Many filling stations operated by independent oil marketers have now fixed the pump prices of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, at between N900 and N1,000/litre.

Owners of these stations seem not to care about the cost of the product at retail outlets operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company. Petrol prices at NNPC stations range from N568 to N617/litre. This often leads to queues at the stations.

As Nigerians raise concerns about the high cost of the commodity by independent petrol dealers, the Federal Government has also vowed to shut down filling stations that will be caught dispensing PMS at exorbitant rates.

It declared this through the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, stressing that it was not in the interest of Nigerians for marketers to profiteer in the sales of PMS.

Independent oil marketers claimed that they’ve been buying petrol from private depot owners for as high as N850/litre since last week and that this was why the pump prices were high.

However, the spokesperson of the NMDPRA, George Ene-Ita, argued that the petrol price reports that the regulator gets from its officials at the depots were different.

“Our depot people see a different price because we ask them to publish the prices at the depots every day and it is not N850/litre. Our field agents at the depots give us a different figure,” he said.

When told that some filling stations operated by independent marketers in Lagos and many other states dispense their products for as high as N900 and N1,000/litre, the NMDPRA official said such outlets would be brought to book if apprehended.

“If we get these outlets, all we do is to try and shut them down, because NNPC is the company that brings in the product and they tell us how much they sell as their ex-depot prices to off-takers. And we sit down together and work out the margins and there is no way it should be that high,” Ene-Ita declared.

Aloy Ejimakor, the lead counsel for Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), on Tuesday named two former top-ranking security officials responsible for the extraordinary rendition of the Biafra agitator.

Ejimakor stated that the immediate past Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai, and the ex-Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Bichi, were responsible for Kanu’s extraordinary rendition.

Kanu was extraordinarily renditioned from Kenya to Nigeria in June 2021.

The IPOB leader had left Nigeria after being granted bail by Justice Binta Nyako of an Abuja Federal High Court.

Kanu fled Nigeria in 2017 after the Nigerian Army invaded his residence in the Afaraukwu area of Abia State.

After an extensive search, the IPOB leader was arrested and subjected to extraordinary rendition from Kenya.

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has replaced Rufai and Bichi with Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed and Adeola Ajayi.

However, posting on X, Ejimakor wrote: “Do you know that Ahmed Rufai, who just resigned as DG, NIA, and Yusuf Bichi, who was yesterday replaced as DG, DSS, were vicariously responsible for the extraordinary rendition of MAZI NNAMDI KANU? Who is next? #TouchNotMyAnointed.”

A pro-democracy group in Abia State, the Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development (FENRAD), has criticized the two chambers of the National Assembly Education Committees for excluding South-East universities from the disbursement of loans to students across the 19 tertiary institutions under the recently launched Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

The group expressed concern over the silence maintained by the education committees of both chambers of parliament regarding the deliberate omission of the South-East from the loan scheme.

This was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the group’s Executive Director, Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, and made available to newsmen.

According to the statement, the group finds it worrisome and regrettable that the only legislative intervention so far has come from the Southeast National Assembly caucus, even though the intervention of the whole house or the education committee of either chamber could have given the issue a national appeal, providing assurance to the people, particularly student applicants from the region, that there was no sinister plot to marginalize, exclude, or relegate them, as has been the case in the past.

The statement reads: “FENRAD recalls that during the Jonathan presidency, the Presidential Special Scholarship Scheme for Innovations and Development (PRESSID) was launched to place qualified first-class graduates of the nation on scholarship abroad, who were to be absorbed back into Nigeria’s cadre, forming the potential drivers and agents of development.

“Sadly for the region, when the Buhari presidency took office in 2015, the president stopped the scheme because the North was allegedly not adequately represented in the program. This was how Nigeria jettisoned competence for a parochial pursuit.

“FENRAD recalls that a majority of those affected by the scrapping of PRESSID were South Easterners who had already secured admission to further their studies in universities abroad. Had the criteria for qualification been based on catchment or quota, perhaps the scheme would not have been revoked.

