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Ecobank ‘Millionaire Geng Promo’ Boosts Savings; Customers Get N42m Reward

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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Nigeria’s forward moving commercial bank has disclosed that customers savings across all its banking channels have increased since the commencement of the Millionaire Geng Promo.

The Mobolaji Lawal-led lender made this revelation at the weekend during the grand finale of the monetary reward to loyal customers of the bank.

The magazine reports that the commercial bank awarded N42 million some to customers as part if its commitment to encourage  saving culture in the country.

Speaking at the event, t bank’s Head of Consumer Banking, Adeola Ogunyemi said the promo is not only about wining but the need for customers to set some money aside to ensure their “financial security and long-term stability” because of emergencies.

She urged customers not to eat up their earnings by saving in naira and other foreign currencies.

The Promo, “is not just about winning cash prizes; it is about financial security and long-term stability,” Ogunyemi stated adding that the need to save for the future has become very essential in the face of the current economic crisis in the country.

Mobolaji Lawal
Ecobank Nigeria MD; Mobolaji Lawal

She explained: “With the fluctuating value of the Naira, we have encouraged our customers to save consistently, whether in Naira or foreign currency.

“This has led to a steady rise in deposits across the banking sector.

“Many people don’t realise the importance of saving until they face emergencies. No matter how much you earn, it will never be enough if you don’t discipline yourself.

“This initiative is about showing our customers that every amount saved adds up over time.

“A country’s economic growth is influenced by how much its citizens save. Over the last six months, we have seen tremendous growth in savings, with customers becoming more conscious of the need to save.

“Month after month, deposits have increased, which is very encouraging.”

PDP Crisis: Govs Have Taken Over, Party Will Become Stronger – Lawal Assures

By
James Orji
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Zamfara Governor Dauda Lawal
Governor Dauda Lawal

Governor of Zamfara state Dauda Lawal has assured Nigerians and supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, will become stronger and survive the crisis currently rocking the party.

The Zamfara helmsman made the remark at the weekend when he paid a condolence visit to Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state who lost his elder brother recently.

Part of the problems facing the party include the continued occupation of Umar Damagun as the party’s National Chairman, the tussle over the National Secretary position amongst others.

According to Lawal, what is going on in the PDP is a normal thing that will fizzle out with time, saying some critical steps, one of which is the affirmation of Sunday Ude- Okoye as the National Secretary of the PDP, has been taken recently to save the party from collapse.

Lawal and other PDP governors met last week in Asaba, Delta state where they affirmed Ude-Okoye as the PDP National Secretary against the claim of Sam Anyanwu, a former Scribe of the party and governorship candidate of the PDP in Imo state.

The Zamfara governor affirmed that the party is currently undergoing restructuring that will make Nigerians to be proud of it, adding that PDP has learnt from its ‘mistakes’, as its governors, as leaders of the party have taken charge.

According to Lawal, “Concerning what is currently going on in the PDP; in politics, there are always issues. With what happened in Delta two days ago, it shows we are making waves to be back to the people to lead this country.

“We [governors] are the leaders of this party. We have a say and whatever we say is what would be implemented.

“There is nothing really wrong with the PDP. The ongoing crisis is normal and it happens like that in other parties too. So, it is nothing new. It is one of those things.

“This will make us even stronger because we need to learn from certain mistakes and that will be a learning process.”

Meanwhile, Anyanwu has insisted that he remains PDP National Secretary, describing the governors’ decision to affirm Ude-Okoye as illegal.

IPOB As Terrorist Group: Kanu’s Lawyer Blames Ejimakor, Others

By
James Orji
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Ifeanyi Ejiofor

A member of the IPOB legal team Ifeanyi Ejiofor says he was not part of the legal battle that led to last week’s judgment which affirmed the secessionist group as a terrorist organisation.

The lawyer stated his position in a statement he issued to journalists on Sunday., blaming Aloy Ejimakor and other IPOB lawyers for the outcome of the case.

The magazine reported that a three man panel of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, the nation’s capital affirmed the 2018 judgment by a high court declaring IPOB as a terrorist group.

