Television Nigerian

The Rivers State Police Command has reported that during separate raids on militant camps and kidnapper hideouts in some areas of the state, its men were able to free a victim of kidnapping and recover weapons and ammunition.

At a press conference on Friday in Port Harcourt, the state’s police commissioner, Emeka Nwonyi, revealed this.

The police combed a forest close to China Bridge on Wednesday, according to Nwonyi, with the aid of a vigilante, and a kidnapped woman was freed.

“She (the victim) stated that she was abducted on June 26, 2023, at around 1950 hours along Salvation Ministry Road in Rumuosi Choba, Port Harcourt, while driving her Lexus 330 SUV, whose registration number is currently unknown, from her shop to the house. Her family has been reunited with her. The hoodlums are still being sought after and apprehended.

Similar to this, according to Nwonyi, policemen in Ahoada East and West councils invaded some militant camps run by three self-proclaimed generals, who fled through a nearby river upon seeing the operatives. The police were assisted by the Army at the time.

“The following items were found in their camps: one locally made single-barrelled gun, nine empty cartridges, two motorcycles, three pumping engines, one small generator, two sawing engines, charms, and ten sheets of zinc,” he continued.

A team of police officers assigned to the Intelligence and Surveillance Centre, Port Harcourt, reportedly spotted a white keke bus on Monday, June 26, 2023, while conducting a routine patrol along Rumuokwuta, a road connecting Rumuigbo and Port Harcourt.

One locally made pistol with one round of live ammunition, an LG plasma television, two Android phones, one Itel phone, and a woman’s handbag were all found during the search of the keke bus, the man claimed.

According to Nwonyi, an investigation is being conducted to find the evading criminals and bring them to justice.

By Philip Agbese

The dawn of a dispensation signifies a new meaning to the way of life. Undoubtedly, Nigeria has experienced the best and worst of leaders. While some of these leaders were intentional in their actions, others were ignorant.

Unfortunately, Nigerians have always borne the brunt of these actions, either positive or negative. This indeed brings to the fore the role of leadership in the survival of any nation. Some may argue that leaders are born and not made. Others believe that leadership is about intentions.

In my considered opinion, however, there is an intersection between divinity and intentions. Leaders with a purpose of making a meaningful impact and leaders with motives that serve self-aggrandizement. The intents aspect is deliberate and a result of certain inherent traits manifesting in human intellectual activities.

One such leader with genuine and innate intention is Rt. Hon Tajudeen Abbas, the Honorable Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives. His emergence came with a load of expectations. Some have alluded that Rt. Hon Abbas carries on with such seriousness in all his endeavors. Some of them included the quality of his contributions to legislative matters in times past.

There have been arguments concerning his suitability for leadership of the Green Chambers. Few critics claim he is a stooge of the Executive. But for me, I see a man on a mission to make legislation a serious business.

The parlance where preparation meets opportunity and success aptly describes Rt Hon Tajudeen Abbas. As a high-ranking member of the House and chair of several important committees, he was indeed prepared for the task ahead. Some might ask what he is bringing to the table.

No doubt, loads of ideas and deliberate intentions are crucial to translate the act of legislature into serious business. As such, the 10th Assembly would experience purposeful leadership.

Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas is a consummate parliamentarian and an intellectual whose grasps of issues around governance are on another level. Of course, he boasts of an intimidating resume that spans decades of brilliance and a penchant for proffering solutions to societal issues. He is reputed as a problem solver. The Speaker is also seen as a critical thinker that matches words with actions. You could ascribe these attributes to his successful intellectual career.

His tenure as Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives would be robust and encompassing. Nigerians would be impressed with the quality of the legislative business from the Green Chamber. A team player, his disposition to issues resonates with national interest. And he doesn’t pretend about it and sometimes goes overboard. That is a plus because the business of governance must be taken seriously, considering the challenges confronting the country.

There are sacrifices to be made, and one of them is total devotion to putting issues in proper perspective. This is the trademark of Rt. Hon Tajudeen Abass. You can hate him for all he cares, but it doesn’t take away the burden that is before all of us. We have toyed with governance for several years, and now the country deserves leaders with intentions and purpose.

The emergence of Rt Hon Tajudeen Abass as Speaker is the best decision in the interest of the nation. His leadership of the Green Chamber would usher in a new way of life. It would redefine the art of legislation. It would also bring about tangible reforms in our laws toward addressing those issues that have held us down over the years.