“Following the unceremonious end of PRESSID, another tertiary education policy was inaugurated under Buhari, this time under the name: ‘Education for Change; Ministerial Plan 2018-2022.’ Under this policy, 10 specialized universities were built by the federal government across the thirty-six states in Nigeria in 2021, with none sited in the Southeast.

“This exclusion was later mitigated by the claim that the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), was to benefit from an ongoing federal government upgrade. Not much has been said about this upgrade years later.

“FENRAD also regrets that some universities in the Southeast have yet to complete their verification to enable them to have full access to NELFUND, with some Southeast universities like Enugu State University of Technology (ESUT), which did complete their verification, still experiencing technical glitches for weeks until Friday of last week when this matter had already dominated all news platforms.

The Orlu Regional Assembly USA Inc  (ORAUSA) a socio cultural organization of indigenes of Orlu zone resident in the United States of America have concluded their annual Convention held in Boston, Massachusetts from June 19 to June 23, 2024.

The convention as usual started with welcoming of the accredited delegates and their families by the ORAUSA National President, Dr Uzo Unegbu and visit to selected national monuments and points of attraction within the hosts area.

On Friday June 21, the convention was officially declared open with a meeting of the House of Delegates in the morning and a cultural night in the evening with the ORAUSA grand patron, Chief Achike Udenwa, former governor of Imo State and other dignitaries from Nigeria and other countries in attendance.

The convention House of Delegates agreed to continue with the primary objectives of the association towards human and infrastructural development of Orlu zone in the areas of promotion of Health Care, Economic  empowerment, Education and ICT.

The convention further approved the continuation of their humanitarian programs and major projects in Orlu zone such as the Medical Mission, Homeland Summit, Youth Empowerment and Micro Finance.

The high point of the convention was the unanimous approval of the construction of a multimillion naira multipurpose building with a medical center and residential facilities in Orlu town.

This ambitious project will include rural mobile medical clinic centered on public enlightenment and health education for sustainable health care delivery.

Other high points of the 2024 convention was the election of officers to run the affairs of the ORAUSA Advisory Board of Directors for three years in which the following personalities were elected.

President – Chief, Dr Bona Onye, Secretary – Sir Francis Udeji and Parliamentarian – Mrs Ijeoma Odueze.

The Imo State government delegation was ably led by His Royal Majesty, Eze Cletus Ilomuanya and included, Chief Ralph Nwosu, Hon Commissioner for Works, Chief Nwabueze Oguchienti, Hon Commissioner for Power and Rt Hon Kennis  Moore Nwachukwu (Omeogo), Member Federal House of Representatives.

In his message, the governor of Imo State, His Excellency, Senator Hope Odidika Uzodinma congratulated members of Orlu Regional Assembly, USA on their 24th Annual Convention.

The governor assured them of his continued support for their programs back home and made a handsome financial donation to the association.

In his speech, Hon Kennis Moore Nwachukwu urged members of ORAUSA  to support the governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma in view of the numerous commendable works the governor is doing in Imo State.

Hon Nwachukwu pledged to sink a water borehole in the location of the ORAUSA multipurpose building project in Orlu in addition to providing electricity transformer and solar street lights.

In his response, the ORAUSA National President, Dr Uzo Unegbu thanked Rt. Hon Nwachukwu for his very kind gesture.

He on behalf of the association expressed special gratitude to the governor of Imo State, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma for what he called his positive engagement with ORAUSA since he assumed office as governor of Imo State which he said resonates well with the generality of the members of ORAUSA and assured the governor of their continued support and partnership in his efforts to develop Imo State and wished him well in the onerous task of governance.

The ORAUSA National President, Dr Uzo Unegbu (Omekannaya) commended everyone that attended the convention and wished them safe journey back to their respective abodes as the hosting flag officially passed from the 2024 Convention hosts, Boston, Massachusetts to the New York affiliate  who are the 2025 ORAUSA  Convention hosts.

The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abdullahi Sabi Aliyu has stated that up to 51% of farming areas in Nigeria are liable to flooding in 2024.

