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Back to Ground Zero: Who Advised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Do This?-Sen Babafemi Ojudu 

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Sen. Babafemi Ojudu,

 

I have just picked up my phone after breaking my fast to find multiple missed calls and countless messages about an alarming development: President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reportedly declared a state of emergency in Rivers State.

If this is true, then I must ask: Who advised the President to take this course of action? Whoever it is, they are certainly not a friend of his administration, nor do they have the best interests of Nigeria at heart.

How could the President willingly walk into a raging inferno with his eyes wide open? No, no, no… this must be the work of fifth columnists. The Tinubu I once knew would not have made such a reckless and unnecessary decision.

To what end? This is a simple political dispute that requires a simple solution. Call the two gladiators, sit them down, and read them the riot act. One of them, after all, is your own appointee. What will it benefit you, Mr. President, to keep Wike and lose the Nigerian economy?

The Dangerous Economic Implications of This Decision

Does the President realize that the Niger Delta crisis twice pushed Nigeria into recession under President Muhammadu Buhari.

Has he been informed that at one point, Nigeria’s oil production collapsed to below 400,000 barrels per day, down from 2.5 million barrels per day? That catastrophic drop in production was a direct result of political mismanagement and conflict in the region.

It took years of painstaking effort and immense risks to stabilize the region, stop the sabotage of oil infrastructure, and restore some level of production. I should know—I was part of that difficult and excruciating process.

This decision threatens to undo all that progress.

If the situation escalates, we risk another shutdown of vital oil production facilities. We risk renewed pipeline sabotage, illegal oil bunkering, and militant activities. We risk another economic nosedive—at a time when Nigeria can least afford it.

The global oil market is unforgiving. Investors do not wait for internal political conflicts to be resolved. They simply take their capital elsewhere.

Mr. President, this is not just about Rivers State. It is about Nigeria’s economic survival.

And What About the Soldiers Fighting to Keep Nigeria Safe?

While we waste energy escalating political battles in Rivers State, thousands of Nigerian soldiers are still fighting for their lives—and for the nation’s survival—against insurgents, bandits, and kidnappers in the North East, North West, and North Central.

These are the real emergencies. These are the crises that demand decisive leadership.

The men and women of our armed forces are stretched thin, battling terrorists and criminal networks daily. They do not need yet another crisis to divert resources and attention.

Nigeria cannot afford to be fighting on multiple fronts—politically, economically, and militarily. Mr. President, do not open a new war front in Rivers State while real wars are still raging elsewhere.

This Is Not the Way to Manage This Crisis, Mr. President

This portends disaster—for your administration, for the economy, and for the nation.

A state of emergency is not a strategy—it is an admission of failure. There are far more effective, far less destructive ways to handle this situation.

I urge you, Mr. President, to rethink this decision before irreparable damage is done.

Sen. Babafemi Ojudu, CON

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Politics

Governor Adeleke is not Joining ADC Nor Aligning with Anyone in ADC- Spokesperson

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Gov Ademola Adeleke of Osun state

By David Owei, Bayelsa

Governor Ademola Adeleke is not defecting to African Democratic Congress (ADC) nor aligning with anybody within the ADC ahead of the 2026 state elections, his Spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed has disclosed.

Responding to media publication and enquiries, the Spokesperson affirmed that Governor Adeleke remains in Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and is going to win, with wide margins, the 2026 governorship elections on the platform of the PDP.

The statement reads further: “Our attention has been drawn to news reports and media enquiries about the imminent defection of Governor Adeleke to the ADC or alignment with ADC big wigs ahead of the 2026 governorship race. There is no truth in those publications and speculations.

“First of all, we, the PDP Osun, have already adopted and endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election, so there is no alliance with ADC.

“Secondly, Governor Adeleke has no alliance with anyone in ADC. He remains in PDP, will run in PDP, and needs no alliance with ADC to win with a wide margin in 2026.

“The Osun electorate supports Governor Adeleke because of his impressive performance since he came to office. That good work is still ongoing and Osun people are committed to sustaining the delivery of good governance by re-electing Governor Adeleke in 2026”, the Spokesperson was quoted as saying.