The appellate court said in the judgment that it reached the decision considering that IPOB posed security threat to the country and a danger to Nigeria’s corporate existence.

However, Ejiofor said he was not part of the legal team decision to appeal the High court judgment, blaming other lawyers for what he described a shoddy representation at the Court of Appeal.

He stressed that he had made his position on the issue known to Ejimakor and other lawyers, wondering why his name was listed among the lawyers who defended that case at the Appeal Court.

He said Ejimakor and co should be held responsible for their woeful performance at the appellate court, saying he was not part of the team that prepared the Brief challenging the High court judgment at the higher court, adding that the case had been taken “over from me by Machukwu Ume SAN and Aloy Ejimakor, in 2022.”

According to him, “My attention has been drawn to a misleading tweet by Aloy Ejimakor, which seeks to misrepresent facts and mischievously associate my name with the recent concluded Appeal on IPOB proscription, which judgment was handed down on the 30th day of January 2025.”

He accused Ejimakor of ‘totally’ messing up the case after they took it over from him by including “additional grounds of appeal the basis of which I am not in a position to explain,” which may have led to Court of Appeal decision.

Nnamdi-Kanu - IPOB Leader
Nnamdi Kanu: IPOB’s Strongman

“When their gimmicks became obvious that they were routing towards taking over the Appeal, I specifically but respectfully requested the learned Senior Advocate leading them, not to include my name on any processes they are filing, and clearly informed him that I have respectfully taken a bow.”

He added, “The records are clear – Aloy Ejimakor, who is now attempting to cause mischief by deceptively including my name in their woeful outing on Appeal, has consistently provided updates on the progress of the Appeal when they were effectively prosecuting it, without ever mentioning me.

“It is therefore suspicious that he now seeks to involve me after the Appeal’s dismissal, by publishing a document wherein my name curiously appears in the list of those who represented the Appellant.

“As the primary force behind taking over the Appeal, Aloy Ejimakor and his team are fully responsible for its outcome. He should be held accountable for details of what happened in their case on Appeal, what led to their unsuccessful Appeal, rather than dragging my name into his failed legal outing. I urge him to refrain from associating me with his missteps and to take responsibility for his actions.”

Few days before the court of Appeal judgment, the magazine reported that its leader, Maxi Nnamdi Kanu sued the Nigerian Police Force for N20 billion for describing IPOB as a terrorist organisation

Osun 2026: Aregbesola Is A Beautiful Bride, Bring Him To PDP- Fed Lawmaker

By
James Orji
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Aregbesola-Group

A member of the House of Representatives, Oluwole Oke has described a former Governor of Osun state Rauf Aregbesola as a beautiful bride that should be courted by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP into its fold.

Oke, representing Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency of the state said the former governor still has a large fellowship in the state due to his deep pocket, in a message he shared on his X handle on Sunday.

The federal lawmaker spoke on the heels of last week’s decision of the former governor and his supporters to dump the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

Aregbesola, a former Minister of the Interior, announced the departure of the ‘Omoluabi’, a break away group from the APC under his leadership. He made the announcement in Ilesha, Osun state during a stakeholders’ meeting by the group. The former minister has yet to announce his new party.

Following this announcement, the APC has also expelled him saying he was no longer useful to the party, apart from accusing him for anti-party activity.

The magazine reported that the former minister has been having problems with his former party, but his decision to support the PDP during the 2022 governorship election finally nailed the sour relationship with the APC.

Describing Aregbesola as a very influential politician,  Oke said the PDP will need him for the next governorship  election in the state in 2026.

Oke said, “The PDP must act fast, pay the necessary dowry, and bring this ‘bride’ into their fold. Symbol, as he is popularly known, is not someone you let wander.”

He added,  “Any politician who can invite 10 to 20 people to a meeting, feed them, and provide them with a token afterward should not be ignored.”

“Baba Kabiru is a factor in Osun politics. Please keep this post and get back to me after 2026.”

