A close ally of winner of June 12, 1993 Presidential election, MKO Abiola, Alhaji Sufianu Kazeem, otherwise known as ‘Su-kazeem’ has knocked former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido for criticizing economic policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He said Sanusi should stop playing ethnicity and religious card to score cheap political gain by criticizing the giant stride of President Tinubu’s economic reforms.
A statement by Su-Kazeem, described Sanusi’s criticism as careless and misinformed.
According to him, the former CBN Governor lacked moral justification to advise the government.
“Rather than acknowledging these efforts or contributing positive ideas to enhance their effectiveness, Sanusi opted for a cynical and self-serving narrative. In contrast, what has Sanusi offered? Criticisms that are devoid of actionable solutions and reflect a parrot-like analysis of Nigeria’s economic situation,” he said.
Su-kazeem, who expressed support for President Tinubu’s economic reforms, including removal of fuel subsidies and unification of exchange rates maintained that these reforms have received widespread support from global economic experts and institutions like the World Bank and IMF.
“Firstly, let us recognize that President Tinubu has taken bold steps to correct decades of economic mismanagement.
“The removal of the fuel subsidy, while initially challenging, was a necessary move to free up resources for critical infrastructure and social investments, which has further helped mitigate its impact on the vulnerable populations.
“The unification of the exchange rate has also been widely praised by global financial institutions, including the World Bank and IMF, as a step toward long-term economic stability.
“Secondly, it is worth noting that these reforms have received widespread support from global economic experts. The World Bank has projected positive growth for Nigeria’s economy in the coming years, affirming that we are on a path to recovery.”
The Ekiti State Government has said its ongoing interventions in the agricultural sector are beginning to yield measurable and positive results.
The Special Adviser/Director-General of the Office of Transformation and Service Delivery (OTSD), Dr. John Ekundayo said the impacts of government efforts are already visible across markets in the state.
He spoke during an assessment tour conducted by the Ekiti State Agriculture Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (AGRIC-MEAL) Team across key agricultural projects in the state.
The team inspected facilities including the Renewed Hope Farm Dormitory, covering about 50 hectares of cassava and maize farmland in Ikere-Ekiti, the Erefun Farm Settlement, the state fish pond, and the Ounje Ekiti retail food outlet in Ado-Ekiti.
Ekundayo who is the Chairman of Ekiti AGRIC-MEAL noted that initiatives such as expansion of cultivation areas, access to farm inputs and the operationalisation of programmes agricultural programmes are already enhancing productivity.
These efforts, ge explained, have also contributed to improved availability of staple foods in local markets, helping to cushion the impact of rising commodity prices.
Ekundayo commended the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security for making staple food items available to residents at highly discounted prices despite the harsh national economic climate.
The Director General added that the government will now deepen efforts in production, processing, packaging, and marketing to drive further improvements in food sufficiency.
“The Ministry of Agriculture has been doing tremendous work. This is the third year of Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s administration, and for the first time, Ekiti now has a food price index. Prices of commodities have dropped significantly.
“In August, Ekiti recorded the lowest food prices in the Southwest, and we intend to build on this”, Ekundayo said
He explained that the tour was primarily aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability and evaluation within the sector.
He added that the review mission was part of the Governor Biodun Oyebanji-led administration’s broader strategy to measure progress and improve food availability in the state.
“This tour is not just about monitoring, but about creating a platform for transparency and accountability so that stakeholders in and outside Ekiti can clearly see what is happening in the agric sector,” he said.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and food security, Mr. Ebenezer Boluwade who was represented the Permanent Secretary, Ebenezer Ojo, noted that Ekiti state is rapidly emerging as a model for agricultural development in Southwest.
He expressed optimism that the state is on track to becoming Nigeria’s leading food provider, saying, “We have become a case study in the Southwest and are recognized nationally for our progress. Very soon, Ekiti will be regarded as the best food provider in Nigeria.”
Anambra State government has issued an interim license to the First Power Electricity Distribution Company Limited (FPEDC) as the electricity distributor in the state.
