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2027: My conditions for rejoining APC, by Kwankwaso

• Demands ‘strong promises’ on what NNPP would get

• Says he and his supporters got nothing under Buhari

• APC ready to welcome ex-gov – Scribe

Presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in the 2023 elections, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has agreed to return to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on strong terms.

The NNPP National leader wants “strong promises” from the ruling party and President Bola Tinubu.

The former Kano governor stated this while speaking to Hon. Buhari Bakwana, a former adviser on political affairs to Abdullahi Ganduje –the immediate past governor of the state.

Bakwana, a former APC member who had joined NNPP, alongside APC members from the 44 local government areas of Kano State, was with Kwankwaso at his Miller Road residence in Kano on Thursday.

The Nation gathered Bakwana is among those pressing on Sen. Kwankwaso to return to APC, on whose platform he won his second term election as governor of Kano state.

During the visit, Kwankwaso reminded his guests he and other key figures played a pivotal role in founding the APC in 2013.

Lamenting that he along other founders of the ruling APC have borne the brunt of political persecution in the process, Kwankwaso insisted that this time he must get “tangible benefits,” should he join the APC.

He, however, explained that the NNPP remained willing to engage in fresh negotiations, but warned that it would not accept to be used and dumped.

Kwankwaso said: “We are ready to join APC under strong conditions and promises. We will not allow anyone to use us and later dump us.

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“Discussions about a merger or return to APC must spell out tangible benefits for my party (NNPP).”

“If you are asking us to join APC, you must tell us what NNPP will gain. We have gubernatorial candidates in all the states and full structures nationwide. What will you offer them, if we join?” he asked.

“Nobody in this country will tell me the burden we took to form APC. We were the ones who led the creation of the party, and we were the first set of seven governors to declare support for it. ICPC, EFCC, and the police were all used against us (me and them), just to stop our plans.”

The NNPP national leader also recalled the frustrations of past alliances, accusing both APC and PDP of reneging on agreements.

He also lamented that he and the other APC founders did not benefit from the Muhammadu Buhari led-APC administration.

“Eight years of APC under the immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari gave us nothing, not even appreciation. In PDP, we asked for just a zonal party chairman, but they refused. We left peacefully and today we are strong, with integrity,” Kwankwaso said.

Meanwhile, the Kano state chapter of the APC yesterday expressed its readiness to welcome Kwankwaso back to the party.

The State Secretary of the party, Zakari Ibrahim Sarina, said the APC will not hesitate to welcome Kwankwaso back, provided he will be law abiding and respect the law and order and principles of the party.

Alhaji Sarina, however, cautioned that the NNPP National Leader should not think he will return to the ruling party and begin to pursue others for dominance.

On whether he is afraid of (Kwankwaso’s) dominance and control of party structure in Kano, if the merger is realised, the APC secretary insisted “Kwankwaso has no power to control APC.”

“Kwankwaso can’t come to APC and control a party that has national spread. APC is not NNPP which he established and controls.

“We are ready to welcome Kwankwaso back to APC, because his return is an added advantage to the ruling party.

“Another reason the party will be willing to have him is the peace and tranquility in Kano. We need social and economic development in Kano,” Sarina said.

Kwankwaso, in July held a closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the president’s official residence.

Addressing State House correspondents at the time, Kwankwaso said he discussed politics and governance with the president.

He also said he might work with Tinubu, but did not state the details.

Few days after the meeting, the former Kano governor accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of sidelining the northern region, alleging that national resources are being disproportionately channelled towards developing the South, the President’s home region.

“Let me advise the Federal Government on the distribution of federal resources,” the former Kano governor said on Thursday at the Kano State Stakeholders’ Dialogue on the 2025 Constitutional Amendment.

“From the information available to us, it’s like most of the national budget is now tilting in one direction in this country,” he added.

Kwankwaso also accused the ruling All Progressives Congress of lopsided allocation of scarce resources between the two regions of the country.

September 20, 2025
We’ll continue to uphold Buhari’s legacy, Tinubu assures family

• Visits widow, other family members

• Kaduna agog as President graces Yari’s son’s wedding

• Commissions Sultan Bello Mosque projects, hails Tantita’s intervention

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday paid a condolence visit to the family of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari in Kaduna, assuring them that his administration would sustain and uphold the values and legacies left behind by the departed leader.

