₦airaland Forum

DAILY POST recalls that the variant, first reported in Australia, has spread to 29 countries, raising alarms over its heightened virulence.

However, the Ministry of Health, in a statement on Saturday by the Deputy Director of Information and Public Relations, Alabi Balogun, said Nigerians should not panic but continue taking precautions by observing personal hygiene.

Balogun said the government had also taken precautionary measures by establishing molecular laboratories, isolation centres, and intensive care units equipped with ventilators at the federal tertiary hospitals.

He advised Nigerians not to panic but to continue with the universal precautions of observing personal hygiene, including regular washing of hands.

“You may recall that a newly detected COVID variant, XEC, was reported in Australia and has spread to about 29 countries globally and has shown a more virulence over other circulating strains with concern over its possible impact on service delivery in our federal tertiary hospitals.

“However, the good news is that there is no evidence of COVID variant XEC in Nigeria.

“The federal ministry of health and social welfare, through her agencies, has stepped up surveillance, including at all entry points to Nigeria.

“The federal government has proactively upgraded our federal tertiary hospitals by establishing molecular laboratories, isolation centres, and intensive care units equipped with ventilators.

“Since the COVID variant XEC has not been detected in Nigeria, it has therefore become imperative to correct the misinformation and fear of the general public concerning the resurgence of COVID-19 in Nigeria” the statement read.

IamHonourable1:
I received mine, thank you Mr President,Sir.

Wike, who highlighted the importance of collaboration among the judiciary, executive and legislative arms of the government, spoke on Friday at the flagging off of the design, construction, and furnishing of the office annexe of the Body of Benchers of Nigeria in Abuja.

The former Rivers State helmsman pointed out that provision has already been made in the supplementary budget of the FCT for the construction of the Body of Benchers office complex.

The minister assured of the availability of funds for the project and thanked President Tinubu for his unwavering support for the FCT Administration.

Responding to a request to provide a fire service station within the Body of Benchers complex, the Minister also assured that the project would be included in the FCT’s 2025 budget.

He said: “You can take it for granted; by 2025, we are going to establish a fire service station within this complex. I want to assure the Body of Benchers that I will make you proud, and you will see a difference as far as governance is concerned.”

A faction of Ohanaeze had written to President Bola Tinubu endorsing the creation of Anioma State.

The advertorial in some national dailies (not DAILY POST) was signed by Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Professor Chubikeya Achokawa, Chief Alexander Chikalue Okemiri, Prince Eze Ozobu, Prof. Obasi Igwe, and Justice Alpha Ikpeama on behalf of Ndigbo.

However, Ohanaeze’s Secretary-General, Okey Emuchay, said it’s unthoughtful for a faction to endorse the creation of Anioma State when there are other demands like Aba, Adada, Etiti, Orashi, and Orlu states.

In a statement he signed, Emuchay said: “The attention of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has been drawn to an advertorial in the Vanguard Newspaper of December 5, 2024, to the effect that Ohanaeze Ndigbo has endorsed the demand for the creation of Anioma State. The Open Letter to His Excellency, Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, purports that “the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, representing all the Igbo speaking peoples in the 13 states of the major and minor indigeneity in Nigeria, as well as the millions in the Diaspora, writes…”

“We are aware that the Igbo nation will surely be incensed and rattled by such an advertorial that did not pass through the Igbo cultural consensus.

“We have pleaded with the above characters that the Igbo problem is far beyond them. The egalitarian Igbo formed an Imeobi Ohanaeze and the Ohanaeze General Assembly, where the major issues affecting the Igbo are deliberated upon before arriving at a resolution.


“It must be clearly stated that we do not in any way begrudge the legitimate and inalienable right of the Anioma movement led by Sen. Ned Nwoko.

