ABİKE DABIRI-EREWA, YOU CANNOT LAUGH AT ETHNIC HATE AND THEN HIDE BEHIND SEMANTICS!
Madam, you are not just an ordinary social media user. You are the Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, a public official serving under President Bola Tinubu. Your office demands sensitivity, responsibility and respect for every Nigerian, regardless of ethnicity.
So, when you amplify a post describing Igbo people as monkeys, children of gorillas and bastards, and accompany it with laughing emojis, you cannot expect Nigerians to pretend nothing happened simply because you did not personally write the original insult.
You may not have authored the hate speech, but you chose to amplify it. That is precisely what you need to explain.
Your defence that you did not personally call Igbo people those names does not answer the central question: why did you repost that message with laughter in the first place?
And what makes this particularly troubling is the government you represent. This is a government whose officials routinely demand respect for the President and insist that public discourse must be responsible. Yet, when a senior public official is confronted with a controversy involving an ethnic insult, the public deserves more than an argument over who typed the words.
If the same conduct were directed at your own ethnic group, would you consider it harmless because the person sharing it did not originate the insult?
Nigeria belongs equally to the Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, Middle Belt communities and every other ethnic nationality. No public official should treat ethnic humiliation as entertainment.
Madam Abike, this is not about escaping blame through technicalities. It is about responsibility for what you choose to amplify.
You owe the Igbo people and Nigerians at large an unreserved public apology. Not another explanation designed to narrow the accusation. Not an attempt to make the controversy about who misunderstood whom. An apology that acknowledges the hurt caused and recognises the responsibility that comes with your office.
Public office is a position of trust, not a licence to dismiss legitimate public outrage.
If you expect Nigerians to respect the office you occupy, you must also respect the people whose interests that office is meant to serve.
Nigeria has 18 cities in the 1,000-city index: South East 4, South West 4, North Central 3, North West 4, South South 2, and North East 1. Sokoto ranks #1,000, the lowest position in the entire index.
#Statisense (Oxford Economics 2026 Global Cities Index)
A Bbnaija house mate Tram who real name is Joshua Alekewunmi was seen being beaten up by a fellow housemate Victor Ikpe know as Keivo, after an argument over shirt.
W.T.F Pic 1. This young lady has been chosen to represent OUR country in a BEAUTY contest. I am trying to be polite here, but she is NOT a beauty. Nor does she resemble a BRITISH girl. Pic 2. So we're not being colonised eh?si
I saw this somewhere and was curious because some people also believe there was something odd about the world cup final match last Sunday
✅ Argentina scored the most goals till the semi final of this World Cup. Total 19 goals! 🔥
Surprisingly they had 00 shots on target in the final after playing 120 minutes! 😳
✅ Argentina did 25 fouls and Spain did 21 fouls.
Surprisingly Argentina received 1 red card & 4 yellow. Spain didn’t receive any card! 😱😳
✅ Lisandro Martinez is the most determined player in the team who usually continues playing while bleeding in ordinary matches! 🤯👏
Surprisingly he got injured in the World Cup final without any major contract from an opponent. He subbed off at 44th minute! 😳
✅ Argentina lost their two of the best CB at 70th minute as Romero also got injured!
Surprisingly this is the first time we have seen this in the recent years in Argentina team! 😳
✅ Lautaro Martinez scored the match winning goal in semi finals vs England!
Surprisingly he was not seen even on the screen in the final vs Spain let alone playing some minutes!
✅ As of now, some of the players have still not returned to Argentina after the final!
✅ Finally Messi wasn’t awarded the Golden Ball! By what statistical measure did Rodri deserve it over Messi! No one knows! 😳
All things considered, I have to say something happened here, just like what happened in the era of Maradona in 1990.
The Brazilian FIFA president back then simply snatched the World Cup away from Maradona. Maradona cried and said that Havelange (the then FIFA president) had taken the World Cup away from him. 💔
Today, FIFA president Infantino has perhaps done the exact same thing. ✅
Since false narratives like 'Messi, FIFA boy, rigged' were spreading throughout the entire World Cup, maybe they did this so that FIFA's image wouldn't be tarnished and the billion dollar business across Europe wouldn't be ruined. 😮🥶
I don't know what the truth is here, but sooner or later it will come to light. Until then, we wait....🥹🥲
Human rights lawyer and former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Prof Chidi Odinkalu, has accused the Anambra State government of failing to comply with mandatory environmental laws in the construction of its proposed second airport in Ndikelionwu, Orumba North Local Government Area, describing the project as shrouded in secrecy.
In a statement titled "Anambra's Secret Second Airport and Failure of ESIA Compliance," shared on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday, July 13, Odinkalu alleged that the Governor Chukwuma Soludo-led state government has repeatedly failed to disclose any Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) report for the airport project despite public demands.
According to him, Nigeria's Environmental Impact Assessment Act, which has been in force since 1992, makes it compulsory for major public infrastructure projects to undergo a public and consultative Environmental Impact Assessment process before execution.
"Nigeria's Environmental Impact Assessment Act has been in existence since 1992,” Odinkalu said.
“It mandates a public & consultative Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report for all major public Works projects. This EIA process will culminate in a remediation plan that should be part of the project design.
