News

Nembe-Bassambiri Chiefs, Youth Body Remain Suspended — Diri

Published

2 years ago

January 20, 2024

Editor

Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has said the state government’s indefinite suspension of chiefs and the youth body in Bassambiri community in Nembe Local Government Area of the state was still in force.

Diri also restated his call on the warring factions in the community to toe the path of peace.

The governor, in a statement, assured that his administration would do everything possible to bring lasting peace to the community.

He spoke when the judicial panel of inquiry set up to look into the communal crisis presented its report to him in Government House, Yenagoa.

Recall that on February 15 last year, crisis erupted in Nembe-Bassambiri, claiming three lives.

The panel was instituted on August 15, 2023 to look into the crisis and proffer solutions.

The governor noted that the crisis bedeviling the community was three-pronged but was more political than economic or traditional, adding that no society can develop in an atmosphere of continuous violence and brigandage.

He set up a five-man committee to review the report of the panel within two weeks and to advise him on its implementation.

The review committee is headed by Secretary to the State Government, Alabo Gideon Ekeuwei, with the Acting Chief of Staff, Dr Peter Akpe, the Head of Service, Mrs. Biobelemoye Charles-Onyeama, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Legal Matters, Alabo Ozubide, as members.

He said: “For any one life lost, it is important to us as a people. We assure you that we will look at your recommendations and implementation will be done to the letter.

“Let me use this opportunity to call on my brothers in Nembe-Bassambiri that it is time for everybody to toe the path of peace. Peace is priceless. We cannot continuously be in a fratricidal war, fighting among ourselves. ‘’

“You can trust this government. What we want is lasting peace. With the calibre of people appointed into the committee, l am very sure that we will find the solution.”

The governor also called on the lnspector-General of Police to re-deploy the special forces from the community in order to restore peace.

“We all must put our hands together so that all parts of our state will be peaceful. Today, we almost have an occupying police force in Nembe-Bassambiri. A special force from the Inspector-General of Police has been there before and after last year’s governorship election.

“We are told that the force was there to bring peace and normalcy to Nembe. But Nembe was far from war before the special force arrived. I believe that there are other states in the country that need the services of the special force more than Nembe-Bassambiri today.

“l call on the Inspector-General of Police to reconsider and ensure the posting of those special forces to very troubled states where lives are lost on daily basis so that rather than being an occupying force in Nembe-Bassambiri, they will be of more help to Nigeria.”

News

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

Published

3 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

9 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

9 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.