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Police take over Rivers council secretariats

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The Rivers Police Command has taken over the 23 local government areas over succession crisis rocking the State.

The police, in a statement by SP Grace Iringe-Koko, said the decision was taken following the breakdown of law and order in the various councils’ secretariat.

Iringe-Koko further cited clashes of supporters of the two political factions over the tenure of local government council chairmen and a case of death recorded at Eberi-Omuma, Omuma LGA, where a police officer and a vigilante were killed as the reason for the takeover.

The statement reads: “To forestall more bloodshed and prevent a further breakdown of law and order, the police have taken over all the 23 council secretariats and some critical government infrastructure in the state. Conventional police officers and anti-riot police officers have been deployed to these facilities.

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“While urging all groups and individuals to be law-abiding, the Command also warn anyone who intends to cause mayhem as we will not hesitate to impose the full weight of the law on them.

“We also wish to ask the law-abiding residents and visitors in the state to go about their lawful businesses without fear. We are resolved to carry out our constitutional duty of protecting lives and property”.

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Your Best Days in Politics Are Still Ahead – Speaker Abbas Tells Kalu

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By Gloria Ikibah

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, has hailed his Deputy, Rep. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, as a rising force in Nigeria’s political landscape, describing him as a man whose journey is only just beginning.

Abbas gave the remarks on Tuesday inside the chamber, shortly after plenary, as members of the House gathered to celebrate Kalu’s 54th birthday with a brief ceremony and a cake-cutting session.

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Kalu, who represents Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State, turned 54 on Monday. 

A lawyer by training and former spokesperson for the House, he has grown into a familiar face not just within Nigeria’s legislature but also across international parliamentary networks.

In recent times, Kalu has taken on significant continental and global responsibilities. He chairs the Finance and Administrative Committee of the ECOWAS Parliament and leads the African Union Parliament’s Committee on Monetary and Financial Affairs. He is also an active member of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and sits on the steering committee of the Parliamentary Conference on the World Trade Organization.

His colleagues describe him as strategic, forward-looking, and quietly ambitious, a lawmaker whose blend of eloquence and diplomacy has made him a respected voice both at home and abroad.

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Speaking to journalists after the brief celebration, Abbas said, “Benjamin Kalu is not just a Deputy Speaker. He is a man with vision, poise, and the kind of political maturity that Nigeria will need even more in the years to come. His future is very bright.

“We congratulate our brother, partner, mutual ally and friend. For almost 2 years, we have been working seamlessly. I am a very lucky man, working with somebody who appreciates, understands me and is always ready to support me. I couldn’t have asked for anybody better. He’s such a sound, knowledgeable and technical person.
 
“So, today, on behalf of the 360 members of the House of Representatives, I say a big happy birthday to you. Congratulations on your attainment of the age of wisdom. You are now an elder statesman. You are now in the comity of Elders. So, please, accept our congratulations. 
 
“Our prayer for you is that God should continue to be your shepherd and pillar of strength, continue to give you the wisdom and the altitude to give a good representation not just to the people of your only but to the people or the South East and Nigeria in general. Your Excellency, I believe with the way you are going, the sky will be your limit. I see you in places we don’t imagine. I know, people like you, with the kind of commitment and patriotism you have for Nigeria, we pray that your future will be brighter than your past anf present. Congratulations.”
 
In response, the Deputy Speaker expressed profound gratitude to Speaker Abbas for his kind wishes and prayers, pledging his continued support and loyalty.
 
“Thank you, Your Excellency for being who you have always been. Once in while, I will go to him and say, sir, let’s do an appraisal. Is there anything that I am not doing well so that we can put it in order because I am here to support? My job is nothing but to support and assist and make him succeed. If the Speaker is successful, I am successful. If you are a Deputy, you are a Deputy. You are not the principal.
 
“Sparingly do you find a principal who wants his Deputy to go high. I wish him well because the leadership circle still needs him around. He has treated me well and I enjoy working under him. We will keep following and the remaining 2 years, we will make sure that we give you all the support. And to the members, thank you for supporting Mr. Speaker. Thank you for being there for us. God bless you”, Kalu said. 
 
Similarly, the House of Representatives Press Corps led by its chairman, Gboyega Onadiran also presented birthday card to the Deputy Speaker, describing him as an outstanding lawmaker. 
 
The card read thus “We, the entire members of the House of Representatives Press Corps, heartily congratulate you on the occasion of your birthday. 
 