"Today, best practice is to require an Environmental & Social Impact (ESIA) process & report. An airport falls into the category of projects for which there must be mandatory ESIA compliance."
Odinkalu maintained that the Soludo administration had neither published nor provided evidence of compliance with the statutory environmental requirements for the ongoing airport development.
[b] "Despite repeated demands, Anambra State has failed or neglected to disclose any information on ESIA compliance in respect of the ongoing 2nd airport in Ndikelionwu in Orumba North LGA," [/b]he said.
He further criticised government officials for dismissing concerns over the project, saying they had instead resorted to branding the airport as part of an "Aerotropolis" without addressing the legal obligation to conduct and publish an ESIA.
Odinkalu said, "The response of spokespersons of the government is to deal with such inquiries as an adverse 'attack' & to trot out the line that they are building an 'Aerotropolis', as if that excuses the failure of compliance. In reality, this line makes the burden of ESIA compliance even more compelling.
"The resort to big words to confuse ordinary people is an old trick. Few people in the state know what an aerotropolis means or - justifiably - care to be impressed by that big word.
"Indeed, the people using the word to avoid or deflect from the obligation of statutory compliance show in the manner in which they invoke it that the idea of an aerotropolis is - at best - an undigested novelty to them."
The former NHRC chairman argued that examples of aerotropolis developments across the world demonstrate that such projects are long-term undertakings requiring sustained transparency and adherence to environmental regulations.
"You just need to look at examples of the aerotropolis around the world - Amsterdam (with Amsterdam Airport Schiphol); Songdo International Business District in South Korea (Incheon International Airport (ICN) or, indeed, Dallas-Fort Worth in Texas,” he said.
airport in se
"It will be evident from these examples that an aerotropolis is an inter-generational project that cannot be completed by one administration & certainly not one in a term-limited final furlong.
"This consideration alone should compel utmost transparency about such a project as well as fidelity to statutory ESIA compliance. The secrecy about the project is self-defeating."
Odinkalu also warned that Anambra's fragile ecological landscape makes environmental compliance even more critical, cautioning that failure to comply with the law could ultimately doom the project and leave residents bearing the consequences.
According to him, "Anambra State sits on an intense & intensely fragile ecology. That places an even higher burden on the obligation of ESIA compliance.
"Failure of compliance in this respect risks condemning the project to the wasteland of abandoned white elephants at the end of the dispensation that originated it.
"For this kind of project, in the absence of an ESIA, as always, there will be serious consequences & it is the local, poor people who will pay it long after the present administration has exhausted its contingent legitimacy to rule."
In March 1969, during one of the most intense phases of the Biafran War, British Prime Minister Harold Wilson and British High Commissioner David Hunt toured the strategic oil centre of Port Harcourt and Calabar despite the ongoing blockade, humanitarian crisis, and fighting
The Muslim Community of Oyo State has strongly condemned the recent Sharia-related demands made by abductors, declaring that terrorists do not represent Islamic values and cannot speak for Muslims.
The leadership of the community issued this statement on Friday following recent criminal acts where kidnappers attempted to justify their actions using religious rhetoric.
Tribune Online reports that no fewer than 39 students and seven teachers were abducted and two killed when terrorists attacked three schools in Ahoro-Esiele and Yawota communities in Oriire local government area of Oyo State on May 16, 2026.
Reacting to developments that have trailed the government’s efforts to secure the release of the abductees, especially reported conditions from the terrorists, the Muslim community in Oyo clarified that Islam strictly forbids kidnapping, terrorism, and the extortion of innocent citizens.
The group, in the statement signed by its chairman, Alhaji Ishaq Kunle Sanni, and secretary-general, Alhaji Murisiku Abidemi Siyanbade, emphasised that legitimate Sharia advocates for justice, peace, and the protection of human life, which directly contradicts the violent actions of criminals.
Continuing, the Muslim Community of Oyo State reiterated its full support for law enforcement agencies and urged authorities to track down the perpetrators swiftly.
“In the Holy Qur’an, Chapter 3, verse 32, Almighty Allah says: ‘Therefore, We have ordained that he who slays a soul for spreading mischief on earth shall be as if he had slain all mankind, and he who saves a life shall be as if he had given life to all mankind. And indeed, again and again, did our messengers come to them with clear directives, yet many of them continue to commit excesses on earth.’
The leadership, according to the statement, called on all Muslims and residents of Oyo State to remain vigilant, report suspicious activities, and reject any attempts to distort the peaceful teachings of Islam.
Meanwhile, the community, under the aegis of the Chief Imam of Ibadanland and Grand Chief Imam of Oyo State, Sheikh Al-Imam Abdul-Ganiyy Abubakar Agbotomokekere, also announced a special prayer for the speedy and safe return of abductees from schools in Oriire Local Govt of Oyo State.
The prayer, to be led by the Chief Imam of Ibadanland and Grand Chief Imam of Oyo State, Sheikh Al-Imam Abdul-Ganiyu Abubakar Agbotomokekere, is scheduled for Sunday at Yidi Agodi Praying Ground, Ibadan.
“We implore all Muslims in Oyo State to join us at the prayer session.
