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“Foreign Powers Backing Terrorists, Bandits In Nigeria”, Sheikh Gumi Alleges

December 5, 2025

Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi with Bandits in the North

By Akinwale Kasali

Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, controversial Islamic Scholar, has raised concerns over the spate of insecurity in Nigeria, alleging the involvement of powerful foreign nations.

Gumi stated that the insecurity crisis in the country is prolonged, adding that some power countries are happy and comfortable with the crisis bedeviling the nation.

Gumi made this assertions while granting an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC, Hausa Service in Kaduna State, saying that the recent patterns of attacks across the country suggest external support for armed groups operating in Nigeria.

According to him, the situation on the ground contradicts earlier signs of improvement in national security. He pointed to the Abuja–Kaduna highway—once regarded as a deadly corridor for commuters—noting that the route had become far safer in recent months before the renewed surge in violence.

The Cleric also noted that farmers in Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State, who had long abandoned their farmlands due to persistent threats, had gradually resumed farming activities, an indication that the security environment had shown signs of stability before the latest spike in attacks.

He insisted that the sudden reversal in progress raises questions that cannot be ignored.

Gumi urged the Nigerian Government to intensify intelligence operations, strengthen diplomatic engagements, and scrutinise all external links that may be fuelling insecurity.

Political Interference Lowering University Leadership Standard – Prof Jega

Suleiman Anyalewechi

December 5, 2025

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Former Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, National Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, has cautioned against the continued interference in the appointment processes of University Vice Chancellors, Governing Council Members and other Principal officers.

Prof Jega, a former Vice Chancellor of the Bayero University Kano, also, expressed serious concern over what he described as “persistent political interference in the affairs of Nigeria Universities.”

Jega, a Professor of Political Science who spoke on Thursday, December 4, 2025 while delivering the 3rd Abdullahi Mahadi Annual Memorial Lecture at the Gombe State University, insisted that undue interference over the years has weakened governance structures, encouraged poor administrative decisions, and undermined staff morale.

According to the former INEC boss, the trend has significantly contributed to the gradual decline in the quality of higher education in the country.

Delivering a lecture , entitled, “Challenges and Prospects of Improving University Governance in Nigeria”, Jega insisted that Universities are specialized academic institutions that require visionary experienced, and academically grounded leadership to fulfill their mandates of teaching, research and community service.

“A university is not a political platform. It is a centre of Knowledge creation and human capital development. It cannot.achieve its core objectives when leadership appointments are driven by political considerations rather than academic merit” he stated.

Prof Jega warned that the increasing politicization of such appointments poses a serious threat to academic standards, institutional autonomy, and the future of higher education in Nigeria.

He urged the Federal Government and other relevant authorities to entrench merit, competence and integrity as the guiding principles in the appointment of leadership across Nigerian universities.

This is as he emphasized the imperatives of transparency, competitiveness and merit in the selection processes of University leadership.

According to him, the selection processes should also be anchored on clear criteria, academic record, leadership experience and professional credibility .

Insulating universities from undue political influence remains an essential ingredient for the restoration of confidence in the system ,as well as repositioning of Nigerian universities for the purpose of competing favourably at the global level, the former BUK Vice Chancellor added.

Prof Jega, therefore, warned that failure to reform university governance would continue to erode the capacity of the system to produce graduates who are innovative, globally competitive, and capable of driving sustainable national development.

APC Screening Committee Disqualifies Fmr Nat. Sec., Omisore, Five Others

Ayodele Oni

December 5, 2025

By Ayodele Oni

Ahead of the governorship election in Osun state next year, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has disqualified a former National Secretary of the party, Iyiola Omisore; former Deputy Governor, Benedict Olugboyega Alabi; and four other governorship aspirants.

The disqualification is coming ahead of the party’s primary slated for December 13, 2025.

Other disqualified aspirants are Dotun Babayemi; Akin Ogunbiyi; Babajide Omoworare; Kunle Adegoke (SAN); and Babatunde Oralusi.

The seven man screening committee headed by Barrister Obinna Uzor, in a report submitted to the party’s organization department on Friday, cleared Mulikat Adeola Jimoh and Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji for the party primary.

The cleared aspirants were found to have fulfilled regulatory requirements as stipulated by the party guidelines, the Constitution, and the Electoral Act

The Committee, however, refered the disqualified aspirants to the National Working Committee (NWC) for final clearance before they can proceed for the shadow election.

