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Skill To Wealth Program: Participants Petition Senate, House Of Reps, Indict Ministry

July 10, 2025

By Akinwale Kasali

The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction has been indicted by Participants of the Skill-To-Wealth Program over alleged failed promises. They are lamenting the failure of the Ministry in implementing the empowerment grants promised them during the flag-off ceremony.

The Participants also complained about the shoddy handling of the training program, lamenting that despite the promise of empowerment and support, the program fell short of expectations, as the Participants are bearing the brunt and consequences.

Following this development, the Participants have petitioned the Senate and the House of Representatives to wade into the issue.

The initiative, according to the Spokesperson of the Participants, Oludare Israel, is designed to tackle youth unemployment, build resilience, and transform lives, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

In the petition addressed to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abass, the Participants stated that one of the initiatives of the indicted Ministry

is the Skills-to-Wealth program, which aims to empower Nigerian youths with practical skills in areas such as; Agriculture; targeted at enhancing food security and create employment opportunities.

Also, Renewable Energy which is aimed at promoting sustainable energy solutions and reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and also Automobile Maintenance; aimed at equipping youths with skills in vehicle maintenance and repair.

It further stated that the program was flagged off by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, on May 15, 2025, at the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI) in Oshodi, Lagos State.

Sadly, Israel stated that Participants are expressing their deep disappointment and frustration to the National Assembly over the unpleasant and lackadaisical attitude of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction’s handling of the recent training program.

The Participants further lamented the poor welfare condition meted to them during the Training as they alleged that they were grossly neglected.

“The Feeding arrangements were inadequate, leading to many participants falling ill due to poor nutrition.

“Accommodation facilities were substandard, with many participants forced to sleep on corridors or in overcrowded rooms infested with bedbugs. The facilitators and organizers showed a blatant disregard for our well-being, ignoring our pleas for improvement”, Israel stated.

Speaking further, Israel stated that inferior and inadequate equipment were used in the training.

“Participants in the Solar Energy department received only solar panels and batteries without essential tools like inverters and toolboxes.

“Agriculture Business participants received water pumps, solar panels, and knapsack sprayers.

Automobile participants received inferior toolboxes, engine oil, and computer tablets that were incapable of reading car engines from 2010 models and above.

“The most egregious breach of promise was the failure to provide grants to participants as promised during the flag-off ceremony. Instead of support for startup businesses, participants were left with nothing but empty promises. The facilitating companies offered token transportation allowances that were later reduced without explanation”.

The Participants stressed that the Ministry have betrayed the trust leveled on them following the Ministry’s failure to fulfill its promises and commitments.

Furthermore, Israel stated the inferior equipment provided for training and lack of grants have left the Participants without the necessary support to start their own businesses.

The Participants are demanding that the Federal government and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction should pay the promised grants to all participants to support startup businesses.

Also, they are demanding that the facilitating companies should balance up the transportation allowances as promised at the start of the program, and also provision of essential equipment such as Inverter and tools box should be provided to all 54 participants in the Solar Energy department as part of their starter pack, and other departments.

As regards the release of remaining tools, the Participants are demanding that the remaining tools and equipment at Digital Bridge Institute, Oshodi, Lagos Centre, including solar street light poles and panels, and solar water heaters, should be released and distributed to participants.

Israel stated that the action of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction is not accepted by the attendees of the program, and urged the Senate President and Speaker House of Representatives to investigate the matter and ensure that justice is served.

The Participants demand accountability and action to address the grievances outlined in their petition.

OPINION: Again, Trump’s Way or the Highway

The Source

July 10, 2025

By Azu Ishiekwene

It’s hard not to love US President Donald Trump. He is the world’s most powerful president and wears his pre-eminence on his sleeve. Not for him the crooked modesty of the Chinese or the boring self-effacement of the British.

Six months after his second inauguration, it’s been one day, one Trump. Two of his latest alter egos have been his invitation to the White House to five African heads of state, and his threat to impose an additional 10 percent tariff on any country that gets too close to the BRICS – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – middle-level powers trying to find a common ground and chart a trading system outside the dollar.

