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APC Primaries: Forum Warns Against Substitution Of Candidates; Calls Out NSA

By
James Orji
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APC Chairman Yilwada

A group in the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC , the Good Governance and Justice Forum, AGGJF has warned the leadership of the party of severe consequences if the party’s candidates, who won the primary recently were substituted.

The group said any attempt to replace those who won the election with new candidates will likely trigger unrest in the ruling party, and distract it ahead the 2027 election, saying the aggrieved candidates can drag the party to court, thereby putting it under  unnecessary legal entanglement at a time the party is supposed to be concentrating efforts on how to win next year’s election.

According to the Forum, in a statement  signed by its National Convener, Umar Mustapha, on Thursday, the ruling party is supposed to have commenced a reconciliation process to appease those who lost during the primary, instead of opening up new wounds by trying to substitute those who actually won the election.

It stressed in the statement that the delegates have made their choice during the primary conducted by the party, leading to the emergence of winners, saying the issue of who represents the party in 2027 have already been settled by that act.

The Forum particularity called out Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser, NSA over the issue, urging him to concentrate on his job instead of unnecessary meddling in the affairs of the party, which the group said should be left to its leadership to handle.

“The democratic process has been undertaken, aspirants have subjected themselves to party rules, delegates have made their choices, and winners have emerged,” the Forum said.

“It is therefore deeply disturbing that credible reports have continued to emerge suggesting that there are ongoing attempts in certain quarters to substitute or replace the names of candidates who legitimately emerged victorious during the party’s primary elections.

“If these reports are true, such actions would amount to a direct assault on internal party democracy and a betrayal of the confidence reposed in the electoral process by party members. It would undermine the sacrifices made by aspirants, delegates and party faithful who participated in good faith throughout the exercise,” the statement said.

The forum warned that arbitrary candidate substitution could expose the ruling party to prolonged litigation and distract it from preparations for the general elections.

“The consequences of arbitrary substitution of candidates are too grave to ignore. Such actions would almost certainly trigger multiple court cases across the federation, deepen existing divisions within the party and distract its leadership from the serious business of preparing for the general elections.

“Instead of focusing on campaigns and consolidating support among Nigerians, the party could find itself consumed by avoidable litigation.”

“It is for this reason that we respectfully call the attention of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to the emerging situation. While internal party affairs remain the responsibility of the party, developments capable of generating widespread political tension, public unrest or prolonged instability deserve the attention of relevant authorities before they escalate.”

The forum further appealed to the leadership of the party to ensure that it did the right thing on the issue, warning of dire consequences as any “attempt to reverse those outcomes outside the framework provided by law” may lead to the polarization of the party.

“We are also calling the attention of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC governors forum, the National Chairman of APC; the National Leader of the APC and all critical stakeholders of the APC that substituting validly elected candidates at primaries with those that did not even buy nomination forms and cannot even win their polling units ward and local government will spell doom for the party.”

“Those allegedly involved in any attempt to alter the outcome of the primaries should immediately desist. The primary elections have been concluded. Candidates have emerged through the established process and have already commenced preparations for the next phase of the electoral process.

“Any attempt to reverse those outcomes outside the framework provided by law and party regulations would only deepen mistrust and create avoidable divisions,” the forum said.

Recall that the daughter of the president, Folasade Tinubu-Ojo recently warned the APC leadership that she was ready to lead market women in Lagos in protest, any attempt by the party to substitute the names of candidate who emerged winners in  the recently conducted primary elections across the country.

Dickson Mourns As Loyal Aide Dies In Abuja Car Crash

By
Adesina Soyooye
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DSP Zamani Tanko

By Adesina Soyooye 

 

Senator Seriake Dickson is mourning the sudden death of his Aide in a vehicle accident.

 

DSP Zamani Tanko, rtd, who had been with Senator Dickson for 15 years, spanning from his time as Governor of Bayelsa State till his passing, was known in Dickson’s household as “Uncle Zamani”.

 

A mourning Dickson, who is, also, the founder of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, in a statement where he announced Tanko’s death, said he and his household are devasted by the sudden death of Tanko who had since become a member of their family in such tragic circumstances.

 

His post reads:

 

“It is with deep sadness that I announce the sudden passing of my beloved departed aide DSP Zamani Tanko (RTD) who over the years has become a brother and member of my family, who served Nigeria loyalty as a police officer for 35 years and was my personal staff handling sundry issues in addition to his security responsibilities.