Speaking at the ceremony, Chairman, Anambra State Electricity Regulatory Commission (ASERC), Prof. Frank Okafor, said the transfer of power was to ensure steady power supply in every part of the state.
According to him, the Governor Chukwuma Soludo-led administration is committed to making the state a choice destination by way of making power less of a luxury in the state.
While disclosing that the temporary license would last for one year, Okafor said the commission was optimistic about improved power supply.
He promised to ensure thorough oversight over the activities of the company to ensure targets were met.
“Today, history is made in our dear Anambra State. A journey to adequately regulate the energy sector, in particular, the Electricity Business in Anambra State, has commenced.
“We thank the Anambra State House of Assembly, which brought the Anambra State Electricity Law (ANEL) into life,” he added.
Managing Director Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), Engr. Praveen Chorghade described the license issuance as an important milestone in a transition that would ultimately deliver a vibrant, competitive and dynamic electricity market in the State.
Chorghade, represented by Engr Dr Ernest Mupwaya, said, “We are determined to invest in infrastructure, deploy technology that enhances efficiency, strengthen customer engagement and support the emergence of a resilient and future-ready electricity market.
“FirstPower, as an EEDC subsidiary, is responsible for distribution activities within Anambra State, although operated under the NERC licence issued to EEDC.”
Earlier, Managing Director, FPEDC, Mr Okechukwu Okafor, said the licensing was to formalise the company’s presence in the state.
He said, “We want to inform stakeholders that EEDC is no longer in charge, but an independent body saddled with the responsibility of distributing electricity in Anambra state.
.“We are going to partner with the industrialists, the state government, and Ndi Anambra for them to understand that our presence is geared towards a better solution to electricity.”
The Joint Civil Society Front (JCSF), Enugu State, has urged the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) to release the certified academic records of former Minister of Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji.
It called on the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Simon Uchenna Ortuanya, to step aside for an unfettered investigation into Nnaji’s allegation of records tampering.
At a briefing in Enugu, the group said the investigative panel set up by the Federal Ministry of Education should be allowed to do its work without interference.
Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa had constituted the panel to unravel claims that the UNN authorities altered Nnaji’s academic records, a controversy that contributed to his resignation from the Federal Executive Council.
The group argued that for the investigation to be credible, the Vice Chancellor must step aside, noting that allowing an official under probe to remain in office could lead to interference, intimidation, and destruction of evidence or manipulation of records.
“We insist that the principle of impartiality requires that any individual whose actions are the subject of an inquiry should be suspended while the investigation is ongoing,” JCSF Coordinator, Hon. Ani Vincent, said.
The group also raised concerns over what it described as UNN’s “abrupt shift” in position regarding Chief Nnaji’s graduation status.
It recalled that the university, through the Registrar, had confirmed in 2023 that Nnaji graduated from the institution—a position the registrar reportedly stood by despite pressure.
JCSF stressed that Nnaji’s resignation as minister was not an admission of wrongdoing but “a vote for transparency and respect for due process”, arguing that Prof. Ortuanya should similarly step aside or be suspended by the ministry.
The group stated that Nnaji had formally requested the university to release certified copies of his transcripts and academic records, urging the institution to meet its obligation to provide them.
“It is the responsibility of the Federal Ministry of Education, as the supervisory authority, to remove any obstruction that could impede the investigation,” Vincent added.
The organisation raised several questions it said Nigerians deserved answers to, including why UNN allegedly reversed its earlier confirmation of Nnaji’s graduation and how the records used by the Registrar in 2023 “suddenly vanished”.
According to JCSF, the investigative panel cannot work effectively while Prof. Ortuanya remains in office because “unfettered access to documents cannot be guaranteed”.
The group warned that if the Education Ministry fails to suspend the Vice Chancellor, it would mobilise mass protests across the Nsukka and Enugu campuses.
“This struggle is bigger than one man. It is about protecting the dignity of our universities, the future of our children, and the credibility of academic records in Nigeria,” the statement added.
The JCSF reaffirmed its demand for transparency, accountability and a university system free from political interference.