“We appreciate the intervention of the Oyo State government, the Federal Government of Nigeria, and pray to Almighty Allah to help them in their onerous intervention. We also pray for our security agencies for the help and guidance of Allah in their rescue efforts so that there will not be any collateral casualty, as they conquer the criminals and bring back home safely the abductees, amongst whom are toddlers as young as 2 years old, exposed to very cruel treatment in the forests, in such a harsh condition. Our hearts bleed,” the statement added.
Human rights lawyer, Barrister Ikechukwu Obasi, has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja against the Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuma Soludo, the Attorney General of Anambra State, the Commissioner of Police of Anambra State, and the Inspector General of Police.
The suit is over the closure of the Onitsha Main Market and other markets in the state over traders’ continued observance of Monday sit-at-home.
In the suit he filed under the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009, Obasi argued that the closure of the markets violated the traders’ fundamental rights, including personal liberty, freedom from forced labour, human dignity, freedom of movement, freedom of peaceful assembly and association, right to privacy, economic development, and freedom of expression, as guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (CAP A9) 2011.
Obasi, who is representing the traders of Onitsha in a public interest litigation, said he became aware of the dispute after coming across a viral video where Governor Soludo directed that markets in Onitsha and across the state must be opened from Monday to Saturday, with the warning that traders who fail to comply should leave the state.
"Markets are open Monday to Saturday. If you are not prepared to open your shops Monday to Saturday, then leave Anambra, go elsewhere; period,” Soludo had said during an unscheduled visit to Onitsha Main Market on Monday, January 26, 2026.
“So, this market will be shut down for the remainder of this week. It will not be opened tomorrow, it will not be opened on Wednesday, it will not be opened on Thursday, it will not be opened on Friday. It will open again on Monday," the governor added.
In the suit he filed on January 28, 2026, Obasi contended that the Governor’s directive forced the will of the government on traders, compelling them to operate their businesses according to a government timetable rather than their personal choice.
The lawyer stated in the suit that from January 27, 2026, police operatives, acting under the instructions of the state government, enforced the shutdown, leading to civil unrest, unlawful arrests, teargassing, and economic hardship for the traders.
In his affidavit in support of the originating motion, Obasi described the enforcement action as a gross violation of the traders’ fundamental rights.
He emphasised that the voluntary sit-at-home was a form of lawful protest protected under Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution and Article 9 of the African Charter.
He further argued that the government’s actions constituted forced labour, breached human dignity, and unlawfully restricted the traders’ freedom of movement, association, and economic activity.
In the suit, Obasi sought a declaration that the threat to shut down Onitsha market and traders’ shops as a sanction for observing a lawful sit-at-home on January 26, 2026, by the Governor amounts to a violation of fundamental rights to personal liberty, peaceful assembly and association, freedom of movement, and economic, social, and cultural development.
"A declaration that the actual shutdown of the Onitsha Main Market and other shops from January 27, 2026, by the Governor and Attorney General violates the same fundamental rights.
"A declaration that the mandatory order compelling all markets in Anambra State to open from Monday to Saturday, or for traders to leave the state, constitutes a breach of the traders’ rights to freedom from forced labour, human dignity, personal liberty, privacy, peaceful assembly, and economic development.
"A declaration that the enforcement of the shutdown by police operatives constitutes a violation of the traders’ rights to assembly, association, freedom of movement, and economic development.
"A declaration that any continuous shutdown of the Onitsha Main Market as a sanction for observing the lawful sit-at-home amounts to a violation of the traders’ fundamental rights.
"A declaration that observing a lawful sit-at-home is an exercise of the traders’ fundamental right to peaceful protest and lawful expression. And a declaration that clamping down on voluntary and lawful sit-at-home activities violates the traders’ rights to privacy, peaceful protest, and lawful expression."
Obasi also asked the court to issue, “An Order that the threat to shutdown Onitsha market in Anambra and the shops of all traders as sanction for observing a lawful sit-at-home by the 1st Respondent amounts to fragrant violation of the fundamental rights to personal liberty, peaceful association and assembly; freedom of movement, and right to their economic, social and cultural development of Onitsha traders, as guaranteed under Sections 35, 40, and 41 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and Articles 2, 6, 10, 11, 12 and 22 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (CAP A9) VOL. I Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2011.
“An Order that observing a lawful sit-at-home is an exercise of the Onitsha traders’ fundamental right to peaceful protest and lawful expression guaranteed under section 39 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (CAP A9) VOL. I Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2011.
“An Order of Injunction mandating the 1st and 2nd Respondents (the Governor and Attorney General) to rescind the order for the shutdown of Onitsha market, and to further restrain the 3rd and 4th Respondents, their officers, agents, servants, privies, or acting through any person or persons howsoever so called from further enforcing the illegal shutdown.”
Obasi also demanded ₦2billion in damages against the governor, who engaged the police to enforce the “unlawful” act of violating the traders’ fundamental rights.
He further demanded ₦50,000,000 in damages against the commissioner of police in the state, the IGP, and their officers for engaging in an “unlawful” act of violating the traders’ fundamental rights.
In his written address supporting the originating motion, Obasi cited case law emphasising that general damages may be awarded for violations of fundamental rights, particularly where actions by authorities result in economic and psychological harm to affected individuals.