 

“Yesterday morning, I received a sudden call that he was involved in an accident having appeared to have collided with a truck in Abuja. He became unconscious and was rushed to the hospital. My aides rushed to the scene and took him to the National Hospital. I rushed there myself after I was informed. We made arrangements for prompt medical treatments which were offered but unfortunately after the surgery by a team of surgeons assembled to bring him back to life, we received a call later that afternoon that he could not make it.

Seriake Dickson
Senator Seriake Dickson: Mourns 

“I, my entire family and members of my staff have been devastated since this call.

 

“On behalf of my family and member of my staff who are all mourning, we thank Zamani Tanko for his loyal, faithful and dedicated service to our country and his humble and loyal service to me in the past fifteen years during which time he had become not only one of my most trusted aides but also a trusted family member. He was fundly called ‘uncle Zamani’ by my family members who right now are devastated as a result of his passing.

 

“I pray God to comfort his wife, family and grant his soul eternal rest as we work with his family to give him a befitting funeral.

Yesterday evening upon hearing the sad news, I received our presidential candidate; Mr Peter Obi who visited and spent time consoling me and my family. The national chairman of the NDC Senator Moses Cleopas also led a team of the working committee to visit me. I also thank Alhaji Buba Galadima who also visited to condole with me. I thank them all for their prompt visit upon hearing the sad news.

 

“I wait to work with the family on the burial programs at which I expect a number of people to join me and the family to bid him a final farewell.

Adieu Zamani!”

Kingibe Confirms Oshiomhole’s Forgery Claim In Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan Suspension Saga

By
Ayodele Oni
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Senator Ireti Kingibe
Senator Ireti Kingibe

By Ayodele Oni

 

Despite insistence by the leadership of the Senate that no Senator’s signature was forged in the suspension saga of Kogi Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan,  the Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ireti Kingibe, has maintained that she neither saw nor signed the investigation report.

 

 Six months suspension were clamped on Akpoti-Uduaghan, in February 2025, for breaching Senate rules.

 

Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who earlier revealed the forgery scandal, later recanted.

 

He had disclosed in a televised interview that a senator (Kingibe) had informed him in 2025 that the signatures of some senators believed to have signed the report were forged or attached without their consent.

 

Kingibe, on the other hand, confirmed that Oshiomhole’s comments were true, insisting that she did not sign the report.

Adams Oshiomhole
Senator Adams Oshiomhole.

Speaking during an Arise News interview, Kingibe disclosed, “I never saw the report that led to Natasha’s suspension. I was at a retreat. I had earlier stated that I was there with three or four other senators who are members of the committee.”

 

The investigation that led to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension was conducted by the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, chaired by Senator Neda Imaseun.

 

Kingibe stated that although she signed the attendance register at the committee’s meeting and later left for what she described as a more important hearing on the tax reform bill, she never saw the committee’s final report.

 

The senator noted, “We attended the Committee on Petitions and Public Complaints, signed the attendance register, and I later left for the tax reform retreat, which I considered more important at the time.

Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Godswill Akpabio
Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

“It affects my constituents much more than disciplining a senator, and I figured that the other people who were not part of that committee would take care of it.”

 

Findings, however, indicated that Kingibe’s name and signature appeared as number 21 on the final report, which she has now denied signing, further deepening the confusion.

 

Oshiomhole, in a statement issued in Abuja, denied saying that any senator had told him that signatures attached to the report were forged.

 

“The only comment I made is that one senator who is a member of the committee claimed that the attendance signatures of some senators were attached to the final report,” he said.

 

“Any suggestion to the effect that I alleged that any senator’s signature was forged is completely untrue and should be disregarded.

 

The former Edo State governor added, “Finally, I regret if my comment may have caused embarrassment to any senator or to the 10th Senate as an institution.”

 

Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended by the Senate for six months for misconduct and insubordination during plenary on 20 February 2025, when the lawmaker protested loudly against the change of her seating position in the chamber.

 

Amid the investigation that subsequently led to her suspension, she made sexual harassment allegations against the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, but the panel did not establish proof of the claims.

 

The suspension returned to the front burner recently after Oshiomhole faced backlash from the Senate over his remarks during the probe into the NNPCL’s “uncounted N210 trillion”, in which he described the company as “a home of thieves”.

 

The Senate subsequently passed a resolution disowning Oshiomhole

and his comments on the NNPCL.

