Author: Emmanuel Obe

An energy expert and lecturer at Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, Dr. Joseph Obele, has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Executive Order No. 9 of 2026, describing it as a policy with far-reaching legal and economic implications, even as he called for the immediate sack of the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mr. Bayo Ojulari. Obele, who is also the National Public Relations Officer of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), clarified that his position does not represent that of the association but reflects his personal…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has raised concerns over the growing practice of politicians allegedly purchasing Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) from members of the public ahead of the 2027 general elections. The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Rivers State, Prof. Gabriel Yomere, described the trend as a major threat to free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria, noting that the tactic has replaced the traditional vote-buying at polling units. Speaking in Port Harcourt when a delegation of the Defence of Human Rights and Democracy (DHRD), led by its National Chairman, Comrade Clifford Christopher Solomon, paid him a courtesy visit,…

The death has occured of Barinada Mpigi, the senator representing Rivers East in the Senate has passed on, according to reports. The news of Mpigi’s death first came on social media before it was confirmed by close family sources. He was a fiery politician who held political office since 1999 when the current civilian dispensation came to be. He was a chairman of Tai Local Government, Commissioner for Sports, Rivers State, Member of the House of Representatives for Eleme/Tai/Oyigbo before becoming a senator in 2019 after defecting from the All Progressives Congress to the People’s Democratic Party. Though considered a…

A major petroleum products marketer, Dr. Joseph Obele, has thrown his weight behind moves by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to revive the Port Harcourt Refinery through a Joint Venture Company (JVC) arrangement with a Chinese firm. Obele, who is the National Public Relations Officer of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) and a lecturer at Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, described the development as commendable and strategic. According to him, a Chinese technical team is currently at the refinery conducting facility assessments and feasibility studies aimed at determining the plant’s present…

Eleme Local Government Council has announced plans to commence the formal naming of streets across several kilometres of road network recently developed through the initiative of King Appolus Chu, Oneh-Eh Nchia and Egbere Emere Okori. The Chairman of Eleme LGA, Chief Obarilomate Ollor, made the disclosure during an inspection of the newly opened roads alongside traditional rulers and other dignitaries. Speaking with journalists, Chief Ollor praised King Chu for what he described as a visionary intervention aimed at transforming Eleme into a well-structured urban centre. He noted that as a host to major multinational companies, Eleme is fast emerging as…

Port Harcourt’s rich Highlife heritage is set to take centre stage in Lagos as renowned theatre practitioner Yibo Koko secures a major performance slot for his Broadway-style musical, The Cardinal, at Terra Kulture, Victoria Island. Following a productive meeting with the management of Terra Kulture, the production team has officially confirmed July 16 to 19, 2026, for the much-anticipated stage performance. The landmark show will be presented in collaboration with the acclaimed Bolanle Austen-Peters (BAP) Productions, one of Nigeria’s foremost theatre companies. The Cardinal is a sweeping cultural tribute to Port Harcourt in the late 1960s and early 1970s —…

Normalcy has returned to Oilmill Market in Port Harcourt following a deadly altercation that claimed the life of a trader at the Fruit Market on Saturday morning. The Rivers State Police Command confirmed that the incident occurred at about 7:00 a.m. after a disagreement between a trader identified as Wenem, said to be from Benue State, and a Hausa wheelbarrow pusher over space to display goods. Police sources said the argument escalated, and the trader was allegedly stabbed during the scuffle. He was immediately rushed to the military hospital for treatment but was later pronounced dead by a doctor. His…

A tragic incident has shaken the Federal University of Environment and Technology (FUET), Koroma/Saakpenwa, Ogoni, Rivers State, following the sudden death of an 18-year-old student, Ebirien Godwin, just days after his matriculation. Godwin, who hailed from Andoni Local Government Area and was due to turn 19 in three days, was reportedly found unconscious on campus. According to sources, his roommates immediately contacted his father, Mr. Emmanuel Ebirien, urging him to come to the school without delay. On arrival, Mr. Ebirien met his son in an unresponsive condition. The teenager was rushed to a nearby hospital, where a doctor later confirmed…

The immediate past Commissioner for Health in Rivers State, Dr. Adaeze Chidinma Oreh, has expressed gratitude to Governor Siminalayi Fubara for the opportunity to serve, following the dissolution of the State Executive Council. In a press statement issued on Thursday, Dr. Oreh described her tenure as Commissioner as “one of the greatest honours” of her life, noting that it afforded her the privilege of contributing to the transformation of the state’s health sector under Governor Fubara’s leadership. Governor Fubara had earlier announced the dissolution of the State Executive Council, directing commissioners and other political appointees to hand over to permanent…

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has dissolved the State Executive Council, bringing to an end the tenure of all Commissioners and Special Advisers in his administration. The dissolution was conveyed in a Government Special Announcement issued on Thursday and signed by the new Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Onwuka Nzeshi. According to the statement, the Governor directed all affected officials to hand over to the Permanent Secretaries or the most senior officers in their respective ministries with immediate effect. “His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, Governor of Rivers State, has dissolved the State Executive Council,” the statement…