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Wike blasts Fubara for denying Renewed Hope Ambassadors permit to use Gowon stadium(Video)
…says next time such a denial will be resisted
…hails Ijaw coalition towards February 21 by-election
The Federal Capital Territory FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has blasted Governor Siminalayi Fubara for denying Renewed Hope Ambassadors permit to perform its inauguration ceremony in Rivers state today.
Naijablitzlitznews reports the minister revealed this during the inauguration of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors inauguration on Friday.
The minister sent a subtle threat to the governor that next time such a denial will be rejected.
On the inauguration the FCT minister said :”As the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, for what you and your members at the local government level, what you’ve done, and the senatorial districts, led by Gbombaye Yaye, Marcus Ndeyeji, and Felix Obua alias Go round, for this massive mobilization, that you’ve done today, you are great coordinators of the Renewed Hope Agenda in River State.
“This is the first in this country, we challenge any state to come and do the same thing we have done. I know after today, these states, coming to inaugurate their own state chapter, Rivery State will always lead the way.
“Let me thank our leaders here, ranging from the coordinators at the local government level, down to the senatorial districts, down to the states, to the National Assembly, to the state assembly, to the federal appointees, and the elders council, support, support, is not by mouth. You have shown commitment.
“You don’t have your governor with you, yet you say you are supporting Mr. President and you will do everything humanly possible to return Mr. President by His special grace, 2027.
“What have you done? You have managed yourself with the little resources you have. Put yourself together, by committing yourself, all of you, and the 22 government councils, you contribute that money to Rivers West, to Rivers East, to Rivers Southeast.
“You have provided vehicles for all the coordinators. You have provided vehicles for the senatorial coordinators. How dare you say, how committed can you be, when you have nothing? You have come to contribute for Mr. President to succeed.
“And I do know that wherever Mr. President is today, he’s watching your programme, to know those who are really committed, to the Renewed Hope Ambassadors.
“Look at the vehicles there. You don’t need N600 billion, you don’t need it. All you need is commitment, and you have shown it.
“What we have done today, let me remind you, will bring in a lot of envy, will bring a lot of hatred. Don’t mind that. Be committed, and continue to support Mr. President.
“So this Ijaw Coalition, it has never happened in any states. But they will borrow what you are doing, but we have led the way, as usual.
“Let me say, I thank Mr. President, for supporting the Ijaw Coalition, to produce the candidate, for February 2021, state constituency election.
“Mr. President have given Ijaw Coalition, to make sure that Ikhanna Constituency 2, will support Mrs. Lolo.
“In Ahoada Constituency 2, we will support Napoleon Karibe, so this is the candidate, of the Ijaw Coalition.
Whatever you are, these are the candidates, you will support for February 2021 election.
“Remember, I told you, when we get to your federal local government for time speaking, I did say to you, by January, we’ll start to play politics.
” Now the time has come and we have started the politics and everybody, go home.
Whether you in PDP, whether you are in APC, whether you don’t belong to any political party but when you remember the Ijaw Coalition, go and vote for these two of our candidates, come February 21st 2026. Do you hear what I said?
Are you going to vote for them? Are you going to return them? In Kane Constituency 2, in Ahaoda East Constituency 2.
We are not quarrelling with anybody, except those who are quarrelling themselves.
We are here, we will never disappoint you.
“We will tell you the truth, and nothing but the truth.
So I thank all of you, but we have not completed this journey.
“We must go, and make sure this is inaugurated, ward by ward, unit by unit. And we will take a date to make sure we inaugurate them.
“I have told the leadership of the party, the way they have done it for local government, so we will do for the wards.
“We must provide vehicles for each of the wards.
So nobody should be intimidated. We are here to support you.
“The members of Elders Council have agreed to make more commitments, to make sure each ward gets a bus, to make sure they campaign for the Renewed Hope Agenda is being realised.
“We applied to the state government, for the Gen. Yakubu Gowon stadium, they refused us.
Let me say, next time we will do this. If you don’t approve it, we will break it by force.
“So the coordinator of the state, write again to the state government, choose a day, we will inaugurate the ward level.
I want to say to everyone to hear, enough is enough.
“We are all from Rivers State. Nobody can deny us the facilities of the state. If you don’t agree to give us, we will do the needful and we will take it by force.
“Heaven will never fall, even when heaven falls, everywhere will be at peace. Thank you and God bless you.
Midnight fire on Saturday destroyed more than 10 shops at the Terminus Market in Jos, Plateau State.
Witnesses said that the incident occurred around 10:00 p.m., after traders had closed for the day.
