Author: Lukman Laleye Babalola

Lukman Laleye Babalola is a graduate of Journalism,a content creator and Editor with Emporium Reporters online

TEXT OF THE BROADCAST BY PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES, DECLARING STATE OF EMERGENCY IN RIVERS STATE ON TUESDAY 18 MARCH 2025

Lukman Laleye Babalola

Fellow Nigerians, I feel greatly disturbed at the turn we have come to regarding the political crisis in Rivers State. Like many of you, I have watched with concern the development with the hope that the parties involved would allow good sense to prevail at the soonest, but all that hope burned out without any solution to the crisis.   With the crisis persisting, there is no way democratic governance, which we have all fought and worked for over the years, can thrive in a way that will redound to…

JUST IN::Tinubu declares State of Emergency in Rivers, suspends Gov Fubara, Deputy , Assembly members for Six Months

Lukman Laleye Babalola

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared a state of emergency in Rivers State for six months, citing prolonged political unrest and governance paralysis. The announcement was made during a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday.   As part of the emergency measures, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have been suspended. President Tinubu has appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as the state administrator to oversee governance during this period.   The President, invoking Section 305 of the Nigerian Constitution, explained…

Reps members Jallo Hussaini, Adamu Tanko dump PDP for APC amid political realignments

Lukman Laleye Babalola

Two members of the House of Representatives have defected from the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), citing dissatisfaction with their former party’s leadership and confidence in the APC-led administration. The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, announced their defections during plenary on Tuesday, marking another shift in the National Assembly’s political dynamics. Hon. Jallo Hussaini Mohammed, who represents Igabi Federal Constituency in Kaduna State, and Hon. Adamu Tanko, representing Gurara/Suleja/Tafa Federal Constituency in Niger State, officially declared their move to the…

NSCIA debunks report attributed to Sultan of Sokoto on Islamizing Nigeria ….. Warns against misinformation

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has strongly refuted a viral claim on social media alleging that the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, made a statement about an agenda to Islamize Nigeria.   In a statement signed by Imam Haroun Muhammad Eze, Esq., Deputy National Legal Adviser of NSCIA, the council described the claim as baseless, malicious, and a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.   “The spurious information is not only unfounded but also mischievous. The Sultan, who was falsely alleged to have…

Avocats Sans Frontières partners with NUJ to enhance Press Freedom, Digital Rights in Nigeria

Lukman Laleye Babalola

Avocats Sans Frontières (ASF) has announced a strategic partnership with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to promote press freedom and digital rights in Nigeria.   The partnership was disclosed during a courtesy visit by an ASF delegation, led by board member Ivan Paneff, to the NUJ National Secretariat on Monday. Paneff highlighted the objectives of the e-Rights Project, which aimed to establish mechanisms for independent and fair access to justice while protecting the fundamental rights of journalists. The project will also provide legal aid and assistance to victims of…

Tinubu appoints Bishop Kukah as Pro-Chancellor ,Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia

Lukman Laleye Babalola

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the newly established Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, Kaduna State.   The President also approved the appointment of key principal officers for the university. Prof. Qurix Williams Barnabas has been named Vice Chancellor, Sanusi Gambo Adamu as Registrar, Ibrahim Dalhat as Bursar, and Prof. Daniel Abubakar as University Librarian.   Additionally, the President appointed members of the Governing Council, including Mr. Thomas Etuh…

Edo Police arrests Kidnap, Armed Robbery suspects, recovers firearms and cash

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Edo State Police Command has made significant breakthroughs in its fight against crime, arrested multiple suspects linked to armed robbery and kidnapping across the state. Within the last 48 hours, operatives of the Command carried out successful operations, leading to the recovery of firearms, cash, and other incriminating items. According to a release signed by the Police Public Relations Officer ,Edo State Police Command, CSP Moses Joel Yamu, the arrests were made during separate operations conducted by police operatives in collaboration with vigilante groups. The statement revealed that on…

Renewed Hope Group Declares Eight-Year Tenure for Tinubu Non-Negotiable, Unveils 2027 Election Strategy

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Renewed Hope Consolidation Mandate 2027 (RHCM 2027) has declared that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second term is “sacrosanct” as the group officially launched its nationwide mobilization efforts for the 2027 presidential election.   Speaking at its inaugural meeting on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, the group’s National Working Committee, which included its National Executive Council, zonal and state coordinators, affirmed that Tinubu must complete an eight-year tenure to consolidate his achievements.   According to the National Director of Media and Publicity, Femi Odere, RHCM 2027 aim to mobilize 15 million…

FG dismisses claims of targeted killings of Christians, calls for caution in reporting

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strongly refuted recent reports alleging targeted killings of Christians in Nigeria, describing them as misleading and aimed at influencing foreign perceptions, particularly in the United States.   In a statement, the Ministry expressed concern over the spread of misinformation, emphasized that Nigeria’s security challenges ranging from insurgency and banditry to communal clashes are not religiously motivated. It clarified that criminal activities in the predominantly Muslim northern region do not selectively target any religious group.   The government reiterated its commitment to safeguarding all citizens,…

MURIC accuses political saboteurs of undermining Yoruba muslim liberation, calls for Tinubu-El-Rufai reconciliation

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has alleged that political saboteurs undermined its efforts to secure the appointment of former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, as a minister, thereby frustrating the group’s mission to liberate Yoruba Muslims from marginalization.   In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, MURIC disclosed that it had solicited El-Rufai’s support to mobilize the North for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s victory in the 2023 presidential election. The group claimed that El-Rufai played a crucial role in securing northern backing for Tinubu’s emergence.…