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Nationwide protest: Security agencies occupy Abuja venue as IG, organisers disagree
Soldiers, policemen and other security personnel on Tuesday occupied the popular Eagle Square, Abuja, venue of the #EndBadGovernance protest scheduled to be held in the Federal Capital Territory and other major cities on Thursday.
Our correspondents at the square counted over 300 security operatives at the facility.
Also, 26 military vans, 12 police patrol vehicles and a Black Maria were parked within and around the arena.
The security forces took over the square as the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the protest organisers disagreed on the mode of conduct of the demonstration.
At a virtual meeting with the IG on Tuesday, the group rejected the police proposal for confined protests.
Egbetokun had recommended that the protests be restricted to confined areas for public safety reasons.
But Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, the solicitor for the protest organisers, rejected the suggestion.
The meeting had in attendance human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, other key members of the Take It Back Movement and other civil society organisations.
Speaking to The PUNCH after the meeting, Adegboruwa said the area of disagreement was the confinement of protesters to a particular location.
He said the organisers disagreed because it was against their fundamental rights.
Adegboruwa said, “We agreed that the citizens of Nigeria are entitled to protest and that the police would not do anything that would hinder or jeopardize the exercise of that right. That was a basic thing we all agreed upon. We also agreed that police have a statutory duty to offer protection to citizens whenever they protest.
“Our area of disagreement was the area of confinement. The police prefer, based on the venue sent to them, we should protest in a confined arena. We insisted that we have a right to rally and embark on procession. They said they don’t have the manpower that would go round across all cities.”
In what appeared to be a setback for the group, the Lagos State High Court restricted protesters participating in the upcoming nationwide protest to specific locations within the state.
Justice Emmanuel Ogundare made the order on Tuesday, while declaring that demonstrations could only take place at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota and Peace Park in Ketu in Lagos.
The decision came after the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro, SAN, filed a preemptive ex parte application.
Pedro’s application sought to ensure public safety and prevent the potential loss of lives and property during the protests.
The respondents in the preemptive ex parte application are Adamma Ukpabi and Tosin Harsogba of the Active Citizens Group, Juwon Sanyaolu and Hassan Soweto of the Take It Back Movement, unnamed persons and the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State.
Pedro, while moving the application before the court, argued that as the state’s Chief Law Officer, he was aware of notices from various groups planning protests for and against different causes.
He emphasised the need to protect critical infrastructure and prevent incidents similar to those during the #EndSARS protests in 2020.
“The police in Lagos State do not have sufficient manpower to provide security for protesters intending to demonstrate across all local government areas and public highways,” Pedro stated.
He argued that there was a risk of the protests being hijacked by hoodlums intent on causing destruction.
“To prevent such outcomes, the Lagos State Government has designated two public spaces—Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park and Peace Park—where citizens can gather to express their views.
“Public protest in all the local government councils and public highways as well as other areas of public access in the state for 10 days is a deliberate plan to shut down the state and if this is allowed it will amount to economic sabotage,” he said.
Ogundare, after considering the arguments, granted the reliefs sought by the Attorney-General.
The judge held, “ An order of pre-emptive remedy by way of interim injunction is hereby granted restraining the 1st to 5th defendants/respondents the 1st to 5th defendants/Respondents, whether by themselves, their agents, privies, or servants, are restrained from holding protests, rallies, processions, or meetings outside the designated locations from August 1 to August 10, 2024.
He said “These activities are permitted only at Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park, Ojota, and Peace Park, Ketu, from 8am to 6pm, pending compliance with the pre-action protocol by the claimant.”
Additionally, the court ordered the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, to provide security and manage traffic at the designated protest sites. “This order is crucial to ensure the safety of both the protesters and the public.
“An order of pre-emptive remedy by way of interim preservative order is hereby granted directing the 6th defendant to protect the fundamental rights of the 1st to 5th defendants/respondents to freedom of association, peaceful public protest, procession and tallies in the approved designated location for peaceful public protest, rallies and meetings in Lagos State, To wit: Gani Fawehinm Freedom Park, Ikorodu Road Ojota, Lagos and Peace Park, Ketu Lagos from 8 am to 6 pm on August 1-10, 2024 pending compliance with the pre-action protocol by the Claimant,” Ogundare ruled.
