News

2027: N’Delta Won’t Allow Jonathan’s 2015 Fate To Befall On Tinubu – Akpabio

Published

3 months ago

July 13, 2025

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has said the south south region was determined to resist those who removed former President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan to achieve their aim of ousting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from office in 2007 general elections.

The Senator representing Akwa- Ibom North West in the Tenth Senate made the declaration at the weekend at the grand finale of the 25th anniversary of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State as part of the activities to round off the week-long celebration.

Checks revealed that Akpabio was chairman of the People’s Democratic Party Governors Forum, when its presidential candidate and then incumbent President, Goodluck Jonathan lost his bid for a fresh mandate to the candidate of the erstwhile main opposition party, the All Progressives Congress, Muhammadu Buhari, in the 2015 general elections.

A statement by the Special Assistant to the President of the Senate on Media/Communication, Anietie Ekong quoted Senator Akpabio as saying the entire South south religion would rally around Tinubu and would not allow him to be disgraced out of office by the same forces that orchestrated the plot that removed Jonathan from office.

The Senate President told the gathering that included former President Goodluck Jonathan, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Administrator of Rivers State, Admiral Ibokette Ibas, lawmakers, traditional rulers, ministers, and key figures from across the Niger Delta, that the region that produces the mainstay of the economy would determine who emerges as President to manage the crude oil revenue.

“In the past the Niger Delta was used as the goose that produced the golden egg with nothing to show for it. Today, President Tinubu has set up an Environmental Sciences University in Ogoni land to take care of the environment which had been degraded as a result of oil polution.

“He has also set up a Maritime University, signed it into an Act of Parliament in Okerenkoko in Delta State. He has given us several tertiary institutions in Agriculture, Technology and lots of others. So it is not only in terms of appointments but various projects.

“This is the region that produces the wealth of the nation. We have the right to chose who manages our resources. So people should not think that anybody can just come and become the President without consultation with the people of the Niger Delta.

“We the people of the Niger Delta have assessed President Tinubu and have found him fit to continue in office beyond 2027. So let the people who are conspiring against President Tinubu hear this. They did it before and conspired to remove our son, President Goodluck Jonathan.

“This time around the entire Niger Delta region has decided to speak with one voice. And we are telling the President ‘on your mandate we stand.’ No conspiracy formed against this Government that has recognized the Niger Delta shall prosper.”

The former Akwa Ibom state governor decried the high turnover of management team of the NDDC which he said had slowed the pace of development of the oil-rich region.

He however commended the present team led by the Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku for adhering to the vision of the founding fathers of the interventionist agency by embarking on projects that have impacted positively on the lives of the people of the region.

According to Senator Akpabio the frequent management change, created endless cycles where new leaders were removed before finishing projects, leaving thousands of initiatives abandoned and wasting billions meant for development.

“There were many reasons we have had so much problems in NDDC. Part of it was leadership tussle. In the Niger Delta region, we have what we call ‘periwinkle politics.’ This is politics where everybody bears the same head. Nobody wants to wait for his turn. Everybody feels that he should be there and not the other person.

“So there was always this conspiratorial situation. Each management in the NDDC would conspire against themselves and ofcourse the staff will assist them to quarrel and shortly after they will sack the management. And one of them would become the acting Managing Director.”

He commended the stability under the current leadership of Dr Ogbuku, urging that the commission must break away from endless cycles of sabotage and focus on continuity so that development projects can be completed.

Speaking in the same vein, former President Jonathan commended President Tinubu for continuing with the present board of the Commission and noted that this will engender sustainable development of the region.

News

Police Arrests Principal Supplier Of Weapons To Bandits In Delta

Published

1 hour ago

October 25, 2025

Editor

The Special Assignment Team of the Delta state Police Command has arrested a key supplier of weapons to bandit groups in the northern part of Nigeria

The suspect, one Ahmed Ibrahim (31) male, resident of Ekpan in Uvwie local government area, has long been on the command’s watch list for his alleged role in several high-profile kidnapping and armed-robbery operations.

The Commands Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO), Bright Edafe, in a statement disclosed that acting on credible intelligence from the Force Technical Intelligence Unit (TIU), Abuja, operatives of the CP Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT), led by ASP Julius Robinson, arrested a female suspects, one Jamila Abubakar, at Conoil Filling Station, Warri–Patani Road, Effurun.

The statement revealed that upon her arrest, officers discovered the cash sum of ₦550,000 neatly concealed beneath her bag and suspected to be proceeds from illicit transactions.

According to DAILY POST her apprehension provided a crucial lead that set off a well-coordinated follow-up operation.

