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Economy

Bayelsa Stakeholders, Ikuli’s Group Makes Case For Diri To Dump PDP For APC

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Bayelsa Governor Diri Reportedly Considers Defection To APC

Bayelsa Stakeholders, Ikuli’s Group Makes Case For Diri To Dump PDP For APC

Bayelsa stakeholders, Ikuli’s group makes case for Diri to dump PDP for APC. A group under the coordination of Governor Douye Diri’s media aide, Wisdom Ikuli, has urged the Bayelsa State Governor to defect to the All Progressives Congress, (APC).

This is as rumours of the governor’s looming defection from the People Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling APC is getting more intense by the day.

Recall that other fellow South-South governors had all decided to join the ruling APC, but such talks have been dismissed by some of his aides in the past, until Tuesday’s declaration by a group led by his Technical Adviser on Media, Ikuli.

Addressing some stakeholders and journalists in Yenagoa, the state capital, on Tuesday, Ikuli, the Convener of the Concerned Bayelsa Stakeholders Forum (CBSF), said the call for the governor to join the APC was sacrosanct and inevitable.

Ikuli mentioned the uncomplicated projects abandoned by successive Federal Governments, including the Agge Seaports and numerous other projects, which he said will not only open Bayelsa to the world but also usher in economic development for the state and job creation for its citizens as reasons why the governor should make the move.

He said, “Having said that, we wish to proceed to the crux, which is the need to appeal to His Excellency to take a decisive step to align with the government at the centre.

“Our fathers, High Chief Harold Dappa-Biriye and Chief (Sen.) Dr Melford Obiene Okilo admonished the Ijaw Nation to always align with the government at the centre, largely due to our distance from the centre and our difficult terrain, in order to attract development to our area.

“For instance, our adherence to their advice and our alignment with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) that was the government at the centre helped Bayelsa State and the Ijaw Nation to produce the Vice President and later, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of this country in the person of President Goodluck Jonathan.

“Sadly, today, Bayelsans and Ijaws in general are not among the first 40 Nigerians from the Offices of the President, Vice President and Services Chiefs.

“Ijaws have been relegated and rendered politically and economically redundant and impotent because we are not with the government at the centre.

“Ironically, Ijaws who are the majority in terms of population in the geographic Niger Delta area (South South) and the fourth largest tribe in the country, and the Ijaw Nation that contribute well over 65 per cent of the oil and gas wealth that are used to run the affairs of the country have been rendered powerless because of our non-alignment with the ruling party.

“Again, there is a power-sharing and rotation system between the North and South. The North, having done their complete eight (8) years under late President Muhammadu Buhari, is supposed to support the South to complete their own eight years under incumbent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is working round the clock to strengthen the South.

“Presently, Bayelsa State is standing alone as the only PDP state in the whole of South South. The above may not be too much of an issue. The greatest challenge here is the hijack of the PDP by a few individuals and the very dangerous traps that they have set for Bayelsans in 2027, particularly those who intend to fly the flag of the PDP.

“There are concluded arrangements to hide under the excuse of crisis and countless court cases in PDP at different levels to work to nullify the nomination of all candidates that will emerge under the party platform. So, we can imagine the pains, agony and disarray that the state shall experience if the state remains in PDP.”

Ikuli noted that the ongoing coalition is an embodiment of people who conspired to deny the state and indeed the entire Ijaw Nation a second term at the Presidency in 2015, saying that the coalition can never be an option.

“It is based on the above that we unanimously appeal to the governor to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to show Southern solidarity with other Southern governors who are with Mr. President.

Bayelsa Governor Diri Reportedly Considers Defection To APC

Governor Diri

“But as we move forward, one of the greatest priorities in the alliance with the centre should be the actualisation of the Agge Seaport that will help to boost the state economy and also bring about unimaginable transformation and prosperity,” he said.

He stated that, over the next few days, the group, along with other stakeholders, will hold a daily rally on the streets of Yenagoa to urge the governor to take the necessary action.

He urged the governor to ignore all opposing voices against his defection, as most of them were fighting to protect their political interests without prioritising those of the state and the entire Ijaw Nation.

While applauding Diri for his uncommon development strides since he assumed office, Ikuli further reassured the governor that the vast majority of Bayelsans are with him and his determination to move the state forward.

