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Folarin Kehinde

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JUST IN: Fubara orders immediate audit of LG accounts in Rivers

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara has mandated the Auditor General of the State to begin the audit of the accounts of the 23 Local Government Areas for the past three years.

The Nation reports that Fubara on Wednesday swore-in 23 Caretaker Committee Chairmen for the 23 Local Government Councils of the State.

While swearing in the Caretaker Committee Chairmen of the Local Government Areas, the Governor said the measure was to serve as a check for the incoming officials.

He urged the caretaker chairmen not to see themselves as superheroes, but to protect the interests of their people, and demonstrate that the government made the right choice in appointing them.

Details shortly…

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BREAKING: “Rivers State Is At War” – APC Demands Declaration of State Of Emergency

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the state, citing escalating violence and chaos.

Chief Tony Okocha, Caretaker Committee Chairman of the party in Rivers, made the call during a media briefing on Wednesday.

“Rivers State is at war,” Okocha declared.

“Lives have been lost, and the perpetrators are well-known. The Governor and the police seem powerless to stop the mayhem. We urge the Federal Government to act swiftly and declare a state of emergency to tame the violence and restore order.”

The Federal Government has the constitutional power to declare a state of emergency in cases of natural disasters, civil unrest, armed conflict, medical pandemics, epidemics, or other biosecurity risks.

Okocha’s call comes amidst a deepening political crisis in Rivers State, which has seen clashes between rival factions over the expiration of local government council executives.

More to follow…

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BREAKING: Fubara swears in caretaker chairmen for 23 LGs

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, on Wednesday, swore in new caretaker chairmen for the 23 local government areas of the state.

The governor inaugurated the new caretaker chairmen hours after the House of Assembly, led by factional Speaker, Victor Jumbo, screened and confirmed the nominees.

Governor Fubara had forwarded the list to the state House of Assembly on Tuesday and the nominees were invited for screening as early as 8 am on Wednesday, according to a statement issued by the Clerk of the House, G.M. Gillis-West.

The nomination came amid a renewed political crisis in the state, as former council chairmen have refused to vacate their offices after their tenure expired .

Leading reporters learnt that the swearing-in took place at the Executive Council Chambers of the Government House in Port Harcourt, the state capital, amid tight security.

The first batch of eleven caretaker chairmen took their oath of office before other batches came in to also take their oath.

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Tinubu, Shettima allegedly spent N8.64billion on travels in three months while Nigerians languish in hardship

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has accused President Bola Tinubu of neglecting the severe hunger issues facing Nigerians.

According to a statement from the organisation’s National Secretary, Peter Ameh, the coalition criticised the President for implementing ineffective policies that had failed to alleviate the crisis, questioning why Nigerians must suffer while government officials enjoy luxury.

The coalition pointed out that the government’s inability to secure farms and farmers had significantly contributed to the hunger crisis.

Ameh argued that the opulent lifestyle of government leaders revealed misplaced priorities and a refusal to act in the public interest.

“The extravagant lifestyle of our leaders is why we are in this mess. Government officials prefer spending on high-cost, low-return projects, like the proposed new private jet for the President, instead of funding initiatives that could genuinely benefit citizens,” Ameh stated.

He highlighted the excessive travel expenses of the President and his Vice, which totalled over N8.64billion in the past three months, despite public pledges to reduce government spending.

Ameh stressed that such wasteful expenditures are a significant factor in Nigeria’s widespread poverty, with approximately 87million Nigerians living below the poverty line.

Ameh also criticised the slow economic growth and stagnant GDP per capita, attributing these issues to a lack of foresight and widespread corruption among public officials.

He questioned Tinubu’s efforts to combat corruption since taking office, suggesting that ineffective leadership and corrupt practices had hindered Nigeria’s development and discouraged foreign investment.

“Nigeria’s 38.9% poverty rate is a result of incompetent leaders who have failed to improve the lives of the masses,” Ameh concluded, while urging the president to focus on the well-being of the suffering populace and take decisive action to address the nation’s pressing challenges.