Thousands of Traders were seen chanting "Soludo show me the law" and "holy, holy, holy Nnamdi Kanu is another saviour" following the invasion of Onitsha Main market today by security personnel.
The Indigenous People of Biafra has asked traders and shop owners at the Onitsha Main Market to open for business on Tuesday, despite Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo’s directive shutting the market for one week from Tuesday.
Earlier on Monday, Soludo ordered the closure of the market following traders’ failure to comply with the state government’s directive to disregard the Monday sit-at-home order.
The governor gave the directive during an on-site visit to the market alongside some aides and other government officials.
He warned that the closure could be extended if traders failed to comply, adding that security agencies had sealed the market to enforce the order.
Soludo described the development as the latest—and perhaps most drastic—salvo in a prolonged struggle over control of economic life in the South-East.
However, in a statement issued late on Monday, the IPOB spokesman, Emma Powerful, said Soludo must be reminded that no government entity established or funded the traders’ businesses.
Powerful said the Federal Government must heed the call and release IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, without delay to restore peace and normalcy in the South-East.
The statement read in part, “The IPOB hereby declares that tomorrow, January 27, 2026, our people in Anambra State shall resume their legitimate business activities and open their shops and markets.
“This action is not in defiance of any gubernatorial order but in the exercise of their God-given right to pursue their daily livelihoods according to their preferences and necessities.”
He added that traders received no state support during the COVID-19 lockdowns, insisting that their resilience could not be suppressed.
The statement added, “Our people endured a three-year food blockade during the Nigeria-Biafra War and emerged as the most entrepreneurial ethnic group in Africa, as well as the most successful immigrant community in the United States.
“Our fathers liberated Nigeria from colonial rule, our ancestors liberated Haiti from colonial oppression, and in the creeks of Savannah, Georgia, we Igbos chose death over enslavement—a legacy chronicled in Alex Haley’s ‘Roots,’ where our ancestors from Onitsha drowned themselves rather than submit to man-made slavery and bondage.
“We have always chosen death over dishonour. Governor Soludo, you cannot defeat our collective spirit of resistance; history teaches us that.
“Before embarking on any perilous path tomorrow, such as deploying soldiers from the Onitsha barracks to infringe upon our rights to conduct business as we deem fit, Governor Soludo must carefully weigh the consequences. Any arrests, harassment, or bloodshed will signal the beginning of the end for those who oppose the will of the people.”
Powerful warned that any arrests or harassment of traders would be resisted, adding that IPOB was not seeking confrontation with the Anambra State Government but demanded respect for the wishes of the people.
“When the great people of Anambra, the first sons of Igboland and the origin of the Igbo race, demand action toward the unconditional release of our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, it is the divine speaking through them.
“Tomorrow, our markets shall open, and no force on earth can prevent it. We warn that any attempt to obstruct this will invite grave danger upon the enemies of Biafra’s emancipation.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria must heed this call and release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu without further delay to restore peace and normalcy in the South-East,” the statement concluded.
PUNCH Online had earlier reported that Soludo ordered the closure of the Onitsha Main Market for one week after many traders defied the government’s directive to resume business on Mondays.
The governor said that despite assurances of improved security, many traders once again kept their stalls locked, describing the development as a reflection of lingering fear in the region.
Israel becomes the first country to recognize the Republic of Somaliland as an independent state, more than three decades after it broke away from Somalia.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar sign the declaration for Israel, while Somaliland’s President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi signs for his country.
Somaliland, a Sunni Muslim country, enjoyed five days of independence in 1960, during which time it was recognized by Israel and 34 other countries before uniting with Somalia. Somaliland formally broke away in 1991, and while no other countries recognized it, several powerful countries — the UK, Ethiopia, Turkey, UAE, Denmark, Kenya and Taiwan — maintained liaison offices.
Speaking to Abdullahi by phone, Netanyahu says the friendship between the countries is “seminal and historic.”
“We intend to work together with you on economic fields, on agriculture, in the fields of social development,” Netanyahu says.
Israel’s declaration recognizing the Republic of Somaliland as an independent state, signed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on December 26, 2025. (Foreign Ministry) Netanyahu invites Abdullahi for an official visit to Israel, and says he will communicate to US President Donald Trump Somaliland’s desire to join the Abraham Accords.
Abdullahi says he will come “as soon as possible.”
Netanyahu “thanks Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, Mossad Director David Barnea and the Mossad for their contribution in advancing recognition between the two countries, and wishes the people of Somaliland success, prosperity and freedom,” says his office.
Sa’ar writes on X that embassies will be opened in both countries and ambassadors appointed.
The move comes after reports in August that Somaliland was among several countries in talks with Israel regarding the potential resettlement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.
I announced today the official recognition of the Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state.
Together with Foreign Minister Sa'ar and the President of the Republic of Somaliland, we signed a joint and mutual declaration.
This declaration is in the spirit of the Abraham Accords, signed at the initiative of President Trump.
I congratulated the President of Somaliland, Dr. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdallah, and praised his leadership and commitment to promoting stability and peace. I invited the President to pay an official visit to Israel.
