The Nigeria Police Force has revealed that its Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit has recovered unexploded military ordnances in Maiduguri, Borno State.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said in a statement on Saturday that the explosive was discovered following reports from vigilant residents.

He said the operatives recovered six (6) unexploded projectiles and one (1) mortar bomb near an uncompleted building in the Dala Kacchallah area.

Adejobi noted that the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has urged members of the public to refrain from handling suspicious objects and to report such discoveries to the police promptly.

The statement added, “The Nigeria Police Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit has again successfully recovered unexploded military ordnances in Maiduguri on 22nd November 2024, following reports from vigilant residents. Acting swiftly, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal – Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) team was deployed to secure the affected areas. All ordnances were safely evacuated without any loss of life, injury, or property damage, and normalcy has been restored.

“Reports indicate that the items, washed ashore by recent flooding, were abandoned by local scavengers. Similarly, at the Gwange Riverbank, a military hand grenade was discovered. In both instances, the EOD-CBRN team safely removed the ordnances, declared the areas safe, and conducted explosive risk awareness campaigns to sensitize residents.

“Commending the professionalism and prompt response of the EOD-CBRN Unit, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D, NPM has assured Nigerians of the Force’s commitment to ensuring public safety and security. The IGP also noted that the EOD team in Borno State has been consistent in responsiveness and professionalism in preventing series of calamities as many IEDs have been safely recovered in many instances within the state. Investigations are ongoing to trace the origins of the recovered items and to prevent future occurrences.

“The Nigeria Police Force remains steadfast in its mandate to protect lives and property across Maiduguri and its environs.”

The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) says the proposed tax reforms by President Bola Tinubu are not in the best interest of the northern region.

The forum said the Tax Reform Bill by President Tinubu, which is currently before the National Assembly, is poorly packaged and was conceived in bad faith.

The position of NEF was made known in a communique signed by its convener, Professor Ango Abdullahi, and released to newsmen on Saturday.

According to him, the position was adopted during the second bi-annual meeting of the NEF Board of Trustees held on Wednesday, November 20th, 2024, at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Center, Abuja.

The forum submitted that the bill, in its present form, is a palpable threat to their unity and national cohesion. It added that those promoting the bill have sinister intentions.

It also condemned the silence of the National Assembly lawmakers from the north on the bill, stating that they should have rejected it as well.

The communique partly reads; “The meeting unanimously endorsed the patriotic stand taken on the raging national debate about the Tax Reform Bill by the Northern States Governors’ Forum in conjunction with the Northern Nigeria Council of Traditional Rulers, just as it reaffirmed the NEF’s strong opposition to this pernicious policy.

“In addition, the meeting seriously maintained, that, in its present form, the Tax Reform Bill is conceived in bad faith, poorly packaged and it is a palpable threat to our unity and national cohesion. The Meeting proceeded by drawing attention to the brazen cavalier way and suspicious manner in which the Tax Reform Bill was imposed on the nation, without allowing the inputs of critical stakeholders, even as it kept members of the National Economic Council in the dark, thus; confirming the sinister intentions of those promoting this outrageous Bill.

“The Board-in-session, condemned in very strong terms, the conspicuous loss of voice on this burning issue by the overwhelming number of elected politicians in the National Assembly from the region, and fiercely warned, that indeed, the days are fast gone, when such conspiratorial connivance against the vital and strategic interest of the region, either by those within or outside the region, would be condoned or even tolerated.”

The NEF, by their stand, endorsed the position of the Northern States Governors’ Forum in conjunction with the Northern Nigeria Council of Traditional Rulers, in rejecting the proposed Tax Reform Bill by President Bola Tinubu.

The bandit group, Lakurawa, has become an addition to the recognized number of insurgents and bandits terrorizing communities in Nigeria.

Like Boko Haram, Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP), and other bandit groups, Lakurawa is reportedly propagating radicalism in the Northern region.