Economy

Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition

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Lagos Assembly

Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition

Lagos assembly strongly seeks suspension of Makoko demolition. The Lagos state house of assembly has called for the suspension of demolition activities in Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro waterfront communities following protests by displaced residents and growing public concern over the exercise.

The call was announced on Tuesday by Noheem Adams, chairman of an ad hoc committee set up by Mudashiru Obasa, speaker of the house, during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Lateef Jakande auditorium.

Adams called on all state ministries to cease demolition work and promised compensation to the affected residents.
“On behalf of the speaker and all 40 members of the house, we are directing that all demolitions in Makoko, Oko-Agbon, and Shogunro communities should stop from today until further notice,” New Telegraph quoted Adams as saying.

He called for transparency by demanding the full list of taskforce members and the criteria used for engagement, insisting that residents must be actively involved in the process.

“That the taskforce that was constituted, we want to see the list of the taskforce because we want the residents to be duly involved and to be carried along. So we want to have the schedule of those task forces and the criteria for those that we are inviting,” Adams added.

Lagos Assembly

Lagos Assembly

“To the residents of Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro communities, as your representatives, we are giving you all assurances that they will stop demolitions henceforth and there will be compensations for all those whose properties have been demolished.”

Stephen Ogundipe, member of the ad-hoc, said there is need for clear communication, adding that residents targeted for relocation or redevelopment must be informed of the government’s plans in advance.

Babatunde Olajide, special adviser to governor of Lagos on E-GIS and urban renewal, confirmed that $2 million had been earmarked since 2021 to transform Makoko into a modern, internationally compliant water city.

He said enumeration of affected properties is underway and reiterated the administration’s commitment to handling the situation with a human face, prioritizing resident safety and fair compensation.

Yusuf Sagra, baale of Makoko, described the assembly’s decision as a “word of peace,” while Orioye Ogungbure, another leader of the community, praised the “democratic responsiveness” of the government.

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Crime

EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video

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EFCC Probes Man

EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video

EFCC arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for alleged naira mutilation in viral video. The Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,   on Tuesday, February 3, 2026  arrested a Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa over alleged Naira mutilation.

Inuwa was arrested following a viral video circulated on social media platforms where she was seen conspicuously cleaning mucus from her nose using Naira notes.

EFCC Probes Man

EFCC

Following the release of the viral video, the Commission swung into action by tracing and subsequently arrested her to answer questions.
She is currently being held at the Commission’s detention facility while investigation is ongoing.

The suspect will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.

Dele Oyewale
Head,  Media & Publicity
February 3, 2026

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Economy

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime

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National Bank Of Kenya

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime

Access Bank gets new board chair Ifeyinwa Osime. Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29.

Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29, according to a statement to the Nigerian Exchange Ltd. on Monday.

Ms Osime, a legal practitioner, joined Access Bank’s board in November 2019 as an independent non-executive director and had chaired its Human Resources and Sustainability Committee and the Governance, Nomination, and Remuneration Committee. This role made her contribute significantly to the bank’s corporate governance, leadership development, and sustainability initiatives.

Additionally, Ms Osime is a director at Ebudo Trust Ltd. and a partner at McPherson Legal Practitioners, where she advises on corporate and commercial matters and contributes to strategic leadership.

She is also a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Women Corporate Directors, Nigeria Chapter, and the Chartered Institute of Directors, Nigeria, where she serves on the Executive Committee of the Women Sectoral Group.

National Bank Of Kenya

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime

Beyond her professional responsibilities, Ms Osime is committed to mentoring youths and is actively involved in the Autism and Developmental Delays Support Community, reflecting her dedication to inclusion and social impact.
Speaking on her appointment, the group chairman, Aigboje Aig-lmoukhuede, said, “Mrs Osime is a principled and experienced leader with a deep understanding of the Bank’s strategy and values.

“She has demonstrated strong commitment to the bank’s vision and mission, and I am confident that, under her leadership, the bank will continue to advance its strategic objectives of delivering sustainable value to shareholders and other stakeholders in the pursuit of its vision to become the world’s most respected African bank.”

Mr Aig-lmoukhuede also congratulated Mr Usoro on the completion of his tenure and on his exemplary leadership, dedication, and significant contributions to the group, saying he remains a valued member of the Access family.

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