The President thanked me for this historic declaration and expressed appreciation for my achievements in fighting terrorism and advancing regional peace.
I thank Foreign Minister Sa’ar, the Head of Mossad David Barnea and the Mossad, for their contribution to today’s development, and I wish the people of Somaliland success, prosperity, and freedom.
The State of Israel plans to immediately expand its relations with the Republic of Somaliland through extensive cooperation in the fields of agriculture, health, technology, and economy.
The Anambra State Government has announced a major housing scheme aimed at solving accommodation challenges for civil servants and low-income households, with plans to build 10,000 low-cost housing units at Isiagu in Awka South Local Government Area of the state.
The project, which will be executed through a Public–Private Partnership arrangement with real estate developers, is expected to take off during the dry season after earlier delays caused by last-minute disagreements between the government and its private partners were fully resolved.
According to a press statement released on Saturday, the state Commissioner for Housing, Paully Onyeka, said the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, had long approved the housing scheme, but it was truncated by last-minute bureaucratic bottlenecks, which have been resolved by the state government.
Onyeka was quoted as disclosing the development while appearing before the state Assembly House Committee on Appropriation to defend his ministry’s 2026 budget.
He described the initiative as “a well-structured plan designed to expand access to decent and affordable accommodation for workers and low-income earners” across the state.
He said, “The 10,000 low-cost housing units will soon be a reality. It will improve the housing deficits of civil servants and low-income earners in the state. The state governor had given approval for the project a long time ago, but it was truncated by a last-minute hindrance, which has been resolved by the state government.
“Now that the dry season has set in, the state government is set to take off and embark on the construction without further delay. It is only that at the point of dotting the eyes and crossing the tees, there were a few issues which have been sorted out with the private sector undertaking the PPP arrangement. Now that the dry season is over, we will take off, and that will be history.
“The state governor’s development philosophy, especially the push for extensive road construction, has opened up new estate locations in the hinterlands, making housing development more viable and accessible than in previous years.
“Although the Ministry of Housing is service-oriented, it plays a key technical role in several of the state government’s infrastructure projects. Examples are the recent upgrade of Ekwueme Square, ongoing improvements at the Commissioners’ Quarters, and the construction of the new Trauma Centre at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital in Amaku, Awka.
“The ministry’s involvement continues even when projects are domiciled under different agencies. It is important for ministries to justify their requests and demonstrate prudent management of public funds in line with the administration’s broader development goals.
“Our obligation and tasks transcend the few things you see under the Ministry of Housing; even when the building projects are domiciled under other MDAs, we execute them.”
PUNCH Online in November 2024 reported that the Anambra State Government said that it will, in collaboration with the Federal Government, embark on the construction of five hundred housing units for low-income earners to meet the housing needs of the people.
The State Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development affirmed that the project is in line with the vision of the state governor to provide comfortable and affordable housing for civil servants to give them a sense of belonging.
Hotfreezer: Who gave the SE Stakeholders the mandate to alter Anioma state? Who made them spokespersons of Anioma people? Who gave them the right to change the name to Anim Oma state? To add insult upon injury, you want to move the capital to Orlu.
If you want your 6th SE State, go and divide one of the states in the SE into 2.
I rarely respond to people who comment with combative tone. If you must know, it is a sixth southeast state we are talking about. It's the south east representative that will make the ultimate decision even if it's going to be Anioma. That's how they got the right. They were the ones that held a meeting and tried to balance out the proposals by coming up with that. I think it's ridiculous but some Anioma people aren't helping matters. They have been speaking in condescending tones over Anioma state fueling mistrust from the southeast. Otherwise with proper negotiation, an Anioma state comprising of the nine LGAs of Delta North and Igbanke would suffice.
IkpuMmadu: ANIOMA STATE CREATION: DELTA NORTH LEGISLATORS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT CHAIRMEN REJECT PROPOSAL FOR ANIOMA STATE IN SOUTH-EAST; REAFFIRM COMMITMENT TO SOUTH-SOUTH GEOPOLITICAL ZONE
We, the undersigned elected Honourable Members of the Delta State House of Assembly from the Delta North Senatorial District and the Executive Chairmen of the nine (9) Local Government Areas that constitute the District, having deliberated extensively on the renewed national discourse and legislative processes for the creation of new states in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, hereby issue this definitive statement of our collective position.
Our quest for a distinct and autonomous Anioma State is not a fleeting political venture but a legitimate aspiration deeply rooted in history, championed by our revered forebears and leaders. This dream for a state of our own, where our unique cultural identity, language, and developmental aspirations can be fully realized, has been a constant pursuit for generations. We stand on the shoulders of these giants and reaffirm their vision.
We hereby state, in the strongest possible terms, our unequivocal and total support for the creation of Anioma State comprising the present nine Local Government Areas of Delta North Senatorial District. We are united in the belief that the creation of Anioma State is a matter of justice, equity, and a necessary step towards fulfilling the political and developmental destiny of the Anioma people. We pledge our full political weight and mandate to actively lobby and support every legitimate effort towards the realization of this goal.
