…Declare Support for Ukachukwu in Anambra 2025

Youths in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), under the aegis of the APC Youth Vanguard, have commended President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for his commitment towards the development of the South-East region.

The National Convener of the APC Youth Vanguard, Dr. Chibueze Oleka, made this commendation on Saturday in Awka, Anambra State.

He stated that President Tinubu’s second visit to Anambra within five months shows the President’s genuine interest in the state and his willingness to carry every part of the country along in his leadership. He described the visits as signs of a listening and inclusive administration that values unity and regional balance.

Dr. Oleka also reaffirmed the group’s full support for President Tinubu’s administration and future political plans. According to him, the APC Youth Vanguard is mobilizing across the 21 local government areas of Anambra State to ensure victory for the party in the coming elections and beyond.

He congratulated High Chief Nicholas Ukachukwu, the APC flag bearer ahead of the November 2025 Anambra governorship election, and assured him of the Youth Vanguard’s active support. Oleka described Ukachukwu as a leader with the drive and vision to move Anambra forward, calling on Ndi Anambra to rally behind him for a new era of development.

Speaking on Governor Charles Soludo, the group appreciated his reception of President Tinubu during the recent visit, but added that his time in office has run its course and called on him to prepare for a peaceful handover.

“Soludo has tried within his own limit, but it is clear to the people that Anambra needs a new direction. Chief Ukachukwu is prepared to offer that direction with a well-defined plan to reposition the state,” Oleka stated.

The statement reads ” PRESS STATEMENT BY APC YOUTH VANGUARD Dated: May 9, 2025

The APC Youth Vanguard extends sincere appreciation to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for once again visiting Anambra State—his second visit in just five months. This repeated show of attention reflects the President’s genuine concern for the people of Anambra and the entire South-East. We are thankful for his commitment to building unity across the nation.

As a body of progressive-minded youths, we fully support President Tinubu’s administration and leadership direction. We recognize his efforts to rebuild Nigeria, and we are already preparing to rally support for him ahead of the next general election. We believe continuity under his watch will bring lasting solutions to the challenges facing our country.

We congratulate High Chief Nicholas Ukachukwu, the APC governorship candidate in Anambra State, ahead of the November 2025 election. His emergence brings fresh hope and renewed energy to the party. Our youth structures across all the 3 Senatorial zones and 21 local Government Areas are already mobilizing support to ensure victory for the APC come November.

Chief Ukachukwu has shown leadership and a clear plan to move Anambra forward. His experience and passion for development are what the state needs at this crucial time. We urge the people of Anambra to give him their full support, as we work together for a better future.

We also commend Governor Charles Soludo for the warm and respectful reception he gave President Tinubu during his visit. It is important for leaders to work together in the interest of national progress. Governor Soludo has tried within his capacity, but the truth remains that Anambra needs a new direction, one that will bring deeper development and inclusive growth.

As the 2025 election draws near, we encourage Governor Soludo to prepare for a smooth transition. The people of Anambra deserve more than what they currently have. Chief Ukachukwu represents the future of the state, and he is coming with a clear road map to lift Anambra to greater heights.

However, we thank President Tinubu for his continued visits and care for Anambra. We also congratulate Chief Ukachukwu and assure him that the APC Youth Vanguard is solidly behind him. Our team remains active and ready to deliver support that will secure victory at the polls in all the 21 local Government Areas in the state.

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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

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 the benefit of the good people of the state. The state has been at a standstill since the crisis started, with the good people of the state not being able to have access to the dividends of democracy.

Also, it is public knowledge that the Governor of Rivers State for unjustifiable reasons, demolished the House of Assembly of the state as far back as 13th December 2023 and has, up until now, fourteen (14) months after, not rebuilt same. I have made personal interventions between the contending parties for a peaceful resolution of the crisis, but my efforts have been largely ignored by the parties to the crisis. I am also aware that many well-meaning Nigerians, Leaders of thought and Patriotic groups have also intervened at various times with the best of intentions to resolve the matter, but all their efforts were also to no avail. Still, I thank them.

On February 28, 2025, the supreme court, in a judgment in respect of about eight consolidated appeals concerning the political crisis in Rivers State, based on several grave unconstitutional acts and disregard of rule of law that have been committed by the Governor of Rivers State as shown by the evidence before it pronounced in very clear terms:

“a government cannot be said to exist without one of the three arms that make up the government of a state under the 1999 Constitution as amended. In this case the head of the executive arm of the government has chosen to collapse the legislature to enable him to govern without the legislature as a despot. As it is there is no government in Rivers State.”