 

The senator, while responding to an interview question, referred to the suspension of Akpoti-Uduaghan as “one of the low points of the 10th Senate”, recalling how a senator had told him that the signatures attached to the committee’s final report were allegedly forged.

OPINION: They’re Coming to America

By
The Source
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Azu Ishiekwene
Mr Azu Ishiekwene

By Azu Ishiekwene

 

Journalists like to think that the world would be finished without them. Nothing illustrates this vanity more than the joke by my old school journalism teacher that even when the world ends, reporters will be there to tell those in paradise what is happening on the other side.

 

This illusion deprives the profession of its sanity. It keeps reporters chasing an endless news cycle where bad news is good copy. A moment’s respite creates a sense of guilt and panic, and rest can sometimes feel like a luxury.

 

I decided, after 60, that it would be mad to continue in this tradition; that at least, once every year, I will learn again what normal life feels like. So, I rested my column for three weeks and decided to go to America at a time when many normal people will ask what on earth I’m looking for in a country whose president is not in the mood for immigrants. It’s easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than to visit America these days.

Getting a visa

If I needed a fresh visa to visit today, I’m unlikely to have got it. And that has nothing to do with anything in my past or present travel record to the US or elsewhere. Even getting an interview date would take months, if not up to one year.

 

Since January this year, Nigeria has been one of the 14 African countries on the US partial travel restriction list; 11 others, including Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Niger and Somalia, are on the full travel ban list.

 

Changing times

I have travelled to over 40 countries around the world in the course of my work and have never once overstayed or been in any trouble. America used to be my favourite holiday spot. My friends, Buddy and Paula Baker, Floridans now in their 70s, epitomised the essential American spirit of warmth, kindness and generosity.

 

America’s inventive spirit and diversity remind me of my country. I also loved the crazy motorways. The freedom to rent and drive a car, whenever I was visiting, overrode my alarm at the blissful ignorance of many ordinary Americans about other parts of the world, not to mention the perennial danger of the country’s loose gun control laws.

 

Visa is not a guarantee

Back to the visa issue. I’m fortunate to be on a five-year visa issued three years ago, before the present occupant of the White House won his second term and changed everything. Non-immigrant visas are now single-entry, three months, with a vetting process that could require the presentation of your grandmother’s wisdom tooth.

 

Under a new plan that could apply to Nigeria and many other African countries from this June, US consular diplomatic posts may be significantly reduced, further raising visa costs and restricting access for applicants.

 

On paper, that shouldn’t bother me, since I’m in good standing for another two years. Yet, under the current climate, having a valid visa is one thing; entering the US, quite another.

 

According to one source, US airports receive between 210,000 and 250,000 foreign visitors daily, depending on the time of the year. Vetting of arrivals rose after September 11, but heightened scrutiny has been observed since 2025, following President Donald Trump’s inauguration to a second term.

 

And scrutiny can sometimes involve US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) searching your phone and reviewing your social media posts. In 2025, for example, WIRED magazine reported that CBP conducted more than 55,424 electronic-device searches.

 

Preparing for America

As I prepared for this trip, two unrelated, fairly recent examples of what I thought were US consular overreach during Trump’s presidency crossed my mind. One was the revocation of the visa of Africa’s first Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, for what many believed was his outspoken criticism of Trump, including remarks that compared the president to the former Ugandan dictator, Idi Amin. It didn’t matter that Trump had, among many travesties, and relying on what was at best dubious information, called Nigeria a shithole and a disgraced country.

 

The other example, which happened days before my trip, was the revocation of the valid visa of the Somali FIFA referee, Omar Abdulkadir Artan, on arrival in the US, for alleged links to a terrorist group – an allegation that Artan has denied, but which FIFA has refused to be drawn into.

 

Mixed expectations

With all of these swirling around, I didn’t know what to expect on this trip, and more than once I toyed with cancelling. America didn’t quite look like the place it used to be, not just for me but even for many decent US citizens who have seen their country change in a rather grotesque way these past few months.

 

I wasn’t sure what to expect, especially given my very strong views on some of Trump’s actions for which I have no apologies. Will it still be the same America that was warm towards visitors, friendly to strangers and generous in spirit? Or is the country now overcome by ferocious meanness, fear of otherness and narrow-minded insularity?

