Newsline9ja Blog

28/09/2025

Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha Mourns the Passing of Rev. Fr. Anthony Izuu Okoye

Umudioka, Anambra State – Sunday, September 28, 2025.
The Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha with the Catholic community of Umudioka and beyond has been thrown into mourning following the passing of Rev. Fr. Anthony Izuu Okoye, Manager of St. Anthony’s Group of Schools, Umudioka.

According to the Archdiocesan Chancellor, Fr. Okoye was admitted to Borromeo Hospital on Saturday evening but was called to eternal rest by the Lord in the early hours of Sunday, September 28, 2025.

Announcing his death, the Chancellor said:

“With the hope we have in the Resurrection and in total resignation to the Will of God, we announce the call to glory of our beloved priest and brother, Rev. Fr. Anthony Izuu Okoye. Please may we remember him in our Holy Masses and other prayers. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace. Amen.”

The Archdiocese noted that further funeral arrangements will be communicated in due course.

Rev. Fr. Okoye, remembered as a dedicated priest and educationist, leaves behind a legacy of faith, service, and commitment to the formation of young minds.

Fr. Henry Charles Umelechi reporting for Truth Series.

26/09/2025

FROM THE COURTROOM THIS AFTERNOON

Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo has sentenced a dismissed soldier with the Nigerian Army, 6 Battalion, Ibagwa in Abak, Corporal Stephen Iweh, to death by hanging for the murder of a 42-year-old man, Christopher Enobong Jimmy.

The incident occurred on 23rd May, 2021 along the East-West Road in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area.

The late Jimmy, who was the Manager of a Clearing and Forwarding Company in Port Harcourt, had offered Corporal Iweh a lift in his car from Trailer Park in Onne, Rivers State, to Ikot Abasi in Akwa Ibom.

Along the way, at Oboro Junction in Ikot Abasi, the 39 year-old soldier shot him dead before fleeing with the vehicle and valuables.

Investigations revealed that Corporal Iweh, a father of three children, had illegally kept the AK-47 rifle which he said he “picked at Dambou, Borno State in 2018 and decided to keep it as personal arms”.

On the day of the killing, Corporal Iweh, was supposed to be on duty at the Army Store, 6 Battalion, Ibagwa, Abak, but abandoned his post to commit the crime.

He was later traced to Andy Guest House in Ukanafun, many kilometers from the scene of crime, where he was arrested and the rifle recovered.

In a judgment, the trial judge, Hon. Justice Bassey Nkanang held that the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt that Corporal Iweh, a native of Ameke Nkor in Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State, murdered Christopher Enobong Jimmy, an indigene of Ikot Abasi, robbed him of his Toyota Matrix car, while armed with an AK-47 rifle and unlawfully possessed the firearm without a license.

Investigations revealed that Corporal Iweh, a father of three children, who joined the Nigerian Army in 2002, had illegally kept the AK-47 rifle which he said he “picked at Dambou, Borno State in 2018 and decided to keep it as personal arm”.

The late Jimmy, Manager of a Clearing and Forwarding Company in Port Harcourt, was travelling home in his grey Toyota Matrix, when he gave the soldier, who was in full military uniform, a lift, at the Trailer Park in Onne enroute Akwa Ibom State.

The soldier later shot Jimmy at a junction in Oboro, Ikot Abasi, where they had stopped to urinate and eat Pork meat, before fleeing with the vehicle and other belongings.

According to Court records, Iweh, who was recruited into the Army in 2002 was later traced to Andy Guest House in Ukanafun, where he was arrested and an AK-47 rifle recovered from him.

Justice Nkanang convicted him on a three-count charge.

He was sentenced to death by hanging for murder, death by hanging for armed robbery, and 10 years imprisonment for unlawful possession of fi****ms.

In his plea for mercy, the convict begged the court for what he described as a “soft landing,” but his allocutus was rejected.

The late Christopher Jimmy is survived by his 34-year-old widow, Arit, who tearfully recounted that her husband had left Port Harcourt to visit his sister and family in Ikot Abasi, but did not return home.