“Buildin on that intelligence, the operatives stormed Niger-Cat area of Warri, where they successfully arrested a notorious arms peddler, one Ahmed Ibrahim (31) male, resident of Ekpan in Uvwie Local Government Area, at about 0725 hrs on 22nd October 2025.

“A search led to the recovery of a bag containing one hundred and fifteen rounds 115 rounds of 7.63mm AK-47 live ammunition, 220 rounds of SMG rifle ammunition, and 32 live cartridges”.

Edafe further noted, that preliminary investigations revealed that, the suspect is a key supplier of weapons to bandit groups in the north and has long been on the Command’s watch list for his alleged role in several high-profile kidnapping and armed-robbery operations.

According to the statement, Ahmed Ibrahim, is also linked to the kidnap and murder of one Ogheneovo Onemu (female), who was abducted on May 27, 2024 at Edjekota community in Ughelli North LGA, and later murdered after a ransom payment of ₦4,000,000.

Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Abaniwonda, described the breakthrough as another testament to the Command’s unwavering commitment to stemming the flow of illegal arms, dismantling criminal syndicates, and bringing offenders to justice.

The CP urged residents to remain vigilant and continue supporting the Police with timely and credible information to aid the fight against crime, assuring the public that the Command will sustain its momentum against criminal elements and remain resolute in protecting the lives and property of all law-abiding citizens.

News

ABU Makes Clarifications On Alleged Production Of Nuclear Weapons

Published

2 hours ago

October 25, 2025

Editor

Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has dismissed a viral social media video alleging that the institution was involved in developing nuclear weapons for Nigeria.

The university’s Director of Public Affairs, Auwalu Umar, made this clarifications in a statement issued to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Zaria.

Umar revealed the video is AI-generated and a deliberate attempt to misinform the public about Nigeria’s peaceful nuclear energy programme.

According to him, the video falsely claimed that Nigerian scientists in the 1980s secretly enriched weapons-grade uranium in Kaduna and that ABU researchers obtained centrifuge equipment from the AQ Khan network in Pakistan.

“The claim is baseless, unfounded, and unsubstantiated,” he said.

He explained that during the 1980s, most scientists at ABU’s Centre for Energy Research and Training (CERT) were still undergoing training abroad and therefore could not have been involved in any uranium enrichment activity.

Umar clarified that the university had no connection with the AQ Khan network and had never received any equipment for constructing a centrifuge or nuclear device.

He noted that by 1987, the only nuclear-related facility at the institution was a 14 MeV Neutron Generator, which became operational in 1988.

“Nigeria’s first nuclear reactor, NIRR-1, was established much later in 1996 under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Technical Cooperation Programme and commissioned in 2004,” he explained.

Umar stressed that Nigeria’s nuclear activities had always been open, transparent, and strictly for peaceful purposes in line with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the Pelindaba Treaty, which both prohibit the development of nuclear weapons.

He reaffirmed that the Centre for Energy Research and Training, established in 1976, operates in collaboration with the IAEA and international partners from the United States, Russia, and China.

“The centre has never engaged in any secret weapons programme,” Umar emphasised, adding that ABU’s research focus remains on peaceful applications of nuclear science for national development.

News

Obasanjo Holds Memorial Service For Late Wife, Stella, Says She Lived Serving Others

Published

2 hours ago

October 25, 2025

Editor

Twenty years after her passing, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, his family, aides, and acquaintances honoured his late wife and former First Lady, Mrs Stella Obasanjo, at a memorial service.

The memorial service was held on Saturday, at the Chapel of Christ King of Glory, located within the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta Ogun State Capital.

Recall that Mrs Obasanjo passed away on October 23, 2005, at the age of 59, after an unsuccessful elective liposuction treatment and stomach tuck in Spain. The procedure was planned to coincide with her 60th birthday.

During a brief interview following the service, Obasanjo stated, “We are here to celebrate a life of service.”

DAILY POST reports that the event had in attendance Stella’s son Muyiwa, former Ogun State Governors, Gbenga Daniel and Ibikunle Amosun, among other notable dignitaries.

In his testimony during the church service, John Abebe, Stella’s younger brother, testified that the former first lady would be remembered for her contagious smile, which he claimed always warmed people’s hearts.

He said “Sister Stella was somebody you just couldn’t get angry with because she would always smile through everything, every difficulty.”

Similarly her only child, Muyiwa, described her as one who was strict and would never tolerate any nonsense.

“She was caring and protective. As an only child. most people understand that, but also strict and would not tolerate any deviation from you. So, I have kept that in mind, and I have continued to try to live my life that way.”

Speaking with newsmen, Daniel and Amosun praised Stella’s candour, saying she lived an exemplary life .