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AMIDST the heightening tension in Rivers State, President Bola Tinubu is currently meeting behind closed doors with the Service Chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Also present at the meeting are the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio and Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele.
Besides, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon.Tajudeen Abbas, and the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, were also spotted at the Presidential Villa.
It is unclear if the presiding officers of the National Assembly are part of the meeting with security chiefs.
Those in attendance are the National Security Adviser, NSA, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the Directors General of the Department of State Service, DSS, Mr Adeola Ajayi and the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, NIA, Mohammed Mohammed.
Although the agenda of the meeting is not made public at the time of filing this report, it may not be unconnected with the security situation in the country.
Besides, the meeting is coming on the heels of is an explosion that rocked a section of the Trans Niger Pipeline in Bodo Community in Gonna Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The explosion occurred late on Monday night near the Bodo-Bonny Road under construction.
Recall that the youth wing of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, had given the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike a 48-hour to apologize to the Ijaw nation over his recent utterances on the political crisis in Rivers State.
The ultimatum issued to the minister to apologize over his alleged attack on PANDEF and South-South leaders expired on Monday.
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Adamu Garba has issued a warning to members of his party.
He warned that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike may “scatter” the party like he did to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
According to Garba, Wike if allowed to continue what he termed overreach on Governor Sim Fubara of Rivers State, he would scatter APC like he did to PDP before 2027.
In a post on Facebook, he wrote: “If we allow Wike to continue his overreach on Fubara in Rivers, he’ll scatter us before 2027 as he scatters the PDP before 2023.
“Amid current situation, the timing is very poor.
“There is wisdom in exercising restraint even when you appear more powerful.”
Nigerian actress Adebanke Adeyeye Awa, better known as Debanke is now a mother. The actress on her birthday in February had announced that she was expecting her first child.
Debanke shared a photo of herself cradling her baby bump and described her newfound blessing as the best birthday gift.
Moments ago on her official Instagram account, the Yoruba actress shared photos of herself from the hospital bed as she revealed that her newborn arrived safely into the world on January 29th.
The new mum cradled her baby in her arms, an emotional look on her face. Debanke captioned the post:
“My sunshine arrived safely into this world on 1/29/2025
Second slide: Is that moment you realize that every contraction was a gift
I’m officially a MOM!”.
The actress’s colleagues filled the comment section with congratulatory messages and prayed for the newborn.
The House of Representatives on Tuesday passed the four tax reform bills transmitted to the National Assembly in October 2024 by President Bola Tinubu.
Recall that the House had on Thursday last week, considered and approved the report of the House Committee on Finance which made some recommendations, particularly in controversial areas such as the Value Added Tax and inheritance tax.
While awaiting the Senate to similarly pass the bills, the proposed reforms are expected to be transmitted to the President for his assent in the days ahead.
Details shortly…
The Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has revoked the land of the Peoples Democratic Party’s national secretariat, which is situated in Abuja.
Wike issued the revocation notice in a letter dated March 13, 2025, titled, “Notice of right of occupancy with file no: MISC 81346 in respect of plot no: 243 within central area district, Abuja,” on Tuesday.
It was signed by the Director, Land Administration (FTC), Chijioke Nwankwoeze.
According to him, the opposition party has failed to pay the annual ground rents due on the property for twenty (20) years, from January 1, 2006, to January 1, 2025, despite many publications in several national dailies and electronic media to pay up every outstanding bill and ground rent on its property.
The letter read, “I have been directed to refer to the above Right of Occupancy granted to PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP), NATIONAL SECRETARIAT and inform you that the Minister of Federal Capital Territory has in the exercise of powers conferred on him under the Land Use Act No. 6 of 1978, Cap. L5, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, revoked your rights, interests and privileges over Plot No. 243 within Central Area, Cadastral Zone A00, Abuja.
“The revocation is in view of your continued contravention of the terms and conditions of grant of the Right of Occupancy by failing to pay the annual ground rents due on the property for twenty (20) years, from Ist of January 2006 to 1st of January 2025. This is despite the many publications made by the FCT Administration since 2023 in several national dailies and on electronic media requesting all allottees of plots in the Federal Capital Territory to pay up every outstanding bill and ground rent on their property.
“You would please note that the said breaches by PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP), NATIONAL SECRETARIAT (MISC 81346) run contrary to the provisions of Section 28, Subsection 5 (a) and (b) of the Land Use Act.
The minister added that the FCTA administration he led will henceforth take immediate possession of the party secretariat until all bills are settled.
More details later…
Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo, has said he would be re-elected for the second term, dismissing the opposition ahead of the November 8 governorship election in the state.
Speaking at a media chat marking his third year in office on Monday in the text sent to THE WHISTLER on Tuesday, Soludo declared that he had not seen any worthy challenger to be afraid of.
He said there is a general agreement among Anambra people that his party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance, has delivered good governance and deserves another term.
Soludo noted that while Anambra voters may back different parties in national elections, they remain loyal to APGA when it comes to governorship and local government polls.