That beautiful word

First, the BRICS story. In response to BRICS leaders at the 17^th BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, calling for closer monetary cooperation, Trump warned that the US will not tolerate a unified currency or trading system that offers an alternative to the dollar. The man who once described “tariffs” as the most beautiful word in the dictionary threatened to wield it again.

What is Trump afraid of? As of 2025, BRICS countries collectively contribute about 40 percent of the world’s economic output, measured by purchasing power parity. In the past two decades, their share of global GDP has grown from 21 percent in 2000, to nearly 35 percent by 2024 for the five original members. The BRICS digital payments market is projected to reach around $2.45 trillion by the end of this year.

Trump can read the writing on the wall, and in his America First world, whatever threatens the dominance of the dollar threatenshis slogan. Even though blockchain and central bank digital currencies and cross-currency settlements are evolving, they can hardly compare to the challenge that a unified BRICS currency might pose to the dollar, which currently accounts for nearly 80 percent of the global trading system, estimated at $33 trillion.

The dollar as a weapon

But that’s not all that bothers Trump. A lesser, but equally important reason, the US President warned that “there will be no exceptions” in the 10 percent tariff, is that apart from weaponising the dollar, the US also gets a sizable commission by issuing the greenback to the global trading system. It is called “seigniorage.”

According to a 2022 study by the National Bureau of Economic Research, the US has earned a cumulative seigniorage revenue of $3.7 trillion since the dollar became the global reserve currency after World War II. “On an annual basis,” said Professor of Finance, Rahul Ravi, of the University of Alberta, Canada, “the US regularly earns tens of billions of dollars through seigniorage, functioning as a quiet, recurring fiscal windfall that reduces the need for taxation or borrowing.” Trump isn’t about to give up this benefit without a fight.

A different world

So, what? BRICS countries can either continue with the economic imbalances and trade distortions created and maintained by the dollarisation of global trade, or proceed with a viable alternative despite Trump. After 80 years of a global financial system built on the ruins of World War II and the collapse of the gold standard, the world has been at its most prosperous ever.

Thanks to the extraordinary spread of knowledge through research and advances in science and technology,trade has grown 38-fold since 1945, reflecting a profound transformation in the world economy and a shift in the global financial powerhouses that test the viability of the methods and institutions that govern trade.

A global trading system dominated by the dollar is no longer fit for purpose. Trump doesn’t think so. He believes the US can continue to eat its cake, preferring bullying and unilateralism to dialogue and multilateralism. The BRICS (now BRIC+) has a combined GDP that is two and a half timeslarger than the EU’s. It would be foolish of BRICS tounderestimate its advantage or indulge Trump’s tantrums.

Follow China

Regardless of its insidious opportunism, sometimes, China has played a significant role in developing an alternative payment system over the last nearly 10 years, especially with Gulf states, and has much to share with other BRICS members.

The US benefits from the dollar’s global reserve status through cheap borrowing and commissions. Still, other countries bear the cost of the reduced ability to respond to economic shocks. Of course, Trump can argue, as he often does, that countries like China also manipulate their currencies to the detriment of US exporters, but that’s all the more reason the world needs a viable alternative trade payment system.

We’ve had enough of decades of economic imbalances, reduced monetary autonomy, financial instability and geopolitical tensions linked to the dollarised global system. BRICS didn’t come this far to capitulate to a president who sets the world by his clock.

Going to the White House

This brings up another point about the second version of Trump seen lately. South Africa’s President, Cyril Ramaphosa,who was at the Brazil meeting, and his West African neighbour, Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who attended as leader of “a partner country,”must be relieved not to be on Trump’s list of five African heads of state invited to the White House on July 9.

In Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, opposition leaders mock Tinubu for being passed over. But I think the joke is on Trump. Of the five countries he invited –Senegal, Gabon, Mauritania, Liberia, and Guinea-Bissau – with a combined GDP of about $80 billion and populations of over 33 million, Senegal stands out for many good reasons. Not only does it represent nearly half of the economy of the five countries, but its economy is also the most diversified, with a promising government.