Governor Adeleke urges PDP members to forge ahead with the ongoing strengthening of the party structures across all levels to prepare for fresh victory next year”, the statement from the Spokesperson concluded.

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INC rejects bill granting exclusive co-chairmanship to Ooni, Sultan

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Second Vice Chairman of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Chief Alabo Nengi James

By David Owei,Bayelsa

The umbrella body of Ijaw Elders, the Ijaw National Congress (INC) has rejected the Bill in the Senate seeking to permanently elevate the Ooni of Ife and Sultan of Sokoto as the exclusive Co-chairmen of the Traditional Rulers Council.

The INC said the move would be at the expense of apex traditional rulers from other ethnic nationalities and geopolitical divides.

The Second Vice Chairman of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Chief Alabo Nengi James (OON) said, in a statement on Sunday in Odi, Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government area of Bayelsa State, the proposal is a continuos infringement on Traditional Rulers in Nigeria.

Alabo Nengi James describes the provision of the Bill as unacceptable and against the Rights of the indigenous People across tribes, Religion, Culture and Customs.

He said the Bill should be reviewed to include clauses such as No permanent Chairmanship for Sultan and Oni only must be allowed in the ongoing bill being discussed in the Senate.

He advocates that the National Assembly should allow the National Council of Traditional Rulers to Appoint their Leadership themselves, rotationaly and based on Federal Character.

“Include the Role of Traditional Rulers into the Constitutio and No Traditional Ruler from another tribe or religion is superior to another.”

“The National Assembly should Step down the Provocative and dehumanizing offensive Bill that will cause a serious rift and breach of peace in Nigeria.”

Chief James called the attention of the Senate President, Rt. Hon. Godswill Akpabio, urging him to immediately step down what he termed a “highly insensitive and dangerous bill.”

He emphasized that traditional rulers across the country must be given equal recognition and should be allowed to choose their national leadership through internal mechanisms that reflect rotational leadership and the federal character system.

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Politics

Alleged Deportation of Nigerians in Ghana: Sen Aniekan urges Nigerians to remain 

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Senate in session in the chamber
By George Mgbeleke
The attention of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)  has been drawn to a disturbing video on social media showing a protest by some Ghanaians calling on the authority to send Nigerians back to Nigeria alleging that their behaviours and attitudes were not in conformity with the norms of Ghana.
In a statement,Chairman Senate Committee on Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) Senator Bassey Aniekan, “the widespread indignation against Nigerians living in Ghana and branding them as criminals should be condemned by all.”
He reiterated that Nigerians are hardworking people and not criminals as purported  and are good ambassadors wherever they find themselves.
He added that while not denying the fact that there may be some bad individuals amongst them, the generality of Nigerians he stressed, are peaceful and law abiding people.
Furthermore, he pointed out the long standing relationship and partnership, the two countries have had over the years emphasizing that Ghana and Nigeria are brothers and  in the spirit of ECOWAS and regional integration, should continue to live in peace, stressing that dialogue has proven countless times to be a tool for peace and should be deployed.
The Senate Committee Chair on Diaspora and NGOs appealed for calm and urged Nigerians living in Ghana to exercise restraint, avoid provocation restraint, of any sort and to resist reprisal attacks as the issue is being handled.
Senator Aniekan confirmed that he had received reports that the issue is being addressed at the diplomatic level by the Minister of State Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu.
He cautioned against the use of inciteful words by individuals on both sides, as  such statements are capable of aggravating the problem and further putting pressure on an already tensed atmosphere.
Senator Bassey Aniekan, also advised Nigerians to disregard the videos trending on line that Nigerians’ shops and properties are being destroyed by Ghanaians as there is no evidence to buttress such claims.
The Chairman applauded Ghanaian and  Nigerian High  Commissioners for their efforts to control the situation, adding that the Minister of State, Foreign Affairs , has also been in touch with Ghanaian authorities and had taken some pro- active measures to put the situation under control.
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