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Wike’s Reception: Elders Chide RIVCO, Say INC Authentic Mouth Piece Of Ijaw

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Ijaw elders have faulted the claim by members of the Rivers Ijaw People’s Congress, RIVCO, who apologized to the minister of the federal capital territory, FCT, Chief Nyesom Wike for alleged “ingratitude” of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, as the authentic Ijaw people.

Members of RIVCO had on Saturday organized a grand civic reception in Honour of Wike in Port Harcourt where they begged the FCT minister for forgiveness over the “humiliation” meted out on him by the state governor.

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The Executive Director, Finance and Administration, EDFA, of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Boma Iyaye, who spoke at the event openly apologized to Wike and told him to disregard the misbehaviour of an individual and continue to relate with the Ijaw people.

“I want to apologize to you for what our son is doing to you. We are sorry. It is not in our nature to pay good with evil. Don’t because of this bad behavior and run away from us. Continue to be our brother. It is not because we fail exam we won’t repeat it again. We are not ungrateful people. That is why we are celebrating you”.

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Reacting to this development on Sunday, a chieftain of the Pan Niger Delta Elders Forum, PANDEF, Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe said “we have structure and root in Ijaw. Anybody cannot just come up and begins to talk on behalf of the entire Ijaw people”.

Sara-Igbe explained that Ijaw national Congress, INC, was the only authentic voice of Ijaw people.

“If Ijaw people want to do anything, INC will lead and all of us will follow. Ijaw nation has never resolved to honor a man who called the Ijaw people “thunder fire you”. We only know two bodies in Ijaw land: INC and the IYC,” he noted.

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The former security adviser said that RIVCO was not an affiliate of the INC or any known Ijaw ethnic group, adding that “those who paraded themselves as Ijaw people should continue to suck the man dry and take his money”.

Also reacting, the spokesperson of the Ijaw Republican Assembly, IRA, Ann-Kio Briggs said there was nothing wrong in anybody belonging to any political group, but “that is not enough to say that anybody can rise up and begin to speak for us as Ijaw people.

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“If you look very closely, you will see that those who organized the reception were Wike’s political associates. They are made up of former Commissioners, SAs and all of that. They have the right to support whoever they want to support but clearly, they can’t speak for Ijaw people”.

Briggs wondered what the RIVCO members meant when they said “we are the real Ijaw”, saying that Ijaw people never organized reception for the FCT minister.

“They are Wike’s political associates. Nobody can deny them that right. They are Wike’s associates from Ijaw ethnic extraction. But they can’t speak for the entire Ijaw people.

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“We have the INC and the IYC. These are the two major groups that we have in Ijaw land and the decisions of INC bind all the Ijaw people that are cut across Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, Edo, Ondo and Abia states”.

 

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Peter Obi’s Son, Oseloka, Speaks On Gay Allegations

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Oseloka Obi, son of the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, has responded to viral allegations linking him to homosexuality after photographs of him with London-based British-Nigerian Kent Okwesa, circulated online this week.

The pictures, which emerged on Wednesday, showed Oseloka and Okwesa sitting closely at a restaurant in the United Kingdom, sparking a wave of online speculation and gossip.

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In a detailed statement, Oseloka dismissed the rumours as malicious falsehoods driven by his father’s involvement in Nigerian politics.

He noted that while he rarely responds to such narratives, the persistence of gossip and unfounded claims made it necessary to address the matter.

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Because of my father’s involvement in Nigerian politics, there has been a persistent curiosity and, at times, malicious obsession with me.

“I have no social media presence and no interest in maintaining one, so I rarely correct these falsehoods. But perhaps it is time I address them,” he wrote.

Oseloka stressed that the photos of him in circulation were being misrepresented, insisting they were ordinary snapshots with friends and colleagues.

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The truth is simple: Peter Obi’s son appears in photos with his friends and colleagues, nothing more. If people wish to invent otherwise, I hope they sleep soundly knowing they are spreading lies,” he added.

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He further emphasised that neither he nor his father is perfect, but attested to his father’s integrity and commitment to Nigeria’s future.

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My father has my vote, not because he is my father, but because he is the right man for the job. If others wish to go low, invent scandals, or attack me to wound him, they are free to do so. But we will go high, and we will continue to focus on the future of Nigeria.”

Concluding, Oseloka urged Nigerians to redirect their attention from idle gossip to the pressing socio-economic challenges facing the country.