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BREAKING: Moment Police Chase Away Ex-LGA Chairman, Pro-Wike Youths From Secretariat [VIDEO]

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Officers of the Rivers State Police Command have prevented the immediate past Chairman of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Hon. Allwell Ihundah, from accessing his office.

This development comes amidst a deepening political crisis in the state.

According to a video by Channels Television, the chairman was denied entry into his office, following a directive by the police to take control of all 23 local government council secretariats in the state.

The crisis took a fiery turn after Governor Siminalayi Fubara directed Heads of Local Government Administration (HLGAs) to assume leadership of the council areas, following the expiration of the three-year tenure of elected chairmen, vice chairmen, and councillors.

A recent court ruling had annulled the tenure extension granted by the 27-member Assembly loyal to former governor Nyesom Wike, recognizing a three-man House of Assembly instead.

However, the former chairmen have refused to step down, leading to clashes between supporters of the two political factions.

Tragically, a police officer and a vigilante lost their lives in the violence that erupted at Eberi-Omuma, Omuma LGA, according to a statement by the police on Tuesday.

“To forestall more bloodshed and prevent a further breakdown of law and order, the Police have taken over all the 23 Council Secretariats and some critical government infrastructure in the state.

Conventional police officers and anti-riot police officers have been deployed to these facilities. While urging all groups and individuals to be law-abiding, the Command also warn anyone who intends to cause mayhem as we will not hesitate to impose the full weight of the law on them,” the statement read in part.

In a recent development, Governor Fubara has sworn in new caretaker chairmen for the 23 local government areas of the state.

Watch the video below:

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NUPRC extends deadline for pre-qualification documents submission for oil block licensing

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has announced the extension of the deadline for the registration and submission of pre-qualification documents for the 2024 oil block licensing round.

NUPRC chief executive, Gbenga Komolafe announced the extension in a statement.

Komolafe said the registration and submission of pre-qualification documents, initially scheduled to close on June 25, 2024, had been extended by 10 days and would now close on July 5, 2024.

According to him, the data access, purchase, evaluation, bid preparation and submission, initially scheduled to open on July 4 and close on November 29, will now start on July 8 and close on November 29, 2024, as previously scheduled. He said all other dates in the published 2024 Licensing Round Schedule remained unchanged unless otherwise communicated.

“In pursuit of the commission’s commitment to derive value from the country’s abundant oil and gas reserves and increase production, the commission has been working assiduously with multi-client companies to undertake more exploratory activities. This is to acquire more data to foster and encourage further investment in the Nigerian upstream sector,” he said.

Komolafe said that due to additional data acquired on deep offshore blocks, the NUPRC had added 17 deep offshore blocks to the 2024 licensing round. He said further details on the blocks could be found on the bid portal.

Komolafe added, “In accordance with the published guidelines, we had earlier indicated that some of the assets on offer should be applied for as clusters, namely: PPL 300-CS & PPL 301-CS, PPL 2000 and PPL 2001. Bidders are hereby advised to bid for those blocks as clusters or as single units; it is optional.”

Some deep offshore blocks and other blocks that cut across onshore were offered for the 2022/2023 mini-bid round. The continental shelf and deep offshore terrains were also offered for the Nigeria 2024 licensing round.

To vacate entry barriers, NUPRC sought and obtained the approval of President Bola Tinubu, who was determined to create enabling and attractive investment regimes in the upstream oil and gas sector. The President who is also the petroleum minister, had approved attractive fiscal regimes and minimised entry fees for both licensing rounds by putting a cap on the signature bonus payable for the award of the acreages.

“All blocks in the 2022/2023 and 2024 Licensing Rounds are available to all interested investors,” he said.

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JUST IN: Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Loses Mother

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Former Senate President Bukola Saraki has lost his mother, Florence Morenike Saraki.

The sad news was announced on Tuesday evening by TVC News in a statement on social media.

Florence Morenike Saraki, aged 89, was the widow of Olusola Saraki, a Senator in the Second Nigerian Republic and a political icon in Kwara until his death in 2012.

The family had celebrated her 88th birthday in August 2023.