©️ Harrison Essien

26/09/2025

Yoruba Must Be Proud of Akwa Ibom

- By Chief Usoro Usoro

When the Yoruba gods sat last week to drink palm wine under the iroko tree, they burst into thunderous laughter. “Our children from Akwa Ibom,” they said, “have finally confessed what we knew all along: Yoruba is the father of all tribes!” But, is it?

September 23, 2025 was Akwa Ibom anniversary. Three decades and eight full years of being a distinct, oil-rich, culture-heavy people. I swear, there was no better way to mark the day than to dress like Lagos wedding guests!

So, like every respectable celebrant, Governor Umo Eno and Akwa Ibom Exco arrived at the party in borrowed clothes. They even struggled to smile like Ijebu landlords who just collected tents. All in borrowed Yoruba agbada and fila, imported straight from Katangua market in Lagos.

Imagine your own child arriving his birthday party looking like the neighbour’s offspring. “See how they now wear our agbada and fila as though their fisherman’s hat and wrapper are in the museum,” the Yoruba gods said with pride.

That’s when Akwa Ibom solved the equation of identity by switching itself into Yoruba. And, guess what? We won an award for what scholars call “cultural outsourcing”.

But let’s not give up yet. Perhaps the state executive council only wanted to demonstrate loyalty to President Bola Tinubu. After all, in Nigeria, loyalty is best measured not by good governance. It’s measured by how quickly you abandon your own skin to wear another man’s identity. The proliferating Tinubu’s “infinity cap” is my first witness!

Well, for Umo Eno and his men, loyalty is like pepper soup: the hotter, the better. And what better way to serve it than with agbada so wide, you could smuggle the state budget inside one sleeve? I’m only sad that they didn’t have enough time and state budget. At least, they should have put the “infinity” on the “baba-Ijebu” caps. To symbolize both their’s and Tinubu’s infinite political calculations. Haba!

But wait o. Did our elders not warn that a man who abandons his farm to w**d another’s will harvest hunger? True or false, one thing is sure. The South-South has rich attire. Raffia, wrapper, fisherman’s hat, long-flowing chieftaincy tops, ekombi grace, etc. Yet, when it’s time to showcase identity, our leaders chose to cosplay as Yoruba groomsmen.

They say when a goat follows a sheep to graze, it will return home bleating in another dialect. So, is Akwa Ibom already bleating “E kaaro o!”

Hellloo! Is that politics? Why are you devouring our sense and identity? Abeg, talk louder, I can’t hear you o. Network is bad. Oh, I should not blame you? Then, who? Okay, I hear you now. A man who accepts everything and does anything just to secure his political portion is not guided by principle, but by appetite. That’s not selfless service, it’s self-service. Some would call it selfish, others greedy, but really it’s both!

A sage once said: “When the drum in your house spoils, you don’t borrow the neighbour’s talking drum to announce your festival.” But Akwa Ibom borrowed agbada, fila, and Yoruba swagger to celebrate itself.

And hey, how can we ever forget the grand master of costume tourism himself: Senator Akpabio. One mumu said the Senate President has never missed the opportunity to prove that Akwa Ibom attire is good enough to decorate the museum. But, not good enough for display on TV. Too local; not for national pride, abi? I no know book ooo!

But, check it out. Today Akpabio is in Yoruba agbada, tomorrow in Hausa babariga. Next, you see him in Benin beads. You’d think his tailor misplaced the pattern for an Akwa Ibom cap. The man could easily rebrand as “Senator Without Borders.” But then, even masquerades have more consistent wardrobe identity than my Oga, the former governor.

Oh, silly me! Some smart Alec says Akpabio is a senator of the Federal Republic. And that as Senate President, he represents the entire nation. Okay, thank you, don’t mention. Chiba Okadigbo, David Mark, Evan (with or without “s”) Enwerem, etc, once sat on Akpabio’s current seat. Can someone show me when they wore Annang cap to the red chamber?

What message, then, is Akwa Ibom sending? That South-South attire is truly too local for national pride? That a fisherman’s hat cannot sit in the Senate? That Obong Victor Attah was/is wrong to keep marketing our identity? That ekpang nkwukwo tastes better when eaten with Yoruba sauce? If that is the case, then Yoruba people must be proud indeed. They have managed cultural colonization without firing a single shot. They owe Tinubu more for that. History may yet record that while the British gave us English, it was Yoruba that gave Akwa Ibom its anniversary uniform.