Recall that Aregbesola worked against the APC governorship candidate, and former governor Gboyega Oyetola by supporting the incumbent Governor Jackson Adeleke.

Oyetola was Aregbesola’s Chief of Staff during his eight year terms as governor.

Tension As Leadership Re-Open Market Sealed By NAFDAC Over Fake Products

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
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Eziukwu Road International Market

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Some unknown persons have reportedly unsealed a session of the embattled Eziukwu Road International Market, Aba, which was closed by  National Agency  for Food Drug Administration and Control NFDAC, after its raid of the market.

The development came just a day after the Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, on Friday, January 31, at a Media chat, promised to collaborate with the regulatory agency to rid the State of all forms of  fake and counterfeit products.

The Source reports that NAFDAC had, between December 16 and 17 last year, raided the market and sealed over 300 shops and business premises identified as  productions and distribution sites for adulterated essential items.

The surprise raid, the second since 2023, led to the seizure and destruction of counterfeit products worth over N5 billion.

Penultimate week, the NAFDAC South East Zonal Director, Martins Iluyemode, at a meeting featuring the Abia state Commissioner for Trade and Commerce Kingsley Nwokocha, the Market Leadership and stakeholders ,insisted that the sealed session of the Market ,( zone 9 ,13 and 15 ) will only be re-opened  after due deliberation and approval by the  national leadership of the regulatory body .

But in a move that has sent shock waves across the State, some persons claiming to be the new leadership of the market, allegedly  using thugs, ordered the re-opening of the sealed area considered to be haven for merchants of fake and counterfeit products in the market.

Available information indicates that some persons led by one Kingsley Igwe, had in company with some of the identified dealers in fake products, stormed the market on Saturday February 1, and proceeded to unlock the sealed session.

The group which claimed to be acting on the directive of the new market leadership headed by one Oba Moses, in addition to unlocking the sealed session of the market, allegedly, directed those whose shops were affected to report to their shops on Monday .

Since Friday, there have been palpable anxiety and confusion concerning the leadership status of the Market.

There are conflicting reports concerning Government’s  appointment of new interim leaderships for all the markets in the State.

But in the main, not a few  have expressed serious concern over the alleged re-opening of the fake products session of the Eziukwu Road Market at a  time some issues have not been properly addressed.

All attempts to speak with the NFDAC South East Director on the development ,as at the time of reporting, were unsuccessful.

Several calls and message put across were not responded to .

Instructively, the purported re-opening of the sealed session of the market by persons claiming affinity with the Government, is coming at time the State authorities vowed to root out the menace of fake and counterfeit products in the state .

At his monthly media parley on Friday January 31,2025, Governor Otti promised to continue the war against adulterated products from where NAFDAC has stopped.

“I have directed my people in Government to ensure that we continue from where NAFDAC stopped.

“Our people are industrious and making a lot of things in Aba. So we encourage them to make their products and call them their names instead of faking other people’s products ,or we will raid and stop them  in their tracks”, the Governor noted .

He advised all those involved in manufacturing concerns to ensure they explore due processes, including obtaining NAFDAC registration nod before engaging in their activities.

The state Governor, however, reaffirmed the determination of the State Government to come down heavily on identified dealers on fake and counterfeit items .

” I do not have a problem with you making your own products, but I have a problem with you faking the products of somebody else and trying to pass it as original version.

:We are going to come down very hard on manufacturers of fake products  because they are giving us (Abia state) a bad name and that is not acceptable ” Governor Otti warned .

Fans Urge Adesanya To Quit UFC After Third Consecutive Defeat

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Nassourdine Imavov and Israel Adesanya
File Photo: Israel Adesanya in one of his previous fights.

By Akinwale Kasali

Following his disappointing performance and loss to  Nassourdine Imavov, who brutally knocked out Nigeria’s Stylebender, Israel Adesanya, in their UFC bout in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, fans of the Nigerian have urged him to quit the sport.

Adesanya has experienced consecutive losses to Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis, before his loss to rising star Imavov.

Imavov defeated the former two-time UFC champion, by a second round TKO in the headlining bout of UFC Fight Night 250 at the ANB Arena in Riyadh.