The court also directed that the order be served through newspaper publication, deeming it sufficient for notifying the defendants and respondents.
The takeover of Eagle Square on Tuesday by the Armed Forces followed the insistence of the organisers to hold the demonstration despite pressure from the Federal Government, traditional rulers and other prominent Nigerians.
The operatives declined to speak and ordered our correspondents to leave the square.
However, a policeman mounting guard close to the entrance told The PUNCH that they were posted to secure the facility ahead of the demonstration.
“We have been deployed from various stations to maintain order for as long as the protest lasts. As you can see from the different vehicles around, some of us were brought in from Bwari and other police divisions,” he said.
The massive security deployment sparked fear among the civil servants at the Federal Secretariat and residents of the area.
Workers, who came to have lunch in canteens located behind Eagle Square, were heard saying they would stay away from the office on Thursday.
When asked if a circular had been issued to that effect, a lady responded, “No. Are we supposed to be told? I cannot afford to risk coming all the way from Bwari when a protest is ongoing. Nobody is even sure if this hunger protest won’t get violent.”
Other workers, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also said they would not come to work from Thursday until the protests ended.
Security operatives were also observed close to the National Assembly, Abuja-Mararaba Road and at every major pedestrian bridge along the stretch of Airport Road.
Checks by our correspondents revealed intensified surveillance patrol by the Guards Brigade, police, Nigeria Security and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and other security agencies in the FCT.
A joint detachment of soldiers and policemen were seen patrolling major roads in Gwagwalada in a show of force.
Displeased with the military deployment, a human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, urged the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, to withdraw soldiers deployed across the FCT and other cities ahead of the proposed hunger protest.
In a letter addressed to the CAS on Tuesday, Adeyanju said providing security during protests was the job of the police.
He recalled that the deployment of soldiers for the protest in Kenya and the 2020 #EndSARS led to riots.
Adeyanju said, “We write as a pro-human rights law firm to draw your attention to the disturbing deployment of men of the Nigerian Army across the Federal Capital Territory and other cities in an attempt to suppress the scheduled August 1, 2024, national protest.
“The task of providing internal security, including the protection of protesters during the scheduled protest, lies with the Nigeria Police Force and not the Nigerian Army.
“You may also recall that at all times when the armed forces intervened in any protest, including the recent Kenya protest, such protests often escalated into full-blown riots leading to loss of lives and property.
“It is on the premise of the foregoing that we urge you to withdraw your men back to the barracks as we do not want a repeat of soldiers killing protesters as was witnessed during EndSARS.”
Reacting to the takeover of Eagle Square by the security agents, the Director of Mobilisation, Take It Back Movement, Damilare Adenola, stated that the protest organisers were not discouraged by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike’s decision to deny them the use of the facility.
He added that the minister would grant them the venue when protesters converge on the square on Thursday.
Adenola said, “We are not deterred. We will be there that day to physically request the use of the venue. We are sure that they will concede to the demands of the people.”
Adeyanju accused the minister of trying to subvert the constitution.
He said, “The Eagle Square does not belong to the Federal Government, it belongs to the people of Nigeria. It is when private citizens want to do a wedding, or a function, that’s when you’ll be asking them to follow the procedure.
“The constitution of Nigeria, Section 4, says that sovereignty belongs to the people, from which the government derives all its powers. So, is the FCT minister or the IGP now trying to subvert the constitution and take away the sovereignty of the people? This was the same venue that was given to protesters protesting against the hunger protest. This is an aberration.”
The Programme Manager of Global Rights, Edosa Oviawe, accused the government of orchestrating the tension generated by the demonstration.
“They have assumed there would be violence. Ordinarily, they (protesters) should be allowed to converge on a location where the police can ensure their protection and ensure it doesn’t become violent,’’ he stated.
The Executive Director, Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre, Okechukwu Nwanguma, said, “Why are they afraid of people exercising their constitutional rights to assemble peacefully and exercise their constitutional rights? Everything the government is doing portrays the President as a dictator, contrary to the claim of him being a democrat.”
