Latest news with #RiversState
BBC News
13-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
'Wetin we want na make goment clear dem, no be pardon' – Reactions follow presidential pardon for Ogoni 9
Esther Kiobel, wife of one of di Ogoni Nine, Barinem Kiobel say she thank President Tinubu say e don take di first step to give justice to di 'Ogoni 9'. She tok dis one afta Nigeria president Bola Tinubu for im independence day speech, grant presidential pardon to di famous Ogoni nine wey dem execute under di military rule of Lat e General Sani Abacha. Her tok follow di many reactions wey don follow di National honours and Presidential pardon wey Oga Tinubu grant grant on Thursday. Kiobel say e don reach many decades wey she don dey fight for justice for her husband and she believe say dis tin wey di President don do na a way forward. "I don dey fight for am [my husband] to dey exonerated becos di Abacha goment in collaboration wit Shell Oil kill dem. So I know say e don take long but I believe say justice go surely come to pass." Madam Kiobel say she go like make di Nigerian goment retry dat case as dem as families of di Ogoni 9 go through a lot and survive by di grace of God. "I dey alive becos na God dey keep me and my husband spirit sef dey help to keep me to make sure say we get justice becos e no commit any crime. Dat tin na injustice but we need justice." Kiobel widow say many nights she don shed tears for her bed wen she remember how most of di women die, plenti pipo die for dis cause and her husband life wey also bin dey cut short bifor im time. So justice to clear dia name naim dem want. 'Ogoni 9' na a group of nine activists from di Ogoni region of Rivers State for southern Nigeria, wey opposed di operating practices of di Royal Dutch Shell oil corporation for di Niger Delta region. Di military goment for Nigeria bin arrest and set up a special tribunal against dem for murders of four Ogoni chiefs - Albert Badey, Edward Kobani, Samuel Orage and Theophilus Orage, wey dem kill for Gokana. R. Boele, Ogoni. Social activist and head of di Movement for di Survival of di Ogoni People (MOSOP), Ken Saro-Wiwa, alongside eight of im fellow leaders - Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel, and John Kpuine—bin dey on trial under accuse say na dem incite di murder of di four Ogoni chiefs and na on 10 November 1995 di Nigerian Goment execute dem by hanging for Port Harcourt Prison. On democracy day June 12, 2025, Nigeria President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during a speech to a joint session of di National Assembly, grant Presidential pardon on di Ogoni Nine and confer on dem Posthumous National awards. 'Dem dey pardon pesin wey dey innocent?' Ogoni activist, Fegalo Nsuke say di act by di President na di first time any Nigerian President don acknowledge say a crime bin dey committed against di Ogoni Nine and so e praise di action of di President in giving dem such acknowledgement and granting dem a presidential pardon and national honours. "President Tinubu make a bold step wey I think suppose dey help us towards achieving a good healing process. Since 1995 when dis executions take place, no Nigerian President don admit say a wrongdoing bin happen. I must admit say yesterday President Tinubu don admit say dat na injustice and e go further to grant a state pardon." Fegalo Nsuke say while dem appreciate di goodwill of di president, a state pardon na sometin wey dem dey give pipo wey commit an offense and from all available information, di Ogoni Nine dey innocent as such dem wonder wetin di state pardon dey for. Oga Nsuke say wetin dem dey ask for na say beyond giving National honours on di Ogoni Nine, dem go like make di federal goment commission an enquiry into the trial process as dem insist say di decision to kill Ken Saro-Wiwa bin dey taken even bifor dem establish di tribunal. "Dat tribunal bin dey established primarily to kill Ken Saro-Wiwa becos im challenge di system wey bin dey exploit di Ogoni pipo and oda parts of di Niger Delta at di time and so di goment decide to kill am and in dat process, eight odas come fall victims. Also, environmental rights defender Celestine Akpobari say a pardon dey given to somebodi wey commit an offense. "Wetin di Ogoni pipo and human rights community dey ask for na exoneration. So I bin dey expect Mr President to set up a judicial panel of enquiry to do a review of dat kangaroo trial wey sentenced Ken to death. I bin dey expect say dat go happen and from dia dem go dey exonerated completely."
