Headline

New S’South Governors Told Not To Toe Wike’s Path

Published

2 years ago

July 8, 2023

Urge Obaseki, Diri To Galvanise New Govs

Monarchs, leaders, and stakeholders of the South-South have urged the governors of the six states in the geo-political zone to “steer clear of squabble, and self-centered political” interests that made the immediate past governors work at cross-purposes in the dispensation that ended May 29 (2015-2023).

They urged the governors of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, the oldest among them, and his Bayelsa counterpart, Senator Douye Diri, to galvanize the four new governors, and ensure cohesiveness for the collective growth of the region.

The new governors are Sheriff Oboreverowi- Delta; Pastor Umo Eno – Akwa-Ibom state; Siminialaye Fubara (Rivers); and Bassey Otu (Cross-River).

The people were unhappy that the former governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, was at loggerheads with other governors of the region, including the ex-governors of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Obaseki, and Diri, which adversely hurt the zone.

In addition, the former governor of Cross River state, Senator Ben Ayade, practically forgot about the collective South-South vision, as he distanced himself from other governors of PDP extraction in the zone, making it impossible for them to pursue the BRACED Commission mandate.

BRACED means Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Cross-River, Edo, and Delta, an acronym for the development machinery set up by the governors of the six oil states to fast-track integrated development of the region.

East-West Road should be a major concern – HRM Kabari, Rivers

The paramount ruler of Barako, Gokana Local Government Area, Rivers State, HRM (Mene) Kadilo Kabari, told Vanguard: “To make the difference, the current South-South governors can take a cue from what the South-East governors did in the preceding dispensation.”

“They were toe-to-toe with Federal Government, monitoring and following -up on ensuring it delivered the Second Niger Bridge, and today the people are happier for it.”

“You see in unity of purpose in their efforts to deal with insecurity as well. Therefore, for the South-South governors, we expect them to awaken the good intentions for bringing about their regional forum and the BRACED Commission, above partisan and selfish sentiments.

“On the horizon, there are many things they should be focused on realizing. Aside from initiating broad-based joint development projects, the East-West Road should be a major matter they should tackle with the federal government. The Bonny-Bode Road is another key infrastructure vital to the development of the region.

“Then, there are the ports, not forgetting Ogoni Cleanup that has lingered for too long. It is in the atmosphere of cohesiveness and collective bargaining that the governors can give meaning to the successful realization of these goals.

“As the longer-serving governors, Godwin Obaseki of Edo, and Duoye Diri of Bayelsa should bring their experiences to bear by providing selfless leadership for the South-South Governors Forum that will earn the trust of the four new governors, and stir up all of them to build a greater South-South.”

They should unite —HRM Baridam, Rivers

The Gbenemene and Kasimene VI of Ancient Bangha Kingdom, Khana Local Government Area, Rivers State, HRM, King (Dr) Suanu Baridam, told Vanguard, “South-South is one of the strongest geo-political zones in Nigeria. I think the best option for the governor of the zone is to come together, irrespective of their political affiliation to forge a way forward for South-South.”

HRM Baridam, who is the acting President, the Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers, asserted, “What we want is for the governors of South-South to unite for the common interest if the region. If they do this, we are going to achieve a lot as a people.

“Other governors of the South-South should feel free to work with Siminialaye Fubara. He is the Vice-Chairman of PDP governors. They should liaison with Fubara to get the region on the path of development.

“Douye Diri has an election to contest soon and the Edo Governor, Godwin Obaseki, is bowing out soon, I want these older governors to liaise with the new governors to work in unity.

“They should push a strong front that will stand for the people, in case we want to ask anything from the federal government. If they are not united, how will they bring benefits to the region? The best thing they can do for the people is to come because of the people that elected them.”

Obaseki and Diri should motivate others – HRM Ologho, Delta

The Regent of Emevor Kingdom, Isoko North Local Government Area, Delta State, HRM John Holt Ologho, advised Governors Obaseki and Diri to inspire the -other South-South governors to unite like their northern counterparts.

“The unity of the governors matters so much. They should come together and speak with one voice.”

