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BREAKING: Court Stops Pro-Wike rally in Bayelsa

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

A High Court in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, has stopped a planned rally by supporters of Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The court order, issued on Thursday, says the rally cannot go ahead until a full hearing takes place.

The rally was planned for April 12, 2025, in Yenagoa, the state capital.

Tensions have been rising between Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa and Wike, heightened after news broke about the planned event by Wike’s supporters.

Governor Diri had last week raised concerns about the state’s safety and warned that the rally could disturb the peace. He urged security forces, community leaders, and young people to stay alert and help keep the state calm.

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Lere Olayinka denies collapse, partial stroke of Wike in Abuja

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has debunked reports claiming that his principal slumped in Abuja.

Posts circulating on X (formerly Twitter) alleged that the Minister collapsed at an event on Friday in the nation’s capital.

The rumour also claimed that Wike was immediately rushed to an undisclosed hospital, where he is receiving treatment.

However, when contacted by DAILY POST, Olayinka simply said the report is “fake.”

This comes amid the political tension in Rivers State, sparked by the face-off between the suspended Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and Wike, his estranged political godfather.

DAILY POST reports that the political crisis in the state took another dimension on Friday when the former Head of Service in the state, George Nwaeke, peddled a series of allegations against Fubara.

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2027: I will ensure you lose again – Wike taunts Atiku

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Minister, Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday declared that he would ensure that former Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, fails in his push for the presidency.

Speaking through his media aide, Lere Olayinka, Wike said he has no regret that Atiku refused to pick him as his running mate during the build-up to the 2023 presidential election.

In an interview with Adesina Giwa-Osagie, Atiku said he had “no regrets” for ignoring Wike as his running mate in the 2023 presidential election.

DAILY POST recalls that the rift between Atiku and Wike dates back to the controversial PDP primaries of 2022.

Wike had expected to be compensated with the vice-presidential slot, but Atiku picked former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

Addressing why he chose Okowa over Wike, Atiku stated that he deliberately left the decision to the PDP.

They said I did not consult widely in 2019 when I picked Peter Obi as my running mate, so in 2023, I told the party to set up a committee to recommend three names,” Atiku said.

Atiku said the committee ranked Okowa as the top choice, with Wike in second place and former Akwa Ibom Governor Udom Emmanuel in third.

“So I picked number one,” he said.

Responding, Olayinka said Wike has no regret over losing the slot to Okowa.

Posting on X, Olayinka wrote: “Two years after making the @OfficialPDPNig lose a presidential election it could have won, @atiku is giving reasons he did not pick @GovWike as his running mate and that he has no regrets.

“Someone should tell our serial presidential election contester that Wike also has no regret for ensuring that he failed in the election and will make sure that he fails again and again.”

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BREAKING: Tinubu swears-in Ibas as Rivers sole administrator

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

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.

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FG to release Rivers allocation to Administrator

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Federal Government on Wednesday said that the allocation for Rivers State will be released to the Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas (retd).

The government also said President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State was timely and meant to avert an implosion in the state.

This is as it has said that the former Governor of Rivers State and Minister of Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike has no role in the political crisis in Rivers State that culminated in the declaration of a state of emergency.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, stated this while briefing State House correspondents at the presidential Villa, Abuja.

While fielding questions on whether the Federal Government would release the allocation from the federation account to the state in view of the latest development, the Minister said if the administrator requests for it, it will be released to him.

“And to me, it will be in order for the release of that fund because the event of the extraordinary situation has brought them out of the normal situation of things.”

He justified the decision of the President to declare a state of emergency in the state.

According to him, “We have about two years into the administration in the state.

“Now, when do you think he (President Tinubu) should have come in? Is it when everything has been destroyed? I don’t think so.

“I think the President has acted timeously. He has given the opportunity to all the parties involved, to make amends. Before then, he had to assemble them, he had tried to mediate,” he stated.

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Soldiers hold Fubara, family hostage at Rivers governor’s residence

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his family members are being held hostage at the Government House, Port-Harcourt, by a contingent of heavily armed soldiers Tuesday night.

The development comes moments after President Bola Tinubu invoked Section 180 of the Nigerian Constitution to proclaim a state of emergency in Rivers. The Nigerian leader based his controversial move on a prolonged and rapidly escalating political feud led by state lawmakers loyal to Nyesom Wike, who commenced impeachment proceedings against Mr Fubara last week to settle scores in his fallout with Mr Wike, who engineered Mr Fubara’s election in 2023 despite corruption charges.

Rivers government sources told The Gazette that soldiers carrying out the president’s instructions on declaring the state of emergency barricaded all entrances and exits to the government house immediately after the president’s speech.

