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There is palpable tension in Rivers as the two factions of the State House of Assembly will have parallel sittings this morning. On Sunday night the Victor Oko-Jumbo-led House loyal to the State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara had in a letter by the Clerk, Dr G. M Gillis-West, invited a new commissioner-nominee, Emmanuel Frank-Fubara, to appear before it on Monday for screening and confirmation as a member box the State Executive Council. Meanwhile, the Martin Amaewhule-led House loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, will also hold plenary today, Punch reported. According to the newspaper, while the…

Abuja, Nigeria - In a bid to combat the recurring fire outbreaks plaguing Nigeria, the Nigerian Humanitarian Action (NIHA) has joined forces with the Federal Fire Service for the Nigeria Fire Prevention Week and Expo, as well as its International Flagship Programme in the United States. Nigeria's fire service received a significant allocation of 51.74 billion naira in 2023, yet recent fire incidents have raised concerns about the service's effectiveness. The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to provide adequate funding and establish fire stations in all 774 Local Government Areas. The NIHA-Federal Fire Service collaboration seeks to…

The Vice Presidential Candidate of Action Democratic Party in the 2023 Presidential elections, Pastor Okey Udo Ph.D has eulogised the late Udumeze Ohafia, Professor E.U.L. Imaga. The financial mogul in a statement signed by Elder Lopez O.M. Awa, Director of Udochia Foundation, on Friday in Abuja, described the late Udumeze Ohafia as a man of great vision and unifier of the Ohafia clan. Speaking as events of the burial of the Monarch is ongoing, Pastor Okey Udo “recalled the aesthetics of leadership the late Monarch Instituted which involved wonderful separation of duties that produced optimum goals”. Our correspondent reports that…

For some months past, it has been consultations and meetings within various segments, groups, associations, traditional institutions and even the clergy in Ohafia on the modalities that will constitute or translate to a befitting rites of passage for the Udumeze of Ohafia. Udumeze is the traditional title of the paramount ruler of Ohafia clan in Abia State, south east of Nigeria. The Udumeze sits and presides in – council over 26 independent communities consisting of the Ohafia clan. The Ohafia clan is arguably one of the largest homogenous clans in Abia State in terms of size and population. The Ohafia…

A member of the House of Representatives, Cyril Hart, walked out on plenary on Tuesday after accusing the Deputy Speaker of the House, Benjamin Kalu, of ignoring first-timers during debates. Hart, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), represents the Bonny/Degema Federal Constituency of Rivers State in the green chamber. “I have noticed Mr Speaker, with due respect to you. Each time you preside, you do not give preference to first-timers,” a furious Hart said after the lawmaker representing Damboa/Gwoza/Chibok Federal Constituency, Borno State, Ahmadu Jaha, moved a motion condemning a recent suicide bombing which claimed at least 32 lives in…

From Kenneth Udeh, Abuja The Senate on Tuesday urged the Federal Government to urgently tackle the menace of flood bedeviling communities in Abia-North Senatorial District which has cut short lives , destroyed properties, public and private infrastructures. Lamenting the floods attendant hardships and level of destruction , the Lawmakers also asked the Federal Ministries of Housing & Urban Development and Power to rehabilitate some of the collapsed homes, roads and electric installations within the affected areas. The resolutions were reached following a motion brought to the plenary by the Senator representing Abia North, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu. Another resolution of…

The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) has scheduled local government elections for October 5, 2024, releasing guidelines for the conduct of the polls. This is contained in a statement the electoral body released on Monday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. The announcement of the local government elections by RSIEC comes at a time of turmoil in the councils, with a leadership crisis prompting a police presence to maintain order and prevent violence. Recently, Governor Siminalayi Fubara appointed new caretaker chairmen for the 23 local government areas, following the expiration of the previous chairmen's tenures. This move sparked…

Abia State Government has applauded Isikwuato-born philanthropist and businessman, Engr. Sir Emmanuel Ndubuisi Mbaka for donating coaster buses to Abia State civil servants residing at Trademore Estate to ease movement.   Abia State Government has applauded Isikwuato-born philanthropist and businessman, Engr. Sir Emmanuel Ndubuisi Mbaka for donating coaster buses to Abia State civil servants residing at Trademore Estate to ease movement. Sir Emmanuel Ndubuisi Mbaka, Managing Director of Platinum Mortgage Bank, is a philanthropist with deep involvement in educational causes at all levels—including the general welfare of Nigerian children, youths and women. In his remarks during the official unveiling and…

There have been unconfirmed reports online that the veteran actor died on Sunday after a prolonged battle with dementia. His wife who is also a veteran actress, Joke Silva on Sunday told TheNEWS and PMNEWS that “her husband is alive and doing just fine”. Also in August 2022, Joke Silva debunked rumours of her husband’s death. In a statement on her Instagram story, Silva said that her husband was alive and doing well. She wrote, “Good day everyone, trust all is going well. The Jacobs Clan would love to inform you that Papa J (Olu Jacobs MFR), is alive and…

Hon. Obi Aguocha, the House of Representatives member representing Ikwuano, Umuahia North, and Umuahia South Federal Constituency, recently visited former President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, at his country home in Daura, Katsina State. The purpose of Aguocha's visit to President Buhari was to seek his intervention and elicit his support for a political dialogue and constructive engagement that could engender a resolution of the salient issues surrounding the continued detention and trial of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and that could lead to his release on pragmatic national reconciliation considerations. "For the missteps, utterances, and ill gestures of the past, especially on the…