News

Shaibu Holds Service On Open Field, Obaseki Denies Relocating Chapel

Published

4 months ago

January 23, 2024

Editor

Deputy Governor, Edo-State, Phillip Shaibu, wife, workers and Rev Fr Emmanuel Egejuru observing Mass on an open field at the new deputy gov’s office on Tuesday

The rift between Governor Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shaibu, deepened as the weekly Tuesday Mass that normally holds at the Government House Chapel at the instance of Shaibu has been relocated from the Government House to the deputy governor’s new office outside.

The mass which was held in the open field of the new deputy governor’s office at 7 Osadebey Avenue in the GRA, had in attendance Shaibu and his wife, civil servants attached to his office, some aides and political associates.

An official in the Chapel said they got a directive from the Senior Special Assistant to Obaseki on Religious Matters last Monday “to come and remove our things from the chapel, including the station of the cross, the pulpit and other items.”

The official added, “I told him I will inform the deputy governor to know where to relocate the items and we went to remove them the following day. I was shocked when I started hearing that I went to do a video. They ordered us to remove our things, which we did.”

However, Obaseki insisted that nothing like the relocation of the chapel had happened.

The Special Adviser to Obaseki on Media Projects, Crusoe Osagie, in a statement said the video in circulation was fabricated by mischief makers.

He added, “It is imperative to state categorically that the Government House Chapel is very much in operation and attending to the spiritual needs of the occupants of the Government House.

“It is necessary to stress that the governor and his wife are ardent Christians and it is therefore illogical that they will shut down the Chapel in the Government House.

“We urge members of the public to disregard the rumour as it bears no iota of truth. The government will continue to promote religious freedom and harmony within the state.”

In his homily, Rev Fr Emmanuel Egejuru said joy, humility, gratefulness and obedience are characteristics expected from leaders which he said was exemplified by King David in the bible.

Deputy Governor, Edo-State, Phillip Shaibu, wife, workers and Rev Fr Emmanuel Egejuru observing Mass on an open field at the new deputy gov’s office on Tuesday.

News

JUST IN: CBN Raises Interest Rate To 26.25%

Published

2 hours ago

May 21, 2024

Editor

The Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria has increased the benchmark interest rate to 26.25 per cent.

This was disclosed by the Governor of the CBN who doubles as the Chairman of the MPC at the end of the 295th MPC meeting held in Abuja.

At the March MPC meeting, the benchmark rate had been increased by 200 basis points from 22.75 per cent to 24.75 per cent.

The MPC has maintained a hawkish stance since it resumed meetings this year in a bid to tackle Nigeria’s persistent inflation.

As of April, Nigeria’s inflation rate had risen to 33.69 per cent.

A number of analysts have projected a rate hike while some suggested that the apex bank may consider a hold stance as the growth rate of inflation moderated month-on-month.

Details later…

News

JUST IN: Peter Obi, Other Protesters Storm Labour Party Secretariat [PHOTOS]

Published

2 hours ago

May 21, 2024

Editor

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the 2023 election, Mr Peter Obi along with other protesters from the six Area Councils have stormed the National Secretariat of the Labour Party in Abuja.

Although the reason for the canonical like atmosphere is not yet clear, but it can be deduced from the banners, drumming and singing by various cultural groups representing prominent ethic groups that the gathering is a solidarity match in support of the National Chairman, Comrade Julius Abure.

News

JUST IN: Fubara Wins As Court Voids Tenure Extension For Rivers LGA Chairmen

Published

3 hours ago

May 21, 2024

Editor

A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has voided the tenure extension for local government chairmen in the state.

This was as the court declared Local Government Law No. 2 of 2024, which extended the tenure of local government chairmen by 6 months after expiration of their tenure, invalid.

The 27 lawmakers in the camp of the Minister of Federal Capital, Chief Nyesom Wike, had this year, in the face of the crisis, enacted a law extending the three-year tenure of the serving LGA chairmen by three months.

However, the court, in its decision Tuesday, held that the new law was inconsistent with the 1999 constitution and Section 9(1) of Rivers State Law No. 5 of 2018, which fixed 3 years for local government chairmen and councillors.

The court gave the ruling that the recent extension of local government chairmen’s tenures was invalid in suit number PHC/1320/CS/2024, a case instituted by Hon. Enyiada Cookey-Gam & 6 Ors vs. The Governor of Rivers State & Ors.

In his judgment, HHon. Justice D.G. Kio declared that Local Government Law No. 2 of 2024, which sought to extend the Chairmen’s terms by six months, conflicts with the 1999 Constitution and Section 9(1) of Rivers State Local Government Law No. 5 of 2018.

The court affirmed that the lawful tenure for local government chairmen and councillors remained three years, as stipulated by the 2018 law, stressing that any attempt to extend the tenure was not only unlawful but also violated the officials’ oath of office.