“Your are indeed, very outstanding. Your commitment to legislative excellence has made a significant impact. You have stamped your feet on the sands of history. 
 
“Ndi Igbo and Indeed, Nigeria at large must be proud of you, particularly in sponsoring the bill that birthed the establishment of South East Development Commission (SEDC). 
 
“We pray that the Almighty God continues to be with you, grant you good health, and preserve your life so that future generations may benefit from your wealth of experience and the important national assignments entrusted to you. Happy Birthday, Your Excellency.”
 
On their part, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) also extended warm felicitations to the Deputy Speaker on the occasion of his birthday.
 
In a message jointly signed by its President, Mazi Afam Osuigwe (SAN) and the General Secretary, Dr. Mobalaji Ojibara, the NBA described Kalu as “a remarkable leader whose dedication to legislative excellence and commitment to democratic ideals continue to inspire hope and confidence in the governance of our nation.”
 
The Association commended the Deputy Speaker’s purposeful strides in the National Assembly, especially in promoting inclusive lawmaking, national unity, and constitutional reforms.
 
It further noted that his leadership journey from representing Bende Federal Constituency to serving as Deputy Speaker is a testament to his resilience and the high regard in which he is held by colleagues and constituents.
 
“As you mark this special day, we join your family, friends, and well-wishers in praying for continued wisdom, sound health, and renewed strength to sustain your impactful service to our beloved country,” the message read.
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Council poll: APC working on consensus candidates ahead of primaries

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Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is working towards consensus candidates for the upcoming primary election scheduled for Saturday.

The move is part of the party’s efforts to maintain unity and reduce internal frictions.

Five aspirants emerged unopposed following the screening organised by the party.

The incumbent Chairman of Surulere Local Government, Sulaimon Yusuf; his counterpart in Iba Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Jubril Yisa; Motunrayo Alogba of Ijede LCDA and Kasali Bamidele in Lekki LCDA emerged unopposed. A new aspirant, Azeez Kareem, was the only person cleared to contest in Oto-Awori LCDA.

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Chairman of the APC Lagos State Electoral Committee, Babatunde Ogala, SAN, in an interview with The Nation, disclosed that more aspirants had emerged unopposed following interventions from the party leaders.

He expressed optimism that many more aspirants would step down before the Saturday primary election.

“We are hoping to have at least 70 per cent consensus candidates going into the primary election. If we can achieve that, it will leave us with only 30 per cent to conduct primaries for,” he said.

According to him, the appeal committee, headed by Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, SAN, has been sitting for the past two days and has received over 100 petitions.

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Ogala said the committee had treated over 70 of the petitions and would conclude their assignment today (Wednesday).

He explained that while the party had prepared for indirect primaries, involving delegates drawn from local government executives, efforts were ongoing at various levels to arrive at consensus candidacies in many wards.

He said electoral materials were being finalised for distribution by Saturday, with electoral officers already appointed to oversee the process in all 57 local councils.

Ogala said security had been fully arranged in collaboration with the police, DSS, civil defence and Lagos traffic officials to ensure order and smooth movement at the secretariats where the primaries were expected to take place.

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According to him, the party is also scheduled to hold a key stakeholders’ meeting today with senior officials and aspirants to finalise agreements and chart the way forward.

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$400m steel factory set to begin operations in Ogun

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President of Inner Galaxy Group, Mr. Li Shuang, yesterday, disclosed that his company was ready to set up a $400 million hot rolled coiled steel factory with the capacity to employ about 6,500 direct and indirect workers in Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State.

He made this known while leading a delegation of principal officials of the organization at the Governor’s Office located at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

He added that the company is expected to commence operations in April 2026, saying the organization, a multinational company with vast investments in Asia, the Philippines, Malaysia, and some African countries like Ghana and Angola, entered the Nigerian market in 2005, producing iron rods for the building industry.

Governor Dapo Abiodun expressed delight in the huge investment, as he ascribed the success to his administration’s deliberate and intentional move to make the state the leading industrial hub in Nigeria and the West Africa sub-region.

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“This is a $400 million investment; this aligns with the President’s vision to ensure that we grow this economy to a trillion dollars, and I think that you will be contributing your quota in achieving that. We are excited that you will also be employing people.

“I will be commissioning a multimillion-dollar diagnostic equipment facility during the week. This administration has managed to attract quite a lot of industries in the last six years,”

Abiodun noted that the state is blessed with abundant human and natural resources, adding that alluvial gold had been discovered in large quantities, just as the state has the highest quality of lithium.

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