“We commend the courage and steadfastness of the Distinguished Senator Nwoko but a situation where we have other demands for state creation, such as Aba, Adada, Etiti, Orashi, Orlu states, etc; it is very unthoughtful, harebrained and a huge embarrassment to the Igbo nation for a few persons to use the hallowed name of Ohanaeze Ndigbo to issue a far-reaching press release without adequate consultations with the Igbo stakeholder.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Imeobi Ohanaeze will soon be convened to constitute an electoral umpire for the January 2025 Ohanaeze election. During the meeting, Ohanaeze will review the state of affairs in Nigeria and other matters affecting the Igbo.

“Within the week, Ohanaeze had issued a statement to debunk a press release to the effect that Ohanaeze is in a deep crisis. In the release, we reiterated that the Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo is Ambassador Okey Emuchay, MFR and that any other press releases emanating from elsewhere should be taken for what it is.

“We once again plead with the above characters to desist from desecrating the sacredness of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization; reminding them that the Igbo all over the world owe a profound emotional attachment to Ohanaeze Ndigbo. For emphasis, Ohanaeze represents the soul, passion, history, culture, cosmology and politicality of the Igbo. Thus, it is inconceivable that any meaningful Igbo will become the willing tool for destabilizing the Ohanaeze Ndigbo. Once more, we urge all sons and daughters of the Igbo nation to remain calm.”

The four defected members are Chinedu Okere, Mathew Donatus, Akiba Bassey, and Esosa Iyawe.

The defection was announced by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, on Thursday.

Abbas cited “internal crisis” within the Labour Party as the reason for their defection.

However, the party’s spokesman, Obiora Ifoh, said nobody reserves the right to defect with the party’s mandate.

In a statement, Ifoh said: “Though the Labour Party leadership is undaunted by the defection, it has, however, elected not to allow it to slide and has therefore instructed its legal team to commence legal actions against the defectors and to also commence the process of regaining our mandates in line with the 1999 Constitution and the 2022 Electoral Act as amended.

“There is absolute peace in the Labour Party. Therefore, no one elected on the ticket of the Labour Party has the constitutional protection to decamp from the party along with the party’s mandate.”

Speaking during the commissioning of the remodeled Government Girls’ Secondary School in Ahoada East local government area on Friday, Fubara claimed that His Royal Majesty, Eze Ekpeye Logbo Kevin Anugbom, and High Chief Cassid Ikebidi, were arrested and detained for four months due to their allegiance to his administration.

The governor also alleged that his Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie, was declared wanted by the Nigerian Police Force in an attempt to reduce his influence as the governor.

Fubara urged Rivers State residents to offer prayers for his administration, and also pray for availability of funds to complete the ongoing projects. He assured them of his commitment to governance despite current challenges.

Recognizing the sacrifices made by Eze Ekpeye Logbo, Fubara announced plans to upgrade traditional stools in the area.

On the internal roads in Ahoada East, the governor revealed that the earlier-awarded contract would be cancelled and re-awarded to ensure proper execution.

He also expressed gratitude to the people of Ahoada for their unwavering support while cautioning them against actions that might attract hostility from opponents.

The arrest of Eze Ekpeye Logbo, Kevin Anugbom, and High Chief Cassid Ikebidi followed the murder of the Divisional Police Officer of Ahoada East, Superintendent of Police Bako Angbashim, in September 2023.

Meanwhile, Ehie, alongside some persons, was declared wanted by the Police in connection with the explosion that rocked the Rivers State House of Assembly on October 29, 2023.

Bello Matawalle, minister of state for defence, disclosed this on Friday in a statement by the ministry’s spokesperson, Henshaw Ogubike.

The government also approved the payment of three months’ salary arrears.

Additionally, he has released funds to clear outstanding pensions and entitlements owed to retired military personnel.

The minister confirmed that alerts for the three-month salary increase have begun reaching military personnel, signalling a significant morale boost for the armed forces.

He lauded Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to both serving and retired members of the military, emphasising that addressing pension arrears for retirees remains a priority.

“Despite initial setbacks, be rest assured that the President will do everything within his power to uplift our military forces as they confront the challenges of insecurity” he stated.

Frigga13:
Is this suppose to be news …

Maybe to you..