In the six-page report signed by all the members, the committee claimed it received a petition from Osun APC Renewal Group, urging the disqualification of the two aspirants, who were identified as falling short of the mandatory nominator requirements prescribed under the APC Constitution and the Party’s Guidelines for the Governorship Primary.

It further said that “upon careful review, the Committee found the issues raised in the petition to be weighty, substantial, and germane to the integrity of the screening process.

“In the interest of fairness, transparency, and uniform application of the Party’s rules, the Committee resolved that the concerns highlighted should not be applied selectively.

“Accordingly, the Committee extended the same scrutiny to all nine (9) aspirants, ensuring that every sponsor (nominator) of an aspirant was assessed on the basis of compliance with Articles 9.3(i) and 31.2(ii) of the APC Constitution and paragraph 6(c) of the Guidelines.

“This approach guaranteed a level playing field and upheld the principles of internal party democracy.

“Upon conclusion of the two-day screening exercise, the Committee found that two (2) aspirants, Mulikat Abiola Jimoh and Munirudeen Bola Oyebanji, satisfactorily met all constitutional and guideline requirements of the APC, including proper nomination by the requisite number of fully registered, financially up-to-date party members from each Local Government Area.”

The Committee also observed that the six aspirants: Sen. Iyiola Omisore, Babatunde Haketer Oralusi, Mr. Oyedotun Babayemi, Dr. Akinade Akanmu Ogunbiyi, Benedict Olugboyega Alabi, Adegoke Rasheed Okiki Adekunle, and Sen. Babajide Omoworare-failed to meet the mandatory nomination requirement of being sponsored by five fully registered and financially up-to-date members from each Local Government Area contrary to Articles 9.3(i) of the APC Constitution and 31.2(ii) of the APC Constitution as well as Paragraph 6(c) of the APC Guidelines for the 2025 Governorship Primary.

Meanwhile, the Screening Appeal Committee, headed by Senator Tola Odebiyi, will sit on Saturday in Abuja to attend to petitions and appeals from the disqualified and any other aggrieved stakeholders.

Borno Spends N100bn On Security- Gov

Tosin Olatokunbo

December 5, 2025

Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has revealed that his administration has spent close to N100 billion this year on security operations across the state.

Zulum disclosed this on Thursday during a visit to the Emir of Uba, Ali Ibn Mamza, at his palace in Uba town, Askira/Uba Local Government Area.

The state is one of the epicenters of Boko Haram and Islamic State of West African Province, ISWAP insurgency in Nigeria’s North East region.

The level of insecurity in the state was recently heightened following the killing of Brigadier General Musa Uba by the terrorists, who shot him on the head, and shared the gory murder on the social media for Nigerians to see.

According to Zulum, the funds spent on security in the state could have been used finance to provide social development such as, education, health, and other infrastructure for the people.

He stressed that contractors are refusing to do projects in some parts of the state due to insecurity in those place, saying road construction has been mostly affected.

“In this year alone, what I spent on security is about N100 billion. If there was peace, the money would have gone into development in education, health and other sectors,” Zulum said

Wike: Amaewhule, 16 Rivers Lawmakers Did Not Inform Me Of Their Defection

Tosin Olatokunbo

December 5, 2025

Nyesom Wike - FCT Minister — Nyesom Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, says lawmakers of the Rivers State House of Assembly who defected to the ruling All All Progressives Congress, APC did not inform him about their decision to leave the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The minister, however, said the defecting lawmakers have the right to make their political choice, saying he will continue to work with the 10 lawmakers who remained in the PDP.

Wike spoke on Friday while addressing journalists after inspecting the ongoing construction of an interchange bridge connecting Maitama, Gishiri, Jahi, and Gwarimpa in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

His remark comes barely hours after 16 lawmakers in the Assembly, including the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule dumped the PDP for the APC.

The Speaker, is a close ally of the Minister, and not a few insist that the defection has the imprimatur of the minister, who is currently working with the APC.

Reacting, Wike blamed the defection on the leadership crisis in the PDP, saying the factionalisation in the opposition party made it possible for the lawmakers to defect.

He urged the party to put its house in order or lose entire, adding that he would continue to work for the progress of the party.

Wike: “Well, it’s unfortunate. I have always said that everybody has the right to make a choice. The party is fully factionalised. And the requirement of the Constitution is that when a party is factionalised, they are allowed to leave the party.

“You will see that it’s not everybody who has left. I believe 16 or 17 of them have left out of 27. We still have a good number, about 10, and we will continue to work together. They never told me, but they have a right.