He stated this during the Agricultural Insurance Train-the-Trainer Workshop which held in Abuja recently where the Minister stated that integration of the Agricultural Insurance Scheme into the NAGS-AP program was intended to safeguard the investments and interventions made by both the government and the financing partners against risk such as flooding.

Abdullahi noted that the risks had become central concerns for the government, financiers, and beneficiary farmers, who are the most vulnerable to bad harvests.

He added that such adverse conditions could erase investments, and the labor invested in the program, leading to significant food price inflation, as is currently being observed.

The Minister also highlighted an unfortunate incident during the 2023 wet farming season, where ginger farmers in Kaduna suffered significant losses due to an outbreak of the ginger blight disease, resulting in the loss of over 90% of their total harvest for the season.

He stated, It was estimated that Nigerian ginger farmers incurred losses amounting to N12 billion due to the catastrophic blight epidemic that decimated their crops in 2023. That is some food for thought and something that we all have to bear in mind; as we are at all times one or two bad harvest seasons away from losing our food supplies.

Furthermore, guidance from the 2024 Annual Flood Outlook report, recently released by the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation in the first quarter of this year, has alerted us that 148 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in 31 states are high flood-risk areas, while 249 LGAs in 36 States and the FCT fall within moderate flood-risk areas.

In simple terms, 397 LGAs out of the total 774 LGAs in Nigeria, representing over 51% of our farming areas, are at risk of flooding.

What you should know

In a related report, the Jigawa State Emergency Agency has disclosed that recent floods have destroyed over 2,000 hectares of farmland across the state.

Further reports of floods damaging farmlands and residential apartments nationwide could exacerbate the ongoing cost of living crisis and heighten food insecurity. Such events could also hinder efforts to boost food production as the dry season approaches.

Experts have observed that the current high food prices in the country are a lingering effect of the 2022 floods, which severely impacted regions, particularly in the Northwest, Northcentral, Southeast, and Niger Delta areas.

“A few hours ago, the Supreme Court confirmed me as the duly elected Governor of Imo State, arising from the November 11th, 2023 governorship election.

“It is, therefore, with a heart full of gratitude that I thank God Almighty for granting me another victory after I had also emerged victorious at the Tribunal and the Court of Appeal

“I express my gratitude to the Supreme Court for upholding the law despite the barrage of blackmail and intimidation by those who wanted sentiments to obfuscate justice.

“When Imo people overwhelmingly reelected me last year as their Governor, it was simply based on my sterling performance, which remains unprecedented in the modern history of the state.

“During my second tenure inauguration, I pledged to serve them with renewed vigour, with honesty and transparency and accountability and with the fear of God.

“Today, with this Supreme Court victory, which I dedicate to all Imo people, irrespective of political or religious affiliation, I rededicate myself to the service of the good people of Imo State.

“To my brothers who contested with me during the election, I re-invite them to join me in the task of reinventing Imo to the state of our shared dreams. My doors will continue to remain open to all Imo people genuinely committed to the betterment of our society.

“Now that all issues pertaining to the election have been resolved, let us all work for the peace and progress of our dear State.”

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has said it recently issued a 21-day strike notice because the federal government has consistently failed on its promises to address the lingering issues hindering the development of Nigeria’s universities.

ASUU president, Emmanuel Osodeke, was at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture in Abia where he disclosed the outcome of ASUU’s national executive council (NEC) meeting.

The meeting was held between August 17 and August 18 at the University of Ibadan.

The union is to reconvene at the expiration of the 21-day notice to decide on the imminent strike.

Osodeke said the federal and state governments have seemingly refused to address all the issues that prompted ASUU’s previous strikes.

He said the NEC has received “alarming reports” on the failed promises the government made during the 2022 strike.

He rejected the “slow pace of the intervention” by the minister of education in resolving those issues.

Osodeke cited the review and signing of the renegotiated 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement, the demand for impactful funding, and the need for an emergency revitalisation fund for public universities.

He cited the payment of outstanding earned academic allowances, release of withheld salaries, promotion arrears, and third-party deductions targeted at its members.

