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Wike’s Loyalist Resigns As Fubara’s Chief Of Staff

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Chidi Amadi, the Chief of Staff to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, has resigned.

The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Joseph Johnson, confirmed Amadi’s resignation to The PUNCH on Wednesday.

Johnson said Fubara would announce a replacement for Amadi, a loyalist of ex-governor Nyesom Wike, at the appropriate time.

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“The former Chief of Staff, Hon Chidi Amadi, has resigned. The governor will announce another Chief of Staff at the appropriate time.

READ ALSO: No Regrets Making Fubara Governor – Wike

“It is the prerogative of the governor to appoint when he wants it. He will tell us and we will announce it and you will also get the release to that effect,” he said.

Efforts to reach Amadi were unsuccessful as he neither answered several calls put across to his mobile line by our correspondent nor replied to WhatsApp and text messages sent to him on Wednesday night.

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Amadi is Wike’s kinsman from Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State. His resignation brings to 10, the number of Wike’s loyalists who have left Fubara’s administration since the beginning of the political crisis between Fubara and his estanged political godfather, Wike. Amadi’s resignation comes on the heels of calls on Fubara to appoint a former factional Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Edison Ehie, as Chief of Staff.

On January 3, the Ijaw Youth Council, Worldwide, called on Fubara to appoint Ehie as the Chief of Staff in compensation for standing by the government at the height of a plot by 27 lawmakers loyal to ex-governor Nyesom Wike to impeach Fubara.

READ ALSO: Rivers Elders Write Tinubu, Fubara, Say Presidential Intervention Death Sentence

The PUNCH reports that the plot to impeach Fubara led to the factionalisation of the Rivers State House of Assembly, with Ehie leading four members, while Martin Amaewhule, led 26 pro-Wike lawmakers.

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In December, Fubara shunned the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers and presented the 2024 budget to the five-member Ehie faction, which passed the budget on December 13.

However, following the intervention of President Bola Tinubu, Fubara, as part of an eight-point resolution reached at Aso Rock in Abuja, was asked to recognise the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers and take the budget back to them for passage.

Weeks after the Abuja meeting, Ehie resigned his membership of the House of Assembly, writing the Independent National Electoral Commission that he ceased to be a Rivers lawmaker.

READ ALSO: Labour Party Drops Petition Against Fubara

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Though Ehie did not give any specific reason for resigning, Fubara, speaking days later, said Ehie’s exit was part of calculated moves to give peace a chance and resolve the political crisis engulfing the state.

On Tuesday, the Amaewhue-led Assembly, during its plenary at the Assembly quarters along Aba Road, Port Harcourt, called on Fubara to bring the 2024 budget for fresh passage, saying the state was being run without a budget.

But as of Wednesday, Fubara had yet to comment on the request of the lawmakers, even as no state government official had reacted to the statement which may signal another round of crisis in the state.

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[UPDATED] Tinubu, APC Govs, Edo Deputy Gov, Shaibu, Meet Behind Closed-doors

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President Bola Tinubu is currently meeting behind closed-doors with the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) at the, Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Though the agenda of the meeting could not be confirmed officially, it may not be unconnected to the planned nationwide protest kicking off from 1st of August.

The Chairman of the PGF and the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, led the team of governors to the President’s office, along with the Chairman of the Nigeria’s Governors Forum, Governor Abdulrazaq Abdulrahman of Kwara State.

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READ ALSO: Six Things To Know About Vivian Wilson, Elon Musk’s 20-year-old Transgender Daughter

Also sited was the reinstated Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shuaibu; Bassey Otu, (Cross River); Benue State Governor, Fr Hycinth Alia; Uba Sani of Kaduna State; Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi, amongst others.

Also spotted the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu and the Ministers of Finance and Budget & Economic Planning, Wale Edun and Abubakar Bagudu, respectively, arriving at the President’s office.

The ongoing meeting is coming after an earlier meeting of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), which held on Wednesday evening and comes after the cancellation of the National Economic Council (NEC)meeting earlier scheduled for noon Thursday.

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BREAKING: Tinubu In Closed-door Meeting With APC Governors

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President Bola Tinubu is currently meeting with the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) at the State House, Abuja.

