According to the governor, the new bill “takes away the total royalty of the people of the Niger Delta without recourse to the environmental hazards suffered by the people, such intention does not, in anyway, represent justice, but impunity”.

Religious leaders in Lagos rose stoutly against the planned imposition of taxes on donations made to religious bodies, describing it as unconstitutional and counter productive.

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Delta State and one-time chairman of the party in Ughelli South Local Government Area of the state, Olorogun Amos Itihwe, has commended the state party chairman, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi, for putting life into the party in the state.

The soldiers, it would be recalled, were deployed in the state in the wake of the arrest in London and subsequent impeachment of the former governor of the state, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha by the state House of Assembly.
Several sandbags erected checkpoints were put in place in the capital city thereby sending the wrong signal of a state under siege to a first time visitor.

Despite the declaration of the new Defence Minister, Major General Godwin Abbe (rtd), that he would ruthlessly deal with challenges that may threaten the peace and security of the country whether within or outside, the President General of Afiid Iwad Ekiid, a foremost socio-cultural organisaton in Akwa Ibom State, has warned that the amnesty and disarmament programme of the Federal Government may disrupt the nation’s democracy if not properly implemented.