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‘It’s An Assault On Democracy ‘ – CSO Knocks Tinubu, Rejects Rivers Emergency Rule

Published

1 year ago

March 20, 2025

Editor

By Joseph Ebi Kanjo

Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) has condemned in strong terms the emergency rule declared by President Bola Tinubu in Rivers State, describing it as “an assault on democracy.”

The civil society organization added that the declaration is not just “an assault on democracy,” but “also signifies a grave
rupturing of democratic principles, the rule of law, and the expressed
will of the people.”

The Executive Director, HOMEF, Dr Nnimmo Bassey, in a statement made available to INFO DAILY by Kome Odhomor, Media/Communication Lead of the organization, noted that apart from the fact that the president’s statement was “disturbing, one-sided, and unconvincing,” his action “portends new levels of socioecological challenges not only to Rivers State but to the entire Niger Delta.”

Bassey, who acknowledged the fact that the actions that led to the emergency rule in Rivers have been national embarrassment, however, noted that declaring a State of Emergency
worsens the scenario.

He added: “A return of military rule in any part of the Niger Delta is an egregious assault on the psyche of traumatised people. Any action that awakes the nightmarish memories of 1990 must be condemned in
the strongest terms.”

He continued: “We will not forget that the region was, and has remained, militarised at the pleasure of multinational oil companies. Communities were
levelled, and blood flowed across the land and creeks.

“In recent months, egoistic barriers have been raised to block dialogue and civility, and militarisation is now hoisted as a panacea to the rotten situation.

“Will military rule allow the good people of Rivers State to breathe? Is it a ploy to further militarise the region, deepen impunity, and reopen closed wells for barrels of oil under the protection of barrels of guns? There are many questions to ask and many rivers to cross in Rivers State.”

Bassey also described as “unacceptable, the premise that the State of Emergency became necessary because oil pipelines were being threatened,” arguing that governors are not the Commander in Chief of the armed forces.

The ED further argued: “Governors
of the states are not the Commander in Chief of the armed forces.
Moreover, decrepit oil facilities have been blowing up on their own
accord, without third party interferences, suggesting that incidents in the oil fields are acts of sabotage without due investigation is
specious.”

He added: “HOMEF objects to any attempts, through means such as militarisation, to
expand oil drilling operations in the Niger Delta using military force or cover. Such attempts will be ill-advised considering the ecological
harms in the region that have reduced lives to a mere whisper.”

The Executive Director, therefore, called for the “immediate restoration of democratic governance in Rivers
State and respect for the rule of law,” insisting that “nowhere in the Nigerian Constitution that gives the
President the power to replace democratic institutions with military
rule.”

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Edo NLC Crisis: Caretaker Committee Drags Rival Exco, Govt To Court

Published

6 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The division in the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), took a new dimension on Wednesday as Prof. Monday Monday Lewis Igbafen-led caretaker committee approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Benin Judicial Division, seeking to affirm its authority and restrain a rival executive from parading itself as the council’s leadership.

Joined in the suit are the Edo State Government, the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

In a suit marked: NICN/BEN/12/2026, and filed before the court in Benin, the claimant, Igbafen, acting for himself and on behalf of the NLC Caretaker Committee in Edo State, is challenging the continued occupation of the union’s secretariat and control of its assets by members of the Bernard Egwakhide-led factional State Executive Council.

The claimants are asking the court to declare that the caretaker committee (Igbafen-led faction), constituted on August 11, 2025, by the NLC national leadership, remains the only lawful authority to administer the affairs of the Edo State Council pending fresh elections.

They further seek a declaration that the continued occupation of the NLC secretariat located at No. 1 Teboga Road, Benin City, as well as the retention of union assets, financial records, and official instruments by the defendants, is illegal and void.

The suit also prays for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from parading themselves as officials of the NLC Edo Council or interfering with the functions of the caretaker committee.

In addition, the claimants are seeking a mandatory order compelling the defendants to immediately hand over the secretariat, vehicles, financial documents, cheque books, and all other properties belonging to the union.

The caretaker committee further urged the court to restrain the state government and its officials from interfering in the internal affairs of the union, alleging undue support for the dissolved executive.

The claimants further demand N50 million as general and exemplary damages against the defendants for alleged unlawful usurpation of office and acts prejudicial to the administration of the council.

According to court documents made available to our correspondent, the crisis followed the dissolution of the Edo State Council by the NLC National Executive Council on February 27, 2025, over allegations of misconduct, anti-union activities, and constitutional violations.

However, the matter has yet to be assigned a hearing date.

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

11 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

12 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.