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Ogoni Leaders Petition Tinubu, Accuse Wike of Undermining Peace Dialogue
Ogoni Leaders Petition Tinubu, Accuse Wike of Undermining Peace Dialogue
By: Michael Mike
Leaders and people of Ogoniland have petitioned President Bola Tinubu over alleged attempts by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to undermine the ongoing Federal Government–Ogoni dialogue process aimed at resolving the decades-long Ogoni crisis.
The petition was submitted under the auspices of the Conscience of Ogoni People (COOP), formerly known as the Ken Saro-Wiwa Associates, a group of concerned Ogoni stakeholders advocating peace, justice, and sustainable development in Ogoniland.
In a statement issued on Monday and signed by COOP’s Leader and Spokesman, Chief Gani Topba, the group expressed strong support for the dialogue and peace process being facilitated by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, describing it as the most credible effort so far to address the long-standing Ogoni question.
COOP alleged that Wike has been engaging in actions intended to frustrate the dialogue, tracing the dispute to unresolved issues from his tenure as Governor of Rivers State.
According to the group, the controversy is linked to a long-standing compensation dispute between the Ejama Ebubu community in Ogoni and the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) over environmental damage claims that were decided in favour of the community.
The group stated that the Rivers State Government became deeply involved in the matter during Wike’s administration, a development that has remained contentious and unresolved in public discourse.
COOP further alleged that during the recent visit of the NSA to Ogoniland, political associates of the FCT Minister were instructed to boycott and undermine the engagement. The group claimed that efforts were deliberately made to sabotage the dialogue at the community level.
Raising security concerns, COOP alleged that armed youths recruited from different parts of Rivers State are currently being mobilised and camped around the Rivers State House of Assembly quarters, allegedly to destabilise the peace process.
The group also claimed that Wike is displeased with Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalaiyi Fubara, for cooperating with the NSA to ensure the success of the Ogoni dialogue. According to COOP, local government chairmen in Eleme, Tai, Gokana and Khana LGAs were allegedly directed to recruit armed youths to disrupt the dialogue and frustrate the proposed resumption of oil operations in Ogoniland.
COOP warned that if these alleged actions are not checked, they could pose serious threats to public peace and security in Rivers State and derail the fragile but promising dialogue process.
The group noted that the ongoing engagement has been widely welcomed by Ogoni people as a sincere and inclusive initiative aimed at achieving lasting peace, environmental remediation, economic reintegration of Ogoni communities, and the safe resumption of oil production in Oil Mining Lease (OML) II. They added that a successful outcome would significantly boost national revenue, foreign exchange earnings, energy security and employment.
COOP appealed to President Tinubu to intervene by calling on the FCT Minister to desist from actions capable of reigniting tension in Ogoniland. The group urged the President to protect the dialogue process and mandate relevant security and intelligence agencies to investigate the allegations.
They call on the President to ensure that no individual, regardless of position, undermines national interest for personal or sectional gain, expressing confidence that decisive intervention would help secure peace in Ogoniland and reaffirm the Federal Government’s commitment to justice, national unity and economic recovery.
Ogoni Leaders Petition Tinubu, Accuse Wike of Undermining Peace Dialogue
News
Breaking… Terrorism: Sokoto Court Imposes Death Penalty on Three, Including a Foreigner, Arrested by DSS
Breaking…
Terrorism: Sokoto Court Imposes Death Penalty on Three, Including a Foreigner, Arrested by DSS.
By: Zagazola Makama
*Convicts To Forfeit Crime Proceeds to FG
A Sokoto State High Court has sentenced three men, including a Nigerien, to death by hanging, following their conviction on charges of terrorism and arms proliferation.
The convicts, Yusuf Muhammad (alias Sallau), a Nigeriene, Jabbi Alhaji Yalle, and Kabiru Muhammad were apprehended on 13th June, 2025, by the Department of State Services Counter-Terrorism Unit in connection with cross-border crimes, arms trafficking and terrorism.