Although the agenda of the meeting could not be confirmed officially, it may not be unconnected to the planned nationwide protest on August 1.

The chairman of the PGF and the Imo state governor, Hope Uzodimma, led the team of governors to the President’s office, along with the chairman of Nigeria’s Governors Forum, Governor Abdulrazaq Abdulrahman of Kwara state.

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Also sighted was the reinstated deputy governor of Edo State, Philip Shuaibu; Bassey Otu, (Cross River); Benue State Governor, Fr Hycinth Alia; Uba Sani of Kaduna State; Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi, amongst others.

READ ALSO: BREAKING: INEC Can Handle Local Government Elections, Says Chairman Yakubu

Also spotted the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu and the Ministers of Finance and Budget & Economic Planning, Wale Edun and Abubakar Bagudu, respectively, arriving at the President’s office.

The ongoing meeting follows a previous gathering of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) held on Wednesday evening.

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It comes after the cancellation of the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting that was scheduled for noon on Thursday.

Details shortly…

 

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Place Obaseki On Security Watch List, Edo APC Urges FG, As State Govt Kicks

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The Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has called on the Federal Government to put the state governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, on a security watch list, ahead of the proposed August 1, 2024, nationwide protest.

The State Chairman of the APC, Jarret Tenebe, in a statement made available to INFO DAILY, said the call became necessary following his (Obaseki )alleged threat to burn down the country if the Federal Government fails to arrest APC members who allegedly carried out an attack at the Benin Airport recently.

In the statement titled, ‘The All Progressives Congress, APC, Alerts Federal Government to Put Governor Obaseki on Security Watch’ Tenebe said the call was to “alert the security agencies that facts have emerged of an engagement between Obaseki and an alleged section of the Civil Society Group drawn from Edo State and cultists from neighbouring states, with the sole aim to recruit them for any protest that may be in the offing.”

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The APC chairman alleged that the “aim of the governor’s plan was to create anarchy in Edo State, and the five other South-South States and blame the APC for the destruction that would follow the protest.”

READ ALSO: Edo Man Petitions EFCC Over Fraudulent Withdrawal Of ₦4 Million In His Access Bank Account

According to him, “it was embarrassing and worrisome that the Edo State House of Assembly has turned a blind eye to the danger Obaseki has become, as the Speaker and members had refused to condemn the serious security breach the governor has committed.

“The prevailing circumstance is worrisome and demands urgent action that will frustrate the plan Obaseki has made with Edo State Security Network (ESSN), PUWOV and thugs from the five other South-South States of Rivers, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Bayelsa”, he said.

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He, however, called on the National Security Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to carry out an urgent and comprehensive investigation of the recent meetings that were allegedly held by Governor Obaseki within and outside Edo State.

Tenebe also urged the National Security Adviser to withdraw or change the governor’s security details as the day for the planned protest draws nearer.

READ ALSO: Police Officer Shot, 3 Others Arrested Over Destruction Of Property In Delta

He also demanded restriction to the governor’s movement before the planned protest, especially on the protest day.

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Tenebe further demanded the resignation of the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye, for allegedly being partisan in the Benin Airport attack incident that led to the killing of a Police Inspector attached to the party’s governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo.

“Finally, worried by the open partisan role the state Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye has played in recent times, we request that he should emulate his counterpart, Kimberly Cheatle the United States of America Secret Service Chief, who has resigned for failing to prevent Donald Trump’s assassination attempt.

READ ALSO: Six Things To Know About Vivian Wilson, Elon Musk’s 20-year-old Transgender Daughter

“In the event he fails to take this honourable path, Mr Adegboye should be transferred out of Edo State, because his action is capable of bringing the force to disrepute.

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“The consequences of ignoring this timely call is capable of leading to subsequent breakdown of law and order in Edo State and Nigeria,” he added.

But in a swift reaction, the state Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, described the call as unfortunate and disgusting.

It is rather surprising that the APC is calling on the Presidency to put Governor Obaseki on the watch list when there are obvious pictures and videos of APC members wielding sophisticated weapons in the presence of policemen, breaching public peace and unleashing mayhem on the people of the State, and are still walking free.

“Their names are not on any watch list and they have not been arrested and prosecuted. What an irony”, he stated.

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