Niger Governor, Bago, Sacks Commissioners For Poor Performance

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September 2, 2025

Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of Niger State

By Akinwale Kasali

Governor Umaru Bago of Niger State has joined the bandwagon of Governors who have relieved their Commissioners of duties.

The Niger State Governor relieved his Commissioners and Special Advisers of their positions over their inability to implement the administration’s policy and programs effectively.

Bago, however, retained the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Chief of Staff, CoS, and other Principal Officers in his administration.

The Governor announced the decision to strip the Commissioners and Special Advisers of their position during the State Executive Council, SEC, meeting which took place at the Council chamber on Monday.

It would be recalled that similarly, the Governor of Ebonyi and Benue State did same weeks back.

I Am Now Fighting For My Political Future In Rivers State – Wike Laments

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Suleiman Anyalewechi

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September 2, 2025

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By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has described, as unprecedented, the number of Rivers State indigenes being empowered by the All Progressive Congress, APC, Federal Government.

At his monthly media interactive session on Monday, September 1, 2025, Wike the immediate past Governor of Rivers state and a Peoples Democratic party PDP chieftain , expressed the fear that the APC has now become a potent threat to his political structure and control in the State going by its rapid in-road.

The Source reports that the APC which is solidly backed and promoted by Wike himself, despite professing to be a PDP member, swept last Saturday’s Local Council Polls in the State.

The ruling party at the centre won 20 out of the 23 Local Government Areas of the state, including Wike’s home council- Obio/Akpo, in an exercise which not a few have described as “pre-arranged” between the FCT Minister and the APC

The PDP, the acclaimed party of Wike was “allocated” three of the local Governments during the election which all other parties boycotted .

“I have a problem as a member of PDP. Do you know why? What is going on now is unprecedented in the history of Rivers State.

“I have never witnessed the level of massive empowerment ongoing in the State from the Federal Government. In fact, I have never seen any state in the country with more empowerment in terms of political appointments than Rivers state.

The situation is now a problem for me as a member of PDP. Since the history of Rivers, be it military or civilian administrations, the State has never recorded the kind of massive empowerment as it has done under the present President Tinubu’s regime.

So, it has become a threat to me now because the people are leaning towards the APC, as demonstrated during the just concluded local council election.

“Even when you are preaching, the people will ask you what you are actually preaching. APC is a threat to me, whether PDP likes it or not.

“However, the only thing going for me at the moment is that my people still have confidence in me as a leader.

“But the reality on the ground is that APC is now a big threat to me in Rivers State”, the FCT Minister stated

The Source further reports that after partnering with the quartet of ex-Governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi ,Victor Okezie Ikpeazu, Seyi Makinde, and Samuel Ortom of Enugu ,Abia ,Oyo and Benue states respectively, to assist President Tinubu against their Party’s Presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar during the 2023, Wike has remained the greatest beneficiary of their common sweat.

Apart from being the only one among them that was given a plum job as FCT Minister, his State, as he affirmed is truly reaping bountifully from the collective struggle, with most others picking the crumbs.

2027: “Fielding Peter Obi For President In 2027 Will Be A Disaster, Destroy PDP”, Wike Says

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Akinwale Kasali

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September 1, 2025

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By Akinwale Kasali

Nyesom Wike, Minister, Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has warned that opposition Party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, risks self destruction if it attempts to bring back former Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi, to the PDP fold.

Wike said it will be disastrous for the PDP if it has failed to learn from past mistakes that cost it dearly in the 2023 General Elections to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

He recalled that he and other Party Leaders had repeatedly cautioned against allowing both the Presidential Candidate and the National Chairman of the PDP to come from the North, a move he insisted was unjust and politically suicidal.

He made this assertion on Monday during a Media Chat.

He said, “From day one, I told my colleagues, PDP, you are shooting yourself. If you allow what is going on to continue, you’ll pay. And what did I say? You cannot have the presidential candidate at the same time as the National Chairman of the party,” Wike said.

The two -term former Rivers State Governor accused the PDP of “stealing” both positions and ignoring calls for fairness and balance, a decision he argued contributed to the party’s loss at the polls.

“It is better now you have stolen the presidential ticket—and again stole the national chairman. I said it will purge you. And it really purged them. I have no regret for it,” he declared.

