Breaking
Ijaw National Congress Condemns Tinubu’s State of Emergency in Rivers State
By Perez Bibaikefie – March 18, 2025
The Ijaw National Congress (INC) has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a State of Emergency in Rivers State, calling it a “hasty and partisan” move allegedly designed to favor Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
While reacting to questions raised by news men in Yenagoa, the President of INC, Prof. Benjamin Ogele Okaba accused the president of the FRN of ignoring wise counsel and implementing a premeditated plan. According to Okaba, the decision to declare a State of Emergency was triggered by the Ijaw people’s refusal to be provoked into violence during last weekend’s orchestrated thanksgiving on a Saturday and the hosting of Wike in Abalama.
Prof. Okaba stated that the alleged aim of the Abalama event was to incite violence and create justification for the declaration of emergency rule, which failed as ijaw youths heeded the wise council of their elders. He further questioned why President Tinubu had chosen to impose emergency rule in Rivers State while failing to do so in other crisis-ridden states like Plateau, Benue, Borno, Sokoto, Zamfara, and Ondo, where frequent violent attacks have led to the deaths of many civilians and military officers by faceless tribal militia and other criminal minded elements.
“We said it just yesterday in both print and TV media that the political wahala in Rivers State is beyond a battle between Wike and Fubara, but one orchestrated by a bigger political hand. Nigerians have now seen the last straw that may break the camel’s back,” Okaba asserted.
The INC leader also condemned what he described as the selective nature of the emergency rule, pointing out that while Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, the State House of Assembly members, and all appointees were removed, Wike—whom the INC describes as a key figure in the crisis and other federal appointee from Rivers State who support him—remains in office as FCT Minister and federal appointees. Where is justice in this equation?
“How do we explain that, Mr. President’s experimental State of Emergency sacked Governor Fubara and all his appointed persons but did not sack Wike, the major player in this matter, who has continually and boastfully promised mayhem, attacked Ijaw people, and incited violence?” Okaba questioned.
The Ijaw National Congress has called for an immediate Sack of Tinubu’s FCT minister and his cohorts, if the call for the reversal of the State of Emergency by well meaning Nigerians is ignored, warning that failure to do so will compel the Ijaw people to reassess “all the injustices meted upon them since the foundation of Nigeria” and take a firm stance in determining their future.
The Professor of Sociology warned that the safety and security of Governor Siminalayi Fubara must be a top priority following the military’s takeover of power in Rivers State under the declared state of emergency. With the armed forces now in control, concerns have risen over the potential risks to Fubara’s well-being. The INC wonders if a President Tinubu will guarantee the protection of Fubara and his family, insisting that any harm to him would raise serious questions about the intent behind this intervention. The world is watching, and this move increasingly appears to be a case of dictatorship disguised as civilian governance. The Ijaw people, both at home and in the diaspora, must unite and place the President on notice, making it clear that both the removal of and any threat to Fubara’s safety will not and can never be tolerated.
Meanwhile, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ekpo (Rtd.) has been appointed as the sole administrator of Rivers State following the removal of all elected officials. However, critics continue to ask why Wike, who has been at the centre of the crisis, remains unaffected by the presidential decision.
As the political situation in Rivers State continues to unfold, the Ijaw Nation is calling on Nigerians to stand in defence of democracy and the rights of the Ijaw people.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
Breaking
Senate Approves Tinubu’s $6bn External Loan Requests for Budget Support, Port Rehabilitation
By Favour Bibaikefie
The Nigerian Senate has approved President ’s request for two external loan facilities totaling $6 billion, aimed at supporting the 2026 budget and upgrading key maritime infrastructure across the country.
The approval followed the consideration of two executive communications earlier transmitted to the upper chamber and read during plenary by Senate President on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.
Breakdown of the facilities shows that the Federal Government secured a $5 billion loan from Abu Dhabi Bank to provide critical budgetary support. The fund is expected to help bridge fiscal gaps and enable the government meet pressing financial obligations.
The second facility, valued at $1 billion, is from Citi Bank, London, and is specifically designated for the rehabilitation and technical upgrade of Nigeria’s major seaports, including the Lagos Port Complex and Tin Can Island Port.
According to the presidency, the port modernisation initiative is designed to tackle longstanding operational inefficiencies, strengthen security, and boost non-oil exports. The government also aims to reposition Nigeria as a leading trade hub within the West African sub-region through improved port infrastructure.
