The Senator representing Abia South senatorial district in Abia State, Enyinnaya Abaribe, has claimed the Igbos are the most disenfranchised and marginalised people in Nigeria.

The Senator made this known in Abuja on Saturday during a public presentation of a book: “The power of Nothing: Triumph And Trump Of People’s Voice In Enugu”, written by Ikem Okuhu.

Abaribe, who was represented at the occasion by Senator representing Aba North/South Federal Constituency on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Alex Mascot Ikwechegh, said there is an imbalance within the nation’s political environment.

The Senator insisted that allocating only five states to the Southeast is unfair.

He also called on Nigerian citizens and politicians to embrace the optimism to make the country better.

He said, “I would like to say a few things about the Igbos. We Igbos believe in progressivism, and the concept of patriotism and nationalism.

“And this is why you will see an Igbo man pack up his bag and leave his village to Bauchi to set up shops, buy a piece of land, build a house, and become an employer of labour. That in itself, for me, is nationalism, patriotism and progressivism.

“That’s why the Igbo man has that enthusiasm in him to develop, to be progressive, and to remain optimistic. That’s why I said that optimism is a virtue every Nigerian and politician must embrace so that Nigeria will always be better.

“A lot of people might not like what I want to say, the Igbos, we are the most disenfranchised and marginalized. But all we try to do and encourage our brothers is to support one another because it’s highly needed.”

Speaking about the book by Okuhu, which chronicled the events leading to and after the 2023 gubernatorial election, Abaribe urged Nigerians to engage in politics and government policies.

He added, “Today we are having a conversation about tax reform. It’s a subject matter that’s on the front burner.

“If the bill is passed that means every activity that relates to your business will be affected. So when you say you’re not interested in politics, you’re doing yourself and family a great disservice.

“Our president, when he was elected, on the day of his inauguration made a statement and said that subsidy is gone.

“Immediately, the effect of that statement became something that has put us in an economic quagmire.

“This goes to show that politics plays a very intricate role in all our lives. That’s why we must be enthusiastic, eager and receptive to anything that relates to lessons that can be learned from the mistakes of the past.

“It’s only when you identify your problem, you identify the conundrum of the political system that you can then begin also to identify the clinical solutions of how those problems can be tackled.

“There are things that happened, there are people that believe they have built alliances, there are people that gave their words but at the end of the day, those agreements were breached. This is a lesson every politician must learn.”

Yoruba nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has called on President Bola Tinubu to caution Vice President Kashim Shettima against further verbal attacks on Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the British Conservative Party.

Igboho’s statement, obtained in Osogbo on Sunday, came in response to Shettima’s remarks about Badenoch, who had earlier made critical comments on corruption in Nigeria.

Badenoch, who identifies as Yoruba, had also distanced herself from being grouped with Northern Nigeria.

In a personally signed press release, Igboho urged Tinubu to intervene, noting that Badenoch had done no wrong in expressing her views on corruption, a persistent obstacle to Nigeria’s development.

“It is incumbent on President Bola Tinubu, who is also of Yoruba lineage, to direct Shettima to focus on his duties as vice president rather than engage in a verbal war against Badenoch. She merely expressed her candid and truthful opinion on the pervasive corruption in Nigeria’s system,” Igboho said.

Drawing comparisons to the previous administration, he added, “When Muhammadu Buhari was in power, nobody dared launch offensive or verbal attacks against his Fulani ethnic group without facing consequences.

“Because of my agitation against the destruction of farmlands, killings, and sexual violence by Fulani herders during Buhari’s tenure, security agents, on his orders, stormed my residence on July 1, 2021, killing two people and arresting 13 others.”

Igboho criticised the Federal Government for its failure to address the challenges plaguing Nigerians, including economic hardship, poverty, kidnapping, and insecurity. Instead of focusing on these pressing issues, he said, Shettima had chosen to target Badenoch.

“Majority of Nigerians are experiencing harrowing poverty and insecurity, yet the Federal Government remains lost in finding solutions. Rather than deploying measures to alleviate the suffering of the masses, the Vice President is busy directing his energy toward Badenoch,” he stated.