In a move to ensure public safety, security agencies in Oyo State, on Tuesday, embarked on a joint show of force in Ibadan metropolis.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the agencies comprised the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Nigerian Army.
Others were the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Department of State Services, Nigerian Correctional Service, Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigeria Immigration Service and Amotekun Corps.
The show of force, which began from the Police Command headquarters, Eleyele, took the security personnel to Mokola roundabout, Oyo State Government Secretariat, Agodi-Gate, Iwo Road, Bodija and Challenge, among others.
Briefing newsmen on the reason for the exercise, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ayodele Sonubi, said that it was to create awareness among members of the public on the readiness of security personnel towards the planned protest.
Sonubi said the exercise was also to ensure that the state remained peaceful, as it had always been, and to protect the lives and property of law-abiding citizens before, during and after the protest.
He said the security agencies in the state were not averse to people venting their anger through peaceful protest, adding that they had the right to protest without infringing on the rights of others.
“It is not your right to coerce others to join the protest. Nobody, including the security agencies, has the right to stop peaceful protests. Our right is to protect peaceful protesters and their property but the moment it turns violent, we have the right to lead and bring orderliness,” he said.
The police commissioner stated that Nigerians had witnessed many protests, noting that while some were peaceful, others were bloody, especially the 2020 EndSARS protest.
The Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Bethrand Onuoha, asked the protest organisers to identify themselves so they could be invited for discussion.
The command in a statement by its spokesman, William Aya, warned it would not tolerate any destruction and looting of public or private properties in the state.
Ahead of the demonstration, the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency, Zubaida Umar, has directed NEMA zonal directors to ensure the agency’s warehouses were adequately secured against potential attacks.
The spokesperson of the agency, Manzo Ezekiel, said NEMA had learnt from the 2020 EndSARS protests.
He added that the agency does not keep relief materials at its warehouses for too long before distributing them.
Ezekiel said, “We are good students of history and we have learnt the hard way. The experience we had in 2020 was a very sad one and we have not forgotten about it.
“Our DG has given directives to all zonal directors to ensure that there is water-tight security at our warehouses and offices to forestall any attack. Meanwhile, we don’t keep many relief items in most of our warehouses but that is not to say our warehouses are empty.”
Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishops of Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province have called on Nigerians to be peaceful during the rally.
The bishops made the call in a communiqué issued at the end of their meeting, held at the Domus Pacis Pastoral Institute, Igoba, Akure, Ondo State capital, on Tuesday.
The communiqué was signed by the Archbishop of Ibadan Catholic Archdiocese, Gabriel Abegunrin and Bishop John Oyejola, the chairman and secretary of the province, respectively.
The communiqué read, “The protests in Nigeria should be made to serve that purpose and none other. The protesters should exercise restraint and not disturb or intimidate those who may choose not to participate in the exercise knowing that it is their inalienable right not to do so.
“Such people should be allowed to go about their lawful business unhindered. The organisers of the protest have, therefore, a responsibility to ensure all these or call off the protest.”
The Christian leaders urged the security agencies to be professional in handling the protest and to avoid violence and bloodshed.
In the same vein, Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has appealed to traditional rulers, leaders of religious organisations and community leaders to advise their people against taking to violence during the protest.
The governor expressed fears that the planned protest may turn violent “which may consume vulnerable and weak people in the country.”
“Some economic policies of the Federal Government, including the removal of fuel subsidy, may not have yet yielded the ultimately desired results as initially intended by the government, but I appeal to our youths to apply peaceful means of achieving their agitations than resorting to violence,” he stated.
The governor, who advised Abia youths to exercise restraint and engage leaders with a charter of demands, pledged that his administration would do everything to protect the people from harm.
Kogi State governor, Ahmed Ododo, eqully tasked the youths in the state not to allow themselves to be used as agents of destruction.
Ododo was speaking in Lokoja, on Tuesday, at the World Bank-assisted empowerment of 500 youths and women beneficiaries of the Livestock Productivity and Resilient Project.
“The intent of the promoters of protest in Nigeria is concealed in political desperation. I call on all the youth of our dear nation to rally behind Mr President in his determination to fix the nation back on track,” he said.