The latest incident comes three months after a section of the market was gutted by a similar night fire.
Our correspondent, who visited the market on Sunday morning, reports that more than 10 shops were affected, with clothes and shoes burnt to ashes.
The cause of the fire could not be immediately confirmed by market authorities, though some victims suggested it might have been caused by an electrical fault.
Firefighters and emergency responders were said to have acted swiftly to contain the blaze, preventing what many feared could have escalated into a major disaster.
A witness, Mr. Silas Lawrenzo, said that firefighters, including a team from the National Emergency Management Agency, worked alongside the Plateau State Emergency Management Agency, Federal Fire Service, and the Plateau State Fire Service to bring the fire under control.
He said the coordinated and rapid response helped contain the flames, limiting damage and preventing the fire from spreading across the busy commercial hub.
The media reports that the market has experienced three separate fire incidents in the past year, destroying goods worth millions of naira.
The Inspector General of Police,Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has hailed the professionalism of Nigerian journalists and corrected a misconception about their roles in society cautioning that they should not be treated like beggars, instead accorded the full compliments of professionals deserving of respect
The IGP who commended Federal capital Territory journalists and sought stronger police- media partnership when he spoke as a special guest at the FCT NUJ council congress Saturday, said he has always had a mutually beneficial relationship with the media, recognising their professionalism that is deserving of respect and therefore they should never be treated as beggars
The calm and ever- smiling police chief said, “I have always had a respectful and mutually beneficial relationship with journalists. They are professionals who deserve respect and should never be treated as beggars,”
Disu commended them for their role in informing the public and contributing to national development, describing his relationship with the media as one built on mutual respect and professionalism.
He emphasised that journalists should be regarded as respected professionals rather than beggars, noting that the media plays a critical role in society, while calling for stronger collaboration between the police and the media, stressing that a healthy partnership would enhance public trust and improve security communication.
The police chief further urged both police officers and journalists to conduct themselves responsibly at all times, noting that good conduct leaves lasting impressions in society.
Responding, Chairman of the NUJ FCT Council, Comrade Grace Ike, congratulated the new IGP on his appointment and described him as a longstanding friend of the press.
She expressed confidence in his leadership and assured him of the council’s readiness to collaborate with the police in reporting security matters objectively
Ike also revealed that the IGP would be invited as a special guest to the council’s 2026 Press Week celebration.
She reaffirmed the commitment of the NUJ FCT Council to promoting responsible journalism and supporting initiatives aimed at strengthening security and governance in the territory.
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, was today honoured with the *Outstanding Agency of the Year Award 2025* by Champions Newspaper at its 2025 Awards ceremony held in Lagos.
The Managing Director, who was represented by the General Manager, Corporate Affairs, *Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara*, described the award as recognition of his vigorous leadership in implementing smart initiatives that align with the NPA’s vision to become the *Maritime Logistics Hub for Sustainable Port Services in Africa*.
Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, the Authority’s Spokesman, highlighted the invaluable support of the *Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola*, which has been instrumental in achieving these remarkable successes. Key highlights include:
– Sustained port efficiencies contributing to Nigeria’s year-on-year trade surplus of ₦7.5 trillion and ₦6.7 trillion in Q2 and Q3 2025 (per NBS and NESG reports), driven mainly by exports via NPA platforms.
– Successful execution of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s policy for crude and petroleum product sales in Naira, saving billions in FOREX, enhancing energy security, improving trade balance, and creating jobs.
– Completion of Nigeria’s membership in the International Port Community System Association (IPCSA), paving the way for the National Single Window (NSW) project.
– Technical guidance enabling a significant rise in transhipment cargo at Lekki Deep Seaport, serving landlocked neighbours and recovering cargo lost to competing ports.
– Pioneering election of a Nigerian agency as President of the Port Management Association of West & Central Africa (PMAWCA) since 1972, with Dr. Dantsoho also leading PAPC, boosting Nigeria’s diplomatic standing and securing re-admission to IMO Category C.
These successes position NPA to deliver major 2025 projects, including the $1 billion reconstruction of Tincan Island Port Complex, rehabilitation of key ports, new deep seaport developments, and eco-friendly operations.
Champions Newspaper conferred the award in appreciation of NPA’s pivotal role as a leading trade facilitation platform driving national economic prosperity through Nigeria’s maritime endowments.
Midnight fire engulfs Jos main market destroying ten shops
Journalists are professionals deserving Respect- IGP Disu
NPA wins Champions Newspaper’s “Outstanding Agency of the Year Award 2025”
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