Hello! Please, knock me hard awake:This is cultural abdication. It’s a thing to admire another tribe’s beauty; it’s another to borrow another man’s name at your birthday party. When a c**k forgets how to crow at dawn, it starts clucking like a hen, and soon the whole village oversleeps.

Akwa Ibom, wake up. Your raffia is beautiful. Your fisherman’s hat is majestic. Your wrapper does not need agbada’s permission to walk into A*o Rock. The South-South has its own identity, its own pride, its own voice. Support Tinubu if you wish, but do it with your own voice and attire. Not by ridiculously rehearsing a Yoruba wedding entrance at your 38th anniversary!

See more on Akwa Ibom politics on MEDIALORD PODCAST on YouTube ()

24/09/2025

EFCC Arrests 49 Suspected Internet Fraudsters in Akwa Ibom State

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission , EFCC, Uyo Zonal Directorate, have arrested forty nine( 49) suspected internet fraudsters in a sting operation carried out at different locations in Akwa Ibom State.

31( thirty-one) of the suspects were arrested on Monday September 22, 2025, at Ikpa Road, Ekpri Nsukara, Nwaniba, and Shelter Afrik Extension, all in Akwa Ibom State, while the remaining eighteen(18) were arrested on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, at Oron, and Calabar-Itu Road.

The arrested suspects include, undergraduates, traders and artisans.

Items recovered from them include, one car, 54 mobile phones and nine laptops.

The suspects will soon be charged to court.

23/09/2025

Senator Ekong Sampson Releases 100 million for Students grant, Unveils 500 million Projects to boost School Sports

...St Vincent, Otioro to get full fencing, well equipped ICT Centre

Activities marking the 2025 birthday of Senator Ekong Sampson came to a close yesterday at St. Vincent Secondary School, Otioro, Okobo Local Government Area, with the Senator announcing the release of 100 million naira in students grant to ease the financial burden on students and another 500 million naira for sports projects in schools across Akwa Ibom South.

The Lawmaker also donated educational materials, including customized exercise books, footballs, and other writing materials to schools he visited in the area, including the Methodist Senior Science College, Oron, and Comprehensive Secondary School, Ekeya, Okobo.

Senator Ekong Sampson, joined by his wife and children at the event, in usual tradition, taught students of the school some success tips for answering essay questions in the School Certificate examinations. He emphasized his own experience of having earned a distinction (A1) in English Language during his time.

The Onomkpoinam Mkpat Enin seized the occasion to reaffirm his determination and commitment to intervene and improve educational infrastructure, pledging to provide perimeter fencing for the school as well as to fully equip the CBT/ICT Centre, which was nearing completion. He further announced the construction of similar CBT/ICT Centres at Excellence College, Ikot Unya, Mkpat Enin, and St. Francis Secondary School, Ikot Ataku, Eket.

Senator Sampson, who serves as Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education (Basic and Secondary), disclosed that he had the privilege of chairing a session where the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) confirmed its transition from paper-based to computer-based examinations. He stressed that his interventions in education, particularly the provision of ICT facilities, are designed to adequately prepare students in Akwa Ibom South to meet this new standard and to compete favorably with their peers across the nation and beyond.

The Senator was earlier received with a rousing welcome by the Chairman of Okobo Local Government Area, who was represented by the Vice Chairman, Lady Veronica Clement. Also in attendance were Hon. Victor Anwanakak, Hon. Effiong Asawana, Mr. John Onukak, and Hon. Hogan Bassey.

The event was further graced by the Eket Senatorial District Vice Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Barr. Ekpong Edemumoh; Hon. Peter Bassey; and Barr. Godwin Ettah, PDP Chapter Chairman for Oron and Udung-Uko Local Government Areas, respectively.

The occasion also had the honor of being attended by royal fathers, led by the Paramount Ruler of Okobo and Attah of Oro, His Royal Majesty, Edidem Ita Okokon, who was ably represented by Chief Asukwo Ibok, Village Head of Atabong, along with Chief Idongesit Umoh, Village Head of Otioro.