BBC News
04-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Fubara meeting wit Tinubu na sign say peace don dey near for Rivers politics?
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu meeting wit suspended Governor of Rivers State for im Lagos residence dey fuel speculations say di State of emergency declared for Rivers State and suspension of di fit dey lifted soon? Dis meeting wey hold bypass di Minister of di Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for di political tok-tok, wey dey fuel speculations wey dey make many pipo dey feel say di suspended governor fit dey reinstated soon. Di meeting, wey hold behind closed doors for di President private Bourdillon residence for Ikoyi, Lagos, mark di second known meeting between Tinubu and Fubara in recent times. Di first meeting na a four-hour meeting wey happun for London. E hold while di President bin dey recover from medical treatment in Germany. One tin wey dey noticeable from both meetings na di absence of Nyesom Wike, di political godfather and critic of Fubara, wey don also admit say e bin no dey aware of di President plan to declare a state of emergency for di State wey happen on 28 March 2025, more than two months ago. Wike later confam for one media chat say e no bin dey consulted bifor di suspension of democratic institutions in Rivers State. Di imposition of emergency rule for Rivers State, wey President Tinubu announce after prolonged political unrest, lead to suspension of all elected institutions and di appointment of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (rtd) as sole administrator—a move wey don draw sharp criticisms from civil society groups, legal scholars, and opposition politicians. 'Handshake no mean anytin until di State of emergency dey lifted' - Ann Kio Briggs' One of such pesins wey don criticise dis imposition of di State of emergency and a elder for Rivers State na Ann Kio Briggs, a notable Niger Delta rights activist. She tell BBC Pidgin say a handshake between Governor Fubara and President fit mean a lot of tins but until di State of emergency dey lifted and democratic rules reinstated for di State, e no make sense. Ann Kio Briggs say di State of emergency for Rivers still no dey acceptable and wen she see di picture of di handshake between Fubara and Tinubu, e still no remove di reality of di impact of di state of emergency on di State and di pipo. "No be about a handshake wit di President but na about weda di President understand wetin dey go on for Rivers State. Na about di President listening to di pipo of Rivers State and more critically, na about wetin Governor Siminialayi Fubara dey prepared to do for di pipo of Rivers State and to realise say just becos pesin dey prepared to do somtin no mean say dat na di best tin for di pipo, if di pipo no agree wit am. Foto dem wey di presidency release afta di meeting show Tinubu and Fubara dey smile, a gesture wey many pipo feel say fit signal say negotiations dey progress behind di scenes. 'Na good sign for Rivers State' - Henry Ekine For Henry Ekine wey be lawyer and di National legal adviser, Committee for Human Rights, say di handshake between Fubara and Tinubu na good signal as govnor Fubara wey still be di elected govnor of Rivers State get right to visit and interact with di President. E tell BBC Pidgin say e dey okay to speculate say such visit fit give an indication of a possible truce and lifting of di suspension on di Governor. Ekine say Section 305 of di Constitution wey President Tinubu rely on to declare di State of emergency na to di effect say di State of emergency fit dey lifted at any time, even a day after di proclamation. So e no mean say e must complete di six months wey bin dey declared bifor di emergency fit dey lifted. "E dey possible say about three months into di State of emergency di President fit exercise dat discretion or power again to even lift di State of emergency, but e dey important to note say di President fit lift a part of dat State of emergency e declare. "Di possibility dey say di President fit lift di suspension of di Governor of Rivers State and di House of Assembly while di State of emergency go continue until di six months end. "I bin don tok bifor say di State of emergency fit dey declared without suspending di governor or di House of Assembly. So e mean