Politics

SEDC Act: Shun agitation, protests – Deputy Speaker begs Igbos

Hours after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed the South East Development Commission, SEDC bill into law, Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, RT. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has called on his Igbo kinsmen to stop agitation.

At a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, the Deputy Speaker also urged the people of the region and Nigerians entirely, to shun the proposed nationwide protest, saying, nothing could be achieved through kinetic approaches to issues of governance.

“To my fellow south easterners, I implore you not to join the planned looming anti government protest. Instead, let us view the signing of the South East Development Commission bill into law as a testament to the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration’s resolve to heal the wounds of the past, bury the rumors of the marginalization of the southeast geopolitical zone and renew the hope of the nation towards equitable economic growth and socio cultural renewal.

“This is a time for unity. This is a time for progress. This is a time for peace, not division, not unrest. Unrest and division will divide us further and will under-develope us further.

“But in an atmosphere of peace and unity, the progress promised by our forefathers will be achieved.

“I also implore Nigerians from all walks of life and the entirety of the country to not heed the calls for protests, but instead continue to trust in the process. Say no to protests.

“Say yes to the process, which involves policy formulations from government that is people centered, which the parliament have insisted on, that all policies of government must have the people at its center, believe in this process, not the protests, and we will be able to get the profit that this government has promised”, Kalu said.

The elated Deputy Speaker, called for more patience with Tinubu’s administration, while thanking the President for remembering the south east region, 54 years after the end of the civil war.

He said, “The reforms of this current administration will take time, no doubt, but it will soon start to suffice, including a reversal of inflation, stabilization of the economy and ensuing multiplier effect in a massive employment boom as a result of industrialization and the outcomes of the work organizations like the SEDC, which is the South East Development Commission, will engineer in the coming days.

“With the South East Development Commission, we will leverage to improve agriculture. Entrepreneurial skills will enable industrialization of the region and our innovative mindedness will leverage the opportunities in the digital economy.

“Our creativity will birth a greater cultural and entertainment platform, such as the Igbowood. Our youth and women demography will play a major role in the energy of our development. It is time to put our huge gap deposit in the region to use for industrial parks.

“The gas in our zone will aid these industrial parts that will bring value to the nation. Most of the radicalized youths in our region who have been crying because of the seeming rumors of marginalization and alienation from the center will now have jobs to engage them productively, among others.

“It is no more time to carry arms. It is now time to take up skills that will be stimulated by the South East Development Commission. This is a foundation for peace and security in the southeast. There is no better foundation than this.

“On behalf of the great people of the Southeast geopolitical zone of Nigeria, the beating heart of the nation, the land of enterprise and entrepreneurship, let me express my deep gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for signing the Southeast Development Commission SEDC bill into law yesterday.”

Speaking further, Kalu said, “This victory is a true example that a lot can be achieved quietly through lobbying, negotiation for what is good for your people. With negotiation, diplomacy and lobbying, not conflict and protest, we can achieve a lot more from this government.

“I wish to thank the Governors of the five states of the southeast and to congratulate them for their support towards this bill.

“It is momentous because it is happening during their tenure and their states and her citizens will be the beneficiaries of these magnanimous acts of the President who loves the southeast. Let us remember that our strength lies in our shared dreams and collective effort.

“In conclusion, let us remember that in unity, our shared dreams and visions will become a mission. And same goes for our collective efforts. Together we can build a Nigeria that offers every child a decent shot at life.

“Where the doors of opportunities remain open to all, we know we can do better. We are aware that we will. And with the South East Development Commission, the long cry of our forefathers who died hoping for reconciliation, the true reconciliation, the true reintegration, the true reconstruction, the true rehabilitation will have been achieved.

“In the South East Development Commission, a lot of multiple questions have been answered. Say no now to agitation. Say no now to conflict. Say no now to the crisis and protest. Let us support this government”.

Recall that President Tinubu signed the Bill for an Act to establish the South East Development Commission.

The Bill sponsored by Hon. Kalu sought to establish a commission that will be charged with the responsibility to receive and manage funds from allocation of the federation account for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of roads, houses and other infrastructural damage suffered by the region as a result of the effect of the civil war after 54 years.

Politics

Rivers State of Emergency will end as soon as stability is restored- FG

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has assured that President Bola Tinubu will end the state of emergency in Rivers State as soon as stability is restored.

In an interview with The Nation newspaper, Idris stated that Tinubu remains committed to reinstating democratic governance in the state.

“As soon as he assesses that sanity has returned to Rivers State, he will ensure the restoration of all democratic structures in that state,” he said.

He further emphasized the urgency of the situation, adding that “the president will not wait a minute longer than necessary.”

Dismissing speculations about hidden motives behind the emergency declaration, Idris maintained that the decision was made purely in the interest of restoring order.

