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BREAKING: Tinubu Swears-in Ibas as Rivers Sole Administrator ▪︎It’s a truncation of democracy in Rivers- Amaechi

The suspension of two key democratically elected arms of Government in Rivers State by Mr. President evidently violates our Constitution, even within the scope and interpretation of Section 305 that the President cited in his broadcast.

Published

1 year ago

March 19, 2025

Charles Flames

580 Views

Politicians across divides should speak up; rise to halt our nation’s descent into totalitarianism. State Governors and Legislators should speak up now.

President Bola Tinubu has sworn-in the sole administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (RTD.), into office for the next six months.

Rt. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, a former Governor of the state, said : “Unequivocally, I condemn the rather brazen and unilaterally reckless suspension and removal of the Governor of Rivers State, the Deputy Governor of Rivers State and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.” Tinubu swore Ibas into office at about 03:00 pm at the State House, Abuja.

The brief ceremony was witnessed by the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila., the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and presidential Spokesperson Bayo Onanuga.

On Tuesday, Tinubu in a national broadcast declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months. Ibas served as Chief of Naval Staff from 2015 to 2021 under former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Rotimi Amaechi, who was governor of oil-rich Rivers State, from 2007 to 2015 and earlier, as speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly from 1999 to 2007, pointed out that with this singular move, Mr President has technically suspended and truncated democracy in Rivers State.

He said :” This clearly violates our Constitution, the same Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that Mr. President swore to uphold.Section 188 of the Nigeria Constitution, clearly stipulates how a State Governor can be removed from office. And it does not include a fiat declaration, decree or promulgation by Mr. President.

Therefore, he cannot appropriate such powers to himself.A democratically elected State Governor cannot be removed from office by a proclamation of Mr. President.

The unlawful suspension of elected democratic institutions in my dear Rivers State points to a brazen attempt at power grab in the State by forces and persons who do not have such Constitutional powers.

The unfolding events in Rivers State in the past months, points to a clear orchestrated plot by some persons to unconstitutionally perpetrate and impose themselves on the people.

At this inauspicious moment in our nation’s trajectory, all people of goodwill and conscience should rise to oppose this audacious violation of our Constitution and rape of our democracy.

Mr President must be made to know and understand in unmistakable terms that this illegality cannot stand.

Politicians across divides should speak up; rise to halt our nation’s descent into totalitarianism. State Governors and Legislators should speak up now.

I urge the National Assembly to reject this illegality. As a former State Governor and Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum(NGF),

I am not unaware of the role elected Governors in the country can play to halt this descent and reverse the unlawful actions of Mr. President.

I commend the Governors that have spoken against the unlawful suspension. The suspension is a very dangerous affront on Nigeria’s Constitution and democracy.

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Explosion rocks Apapa tank farm; NPA, NIMASA move to curtail spread

Following the outbreak the fire service departments of both the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) moved in to curtail the spread of the inferno.

Published

4 hours ago

July 3, 2026

OCHEFA

13 Views

Panic erupted at the Lagos tank farm cluster at Ibafon, Apapa, on Friday morning after a fire broke out at the Bono Tank Farm, located within the Best Energy Tank Farm complex.

The inferno sent residents and workers in the area fleeing for safety as emergency responders moved in to contain the blaze.

Efforts to obtain comments from the management of Bono Tank Farm and Best Energy Tank Farm were unsuccessful, as phone calls and text messages sent to their representatives were neither answered nor acknowledged.

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FG slams 8-count charges on Adeyemi over fake agency ” I’m not a criminal”, he defends

It was learned that the alleged ‘‘fake’’ Presidential Economic Advisory Council/Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council was allocated N1.302 billion in the 2026 Budget of the Federal Government.

Published

10 hours ago

July 3, 2026

OCHEFA

25 Views

Photo: Gbajabiamila, and Adeyemi

The Federal Government has filed an 8-count charges against Adeniyi Adeyemi, convener of a purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, PFIPC, over the controversy trailing the agency.

Adeyemi, however, fought back claiming that he was given an appointment letter.

Adeyemi, during an appearance on Channels Television claimed that the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila gave him an appointment letter, insisting that he is not a criminal.

However, it was learned that the alleged ‘‘fake’’ Presidential Economic Advisory Council/Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council was allocated N1.302 billion in the 2026 Budget of the Federal Government.

In a statement on Wednesday, Bayo Onanuga, presidential spokesperson, said the charges were filed by the Police on November 27, 2025, against Adeyemi and two accomplices at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Onanuga said Adeyemi is expected to appear in court on July 27, 2026.

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NDC calls for Gbajabiamila sack over fake agency scandal

The NDC has referenced Adeyemi’s allegations that he paid N600 million to secure his appointment, with N400 million allegedly paid through intermediaries linked to the Chief of Staff while an outstanding balance of N200 million reportedly contributed to the current dispute over the agency’s status.

Published

10 hours ago

July 3, 2026

OCHEFA

24 Views

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has called for the immediate removal of the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, over allegations linking him to the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) agency involving one Prince Mathew Adeniyi Adeyemi, who claims to be the Director-General of the agency .

In a statement signed on Friday by NDC National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, the party urged President Tinubu to suspend the Chief of Staff to allow for what it described as a transparent and unbiased investigation into the allegations.

The NDC’s demand is sequel to claims made by Adeyemi, who identified himself as the Director-General of the alleged PFIPC, an agency the Presidency has maintained does not exist.

According to the party, the allegations raise serious concerns over transparency and accountability within the current administration. It questioned how the purported agency allegedly secured budgetary allocations in the 2026 Appropriation Act and reportedly operated domiciliary, Pounds Sterling and Treasury Single Account (TSA) accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria despite being disowned by the Presidency.

The party also queried claims that the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation allegedly approved 314 staff positions for the agency, asking how such approvals could have been granted if the organisation was not officially recognised.