Nation
‘Yahaya Bello Not Behind Kogi Peace’

The 2023 Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) candidate for the House of Representatives election for Dekina/Bassa in Kogi State, Usman Okai Austin, has dismissed claims that former Governor Yahaya Bello is the reason youths shunned the #EndBadGovernance protest in the State.
Okai said contrary to claims, Bello is not maintaining peace in Kogi State, stressing that his actions and policies were detrimental to the state.
The socio-political commentator was reacting to an article by one Sulaimon Adejoh, that the former governor was the reason the state has been peaceful amid the ongoing nationwide protest.
Adejoh said Bello saw the protest as an agenda that must not fly in Kogi State due to his support for President Bola Tinubu’s presidency.
He had written: “Someone indeed pulled some strings, same way he has been pulling it since 2016. That someone is Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello, the one who as governor, restored security in Kogi State.
“Despite his ordeals in the hands of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), since he left office as governor of Kogi State, he has remained firm in his conviction that President Bola Tinubu’s Presidency must be supported by all well-meaning Nigerians and nothing must be done to derail the President.
“Yahaya Bello therefore saw the call for protest by some groups as an agenda that must not be allowed to fly in Kogi State. He gave his full support to the State Governor, Alhaji Usman Ododo and rallied all the necessary stakeholders, especially the youths behind him to ensure that not a single soul joined the protest in the State.”
However, Okai faulted Adejoh’s claim, noting that Bello’s past administration brought about severe hunger in the state.
Posting on his Facebook wall, Okai wrote: “Muri Ajaka, who was cheated and defrauded in the last election, could have been the catalyst for unrest in Kogi State during the #EndBadGovernance In Nigeria protests. However, he wisely appealed to his supporters to remain calm.
“Similarly, Senator Echocho and Karimi issued strong statements urging peace in their various Senatorial districts in Kogi state.
“Ironically, Yahaya Bello, who is metaphorically imprisoned in the Government House in Lokoja, claims to be the one maintaining peace in Kogi State.
This is far from the truth, as Bello’s actions and policies have been detrimental to the state.
“He secretly hopes for a serious protest in Kogi, believing it would distract us from his own troubles with the EFCC, a federal agency investigating him.
“Bello should respect himself and remain quiet, acknowledging his own failures. Kogi people are already accustomed to hunger, which Bello’s leadership has exacerbated, making Kogi one of Nigeria’s hungriest states. The people feel unlucky under the APC-led federal government.”
Nation
Rivers Judiciary Denise Media Reports On Issuing Judgement Sacking SOLAD
The Rivers State Judiciary has denied claims of media reports circulating online that a judge of its High Court issued a ruling in favour of Governor Siminalayi Fubara against former Governor Nyesom Wike and President Bola Tinubu, there by sacking the sole Administrator of the state, vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd).
A statement signed by the Chief Registrar of the State High Court, David Ihua-Maduenyi yesterday in Port Harcourt, described the purported report as false and misleading, particularly for linking a judge of the State High Court, Justice Boma Diepirii, to a ruling that reportedly came from a Federal High Court.
According to the statement, Justice Boma Diepirii is a Judge of the Rivers State High Court and not of the Federal High Court and currently on Easter Vacation, which commenced on Monday, 14th April.
The Chief Registrar further clarified that the Federal High Court and the State High Court are separate entities, stressing that “the inclusion of Justice Diepiri’s name in the fabricated report underscores the crass ignorance of the author.”
“The attention of the Rivers State Judiciary has been drawn to a fake news report alleging that His Lordship, Hon. Justice Boma Diepiri, delivered a judgment sacking the Sole Administrator of Rivers State. This is false in its entirety,” the statement read.
“Justice Diepiri is a judge of the High Court of Rivers State, not of the Federal High Court as was falsely reported”.
” Additionally, His Lordship is currently on Easter vacation which began on Monday, April 14, 2025, Ihua-Maduenyi stated.
The statement however advised the general public and members of the media to always cross checked information concerning the judiciary before publishing and as well disregard the said report in its entirety as its an embodiment of falsehood and fabricated story.