The Chief Host and former Deputy Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Princess Felicia Bassey, congratulated Senator Sampson for giving back to society through his milestone interventions in education, healthcare, and power infrastructure. She assured him of the total support of the Okobo people for a second term.

Goodwill messages were delivered by Engr. Benedict Ukpong, Federal Commissioner, National Population Commission, Abuja; Chief Barr. Effiong Abia, former Commissioner; and Sir Adasi Obolum, former Member of the State House of Assembly. They all took turns to commend the visionary infrastructural renaissance championed by the Distinguished Senator and assured him of the massive support of the people of Akwa Ibom South and, by extension, his re-election.

Also, on the Senator's entourage were Sir Micheal Essang, Director-General of Ekong Sampson Campaign Organization, former Reps Member, Hon. Pat Ifon, Prof. Etete Peters, former CMD, UUTH, Otuekong Barr. Ini Ikott, and Sir Sampson Unyaewaji.

Others included Dr. Udeme Nana, the founder of Uyo Book Club, Engr. Uwem Akpan, immediate past President, Nigerian Society of Engineers, Uyo Branch, Obonganwan Mary Umana Ette, Barr. Ann Eyo, Obonganwan Abigail Edokoeket, Hon. Ufok Frank, and Hon. Isaiah Akpan. Others included Barr. Ebeute Ebeute, Hon. Essien Enang, Hon. Nkereuwem James, Engr. Benedict Edenseting, Mr. Okon Akpan, among others.

The event was rounded off at the residence of Princess Felicia Bassey, where the cheering crowd was treated to an evening of entertainment and goodwill.

©Media Unit,
Office of Senator Ekong Sampson

22/09/2025

JUST IN!

The PSG Star, Ousmane Dembele wins 2025 Ballon d'Or

Congratulations to him

22/09/2025

COMMISSIONER FRANK ARCHIBONG HAILS A'IBOM @38, SAYS STATE IS BLESSED WITH INTENTIONAL LEADERS, ABUNDANT NATURAL RESOURCES

As Akwa Ibom State marks a significant milestone of thirty eight years of creation, the State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mkpisong Frank Archibong has expressed delight at the lofty height the State has attained.

Speaking while fielding questions from Newsmen on his assessment of Akwa Ibom State at 38 during a brief interview at his place at recently, the Commissioner opined that ,
"Akwa Ibom stands tall in terms of infrastructure, human capacity and development in all facets. God has blessed us with enormous natural resources and our resources have been well utilised for the development of the State".

"I am very proud to say that at 38, Akwa Ibom has gone beyond 50. We are the cynosure of all eyes as far as the development of this country is concerned".

The Commissioner paid glowing tribute to the present and past leaders of the State for demonstrating what he termed intentional leadership, noting that each of the Chief Executive made a mark in their own unique ways , aligning actions with purpose , and strategic in the development of the State.

"We thank God for the kind of leadership He has given us over the years. Right from inception, we have been blessed with intentional leaders, leaders that have been purposeful in putting down development in the landscape of Akwa Ibom State ."

The Chieftaincy Affairs boss who doubles as Dean of Commissioners and Special Advisers in the State, particularly lauded the people-centred, inclusive and visionary leadership of the Umo Eno-led administration which he said has further engendered peace, love ,unity and progress in the State.

He called on Akwa Ibom people to throw their weight behind Governor Eno to further inspire and propel him actualize all the lofty goals of his Arise Agenda for a greater tomorrow.

"All we need to do as a people is to continually support the present leadership. Governor Eno deserves the support of the peole to drive home the Arise Agenda. The Arise Agenda encapsulates what Akwa Ibom needs at the moment ".

" His Excellency has done two years. I am sure before the end of his remaining six years in office, the Arise Agenda would have gone down into the nooks and crannies of Akwa Ibom State and the State would be better for it", he added.

The Chieftaincy Affairs boss used the medium to felicitate Governor Umo Eno and the good people of the State on the 38 anniversary the State creation, praying for sustained peace, love unity and progress in the State.

Information/PR Unit
Min of LG&CA
22/9/25

22/09/2025

22/09/2025

Impersonation of CITY BOY Structure leadership in Akwa Ibom State EXPOSED.

Gregory Amuche, Abuja.

