₦airaland Forum

Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has announced a salary increment of N500,000 for the newly employed medical doctors in all primary healthcare facilities in the state.

Nwifuru, who announced the salary increase during the Flag-off of health activation in readiness for the drug revolving fund and distribution of medical equipment to general hospitals, said that the government has committed over N10 billion in upgrading health facilities, equipment and manpower in the state.

The governor said that in recognition of the human resource gaps, his government has recruited 195 healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and laboratory scientists, who have been posted to all the general hospitals to ensure optimal service delivery.

“This event is not just a ceremony—it is a declaration of our administration’s commitment to revitalizing the healthcare system of our dear state. It is a testament to our resolve to deliver on the health pillar of our People’s Charter of Needs.

“For some time now, the health sector in Ebonyi has suffered from insufficient funding, inadequate personnel, and a lack of basic equipment. This narrative must change, and it must change now.

“Today, we are taking a bold step forward with the launch of the Drug Revolving Fund. This initiative will guarantee the continuous availability of essential drugs in all our general hospitals. The revolving nature of the fund ensures sustainability, transparency, and accountability.

” It is a lifeline for our rural communities, who now have access to quality medicines at affordable rates. We have already achieved over 60% delivery of essential drugs, and the process continues until full coverage is attained.

I urge our healthcare workers and facility managers to uphold the highest standards of integrity and professionalism in managing these resources.

“With regard to the distribution of medical equipment, our hospitals cannot function effectively without adequate tools. Therefore, we are distributing modern medical equipment, including hospital beds, mattresses, patient monitors, drip stands, and other critical consumables.

“These are not for decoration, they are instruments of life-saving service. This investment, worth over one billion naira, marks a significant milestone in our journey to reposition Ebonyi’s health sector. We also work with relevant institutions to train and retrain our health workforce, ensuring they meet global best practices.

“Let me use this medium to call on our community leaders, traditional rulers, and civil society to join us in monitoring and protecting these investments. Let the health facilities belong to the people. Ownership brings responsibility. Let me make it clear that accountability is not an option—it is a duty.

“Any mismanagement or diversion of public resources will be met with firm action. We have already shown that we will not condone negligence, as evidenced by recent decisions taken in the sector.

“Our vision is establishing specialist hospitals in the three senatorial zones to provide advanced healthcare services, reduce medical tourism, and save lives. We are also exploring partnerships for healthcare financing and digital health systems that will ensure efficiency and access.

“Today is a new dawn for health in Ebonyi. Let this flag-off be a call to action—to our health workers, our communities, and every stakeholder. Working together will accelerate our vision to build a system that delivers hope, healing, and health to all,” Nwifuru stated.

A member of the National Campaign Council for Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Senator Victor Lar along with his supporters have defected to the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Plateau State.[/b]

Senator Lar was a former member of the APC before he jettisoned the party for LP in the last general election where he served as a member of the National Campaign Council.

Explaining the reasons for their change in direction, Senator Victor Lar described the decision to rejoin the APC as a well thought out one, and also a popular consideration.

The former member of the red chamber revealed that he decided to realigned with certain forces, having realised that the problems that made him to leave the APC earlier, have now been adequately addressed.

He further revealed that President Tinubu’s actions and achievements have lured many politicians to the party adding that right now people identify with his administration more than anticipated.

Accompanied by the Minority Leader of the State House of Assembly, Hon.Nandang Bako and the leadership of the Labour Party in the southern zone, Senator Lar stated that they rejoined the APC not for anything, but to add value to the party.

Senator Lar assured that their rejoining the APC apart from boosting the popularity of the Party, will further enhance its fortunes and that they will do everything to ensure that the Party is re engineered as well as reinvigorated.

Receiving them, the State Chairman, Rt. Hon. Rufus Bature remarked that with the return of Senator Lar and his supporters to the APC’s fold history is made on the political landscape of the State.

According to him, with Lar’s return to the party, there is bound to be a change in the political equation of Plateau State.

Bature pointed out that there will soon be a political tsunami, in view of the kind of people from other Parties that have so far indicated their interest in joining the APC in the state.