Back story

One thing that all five have in common, perhaps the biggest draw for Trump, is mineral resources. This, quite frankly, is all the US president cares about, with the token inclusion of Liberia for historical reasons.After the stick brutally cutting the continent’s development aid by $4.5 billion, Trump is offering not the continent’s powerhouses, but some of its weakest, the carrot of a White House tour to discuss their minerals.

Good luck to them, but it’s also an opportunity for a continent always looking elsewhere rather than within itself for redemption. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AcFTA) should mean more than paperwork. It offers a genuinely sustainable path to Africa’s growth and development. Those mocking Tinubu could not have quickly forgotten Ramaphosa’s experience at the White House. Trump is the only star in any Trump movie.

Whether he threatens more tariffs for de-dollarisation or uses divide and rule to weaken the world, especially developing countries, they must make it clear that, apart from Trump’s way and the highway, there is a third way for those willing and able to pay the price. That would sometimes mean not loving Trump less, but loving themselves more.

Ishiekwene is Editor-in-Chief of LEADERSHIP and author of the book, Writing for Media and Monetising It.

Finally, Supreme Court Validates Gov Okpebholo Victory As Edo Gov

Ayodele Oni

July 10, 2025

By Ayodele Oni

The Supreme Court has upheld the election of Edo state Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and thrown out the appeal filed by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo.

In a unanimous ruling delivered on Thursday, a five-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Garba held that the case presented by the PDP lacked convincing evidence and failed to meet the legal standard required to overturn an election result.

The court agreed with earlier decisions by both the tribunal and the Court of Appeal, which had also upheld Okpebholo’s win in the September 21, 2024, governorship election.

The apex court held that the appellant was unable to provide substantial proof to back his allegations of irregularities, such as over-voting and violations of the Electoral Act.

The Justices pointed out that critical pieces of evidence were not adequately supported with live testimony and that some of the documents, including BVAS records, were simply submitted without properly linking them to the issues raised.

Justice Garba, reading the lead judgment, emphasized that the PDP failed to call essential witnesses, such as polling unit agents or election officials, to support its claims.

He noted that submitting documents without demonstrating their relevance in court amounted to dumping evidence, which is not enough under the law.

The panel concluded that Ighodalo and the PDP did not discharge the burden of proof imposed by law, and therefore, there was no justification to disturb the concurrent findings of the lower courts.

Ighodalo had asked the Supreme Court to nullify the Court of Appeal’s ruling delivered on May 29, which upheld the tribunal’s verdict confirming Okpebholo’s election.

He argued that the election was marred by widespread irregularities and lacked compliance with legal procedures.

While the PDP insisted that their candidate had won the highest number of lawful votes and should be declared the winner, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the APC, and Governor Okpebholo all urged the court to dismiss the appeal.

“I Made Buhari President”

Tosin Olatokunbo

July 10, 2025

Njiko Igbo Forum will not support Tinubu

By Bola Ahmed Tinubu

If not for me talking to you today, Buhari would not have been president. It is over 25 years that I have been serving them. This one sitting behind me, Dapo Abiodun, he could not become the governor without me.
“Since the time we started with the Action Congress (AC), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), and now, the All Progressives Congress (APC), I wanted to contest for president since those times.

This is me telling you between my life and God Almighty, Buhari called me to be his vice president. He said because the first time he contested, he picked Okadigbo, flamboyant, Catholic, but Nigerians didn’t vote for him.

The second time, he picked another Igbo, Ume Ezeoke, Nigerians didn’t vote for him; that if he goes to bring the Pope to run as his vice, Nigerians won’t vote for him, but you, Bola Tinubu, you have six governors, you have never lost an election before, come and be my vice.

He knew all the calculations then favoured us, that was why he wanted me as his vice, but I told him to let us build the party first. And when we finished building the party, after we brought in people from the PDP, Saraki now saw that those from the PDP will not get anything if Buhari, a Muslim, becomes the president and me, also a Muslim, becomes his vice, he won’t get the senate president and the senate president cannot also be a Muslim, that was how they started the campaign of calumny against me.

