Since the state-sponsored military repression of the Ogoni in the 1990s, nothing else has put the Ogoni on edge as the unending cult-induced violence that has ruled the area in the past one and a half decades. Like many communities in Rivers State, Ogoni communities were infiltrated by deadly opposing cult groups, which turned the…
Wike Makes Good his Threat, Demolishes Hotels
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, made good his threat on Sunday morning when he demolished two hotels in the state for staying open for business after he ordered all businesses closed in the state. On Sunday, he personally supervised the demolition of Prodest Hotel, Alode and Etemeteh Hotel, Onne in Eleme local government area of…
APC Flays Task Force on Border Closure in Rivers
The All Progressives Congress, APC, has criticised the decision of the Rivers State Government to set up a task force on the closure of borders in the state. A press statement issued by the former Publicity Secretary of the last executive committee of APC in the state, Chris Finebone, said the task force to be…
Ogonis React to Rivers’ Acquisition of Shell’s Licence in Ogoniland
There have been mixed reactions to Monday’s claim by the Rivers State Government that it had acquired 45 percent interest in Oil Mining Licence 11 (OML 11) belonging to Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited in Ejamah Ebubu in Eleme Local Government Area and other parts of Ogoniland. Governor Nyesom Wike had in a broadcast to…
Federal Legislators Protest Collapsing Bridge in Rivers
The Senator representing Rivers southeast, Barry Mpigi, on Monday led other members of the National Assembly from Rivers State to protest the failure of the Federal Government to fix the Aleto Bridge on the East-West Road that is giving way. Mpigi said during the protest that they want the Federal Government to act immediately before…
Stop Patronising Cult Groups, Wike Warns Oil Companies
Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has blamed oil companies operating in the state for the escalation of oil theft and insecurity in the state. The governor, who spoke while receiving three Germans in his office in Port Harcourt, also indicted security agencies for illegal oil bunkering. The Germans were Konrad Adenauer (German Foundation), Andreas…
Rivers Poly Students Cry Out Over Insecurity
The rising wave of kidnappings, armed robbery and violent crimes in Ogoniland, particularly in Bori and other parts of Khana Local Government Area has begun to take a toll on academic activities at the Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori, Rivers State. Students of the polytechnic said they have become victims of the onslaught of the criminals,…
Rivers 2019: Deputy Gov’ship Candidate Resigns, Defects to PDP
There is a new twist to the controversy around the 2019 governorship election in Rivers State. The Deputy Governorship Candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, Akpo Bomba Yeeh has resigned his position and announced his defection to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. AAC was the main opponent of the PDP in the March 9…
How Nigerian Army Overran Rivers State
Philemon Kingoli, Chairman of Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State aptly described what happened in the March 9th governorship and house of assembly elections in the state as a coup by the military, in which he said soldiers overran his local government and took charge of polling. Though the Nigerian Army has denied taking sides…
Elections: Lessons Nigeria Must Learn From Smaller Countries
Nigeria continues its cycle of election misadventures even as smaller countries get their act together and put the Giant of Africa to shame. Even though the 2019 general election has come and gone, the injuries inflicted on many by the elections may take a long time to heal. In the build-up to the elections, comments by…