The Chairman of Tangaza Local Government Area, Alhaji Isa Salihu Kalenjeni, in a report had earlier revealed that the group occupies five local governments in the state. However, states like Kebbi has felt the radical activities of Lakurawa.

Like all bandits, the Lakurawa group forces communities to pay some taxes and rob others. Unfortunately, they are actively recruiting youths with the sum of ₦1 million.

“They are forcing people to pay Zakkat and at the same time robbing people of their belongings. Just recently, they robbed a shop owner of ₦2 million. They also seized his car and released it after he paid ₦350,000″,  Kalenjeni stated.

A North-born soldier, Mohammed Abubakar, who has been active in the fight against insurgency and banditry across the North East and North West, spoke with Naija News on Lakuwara, banditry and insurgency in the region.

Abubakar told our reporter that the Lakurawa group shares the same ideology as Boko-Haram and ISWAP. According to him, the bandit group migrated to the North West, Sokoto, from the North East. He added that they also infiltrated the North East from Niger and other border countries within the Lake Chad region.

This was corroborated in the Naija News report. The Tangaza council chair, Kalenjeni, said the Lakurawa migrated from Libya, Mali and Niger Republic and camped at Tsauni forest.

What is the meaning of Lakurawa and who are the Lakurawa? How did this group come about the name? 

“Lakurawa is not a new word or new name. It is like a name that was dead before which is now revived to life. These people appeared with the name.

“The Lakurawas have not been new or a new terrorist group. It is actually a tribe and it is a kind of community, a long community on the Lake Chad axis. These guys are a reincarnation of Boko Haram we have in the North East. Just that the name changed,” Abubakar said.

Lakurawa’s ideology, he disclosed, is to make the region an Islamic state. Lakurawa wants Islamic laws to replace the Constitution. He told Naija News the approach and operations were wrong and there was more to the banditry of the bandits.

“They are of the ideology of Islamic state. That is implementing Islamic laws in the North East and North West also. They want a re-establishment of Islamic laws in those particular states, because they believe most people from those states are predominantly Muslims.

“They think the Sharia Law should be implemented in those states. Which is their ideology and demand and that is what they fight for, practically, but in reality, they are fighting it in wrong approach,” he stated.

On the group paying ₦1 million to youths to join them, the Nigeria Army officer who has been active in the fight against Boko Haram and bandits across North East and North West regions disclosed that Lakurawa’s mode of recruitment was not new.

He stressed that with the harsh economy and the high amount they are paying, many youths would join them. He recalled that other bandit groups recruited their members by paying ₦50,000. He regretted that many youths would join for the price of ₦1 million. He noted that the high recruitment offer could hinder the fight to eliminate the group.

“The current situation of the country right now is on heat. That is to say poverty is at its peak, insecurity, insurgency, unemployment and all that. So naturally, it is going to affect youths.

“The North is in abject poverty, so any offer like that they will not reject to accept it. They would have to collect, even though it is less than that.

“I remember some years back in the North Eastern part of the country when they were just offered ₦50,000 with an AK 47. Now that they have more than enough, even if it is ₦100,000, not up to a million who would refuse to accept such an offer.

“So it is going to affect. A lot of youths would gladly join such movement,” Abubakar told Naija News.

He emphasized that the addition of Lakurawa to the number of bandits and terrorist groups they are fighting has not been easy, but soldiers are winning.

“The soldiers have been trying so far, gathering intelligence to execute military operations. Since 2012 to date, soldiers have been very much engaged in fighting terrorists in the North East and North West region,” he stated.

Abubakar, however, emphasized that to end banditry and insurgency, youths must be provided with jobs. He decried the lack of unemployment in the Northern region. He also highlighted illiteracy as one of the factors that should be addressed to tackle insurgency and banditry.

“The youths in the North are mostly unemployed. We have the highest number of unemployed youths in the North. This is one of the reasons these people (bandits) are getting more population (recruits).

“The Northern governors really need to put their heads and hands together to be able to curb the issue of unemployment, Then literacy level, one of the issues promoting this insurgency is level of literacy.

