Politics

Tinubu Sacrificed One Of Nigeria’s Wealthiest States To Reward Ally Wike For Helping To Manipulate Election In Rivers –Sowore

Published

7 days ago

March 24, 2025

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Sowore said the President’s recent declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State amounts to anarchy, as Tinubu unilaterally removed a democratically elected governor and installed a sole administrator.

Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has accused President Bola Tinubu of sacrificing the entire Rivers State to a political godfather, Nyesom Wike, who happens to be his friend, against the wishes of the state’s people.

Speaking on Channels TV Thursday morning about the president’s declaration, Sowore said, “It is important to state here that we are witnessing impunity in its most obvious form.”

He said when the president of a country can sacrifice an entire state—one of Nigeria’s richest and most prominent states—on the altar of political convenience to please a godfather who is his friend, then Nigerians are in trouble.

The human rights activist alleged that President Tinubu declared a state of emergency because his political ally, the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, had helped him win the presidency through “electoral manipulation” in the state.

Sowore further alleged that Tinubu and Wike’s main objective is to control the state’s treasury and are already strategising for future elections.

“They’re looking at how to manipulate the next election cycle. That is the motivation behind all of this. Every step leading up to this move was designed to consolidate power for the godfather,” he said.

He continued: “What I find despicable and unacceptable is that certain people in this country can predictably engage in undemocratic actions, and they will get away with it.

“They make it clear that they do not care about the people, institutions, or democracy itself. They simply remove a governor who refuses to play along by surrendering the state’s resources, and then they impose a sole administrator overnight.

“They didn’t even wait for the National Assembly—which, pardon my words, which I called ‘useless’—to take a position on the matter. They rushed ahead with their plan because their ultimate goal was to release the state’s funds to an illegitimate appointee who was not elected by the people of Rivers State.

“Initially, the Supreme Court ruled to halt the state’s allocation until certain democratic principles were resolved. But instead of addressing those concerns, they have completely abandoned democracy altogether.”

Sowore expressed scepticism that the National Assembly would intervene, arguing that the lawmakers were only waiting to rubber-stamp the decision.

“Even if they don’t have the numbers, they will come up with some justification to push this through. But what matters is that Nigerians wake up. They have been too complacent, too quiet, and perhaps too cowardly. More people are now realising the need to come together and reclaim the country,” he said.

He stated that Nigeria cannot progress when those in power actively work against it.

“Those expected to bring progress are doing the opposite. That is why I hope this crisis will force Nigerians to rise and take action. I’m not calling for mayhem; they are the ones who have introduced mayhem into our politics. Justice is not about maintaining peace in the graveyard—it’s about fairness and accountability,” he said.

Sowore also criticised the role of Nigeria’s Attorney General (Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), in enabling impunity and illegality.

He said, “One of the biggest crises in Nigeria was the annulment of the June 12 election, and that decision was driven by advice from an Attorney General. Every time we face impunity, dictatorship, or unjust laws, the Attorney General is often the enabler. Maybe we should start scrutinising that office more closely.

“It doesn’t matter who holds the position—once they become Attorney General, they take on a certain arrogance and impunity. They defend indefensible actions, like this unconstitutional takeover of Rivers State. The Attorney General surely knows this is wrong, but they do not care.

“They know Nigerians will move on, and that’s why they keep getting away with these actions. But I hope Nigerians won’t let this slide, just as they should not overlook other attacks on their rights.”

Sowore further dismissed accusations of promoting anarchy, arguing that the federal government in Rivers State imposed the real anarchy.

“Somebody imposed his friend on a state that already has elected officials. Soldiers have been sent in, the governor has been driven out—this is anarchy. So why are you accusing me of promoting anarchy? If there’s anarchy, it is the federal government that has imposed it on Rivers State,” he said.

However, Sowore reiterated his stance that Nigeria’s democracy is under siege.

“I don’t care about labels. If speaking the truth makes me an ‘anarchist,’ so be it. But what we are discussing here is not anarchy—it is the blatant destruction of democracy,” he added.

Politics

Tory MPs bemoan Kemi Badenoch’s near ban on criticising Trump

Published

21 hours ago

March 30, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Tory MPs are complaining about Kemi Badenoch's (pictured) 'controlling' approach and her effective ban on criticising the Trump team

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Tory MPs are complaining about Kemi Badenoch‘s ‘controlling’ approach and her effective ban on criticising the Trump team.

Insiders said the party leader, pictured below, did not want her ministers doing too much press. ‘We feel we have to walk on eggshells,’ one MP told The Mail on Sunday, describing Mrs Badenoch’s office as ‘controlling’.

For her front bench, certain topics have been off limits – in particular, criticism for President Trump and his top team. ‘Kemi thinks she’s friends with (Vice-President) Vance and can influence the Maga crowd,’ one MP said. ‘It is delusional.’

Even backbench Tory MPs have refused to comment on stories for fear of being reprimanded amid being told not to do too much press.