Attempts by Mr Fubara and his family to pack their belongings out of the Government House have been rebuffed by the soldiers, who suppressed all movements around the premises.

“We are being held hostage,” an affected official told The Gazette from the scene on Tuesday night. “They said they don’t have instruction to let anyone leave the premises.”

It was unclear whether the soldiers implemented their duties as instructed or were overzealous in following specific orders.

Spokespersons for the Nigerian Army and Defence Headquarters did not immediately return requests seeking comments about the soldiers’ treatment of the Fubaras.

Mr Tinubu’s declaration to suspend the feuding parties from office for six months, effective Tuesday, sparked furious debates across social media as netizens argued whether the president had constitutional grounds to suspend an elected governor whom the state lawmakers have not yet impeached. Efforts to impeach Mr Fubara began on Monday, barely 24 hours before Mr Tinubu imposed an emergency ordinance.

Lawyers like Inibehe Effiong and Folarin ‘Falz’ Falana have excoriated the president for taking the law into his own hands without regard for the Constitution’s position.

The president named the retired chief of naval staff, Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, as the military administrator in Rivers in the interim.

Source: People’s Gazette

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Fubara’s whereabouts unknown as Military moves trucks into Rivers Govt House

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The movement of Governor Siminalayi Fubara was unknown on Tuesday night when the military moved trucks into Rivers Government House in Port Harcourt.

The trucks were placed within and outside the Government House on the first night of the State of emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu.

Tinubu declared emergency rule amid the attacks on oil installations in Rivers State.

Some militants groups had threatened to blow up pipelines if the Rivers House of Assembly impeach Fubara.

However, hours after the lawmakers served the governor with notice of alleged misconduct, the militants carried out their threat.

Responding, the president suspended Fubara and the lawmakers for sic months, appointing an administrator for the state.

After the declaration, about 10 military trucks patrolled the road leading to the Government House main gate while armoured vehicles were seen at strategic positions within the road leading to the Government House gate.

The road leading to Government House from the popular UTC junction was deserted as residents made efforts to get back to their respective houses.

A resident of Port Harcourt who pleaded anonymity told our reporter that military trucks were found all over the area.

“The road leading to Government House from the Issac Boro park to the popular UTC is deserted. Residents are making efforts to get back to their respective homes as nobody wants to be caught in a cross fire. I saw about 10 military trucks parading the road leading to Government House. There are other armoured tanks that have been stationed at both entrance road leading to Government House,” the sources said.

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BREAKING: Tinubu names ex-Naval chief Ibas as Rivers administrator

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

President Bola Tinubu has named a former Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Ibokette Ibas, an administrator for Rivers State.

The appointment was made after the President declared a state of emergency in the state and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Mrs Ngozi Odu, and the state lawmakers for six months.

Tinubu made the declaration on Tuesday during a national broadcast.

“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,” he said.

More details soon…

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BREAKING: Tinubu suspends Fubara, deputy others for 6 months

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

……declares state of emergency in Rivers State

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially declared a state of emergency in Rivers State.

This is in reaction to the political crisis that have engulfed Rivers State.

Leading reporters reports that the President made the declaration in a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday.

“The state has been at a standstill since the crisis started,” Tinubu said.

The president stated that he made personal intervention to resolve the crisis in the state but his efforts have been ignored.

A retired military chief, Ekwe Ibas, has been selected to oversee the state’s affairs once the emergency is declared.

The move comes amid escalating violence between former Governor Nyesom Wike and the current Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, as the two continue their protracted political feud.

Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has reportedly been attempting to unseat Fubara, intensifying the political tensions in the state.

Following the unrest, major petrol pipelines in the state were sabotaged by suspected militants.

The increasing violence and instability have prompted the federal government to consider drastic measures to restore order in the oil-rich state.

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BREAKING: Tinubu suspends Fubara, deputy others for 6 months

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

……….. declares state of emergency

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially declared a state of emergency in Rivers State.

This is in reaction to the political crisis that have engulfed Rivers State.

Leading reporters reports that the President made the declaration in a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday.

“The state has been at a standstill since the crisis started,” Tinubu said.

The president stated that he made personal intervention to resolve the crisis in the state but his efforts have been ignored.

A retired military chief, Ekwe Ibas, has been selected to oversee the state’s affairs once the emergency is declared.

The move comes amid escalating violence between former Governor Nyesom Wike and the current Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, as the two continue their protracted political feud.

Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has reportedly been attempting to unseat Fubara, intensifying the political tensions in the state.

Following the unrest, major petrol pipelines in the state were sabotaged by suspected militants.

The increasing violence and instability have prompted the federal government to consider drastic measures to restore order in the oil-rich state.

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