Escalation of Wike, Fubara’s Power Tussle in LG Councils
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The power tussle between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and Governor Siminalaye Fubara of Rivers State was escalated in the 23 local government councils in the state last week, following the expiration of the tenure of the local government chairmen. What the current situation looks like, is that the minister may have lost his much-cherished political structure in the state, Ejiofor Alike reports
With the expiration of the three-year tenure of the chairmen of the 23 local government areas in Rivers State on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, the immediate-past governor of the state and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike, and Governor Siminalayi Fubara have shifted their power tussle to the local government councils.
In a strategic move to stop Fubara from replacing the elected local government chairmen who were Wike’s loyalists, with caretaker committees comprising his own loyalists after the chairmen’s three-year tenure, the members of the sacked Martins Amaewhule-led state House of Assembly, who were also Wike’s loyalists had enacted the Rivers State Local Government Law No. 2 of 2024, which extended the tenure of the chairmen by six months.
But in a counter move, Fubara’s loyalists challenged the lawmakers’ decision in court and Justice D.G. Kio of a Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt declared the six-month tenure extension as null, void, unconstitutional, and of no effect, on the grounds that it was inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution and Section 9 (1) of Rivers State Law No. 5 of 2018, which fixed a three-year tenure for the chairmen and councillors.
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Gunmen Kidnap Traditional Ruler
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Gunmen have kidnapped a traditional ruler, Musa Shuaibu, the Madakin of Shabu community in Lafia Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
The gunmen were said to have invaded the area at about 8pm on Thursday and whisked him away.
A source from the area told our correspondent that Shuaibu was kidnapped a few metres away from his residence after observing his Isha’i prayers in a mosque in the area.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Ramhan Nansel who confirmed the incident to journalists in Lafia, said personnel of the command had been drafted to the area to ensure his safe rescue.
Second southern Mexico mayor killed in a week
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A second southern Mexico mayor has been killed in less than a week, local authorities announced Saturday, after he went to visit an indigenous community.
The murder of Acacio Flores, who represents Malinaltepec, comes days after the killing of Salvador Villalba Flores, another mayor from Guerrero state elected in June 2 polls.
The body of Flores was discovered with a bullet wound to the back of the head in the back of a van in Malinaltepec, a human rights campaigner told AFP.
The rights activist had been involved in negotiations to free the politician after he was detained Thursday in an indigenous village.
Embassy, NGO rescue 24 Nigerian girls from sexual exploitation in Senegal
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The combined operatives of the Nigerian Embassy and a Senegalese-based non-governmental organisation have rescued 24 Nigerian girls who were subjected to sexual exploitation in the Tamaccounda and Kedougou Regions of Senegal.
The acting Ambassador of the Nigerian Embassy in Dakar, Senegal, Salihu Abubakar, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria in Dakar on Sunday.
According to him, the girls mostly under-aged, ranging between the ages of 11, 13, and 24 are being trafficked to Senegal, through Cotonou, Republic of Benin, via the Mali to Senegal border for sexual exploitation in Tamaccounda and Kedougou Regions.
“These girls and many more are being trafficked to Senegal, through Cotonou, Benin Republic via Mali to the Senegal border for prostitution,” the diplomat said.
Abubakar said preliminary investigation revealed that most of the girls, who were school dropouts were from Edo and Delta, adding that a few of them were from Imo and Abia while two others were from Plateau.