PINK REPUBLIC/ MY BLOG IS A STORY MARATHON.

 Disrupt in NASS during Lokpobiri’s budget defence There was uproar at the National Assembly as Senators and members of House Representatives disrupted the 2025 budget defence session for the Ministry of Petroleum Resources. The incident took place on Friday during the presentation by the Minister of Petroleum (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, who appeared alongside Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo. The lawmakers flared up over the absence of budget documents in advance. Angered by the development, one lawmaker directly confronted the Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas). After the heated atmosphere, Lokpobiri apologised for the mix-up, stressing that the delay was unintentional and assuring the committee of the ministry’s respect for the National Assembly. During the presentation, Ekpo emphasized the commitment of the Federal Government to addressing explosions in the petroleum sector and expanding the use of Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, as a cleaner energy source. ...

 Port Harcourt refinery: NNPCL disowns recruitment notice The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPC Ltd has urged members of the public to disregard purported recruitment announcements for the Port Harcourt Refining Company, PHRC. A purported recruitment notice has been circulating in online platforms. However, a statement by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer NNPC Ltd, Olufemi O. Soneye said there is no ongoing recruitment for the refinery. The Company clarified that there is no separate recruitment process for the Port Harcourt Refinery other than the one which started last year, which also includes all NNPC Ltd.’s businesses, with successful candidates at the Computer-Based Aptitude Test proceeding for the interview stage this week

 We’re not Igbo, Rivers group strips Mbata of all titles for emerging Ohaneze President The emergence of Senator John Azuta Mbata as the President General of Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo worldwide has caused confusion in Ikwerre, the biggest ethnic nationality in Rivers state, with Ogbakor Ikwerre community stripping the former Senator of all chieftaincy titles earlier bestowed on him. Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation said it would continue to maintain its unique identity and history separate from others and as such would not want to be identified with Igbo ethnic nationality and culture. In a statement in Port Harcourt, the President General of Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide, Eze Godspower Onuekwain, said the disciplinary actions of stripping Senator Azuta-Mbata of all his honours, recognitions and chieftaincy titles became necessary following his emergence as President General of Ohanaeze. Eze Onuekwain said that Senator Azuta-Mbata’s decision to contest and subsequent...

 Brazil announces Nigeria as BRICS partner country The Brazilian government has announced the formal admission of Nigeria as a partner country in the multinational bloc known as BRICS. This was contained in a statement by the Brazil Foreign Ministry on Friday. According to Brazil, BRICS and Nigeria share common interests, as both actively strive to enhance cooperation among Global South countries and advocate for the reform of international organisations. “With the world’s sixth-largest population—and Africa’s largest—as well as being one of the continent’s major economies, Nigeria shares convergent interests with other members of BRICS. It plays an active role in strengthening South-South cooperation and in reforming global governance—issues that are top priorities during Brazil’s current presidency,” the statement said. Brazil currently holds the BRICS presidency for 2025, having taken over from Russia on January 1. Nigeria has joined Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia,...

 Florida man violently attacks an 83-year-old woman for her lotto winnings. This disturbing incident occurred in Orange County, Florida on Wednesday, January 15th. The victim, Ruth Monroe, believed it was her lucky day when she won $200 on a lotto ticket.  She didn't realize she was being stalked by a violent man as she left the store. The store manager however did notice something "off" as Diego Fluery was seen following Ruth to her car.  When Diego saw the manager coming to intervene he appeared to step back for a second before launching a full scale violent snatch and grab on Ruth.  Despite the manager struggling to protect Ruth, she ended up being knocked to the ground. Diego Fluery was then able to get the money and flee the scene. Police say a tip led them to Fluery's mother's home where they located the suspect who then tried to flee on foot. Police also discovered the mother was trying to help Diego flee the country by purchasing plane tickets to the Domin...

 A killer is caught due to a mother's relentless love and pursuit of justice.  25-year-old Heather Williams was last seen alive at 10 p.m on January 4th on ring doorbell footage from her family's home in Fayetteville, NC. In the footage you can see Heather (who suffered from cognitive impairment and limited speech) getting into a light colored sedan. Heather was almost entirely mute after miraculously surviving being struck by a vehicle while she was walking in 2015. Heather was in a coma for many months.  After notifying police that Heather was seen getting into an unknown vehicle, a full scale investigation began and the family endured 6 days of not knowing Heather's fate. Heather's mother was not content to wait on police to investigate and began her own sleuthing.  She pulled up Heather's phone history and discovered she had made a 3 minute call to an unknown number on the night she disappeared. The determined mother then called the number and began speaking to ...

 New York woman murdered her building superintendent and stuffed his body under her bed when he tried to collect back rent. 55-year-old Jose Potillo went to the home of 48-year-old Sandra Navarro on Tuesday, January 14th, to collect the substantial amount of back rent she owed. Navarro had racked up $24,000 worth of back rent. Sadly, Mr. Potillo would enter the apartment and never be seen alive again. The shocking truth of Jose's last moments would be revealed after the building owner became concerned after not being able to contact Jose.  The owner began reviewing security footage and clearly saw Jose enter Miss Navarro's apartment but never exit. He then notified authorities who descended upon the Kew Gardens Hills apartment.  While searching the apartment, police located Jose's body under Navarro's bed. He had suffered head trauma and been stabbed in the leg and neck.  Residents of the apartment complex were shocked and saddened when they heard the news of Jose Po...