Headline

Revealed: Governor Umo Eno’s Communication to Senator Akpabio and His Response

Published

2 years ago

May 4, 2024

Admin

… Hosts State Banquet in Honour of Senate President, Akpabio

Governor Pastor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State is reaching out to the federal government to foster collaboration aimed at accelerating the development of the Ibom Deep Seaport and an Oil Palm refinery.

Speaking at a State Banquet organised in honour of the president of the 10th Senate, Sen. Godswill Akpabio at the Government House Banquet Hall, Uyo, he urged the Senate President to help facilitate the projects for the good of the State and country at large.

He noted that it is a privilege and a blessing for the State to have a Senate President under his leadership as State Governor, and urged him to bring the dividends of democracy back home.

According to him, “Your Excellency, I had some requests while we were in my office, and I want to please make it public, they’re just three. The first thing I want to request is that you help facilitate a partnership with the Federal Government on the Ibom Deep Seaport.

“The second request is that we want to partner with the federal government to develop our oil palm plantation and to have an industrial oil mill in this state. This is the kind of thing that will bring employment and benefit our people. Finally, Your Excellency, we would like to pay a Thank You visit to Mr. President across party lines. We would like to go thank him for standing by you and supporting you.

“Your Excellency, we thank you and we want to assure you that we will continue to collaborate with you to bring development to our state and our nation at large,” he said.

Governor Eno appreciated President Bola Tinubu for the support given to an Akwa Ibom son to emerge as Senate President and assured the President of continuous support to enable him succeed.

“We want to thank the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We thank him for standing by you, and supporting the vision of your colleagues that today, Akwa Ibom has the number three citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“That’s the joy we have and that is the prize we carry, and we will continue to assure you that we will partner with you, partner with the Federal Government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” the Governor added.

The Governor who had earlier recieved the Senate President in his office on a courtesy visit, appreciated Sen. Akpabio for his visionary leadership when he served as governor of the State, and urged him to do even more as number three citizen of the country.

Pastor Eno who was elated by the visit, said “Your Excellency, it is very clear from Psalm 133:1, “how good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! For me as a person, I believe that God brought me here by grace to bring about reconciliation. There is this saying that “together we stand, and divided we fall.

“Tonight, that portion of scripture has come tru3

Sitting here again as a man who laid the foundation and built this edifice many years ag is heart -warming . I know you have been in Akwa Ibom State many times, but this is the first official visit of the distinguished senate president to the seat of Government of Akwa Ibom State.

“We do not take it for granted. We want to thank God for lifting you up as a beacon of light for our State. We want to thank your colleagues that found you worthy to be made the leader of the Senate, and the Senate President,” he said.

He appreciated all his predecessors for laying good foundation for the state saying, “we have a very proud genealogy, and each and everyone of you that went ahead of us have done such a fantastic job that our role is just to keep maintaining like you have noticed and attempt to add few more things by the grace of God.”

The Governor appreciated other Senators for the support shown their president and especially for accompanying him on the courtesy visit as well as the gala night, and urged them to keep up the team spirit.

Earlier in his remarks, Senator Godswill Akpabio appreciated Governor Umo Eno for his spirit of peace and unity, and described him as an apostle of peace.

He specifically appreciated the Governor for the honour done him by the warm reception and for always identifying with him and others irrespective of political party affiliation.

Senator Akpabio commended the Governor for his achievements so far, and urged him to continue the good works and strive to do more.

Headline

2027: Obi Warns Against Rigging, Urges Voters to Be Vigilant

Published

5 days ago

February 17, 2026

Eric

A former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, has issued a stern warning to election officials and stakeholders, urging Nigerians to ensure that every vote counts in the 2027 general election.

Obi stressed that anyone who attempts to manipulate or obstruct the counting of votes will be held accountable for undermining the country’s democracy.

“Unlike in the past, in 2027 our votes MUST count, and all those who are there not to count the votes will be counted among those destroying Nigeria,” he wrote on X on Monday, February 16, 2026.

Obi, who has declared that he will contest the 2027 presidential election, advised voters to stay at polling units after casting their ballots to observe the counting and transmission of results, emphasising that preventing the proper tallying of votes would attract legal consequences.

The former Labour Party presidential candidate said: “I encourage everyone to remain at the polling units after voting to count and witness the counting and transmission of results. Those who refuse to allow the votes count will be made to count the full weight of the law against rigging.

“Let me reiterate: if you do not count our votes, we will count you among those who destroy our democracy, thereby destroying our future, and you must answer to the law.”

