Former Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, has urged All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters across the State to disregard what he called “kangaroo endorsement” of any National Assembly aspirant ahead of the 2027 general elections in the state.
Fayemi, who spoke at his hometown, Isan Ekiti, on Saturday, while hosting party stakeholders across the state, fumed over continued activities of a few opportunists within the government circle, which he said had polarized the party.
The incumbent serving members in the Senate and House of Representatives have banking on automatic ticket for second term from Governor Biodun Oyebanji.
But Fayemi pointed out that though he acknowledged importance of consensus in decision-making where all aspirants agreed, elections are, however, unavoidable where people fail to agree.
He urged all aspirants, especially those who are currently enjoying the votes of the electorate, to be ready to tell the people their achievements before relying on endorsements.
The former governor argued that any serious aspirant must be ready to face a primary election by relying on performance to speak.
He stressed the need for adherence to the party constitution, principles, and electoral act to guard against unnecessary litigations after primaries.
Earlier, the APC state chairman, Barr. Sola Elesin, while urging party supporters to remain calm, assured all of fairness, transparency, respect for the party constitution, and guidelines during the primaries.
He also urged APC members to disregard any rumor of endorsement of any aspirant by Governor Oyebanji as his National Assembly preferred candidate.
He described the purported endorsement of any aspirant for the National Assembly position in the state as false, misleading, and a mere desperation.
According to him, APC is a democratic party that believes in the principle of free and fair competition, and all aspirants are free to campaign and solicit votes from the people without any restraint or interference.
Elesin urged all aspirants to respect the democratic tenets and refrain from misrepresenting the governor or any other party leader.
The APC will not tolerate any attempt at name-dropping or undermining of the party’s democratic processes.
While expressing support and loyalty for Fayemi and Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s leadership in the state, APC stakeholders at the forum urged Fayemi to rescue the party amidst growing concerns over internal divisions.
The stakeholders emphasized the importance of unity within the party and urged the former governor not to leave the party for those who want to use their selfish interests over inordinate ambitions to destroy it ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Report has it that Fayemi and Oyebanji had disagreed on choice of candidates for the two houses of national Assembly.
While Oyebanji is reportedly rooting for continuity of incumbent members for supporting his reelection, Fayemi Insists on change of some of them for non performance.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has been slammed by human rights activist, Professor Chidi Odinkalu over his tactless comment on Seun Okinbaloye, Channels Television’s host.
Wike in his monthly Media Chat on Friday April 3, 2026, had, in reaction to the comments he said Okinbaloye made during an interview with a guest, that he felt like shooting the TV host.
Reacting to the deluge of negative reactions and the calls for him to apologise publicly and that he went overboard, Wike said the meaning being read into what he said was deliberate mischief as he only spoke figuratively.
But Professor Odinkalu disagrees. In a post, he said Wike was not joking and accused the Minister of “Drunken Excess”.
In agreement with Odinkalu are 14 CSOs who are demanding that the Minister retracts the statement and apologise to Okinbaloye.
Odinkalu accused the Minister Wike, of attempting to assassinate Okinbaloye through his television screen during a live broadcast.
Odinkalu’s strong remarks comes on the heels of remarks issued by 14 press freedom and civil society organisations in a joint statement condemning what the described as Wike’s “violent rhetoric”. They demanded that he retracts his statement and apologise.
Seun Okinbaloye and Nyesom Wike
Odinkalu in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, strongly condemned the FCT Minister.
He wrote: “In a characteristic fit of drunken excess yesterday (Friday) #GreedyGlutton, @GovWike, admitted that he was about to shoot his TV in the hope of assassinating @SeunOkinbaloye, a journalist & presenter with @channelstv.
“He was not joking. What has the regulator said? Impunity.”
Trouble started from comments made by Wike during a live media chat aired on Channels Television on Friday, April 3, 2026.
Wike had said: “If there was any way to break the screen, I would have shot him.”