The Anioma our fathers envisaged and which we support is the Anioma that is made up of the 9 local government areas of Delta North with it's capital in Asaba. For the avoidance of doubt, these local governments are: A. Aniocha North B. Aniocha South C. Ika North-East D. Ika South E. Ndokwa East F. Ndokwa West G. Oshimili North H. Oshimili South, and I. Ukwuani.
Anioma is, and Must Remain, in the South-South. While we are unwavering in our support for the creation of Anioma State, we make it unequivocally clear that we vehemently oppose any proposed move or merger with any part of the South-East geopolitical zone. The Anioma people are historically, geographically, and administratively aligned with the South-South. This position is deeply rooted in our heritage and is non-negotiable.
that's not the full story. The so-called south east stakeholders opted for a settlement by altering Anioma state. Including territories from Anambra and Imo and moving the capital to Orlu. They even changed the name to Anim oma. This is generating resentment from Anioma people. The problem is that the other Anioma stakeholders are more interested in following Okowa instead focusing on negotiation with the southeast.
During the Holocaust, a Catholic priest and politician—President Jozef Tiso—signed the deportation orders that sent 70,000 Slovak Jews to their deaths. The Church watched. Bishops kept their robes clean. They taxed the victims—and never excommunicated the killer in the collar.
Now in Nigeria, the blood cries again. Bishop Matthew Kukah—shepherd of a slaughtered flock—denies there is genocide, mocks calls for international intervention, and kneels at the table of power while his people are burned from theirs.
From Auschwitz to Agatu, the pattern is the same: When bishops prefer access to Caesar over allegiance to Christ, the altar becomes a crime scene. And the shepherd wears scarlet—not from ordination, but from complicity.
Media houses should double check information before putting it out for public consumption. IPOB is a banned group in Nigeria. This means that they are unable to go to any licensed media station to correct perceived misrepresentations. Also, the nature of separatist agitation in the southeast makes security agents more of a party to the crisis than a neutral actor. Therefore, Responsible and professional journalism in this case demands that statements put out by even security operatives should be double checked by media organisations before broadcast.
In the "what's trending" segment of the "morning show" on 27 November, Arise news aired a story where they claimed that two Reverend fathers, Rev fr John Igwebueze and Rev fr Matthew Eya were murdered by IPOB/ESN elements. They used this story to highlight what they called selective outrage over killings Nigeria.
However, the Catholic diocese of Nsukka issued a disclaimer against the station's misleading narrative.
The Channel in it's 28 November edition of the program appeared to correct themselves but failed to take responsibility. Instead, blaming the DSS for the information.
Constitutional lawyer Fred Nzeako says Nnamdi Kanu’s trial violated criminal law principles and urges Tinubu to grant mercy.
Constitutional lawyer and public affairs analyst, Fred Nzeako, has declared that the conviction of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, amounts to ‘a travesty of justice’, insisting that the presiding judge acted outside the law and that the entire procedure was fundamentally defective.
Speaking in an interview with ARISE News on Sunday, Nzeako said the key question before Nigerians was not whether Kanu defended himself or dismissed his legal team, but whether justice was served at all.
“What now bothers many Nigerians was what happened on November 20th, the day he was convicted and eventually sentenced,”he said.
“Whether the court followed the law, or whether the court followed the personal opinion of the jurist, or whether the court, in some people’s opinion, acted on a script to ensure that Nnamdi Kanu is taken off the streets. Whether Nnamdi Kanu defended himself or not, what to many people is more critical and more important is the attitude of the judge and the justice of the matter.”
He argued that the requirements of criminal adjudication were not met.
“Don’t forget that in criminal adjudication, one can only be convicted when there is preponderance of evidence and when the prosecution is able to prove the case beyond all reasonable doubt,” he said.
“Justice must not only be done, but be seen, manifestly seen, as having been done. The majority of the public of Nigeria, and even the international community, do not believe that justice was done in Nnamdi Kanu’s case.”
Nzeako insisted that many Nigerians were confused because Kanu appeared to be charged under a repealed statute.
“People were at a loss as to why a man would be charged for an offence that is not known to law,” he said.
“A Nigerian statute book says one cannot be tried for an offence not codified and known to law.”
He emphasised that Kanu’s original discharge and acquittal made the old charge legally defunct.
“Don’t forget that Nnamdi Kanu had earlier been discharged and acquitted by the Federal High Court,” he said.
“The moment an accused is discharged and acquitted, the court becomes functus officio. You can no longer hold on to that old law. But by the time you saw the judgement from the Omotosho court, it referred to the 2013 charge. That became a very strong issue against that judgement and against the entire procedure.”
Nzeako strongly criticised the judge for directing the conditions of Kanu’s confinement.
“The judge committed what the majority describe as a travesty of justice,” he said.
“He jumped into the arena. He even usurped the office of the executive. It does not lie in the purview of the court to decide where a convict will be kept. The moment you give your judgement, you become functus officio. For the judge to say he has to be kept in a certain form of confinement, he is overreaching his office.”
He added that such an order may have influenced the decision to transfer Kanu to Sokoto.
“People were asking: would he be taken to Robben Island in South Africa or Guantanamo Bay in America since they wanted him to be completely out of circulation?” he said.
“Now the government has thrown him to Sokoto. What is the basis? You can query the judge for making such statements.”