 

After six hours from Abuja to Frankfurt, a two-hour stopover, and a 10-hour 35-minute flight, I walked off the Lufthansa plane at Houston International Airport on the morning of June 10, towards border security, unsure what to expect; that feeling you get approaching the yard of a once-dependable friend who has lately become the neighbourhood bully.

 

The border police surprised me. Apart from a Customs officer flagging me and extracting a small packet of velvet tamarin (called liki-liki in my neck of the woods) from my luggage, my entry was uneventful. The CBP was warm, courteous and professional. I’ve encountered a couple of other police officers in Houston and Florida who gave me the feeling that perhaps, just perhaps, there’s a redeeming hope.

 

Surprise, surprise…

I’ve only been visiting for a few days, and perhaps the spirit of the FIFA 2026 World Cup (with the US one of the three host countries) may also account for the cordiality, especially with hundreds of thousands of tourists visiting at this time. White House common sense is perhaps putting its best foot forward, for now.

 

Whatever happens, there are some things I promised myself I won’t do for my mother’s sake. I won’t drive, even if I could, and I won’t walk the streets, day or night, without my passport.

 

Their America

It never was so in the last over one and a half decades since I’ve been coming to America. Visiting was always such great fun. When I was planning this holiday nearly one year ago, I couldn’t imagine that doubt and hesitation would replace trust, hope and freedom.

 

But what does it matter? This is their America. And maybe my old teacher was right, after all. When all is said and done, we journalists will still be here telling the incredibly fraught story of what happened in their America to those in another America.

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

 

“I Will Not Apologise”, Okonkwo Dares Peter Obi

By
The Source
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Kenneth Okonkwo

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

 

The stage appears set for a legal showdown ,as Nollywood actor-turned politician Kenneth Okonkwo has rejected Nigeria  Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential candidate Peter Obi’s demand for an apology over a perceived defamatory publication.

 

Obi, a former Governor of Anambra State, had, on June 9, 2026, through his legal representative, Alex Ejesieme,  SAN, in a pre-action notice demanded a retraction of Okonkwo’s Channels Television Interview, a public apology published in at least five national dailies, as well as the payment of damages to the tune of N5 billion.

 

Okonkwo had in the said interview alleged the extortion of aspirants by Obi and other South East leaders  of the NDC during the party’s primaries .

 

Obi, in the pre-action notice, warned that he will not hesitate to initiate legal actions should Okonkwo fail to retract the said offensive interview within the dateline issued.

 

But in a  reply issued through his team dated June 16,2026, Okonkwo, maintained that he will neither retract, nor apologise, insisting that his comments were derived from facts made available to him by victims, including Obunike Ohaegbu, his client.

 

Okonkwo in his letter, while denying defaming Obi, said he stands by all his comments in the said Channels Television Interview.

 

“The kernel of your letter is that our client defamed your client through the interview on Channels Television on 8June 2026 .

 

“Our client denies that he defamed your client in any manner whatsoever, and expressly asserts that his position on the issues he expressed reflects the true position of the matters so reflected”, Okonkwo’s legal team stated.

 

Okonkwo, who is also a legal practitioner,  claimed that his comments were derived from a client, Ohaegbu who wanted him to assist in recovering the N10 million he paid to the NDC during its primaries.

 

According to him, his client Ohaegbu, believed that he had already secured the party’s ticket after the payment, but was shocked when he was later asked to participate in direct primaries.

 

Okonkwo alleged that Ohaegbu held  Obi liable for whatever transpired during the primaries, and subsequently requested him to make the matter public .

 

Okonkwo similarly claimed that other aspirants including one O. A. Onyema, had also approached him  with  complaints of payments of  large sums of money during the screening and nomination processes of the party, only to regrettably discover that they were misled by party officials.

 

In all, Okonkwo emphasized that he acted within his powers ,and right as a  legal practitioner, public affairs commentator, as well as a politician by opting to draw attention to the avalanche of complaints that trailed the NDC primaries.

 

“Our client stands by the truth of all he declared on Channels TV . 

Peter Obi
Mr Peter Obi

“The whole idea of his speaking on Channels TV, which information he received from aspirants ,NDC and other Nigerians, is to expose transactional politics, ticket racketeering, extortion of aspirants, misleading representations, false pretense, undue influence and coercive pressure” the legal added.

 

In the letter, Okonkwo accused Obi of breaching his privacy by publishing his private telephone number during his pre-action notice , claiming that the development has exposed him to online attacks and harassment.

