Politics

Tension In Rivers As 7-Day Budget Ultimatum Reaches Deadline

Published

11 months ago

July 16, 2024

Uncertainty has once again gripped the political landscape in Rivers State, as the 7-day ultimatum by the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly for Governor Siminalayi Fubara to resubmit the 2024 budget reaches its deadline this week.

The ultimatum, issued on July 8, will expire today if weekends are counted, or on Wednesday if they are excluded.

The Assembly’s order came after a motion by Dumle Maol, the Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary.

Maol, who is also the Deputy Speaker of the Pro-Nyesom Wike Assembly, urged the House to formally notify the governor to present the budget in light of a recent court ruling, which they believe affirmed their membership and validated Amaewhule’s leadership.

The re-presentation of the budget was a key element of the presidential peace pact in December, aimed at resolving the political crisis in the South-South state.

Previously, Governor Fubara had submitted the ₦800bn budget to the Assembly led by Edison Ehie who now serves as the Governor’s Chief of Staff.

The faction of the Assembly is now led by Victor Oko-Jumbo.

The budget, which was passed and signed into law, is still being implemented, suggesting that the peace agreement has faltered.

Last week, Governor Fubara announced that his administration is already preparing the 2025 budget, indicating that the demand for the re-presentation of the 2024 budget is unrealistic.

The crisis in Rivers State, which began about eight months ago, has continued to evolve.

It started with a fire at the State House of Assembly in October, followed by an attempted impeachment of Fubara, massive resignations from the executive cabinet, and unrest over local government administration. This phase culminated in a failed attack on the Presidential Hotel.

With the deadline for the 2024 budget presentation set for this week, the political climate in the state appears tense, as the assembly and the governor navigate the ongoing crisis.

Meanwhile, Chijioke Ihunwo, a pro-Fubara politician from the same community as Amaewhule, has dismissed the 7-day ultimatum on the governor as laughable.

Ihunwo, who was appointed by the governor as the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, urged Amaewhule to accept his fate as a former assembly member, after defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.

He encouraged the people of Ikwerre Ethnic Nationality, comprising Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor, Ikwerre, and Emohua Local Government Areas, to continue supporting the Governor under the leadership of former Senator John Azuta-Mbata.

The politician, who was criticised for appointing 100 aides last week, said the decision which other CTC Chairmen are also implementing is aimed at bringing local government administration closer to the grassroots.

He announced that more appointments would be made in the coming days, to demonstrate that the Fubara-led government is inclusive.

Politics

Natasha: Akpabio’s aide petitions IGP over alleged hacking of account, defamation

Published

7 hours ago

June 17, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Former Delta State Commissioner and Special Adviser on Communications/Strategy to the President of the Senate, Mr. Kenny Okolugbo, has formally petitioned the Inspector General of Police, calling for an urgent investigation into what he described as a coordinated cyberattack and defamation campaign targeted at destroying his credibility and misleading the public.

In the petition, Okolugbo alleged that his verified social media account on X was hacked and used to publish damaging statements falsely attributed to him.

The fabricated content, he claims, was then amplified by three popular social media influencers, Tunde Ednut (@mazitundeednut), Rufai Oseni (@ruffydfire), and Adeola Fayehun (@adeolafayehun), who, according to him, embellished the post with additional falsehoods, including allegations of phone cloning, voice manipulation, and fictitious meetings in London.

“These allegations are not only untrue but impossible based on verified evidence,” he wrote.

“Most disturbing is that the fabricated post was simultaneously circulated and embellished by these influencers using identical language and coordinated timing, pointing to a syndicated disinformation campaign,” he added.

Okolugbo alleged that the campaign was orchestrated to lend undue credibility to allegations made by Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan.

He emphasized that the false narratives promoted online were not contained in the original hacked post, showing that it was indeed orchestrated, suggesting deliberate malice and manipulation aimed at tarnishing his public image.

