Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has sued for a change in the current approach adopted by South South Governors in their pursuit to achieve holistic regional development and economic prosperity.

The governor insisted on de-emphasis in vested individuals’ political interests while looking at the bigger picture of achieving enduring regional integration that will strengthen unity of purpose to change the trajectory of development in the region.

Fubara made the appeal during the meeting of Governors of South-South States, under the auspices of BRACED Commission, at the Bayelsa State Government House in Yanagoa on Tuesday.

This was contained in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Nelson Chukwudi.

BRACED is an acronym for Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta.

He said: “I want to appeal that if we have to succeed in this drive, we need to keep our political differences aside and understand that the struggle, as at today, is for posterity, for the development of our region.

“It is really sad that in Niger Delta that is the economic base of this country, the construction of a road that you tagged ‘East-West Road’ could be an issue, that we need to beg, protest, and complain to get it fixed. I don’t think it is proper.”

Governor Fubara stated that it is not that the federal authorities do not understand that Niger Delta needs the road but quickly added that they have seen that even the people of the region do not take themselves seriously.

The governor said the moment Niger Delta people stopped playing to the gallery, and place value on themselves, outsiders will have no option than to accord the region and its people due regard.

Fubara said: “On my part, I want to say this: This is not the first time we are meeting. For me, I followed the course of the region meeting in a forum that we tagged “BRACED Commission.”

“BRACED Commission is also one of the bodies that was constituted at that time to support and work out development strategies for this region. But what I am seeing today is just limiting this meeting to only BRACED COMMISSION.

“We need to widen the scope where other leaders of the region should be part of the discussion of the development of the region, and I think this is the direction that will help the region.”

Reading the Communique of the meeting, the new Chairman of the Forum of Governors of South-South States, and Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, said they support the Federal Government Tax Reform Bills, and urged President Bola Tinubu to extend the Value Added Tax (VAT) sharing percentages to oil and gas derivation.

He stated the Forum’s request to the Federal Government to urge relevant stakeholders and agencies to extend remediation of polluted environment ongoing in Ogoni land to other impacted communities and States in the region.

Governor Diri also said that the Forum resolved to establish a structural regional security network to enhance safety and security, foster stable Niger Delta region conducive for economic growth and prosperity.

Highlight of the event was the hosting of Governor Fubara to a surprise 50th Birthday celebration by the Governors of South-South States at the Government House in Yenagoa.

A British-Nigerian politician, Florence Eshalomi, has been appointed as the United Kingdom’s trade envoy to Nigeria.

Her appointment makes Eshalomi the second Nigerian to hold the position.

Confirming her appointment on X on Tuesday, she wrote: “It is an honour to have been appointed as the United Kingdom’s Trade Envoy to Nigeria.

“I’m looking forward to building on my close ties with Nigeria to promote a strong and flourishing economic relationship between our two great nations.

“I am looking forward to strengthening the UK’s relationship with Nigeria to explore shared growth and opportunities for both countries.”

Announcing the appointment in a statement on Tuesday, Jonathan Reynolds, the UK’s Business and Trade Secretary, said the decision was aimed at attracting investment into the UK and boosting economic growth.

“I’ve launched a new team of trade envoys who will use their experience, expertise, and knowledge to unlock new markets around the world for British businesses, attract investment into the UK, and ultimately drive economic growth,” Reynolds said.

Eshalomi, 44, is an MP representing the Vauxhall and Camberwell Green constituency.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Political and International Studies with Law from Middlesex University.

Tensions flared at the Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday as protesters under the #EndBadGovernance movement accused security forces of intimidation while demanding the immediate release of activist and journalist, Omoyele Sowore.

Amid heavy police presence on Wednesday, a protester expressed frustration over what he described as misplaced priorities by the authorities.

“Police officers are here to intimidate protesters. Meanwhile, Abuja is burning. Look at them gathered here instead of being deployed to crime hotspots. This shows the seriousness of this government and the illegal Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun. If he were serious, he would send his men to tackle crime, not to harass peaceful demonstrators,” the protester said.

The demonstrators insisted that Sowore, who has been detained, should either be brought before the court immediately or released if no formal charges had been filed against him.

“What we are asking is that Sowore should be brought before a court now. Stop detaining him and breaching his right to liberty if you have no charges against him. Free Sowore now!” another protester demanded.

Beyond Sowore’s case, the protesters also called for an end to what they termed the weaponization of the judiciary against government critics.

“We are also asking for the striking out of all cases against critics of this government. All critics who were unjustly tried in this country should have their cases struck out. The authorities should focus on serious matters instead of chasing trivialities,” the protester added.

Despite the heavy security presence, the protesters vowed to continue their advocacy until their demands were met.

Recall that Sowore was summoned over multiple allegations, including resisting and obstructing public officers, disobedience to lawful orders, cyberstalking and acts allegedly aimed at preventing arrests.

However, in a statement on X.com on Monday, Sowore claimed that his summons was politically motivated, linking it to his public criticism of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun’s tenure extension.

Sowore later revealed that he had been granted bail following an engagement with the Force Intelligence Department of the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja.

Despite this, he maintained that he would reject any bail conditions that he believed would compromise his “innocence, dignity, and integrity.”

On Tuesday, Sowore’s lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, confirmed that the police would arraign the rights activist yesterday.

“The police have procured charges to arraign Omoyele Sowore before Justice Liman at the Federal High Court tomorrow,” Abubakar said.