 

While claiming that the telephone line exposure has led to what he described as targeted online threats, Okonkwo also expressed his intention to seek appropriate legal redress..

 

He also described Obi’s demand for N 5 billion damages as an orchestrated plot to distract, and cow him from further exposing perceived political misdeeds .

Edo Announces Arrest Of Suspect Who Raised False Alarm On School Children Abduction

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Governor Monday Okpebholo

 

By Ayodele Oni

 

Edo State Government has announced the arrest of the individual who will be prosecuted for raising false alarm of abduction of school children.

 

Government dismissed the reports which alleged that school students were kidnapped in Sabongida-Ora. It said no such incident occurred and described the report as false and intended to create panic among residents.

 

The government said the individual responsible for originating and circulating the report has been arrested and would be prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others engaged in spreading misinformation.

 

In a statement on Thursday, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, said Governor Monday Okpebholo has invested heavily in strengthening the State’s security architecture and remained committed to safeguarding lives and property.

 

Afegbua explained that contrary to the false reports, security agencies have recorded successes in tackling crime, including the rescue of a woman, who was abducted around the Vegetable Market axis off Airport Road on June 14.

 

According to him, the rescue operation was carried out by the police on the directive of the governor, while the suspected kidnappers were arrested and currently in police custody awaiting prosecution.

 

“The Governor is not resting on his oars in his determination to make Edo State safe for all,” the commissioner said.

 

He added that investigations had revealed that many kidnapping incidents were often aided by insiders, including relatives, family members and close associates who provide information to criminal elements.

 

Afegbua quoted the governor as cautioning residents to be mindful of the company they keep and to remain vigilant.

 

He also called on citizens to support security agencies with useful intelligence to help curb kidnapping and other criminal activities across the state.

 

The commissioner reaffirmed the government’s resolve to rid Edo State of criminal elements and ensure the safety of residents and visitors.

Court Rejects Fmr. Beauty Queen’s Claim, Says Adenike Ajayi Sole Lawful Widow Of First Foundation Hospital Founder

By
Ayodele Oni
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First Foundation Hospital

By Akinwale Kasali

 

In a landmark judgment, Justice Oluwayoyin Odusanya of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja,  has stated that separation does not end a marriage. The Court thus vindicated Adenike Oluwayemisi Ajayi as the sole and lawful widow of the late founder and Chief Executive Officer of First Foundation Hospital, Dr. Tosin Ajayi.

 

The verdict, delivered by Justice Odusanya finally brought to an end the protracted legal battle over the deceased’s marital status and Estate.

 

Before now, former Beauty Queen, Helen Prest, had claimed that she was also a spouse to the late Medical Practitioner, but the judgment has  dismissed her claim.

 

The Court also granted all the reliefs sought by the deceased’s wife both of whom had been separated from each other for years and her Children.

 

Recall that the legal battle over the ownership of the Estate of the deceased began in 2021, following Dr. Ajayi’s death on April 26, 2020, and centred on competing claims over his estate and the identity of his lawful surviving spouse.

 

The proceedings lasted nearly five years before the Court delivered its verdict.

 

The Court also held that Adenike Ajayi remained the only legally married Wife to the late Medical practitioner until his death, noting that their monogamous marriage was never dissolved.

 

Justice Odusanya also rejected the argument that the couple’s prolonged separation amounted to a termination of their marriage.

 

According to the Judge, separation, regardless of how long it lasts, does not automatically dissolve a legally valid marriage. It also agreed with the submissions of counsel to the claimants, Kunle Adegoke, SAN, that the marriage between the deceased and his legally married wife subsisted throughout the lifetime of the deceased.

 

Prest had raised a major issue before the Court that she had contracted a Kalabari Customary Marriage with the deceased, but the Court held that Prest failed to provide credible evidence to prove the alleged Customary Marriage.

 

The Court added that Prest’s claim could be described as an afterthought, observing that Prest had taken inconsistent positions in previous legal proceedings.

 

It also noted that in earlier suits, Prest had at different times described herself as a common-law partner and as being in a civil-law union with the deceased.

 

This prompted Justice Odusanya to further hold that Prest could not establish essential elements of the alleged Customary Marriage, including the date and venue of the ceremony, noting that an absence of documentary or photographic evidence to support her claim.

 

In addition, Justice Odusanya held that the alleged Customary Marriage would still have been invalid because evidence before the court showed that Prest was legally married to her former husband, Mr. Davies, at the time she claimed to have married Dr. Ajayi.