The above pronouncement came after a catalogue of judicial findings of constitutional breaches against the Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Going Forward in their judgment, and having found and held that 27 members of the House who had allegedly defected

“are still valid members of Rivers State House of Assembly and cannot be prevented from participating in the proceedings of that House by the 8th Respondent (that is, the Governor) in cohorts with four members”

The Supreme Court then made some orders to restore the state to immediate constitutional democracy. These orders include the immediate passing of an Appropriation Bill by the Rivers State House of Assembly which up till now has not been facilitated.

Some militants had threatened fire and brimstone against their perceived enemy of the governor who has up till now NOT disowned them.

Apart from that both the House and the governor have not been able to work together.
Both of them do not realise that they are in office to work together for the peace and good governance of the state.

The latest security reports made available to me show that between yesterday and today there have been disturbing incidents of vandalization of pipelines by some militant without the governor taking any action to curtail them. I have, of course given stern order to the security agencies to ensure safety of lives of the good people of Rivers State and the oil pipelines.

With all these and many more, no good and responsible President will standby and allow the grave situation to continue without taking remedial steps prescribed by the Constitution to address the situation in the state, which no doubt requires extraordinary measures to restore good governance, peace, order and security.

In the circumstance, having soberly reflected on and evaluated the political situation in Rivers State and the Governor and Deputy Governor of Rivers State having failed to make a request to me as President to issue this proclamation as required by section 305(5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, it has become inevitably compelling for me to invoke the provision of section 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State with effect from today, 18th March, 2025 and I so do.

By this declaration, the Governor of Rivers State, Mr Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Mrs Ngozi Odu and all elected members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State are hereby suspended for an initial period of six months.

In the meantime, I hereby nominate Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) as Administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state in the interest of the good people of Rivers State. For the avoidance of doubt, this declaration does not affect the judicial arm of Rivers State, which shall continue to function in accordance with their constitutional mandate.

The Administrator will not make any new laws. He will, however, be free to formulate regulations as may be found necessary to do his job, but such regulations will need to be considered and approved by the Federal Executive Council and promulgated by the President for the state.

This declaration has been published in the Federal Gazette, a copy of which has been forwarded to the National Assembly in accordance with the Constitution. It is my fervent hope that this inevitable intervention will help to restore peace and order in Rivers State by awakening all the contenders to the constitutional imperatives binding on all political players in Rivers State in particular and Nigeria as a whole.

Long live a united, peaceful, secure and democratic Rivers State in particular and the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a whole.

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The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) said its total disbursement for student loans covering school fees and upkeep stands at N32.8 billion as of 3 February 2025.

The Fund disclosed this on Monday in a statement signed by its management. NELFUND said the disclosure became necessary due to erroneous claims making rounds that it had disbursed over N104 billion to 600 beneficiaries.

NELFUND said it has received a total of 364,042 student loan applications since inception and has approved 192,906 applications.

The Fund said it has disbursed a total of N20 billion (N20,074,050,000) for institutional fees as of 3 February. It added that it has disbursed N12 billion (N12,818,960,000) as upkeep to 169,114 students.

Apart from school fees payments, beneficiaries have the option to receive a monthly stipend of N20,000, in addition to their loans

NELFUND said the disclosure became necessary due to erroneous claims making rounds that it had disbursed over N104 billion to 600 beneficiaries.

“The management of NELFUND under the leadership of Akintunde Sawyerr wishes to correct the inaccurate reports regarding the total amount disbursed under the Student Loan Scheme,” it said in the statement.

“We appreciate the unwavering support of President Bola Tinubu (GCFR) in making higher education accessible to all deserving Nigerian students. NELFUND remains committed to transparency and efficiency in managing the student loan scheme and will continue to provide accurate updates as disbursements progress.”

Student Loan scheme

Shortly after assuming office, President Tinubu provided assent to the Access to Higher Education Act (2023) to provide interest-free loans to Nigerian students in public tertiary institutions.

The law also provided the legal framework for the establishment of NELFUND which manages applications and disburses student loans.

The Fund, according to the Act, is to be funded from multiple streams and will engage in other productive activities.

It will also be funded through donations, gifts, grants, endowments, and revenue accruing to the fund from any other source, according to the Act.

After three failed attempts, NELFUND kicked off operation in May last year.

Premium Times Credited.

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