And I told them that I have a candidate that is a Christian that I can nominate so that the party will not break, that was how I nominated Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. I surrendered my right to him (Osinbajo).

I was asked to submit three names: Yemi Cardozo, Wale Edun, and Yemi Osinbajo, but I said that if I submitted three names, it is like opening your door for a thief. They may add the fourth name and choose that one. So, I insisted on only one name. You are hearing this thing from me for the first time.

It is my time. I’m educated, I’m experienced. I have been serving you for a long time, bring me the presidency, it is my turn. When Atiku was being flogged out of the PDP by Obasanjo, he ran to me for help, I got the ticket for him. Nuhu Ribadu came to me and I backed him.

It has been over 25 years now that I have been serving them.
This one sitting behind me, Dapo, can he say he can be the governor without me? We were together at the MKO Abiola Stadium, he was intimidated, they didn’t want to give him the party’s flag. I was the one that handed the flag to him. He knows that he cannot be the governor without the help of God and my support.

If not for me that stood behind Buhari, he wouldn’t have become the president. He tried the first time, he failed, the second time, he failed, the third time, he failed. He even wept on national television and vowed never to contest again but I went to meet him in Kaduna and told him he will run again; I will stand by you and you will win, but you must not joke with Yorubas and he agreed.

Since he became the president, I have never got ministerial slots, I didn’t collect any contract, I have never begged for anything from him, it is the turn of Yoruba; it is my turn.

Mustapha Stirs Hornets’ Nest With “Tinubu Did Not Make Buhari President” Remark

James Orji

July 10, 2025

Laolu Akande, a former presidential spokesman has slammed Boss Mustapha, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation over his remark that Muhammadu Buhari did not become president with the support of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Akande, who was the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, spoke on Thursday on Channels Television programme Morning Show, said the comment of Mustapha was simply “unnecessary”, adding that the there was no way Buhari could have become president without ” a hand shake across the Niger”.

“I don’t know what Boss Mustapha was trying to achieve” with such remark Akande said.

The former presidential aide spoke after Temitope Ajayi, the Senior Special Assistant to President Tinubu on Media and Publicity accused the former SGF of trying to re-write history.

The magazine reports that Mustapha made the comment on Wednesday in Abuja, the nation’s capital during a book launch, titled “According to the President: Lessons from a Presidential Spokesperson’s Experience” written by Garba Shehu, a media aide to former President Buhari.

During the event attended by key officials of the Buhari administration and those of the incumbency, Mustapha in his keynote address on the contribution of former President Buhari to national development , said Tinubu did not condescendingly make Buhari president contrary to wide spread belief.

Mustapha claimed that Buhari’s integrity and popularity among Nigerians enabled him to win the election, saying the former president already had “12 million” votes in the kitty before the merger of the legacy political parties which formed the All Progressives Congress, APC, which defeated President Jonathan that year.

He said, “For us in the ACN, I do not intend to stir any controversy, but I will make bold to state this, that the merger in 2013 was midwifed to present a Buhari or create a Buhari Presidency because we looked at the statistics of the votes that were coming to the table.

“In the 2003 election, it was the Obasanjo/Buhari presidential contest where Buhari recorded 2.7 million votes. In the next election, he got 12.7 million votes. In 2007, it came to 6.6 million, it went back to 12.2 million in 2011.

“When we were conceptualizing the merger, what would give us a headstart and obviously, it was at the back of our consciousness that the merger with the CPC, though it had only one state, the ACN had six states, ANPP three states, and when you sum up the total votes that gave us the presidency in 2015, the aggregate of the total votes was 15.4 million.

“So, basically, what we brought to the table after the merger outside the Buhari’s 12.5 million votes was three million.”

Reacting on his social media account, Ajayi said the fact that Buhari lost the presidency on three different occasions was a pointer that he could have lost again without Tinu

Buhari “lost the presidential elections in 2003, 2007, and 2011 before 2015,” Ajayi said.

“There is no way he would have won the election to be president without first becoming the presidential candidate of his party APC.