In a press release dated Saturday, April 4, 2026, titled “FCT Minister’s Media Chat: We Condemn Violent Rhetoric Against A Journalist,” 14 organisations condemned the Wike’s remarks.
The statement read in part:
“The undersigned network of press freedom, freedom of expression and civil society organisations strongly condemn the recent remarks made by FCT Minister, Mr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike.
“Although Minister Wike later clarified that he did not intend to physically harm the journalist, we are of the firm view that even such hypothetical expressions of violent intent constitute a conditional threat and cannot be dismissed as harmless.
“Even if meant humorously, such rhetoric can be perceived as intimidation by both the journalist and the audience.”
“We assert that conditional threats or violent statements against journalists contribute to a climate of fear, undermining the fundamental principles of a free and independent press especially as journalists play a crucial role in informing the public and holding power to account.
“Threats or violent language, whether explicit or veiled, not only endanger individual reporters but also erode public trust in democratic discourse.
“With a press freedom index ranking of 122 out of 180 countries, Nigeria remains one of West Africa’s most dangerous and challenging countries for journalists.
“Media professionals are routinely monitored, attacked, and arbitrarily arrested, particularly during electoral campaigns. Incidents like this can further imperil journalists and highlight the urgent need for balanced and responsible political engagement, especially from public officials.”
The civil society groups demands from the FCT Minister:
Fully retract the statement.
Issue an apology to Mr. Seun Okinbaloye and the wider media community
Reaffirm a clear commitment to non-violence and the defense of press freedom as a public official on oath to abide with the Constitution
The groups asked all institutions and public figures to reject violent rhetoric against the media and promote a culture of respectful media dialogue, even amid strong disagreements.
They said: “These principles are supported by Sections 22 and 39 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999, as amended), which affirm the media’s role in holding officials accountable and guarantee the right to hold opinions and receive and impart information freely.
“We reiterate our unwavering commitment to press freedom and the safety of journalists everywhere.”
The joint statement was signed by:
*International Press Institute (IPI), Nigeria
*International Press Centre (IPC)
*Media Rights Agenda (MRA)
*Enough is Enough Nigeria (EIE)
*Centre for Journalism Innovation & Development (CJID)
*Centre for Media and *Society (CEMESO)
*YIAGA Africa
*International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR)
*Global Rights
*Dataphyte Foundation
*Accountability Lab Nigeria
TechHer
*Kebekatche Women *Development Resource Centre
*DigiCivic Initiative
It is noted that
Odinkalu’s poignant question: “What has the regulator said? Impunity” highlights the conspicuous silence of the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission, which has not issued any statement on the Minister’s ’s televised threat.
“The NBC, which has previously fined broadcast stations for various infractions, has remained mute on a cabinet minister threatening to shoot a journalist on live television.
“The joint condemnation by 14 prominent civil society organisations, combined with Odinkalu’s scathing remarks, represents a significant pushback against what many see as a culture of impunity among Nigerian public officials.
“Minister Wike’s statement — whether intended as a joke or not — carries weight coming from one of the most powerful members of President Tinubu’s cabinet. As the civil society groups noted, even hypothetical expressions of violent intent constitute conditional threats that cannot be dismissed as harmless.
“For Seun Okinbaloye and other journalists who hold public officials accountable, the minister’s words create a chilling effect. When a minister casually speaks of shooting a journalist, it sends a message to all media practitioners about the risks of asking tough questions.
“The invocation of Sections 22 and 39 of the Constitution is significant. Section 22 charges the press with the responsibility to hold government accountable, while Section 39 guarantees freedom of expression. Wike’s threat strikes at the heart of both provisions.
“Nigeria’s ranking of 122 out of 180 countries on the press freedom index is a damning indictment of the environment in which journalists operate. When cabinet ministers threaten journalists on live television — and face no consequences — that ranking is unlikely to improve.
“The ball is now in Minister Wike’s court. Will he retract, apologise, and reaffirm his commitment to press freedom as demanded? Or will the culture of impunity that Odinkalu decried continue unchecked?
