The pendulum in the power-play in Rivers State, marked by fierce battles for supremacy between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike has swung again.

This time, pundits fear that Wike has been handed the initiative with the Court of Appeal, having set aside an ex parte order given by the Rivers State High Court, in Port Harcourt, on May 10, 2024 which declared the seats of the lawmakers loyal to the minister vacant.

https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/articles/crg46wzlkgwo

The ex parte order also stopped Martin Amaewhule from parading himself as Speaker of the RSHA.

The appellate court also dismissed the decision of the State High Court stopping 24 other members of the Assembly from accessing the complex or carrying out any such legislative assignment in the name of the RSHA.

Amaewhule and other aggrieved lawmakers had gone before the appellate court for the determination of the jurisdiction of a lower court to hear and also grant and ex parte order, on a matter held that the federal.

The appellate observed that the federal high court was exclusively and mandatorily the only court empowered to hear such matters and not a State High Court, citing section 273 of the Constitution.

The three-man panel led by Justice Jimi Olukayode-Bada therefore upheld the appeal filed by a factional speaker of the RSHA, Amaewhule and 24 others against the Speaker, Victor Oko-Jumbo and two others.

It is noteworthy that only the Federal High Court and no other court has the jurisdiction to determine cases of tenures and vacancies of the House of Assembly, Governors and President and not the State High Courts (Rivers State High Inclusive).

“From the foregoing, it is of the view of the learned judges that there was no contention on the speakership of Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewule from the records, and therefore, remains the speaker,” Justice Jimi Olukayode-Bada held.

Observers are wondering what would be the fate of the Gov Fubara, with Wike and his army likely to take finish him off with an impeachment, so as to take absolute control of Rivers State.

The political turmoil in Rivers State and the Federal Capital Territory has attracted the attention of a critic, Moses Paul, who lambasted theFCT  Minister, Nyesom Wike.

In a  statement he personally signed off, -DrMo, he condemned Wike’s style of politics, which he claimed had been rejected by Rivers State.

Paul pointed out that the FCT would not welcome Wike’s “toxic brand of politics, characterized by thuggery, godfatherism, bitterness, violence, and killings”.

He cautioned the FCT Minister to learn to respect both the people’s will and elected officials.

He also took on critic, Reno Okri and urged him to steer clear of the politics of the FCT.

Paul wrote, “It is condemnable in the strongest possible terms the vile comments made by Reno on behalf of Wike. First of all the people of Rivers State have rejected Wike and his toxic brand of politics, characterized by thuggery, godfatherism, bitterness, violence, and killings. We must ensure that this corrosive influence does not spread to the FCT.

“Wike and his camp were resoundingly repelled, and yet they continue to spew vitriol, even targeting a sitting senator, Ireti Kingibe, with insults and intimidation. This is a gross abuse of power and a graphic reminder of their disdain for democracy.

“Wike has an unbridled arrogance knows no bounds! A mere appointee of Tinubu, he has the temerity to insult a duly elected senator, who represents the will of the people. This brazen display of hubris is a slap in the face of democracy and a striking reminder of Wike’s disdain for legitimate authority.

“How dare he, a mere political lackey, disparage a senator who has been entrusted with the people’s mandate? Wike’s audacity is evidence to his own insecurity and lack of legitimacy. He would do well to remember that his position is a mere privilege, not a right, and that he serves at the pleasure of the people, not his own ego.

“For Reno, it is utterly appalling that a individual with a family legacy of serial rape, who is too cowardly to set foot in Nigeria, and who has built a reputation on peddling misinformation, deceitful rhetoric, and divisive hate speech on social media for personal financial gain, would have the audacity to attack a sitting senator of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria.

“Reno is a textbook example of narcissistic delusion, where a person with no credibility, integrity, or moral standing attempts to disparage a respected public servant. It is a sickening display of hubris and entitlement, devoid of any sense of shame or accountability.

“These individual’s sheer gall and lack of self-awareness are a slap in the face to the people of Nigeria, and a disgrace to the very concept of public discourse. Their words are nothing but a pathetic attempt to distract from their own shameful history and perpetuate their cycle of deceit and manipulation.

“It is clear that Wike has a penchant for making enemies is a character flaw, not a strategic move. His inability to transcend petty squabbles and take responsibility for criticisms is an evidence to his lack of leadership acumen. We will not be intimidated by Wike and his antics and will continue to hold him accountable for his actions.