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Kaduna journalist cries out after being arrested, tortured by police

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Kaduna State Correspondent of the Daily Times newspapers, Mr. Idibia Gabriel, has decried eye injury as a result of arrest, torture and inhuman treatment he went through in the hands of operatives of Nigeria police force in Kaduna state.

The Journalist said he was arrested for taken a snapshot of a large number of cattle Shepherd by the operatives of Nigeria policemen on public road on 11th June 2024, without any other disagreement between them.

He was released with one side of the eyes almost blinded as a result of the torture, unholy and merciless treatment meted out to him while in the police custody at Criminal Investigative Department (CID), Kaduna branch office.

Mr. Idibia, explained that he met two of the police officers before taken the snapshot of the cattle with the intention to use the photo as prove to clarify with the state police command spokesman on reasons for the arrests of the cattle, numbering over 50, which has been the usual practice.

The Journalists told his colleagues that the police deleted the snapshot from his handset and took every of his detail, including contact number, address and even description of his residents before he was released on self recognition, fearing that they may come after him later.

The victim, in a statement, stressed that he was arrested and taken to the CID police station at Gabasawa solely for taken the snapshot of a large scale number of cattle Shepherd by the police around Valid Oil filling station, along the popular Kachia expressway at U/Boro, Kaduna, around 8:30am, and released in the evening time.

“I’ve just arrived my residents on leg, at about 9:30pm, in U/Boro, Sabon Tasha suburb, an area of about 6 kilometers from Kaduna main town where I was arrested and kept since morning of today (Tuesday) 11th June 2024.

“I was arrested and taken to Gabasawa, CID police station for taken a snapshot of a large number of cattle arrested and Shepherd by police around Valid Oil filling station, along kachia expressway, after identity myself, without a kobo on me.

“When I rush out of my house on hearing of heavy traffic holdup crisis caused by cattle and police at kachia raid, around the new market U/boro, I had no penny on me.

“My phone and ID Card were seized before i was even taken into a police van and drove to Abattoir area of U/Pama road where they waited, assembled and kept the cattle before I was later taken to the CID office at Ibrahim Taiwo road, inside Kaduna main town”, he stated.

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“There is poverty in the land, you are not the only ones suffering”, Tinubu tells Nigerians

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

President Bola Tinubu has emphasized that Nigerians are not the only ones facing poverty in the world.

In a statement on Tuesday, June 18 by presidential spokesperson Ajuri Ngelale, Tinubu said this in Lagos when he received a delegation from the National Assembly who came to felicitate with him on the occasion of Eid-el-Kabir.

While admitting that there are poverty and suffering in the land, Tinubu said the challenges must be tackled.

The delegation was led by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, alongside the Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, among others.

One of the ways of tackling them, he explained, is to eliminate banditry and terrorism so that farmers cab return to the farm.

According to him, it is imperative for Nigerians to have a change of value system for the nation to make progress.

“Yes, there is poverty; there is suffering in the land. We are not the only people facing such, but we must face our challenges.

“We must find a way to eliminate banditry and terrorism so that farmers can bring out food from the farmland.

“If you do not have good roads to bring the food to the population, even if you grow the food and you are losing 60-70 per cent to damages, you will pay the price,” the president said.

He challenged citizens to have a change of mindset about Nigeria if the nation is to overcome its current challenges.

“The need (for some citizens) to change the rent-seeking mindset and become more productive to the economy is a challenge. The need to stop smuggling and all economic sabotage.

“Why should we have people removing rail tracks and all that, stealing electric cables and sabotaging the economy?

“We must embrace the campaign to change our value system. We must tell our people that the challenge we face is for all of us to change our mindset about our country,” Tinubu stressed.

“The president also commended the leadership of the National Assembly for the support extended to his administration, which he said had resulted in some of the important developments recorded by his administration.

“It is great pride for me to have the best of partners in the National Assembly. We have to drill down and be all-inclusive in our bid to satisfy our people.

“It is daunting, but we cannot run away from the fact that this country must survive the hardship,” he stated.

“The president acknowledged the challenges and the task ahead, assuring the nation of his unwavering determination to turn things around.”

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