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Odili: Fubara Blocked Wike’s Efforts to Make Rivers His Personal Estate

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Fubara prevented Wike from making Rivers his private estate – Odili

By Daniel Abia, Port Harcourt

The former governor of Rivers State and one-time presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr Peter Odili, has said Governor Siminalayi Fubara stopped the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Minister, Nyesom Wike, from turning the state to a private estate.

Odili disclosed that Governor Fubara summoned an unusual fortitude to confront the quest by Wike to capture Rivers state through ferocious, but unnecessary political war.

Odili spoke at a Christmas ballad organized by him in honour of Governor Fubara and his family.

He stated that as a family, he, his wife and children, decided to host the Rivers State Governor and his family to a night of varieties of song and other activities in appreciation of “the fortitude and sterling leadership qualities he has demonstrated”.

Dr Odili explained that it is now over 12 months, since the 25th of October 2023, when a fierce existential fight, though unnecessary, was waged against Governor Fubara over the soul of Rivers State.

He said that with assuring fortitude, “Governor Fubara confronted the challenge, prevented the quest by one man to capture the State as a private estate, emancipated Rivers people, steadied governance and made civil servants and Rivers people happier as it used to be until he left office in 2007,” he said.

Fubara speaks

Responding, Governor Fubara said that God has proved Himself worthy as the Ultimate Liberator of the State and its people because He ensured total triumph over the political crisis and those behind it.

Governor Fubara stated that while the political antagonism lasted, God gave him a new perspective to leadership.

He added that with the strength of support from Rivers people, he stopped seeing the crisis as a problem, but as a necessary enabler in governance.

“And not just because I want to accept it, I get stronger in this course every day when I look at the support I am getting from the true Rivers people.

“So, it is not me being strong. My strength is drawn from everyone of you that is here. You gave me the encouragement; you do the work for me; you make the calls for me. So, why won’t I stand up for you.

“But we also believe strongly that the ultimate game changer, the ultimate liberator, and the ultimate fighter still remains God Almighty. And because we have Him on our side, victory is assured.”

Governor Fubara said God is in control of the affairs of the State, adding that as they look forward to a very prosperous 2025, they should be assured that it will be better than what had been experienced.

He assured of the determination of his administration to make every succeeding year in the State better with remarkable records of progress, stressing that the excitement experienced among Rivers people during the Christmas celebrations is indicative of a brighter future ahead.

Governor Fubara vowed to continue to do what is right.

He said it is also delighting to see true leaders of the State and well-meaning Rivers people standing on the right side of history despite the pressures to surrender to tyranny and oppression.

“I want to thank everyone, and I assure you that we will continue to run a government that will uplift the image of the State. We will not be tyrants.

“We will remember that what we are doing here today is a shift job, and that one day, our time will be up, and we’ll leave for another person to take over.

“And what is important is to allow the machine to keep running effectively, so that when the other person comes, he continues with that steam for progress in the State.

“So, I thank everyone of you for your support,” Fubara added.

Speaker

Also speaking, Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Victor Oko-Jumbo recalled how the crisis that erupted in the Assembly swept them off their feet, but quickly added that the encouragement from Governor Fubara emboldened him and a few others to stand up for the truth to liberate the State.

In his speech, Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi, said he least expected to have remained a chief judge, just as he didn’t expect the Governor to last in office up until now given the political crisis.

He noted that God has turned the crisis as a liberation fight, and assured that he will continue to be on the right side in defence of the State.

Sekibo

Also speaking, former Minister of Transport, Dr Abiye Sekibo, noted that the gathering was a roll call of the political family of Dr Peter

He said Governor Fubara had sufficiently blended traits of Dr Odili’s leadership style with his, and steered the course of governance successfully, making the people of State proud of him as a worthy son.

In his vote of thanks, the Chairman, of Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, Justice Adolphus Enebeli (rtd), thanked the Odilis for organising the family reunion, and lauded the Governor and his family for showing unassuming humility and honouring the invitation.

He also thanked genuine elders and leaders of the State for joining in the celebration.

