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You can’t claim to love Tinubu while fighting Wike, Abe tells Fubara
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Former senator representing Rivers South-East, Magnus Abe, has said no one can genuinely claim loyalty to President Bola Tinubu while engaging in a political fight against the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Abe made the remark while thanking President Tinubu for his appointment as Chairman of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, a statement widely interpreted as a direct message to Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, amid the ongoing political rift with Wike.
In a statement posted on his Facebook page on Tuesday, Abe described Tinubu as a leader who rewards loyalty and promotes competence, declaring his unwavering allegiance to the President, while also acknowledging Wike for his support.
In a pointed reference to the Rivers political crisis, Abe praised Wike’s role in delivering electoral support for Tinubu and warned against ingratitude towards the FCT minister.
“Let me also thank the ‘001 of the Tinubu political family in Rivers State’, the FCT Minister, the man who did what no other politician has ever been able to achieve: delivered Rivers State to Tinubu and the APC in the most difficult election in the history of Nigerian politics.
“No one can claim to love Mr President and be ungrateful to our ‘Mr Project’, his support at a critical point meant a lot to our success as a family and continues to be pivotal to the success of the Tinubu family in Rivers State which has formed into a unique rainbow coalition called the Renewed Hope Family.”
Abe further described the President as “a father that rewards genuine loyalty and promotes competence,” adding, “I will never stop following you.”
Abe said his appointment offered him “a great and unique opportunity to contribute to the transformation of our country especially in the key economic sector.”
He said, “My appointment as Chairman of Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission by the President has not only given me a great and unique opportunity to contribute to the transformation of our country, especially in the key economic sector, but has demonstrated once again the President’s unique qualities that make him a master of the game.
“This is the reason thousands of people like me, have followed him (Tinubu) over the years and millions more are following. Nigeria is not becoming a one-party state, rather, in Tinubu, Nigerians have simply found a leader that all Nigerians can trust.”
Abe also expressed personal gratitude to Wike, whom he referred to as “our Nyerishi.”
“To my friend and brother, our Nyerishi (referring to the FCT Minister), thank you. My family and I owe you what words cannot express. Thank you sir,” he said.
He concluded by thanking God for the opportunity and urging Nigerians to support the President’s reform agenda.
“To all my friends and well-wishers across the land, just praise God, ignore the naysayers, pay your tax, and support the reform agenda. Better days are coming for our country. Today, the President is doing things differently, and the numbers are beginning to show that Nigeria is on the right course,” Abe added.
Wike and Abe have maintained a long-standing but complex political relationship in Rivers State, marked by periods of alliance and rivalry.
Abe, a former ally of ex-Governor Rotimi Amaechi, fell out with Amaechi during internal APC crises and later aligned with Wike at critical moments, particularly during the 2023 general elections.
Although Abe did not formally contest under the Peoples Democratic Party, he publicly backed Wike’s political structure and joined the minister’s effort to mobilise support for President Tinubu in Rivers State, a move that proved decisive in delivering the state to the APC despite Wike’s PDP roots.
Since Tinubu’s victory, Abe has increasingly positioned himself within Wike’s political camp, often defending the FCT minister and aligning with his “Renewed Hope” coalition in Rivers, even as the relationship between Wike and Governor Fubara deteriorated.
Abuja Electricity Distribution Company has announced an electricity outage in parts of the Federal Capital Territory and Nasarawa State.
AEDC disclosed this in a notice on Wednesday.
The disco said the outage is due to a technical fault on the transmission company of Nigeria (TCN) 132kV Apo – Karu – line 1.
Consequently, bulk electricity supply has been disrupted in areas in Abuja and Nasarawa, including in Karu, Nyanya, Jikwoyi, Kurudu, Orozo, Karshi, Mararaba, Ado, New Nyanya, New Karu Uke, Masaka, Auta Balaifi, Keffi, Nasarawa Toto, Akwanga, Nasarawa Eggon, and environs.
The disco, however, assured electricity restoration.
“The technical team of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) is currently working to restore power supply around 3:00 pm today, 10th June 2026.
“We regret the inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your patience and understanding,” AEDC stated.
