Author: Drum Africa Correspondent

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has again written to the State House of Assembly, informing the lawmakers of his intention to re-present the 2025 Appropriation Bill to the House for consideration and approval. The governor, in a letter dated March 13 and addressed to the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, said he intends to prevent the budget on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, or any other day within March that the House may deem fit. Fubara said his decision is in compliance with the Supreme Court judgment and in response to the lawmakers’ request for him to re-present the budget. He recalled the…

Tragedy struck at the Zone 9 Umuahia Abia State on Thursday as the Commander of the SRS in Umuahia, DSP Kenneth Ndu, slumped and died while eating with fellow officers According to sources, DSP Ndu had just returned from an investigative operation with his team when he decided to have a meal at the command headquarters. While eating, he reportedly gripped his spoon tightly, causing concern among his colleagues, who immediately rushed to assist him. Moments later, he collapsed. Efforts to save him were hampered by the lack of medical personnel at the Police Clinic on Bende Road, where he…

Governor Siminalayi Fubara on Thursday appealed to members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to consider the interest of the people of the state and embrace peace to resolve the political impasse in South-South state. “It is important at this stage that we all embrace peace,” Fubara said when he commissioned some projects in the Okrika Local Government Area of the state. The governor said he needed peace to govern the state well and called on all dissatisfied political actors in the state to put all that had happened behind and commit to the full implementation of the February…

The Rivers State House of Assembly has asked the Department of State Services to investigate the Chief Judge of the State for alleged age falsification. This was the subject of plenary on Thursday at the Assembly following the presentation of some documents to the assembly by the leader of the House, Hon Major Jack. Afterwards the Deputy Speaker, Hon Dumle Maol raised an allegation against the Chief Judge of the state, Simeon Amadi. He said , “These document before me simply say that the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Simeon Amadi falsified his age in service. Mr Speaker, that…

Bauchi State Governor and Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum, Bala Mohammed, has expressed his readiness to collaborate with Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to strengthen opposition politics in Nigeria. Speaking on Thursday after a closed-door meeting with Obi at the Government House, Bauchi, Mohammed said both he and the PDP admired Obi’s political style and vision for the country. “We have a lot of respect and admiration for him because of his style of politics, his statesmanship, his versatile nature, and his deep knowledge of the economy and governance,” Mohammed said. He added, “Peter Obi…

Amid calls on the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, to step aside to allow unfettered investigation of the allegation of sexual harassment made against him by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Senate on Thursday passed a vote of confidence on his leadership. The resolution of the Senate followed a motion by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele which was overwhelmingly approved by Senators. Bamidele in his lead debate said the Senate has decided not to be distracted further by the controversy generated by its suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan over her alleged misconduct. He said the Senate would henceforth focus on…

Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has commended the Dunamis International Gospel Centre for conducting what he described as a “quintessential evangelism” during its recent crusade at the Dr. Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka, without obstructing public movement or causing inconvenience to road users. Impressed by the orderliness of the event, Soludo announced a refund of the fees paid by the church for the use of the venue and invited the church, led by Pastor Paul Enenche, to hold future programmes at the location. The governor also disclosed that Ekwueme Square and its environs would undergo a major facelift in the…

Former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasiru El-Rufa’i, has disclosed that he left the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) with former President Muhammadu Buhari’s consent. The former Governor confirmed his defection to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in a statement posted on his verified Facebook page on Monday. El-Rufai noted that developments in the last two years confirm that there is no desire on the part of those who currently control and run the APC to acknowledge, much less address, the unhealthy situation in the party. Speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa service, El-Rufa’i said he had secured the consent…

Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were accused on Wednesday by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, of trying to dismantle the party, calling their actions self-serving and harmful to the opposition’s ability to survive. Wike also attacked the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) during a live media chat broadcast on national television stations in Abuja, calling it “stupid” for deciding to hold another South-South Zonal Congress. In contrast to his time in office, the former Governor of Rivers State claimed that the current group of PDP governors is not dedicated to the party’s continued existence. He…

The Senate has asked the Federal Government to establish a permanent military base in Gwer-West Local Government Area of Benue State to improve security and provide a faster response to attacks by bandits who often disguise themselves as herders. This was part of resolutions during plenary on Wednesday after Senator Tartenger-Zam raised a matter of urgent public importance, drawing attention to the worsening security crisis in Gwer-West. He criticised the slow response of the state government, stating that authorities often downplay the attacks as ‘mere skirmishes’. The Senate, therefore, unanimously resolved to push for a permanent military base in the…