The Yoruba Obas Forum, a group comprising monarchs from South-West and North-Central geo-political zones, also warned those planning to exploit the proposed hunger protest to cause chaos in the country to perish the thought.
The royal fathers, made their stand known in a statement in Osogbo, on Tuesday, cosigned by its national president, the Molokun of Atijere, Oba Samuel Adeoye, Oba Michael Ajayi, who is the Elerinmo of Erinmo, and the Public Relations Officer of the forum, the Alayandelu of Odo Alayandelu, Oba Asunmo Aderibigbe.
As traditional rulers, the monarchs said they felt the pains and frustration of Nigerians at the moment, but suggested that the situation demanded a strategic approach.
The forum stated, “Protest has never been a solution for nations to solve their challenges but an avenue for the destruction of human lives and property.”
Weighing in on the issue, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing insisted that Igbo youths would not participate in the protest.
Addressing journalists in Enugu after an emergency Convention of Igbo Youth Leaders and Stakeholders 2024, titled, ‘State of the Nation’, the acting national president, Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, said the Ohanaeze youths aligned with the decision of their fathers that the Igbos should not join the protest but engage the government in a constructive dialogue to address their peculiar challenges.
Source: The Punch
New information has come to light regarding the recent visit of High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, a prominent Niger Delta activist and Chairman of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, to former President Goodluck Jonathan at his residence in Otuoke, in the Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, on Friday.
The discussions centered decisively on the 2027 presidential election, where Jonathan is expected to challenge President Bola Tinubu robustly.
He was accompanied by the 2023 deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, Hon. Joshua Maciver, and the the Managing Director of Tantita Security Services, High Chief Kestin Ebimorbowei Pondi, among others.
Jonathan told newsmen that he invited Tompolo over because of complaints by some people and to also discuss the sustenance of the peace in the Niger Delta region.
He said: “Since I left office, we have not seen. Tompolo is one young man that played key role in the unity of our people, but today’s visit, you know he is been handling this security issue in the Niger Delta and I remember as Vice president, I visited his camp to bring peace to the Niger Delta, and there are issues that people are complaining about, so I decided to call him so that we can have conversations along those lines. So that people will be carried along to make sure that the Niger Delta continues to be peaceful. That is why he came to see me.
“So I appreciate his visit, because he is somebody we appreciate. He has contributed significantly to the peace in the Niger Delta and the security of the oil installations.”
Tompolo has been indirectly involved in the forthcoming presidential election, which Jonathan is speculated to be considering.
An ally of Jonathan while in office, Tompolo is now seen to be aligning with President Bola Tinubu.
Recently, he was seen in a viral video encouraging Nigerians to vote for Tinubu in 2027.
Earlier in June, Comrade Sunday Adekanbi, the Protem National Coordinator of the PBAT Door-2-Door Movement, had announced Tompolo as the group’s grand patron, saying they aim to gather 10 million votes for Tinubu in 2027.
Recently, Tompolo was seen in a viral video encouraging Nigerians to vote for President Bola Tinubu during the 2027 elections, because, according to him, the president has done well.
In June, Comrade Sunday Adekanbi, the Protem National Coordinator of the PBAT Door-2-Door Movement, had announced Tompolo as the group’s grand patron, saying they aim to gather 10 million votes for Tinubu in 2027.
Despite Jonathan’s disclosure of the discussion with Tompolo and the reason for their meeting, there are unconfirmed reports that he came to persuade Jonathan against contesting in 2027.
A source, who wished to remain anonymous, disclosed that a prominent Niger Delta activist recently spoke with the former president about the upcoming 2027 election.
During their conversation, the activist encouraged him not to heed the calls from those urging him to challenge President Tinubu in the election. Instead, he advised Jonathan to avoid running and to focus on being a respected elder statesman both within Nigeria and beyond.
…Says No More Hiding Place For Criminals
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Wednesday, formally launched the Delta State Security Trust Fund and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to building a safer, stronger, and more prosperous state through public-private partnership in security management.
The event, held at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Asaba, brought together captains of industries, security chiefs, community leaders, and top government officials, including the Group Chairman of Access Holdings Plc, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, CFR, who chaired the occasion; Zenith Bank Founder and Chairman, Mr. Jim Ovia, CON, who served as Special Guest of Honour; and the Chairman of Tantita Security Services Limited, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo who served as Chief Launcher with a donation of N10 billion.
