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With Legal Battle Over, Expect Accelerated Developments — Governor Fubara To Rivers Residents

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The executive governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, has said people of the state should expect accelerated growth and development with the legal battles challenging his elections now over.

Fubara made this known during a State-wide Broadcast on Friday morning following the affirmation of his electoral victory by the Supreme Court of Nigeria on Thursday.

Fubara, while expressing gratitude to God for emerging victorious, dedicated his victory to God and the good people of Rivers State.

He reflected that the litigation experience was a tortuous journey that had now validated the choice and eventually confirmed the mandate freely given to him by the electorate.

The governor stated, “It is with great joy and total deference to the Almighty God that I address you after a tortuous legal journey following the governorship election in our State.

“It is with great nostalgia I reflect on your trust and the absolute confidence you bestowed on us on that fateful March 18, 2023, when you gave us your mandate.

“Even with that overwhelming support, we had to go through litigation to validate your choice and confirmation of your mandate to us.

“We are deeply elated by the verdict of the Supreme Court of our dear nation, which has finally affirmed our victory. I owe this victory, not to my efforts or our ingenuity but to God and you the good people of Rivers State.”

Fubara also thanked President Bola Tinubu for playing the role of a father in Rivers State and all Rivers leaders and well-meaning people of the State.

The governor said the Supreme Court verdict is an immeasurable energizer to accelerate governance with the utmost sense of commitment for the benefit of all Rivers people irrespective of political persuasion or ethnic affiliation.

He further said, “In this regard, what is important to us is the accelerated growth and development of our dear State.

“Now that the litigations are over, we call on the opposition political parties in the State to join hands with our government to build the Rivers State of our dreams.

“I extend the olive branch to my contenders and all others who went through the hog and or who withdrew their cases for the love of the State.

“I believe we are all Rivers people and by that brotherhood, let us therefore, put aside our differences and bond together to build one indivisible and greater Rivers State that posterity will remember us for.”

Governor Fubara assured that despite the challenges, his administration will continue to explore the path of peace as a sure foundation upon which to pull the people out of poverty.

As the governor of the State, Sir Fubara vowed to achieve a greater Rivers State continuing on the path taken in the last seven months of his administration.

“My administration has recorded remarkable achievements in the areas of human capital development, social investment engineering, infrastructural development, micro and macroeconomic advancement and sustainable socioeconomic development across sectors.

“In addition, we have made some substantial progress in infrastructure, housing, security, urban renewal development as well as rural healthcare. We intend to sustain the tempo and expand the development net in the great ride to prosperity in our State”, Fubara submitted.

BIG STORY

400 Sex Tapes: Equatorial Guinea’s Baltasar Remanded In Prison

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The former Director-General of the National Financial Investigation Agency in Equatorial Guinea, Baltasar Engonga, has been remanded in Malabo’s Black Beach Prison.

The embattled former anti-graft chief was arrested days ago for allegedly recording over 400 sex tapes involving the wives of prominent figures in the country.

This scandal surfaced during a fraud investigation into the 54-year-old economist, resulting in an impromptu search of his home and office by ANIF officials, who reportedly discovered several CDs that revealed his sexual encounters with different married women.

As the footage leaked online, causing a media uproar, Equatorial Guinea’s President, Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, dismissed Engonga.

According to Decree No. 118/2024, dated 4th November, the dismissal was due to “irregularities committed in the exercise of his functions, as well as inappropriate family and social conduct for the performance of public duties.”

A viral video surfaced on social media on Friday, showing Engonga handcuffed on both hands and legs during a court appearance.

Confirming the situation, French online blog Afrikmatin reported that Engonga, who was officially removed from his role on November 6, 2024, was subsequently chained and transferred to Malabo Central Prison. He faces charges of corruption and embezzlement.

Additionally, online newspaper UGStandard reported that the sex tapes began circulating on social networks while Engonga was already held at Malabo’s notorious Black Beach Prison on charges of embezzling public funds, as reported by state television, TVGE.

In a fact-checking report published Wednesday, Dubawa verified that Engonga had indeed been taken into custody on corruption charges and is currently being held in Black Beach Prison.

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BIG STORY

JAPA: Canada Tightens Visa Rules, Ends Automatic 10-Year Multiple-Entry Visas

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Canada will no longer automatically grant 10-year multiple-entry visas to tourists, according to new guidelines issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

This decision marks a shift from the previous practice where eligible visitors were routinely issued long-term visas, permitting multiple entries over a decade.

Under the revised rules, immigration officers now have discretion to issue visas with shorter durations based on individual assessments.

Instead of a default extended validity period, each application will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Officers can decide whether to grant a single-entry or multiple-entry visa and determine its duration, moving away from the automatic issuance of maximum-validity multiple-entry visas.

“Guidance has been updated to indicate that multiple-entry visas issued to maximum validity are no longer considered to be the standard document. Officers may exercise their judgement in deciding whether to issue a single or multiple-entry visa and in determining the validity period,” said the IRCC.

The IRCC explained that this change is part of a broader strategy aimed at managing temporary immigration levels while addressing ongoing challenges such as housing shortages and rising living costs.

The policy adjustment reflects the Canadian government’s efforts to adapt its immigration approach in response to economic and infrastructure pressures.

Previously, Canada offered two types of tourist visas: multiple-entry and single-entry. Applicants were generally considered for the multiple-entry visa, which allowed them to visit the country multiple times over a period of up to 10 years or until one month before their passport’s expiration date.

Single-entry visas, issued for specific situations like official visits or participation in single events, were less common.

Now, with the updated guidance, maximum-validity multiple-entry visas will no longer be the standard offering.

Immigration officers will exercise their judgement to decide on the appropriate type and duration of the visa, tailoring it to the specific needs and circumstances of the traveller.

The application fee for a Canadian visitor visa remains unchanged at CAD 100 per person, with no difference in cost between single-entry and multiple-entry options.

However, the shift may result in increased application costs for frequent travellers, who might need to apply more often due to shorter-term visas.

This policy change is part of a wider effort to balance immigration levels with Canada’s current infrastructure capabilities.

Other measures announced include a reduction in the target for permanent resident admissions, which will drop from 500,000 in 2025 to 395,000, with further decreases planned for 2026 and 2027.

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MC Oluomo Elected NURTW National President

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Former Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Lagos State Chapter, Mr. Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as “MC Oluomo,” was elected the new National President of the Union on Saturday.

Akinsanya was the sole candidate in the election, which took place at the Union’s Zonal Secretariat along the Osogbo/Ikirun road.

Delegates from the four Southwest states of Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, and Ekiti participated in the election.

The election, held during the Union’s Quadrennial Delegate Conference, was monitored and observed by the acting National President of the group, Aliyu Issa-Ore.

Issa-Ore, addressing the gathering, explained that the Union’s Constitution stipulates that the zone permitted to fill the national president’s position would elect its preferred candidate and present them to the national body.

The acting NURTW President, represented by Mrs. Adedamola Salam, Head of Finance at the National Headquarters in Abuja, added, “The Southwest zone has fully complied with the Constitution in electing Oluomo as President.

The delegates also elected Tajudeen Agbede as Vice President, Southwest, while Akeem Adeosun was chosen as Trustee from the Zone.

Shortly after taking the oath of office, Akinsanya, surrounded by associates and family members, called for peace and pledged to work towards unity among members.

He further stated, “I have forgiven everyone who has offended me, and I hope those I have offended will forgive me as well.

“This is our union, and we must be committed to preserving it. We will not allow anyone to destroy our means of livelihood.”

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