“If there is an election, I mean there will be an election, and if I am a candidate, I will be on the ballot, and then I ask: who else is running?
“Which party is fielding a candidate? So far, unless the person will come down from somewhere, I have not heard of any,” he said.
Soludo acknowledged that people have urged him to seek a second term, but the final decision rests with his party.
“The party has to agree to it and give me the platform. For me, I applied for this job intentionally because I felt that’s my way of thanking God for His bountiful blessing—to spend the rest of my life serving and leaving this place better than I met it.
“If my party nominates me and if my employers, who are the Anambra people, graciously renew the tenure, of course, it’s a great honour and a great privilege to serve,” he added.
Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has doubled down on her sexual harassment accusation against Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, insisting he flirted with her in his office at the National Assembly.
The Kogi Senator restated her accusation while speaking to the BCC.
She insisted Senate Akpabio sexually harassed her, stressing that, “I am being victimised. My suspension is a means of silencing me.”
The senator was suspended from the senate on March 6 for “gross misconduct” following a fallout in the senate chamber over a change of seat.
But the suspension came after she accused Akpabio of sexual harassment raising serious concerns and was widely condemned.
She revealed that the sexual harassment was unbearable and too many to count, saying, “It was episode after episode, moment after moment.
“We were at his country home. He was taking me around his house. My husband was walking behind us. He held my hand.
“He then squeezed my hands in a very suggestive way. We women know what it means when a man squeezes our hands in a suggestive way.
“And he went, ‘Now that you’re in the senate, I’ll make an opportunity for us to come here and have a good moment’, you know, along that line.”
Asked if Akpabio ever made any advances towards her in the chamber or the senate, she said:
“There was a time when I rushed to work forgetting to wear my ring; there were about five senators there. He said, ‘Oh Natasha, you are not wearing your ring; is this an invitation to treat?’ You know, statements like this.”
Responding to the interview, Senate’s Deputy Chief Whip, Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, countered the flesh revelation, saying there was never a time Akpabio made sexual advances towards Akpoti-Uduaghan.
He also said the senate president never made any inappropriate comments towards the female lawmaker, whether in his country home or the senate chamber.
Nwaebonyi also rejected Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claim that the senate was trying to silence her.
“Senator Natasha’s legislative activities show this claim is not true,” he said.
An abandoned newborn baby was found Monday afternoon in a waste bin located at Balewa Hostel, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Balewa is among the pioneer female hostels of the university.
THE WHISTLER gathered that the live baby was wrapped in a nylon bag with a part of its face exposed to air, apparently to avoid suffocation.
A viral video of the incident showed the rescued baby surrounded by sympathisers. One of the sympathisers was heard explaining, “The baby was found by one of the cleaners.
“She was about to dispose of some waste in the bin when she observed that something was shaking in a bag inside it.
“She raised the alarm, and the baby was rescued. The baby is alive and fresh.
“The university management was alerted, and it immediately swung into action.”
Efforts to interview the Dean of Students’ Affairs did not yield results, but a source in the university who did not want to be mentioned for lack of authority said, “The baby is currently at the Medical Centre of the university.
“The dean is already handling the matter,” the source revealed.
A Lagos-based National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Ushie Uguamaye also known as Raye, who went viral for criticising President Bola Tinubu’s administration has apologised for “talking down” on Lagos.
Speaking via Instagram on Monday, the Corps member acknowledged that her words may have offended Lagos residents and expressed regret over her choice of language.
She clarified that her intention was not to insult those who call Lagos home but to share her honest observation as a visitor.
She explained that the controversial remark was part of a broader initiative, a 30-day rant challenge aimed at spotlighting pressing issues in Nigeria.
She wrote, “I want to first of all state that I am sorry to the people who were born and raised in Lagos State if you feel offended by what I said. I am sorry.
“But as a visitor here, I could tell there was a difference in the atmosphere and quality of air here. If the way that I put it triggered your emotions and the love for your birth state, I am sorry. I didn’t mean to talk down on your birth state.”
She went on to explain that her initial plan was to post 20 videos addressing various societal concerns, hoping to spark dialogue by the 20th day.
However, the first video gained traction almost immediately, resonating with many Nigerians who shared her frustrations.
“When I started the 30-day rant challenge, I said I just wanted to be heard. I believed that if I got to DAY-20 people would begin to hear me and join me to speak to the government.
“My target was to make at least 20 videos complaining until I was heard. Lucky for me, I didn’t even have to get to DAY 2 because a lot of us were actually angry, and Day 1 of the challenge was enough for people to join me.
“I want better for myself. (And I hope you do too). The complaints I made are valid regardless of whatever ‘lifestyle’ you think I am living.
“I work 45+ hours a week and I should be able to afford hanging out with my friends every weekend. However, I can’t. But how many of us can actually afford to hang out with our friends? How many can afford that in reality? You spend all week working and can’t even feel alive during the weekends,” she stated.