Igboho further said, “When has it become a sin for someone to express their opinion or state the obvious about how corruption has stunted Nigeria’s growth?

“Badenoch, proclaiming her true identity as Yoruba, has committed no offence. The Vice President should concentrate on his responsibilities instead of chasing shadows.”

He implored Tinubu to intervene and ensure Shettima refrained from unnecessary verbal assaults on Badenoch, urging him to prioritise the duties of his office.

The sixth day of the Redeemed Christian Church of God’s Holy Ghost Congress 2024, themed Onward Christian Soldiers, turned into a captivating reflection as Pastor Enoch

Adeboye shared the extraordinary story of the Redemption Camp.

Addressing a congregation on December 14, Pastor Adeboye recounted how God’s providence and the unwavering faith of a few transformed a forsaken land into a spiritual haven.

According to Church Times Nigeria on Sunday, Adeboye said, “This place was just about two hectares of land where highway robbers made their base. I was just a little above 40 years old when we came.”

The camp’s inception was fraught with challenges, which Adeboye likened to the Israelites’ encounter with the negative reports of ten spies, countered by the faith-filled resolve of Joshua and Caleb.

“Not long after we came to the camp, we stumbled on spots where robbers dumped hundreds of suitcases, shoes, and clothes of their victims,” Adeboye revealed.

Nature, too, seemed hostile, he recounted.

“The place was also a land of snakes, especially pythons. Almost every week, huge reptiles were killed on the campgrounds,” he said, adding that in one chilling incident, a snake was discovered under the bedsheet of one of his children.

Adeboye also recounted the cutting of a strange tree that sparked fear among local villagers, who believed those who cut it would die. “Many years later, nothing has happened to those who cut the tree,” he said.

Despite these adversities, Pastor Adeboye credited the unyielding support of elders who laboured tirelessly during the camp’s formative years.

“Don’t look down on elders. They laboured with me when we had nothing. They fetched firewood for cooking, dug holes to get water to drink, and worked tirelessly. They have tried,” he said.

He urged the younger generation to honour their elders, insisting that their experience is irreplaceable.

“The experience gained over years by elders can’t be learned in a seminary,” he added.

He expressed pride in the church’s unparalleled achievements.

“Where else can you find a father in the world that has the kind of choir that we have? I am not a father in a million, not even in a billion, and you’re going to be greater than me,” he declared, prompting thunderous applause.

In his closing words, Adeboye called on the congregation to seize the opportunities of their youth with faith.

“If the enemy can’t stop your father, the same enemy can’t stop you. Let’s together take over the world for Christ,” he proclaimed.

He assured them of God’s omnipotence, adding, “If God is on your side, nothing can stop you. By strength shall no man prevail.”

The Holy Ghost Congress concludes today, December 15, with a grand thanksgiving service, leaving attendees emboldened by the remarkable testimony of Redemption Camp’s transformation and the enduring power of faith.

Nigerian model and rising star, Nwajagu Samuel, has etched his name in the history books as the first African and Nigerian to win the Mister International title.

The 16th edition of the global pageant, which showcased 46 contestants from across the world, took place today December 14, 2024, at Island Hall, Fashion Island in Bangkok, Thailand.

Samuel‘s victory, which was celebrated by fans and followers, came after an intense competition.

He was crowned by his predecessor, Kim Thitisan Goodburn of Thailand, in a moment that marked a turning point for the African continent in the world of male pageantry.

Mister International is widely regarded as one of the top two global male pageants, offering a platform for young men to showcase their talents, charisma, and cultural pride.

The 23-year-old software engineer, athlete and model with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering also bagged the Best in Swimwear award. He is 6’3″ tall.

Nguyễn Mạnh Lân from Vietnam and Glenn Victor Sutanto representing Indonesia secured the first and second runner-up positions, respectively.

Anthony Henricus of the Netherlands, Rafael Dominguez from Spain, and Justine Ong of the Philippines joined them in the top six, and Ong earned the fan-favourite vote.