The former two-time middleweight champion  failed to stop the rot as Dagestani-born Frenchman Imavov picked up the biggest win of his career in a stunning second-round KO loss.

Adesanya was light on his feet from the get-go and landed a series of hard low kicks that rattled the lead leg of Imavov.

Imavov, however, was undeterred and continued to plod forward.

And he put himself in range to land a stiff shovel left hook that snapped back the head of the former champion.

Adesanya ate a huge right hand a minute and a half before the end of the round but took it well.

But he didn’t take the same shot as well shortly after the restart, crumpling to the canvas.

Imavov followed up with a huge left uppercut and a barrage of ground-and-pound that forced referee Marc Goddard to wave off the contest.

Everyone in attendance at the AnB arena – including Cristiano Ronaldo – was left gobsmacked by the finish.

Adesanya himself cut a stunned figure as the harsh reality of the stoppage started to sink in.

He tried to hide it, but he was clearly crestfallen at his third defeat on the trot.

But he showed his class by sticking around to praise Imavov for the biggest victory of his career.

Three defeats in his last four have well and truly put Adesanya out of the title picture.

The defeated has put Adesanya on a long walk to reckoning, bringing to fore his retirement from the sport.

Fans around the world are now eagerly awaiting the next move of Adesanya who had once been a force to reckon with in the UFC.

Deaths, Blood, Sorrow As Suspected Herdsmen Attack Ebonyi Community

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
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Gunmen

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Ebonyi State Police Command on Sunday February 2, 2025, said they have deployed operatives to Amegu Nkalahu community ,in Ishielu Local Council to maintain peace and order. This followed  rising tensions over the killing of yet-to-be ascertained number of persons by suspected herders.

The Source reports that some gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen early Sunday  attacked and killed several local farmers, and razed many houses .

Confirming the incident ,the Police Command spokesperson, Joshua Ukandu, SP, informed that the number of casualties is still unclear .

He, however, assured that security has been enhanced in the affected area ,while details of both human and material losses will be made known after ongoing investigations .

“Yes, an attack occurred and Police are responding to the situation .The Command is still working.to determine the precise number of people killed in the incident”, the Police Spokesman stated.

The authorities of Ishielu Local Government noted that rescue and evacuation processes are underway , with efforts being made to deposit in the morgue recovered bodies of victims.

Until the efforts are concluded, the exact number of casualties will not be known,according to the Chairperson of the Council,  Ifeoma Agwu.

She, however, assured of providing more insight into the number of victims, as well as the extent of damage recorded in the attack after the evacuation process .

While the motives for  the attack remain hazy ,some  associate it to the recent killing of an unspecified number of cattle belonging to the herdsmen in the community.

One of the accounts, however, blamed the attack on the cows on some suspected operatives of the Eastern Security Network ESN,who are believed to be camping in adjourning forests in the area.

According to one of the locals ,the incident going by the palpable tension and anxiety in the community since the killing of the cattle ,Sunday’s perceived reprisal attack was a disaster waiting to happen.

Obi Laments Retirees’ Plight Over Non Payment Of Entitlements, Blames Greed, Calls Govt “Wicked”

By
Ayodele Oni
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Peter Obi

By Ayodele Oni

The 2023 Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has said greed and insatiable desperation for material acquisition, has made the Federal Government to delay the payment of pensions and gratuities to retirees.

He pointedly said that any Government that withholds the pensions and gratuities of senior citizens in their vulnerable years is wicked.

Obi, in a statement on Sunday, said that many elderly citizens who had dedicated their energies and time to the service of Nigeria are now left to struggle to meet their basic needs.

He noted that following the unwarranted delay in the payment of retirees, they are finding it difficult to access healthcare as the retirees have not received their entitlements.

Obi particularly shared a touching experience he had with a retired civil servant in Nsukka, Enugu State, saying that when he visited Shanahan College of Nursing Sciences, he noticed an elderly woman trying to speak with him.