The state chairman commended them for taking that bold initiative, and assured that the new members are entitled to all the rights and privileges of the Party without any discrimination.

Mabuggi88:
What do you expect, this are first time governors, they want a second term because Nigeria concentrated all their powers to the center. How can the president be the one to appoint INEC chairman?

madridguy:
Picture Of Peter Obi In VVIP Section after he was smuggled into the hall by Father Arinze.
Meanwhile, I still doubt this photo, can anyone provide the video of Obi in that position.

Meanwhile, where is the photo of Obi with the new Pope?

madridguy:
Leave cho cho cho, shows Obi's photo with the new Pope.

zero8zero:
Breeze don blow fowl yansh don open. When he was at the late Pope's funeral, his supporters were trying to score cheap political point, saying he was invited, he's papal knight, he's the son of the soil, bla bla bla.. If he was invited, then why was he bounced?. Trust me, if he had had an handshake with the Pope, he would have uploaded it on his Twitter page with lengthy inspirational quotes. And his supporters would have been running with it.

The military has confirmed the neutralization of Alhaji Shaudo Alku, a Commander of the most notorious terrorist leader, Bello Turji in a major airstrike carried out in Sokoto State.

The operation, executed the Air Component of Operation Fasan Yamma, OPFY, on a gathering of bandits near Tunfa Primary School in Isa Local Government Area of the State, on Saturday, May 18, 2025.

The military disclosed the development via its official Facebook page on Sunday.

According to a statement posted on the military’s official Facebook handle yesterday, the airstrike neutralized Alhaji Shaudo Alku, a high-profile terrorist figure reportedly invited from neighboring Niger Republic for a strategic meeting.

It noted that Alku was killed alongside several foot soldiers and yet-to-be-identified terrorist commanders.

Security analysts described Alku’s death as a major blow to the terror network operating along Nigeria’s northwest corridor, particularly the syndicate loyal to Turji, who has been linked to a series of deadly attacks, kidnappings, and banditry in the region.

The military explained that the strike is part of an intensified effort to degrade terrorist operations and leadership structures under the ongoing counterinsurgency campaign.

Fresh indications have emerged that more governors of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Nigeria’s southern region may support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s bid for a second term in 2027, as part of efforts to maintain the informal power rotation agreement between the North and South

According to credible sources, ongoing consultations among high-ranking political figures suggest that additional defections from the PDP to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are imminent.

A source familiar with the discussions told Leadership that support for President Tinubu’s second-term ambition is being framed around the principle of geopolitical balance.

“The PDP governors from the South are largely going to support Tinubu because of the North-South power rotation. Just as Buhari completed two terms for the North, many believe Tinubu should complete the same for the South,” the source said.

Already, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has defected to the APC, while Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno recently hinted at aligning with Tinubu’s camp using the metaphor of not flying in a “faulty plane,” widely interpreted as a critique of the PDP’s internal crises.

There are currently six PDP governors in the South: Douye Diri (Bayelsa); Seyi Makinde (Oyo); Ademola Adeleke (Osun); Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom); Peter Mbah (Enugu); Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers).


The South, once a PDP stronghold, has experienced significant attrition in its ranks since 2015, with the APC gaining ground in successive elections.

A South-South governor currently in his second term reportedly met with leaders of his ethnic bloc last week to finalise plans to declare support for Tinubu. The governor has recently been at odds with key PDP stakeholders in his state and is expected to make his position public soon.

Another South-South governor who has openly endorsed Tinubu is said to be lobbying his immediate predecessor to join the pro-Tinubu movement. However, the former governor is reportedly hesitant due to unresolved political tension with his own predecessor.

Sources say internal instability within the PDP is contributing to the defections. The lingering dispute over the party’s national secretary position and growing uncertainty surrounding the party’s 2027 zoning arrangement are major concerns.

“The internal wrangling and absence of clear direction have left many stakeholders frustrated. Some governors don’t see the PDP as viable for 2027 and are now exploring alternatives,” the source added.

The PDP is scheduled to hold its highly anticipated National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on May 27, where issues like party leadership, zoning, and strategy for the next general election are expected to dominate discussions.

Observers say the outcome of that meeting could significantly determine the party’s cohesion—or further its fragmentation—ahead of the 2027 presidential race.

