General

A’Ibom 2019: Plot to Label Udom’s Aides as Cultists Uncovered

Published

7 years ago

10/12/2018

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Information has it that there is a thickening plot to implicate the key aides of Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, with trumped-up accusations of being involved in cult activities as the buildup to the 2019 general elections gathers momentum.

According to what was gathered, the alleged plot is being spearheaded by a top-ranking former chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who recently left to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Akwa Ibom State has turned into a theatre of war, no thanks to the activities of key opposition politicians in the state led by a top politician, who has not hidden his determination to retake control of the political machinery in the state and ensure power swings to his new party at the polls come 2019.

The once peaceful state has been engulfed in an intractable crisis since the defection of the top party man to the extent that the centre can no longer hold.

Everything has allegedly been done by this man and his cohorts in the last few weeks to make the state ungovernable. It is perceived to be a ploy to humiliate the Governor of the state, who has been locked in a battle for the soul of the state since the beginning of the crisis.

It got to a stage that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was deployed in the humiliation process. In the process, Governor Emmanuel was indicted by officers of the anti-graft agency for purportedly withdrawing the sum of N1.7 billion from the state treasury, an accusation which the government has since denied.

The senator representing Uyo Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Mr Bassey Albert Akpan; the Assembly Speaker, Mr Onofiok Luke; and Mr Ekong Samson, Commissioner for Economic Development, Labour and Manpower Planning are among Governor Udom’s aides believed to be pencilled down to be labelled cultists in the latest onslaught.

Others include Transition Committee ex-chairman, Mr Victor Umondak as well as Mr Kenneth Okon and Mr Eno-Obong Uwah, the Senior Special Assistant on Local Government and Youth Groups to the Governor and Executive Chairman, Uyo Capital City Development Authority (UCCDA).

More names included in the hit list include that of Barrister Emmanuel Eno-Idem, PDP National Legal Adviser; Barr. Emmanuel Enoidem; Hon Kelly Okon and Dr Charles Mbong, among others. The strategy is to use the law enforcement officers including the police and DSS to harangue the top aides of the Governor.

General

US Strikes Terrorists in Sokoto on Trump’s Directive (VIDEO)

Published

5 hours ago

26/12/2025

Adedapo Adesanya

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The United States government gave some terrorists in Nigeria a Christmas gift that sent many of them to the great beyond.

On Thursday, December 25, 2025, the United States President, Mr Donald Trump, directed his country’s military to launch air strikes on camps of members of the dreaded Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Sokoto State.

According to Mr Trump, the military action, which he threatened to carry out a few weeks ago if the Nigerian government does not stop the killing of Christians in the country, occurred on Thursday night.

“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries!

“I have previously warned these Terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was.

“The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing.

“Under my leadership, our country will not allow radical islamic terrorism to prosper. May God bless our military, and Merry Christmas to all, including the dead terrorists, of which there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues,” Mr Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

In a video on X, formerly known as Twitter, the Department of War of the United States posted the below video of the air strikes;

https://twitter.com/DeptofWar/status/2004351717131903272

General

Gbajabiamila Remains President Tinubu’s Chief of Staff—Presidency

Published

15 hours ago

25/12/2025

Modupe Gbadeyanka

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The presidency has reacted to speculations that Mr Femi Gbajabiamila has been removed as the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu.

It was alleged that Mr Gbajabiamila has been replaced with the President’s Principal Private Secretary, Mr Hakeem Muri-Okunola.

Mr Muri-Okunola went to Abuja to take up this role after leaving as the Head of Service of the Lagos State Civil Service.

Reacting to the reports on social media on the purported removal of Mr Gbajabiamila, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, the presidency said no such change has been made.

In a statement signed on Thursday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, members of the public were advised to disregard the report as “there is absolutely no truth to this story.”

“The Chief of Staff remains in his position. The Principal Private Secretary likewise remains in his role. Hakeem Muri-Okunola has not replaced Femi Gbajabiamila as Chief of Staff.

“The viral claim is a fabrication by mischievous purveyors of fake news whose sole aim is to create disharmony within the government.

“We reiterate that news media should always verify their information before publishing or sharing on social media,” the statement said.

General

Eyesan Promises Bold Reset in Nigeria’s Upstream Sector as New NUPRC Head

Published

21 hours ago

25/12/2025

Adedapo Adesanya

By Adedapo Adesanya

The new chief executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, has assumed office with a clear message to advance the country’s upstream oil and gas sector in line with the mandate of the commission as enshrined in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.

According to a statement signed by Mr Eniola Akinkuotu, the Head of Media & Strategic Communications at the upstream regulator, the NUPRC boss made this assertation during her first town hall meeting with management and staff on Tuesday December 23, 2025.

She further disclosed plans to make the commission a business enabler and re-ignite investments in the upstream sector.

Recall that President Tinubu nominated Mrs Eyesan to take over the NUPRC after the abrupt resignation of her predecessor, Mr Gbenga Komolafe as well as his counterpart in the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mr Farouk Ahmed.

In her new capacity, Mrs Eyesan also set a firm production ambition of growing Nigeria’s output and increasing gas production.

“The goal is that we must enable the industry, we are regulators. We must enable the industry from our interactions with the stakeholders, from our interactions with everybody.

“My main objective is to ensure that we make a difference. I believe the NUPRC is at the Center of the industry,” she said.

The commission boss who has served for over three decades in the oil and gas sector, promised to entrench digitisation, transparency and efficiency in operations.

The NUPRC head said with the support of staff and management, the NUPRC will become the gold-standard regulator in Africa. She also promised capacity development, stronger technical depth and sustained engagement with stakeholders, unions and professional teams.

On leadership style, Mrs Eyesan promised an open-door policy and frequent staff engagement, while also soliciting for support and cooperation as the industry embarks on the next phase of transformation.

“If we work together we can unleash opportunities, I don’t see impediments only opportunities,” she added.