Osodeke said ASUU is also aggrieved about illegal recruitments, the proliferation of public universities, and the abuse of university laws.

Also demanded is the removal of the universities from the Treasury Single Account and the IPPIS to aid university autonomy.

The ASUU president said the union has declared September 10 to solidarise with its members “unjustly persecuted” across universities in Nigeria.

Nigerian woman named Oyindamola Akinyera recently had an extraordinary experience, giving birth to a baby girl while on a flight to Brazil.

Akinyera took to Instagram to announce the surprising event, explaining that she and her partner were on a trip to Brazil for their “Honeymoon and Babymoon” when she unexpectedly went into labor mid-flight.

Despite the unexpected circumstances, the couple safely welcomed their baby girl aboard the plane.

In a lengthy post via her Instagram page, she described how the flight attendants took on the role of “personal midwives” and a doctor on board, identified as Carolina, assisted with the delivery.

Akinyera shared that she delivered her baby girl just 20 minutes before the plane touched down.

Upon landing in Brazil, she immediately went to the hospital, where she confirmed that both she and her newborn daughter were doing well.

The post partly read, “The pains kept waking me up and the Qatar airways hostess (my personal midwives) sprung into action. They set up a whole birthing station for me at the entrance of the plane.

“Everything was happening so fast and all I was thinking is that I have to hold on till we land to have this baby.

“They asked if there was any doctor on board and a doctor called Carolina walked up to us and is like “I deliver babies”. She checks me, tells me I’m fully dilated and the baby is ready to come. At this point, we’re in Brazilian airspace and about 40 mins from landing.

“… Midway, I got tired and tell them I can’t do it anymore and my God sent Qatar airways crew aka midwives prayed over me to keep going.

“20 mins before landing, God blessed us with the most precious baby girl. We landed in Brazil safely and headed straight to the hospital where our beautiful baby girl and I are doing great.”

The heartwarming story has garnered significant attention online, with many people offering their congratulations and well-wishes to Oyindamola for her memorable and joyous experience.

The Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has granted an ex-parte order restraining the All Progressives Congress (APC) from holding its scheduled congresses in Rivers State.

The court ordered that the national leadership of the APC led by its Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, and its Secretary, Surajudeen Ajibola-Basiru should not go ahead to conduct the ward, local government, and state congresses scheduled for 11th, 16th, and 26th October 2024.

Other defendants in the suits filed by Peter Ohochukwu, Haija Ndidi-Chukwuma for themselves and all elected executive members of APC in the state were the APC, Inspector-General of Police, Nigerian Police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Justice Godwin Ollor in his ruling on the ex-parte motion also restrained the defendants either for themselves, their men, officers, or agents from conducting, supervising, holding, monitoring, or in any other manner conducting elections to make up Rivers State executive committee.

Justice Ollor insisted that his ruling was based on the merit of the application and oral application by the plaintiffs’ Lawyer, Collins Dike.

The judge also restrained the national leadership of the party against any plan to suspend the Emeka Beke-led executives of the party in the state.

The court further restrained the National Chairman of APC, the Secretary, and the APC from doing anything to interfere in the activities of the elected executive of APC in the state led by Chief Beke pending the hearing and determination of motion on notice for interlocutory injection.

Justice Ollor adjourned till September 9, 2024, for a hearing of motion on notice.

The Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to providing financial support to local governments in the state, despite the Supreme Court’s ruling granting autonomy to the councils.

Governor Diri made this statement on Wednesday during the swearing-in ceremony of the chairmen of two Rural Development Authorities (RDAs) at the 134th state executive council meeting held at Government House, Yenagoa.

He explained that some local councils in the state experience financial deficits after paying workers and teachers, prompting the state government to continue augmenting their funds to prevent them from suffering.

Governor Diri also clarified that, contrary to the belief that states tamper with local government funds disbursed through the Joint Accounts Allocation Committee (JAAC), Bayelsa’s case is different, as the state government actually supplements these funds.