As part of his plea to the Nigeria Police Force, Okolugbo requested the following actions:

“A full-scale investigation into the hacking and impersonation of his verified social media account, citing violations under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015;

“Identification and prosecution of individuals responsible for the forgery, defamation, and spread of malicious content;

“Preservation of all relevant digital evidence from social media platforms and third-party service providers for forensic analysis.”

He noted that the matter was of significant public interest and personal concern, urging the Police Force to act “swiftly and decisively.”

Okolugbo also disclosed that he had enclosed his travel documents showing he has not visited London or anywhere outside Nigeria as alleged this year 2025 and the last time he was in London was 5th November 2024 and had no meetings in London, printouts of the alleged defamatory and manipulated posts to support his claims and provide context for investigators.

The Nigeria Police Force is yet to issue a formal response to the petition as of the time of this report.

Politics

Tinubu Signs Kalu’s Bills Establishing 3 Tertiary Institutions in Abia, Imo into Law

Published

12 hours ago

June 17, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed into law three bills sponsored by Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, establishing Federal College of Education, Bende, Abia State; Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Item Bende, Abia State, and Federal University Okigwe, Imo State.

The institutions aim to provide quality education, research opportunities, and cater to the educational needs of the South East region

Kalu expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for signing the bills into law, he urged the people of the South East people to continue supporting the Tinubu-led government, promising more democracy dividends.

Politics

Expose June 12 conspirators or face legal action – SERAP to Tinubu

Published

2 days ago

June 16, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has urged President Bola Tinubu to back up his Democracy Day rhetoric with defensive action by addressing the lingering injustices in Nigeria’s democratic history, especially, the landmark June 12, 1993 presidential election.

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday, signed by the group’s Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare.

SERAP urged President Tinubu to set up a presidential panel of inquiry to investigate the annulment of the election on June 12 and uncover those who are behind what is described as the “deliberate violations of Nigerians democratic freedoms.”

The organization stated that not minding the political position of individuals found responsible, they should be brought to justice through Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

SERAP also urged the president to instruct Fagbemi to urgently draft and present an executive bill to the National Assembly seeking to amend the Electoral Act 2022, specifically to make the electronic transmission of election results mandatory and grant all voters access to election documents.

The group argued that this would enhance electoral transparency, prevent manipulation, and help restore public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.

The organisation called on the president to immediately halt all prosecutions and drop charges against Nigerians currently detained or facing trial simply for exercising their rights to peaceful protest and free expression.

“Your Democracy Day speech conveyed a commitment to freedom, transparent and accountable governance, and social justice,” the letter stated.

“However, such commitments will ring hollow unless your government takes concrete action to end impunity for past violations, enforce electoral reforms, and guarantee democratic freedoms.”

SERAP emphasised that there is no statute of limitations on violations of democratic rights, and that achieving the ideals of June 12 is impossible without accountability and systemic reforms.

It warned that the failure to prosecute those responsible for the June 12 annulment has entrenched a culture of impunity, encouraging continued subversion of elections and political rights in Nigeria.

“Amending the Electoral Act to mandate electronic transmission of results and ensuring open access to electoral documents are essential to delivering credible elections,” the group stated. “It will also allow voters to verify the integrity of electoral outcomes.”

The organisation also demanded a review of laws undermining freedom of expression.

It asked the president to push for the repeal or amendment of repressive statutes, including the Cybercrimes Act and criminal defamation and falsehood laws in the Criminal and Penal Codes, which have been used to silence journalists, critics, and dissenters.

SERAP raised concern over the growing trend of strategic lawsuits against public participation, noting that the legal tactics, often backed by politicians and security agencies are being used to harass and intimidate Nigerians peacefully expressing their views.

“Your administration’s obligation under the Constitution, your oath of office, and Nigeria’s international human rights commitments requires you to dismantle structures of repression and safeguard democratic freedoms,” SERAP wrote.

The group gave the president a seven-day deadline to begin implementing its recommendations, failing which it vowed to initiate legal action to compel compliance in the public interest.

While acknowledging the president’s recent pledges to deepen democracy and expand civic space, SERAP insisted that only concrete reforms, not lofty speeches, can truly honour the legacy of June 12 and move Nigeria towards a just and free society.