Wike insisted that the Presidency must rotate back to the South to ensure equity and political stability.

According to him, the PDP’s arrogance and refusal to heed internal warnings have left the party weakened and vulnerable.

He also dismissed talks of Obi’s possible return to the PDP, describing the move as dangerous and hypocritical.

“To what? Bringing Obi to where? You want to kill the party? Obi that was abusing the party, saying it is rotten—so the party is now good enough for him? Ambition can make people even go to Satan’s house,” Wike said.

The Minister stressed that such a decision would further erode the party’s credibility and destroy any remaining ideological foundation.

“If you want to destroy this party, dare it—bring Obi. There’s no way he will come back just because of ambition. No more ideology, no longer principle,” he added.

Wike maintained that he stood by his long-held position that equity, justice, and zoning remain the only viable path for the PDP to regain national relevance.

Lagos Auto Crash Claims Six Lives, Injures Nine

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Akinwale Kasali

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September 1, 2025

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By Akinwale Kasali

The fatal auto crash that occurred on Lagos-Epe Expressway has claimed no fewer than six lives. Nine others sustained various degrees of injuries.

The six deceased passengers include: Two Males, Three Females, and One Child, while the nine injured persons included three males and six females.

However, four persons escaped unhurt during the accident that occurred on Monday at the Ibeju bus stop along the Lekki–Epe Expressway.

The injured persons were conveyed to Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Epe, and Hammond Hospital, while the deceased bodies were deposited at the FMC Epe Mortuary, pending when their families would identify them.

The victims were promptly attended to by the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, rescue team from Corridor 13 and Zebra 46, Ibeju-Lekki Unit Command, with support from the Nigeria Police Force, NPF, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, and Lagos Neighborhood Safety Corps, LNSC.

Corps Commander Kehinde Hamzat, Lagos Sector Commander, confirmed the tragedy, with preliminary investigations revealing that the crash was caused by speeding, route violation, and dangerous driving.

Hamzat, in a statement by the Sector Public Education Officer, Route Commander Oluwadamilola Jayeola, sympathized deeply with the families of the victims and reiterated the Corps’ consistent warning that speeding and reckless driving remain the leading causes of avoidable crashes on Nigerian highways.

He reiterated that the Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Shehu Mohammed, has repeatedly warned that “speed thrills but kills.”

The Lagos Corps Commander urged all drivers to imbibe a culture of patience, discipline, and defensive driving, noting that overspeeding not only endangers the life of the driver but also those of innocent passengers and other road users.

Hamzat further charged motorists to adhere strictly to traffic regulations, avoid speeding, and maintain maximum concentration while driving, particularly during the Ember Months.

He emphasized that crashes during these months are not linked to witchcraft or supernatural forces, but to human recklessness, poor judgment, and failure to adopt defensive driving habits.

The Sector Commander also commended the swift intervention of other responding agencies, stressing that road safety is a shared responsibility requiring strong collaboration.

Private School Owners In Katsina Kick Against Govt New Policies, Say: “We Are Not Bandits, We Carry Chalk, Not Guns”

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Ayodele Oni

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September 1, 2025

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Umar Dikko Radda - Governor of Katstina State

By Ayodele Oni

The Katsina State branch of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) has accused the State Government of frustrating operation of private schools, following series of new policies introduced by the government.

It warned that the measures could cripple private education and jeopardise the future of thousands of pupils.

Katsina State, government had announced the revocation of the operational licences of all private and community schools across the state with immediate effect.

This was contained in a circular issued by the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Zainab Musa-Musawa, and released to newsmen in Katsina on Saturday by the Ministry ’s Public Relations Officer, Sani Danjuma.

“The ministry hereby notifies the public, proprietors and administrators of all private and community schools that all previously issued licences have been terminated effective August 13, 2025,” she stated.

According to the Commissioner, the decision followed the approval of the State Executive Council as part of ongoing reforms in the education sector.

The commissioner explained that the reforms were aimed at ensuring quality assurance, standardization and effective regulation of teaching and learning across the state.

Speaking during a press briefing on Monday at the in Katsina, the Chairman of NAPPS, Sani Jibiya, described the government’s new regulations as “harsh, discriminatory and catastrophic.”