The governor highlighted that the creation of the RDAs was part of the government’s initiative to bring development to every corner of the state.

He urged the newly sworn-in chairmen to carry out their duties diligently and humbly, serving the people at the grassroots level.

“My administration will continue to fully support the local government system, regardless of the Supreme Court’s judgment on local government autonomy,” Diri stated.

“Unlike the perception that state governments control the funds allocated to local governments after FAAC allocation, the Bayelsa State government augments their funds, as some local councils operate at a deficit.”

He further charged, “You are representing the Prosperity Government in your rural development authorities. I urge you to carry out your responsibilities dutifully and with humility toward the grassroots population.”

The officials sworn in were Mr. Andrew Ikputu-Kirifa for Ogboin South/Tarakiri RDA and Mr. Christian Egbo for Ogbia Central RDA.

The governor also expressed concern over the recent vandalism of power transmission lines serving the state, which has resulted in widespread power outages.

He assured that the Commissioner for Power and the Managing Director of the Bayelsa State Electricity Company are working closely with the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to restore power promptly.

Meanwhile, the government’s plans to secure an independent power supply for the state remain on course

The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress,( NLC), Abia State Chapter, has put workers in the state on standby for immediate industrial action, should the Police arrest National President Comrade Joe Ajaero.

This was contained in a circular jointly issued by the State NLC Chairman, Comrade Okoro Ogbonnaya, and Secretary, Emma Alozie, in Umuahia.

It was revealed that the Police had two days ago invited Ajaero for questioning over alleged terrorism financing and treason.

There has been public outcry and global condemnation against the action of the police interpreted in some quarters as a move to intimidate labour and the President Bola Tinubu government’s critics into submission.

Police had amid the recent nationwide protests against hunger and bad governance, raided the Labour national secretariat in Abuja, and carted away documents.

Abia NLC said it would not issue any further notice about industrial action, but would on the midnight of any day Ajaero or any labour leader, “is arrested”, commence an indefinite strike.

The notice read in part: “Consequent upon the invitation for interview issued to Comrade Joe Ajaero, the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the management, all industrial unions and the workers of Abia Civil Service are by this notice informed as follows:

“That upon any ugly incident of the arrest of the NLC President or any other Labour Leader, sequel to this unjustified and untimely invitation, all workers are to down tools as from midnight of the same day.

“Whilst workers wait for further instructions and directives as to mode of engagement which could be strike, protest etc. this information is to serve as our official notice to all concerned.

“The State Government, security Agencies, all Civil Liberty Organizations, the general public, all media houses, should take note, even as the workers wait for the next line of action.

“All industrial unions, both in public and private sectors are directed to forward this notice to their units and branches and to commence sensitization and mobilization of their members for total compliance.”

A fifty years old woman, identified as Nemis Usman, has been reportedly killed by a hit and run driver in Taraba State.

The woman, who was participating in ‘Operation Keep Taraba Clean’, was crushed to death by the yet to be identified driver in the Jalingo metropolis.

Our correspondent learnt that the incident occurred in the early hours of yesterday along Yola Road near Mile Six, in Nobis Junction.

Officials at the Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Jalingo, who spoke with our correspondent, said the woman died before she was rushed to the hospital.

At the time of filing this report, her remains have been evacuated to the hospital morgue.

Investigation to identify the driver responsible for the hit-and-run accident is presently ongoing, according to Police sources.

Some of the deceased’s colleagues who spoke with our correspondent said the woman was hit by the driver when she was busy carrying out her assigned responsibilities on the highway.

Confirming the incident, the coordinator of Operation Keep Taraba Clean, Iliya Kefas, said efforts to track down the driver are in top gear.

No fewer than 2,111 protesters were arrested in connection with the 10-day #Endbadgovernance action across the country that was held from August 1st to 10th.

Also, 1,403 have been surreptitiously arraigned in various courts. However, the suspects were ordered to be remanded in prison custody due to a lack of legal representation, whereas the Nigerian Bar Association, (NBA), had publicly announced its intention to provide lawyers to defend them.

