News
RIVERS: Youths Storm LGA Secretariats To Protest Tenure Extension For Chairmen
Youths in the three local government areas of the Kalabari ethnic group have occupied their council secretariats to demand the vacation of the council chairmen from office.
The local government areas are Degema, Asari-Toru and Akuku-Toru.
According to video observed by thecolumnNG showed that some of the youths mobilised to block the entrance to the council complexes and requested traders within the premises to leave.
Asari Re-Echoes Youths’ Demand

Meanwhile, a former Niger Delta agitator, Asari Dokubo who is from the ethnic group is advising elected chairmen of the 23 local government areas in Rivers State to quietly leave office by midnight on Monday as their three-year tenure expires.
He said despite arguments from the chairmen, they must leave office to avoid creating fundamental problems in the state. Asari stressed the importance of adhering to the stipulated tenure limits in the Local Government Law of 2018 to maintain order and legality.
Asari stated this on the sidelines of a visit by the Muslim Community to Governor Siminalayi Fubara at the Government House in Port Harcourt.
He specifically addressed the youths, cautioning them against being recruited to disrupt the peace of the state during this transition period.
Asari Dokubo says Rivers people are willing to take over council secretariats from tomorrow till the state government is ready to conduct the local government election.

The former agitation re-echoed the importance of peaceful transitions and the role of citizens in upholding the democratic process.
Asari’s comments reflect the people’s concern for maintaining stability and preventing any potential conflicts during this period.
The political landscape in Rivers State remains tense as the clock ticks faster.
The visit by the Muslim community highlighted the need for unity and peaceful coexistence in the state.
The Vice President General of the Rivers State Council of Islamic Affairs commended Governor Siminalayi Fubara for his inclusive approach to religious diversity.
He noted that there have been no attacks on the Muslim community nor conflicts with other religious organisations.
Governor Fubara in his speech encouraged the Muslim community to show love and care for one another. He promised to foster more peaceful coexistence among all religious groups in the state.
Fubara also pledged to address the requests of Muslim leaders, including the construction of a central mosque in Port Harcourt and the establishment of a mosque at Rivers State University for Muslim students.
The governor noted that the preaching of the word of God can lead to behavioural changes that reduce crime rates.
Reflecting on his achievements, which the Muslim community acknowledged, Governor Fubara mentioned that public opinion rates him as the best-performing first-term governor.
He vowed to maintain the momentum to leave a better Rivers State. He urged the Muslim community to continue praying for his administration, expressing confidence that with God’s support, he has the majority’s backing.
The Rivers leader acknowledged that his opponents might attempt to disrupt his efforts, but assured that they would not succeed in their negative plans.
International News
Transfer: Real Madrid , Cucurella Reach Verbal Agreement
Chelsea reliable defender, Marc Cucurella may join Spanish giant, Real Madrid before the end of the current transfer window.if information from transfer journalist, Fabrizio Romano are anything to go by.
Romano In a latest transfer update, said Real Madrid has reached verbal agreement to sign Marc Cucurella from Chelsea.
“Verbal agreement in place between all parties, player too — he’s the left back wanted by Mourinho” the update read.
News
Hakimi, Vinicius Barred From Speaking Spanish At World Cup
FIFA has come under scrutiny after several high-profile players, including Achraf Hakimi and Vinicius Junior, were discouraged from speaking Spanish during media engagements at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States.
The issue first surfaced ahead of Morocco’s Group C clash with Brazil when a Spanish-speaking journalist attempted to question Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi in Spanish.
Despite Hakimi, who grew up in Madrid and speaks the language fluently, indicating he was comfortable answering in Spanish, event officials reportedly insisted that questions be asked in English.
Hakimi attempted to reassure organizers that language would not be a barrier, but officials maintained that no Spanish translator was available for the session. A compromise was eventually reached, with the reporter asking the question in Spanish while Hakimi responded in English.
The controversy intensified during Brazil’s media session when Vinicius Junior was also interrupted while responding to a question in Spanish.
The Real Madrid forward, who is more comfortable speaking Portuguese or Spanish than English, was reportedly asked by organizers to switch languages.
Rather than continue in Spanish, Vinicius opted to answer in Portuguese before turning his attention back to Brazil’s World Cup preparations.
The incidents sparked widespread debate among journalists and fans, many of whom questioned why Spanish—a language spoken by millions across North America—was effectively restricted at a tournament being hosted largely in the United States.
According to Spanish media outlet El País, FIFA only provides Spanish-language translation services at World Cup press conferences involving Spanish-speaking nations such as Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia, Ecuador, and Paraguay.
For all other teams, questions and answers are expected to be conducted either in English or the official language of the participating country.
The policy has generated criticism online, with many supporters arguing that multilingual communication should be encouraged at a global event like the World Cup.
The backlash was particularly strong in Vinicius’ case, as the Brazilian forward appeared visibly uncomfortable being asked to communicate in English.
The controversy overshadowed what was otherwise a highly anticipated encounter between Brazil and Morocco, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
With the issue now drawing international attention, FIFA may face increasing calls to review its media language guidelines as the tournament progresses.
News
It’s Illegal’…Falana’s Bombshell Indicts Govs, FG.
Human rights advocate, Femi Falana, has warned federal and state governments against negotiating with and rewarding terrorists.
According to Falana, the practice is illegal.
He stated this while delivering the keynote address at the Amnesty International Second Annual General Meeting in Abuja on June 13, 2026.
Falana claimed it is public knowledge officials of the Federal Government and some State Governments have been holding meetings and negotiating with terrorists and bandits, which has led to thousands of ‘repentant’ criminals being forgiven and given cash gifts of undisclosed sums of money.
Asserting that the “satanic Boko Haram sect and similar bodies have been proscribed” under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, Falana insisted that “their members and allies shall be prosecuted and not pampered and forgiven by the Nigerian State.”
Highlighting the legal consequences, he quoted Section 22 of the Act, stating: “A person who knowingly—(a) arranges, manages, assists in arranging or managing, participates in a meeting or an activity, which in his knowledge is concerned or connected with an act of terrorism or terrorist group, (b) collects, or provides logistics, equipment, information, articles or facilities for a meeting or an activity, which in his knowledge is concerned or connected with an act of terrorism or terrorist group, or (c) attends a meeting, which in his knowledge is to support a proscribed entity or to further the objectives of a proscribed entity, commits an offence, and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of at least 20 years.”
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