The Presidency has said President Muhammadu Buhari has not been in the good books of the country’s elite because of his performance in office.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, stated this in an opinion titled “June 12 tsunami and the ones who won’t forgive Buhari” made available to newsmen in Abuja.

Although SHEHU did not mention names, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has been in the forefront of the ‘anti-Buhari’ campaign, asking the President not to seek re-election over alleged non-performance.

Shehu said the unnamed elite ganging up against Buhari knew that they would lose once corruption-free governance was put in place and economic growth was guaranteed as the President was doing.

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has yet again raised an alarm that the Federal Government led by the All Progressive Congress has perfected fresh plans to frame him for gun running.

Governor Nyesom claimed that some agents of the Federal government have contacted a Lebanese who has been directed to claim that he received money from him to procure arms for the 2019 elections.

The Governor made the allegations during a Thanksgiving Service in Port Harcourt.

He added that the APC Federal Government has entered a devious mode where it believes that framing opponents will enhance its political fortunes.

The governor stated that the APC Federal Government is also planning to sponsor crisis in Rivers State ahead of the 2019 elections, for the state's election to be postponed.

The governor also alleged that Sergeant Ndubuisi Okoro, the Police Orderly of the Rivers State Commander of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, Akin Fakorede has been arrested for armed robbery and kidnapping while another member of the Rivers State SARS Commander's team; Sergeant Christopher Abakpa has also been arrested for armed robbery and kidnapping.

Governor Wike declared that he is alerting Nigerians because the Police High Command will sweep the matter under the carpet.

At the time of posting this report, the Rivers state Police Command is yet to respond to the latest allegations of Governor Wike.

The Presidency says there is no hidden agenda on the proposed National Water Resources Bill.

The clarification is in view of the criticism suffered by the Executive Bill seeking to centralise the control of water resources in the hands of the Federal Government.

When the bill was introduced in the Senate, it divided the lawmakers across regional lines‎, with those opposed to it arguing that it would further worsen the problem of over concentration of power and resources at the centre.

However; the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters,‎ Senator Ita Enang, said one of the objectives of the bill is to ensure that the nation's water resources are protected.

Rivera State Governor, Nyesom Wike has faulted the Nigeria Police Force on the investigation of the Senate President Bukola Saraki over the multiple bank robbery in Offa, Kwara State, which claimed the lives of thirty-three people.

Governor Wike warned that the move by the Police High Command was capable of driving investors away from the country.

The Governor was speaking at the annual of conference of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations in Port Harcourt, where he was honoured with investiture as patron of the institute.

Governor Wike noted that although no one is above the law, but said the action of the police was rather putting the country in bad light.

He said the country would continue to face challenges until the Federal Government apologizes to Rivers State for alleged ill treatment.

Meanwhile; the influx of quacks has been observed as a major challenge for public relations practice in Nigeria, including negative public impression.

The Chairman of the Rivers State chapter of the NIPR, Dike Bekwele noted that the more the institute tries to regulate the practice, the more quacks continue to infiltrate the system.

The local government election in Rivers State, scheduled for 16th of June will go ahead as planned, as the All Progressives Congress has failed to secure an order to stop the polls.

Justice Folake Giwa Ogunbanjo of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt declined to grant the interlocutory order sought by the APC on grounds that it was against the Electoral Act.

However; Justice Ogunbanjo reiterated the court’s earlier decision to grant accelerated hearing on the matter.

Our correspondent Victor Ezeama reports that the Peoples Progressive Party, National Unity Party of Nigeria and the All Progressive Grand Alliance have also applied to be joined in the matter.

Addressing newsmen outside the courtroom; Accord Party’s counsel, Osima Gina said the court took a wise decision to have declined to grant the injunction, while Nemi Erema who is standing in for the APC, frowned at the additional parties joining the matter.

Meanwhile; the hearing on the applications of the fresh parties seeking to join the matter has been adjourned to 21st of June.

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation to gazette his declaration on June Twelve as Democracy.

Also to be published in the Federal Gazette is the award of the National Honours on the acclaimed winner of the June 12 presidential election in 1993, late Chief M.K.O Abiola; his running-mate, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe; and foremost human rights advocate, late Chief Gani Fawehinmi.

The Senior Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, disclosed in a statement that President Buhari wants the process for the publication of the Executive Order in the official gazette to be completed before Tuesday next week, to enable the award conferment ceremony hold as planned.

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, says security threats were delaying federal road construction projects in the Niger Delta.

Amaechi’s observation is based on feedback from some of the contractors handling projects within Niger Delta region.

The Transportations Minister was speaking during an inspection tour of on-going construction sites around Eleme axis of the East-West Road in Rivers State.

He said with cooperation of the people, government will do its best to attract more development across the country.

Our correspondent Uchendu Ejiowhor reports that a notice displayed by the construction company at the site indicates that work on the East-West Road has gulped one hundred and seventy billion naira since February, 2015.

Rivers state APC chairman Ojukaye Flag – Amachree invites Senator magnus Abe, others for reconciliation.

Do you see an end to the internal crisis rocking the APC?

Twenty-five years after the annulment of the presidential election in 1993, the Federal Government has decided to recognize June 12 as Democracy Day.

In a press statement personally signed by President Buhari, he said the decision was reached after due consultations

The decision by President Muhammadu Buhari reverses the commemoration of Democracy Day on 29th of May, which had been observed over the past eighteen years since the advent of the current democratic dispensation.

President Buhari said his Administration shared the views of Nigerians that June 12th, 1993 was far more symbolic of democracy in Nigeria than May 29th or even October 1st.

The President noted that June 12th was the day when Nigerians in their millions expressed their democratic will in what was undisputedly the freest, fairest and most peaceful election since the country gained independence.

He said the fact that the outcome of that election was not upheld by the then military government does not distract from the democratic credentials of the process.

President Muhammadu Buhari further announced the decision by his administration to award posthumously the highest national honour of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, GCFR, on late Chief MKO Abiola, who was presumed to have won the June 12th presidential election in 1993.

President Buhari also said Chief Abiola’s running-mate, Ambassador Baba-Gana Kingibe, will be conferred with the title of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, GCON.

In the same manner; the President further resolved to confer posthumous award of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger on foremost human rights advocate, late Gani Fawahinmi for his role in the fight to actualise the June 12th election.

The Presidential statement further noted that the investiture ceremony for the awardees would take place on Tuesday next week, being June 12th, in commemoration of the historic election twenty-five years ago.

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has again been indicted by some arrested suspects of Offa bank robbery.

The Nigeria Police Force said the Senate President is still under investigation after the suspects indicted him in their confessional statements.

Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood who addressed journalists in Abuja said the two suspects were arrested in connection with the robbery and their confessional statements indict Saraki.

The Police claim that the arrested suspects have confessed to being political thugs for the Senate President and they accompanied Senator Saraki to the palace of the traditional ruler of Offa, Olofa of Offa on a condolence visit after the robbery.

The latest revelation comes after Saraki was earlier indicted by five of the Offa bank robbery suspects who confessed to the crime on Sunday.

The five gang leaders claimed that they were political thugs of the Senate President and the Governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatah Ahmed.

The Senate President however, denied the allegations.