Speaking at the ceremony, Governor Oborevwori said the Security Trust Fund established by law in 2013 was designed as a collaborative platform for mobilizing resources from the private sector to complement government’s investment in security.
He explained that the fund would focus on acquiring modern surveillance equipment, operational vehicles, and communication tools, as well as supporting the training and retraining of security personnel and community vigilante groups across the 25 local government areas of the state.
He said: “Security is not the sole responsibility of government, it is everyone’s business. Without adequate security, development cannot thrive, businesses cannot operate freely, and investors will be reluctant to commit their resources. This Trust Fund represents our shared commitment to peace, public safety, and sustainable growth.”
Governor Oborevwori said his administration rebranded Operation Delta Hawk as Operation Delta Sweep and as a joint task force involving the Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, DSS, and Civil Defence Corps.
While noting that the synergy among these agencies had yielded significant results, including the recovery of a cache of arms and ammunition from criminal elements, he outlined the government’s broader strategy for tackling the root causes of insecurity, poverty, unemployment, and youth restiveness through empowerment programmes, agricultural initiatives, and massive infrastructure renewal that have created thousands of jobs.
“Peace and security are better sustained when all citizens, especially women and youths, have opportunities to participate in economic growth,” he said.
The Governor said 0.5 percent of the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) is already allocated monthly to the Security Trust Fund, and appealed for sustained support from the private sector and individuals.
“Your contributions today are not just donations; they are investments in peace, stability, and economic prosperity,” he said, assuring that all funds would be transparently managed.
Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, described the launch as a defining moment in the state’s history and commended Governor Oborevwori’s leadership, which he said had transformed Delta into one of Nigeria’s most peaceful and progressive states. “Our Governor is both a driver and an enabler of progress,” he noted. “While others talk, he just gets it done,” he added.
Aig-Imoukhuede announced a personal donation of ₦100 million to the Fund on behalf of himself and his wife, Ofure, and expressed optimism that the initiative would mobilize up to ₦100 billion in 2025.
“This launch does not end today, it begins today. Together, we will continue to strengthen the foundation for Delta’s safety and growth,” he declared.
In his goodwill message, Mr. Jim Ovia commended the governor’s foresight and described the Security Trust Fund as a bold and forward-looking initiative.
He reaffirmed Zenith Bank’s partnership with the state and pledged continued support for its developmental efforts. “Security is the foundation of peace, prosperity, and business growth. This Fund brings together stakeholders to build a safer and more stable environment for citizens and investors alike,” Ovia said.
Also speaking, Chief Keston Pondi, who spoke on behalf of High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, lauded the governor for institutionalizing a framework that enables coordinated private-sector participation in tackling security challenges.
He said: “What we are launching today goes beyond a financial contribution, it is a strategic investment in peace, progress, and the protection of lives and property,” pledging Tantita’s full support for the initiative with a princely donation of N10 billion.
In his keynote address, a retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Marvel Akpoyibo, emphasized that development and security were inseparable and must go hand in hand.
He commended the ongoing transformation of road networks in Delta State, describing it as a major contributor to safety and connectivity. Akpoyibo called for increased investment in technology, training, and collaboration among security stakeholders, stressing that true security could only be achieved through shared responsibility.
Earlier, Executive Secretary of the Delta State Security Trust Fund, Mr Samuel Osasa, said the launch was aimed at reinvigorating the fund to meet emerging security needs.
He disclosed that the Trust Fund had, over the years, provided vehicles, equipment, and support to security agencies, including the recent installation of modern facilities for the State Police Command to enhance implementation of the Delta State Criminal Justice Law 2022.
He appealed to corporate organizations, private institutions, and individuals to partner with the State Security Trust Fund through generous donations, assuring that all contributions would be judiciously utilized in accordance with the law.
The event featured goodwill messages, pledges of financial support from public and private entities, and renewed calls for collaboration toward ensuring lasting peace and security across Delta State.