Learn from past gaffe —Chief Gbenekama, Ijaw leader

The Fiyewei of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Delta state, Chief Godspower Gbenekama, asserted: “If governors came together and agree that this is the direction they want to go, they should go in that direction. If all South- South governors feel that it is the South- South turn, or the South turn to produce the president, then so be it.

“But all politicians are ambitious, everybody wanted to try his luck and somehow my friend, the person I respect so much, the immediate past governor of Delta state, tried his hands, all of them tried their luck in different things.

“Therefore, you cannot totally blame him, right now, what they should is to come together. The days of politicking is over, deceiving people, and deceiving themselves is over.

“Governor Diri and Obaseki and the other new ones should come together, pull themselves together, we need them to give South-South direction because as of now, they are the political leaders of the South- South.

“We need to give South- South adirection, let them learn from the mistakes of the past governors and forge ahead, let them come together, think, plan, and see how we can benefit this present dispensation.”

Mend fence —Olorogun Akpomudje, SAN, Delta

The Otota of Olomu Kingdom in Delta State, Olorogun Albert Akpomudje, SAN, “The idea of South-South governors coming together is brilliant. But if you recall, they took a stand that the Presidency should shift to the South, they did, but in between, you know what happened.

“There were betrayals and that is where the whole thing fell apart. If they can be true to themselves, why not, it is a welcome development because you see the northerners under the Arewa Movement.

“When it comes to major policy decisions, they listen to that Arewa and you see their governors’ forum, whether APC or PDP very strong. By the time it comes to a major decision, they are able to come together and say hey, this is where we should go.

“The South should do the same, but it is because of this lack of trust for each other. The Igbo man does not trust the Yoruba man, and the Yorubu man does not trust the Igbo. That is our major problem, but there is no way that there will not be disagreement, you should always try to find a way to reconcile their differences and continue with what they were doing before as South-South governors.”

Breathe life into BRACED Commission — Nwauju, APC chieftain

However, the Spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers state, Darlington Nwauju, asserted, “First is to internalize the nuances of governance, especially for the first timers (even though most are in litigation).

“Get a grip on the current realities, especially the economic health of the state, and how it can manage to stay afloat in the next four years. Therefore, it is far more important to establish purpose and direction before looking beyond the shoulders to see how to unite with other South-South states.”

“I do not see anything binding the governors beyond political interests. No religious, educational, security, or economic bridges between and amongst the South-South states, we continue to witness the personalization of governance. Therefore, the more institutional bridges we succeed in building, the stronger the bonds of friendship we see. It is not rocket science.

“Good thing they are birds of the same political plumage (PDP), the more experienced governors should take the initiative to revive the BRACED Commission. Shed off primitive political orientations; invite ideologues and governance experts to blow the breeze of ideas on how to take the region out of the pecunious situation it finds itself.

“They should begin mass enlightenment of all political office holders from Councillors to Assembly members in the region to understand that the days of 13 percent Derivation funds will soon end and that the region must respond to the stimuli of the new reality that a knowledge-based economy is a way to go.”

Make S-South an investment hub —Prof Awhefeada, Delta

An intellectual, Prof Sunny Awhefeada, said: “South-South governors should encourage regional integration and revive the brilliant idea of BRACED states made up of Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Cross- River, Edo, and Delta.

“There is so much they can do to develop infrastructure in the region and make it an investment hub.

“The South-South is one of the most endowed in terms of human and natural resources even without oil. So, the governors should think in the direction of regional integration.

“The toxicity (strained relationship of immediate past governors) was a product of misguided ambition and political selfishness. The present governors should jettison selfishness for selfishness, and focus on what to do to make life better for their people.

“Governors Godwin Obaseki and Duoye Diri, having been governors before the recently sworn-in governors should endeavor to chart a course for them to follow. Both men have the experience that can provide the navigational guide for the new governors.”

Reactivate S-South Govs Forum — Dr. Jonjon, ex-IYC president

Special Assistant on Ijaw National Affairs to the Bayelsa State Government, and president emeritus of the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Dr. Oyeinfie Jonjon, “Firstly, they need to reactivate the forum of South- South Governors and meet at least once a month rotationally in order to broaden, deepen, and strengthen the level of unity, they should go into partnership in areas of projects of common interest, like road, power generation, distribution, and railway among others.