Nation
Senate Passes Bill For Establishment Of University In Abia
The Senate yesterday approved the bills for the establishment of Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences and College of Education, Bende at its plenary session.
The two bills sponsored by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon . Benjamin Kalu came to the Senate for concurrence after the approvals from the House of Representatives.
The Deputy Leader of the Senate, Sen. Lola Ashiru in the absence of the Majority Leader presented the recommendations of the Lower Chamber for consideration and Concurrence .
The Bill for an Act to establish Federal College of Education, Bende in Abia State seeks to provide full-time courses, training in technology, applied sciences, commerce, social sciences, arts and humanities among others.
Kalu had in his lead debate stated that Bende has remained undivided since its creation in 1976, even though with the size of four local government areas as found in comparative federal constituencies.
“Despite its strategic location in Abia and sharing a border with Akwa Ibom, with a growing population and landmass, there is no tertiary institution in the Federal Constituency operated either by Federal or State Government. Bende deserves to have the presence of a tertiary institution to serve the education need of the teeming youthful population, especially now that the need for well-trained educationists has risen. This is accompanied by the need to fill the gaps created by both the consequences of brain drain and the lack of qualified educationists to provide quality training at all levels of education,” he said.
For the bill seeking the establishment of Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Bende, Abia State, he said when it becomes law, the university will be charged with the responsibility to, among other things, offer full-time training leading to the award of degrees in medical and health sciences.
Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi
Nation
South East Caucus Kicks As Senate Rejects Nwosu’s Immortalisation
South East Caucus of the Senate has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immorttalise late Professor Humphrey Nwosu considering his commitment to achieving a practical democracy for Nigerian.
The Senators visibly angered by the Senate’s rejection of the need to immortalise the late National Electoral umpire who stood for democracy through the turbulent 1993 elections stormed out of the Senate Chambers and spoke to the press .
The Chairman of the South East Caucus, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe ( Abia South), as he did in plenary on Wednesday, presented a motion for immortalisation of Humphrey Nwosu by naming the national headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) , after him , for laying the foundation in 1993 and conducting the freest and fairest Presidential election in the country .
The late Professor Nwosu was the National Chairman of the National Electoral Commission ( NEC) , now known as Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) , who through option A4, conducted the June 12, 19993 presidential election , adjudged to be the freest and fairest in the country.
Abaribe in the motion co – sponsored by 15 other Senators , said late Humphrey Nwosu deserved to be immortalised like other heroes of the June 12 , 1993 presidential election .
He also urged the Federal Government to honour the late former electoral umpire with post humous national honours .
But Abaribe’s request , seconded by Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) and supported by Senators from the South East including forner Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi ( Kebbi North) , was roundly rejected by other Senators who said the deceased deserved no immortalization .
Specifically , Senator Adams Oshiomhole ( Edo North) , in his contribution to the debate said the motion to him, was nothing but an attempt to manipulate and rewrite history.
“ Professor Humphrey Nwosu as NEC Chairman in 1993, failed to deliver on the June 12 , 1993 Presidential Election for lack of Courage
“ He who is not ready to die for something , will die for nothing
“ If he was afraid of the gun from announcing the election results and winner in 1993 , he cannot be rewarded now , more so, when many Nigerians died for what he inadvertently created “, he said .
Nneka Amaechi -Nnadi
-
News5 days ago
RSG Warns Against Fake News In Rivers
-
News5 days ago
Nigeria Ranks Top In Africa’s Soft Drinks Market
-
News5 days ago
BE PRUDENT, IBAS CHARGES 23 RIVERS LG ADMINISTRATORS
-
News5 days ago
CAS lauds troops for courage, sacrifices against terrorists
-
News5 days ago
Presidency disclaims 2027 campaign billboards
-
News5 days ago
JAMB Releases 2025 Mock Exam Results
-
News5 days ago
Falana Urges Youth To Reclaim Nigeria From Older Generation
-
News5 days ago
Withdraw bill to regulate bloggers, SERAP tells Akpabio, Abbas