…Says Project Symbolises Renewed Hope Partnership
Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, on Tuesday, performed the groundbreaking for the reconstruction of the Warri–Sapele–Benin Dual Carriageway in Uvwie and Okpe Local Government Areas, declaring the project a symbol of renewed collaboration between the Federal and State Governments for the benefit of Nigerians.
Speaking at the ceremony, Governor Oborevwori said the project represented “another major step forward in the infrastructure renewal drive of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Federal Government, in collaboration with the Delta State Government.”
He described the Warri–Sapele–Benin Road as a critical national infrastructure connecting major cities across the South-South and providing access to Edo and other parts of the federation.
“The section we are flagging off “covers a dual carriageway with reinforced concrete pavement, expanded shoulders, and extensive stormwater drainage systems, all designed to provide durability and ensure the safety of road users.”
Governor Oborevwori noted that the initiative underscored the gains of synergy between the two tiers of government, emphasizing that development becomes faster when governments work together in the interest of the people.
“Although this road is a federal route, the users are Deltans and Nigerians, and their safety and comfort are what matter most to us,” he said.
The governor further disclosed that the Delta State Government had paid ₦10 billion in compensation to facilitate the ongoing construction of the Second Niger Bridge access road project, aimed at easing traffic congestion and improving connectivity between Asaba, Onitsha, and adjoining communities.
He lamented the hardship long suffered by commuters and transporters on the Warri–Sapele–Benin route due to its deplorable condition, noting that the reconstruction would enhance mobility, reduce travel time, and spur economic growth.
He said: “Beyond these economic benefits, the project will also strengthen security. Criminals often exploit bad roads to commit crimes. Once completed, this highway will make movement safer and improve the response of security agencies.”
The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to making Delta one of the safest states in Nigeria through strategic investments in infrastructure, peace, and security.
He also promised that the requests of the people of Uvwie Kingdom partaining the Mother and Child Hospital and provision of 500KVA transformer, would be looked into.
“At over sixty years of age, I am not here for personal gain but to leave lasting legacies that generations will remember me for. By the time I leave office, I want Deltans to proudly say, ‘Oborevwori did this, Oborevwori did that,’” he said before officially flagging off the project from Effurun Roundabout by spare parts market to after Ohore, before Ometan Bridge.
Commissioner for Works (Highways and Urban Roads), Comrade Reuben Izeze, said the project is the brainchild of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori whom he described as a visionary leader determined to transform Delta’s infrastructure landscape.
“This 10km project stretches five kilometres on each side and features an 8.8-metre-wide carriageway on both lanes, far beyond the standard 7.3 metres,” Izeze said, praising the governor’s foresight and commitment.
He said the project would be completed within 12 months, adding that the state would celebrate another landmark achievement that would enhance trade, transportation, and community life.
General Manager of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), Engr. Thomas Feng, thanked Governor Oborevwori for the confidence reposed in the firm, promising to deliver the project in record time and to the highest standards.
“Today’s ceremony marks the beginning of a renewed era of infrastructure that will promote safer travel, stronger connectivity, and lasting economic growth for the people of Delta State,” Feng said.
Earlier, Chairman of Uvwie Local Government Council, Chief Anthony Ofoni, flanked by his Okpe Local Government Council counterpart, commended the governor for his people-centred leadership and announced that the Airport Road in Effurun would be named as “Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori Way” in recognition of his vision and enduring legacy.
Also speaking, HRM Emmanuel Sideso, Abe I, the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom and Chairman of the Urhobo Council of Traditional Rulers, lauded the governor’s administration for prioritizing key infrastructure projects in Uvwie and across the state.
He noted that ongoing works such as the three flyovers and road expansions in Effurun and Warri had transformed the urban landscape and accelerated economic activities.
Representative of the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, Okakuro Mike Afe, joined in commending the governor for his developmental strides, praying for his successful completion of an eight-year tenure to consolidate the gains of the MORE Agenda.
The event attracted top government officials, traditional rulers, community leaders, and captains of industries, all of whom hailed the project as a beacon of renewed hope for the people of Delta and beyond.
The Founder and President of Atiba University Oyo, James Adesokan Ojebode, PhD, ALA(CSN) JP has expressed deep concern over reports that some Federal universities have allegedly refused to accept the recently released National Examinations Council (NECO) results from admission seekers.