Mr. Jibiya highlighted at least six contentious provisions in the new education policy, which are detrimental to smooth operation of private schools in the state.

According to him, Private schools that had previously bought registration forms from past administrations are being compelled to buy new ones, effectively nullifying earlier payments while already licensed schools are being forced to undergo fresh registration, a process Jibiya likened to “asking a university student to re-register midway through their degree.”

“Annual Levy on School Fees: The policy demands that schools remit 3% of every child’s annual school fees to government coffers. Proprietors argue this is unfair, as no other private sector in the state, including hospitals, restaurants or petrol stations, faces such levies.”

On hike in License Fees, he pointed out that “Registration fees have been categorised into ₦250,000 for urban schools, ₦175,000 for semi-urban, and ₦100,000 for rural schools, in addition to a controversial ₦200,000 ‘upgrade fee.’

“Five-Year License Expiry: Licenses of private schools will now expire every five years, forcing institutions to reapply or risk operating illegally—even while students are still enrolled.

“Ban on Tuition Fee Increase: Schools are forbidden from increasing fees by a kobo without explicit approval from the Commissioner of Education, a directive Jibiya described as ‘a draconian order not seen even under military rule.’

Jibiya said the measures would devastate private schools, many of which are already struggling under harsh economic conditions, insecurity and inflation.

“As I speak, many of our schools could not pay July salaries. We employ over 14,000 teaching and non-teaching staff and educate more than 500,000 pupils across 1,400 schools. Forcing us to pay these levies without allowing us to adjust fees means certain collapse,” he warned.

He further alleged that the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Hajiya Zainab Musa Musawa, had consistently refused to meet with the association and instead resorted to intimidation.

“We call her ‘Her Majesty’ because she shouts and dictates. She never granted us an audience despite several letters and reminders. At one point, she threatened to shut down our schools, accusing us of being money-makers and even non-indigenes,” Jibiya claimed.

“The association has called on Governor Mallam Dikko Umaru Radda, PhD, CON to urgently intervene and save the sector from collapse.

“If private schools shut down, over half a million children will suffer and their academic records may be lost forever. This is not just about proprietors, it is about the future of Katsina’s children.

“We are not bandits. We carry chalk, not guns. We support government by reducing insecurity through education and creating jobs. All we ask for is fairness and dialogue, not intimidation.”

NAPPS revealed that its national leadership has been briefed and is considering legal redress if the state government insists on enforcing the policy within the 29-day deadline.

Gov Alia Recalls Suspended Officials, Following Leadership Change In The House Of Assembly

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Suleiman Anyalewechi

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September 1, 2025

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By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Barely a few days after they were suspended from office, Governor Hyacinth Alia has recalled three Government officials to their duty posts.

The Source reports that the Governor had on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, suspended the trio of Maxwell Ogiri, the Executive Chairman of Otukpo Local Council, Mrs Grace Adagba, the chairman person of the State Basic Education Board SUBEB, and the Executive Secretary of the Benue state Lottery Commission Michael Uper for a period of one month.

The suspension was sequel to the State House of Assembly’s insistence on Governor Alia sanctioning the officials in line with its earlier resolution .

The Assembly led by the former Speaker Rt Hon Aondona Dajoh, had paused action on the screening of eight Commissioner-nominees, pending when Governor Alia would implement its resolution for the affected appointees to be suspended for a period of six months.

Although, the Governor was to reluctantly bow to the Lawmakers’ demand, the development, however, precipitated a chain of reactions that ultimately swept Dajoh out of office as the Speaker.

A statement on Tuesday from Yersoo Kula, the Governor’s spokesperson, informed that the lifting of the suspension followed a counter resolution from the Legislators calling for the recall of the affected Government officials.

According to the statement, the suspended officials are to resume immediately at their duty posts .

Governor Alia, however, durged the recalled officials to rededicate themselves to their responsibilities, maintain accountability and work assiduously for the people’s welfare.

“Tinubu Is My Benefactor, I Will Never Contest Against Him” – Wike

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Suleiman Anyalewechi

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September 1, 2025

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By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has reaffirmed his decision not to contest the Presidential election in 2027.