Femi Falana, SAN, human rights activist, and The Chair, Alliance on Surviving Covid-19 and Beyond, (ASCAB), made the revelations in a fiery statement that also included an ultimatum for the government to charge them to court.

In the statement, entitled ‘HALT THE CLAMPDOWN ON PROTESTERS’, Falana also said: “Seven Polish students, who were taking part in an exchange programme in Bayero University, Kano, were arrested for taking photographs during the protest.

“They may be charged with espionage to give the impression that the protests were instigated by foreign interest groups.”

On the arrested and detained protesters, Falana demanded that “Whenever the suspects are going to be arraigned, they must be given adequate notice to be able to contact the Nigerian Bar Association, (NBA), and their family members to make arrangements for their defence.”

Falana also gave a breakdown of the distribution of protesters arrested across the states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.

1. Kano — 873

2. Jigawa — 403

3. Katsina–120;

4. Gombe — 111

5. Sokoto — 110

6. Borno — 99

7. Yobe — 90

8. Bauchi-60

9. Plateau — 51

10. Kaduna — 50

11. FCT — 50

12. Nasarawa — 40

13. Niger — 25

14. Zamfara — 19

15. Cross Rivers — 10

According to the fiery activist, “We have also confirmed that individual lawyers who had applied for the bail of the detained suspects in police stations were not informed that they were going to be arraigned in the courts.

“We submit that the decision of the authorities to deny the suspects legal representation constitutes a violent breach of their fundamental right to fair hearing guaranteed by section 36 of the Constitution and article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act.

“This is highly discriminatory and illegal on the ground that politically exposed persons who are arrested for looting the treasury to the tune of several billions of Naira are usually informed in advance of the dates and of their arraignment in the courts.

“Such highly placed suspected looters are always granted bail in liberal terms and even authorised by trial judges to travel abroad for medical treatment.

“The offence allegedly committed by the 783 suspects arrested in Kano is that they displayed the Russian flag during the protest.

“A tailor who was sowing the flag was also arrested by the police. It may be difficult to press charges against the suspects in a country where the flags of the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany and other European countries are hoisted by the majority of hotels in Nigeria while Churches hoist the flag of Israel based on the erroneous belief that it is a Christian country.”

An Ikeja Chief Magistrate’s Court on Thursday discharged and acquitted six men charged with breach of the public peace during the 2020 #Endsars protest.

They are: Daniel Joyinbo, 31, Adigun Sodiq, 28, Kehinde Shola,32, Salaudeen Kamilu, 29, Sodiq Usseni, 33 and Azeez Isiaka, 34.

The defendants had in a plea bargain agreement, pleaded guilty to a count charge of breach of the public peace preferred against them by Lagos State Government.

After listening to the plea bargain agreement, the Magistrate, Mrs Bola Osunsanmi, found the defendants guilty and convicted them of the offence.

She, however, cautioned and discharged them, adding that they had spent almost four years in custody.

Earlier, the Director for Public Prosecutions (DPP), Dr Babajide Martins, told the court that he had an amended charge.

He said that the defendants committed the offence on Nov. 23, 2020, at 12:00 p.m., at Ebutte Metta, Lagos.

According to him, the defendants conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of the public peace.

He said that the offence contravened Section 168(d) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Martins, however, urged the court to sentence the defendants based on their plea.

Their legal representative, Mr T.D Ojeshino, pleaded to the court to tamper justice with mercy.

“My lord, I plead the court to tamper justice with mercy as the defendants are first time offenders.

“Some are bread winners of their families and still very young.

“They have been in custody since 2020 and have truly learnt their lessons,” he said.

More prosperity and good governance await Nigeria if the leaders adopt the Michael Okpara Leadership model that excelled in selfless service, agriculture, and industrialization.

Imo state Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma made the submission yesterday while speaking at the Michael Okpara Leadership Prize awards in Abuja.

Uzodimma, who spoke on the topic, Service Above Self: Lessons from the Leadership Philosophy of Dr Michael Okpara ,noted that Okpara was able to make the Eastern Region ‘s economy the fastest growing one in Africa because of the leadership model.