What’s Tinubu first agreement with the French before going to borrow ?

Everyone is not fooled

Til the Peugeot kaduna complex start working .. We will know how serious Tinubu is ..not just celebrating propaganda

A serious being with French contact should have that at the first deal to break with France

Frigga13:
French companies ?

Why wasting all this time .. that should be the first on table before. Sucking their blokos ..

Walahi .. Tinubu is mad ..

Must everything be propaganda and media noise

Bamss1:
You made it sound like igbo men are not known for great things. Being the first goal keeper will be one of the least achievements of the igbos If we want to count. At least some of our greatest Ikeshurumu, Enyeama are igbos.
If you want to celebrate the man just go ahead and celebrate him.
It's not every time you want to start this senseless tribalistic discussions that has already taken over this platform

Yujin:
Now you show us the oil and gas you have in yeribaland.
Igboland has the highest cluster of oil and gas fields ONSHORE in Nigeria.

mrvitalis:
Is it that this people don't know igbos are they are just plain stupi.d

There is nothing Kanu can do for you.. Immediately Kanu declares for Nigeria he looses relevance and absolutely no one would listen to him

If igbos love you even if all political leaders in the South east hate you and work against you you would get 80% of votes

Igbo political leaders are only important when Igbos feel all candidate are same or dont really fancy any candidate

The only way Tinubu can get Igbo votes is to perform and he is failing woefully... Even if kanu and Obi endorses him he won't get any vote

Yes ooh he can write the results that's his business but to get actual Igbo votes never

This is also as he advised the Federal Government against using Kanu’s release for the 2027 presidential election campaign.

Kanunta, who spoke exclusively to our correspondent, also commented on the arrest of the self-acclaimed Prime Minister of Biafra Government in Exile, Simon Ekpa.

He emphasized that Nnamdi Kanu will continue to press for infrastructural upgrade in the South-East region.

“His release will not change anything because he made a simple demand on August 30, 2017, at the Enugu State Government House, which was the time of Obiano.

“In the eight agenda he gave to them, he never made mention of anything about Biafra.

“He said you will have to provide us with what we need, which are good roads, hospitals, education, build factories to create employment; these were his demands, it’s everywhere.

"His demands are very simple, do all he asked you to do – in a worst-case scenario where they can’t meet all these things, why can’t they think about going back to the 1960 constitution that gives people regional autonomy? Those were his demands, he never mentioned Biafra as a condition for him to tone down agitation” Kanunta stated.

Asked whether Kanu would tone down on his agitation if these demands were met, he answered: “He is still there with them, they should dialogue with him; why is it difficult for them to dialogue with him? That is where the problem is, they don’t want to dialogue with him but he is the right person that can tell them this is what I want; there are people he is working for who understand but they have to dialogue with him.

"After that 2017 meeting, what did they do? Dave Umahi who was the then Chairman of the Southeast Governors Forum went to Abuja and sent Operation Python Dance to come to my house and kill everybody, that was exactly what happened.

“Anybody who knows Kanu should know that he’s resolute and never a problem, he meant well for everybody till tomorrow.

“There won’t be the need for agitation, because if everybody is comfortable, there won’t be so much talk about Kanu; is he the only one agitating? Sowore is there agitating, the Northern part of Nigeria is saying the same thing that they are being suppressed.

“The people are tired of the union; something must change, it’s time Mr President must call the people and listen to them, there is no way we can allow the United Kingdom to be running Nigeria from London.

“There are a lot of court orders but the Nigerian government has refused to obey these orders which is very sad and that means nothing meaningful will happen in Nigeria because the judiciary, the masses, and journalists that should come out and say enough of this mess are not saying enough.

“I don’t think anybody is comfortable in this country, Nigeria; how can you buy a bag of rice for N100,000; how much is people’s salary? Nobody should blame anybody, what we are seeking is a better life, the price of petrol is adding – in Venezuela, it’s the opposite side of it – so what is wrong in that country, that’s the question everybody is asking; so nobody should blame anybody for agitating because if Nigeria is functioning nobody will want to do that but at the moment, it’s not functioning and it will never function, unless they do a thorough overhauling in that country.”