 

Consequently, the court dismissed her claim to spousal status and affirmed Adenike Ajayi as the only legally recognised spouse of the deceased.

 

The Judge also upheld Mrs. Ajayi’s entitlement to one-third of Dr. Ajayi’s personal estate and ruled that she is the only spouse entitled to apply for Letters of Administration over the Estate.

 

This puts an end to the dispute, reinforcing the legal principle that separation alone does not terminate a valid marriage unless there is a formal dissolution.

Governors Give Nod To State Police, As AGs Submit Constitutional Framework

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Nigerian Police

By Ayodele Oni 

 

Governors of Nigeria’s 36 states rose from their meeting early Thursday, with a resolve to endorse the establishment of state police, marking a significant step in the ongoing efforts to reform the country’s security architecture.  

 

The resolution was among those agreed upon at meeting of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) in Abuja, which extended from Wednesday into the early hours of Thursday.

 

 The position was contained in a communiqué signed by the Forum’s Chairman and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

According to report, the governors adopted the position after receiving presentations from the NGF Secretariat and a delegation of state Attorneys-General on the progress made toward creating a constitutional framework for state policing. 

 

The governors emphasized that any state police structure must be firmly rooted in the Constitution and operate in accordance with the principles of federalism, while safeguarding the rights and freedoms of citizens. 

 

They also highlighted the importance of extensive consultations with the Attorneys-General to review proposed constitutional amendments and implementation frameworks.

 

The communiqué noted that the collaborative engagement would reinforce the collective position of the states and contribute to the development of a legally sound and effective state policing system.

 

The endorsement comes as the bill seeking the establishment of state police continues to gain legislative momentum, having already secured passage in the House of Representatives and advanced through its second reading in the Senate.

 

Beyond security, the governors reaffirmed their commitment to ongoing reforms in the power sector and pledged to strengthen partnerships aimed at expanding access to reliable and affordable electricity across the country.

 

The Forum also received a presentation on the National Solar Super-Grid (NSSG) Initiative, a proposal designed to improve electricity access through large-scale decentralized solar energy generation integrated into a national high-voltage transmission network. 

 

The governors observed that the initiative has the potential to drive industrialization, enhance energy security, strengthen state electricity markets, and accelerate economic growth.

 

In addition, the governors resolved to support the National Nutrition 774 (N-774) Initiative, reaffirming their commitment to tackling child malnutrition and improving nutrition outcomes nationwide. 

 

They also acknowledged ongoing efforts to advance the National Nutrition Bill and encouraged sustained engagement with relevant stakeholders to strengthen Nigeria’s legal and policy framework for nutrition governance.

Kwara Police Command Douses Tension As Scare Of Bandits Throws Ilorin Into Chaos

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Police on Duty

 

By Ayodele Oni

 

Kwara State Police Command has reacted to rumour of invasion of bandits in Ilorin, the State capital, which led to a break down of commercial activities.

 

A wave of fear, confusion and panic swept across parts of Ilorin and its surrounding communities on Thursday, following widespread, but unconfirmed reports that bandits had infiltrated the town and were targeting school children for abduction.

 

The State Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, condemned the spread of false security alerts, capable of causing public panic and disorder, warning that individuals responsible for circulating unverified information would be identified and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

 

The rumour, which spread rapidly through phone calls, social media messages and word-of-mouth communication, triggered a mass exodus of parents from homes, offices, markets and business premises as they rushed to schools to retrieve their children.

 

The situation created scenes of anxiety rarely witnessed in the town. Distraught parents flooded school premises, while children were seen crying and clinging to teachers amid uncertainty over what was happening.

 

In several schools, academic activities were abruptly suspended as administrators struggled to manage the growing tension.

 

Teachers reportedly spent hours calling parents and guardians, urging them to come for their wards as fears of a possible security threat intensified.

 

Some schools released pupils earlier than scheduled, while others completely shut down activities for the day.

 

Roads leading to major schools witnessed unusual traffic congestion as hundreds of vehicles and motorcycles converged on educational institutions.

 

“We cannot take chances with the lives of our children. Whether the report is true or false, every parent’s first instinct is to protect their child,” a visibly worried mother said while waiting to pick up her daughter.

 

Another parent lamented the state of insecurity across the country, saying the mere circulation of such a rumour was enough to send shockwaves through communities.