She urged Nigerians to continue demanding better living conditions rather than getting distracted by fleeting controversies.
“I encourage all of us to ask for what we believe we deserve. I know distractions will take us again, very soon. But if we stay committed to asking for better we will get better,” she added.
New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) chieftain, Buba Galadima, has asserted that the character of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is to destroy the opposition party.
Galadima, while fielding questions on Arise Television’s Morning Show programme on Tuesday, described the Social Democratic Party (SDP) as a factionalized extension of the APC.
Galadima specifically questioned how many non-APC members have defected to the party.
Galadima’s statement comes amid the recent defection of former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, from the ruling APC to the SDP.
Before his resignation, El-Rufai had become increasingly critical of the APC-led government under President Bola Tinubu.
He also cited a widening disconnect between his personal values and the party’s current direction as his reason for defecting.
The former Governor has urged notable politicians to join the SDP to defeat Tinubu in 2027.
However, Galadima insisted that the NNPP is a party of principle and will not enter into coalitions for their own sake.
He said: “The SDP is simply a factionalized branch of the APC. How many non-APC members have defected to the SDP?
“The APC’s character is to decimate the opposition. We must start opposing based on principles, even if it means standing alone. The NNPP is a party of principle and will not enter into coalitions for their own sake.”
More...
Two members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the House of Representatives have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Naija News reports that their defection was announced by the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas during plenary on Tuesday.
The Speaker announced the defection of Hon. Jallo Hussaini Mohammed, the Representative for Igabi Federal Constituency of Kaduna State; and Hon. Adamu Tanko, the member representing Gurara/Suleja/Tafa Federal Constituency of Niger State.
More to come…
Suspended lawmaker representing Kogi Central in the Senate, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has asserted that the Nigerian Senate is like a cult.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who spoke in an interview with the BBC, stressed that senators do not express contrary views in the upper chamber for fear of retaliation and that her 6 months suspension due to gross misconduct was only an attempt to silence her.
“I am being victimised. My suspension is a means of silencing me,” she said.
“It was episode after episode, moment after moment. We were at his country home. He was taking me around his house. My husband was walking behind us. He held my hand.
“He then squeezed my hands in a very suggestive way. We women, we know what it means when a man squeezes our hands in a suggestive way.
“And he went, ‘now that you’re in the Senate, I’ll make an opportunity for us to come here and have a good moment’, you know, along that line.”
LEADERSHIP recalls that Akpoti-Uduaghan had accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexually harassing her after a faceoff during plenary last month.
On March 6, she was issued a six-month suspension from the Senate for “gross misconduct” after failing to appear before the Ethics and Privilege committee.
When asked if Akpabio ever made any advances towards her in the chamber or the senate, she said, “There was a time when I rushed to work forgetting to wear my ring, there were about five senators there. He said, ‘Oh Natasha, you are not wearing your ring. Is this an invitation to treat?’ You know, statements like this.”
Reacting to the interview, the Senate’s Deputy Chief Whip, Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, told the BBC that Akpabio never made sexual advances or inappropriate comments toward Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Nwaebonyi also rejected the Kogi Central Senator’s claim that the senate was trying to silence her.
“Senator Natasha’s legislative activities show this claim is not true,” he said.
Controversial Nigerian cross-dresser Idris Okuneye who is popularly called Bobrisky disclosed that he has had romantic relationships with seven celebrities in the country.
In a recent video posted on Snapchat, the crossdresser revealed that he had intimate relationships with seven Nigerian celebrities while discussing the betrayals that led him into exile.
While announcing plans to expose and name those celebrities, Bobrisky, in his heated rant, described them as fake individuals in the Nigerian entertainment industry.
Reflecting on the condemnation from some Nigerian celebrities and politicians during his ordeal with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), he detached himself from the country’s expectations.
“The time is coming when I will list seven celebrities I have dated in Nigeria. The time is coming when I will expose fake people in that country.
“I never knew I was so special until last year when ministers and senators started discussing me. Imagine a minister leaving work to focus on Bobrisky. Am I that important?
“If I lived in Nigeria for 100 years, they would never put ‘female’ on my passport or driver’s license. But here, I’m respected for who I am,” Bobrisky said.
An explosion has rocked a major oil pipeline, the Trans-Niger Pipeline (TNP), at Bodo, Gokana local government area of Rivers State.
Although the incident occurred on Monday night, the affected section of the major pipeline was on fire on Tuesday morning.
Thick black smoke was seen billowing into the atmosphere, with a raging fire spreading fast into the mangrove from a video that emerged on Tuesday morning.
Authorities were yet to determine whether the incident resulted from human interference, especially amid recent threats by militant groups to attack oil installations in response to the federal government’s withholding of Rivers State’s monthly allocations due to the ongoing political crisis in the state.
The TNP is a federal transport line that supplies oil to the Bonny Export Terminal in Rivers State.
When contacted, the Rivers State Police Command’s spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, said she did not have the full details of the incident yet.
Details Later…