By George Mgbeleke

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly condemned what it described as a gun attack and assassination attempt in Edo State targeting former governor John Oyegun, party leader Peter Obi, and Olumide Akpata, declaring that the ruling party is proving to be a terrorist organisation.

In a statement by National Publicity Secretary Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said the incident in Edo reflects a troubling pattern of political intimidation against the opposition. The party also accused Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo of making inflammatory claims and threats that have heightened tensions and could lead to a further breakdown of law and order.

The full statement read:

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) condemns, in the strongest possible terms, yesterday’s disturbing gun attack and assassination attempt in Edo State targeting Chief John Oyegun, former Governor of Edo State and Chairman of the ADC Policy and Manifesto Committee; Mr. Peter Obi, a national leader of our party; and Mr. Olumide Akpata, the Labour Party candidate for Edo State who recently joined the ADC.

This was not an isolated incident. It bears the unmistakable marks of a dangerous and escalating pattern of political intimidation and terror against our party across the country. The resort to gunfire against lawful political actors represents an act of terrorism against the opposition, which has no place in a constitutional democracy.

We are particularly alarmed by the pattern of inflammatory rhetoric and threats that have preceded these events, including the outrageous claim by the State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, who had earlier issued a threat that he would not guarantee the safety of Mr. Peter Obi should he visit Edo State. The Governor has since gone ahead to make further ridiculous and irresponsible claims that the ADC is sponsoring cultism in Edo State and has threatened to start demolishing properties of the opposition in the State.

Let it be said plainly: Nigeria is not a private estate. Edo State is not the personal property of any party or any governor. No elected official has the constitutional authority to threaten, harass, or endanger law-abiding political actors for exercising their democratic rights. Our members and supporters across Edo State and Nigeria have the constitutional rights to freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and lawful self-defence.

The Federal Government and the Edo State Government are free to continue on their present course. But let there be no misunderstanding: if any harm comes to our leaders, members, or supporters as a result of this escalating climate of official hostility, intimidation, or incitement, the responsibility for whatever consequences follow will rest squarely with those who choose the path of provocation over the path of peace.

We are compiling all cases of acts of terrorism by the ruling APC against our party. We shall soon be making our reports available to all diplomatic missions as well as the ECOWAS Court of Human Rights.

Let no one be left in doubt: regardless of the level of intimidation, ADC will not bow to terror and will take all lawful means to protect its members and facilities across the country. We urge all our members to remain vigilant and to go about their lawful activities without fear.

By David Owei,Bayelsa

The South-South Governors Forum (SSGF) has described President Bola Tinubu’s Executive Order mandating the direct remittance of all oil and gas revenues to the Federation Account as a historic and landmark decision.

The SSGF Chairman and Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, in a statement on Wednesday, said the region’s governors welcomed the decision as a critical shift towards restoration of constitutional integrity in Nigeria’s petroleum sector.

The Forum said the Executive Order was comprehensive, unambiguous and heartwarming, and that it raised hope that after many years of opaque and complex deduction structures, the federal, state, and local governments would begin to receive their rightful entitlements from the Federation Account.

The statement reads: “The South-South region particularly welcomes the key provisions of the Executive Order, which would eliminate opaque deductions and effectively strip the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) of the nebulous 30 per cent Frontier Exploration Fund. This fund often led to large idle cash balances.

“Mandating all operators and contractors under Production Sharing Contracts to remit Royalty Oil, Tax Oil, and Profit Oil directly to the Federation Account will significantly plug revenue leakages.

“This decision is a positive step towards fiscal justice for sub-nationals, particularly the oil producing states, just as it would potentially increase available funds for critical infrastructure, healthcare, education and other sectors across the three tiers of government.”

The Forum also expressed delight with Mr. President’s move to undertake a comprehensive review of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), saying it is an affirmation that he is a leader that listens and places the interest of the people above other considerations.

It said that the states, particularly Bayelsa, had persistently advocated for a review of the PIA as the extant Act was a ticking time bomb.

“The PIA, as it was designed, is a time bomb because the Federal Government cut off states and local government councils to deal directly with communities. It is our submission that the percentage due oil communities that was reduced from 10 per cent, as proposed by majority of states in the region, to three per cent be revisited and reviewed.

“We also urge the Federal Government to immediately review the aspect where states and local government were excluded from administering what is due to the communities. The states and councils are closer to the communities and it was wrong to have excluded them from the administration of these communities. The current Act is a recipe for crisis and we urge Mr President to review it.”

By Our Correspondent

The Senate Committee on State and Local Government Affairs, has decried lack of infrastructure and basic social amenities like schools, electricity, water, etc, in border communities in Nigeria which often made residents to cross into neighbouring countries for alternative.

Chairman of the committee, Senator Binos Yaroe (PDP Adamawa South), stated this while presenting the 2025 budget estimates of the Border Communities Development Agency, BCDA, and the National Boundary Commission, NBC, and other agencies under his supervision to the Senate Committee on Appropriations, said the absence of social infrastructure in many úborder communities has made life unbearable for the people.

Specifically, Yaroe alleged that the residents used to give their allegiance to the neighbouring countries where they get access to education and water, among other basic amenities.

He said: “With regards to the Border Community Development Agency, Mr Chairman, our communities at the border, because we do not have facilities for them, sometimes they give their allegiance to neighbouring countries.

“So, some of them have to cross over to neighbouring countries to get some of the social amenities, such as schools. Some even go to get water. So, it is important to provide funds to this agency.”

According to him, the committee made a special provision of N50 billion for BCDA in the 2025 budget through the service-wide vote to address some of the challenges, but yet to be released, which has made it difficult for the agency to carry out its mandate effectively.

“Last year, we made a special case, and the Borders Community Development Agency was provided an amount through the service-wide vote, which will enable them to be able to do some of their work. But unfortunately, because of the non-release of these funds, they have not been able to carry out their duties effectively,” he said.

The chairman also raised concerns about unresolved boundary disputes among states, attributing the problem to inadequate funding for demarcation exercises.

He cited the dispute between Bauchi and Gombe States, where the discovery of oil has heightened tensions over unclear territorial boundaries.

“Because they have not been able to have sufficient funds, there is still a large number of boundaries that have not been demarcated.

“You know, because of the discovery of oil, it has given rise to a crisis between these two states because one state will say this oil is discovered in their state, and the other will say no, it is in their state. Because there is no clear demarcated boundary between them,” Yaroe stressed.

Responding, the committee chairman, Senator Solomon Adeola (APC Ogun West) represented by Senate Chief Whip, Senator Tahir Monguno (APC Borno North), said the agencies require adequate funding to address boundary disputes and improve living conditions in border communities.

According to him, many border communities in Borno State, which share boundaries with Cameroon, project a poor image of Nigeria due to harsh living conditions.