The President, who was received at the Buhari family residence by the late President’s widow, Aisha, his eldest son, Yusuf, and other relatives, said the nation shared in their grief and would forever remember Buhari’s virtues.

According to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President said “we are just here to assure you that we share in your grief, we share in your pain. A loss in flesh is not a loss in the spirit, and the spirit that he left with us is a spirit of hard work, dedication, patriotism, and honesty, and we are doing that.

“We assure you and the entire family that we will continue with our leader’s legacy, the mark he made for Nigeria. We will continue on the path of honesty, integrity, and great character that he imbued in us. May God help Nigeria, keep us united and together in the promised land,” Tinubu said.

Responding in an emotional tone, Aisha Buhari thanked President Tinubu, the First Lady, and members of the government for their unwavering support since the passing of her husband.

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She said the visit was a source of comfort to the family and praised her late husband’s virtues, urging Nigerians to emulate them.

“My husband stood for honesty, integrity, and justice. I would like to pray for Nigeria, for peace to reign, for unity of the country, and for you, President Tinubu, to carry on with my late husband’s legacy of honesty, integrity, tolerance, accountability, and justice,” she said.

President Tinubu was accompanied on the visit by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, House of Representatives Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, and the governors of Kwara, Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq; Yobe, Mai Mala Buni; Borno, Babagana Zulum; and Sokoto, Ahmed Aliyu.

Also on the entourage were Minister of Finance, Wale Edun; Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu; Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle; and National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.

Earlier in Kaduna, President Tinubu graced the wedding of Nasirudeen Abdulaziz Yari, son of Senator Abdulaziz Yari, who represents Zamfara West.

Nasirudeen tied the knot with Safiyya Shehu Idris at the historic Sultan Bello Mosque in the Kaduna metropolis.

The President, joined by senior government officials, formally received the groom’s hand-in-marriage on behalf of the Yari family after the bride’s representative, Ibrahim Ashiru, confirmed the payment of the N1 million dowry.

In his remarks, Tinubu commended both families for upholding noble traditions and advised the young couple to build their marriage on faith, love, and mutual respect.

The colourful occasion was attended by dignitaries from across the country, including traditional rulers, political leaders, and captains of industry.

Prayers for the President and the nation were offered by renowned cleric Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau and the Chief Imam of the mosque, Dr Muhammad Suleiman.

September 20, 2025
Lagos Market Fire: Traders count losses as twin inferno gut business district

Lagos Island is reeling from one of its darkest days in recent memory. Within a span of 12 hours, two separate infernos, one at the upscale Afriland Towers on Broad Street, the other at the bustling Mandilas Market, tore through the country’s commercial heartbeat. The twin tragedies claimed lives, wiped out businesses worth billions and exposed dangerous lapses in safety protocols that left both corporate workers and market traders scrambling for survival, UDEH ONYEBUCHI, ZAINAB OLUFEMI and HALIMAH BALOGUN, report.

In a devastating 12-hour period that has sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre, twin fire outbreaks on Lagos Island have left a trail of destruction, claiming lives, obliterating businesses and exposing a chilling disregard for safety protocols in the heart of the nation’s economy.

The fires, which erupted almost simultaneously on Tuesday at the prestigious Afriland Towers on Broad Street and the bustling Mandilas Market, have resulted in confirmed fatalities and losses estimated in billions of naira, plunging traders and corporate employees into despair and financial ruin.

Afriland Towers: a corporate tragedy unfolds

The drama began in the upscale Marina area. Thick, black smoke billowed from the inverter to the basement of Afriland Towers, a seven-story landmark building that houses major institutions including the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), United Capital, Heirs, Avon, the United Bank for Africa (UBA) and Afriland itself, sending occupants scrambling for safety. The tower, which stands firm but scarred with broken windows, quickly emptied as workers rushed to escape the growing chaos.

A keke (tricycle) rider, who declined to give his name, said: “I had to help by spreading a foam, so that when they jumped, they could land on it. But some of them did and died because of the impact of the fall.”

The technical failure was compounded by a catastrophic human and structural error. The building’s safety design was fatally flawed. The staircase required an access card for entry while the security personnel had switched off power, which resulted in the elevators failing. With the staircase inaccessible to many and the smoke thickening, desperate workers were forced to break windows to escape the suffocating fumes.