Adding that “General Buhari would not have won the APC primary election at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, in 2014 without President Tinubu, who mobilised the APC governors and the South West delegates to move Buhari’s way.

“Former SGF Boss Mustapha did a disservice to our recent history with that unnecessary glib at the book launch today.

“Every effort and support that made it possible for President Buhari to win should never be diminished.

“Buhari had his 12 million captive Northern votes, yet he lost three presidential elections in 2003, 2007, and 2011,,.” said

Recall that Tinubu had during one of his campaign trains in Abeokuta, Ogun state in 2023 publicly boasted that Buhari could not have become president without his help. He claimed that Buhari was able to ride on his shoulder to the Presidency having failed on three previous occasions.

“If not for me talking to you today, Buhari would not have been president,” Tinubu said.

Tinubu had made the remark then following suggestions that some officials in the Buhari administration were trying to scuttle his ambition to become the leader of the country.

He claimed that Buhari ran to him after failing on three different occasions to lead the country.

Buhari ran for president of Nigeria on the platform and support of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, in 2003 and 2007, and on the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC) platform in 2011 and lost on those occasions.

But in 2015, after his party , the CPC merged with defunct ACN, led by Tinubu, some elements in the PDP, APGA the former military leader swept to power in an unprecedented manner that shocked many people in the country, who said the victory was only possible with the support of Tinubu, a former Governor of Lagos state.

Brave Security Men Kill 30 Bandits In Katsina

James Orji

July 10, 2025

Security forces in Katsina state have neutralised 30 bandits during a counter-operations in Faskari Local Government Area. This was disclosed by the state government on Thursday.

According to the statement issued by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr. Nasir Mua’zu, the operation was jointly carried out by operatives from the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air force, armed forces and Nigerian Police force.

The magazine reports that the state is one of the epicentres of banditry and terrorism in the country, and the administration of Governor Governor Dikko Umaru Radda has vowed not to negotiate with the criminals. He urged the bandits to lay down their arms or be killed.

The commissioner said the bandits had on Tuesday carried out sporadic attack in three communities including the communities of Sabon Layi, Kadisau, and Raudama but were repelled by the courageous military and policemen.

The successful operations by the security forces was not however without casualty, Muaza said, noting that five security men, which include police and soldiers fell to the guns of the bandits.

He stressed that the family of the fallen security men will be taken care off by the government , adding that the state government will do all in ts powers to stamp out banditry and terrorism from the state.

Giving details of what happened , Muaza stated that security forces received intelligence that the bandits were going to attack the communities and quickly mobilized to repel them, leading to gunfire exchange between the criminals and the brave security agents. The bandits later flee after they were overpowered but lost 30 fighters in the process.

Muazau: “After intense confrontations, our gallant security forces successfully repelled the attackers, forcing them to retreat. 30 of the criminals were neutralised through coordinated air strikes as they attempted to escape.

“While we celebrate the bravery of our security personnel, we mourn the loss of heroes who paid the ultimate price in defending our communities.

“We lost three dedicated Police Mobile Force personnel: Inspector Suleiman Ibrahim, Inspector Bello Bala, and Corporal Mohammed Lawal, along with civilian Aliyu Sa’adu from Kadisau village.

“In Sabon Layi, two courageous soldiers made the supreme sacrifice, while Ya’u Aliyu sustained injuries and is currently receiving medical treatment.

“Their sacrifice will never be forgotten, and their families will receive full government support during this difficult time,” he stated.

Police Set-up Panel Into Kano Palace Attack

Suleiman Anyalewechi

July 9, 2025

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Kano State Police Command on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, said it has started formal investigations into the circumstances surrounding the alleged attack on the Palace of factional Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido, by suspected loyalists of his co-claimant to throne, Emir Aminu Ado Bayero.

This is coming on the heels of the scathing criticism launched against the police by a Coalition of Civil Society Organizations, CSOs, in Kano for its unexplained silence over the attack.

The Kano CSOs in a statement issued on Tuesday, July 8, by its Coordinators including Mustapha Abdullahi, Comrade Salisu Gambo and others, expressed serious concern over the inability of the police to carry out an inquest into the incident which it described as a deliberate plot by some unpatriotic elements to plunge the commercial nerve centre of the Northern region into avoidable chaos.