Tory MPs are complaining about Kemi Badenoch’s (pictured) ‘controlling’ approach and her effective ban on criticising the Trump team

President Donald Trump has caused much controversy since he returned to the White House earlier this year

Last week MPs who privately rallied against Mr Trump’s chief negotiator Steve Witkoff’s (pictured) comments on Ukraine giving up territory said they did not go public because they knew the leader’s office would not approve

Another MP said: ‘I feel more worried about getting told off by my party than offending the US. Russia is getting a free pass. I don’t know why we’re not calling that out.’

Only senior MPs such as former foreign secretaryJames Cleverly, who writes in today’s The Mail on Sunday, feel they can criticise the Trump administration. Last week MPs who privately rallied against Mr Trump’s chief negotiator Steve Witkoff’s comments on Ukraine giving up territory said they did not go public because they knew the leader’s office would not approve.

Mr Witkoff was accused of ‘regurgitating Kremlin propaganda’ in an interview on the matter. Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel declined to comment. Sources close to Ms Patel said they kept quiet because it is ‘not diplomatically helpful’.

A spokesman for Mrs Badenoch said: ‘Kemi has said foreign policy must act in Britain’s national interest. If our domestic industries are going to avoid punishing tariffs then we must act responsibly in our approach to the US.’

Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel (pictured) declined to comment. Sources close to Ms Patel said they kept quiet because it is ‘not diplomatically helpful’

If we’re at odds with America, China will be licking its lips

Analysis by James Cleverly

When I went to China in 2023 as Foreign Secretary, I had a list of contentious issues to discuss, from Taiwan to Beijing’s cyber activity and sanctions against British MPs. Foreign Minister Wang Yi calmly defended his government and then moved on to a charm offensive, talking about areas of potential UK-China co-operation.

James Cleverly served as Foreign Secretary for the Conservative Government from 2022 until 2023

But two years on and the reality is President Trump risks delivering China’s aims by disrupting America’s relationship with its long-term friends.

The post-war networks built by Trump’s predecessors are being quickly eroded. Take the hollowing out of America’s main aid agency USAid, set up by JFK at the height of the Cold War to push back against Soviet influence. It is now Beijing rather than Moscow buying influence.

And, of course, there is a troubling question mark over the Trump administration’s support for Nato.Defence pacts rely on predictability, and our partners in the Pacific will not be encouraged by America’s behaviour to its European allies. The Marshall Plan pumped billions into post-war Europe to build Western capitalist economies, rather than Communist states linked through coercion.

If America makes trade more expensive, China will be ready to pick up any displaced demand. I have no doubt President Xi is delighted with America’s public spats. It is, after all, his geopolitical ambition to ostracise the US – but it shouldn’t also be Trump’s.

His point was the UK should come out from the ‘US’s shadow’ and not be dictated to by Washington – to drive a wedge between the UK and US, and to break what China sees as American hegemony.

Politics

Finland President Alexander Stubb boosts ties with Trump with round of golf in Florida

Published

21 hours ago

March 30, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (left) listens to Finland's President Alexander Stubb (second from left) during a meeting in Paris, France, on Thursday. Photo: Reuters

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The meeting comes a day after Trump’s VP J.D. Vance accused Denmark – Finland’s close ally – of doing a poor job keeping Greenland safe

Finnish President Alexander Stubb made a surprise trip on Saturday to meet US President Donald Trump at his estate in Florida, where the two leaders discussed strengthening their countries’ bilateral partnership and played a round of golf.

“President Stubb and I look forward to strengthening the partnership between the United States and Finland, and that includes the purchase and development of a large number of badly needed Icebreakers for the US, delivering Peace and International Security for our Countries, and the World,” Trump said in a social media post.

The two presidents met for breakfast, played golf and had lunch together. They also discussed foreign policy issues, including Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Stubb in Helsinki last week.

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The Finnish president’s office said in a statement that Stubb’s unannounced visit to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in West Palm Beach, Florida, was informal.

The meeting took place a day after Trump’s US vice-president, J.D. Vance, made an uninvited visit to Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Finland’s close Nordic ally Denmark. Vance accused Denmark of doing a poor job keeping Greenland safe.

Trump has expressed interest in acquiring Greenland, part of a growing international focus on competition to control the Arctic. Denmark’s government opposes such a move, as do most Greenland residents.

Finland is the world’s leading producer of icebreakers. About 80 per cent of the ships have been designed by Finnish companies, and around 60 per cent of them have been built at Finnish shipyards.

In November, Canada, Finland and the administration of former US president Joe Biden signed a deal called the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE) to work “together to develop world-class Arctic and polar icebreakers through the exchange of knowledge, information, and resources”.

Before his visit, Stubb had said he hoped to play golf with Trump and that icebreaker diplomacy could help Finland maintain good relations with the US and Trump.

Finland shares the European Union’s longest border with Russia. After Russia invaded Ukraine, the country made a foreign policy U-turn after decades of military non-alignment, deciding to join Nato together with Sweden.

Trump’s frequent criticism of Nato allies and his shift toward normalising relations with Russia have some European countries scrambling to boost their own defence spending.

Politics

Photos: FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, was absent as Vice President Kasheem Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, and other dignitaries celebrated with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his 73rd birthday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Saturday. Did he collapse?.

Published

21 hours ago

March 30, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

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Photos: FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, was absent as Vice President Kasheem Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, and other dignitaries celebrated with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his 73rd birthday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Saturday.