He noted that most counts in the charge centred on Kanu’s broadcasts.
“Almost five of the counts talk about his broadcasts,” Nzeako said.
“That is why his lawyer said: ‘how has mere word of mouth amounted to terrorism?’ When you talk about criminal issues, you talk about the actus reus and the mens rea — the mind to commit the act and the act itself. Where is the act? Where is the mind? What he did was insult the authorities because he felt he was not getting what he expected from the system.”
Nzeako urged the legal team to move quickly.
“They will go on appeal and they have to do so timeously,” he said.
“Now that the written judgment is out, they get a copy, sift through it, bring out all the grounds of appeal and file. That is the only way forward.”
He also appealed for calm.
“I appeal to Ndigbo to take it easy. This injustice cannot stand. There is no need trying to resort to self-help. The law, yes, is an ass, but the same law will be utilised to right the wrongs done against Nnamdi Kanu.”
Nzeako said the executive now had the opportunity to resolve the impasse.
“The buck now stops on the table of the Commander-in-Chief,” he said.
“When he pardoned some criminals and Nigerians asked why he was not pardoning Nnamdi Kanu, the handlers said the matter was in court. Today, the court has discharged the matter. The executive can now apply the prerogative of mercy. If I am to advise him, I’ll ask him to do so and free him now.”
He warned that Kanu’s continued detention risked worsening insecurity.
“It is like pouring fuel into a raging fire,” he said. “Insecurity is mounting all around the country. Let us not add to the problems.”
Turning to the crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nzeako offered a blunt assessment.
“They need to go back, talk to themselves, look themselves in the mirror and talk honestly,” he said.
“Greed has allowed some of them to be lured by the ruling party into causing problems in-house. If they stood their ground, the APC would fail.”
He added: “If a man doesn’t have self-greed, you cannot use him to cause problems in his own house. Once you open your eyes to see the movement of Ghana-Must-Go bags, your house will collapse.”
On the worsening insecurity and US interest under a possible Trump return, Nzeako was scathing.
“Res ipsa loquitur — the action speaks for itself,”he said.
“It is visible that even the blind can see that the government is not doing enough. Government is majoring in the minor. Instead of tackling insecurity, they are spending time and resources placating America, which has said it is ready to come to our rescue.”
He argued there was nothing wrong with accepting US assistance.
“Is there anything wrong with allowing America to remove that cancer troubling Nigeria since 2009?” he asked.
“America has never said they want a regime change. They have never said they want our resources — resources stolen by other nationals in collaboration with the Nigerian elite.”
He pointed to the week’s security incidents:
“In one week, over 300 students were kidnapped in Niger State — the highest ever. A litany of kidnappings and killings. If government was doing enough, we wouldn’t be here today.”
He concluded with a warning: “Politics is subservient to good governance. Once you play politics above good governance, your house will begin to leak. And that is why the Nigerian house is leaking today.”
Nigeria is a disgrace. The whole thing is a disgrace. They’re killing people by the thousands. It’s a genocide and I’m really angry about it. We give a lot of subsidies to Nigeria. We’re going to end up stopping. The Government has done nothing, they are ineffective. They are killing Christians at will, and you know until I got involved in it two weeks ago, nobody even talked about it.
We firmly condemn today’s renewed violence against the Christian communities in Nigeria. Religious freedom is an inviolable right: we call on the Nigerian government to strengthen protection for Christian communities and all religious communities and to prosecute those responsible for these brutal attacks. Italy expresses its full solidarity with the victims and the communities in Nigeria who today feel threatened because of their religious beliefs.
Where is the data sourced from. If it's not from UNICEF/Federal ministry of education, WAEC or NECO or another concrete and primary data source, then it's false.
You cannot use survey to measure secondary school completion rate.
Nigeria's international isolation over Christian genocide worries dailytrust. Indeed it should when you consider that Nigeria is now at the US mercy and the ability to present a strong case against the Christian genocide allegation, which it has failed woefully at doing.
US has all the facts and intelligence, UK, France and even Russia are mute which can be considered agreement with the US position. Even the Chinese who condemned US did not exonerate Nigeria over the allegations, they only warned US against using that as a pretext to attack terrorists in Nigeria and potentially move against Chinese interests. EU too did not exonerate Nigeria by their statement and didn't condemn US threat to attack the jihadists. Most actors within Nigeria such as Northern CAN, Benue and plateau governors, including the victims have called it genocide. What is more, most of the supporters of the president and the ruling party have admitted to Christian genocide in the past. The evidences are overwhelming.
Nigeria has a very weak case and this is compounded by the fact that those in defence of government position are Muslim leaders and Islamic/Sharia groups.
Nigeria faces perhaps the greatest existential threat in its 65 years of existence and it is interesting to see how some of its ‘’friends’’, partners and even African brothers are reacting.
A superpower with massive destructive capability is assembling a force of arms to obliterate Nigeria from the face of the earth ostensibly to stop ‘’genocide’’ against Christians in Nigeria.