“For President Tinubu, the question is whether he will tolerate a cabinet minister who speaks of shooting journalists — or whether there will be consequences for such dangerous rhetoric.”
There are men whose influence is loud, visible, and immediate. And there are men whose influence is quiet, enduring, and deeply rooted in people.
Martin Agbaso (Ochoudo) belongs to the second kind.
His story is not merely one of positions held or titles earned. It is the story of a man who understood, early enough, that the greatest investment is not in structures, but in people. While many pursued power as an end, he treated it as a means, a platform to build, to guide, and to multiply capacity.
Across decades, he has remained a steady presence in the evolving landscape of Imo and Nigeria, not by noise, but by substance. His journey has moved through business, governance, and public service, yet one thread runs consistently through it all, his commitment to raising others.
He did not just lead, he mentored.
He did not just mentor, he empowered.
He did not just empower, he released.
And so, quietly, without spectacle, a generation began to rise.
Men who once stood uncertain found clarity under his guidance. Women who once hesitated found confidence through his encouragement. Young people who might have been overlooked found direction because someone chose to see them.
This is the kind of leadership that does not always trend, but it transforms.
To build men is to shape character.
To raise leaders is to expand influence.
To crown a generation is to secure the future.
Ochoudo has done all three.
His fingerprints are not always announced, but they are everywhere, in the voices that now speak boldly, in the decisions being made across different levels of society, and in the quiet confidence of those who carry forward values they did not learn in classrooms, but through proximity to a man who believed in them.
Yet, at 67, his story does not feel complete.
If anything, it feels like a transition point.
Because there comes a time in the life of a builder when the focus shifts from laying foundations to shaping outcomes. A time when experience is no longer just a record of the past, but a tool for designing the future.
And that is where the question quietly emerges, not loudly asked, but deeply felt:
What comes next?
Perhaps the next chapter is not about proving anything new, but about aligning everything he has always stood for into a clearer direction. Perhaps it is about translating decades of influence into a more defined legacy. Perhaps it is about stepping into a role where the impact is no longer dispersed, but concentrated.
Whatever form it takes, one thing is certain, it will not be accidental.
Because men like Ochoudo do not drift into relevance, they step into responsibility.
And if the past is any indication, then the future he is walking into will not just affect him, it will affect many. It will carry the weight of those he has raised, the expectations of those who believe, and the silent hopes of those who are yet to encounter his influence.
At 67, this is not a conclusion.
It is a call.
A call to deepen impact.
A call to shape outcomes.
A call to step fully into what only experience, resilience, and vision can produce.
The quiet force is still in motion.
And as the next chapter beckons, one cannot help but sense that the story is not winding down, it is opening up.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said he spoke figuratively and did not mean he would have, or wanted to shoot Channels Television’s Seun Okinbaloye over the Television Anchor’s comment while interviewing a guest.
The Minister had shocked not a few Nigerians when, on Friday, April 3, 2026, during his monthly Media Chat, he said he felt like shooting Okunbaloye over his comments while interviewing a guest which gave the impression that the Journalist was taking sides in a political matter.
Many people reacted to Wike with outrage and asked that he apologises publicly. Some others said he has declared war on the Press, while some more said in more organised and civilised climes, his “careless statement could have cost him his high office.”
But a statement on Saturday by Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Minister Wike, explained that his Principal spoke figuratively during that Media Chat.
Olayinka insisted that “the Minister never meant that he will shoot Seun Okinbaloye, and that all was well between the two men.
For proof, Olayinka said: “They (Wike and Okinbaloye) even spoke on phone today Saturday 4 April 2026, and he (Okinbaloye) understood what the minister meant.”
He went on to explain more. “What the Minister meant, which he made clear during the media chat, was that he was angry seeing Okinbaloye, whom he holds in high esteem as a journalist, descending into the political arena by speaking as an interested party, instead of an interviewer.