Following deliberations, lawmakers gave their nod to the loan requests after reviewing the report of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, chaired by Senator Aliyu Wammakko, which had earlier been mandated to examine the proposals.
Senate sources indicated that the approval was granted after assurances on the viability of the projects, expected economic returns, and the capacity of the government to manage the country’s debt profile responsibly.
The development marks a significant step in the Federal Government’s efforts to stabilise public finances and accelerate infrastructure renewal, particularly in the maritime sector, which remains a critical gateway for international trade and revenue generation.
As Iran strikes Kuwaiti vessel Al-Salmi
By Ezinne
Tensions in the Persian Gulf have reached a boiling point after a giant Kuwaiti crude oil tanker, the Al-Salmi, was hit by an Iranian drone strike while anchored off the coast of Dubai early Tuesday, March 31, 2026. The attack follows a fresh ultimatum from US President Donald Trump, who warned that the United States would “obliterate” Iran’s energy grid and oil infrastructure if the Strait of Hormuz is not immediately reopened.
The Al-Salmi, which was fully laden with approximately 2 million barrels of crude oil, was struck on its starboard side shortly after midnight, sparking a major fire. Dubai maritime authorities confirmed that firefighting teams successfully extinguished the blaze after an hours-long operation. While all 24 crew members were reported safe and no oil spill has yet been confirmed, the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) condemned the incident as a “direct, heinous attack.”
This escalation comes as President Trump utilized social media on Monday to threaten the destruction of Iran’s Kharg Island oil hub, power plants, and desalination facilities if a ceasefire deal is not reached “shortly.” The conflict, which began in late February, has already pushed global oil prices above $100 a barrel and gasoline prices in the US past $4 a gallon. As the US and Israel continue missile strikes on military and nuclear infrastructure within Iran, Tehran has retaliated by targeting commercial shipping and regional energy plants, raising fears of a total collapse in global energy security.
By Favour Bibaikefie
Nigeria’s political landscape witnessed a significant shift on Monday as formally defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a move widely seen as a strategic recalibration ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State and presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the 2023 elections, officially registered with the ADC in Kano, marking the end of his association with the NNPP and signalling a new phase in Nigeria’s opposition politics.
The high-profile defection event attracted key political figures across party lines, underscoring growing momentum toward a broad-based coalition aimed at challenging the ruling party in 2027. Among those reportedly present or aligned with the unfolding political realignment are prominent opposition figures believed to be exploring a unified front.
Strategic Realignment Ahead of 2027
Political analysts say Kwankwaso’s entry into the ADC represents more than a routine party switch; it reflects an emerging convergence of opposition forces seeking to avoid the fragmentation that defined the 2023 presidential election.
In that election cycle, the opposition vote was split among multiple candidates, including Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi of the Labour Party, and Kwankwaso himself under the NNPP platform—an outcome that ultimately benefited the ruling All Progressives Congress.
With less than two years to the next electoral cycle, Monday’s development suggests a deliberate effort to consolidate political strength, particularly in northern Nigeria where Kwankwaso commands a formidable grassroots following through his Kwankwasiyya movement.
ADC Emerges as Coalition Platform
The ADC, hitherto considered a minor political platform, is increasingly positioning itself as a potential coalition vehicle for opposition leaders seeking a neutral ground free from entrenched internal rivalries associated with older parties.
Observers note that Kwankwaso’s defection may trigger a domino effect, encouraging other political heavyweights to reconsider their affiliations as consultations intensify across the opposition spectrum.
There are also indications that talks are ongoing among leading political actors on the possibility of presenting a consensus presidential candidate in 2027—a strategy aimed at mounting a more formidable challenge to the incumbent administration.
Implications for the Ruling Party
For the APC, Kwankwaso’s move introduces a fresh layer of complexity to the evolving political equation. While the ruling party maintains a strong national structure and incumbency advantage, a united opposition could significantly alter electoral dynamics, particularly in battleground states across the North-Central and North-West regions.
Political commentators argue that the success of the emerging coalition will depend largely on its ability to manage internal ambitions, agree on power-sharing arrangements, and present a coherent policy alternative to Nigerians.
Looking Ahead
As political activities gradually build toward 2027, Kwankwaso’s defection to the ADC may well be remembered as a defining moment in the early stages of coalition politics in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic.
Whether this realignment translates into a viable electoral force remains to be seen, but one point is clear: the race to 2027 has begun in earnest, and the battle lines are already being redrawn.