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Pro-Buhari group to Saraki: why our ban cannot stand

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Senators to ‘stand by’ Omo-Agege

Fear over Adamu’s likely suspension

Despite being banned, the Parliamentary Support Group (PSG) is spoiling for a fight with the Senate leadership.

The PSG, which is backing President Muhammadu Buhari on the order of elections, said yesterday that its ban could only stand, if similar groups in the Senate were banned. It was learnt that 20 governors are behind the group.

Some members of the group’s Strategic Committee, who met in Abuja yesterday, said it would ask Senate President Bukola Saraki to disband groups like the Like Minds, Northern Senators Forum (NSF) and others. The Like Minds facilitated Saraki’s emergence as Senate President about three years ago in defiance of the directive of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The PSG, which is considering a six-point plan, resolved to reconvene on Wednesday. It said it would  stand by its secretary, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, who was suspended last Thursday.

A member of the Strategic Committee, who spoke in confidence, said the PSG would not be disbanded.

The source said: “We are not going to disband it because the Senate did not form it for us. The freedom of association is guaranteed in our Constitution, the freedom of speech is also guaranteed. It is a matter of interest.

“If not for groups like this, the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, won’t have emerged as our president. When we formed the Like Minds Group, we disrespected the directive of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to elect him as the Senate president.

“We have resolved to ask the Senate leadership to let us start by disbanding the Like Minds Group, the Northern Senators Forum  and other groups in order to create a level-playing ground for all. Look, the Northern Senators Forum is even more discriminatory than PSG”.

On the allegation that the PSG was trying to create a parallel organ in the Senate, the source said: “We are no threat to the president of the Senate because we are not plotting against him, we have no plan to impeach him. Nobody can use us against him.

“We do not  meet in the Senate, we always meet in somebody’s house. We have never announced any plan on the floor. Even when we were collecting signatures to oppose the plan to override President Muhammadu Buhari’s veto on the sequence of elections, we were usually going to somebody’s house to sign”.

Responding to a question, the source added: “We will continue to meet. We have fixed a meeting for Wednesday and the Strategic Committee will hold a session on Sunday ( yesterday).”

A ranking Senator in PSG listed the six-point plan as follows:

  • Ensure the passage of 2018 Budget
  • Block plans to override the President’s veto on order of elections
  • Push for the confirmation of nominees for some public offices which was withheld by the Senate
  • Pass vote of confidence on the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu.
  • Give full support to Senator Ovie Omo-Agege in his legal battle to regain his seat.
  • Continue to support President Muhammadu Buhari.

On the sequence of the 2019 elections, the source said: “We are doing our best to block the plot to override the President’s veto and 20 governors are behind us.

“And if the Senate wants the reintroduced bill on sequence of elections to go for second reading, we are battle ready because it is in bad faith. Do not forget that they have to take it back to Mr. President.”

Another member of the group gave insights into what happened in the Senate before Omo-Agege was suspended.

The source said: “It was really unfortunate that Senator Omo-Agege was suspended. In fairness, a principal officer had intervened  and assured PSG members that he will prevail on the leadership to accept the Senator’s apology.

“He said he was guaranteeing that Omo- Agege will not be suspended. We met on Wednesday before he was suspended on our line of action and we sent to  the said principal officer to the Senate leadership to remove it from the Order Paper.

“Even when Omo-Agege saw the issue of his suspension on the Order Paper, he tried to reach out to the said principal officer without access.”

Asked of the next step, the source said: “We are already in court, the suspension is illegal and subjudice.

“The Senate does not have a right to suspend any member for expressing his views. It is only in the standing order to suspend a member who is unruly on the floor but not for more than two weeks.

“There is a subsisting judgement that the Senate cannot suspend a member for expressing opinion because the right of expression is guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution.

“There is a subsisting court judgement in favour of Senator Ali Ndume which says that you cannot suspend a Senator for a day for expressing his views. The Senate has  gone on appeal and there is no stay of execution of the judgement till date. So, it was illegal to suspend Omo-Agege.

“Under the guise of the rule of law, some senators run to the court when it is about their interest but when they come to the Senate, they turn the rule of law upside down and come up with different interpretations.

“Most Nigerians do not know that the report of the committee which the Senate used to suspend Senator Omo-Agege was  signed by six out of 16 members of the panel. And all of the members except two are from an opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).”

