News
Insecurity: Okpebholo Summons Stakeholders’ Meeting, Talks Tough

By Joseph Ebi Kanjo, Benin
Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has threatened to deal decisively with criminal elements in the state, stressing that he will make sure the state is inhabitable for them.
Okpebholo spoke on Tuesday when he met with political, religious, traditional leaders, heads of security agencies, and other key stakeholders in Iyamho, Etsako West Local Government Area of the state.
Those in the security meeting included: the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku; former governor of Edo State and Senator representing Edo North Senatorial District, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole; Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh; former deputy governor of the state, Philip Shaibu.
Others were former Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Ogiadomeh; former Minister for State Budget, Clem Agba; traditional and religious leaders, security chiefs, and other stakeholders in the security sector.
READ ALSO: JUST IN: Okpebholo Suspends Agenebode Traditional Ruler Over Kidnapping
In a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Fred Itua, Okpebholo was said to have summoned the security meeting to brainstorm on how to address the peculiar security challenges in the state and in particular Edo North.
Okepbholo said the security stakeholders’ meeting became necessary to ensure peace and security are maintained across the state, particularly in Edo North.
He emphasized that under his watch, criminal elements will not succeed in distabilizing the state.
He promised Edo people a better security situation in the state, saying all the deliberations arising from the meeting would be properly utilized.
“We came here for a peaceful discussion regarding security, and all our leaders are here, both traditional and religious leaders.
READ ALSO: Defection: Okpebholo Mocks PDP, Predicts Collapse Of Party In Edo
“The closed door meeting was successful as we had a good deliberation, and discussions were fruitful.
“We had a perfect discussion. Let us watch it from here. Things will be perfect in our land,” he stated.
On his part, Oshiomhole, while commending Okpebholo for his approach to handling security issues in the state, assured Edo people of safe of their lives and businesses under the current administration in the state.
“The governor gave us the assurance that he will continue to ensure Edo is safe for us all,” he said.
“The governor recognized that the local people have their own role to play. We have discussed how the community will work with security agencies and forward any information they have to the governor through available channels.
READ ALSO: Okpebholo’s Administration Will Engender Development In Rural Areas – Idahosa
“The governor came to meet us and to hear us out. This is the first time a governor is doing this. I do not think during my time as a governor, I came for security meetings like we have done today.
“The people have expressed their confidence in the governor. They have reaffirmed their loyalty and commitment to working together with the security agencies so that Afenmai land will be safe,” he added.
On his part, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Auchi, Bishop Gabriel Dunia, appreciated all who came for the stakeholders’ meeting and urged them to collaborate to ensure peace in Edo State.
“We are very much appreciative of our Governor and all the traditional rulers who have come for us all to deliberate on the security of our people and our land. People have spoken their minds on the way forward, and we will work with it to ensure our land knows peace,” he stated.
News
‘My Father Discovered Banana Island’ – Ex-BBNaija Star Claims
Former Big Brother Naija reality star, Kiddwaya has claimed that his dad, Terry Waya, discovered the famous Banana Island in Lagos.
He made the claim in a recent of the Off The Record podcast.
The host asked: “I heard that your dad discovered Banana Island. Is that correct?”
READ ALSO:Moment Adekunle Gold Light Up BBNaija S10 Finale With ‘Party No Dey Stop’
Kiddwaya replied: “Yeah, I didn’t even know until I heard it during one of my trips.”
Kiddwaya’s dad, Terry Waya is a self-acclaimed billionaire with investments in the real estate, agriculture and hospitality industry.
His public profile was further boosted during and after his son Kiddwaya’s appearance on the Big Brother Naija reality show in 2020.
Watch video here.
News
EFCC Releases Malami After Interrogation, Gives Fresh Appointment For More Questioning
Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, says his engagement with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, following an invitation by the agency has been “successful.”
Malami, who disclosed this in a post on his X handle on Saturday, said he was released after the interaction and given an appointment for further questioning.
“In line with my undertaking to keep Nigerians updated on my invitation by EFCC, I give glory to Allah for His divine intervention. The engagement was successful and I am eventually released, while on an appointment for further engagement, as the truth relating to the fabricated allegations against me continues to unfold,” he wrote.
