"I WAS JOLTED BY DECLARATION OF STATE OF EMERGENCY IN RIVERS STATE" - SEN HENRY SERIAKE DICKSON

March 19, 2025, 7:38 a.m.

This evening, like all Nigerians, I was jolted by the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State. While we are all aware of the prolonged political disputes in the state, I do not support the declaration of a state of emergency, especially when that is taken to mean that the Governor and his Deputy will vacate their seats for six months. I don't believe that is the intendment of the constitution, and that has been my position on matters like this even when we had a PDP President. I have always opposed declarations of emergency in states that meant that their governors would vacate their offices, and this is no exception. I have always had the view that even with the declaration of a state of emergency in a state, the elected government must be protected and need not be removed. I have spent all my adult life fighting and defending our people, even when leaders, out of envy and wickedness, sponsor propaganda and misinformation. When I was leaving as governor, and because I knew the anti-democratic and anti-Ijaw forces in our region and in the country, having fought and defeated them, knowing their strengths, strategies and their determination, I brought in a successor. He did not tell me he wanted to be a governor. I brought him in to lead and protect our people with our support, because he was part of the Ijaw movement. While managing a recession for six years during my 8-year tenure, I worked and made a mark in all sectors of our State. We raised and maintained countless number of people — men, women and youths, with less than N500 million monthly after paying half salaries in a recession. We still stopped the brutal federal forces from taking over the state in 2015, 2019 general elections, and 2020 governorship election where I sponsored all candidates with the support of our friends and allies. Is this what has become of the Ijaw nation that we all staked everything to build? It is a sad day for all democrats. It's a sad day for Rivers State, and a sad day for our people. I urge everyone to put on their thinking caps. I urge our people to lift up their spirits as we will get over this together. Sen Henry Seriake Dickson, former Governor of Bayelsa State.

PRESIDENT TINUBU EMBARKS ON TWO-DAY VISIT TO KATSINA STATE

Special Adviser to the Senate President on Media and Publicity, Bayo Onanuga, said during the visit, the President will meet with key stakeholders to assess the security situation in the state.

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Please find it in your magnanimous heart — somewhere buried deep beneath layers of entitlement — to forgive this stubborn woman who mistakenly believed that her seat in the Senate was earned through elections, not erections.

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His SA on Media, Ferdinand Ekeoma explained that Governor Otti strongly holds the view that though political activities seem to have once again started gathering momentum, it would be unfair to the Abia electorate if the politics of 2027 is allowed to overshadow governance in the state.

2027 ELECTION: BATTLE BETWEEN NIGERIANS AND BAD GOVERNANCE - ATIKU

He said that the Tinubu administration has no achievements to stand on, no credible record to defend. "Its only strategy is chaos and division, because that’s the last refuge of the incompetent.

ABIA STATE GOVERNMENT REVOKES LAND TITLE AND RECLAIMS ASSETS OF ENYIMBA AUTOMATED SHOE COMPANY (ENASCO)

Shareholding Discrepancies: The shareholding structure recorded at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), as at November 2024 did not reflect ABSG as a shareholder or beneficial owner despite its significant contributions.

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The PDP is merely experiencing a rebirth. Those who want to leave the party should go and let those of us remaining have a clear view of who we are talking to and where their political loyalty lies. All we need is for those who want to stay back in PDP to show commitment... to rebuild the party.