”The people should be placed above any partisan interests. In addition, the governors should carry everyone not withstanding his/her political parties at the state Houses of Assembly and by extension, the federal parliamentarians.

”There should be a synergistic social, political, and cultural relationship in all areas of life, including fighting crime, poverty, and religious extremism.

”The doctrine of entitlement mentality and lazily waiting for manas from heaven should be strongly discouraged.”

VANGUARD

Headline

Fake Labubu Dolls Worth Millions Seized In London Raid Amid Growing Safety Fears

Published

18 hours ago

August 3, 2025

Editor

Thousands of fake Labubu dolls believed to be worth millions of pounds have been seized at an industrial estate on the outskirts of London following a major crackdown led by Trading Standards and law enforcement agencies.

The operation, which followed weeks of investigation, traced the fake merchandise from a corner shop in Swansea, south Wales, to a warehouse complex in London.

Officers discovered rooms stacked floor-to-ceiling with fake goods, but it was the imitation Labubu dolls at the centre of a viral TikTok craze that drew the most concern.

The dolls, produced by popular toy company Pop Mart, have surged in global demand, with some genuine pieces retailing for up to £80. The popularity of the brand helped the company double its revenue to £1.33 billion last year, according to Forbes. However, authorities say the boom has also attracted criminal enterprises looking to profit from the trend through counterfeit production.

“The head comes off. The feet pull off. The eyes aren’t glued in,” said Rhys Harries, a Trading Standards officer, while examining one of the seized dolls. “These are clear choking hazards.”

Using a plastic tool modelled after a child’s throat, Harries demonstrated how easily parts of the fake dolls could become life-threatening. “These parts would get stuck and potentially cause choking,” he warned.

The scale of the operation was alarming. Border Force officials say they have intercepted hundreds of thousands of fake Labubu dolls at UK ports in recent months, with many traced back to manufacturers in China, Hong Kong, and Turkey.

In one case, a mother from Caerphilly, Jade, recounted how fake Labubu dolls she bought for her six-year-old son Harri’s birthday began falling apart within hours. “The hook came off and ended up in his mouth,” she said. “Luckily he was old enough to spit it out and tell me.”

Despite knowing the dolls were fakes, Jade said she bought them due to the high cost of the original ones and peer pressure from other children. She got the knock-offs for just over £10 each.

Authorities say the rush to cash in on the craze has led to the use of substandard and potentially dangerous materials, including toxic plastics. Kate Caffery, deputy director of intelligence and law enforcement at the UK’s Intellectual Property Office, said counterfeiting is the second most lucrative source of criminal income worldwide, after drug trafficking.

“There’s a complete disregard for safety,” Caffery said. “They’re made from anything from the inferior to the outright dangerous.”

TikTok collector and plush toy enthusiast Meg Goldberger, 27, said she struggled to find genuine dolls due to scalpers bulk-buying authentic stock and reselling them at inflated prices. “They sell out in seconds,” she said. “Some resellers are using bots to buy hundreds at once.”

Investigators found invoice books showing the dolls were destined for locations across the UK. Some of the seized dolls will be used as evidence, while the rest will be stored in a secure location before being recycled or destroyed.

Pop Mart has been contacted for comment on the counterfeit issue, which authorities say is now a national concern.

Headline

Young Catholics Converge On Rome For Pope Leo’s Vigil

Published

1 day ago

August 2, 2025

Editor

Thousands of young Catholics began assembling Saturday for an evening prayer vigil led by Pope Leo XIV, the culmination of a week-long pilgrimage and a key event in the Jubilee holy year that is expected to draw up to a million people.

The “Jubilee of Youth” — when the Vatican invites Catholics aged 18 to 35 to the seat of the global Church’s power — has seen young pilgrims from around the world flood Rome, waving flags, singing or praying in groups.

It comes nearly three months after Leo, 69, the first American pontiff, began his papacy, and 25 years after the last such massive youth gathering in Rome under Poland’s Pope John Paul II.

On Saturday morning, thousands of young pilgrims had already gathered at the vast open space in Rome’s eastern Tor Vergata neighbourhood where the pope will lead the vigil, the ground already dotted with blankets and mattresses.

Elsewhere in the Eternal City, numerous groups of young people were seen preparing to set off for the venue.