There were fears over the likely suspension of the former NSF Chairman Senator Abdullahi Adamu.

A quiet member of the PSG said: “We learnt the report on Senator Adamu is ready and it might be tabled this week.

“From all indications, Senator Adamu might also be suspended for expressing his views. But the tyranny of the gavel will not last.”

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BREAKING: Tinubu lifts Rivers emergency rule, asked Fubara to resume work

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In a statement, the President asked suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara to resume work on Thursday, September 18.

He also asked Ngozi Nma Odu, the Deputy Governor, and Rivers lawmakers resume their duties.

The emergency rule was declared in the state six months ago.

Tinubu said: “My Fellow countrymen and, in particular, the good people of Rivers State.*

“I am happy to address you today on the state of emergency declaration in Rivers State. You will recall that on 18th March, 2025, I proclaimed a state of emergency in the state. In my proclamation address, I highlighted the reasons for the declaration.

“The summary of it for context is that there was a total paralysis of governance in Rivers State, which had led to the Governor of Rivers State and the House of Assembly being unable to work together. Critical economic assets of the State, including oil pipelines, were being vandalised. The State House of Assembly was crisis-ridden, such that members of the House were divided into two groups. Four members worked with the Governor, while 27 members opposed the Governor. The latter group supported the Speaker. As a result, the Governor could not present any Appropriation Bill to the House, to enable him to access funds to run Rivers State’s affairs.

“That serious constitutional impasse brought governance in the State to a standstill. Even the Supreme Court, in one of its judgments in a series of cases filed by the Executive and the Legislative arms of Rivers State against each other, held that there was no government in Rivers State. My intervention and that of other well-meaning Nigerians to resolve the conflict proved abortive as both sides stuck rigidly to their positions to the detriment of peace and development of the State.

“It therefore became painfully inevitable that to arrest the drift towards anarchy in Rivers State, I was obligated to invoke the powers conferred on me by Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, to proclaim the state of emergency. The Offices of the Governor, Deputy Governor, and elected members of the State House of Assembly were suspended for six months in the first instance. The six months expire today, September 17th, 2025.

“I thank the National Assembly, which, after critically evaluating the justification for the proclamation, took steps immediately, as required by the Constitution, to approve the declaration in the interest of peace and order in Rivers State. I also thank our traditional rulers and the good people of Rivers State for their support from the date of the declaration of the state of emergency until now.

“I am not unaware that there were a few voices of dissent against the proclamation, which led to their instituting over 40 cases in the courts in Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Yenagoa, to invalidate the declaration. That is the way it should be in a democratic setting. Some cases are still pending in the courts as of today. *But what needs to be said is that the power to declare a state of emergency is an inbuilt constitutional tool to address situations of actual or threatened breakdown of public order and public safety, which require extraordinary measures to return the State to peace, order and security.

“Considered objectively, we had reached that situation of total breakdown of public order and public safety in Rivers State, as shown in the judgment of the Supreme Court on the disputes between the Executive and the Legislative arm of Rivers State. It would have been a colossal failure on my part as President not to have made that proclamation.

“As a stakeholder in democratic governance, I believe that the need for a harmonious existence and relationship between the executive and the legislature is key to a successful government, whether at the state or national level. The people who voted us into power expect to reap the fruits of democracy. However, that expectation will remain unrealizable in an atmosphere of violence, anarchy, and insecurity borne by misguided political activism and Machiavellian manipulations among the stakeholders.

“I am happy today that, from the intelligence available to me, there is a groundswell of a new spirit of understanding, a robust readiness, and potent enthusiasm on the part of all the stakeholders in Rivers State for an immediate return to democratic governance. This is undoubtedly a welcome development for me and a remarkable achievement for us. I therefore do not see why the state of emergency should exist a day longer than the six months I had pronounced at the beginning of it.

“It therefore gives me great pleasure to declare that the emergency in Rivers State of Nigeria shall end with effect from midnight today. The Governor, His Excellency Siminalayi Fubara, the deputy governor, Her Excellency Ngozi Nma Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and the speaker, Martins Amaewhule, will resume work in their offices from 18 September 2025.

“I take this opportunity to remind the Governors and the Houses of Assembly of all the States of our country to continue to appreciate that it is only in an atmosphere of peace, order, and good government that we can deliver the dividends of democracy to our people. I implore all of you to let this realisation drive your actions at all times.”