Headline

APC National Secretary Basiru Demands Wike’s Resignation As FCT Minister

Published

5 days ago

February 17, 2026

Eric

The National Secretary of All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, has called on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to resign from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet, accusing him of undue interference in the ruling party’s internal affairs.

Basiru’s demand followed Wike’s warning earlier on Monday, in which the former Rivers State governor cautioned the APC scribe to “leave Rivers State alone” and refrain from meddling in its politics. Wike, while addressing supporters during a thank-you visit to Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State, described Rivers as a “no-go area,” warning that those who interfere “may burn their hands.”

But, responding to the FCT Minister’s warning in a statement issued from Osogbo, Osun State, Senator Basiru fired back, describing Wike’s remarks as a “tirade” and “uncouth.”

“My attention has been drawn to the tirade of the Minister of the FCT against my person and my office as National Secretary of the APC,” Basiru said. “It is shocking that such an innocuous statement could elicit such uncouth responses from no less than a member of the Federal Executive Council.”

The APC National Secretary defended his earlier remarks, insisting he merely reaffirmed that governors, regardless of political differences, deserve respect as leaders of the party in their respective states.

“For the avoidance of doubt, our records indicate that Minister Nyesom Wike is not a member of our party, the APC. He therefore lacks the locus to dabble into the affairs of our party,” he declared.

“As National Secretary of the APC, I am imbued with the responsibility to protect the interests of the party and all its members. My activities cannot be confined to my home state, Osun State.”

Basiru also dismissed Wike’s allegation that he and other APC leaders were scrambling for a N600 billion “largesse” in Rivers State’s coffers, describing it as “cheap blackmail.”

“My background and track record are of unquestionable integrity,” Basiru stated. “I challenge him to prove his allegations or we may meet in court.”

The APC chieftain further warned Wike against issuing threats, saying he would not be intimidated.

“Wike is not God and may be overplaying his political card,” Basiru cautioned. “My faith is in God, and I will not succumb to cheap threats such as the one from him.”

He maintained that Wike’s support for President Tinubu does not make him an APC member.

“Millions of non-APC Nigerians also support the President, and Wike’s case is no different,” Basiru said. “He cannot bring the spirit of the PDP into the APC or destabilize our structures in Rivers State.”

Concluding his statement, Basiru said Wike must make a choice between serving as a non-party technocrat or interfering in APC matters.

“He cannot be in the Federal Executive Council of an APC government and be causing confusion within our party. The honourable thing to do is to resign his appointment as Minister,” he declared.

Headline

Alleged N432bn Fraud: El-Rufai Spends Monday Night in EFCC Custody

Published

5 days ago

February 17, 2026

Eric

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, spent Monday night in the custody of the EFCC following hours of interrogation over alleged financial misappropriation amounting to N432 billion.

El-Rufai arrived at the EFCC headquarters in Jabi, Abuja, around 11:00 a.m. on Monday, February 16, 2026, in response to an invitation reportedly issued in December.

Although he presented himself voluntarily, sources within the anti-graft agency disclosed late Monday that he would remain in custody until investigators reached what they described as “advanced stages” of their questioning.

The probe is said to stem from a 2024 report by the Kaduna State House of Assembly, which accused El-Rufai’s administration between 2015 and 2023 of diverting public funds through multiple state channels.

A senior EFCC official confirmed that investigators are reviewing contracts and financial transactions executed during his eight-year tenure.

Tension flared at the EFCC premises as hundreds of supporters and critics gathered shortly after news of his appearance broke.

Supporters accused the Federal Government of political persecution, chanting solidarity slogans, while a group identified as the Mega National Movement for Good Governance demanded accountability, insisting that no public official is above the law.

Security operatives deployed teargas to disperse the crowd after clashes reportedly broke out between the opposing groups.

In a related development, the Department of State Services (DSS) filed a three-count charge against El-Rufai at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The charges, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, reportedly concern the alleged unlawful interception of telephone communications belonging to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

The filing followed a recent interview in which the former governor claimed he had listened to conversations in which Ribadu allegedly directed security operatives to arrest him upon his return from Egypt last week.

El-Rufai’s legal team, led by Ubong Akpan, has described the investigations as arbitrary and a violation of his constitutional rights.

Meanwhile, indications emerged that the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) has also scheduled him for questioning on Wednesday, February 18.

As of Tuesday morning, it remained unclear whether the EFCC would seek a court order to extend his detention or proceed with formal charges. Several of his former aides are reportedly already in custody as investigations continue.