“Perhaps, if only our political leaders of today could emulate the leadership virtues of Dr Michael Okpara ,our country would be better and more prosperous,” he submitted.

He noted that those virtues were characterized by selfless service, integrity, vision and inclusivity, which brought about rapid growth in the region.

Uzodimma, who was also bestowed with the Premier’s Grand Prize, Gold Plaque Category award by the organisers, urged Nigerians to concentrate more on rendering selfless service rather than pursuing personal aggrandisement.

He also called for a greater commitment to the development of the country by Nigerians themselves, instead of mere passing of bucks.

He expressed optimism that Nigeria would attain its full potential when the citizens display unparallel patriotism, as demonstrated by the late Premier of Eastern Region.

He said Okpara’s legacies will continue to ” inspire not just our generation but generations to come”

The governor commended the organisers for the lecture series, which was a way of keeping Okpara’s legacies alive.

But he regretted that Okpara has not been properly honoured by Nigeria. ” In my view, Okpara remains a hero in Nigeria who has not been properly sung”

In his remarks at the occasion, Cross River Governor, Senator Bassey Otu described Okpara as his hero because of the monumental development he achieved in the former Eastern Region.

According to him, most of the agricultural policies being implemented by his administration in Cross River State were derived from the legacies of Okpara.

The Chairman on the occasion and former Senate President, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim praised the organisers for keeping the memory of the late premier alive.

Senator Anyim also eulogized Gov Hope Uzodimma for his thought-provoking lecture and urged Nigerians to imbibe the recommendations from the lecture.

The ceremony was attended by the governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed, the Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, former governor of Cross River State, Sir Clement Ebri, Industrialist,Chief Arthur Eze and prominent political figures and traditional rulers.

The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Partys (PDP) Board of Trustees, Adolphus Wabara, has called on party stakeholders to take immediate action to prevent the PDP from disintegrating.

Wabara made the plea while speaking at the inauguration of the National Reconciliation and Disciplinary Committees, on Wednesday.

He called for truthfulness and adherence to the rule of law within the party.

PDP shouldnt be allowed to die, Wabara said.

His comments come after a recent visit to Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, where he expressed concerns about the partys potential loss of Rivers State to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Wabara warned that losing Rivers State would have far-reaching consequences for Nigerias future. He praised the neutrality of the committee members and assured that the Board of Trustees would address party issues in accordance with the constitution.

He said, We were scared Sir, when we heard or read speculations, perceptions or what have you, that the party, if we are not careful, might lose Rivers State. Of course, if we loose Rivers State, Nigeria has lost its future, he said.

We dont want what happened in 2015, and 2023 to repeat itself. These men and women you see here are very neutral. But as the conscience of the party, we must go by the rule of law. And anything you do, going by the rule of law, can never be wrong. It may be delayed, but it cannot be wrong.

Wabara added, I dont want to describe it. Otherwise, as a Governor, we have former Governors here, I doubt if they would have taken as much as you have. So, on behalf of this party, once again, let me thank you for your resilience, your wisdom, and for the fact that you are still in this party.

And to assure you that the Board of Trustees under my watch and with these serious minded Nigerians, will deal with the matter as constitutionally allowed.

A group of former agitators from the Niger Delta has condemned the calls for the impeachment of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, describing them as a plot against prominent politicians from the Southern region of Nigeria.

The group, operating under the banner of the Niger Delta Ex-Agitators Forum, also advocated for the creation of a South-South Development Commission, separate from the Niger Delta Development Commission.

Speaking at a press conference in Port Harcourt, the chairman of the forum, Alban Paulinus, also known as General Skillar, said the group is aware of efforts by some individuals to change the leadership of the National Assembly, which they will collectively resist.

Paulinus stated, We, the Niger Delta Ex-Agitators Forum, are aware of calls from some faceless groups to impeach the current Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, a Southerner. To us, this is yet another instance of injustice against the South.