International News

Ghanaian Boy, 15, Shot Dead On Way To School In New York

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A 15-year-old Ghanaian boy, Javits Frimpong, has been shot dead while on his way to school in the Bronx, New York, with his father suspecting that the killing was connected to bullying at school.

 

Javits was reportedly shot in the stomach at about 9:30 a.m. on Thursday near Crotona Park. He was rushed to a hospital but later died from his injuries.

According to the New York Police Department, three teenage boys are being sought in connection with the killing. Investigators said the suspects fled the scene wearing black tracksuits and blue surgical masks.

Surveillance footage reportedly showed a person matching the description of one of the suspects fleeing the area after the shooting. The victim was said to have run for about a block after being shot before collapsing.

The teenager’s father, Thomas Frimpong, said he believed bullying was behind the incident, claiming that his son had been targeted by two schoolmates who were recently suspended.

Frimpong disclosed that the school principal informed him about the bullying just three days before his son was killed.

He also maintained that his son was not the aggressor in a recent confrontation at school.

“The principal told me Javits is innocent. Javits is innocent. He was defending himself,” the grieving father said.

Frimpong said he brought his son from Ghana to New York about a year ago in the hope of giving him a better life, while the boy’s mother remained in Ghana.

Describing his son, he said: “My son was precious, very clever.”

The father, who works as a taxi driver, said his last conversation with Javits on Thursday morning was a reminder to get to school on time.

The killing has sparked outrage among residents of the Crotona Park neighbourhood, with some calling for increased after-school activities and youth programmes to keep teenagers away from violence.

Police have yet to publicly identify any suspects or announce arrests as investigations into the teenager’s killing continue

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INEC Rejects 64 Petitions, Removes Candidates From 2027 Election list

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The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has rejected 64 petitions filed by political parties over the 2027 governorship and State Houses of Assembly candidates’ lists, following a review that also led to the removal of some candidates.

The commission disclosed this in a statement signed by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, on October 30, 2026.

INEC said 12 political parties filed 69 petitions across 26 states over governorship candidates.

It approved 41 of the complaints but dismissed 28.

For the State Houses of Assembly elections, 61 petitions were submitted by 11 political parties across 11 states.

The commission upheld 25 and rejected 36.

The complaints involved political parties allegedly omitted from the lists, candidates whose names were included despite not appearing in their parties’ membership registers, and cases of multiple nominations.

Following its review, INEC approved the inclusion of candidates and parties whose complaints were justified.

It also removed names that were wrongly published and candidates whose nominations did not meet legal requirements.

The commission said the revised lists would be published on its website, with details of the affected candidates, political parties and states.

“The Commission assures the public of its commitment to transparency and the credibility of the electoral process,” the statement added.

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Plateau: Gunmen Kill 4 In Renewed Attack

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Four people have reportedly been killed after gunmen attacked Sabon Angwa community, around Bet/Zat in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, on Thursday night, raising fresh concerns over the safety of residents despite an existing curfew.

 

The attackers reportedly stormed the community at about 8pm and opened fire on residents, triggering panic in the area.

Report quoted a Barkin Ladi resident, Bulus Jok, as confirming the gunmen operated despite the curfew imposed in parts of the state to curb attacks and restore security.

“The gunmen struck the community around 8pm despite the curfew in place and started shooting sporadically,” he said.

Jok added that the attackers shot at anything in sight, leaving four people dead and residents terrified.

He described the incident as particularly disturbing because an early warning alert had reportedly been sent to the relevant authorities a day before the attack.

The Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youth Moulders-Association (BYM), Rwang Tengwong, also confirmed the incident, saying suspected terrorist gangs attacked the community and shot four people dead.

Tengwong condemned the killings, describing the loss of innocent lives as unacceptable. He questioned the continued attacks on communities despite security measures introduced to protect residents.

“It is disturbing that communities are still being attacked despite the security measures and curfew put in place to protect residents,” he said.

The BYM spokesman urged security agencies to strengthen surveillance in vulnerable communities, improve their response to early warning alerts and take proactive steps to prevent further attacks.

He also called for a stronger security presence in the affected areas to protect residents from further violence.

Efforts to reach security operatives for comments and further details were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

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