In a statement issued in Oyo, Ojebode described the development as “unjust, discriminatory, and inconsistent with Nigeria’s commitment to inclusive and equitable education.” He lamented that many candidates who initially applied with Awaiting Results were later denied admission after NECO released their results — a situation he termed “a denial of the fundamental right to education and a reflection of administrative insensitivity.”
Ojebode therefore called on the Federal Ministry of Education, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), and NECO to urgently intervene and ensure that all affected universities reopen their admission portals to allow candidates upload their results. He noted that “education must remain a tool for empowerment, not exclusion.”
He further emphasized that proper coordination among examination and admission bodies is crucial to maintaining the credibility of NECO, the integrity of Nigeria’s admission process, and the public’s confidence in the education system.
Atiba University Oyo
7th October, 2025.
Prophet Boris Jedidiah, a prominent cleric from Cameroon, has made a significant announcement regarding the upcoming 2027 presidential election in Nigeria.
He claims that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s victory is assured by divine intervention.
In a video that has gained widespread attention on his YouTube channel, the prophet asserted that he received a revelation from God indicating that no political opposition would be able to prevent Tinubu’s re-election. This statement has stirred considerable interest and discussion in political circles.
According to Jedidiah, “During the 2027 Nigerian presidential election, a governor who is presently governing a state of Nigeria is going to stand as a presidential candidate. But The Lord said to me that this governor is not going to become the president of Nigeria. His Excellency, Bola Tinubu, is going to be declared the president of Nigeria during the 2027 Nigerian presidential election.”
He further emphasized that any Nigerian governor or politician who rises against President Tinubu’s mandate would be acting against God’s divine purpose for the nation.
The prophecy has since attracted wide reactions on social media, with supporters of the president welcoming the message, while others questioned the growing trend of foreign clerics predicting Nigeria’s political future.
Nigeria’s next general elections, which will include the presidential and National Assembly polls, are scheduled for 2027.
The Delta State Executive Council (EXCO), Thursday approved key fiscal documents setting the stage for the preparation of the 2026 Appropriation Bill, alongside the construction of 10 new residential quarters for Judges across the state.
The State Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr. Sonny Ekedayen, disclosed this while briefing journalists at the end of the EXCO meeting presided over by the Deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme, in Asaba.
Ekedayen said the Council considered and approved the economic fiscal update, fiscal policy strategy, and the budget policy statement, critical documents required by law and fundamental to the preparation of the 2026 budget.
He explained that; “before the commencement of any budget process, there must be a set of assumptions, and it is those assumptions that the Executive Council considered and approved today.
“The document will now be transmitted to the State House of Assembly for the enactment of the necessary laws to enable us commence the actual budget preparation.”
According to him, the assumptions for the 2026 fiscal year are aligned with national parameters agreed upon by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) to ensure uniformity across states.
“This uniform basis will make it easier to integrate the budgets of sub-national governments into a national framework,” Ekedayen said.
He listed the key macroeconomic assumptions as follows: – Oil production: 1.7 million barrels per day; exchange rate: ₦1,500 to $1; GDP growth rate: 3.4%; Inflation rate: 23%.
He said these figures would guide the State’s Ministry of Economic Planning in designing the 2026 budget, which will subsequently pass through EXCO approval before being presented to the State House of Assembly.
“Today’s approval signals the beginning of the new budget season for Delta State,” he added.
Also briefing journalists, the State Commissioner for Housing, Hon. Godknows Angele, said EXCO approved the construction of 10 new judges’ quarters in Asaba, Warri, and Osubi as part of the administration’s commitment to the welfare of the judiciary.
“His Excellency, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, believes in balancing all arms of government — the executive, legislature, and judiciary,” Angele said.
Angele said: “We already have commissioners’ and legislative quarters in Asaba. It was therefore necessary to provide befitting accommodation for our Judges.”
He explained that the project, approved as the first phase, will feature four-bedroom duplexes for 10 judges, five in Asaba and five in Warri/Osubi and designed for comfort and security within designated judicial residential clusters.
“This is a new construction and not renovation. It is part of our administration’s effort to ensure the judiciary functions in a conducive and secure environment,” Angele added.
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