The Edo State Government on Tuesday, raised the alarm over the arrest of the leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, urging the security agencies to halt the arrest.

The state Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, stated this in a statement on Tuesday.

Nehikhare said the arrest was the handiwork of the All Progressives Congress.

Nehikhare claimed that over 10 PDP leaders, including the Chairman of Esan West Local Government Area, Collins Aigbogun, were being kept in dungeons on the orders of the APC.

He called on security agencies to halt the arrest of the PDP leaders and supporters in the state ahead of the September 21, 2024, governorship election in the state.

He noted that no amount of intimidation would make the APC win the governorship election.

He said, “Let the APC explain to us where our members and leaders are. Why have they not been charged in court since their arrest? Instead, the APC has been boasting of their plans to attack, intimidate, and harass PDP members and supporters.” Nehikhare demanded.

However, the Media Director, Edo APC Campaign Council, Kazeem Afegbua, exonerated the PDP, noting that the state governor, Godwin Obaseki had earlier revealed his party’s readiness to burn down Nigeria.

Afegbua said, “As usual and based on our earlier promise to avail the public of the nefarious preparations of the Governor Obaseki-led PDP’s readiness to “burn” Nigeria, here is the latest plan by the Edo State Governor following a meeting held yesterday, Sunday, 8 September 2024 at the Government House.

“Take note that those who were complicit in the killing of Inspector Akor Onu were also in attendance and yet to surrender themselves to the Nigeria Police. We understand that one Assistant Commissioner of Police, Sanni Fodio, who is the Head of the State Criminal Investigation Department, is the one shielding these persons, boasting that nobody would touch them.

“ACP Sanni Fodio is working in cahoot with the CSO to Governor Obaseki to orchestrate some of these frustrations. For example, seven of our members and three of PDP members were arrested by Commander 4th Brigade, last week at Inikorogha and handed over to the Police.”

He added, “Before you say Jack Robbinson, those PDP members were freed immediately by the ACP in charge of State CID while APC members were left till Sunday before our legal team intervened.

“The latest plan by Governor Obaseki is to shut down Edo State starting from 15th September, through mass protest, and that other PDP-controlled states would join the protest, with a view to inviting the military to take over the reins of power at the Federal level.

He also informed the meeting that other PDP-controlled states would postpone the resumption dates of schools to orchestrate a nationwide protest that would lead to military take-over.

“He reportedly told them that, he would rather disrupt the country for change of government than to lose Edo state to the opposition APC. He said that was why he decided to postpone the school resumption date and that other PDP-controlled states would follow suit starting this week.”

The Labour Party, LP, stakeholders have officially written to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, over the 29-man care-taker committee to lead the party in the interim.

DAILY POST reported that some leaders of the party, including its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, Abia Governor Alex Otti, some elected Senators and House of Representatives members of the party met in Umuahia, Abia State last week to appoint a 29-man care-taker committee to lead the party in the interim.

The committee, which is to be chaired by former Minister of Finance, Nenadi Usman, will midwife an election of new leadership in 90 days.

The stakeholders in a letter jointly signed by Peter Obi and Governor Otti told the Commission that the care-taker committee followed the de-recognition of the Abure-led National Working Committee (NWC) by INEC effective June 2024.

The letter which contained the list of 29-man care-taker committee named Senator Esther Nenadi Usman as the Chairman, and Senator Darlington Nwokocha as the Secretary.

LP said the Caretaker Committee has the mandate to organise congresses and the national convention within a period not exceeding 180 days to fill the vacuum created by the expiration of the tenure of the erstwhile leadership of the party at all levels.

“You will recall that Labour Party had had a leadership crisis in recent times culminating in the de-recognition of the Abure-led National Working Committee (NWC) by INEC effective June 2024.