Delivering judgment, Justice Bello found all three defendants guilty as charged and sentenced them to death by hanging. The court also ordered the forfeiture of all monetary exhibits recovered from the convicts to the Federal Government.
The Sokoto sentencing came barely a week after a Federal High Court in Katsina sentenced to death a female arms courier, Hauwa’u Mukhtar, arrested by the DSS while transporting 438 rounds of ammunition to a bandit kingpin.
Days earlier, the quartet of Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, and Abdulhaleem Idris, arrested by the DSS, were sentenced to death by a Federal High Court, Abuja, for their involvement in attacks that killed over 40 worshippers in Owo, Ondo State.
Last week, a High Court of Kogi State sitting in Lokoja, sentenced to death by hanging, one Jibrin Halilu, who was arrested by the DSS and charged with conspiracy and the kidnapping and murder of a hotelier in Obajana, Kogi State.
Breaking… Terrorism: Sokoto Court Imposes Death Penalty on Three, Including a Foreigner, Arrested by DSS
Zulum Appoints Grema Terab as Executive Secretary Borno Education Trust Fund
By: Our Reporter
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has approved the appointment of Hon. Grema Terab as the Executive Secretary of Borno State Education Trust Fund (BO-ETF).
The appointment follows the elevation of the immediate past Executive Secretary of the Fund, Hon. Maina Mustapha Yaumi, to the position of Commissioner in the Borno State Executive Council.
In a statement, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Dauda Iliya, said the appointment was made in accordance with the powers conferred on the Governor by Section 10(1) of Borno State Education Trust Fund Law, 2019.
Hon. Grema Terab is an accomplished administrator, humanitarian, and entrepreneur with vast experience in public service. He has held several political and administrative positions in Borno State, including Executive Chairman of Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).
During his tenure at SEMA, Hon. Terab played an important role in coordinating humanitarian interventions at the peak of the insurgency. He oversaw the establishment of internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in Maiduguri and Jere and led initiatives that provided support and relief to over 100,000 displaced persons.
He also served as the Transition Committee Chairman of Bama Local Government from 2022 to 2024, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor from 2024 to 2026, and Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring and Evaluation between 2020 and 2022.
In addition, Hon. Terab has served on numerous committees and special intervention programmes, including the Committee on the Resuscitation of Primary Education in Borno State, the Special Intervention Programme on Slum Urban Renewal, the Committee on the Construction of the 430-Unit Herwa Peace Housing Estate, and the Committee on the Relocation, Resettlement, and Rehabilitation of the Bulabulin Garanam Displaced Community, among others.
A seasoned public servants, humanitarian and entrepreneur, Hon. Grema Terab holds a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Maiduguri.
Governor Zulum congratulated the appointee and charged him to demonstrate commitment, dedication and professionalism in the discharge of his responsibilities.
The Governor further urged him to uphold the principles of transparency and accountability in advancing the mandate of the Borno State Education Trust Fund.
Zulum Appoints Grema Terab as Executive Secretary Borno Education Trust Fund
JUST IN: 47 Women And Children Freed As Troops Hit ISWAP Stronghold In Borno
By: Our Reporter
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai rescued 47 captives, mostly women and children, from ISWAP terrorists in Kangarwa, Kukawa LGA, Borno State, on 20 June 2026, according to a statement by Acting Military Information Officer, Captain Mohammed Goni.
Goni said the rescue followed sustained ground and air offensives against ISWAP enclaves in the Lake Chad region, which forced the terrorists to abandon their positions and allowed the victims to escape prolonged captivity.
The rescued persons are receiving medical care at a secure location, with humanitarian agencies supporting their reintegration. The Theatre Command said it will sustain offensive operations to dismantle ISWAP networks and restore peace in the North East. Watch the video in the comment section.
JUST IN: 47 Women And Children Freed As Troops Hit ISWAP Stronghold In Borno
Breaking… Terrorism: Sokoto Court Imposes Death Penalty on Three, Including a Foreigner, Arrested by DSS
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