NMO Management and PR is billed to hold the inaugural Artistic Pulse Festival (#APF), Africa’s first sustainable recycling festival, running from 3 to 7 December 2025 at the Remembrance Arcade, Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS).
The five-day event is themed ‘Footprints of Interconnectivity, Growth and Expansion.’
Speaking about the festival, Dr Ngozi Omambala, Group MD/CEO of NMO Management Ltd and Vice Chair of NACCIMA Creative Economy Trade Group Nigeria, said, festival would showcase, integrate the main pillars of the creative industries: music, fashion, film (Nollywood), food, art, and technology at Remembrance Arcade TBS.”
The Artistic Pulse Festival is a cultural showcase that integrates the pillars of Africa’s creative industries, music, fashion, film (Nollywood), food, art, and technology, while championing sustainability and recycling.
The festival is poised to showcase the best of Nigeria’s cultural heritage and creative vitality while pioneering eco-conscious practices that underscore the importance of sustainability in Africa’s evolving creative industries.
Designed to be both immersive and impactful, the event will feature symposiums, debates, a children’s corner, an art gallery, a play zone, creative workshops, and the Artistic Pulse Festival Trade Fair, where ‘Creativity meets Commerce’.
Central to the festival is the Pan‑African 11th Annual Music Fashion Runway (#MFR), recognised as Nigeria’s most influential fashion brand showcase. Scheduled for Saturday, December 6, at the Naval Dockyard, the runway will blend contemporary Pan‑African designers, international models, and live music performances.
Adding star power to the festival, organisers have confirmed that global superstar and American Idol winner Jordin Sparks will headline the event as the international performing artist, performing live during the celebrations.
The evening will also feature the Game Changer Africa Acknowledgement (#GCAA) awards, honouring industry trailblazers, and the Golden Break Through (GBT) Auditions, a youth empowerment initiative searching for the next top models for 2025.
Naija Diaspora has congratulated the new Nigerian Consular General to Cameroon, Ambassador Ojo Olabode Steve.
Steve replaces the late Ambassador Taofik Coker, who passed on recently.
The new CG has officially received his Letter of Credence from the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, signaling the start of his diplomatic mission.
In a statement from Ismaila Adegbola, the publisher of Naija Diaspora Magazine, the organization extended its warmest wishes for Ambassador Steve’s tenure, expressing confidence in his ability to positively influence Nigeria-Cameroon relations and support the Nigerian community in the regions.
The statement further noted Naija Diaspora Magazine’s commitment to collaborating with Ambassador Steve and his team to promote community development and initiatives that benefit Nigerians in Cameroon.
Adegbola emphasized the importance of wisdom and strength as the new Consul General prepares to assume his duties in Buea, wishing for a peaceful and productive tenure filled with significant achievements.
The statement continues: “Naija Diaspora Magazine assures him of our full cooperation, collaboration, and unwavering support. We look forward to working closely with him and his team to promote community development, constructive engagement, and initiatives that will enhance the welfare of Nigerians in Cameroon.
“ We pray for wisdom, strength, and divine guidance as he prepares to assume duty in Buea. May his tenure be peaceful, productive, and marked by outstanding achievements.”
Abode Assets Limited has called for democratization of the real estate sector to allow low-income earners tap into the immense benefits.
Abode’s commitment to spreading the gain in the sector to the grassroots was solidified over the weekend with the official launch of the massive 100-acre Empire Park Estate, a project designed to prove that real estate investment is no longer the exclusive preserve of the ultra-wealthy.
In a move that challenges industry norms, Abode unveiled a model where investors can become certified landowners with a commitment of as little as ₦100,000.
This low entry barrier is central to the company’s mission of ‘Shared Prosperity,’ allowing everyday Nigerians to access genuine wealth.
Redefining access and transparency at the launch, Mr. Jeffrey Itepu, CEO of Abode Assets, reiterated the company’s inclusivity mandate, saying : “Irrespective of your income level, location, or social class, you should be able to participate in the prosperity that is in real estate.”
