Rivers: President Tinubu Holds Crucial Security Meeting
Following the political crisis in Rivers State, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is scheduled to address the nation today in a nationwide broadcast.
The Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), will transmit the broadcast at 7 pm.
A statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy to the President, enjoined all television and radio stations to link up with the broadcast.
Meanwhile, President Tinubu, earlier in the day, held an emergency meeting with the leadership of the National Assembly, Security Chiefs and the Inspector General of Police concerning the crisis in Rivers State.
The meeting which took place at the presidential villa with President Tinubu presiding, had in attendance the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, Senate Leader, Senator Opayemi Bamidele, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas and the Deputy Speaker, Hon Benjamin Kalu, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Service Chiefs led by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, the Director General of the DSS, Mr. Oluwatosin Ajayi, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Egbetokun.
Discussions were most likely to have been centred around the escalating tensions in Rivers State as a result growing concerns over political instability in the oil-rich state where there is a standoff between factions loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The meeting also follows a pipeline explosion that rocked the Trans Niger Pipeline in Bodo Community, Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The blast, which occurred late Monday near the Bodo-Bonny Road, has further heightened concerns over security and stability in the oil-rich region
