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EndSARS: BYF commends Ortom for uncommon leadership qualities

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Benue Youth Forum (BYF) has commended Governor Samuel Ortom for showing true leadership, particularly his proactive handling of the EndSars crisis ravaging parts of the country in the last few weeks.

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The group said volcanic protests erupted in the country following the grievances of the youths against police brutality, bad governance and other abuses, noting that many states were overwhelmed by the crisis with their Governors practically going into hiding or declaring 24-hour curfews with economic activities coming to a halt in those states.

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They said some of the Governors refused to address the youths even as the protesters accused them of either diverting or hoarding the COVID-19 Palliatives sent to their states. The situation, added to the prevailing anger of the youths over police brutality soon aggravated with the EndSARS protesters forcing open warehouses in many states and allowing the people to cart away the food items.

In a statement issued on Sunday and made available to CAPITAL POST in Abuja, by the group’s President, Terrence Kuanum, said, Benue under the leadership of Gov Samuel Ortom stood firmly with the youths of Benue telling the rest of the country that what the protesters were saying was justified and the country should listen to the youths. He personally met and addressed the EndSARS protesters at Benue Peoples House gate and commended them for conducting themselves peacefully and orderly during the protest.

The statement said: “All these took place because of the open door policy the Governor has established with his people by personally getting involved to provide solutions to their challenges.

“It is on record that soon after the Dangote group with other private bodies under the aegis of CACOVID donated palliatives to Benue State, Governor Ortom in his proactive manner kept calling on the monitoring team of the CACOVID group to come and supervise the distribution of the palliatives in Benue State.

“Eventually, the group cape and the palliatives were transparently distributed to the 23 local government areas of the state in the full glare of Benue SEMA, Local Government Chairmen, Security Agencies, Civil Society, CAN, JNI, Traditional rulers, Community Leaders and CACOVID Monitoring and Evaluation Team.

“After the palliatives were distributed, got to the Governor that there was diversion of the items in Oju local government area and immediately, Governor Ortom set up a Committee headed by Secretary to the State Government, Professor Anthony Ijohor, SAN, to investigate the allegation of palliatives diversion in Oju. He has vowed to sanction whoever is found culpable in the matter.

“This is why Benue is peaceful today despite the fact that other states are witnessing violent protests with the youths breaking warehouses to find hoarded palliatives. Credit goes to Governor Ortom’s vision, sincerity and transparency in ensuring that the palliatives were all distributed to the poorest of the poor in Benue State.

“When the protests turned violent and the entire country went in flames followed by burning of public and private properties and looting of palliatives stored by various State Governments, all eyes in Benue were on Governor Ortom to prove his prudence and accountability in public service, and to the surprise of many, all the warehouses that are used by the Stare Emergency Agemcy (SEMA) were thrown open to the Benue public and Media. The people confirmed that truly, all palliatives reached the poorest of the poor in State.

“We commend Governor Samuel Ortom for once again making Benue proud and showing us all that truly, our welfare is a top priority to him.

“We call on Benue people to stand by the Governor in ensuring that the state remains peaceful. We encourage our members (Benue Youths to be vigilant so as to prevent any hoodlum from infiltrating our ranks to push us to avoidable violence.

“While we sympathize with other states which are counting their losses as a result of the ongoing crisis, we must appreciate our people for showing maturity in the face of temptations. This firm resolve for peace has been expressed across party lines and the winner is Benue State”, the statement noted.

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BREAKING: President Tinubu declares state of emergency in Rivers [Details of broadcast]

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

TEXT OF THE BROADCAST BY PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES, DECLARING STATE OF EMERGENCY IN RIVERS STATE ON TUESDAY 18 MARCH 2025

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Fellow Nigerians, I feel greatly disturbed at the turn we have come to regarding the political crisis in Rivers State. Like many of you, I have watched with concern the development with the hope that the parties involved would allow good sense to prevail at the soonest, but all that hope burned out without any solution to the crisis.

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With the crisis persisting, there is no way democratic governance, which we have all fought and worked for over the years, can thrive in a way that will redound to the benefit of the good people of the state. The state has been at a standstill since the crisis started, with the good people of the state not being able to have access to the dividends of democracy.

Also, it is public knowledge that the Governor of Rivers State for unjustifiable reasons, demolished the House of Assembly of the state as far back as 13th December 2023 and has, up until now, fourteen (14) months after, not rebuilt same. I have made personal interventions between the contending parties for a peaceful resolution of the crisis, but my efforts have been largely ignored by the parties to the crisis. I am also aware that many well-meaning Nigerians, Leaders of thought and Patriotic groups have also intervened at various times with the best of intentions to resolve the matter, but all their efforts were also to no avail. Still, I thank them.

On February 28, 2025, the supreme court, in a judgment in respect of about eight consolidated appeals concerning the political crisis in Rivers State, based on several grave unconstitutional acts and disregard of rule of law that have been committed by the Governor of Rivers State as shown by the evidence before it pronounced in very clear terms:

“a government cannot be said to exist without one of the three arms that make up the government of a state under the 1999 Constitution as amended. In this case the head of the executive arm of the government has chosen to collapse the legislature to enable him to govern without the legislature as a despot. As it is there is no government in Rivers State.”