The interesting part of the unfolding scenario is that members of the House of Representatives have seen the light and have also keyed into the vision of making legislation a serious business. Exciting times are ahead, and it behooves all to imbibe the attribute of selflessness in the task ahead of us in putting the country on a sound footing.

The Tajudeen Abass era will be the game-changer. Legislation is a serious business, and the Parliament plays a very vital role in the development of any society. That is the philosophy of Rt. Hon Tajudeen Abass. I identify with his passion and commitment to providing purposeful leadership when it matters most.

This piece is a clarion call for all progressive-minded Nigerians to rally support for him to succeed. The necessity of now requires that all hands are on deck.

Rep Agbese is a member of the 10th Assembly writing from Abuja.

Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate for the election in February 2023, responded to the widely shared video of President Bola Tinubu’s lengthy convoy in Lagos on Wednesday by stating that leaders who ask their followers to make sacrifices for a better Nigeria must also set an example for others to follow.

He spoke in light of the outrage being voiced by Nigerians regarding the “outlandish display of power by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu during a recent visit to Lagos State.”

During the funeral Mass yesterday for the late Dean Emeritus of the ministry, the Most Reverend Maxwell Anikwenwa, who passed away at the age of 83, Obi stressed the importance of lowering the cost of governance at St. Faith Cathedral, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), in Awka.

The viral video of the motorcade, which the former governor of Anambra State claimed he had not seen, was nevertheless criticised for being absurd.

He said: “I have not seen the video you mentioned, but let me reiterate what I have always said: In the current Nigeria, everyone who serves and leads must set a good example.

“Those who serve must act in a way that is consistent with the standards set by the modern society in terms of behaviour, character, and public conduct. Without making a sacrifice first, you cannot continue to urge people to make sacrifices.

Since the people are suffering, we must all be at the forefront of the suffering, so the sacrifice must begin with the leaders and be visible and quantifiable at all times.

As he paid tribute to the late cleric, Obi said: “He is not just a pastor of God; he is a great Nigerian who contributed to this country beyond his pastoral work in creating a better Nigeria.

He participates in campaigns for improved governance, a better Nigeria, and other causes. I am not surprised by the number of people attending (this) burial ceremony today because he was a great Nigerian and Igbo man.

In a statement released by the Obi-Datti media outlet, Diran Onifade recalled that more than two weeks prior, during his Democracy Day speech, the President had urged Nigerians to make even greater sacrifices in response to the removal of the fuel subsidy, which had not only increased the price of petrol but also caused higher prices for other goods and services.

The following is an excerpt from the statement: “The Obi-Datti Media, like many Nigerians whose sense of decency has been offended by Asiwaju Tinubu’s unbridled tendency to flaunt power and position, joins our presidential candidate in pointing the hypocrisy inherent in Tinubu’s action.

“For a man, who promised to cut the cost of governance, to be moving around with an over-bloated convoy of security details and aides, speaks volumes of his ‘do what I say and not what I do’ attitude,” the author writes.

The nation’s financial system needs reform, and President Bola Tinubu has stated he is working to make sure the budgetary process is transparent.

At the Lagos House, Marina, where he was hosted by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Thursday, the President made this statement.

Along with other members of the All Progressives Congress, former governors Babatunde Fashola and Akinwunmi Ambode attended the event.

Tinubu thanked the other governors and dignitaries who attended the event to honour him as well as Sanwo-Olu for hosting him.

He praised the Governance Advisory Council members, telling them, “You all can see now that it pays to persevere.”

Thank you for helping the Nigerian people understand that we must take action to stop the financial bleeding by swiftly removing fuel subsidies, Tinubu said. We are powerless.

Then, in order to fulfil the duty owed by politicians to Nigerians, we must re-engineer the efficiency of control and management of our resources.

He stated, “We must re-engineer the nation’s financial system…and ensure that our economic planning and budgetary process is transparent enough to serve all Nigerians.”

He reiterated that in order to stop the financial bleeding in the country, the fuel subsidy had to be eliminated.

Nigeria “can’t afford to be Father Christmas to other countries,” he continued. We cannot simply continue to pay the subsidy.

Bringing about “necessary changes that will benefit not only you, but your grandchildren and our tomorrow,” he claimed, was why Nigerians chose to elect him.

In order to achieve true federalism in the country, Tinubu vowed to maintain an open door policy and collaborate with the state governors. He made the appeal that “I want us to partner together to rescue our nation and make it whole again.”