“The statement made by the Minister was in hyperbolic context, which was clearly without intent. It was primarily using exaggeration to make a point.
“Even after the Minister made the clarifications on the live television program, which had Chamberlain Uzor, Head of Channels Television’s Abuja Office as part of the interviewers, all the journalists who were interviewing him just laughed.
“Therefore, after the Minister’s detailed explanations of what he meant, including saying on the live television programme that he didn’t mean that he will carry gun and shoot the television anchor, it will become a clear hatchet job for any individual or group to pick the statement out of context and make any issue out of it.
“The public is, therefore, urged to discountenance the use of the comment as instrument of blackmail and propaganda by those whose intent is to misrepresent facts for their political gains,” Olayinka said.
In a swift reaction which disused tension and a sense of helplessness, the Nigerian Army dismissed the online story that the residence of the revered Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, His Lordship Mathew Kukah and the Sokoto Catholic Cathedral were attacked by terrorists.
The Army, in a statement on Saturday said its attention has been drawn to a misleading Social Media post circulating on Facebook, which claimed an armed attack on the Residence of Bishop Kukah and the Sokoto Catholic Cathedral.
Signed by the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations 8 Division, Nigerian Army, Sector 2 Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Olaniyi Osoba, it dismissed what it described as unfounded claims, and emphasised there was no such attack.
The statement assured that the safety and security of Bishop Kukah and the Sokoto Catholic Cathedral are intact.
Specifically, the army said Bishop Kukah was currently fulfiling his Easter duties without any disruption.
It, also, added that the Division in collaboration with other Security Agencies is “unwavering in its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all residents in Sokoto State and our entire Area of responsibility.”
Nigeria’s teenage autistic sensation, Kanyeyachukwu Tagbo-Okeke, has made history, by achieving his second Guinness World Record after completing a 100-mile (160.9 km) cycling journey across seven states to promote autism awareness.
In a statement by the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, who in a press statement signed by the Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Minister of Art, Culture,Tourism and Creative Economy Nneka Anibeze, on Saturday, described the featof the 16-Year Old Teenager as “a triumph of courage, resilience and purpose,” noting that the teenager’s accomplishment transcends sport and speaks to the urgent need for inclusion in Nigeria.
Kanyeyachukwu, a non-verbal autistic teenager, embarked on the endurance ride from Enugu State on March 14, 2026, traversing seven states before arriving in Lagos State on April 2, in commemoration of World Autism Awareness Day.
The Minister said the symbolic timing of the journey’s completion highlights the importance of sustained advocacy for people living with autism, a developmental condition that continues to face widespread stigma and limited institutional support in Nigeria.
“Kanyeyachukwu’s journey crosses geography and expectation. From canvas to highway, he carries the spirit of determination through every mile — stamina, imagination and quiet courage in motion,” the minister said.
She added, “His achievement is not only a personal victory but a national moment. It challenges us as a country to build systems that recognise and support diverse abilities, particularly for children and young people living with autism.”
The cycling record marks Kanyeyachukwu’s second global recognition, following his 2025 Guinness World Record for creating the largest painting on canvas by an individual — a work unveiled in Abuja. The dual accomplishments have positioned him as a leading youth advocate using creativity and endurance to amplify conversations around disability inclusion.
She further stressed that Nigeria’s creative economy must be deliberately inclusive, noting that non-verbal expression, visual arts, and alternative storytelling forms are critical components of cultural development.
“The creative economy we are building must leave no one behind. Every voice matters — even when it is not spoken. Kanyeyachukwu reminds us that expression can take many powerful forms,” she said.
The minister further disclosed that the ministry would support national exhibitions of the teenager’s artwork and develop youth programmes that connect creativity with advocacy, particularly in advancing autism awareness.
Commending Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State for the reception accorded to the young record holder at the end of his journey, as well as his pledge of ₦200 million towards autism advocacy and support for the Kanyeyachukwu Tagbo-Okeke Foundation.