The above pronouncement came after a catalogue of judicial findings of constitutional breaches against the Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Going Forward in their judgment, and having found and held that 27 members of the House who had allegedly defected

“are still valid members of Rivers State House of Assembly and cannot be prevented from participating in the proceedings of that House by the 8th Respondent (that is, the Governor) in cohorts with four members”

The Supreme Court then made some orders to restore the state to immediate constitutional democracy. These orders include the immediate passing of an Appropriation Bill by the Rivers State House of Assembly which up till now has not been facilitated.

Some militants had threatened fire and brimstone against their perceived enemy of the governor who has up till now NOT disowned them.

Apart from that both the House and the governor have not been able to work together.

Both of them do not realise that they are in office to work together for the peace and good governance of the state.

The latest security reports made available to me show that between yesterday and today there have been disturbing incidents of vandalization of pipelines by some militant without the governor taking any action to curtail them. I have, of course given stern order to the security agencies to ensure safety of lives of the good people of Rivers State and the oil pipelines.

With all these and many more, no good and responsible President will standby and allow the grave situation to continue without taking remedial steps prescribed by the Constitution to address the situation in the state, which no doubt requires extraordinary measures to restore good governance, peace, order and security.

In the circumstance, having soberly reflected on and evaluated the political situation in Rivers State and the Governor and Deputy Governor of Rivers State having failed to make a request to me as President to issue this proclamation as required by section 305(5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, it has become inevitably compelling for me to invoke the provision of section 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State with effect from today, 18th March, 2025 and I so do.

By this declaration, the Governor of Rivers State, Mr Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Mrs Ngozi Odu and all elected members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State are hereby suspended for an initial period of six months.

In the meantime, I hereby nominate Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) as Administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state in the interest of the good people of Rivers State. For the avoidance of doubt, this declaration does not affect the judicial arm of Rivers State, which shall continue to function in accordance with their constitutional mandate.

The Administrator will not make any new laws. He will, however, be free to formulate regulations as may be found necessary to do his job, but such regulations will need to be considered and approved by the Federal Executive Council and promulgated by the President for the state.

This declaration has been published in the Federal Gazette, a copy of which has been forwarded to the National Assembly in accordance with the Constitution. It is my fervent hope that this inevitable intervention will help to restore peace and order in Rivers State by awakening all the contenders to the constitutional imperatives binding on all political players in Rivers State in particular and Nigeria as a whole.

Long live a united, peaceful, secure and democratic Rivers State in particular and the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a whole.

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Plateau gov’t expresses concern over violence in Shendam LGA, calls for calm

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The Plateau state government has expressed concern over violence in Shimankar (Menkaat), Shendam Local Government Area, of the State which unfortunately caused unnecessary tension within the community.

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In a statement by the State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Hon Joyce Lohya Ramnap, made available to journalists in Jos, it condemned in strongest terms and warned such violence would not be tolerated any longer.

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The statement called for dialogue to differences and disagreement before it snowballed into violence, adding that government will not allow anyone to undermine peace and unity of the State.

Part of the statement read: “I want to reiterate the Plateau State Government’s unwavering commitment to upholding peace and security for all citizens, especially during such tense moments.”

Acknowledging the swift response of law enforcement agencies and the traditional institutions in containing the situation, we are calling for even greater collaboration between community leaders, security agencies, and the public to prevent further escalation,thus the need to maintain peace, calm and restraint from all parties.

“We urge the people of the community to pursue peaceful resolutions to any disagreements instead of resorting to violence.”

In line with the administration’s “Time is Now” vision under the leadership of Governor Mutfwang, I want to emphasise that the state is focused on ensuring lasting peace and harmony, irrespective of religious or tribal differences.

Government is also assuring the public that security agencies have been instructed to conduct a thorough investigation into the root causes of the skirmishes and to ensure that those responsible for any breach of public peace are held accountable.

Towards this end, Plateau citizens are to remain vigilant yet peaceful and to actively support all efforts to de-escalate the situation as the State Government is committed to fostering a peaceful coexistence for all citizens, the statement further reads.

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Governor Alia distances self from protest against Benue CJ

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As protest rocks Benue State against the Chief Judge, Justice Maurice Ikpembese for relocating the Benue Local Government Election Petitions Tribunal from Makurdi to Abuja, Governor Hyacinth Alia has distanced himself from the protest.

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Protesters in their hundreds from Benue State took to the streets of Abuja on Monday, for a peaceful protest from the National Assembly to the Supreme Court to express their outrage over the Benue CJ’s decision.

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Prior to Monday’s massive protest Justice Ikpembese raised security concerns and moved the Tribunal to Abuja, a development that triggered protest as they are saying the Tribunal would have remained in Makurdi for them to monitor proceedings.

The tribunal is currently handling disputes arising from the Benue State Local Government elections conducted on October 5, 2024.

Reports indicate that 93 petitioners, including aggrieved candidates from both the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party, have filed cases at the tribunal since October 17, 2024.

The Benue State Government, through the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and Public Order, Mr. Fidelis Mnyim, had questioned the CJ’s unilateral decision, noting that neither the governor nor his office had been formally notified.

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