We are using this press conference to warn that we will not tolerate such actions and will resist any attempts to undermine Akpabios leadership by any means available to us.

The forum described Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, as a symbol of national unity, insisting that he should not be subject to regional domination. They stressed that every Nigerian, regardless of their state of origin or geopolitical zone, deserves respect.

Paulinus highlighted the forums call for the establishment of the South-South Development Commission as essential to ensure equity and justice in regional development, distinct from the NDDC, which serves as an interventionist agency for the region.

“To this end, the Niger Delta Ex-Agitators Forum calls on Senator Godswill Akpabio, the Chairman of the National Assembly, and other federal lawmakers from the South-South to initiate and expedite the passage of a bill for the creation of the South-South Development Commission”, Paulinus said.

The forum also condemned the recent protests against President Bola Tinubu, urging Nigerians to be patient with the federal administration. They expressed confidence that the numerous programmes and policies under Tinubus Renewed Hope Agenda will begin to yield positive results in the coming months and years.

Additionally, the ex-agitators noted that former President Dr Goodluck Jonathans tenure was marked by injustice, leading to his being denied a second term in office. They warned that a similar pattern is emerging with President Tinubu, with some Northern groups already calling for his removal barely a year into his administration. This contrasts sharply with the support Northern leaders gave to former President Muhammadu Buhari, who served two full terms despite significant security challenges.

The forum denounced this disparity as a destabilising force that threatened Nigerias unity and integrity and called for an immediate end to this trend of undermining Southern leadership. They cautioned that continued provocations might leave them with no choice but to take decisive action to protect their region and identity.

Paulinus also urged politicians from the South, including those in the South-West, South-East, and Middle-Belt, to unite under a Southern Nigerian Movement. He described this movement as being dedicated to defending and advancing the political, economic, and regional interests of the South and Middle Belt in the face of mounting challenges.

The Co-ordinator of Mbaitoli local government area chapter of a political pressure group, CampHope Organization, Hon BourdillonEbeninye, has condemned the attitude of some people who according to him, are not sincere and patriotic enough to appreciate Governor Hope Uzodimma’s amazing achievements in governance.

Speaking to news men in Owerri, Hon Ebeninye observed that the Imo state governor who was re-elected into office on November 11, 2023 has recorded tremendously marvellous achievements in all sectors of the state economy.

Rather than fold our arms and continue condemning and sponsoring the publication of spurious, fabricated and empty allegations against the Imo state Chief Executive, even when we know he has so far, done very well, we should commend, support and encourage him to do more. True patriots do not, engage in pull-him-down activities. It’s only evil-minded and selfish persons looking for opportunities to run down the state that are in the habit of condemning the works and efforts of a good leader”, the MbaitoliCampHope Co-ordinator stated.

Enumerating some of the monumental achievements of Governor Hope Uzodimma, BourdillonEbeninye said, let us look at and appreciate what Hope Uzodimma did for people of Igbo nation recently. The Imo state governor in his wisdom and capacity as the Chairman of Southeast Governors Forum, was able to convince other governors in the Southeast zone to ensure that Ibos would not participate in the nationwide protest against the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This worked out well for Ibos as their lives and businesses were not destroyed by those who would have used the situation to unleash terror on Ndigbo nationwide. This is an achievement that would remain indelible in the sands of time. Let us also, remember that Governor Hope Uzodimma recently, used his privileged position as chairman of Nigeria’s Progressives Governors’ Forum to effect the signing into law, the long-awaited Southeast Development Commission by President Bola Tinubu. Soon, marvellous dividends in the forms of massive employment and infrastructural development would begin to manifest.”

I also want to point out that Governor Uzodimma has just been inaugurated as Chairman of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Governing Council. All of us can guess and rightly too, what this position means for Imo state. In the near future, many positive things will unfold. Solid roads that have resisted ‘acidic rain’ built by Hope Uzodimma are all over the state. Let me just stop but not without mentioning the several skill acquisition and empowerment programmes initiated and executed by the Uzodimma 3-R mantra administration since the past four years”, BourdillonEbeninye concluded.