“Some of Northern youths lack basic knowledge of both the religious ideology and Western education ideology. And as such it is easy for you to manipulate them. I think these are the key areas the governments need to put hands together to be able to curb issue of insurgency and reduce the number of youths signing up for banditry.

“If industries are built, youths will not have enough time to even sign up and listen to such ideologies that promote insurgency, particularly in the North East and North West part of the country,” Abubakar advised.

According to him, politicians have hands in the insecurity ravaging the Northern region. He pointed out that insecurity in the region and bandits activities are flourishing because of politicians’ involvement. The North-born soldier alleged that through bandits’ activities, politicians exploit natural resources in the region for their gains.

“Poor governance and political class contribute a lot to insecurity in the country. This is in the sense that these wars (banditry and insurgent ) are for economical purposes, economical selfish gains.

“Previously, there was banditry in North West but it was not as it is right now. Today, you can’t be able to go to Jibia comfortably. Kebbi is rated one of the most peaceful states in the whole North, but today, there are places you can’t go to easily due to banditry activities.

“All as a result of poor governance and selfish political interest and economic interest that our politicians signed up for. There is no way banditry can be in a particular place without the hands of the government.

“My own experience over the years, this insurgency is all about economic exploitation. Where there are minerals resources there is always war. Who are the people benefitting from this? If you look at it, banditry is going on within the borders of those particular regions.

“In the North East, North West, the war is on the borders of the states than the capital city. As such, these are areas where these mineral resources are being exploited and taken out of the country. It is just like political conspiracy to make us believe there is war while it is mineral exploitation system that is going on,” Abubakar added.

State governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party have called on President Bola Tinubu to review his administration’s economic policies to address current hardship in the land.

The governors made the call in a communique issued in Jos, Plateau State, after their two-day meeting, which ended on Saturday.

The Communique signed by Senator Bala Mohammed, Bauchi State Governor, who is the chairman of the Governor’s forum, read, “The Forum empathizes with Nigerians who are groaning under the oppressive economic hardship foisted on the nation by the policies and decisions of the APC-led Federal Government.

“The Forum calls on the President to urgently review both macroeconomic and fiscal policies that will address the welfare and well-being of Nigerians.

“The Forum wishes to pledge that all PDP Governors will continue to aggressively pursue policies and programs that will reduce the hardship and ensure progress and development.”

The meeting, held at the Plateau State Government House, Little Rayfield, Jos, was attended by the principal organs of the party: l NWC, PDP-GF, BOT, NASS Forum, Former Governors Forum, Former Ministers’ Forum and other leaders of the party.

The communique added, “The Forum notes the concerns of Nigerians, PDP founding fathers, elders and members of our great Party of seeming divisions within the ranks and files. The Forum wishes to state categorically that it remains resolute in its determination to ensure unity and cohesion of this great Party that Nigerians have come to trust as the best platform for democratic governance.

“The Forum is constrained to accept the latest postponement of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Party in empathy with our colleague, H.E. Governor Eno Bassey, whose late dear wife will be buried on the same day earlier scheduled for NEC. Once again, the Forum wishes to commiserate with our colleague and pray that God will grant him and the family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.

“The Forum is strongly advising the NWC to call NEC by the first week of February 2025 to allow for elaborate consultations with critical stakeholders of the Party. The period between November and February is to address the existential problems confronting the Party, with a deliberate timeline of activities within the period under review to address issues of leadership and litigations confronting the Party.

“The Forum notes with concern the rape of democracy in Edo Governorship elections. It is clear to everyone with a conscience that INEC manipulated results in favour of the APC candidate when, in fact, the majority of lawful votes were won by the PDP candidate, Mr. Asue Ighodalo. Meanwhile, we are still examining the documents in the Ondo elections, where the APC manipulated results after openly buying votes. The Forum calls on the judiciary to save Nigerian democracy and the National Assembly to look into our electoral laws to make it difficult for institutional sabotage of the will of the people.