The contestants from Mexico, Italy, South Korea, Ecuador, and China completed the Top 10 finalists.

SEE PHOTOS:

Ex-militant leader and a prominent voice in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, Alhaji Mujahid Asari Dokubo, has revealed how former President Muhammadu Buhari contracted and deployed members of his private security outfit to different security flashpoints across several states in the country.

This revelation was contained in a trending video on multiple social media platforms. The video showed Dokubo surrounded by supporters, giving a performance report of his men across the country, to some people.

The ex-warlord recalled that their first operation was on November 3, 2021, during the Anambra election.

He said: “Because of the performance of our people in Anambra, the government asked us to go to Imo State.

“In Imo, we did what nobody thought was possible; where they said there were tunnels and hoodlums were running through tunnels, our people defied the odds and went there. At the dreaded Valley (Mother Valley) we entered”.

According to Dokubo, his men were daring and courageous and several of them paid the ultimate price with their lives.

He alleged: “Out of jealousy, five of our men were executed pointblank by the Police in Imo. If we had lost our temper at the time, we may not be around here now.

“Over the years, they have been telling government lies but we proved them wrong.”

Dokubo noted that his group passed through all the difficulties but continued to progress and stayed on course for the work. “And from that progress, the Government of President Muhammadu Buhari saw us and gave us opportunity to go to different places in the country, to bring peace to the people.”

He added that before his men were deployed to Wase, Baga and Mangoro, the people there were unable to go to farm but the stories have changed.

“They may accept or deny it but they can’t erase the fact that we cleared the Abuja-Kaduna road for people to travel in peace”, he said.

There are strong indications that some leaders and members of the Labour Party (LP) outside of the National Working Committee (NWC) led by Julius Abure, a lawyer, are currently seeking alternative platforms for the general elections holding in 2027.

The development, Sunday Telegraph gathered, is not unconnected with the recent recognition of Abure by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the authentic National Chairman, following a court victory in Abuja.

Prior to the recognition, Abure had been at war with the Leader of the party and its presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Mr. Peter Obi; the Governor of Abia State and only governor of the party, Dr. Alex Otti; the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and its Political Commission led by a former President of the NLC Abulwahab Omar.

It was in a bid to resolve the crisis that Obi, Otti, the NLC and leaders of the party converged on Umuahia and set up a Caretaker Committee headed by a former Finance Minister, Ms. Nnenadi Usman, to pilot the affairs of the party and elect a new executive.

Few weeks after that, Abure obtained the court order which unsettled the whole party.

It was gathered that following the differences between Abure and the leaders, many of them are now seeking alternative platforms to prepare for 2027, even as the Abure-led NWC continues to threaten to sue those who were leaving the party. But the defectors cited the division in the party as their reasons for their action.

Only last week, five members of the House of Representatives, namely, Tochukwu Okere, Imo State; Donatus Mathew, Kaduna State; Bassey Akiba, Cross River State and Iyawu Esosa, Edo State, defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the LP.

A day after, Dalyop Chollom, from Plateau State, also defected to the APC, causing an uproar in the House. This came weeks after a senator from Imo State, Emma Ibezim, had defected to the APC. It is a situation both the minority caucus in the National Assembly and the LP itself has not taken lightly.

Responding to the defections, the Minority Whip, Ali Isah JC (PDP-Gombe), asked the Speaker to declare the seats of the defected opposition lawmakers vacant in line with Section 68(1) of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended).

Similarly, the Minority Leader of the House, Kingsley Chinda and the leader of the LP caucus in the Green Chamber, George Ozodinobi, both toed the same line, a position that was overruled by the Speaker of the House, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas.