say di governor fit dey called back to office and di State of emergency continue for di remaining three months. "Seeing di President and di govnor of Rivers State in dat very cordial posture for di picture na clear indication say peace fit dey very close, especially as di Governor sef don tok say discussions dey go on. Dat na di best for Rivers State." E tok. Any end in sight? Meanwhile, Vice Admiral Ibas Rtd still dey kontinu to act as usual, wey dey raise concerns say di emergency rule fit dey extended or institutionalized. On Tuesday, e announce di appointment of 11 new permanent secretaries for Rivers State, wey e swear in on wednesday and dis action dey further deepen fears say di interim arrangement fit become permanent. Despite public silence from both di presidency and di governor media teams regarding di meetings, political observers note say di timing, wey dey come just few days to Democracy Day, dey suggest a calculated effort to restore normalcy while managing di internal gbege within di PDP and di broader political implications for 2027. Wetin Wike don tok so far? For media chat on Monday, Wike say e no get any personal grudge against Fubara but insist say di govnor go align imself wit individuals e describe as "enemies of di State," wey include former PDP National Chairman Prince Uche Secondus, former Transportation Minister Dr. Abiye Sekibo, and former lawmakers Austin Opara, Lee Maeba, and Celestine Omehia—eey hin be former allies but now don turn rival. Wike tok and contradictions don further shake di political waters for Rivers becos as e dey call for loyalty to President Tinubu leadership, e also dey lament say e dey sidelined from critical decisions regarding im home state. Wetin Governor Fubara don tok so far? Meanwhile, Governor Fubara dey mainly silent since all dis tins dey happun. Wen e handover of state affairs to di sole administrator, Fubara urge im supporters to remain calm and avoid divisive actions. During Late Pa Edwin Clark night of tributes, e lambast some of di pipo wey dey protest about di State of emergency and criticise to dey careful with wetin dem dey tok and to ask am weda eem don check with am to see if e gree with dem? E say im spirit don comot for Goment House but e still dey committed to di peace process and to work in di best interest of di State but say e for good if pipo no use dia actions and toks to spoil di peace process Wey dey ongoing. For im Democracy Day massage on 29 May, e praise Tinubu for intervening in di political crisis and tell di pipo of di State to keep hope alive. As June 12 dey approach, all eyes dey on di presidency to see weda President Tinubu go lift di emergency rule and restore democratic governance in Rivers - or e go kontinu to play di long game for di political gameboard? Na wetim di pipo dey wait to see.
BBC News
01-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Amaechi defend im decision say e no vote Tinubu, di tok about poverty and failure of goment
Poverty and how di current goment dey run Nigeria become di koko of discussion wen a former cabinet minister gather pipo for Abuja. Rotimi Amaechi serve as minister for transportation for eight years under former Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari. Despite say im na member of di ruling party for Nigeria, di All progressive congress (APC), Amaechi no hesitate tackle di current goment of president Bola Tinubu. "I meet President Tinubu for Yola and I tell am say I no go work for you and I no go vote for you," Amaechi tok for di event wey hold for Abuja. Di programme na to mark Amaechi, a former Rivers state govnor 60th birthday wia most of di guests tok about di situation for Nigeria. Di birthday wey turn to talking point begin trend for social media as di celebrate and politicians tok some tins kain tins. Di fastest growing industries for Nigeria na politics and criminality Di guest speaker, Dr Chidi Amuta wey tok about poverty as e dey affect Nigerians explain say for a democratic system, di more you dey closer to power di more you go dey closer to resources. E say di two dey related sake of say di pipo wey need power for democracy always need di population wey be di pipo and most of dis pipo wey make up di population dey poor. Im say who you vote into power dey relative to how you fit take prosper. E add say di