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Watch moment VP Shettima arrives at venue of commissioning of Arterial RN5 Obafemi Awolowo Way today
Watch clip showing arrival of Vice President Kashim Shettima at the venue of the commissioning of the newly constructed Arterial Road N5 (Obafemi Awolowo Way) from Life Camp Junction to RR III, Dape District section.
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Referee Omar Artan has vowed to officiate at the 2030 World Cup after arriving home in Somalia following his ban from entering the United States.
Hundreds of people gathered at the Mogadishu Airport to give a warm welcome to Omar Artan.
Some in the crowd carried banners with supportive slogans while others wore specially made hats bearing pictures of the referee, who has quickly become an icon in his homeland.
There were also social media celebrities who posed for photos with Artan and live-streamed the welcome on their platforms.
Amid the celebratory reception, there was also visible anger that the first Somali appointed as a World Cup referee had been denied entry to the United States.
The 34-year-old – Africa’s referee of the year in 2025 – was set to be the first Somali to referee at a World Cup finals but was denied entry at Miami International Airport on Monday despite holding a diplomatic passport and a single entry US visa.
No reason for his repatriation has been given by US immigration authorities, but Somalia is one of several countries on a travel ban list introduced by President Donald Trump.
He arrived back in Somalia on Wednesday, landing at Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu where he was greeted by government officials and representatives of the Somali Football Federation, as well as fellow referees and local residents.
Artan is expected to attend a public event at Mogadishu Stadium later on Wednesday afternoon and watch a match between Heegan and Dekadaha.
“I’d like to thank the officials, ministers, MPs and everyone. I want to thank my country and people for their support. The encouragement I received here, I know I’ll get more support outside [the airport],” Artan said, translated into English by the BBC.
“Everything is pre-destined. Fifa supported me well and were in touch with me until I reached Mogadishu.
“I promise you that I’ll be officiating in the next World Cup. Somalia, everywhere, I’m letting you know.”
Artan, who was named the Confederation of African Football (Caf) men’s referee of the year in 2025, was one of 52 referees selected for the tournament.
However, his “dream” came crashing down as he attempted to travel to the on-pitch officials’ base in Florida, with Artan telling the New York Times, external he had faced an 11-hour immigration interview and was detained for several hours before be was put on a flight back to Istanbul, Turkey.
Speaking to BBC World Service, Andrew Giuliani, who leads the White House Task Force on the World Cup, said: “While I can’t go into the derog [derogatory information] on that I can tell you it was the right decision by customs and border patrol and I support that decision.”
It was not possible for Artan to stay outside the United States and referee matches played in Canada or Mexico, with all on-pitch officials based in Florida for training, preparation, and security.
Trump placed a full entry ban under any visa category for 12 countries, including Somalia, in June 2025.
Two days before the World Cup draw in December 2025, Trump drew widespread attention for comments made about Somalia in the lead up to a planned immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota, which has a large Somali community.
“With Somalia, which is barely a country, you know, they have no anything,” he said.
“They just run around killing each other. There’s no structure.”
He added that Somali immigrants should “go back to where they came from” and that the US would “go the wrong way if we keep taking in garbage to our country”.
On arriving home, Artan urged Somalia’s youth not to lose hope in their country in the face of his treatment, stating: “Let’s all defend Somalia’s honour. We all belong to Somalia whether it’s bad or good.
“That flag is ours and so is the passport – let’s defend it.
“The youth shouldn’t be demoralised about their country. Despite this happening to me, I’ll still stand for my nation.
“I want to continue my journey from here and urge the youth to do the same.”
For his part, Artan was very happy with the welcome he received. The determined look on his face backed up the statements he has made about continuing his career and he told friends that he is ready to start training right away.
After the press conference, he was given a grand farewell. Thousands more people are expected to greet him at the Mogadishu Stadium on Wednesday afternoon. Another hero’s welcome is on the cards.
Blackout hits Abuja, Nasarawa, AEDC explains
Watch moment VP Shettima arrives at venue of commissioning of Arterial RN5 Obafemi Awolowo Way today
Red carpet reception for banned referee Artan on arrival in Somalia
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