What are you people not telling Nigerians? What is the real issue?

The lingering internal crisis rocking the Labour Party (LP) took a dramatic turn as the Deputy National Chairman of the party, Dr Ayo Olurunfemi, has described the suspension of key figures, including Abia State governor, Dr Alex Otti and the National Treasurer, Oluchi Opara and a few others, as best decision made in recent times, citing the need to “sanitize the party.”

But in a swift rebuttal, the acting Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) , Political Commission, Prof Theophilus Ndubuaku, dismissed the action, branding the leadership as “confused impostors” in an escalating war of words threatening to further destabilize the opposition party.

Olorunfemi is first to speak to our correspondent.

Why do you think suspending some of your critical assets, elected members of your party, will bring unity to the party?

Yes, you see, people don’t understand that when you help an ingrate and instead of reciprocating your help, he wants to destroy you. So, purging such a fellow out of your system will give you relief. That was exactly what we have done. Not all the people we accommodated, who were rejected by PDP, behave the same way.

For example, we still have people who joined the Labour Party from the APC, and they are still with us. It is not only the house members who are crazy. It is not all the senators who are ungrateful.

So, we still have a lot of people who believe in the ideology of the Labour Party. Before 2023, we had only one House of Reps member. Today, we have several of them and the senators who are still with the party.

So, if those few ones are planning to destroy the very foundation they built on, then it is better to remove them. Obi himself has shown that he is not a good leader; he cannot unify just a political party. Instead, he is the one dividing them.

Those people are unfit to lead Nigeria. They went to Umuahia and conducted what they called stakeholders’ meetings. Have you ever heard of a stakeholders meeting in Nigeria that turned into a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting? Thank God we didn’t attend that meeting. Only Alex Otti and his deputy were at that meeting. They have only one vote each, making two votes in a party of about 210 people who make up the NEC.

Obi is not a member of the NEC, no matter how powerful he may think he is. So, he cannot call NEC. If we are inviting him to the NEC, that is on personal recognition.


What are you planning to achieve with this development?

The Abure-led leadership is trying to sanitise the party because we are different from other political parties, and we will continue. Thank God the law is on our side. Any lawyer who studied Logic must know that the Supreme Court has not sacked Abure. It did not say his tenure has expired. Is the Supreme Court afraid of Abure that they did not say his tenure has expired?


Don’t you think all these back and forth will affect your candidate in the coming governorship election in Anambra State?

We have conducted our primary in Anambra, and we have come up with the best candidate who will serve the interest of the people of the state. One thing about our party is that any governor elected under this party must perform excellently.

If Alex Otti can be doing what he is doing in Abia State, delivering good services even under bad governance, you can imagine someone with good character, someone with proven pedigree, will do to give Anambra the best governance.

So, the person who is going to lead Anambra is a man of proven capacity and capability because he has done well in several leadership positions before now. It is left for the Anambra people to put sentiment aside and give their mandate to the man who can deliver better dividends of democracy to them.

Having gone through all the courts in the land, one would expect that the crisis would have been over by now, unfortunately, it lingers.


What are you people not telling Nigerians? What is the real issue?

Let me tell you. The battle started between Peter Obi and Alex Otti. There was mutual suspicion. When we were preparing for the delegates of the convention, both of them were fully involved.

At the point of execution, this mutual suspicion arose as one of them wanted to hijack the party and run away with it. What they don’t know is that the Labour Party cannot be hijacked.

Obi came up with pranks that we should postpone the convention for more stakeholder discussions, apparently to delay us, and we refused to be delayed. We asked him what he meant by stakeholders.

At the same time, Otti sent his deputy to chair that convention. All his commissioners were present. All his state assembly members were present. Now, can you sign an agreement and say that the agreement is not binding?

You cannot chair a meeting where a decision was made and turn around to say that decision is not relevant. After that convention, there was an issue between the supporters of Otti and Obi. They then came up with what they called a stakeholders meeting. That is the genesis of the matter.

Alex Otti is the governor of just one state. We have 35 other states. So, he is not the governor of Nigeria. In our constitution, the national chairman is the highest-ranking party official, followed by the deputy national chairman.