“Given the above scenario, the statutory executives of the party made up of the Governor, Deputy Governor, and legislators in addition to all surviving members of NEC, the leadership of organised labour, representatives of Governorship Candidates in the 2023 election and subsequent ones, Presidential and Vice Presidential Candidates in the 2023 election and other party leaders met in Umuahia, Abia State on Wednesday, September 4, 2024 and set up a Caretaker Committee to organise congresses and the national convention within a period not exceeding 180 days to fill the vacuum created by the expiration of the tenure of the erstwhile leadership of the party at all levels,” part of the letter read.

Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has approved the appointment of Barr. Aber Serumun Deborah as Secretary to the State Government (SSG).

The appointment followed the resignation of Prof. Joseph Alakali, who tendered his resignation on Monday.

Alakali had in his letter of resignation stated that he needed time to address some personal challenges.

Sir Tersoo Kula, the Chief Press Secretary to the State Governor, Hyacinth Alia announced this in a statement on Tuesday.

According to Kula, the new SSG, Barr. Aber, is a seasoned solicitor and arbitrator with a strong sense of initiative and excellent analytical skills.

“She is a team player with good interpersonal skills who always strives for excellence and aims to contribute positively to the success and growth of an organization.

“She aspires to work in a reputable and challenging environment that encourages professionalism.

“Barr. Aber is a graduate of the University of Jos and Nasarawa State University.

“Governor Alia believes that with her wealth of experience and trustworthy record of service, Barr. Aber will add significant value to his government.

“He charges her to remain focused and align her work with the vision of the administration as outlined in the working document.

“He urged her to always prioritize the interests of the state in her day-to-day official functions.

“The appointment takes immediate effect”, the statement added.

The National Leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has appealed the restraining order preventing them from conducting any congresses in Rivers State, following a judgment that dissolved the seven-man caretaker committee led by Tony Okocha and reinstated Emeka Beke and his elected executives.

Justice Godwin O. Ollor, in a suit filed by Peter Ohochukwu and Hajja Ndidi-Chukwuma on behalf of themselves and all elected executive members of the APC in Rivers State, granted an ex parte order restraining the APC National Leadership, led by Chairman Abdullahi Umar-Ganduje, from proceeding with the planned ward, local government, and state congresses scheduled for October 11th, 16th, and 26th, 2024.

The court also further restrained the APC National Chairman, Secretary, and the party from interfering with the activities of the state APC’s elected executives, led by Beke, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for an interlocutory injunction.

When the case resumed for the hearing of the interlocutory injunction on Monday, counsel for the APC National Leadership, the Chairman, and the Secretary, Joshua Musa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, informed the court that his clients had appealed the order obtained by the claimants on behalf of the state’s elected APC executive members.

On his part, the claimants’ counsel, Collins Dike, informed the court about a process that had been served on him and requested additional time to respond.

After hearing from both parties, Justice Ollor adjourned the case until September 26th, 2024, for a possible hearing.

Rivers state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has inaugurated the maiden governing board of the Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency (RSIPA) with a charge to create wealth and employment in the state.

The governor told members of the board to create a climate conducive to the growth of agriculture, manufacturing, small and medium enterprises and key services that would put Rivers’ economy on a competitive pedestal.

The governor, who inaugurated the six-man board on Monday at the Government House in Port Harcourt asked them to attract real investors across critical sectors to make Rivers self-sustaining.

Members of the board are Lawrence Fubara Anga, SAN, Chairman; Dr. Chamberlain Peterside as Director-General; and Mrs Tamunoibuemi Life-George, Secretary.

Others are Mr Goodliffe Nmekini, Barrister Havey Ideozu, and Baritor Lenusikpugi Kpagih, who were inaugurated to serve as members.

Fubara explained that Rivers State used to rank first in the comity of states in terms of productive economic activities, which attracted various business interests and made the state an investment haven.

Fubara said: “We might be celebrating, that yes, we have a very fat allocation. We have been able to improve our Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), but we still have a lot to do; and, that has to do with this agency.

