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I’m bothered Tinubu mentioned only my name — we all know source of Rivers crisis – Fubara

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Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers, says he is bothered about President Bola Tinubu “singling him out” in a statement on the crisis in Rivers state. 

Arsonists have torched three LGA secretariats in Rivers at the last count, with anarchy the order of the day in the oil rich state for days on end.

Speaking on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television, on Monday, Fubara said everyone in the state knows who is behind the mayhem that has engulfed the state.

On Monday, Kayode Egbetokun, inspector general of police (IGP), ordered the immediate withdrawal of police personnel from the 23 LGA secretariats in Rivers.

Shortly afterwards, suspected hoodlums invaded a slew of Rivers LGA secretariats to wreak havoc and prevent newly elected council officials from resuming duties.

TINUBU’S DIRECTIVE

In a statement on Monday issued by Bayo Onanuga, special adviser on information and strategy to the president, Tinubu directed the IGP to restore security and maintain peace, law and order in Rivers.

President Bola Tinubu has called on Governor Siminalayi Fubara, political leaders and their supporters in Rivers state to exercise restraint and uphold the rule of law,” the first paragraph of the statement reads.

The president also directed the police to keep vandals at bay.

Reacting to the president’s intervention, the Rivers governor expressed concern over why his name was the only one mentioned.

“I do not have any issue with the president’s intervention but I am a bit concerned when my name was the only one mentioned. Like I said, since it’s coming from the president, I’m not going to comment on it,” Fubara said.

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“The issue is very simple. It’s as simple as ABC. Everyone in Nigeria, everyone in Rivers state knows where this issue is coming from. It’s not rocket science.

“We know what the issue is and the issue is not Fubara. It is not.

“I believe strongly that with the recent intervention of the inspector general of police, maybe we will have breathing space.

“Maybe him pulling his men out of those secretariats might be one of the reasons why they took advantage of the situation but I will appeal that while the men are there, the elected officers should have the opportunity to do their work. At least, let them provide security for them, which was even what I was thinking of.”

The governor added that he never suggested that the police should completely pull out of the local governments.

“I was never of the opinion that the police should pull out completely. No. When they said they were moving out, it was what allowed these miscreants to take advantage of the secretariats to destroy them,” Fubara added.

“I support that the police should come back, support the elected officers to secure those councils. Because, it’s public property — we all need to join hands together to protect them.”

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‘I’LL LEAVE WHEN MY TIME IS UP’

The Rivers governor also said he would leave office when his time is up.

Fubara spoke during an evaluation of the damage caused by suspected political thugs at the Ikwerre LG secretariat in Isiokpo.

He bemoaned the scale of the destruction, questioning why a legacy project built by the previous chairman was being ruined for political gain.

“I feel very sad seeing what has just happened in this council. I want to say this to the entire Rivers state: If you are called upon, play your politics with a sense of responsibility,” he said.

“We don’t need to kill ourselves. My time will come, and I will leave; do I need to burn the government house?

“This council secretariat was built by the immediate past chairman, and for me, we know the history of this council, how he sought funds, and how it was executed.

“This is supposed to be a legacy project for him that whoever is going to come after now will continue to remember that at a certain time, certain persons built this for the LGA. But, look at what we are seeing here today. Must we go low in politics?”

He also lamented that council development funds will now cover rehabilitation costs, urging residents to act responsibly in the face of provocation, for the greater good.

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“There was an election on Saturday, and the new council chairmen were inaugurated on Sunday,” the governor said.

“We are aware of the boasting that they would not be allowed to access the secretariats… and we were happy in the early hours of this morning when the IGP directed his men to vacate the premises for easy access for the newly elected officers to resume office.

“Immediately, they (hoodlums) took advantage of that space to destroy government facilities.

“Who is the loser? The new council chairmen that are coming in. The funds that would be applied to other things would now be used to fix this place.

“Are we not acting as irresponsible people? This is an act of irresponsibility! Even if one advises you to go and destroy a government facility, are you not supposed to think twice?

“We all know where this is coming from. That is the truth. Everybody knows that this is not from my supporters.

“But, I leave all to the security agencies to do a thorough work, and let us know the people that are behind this assault on the institutions of democracy.”

Rivers has been embroiled in crisis due to the conflict between Fubara and Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), over control of the political structure of the state

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Good morning! Here Are Some Major News Headlines In The Newspapers Today: FG terminates Julius Berger’s Abuja-Kaduna road contract

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1. The Federal Government has terminated the contract for the Rehabilitation of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Dual Carriageway, Section I (Abuja-Kaduna) from Julius Berger Construction company. A statement by the Director of Press, Federal Ministry of Works, Mohammed Ahmed, said the decision followed the failure of the management of Berger to show up for a meeting to fine-tune the contract worth N740bn, which the company rejected.