You don’t become a leader by imposing yourself, you earn it. Alex Otti has not earned it, so his position remains third in the party.


At what point did they come together because they are friends now?


It was when they discovered that they were losing out. I can tell you that if you can see the heart of Peter Obi, I’m sure he’s regretting now that he has been deceived. Let me paint a scenario. As the deputy national chairman, if I convene a stakeholders meeting and bring about 200 loyalists together, do I have any right to convert that meeting into a NEC meeting?

That was the offence they committed, and it is a crime. And these are the kind of people who want to govern Nigeria. What is the way forward? We are not going to beg anybody. They can come if they wish. We are humans, and we can make mistakes.

If you realise your mistake and you dare to say sorry, then you can lead Nigeria. We don’t want arrogant people.


But Prof Theophilus Ndubuaku faulted him in the chat below:

Barrister Julius Abure-led factional leadership of the Labour Party recently suspended some politicians elected under the party’s platform in 2023, including the Abia State governor, Alex Otti. Where is this leading your party to?

The truth is that all of us have a stake in building Nigeria, including the journalists. Nobody is blind or deaf to what is happening in this country. A few days ago, someone like former President Goodluck Jonathan was warning that it is dangerous to keep pushing Nigeria the way it’s currently being pushed.

All of us know this, especially those of you in the media. Nigeria is being pushed toward becoming a one-party state. For what purpose? This is a multi-ethnic country. And it’s not as though this shift is happening through conviction or free choice.

How do you mean?

It’s happening through coercion, through blackmail. People are being forced or manipulated into joining certain parties just to suppress the others. You’ve heard it, some people are even being paid to destroy viable political parties in this country. We all know it; every Nigerian has seen it. It’s no longer hidden.

Imagine a governor, elected by his people, and his entire assembly suddenly declaring for another party, without consulting their constituents or respecting the rule of law. It’s happening, and we are all witnessing it. What’s happening now is the same kind of thing we’ve seen before, even within the PDP. Unfortunately, the pattern continues.

The truth is that the focus now outside of Abure’s leadership is clear. The Supreme Court ruled that if your tenure has expired, you should step aside. So, everyone in the media, please stop referring to Abure as the functional leader or party leader. Find a more accurate term. ‘Impersonating a leader’ would be the most appropriate.

If you write that “the impersonating leader of the Labour Party made such a statement,” then the public can better understand the situation within the context of the Supreme Court’s judgment. The press should do the needful. Use the correct label, call him “the sacked Labour Party leader,” or “the Supreme Court-removed chairman.” That’s what he is. All of us need to come together to build this country because the direction we’re headed is dangerous.

If Abure is being used, then the media must make it clear that he’s acting beyond reason and against the law. So, how could a sacked Abure suspend elected members of the party?


Just to clarify, are you saying that if someone is an impostor, they cannot suspend authentic members of the party?

No, no! If you refer to him as an impostor who is suspending party leaders, then readers will understand that it is a charade, a complete joke.

This is the case of someone unhinged, deranged, acting outside all legal and moral norms. If the Supreme Court issues a judgment and someone still comes out to say they are removing the only governor, senators, and House of Representatives members the party has, then it’s obvious: the person is an impostor. He’s likely on someone’s payroll, doing their bidding.


Prof, moving away from that now, the concern is just as you said earlier, what is Labour Party going to do differently? Because by now, after going from the federal high court to the Court of Appeal and finally to the Supreme Court, the party is still in disarray, is there any way forward?


Yes, there is. The truth is that we now have a Supreme Court judgment. The whole world, not just Nigerians, is watching INEC. It is up to INEC to comply with the judgment.


INEC recently said it has not identified with a particular leader based on that court judgment…?


Let’s not forget that this is a party of the masses of the workers. INEC must not push the people to the point where they rise in anger. The Labour Party belongs to the people. Remember, the NLC President once said: “We are only taking our time, because we want a society governed by the rule of law.” Nigeria is not a jungle. So, if there is a Supreme Court judgment, and the body responsible for enforcing it refuses to act, it is provoking the people.