A critical safety component was also missing because there was absence of a fire hose reel. “The staff could not access the staircase because there was no power in the elevator. People had to break the windows to escape the smoke,” said Emma, who sells on the roadside opposite the building.

The consequences were dire. Onyeka Igwe, a witness, narrated the horrifying scene: “Everybody was now running. I saw someone trying to jump down from the window seventh floor, some on the fifth, some on the fourth floor.”

He narrated further that a very good friend of his jumped out of the building and died.

Seun, a bus conductor, told the nation that he had to leave what he was doing to help the people that were trapped. “Immediately I saw the smoke and people were shouting, I had to rush and climbed. I saved five people before fire service came,” he said.

Tony Elumelu, the CEO of the United Bank for Africa (UBA), which has a branch in the building, said he cut short his trip to the United States.

“I am shattered by yesterday’s devastating incident at Afriland Towers that took the lives of our dear colleagues. No words can capture the magnitude of this loss,” he said in a personally signed statement, observing that a minute’s silence was held across all group companies.

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The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), which occupied the sixth and seventh floors, confirmed the tragic loss of four staff members: Ekelikhostse George, David Sunday-Jatto, Nkem Onyemelukwe, and Peter Ifaranmaye. The United Capital PLC also lost six employees, bringing the confirmed death toll from the Afriland fire to 10.

Mandilas: A trader’s nightmare repeated

As the embers at Afriland were still smouldering, a second, separate inferno occurred at about 8 pm, this time in the heart of the commercial market a plaza called ‘Central Plaza, Mandilas’.

Walking through the line of Central Plaza, the cause of the fire seemed almost preordained. An eyewitness noted how the wiring was “very close to each other and jam-packed,” with generators positioned facing one another, creating a tinderbox environment. The plaza, which accommodated shops selling clothes, shoes, and housed Bureau de Change operations, was razed.

The Special Adviser on Central Business District (CBD), Bola Olumegbon-Lawal, was unequivocal in blaming the incident on generators kept on the upper floors of the building; a practice the government had repeatedly warned against.

“I know they have a generator up there, and we have been telling them that they should all bring their generators to the ground floor. So generator is the cause of this fire,” she stated, announcing that the government was locking all non-compliant plazas indefinitely.

For the traders, the loss is catastrophic and personal. Ebuka Azu, a trader, was left speechless. “I am short of words, feeling like I am dreaming. Someone should wake me up because the last time we experienced this was in 2018, and now I have lost millions of naira.

“In terms of insurance, it is only those who are educated that insured theirs.”

Chinedu Okorie, a young trader recently settled by his boss, was inconsolable seeing his new beginning turn into ashes. “My oga (boss) had just settled me and I opened a shop, selling clothes. But everything is gone. Where do I start from?” he queried.

The human cost extended beyond shop owners. Commission agents like Peter Olushola, who earned commissions bringing customers to traders, also saw his livelihood vanish. “This is where I get money to take care of myself. My boss’s business is gone,” he said.

The Iya Oloja of Mandilas, Alhaja Rashidat Adeniji, confirmed that the losses ran into billions of naira. She pleaded for government intervention, noting that many traders were operating on loans.

“We sell luxury goods in Mandilas. It is one of the biggest markets in Lagos State. The situation is beyond our expectations. It is beyond something we can handle.”

A jeweller from Ebonyi State estimated his loss at more than ₦30 million. “The business that I have done for many years, everything was burnt to ashes just like that,” he said, visibly shaken.

Another shop owner, a victim of a previous fire in the same area, questioned the possibility of government help. “What can the government do? They didn’t help the first time, how can they help now?” he wondered.

Mandilas unsafe power practices

Beyond the destroyed goods and shattered shops, the Mandilas inferno has laid bare a deeper crisis: unsafe power practices which traders and customers say have long been ignored.

The wiring in Mandilas, by many accounts, was nothing to write home about. Each shop was connected by a chaotic web of wrong connections; a disaster waiting for the perfect spark.

Mary Okonkwo, a regular buyer of fabrics, said: “Every time I come here, I see wires hanging loosely and lying close to one another. I always feared this would happen one day.”

Ibrahim Lawal, a passerby, pointed to the ruins as proof of negligence: “Look at the ruins. This was avoidable. The way they tap light here is not ordinary. You would see 10 people pulling from one small cable.”

