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Anniversary: You don’t have any fresh project to show, Rivers APC blasts Fubara
… insists gov only commissioned predecessor’s projects
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has slammed the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, for only commissioning projects initiated by his predecessor as part of his one-year anniversary in office.
But the state government refuted the claim, stating that some of the projects commissioned were initiated and completed by the governor, dismissing the claim by the APC as a baseless one.
The caretaker committee chairman of APC in the state, Chief Tony Okocha, in a press briefing in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, berated the governor for saying that he had only spent four months in office, arguing that such a statement by the governor stood logic on its head when the same governor was celebrating 365 days in office.
He challenged the governor to show proof of any project he singlehandedly initiated and completed in 365 days, adding that the governor only completed and commissioned projects initiated by his immediate predecessor, Nyesom Wike, with whom he (Fubara) has been at loggerheads.
“I will look at the performances of first-time governors, then take a typical look at Abia State Governor. Take a critical look at Akwa Ibom and also at the Ebonyi State Governor. Take the cases of Anambra and Enugu State. Then take a look as far north as Niger State and juxtapose the achievements of Similanayi Fubara with what is going on in Rivers State.
“The Governor and his handlers have planned out activities to mark his 365 days in office, and I’m saying here categorically and stand here to be corrected that there is no one project that has been clearly initiated, followed up on, and finally completed by Governor Fubara. One cannot appropriate projects initiated by the previous administration for himself.
“Again, he rose on the plan of continuity and consolidation. So, it is also not unexpected. But the danger in what he is doing is that he doesn’t even accord one percent credit. In writing, it is called plagiarism.
“The achievement of Fubara known to me is traversing across the 23 local government areas of the state in what he dubbed Thanksgiving for his Supreme Court victory. That is his only achievement.”
Responding, Rivers State Commissioner of Information, Barrister Joseph Johnson, who described Okocha’s allegation as baseless, said the governor initiated and completed some projects, such as Etewo Ebubu Eleme Road, which was commissioned by Governor Alex Otti of Abia State.
He said the second section of the Andoni Ogoni Obobo Unity Road was also initiated and commissioned by the governor, while the Trans Kalabari Road was initiated and awarded by the governor to be completed in 32 months.
By Gloria Ikibah
Three federal lawmakers of the Labour Party extraction have brushed aside recent claims of their suspension, calling the move unserious and politically motivated. According to them, the action appears to be the last gasp of a former party leader who no longer holds authority.
Julius Abure, the party’s former National Chairman whose tenure was recently brought to an end by a Supreme Court decision, had issued a statement declaring the suspension of Rep. Afam Victor Ogene, who leads the Labour caucus in the House of Representatives, his deputy Hon. Seyi Sowunmi, and Hon. Amobi Ogah.
In addition to these lawmakers, Abure also named Abia State Governor Alex Otti, Senator Ireti Kingibe, and Senator Darlington Nwokocha who now serves as secretary of the party’s caretaker leadershipas being suspended.
The lawmakers, however, maintain that these announcements lack legitimacy, suggesting they are the reaction of an individual no longer in control of the party’s affairs.
In a joint statement signed by Rep. Afam Victor Ogene, Rep. Seyi Sowunmi, and Rep. Amobi Ogah, titled “Our Former National Chairman Goes Mad Again,” the three LP lawmakers expressed dismay that Abure, instead of working to improve the fortunes of the Labour Party, seemed focused on orchestrating its disintegration to appease external forces driving his actions.
They said further, “From yesterday’s overreach of himself and his band of jesters, it is now evidently clear to everyone who has followed recent events in the Labour Party, that our former national chairman, Barrister Julius Abure, has gone mad again, in a desperate move not to go down alone.
“It’s utterly absurd that Abure, who failed to demonstrate moral integrity during his tenure as national chairman, now claims the authority to sanction party leaders. Only in Abure’s distorted reality can those with questionable character judge others. In the real world, his Supreme Court-nullified leadership status has reduced him to a self-serving shameless impostor driven by personal gain.
“A political party is set up for the specific goal of participating in the democratic process, especially the contestation for power.
Since the Peter Obi effect of 2023, what has Abure and his gang of undertakers done to enhance the fortunes of the party? In fact, we challenge him and his cohorts to name one single individual of note that they have attracted to the party since 2023.
“From Kogi to Bayelsa, Ondo to Edo, what Abure has done is lead the Party to disastrous outcomes.
“All they have excelled in, is run the party as a criminal enterprise, fleecing aspirants of hard-earned cash in exchange for party ticket.
“Even in his native Edo, where he was dragged on the floor like a common felon because of disputations over misappropriated delegate funds, the over-bloated and egoistic Abure couldn’t even win his polling unit for the party.
“Pained of being kicked out of his lucrative position as national chairman, on account of abuse of official malfeasance, Abure and his gang of jesters have resorted to desperate antics in a bid to stay relevant.
“Which self-respecting national chairman of a political party busies himself running around media houses like a press boy? The last time around, it was announcing the sack and replacement of Hon. Ogene as caucus leader, but when that didn’t work, he has resorted to contriving a fake suspension order.
“Abure has appointed himself as a willing undertaker for the destruction of the soul of the Labour Party but ironically, he is only supervising the burial plan of his image and integrity as a public servant and political leader. We wish him well.”
United States president, Donald Trump, has congratulated cardinal Robert Prevost on his election as the new Pope, Leo XIV.
In a post on his Facebook page, Trump expressed excitement over the development and described the election as an honour to the American people.
“Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope.
“What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment,” he stated.
White smoke rose from the chimney above the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, indicating the election of a new pope.
Robert Prevost is to be addressed as Pope Leo XIV.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has petitioned the Federal High Court in Abuja to compel suspended Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to delete a satirical apology she posted on her social media pages.
On 27 April, Akpoti-Uduaghan shared a short video in which she mockingly apologised to Akpabio, claiming it was for not allowing him to have his way with her.
Akpoti-Uduaghan stated she was ‘sorry for the crime of maintaining dignity and self-respect’ and for rejecting the advances of the Senate President, whom she implied believed no one could refuse him.
The dispute between the two senators stems from an altercation in the Senate chamber over seating arrangements.
This led to Akpoti-Uduaghan initiating a suit that sought to stop the Senate from investigating her for alleged misconduct.
In particular, the senator asked the court to prevent the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, chaired by Senator Neda Imasuen, from taking any disciplinary action against her.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was later suspended following her accusations against the Senate President, accusing him of sexual harassment.
The presiding judge, Justice Binta Nyako, on 4 April 2025, restrained all parties involved in the suit from making public comments about the ongoing case.
Meanwhile, Akpabio’s legal team, led by Kehinde Ogunwumiju, has filed a fresh application asking the court to direct Akpoti-Uduaghan to delete the video, arguing it violated a judge’s directive.
In his application, Akpabio’s lawyer also requested the court to order Akpoti-Uduaghan to remove the post from all her social media accounts.
Additionally, Ogunwumiju urged the court to mandate Akpoti-Uduaghan to publish a written apology in at least two national newspapers and file an affidavit confirming her compliance.
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