Reacting to the gale of losses, the Labour Party said it had opened a hall of shame for the members, who defected, adding that it would retrieve their mandates through the courts. According to Obiorah Ifoh, the party’s spokesman, “Though the Labour Party leadership is undaunted by the defection, it has however, elected not to allow it slide and has therefore instructed its legal team to commence the legal actions against the defectors and to also commence the process of regaining our mandates in line with the 1999 constitution and 2022 Electoral Act as amended,”

Even though the LP is sounding tough under Abure, Sunday Telegraph gathered that more LP members are gearing to defect from the party in the coming weeks. Sources within the party said that the discussions between Obi and other political parties on presenting a stronger platform for the 2027 election was an indication of a major serious shift in the party. Although Obi himself has not spoken of his direction, it was gathered that his men are in active discussion with the PDP, NNPP, ADC, SDP, among other parties to form a coalition against the APC in 2027.

Further, Otti of Abia State, at the last Local Government Election in the state, did not field candidates on the platform of the LP. Rather, he opted for the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), which won a major chunk of the seats in the 17 Local Councils in the state.

A source told Sunday Telegraph: “Since Abure insisted on staying there forever, it is obvious the confidence of many in the party is lost. Since he spurned the Caretaker Committee and believes the party belongs to him and his NWC, the consequences are clear enough for all to see. These defections are not mere occurrences. Many more will leave; others are waiting for the direction the coalition talks will go.

Nze Fidelis Chukwu, who hails from Imo State, has emerged as the new President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.

Naija News reports that the latest development was contained in a communique issued at the end of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide Imeobi and General Assembly meeting held on Saturday in Enugu and signed by the Secretary-General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Okey Emuchay.

Emuchay said the motion to adopt Nze Ozichukwu was moved by Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, Chairman of the Imo Council of Elders, and seconded by Chief Simon Okeke.

The Nze Ozichukwu’s emergence is due to a chain of catastrophes that visited Ohanaeze in 2022, with the demise of Prof. George Obiozor.

In application of the doctrine of necessity, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu was sworn in as his replacement on April 30, 2023, but unfortunately, he died on July 25, 2024, and was buried on November 1.

Nze Ozichukwu’s leadership is expected to last only 27 days, which is needed to exhaust the Imo tenure, which ends on Jan. 10, 2025.

Emuchay said Chukwu was sworn in as the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide by the National Legal Adviser, Joseph Ojobu and the Assistant Legal Adviser, Peter Aneke.

He said the Southeast Governors’ Forum, represented by Gov. Peter Mbah, charged the new President-General to ensure that the forthcoming Ohanaeze election should be transparent and credible.

He said: “In line with the doctrine of necessity that the Imo State Chapter of Ohanaeze, led by Mr C.J Ihemedu presented Nze Chukwu to the Imeobi Ohanaeze to exhaust the balance of four year tenure allotted to Imo State”.

“In line with the doctrine of necessity, the Imeobi adopted the nomination of Chukwu as President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and the motion was unanimously adopted through a voice vote by the Imeobi Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

“The State Presidents of Ohanaeze Ndigbo of Abia, Anambra, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Rivers States, expressed delight over the nomination of Chukwu as the new President-General until January 10, 2025.”

A chieftain of the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP), Buba Galadima, has asserted that there is a vacancy in the Aso Rock Presidential Villa ahead of the 2027 elections.

He said his position is supported by the Nigerian constitution and guided by the will of the people.

The elder statesman made the submission in response to the position of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, who held that there is no vacancy in Aso Rock and Northern politicians interested in the presidency should wait till 2031 when President Bola Tinubu is expected to conclude his second term in office.

However, reacting to Akume’s submission, Galadima, during an interview with Vanguard which was published on Sunday, dismissed the position of the SGF, adding that he was only trying to protect his job.

The NNPP chieftain said counting from 1999, by 2027, the South would have ruled Nigeria for 18 and a half years, while the North has ruled for only nine and a half years, eight years of Buhari and one and a half years of Yar’ Adua which means, automatically, the North can lay claim to the presidency again.