“The Forum recognises the good work that the majority of members of NASS are doing. NASS is therefore called upon to critically interrogate all bills to ensure fairness, equity, national balance and even development nationally.

“The Forum commiserates with the Government and people of Plateau State on the recent Katako market fire incident, which destroyed properties worth millions of Naira. The Forum also commiserates with the Government and people of Jigawa State on the recent tanker expulsion whereby scores of people lost their lives, and several others were injured.

“The Forum expresses its gratitude to the Government and People of Plateau State for not only hosting the meeting but extending to all the participants the hospitality for which Jos is reputed. In particular, the meeting commends the Government of the State for the visible and laudable transformation in social services, tourism and transportation that have taken place and ensures all Nigerians look forward, with GENUINE HOPE, to the replication of this not only presently but after 2027 when the party would reclaim its rightful position in the Nigerian political scene.”

Our Correspondent reports that the Governors who attended the meeting included Senator Bala Mohammed (Bauchi State) – Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum; Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau State) – Host Governor; Agbu Kefas (Taraba State); Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri (Adamawa State); Seyi Makinde (Oyo State); and Dauda Lawal (Zamfara State).

The Delta and Enugu state governors were represented by their deputies, Monday Onyeme and Ifeanyi Ossai, respectively.

Five Nigerian pastors and others residing in the Idabato II community of Cameroon, formerly known as the Bakassi Peninsula, have been arrested and detained by the Cameroonian authorities.

Their detention followed the kidnap of the community’s Divisional Officer, Ewane Roland, by armed men in early October.

A former chairman of the Yoruba community in the defunct Bakassi Peninsula, Eniola Alabo, disclosed this to Saturday PUNCH during an interview on Tuesday.

Local media had reported that Roland, alongside another official of the council, Etongo Ismaeil, was whisked away on October 1, 2024, by gunmen who used a flying boat in the coastal area.

According to Alabo, the Cameroonian government blamed Nigerians in the area for Roland’s abduction and deployed soldiers to arrest them.

“The Gendarmerie came to the community and started shooting sporadically into the air on the day they arrested some of these Nigerians,” Alabo said.

The man explained that his compatriots in the troubled community called and explained that the incident had plunged them into panic and anxiety in the border town.

During the raid, some Nigerians, including Iseoluwa Eniola, Feran Ajimosun, Idowu Ajimosun, Abiola Ajimosun, Blessing Ajimosun, Sunny Bassey, Feran Samagbeyi, and Godwin were detained in Idabato II.

Governor locks down community

Saturday PUNCH gathered that Cameroon’s South-West Governor, Bernard Okalia, visited Idabato on October 8, 2024.

He was said to have declared a total lockdown of the area, which had mostly Nigerians who were fishermen.

Okalia was said to have issued a 72-hour ultimatum to both Nigerians and Cameroonians in the community to produce Roland alive.

A clip of the visit, obtained by our correspondent, showed him saying, “All shops are closed…the churches are closed till further notice. No exit, no entry in this whole Idabato.”

Alabo said Nigerians in the community were rendered economically handicapped, leading to hunger and frustration.

Residents, however, reportedly defied the governor’s order in the first week of November to go about their fishing business.

“They stayed at home doing nothing for three weeks. The people were hungry because their source of livelihood was put on hold. They had to go out to eat,” Alabo said.

The action was said to have angered the Cameroonian authorities, who deployed soldiers in Idabato on the 10th and 11th of November 2024 to arrest Nigerians in the community.

According to Alabo, the soldiers invaded the community and started shooting sporadically in the air, which made many Nigerians suffer varying degrees of injury.

Pastors arrested

During the lockdown imposed on Nigerians in Idabato II, churches were also locked.

But when Nigerians began attending to their normal activities, churches also opened on Sunday to Christians.

“Some soldiers invaded the Assembly Church of God in the area and arrested the Nigerian pastors there because they were told not to engage in any activities,” the Bakassi Peninsula ex-leader said.