Backing this vision with operational excellence, the COO, Mr. Damilare Oshokoya, highlighted how technology ensures safety for their growing community of over 2,000 investors across 13 countries:
“One of the things that made the system smooth and transparent is that it was digitalised from the onset. With Abode, you get all information at the tap of a button.”
Guests enjoyed horse riding and face painting, signaling that wealth creation can be a joyful, community-centric experience. As one new landowner noted, “I enjoyed horse riding… but owning land? That’s generational wealth.
“With Empire Park, Abode Assets Limited has fundamentally changed the narrative, proving that with the right partner, wealth is accessible to everyone.”
The Abiriba Ancient Kingdom has honoured 72 exceptional women for their remarkable contributions to leadership, mentorship, community development, and the nurturing of young girls across generations.
During a historic two-day cultural celebration held at the Palace of the Enachioken of Abiriba, 24 women received the prestigious lnyom Abiriba title, while 48 others were conferred with the Ada Ena title.
The recipients were recognised for their roles in strengthening Abiriba’s social structure, promoting peace, championing developmental initiatives, and serving as exemplary role models to younger women within and beyond the kingdom.
Among those honoured with the Inyom Abiriba title were the wife of the Abia State Governor, Her Excellency Dr. Priscilla Chioma Otti; Dr. Nwannadiya Glory Ugah; Elder Georgina Mma Agbagha; Princess Mercy Owoh Nnanna; Grace Richard Nmecha; Barr. Nnenna Obewu Onwuka; Ego Mang Ndukwe; and Ezinne Ada Obasi, among others.
The Ada Ena honour was conferred on 48 young women, including American-born Ada Nde Abiriba, Dr. Nyiema Obidiya Carter–Eme, Dr. Lolo Esther Ogisi Ina, Nneoha Nnenna Ejindu Ireke Mang, Barr. Ebere Ifendu, Dr. Ashley Ubani Roberts, Sandra Kalu Ali, Chief Mrs. Grace Udensi, and other rising stars distinguishing themselves in various fields.
The colourful ceremony attracted dignitaries, traditional rulers, community leaders, and guests from within Nigeria and the diaspora, further reinforcing Abiriba’s reputation as a kingdom that upholds heritage, values leadership, and celebrates the strength of its women.
The event also commemorated the historic 1992 Abiriba Women’s Protest—an iconic march from Abiriba to Umuahia on November 25, 1992—during which Abiriba women demanded government intervention to restore peace in the community. Their bold action prompted swift government response and laid the foundation for the annual Abiriba Women’s Day celebrated every November 25.
Addressing journalists after the ceremony, the Enachioken in Council described the event as a reaffirmation of Abiriba’s centuries-old matrilineal heritage where women hold central roles in governance, peacebuilding, and community advancement.
The Enachioken of Abiriba Kingdom and Paramount Ruler of the Abiriba people, Kalu Kalu Ogbu, explained that Abiriba’s distinctive system—governed under the revered Eze Inyom Abiriba—grants women an independent leadership structure that has guided the kingdom for generations.
He stated: “Abiriba is blessed with women who are pillars of wisdom, custodians of culture, and guardians of peace. Our mothers and daughters have always led in protecting our community, mentoring the young, and preserving our values. Today’s honour celebrates their strength and reaffirms their indispensable role in society.”
The Enachioken further noted that the 2025 investitures not only recognise past achievements but also encourage more women to assume leadership roles, support community development, and help shape Abiriba’s future.
I think Nigeria is a disgrace. The whole thing is a disgrace. They are killing people by the thousands. It is a genocide and I am really angry about it. The Government has done nothing. They are very ineffective and they are killing Christians at will. We will come in guns ablazing and it will be short, vicious and sweet”- President Donald Trump, 21st November 2025.
Is it not strange that each time this ill-bred, ill-informed, racist and recalcitrant war-monger opens his foul mouth more attacks, killings and abductions take place in Nigeria?
Has it not occurred to anyone that he is actually fuelling the insurgency with his words and constant denigration of our people, our Armed Forces and our Government?