 

2. President Bola Tinubu on Monday swear in the seven newly-appointed ministers at the Council Chambers in Abuja.

 

3. Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested a former Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa. He was arrested for allegedly diverting N1.3 trillion belonging to the state Government.

 

4. The federal government on Monday announced the removal of universities and other state-owned tertiary institutions from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System, IPPIS. This was made known by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, OAGF.

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5. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday said the debt servicing to revenue ratio has further dropped to 65 per cent. He spoke during the inauguration of seven new ministers into the Federal Executive Council (FEC). The new figure is an improvement on the 68 per cent, given by the President in his October 1 Independence Day broadcast to the nation.

 

6. The Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Mrs. Oluwatoyin Madein, has said the government did not give a directive to workers to change their salary accounts. The AGF was reacting to a news report that workers had been directed to change a particular financial institution registered on the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) platform as their salary accounts.

 

7. All the minors detained in connection with the August 1 cost of living protest are to be released on the order of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Information and National Orientation Minister Mohammed Idris announced on Monday.

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8. Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, has stated that there is no going back on President Bola Tinubu’s reforms in the forex, as well as the oil and gas sector. Edun made the disclosure when he received the newly assigned minister of state for finance, Doris Uzoka Anite at the Ministry’s headquarters, on Monday.

 

9. Operatives of the Bauchi State Police Command have neutralised six suspected kidnappers in some villages and in the Burra Mountain area, all situated within Ningi Local Government Area of the state. The Commissioner of Police, Auwal Musa Muhammad disclosed this when he paraded the suspects.

 

10. The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria says the Dangote Petroleum Refinery is inconsiderate for selling petrol at N990/litre, stressing that the company enjoyed massive concessions while accessing foreign exchange during its construction. PETROAN also insisted that imported petrol was cheaper than the N990/litre price of Dangote petrol. Major marketers recently revealed that the landing cost of imported petrol as of October 31, 2024, was N978/litre.

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Tinubu orders probe of security agents involved in arrest, detention of minors

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President Bola Tinubu has directed an investigation into the arrest and arraignment of minors detained for participating in the #EndBadGovernance protests.

Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, told State House correspondents that the president issued the directive to Lateef Fagbemi, attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and minister of justice.

Idris said the president has directed the immediate release of all minors arraigned over their involvement in hunger protest.

He added that Tinuhu also asked the humanitarian affairs ministry to rehabilitate the minors.

“Second, the president has also directed the ministry of humanitarian affairs and poverty reduction to immediately see to the welfare of those minors, and also take part to ensure their smooth reunion with their parents or guardians wherever they are in the country,” Idris said.

“Number three, the president has directed that a committee will be set up immediately to be headed by the ministry of humanitarian affairs

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“It’s actually an administrative committee, to look at all issues surrounding the arrest, detention, the treatment, and finally the release of these young minors.

“Fourthly, the president has also directed that all the law enforcement agents involved in the arrest and the legal processes will be investigated.

“And if there are any infractions found to have been committed by any official of government, be him a law enforcement agency or whoever that person may be, appropriate disciplinary action will be taken against him or her.”

In August, many Nigerians across different states staged #EndBadGovernance protest against the state of the station.

The 10-day protest turned violent in some states  with protesters, leading to looting and destruction of public and private properties.

Many of the protesters were also seen waving Russian flags in some northern states.

On November 1, the police arraigned 76 persons, mostly malnourished minors, for alleged involvement in the protest, charging them with treason.

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However,  four of the minors collapsed n court.

The minors’ arraignment ignited public outcry on social media, leading to demands for their release, after which the attorney-general asked the police for the case files.

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BREAKING: EFCC arrests ex-Delta Gov Okowa for alleged fraud

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Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested a former Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, for alleged diversion of N1.3 trillion 13% derivation fund from the federation account between 2015 and 2023.

 

An EFCC source confirmed the former governor’s arrest on Monday.

 

Okowa was arrested on Monday, November 4, 2024, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, when he reported at the Port Harcourt Directorate of the EFCC on the invitation of investigators handling his matter.

 

The former governor was alleged to have failed to render accounts of the funds as well as another N40 billion he allegedly claimed he used to acquire shares in UTM Floating Liquefied Natural Gas.

 

Specifically, Okowa allegedly bought shares worth N40 billion in one of the major banks in the country representing 8% equity to float the offshore LNG. The funds were alleged to be used for other purposes.

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Investigators are also investigating the diversion of funds by the former governor to acquire estates in Abuja and Asaba in Delta state.

 

He is being held at the EFCC holding facility in Port Harcourt.

 

Okowa was the running mate to Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election.

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