Rivers Crisis: I’ll Not Govern On Bended Knees – Fubara Vows
Photo Credit: Independent Nigeria
Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has vowed that he would not govern the state on bended knees, but would rather rule with pride stressing that he would continue to stand up for what is right and the people.
Although Governor Fubara did not directly mention anyone’s name, he lamented that his political foes were currently engaging in a fierce battle for the soul of the State to destroy it, adding that only well-meaning persons who are standing firmly with him can wield the force of unity to save it.
Governor Fubara made the remarks at the country home of Sir Celestine Omehia in Ubima community, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State on Saturday.
The Governor, accompanied by some elders of the State, was in Ubima to commiserate with Sir Omehia, who had just laid his late mother, Mrs Ezinne Cecilia Omehia, to rest after 95 years.
Fubara said, “I will not, I repeat, I will not govern our dear State on my knees (bending). If that was the purpose, I will not do that. I will stand to govern our dear State and stand continually on the side of right.
“But politics of bitterness will not take us anywhere. So, I want to thank you that, at this stage, we have a few of you who understand that Rivers State belongs to everyone of us. We must, therefore, fight together to sustain the soul of this State.”
Governor Fubara in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary Nelson Chukwudi on Saturday, added that the visit was to demonstrate love and show support to Sir Omehia who, as a son who had satisfactorily performed the duty of giving his mother a befitting burial.
Tinubu-Youth sacks NESREA, NDRBDA MDs, appoints new heads
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President Bola Tinubu has appointed Dr. Innocent Barikor as the Director-General of the National Environmental Standards and Regulation Enforcement Agency.
He also appointed Ebitimi Amgbare as the Managing Director/CEO of the Niger Delta River Basin Development Authority.
Photo Credit: Google
The Presidency announced the appointments on Friday in a statement signed by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, titled ‘President Tinubu appoints chief executive officers of two agencies.’
Barikor is an academic, politician and former Rivers State House of Assembly member from 2011 to 2015.
He succeeds Prof. Aliyu Jauro, who former President Muhammadu Buhari first appointed in February 2019.
LG poll: Voter apathy as Makinde votes in Ibadan
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Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Saturday, urged residents of the state to come out en-masse to perform their civic responsibility in the ongoing Local Government election.
PUNCH Online reports that the State Independent Electoral Commission had fixed Saturday, April 27, 2024, for the council’s poll.
Our correspondent, who monitored the election, observed that eligible voters refused to come out to participate in the ongoing election.
The governor made this appeal while speaking with journalists shortly after casting his vote at Ward 1, Unit 11 in the Ibadan North East Local Government Area of the state.
Makinde reminded them of the need to take part in choosing their leaders.
Russian missile strike damages four Ukrainian power plants
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Russia launched a “massive” missile strike at Ukraine overnight, damaging four power plants in the latest barrage targeting the country’s energy supply, officials in Kyiv said on Saturday.
Two people were killed and at least 10 more wounded in Russian shelling.
Moscow has launched some of its largest-ever strikes on Ukraine’s energy facilities in recent months, knocking out a significant chunk of production, and triggering blackouts and energy rationing across the country.
Ukraine also fired more than 60 drones at southern Russia overnight, Moscow said, in one of its largest overnight drone attacks. Kyiv claimed to have hit two oil refineries and a military air base.
“Russian armed forces staged another massive missile attack on Ukraine,” the Ukrainian army said in its regular morning update.
“The enemy has once again attacked the country’s energy infrastructure. In particular, facilities in Dnipropetrovsk, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Lviv regions were attacked. There is damage to equipment,” Energy Minister, German Galushchenko, said in a Facebook post.
The Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk regions are in Ukraine’s west, bordering the EU and hundreds of kilometres from the frontlines.