Speculation on Northern Oligarchy being behind Kanu’s continued detention

“I don’t think so in my own view, even though my brother was renditioned during Buhari’s administration and President Bola Tinubu inherited it, he’s still playing along the line.

“Everybody will say so because it’s in Tinubu’s hands to say enough of this mess, we have to move this country forward and Kanu will be released, but he doesn’t want to do it. That implies in everybody’s thinking that could it be that Tinubu is siding with the Northern and Fulani Oligarchy to continue detaining Kanu due to the 2027 elections. That is another question people will ask, but in another way, I would say no.

"Those behind this are those benefiting from the insecurity in the Southeast. The Southeast politicians and governors who refused up till this day to go and see Mr President to ask why Nnamdi Kanu is still detained, these are the people benefiting from all these things. This is because all of them are thinking about 2026-2027 to be Vice President in one party or the other, they are the people behind the insecurity because they are benefitting from it.

"If you remember, when my brother was in detention, they refused to disclose how much the Southeast, especially Imo State, was taking as security allocation every month which runs in billions. Why? Some people are benefitting from the insecurity and the detention of my brother.

"It was on record that anytime he goes to court, it costs them almost N500 million to provide my brother security to go to a court that’s in Abuja, so who is approving that money? Who is signing the cheque and where is the money going? These are the things that people need to address but as far as I’m concerned, Southeast politicians have hands in the continued detention of my brother. I’m not excluding anybody from the governors to the least, unless they prove otherwise.”

Bianca Ojukwu’s possible intervention

“Yes, if she said but then it’s a hope until it happens, that’s when we will know that it’s reality; for now anybody can say that. She is pressing to make sure that as the Minister of State, Mr President should understand the situation on ground. Probably those advising Mr President are not doing that properly maybe because of the money they are getting. They can pay a lot of people to stop others from seeing Mr President, we know what is happening because we have our own intelligence but we are not talking about it because that’s what is happening.

"Even those in power trying to see Mr President, it is a problem because those of them working in the office of the Presidency are stopping people who can tell the president the truth from seeing him, because Southeast politicians are lobbying them so that Mr President will not know the truth.

“At this point in time, it might be an opportunity for Bianca Ojukwu to tell Mr President, ‘this is the situation of things in the Southeast’, that those people telling him to detain Kanu are the problem of the Southeast and not Kanu as the case may be.”

Simon Ekpa and insecurity in the South-East

“I will take it one after the other; the insecurity in the Southeast is being fueled by politicians, if you could remember; there was an incident that happened in Owerri where a police officer killed a DSS man in the name of unknown gunmen. It was later discovered that the person killed was a member of the DSS; they are the ones causing this mayhem; they are the ones used by the politicians to kill, kidnap, and harvest people’s organs.

When you talk about insecurity in the Southeast and Simon Ekpa in Finland – I laugh because I don’t want to talk about it – you know for what reason? For the simple reason that when they were asking him if he is the Prime Minister of Biafra, he said he is a content creator. The fact that he’s a content creator and not a freedom fighter, I don’t think he has anything to do with what is happening to Kanu or in the Southeast.

“It’s saddening that what he is doing, he is being sponsored by a few politicians in Nigeria which is what most people do not know. They are the ones behind all these things that are happening, so why is everybody pushing it on Nnamdi Kanu?

“Every crime they commit they say it’s Kanu, Kanu is in detention and he said if ‘I leave here and walk out, in less than two hours there will be quietness in the whole of Southeast,’ it’s a challenge that he threw to the government and the politicians, so why have they refused to do that till this day?

“Simon Ekpa as far as I’m concerned, I don’t want to talk about him because he is a content creator and whatever thing they are doing is content creation like he said, acknowledged and accepted. If he had said he is a freedom fighter, then I would know what to say, but at the moment, there is no need for me to talk about him because he is a content creator, that’s it.”