kind of democracy wey dey happun for Africa na "Democracy from di top na be sake of economic empowerment and revolution'. E say poverty for Nigeria don get national security implications "we dey see see different kinds of crime, kidnapping, armed robbery wey no go end no mata how much you budget for am sake of say di fundamental issue na poverty," "Di fastest growing industries for Nigeria na politics and criminality, becos of di fast returns dem dey get from politics ... and politics don weaponise poverty" According to him na why politicians fit go to any length to enta power. Poverty dey overwhelm Nigeria - Cardinal Onaiyekan Cardinal John Onaiyekan, former Archbishop, Catholic Diocese of Abuja wey be one of di panelists say di kain poverty wey Nigeria dey face dey 'degrading'. "Dem born me into a poor family but our kind of poverty dat time bin get dignity. Wen you dey inside poverty wey don remove your dignity from you sotay you no fit tink well again, how you wan take build a nation like dat?" Cardinal Onaiyekan tok say na di greed of pipo dey cause poverty sake of say God wey create di world and di humanbeings inside tok for all religious books say im provide wetin go reach evribody. "God don already provide of di needs of evri Nigerian wit reources wey go solve all our needs so we no suppose to dey poor, so poverty no dey natural. Im say na pipo dey make pipo poor for a purpose wey be to control dem. "Poverty no be only mismanagement , e dey criminal and blasphemous, you dey sabotage di plan and purpose for God to humanity and no be wetin prayer and fasting go fit solve. Wetin go solve am na if di pipo wey dey manage our resources do am well to make sure say no pikin sleep wit hunger na only dem e go dey well wit us" im conclude. 'I bin no sabi wetin poverty be until I become Emir' - Sanusi Lamido Sanusi Di Emir of Kano Sanusi Lamido chook mouth for di poverty mata as e say di statistic of povery for Nigeria dey veri bad, but di situation worse pass di numbers. Im say you need to see poverty face to face bifor you go understand wetin e be. "Wen you go any village, see di kain water dem dey drink, di kain house wey dem dey live, wen dem tell you say school dey for di village and na just two classroom di school get, wey no get roof and no teacher. Wen you see malnutrition and see how dia pikin dem be, na dat time you go understand wetin poverty be." Im say di poverty for towns like Lagos and Kano no be di real one, I ask if evribody love di pipo or dem just want to rule ova dem?. "Di kwesion we go ask na weda we really love Nigerians as human being or we just love di name. E conclude wit statement wia e say, "di pipo wey say dem wan stop poverty bifor Nigeria enta crisis in future, make dem stop becos Nigeria dey inside crisis already" 'Nigerians dey give power to pipo wey no dey competent to lead' - El Rufai Nasir El-Rufai say time no dey enof to tok about all di work wey him and Amaechi don do togeda,. From political conspiracies, di successes and di failures dia fights and settlements. "Our last quarel na wen im lose di presidential primaries im bin dey blame me becos I suppose to be a magician, im tok say like say i support am im for win. "As many pipo come meet me say my broda (Ameachi) dey vex for me, I tell dem say make dem wait, wen Nigeria enta big troubleim go comeback and we go work togeda. "And see us for hia todega becos Nigeria dey inside di biggest trouble since 1914. We dey work togeda now, dey conspire to form coalition to see how we go take Nigeria back on track becos Nigeria dey off track" For di subject matter, im add say im no beliv say politicians dey make pipo poor but di main problem na say Nigeria dey give power to pipo wey no dey competent. Oda pipo wey showface na Wole Soyinka wey say im like di fighting spirit and consistency of Rotimi Amaechi na why im showface for di birthday celebration as be di chairman of di event. Senator Seriake Dickson say make Nigeria leaders do more to build security and education and make dem make pipo well democratically. Some top politians including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Rivers Governor Rotimi Amaechi, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, among odas – dey try form coalition. E neva clear how dem wan take do am but dia plan na to remove president Tinubu.