On the plaza outside the Basilica of St John Lateran, they filled water bottles, applied suncream and checked bags of food and snacks — ready to spend the next 24 hours surrounded by a swarm of people and then sleep under the stars.

Victoria Perez, who carried a Spanish flag, could not contain her excitement at seeing “the Pope up close.

“It’s the first time I’m going to see him, and I can’t wait,” the 21-year-old told AFP, excited to experience the “night of prayers under the stars”.

French pilgrim, Quentin Remaury, 26, said he had been inspired by the late Pope Francis’s rousing message to youth during a 2016 visit to Krakow, Poland.

“Pope Francis told us to ‘get off your couches,’ and that really gave me a boost,” he said.

– ‘What is his message?’ –

Since the youth jubilee began on Monday, attendees have participated in various Church-planned events throughout the city.

On Friday, approximately 1,000 priests were on hand to take confession at Circus Maximus, one of Rome’s top tourist spots.

Some 200 white gazebos lined the hippodrome where chariot races were once held, and youths lined up to speak to priests in 10 different languages.

Of the many languages heard on the streets of the Italian capital this week, Spanish seemed to dominate. The Vatican has said that more than 146 countries were represented, and it expects up to a million people to attend the vigil.

The pilgrimage is taking place as economic uncertainty and anxiety over climate change rise among the under-30s, with many saying they were curious to hear the Church’s position on global warming, wars and economic inequalities.

Samarei Semos, 29, said she had travelled three days from her native Belize to get to Rome.

“We are still trying to understand his leadership,” she said of the new pope, adding she hoped he would have a strong say about “third world countries”.

As Parisian student Alice Berry exclaimed, “What does he have to say to us? What is his message for young people?”

– Raising voices –

The youth pilgrimage also comes amid global alarm over the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and more than three years of war in Ukraine.

The Vatican has praised young Catholics who managed to travel to Rome from war-scarred countries, with Pope Leo saying the voices of the world’s youth “will be heard to the end of the earth”.

In an unprecedented move, Leo hosted a mass on Tuesday for Catholic social media influencers, signalling the Vatican’s openness to supporting the Internet-savvy youth.

More than 4,300 volunteers will be working the event to welcome the young pilgrims, along with over 1,000 police, according to organisers.

Roman authorities have tightened security in the city — which has seen an unprecedented number of people, with both tourists and pilgrims inundating the city.

AFP

Headline

Ukrainian Drone Strikes Kill Three In Russia

Published

1 day ago

August 2, 2025

Editor

Ukrainian drone strikes killed three people and wounded two others overnight in western Russia, regional governors said on Saturday.

One woman was killed and two other people were wounded in an attack on an enterprise in Penza, the region’s governor, Oleg Melnichenko, wrote on Telegram.

An elderly man was killed inside a house that caught fire due to falling drone debris in the Samara region, Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev posted on Telegram.

In the Rostov region, a guard at an industrial facility was killed after a drone attack and a fire in one of the site’s buildings, acting Rostov governor Yuri Sliusar said.

“The military repelled a massive air attack during the night,” destroying drones over seven districts, Sliusar posted on Telegram.

Russia’s defence ministry said its air defence systems had destroyed 112 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory — 34 over the Rostov region — in a nearly nine-hour period, from Friday night to Saturday morning.

In Ukraine’s central-eastern Dnipropetrovsk region, overnight Russian drone attacks left three people wounded, governor Sergiy Lysak wrote on Telegram.

Several buildings, homes and cars were damaged, he said.

Russian forces have claimed advances in Dnipropetrovsk, recently announcing the capture of two villages there, part of Moscow’s accelerated capture of territory in July, according to AFP’s analysis of data from the US-based Institute for the Study of War.

Kyiv denies any Russian presence in the Dnipropetrovsk area.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has consistently rejected calls for a ceasefire in the more than three-year conflict, said Friday that he wanted peace but that his demands for ending Moscow’s military offensive were “unchanged”.

Those demands include that Ukraine abandon territory and end ambitions to join NATO.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, meanwhile, said only Putin could end the war and renewed his call for a meeting between the two leaders.

“The United States has proposed this. Ukraine has supported it. What is needed is Russia’s readiness,” he wrote on X.

AFP