Today's Headlines: Rivers gov absent as Atiku, PDP Govs, stakeholders meet in Abuja, Flood renders Ondo communities’ residents homeless

Rivers gov absent as Atiku, PDP govs, stakeholders meet in Abuja.

According to Punch news, Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, was again absent on Saturday when Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party and leaders of the party including former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, met in Abuja to deliberate on the fate of the party.

At the meeting, the PDP leaders renewed their commitment to discipline in the interest of the party.

Although no reason was given for Governor Fubara’s absence, a party source said the Rivers helmsman is still playing the loyalty card, having been advised by his predecessor, Nyesom Wike not to shoulder the party’s financial responsibilities.

“The Rivers Governor didn’t give a reason for his absence but his political mentor and the former Governor of the State, Nyesom Wike has not mended fences with the PDP and is unlikely to do so. This perhaps explained why he was away. He (Fubara) was said to have been advised by Wike not to spend money on the party like he (Wike) did while he was in power,” he told Saturday PUNCH in confidence.

This is just as the PDP leaders resolved to shun any form of anti-party activities in line with the ethos of the party.

These and other resolutions were contained in a communique issued at the end of the meeting which was held at the Bauchi Governor’s lodge, Abuja.

Reading the communique, Gov Mohammed said, “The meeting emphasized the need for party discipline and reiterated zero tolerance for anti-party activities and sabotage. No individual or group of individuals will be allowed to undermine the unity of the party and its processes.

Flood renders Ondo communities’ residents homeless.

According to Punch news, Residents of the Igbobini and Ilu Agbo Communities in Ese Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State have called on the state government to come to their aides as flood has wreaked havoc in the communities.

It was gathered that the flood occurred following three days of downpours in the two communities last week, rendering the residents homeless.

A source said as a result of the incident, many of the residents of the affected communities are currently taking refuge at a primary school in one of the communities.

“There are many residents of the two communities whose houses have been ravaged by the flood. Many of them are now taking refuge at the RCM Primary School Ilu Agbo. It is a serious matter,” the source said.

The Chairman of Ese-Odo Local Government, Mrs. Sipasi Aluko who was on assessment visit of the two communities appealed to both Ondo State and Federal Governments to urgently come to the aid of the residents of the communities.

Aluko said, “We want to enjoin all the concerned authorities and well-meaning Nigerians both within and far away places to render assistance in other to ameliorate the suffering of the affected residents.”

Niger coup leaders under pressure as deadline nears.

According to Punch news, Pressure on the leaders of a coup in Niger mounted Saturday on the eve of a West African bloc’s deadline for the military to relinquish control or face possible armed intervention.

Former colonial power France, with which the junta broke military ties shortly after taking power, said it would “firmly” back whatever course of action the ECOWAS bloc took after the expiration of the Sunday deadline.

Military chiefs from the grouping said they had agreed on a plan for a possible intervention to respond to the crisis, the latest of several coups to hit Africa’s Sahel region since 2020.

“All the elements that will go into any eventual intervention have been worked out,” ECOWAS commissioner Abdel-Fatau Musah said after the talks finished.

These included “the resources needed, and including the how and when we are going to deploy the force”, he added.

“We want diplomacy to work, and we want this message clearly transmitted to them (the junta) that we are giving them every opportunity to reverse what they have done,” Musah said.

Paris said “The future of Niger and the stability of the entire region are at stake” as tension ratchet up over the future of one of the world’s poorest countries.

NDIC to pay insured sum to depositors of 182 liquidated banks.

According to Punch news, NDIC to pay insured sum to depositors of 182 liquidated banks

The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation said it has commenced the process to pay all depositors of 182 banks affected by the recent revocation of the licenses by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The affected banks include 178 Microfinance Banks and four Primary Mortgage Banks. 62 of them had already closed shop, 74 were declared insolvent while 12 were temporarily distressed and the remaining six voluntarily liquidated.

The Managing Director of NDIC Alh. Bello Hassan gave the assurance Friday while speaking during a two-day capacity-building workshop organised for senior management staff of the corporation in collaboration with the Bureau of Public Procurement held at Four Points by Sheraton hotel, Ikot Ekpene with the theme: ‘Result Based Procurement: A Strategic Approach.”

Hassan who was represented by the Executive Director, tion, Alh Mustapha Ibrahim said that the corporation would not compromise standards and would also ensure that no room is left for public panic over the safety of bank deposits.

He stated that NDIC would continue to strengthen the financial system to appropriately support the economic advancement of the nation and also contribute meaningfully to financial system stability.

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