“The purpose of this agency is to give our people – to assure them, that Rivers State can still come back to that enviable position that it once occupied. Those people that were doing business in Rivers State that left, for one reason or the other – that they can still come back.

“We want to see people who intend to come back and invest because Rivers State is blessed – it has oil, the most important item for development today, which is gas, in abundance.

“Look at what is happening in Trans-Amadi Industrial Layout: We can make Trans-Amadi Industrial Layout come back to what it used to be. We can develop the resources that we have in Onne Town. We have Ogba-Egbema gas hub. These are part of the promises we made during our campaigns, and we must fulfil those promises”.

Fubara emphasised that the agency was established to rigorously harness economic and human potential to make Rivers the economic gateway and one-stop- shop for productive economic activities.

The governor said: “We have waited for this moment for a long time. It is a moment we all have been praying for because we want to leave a State that will be remembered: Rivers State that can compete, and Rivers State that can stand the test of time as a proud State.

“People that are coming here would begin to know that Rivers State is now serious. Rivers State is not about coming here and saying I want to take the side of maybe, I am interested in 10 percent or 20 percent of what you are coming with, that is not the purpose now.

“The purpose is to build our state. The purpose is to grow this State economically in such a way and manner that even if we don’t get federal allocation anymore, for example, we can still sustain ourselves (as a State) with our IGR.”

Fubara acknowledged that the board would encounter challenges and stiff opposition from those, who abhorred change but urged the members to brace up and be forthright in their quest to achieve their mandate.

The governor clarified that the board should not be preoccupied with people only interested in real estate, which he observed seemed to be the current drive.

Fubara said: “Not just issues of people coming to build houses and other things. I want your concentration to be more on agriculture, (manufacturing).

“Look to find people who are coming in to invest. People that are coming to build factories because it is only when we start production that employment issues will be resolved, (and we will witness an economic boom).

“So, please, those things that will solve the problem of unemployment, and promote the creation of wealth for the State should be your focus.

“The responsibility of this agency is going to be very challenging because I know they will want to fight back. But, I know that these crop of men and women have what it takes, and I am very convinced that they are going to lead Rivers State to where we want the State to be.

“The chairman of this agency is a private legal practitioner and a businessman who has made his name. Let me say it here: let it be on record that I had to beg him to accept the offer. I even had to send emissaries to him to plead with him.

“He said he doesn’t want to get involved with any political thing. I said this is not about politics. You live in Lagos, you have made your name in Lagos. Please, come and help us. We need help, Rivers State needs to be salvaged.”

In his acceptance speech, Chairman of the Board, Lawrence Fubara Anga, SAN, said they considered their appointment as an opportunity to serve the state.

He said: “This is the time, whether we like it or not, to many people, it is a time to want to despair. It is a time of problems, and it is also a time of challenges. And everybody has an option: your cup can either be half-full, or half-empty.

“But Your Excellency has decided that the cup of Rivers State shall be full. For every challenge, there is an opportunity. And what His Excellency has done is to tell us: go and look for those opportunities.

“The charge is to restore it (State) to be the ‘Treasure Base of the Nation. The charge is to make Rivers State’s economy probably the 10th or 12th largest economy in Africa, standing on its own. The charge is to turn Rivers State into the Dubai of Africa. That is what you have told us to do.”

The Labour Party, LP factional leadership led by Julius Abure says all its tickets ahead of the 2027 general election are open to qualified Nigerians.

Abure made the announcement after a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Monday.

“NEC in session also reviewed the decision of the National Convention to reserve its Presidential and Governorship tickets for Peter Gregory Obi and Alex Otti respectively,” a viral communique.

“Consequently, all tickets of the party from the Presidency to the House of Assemblies are open to all qualified Nigerians,” he declared.

Abure’s statement comes amid the controversy that trailed the recent stakeholders meeting convened by the Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, and 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, where a former minister of finance Nenadi Usman was announced as caretaker chairperson of the party.