“I’m still in the PDP. So those who have remained, we’ll continue to work together. And I have said to the party, put your house in order. Because at the end of the day, if you don’t put your house in order, it’s the party that will lose.

“And we still ask the party to work together to see how the remaining members will be a relevant opposition. But they chose not to. So for me, those who have left are free. But those who remain in the party, we will continue to work together.”

Those watching developments in the oil bearing state, informed the magazine that the lawmaker’ defection is a prelude to the minister and Governor Siminalayi Fubara defection to the ruling party.

“It’s a matter of time” a political analyst said on Friday.

Fred Chukwuelobe, You Are Wrong On Imo Summit

The Source

December 5, 2025

By Oguwike Nwachuku

This morning, I read on the Facebook page of my brother, friend, and colleague, Chief Fred Chukwuelobe, a piece I considered was ill- conceived on the two- day Imo Economic Summit holding in Owerri- December 4 -5, 2025.

Fred, a very senior colleague, was once the Chief Press Secretary to former Governor Chris Ngige of Anambra State, and possesses enough experience to analyse and comment on matters of public interest.

And he does that from time to time, occasionally descending on those in power who do not share the same political or leadership sympathy with him.

On several occasions I had called him to share some insight with him on his pieces, commended him when he got it right and flayed him when he wrote from where he appeared. So, I would say we enjoy friendly cum brotherly cum professional relationship, hence this intervention.

The subject matter that drew the ire of Fred is the ongoing Imo Economic Summit. He hid under the subject matter to express his disdain for former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, one of the guests, to call the Summit a wild goose chase and a jamboree.

Yes, I have the feeling Fred has a beef with Boris Johnson or leaders in his mould who are often engaged by countries or institutions for one event or the other as guest speakers, and as a way of leveraging their experiences while in office to advance the course of societal change.

Contrary to Fred’s thinking that the Summit was a wild goose chase and a jamboree, it has gone down well in the history of Imo State in particular, and Nigeria at large, that the Summit is one of the best ever to be organised by a sub national in the Country.

In case Fred does not know, the list of leaders, national and international that graced the Summit opening is too long.They are personalities who have made their marks in their chosen areas of human endeavour – politics, oil and gas, banking, ICT, health, education, commerce and industry, to name but a few.

They include but not limited to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria (represented), President Joseph Boakai of Liberia, President Amina Akim of Mauritius, Prime Minister Americo Ramos of Sao Tome and Principe, former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, former United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki- Moon, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy of Nigeria, Mr. Wale Edun, President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Governors of Edo (Monday Okpebholo), Ekiti (Abiodun Oyebanji), Ondo (Lucky Aiyedatiwa), Yobe (Mai Mala Bumi), former Africa import -export Bank CEO, Prof Benedict Oramah, among others too numerous to mention.

Obviously, it must have been in bad light that Fred decided to pick on Boris Johnson and Ban Ki- Moon as former public office holders and portrayed them as leaders who attended the Summit because they were paid.

“Johnson is part of world leaders bankrolled by Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo State on a wild goose chase and jamboree called Imo State Economic Summit 2025,” Fred had mischievously written.

Like I said earlier, except Fred has an outstanding issue to iron out with Boris Johnson and he saw in his Imo State visit the opportunity, I do not think it was reasonable for him to lampoon a man of that calibre who, regardless of what he must have been told about the security situation in Nigeria, to come and see things for himself.

Yes, insecurity is a challenge in Nigeria, but there is no where on the surface of the earth where there are no pockets of insecurity. Boris Johnson is not an ordinary person who should not be allowed to think for himself. Or is it because he was the guest of Governor Hope Uzodimma who, probably Fred does not like his face, that the insinuation of inducement became a sine qua non for the Summit he attended to be rubbished?

Why is Fred annoyed that Boris Johnson said he couldn’t see the reason for the politically hyped insecurity in Imo when he attended the Summit? Whatever happens to the popular axiom, “seeing is believing?” He came, he saw and he spoke out. He said he feels safe in Nigeria and you are angry, why? If mere miscreants who stumbled on money can fly around on chattered flight, why should someone of the social standing of Boris Johnson be denied the opportunity if he can afford it? Even if it was paid for, do people no longer get paid for services they render? If the whole idea was not to cause public dissaffection why should the flight Boris Johnson flew on rankle with him? Again, what is wrong in people making a living from public speaking if the ideas they market are impactful?