Some days ago, a group of persons with inordinate ambitions led by one Gideon Ekanem gathered at Luton Park hotels in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, to claim a meeting of the City Boy Movement in the state. It is quite sad and unfortunate that the National leadership of the group was unaware of such a meeting, as the acclaimed State Leader, Mr. Gideon Ekanem, is not recognized as the State Leader of the group by the National body.

City Boy Movement is a group that seeks to galvanize support for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu and is led by Mrs. Victoria Uko, who is being recognized as the legitimate State Leader of the group.

Surprisingly, the said Gideon Ekanem, who is not a politician with no political value or grip in his polling unit or ward, suddenly claims to be the State Coordinator of the group and has lured some prominent politicians across the state to be part of an illegal group. According to sources, Mr. Ekanem is plotting to use the group to gain favor from the State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, and other prominent politicians in the state, an act that is not going well with the National leadership of the said group. His action has got several stakeholders of the group angry and they are threatening to withdraw from any activity of the group if the National leadership do not call the said Gideon to order. The said stakeholders who were ready to bankroll the activities of the group with their personal resources will withdraw since the said Gideon Ekanem is bent on hijacking the said group for his sinister motives.

This reporter has reached out to some persons in the National leadership who have repeatedly denied giving permission to Mr. Gideon Ekanem to convene any meeting in the state as he is not recognized as the State Leader of the group. His recent action has sparked controversy in the group as they frowned at his action of parading himself as the Coordinator of the group. Allegedly, he has been summoned to Abuja for sanctioning.

It has become imperative that members of the public note that the said Gideon Ekanem alongside his cohorts are not in charge of City Boy Movement as they have not been a recognized leadership in Akwa Ibom State. Any politician who engages in the Gideon Ekanem-acclaimed structure of the group does so at his or her own peril. He should be asked to present a Certificate or Authorization from the National leadership of the group as he is not known, recognized, or authorized to function in any capacity on behalf of City Boy Movement in Akwa Ibom State.

19/09/2025

RIVERS STATE

STATEWIDE BROADCAST BY HIS EXCELLENCY, SIR SIMINALAYI FUBARA, GSSRS, ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2025

My dear good people of Rivers State

Recall that Rivers State was placed under a six-month emergency rule, declared by Mr. President, His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, on the 18th of March, 2025, following the intense political crisis in our State.

2. It is without doubt that the last six months had been enormously challenging for our dear State under the emergency rule.

3. As your Governor, I accepted to abide by the state of emergency declaration and chose to cooperate with Mr. President and the National Assembly, guided by my conviction that no sacrifice was too great to secure peace, stability, and progress of Rivers State.

4. This was why I also resisted the pressure to challenge the constitutionality of the declaration of a state of emergency, the suspension of democratic institutions, and all other actions that we endured during this difficult period.

5. In the course of the six-month period, Mr. President graciously brokered the peace process with all the parties successfully. Our Leader, His Excellency, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, CON, all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and I, as your Governor, have all accepted to bury the hatchet and embrace peace and reconciliation in the best interest of our dear Rivers State.

6. We believe the political crisis is now behind us and that peace and stability have once again returned to Rivers State, though not without the hard lessons learnt from the emergency rule.

7. The responsibility now rests squarely on us: the Government, the State House of Assembly, political leaders and stakeholders to put aside our differences, work for the common good, and advance the interests of our people above all else. We have a duty to ensure that the peace we have all embraced remains permanent in our dear Rivers State.

8. On behalf of the Government and the good people of Rivers State, I extend our heartfelt gratitude to Mr. President for his fatherly disposition and decisive interventions in resolving the political crisis and for graciously restoring full democratic governance to our State.

9. Personally, I will never take Mr. President's kindness for granted, and for that, I hereby reaffirm my utmost loyalty and eternal gratitude.

10. To those who have expressed genuine fears, frustrations, and uncertainty over the nature of the peace process, I assure you that your concerns are valid and understood. However, nothing has been irretrievably lost; there remains ample opportunity for necessary adjustments, continued reconciliation, and inclusiveness. We must all remember the saying... " the costliest peace is cheaper than the cheapest war".

