Author: nationalpoint

From the upcoming book:RIVERS POLITICSArticles on Rivers Statecontemporary politics(1999 – 2023)by Sotonye Ijuye-Dagogo Introduction There have been efforts by selfish and deceitful politicians to distort history and becloud the minds of young and/or the uninformed populace about the term upland/riverine dichotomy, its origin, its purpose and its implementation. More than 60% of the current Rivers State population were born after the creation of Rivers State in 1967 and may not be quite aware of the history behind the upland/riverine dichotomy. Unfortunately, history is no more taught as a subject in our secondary schools. In the beginning, there was no dichotomy…

Address to Party Chairmen of All Political Parties Good afternoon Party Chairmen, ladies and gentlemen of the press and thank you for being here. I speak on behalf of Nigerian women and the coalition of civil society organisations in Nigeria. We address you directly today because the decisions you make in the next two weeks will determine whether 2027 breaks from the past or repeats it. Ahead of the 2027 elections, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu publicly promised greater inclusion of women in governance and political leadership. Speaking on the International Women’s Day 2026, he said, “Nigeria’s progress will continue to…

As political activities gather momentum ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries, the Asiwaju Trumpets Support Group for Tinubu and Fubara Second Term has intensified mobilisation efforts in Rivers State with the declaration of a five-day prayer programme and a two-day fasting exercise. The group said the initiative was aimed at seeking divine intervention for a peaceful primary election process and the successful emergence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the APC presidential candidate and Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, as the party’s governorship candidate. According to a statement issued at the group’s Port Harcourt liaison office, the…

Former Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, has been elevated to the rank of Professor of Medicine, drawing widespread commendation from colleagues, associates, and admirers within and outside the health sector. Prof. Oreh, widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s most outstanding health commissioners during her tenure in Rivers State, is a Consultant Family Physician with over two decades of experience spanning clinical practice, public health policy, healthcare administration, research, and global health advocacy. Before serving as Commissioner for Health in Rivers State, she held several strategic positions in Nigeria’s health sector, including Country Director of Planning, Research and…

The Coalition of Ijaw Interest Groups (CIIG) AN URGENT CALL FOR RESTORATION OF CONSTITUTIONAL ORDER IN THE IJAW NATIONAL CONGRESS 3 MAY 2026 The Coalition of Ijaw Interest Groups (CIIG) condemn in very strong terms happenings in Ijaw Nation, with specific reference to the recent show of shame called election into the exalted voices of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), as a particularly troubling reality. We categorically affirm that what transpired on 13 April 2026, by any credible constitutional or moral standard, cannot and must not be upheld as a legitimate electoral outcome. As has been rightly observed in several…

The Nigerian Navy’s Central and Eastern Naval Commands on Friday commenced Exercise Fleet Sentinel, a joint operation aimed at boosting maritime security and curbing criminal activities in Nigeria’s territorial and regional waters. The exercise was flagged off aboard NNS Kada at the Bonny Anchorage in Rivers State by the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, represented by the Chief of Naval Safety and Standards, Rear Admiral Pakiribo Anabraba. The drill comes barely 24 hours after the conclusion of Exercise Obangame Express 2026, a multinational maritime security exercise involving navies from West and Central Africa, as well as…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been around the corridors of power since 1992.He knows quite a bit about power In Nigeria. Tinubu served as a ranking senator in 1992.He jumped onto the turbulent wagon of opposition politics after the annulment of June 12 1993 presidential election that Moshood Abiola won.Those were tough days that brought anti-military agitation to a head. Nigeria was at the crossroads.But it’s no longer about the erring military slamming reporters into the gulag forwriting bad verses.For Nigeria has gone full circle where great agitators now call shots from cozy power corridors.But Tinubu sits pretty at the…

PRESS STATEMENT BY IJAW WOMEN ADVOCATES FOR JUSTICE On the Ongoing Judicial Proceedings in the United PREAMBLE We, the Ijaw Women Advocates for Justice across the Ijaw Nation and diaspora, have watched unfolding events with vigilance, restraint, and clarity.Like owls in the night, we have observed carefully; refusing to be drawn into noise, speculation, or premature judgment. We speak now not out of impulse, but out of responsibility; both to justice and to one of our own, a daughter of the Ijaw Nation, Diezani Alison- Madueke. STATEMENT Let it be clearly stated: We are not here to defend or condemn…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the dualisation of the Bodo–Bonny link road in Rivers State as part of efforts to improve infrastructure and connectivity in the Niger Delta. The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, disclosed that the project covers an 8.9-kilometre stretch linking the Bodo–Bonny Road to the East–West Road. Umahi said the road will be constructed using concrete technology and will feature modern infrastructure, including two flyovers, solar-powered streetlights, closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, and designated rest areas. He added that the project is designed to serve as the first “smart road” in the South-South region, incorporating round-the-clock…

A group, Ijaw Women Advocates for Justice, has called for adherence to due process and fairness in the ongoing judicial proceedings in the United Kingdom involving former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke. In a press statement issued on behalf of the group, Dr. Timiebi Koripamo-Agary, said the organisation was neither defending nor condemning any individual, but was committed to upholding the principles of justice. The group cautioned against what it described as the growing trend of trying individuals in the court of public opinion while legal processes are still ongoing, warning that such actions could undermine the integrity…