both preventive and curative, largely for the continuous peaceful habitation of a nation, to restore peace and tranquillity in times of chaos and promote regular and peaceful co-existence of all states and nations of Nigeria.

“The President suspended the State House of Assembly together with the governor and that is controversial because same can be challenged.

“I am not a fan of the Rivers State House of Assembly but there’s an overreach there. Can the President suspend the State House of Assembly? The days to come will tell.”

The Senate yesterday set up an ad hoc committee to investigate alleged annexation of Nigerian territories in some local governments in Rivers and Akwa Ibom states by the Republic of Cameroon.

The Red Chamber urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take immediate steps to protect Nigeria’s territorial waters and secure over 2,560 oil wells located within the disputed mangrove islands in Akwa Ibom State.

The Senate’s resolutions followed its consideration and adoption of a motion, titled: “Illegal annexation of Nigerian mangroves islands, waters and its crude oil by the Republic of Cameroun,” sponsored by Senator Aniekan Bassey (PDP, Akwa Ibom North West) during plenary.

The motion was co-sponsored by Senators Ekong Sampson Akpan (PDP, Akwa Ibom South), Aminu Iya Abbas (Adamawa Central), Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe (Cross River North), Williams Eteng Jonah (Cross River Central) and Ekpenyong Asuquo (Cross River South).

Members of the committee include Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (Chairman), as well as Senators Adeniyi Adegbonmire (SAN), Shehu Kaka Lawan, Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, Ekong Sampson and Aniekan Bassey.

Others are: Senators Seriake Dickson, Victor Umeh, Abdul Ningi, Ipalibo Harry Banigo, and Sani Bello.

The ad hoc committee was give four weeks to report back to the Senate.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio said the leadership of the Red Chamber wanted the President to explore diplomatic solutions to the crisis.

In his lead debate, Senator Bassey said: “It is a monumental national embarrassment that foreign laws are being imposed by the Cameroonian Gendarmes on Nigerians living in the 16 ancestral villages in these areas.

“This encroachment is illegal and has resulted in a significant economic loss, particularly in oil and gas revenues.”

He added: “I rise with utmost sense of responsibility to direct the attention of this Senate to the illegal annexations of Nigerian mangrove islands situated at Efiat in Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State by the Republic of Cameroon.

“This is noting that the islands in focus were not part of the territories ceded to the Government of Cameroun by the 1913 Anglo-German treaties and the International Court of Justice’s decision of October, 2002.

“As such, the encroachment into these territories is not only illegal but has led to huge economic loss of more than 2,560 oil wells and gas revenues which ought to accrue to Nigeria.

“Also very pathetic; it is a monumental national embarrassment that foreign laws are imposed by the Cameroonian Gendarmes on Nigerians living in the 16 Nigerian ancestral homes and villages and on the said mangrove islands.

Press statement by suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara on the state of emergency declared in Rivers State:

My dear Rivers People,

I address you today with a deep sense of responsibility and calm, as we navigate this unfortunate moment in our state’s political history.

Since assuming office as your Governor, all my actions and decisions have been guided by my constitutional oath of office and a great sense of duty.

We prioritized the protection of lives and property and ensured the continuous progress of our dear State.

Even in the face of the political impasse, we have remained committed to constitutional order and the rule of law, putting the interest of our people above all else.

This was why, immediately after Mr. President’s intervention to broker peace, we did not hesitate to implement the agreed terms in good faith, including welcoming back commissioners who had previously resigned on their own volition.

Furthermore, we moved swiftly to comply with the Supreme Court’s judgement immediately we received the certified true copy of the judgement to return the state to normalcy.

These steps were taken not for personal gains but to foster peace, unity and stability in our dear State.

Unfortunately, at every turn, members of the Rivers State House of Assembly frustrated our efforts, thus making genuine peace and progress difficult.

Our priorities remained the security of lives and property and advancing the well-being and prosperity of Rivers people.

Yes, we have political disagreements, but good governance had continued, salaries have been paid, and great projects were being executed to move the State forward. Above all, Rivers State is safe, secure and peaceful under our watch.

At this critical time, I urge all Rivers people to remain peaceful and law-abiding. We will engage with all relevant institutions to ensure that our democracy remains strong and that Rivers State continues to thrive.

We have always been a resilient people, and we will face this situation with wisdom, patience, and unwavering faith in the democratic process.

God bless Rivers State. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS

The Nigerian Senate has dismissed allegations by suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan regarding a planned arrest upon her return from the Inter-Parliamentary Union event in New York.

Senate Spokesman, Adeyemi Adaramodu, in a press statement sent to our correspondent on Monday, said that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the Senate have no reason to engage with Akpoti-Uduaghan on the matter.

“She’s looking for her lost content creation needle in a haystack,” Adaramodu said, dismissing the senator’s claims.

“The Senate President and the Nigerian Senate have no reason to join issues with her anymore.”

Akpoti-Uduaghan had alleged plans to arrest her upon her arrival in Abuja, claiming that Senate President Akpabio had sent staff to “evacuate” her from the UN premises.

She also asserted that her participation in the IPU event was legitimate, despite her suspension.

In response, Adaramodu suggested that Akpoti-Uduaghan was being troubled by her own actions at the IPU.

“If she’s being haunted by her unguarded vituperations against Nigeria at the IPU in faraway New York, she should spare the Senate, which is not ready to be her accomplice in such a sordid voyage,” he stated.

Akpoti-Uduaghan revealed in an interview with an online newspaper on Sunday while fielding questions on why she attended the UN Inter-Parliamentary Union in New York despite not securing the needed official approval.

Midway through her interview, the senator alleged that she knew plans were underway to arrest her as soon as she stepped foot in Abuja.

She said, “I’m aware there are plans underway to arrest me as soon as I arrive in Abuja. The Senate President Akpabio sent three staff members, headed by the Chargè D’Affairs of the Nigerian embassy in New York, to evacuate me from the United Nations premises right after my speech.

“I was rescued by parliamentarians from other countries and the security.”

The senator explained that she had registered for the meeting online.

Indications have emerged that the 2023 Lagos governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olajide Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, has perfected plans to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) today.

Adediran, who had two weeks ago announced his resignation from the PDP, shall this morning be addressing a press conference in his campaign office at Ikeja, Lagos, to announce his return to the party.

Following his resignation from the opposition party, Adediran, who was a member of the ruling party in the state, had met President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Abuja, to intimate him of his decision to return to his initial political family.

A source close to him, had indirectly confirmed The Nation’s enquiry of this move.

Seyi, the son of President Bola Tinubu, on Friday, visited Yobe State to engage with the youths.

The visit aimed to discuss crucial issues, foster political and economic growth, and create youth progress and development opportunities.

Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Wisdom, in a short speech, emphasised the Tinubu administration’s commitment to youth development, stating that they have numerous initiatives tailored for young people.

“As the Minister of Youth Development, we’re dedicated to ensuring these initiatives reach Yobe State,” he said.

Wisdom praised the cooperation between his ministry and the state governor, saying, “We have a wonderful Governor, and we’re working together to ensure everything runs smoothly.”

He concluded by expressing his gratitude and seeking divine guidance and protection during the Ramadan iftar.

Seyi paid courtesy visits to the Emir of Damaturu, Shehu Hashim II ibn Umar El-Kanemi, and the Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, at the Government House, where a large crowd of youths welcomed him.