The United Kingdom and the Commonwealth of Nations of which Nigeria is a strong member, have largely kept mum electing not to offer a word of support nor even a cursory condemnation of this threat directed against Nigeria. The European Union offered some words in that time honoured language of diplomatese which meant nothing to the issue at stake. Indeed, the EU countries, many of whom are vassals of the United States of America, were careful not to offend their benefactor and instead the EU chose to be opportunistic in a statement in which it said ‘’we respect Nigeria’s sovereignty and constitutional commitment to religious neutrality’’. Notice that this statement did not expressly condemn America’s violation of International Law by its threat to interfere in the internal affairs of an independent country, and subsequently threatening to physically invade and or bomb Nigerian territories.
Germany in particular with a healthy trade and economic ties with Nigeria for years has been pathetically mealy mouthed. The plans to invade Nigeria is presently being coordinated at the southern German city of Stuttgart where the headquarters of AFRICOM the American rapid intervention force for Africa is based. There has been no word from Germany which has been strident in its condemnation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and even supporting the latter with military assistance in the on-going war with Russia.
And what about France? The country most favoured by President Bola Tinubu and whose paths in Africa have often crossed with the Americans has maintained an uncharacteristic Gallic silence where a forceful statement urging restraint directed at the Americans would have made more meaning.
As for the AU and ECOWAS, the less said the better. Many of the African countries will be gleefully happy that Nigeria will now be given its comeuppance by America. They will not consider that a humanitarian crisis resulting from American intervention in Nigeria will almost certainly affect the entire continent negatively.
What about the Saudis, the Vatican and others who exert significant leverage in Nigeria’s religious divide of Islam and Christianity?
The Saudis and the Gulf states are firmly in the American strategic orbit and may not be expected to vigorously condemn America’s intentions in Nigeria. Although Nigeria has a significant Muslim population and sends hundreds of thousands of Muslims for the lesser and full pilgrimage annually, the Saudis will not allow religious preferences to weigh above Saudi-American interests which is massive.
We all know the current Pope is an American and although the Vatican has acknowledged that the issue of killings in Nigeria is not limited to Christians alone, the Vatican has studiously avoided direct censure of the Americans in their stance in using the alleged ‘’Christian genocide’’ to invade Nigeria. The Vatican finds itself in a catch 22 situation; rightfully condemning the potential for humanitarian catastrophe that the American intervention will cause to both Christian and Muslims in Nigeria and defending the position of many Christians in Nigeria that they are indeed facing genocide, as the defender of Christian values and causes.
As for the Russians even though they have indicated that they are studying the situation in Nigeria keenly, they cannot be faulted if they seem to appear cautious. The Russians have not forgotten how after supporting Nigeria during the civil war, we promptly abandoned them and landed in the arms of the same western countries that were responsible for the war. The Russians have not forgotten that the Ajaokuta Steel Project, which was meant as a symbol of Russia-Nigeria cooperation was left to atrophy by subsequent Nigerian governments.
But the country whose response to the threats directed at Nigeria is perhaps the most significant is China. Yes, China issued a statement asking America not to interfere in Nigeria’s internal affairs. China also stated that it shared a strong ‘’strategic partnership’’ with Nigeria and by implication, it will not allow America to inflict harm on the country. Strong words. But considering that of all the countries of the world, China is the one country whose vigorous unequivocal stand will restrain American intentions in Nigeria. And also considering that the real reason why America is contemplating invading Nigeria is to upstage the Chinese in the country, China should have complemented its statement with a symbolic physical action that will demonstrate to the Americans that China is serious about deterring America in Nigeria.
The Chinese know very well that the Americans are not coming to Nigeria to defend Christians. They are coming to Nigeria to get a toe hold on the economic stakes in Nigeria and to establish a military base here that will enable them kick whatever the Chinese are doing with Nigeria. If Nigeria is going to be punished because it is cozying up to China, then the least we expect is for the Chinese to be more vigourous than mere diplomatic words.
Danbazau’s lamentation on the state of our military
Do you know that when annual budgets are prepared and we hear that Defence takes a huge chunk, only 40% eventually gets to the ministry to execute the budget? And when the 40% eventually reaches the Defence Ministry, it is tied to projects that have not been properly assessed for implementation?
Do we know that the issue of interference in strategic military plans and policies are still rife in our military operations very often stymying our military objectives? Example the Nigeria Airforce was once asked to take over aerial surveillance and patrol of our borders to deter incursions into Nigeria. But no sooner had the Airforce prepared itself for this task did ‘’orders from above’’ came to stop it leaving the Airforce with eggs and tomatoes on their faces?
This was the revelation made by former Chief of Army Staff Lt. General Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd) and Air Vice Marshal Gbolahan Adekunle (rtd) former Chief of Policy and Plans of the Nigerian Air Force at the 7th Annual Lecture of the Just Friends Club of Nigeria in Abuja last week.
The two gentlemen who were once commanders in our military services cannot be faulted in their observations and we should all be concerned especially with the looming threat of an invasion of Nigeria by the United States of America.
Coming from former officers and commanders of such standing and experience may sound inappropriate to some, but under the circumstances that we currently face as a country, such candour is necessary in the overarching interest of defending the country.
Politics › Ethnic Bigotry: You Can't Hide Behind Semantic - Dalung To Abike by Noneroone(op): 6:55pm On Oct 12