According to her, “The Lagos State Government’s commitment demonstrates the kind of leadership and partnership required to drive meaningful change. Investment in advocacy and caregiver support is essential to improving outcomes for families.”
Over the years, Autism remains underdiagnosed in Nigeria, with limited access to early diagnosis, specialised education, and caregiver support services.
Experts have repeatedly called for stronger policy frameworks, increased funding, and nationwide awareness campaigns to address these gaps.
Kanyeyachukwu’s advocacy extends beyond awareness, as he is currently raising funds to train 1,000 caregivers — an initiative aimed at strengthening community-based support systems for individuals living with autism.
Musawa however noted that the Ministry would host the teenager in Abuja for a youth creativity forum focused on non-verbal expression, endurance storytelling, and community participation in the arts and tourism sectors.
She said, “This is more than a celebration; it is a call to action. We must harness stories like Kanyeyachukwu’s to inspire policy, shift mindsets, and create opportunities for all Nigerians, regardless of ability.”
How can one possibly compare Gen. Sani Abacha and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu? There is absolutely no basis for comparison. Abacha towered above him from any angle of assessment.
The major measure of a man is character. To know a man is to trace him back to his roots and study the influences that shaped him. This aids proper understanding. In the case of the Kanuri-born general, information about him and his family abounds, making him relatively easy to understand. By contrast, BAT appears to defy such clarity. Questions about his origins persist: Is he from Lagos or elsewhere? Which primary and secondary schools did he attend? What is his real name? These remain, for many, unresolved issues.
Valentine Obienyem
We know that Abacha entered the army; we know his coursemates and even his references, and that he was a soldier who rose through all the ranks. But what about BAT? Has anyone credibly come forward to claim to be his classmate?
We now have a president of Nigeria who, for the first time, was involved in drug-related activities as revealed by his ambassador, Reno Omokri, who is said to know him well. One may ask: how many lives could have been killed or harmed by such activities? Yet no comparable allegations are commonly associated with Abacha.
One of the dangers of flawed character is an inclination toward hypocrisy. I consider BAT a complete hypocrite. Over the years, he presented a version of himself that many believed, which appears different from the one Nigerians see today. Many of the protests against fuel increases and related acts under former governments were his brainwork; what about today? As a soldier, did Abacha display such hypocrisy?
As a military Head of State, Abacha acted as one: his word was law, and he brooked no opposition. However, he was a military ruler. Juxtapose this with BAT, who, as a civilian president, is seen by critics as even more autocratic. If he had operated under a military dictatorship, he would have surpassed even leaders like Idi Amin in authoritarianism.
BAT has been a governor and a senator – he has seen it all – yet concerns about his conduct persist. At over 80, one might expect greater restraint and reflection. Abacha, by contrast, did not reach that age; if Abacha had reached above 80, he would have been mellowed by age and maturity. Does BAT exhibit the temperance expected at this stage of life? If he had become president in his 60s, it would have been far worse.
Those who lived through Abacha’s era knew there was a degree of ethnic balance in his appointments. Today, over 99 key appointments under BAT favour one region or group, yet they see nothing wrong with it. Even figures like Uncle Joe Igbokwe, their perpetual loyalist, have yet to receive any appointment he badly craves. Whenever he is remembered, it will likely be only for marginal roles.
While Abacha may have been defined by blunt and systemic brutality, the emergence of BAT reveals a far more insidious phenomenon. From all that we have witnessed thus far, his entire existence is a sustained revolt against decency – a calculated defiance of the moral safeguards that sustain a civilization. He is, in the truest sense, a forbidden character, whose presence in the halls of power signals a departure from the traditional boundaries of human conduct.
The African Democratic Congress ADC Presidential frontrunner and the Labour Party’s 2023 Presidential flagbearer Peter Obi has urged Nigerians at Easter to be very hopeful of an Alleluya Sunday after the Good Friday sorrow.
Writing in his X handle the former Anambra state Governor said in his Easter message to Nigeria christians, “As you commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ amid severe hardships, I urge you to remain hopeful bearing in mind that “Good Friday must come before Easter Sunday.”