11. Accordingly, let us, therefore, embrace this moment as a fresh beginning. Let us work together with renewed hope and determination to build a stronger, more peaceful and prosperous Rivers State. I assure you that we will continuously work towards ensuring that we carry everyone along.

12. Despite the turbulence, you are aware of the credible milestones our administration achieved in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and other key sectors over the last two years.

13. Our immediate responsibility is to return to the path of governance and development by completing the projects which we started by ensuring none of them is starved of funds or neglected, thereby reviving our economy, protecting lives and property, and improving the wellbeing of all Rivers people.

14. I commit to working harmoniously with the Rivers State House of Assembly to recover lost grounds and accelerate the social and economic advancement of our dear State. I also renew my pledge to serve with the fear of God, humility and a high sense of duty.

15. I wish to sincerely thank you, the resilient people of Rivers State, for your patience, courage, and peaceful conduct during the six months of emergency rule.

16. I also extend appreciation to all stakeholders, religious leaders, traditional rulers, civil society groups, political actors, women groups, youths, concerned citizens at home and abroad, and well-wishers whose prayers and support sustained us through the challenging period.

17. Above all, let us draw strength from our shared identity as Rivers people. Our diversity is our greatest asset, and our unity the strongest guarantee of our future. We must rise above bitterness and division and channel our energies into rebuilding trust, fostering inclusiveness, and securing a peaceful and prosperous State for all.

18. Once again, I thank and appreciate our Father, Mr President, His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR for his timely intervention and dedication to ensuring the restoration of peace and stability in our State.

19. 1 also thank our Leader, His Excellency Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON, the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory for committing to the prompt resolution of the political impasse in the State.
20. I also wish to express my profound thanks to the President of the Senate His Excellency Senator Godswill Akpabio; the Speaker of the House of Representatives, His Excellency Dr. Abbas Tajudeen; and the distinguished members of the National Assembly for the role they all played in the resolution of the matter.

21. I thank the Honourable Speaker and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, respected elders, stakeholders and all concerned citizens for working together to resolve our differences and ensuring peace and harmony in our State.

22. Finally, I call on all citizens of Rivers State, regardless of political, religious, or ethnic affiliation, to join hands in rebuilding our beloved State and securing a future of dignity and progress for everyone. In all, I give glory to the Almighty God.

Thank you all.

May God bless Rivers State and all its people.

May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

18/09/2025

Rep. Okpolupm Etteh Donates 500KVA Transformer to Edeobok Community After Six Years

The Deputy Chairman, House Committee on University Education, Hon. Okpolupm Etteh , has provided a 500KVA transformer to Edeobok community in Eket Local Government Area, six years after he first promised the project.

The donation, which replaces the community’s old 300KVA transformer, has been widely celebrated by residents who described the gesture as life-changing.

Speaking during the installation, the Village Chairman, Chief Prince Godwin Jim, expressed delight at the fulfilment of what many initially dismissed as a political promise.

“I’m excited that you’re here. I’m happy that he’s our benefactor as far as this transformer is concerned. He made the promise and we supported him against all odds. But when it took long, we thought it was a ‘political promise.’ Yet, when we least expected, he delivered. We will send him our appreciation letter in due course,” he said.

Jim added that Edeobok, one of more than 70 gazetted villages in Eket, had struggled with constant refurbishing of old transformers that could not meet the community’s electricity needs.

Also speaking, the Village Youth President, Mr. Samuel Udoh Samuel, described the lawmaker as “God-sent,” recalling how prolonged power shortages had forced some residents and businesses to relocate.

“Churches and businesses only depended on generators. God brought us Etteh to give us this massive 500KVA transformer which will be replacing the 300KVA. We will continually support him because of his love for us. We don’t have any other candidate for 2027 as House of Reps Member,” he declared.

The community’s Town Crier, Mr. Kingsley Etuk, said the upgrade marked a new dawn for the village.

“I’m happy over the provision of this transformer, an upgrade from the 300KVA, and the entire village is happy. Because of this we will shine more. We appreciate him and pray God to give him the enablement to do more,” he said.

A businessman in the area, Mr. John Abakasanga, also lauded Etteh for what he described as “a significant impact” on the lives of the people.

Before Etteh’s intervention, residents relied heavily on Mr. Idongesit Joshua, popularly known as “Tempest,” who had been spearheading repairs on the old transformer earlier this year.