Chukwuma Nnaji, a passenger, said the issue went beyond one fire: “This is about our culture of ignoring safety. Everyone knows Mandilas wiring is dangerous. Just look at how the connection is. Something that is very avoidable.”

Tinubu Akinwunmi condemned the unsafe practices on X, saying: “See the way people tap electricity in that market; it is awful. The market must be rebuilt, and all electrical works perfectly redone with proper safety concerns addressed before reopening.”

September 20, 2025
We must work to make Rivers peace permanent-Fubara

Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara has called for commitment by all stakeholders to make the existing peace in the State permanent.

“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.

“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,” Fubara said in a post-emergency broadcast.

The Governor in his address hailed the intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in resolving the political crisis and restoring democratic governance fatherly and decisive.

Fubara said: “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.

Read Also: Fubara urges stakeholders to sustain peace in first post-emergency broadcast

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

He described the last six months of emergency rule as challenging and recalled the political crisis led to the abortion of democracy in the state.

Fubara further remembered the steps President Tinubu took to reconcile all the warring parties and said he resisted the pressure to challenge the emergency rule because of his conviction that no sacrifce was too great to secure peace.

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

“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.

“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.

“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, 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”.

Fubara assured persons expressing genuine fears, frustrations, and uncertainties over the nature of the peace process, that their concerns were valid and understood.

He said: ” 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’.

“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”.

The governor said despite the turbulence, his administration made credible milestones in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and other key sectors over the last two years.

He noted that his government was faced with immediate responsibility to return to the path of governance and development by completing the projects it started and ensuring none of them was starved of funds or neglected.

On his relationship with the House of Assembly going forward, Fubara said: “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”.

The governor thanked “the resilient people of Rivers for their patience, courage, and peaceful conduct during the six months of emergency rule.

He extended his 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 them through the challenging period.

Fubara appealed to Rivers people to draw strength from their shared identity saying that their diversity remained their greatest asset, and their unity the strongest guarantee of their 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”, he said.

Referring to Wike as “our leader”, Fubara thanked him for committing to the prompt resolution of the political impasse in the state.

He thanked the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio; the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr. Abbas Tajudeen; and the distinguished members of the National Assembly for the role they all played in the resolution of the matter.

Fubara hailed the Speaker and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, respected elders, stakeholders and all concerned citizens for working together to resolve their differences and ensuring peace and harmony in the state.

He called on all citizens of Rivers regardless of political, religious, or ethnic affiliation, to join hands in rebuilding the £tate and securing a future of dignity and progress for everyone.

September 19, 2025
BREAKING: Fubara to address Rivers by 6pm

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has scheduled a state broadcast for 6 p.m. today following his return after the lifting of the emergency rule.

Speaking shortly after arriving at the Government House in Port Harcourt, Fubara said he was overwhelmed by the warm reception from the people.

He added that the broadcast would provide an opportunity to acknowledge stakeholders who played vital roles in restoring normalcy to the state.

Read Also: Fubara waves supporters, departs airport for Government House

Fubara said, “I am humbled by what I saw at the airport. I was also briefed about what happened here yesterday. That reception really humbled me. It shows love, confidence, and solidarity. It is not just a celebration.

“The massive reception by the number of people who came out to celebrate is a reaffirmation of the bond between this government and the people that we are serving.

“I want to assure you that we will continue to do those things that have made you people love us. I want to appreciate everyone and to say that we love you.

“We are going to address the state officially by 6 pm, and in that broadcast, every authority that gave support to this normally will be properly recognized”.

September 19, 2025
BREAKING: Fubara arrives Port Harcourt Airport

The Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara has arrived the Port Harcourt Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, Rivers State.

Fubara’s aircraft touched down at about 11.55am as his supporters waited for him to step down from the aircraft.

Details shortly…

September 19, 2025
BREAKING: Supporters besiege Port Harcourt Airport for Fubara

Supporters have gathered at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, Rivers State for the arrival of reinstated Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Among persons waiting to receive the Governor are members of his disbanded political family, the Simplified Movement, including the sacked Mayor of Port Harcourt City, Ichemati Ezebunwo, popularly known as Sugar Mayor.

Some members of Women Unite for SIM, a prayer group, were also sighted among the persons waiting for him at the airport’s car park.