“At Easter, I sincerely share with you the weight of the economic burden on families, even as I encourage you not to lose heart. Let us see our current struggles as a temporary “cross” that we must bear before our nation can experience a political and economic rebirth.
“Our dear country is bedevilled by poor leadership, leading to a period of intense suffering—symbolised by the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. However, the possibility of a “New Nigeria” (the resurrection) still exists through our resilience and better governance especially as our
Redeemer lives and assures us that a New Nigeria is possible.” We are very hopeful that even though the road to Alleluia may be rough and challenging, we believe it must arrive by 2027 by the grace oc God. Happy Easter.
Chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Edo State chapter, Dr. Bishop Akhalamhen has said that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has no business in meddling in affairs of political parties.
He condemned the undue interference of the chairman of the INEC, Prof. Joash Amupitan in the ongoing crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
He expressed his dissatisfaction while fielding questions from Journalists shortly after the flag off campaign for voters registration and PVCs collection in Benin City.
Dr. Akhalamhen pointed out that INEC as an umpire, has no business in meddling in political parties affairs rather than only observing their proceedings.
“Well, as an umbrella body, as an umpire, INEC has no power to decide what happens in any political party.
“Political party decides what happens in their home. It is what is offered. Because if you look at it, if Congress is going on, the duties of INEC is to come and monitor, and see what is happening.
“They don’t intervene in what is happening in political party. Hence, they don’t have the capacity, they don’t have the legal backing, to create crisis, or to administer into the crisis of any political party.”
He advised the electoral umpire to maintain neutrality in dealing with political parties affairs to avoid crisis.
“My advice is that INEC should remain neutral in order to sustain our democracy”, he said.
Speaking on the essence of the event, he noted that it was to encourage citizens of the state to go and collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) from the INEC.
“The essence of today’s event is to drive massive campaign registration and PVC collection in Edo State because today, in Edo State, we have registered voters of 2.6 million, 2.2 have collected. The remaining ones still with INEC.
“And we have eligible number of Edo people who are more than 6 million.
“Where are the rest? So we want to assure that in the register, we have 5 million voters”, Akhalamhen said.
The Nasarawa Police Command on Saturday, April 4, 2026, said efforts are underway to track down suspected perpetrators of deadly communal clashes in Akyawa and Udege Kasa communities of Nasarawa Local Council of the State.
Some hoodlums were said to have on Friday, April 3, launched reprisal attacks on the communities over alleged killing of their kinsmen.
According to the Police,11 people lost their lives in the dastardly incident, with about 52 houses razed in the two affected communities.
A statement from Ramhan Nansel, the spokesperson for the State Police Command, informed that security has been enhanced, with adequate operatives deployed to prevent escalation of the clashes.
According to the statement, the State Commissioner for Police, Shetima Mohammed, who led a team on an on-the-spot assessment of the affected communities, has given a marching order for the immediate location and arrest of all those involved in the unfortunate incident.
The CP also directed a thorough investigation of the actual circumstances surrounding the incident with a firm assurance that justice will be served.
“To prevent any further breakdown of law and order, the CP has also directed the immediate reinforcement and sustained deployment of Police personnel to the affected areas”, Nansel stated.
According to the Police spokesperson, the Command is working in concert with other security agencies, including the military and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, to ensure return of normalcy in the affected communities.
He disclosed that an all-inclusive stakeholders’ parley was held as part of the CP’s efforts at ensuring an enduring peace.
While commiserating with the families, relations and friends of the victims, CP Mohammed called on residents to remain calm, law-abiding, and to cooperate with security agencies in the task of getting to the root of the matter.
The Source reports that the Nasarawa state incident is coming at a time the dust raised by the gruesome attack and killings of no fewer than 30 persons in the Augwa Rukuba area of Jos North on Palm Sunday by suspected terrorist elements is yet to subside.