Ekpa and Unknown Gunmen

“They might connect Ekpa to that but I have never seen him to be the main threat because he is being used, he is not the one executing the people. We have security agencies everywhere and there are still attacks, we hear gunshots of people being killed here and there but you won’t see any security agent, so what is their job?

"They are in Biafra land and every hundred meters you will see security checkpoints; when these things are happening, you don’t see them but when it’s over, you start seeing them coming out, that is what’s very difficult for me to understand as a person. The things happening in the Southeast today, unknown gunmen or all these reckless and useless killings are very wrong, but do not forget that Kanu made it very clear that he has nothing to do with Simon Ekpa, he said it.

“So, anybody linking Ekpa to IPOB, I must say that the person is hallucinating because they are trying to see if they can in any way dent IPOB’s image, but I guarantee you that they can’t do it because this IPOB movement is more spiritual than anything the ordinary eyes could see.”

Kanu’s prolonged detention

“Sowore and Sunday Igboho were discharged, so what happened in the case of Kanu? What happened in his own case? That tells you all you need to know that it’s a conspiracy against the Igbos.

“With all these things happening, how would you want the Igbos to continue staying in that same union called Nigeria, this is a pertinent question everybody should ask. That reminds me of what Fela said in one of his songs that people are suffering and smiling, it’s playing out in Nigeria up till this moment; you have to address the core problem affecting not only the Southeast but the whole of Nigeria.

“There is no peace in Nigeria and people are fighting to save a country they don’t know, it’s very sad.

“Their concern is that IPOB is a very strong movement all around the world and most of them are afraid of what will be the effect of his post-release to them, that Kanu commands millions of people in the Southeast and they themselves are saying how will this happen? If we release him what will be our fate as governors elected by the people, that’s why they are campaigning till tomorrow not to release him.

“And I will say that Tinubu is making a very horrible mistake, we have our intelligence and everybody is running for the 2026-2027 elections, does he think he can use Nnamdi Kanu to do politics or within that period say we are releasing him now, that is absolute nonsense. He has done nothing according to the laws of the land so he has to be released honourably and I keep saying that no court can try him because if they had charges they would have presented it, rather they keep recycling it.

“The president is a Yoruba man and it’s about a Yoruba government, call it the Southwest government, the President is a Yoruba, NJC is Yoruba, AGF is Yoruba, so name all of them. He controls the arms of the government, so how do you think that the country will improve? That country can never improve; that is why it’s important that people should tell Mr President to rethink and not inherit the problems of Buhari when he was in office.

“With the insecurity in this country, Kanu remains the big elephant in the house and his issues should not be swept under the carpet, it will not happen. He told them when they asked if he wanted to be the president of Biafra, he said ‘I’m not interested in any of the political positions,’ he said it repeatedly.

“He said ‘the only thing that I want is something good for my people because if we have to restructure Nigeria today along the lines of the 1963 constitution, it’s going to benefit everybody; people will practice what they believe in’. But with the whole games they are playing in Nigeria, borrowing money left, right, and centre, we are not moving anywhere.

“Do you know that the amount of money politicians stole in the last eight years is enough to pay off Nigeria’s debt? Why is nobody talking about it? The EFCC are cherry-picking what they want; why are they not going against these politicians who looted billions enough to settle Nigeria’s debt?”

TUANKU:
We've heard this song before Mr CP, sing another one.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Olatunji Rilwan Disu disclosed this during a press conference at the command’s headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.

According to him, nobody has the right to tint vehicle glasses, stating that “tinted glasses are contributing to a lot of lawlessness in the country.

He said, “We are clamping down on all commercial vehicles and everybody tinting their vehicles. We need to see people in their vehicles.

“A lot of rescued kidnap victims have told us that the tinted glasses made it impossible for people to know that they were in distress.

“A lot of the criminals, at the same time, cover their number plates. While some of them deliberately refused to put numbers on their vehicles.

