- Drama As Pro, Anti Fubara Protests Rock Rivers
The purported N300 million given to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) by the government of Rivers State is causing a ruckus between the sole administrator of the state Ibok-Ete Ibas and the leadership of the NBA.
Earlier, the Rivers government, under the leadership of Ibok-Ete Ibas, the sole administrator, asked the NBA to refund the N300 million allegedly paid for the “hosting rights” of the conference by the state.
The government said if the NBA was truly anchored on principles, it should demonstrate it by returning the money.
The decision of the state government came after the NBA moved the AGC from Port Harcourt in Rivers State to Enugu.
The association premised its decision on “constitutional violations” in Rivers following the declaration of emergency rule in the state by President Bola Tinubu in March.
READ ALSO: Rivers Crisis: You Cannot Appoint Sole Administrators For LGs, Court Tells Ibas
Responding to the comment of the Rivers government, the NBA said there was no bidding process or payment before the announcement of Rivers as the host of the conference.
It held that the money from Rivers state government for the 2025 annual general conference (AGC) was a “gift”.
In a statement issued on Monday, April 14, 2025, by Emeka Obegolu, chairman of the AGC planning committee, said the legal body did not sell the hosting rights for the conference.
The NBA explained that due to the huge cost of organising the conference, the legal body approaches individuals and state governments for “unconditional” support.
“We wish to clarify that the decision to host the 2025 AGC in Port Harcourt was taken in August 2024 and was not subject of any bidding process or payment of any hosting rights,” the statement reads.
“The host city has no hosting right and there is no representation by the NBA that the Conference must be held in a chosen city.
“Traditionally, because of the enormous cost involved in hosting the AGC, NBA Conference Planning Committee approaches organizations, agencies of government and state governments for support and the support requested for is unconditional and not tied to hosting rights or any rights whatsoever.
“Recent NBA conferences have been supported by different state governments, corporate organizations, ministries, departments and agencies whose budgets accommodate corporate social responsibilities and share the same vision with NBA.
READ ALSO: Crisis Will Strengthen Rivers State, Fubara Assures
“Such financial support is in the form of gifts, partnerships or sponsorships. The money from Rivers State was a gift and was not tied to any purported hosting right for the NBA AGC.”
In a dramatic development, women in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, took to the streets in two separate demonstrations, reflecting stark divisions over the state of emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu on March 18.
Hundreds of women took to the streets of Port Harcourt on Monday April 14, 2025, to express their support for the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
Dressed in white attire symbolizing peace, the women began their peaceful procession at about 8:00 a.m. from Garrison Bus Stop, marching along the ever-busy Aba Road in the state capital.
Carrying placards with messages endorsing the federal intervention, the women praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the appointment of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.) as Sole Administrator.
They said the move had brought an end to what they described as “executive rascality” in the state’s governance.
The rally adds another dimension to the ongoing political turmoil in the state, as reactions continue to trail the controversial emergency declaration.
While the pro-emergency rule was ongoing, half-clad women took to the streets in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital to protest the suspension of Fubara and the imposition of an emergency rule by President Bola Tinubu
