President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio has declared that only those who are not in their right senses could sustain a fight with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike.

Akpabio, who spoke on Friday during the public lecture and book launch organized to celebrate Wike’s birthday in Port Harcourt, was apparently reacting to the face-off between Wike and his successor as governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara.

The Senate President, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the event, used the opportunity to critique Governor Fubara’s management of the ongoing political crisis in the state, particularly regarding his relationship with the legislature.

Akpabio emphasized the importance of maintaining quality relationships with legislative leadership, narrating the lessons he learned from his tenure as governor of Akwa Ibom State.

“For those who may not understand politics, we were taught that the parliament can turn a woman into a man and a man into a woman.

“As a governor, my greatest fear was my House of Assembly. That’s why I always worked closely with my Speaker”, Akpabio said.

He acknowledged Wike’s ability to reconcile quickly after any disagreements, stating that “No one in their right senses would sustain a quarrel with Wike”.

Addressing Wike directly, Akpabio said, “Your contributions to Nigeria’s political landscape, both as governor and now as minister, are indelible. The bridges you’ve built stand as a testament to your commitment to progress and unity.”

An as-yet-unnamed man has died after setting himself and his wife ablaze in the Ijoka Area of Akure, Ondo State.

It was gathered that the couple, who had been married for ten years and had two children, had separated following an undisclosed marital issue.

The incident was disclosed by the state police command on its X handle on Friday.

The police reported that the deceased took the fatal action against himself and his wife after he had begged her for reconciliation, but she refused to end the crisis.

A police source, who requested anonymity as they were not authorised to speak on the matter, said: “The man had been separated from his wife for some time but had been begging her to end the conflict between them and continue their lives as husband and wife. However, the wife refused.

“So, on a fateful day, the deceased invited his estranged wife to his house to pick up an item. When she arrived, he began begging her again. But the wife insisted on not reconciling, which led him to lock the door from the back, pour petrol on both himself and the woman, and set them on fire. He died on the spot.”

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Funmilayo Odunlami, confirmed the incident, adding that while the husband died, the wife was still in hospital receiving treatment.

Odunlami stated, “They were married and, along the way, had issues that caused them to stay apart. The deceased asked his wife to come over and collect a wardrobe. When she arrived, he began threatening to kill himself but later locked the door so that both of them would die together.

“Using fuel and a lighter, he set himself and the woman ablaze. He died on the spot, while the woman suffered major burns.”

PUNCH

Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, says the country cannot achieve economic development without addressing the power sector crisis.

This is as he urged leaders in the country to rise above their differences, confront the power sector crisis and make Nigeria an industrialized nation.

Shettima stated this when while inaugurating the National Economic Council, NEC, Ad-Hoc Committee on National Electrification and NEC Ad Hoc Committee on Polio Eradication at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

“One common thing with these countries and others in the post-industrial revolution community is that they have largely resolved the issue of energy insufficiency.

“There is no doubt that we cannot dream of meaningful national economic development without addressing the issue in the power sector and ensuring that Nigerians have accessible, available and affordable energy,” he stated.

While regretting that an estimated 40-70 percent of Nigerians have no formal access to electricity, Shettima said he is comforted by the knowledge that the calibre and experiences of Governors and other members of the committee will change the narrative in a positive trajectory.

The VP acknowledged the basic challenges in the nation’s power sector, particularly the national grid which has been witnessing system collapse.

Shettima, however, expressed hope that there would soon be significant improvement following the recent reforms in the energy sector which have opened the sector, not only to the participation of, otherwise, excluded players, but also to attract investments, both foreign and local.