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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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Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

5 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

5 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.

News

N5m, N10m Zero-interest Loans: SheVentures Opens Applications For Women Entrepreneurs

Published

7 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has opened a new round of applications for its SheVentures proposition, offering zero-interest loans of up to ₦10 million to women entrepreneurs to ease access to working capital and support business growth.

The facility provides loans ranging from ₦500,000 to ₦5 million under a general category, and ₦5 million to ₦10 million for sector-specific businesses, with funding capped at up to 50% of an applicant’s average monthly turnover.

At the centre of the offering is a 0% interest rate, with all charges embedded in a transparent structure.

Repayment is structured over four or six months, allowing businesses to match obligations with their cash flow cycles.

Yemisi Edun, Managing Director and Chief Executive of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), said the initiative reflects a deliberate approach to inclusive growth.

“Inclusive growth requires access to capital and the right conditions for businesses to deploy that capital effectively.

“Women-led enterprises are critical to economic activity, yet they face structural barriers.

This intervention aims to help close that gap by providing financing that supports job creation, business expansion, and long-term sustainability for women entrepreneurs.”

“Access to affordable finance remains a major constraint for women entrepreneurs,” said Nnenna Jacob-Ogogo, Group Head, SheVentures and Impact Segments at First City Monument Bank (FCMB).

“By removing the cost barrier and offering quick, flexible funding, this zero-interest loan is designed to safeguard existing jobs, enable businesses to invest in growth initiatives, and foster resilience in challenging economic conditions.”

Women-owned businesses account for a significant share of Nigeria’s small and medium-sized enterprises but continue to face high borrowing costs and limited access to credit.

Through these efforts, SheVentures tackles persistent financing gaps facing women-led businesses, combining targeted funding with broader support to empower women entrepreneurs, encourage business innovation, and enhance their ability to compete on a national scale.

Applications for the zero-interest loan are now open.Apply now.