Zawya
28-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Nigeria: Rivers administrator to defend 2025 budget before joint NASS committee — Senate
The Senate on Tuesday revealed that the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas and other key functionaries would defend the state's 2025 budget before the Joint National Assembly Ad-hoc Committee to Oversee Emergency Rule in Rivers State. A statement from the Directorate of Media and Public Affairs, Office of the Senate Leader was silent on the actual date. But the upper chamber assured Nigerians that it was determined to ensure that the people of Rivers State 'are not shortchanged due to the declaration of emergency rule by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on March 18.' The Leader of the Senate/Chairman, Senate Ad-hoc Committee to Oversee Emergency Rule in Rivers State, made the disclosure at the inaugural meeting of the committee held in the New Senate Wing, National Assembly Complex, Abuja on Tuesday. Recall that after President Tinubu declared the emergency rule in Rivers State, President of the Senate, President Godswill Akpabio had subsequently constituted an 18-member Committee on Emergency Rule under the chairmanship of Senator Opeyemi Bamidele. At the inaugural meeting on Tuesday, Bamidele revealed that both chambers of the National Assembly had agreed to hold a joint session to oversight the 2025 budget of the state, which the sole administrator laid before the parliament last week through President Tinubu. The Senator representing Ekiti Central in the Senate, assured Nigerians that the National Assembly 'is determined to work closely with members of the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee to Oversee Emergency Rule in Rivers State to ensure financial propriety and good governance. 'It is our understanding with our colleagues in the House of Representatives that the sole administrator and other relevant functionaries of the state will all appear the joint ad-hoc committee of both chambers of the National Assembly when it is time for them to defend the 2025 the budget at the National Assembly,' Bamidele said with assurance to provide effective oversight in the state. He, further, noted that the inaugural meeting 'is a necessary ritual to enable the committee carry out its assignment and mandate. The committee will guarantee that the democratic rule will continue to function in Rivers State despite the declaration of emergency rule. 'The Senate is committed to the rule of law as well as the tenets of democracy. I am also confident in the pedigree of the members of this ad-hoc committee to deliver on the role of oversighting the activities of the sole administrator of Rivers State,' the chairman of the ad-hoc committee further said. Bamidele, therefore, challenged all members of the committee to be diligent and thorough in providing oversight functions for the Government of Rivers State and ensuring that the citizens of Rivers State are not shortchanged due to the declaration of emergency rule He noted that the 2025 budget of the Rivers State Government 'has been presented to the National Assembly by the Sole Administrator through the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The budget is being referred to our committee. 'The committee has just finalised on its workplan as well as the timetable that will ensure proper budget defence by the sole administrator of Rivers State. The budget defence will involve other state officials of the state, especially the Accountant-General of Rivers State, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance and relevant officials in charge of the economy of the state 'As much as possible, the National Assembly will ensure propriety in the discharge of our oversight functions. We will also ensure that governance does not suffer in Rivers State during the period of emergency rule,' Bamidele further assured Nigerians. Apart from the Senate Leader who presided at the inaugural meeting, others who attended were Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Tahir Munguno; Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Peter Nwebonyi; Chairman, Senate Committee on Land Transport, Senator Adamu Aliero; Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Sani Musa; Chairman, Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions, Senator Adetokunbo Abiru and Chairperson, Senate Committee on Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Senator Oluranti Adebule.
Reuters
19-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Nigeria's Renaissance reports oil spill from illegal pipeline connection
YENAGOA, May 19 (Reuters) - Nigeria's Renaissance Africa Energy Co. Ltd has confirmed an illegal connection on its Okordia-Rumuekpe pipeline at Oshika community in Nigeria's coastal Rivers state caused a spill, the independent oil producer said on Monday. The company was immediately isolating the pipeline and stopping production to minimize potential environmental impact, a spokesperson said in a statement. It has informed government regulators and is coordinating a mandatory joint investigation. This probe, involving government and local community representatives, will determine the cause and impact of the incident, the company said. Monday's oil spill marks the second incident this month on the Okordia-Rumuekpe pipeline and the third across Renaissance's operations. Last Friday, the company, which now owns former Shell Nigeria onshore assets, halted production on a line feeding the Trans Niger oil pipeline, a crucial artery transporting crude from onshore fields to the Bonny export terminal, following an operational incident.