The Source reports that some suspected supporters of Emir Bayero, allegedly, a few days ago, carried out a violent attack on the Kofar- Kudu City palace of Emir Sanusi, resulting in the destruction of some properties, including two police operational vehicles. Some palace guards were, also, said to have been injured.

But in a statement on Tuesday , July 8, Emir Bayero while exonerating his supporters stated that his followers acted in self defence after they were violently attacked by thugs believed to be sympathic to his rival.

The Kano State Police authorities said they have set up an eight-member panel to investigate the alleged attack on the palace.

Consequently, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori who announced the development noted that the investigation committee has been mandated to unravel both the remote and immediate causes of the fracas, identify culprits ,as well as ensure their arrest.

The CP, however, did not mention the time-frame given to the Panel for the conclusion of its assignment.

He assured of the commitment of the service towards getting to the root of the matter.

The Source further reports that ever since the removal of the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Bayero, by the Kano State Government on May 23, 2024, and his supplanting with Emir Sanusi, peace and traditional harmony have taken complete flight from the ancient city owing to an ensuing power struggle between the two.

While Sanusi is occupying the city’s main palace, Bayero, whose late father was the 13th Emir, is holding out at the mini palace in the Nasarawa GRA.

Both are presently locked in a fierce legal battle to determine the ultimate winner and loser. The consolidated suits are before the Supreme Court for final adjudication.

Death Of 12 Year Old Pupil: Edo Govt Shut Down Schools Arrest Officials

Suleiman Anyalewechi

July 9, 2025

Edo Gov Official with the Parents of the pupil

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Edo State Government has revoked the operating licenses of two private schools, in connection with the death of a 12 year old pupil.

Master Nathan Paul Spencer reportedly was swept away by flood while going to sit for Middle Basic Assessment Examination on Saturday July 5.

This is as the authorities also shut down two other schools for allegedly extorting over 200 pupils, and diverting Government levies into private accounts.

The Head of the School has equally been arrested for gross act of negligence over the death of the teenager.

The Edo State Commissioner for Education, Paddy Iyamu, who made this known during a condolence visit to the family of the drowned minor, also promised that further action will be taken against the Schools and their Management.

“The Edo State Government has shut down two schools after a 12 year old pupil , Nathan Paul Spencer died while on his way to sit for the Middle Basic Assessment Examination on Saturday the 5th of July 2025.

” The tragedy occurred during a downpour that caused severe flooding in the area. An investigation revealed that the management of the pupil’s school had registered him to write the examination at a different school without informing his parents.

Furthermore, it was revealed that the Head of the School had taken the registration fee from Nathan’s parents in Ovia Local Government and had negligently taken the child to another school in Egor Local Government for the examination.

Tragically, Nathan fell into a gutter and drowned during the heavy rain when he was (the Head teacher) was taking him ( pupil) from the Local Government to another” Iyamu stated.

While expressing Governor Monday Okpebholo’s sadness over the unfortunate incident, the Commissioner assured of the State Government’s commitment towards bringing to account all those whose actions and inactions culminated in the tragic death of the minor.

In another development, Iyamu informed that two other schools whose operating licenses have also been withdrawn were found to be collecting unapproved levies from unsuspecting pupils.

According to the Commissioner, such extortionist tendencies apart from fleecing pupils and parents, also tend to negatively impact the internally generated revenue profile of the State.

He alleged that two schools connived to collect money from over 200 pupils without getting the required approval in their quest to divert the payment into accounts other than those of the State Government.

However, the underhand dealings backfired when the affected pupils became stranded during the examination, and were only rescued by the Ministry of Education.

The Commissioner, therefore, appealed to parents and guardians not to leave the fate of their wards solely in the hands of those he called hustlers masquerading as school officials.

Earlier, the parents of the deceased pupil had informed the Commissioner of Education that they were completely unaware of the arrangements made for their child to go and sit for the examination in a different local council from where his school is situated.