Away from Boris Johnson, who wouldn’t want to have former UN Secretary General, Ki-Moon grace his event whether it is politically or economically primed?

I cannot believe that Fred, in good conscience, described an event where these calibre of national and global icons in politics and business attended as a wild goose chase and a jamboree.

If only Fred knew that since the creation of Imo State, barely 50 years ago, no such Summit on how to unlock the economic potential of the State had taken place, he would, without delay, apologise to the Government and good people of Imo State for insulting their sensibilities.

Not a single Imo indigene, including non indigenes who are familiar with the State,

is saying something against the well-organised and well-attended Summit except Fred Chukwuelobe. Why?

Part of the problem Fred is having is that he has not bothered to find out what has been happening in Imo State since Hope Uzodimma mounted the saddle about Six years ago. He prefers to believe rumours on social media platforms and those that emanate from eateries and Bar spots

(even though he is not a frivolous person) to carrying out his own independent investigation about what governance in Imo has become under Governor Uzodimma.

The reason there is jubilation in Imo over the Summit is not just that economic and business eggheads gathered to brainstorm, but because the Governor has laid a solid foundation upon which the Imo State of our collective dream can rest upon if successive governments coming after him build and follow through on the already laid solid foundation for economic sustenance stability.

When we say “Imo has risen” it is because the government of the day has done a lot to keep it on the rising mode till now. The necessary infrastructure to align with the dream of the Summit are available. The security situation is good and will keep getting better. The pool of resourceful human capital is available. The will of the people to have Imo become their home, with all they need to be happy in Nigeria is also available.

Imo people are happy with the good road network that is connecting them together. They are happy that they can generate their own electricity, courtesy of the efforts of the government of the day, they are excited about the efforts to take their teaming unemployed youths off the labour market using the Skill-Up Imo Programme that has prepared the youths for public service and private sector employment, among others.

The worst thing that can happen to the dream of the people is the negative evaluation of the real situation of things in Imo the way my friend Fred has done.

If one of the benefits of the Summit is the promise made by President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, to invest hugely in any area the government and people of Imo State deem fit is a wild goose chase and a jamboree, then let the wild goose chase and jamboree continue.

I really think that what may be giving Fred concern is the fact that Imo State has been brought to the global economic and business limelight by Governor Uzodimma, the man many love to under rate his capacity.

But the deed has already been done, hence there is nothing anybody can do about the risen Imo.

Nwachuku wrote from Owerri

Hirelings at It Again: Obi Never Granted Any Interview to Talk about ADC

The Source

December 5, 2025

The Peter Obi Media Office (POMR) once again feels compelled to refute false and malicious claims circulating about an interview purportedly granted by Mr Peter Obi.

POMR, in a statement signed by its Spokesperson, Ibrahim Umar, said it “categorically disclaims any news suggesting that Mr Obi granted such an interview or made remarks against the African Democratic Congress (ADC). In fact, Peter Obi has expressed significant confidence in the ADC under the leadership of former Senate President David Mark.”

It continued: “The narrative claiming that Peter Obi made statements “against” the ADC is directly at odds with his documented actions and public statements, which emphasise cooperation and partnership with any group aiming to strengthen our democracy and create the Nigeria of our dreams.

“In his recent public engagements, Peter Obi has consistently highlighted the importance of unity in addressing poor governance and economic hardship, rather than attacking or criticising the ADC. His primary focus is on forming a coalition to combat hunger and bad governance.

“We urge the public, particularly the leadership of the ADC, to regard these publications as fake news and recognise them as the work of political hirelings intent on distorting facts and distracting the opposition from the vital goal of ending bad governance.”

Supreme Court Scolds FG Over Withheld Osun Funds, Splits On Who’s Eligible To File Suit

Ayodele Oni

December 5, 2025

By Ayodele Oni

The Supreme Court has ruled that only the duly elected officials of local governments have the right to file the suit challenging the seizure of allocation to local councils in Osun state.

The Apex Court, therefore, struck out a suit filed by the Attorney General of Osun State against the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), over the withheld local government allocations in the state.

The Court held that the Osun state Attorney General has no legal right to have instituted the case on behalf of the 30 local governments in the state.

The judgement noted that those who won the local government election and have been inaugurated are the juridical persons that can sue and be sued directly.

However, the Court slammed the Federal Government for withholding the local government fund, adding that the action was in grave breach of the 1999 Constitution.