Read the full statement below:

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FULL LIST: PenCom Bars Seven Mortgage Banks From Processing Housing Loans

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The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has barred seven Primary Mortgage Banks (PMBs) from processing applications under the pension-backed equity contribution scheme for residential mortgages, citing their non-compliance with housing loan guidelines.

In a letter published on PenCom’s website, addressed to Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) and Pension Fund Custodians (PFCs), the organisation instructed them to immediately stop accepting or processing equity contribution applications submitted through the affected institutions.

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The blacklisted mortgage banks are:

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• Jigawa Savings & Loans Limited

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• FHA Mortgage Bank Limited

• Delta Trust Mortgage Bank Limited

• AG Mortgage Bank Limited

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• Infinity Trust Mortgage Bank Pic

• First Trust Mortgage Bank Limited

• Mutual Alliance Mortgage Bank Limited

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Following the cited letter, the commission instructs that PFAs, including Closed Pension Fund Administrators and Pension Fund Custodians, immediately stop accepting or processing equity contribution applications submitted by the following Primary Mortgage Banks… Please be guided,” the circular read in part.

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Explaining the decision, PenCom’s spokesman, Ibrahim Buwai, told The PUNCH that the sanction was imposed because the affected institutions failed to generate the mortgages for which funds had been approved.

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The whole purpose of giving access to RSA holders is to enable them to own houses through mortgages,” he said. “It was discovered that some of the primary mortgage institutions were not generating mortgages. If that is the case, it means they are not complying with the regulations. That is the reason for their blacklisting.”

PenCom introduced the equity contribution for residential mortgages in September 2022, allowing Retirement Savings Account (RSA) holders to withdraw up to 25 per cent of their balances to fund equity contributions for home ownership.

According to the commission, 24,582 RSA holders had accessed the scheme as of the first quarter of 2025, with disbursements totalling ₦149.84bn.

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RSA holders who submitted applications through the barred mortgage banks are now advised to reapply with other eligible PMBs. Those who have made upfront payments were urged to contact the affected institutions for the next line of action.

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VIDEO: How ‘Close Friend’ Leaked Cat Secret To Security During My House Invasion — Sunday Igboho

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Yoruba Nation agitator, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has opened up again on the July 1, 2021 midnight invasion of his Ibadan residence by security operatives, including the Department of State Services (DSS).

Speaking during a visit to the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III, at his palace in Ondo State, Igboho alleged that the attack was carried out with the intent to take his life.

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When my house was invaded, they wanted to kill me but failed. Some said my intestines were shattered, others said my leg was broken, but there was nothing of such. They fired guns at me very well, but the prayers of you my fathers on me were answered.”

According to him, the DSS operatives forcefully gained entrance into his residence and pointed a gun at his Personal Assistant so he could lead them to his room.

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Death of cat after friend’s betrayal

While recalling the invasion, Igboho said one of his trusted friends betrayed him by leaking sensitive information about his cat to the operatives.

He disclosed that the so-called ‘trusted’ friend had told the agents not to let the cat escape, which led to the security operatives killing the animal.

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When I opened the door of my room for them, they saw my cat on the bed. One of my friends that I entrusted with secret had told them not to let the cat go. So they killed the cat and wrapped it with clothes like a corpse. They destroyed everywhere in the house and killed one of my brothers alongside one other person and they left,” he narrated.

Appeal to the Olowo

Speaking at the palace of the Olowo, Igboho said his absence from the country had lasted about five years and that he was eager to return to contribute to tackling insecurity in the South-West.

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READ ALSO:JUST IN: Sunday Igboho Returns To Nigeria

“But why I came to meet you Kabiesi is that till when will I be doing that. Nigeria is my motherland. This is about five years since I’ve been chased from here. Tinubu is your son, you can convince him to free me. If not for the wanted tag on me, I would have come to Nigeria to face the insecurity facing the South-West region. I would have entered the bush and faced them,” Igboho pleaded with the monarch.

Monarch’s response
In his response, Oba Ogunoye described Igboho as a beacon of hope for his generation and future ones, urging him not to be discouraged by the challenges he has faced.

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The monarch enjoined Igboho and his supporters to remain law-abiding amid ongoing challenges.

He assured him of continued support and called for peace and cooperation across South-West communities, noting that no region can achieve sustainable development without security.
(TRIBUNE)

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