“The president has no intention whatsoever to take over the governance of Rivers State. He has no intention to be or to appoint a governor for Rivers State,” he said.

According to the minister, the breakdown of governance in Rivers necessitated the president’s intervention. He described the action as “a very responsible but very painful” decision made “in line with constitutional provisions.”

“The way democracy is designed in this country is that the three arms of government must work together, and one will be checking the other,” Idris explained.

“So, we cannot have just the executive functioning and say we have a functional democracy. We didn’t have that, and therefore, the president had to act.”

The emergency rule, declared last week, led to the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and all members of the state assembly, with retired naval chief Ibok-Ete Ibas appointed as the sole administrator

Politics

NBA to Tinubu: Restore Fubara back to power immediately, constitution does not recognise an administrator

The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has reiterated its call on President Bola Tinubu to restore Governor Siminalayi Fubara back to his elected position as Rivers State governor without further delay.

Last Tuesday, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State and followed it up with the suspension of the elected governor of the state, his deputy and all the members of the House of Assembly over the political crisis rocking the oil-rich state.

The President appointed Ibok-Ete Ibas, a retired naval chief, as the state’s sole administrator. Immediately after the move, the NBA released a statement saying the President lacked such powers to suspend democratically elected officials. According to the NBA the removal of Fubara by Tinubu is unconstitutional.

Following up with its earlier statement, the NBA President, Afam Osigwe, insisted that Fubara must be brought back to his position as the governor of Rivers State as the constitution does not recognize a Sole Administrator.

“That is our belief, that is what we expect the president to do, to restore him (Fubara) back to power having unconstitutionally removed him,” Afam Osigwe told Channels Television, Sunday night, March 23 when asked if the president should recall the governor.”

“And that is why we do not recognise that a sole administrator is the rightful person to occupy the government house in Rivers State having been appointed unconstitutionally.

“Even when I saw him taking the oath of office, I was wondering which oath he was taking because he was taking an oath not known to the constitution, the constitution does not recognise an administrator,” he said.

Osigwe pointed out that the problem in Rivers State is being cured with a wrong solution, likening it to one using a sledgehammer on his head because of headache.

He said the measures being taken to address the Rivers problem “are overreaching, extensive, undemocratic and above all, unconstitutional.”

He maintained that the problem in Rivers State is political and only a political solution will bring it to an end.

“I do not believe that it (Section 305) is not explicit, I simply believe that we deliberately refuse to apply it the way it is,” Osigwe said

Osigwe also does not believe that the national assembly approval legitimized the President’s action saying the National Assembly’s approval is like placing something on nothing.

Politics

INEC receives petition for recall of embattled Senator, Natasha

The Independent National Electoral Commission on Monday received petition for recall of embattled Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from a group of registered voters from her Kogi Central Senatorial District.

Natasha is presently on suspension by the Senate over alleged gross misconduct.

The petition for her recall dated 21st March 2025 was submitted on Monday at the INEC headquarters in Abuja by a group which described itself as Concerned Kogi Youth and Women.

The petition was addressed to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.

It was titled, “Constituents Petition for the Recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on grounds of Loss of Confidence.”

In the petition the Kogi Central constituent said: “We, the undersigned being duly registered voters of the Kogi Central Senatorial District, hereby invoke our rights under the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to formally demand the recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from the Nigerian Senate.

“In particular, this petition for the recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is brought pursuant to Section 68 of the 1999 Constitution of The Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended), as well as INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines for Recall Petitions.

“Kindly recall that Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan emerged as our Senator by verdict of the Court of Appeal, Abuja on Tuesday October 31, 2023 which affirmed the Peoples Democratic Party PDP candidate as winner of the February 25, 2023 Kogi Central Senatorial election.

“This petition arises from our loss of confidence in the Senator on grounds of gross misconduct, abuse of office, evasion of due process and a pattern of deceitful behaviour that has not only embarrassed the people of Kogi Central constituency but has also tarnished the integrity of the Nigerian Senate and our nation’s democratic institutions

Speaking after submitting the petition, a leader of the group, Charity Ijoshe Omole told journalists that the move to recall Natasha was because her constituent have lost confidence in the senator.

She said; “We have lost confidence in her because of her gross misconduct that led to her suspension in the Senate and we the Kogi Central not to be represented.

“We have cone to recall her, because we cannot afford not to be represented. This petition is from Concerned Kogi Youth and Women.

“We, the people of Kogi Central voted her in, and we are here to recall her. We have four 488,000 registered voters and as I speak to you now, we have more than 250,000 voters who have signed for her recall”.

“By this petition, which we have made sure is signed by more than one-half of the registered voters in Kogi Central, we hereby demand that the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC immediately commences the constitutional and procedural process of recall to remove Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from office and declare her seat vacant”.