Justice Mohammed Idris, who read the lead judgment, said that the hand of the federal government was soiled in its decision to unjustly seize funds and admonished it to strictly ensure that the funds are directly channelled to local accounts.

The Justice also dismissed AGF’s contempt allegations against Osun, adding that he was in more contempt than Osun by not paying the fund as required by law.

The court, however, said that since there was no evidence that the Osun Attorney General was briefed by the local governments, he ought not to have filed the case on their behalf.

In a minority judgment by Justice Emmanuel Agim, disagreed with the six other justices, holding that Osun Attorney General has the right to institute the case.

Justice Agim said that the action of the federal government in withholding the local governments funds was in bad taste because it was capable of crippling the activities of the councils.

There have been allegations of victimisation against the federal government by Governor Adeleke, saying President Tinubu is punishing the state for not being under the control of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Distribution of Reelection Cars: ADC Asks For Tinubu’s Resignation

The Source

December 5, 2025

By Gideon Njoku

For distributing what they termed vehicles for his 2027 Presidential Campaign, the African Democratic Congress, ADC, on Thursday, urged President Bola Tinubu to seriously sit up in terms of governance or ship out.

Bolaji Abdullahi, National Secretary of the Party, made the call on the President in response to, according to him, appalling reports that President Tinubu distributed fleets of Hilux trucks, Land Cruisers, and Hummer buses to his political agents across Nigeria to begin his 2027 re-election bid.

In a statement, Abdullahi, like Peter Obi, 2023 Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, is insensitive. He said that the purchase and distribution of the vehicles, and the kick-off of the 2027 Presidential Election, at this time when Nigeria is under a declared state of emergency due to the frightening state of insecurity, confirms that the President’s declaration of security emergency was a mere joke for newspaper headlines for a President whose main focus is re-election.

Said Abdullahi: “While ordinary citizens are being kidnapped, displaced, and killed, the President is handing out branded vehicles and building a partisan mobilisation structure. Entire communities are living under siege, our armed forces are stretched thin, yet the ruling party is preparing for rallies.

“At a time when children are being kidnapped and countless communities are under attack, the President is focused on re-election, seeking to continue presiding over a nation that has become more diminished, more fractured, and more dangerous than he met it.

“A nation under emergency rule is expected to adopt extraordinary conduct and behaviours that reflect the desperate nature of its condition. More importantly, the leadership of that country must demonstrate that nothing else matters in a time of emergency than tackling the situation that necessitated it.

“What we have seen under President Tinubu is that, apart from the declaration itself and a few symbolic gestures, nothing of substance has changed; no new safety measures, no heightened security alertness or presence, nothing. Instead, it has been business as usual.

“Leadership in times of crisis demands focus, sacrifice, and moral clarity. Lavish convoys and early campaigns are not the answers to national trauma. The President must return to the business of governance or step aside and admit that his political ambition now stands in the way of Nigeria’s recovery.”

Rivers Assembly Speaker, Amaewhule, 15 Lawmakers Dump PDP For APC

Ayodele Oni

December 5, 2025

By Ayodele Oni

Rivers State House of Assembly is now under the full control of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), following the defection, on Friday of the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, and 15 other members of the House.

The House of Assembly is currently in session with the defectors blaming their departure from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the crisis in the PDP.

The major reason for leaving the PDP, they said, is because of the division in the party.

The Speaker commended President Bola Tinubu for programmes embarked upon by his administration which have benefited Nigerians, especially Rivers people.

According to the Speaker, his defection would enable him to partner with President Tinubu for the overall good of the Rivers people.

This will be a second time in a while, Amaewhule, would announce defection to the APC.

Recall,that during their crisis with the Governor, Simi Fubara, earlier in the year, the Speaker and lawmakers had announced their defection to the APC.

Others who dumped the PDP were the Deputy Speaker, Dumle Maol (Gokana), Major Jack (Akuku-Toru), Linda Stewart (Okrika), Franklin Nwabochi (Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni), Azeru Opara (Port Harcourt 3), Smart Adoki (Port Harcourt 2), Enemi George (Asari-Toru 2), and Solomon Wami (Port Harcourt 1).

Also included were Igwe Aforji (Eleme), Tekena Wellington (Asari-Toru 1), Looloo Opuende (Akuku-Toru 2), Peter Abbey (Degema), Arnold Dennis (Ogu/Bolo), Chimezie Nwankwo (Etche), and Ofiks Kabang (Andoni).

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