Rivers State: Court Orders Police To Vacate Obio/Akpor LG Secretariat

A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has this morning ordered the Nigeria police to vacate the Obior/Akpor Local government council secretariat in Rivers State, South-South Nigeria.

The Police had, last week, sealed off the council secretariat citing plans by some hoodlums to storm the place following the suspension of the council chairman, Prince Timothy Nsirim, the vice chairman and 17councilors by the Rivers state house of assembly.

The Caretaker Committee of the council went to the court to seek for an order that will allow them access to the secretariat.The Speaker of the Rivers Assembly had accused the Federal Government of a ploy to declare a State of Emergency in Rivers, starting from the Obior/Akpor council.

The Assembly, loyal to the Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, suspended the council chairman and appointed a caretaker committee; while the state Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman, loyal to the presidency, condemned the suspension and instead suspended the state lawmakers from the party.

Our Air Craft Did Not Crash, It Made An Emergency Landing- Air Force

Contrary to earlier reports in the media, the Nigerian Air Force has debunked the claim that a fighter jet today crashed at the Nigerian Air Force Base, Port Harcourt.

The Air Force said “The Nigerian Air Force MI-24B helicopter on a training exercise did not crash but made an emergency landing at the Nigerian Air Force Base, Port-Harcourt at about 10:00am”.

In a press release signed by the Deputy Director of Air Force Public Relations, Group Captain Dele Alonge, the air force further stated that “there was no casualty as all the crew members came out unhurt”.

He also added that the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh on receipt of the report has immediately constituted a team of experts to unravel the circumstances that led to the accident.

He promised that “further details of the crash will be made known as investigation reveals”.

Boko Halal, not Boko Haram- Prof. Wole Soyinka

Nobel laureate; Prof Wole Soyinka has advised the Federal Government and government at all levels to use quality education to address the nation’s growing illiteracy, noting that it is lack of education that breeds sinister groups like the Boko Haram.

Prof Soyinka made this remark on Monday, while speaking with journalists in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, where he noted that Halal is the opposite of Haram.

He commended the state government for winning and hosting the World Book Capital city next year, stressing that both the state and the country will benefit from the festival.

Prof Soyinka suggested that the slogan ‘Nigeria is Boko Halal’ should be adopted as the campaign slogan for the World Book Capital.

“When they (Boko Haram insurgents) say Boko Haram, we say Boko Halal” he said.

He explained that Halal; an Islamic term designating any object or an action which is permissible to use or engage in, means “virtue, goodness and peace.”

Islamic fundamentalists that seek the imposition of Sharia law across Nigeria are known as Boko Haram which means ‘western education is sinful.’