NEWS
‘We Were Not Paid $5,000 To Back Rivers Emergency Declaration’ – Reps
The House of Representatives has strongly denied allegations that lawmakers were bribed with $5,000 each to approve President Bola Tinubu’s request for a State of Emergency in Rivers State.
Speaking in Abuja on Saturday, the Deputy Spokesman of the House, Hon. Philip Agbese (Benue, APC), dismissed the claims as baseless and politically motivated, insisting that the decision was made in the interest of national stability.
“The allegation that members of the House of Representatives were induced with $5,000 to pass a resolution is unfair to the Parliament. Very, very unfair to the Parliament,” Agbese stated. “All insinuations that any individual was given money to give to members is nothing but lies from the pit of hell.”
READ MORE: BREAKING: House of Reps In Chaos Over Rivers Emergency Rule
The lawmaker explained that the House thoroughly debated the security and political crisis in Rivers State before ratifying the emergency declaration.
According to him, the move was aimed at preventing further escalation of tensions in the state.
“What the President did was like what King Solomon did when the two women who were fighting over the propriety of a child came to him,” Agbese said.
“These people in Rivers love the state, but disagreements arose, and Mr. President, in his wisdom, decided to impose a state of emergency for a period of time so they can come together.”
Before approving the emergency declaration, the House made several adjustments, Agbese revealed. These include:
Assigning the National Assembly legislative authority over Rivers State during the emergency period.
Allowing for a flexible timeframe, meaning the emergency could end in as little as two weeks if peace is restored, rather than the initial six-month period.
Establishing a tripartite committee comprising lawmakers, government officials, and respected Nigerians to mediate between the conflicting parties.
Agbese rejected suggestions that lawmakers acted under external influence, stating that their primary concern was maintaining democratic stability.
“As a Parliament, our interest is to form a bridge, to ensure that our democracy continues to work. Our interest is to protect our democracy and democratic institutions,” he said.
He further emphasized President Tinubu’s democratic credentials, dismissing claims that the state of emergency was an attempt to weaken governance in Rivers State.
“We know Mr. President very well. He is a democrat. He has fought for the institutions of our democracy. He is one man who would always want to protect this democracy,” Agbese noted.
Addressing concerns over the legitimacy of the approval process, Agbese confirmed that the House met the required quorum, with 243 members in attendance.
He urged Nigerians to ignore what he described as misinformation spread by political opponents and reaffirmed the House’s commitment to acting in the best interest of the nation.
“We deployed our wisdom as a Parliament, not to pander to sentiments or views expressed by groups outside. We listen to the voices of Nigerians,” he said.
Agbese expressed confidence that the emergency measures will ultimately strengthen Rivers State’s political institutions, ensuring long-term peace and stability in the region.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has named Tony Elumelu, Founder and Group Chairman of Heirs Holdings, to its newly formed Advisory Council on Entrepreneurship and Growth.
The council, convened by IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, is tasked with addressing regulatory barriers to entrepreneurship and shaping policies that foster innovation, resource allocation, and private sector-led economic expansion.
A statement confirming Elumelu’s appointment was released on Friday, highlighting his influence as a strong advocate for entrepreneurship in Africa.
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Through the Tony Elumelu Foundation, he has provided funding, mentorship, and training to over 25,000 African entrepreneurs since 2015, championing the belief that private sector investments can drive the continent’s economic transformation.
“Elumelu will be instrumental in ensuring that Africa’s entrepreneurial potential is central to global economic policymaking,” the statement noted.
The IMF Advisory Council comprises global leaders from business, finance, and academia, including: Marc Benioff, CEO and Co-Founder of Salesforce, Ana Botín, Executive Chair of Banco Santander, Margherita Della Valle, CEO of Vodafone Group, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Group, Robert Smith, Founder and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, HRH Reema Bandar Al-Saud, Saudi Ambassador to the U.S., Federico Sturzenegger, Argentine Minister of Deregulation and Professor Ufuk Akcigit, Economist, University of Chicago.
At the council’s inaugural meeting on March 26, 2025, Georgieva emphasized the significance of entrepreneurship in economic growth.
“The Council brings together a group of leading thinkers and practitioners in business, finance, academia, and policymaking to share their views and experiences on how macroeconomic and financial policies can provide a supportive environment for innovation, entrepreneurship, and productivity—key ingredients for a thriving private sector and strong economic growth,” she stated.
A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on Friday, shaking the region and sending tremors as far as Thailand and China.
The quake’s epicenter was located in the Sagaing region, near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, home to around one million people and renowned for its historic temple complexes.
Panic erupted as buildings swayed and dust filled the air.
READ ALSO: Powerful 6.8-Magnitude Earthquake Hits China, Dozens Killed
In Mandalay, videos shared online showed terrified residents rushing out of residential towers while traffic came to a sudden halt.
Reports indicate that a major bridge spanning the Irrawaddy River collapsed into the water in a cloud of dust and debris.
The quake was felt as far as Bangkok, Thailand’s capital, where video footage showed a partially constructed building in Chatuchak Park crumbling to the ground.
Thai authorities reported that 43 people were trapped in the wreckage, while seven others sustained injuries.
In Chiang Mai, a resident described feeling the tremors for about ten seconds before fleeing into the streets.
In Myanmar’s commercial hub, Yangon—about 380 miles from the epicenter—residents also experienced the powerful shaking.
One resident recalled, “We felt the quake for about a minute, then ran out of the building.
It was very sudden and very strong.” Another noted that phone networks in the city, home to around 8 million people, briefly went down but were later restored.
Myanmar, one of Asia’s poorest nations, is already grappling with the effects of a brutal civil war sparked by a military coup over four years ago.
The conflict has devastated the economy, and the country remains ill-equipped to handle a major natural disaster of this scale.
The Sagaing region, where the earthquake struck, is a war zone with multiple factions—including the ruling junta, pro-military militias, and rebel groups—fighting for control.
The ongoing violence has made travel by road or river extremely dangerous, posing significant challenges to delivering emergency aid and assessing the full extent of the damage.
Tremors were also felt in China’s southwestern Yunnan province, underscoring the quake’s intensity.
Authorities across the region are now assessing the situation, with emergency teams mobilizing in both Myanmar and Thailand.
A fire outbreak in the early hours of Friday morning has gutted buildings on Ifejika Street, by Sokoto Road, Onitsha, prompting swift intervention from the Anambra State Fire Service.
The inferno, which reportedly started in one of the buildings at about 6:20 a.m., quickly spread to an adjacent structure, causing panic among residents and business owners in the area.
The exact cause of the fire remains unknown at the time of this report.
READ ALSO: Fire Ravages Two-Storey Commercial Building In Anambra
Eyewitnesses say residents and passersby joined forces with the firefighters in an attempt to salvage goods and properties from the affected buildings.
The head of the Media and Publicity Unit of the Anambra State Fire Service, Chukwudi Chiketa, confirmed the incident in a brief statement.
“Anambra State Fire Service is currently on intervention at the scene of the fire outbreak at Ifejika Street, by Sokoto Road, Onitsha. The distress call came at 6:20 a.m. today, and our firefighters deployed immediately. The public is advised to remain calm as the situation is under control,” Chiketa said.
As of the time of filing this report, efforts to completely extinguish the fire were still ongoing.
Authorities are yet to determine the extent of the damage and the possible cause of the outbreak.
More details to follow………
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