General
APC Blames Wike, PDP For Ken Atsuete’s Death
***Begs Buhari to intervene
By Dipo Olowookere
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state have been accused of having hands in the death of an activist lawyer, Mr Ken Atsuete, in Port Harcourt, the state capital, on Monday.
Mr Atsuete was a strong opposition voice in the state before his gruesome murder yesterday.
Making the blame, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, in a statement, alleged that, “Governor Wike and his PDP gang of vampires in Rivers State have once again exhibited the only act of governance known to them by plotting the assassination of Barrister Ken Atsuete, a well-known fiery critic of Wike’s evil administration and defender of Rivers State APC.”
In the statement signed by the State APC Chairman, Dr Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, on Tuesday morning, the party said that, “Mr Atsuete, a renowned human rights activist who was one of the speakers at the just concluded conference of the Nigerian Bar Association held in Port Harcourt, must have been assassinated principally for his stoic stand against the evil administration of Wike in Rivers State.”
Rivers APC, which is the opposition party in the state, said further that, “The other reason why Barr Atsuete was killed was for his several petitions to the Inspector General of Police and to the Chief Justice of the Federation against the Chief Judge of Rivers State for being partisan by remanding his client Ojukaye Flag Amachree unjustly and wickedly.
“The other fact that may have triggered the killing of this harmless man was his live interview on Nigeria Info 92.3FM radio station, in which he revealed that Wike and his myopic and misguided legal team procured a fake court order on the release of Tai election result to deceive themselves and the general public.”
Rivers APC observed that “Wike right from the beginning has had serious phobia for the person of Barr. Atsuete’s client, the former Chairman of Asari-Toru Local Government Area, Ojukaye Flag Amachree, the prisoner of war in the hands of Wike and his misguided government whom Wike and his PDP are afraid that if he is released before the rerun elections, PDP will fail woefully based on his popularity among the youths in Rivers State. Their belief is that in order to keep him off the field, Barr Atsuete had to die.”
The party further said: “We have shouted ourselves hoarse that Wike is a bad omen for the Nigerian politics and that his forceful seizure of power is a bad omen for Rivers State since he is not interested in the peace and progress of the state and her people.
“We are aware that Wike and PDP are not interested in any peaceful election in Rivers State, hence they are doing everything within their powers to frustrate the peace in the state so as to ensure that the rerun elections never hold.”
Rivers APC lamented that over 200 of its members have been killed in less than two years by Wike and his misguided PDP in Rivers State, noting that “the strategy has changed, with the targets now being those defending the APC in Rivers State, after which the leaders of APC will be the next group to be destroyed by these vagabonds in power.”
The party regretted that Atsuete’s assassination came shortly after Governor Wike recently attended a security meeting in Abuja with the Inspector General of Police, Director of Directorate of State Service (DSS), and Rivers APC leaders, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, Senator Magnus Abe, Dr. Dakuku Peterside and Dr. Davies Ikanya. It recalled that Wike at that peace meeting promised that there would no longer be any political killings in Rivers State. “We will like to know from him how and why the harmless Atsuete was killed after this pledge,” Rivers APC said, adding: “He has at several fora recently stated that Rivers State under his watch is very safe, yet Rivers State people are kidnapped and killed on daily basis nobody seems to care.”
Turning its attention to the Federal authorities, the party said, We wish to remind President Buahri what he said on May 14, 2015 when a delegation from Rivers State led by former Deputy Governor of the state, Sir Gabriel Toby visited him where he assured the Rivers State people that his government will fish out and prosecute all those behind electoral violence and more than a year later, the political killings are getting worse in Rivers State. Wike and PDP killed to get power, now they are killing to retain it.
Mr, President during this meeting stated, “We will confront them with facts and figures. We will not forgive and forget those who perpetrated killings and arson in Rivers State during the elections. At least, this is the much we owe to Nigerians. There will not be an army within the army or a police within the police,” and today, Wike and PDP have become law to themselves.
“We will like to know what crime we have committed to leave us at the mercy of Wike and his gang of killers. How many of our people need to be killed before Rivers State is secured from the hands of this killer government operating in Rivers State?” It lamented that “nobody is safe anymore in Wike’s Rivers of blood as he recently granted amnesty to hardened criminals and granted them freedom to move freely without recovering their arms and ammunition to enable them ensure that Rivers State will never know peace. To sustain his war against Rivers people he has brought back the creek boys who were used to rig and maim Rivers people during the ill-fated 2015 elections to the streets to continue with their killing spree.”
Rivers APC declared that “Ken Atsuete’s lifeless body is currently lying at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital mortuary but the conscience of Wike and his gang will never have rest as his blood and all those so far murdered will never give them any respite in their miserable lives.”
The party once again urged President Muhammadu Buhari to fulfil his pledge that those behind the senseless killings in Rivers State will never go free but would be fished out and made to account for their atrocities.
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.
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.
By Adedapo Adesanya
President Bola Tinubu has called on Nigerians to embrace religious tolerance, peace, and unity, urging citizens of all faiths to reject violence and intolerance amid ongoing security challenges across the country.
In his 2025 Christmas goodwill message issued on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Mr Bayo Onanuga, the President emphasised that no Nigerian should suffer discrimination or violence because of their religious beliefs, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to safeguarding freedom of worship and national cohesion.
“As your President, I remain committed to doing everything within my power to enshrine religious freedom in Nigeria and to protect all people of different faiths from violence,” Mr Tinubu said, noting that all Nigerians have the constitutional right to live, worship, and pursue their aspirations in safety and dignity.
The President acknowledged growing concerns around religious intolerance and insecurity, revealing that he had engaged extensively throughout the year with leaders of Nigeria’s two major faiths.
In the last few months, the country faced a spate of attacks including kidnapping of school children and armed terror, involving the death of a high ranking army personnel.
He also said the government would continue to build on these engagements to strengthen collaboration with religious institutions, prevent conflict, and promote peaceful coexistence.
President Tinubu described Christmas as a period for reflection on the message of Jesus Christ as the Prince of Peace, urging Nigerians to draw inspiration from values of love, compassion, and goodwill that cut across all major religions.
He commended Christians in Nigeria for their contributions to national development, particularly their role in caring for the vulnerable and promoting harmony within communities.
“The love for God and love for humanity is at the heart of all the great faiths. These shared values must continue to bind us together as one indivisible and resilient people,” he said.
Reiterating his administration’s stance on security, the President said the government’s commitment to protecting Nigeria’s unity and stability has remained unwavering since he assumed office in 2023. He stressed that the state would not tolerate violence targeted at any group on the basis of ethnicity or belief.
President Tinubu also appealed to Nigerians travelling during the festive season to exercise patience and discipline on the roads, wishing them safe journeys and returns.
Expressing optimism about the country’s future, the President said that with faith in God and collective resolve, Nigeria would overcome its challenges and build a nation that future generations would be proud of.
He concluded by wishing Christians in Nigeria and around the world a Merry Christmas and Nigerians a happy New Year in advance.
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