The Edo State House of Assembly on Tuesday declined to confirm a former member of the House, Chris Okaeben, for appointment as commissioner, over an alleged petition before the Department of State Service, DSS.

The Speaker of the Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku, disclosed this during the confirmation of commissioner-nominees at an emergency plenary sitting.

The House, however, cleared and confirmed, John Akhigbe, Festus Ebea and Dr Elizabeth Ebosele.

Others are Dr Jerry Uwangue, Dr Kenneth Okoruwa Ihensekhien and Barr. Usenbo Paul Ehigie.

READ ALSO:Confusion Over Euro-Africa CCI’s $250m Investment In Edo

Okaeben, was a former member of the House representing Oredo West Constituency.

Agbebaku told the House that the report from the screening committee before him stated that the former lawmaker has issues to settle with the DSS.

He said, “Six out of the seven commissioner-nominees before us today have been cleared and confirmed, except one, who is our former colleague, Hon Chris Okaeben, who has a question to answer with DSS. So I think he has to report to the DSS office for clearance.

READ ALSO:Edo To Immortalise Late IGP Solomon Arase

“That is the report before me. The report is from the screening committee and I am not a member of the committee. The committee submitted a report.

“After his appearance with the DSS. They can take him and clear him. That is not a problem at all.”

The Speaker, however, did not disclose the nature of the petition the embattled lawmaker has with the security agency.

Former Minister of Information and Orientation, Professor Jerry Gana, has disclosed that ex-president Goodluck Jonathan will contest again in 2027.

Gana made this remark while speaking to journalists in Minna, the Niger State capital.

According to him, Jonathan will contest in the next presidential election, as the flagbearer of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

READ ALSO:2027: Jonathan, Obi Hold Closed-door Meeting

According to him, Nigerians had experienced life under two presidents after Jonathan and were now yearning for his return.

“In 2015, former President Goodluck Jonathan said his ambition was not worth the blood of Nigerians,” Gana said.

“After him, another President ruled for eight years, and now another has ruled for two years.

READ ALSO:2027: Details Of Jonathan, Peter Obi Meeting Emerge

“Nigerians have seen the difference, and the difference is very clear. Nigerians are now asking us to bring back our friend, former President Goodluck Jonathan.

“I can confirm that Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will contest the presidential election in 2027 as PDP candidate, and we should be prepared to vote for him to return as President again,” he added.

The Speaker of Rivers House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, said he is thankful to God for surviving a kidnapping and, an assassination attempt in the past years.
Amaewhule made this known during his 52nd birthday thanksgiving service at the All Saints Anglican Church, Eliozu, Obio/Apkor Local Government Area, Rivers State.

“I am not just marking another birthday but acknowledging that many people had planned to take his life in the last one year, but God didn’t allow them,” he said.
Recounting how he survived a harrowing experience in 2008, he said that he narrowly escaped death during the incident.

Amaewhule noted that he was abducted by some unidentified gunmen at his residence as he arrived after a Sunday church service.

READ ALSO:BREAKING: EFCC Chairman, Former Rivers Sole administrator Ibas In Aso Rock

“Some of you were here in 2008 when a preacher was preaching right here on a Sunday service, on that faithful day, I didn’t know the people who came to kidnap me were also in the service,” he said.

“After service, they tactically followed me to my residence, tied up my security guard, and abducted me and took me to a forest where they held me hostage for five days.

“They placed thorns under my feet and inflicted several injuries on my head and body in the process of moving me from one hideout to another within the forest.

READ ALSO:Rivers: Supporters Disappointed As Fubara Fails To Show Up

“They fed me with biscuits throughout the period even as I almost bled to death.”

The speaker, however, expressed gratitude to God for his numerous blessings, guidance, and preservation over the years.

“When God does things for you, it is important to appreciate him for more.”