Speaking during his monthly media chat in Abuja on Monday , September 1, 2025, the immediate past Rivers State Governor , insisted that despite his beleaguered party, the Peoples Democratic party, PDP, zoning its Presidential ticket to the Southern part of the country, he will not run against his benefactor, President Tinubu, who will be seeking a second term in office.

According to him , being a man of proven integrity ,he would not return to his vomit, having severally made it known that he will prefer to support the ambition of the president, rather than throwing his hat into the ring.

” I will not contest . I have integrity ; I have character . There is no way my boss will be there ,and we are saying he should ,and then I will turn around ,to contest also”, Wike stated .

He emphasized that his decision is informed and strongly guided by his deep sense of loyalty to the President, as well as his personal principles.

He, therefore, vowed that no amount of political expediency or pressure will make him renege on his decision to support the second term ambition of the president.

This is as he strangely professed his unflinching loyalty and love to the PDP which he, in no small measure, contributed in dismembering .

He described the festering crisis within the PDP as self-inflicted.

” I have said it repeatedly, that if we don’t love PDP, by now you will not be hearing about that name . I don’t need to be a Governor for me to do what I want to do .

” One thing people don’t understand is that if you have a problem, don’t continue to give yourself more problems. Try to restrict yourself to the small one you have, rather than adding other problems .

“No opposition party can survive when it has a serious crisis. The duty of the opposition party is to see how it can manage its problems, and not by being arrogant”, the FCT Minister stated.

IPOB Accuses FG Of Blackmail, Trying To Compare Conviction Of Ekpa In Finland With Kanu’s Case

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Ayodele Oni

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September 1, 2025

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By Ayodele Oni

The Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB), has accused the Nigerian Government of trying to blackmail its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu using the case of Simon Ekpa who was on Monday sentenced to six years imprisonment by Finland court for terrorism.

IPOB maintained that it has nothing to do with the recent conviction of Simon Ekpa in Finland, stressing that its activities have no connection with the group.

The group accused the Nigerian government of launching a smear campaign to discredit its detained leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, IPOB described the reported attempt to link Ekpa to its movement as “a brazen fraud against truth and justice.

“The world must know that the question of Simon Ekpa’s non-membership in IPOB is already judicially settled in Finland.”

According to the group, it had, alongside Simon Ekpa, testified in a Finnish court where it was made clear that it had no ties to the organization.

“IPOB under oath in a Finnish court testified that Simon Ekpa has never held any position in IPOB or ESN. Ekpa himself under oath described himself merely as a ‘content creator,’ admitted he disowned IPOB, and boasted that he would destroy IPOB.”

The group further accused Ekpa of creating parallel structures in contradiction to IPOB’s ideology.

“Ekpa created his own contraptions: ‘Biafra Government in Exile,’ ‘Biafra Liberation Army (BLA),’ and ‘Biafra Defence Force, BDF,’ all of which, IPOB repudiated and condemned,” it added.

It insisted that any attempt to associate Ekpa’s conviction with IPOB amounted to “deliberate misinformation — a calculated lie, knowingly repeated to deceive.”

IPOB alleged that the Federal Government was deliberately using Ekpa’s case as a diversionary tactic to influence judicial proceedings in the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, whose no-case submission ruling before Justice James Omotosho has been adjourned until October 10, 2025.

“The Nigerian state is orchestrating this smear campaign as a diversionary tactic, timed precisely to contaminate the upcoming ruling on Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s no-case submission.

“Why the unexplained delay in delivering judgment when the Federal Government has failed to establish even a prima facie case?

“The answer is obvious: they are buying time to inject irrelevant and extraneous narratives like Ekpa’s conviction, in a bid to corrupt judicial reasoning,” IPOB alleged.

It described the adjournment as “judicial hostage-taking, a weaponization of the courts to sustain persecution.”

The group also appealed to foreign governments and institutions, including the European Union, Finland, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the United Nations, to intervene in the matter.

“The Finnish court exonerated IPOB of any link to Simon Ekpa. We demand clarity be issued to Nigeria to stop this malicious misuse,” the group urged.

Addressing Western nations, IPOB said: “You have both condemned Nigeria’s extraordinary rendition of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from Kenya. If you are true to your principles, you must also condemn this latest charade — an attempt to derail a fair trial by importing lies.”