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Improved Security: Opinion Poll Scores Matawalle Most Outstanding Minister, Says Organizer

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In a recent nationwide opinion poll assessing the performance of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s cabinet members, the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Muhammad Matawalle, emerged as the most performing minister in security. The survey sampled views across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, reflecting growing public confidence in his ability to drive strategies that directly confront the country’s complex security challenges. Since assuming office in 2023, Matawalle has steadily carved out a reputation as one of the administration’s most active voices on national defence. Working closely with the Minister of Defence, the service chiefs, and other security stakeholders, he has been instrumental in strengthening collaboration among the armed forces and initiating reforms targeted at insurgency, banditry, and cross-border crimes.

The poll, which was widely discussed across media and policy circles, shows that Nigerians are paying close attention to how security matters are being handled under Tinubu’s leadership. Respondents in the North West and North Central regions areas most affected by banditry and insurgency credited Matawalle’s office with championing military offensives, improving intelligence sharing, and taking a hands on approach through visits to crisis zones. Many see his active presence and swift interventions as a departure from past practices where government officials often kept their distance from affected communities.

Analysts note that the poll’s outcome speaks not only to Matawalle’s rising profile within Tinubu’s cabinet but also to a broader demand by Nigerians for results driven governance. Security remains one of the administration’s toughest challenges, and the minister’s recognition suggests that citizens are beginning to identify clear efforts and results in that direction. Political observers believe this rating could further boost the administration’s credibility as it works to reassure Nigerians that reforms in the defence sector are yielding impact.

Still, experts caution that much work remains to be done. Nigeria’s security crisis is deeply layered, with terrorism, banditry, oil theft, and urban crime continuing to stretch the country’s security architecture. While military operations have recorded notable successes, addressing the underlying socio economic causes of insecurity will require more holistic strategies, ranging from poverty reduction and education to stronger governance at the state and local levels.

Nevertheless, Matawalle’s emergence as the most performing minister in security underscores a significant shift in how Nigerians perceive leadership and accountability. It signals that citizens are not only monitoring the government’s promises but are also willing to recognize and reward performance where it is evident. As President Tinubu’s administration advances, the spotlight on ministers like Matawalle reflects a growing expectation that public service must translate into visible impact. For now, his recognition by the public stands as both an endorsement of progress and a reminder that the nation’s security demands continuous, determined, and innovative leadership.

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TUNJI BELLO – THE GIFT THAT BUILDS FUTURE, Says Segun OLULADE

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In a world where celebrations are often measured by extravagant parties and fleeting moments of applause, Mr. Tunji Bello, an illustrious son of Lagos and proud alumnus of Lagos State University (LASU), has chosen a different and far more meaningful path.

His decision to donate a befitting auditorium to LASU’s Epe Campus is not just an act of generosity—it is a gift of legacy, one that will serve generations and continue to echo long after the music of birthday celebrations has faded.

As an indigene of Epe and fellow alumnus of LASU, I, Hon. Segun Olulade, feel an overwhelming sense of pride and gratitude for this uncommon gesture. In choosing to immortalize his milestone birthday by giving back to his alma mater, Mr. Bello has shown the world what it means to truly live for others.

He could have spent lavishly on personal celebrations, but instead he turned the spotlight away from himself and placed it firmly on education, youth development, and community growth. That is the mark of true greatness.

What makes this story even more inspiring is the sacrifice behind the scenes. Mr. Bello did not simply write a cheque. He converted birthday gifts into seed funding, sold his own property to sustain the vision, and held firm to his conviction that education is the best legacy one can bequeath.

This is not charity—it is vision, it is leadership, it is a demonstration of courage to prioritize posterity over personal comfort.

For us in Epe, this auditorium is more than brick and mortar. It is a beacon of hope, a symbol that greatness often rises from within our own soil.

For LASU, it is an enduring platform that will nurture leaders, thinkers, and innovators who will shape the destiny of our nation. And for Lagos State, it is another shining example of the transformative power of giving back.

I therefore celebrate and commend Mr. Tunji Bello for this act of uncommon generosity. His name is now etched not only in the history of LASU but in the hearts of every student who will pass through that hall, daring to dream and achieve.

Egbon Tunji Bello, you have written your name in gold.

Hon. Segun Olulade Eleniyan
Executive Director Customer Centricity and Marketing Galaxy Backbone Ltd.

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