On Thursday, the supporters in their large number were at the Government House gate to welcome the Governor but dispersed after Fubara failed to show up.

Details shortly…

September 19, 2025
Again, NEC dithers on state police deliberation, adoption

The National Economic Council (NEC), at its 152nd meeting in Abuja yesterday, failed to deliberate on the creation of state police.

The Nation gathered that the issue, which many believe is central to addressing the nation’s security, did not even feature on the meeting’s agenda.

It was reported that the matter was stepped down at a previous session.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has, in recent weeks, strongly signalled his support for state police, describing it as “inevitable” in his administration’s security reforms.

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“The security challenges that we are facing are surmountable. Yes, we have porous borders. We inherited weaknesses that could have been addressed earlier. It is a challenge that we must fix, and we are facing it,” the President had said while hosting a delegation from Katsina State led by Governor Dikko Radda.

In May, the 19 Northern governors formally endorsed the proposal for state police, citing the need for more effective, locally driven security management.

The governors also urged the National Assembly to expedite work on necessary legislation to enable its establishment.

Earlier, more than 34 state governors expressed support for the initiative, when the federal government set up a committee to explore the modalities.

Information and Orientation Minister Mohammed Idris confirmed at the time that the President and governors had agreed on a framework.

September 19, 2025
Why reinstated Fubara delayed return to Govt House

• Governor to resume today

• House ready to receive correspondents from governor

Unknown to the supporters waiting to receive him back into the Government House yesterday, reinstated Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara was airborne at the time they were drumming and singing in front of the facility in Port Harcourt.

Fubara and Rivers State House of Assembly members got the nod to return to office as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu terminated the six-month emergency rule at midnight on Wednesday.

In anticipation of his resumption, supporters of the governor thronged the Government House in large numbers as early as 6am drumming and singing, but Fubara was nowhere to be found.

Nobody gave any indication to the crowd as to why he did not turn up.

But Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike dropped the hint last night when he appeared on a national television programme, that Fubara left Europe where he was on vacation yesterday morning.

But the lawmakers has a session presided over by Speaker Martins Amaewhule to signify their return to duties.

During the session, they expressed their readiness to start receiving correspondent from the governor.

During the first post-emergency rule plenary, the lawmakers unfolded plans to review the budget passed during the tenure of Administrator Ibok-Ete Ibas, who bowed out on Wednesday night following a broadcast.

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Wike, who assured that peace had returned to the state, said he spoke with Fubara on Wednesday ahead of the lifting of the emergency rule by President Tinubu.

He said stakeholders were now committed to moving the state forward.

He said: “As I speak to you, as of yesterday, I spoke to the governor. I told him I was leaving that night to come back, and he told me he was leaving this morning.

“So, I can tell you that, by the grace of God, peace has returned. And look at what the Assembly did today to set the tone — you can see peace; you can see we are prepared, for the interest of the state. Let’s move forward.”

Asked who among them placed the call to the other, Wike said it is not important who called, adding that what mattered is that there is peace again in the state.

Wike added that he has forgiven Fubara, saying there is no more conflict between him and his successor.

He said: “I have already said that we’ve been speaking. I will not engage with a man I have not forgiven. Everything is over. I am not a politician, who says one thing today and another tomorrow. We must move forward.”

The FCT minister also criticised those he said are opposed to the return of peace in the state, saying they are only interested in fuelling the crisis.

No communication from governor

There was anxiety as Fubara did not resume, despite the handover by Ibas.

The governor, who was not sighted anywhere in the state, did not also make any broadcast to the people.

Fubara’s supporters under the aegis of the disbanded ‘Simplified Movement’ from the 23 local governments besieged the Government House gate to receive him from 6 am.

Victor Oko-Jumbo, and sacked council chairmen – Chijoke Ihunwo and Ichemati Ezebunwo – were among loyalists, who led others to wait for the governor.

They turned the arena into a carnival, with flutes, drums, dancing troupes and other musical instruments, to welcome Fubara.

The supporters occupied the stretch of Nnamdi Azikiwe Road and adjoining streets, blocking the area and denying commuters access to the roads.

Motorists were forced to divert their vehicles to the internal roads, which were partly blocked by the supporters’ vehicles.

After waiting for seven hours, the crowd began to disperse when there was no positive response to the enquiries by their leaders.

Operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) at the Government House gate did not allow anybody to enter.

House of Assembly resumes plenary

However, the House of Assembly reconvened at the conference hall in the legislative quarters, which had served as its temporary chamber since their official chamber on Moscow Road was bombed by arsonist and pulled down by the state government.

Efforts by Ibas to complete reconstruction of the Assembly quarters proved abortive.

The lawmakers set agenda for the remaining part of the third session through a motion by the House Leader, Major Jack, on behalf of eight other co-sponsors.

They said the agenda contained in the motion reflected current realities.

Amaewhule commended President Tinubu for restoring democratic institutions in the state.

He said the House would work with the governor and abide by the terms of the peace parley and the Constitution in the interest of good governance.

The House resolved to call on Fubara to forward the list of commissioner-nominees for screening and confirmation in line with the Constitution.

The House called on the governor to forward an Appropriation Bill to cover the remaining part of the year.

The lawmakers resolved to probe the six months emergency rule, with a view to determining the award of contracts and expenditure from the state’s Consolidated Revenue Fund.

They emphasised the need to ascertain the budget passed by the National Assembly and received by Ibas.

The lawmakers said reviewing the budget was important because the 10th Assembly did not make any input into it.

The resolutions were taken after a voice vote by 26 members, excluding the Deputy Speaker, Dumle Maol, who was absent.

The Speaker said: “We never sighted the budget by the National Assembly, but only read it on the pages of newspapers. We don’t know its content. No member of the House is against the motions; there is need to ascertain what came into Rivers State and expenditure by the administrator”.

Amaewhule adjourned the sitting till 10 am on Monday.

The motion, as read by House leader, said: “Pursuant to the foregoing, we wish to respectfully pray this august House to resolve as follows:

“Commend the President and Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for restoring democratic institutions in the state;

“Declare that the House would continue to abide by all the terms of the peace parley and the constitution of the Nigeria in the interest of peace and good governance of Rivers State;

“Call on the Governor of Rivers State Sir Siminalayı Fubara to forward the list of his nominees for appointment as commissioners into the state Executive Council in line with the Constitution and terms or the peace раrlеу;

“Call on the governor to commence the process of coming up with an Appropriation Law for the remaining part of the year to address current realities;

“Ascertain what transpired in the last six months with regards to award or contracts and expenditure from the consolidated revenue fund of the state.

“Immediately outline the legislative agenda for the remaining part or the third session of the 10th Assembly to reflect current realities;

“Make any other orders this House may deem necessary in the circumstance.”

The Speaker commended the sponsors of the motion, lamenting that the emergency rule prevented the legislative business of the House.

Amaewhule said: “But we thank God that we’re back. There’s need to abide by the terms of the peace parley. I listened to you all and no member is against the prayers, especially on commendation for the President, forwarding of commissioners nominees by the Governor and review of what transpired in the last six months and what happened to the budget.

“If the state needs to move forward, the issue of budget and others should be taken into consideration. The governor should liaise with us regarding the prayers.”

September 19, 2025
Wike replies Tambuwal over leadership comment

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Thursday fired back at former Sokoto Governor Aminu Tambuwal.

Wike spoke on Thursday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme monitored by our correspondent.

He said; “What do you mean by leadership and friendship? You cannot talk about leadership and ignore the person,” Wike said.

He accused Tambuwal and Atiku Abubakar of political inconsistency.

“These are people who have been consistently inconsistent. When you are a consistent betrayer, what do you expect?” he added.

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Wike alleged that Tambuwal had his eyes on a Senate role if Atiku won the presidency. He said both men frequently switched political parties for personal gain.

Tambuwal, appearing on the same programme earlier in September, declared loyalty to Atiku over Wike.

“When it comes to leadership of this country and leadership of the people, I would rather support Atiku than Nyesom Wike,” he said.

The rift between Wike and key PDP figures dates back to 2023. Then, Wike criticized Atiku, Tambuwal, and Bukola Saraki for abandoning zoning commitments that could have favoured the South.

Wike also reminded viewers that he once backed Tambuwal’s bid for Speaker of the House of Representatives despite the party’s preference.

Tambuwal, however, stressed that political disputes should not be mistaken for personal animosity.

“If Atiku comes in here and Wike requests my phone, I will give it to him as a personal friend,” he said.

September 18, 2025