It further called on the United Nations to act, warning that “the Nigerian government is persecuting a self-determination leader in violation of the UN Charter. Silence in the face of a weaponized judiciary is complicity.”

Reaffirming its position, IPOB insisted that Simon Ekpa must bear his own burden.

“Simon Ekpa’s conviction is his burden and his alone. IPOB will never carry it. IPOB is a peaceful movement registered under international law, committed to lawful self-determination.

“This case in Abuja is not about IPOB’s legitimacy; it is about the persecution of one man — Mazi Nnamdi Kanu — for daring to demand freedom through peaceful means,” the group declared.

IPOB said Nigeria risked further damage to its image if it continued to misrepresent facts.

“Nigeria stands today at the bar of world opinion. Persist in this fraud, and you confirm yourselves a rogue state where the rule of law is dead,” it added.

Jonathan Replies Keyamo, Odinkalu: I Don’t Need Your Advice To Run For President

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James Orji

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September 1, 2025

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Former President Goodluck Jonathan says if he decides not to contest the 2027 presidential election, it’s not because of the discouragement by Festus Keyamo, the minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development and Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, a former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC.

The duo has cited some constitutional constraints for Jonathan, who left power in 2015 not to run for the presidency again,

saying his return bid would face legal challenge as Jonathan had already been sworn in as president twice.

But his brother, Azibola Robert, in a statement on Monday urged both Keyamo and Odinkalu to keep their advise to themselves as Jonathan does not need them to decide whether he would run or not, adding that the former president is as eligible as other presidential aspirants, to run for the nation’s highest office.

He said Jonathan has many competent lawyers, including Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, to advise him on the issue, saying he doesn’t need unsolicited advise from any quarter.

Part of the statement: “Rule No. 1: Do not offer legal advice where none is solicited. GEJ (PDP) has numerous, more cerebral, more experienced SANs at his disposal who give him sound, unblemished professional legal advice.

“Please note: GEJ is 100% constitutionally and legally qualified to contest, if he chooses to. If he decides not to yield to the overwhelming calls to run, it will not be because he is unqualified.

“Your unsolicited legal view is not of any concern to him and will never be. Don’t waste your precious time dwelling on this.

“Or should I schedule a meeting so you can be properly educated on the subsisting court judgments on the matter — one of which your party, APC, was a party to?”

Recall that Robert had last week said Jonathan cannot be blackmailed from contesting the next presidential election.

FG Hails Finland Court Over Six Years Sentence Of Biafra Agitator, Ekpa

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Ayodele Oni

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September 1, 2025

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By Ayodele Oni

The Federal Government has hailed the judgement of a Finland court which jailed Biafra agitator, Simon Ekpa for terrorism.

Ekpa was convicted for six years on Monday for terrorism in Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland.

Reacting, the Federal government, through a statement by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, hailed the judgment, saying the Finnish government has disrupted the havoc that Ekpa and his collaborators caused the country.

He added that Ekpa’s reckless incitement and orchestration of violence through IPOB terror activities unleashed unspeakable pain on Nigeria.

”Families shattered, businesses destroyed, children orphaned, and entire communities forced to live under fear. Hundreds of lives were lost, and many more maimed, in pursuit of a destructive and unlawful agenda that sought to undermine the peace, unity, and sovereignty of our nation.

“By upholding the rule of law and ensuring that justice is served, the Finnish judiciary has not only vindicated Nigeria’s consistent position on this matter, but also sent a clear signal to extremists everywhere that the world is watching, and justice will catch up with those who seek to destabilize societies through terror.

“We will continue to mobilize every resource, diplomatic, military, and judicial, to preserve the peace, unity, and territorial integrity of our country.

“We urge all those who, under the misguidance of Simon Ekpa and others, have taken up arms against their fatherland to immediately lay them down and embrace the path of peace.

“Nigeria is big enough for all its people, but there can be no progress where violence and division prevail.

“The Federal Government also extends its profound gratitude to the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Nigerian Armed Forces, the security and intelligence agencies, and the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Nigeria Police, whose sacrifices, courage, and commitment continue to secure our homeland in the face of daunting challenges.

“Their service and the resilience of the Nigerian people remain the backbone of our enduring unity.

“As we mark this turning point, the Federal Government enjoins all Nigerians, at home and abroad, to work together for national unity, peace, and security of the country.”