And I’m sure you’re not happy that someone is flagrantly flouting the rule of law in our great country. We can’t just sit back and clap while some people push Nigeria toward anarchy. Nigerians are watching. The world is watching. Even within APC, not everyone is pleased that a Supreme Court judgment is being ignored or obstructed by the regulatory body. We’re all waiting for INEC. We hope this won’t take too long. But everyone is now asking: How long does it take to study a Supreme Court judgment that is so clear? So, while INEC is “studying” the judgment, Abure is taking the law into his own hands.


What did you mean by workers may rise if provoked? What is their business with party leadership?

The Labour Party was founded, promoted, and registered by organised labour. Emphasis on “organised.” That means it doesn’t take us long to mobilise. A directive from our leadership can activate our structures from the ward to the local government level in a matter of days. We are not like other political parties that scramble to organise. We already have the contact details of all our members nationwide. We can disseminate information instantly to millions of our members overnight.


Do you think this game will soon become a thing of the past, especially with the Anambra governorship election coming up?

Yes, absolutely. Like I said, this is a party backed by organised labour. In the coming days or weeks, once the directive is given, our members across the country will mobilise for congresses and other party activities. Remember what the Labour Party looked like before Peter Obi came in? Yes, it wasn’t this vibrant. But when he was endorsed by organised labour, the political atmosphere changed. Within months, Obi won the 2023 election. There’s no debate about that. Before the so-called “technical glitches” appeared, it was clear he was heading toward victory, especially in strategic areas like Lagos and Abuja. Then, suddenly, those glitches were introduced to distort the outcome. What I’m saying is that we’re prepared. There’s no cause for alarm.


But Abure is the one occupying the Labour Party’s national secretariat in Abuja and holding stakeholders’ meetings. You’re calling him an impostor while he’s the landlord at the moment?

As far as that’s concerned, I think the media should actually be commending organised labour and Labour Party members for their restraint. Do you know how easy it would be to enforce that Supreme Court judgment ourselves? But we haven’t because we respect the rule of law.

Why should we take matters into our own hands when law enforcement agencies exist? Of course, sometimes, when these agencies fail to act, people begin to justify taking action on their own. But even if that happens, nobody will blame us, they will say we were patient. That’s the reality we are facing.

We are showing patience now because we believe in the legal process. But we also don’t want to believe we live in a country where the Supreme Court cannot enforce its own judgment. If that’s the case, it would be a sad reflection of our nation. For now, we remain patient. But once we decide on our next steps, our actions will be justified in the eyes of Nigerians and the world.

”This is the first time in our country’s history that a sitting President or Head of State has attended the inaugural mass of a new Pope.

Femi Fani-Kayode, former Minister of Aviation, has reacted to the exchange of handshake between President Bola Tinubu and Pope Leo XiV.

Daily Trust had reported how President Tinubu went to Rome to honour an invitation to the inauguration of the Pope.

The invitation was conveyed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State.

The Papal invitation underscored the need for President Tinubu’s physical presence,

“at this moment of particular importance for the Catholic Church and the world afflicted by many tensions and conflicts.”

“Your great nation is particularly dear to me as I worked in the Apostolic Nunciature in Lagos during the 1980s,” Pope Leo XIV said in the invitation.

On Sunday, the presidency released pictures and videos of Tinubu with the spiritual head of the Catholic Church.

In a post on X, Fani-Kayode wrote,

“@officialABAT), who is a Muslim, in a warm handshake with the spiritual leader and father of the Catholic Church, His Holiness Pope Leo X1V at his inaugural mass in Rome.

“”This is the first time in our country’s history that a sitting President or Head of State has attended the inaugural mass of a new Pope.

“Surely there can be no greater expression of religious tolerance, mutual respect and bridge-building than this. It is a warm gesture that we can all be proud of.”

kimjongJezebel:
I'm a staunch Catholic of over 40 years. You and your drug lord can't tell me who's who in the Catholic Church.

kimjongJezebel:
Fake. That's not Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of the Vatican. Tinubu with his dubious and criminal nature must have hired a bend down select Cardinal in the Vatican to snap picture with for their usual propaganda which the satanic party is known for.


**See Cardinal Pietro Parolin pix below