“The names of the pastors arrested by Cameroonian soldiers that day were Adeleke Omoniye, Cascar Ubom, Etim Asuquo, Olamide Ayeye, and Umoh Atete.”

Buttressing the claims, one of the Nigerian leaders in Idabato, who identified himself as Johnson for security reasons, said the lives of the pastors were in danger.

Johnson said the pastors were whisked away by the Cameroonian soldiers to unknown places.

“The Cameroonian soldiers took the pastors away,” Johnson said. “A few days later, we heard that they have been released, but we’ve not seen them.”

The source also said the incident forced many people to relocate to neighbouring communities in Akwa Ibom and Cross River.

“We are in panic,” the source revealed. “The Cameroonian authorities have made life unbearable for Nigerians in Idabato. We have all the major tribes of Nigeria here. We have Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, Efik, and other people.”

Woman died

During the lockdown, a Nigerian woman, Esther Okon died after giving birth to a baby on the 20th of October, 2024.

Okon reportedly bled to death after giving birth as she could not receive any medical treatment from the hospital.

One of the executives of the Nigerian Union in Idabato, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed this, adding that the woman had been in labour since 19th October.

The source said Okon would not have died if she had been transported to Ibaka in Mbo local government area of Akwa Ibom State but there was no movement.

“It takes only two hours by a speedboat but if we see a flying boat, it is just 45 minutes to get her to Akwa Ibom,” the source said.

Confirming the incident, another Nigerian man, who claimed to be Okon’s husband’s friend and did not disclose his identity for security reasons, said her corpse was repatriated to Nigeria after some documents were signed with the Cameroonian authorities.

Tax payments

One of the problems causing conflicts between the Cameroonian authorities and Nigerians in Idabato is the payment of taxes.

The authorities had accused Nigerian nationals in Idabato of evading taxes but proof of adherence to the payment of taxes was shown to them on many occasions, Johnson said.

“We have documents like receipts issued to us as evidence after the payments of taxes. It is called global tax collected annually,” the source added.

Saturday PUNCH gathered that some of the taxes might not have been remitted to appropriate quarters.

Failed interventions

When asked about the possible intervention of the offices of Consulate-Generals of the two West African countries, the Nigerian nationals said their efforts had not yielded results.

“I have gone to the office of the Consulate-General of Cameroon in Nigeria, but nothing happened. I was not allowed to see the woman. I learned that she is a new person appointed,” Alabo said.

All efforts to reach the Consulate-General of Cameroon in Nigeria were futile as both numbers and email addresses on their website appeared dormant as of the time of filing this report.

NiDCOM reaction

Meanwhile, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission disclosed to Saturday PUNCH that the matter was for the consular division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to handle.

While explaining why it was not in the jurisdiction of the NiDCOM, the commission’s Head of Media, Abdur-Rahman Balogun said the issue now involved Nigeria and Cameroon.

“NiDCOM only engages in matters relating to Nigerian individuals in the diaspora,” Balogun said. “This case is between two governments. It should be handled by the consular office.”

“Moreover, I am not aware of the incident,” NiDCOM spokesman added.

The efforts to reach the Ministry of Foreign Affairs concerning the issue did not yield result as the number was not connecting.

A message was sent to the email address of the ministry but there was no response as of the time of filing this report.

In 2002, the International Court of Justice awarded the oil-rich Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon.

On June 12, 2006, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Cameroonian President Paul Biya signed the Greentree Agreement, which outlined the withdrawal of Nigerian troops and transfer of authority.

Some Nigerians left the community to move to the coastal areas belonging to Nigerian states namely Cross River and Akwa Ibom.

Meanwhile, about 50,000 Nigerians are still residents of the Bakassi Peninsula, claiming that the now Idabato community remains their ancestral home despite being under the control of Cameroon.

The Anambra State Police Command said it has arrested two suspects, including a native doctor, for alleged kidnapping and armed robbery.

