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Protesting Youths Hired To Instigate Violence in Rivers – Rivers Professionals ….Backs Fubara on LG CTC
The Coalition of Rivers State Professionals has alleged that youths are being paid to stage protests as part of efforts to instigate violence amidst the ongoing local government council chairmen tenure elongation crisis in the State.
The Director General of the group, Architect Ipalibo West, made this allegation while speaking at a press conference at the Ernest Ikoli Press Centre, Port Harcourt yesterday.
West said, “I want to tell you that the crowds you see on the streets today in Port Harcourt are hired crowds. They are not youths that are interested in the development of this State.
“No right thinking person or no right thinking youth of their State will at this moment, in the political life of Rivers State, come out to the streets in an administration of a man that has set the pace in good governance in this country.
Speaking further, the coalition DG alleged, “What is happening on the streets of Port Harcourt today is like playing the ostrich game. Politicians who are not interested in the development of this state are somewhere sponsoring anarchy.
“What they are trying to do in Rivers State is to push the people to react, so that a State of Emergency can be declared in Rivers State and I tell you, take it to the bank, we have not got near any level of declaring a State of Emergency in Rivers State, and by the grace of God, it will never happen in Rivers State.”
He, however, supported the presence of the Police at the local government headquarters, saying it is in the interest of the State.
“For the Police taking over the councils, I think it is in the interest of Rivers State, because you can see that if not for the fact that these policemen or security agencies are occupying the local government councils, you’ll wonder how it would have been with these youths that have been paid money to enter the streets to demonstrate against a very peaceful government, very development oriented government.”
The coalition described the institution of the Caretaker Committees in the 23 local governments in the State by the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, as appropriate, saying there’s no room for vacancy in governance.
The group’s DG also dissociated the coalition from any attempt to undermine civil governance in the State, as he pledged the body’s unwavering support for Governor Fubara.
“It is, indeed, very necessary that the Coalition for Rivers State Professionals, a body made up of members of various professional groups and networks in Rivers State drawn from diverse endeavours in the private, public and government sectors, expressly declare our total and unalloyed commitment to good governance in our dear State and show solidarity to the Executive Governor or Rivers State, H. E Sir Siminalayi Fubara as he marks his first year in office,” the group said.
The Tide reports that Governor Fubara, last week, appointed caretaker committee chairmen to run the affairs of the 23 local government councils in the State following the expiration of the three-year tenure of the former local government chairmen.
The former chairmen who are loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, are however, demanding for tenure elongation for six months, a demand that has drawn the rage of many Rivers stakeholders.
Susan Serekara-Nwikhana
Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, had lauded the courage and commitment of troops of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to the ongoing counter-insurgency operations in North East Nigeria.
Abubakar gave the commendation during a morale-boosting visit to the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI in Maiduguri, Borno.
This is contained in a statement by the Director, Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, yesterday, in Abuja.
The CAS said their sacrifices were etched in the history of the nation, and in the hearts of millions of Nigerians who sleep safer because of the troops’ vigilance.
He emphasised that their bravery and resilience in the face of adversity have not gone unnoticed, saying his visit underscored the vital role airpower plays in neutralising threats and protecting communities.
Abubakar pledged continued investment in cutting-edge technology to empower frontline units.
According to him, the NAF remains steadfast in its mission, guided by leadership, strengthened by unity, and driven by the selfless service of its personnel.
The visit comes at a critical moment, reinforcing the importance of public support for military operations and spotlighting the human element at the heart of national defence.
Nigeria’s soft drinks and beverage market continues to show strong growth potential, making it the leading consumer of soft drinks in Sub-Saharan Africa, according to the German Mechanical Engineering Industry Association.
A statement by the VDMA disclosed during a press conference held in Lagos ahead of drinktec 2025, that Nigeria consumed over 53 billion litres of soft drinks in 2024, placing it well ahead of other African countries such as Ghana and South Africa.
Despite challenges such as inflation and a weakening naira, Nigeria’s growing population, rising urbanisation, and expanding middle class are key factors driving demand in the beverage sector.
Bottled water led the segment with 48.7 billion litres sold in 2024, a figure projected to rise by 27% to 62 billion litres by 2028.
Carbonated soft drinks followed with 3.4 billion litres, expected to reach 4.4 billion litres by 2028, while energy drinks are forecasted to grow by 30% over the same period. Juices, though relatively small, are also on an upward trajectory.
“The Nigerian beverage market is expanding quickly due to increasing accessibility and affordability,” VDMA stated, citing data from Euromonitor International.
Set to take place in Munich from 15 to 19 September 2025, drinktec is the world’s leading trade fair for the beverage and liquid food industry.
VDMA, a key exhibitor and technical partner for the event, revealed that Nigerian participation is expected to be strong, especially as the country anticipates economic recovery.
Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has condemned the recent ban placed on a song by Nigerian musician, Eedris Abdulkareem, describing the development as a return to the culture of censorship and a threat to the right to free expression.
Abdulkareem had waxed a song titled “Tell Your Papa” which criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
In a statement issued from New York University, Abu Dhabi, yesterday, Soyinka criticised the action and its wider implications, saying it echoed past attempts to stifle artistic and socio-political commentary in Nigeria.
“Courtesy of an artist operating in a different genre – the cartoon – who sent me his recent graphic comment on the event, I learnt recently of a return to the culture of censorship with the banning of the product of a music artist, Eedris Abdulkareem,” Soyinka said in the piece posted on PM news.
He expressed irony in suggesting that the ban did not go far enough, stating, “It is not only the allegedly offensive record that should be banned – the musician himself should be proscribed. Next, PMAN, or whatever musical association of which Abdulkareem is member, should also go under the hammer.”
Soyinka noted that he had not listened to the banned song but stressed that the issue transcends content and concerns a fundamental democratic principle.
“It cannot be flouted. That, surely is basic. This is why I feel that we should look on the bright side of any picture and thus recommend the Aleshinloye cartoon – and others in allied vein – as an easy-to-apprehend, easy-to-digest summation of the wisdom of attempting to stifle unpalatable works of art or socio-political commentary,” he said.
He also pointed out the irony that censorship often benefits the targeted artist.
The ban is a boost to the artist’s nest egg, thanks to free governmental promotion. Mr. Abdulkareem must be currently warbling his merry way all the way to the bank. I envy him,” he added.
The literary icon warned that such censorship was not only counterproductive but also dangerous to democratic development.
“We have been through this before, over and over again, ad nauseum. We know where it all ends. It is boring, time-wasting, diversionary but most essential of all, subversive of all seizures of the fundamental right of free expression,” Soyinka said.
He warned that the ban creates “a permissive atmosphere of trickle-down power,” where state authorities feel emboldened to clamp down on dissent.
Soyinka’s statement also touched on broader issues of impunity and mob violence in Nigeria, lamenting the recent lynching of 19 youths in Edo State.
“My heart goes out to friends, colleagues and families of victims and traumatised survivors of this senseless slaughter. Our thirst for justice must remain unslaked,” he said.
Referencing the 2022 killing of Deborah Samuel in Sokoto, Soyinka criticised the culture of impunity, saying, “Identified killers were set free to gloat, and paste their photos on the Social Media… in full daylight glare, in the presence of both citizen voyeurs and security forces.”
He called for accountability, warning that “as long as the culture of impunity is given the sheerest strain of legitimacy in any given cause, such gruesome assaults on our common humanity will continue to prevail.”
Soyinka concluded by urging the relevant regulatory body to reverse what he described as a “petulant irrationality,” warning that any government that only tolerates praise-singers “has already commenced a downhill slide into the abyss.”