Politics

Rivers Govt Begs Lawmakers To End Hostilities As Impeachment Plot Thickens

Published

7 months ago

March 17, 2025

Editor

The Rivers Government has urged the Rivers State House of Assembly (RSHA) to reconsider its stance and prioritise the welfare of the people to ensure peace in the state.

Mr Joe Johnson, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, made the appeal at a news conference in Port Harcourt on Monday.

He stressed that a change of course by the lawmakers would prevent unimaginable suffering and crises for the state and its people.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the RSHA had earlier issued a gross misconduct notice against Gov. Siminalayi Fubara and his Deputy, Ngozi Odu, setting the stage for their possible impeachment from office.

Johnson condemned the Assembly’s refusal to allow the governor the opportunity to re-present the 2025 Appropriation Bill, despite a Supreme Court directive.

He criticised claims by the lawmakers that Fubara had not followed due process in notifying them about the budget presentation.

“Gov. Fubara has demonstrated his preparedness and willingness to re-present the 2025 budget and fully implement all aspects of the controversial Supreme Court ruling.

“His commitment to this process is solely for the sake of peace.

“It is unfortunate that the lawmakers are misrepresenting him, portraying him as unwilling to comply with the Supreme Court’s judgement,” he stated.

Johnson appealed to the Assembly members not to squander the opportunity to steer the state away from impending crises.

“If this opportunity to pull the state from the precipice fails, the people and residents, without exception, will suffer avoidable calamities.

“The state could face economic, social, and political upheavals, that might sink us deeper into unimaginable crises,” he warned.

The commissioner also lamented that the Supreme Court’s directive for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to withhold the state’s revenue allocations had severely hampered the government’s ability to function.

He stated that as a result, the state government would be unable to pay civil servants, retirees, and other workers their salaries, pensions, and emoluments.

Johnson further noted that the government’s other financial obligations would remain unfulfilled until the judgement was fully implemented.

“The collateral damage caused by the actions of the legislative arm in Rivers State will be so severe.

“Withholding revenues due to the state will paralyse government operations,” he emphasised.

Politics

2027: Jonathan Will Contest Under PDP, Return To Aso Rock — Jerry Gana

Published

9 hours ago

September 29, 2025

Editor

Former Minister of Information and Orientation, Professor Jerry Gana, has disclosed that ex-president Goodluck Jonathan will contest again in 2027.

Gana made this remark while speaking to journalists in Minna, the Niger State capital.

According to him, Jonathan will contest in the next presidential election, as the flagbearer of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

According to him, Nigerians had experienced life under two presidents after Jonathan and were now yearning for his return.

“In 2015, former President Goodluck Jonathan said his ambition was not worth the blood of Nigerians,” Gana said.

“After him, another President ruled for eight years, and now another has ruled for two years.

“Nigerians have seen the difference, and the difference is very clear. Nigerians are now asking us to bring back our friend, former President Goodluck Jonathan.

“I can confirm that Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will contest the presidential election in 2027 as PDP candidate, and we should be prepared to vote for him to return as President again,” he added.

Politics

How I Survived Kidnap, Assassination Attempt – Rivers Speaker

Published

9 hours ago

September 29, 2025

Editor

The Speaker of Rivers House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, said he is thankful to God for surviving a kidnapping and, an assassination attempt in the past years.
Amaewhule made this known during his 52nd birthday thanksgiving service at the All Saints Anglican Church, Eliozu, Obio/Apkor Local Government Area, Rivers State.

“I am not just marking another birthday but acknowledging that many people had planned to take his life in the last one year, but God didn’t allow them,” he said.
Recounting how he survived a harrowing experience in 2008, he said that he narrowly escaped death during the incident.

Amaewhule noted that he was abducted by some unidentified gunmen at his residence as he arrived after a Sunday church service.

“Some of you were here in 2008 when a preacher was preaching right here on a Sunday service, on that faithful day, I didn’t know the people who came to kidnap me were also in the service,” he said.

“After service, they tactically followed me to my residence, tied up my security guard, and abducted me and took me to a forest where they held me hostage for five days.

“They placed thorns under my feet and inflicted several injuries on my head and body in the process of moving me from one hideout to another within the forest.

“They fed me with biscuits throughout the period even as I almost bled to death.”

The speaker, however, expressed gratitude to God for his numerous blessings, guidance, and preservation over the years.

“When God does things for you, it is important to appreciate him for more.”

Politics

Edo: Chief Ben Bowei Sworn In As Vice Chairman, Ovia South-West

Published

14 hours ago

September 29, 2025

Editor

High Chief Ben Bowei (Left) taking oath of office at the council secretariat on Monday

An Activist and politician, High Chief Ben Bowei has been sworn in as Vice Chairman, Ovia South-West Local Government Council of Edo State.

Bowei, chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), deputises Hon. Nosakhare Edobor who happens to be the Chairman of the council.

The Vice Chairman, a committed member of the APC in the local government and state, is expected to bring his wealth of experience to bear on the local government council being a former National Treasurer of the most respected youth body in west Africa — Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide.

Bowei, an advocate and promoter of governance, is the founder of Niger Delta Volunteer for Good Governance, said he’s poised in promoting good governance and taking the dividends of democracy to the most interior part of the local government.

The Vice Chairman urged sons and daughters of the local government to cooperate with the council’s leadership in their bid to extend the dividends of democracy to them.

Bowei, while appreciating governor Monday Okpebholo and his deputy, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, for the good work the current administration has been doing in the state, expressed optimism that the current state government would perform beyond expectations.