The command said it also recovered one pump action, the victim’s vehicle and other incriminating items from the suspects.

This was disclosed by the command’s spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, in a press statement on Saturday, adding that the arrest was made following the testimony of a rescued kidnapped victim.

The statement read in part, “Following the testimony of a rescued kidnapped victim on 22/11/2024 by 6pm near Abagana Girls Secondary School, joint security forces comprising of Police and Anambra Vigilantes busted a shrine of a native doctor at Uru, Abagana and arrested two suspects.

“During a manhunt on two others, the police also recovered one pump action, the victim’s vehicle, rope, horsewhip and other incriminating items. The suspects included one Maduabuchukwu, Ikechukwu Okafor age 30yrs, and Nweze Chijindu aged 38yrs all natives of Abagana while One Supuluchukwu Nweze and Sunday Nwakanze aged 30yrs are presently at large.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the victim was lured to the location by a phone call allegedly initiated by Sunday Nwakanze. The victim was abducted at gunpoint, dispossessed of valuables, and transported to a shrine where he was restrained using ropes and had his mouth sealed.

“The two suspects confessed to the crime and are currently assisting the Police with information for possible arrest of other gang members.”

Ikenga assured all that the command remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of all residents in Anambra State.

Olajumoke Orisaguna, a Lagos-based bread vendor who gained prominence in 2016 as Jumoke ‘Onibredi’, is returning to fame as a broadcaster after several years of diminishing visibility.

Naija News recalls that Jumoke Onibredi was discovered by the esteemed photographer, TY Bello, during a photo shoot which went viral at the time.

Jumoke Oniburedi garnered national attention when Ty Bello noticed her during a photo shoot while selling bread on the streets of Lagos, recognizing her potential as a model.

Her narrative of rising from humble beginnings to success became a media phenomenon, leading to her appearance on magazine covers and inspiring numerous Nigerians.

However, her trajectory turned negative four years ago when she experienced a decline in fame, financial stability, and public relevance, having fallen prey to fraud allegedly perpetrated by her former manager.

Jumoke asserted that she was misled by the manager, who misappropriated her earnings from endorsement deals and other business ventures.

She shared this experience during a meet-and-greet event titled The Comeback of Olajumoke (Oni Bredi), organized by the Cardinal Foundation, where she recounted her struggles.

“I really suffered and lost everything. She took me to South Africa twice for a documentary, but I had to pay for our flights and accommodation. When we returned to Nigeria, she only gave me N50,000. I had no money, nothing. I lost everything. I started calling people for food. It was Aunty Azuka and TY Bello who came to my rescue.

“Aunty Azuka paid my rent, furnished a shop for me, and regularly sent me foodstuffs and money to take care of my daughters. It was that bad.

“I have learned my lessons, and I will never leave those who truly mean well to me again,” she shared.

Jumoke Onibredi expressed gratitude to the CEO of Media Room Hub, Azuka Ogujiuba, TY Bello, and Mrs Adedoja Allen, who supported her during those challenging times.

Despite her strained relationship with Ogujiuba, whom her former manager had allegedly alienated her from, Ogujiuba provided financial assistance for food and rent.

“Aunty Azuka and TY Bello really helped me. Whenever I called Azuka for help, she would provide it, even when she didn’t have much—her daughter would step in. TY Bello also assisted me financially. I am so grateful to these two women; they were my saving grace,” Jumoke noted.

To assist Jumoke in reconstructing her life, Ogujiuba reached out to Mrs. Adedoja Allen, the CEO of City FM and the founder of the Cardinal Foundation, which is part of Cardinal Broadcasting, to provide her with a chance in the broadcasting field.

Ogujiuba shared the details of how he engaged the police to apprehend Jumoke’s previous manager, who had committed fraud against her. Unfortunately, the case did not produce any meaningful results, as the manager was released and did not respond to further police summons.

Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has reiterated its calls that citizens are suffering as a result of the economic policies of the federal government.