“Well, in the first place, I wouldn’t want to discuss Nigerian issues on the basis of North and South. I am a nationalist and will remain so until I die. But, the issue would be about equity and justice and for me, Akume, a sociologist, and brother of a historian should have known better. If he looks at Aso Villa which he said there is no vacancy, he should know that other people were there before, namely: General Buhari, General Babangida, Chief Shonekan, General Abacha, General Abubakar, Chief Obasanjo, Yar’ Adua, Jonathan, and now President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“So, if all the 10 former presidents and heads of state that stayed there are no more there, he should also know that one day, sooner or later, President Bola Tinubu would also go. Nigerians behave as if they don’t understand history. If you are talking of region, Akume is one of the people I respect very much because as governor of Benue State in 1999, he was one of the foremost northerners that worked for the interest of the North.

“In fact, he was more northern than the Caliphate because Akume spent most of his time defending the New Nigerian Development Corporation, NNDC, and Bank of the North. At a point, only Benue had commanding shares in Bank of the North. For him to make a somersault over what he believed in before, I just laugh and say, well, the man is protecting his ‘garri’ (cassava flour).

“Did he really make a somersault? His words were clear based on opinions on a gentleman’s agreement by political parties since 1999. He was talking about rotation of presidency between the North and South, two tenures of four years each (eight years total).

“I thought you would go back. You started from the end. I don’t want to discuss North and South, but if that is what you want us to educate Nigerians on, by 2027 the South would have ruled this country (since 1999) for 18 and a half years, while the North has ruled for only nine and a half years, eight years of Buhari and one and a half years of Yar’ Adua which means, automatically, that you can revert to the North so they can make up for the deficit, if that is what he is talking about. But I believe in who has delivered on his promises to Nigerians. Has that man occupying that seat ameliorated the condition of the people? We would ask Akume for their scorecard,” Galadima said.

The NNPP chieftain argued further that Nigeria is practising democracy and not a monarchy, so it is left to the citizens, not one person to determine their next leader.

“What have they done for Nigerians? Are we practicing monarchy? I thought it is democracy. That’s why I don’t want to talk about North and South. What I want to talk about is who delivered on the dividends of democracy to Nigerians. If President Tinubu delivers very well and Seyi, his son, would be the best person to succeed him, for me, I have no problem. But, what the people feel now in their bodies will determine what they vote in 2027.

“There is big vacancy in Aso Rock. In fact, there is no body occupying that seat in 2027, according to the Nigerian constitution. So, Akume’s assertion is only laughable. When I heard it and looked at him talking about that, I said, “Ha! My friend is protecting his ‘garri,“” Galadima concluded.

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has described President Bola Tinubu as a courageous leader, working to prevent Nigeria’s problems from getting progressively worse.

Dogara said this at the 14th Convocation and 17th Foundation anniversary of the Achievers University, Owo in Ondo State.

According to him, Tinubu is a leader who is prepared to lead with unbridled courage even at a personal cost.

“With what President Bola Tinubu has done, whether it’s the freeing of local government areas from the choke-hold of economic stagnation the states had hitherto subjected them to or the groundbreaking bold tax reforms proposals he had placed before the National Assembly, I see a glimmer of hope that we may be dealing with a leader who is prepared to lead with unbridled courage even at personal cost.

“It gladdens my heart that we are now dealing with a leader who is not avoiding stubborn tasks and is very much unwilling to put off difficult conversations.

“I support the president’s tax reforms not because they are perfect but because it is the right thing to do.

“However, I must concede the fact that those opposed to it have the right to do so but I do not share their jaundiced nay tenuous and puerile position that because they disagree with some aspects of the reforms, then the reforms must be withdrawn or killed.”

According to him, those who oppose the reforms should clearly spell out what they disagree with and make a better proposition than that of the president for Nigerians to compare and contrast in order to make informed choices.

Dogara, who is the Chancellor of the university, said that a call to do nothing about the reforms was either bad politics, sheer buffoonery or a combination of both.

He called the youths to be at the centre of transformation, noting that “through education, innovations, and a shared commitment to excellence, we can build a Nigeria that fulfils the aspirations of its people.”

The chancellor also tasked Nigerian universities to be centres of learning and innovation that would come out with practical solutions to the country’s economic problems.