“Although people around attempted to silence her, I insisted on hearing her out. The woman introduced herself as a retired civil servant who had dedicated her working years to serving the country.

“She told me that she had not received her pension for some time. Even more heartbreaking was the fact that she had been hospitalized for over a week without any money to pay for food, let alone medical bills.

“I felt a surge of anger and pity. Anger at leaders like me, who, out of greed and insatiable desperation for material acquisition, have made life a living hell for others by denying them the fruits of their labor.

“And then pity for the poor elderly woman, and many others like her whose painful stories may never be heard.”

Obi tasked the federal government to accord the retirees’ welfare priority attention, stressing that need for compassion and humanity in leadership.

He said that he gave the woman some financial support and promised to follow up on her case with the hospital, adding however, that he has deep concern for the countless others suffering in silence across the country.

“I have said it before, and I still maintain, that any government that withholds the pensions and gratuities of our senior citizens in their vulnerable years is wicked.

“As a Governor, I inherited and paid off over ₦30 billion in pensions and gratuities accumulated over the years, because I understood the pain the elderly citizens were going through.

“We must fix this nation. Nigeria must work for all, and everyone will get their due rewards for their productive contributions.”

PDP National Secretary: Anyanwu Asks Security Agencies To Call Govs To Order

By
Ayodele Oni
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Senator Samuel Anyanwu

By Ayodele Oni

The battle over the authentic National Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) is far from over as Senator Samuel Anyanwu insists that he remains the recognized scribe. His stand is contrary to that of Governors elected under the PDP. As far as the Governors are concerned, Anyanwu is history.

So, Anyanwu has forwarded a petition to security agencies to be alert  and stop further chaos in the party.

In the petition, dated February 1, 2025, and addressed to the Department of State Security (DSS), National Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, he accused the PDP Governors Forum of inviting chaos with their endorsement of Sunday Udo-Okoye as the recognised National Secretary.

The PDP Governors’ Forum at the end of their meeting in Asaba, Delta State affirmed that they stood with the Court of Appeals decision which ruled in favour of Sunday Ufo-Okoye as national secretary.

Anyanwu, in the petition maintained that the PDP governors, with their decision, are inviting possible threat to peace and security.

Anyanwu, who lost the legal battle for the office of National Secretary at both the High Court and Court of Appeal to Udo-Okoye, declared that he still remains the validly elected National Secretary of PDP until the court rules otherwise, stressing that anything contrary to this will be vehemently resisted.

The embattled National Secretary is known to be an ally of Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT),

He said that he has filed an appeal in the Supreme Court against the judgment of the Court of Appeal, adding that the Court of Appeal has also directed all parties to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the substantive application.

According to Anyanwu, the PDP Governors’ endorsement of Ude-Okoye as the recognised National Secretary was in conflict with the court decision, stressing that there would be grave danger if the National Working Committee (NWC), attempts to implement the governors’ position.

Anyanwu further stated in the petition that there was the urgent need for the police to take note of paragraph three of the communique issued by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum after their meeting in Asaba, Delta State, on Friday, January 31, 2025.

“In the quoted paragraph 3 of the Communique, the Forum advised the NWC to set up a machinery for the implementation of the Enugu Court of Appeal judgement, which favoured the nomination of SKD Ude Okoye as the National Secretary of the Party.

“The police should be aware that an appeal has been filed in the Supreme Court against the quoted judgement. Furthermore, the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja granted an order on January 13, 2025, clearly directing both parties to maintain status quo ante bellum pending the determination of the substantive application.

“The order accordingly was duly served on all parties concerned, including the National Working Committee of PDP and INEC.

“It is a settled matter in law that when a judgement is appealed against to a superior court; all parties should maintain status quo ante bellum till the matter is finally determined.

“The governors cannot claim ignorance of this position of law before issuing their statement, which runs in conflict with the court decision.

“The police is aware that on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, the same Ude Okoye, on the ill advice of his cohorts, invaded the PDP National Secretariat, the venue of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting with hired thugs and bandits to unleash attacks intended to disrupt the meeting for which he is not a member.