The Secretary General of ACF, Murtala Aliyu, said while they engage state governments in the North on the need to provide good governance, economic policies are made by the federal government.

Aliyu stated this on Friday in an interview with Arise TV.

He noted that ACF is not completely blaming the national government, but the hardship affecting the citizens resulted from the federal government’s policies.

“We’ve made our statements previously. We’re still making our statements today, the persons on the street really complaining. They are suffering. Food is becoming difficult on the table. People are finding difficult to move, even to go to work. These are realities on the ground, but the government has explained, and it’s government’s responsibility to tell us when this will be eased. And so as ACF, we will continue to have government that people are complaining, that people are suffering,  they have to know that this is a happening,” he said.

Speaking on ACF‘s engagement with political leaders in the North on the need to provide good governance, Aliyu emphasized the need for the government at all levels to discharge their responsibilities effectively.

“Well, first of all, let me say that we engage the governors at the governor’s forum level. We also engage the governors at the individual level. We also engage the traditional rulers and where there is a responsibility at the sub-national level, we bring their attention to that. We’re not totally blaming the national government for all the wars in the country. Just like the North, any part of the country will have to wake up at sub-national level to do the right thing.

“So the federal government will complement those efforts. But economic policies, are actually defined by government at the center, and if things are going right or wrong, the center should address it. At a micro level, the state governments or the governments at the national level will handle that, and we are talking to them.

“So we’re not saying we’re heaping all the blame on one person or one or one location. No, we’re saying all people at each level should wake up to their responsibility and also be aware that the people at the grassroots are complaining, and so we expect to see the promises government made that changes will come soon, and the circle will come to the people,” Aliyu added.

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Cletus Obun, has warned President Bola Tinubu to retrace his steps, especially regarding appointments.

Naija News reports that Obun, during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, said that Tinubu is being led into committing political suicide by certain people.

Obun expressed displeasure over the reward system in APC, noting it was worse under the administration of former president Muhammadu Buhari, and Tinubu is acting likewise.

The APC chieftain lamented that members of the party who worked tirelessly during the last election for the emergence of Tinubu as President were not being rewarded accordingly.

He said, “It is a wrong strategy not to reward your own allies. It would surely boomerang. In a developing democracy such as this, it is a brazen affront to loyalty.

“What you are seeing here are genuine agitations. The reward system in the APC is very poor. APC had the worst reward system under Buhari and today we’re seeing the repeat.

“A man works like an elephant and eats like an ant. It’s not correct. I’m sure he [Tinubu] has enough time to retrace his steps on this matter because certain attempts are being made to mislead him into thinking that those who worked for him in 2023 may not be useful to him in 2027, that is a wrong headed political suicidal to ever attempt.

“This direction of not rewarding those who worked, even their prayers alone will affect him. Karma is real.”

On Friday, November 22, Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State recounted his last conversation with the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah.

Ubah, who was Anambra South Senator, died in the United Kingdom, UK, on July 27 at the age of 52 years.

Speaking during the funeral service held for the late Ubah at St. Peter Claver Parish, Umuanukam Otolo, Nnewi, Anambra State, Soludo said death was not part of his discussion with Ubah.

The governor said he, Ubah, and Emeka Offor planned a meeting due to the late lawmaker’s intentions to run for “something.”

Soludo said he was waiting for Offor to set a date for the meeting when he learnt of Ubah’s death.

According to Soludo: “I still remember when we met sometime in May this year, and I asked him that it seems he was nursing an ambition for something and he told me that he also would want to be part of it.

“And he also said that the only way out is for Sir Emeka Offor to convene a meeting at our instance.

“Then later, Emeka Offor also echoed the same thing, and we both agreed, and it was that meeting that we were still waiting for before someone sent me a message about his death.

“I did not believe it, until a senator called to tell me.

“I then called his wife and she confirmed it but that was not what we discussed and agreed on.

“And I ask him, is this what we discussed?”