 

“The painful reality is that insecurity has become a national concern. When people hear stories about bandits or kidnappers, they immediately believe it because such incidents have happened in many parts of the state. That is why everyone panicked,” he said.

 

Parents interviewed by our correspondent expressed fears that children may become reluctant to attend school if such incidents continue to occur.

 

Some also worried about the academic consequences of repeated disruptions to learning.

 

“If children stay at home today because of fear, what happens if another rumour emerges tomorrow? Are schools expected to close again? For how long can learning continue under such uncertainty?” one concerned guardian asked.

 

Stakeholders are urging the Kwara State Government, security agencies, community leaders and school authorities to intensify public sensitisation campaigns, establish emergency communication systems and reassure residents of the safety of educational institutions.

 

Meanwhile, the Kwara State Police Command has dismissed the reports as false.

 

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said the Command received reports of panic around Government Girls Secondary School, Oke-Oyi, following claims that suspected bandits had invaded the area.

 

According to the police, officers were immediately deployed to assess the situation and ensure the safety of students, staff and residents.

 

Preliminary investigations revealed that the alarm originated from a woman who reportedly rushed into the school claiming that bandits had arrived in the community.

 

The police stated that their assessment confirmed there was no bandit attack, no sighting of bandits and no security breach within the school, Oke-Oyi community or any part of Kwara State.

“I Will Never Sit Down On The Negotiations Table With Terrorists” – Zamfara Gov. Vows

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
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0
Dauda Lawal

 

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

 

Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has foreclosed any chances of indulging and negotiating with banditry elements operating in the State.

 

This was as he vowed to continue dangling the stick until insurgency and other forms of criminal activities are defeated.

 

Lawal’s position is coming against the backdrop of the growing tendency by Governors, especially those from the Northern region to engage in negotiations with banditry kingpins.

 

But speaking in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service, Governor Lawal, whose State has remained one of the epicentres of terrorist activities, including violent attacks, kidnappings, killings and wanton destruction of properties, maintained that no terrorist is stronger than the Government.

 

“I do not accept that terrorists are stronger than Government. Therefore, as Governor of Zamfara state, I maintain that I will not negotiate with terrorists”, Lawal vowed.

 

According to him, insurgency and all its associated problems – Killings , kidnappings , violent destructions etc – have not disappeared in some states where authorities have engaged the terrorists.

 

While not condemning any of his  colleagues and or  authorities’ that have chosen to negotiate with terrorists, Governor Lawal insisted that such an approach is totally not an option for him in the quest to tackle criminality in Zamfara state.

 

He emphasized that indulging terrorists in any form whatsoever, including negotiations, has the dangerous potential of sending out a wrong message, undermining constituted authorities, and eroding public confidence ,and trust.

 

“Even in states where negotiations have taken place, have attacks completely stopped? Some say there has been improvement but how can a Government sit down with criminals and be negotiating? That would imply that terrorists are stronger than the state”, Gov Lawal stated.

 

While acknowledging the challenges of the current insecurity in some parts of the country, the Zamfara State Governor, however, insisted that Government is still on top of the situation.

 

Similarly, Governor Lawal maintained that Government has not been overwhelmed by terrorists, despite pockets of protest matches by  citizens who are feeling frustrated by the seemingly intractable activities of insurgents.

 

“If people are unhappy ,we must listen to them. If their concerns can be addressed, we will address them.

 

“If something is beyond our capacity, we will explain that as well. That is democracy.

 

“However, I want to state categorically that the State has not been overwhelmed by the security situation.

 

” No, terrorist have not in anyway overwhelmed us. As said earlier, we are doing everything possible to protect lives and property.

 

“Just two weeks ago, there were communities that were displaced ,but we deployed security personnel, and people have since returned to their normal lives. We have done this in many places and will continue to do so”, the Governor assured.

 

Speaking on the much sort after, but elusive Kachalla Bello Turji, the Governor expressed the optimism that he will still meet his end.

 

” I keep on saying that no terrorist is stronger than the Government. It is only a matter of time. By the grace of Allah, we will get him ( Turji).

 

” I can not give a timeline. This is a warfare, not a simple matter where you can predict an exact. But based on the measures in place, I am confident he will eventually be apprehended.

 

“The fact is that  while Turji and some others are still at large, many of the terrorists have already been arrested, while others have been killed”, Lawal noted.

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