Ekwulobia And Oko Incidents: “Last Kicks From Dying Horse” – Anambra State Government

The Source

July 9, 2025

In response to the recent successful outing by the Governor (Chukwuma Soludo) during the town hall meeting in the United States of America, where he called on our people in diaspora to return home and invest in the new rising Anambra of our dreams, the enemies of our state made a feeble effort today to spread fear and paint a fake picture of insecurity in our State probably in collusion with those that said they want to bring us to the centre of insecurity and banditry.

They probably chose Ekwulobia because we trended the rising profile of the city due to the urban regeneration efforts of the Solution Governor.

In the early hours of today, they parked their vehicles under the new flyover and started shooting indiscriminately.

They killed two persons, a keke rider and another.

They didn’t come to rob a bank or to attack anyone.

Their mission was to shoot indiscriminately and leave, thereby painting a picture of insecurity in the state.

They were immediately engaged by the Joint Security Team in a fierce gun duel.

One of them was shot dead.

The rest ran away in different directions and abandoned four vehicles they came with:

One red Toyota Camry with Reg no.ENU 58 SC, a Mercedes Benz with no plate number, a Lexus 330 with ENU 815 AP, and an Ash Toyota Highlander with Reg.No GDD 517 RW.

They abandoned one AK 47 rifle and a pump action rifle, as well.

A brown Sienna belonging to the Anambra State Vigilante Group got burnt down during the gun duel.

Another group went to attack the Oko Divisional Police Headquarters but were surprised by the heavy return fire from the gallant officers on duty.

No casualty was recorded in the incident.

The Joint Security Team has embarked on heavy pursuit of the armed men.

Anambra will never bow to the shenanigans of those who are unhappy with its current rising profile.

Let me once again use this medium to call on Ndi Anambra to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the security agencies.

Those living in the vicinity of Ekwulobia and Oko are also enjoined to be at alert and report anyone found with gunshot injuries to the security agencies and Agunechemba.

The proactive Governor has since empowered a joint security apparatus comprising the entire security agencies in collaboration with the AGUNECHEMBA vigilante operatives.

Let us join hands with the solution Governor

Together, we shall continue to stand guard against the agents of destruction and perpetrators of evil in our midst.

We remain unsullied, unbent and undaunted.

The press release by the Anambra State Government in response to the shooting Incidents was signed by Hon. Chuks Ogbonna

Supreme Court To Determine Governor Okpebholo, Ighodalo’s Fate on Thursday

Suleiman Anyalewechi

July 9, 2025

Chief Asue Ighodalo and Monday Okpebholo

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Supreme Court of Nigeria will on Thursday, July 10, 2025, deliver its judgment on the legal battle between the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the All Progressive Congress, APC, over the rightful winner of the Edo State Governorship polls.

Chief Asue Ighodalo and his Party, the PDP have been challenging the declaration of Governor Monday Okpebholo’ as winner of the September 21, 2024, Governorship contest in the State.

His disagreement centres on his argument that the results of the polls were heavily manipulated in favour of his rival, the APC candidate.

Chief Ighodalo had particularly contended that the election was generally marred by over-voting in favour of Okpebholo.

His claims were, however, disputed by the APC and INEC camps as lacking in merit ,and as such separately and collectively urged the Court to dismiss them.

Ighodalo’s earlier attempts to reverse the election’s outcome both at the Tribunal and Court of Appeal levels were unsuccessful. It was dismissed by both as without merit.

Not satisfied, the PDP candidate approached the apex court of the land about to seek same reliefs as earlier canvassed at the Tribunal and Appeal Court levels.

The five-member Supreme Court panel headed by Justice Mohammed Garba Lawal had last week reserved ruling on a date to be communicated to the parties after they had adopted their written addresses.

Sources at the Nation’s highest Court informed on Wednesday July 9, that the panel is set to deliver its final verdict on Thursday at about 10 am.

The pronouncement of the Supreme Court on the protracted judicial battle will mark the end of all disputations,

Both parties will be condemned to accept the verdict regardless of whether it is favourable or not.

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