IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

The political rift between Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the State House of Assembly has deepened following recent Supreme Court rulings. The reinstated lawmakers, led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, have refuted several claims made by the governor, accusing him of insincerity.

Budget Controversy

Assembly spokesperson Hon. Enemi George stated that the governor’s claim of being blocked from presenting the 2025 budget was false. According to George, the Assembly had invited Fubara to present the budget within 48 hours after the Supreme Court’s ruling but received no response. He further alleged that the governor’s supposed letter requesting a presentation date was never officially received by the Assembly and only surfaced on social media.

Governor’s Alleged Exclusion from the Assembly Complex

George dismissed reports that lawmakers locked the governor out of the Assembly complex, explaining that Fubara had demolished the complex and that legislative sessions were now held at their quarters. He claimed that the governor arrived at the quarters unannounced and staged a brief press conference outside the locked gate, using public sentiment to frame lawmakers as obstructionists.

Commissioners’ Legitimacy and Legislative Interference

The lawmakers insisted that Fubara’s appointed commissioners were invalidated by the Supreme Court and urged him to submit a new list for approval. Instead, the governor allegedly instructed his commissioners to take legal action against the Assembly and barred state agencies from receiving communication from lawmakers.

RSIEC and Chief Judge Investigations

The Assembly accused the governor of interfering with legislative oversight, claiming that the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) chairman refused to acknowledge their summons. Regarding the Chief Judge’s alleged age falsification, lawmakers said they had referred the matter to federal authorities, as they were unable to conduct an independent investigation.

Indefinite Adjournment and Impeachment Speculations

George clarified that the Assembly’s adjournment was due to logistical reasons and not a political move. He also denied any ongoing impeachment plans against Fubara, stating that such a decision would require formal discussions and an investigative process.

Financial Challenges

The lawmakers accused the governor of withholding their allowances for over a year, affecting not only members but also Assembly staff and essential operational expenses.

Amidst the escalating tensions, the lawmakers urged all parties to prioritize governance over political rivalries, warning that the crisis was stalling the state’s progress. 

Police in Connecticut have located Andrea Reyes, a woman who disappeared 25 years ago at the age of two.

According to Fox News, Reyes was abducted in October 1999 by her non-custodial mother, Rosa Tenorio, who took her to Mexico. While Mexican authorities identified them in 2000, they did not intervene to return Reyes to her father.

The case was reopened in 2023 when Andrea reached out to the man she believed was her father. Detective Kealyn Nivakoff of the New Haven Police Department led the investigation, working with forensic genealogy firm Othram to confirm a DNA match between Andrea and her father.

Andrea’s stepmother expressed gratitude, saying, “After 25 years, God has answered our prayers and blessed us with a chance to know her again.”

Police revealed that Andrea’s father had made multiple trips to Mexico over the years searching for her. The family thanked law enforcement and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) for their efforts.

NCMEC reports that family abductions are the second most common type of child abduction in the U.S. 

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has expressed support for Lagos-based National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member Ushie Uguamaye, also known as Raye, who claimed she received threats after criticizing President Bola Tinubu's administration.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, TUC President Festus Osifo said the corps member was expressing frustration and urged the government to be tolerant of criticism instead of targeting individuals.

Osifo acknowledged the struggles faced by many Nigerians, stating:

 "The government must develop resilience and understand that people are frustrated, hungry, and tired. If they vent their frustrations, the government should not take it personally or go after them."

He also advised critics to express their views with decorum but emphasized that authorities should exercise patience and tolerance, especially considering the hardships faced by citizens.

Raye recently gained attention after posting a viral video criticizing the government’s policies and economic management. She later alleged that NYSC officials pressured her to remove the video and threatened her safety.

In her video, she lamented Nigeria’s worsening economy, arguing that hard work no longer guarantees financial stability. She also referred to Tinubu as a “terrible leader” and questioned the government's commitment to improving citizens’ welfare.

So far, the NYSC has not issued an official statement regarding the controversy. 

Former Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and African Union of Journalists (AUJ) President, Comrade Lanre Ogundipe, has cautioned the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) against taking punitive measures against Rita Ushie Uguamaye, a corps member serving in Lagos State.

In a statement released on Monday, Ogundipe emphasized that freedom of speech is a fundamental right enshrined in Section 39(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees individuals the right to express their opinions without interference. He further noted that this right is also upheld by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international legal instruments.

Ogundipe reacted to a viral video in which Uguamaye criticized President Bola Tinubu’s government over the country’s economic challenges. He condemned any attempts to silence or intimidate her, stressing that young Nigerians should support and protect her from harassment.

"Every youth must stand in defense of her fundamental rights. Her courage and determination to speak truth to power should be applauded rather than punished," Ogundipe stated.

He also criticized the NYSC’s reported summons of Uguamaye to its Eti-Osa Local Government Secretariat, describing it as an attempt to pressure her into deleting the video and impose disciplinary actions.

Urging the NYSC to halt any retaliatory actions, Ogundipe maintained that dissenting voices should not be suppressed, and young activists should be encouraged to express their views freely. 

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has condemned the newly approved ₦70,000 minimum wage, arguing that it is insufficient to meet workers' basic needs such as transportation, food, and housing.

In his newly released book, Nigeria: Past and Future, Obasanjo criticized labour leaders for prioritizing personal gains over workers' welfare. He accused some of using their positions as a stepping stone for political ambitions, leading to weak and compromised representation.

He also alleged that government officials openly admitted to bribing labour leaders to silence agitation, stating that such actions further oppress and demoralize workers.

Obasanjo proposed a five-year ban on labour leaders transitioning into politics after leaving office to prevent conflicts of interest.

President Bola Tinubu signed the ₦70,000 minimum wage into law on July 29, 2024, following negotiations that reduced labour’s initial demand of ₦250,000 per month. Previously, the minimum wage stood at ₦33,000, enacted by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019. 

Contrary to the false statement made by a colleague that she has six kids with different men, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has four children: a son from her first marriage, two from her second, and a son with High Chief Uduaghan, her current husband.

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s recent face-off with Senate President Godswill Akpabio has reignited discussions about both her political and personal life. While her defiance in the Senate and allegations against Akpabio have drawn national attention, her private life—especially her marriages and children—has also come under scrutiny. 

Some are of the view that her personal life is her business and should not be an issue. While some have an opposite view.

Her latest controversy began when she rejected a new Senate seating arrangement in February 2024. The dispute escalated into accusations that Akpabio was targeting her for previously rejecting his alleged advances. 

After being suspended for six months, she retaliated by suing Akpabio for def+mation and taking her claims to international bodies like the UN and the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

This is not the first time Natasha has made allegations of s+x¥al hara§§ment. A resurfaced 2021 video shows her accusing former presidential aide Reno Omokri of similar misconduct. 

Omokri denied the claims, arguing that he was out of the country at the time. With these recurring accusations, public opinion remains divided—some see her as a fearless woman taking on powerful men, while others question her credibility.

Despite the controversies, Natasha remains a formidable force in Nigerian politics. Whether her influence will endure or fade remains uncertain, but she has undeniably cemented her place as a woman unafraid to challenge the system.