“That action was completely unlawful and in total disregard of the judiciary and the rule of law. It is saddening that the governors, in their expected wisdom, have allowed themselves to be deceived by the sponsors of Ude Okoye, who are already facing criminal investigations by the police against the forged PDP guidelines, which they used to mislead the courts in securing the ill-fated judgements.

“Police is therefore being alerted to the grave dangers that will ensue in the attempt of the NWC to implement the quoted advice of the PDP Governors Forum enshrined in paragraph 3 of their communique.

“It will be an invitation to chaos and an affront to the judiciary and the rule of law, especially when the matter is pending before the superior courts for determination.

“I am by this letter calling on you to take necessary steps to forestall the crises being instigated by the PDP Governors and the sponsors of Ude Okoye.

“The National Working Committee of PDP should be advised to refrain from any action that will be contrary to the position of the court on this matter.

“It is my right as a lawful citizen to seek justice against a judgement that was fraudulently secured against me.

“In the interest of peace and safety of lives and property of innocent Nigerians, all parties to this case should be cautioned to conduct themselves in line with the rule of law and the decision of the Court of Appeal to maintain status quo ante bellum pending the hearing and determination of the motion.”

Maritime Varsity: ONAC Urges Tinubu To Avoid Another Niger Delta Armed Crisis

By
Akinwale Kasali
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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

By Akinwale Kasali

The Oodua Nationalist Coalition, ONAC, has urged President Bola Tinubu to take careful steps to avoid igniting another round of armed conflict in the Niger Delta with the location of Maritime University.

The Group, in a letter sent to President Tinubu, admonish him to resist any attempt to locate the new Maritime University at a community that can spontaneously ignite ethnic violence between Itsekiri and Ijaw in the Niger Delta.

ONAC, a Coalition of over 36 Groups said that if the brewing crisis between the Itsekiris and Ijaw is not addressed in earnest, it may be worse than what happened in1997 when conflict broke out following the military decision that changed Warri South West Local Government headquarters to Ogbe Ijoh instead of Ogidigben.

The crisis led to many deaths and the displacement of over 200,000 people.

The group said while the Maritime University has been approved to be located at Okerenghigho, pressure is being exerted on the President to adopt the name Okerenkoko.

In a statement signed by its National Secretary, Taiwo Adeleye, it said that it is a very dangerous step that should be avoided immediately.

“Apart from the fact that the mention of Okerenkoko can lead to spontaneous violence, there is a Supreme Court Judgment stating that the name of the community is Okerenghigho, which historically belongs to the Itsekiri people”.

ONAC said any alteration of this decision by the Apex Court is not only illegal but would undermine the principle of law while setting the pace for a major conflict in the Niger Delta.

It added that the ancient name of the community is Okerenghigho and not Okerenkoko which does not exist in history, in time and in space but a mere conjecture created by some individuals to usurp Itsekiri indigenous territories.

“The Itsekiri are a smaller but ancient indigenous community in Delta State. They have suffered untold hardship, repression, historic injustice, assault, continuous and desperate plot hatched by their enemies to swallow they up through conscious distortion of their history. Lately, many of their ancestral territories have been violently usurped, violated and seized at gunpoint by hostile forces”.

The coalition further stressed that the Yoruba people will not stand alone and allow Itsekiriland to be assaulted and humiliated by any group.

“Yoruba are blood-bound with the Itsekiri and that any insult or attack on Itsekiri is an insult and attack on Yoruba history and civilisation.

“Mr President, we urge you to act with wisdom. We urge you never to allow corrupt people to lure you into creating another round of crisis that will affect the reputation and standing of your government in the eyes of your own people.

“We urge you never to sign any bill that is against the Judgment of the Supreme Court and a bill that can spark another round of hostility in the Niger Delta’

ONAC said there is a growing but wrong impression being created in the Niger Delta that the Presidency has been captured by a particular armed militant who is believed to rely bribery, blackmail and threats to have his way.

“No responsible Government should allow itself to be controlled by armed groups neither should any government succumb to cheap blackmail”, ONAC said.

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