The 500KVA transformer is expected to boost electricity supply to homes, churches, schools, and businesses in the community, easing the economic strain caused by years of unavailability of power supply.

17/09/2025

RIVERS STATE

STATEHOUSE STATEMENT

STATEMENT BY HIS EXCELLENCY, BOLA AHMED TINUBU, PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, ON THE CESSATION OF THE STATE OF EMERGENCY IN RIVERS STATE

My Fellow countrymen and, in particular, the good people of Rivers State.

I am happy to address you today on the state of emergency declaration in Rivers State. You will recall that on 18th March, 2025, I proclaimed a state of emergency in the state. In my proclamation address, I highlighted the reasons for the declaration. The summary of it for context is that there was a total paralysis of governance in Rivers State, which had led to the Governor of Rivers State and the House of Assembly being unable to work together. Critical economic assets of the State, including oil pipelines, were being vandalised. The State House of Assembly was crisis-ridden, such that members of the House were divided into two groups. Four members worked with the Governor, while 27 members opposed the Governor. The latter group supported the Speaker. As a result, the Governor could not present any Appropriation Bill to the House, to enable him to access funds to run Rivers State's affairs. That serious constitutional impasse brought governance in the State to a standstill. Even the Supreme Court, in one of its judgments in a series of cases filed by the Executive and the Legislative arms of Rivers State against each other, held that there was no government in Rivers State. My intervention and that of other well-meaning Nigerians to resolve the conflict proved abortive as both sides stuck rigidly to their positions to the detriment of peace and development of the State.

It therefore became painfully inevitable that to arrest the drift towards anarchy in Rivers State, I was obligated to invoke the powers conferred on me by Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, to proclaim the state of emergency. The Offices of the Governor, Deputy Governor, and elected members of the State House of Assembly were suspended for six months in the first instance. The six months expire today, September 17th, 2025.

I thank the National Assembly, which, after critically evaluating the justification for the proclamation, took steps immediately, as required by the Constitution, to approve the declaration in the interest of peace and order in Rivers State. I also thank our traditional rulers and the good people of Rivers State for their support from the date of the declaration of the state of emergency until now.

I am not unaware that there were a few voices of dissent against the proclamation, which led to their instituting over 40 cases in the courts in Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Yenagoa, to invalidate the declaration. That is the way it should be in a democratic setting. Some cases are still pending in the courts as of today. But what needs to be said is that the power to declare a state of emergency is an inbuilt constitutional tool to address situations of actual or threatened breakdown of public order and public safety, which require extraordinary measures to return the State to peace, order and security. Considered objectively, we had reached that situation of total breakdown of public order and public safety in Rivers State, as shown in the judgment of the Supreme Court on the disputes between the Executive and the Legislative arm of Rivers State. It would have been a colossal failure on my part as President not to have made that proclamation.

As a stakeholder in democratic governance, I believe that the need for a harmonious existence and relationship between the executive and the legislature is key to a successful government, whether at the state or national level. The people who voted us into power expect to reap the fruits of democracy. However, that expectation will remain unrealizable in an atmosphere of violence, anarchy, and insecurity borne by misguided political activism and Machiavellian manipulations among the stakeholders.

I am happy today that, from the intelligence available to me, there is a groundswell of a new spirit of understanding, a robust readiness, and potent enthusiasm on the part of all the stakeholders in Rivers State for an immediate return to democratic governance. This is undoubtedly a welcome development for me and a remarkable achievement for us. I therefore do not see why the state of emergency should exist a day longer than the six months I had pronounced at the beginning of it.

It therefore gives me great pleasure to declare that the emergency in Rivers State of Nigeria shall end with effect from midnight today. The Governor, His Excellency Siminalayi Fubara, the deputy governor, Her Excellency Ngozi Nma Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and the speaker, Martins Amaewhule, will resume work in their offices from 18 September 2025.

I take this opportunity to remind the Governors and the Houses of Assembly of all the States of our country to continue to appreciate that it is only in an atmosphere of peace, order, and good government that we can deliver the dividends of democracy to our people. I implore all of you to let this realisation drive your actions at all times.

I thank you all.

Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.