“This is to warn all residents of the FCT that henceforth, Police will enforce all laws on tinted glasses. Nobody has the right to tint his or her vehicle’.

richmond500:
I didn't say they don't collect, I mean they do not collect like the police.
98% of police checkpoints in the country is a tax office

richmond500:
It's always the police.
There are lots of army roadblocks but they hardly extort from motorists.

It is easier to see an army man telling motorists to cut grass or pick dirts than extorting money from them. But the police will always look for a way to collect ur money

Olusegun said the same tax reform being undertaken by Tinubu was part of Kwankwaso’s manifesto in 2023.

Posting on X, Olusegun wrote: “Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso in his 2023 campaign manifesto vowed to do this exact tax reforms that he is today opposing vehemently.

“Let him or his people deny it. The manifesto is in public domain for those who don’t believe.”

But on Monday, Kwankwaso urged President Bola Tinubu to reconsider his stance on the Tax Reform Bills in the interest of Nigerians.

The former Kano State governor said it’s not the right time for Tinubu to propose the bills.

The four tax reform bills- the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, the Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill, are currently before both chambers of the National Assembly for passage.

The bills have been tagged as anti-North and that it would only benefit Lagos and Rivers State.

However, Tinubu’s spokesman, Bayo Onanuga dismissed such claims, saying the bills would “enhance the quality of life for Nigerians, especially the disadvantaged, who are trying to make a living.”

Kalu stated this during an interview with Arise Television on Monday, saying he ignored threats from Ekpa for not supporting agitation for Biafra.

The lawmaker urged security agencies to adopt proactive measures to combat crime, noting that security is built on intelligence.

“Simon Ekpa was calling and threatening me that I don’t support Biafra, but I left him to his conscience.

“I am very strong-willed when it comes to security, and I can do anything to safeguard the lives and property of the people I rule.

"You must be a strong leader to condemn crime, and I eradicated crime. No governor should tolerate any type of crime in his state; it is not allowed” he said.

Kalu, however, urged the south-east governors to be resolute and ruthless in dealing with the activities of non-state actors.

DAILY POST reports that on November 21, the police in Finland arrested the pro-Biafra agitator.

He was subsequently sent to prison by the district court of Päijät-Häme for spreading terrorist propaganda on social media.

A Finnish district court has fixed May 2025 for the prosecution to file charges against the pro-Biafra agitator.

Dogara spoke during Channels TV’s Town Hall meeting on President Bola Tinubu’s tax reform bills on Monday.

He noted that most state governors don’t consult before making laws within their domains.

According to Dogara: “At the state level, how many governors consult when they are making laws? I’m not challenging them; as a matter of fact, in some cases, state laws are written from the living rooms of governors.

“Should we now stop because governors have not been brought on board even though it’s the right thing to do? Should that be an excuse? The answer is no.

“Then they talk about popularity; all the bills are not popular; I want to tell this audience that what has defined us as humans, most of them were not popular.”

The bill, which has passed the second reading at the Senate, is facing stiff resistance from different quarters, especially from elites in Northern Nigeria.

The Northern Governors Forum, the Northern Elders Forum, the National Economic Council, and Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, among others, have openly called for the withdrawal of the bills on the grounds that they do not reflect the region’s interests.

DAILY POST recalls that last week, Zulum, said the tax reform bills will cause backwardness in the North and Nigeria in general.

Zulum in an interview with Channels Television on Sunday, said: “We know the power of the president. I’m a system man; I respect him.

“If the president wants to use his power to pass the tax bill, he may have his way, but it has its consequences for the people.”

However, the Governor added that at this point, not up to three governors across the 36 states of the federation are in support of the bill.

“As of now, you cannot get 3 governors in Nigeria that are in support of this Tax law” he stated.

Recall that Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, recently came under fire by Northern youths when he said in an interview with BBC Hausa that the Senate allowed the bill to pass for second reading because the lawmakers wanted to give room for broader conversation from experts and Nigerians.