“A new FCT is here with @IretiKingibe.”

The Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN) has thrust upon Nigeria’s political scene the youngest candidate for the office of Senator of the Federal Republic in the person of Kevin Eneojo Akoje, who aspires to represent Kogi East Senatorial District.

Akoje is a Brand Engagement Consultant, Public Speaker, Security Commentator, Social analyst and a serial Media Entrepreneur.

He is the CEO of PhotoBar Nigeria a New Media/Multimedia content service provider (www.photosbarng.com)

A native Igala from Ibaji Local Government Area in Kogi State was born on 2nd December, 1983 in Kaduna.

He attended Federal Government College, Jos (1994-1999) for his secondary education before heading to Study Political Science at the University of Abuja (2000-2004).

During his undergraduate days, he rose to various positions in the Executive committees of the Nigeria Federation of Catholic Students, University Choir and also in the Student Union Government 2003 (as a representative).

These formative years held his new enlightenment into martial arts.

He went on in 2008 to pursue a post graduate Masters’ degree in Defence and Strategic Studies from Nigeria’s premier military institution, the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA) Kaduna.

He has since completed several courses which include:

1. Training and proficiency in Alternative Dispute Resolution-Negotiation, Mediation, Arbitration and Hybrid processes: Abuja, Nigeria (2006)
2. Effective Risk Management and Corporate Governance Practice: West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM), Lagos, Nigeria (October 7, 2013 – October 11, 2013).
3. Centre De Langue Francaise: Ministry of Education, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria (2005)
4. UNITAR E-Learning Course on Introduction to Environment, Natural Resources and UN Peace Keeping Operations – March 2014
5. UNITAR E-Learning Course on Introduction to Security Sector Reform – March 2014

Corporate Background

Upon graduation from University of Abuja Kevin Went on to work as follows:

1. Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria: Workshop Assistant 2005
2. Legal Defense and Assistance Project (UNODC) research on the Justice Sector as the Field Research Supervisor for Kaduna State
3. Zenith Bank Plc.

Political Career

Armed with an undergraduate degree in Political Science, an MSC in Defence and Strategic Studies it was only natural that he sought to put to action all the theories learnt.

This led him to vie for the Student Union Government position of representative for Units 7,8 & 9 in the 2003 Unibuja SUG elections which he won in a landslide victory over two other candidates.

Being a member of the Justice Development and Peace Commission of the Catholic Church he and many other persons volunteered as Election Observers for General Elections of 2015 & 2019 where in both cases he was assigned to PU 06/002, Igabi Local Government, Kaduna.

His compulsory National Youth Service Corp Deployment to Ogun State saw him serve Nigeria in the Bills Department of the Ogun State House of Assembly under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Titi Oseni in 2005.

Upon resignation of his duties in the corporate sector in 2016- after 9 years of service, Kevin was introduced to a team of Technocrats by Dr. Jay Osi Samuels and together registered a political party named Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN) where he emerged the pioneer Director of Media and Publicity amongst other roles which included, Deputy National Youth Leader (A role which officially made him the youngest Nigerian serving on a National Executive Council) and Publicity Secretary, ANN, FCT Chapter.

Nurturing the basic tenets of politics and a renewed vigour to serve he has presented himself in the race for the exalted upper legislative house of Senate in the 2019 General Elections in Kogi East Senatorial District.

Sports:

His love for sports introduced him to the world of Martial Arts in his early years. A training which he developed over the years and now is a member of the Black Belt College – National Association of Shotokan Karate and also the founder of Karate-In-Nigeria (See www.facebook.com/karateinnigeria) which seeks to promote and showcase the culture and rich practice of Karate in Nigeria and a maiden National Karate Tourney in 2019 for the different schools of Karate in Nigeria.

Environment:

Following his earlier training on Environment and Natural Resources, Kevin founded in 2017 @climateactionng (see www.climateactionng.org, www.facebook.com/climateactionng) based on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) with a mission to “Strengthen Youth Leadership (Climate Action) to ensure resilient and sustainable societies.

Family and Personal Life:

Kevin was born to a family of 4 siblings in total, a Catholic and married with a Son.

He is a founding member of the International Community of St. Egidio (See www.santegidio.org), Nigeria Community.

He is a Black Belt degree holder in Karate, a lawn-tennis player, swimmer, member, Lekki Bird Club, and member, Nigeria Shooting Federation.

He is also an honorary reporter for the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism under her “Korea Clickers” program for 2018.