News
C’River Gov Otu missing as Senator Jarigbe receives Ex-Senate President, Wayas’ body
By Francesca Hangeior
Cross River State Governor, Mr Bassey Otu, was conspicuously missing as Senator Agom Jarigbe Agom received the corpse of former President of the Senate, Joseph Wayas in Abuja.
Senator Jarigbe is a senator on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) representing Cross River North.
Wayas’ corpse arrived Abuja on Wednesday morning exactly at 4 am on a British Airways flight, a source who witnessed the arrival told THE WHISTLER.
A video trending online showed the remains being wheeled to the morgue of the National Hospital, Abuja, in the present of his children, member representing Obanliku/Bekwarra/Obudu federal constituency, Hon Peter Akpanke, Dr Dorncklaimz Enamhe , Convener of Who Is Who In Northern Cross River amongst others who were also at the airport to receive the corpse.
A source who revealed the movement of the corpse said the governor was “in his Asokoro residence either unaware of the movement of the remains of the late senate president or he was not properly briefed.”
Recall that Wayas, who held sway as Nigeria’s Senate President between October 1,1979 and December 31,1983, died in a London hospital on November 30,2021, at the age of 80.
The ex-Senate President’s wife died 12 days after. While his wife had since been buried, the revered politician’s remains had remained in a morgue in London,a development that had sparked controversies.
Some persons who had concluded that the late octogenarian’s body had since been secretly interred in London, were surprised to see the remains back 33 months after.
At the time of filing this report, the body which was driven straight from the airport to the National Hospital, Abuja, had been deposited at the hospital’s mogue.
Speaking variously to newsmen, after the body was received, Senator Jarigbe Agom, representing Cross River North and Hon Peter Akpanke, representing Obudu, Bekwara Obanlikwu Federal Constituency, at the National Assembly, expressed happiness that the body had finally been brought home.
Also, his late wife’s family, though grieving, expressed relief at the development and appreciated all those who had facilitated the return of his remains.
Recall that when the politician and his wife died, the then governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayade’s government immediately set up a committee headed by former Minister of Justice, Kanu Agabi, to oversee the burial activities.
To facilitate the committee’s work, Ayade was said to have approved and immediately released N200 million to the committee with a promise to release another tranche of N50 million.
It was gathered that the committee released N100 million to a sub-committee vested with the task of repatriating the remains of Wayas and his wife and headed by the former Director General, Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Dave Ashang to liaise with the family to achieve the purpose.
However, all these efforts were fruitless, thus compelling some sons and daughters of Cross River North Senatorial district to set up a volunteer group under the aegis of “Who is Who in Northern Cross River” to take up the task of ensuring not only the return of his remains but also according it a befitting burial.
Wednesday’s arrival of the body was the handwork of the volunteer group which had coordinated donations from concerned indigenes of the zone.
A boat ferrying over 200 passengers capsized early Friday morning along the Dambo-Ebuchi stretch of River Niger in Niger State, resulting in several fatalities.
Eyewitnesses reported that the vessel, owned by one Musa Dangana, was en route to the Katcha weekly market, transporting a mix of market women, farm laborers, and other passengers.
The boat overturned, throwing everyone on board into the river.
As of the latest updates, local rescue teams have recovered eight bodies, with ongoing search efforts aimed at finding the remaining missing individuals.
This incident follows a similar tragedy just two months ago on October 1, when another boat capsized on the Muwo Gbajibo River in the Mokwa Local Government Area, also claiming numerous lives.
Reports suggest that none of the passengers were wearing life jackets, which may have contributed to the severity of the tragedy.
Authorities have yet to release an official statement, but investigations into the cause of the capsizing are expected to begin soon.
Rescue operations continue, and local authorities are urging increased safety measures to prevent future accidents on the river.
President Tinubu has made seven new appointments.
President Bola Tinubu has appointed four individuals to join the Police Service Commission (PSC).
This Nigeria news platform understands that President Tinubu has now forwarded their names to the Senate for approval.
The nominees are Buba Ringim (rtd), a former Deputy Inspector General of Police; retired Justice Adamu Paul Galumje; Christine Ladi Dabup; and Abdulfatah Muhammed.
The President’s request, communicated by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, seeks confirmation under Section 154(1) of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution.
In another separate request, the President nominated three individuals for the Governing Board of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).
The nominees include Fatai Ibikunle, Kennedy Ikpeme, and Justice Ibrahim Buba. This request also aligns with the constitutional provisions outlined in Section 154(1) and the Third Schedule of Nigeria’s Constitution.
The Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has confirmed that petrol from the PortHarcourt refinery will be sold at N1,030 per litre, as disclosed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
In a statement released on Thursday night, PETROAN’s spokesman, Joseph Obele, stated that the NNPCL officially communicated the pricing to the association.
However, in a statement on Thursday night, PETROAN mentioned that a portal for product booking has been opened and petrol is being sold at N1,030 per litre.
PETROAN spokesman, Joseph Obele said, “NNPC Retail Ltd has officially announced the PMS price at the Port Harcourt refinery as N1,030 per litre. It was also communicated to PETROAN that the product request portal was open for booking/request.”
Obele further clarified that despite earlier claims of the refinery being non-functional, the plant is currently running at 70% of its capacity.
The refinery’s full capacity, which is 60,000 barrels per day, is expected to increase to 90% soon.
This news comes as part of NNPC’s ongoing efforts to revive its refineries, with plans for the new refinery, which has a capacity of 200,000 barrels per day, to begin production shortly.
Obele emphasized that both refineries, located in the Eleme area of Rivers State, are crucial for the country’s oil production, with PETROAN expressing interest in collaborating with all active refineries in Nigeria.
Additionally, the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources recently visited the refinery, confirming its functionality and witnessing petroleum trucks being loaded.
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