READ ALSO:JUST IN: EFCC Summons Ex-AGF Malami For Questioning
The EFCC had earlier invited the former minister over allegations linked to his time in office, though the commission has not publicly disclosed details of the issues under investigation.
Malami previously announced that he would honour the invitation, saying it aligned with his commitment to accountability and transparency.
News
VIDEO: Jonathan Breaks Silence On Guinea-Bissau’s Military Takeover
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has broken silence following the recent military takeover in Guinea-Bissau, describing it as a conventional coup, insisting it was “maybe a ceremonial coup” given the strange manner in which it unfolded.
Jonathan, who spoke extensively in an interview with Symfoni posted on YouTube on Friday, said he felt compelled to address the media to thank Nigerians for their concern and to clarify what truly happened while he was in Bissau as head of the West African Elders Forum Election Observation Mission.
“You know, since I left office, I’ve always been scared of talking to the media,” he said. “But in this particular case, I decided to speak… first and foremost, to thank Nigerians for the show of empathy, the encouragement.”
Gunfire erupted around key government buildings in Bissau on Wednesday, with soldiers claiming they had “total control” of the country and followed by curfew, border closures and the detention of top government and security officials.
In another development, Tribune Online reports that ousted President, Umaro Sissoco Embaló, flew to Senegal after the intervention of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
READ ALSO:Why I Returned To Nigeria On Ivorian Jet — Jonathan
Reacting to the development, Jonathan however suggested the situation defied all known patterns of a coup.
“I wouldn’t call it a coup. It was not a coup. I would just say, for want of a better word, maybe it was a ceremonial coup,” he said. “For two things: It is the president, President Embaló, who announced the coup. Later, the military men came up to address the world that they were in charge of everywhere.”
He continued, “Then Embaló had already announced the coup, which is strange. Not only announcing the coup, but Embaló, while the coup took place, was using his phone and addressing media organisations across the world that he had been arrested.”
The former president, drawing from his experience as a Nigerian and a regional mediator, said the events were unlike anything he had seen.
“I’m a Nigerian close to 70, and I know how they keep heads of state when a coup takes place. Recently, I was a mediator in Mali, and within that period, we had a military coup. The military doesn’t take over governments, and the sitting president that they overthrew would be allowed to be addressing press conferences and announcing that he has been arrested. Why does this happen? Who is fooling whom?”
READ ALSO:Guinea-Bissau Military Takeover Is ‘Ceremonial Coup’ – Jonathan
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Federal Government had earlier condemned the development as “a serious threat to democracy and regional stability,” and confirmed Jonathan’s safe evacuation by a special flight alongside his delegation.
Jonathan used the interview to call on ECOWAS and the African Union to promptly announce results of the election that was underway in Guinea-Bissau before the military disrupted the process.
“They have the results because AU and ECOWAS officials were in all the regions when the results were collated. They cannot change those results. They should tally all those results and announce them. They cannot force the military out. They must announce and let the world know who won that election.”
He stressed that the integrity of elections must be upheld in West Africa, recalling his experience overseeing Côte d’Ivoire’s contentious 2010 presidential poll.
“A similar thing happened in Côte d’Ivoire when I was the Chair of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS,” he said. He narrated how Laurent Gbagbo and Alassane Ouattara went into a second round after neither met the 50% +1 requirement.
READ ALSO:Guinea-Bissau Coup: FG Gives Update On Ex-President Jonathan
“In the second round, Ouattara then got more votes than Gbagbo. And Gbagbo said he was not going, that he won the election,” Jonathan recounted. “But all the observers in the international community said Ouattara won the election. And we in ECOWAS said, well, you are our colleague, but you have to go.”
According to him, his insistence on respecting the will of the people ensured a peaceful transfer of power at the time.
“I stood my ground, and Ouattara was sworn in,” he said.
Jonathan reiterated that Guinea-Bissau’s situation was “disturbing” to anyone who believes in democracy and insisted that respecting election results remains the only path to stability in the region.
Watch video here
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