Is this not an attempt to create a clear justification for what they really wish to do to us: namely invade and bomb us to kingdom come and then divide our country.
This is the same way they demonised the Government of Sudan before unleashing the UAE-funded Janjaweed militia known as the RSF on them and creating carnage in Darfur.
This is what they did to Congo DRC too before releasing the Rwanda-funded M23 militia and the butchery started.
Is it not strange to you that the man that says he wants to deliver and protect Christians in Nigeria welcomed into the White House with open arms the greatest butcher of Christians on earth by the name of Ahmed Al Sharaa (AKA Julani) who is the newly-installed President of Syria, only the other day and even gave him and his wife a bottle of “sweet” perfume in the full glare of the media.
Apparently he loves the Christians of Nigeria but hates the Christians of Syria.
He also hates the Christians of Gaza and the Palestinian West Bank who have suffered immensly in the hands of Benjamin Netanyahu’s Zionist State of Israel.
What an interesting paradox and contradiction this is and only a village idiot will be fooled by it.
Claiming that the King of Mar A Lago cares about Nigerian Christians is like claiming that the proverbial “big bad wolf” cares about Little Red Riding Hood or that Count Dracula cares about beautiful women. Believe such balderdash and poppycock at your own peril.
The Orange Man’s motivation for expressing concern about the plight of Christians at the hands of the terrorists in Nigeria is gain and not love and as for the plight of the Muslims he couldn’t care less.
The script is clear: stoke, provoke and fund chaos, discredit and weaken the sitting Government, incite the people, engender regime change and spark off a civil war which will enable you to pick up the spoils and plunder the nation dry.
Their evil eye is now on Nigeria. They say we have done nothing to stop the killing but they won’t tell you what they have done to stop supporting, enhancing and encouraging it for the last fifteen years?
They won’t tell you why they do not sell us the arms we need to fight the war or share the necessary intelligence with us.
They won’t tell you why they refused to designate Boko Haram as a terrorist organisation until 2015.
They won’t tell you why they imposed an arms embargo on Nigeria.
They won’t tell you why they have refused to offer even the smallest assistance to our Armed Forces in this war over the last few years and up till now.
They won’t tell you why USAID was funding ISWAP and Boko Haram.
They won’t tell you that they covertly established and utilised Al Qaeda, ISIS, Boko Haram, the Taliban, Al Shabab, Al Nusra, Ansaru, ISWAP and Lakurawa right from the outset whilst pretending to fight them.
They won’t tell you the carnage that they unleashed on Libya, Iraq, Syria, Egypt, Congo, Sudan, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Yugoslavia, Somalia, Gaza, Yemen, Palestine, Ukraine, Central African Republic, Venezuela, Mali, Chad, Niger, Burkina Faso and elsewhere either directly or through their local proxies and sponsored militias.
They won’t tell you why they have now focused on Nigeria and why they are attempting to do same to South Africa.
Nigeria’s case is even more pitiful and alarming and we are clearly being set up for the kill.
Every time we make progress economically those that do not wish us well from outside our shores undermine the efforts of our Government and they do so in collaboration with members of the opposition.
It happened when President Olusegun Obasanjo, President Umaru Yar’adua, President Goodluck Jonathan and President Muhammadu Buhari were in power and now it is happening under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
These dark and sinister forces which are led and supported by what the Holy Bible describes as “bloodthirsty and evil men” have no loyalty and offer no fidelity to any African nation or leader.
As a matter of fact they hate us with what the Holy Bible describes as “a perfect hatred”.
Consequently for the last 65 years Nigeria has been the victim and target of a vicious, well-planned, well-funded, well-orchestrated international conspiracy and the ugly events of the last fifteen years and particularly the last few weeks and months prove that.
During Obasanjo’s time when I was in Government the American State Department even went as far as to publicly and boastfully proclaim that by 2015 we would no longer be one nation.
That was their projection, hope and aspiration and they did everything in their power to achieve it but God, in His infinite wisdom and mercy, kept us together and put them to shame.
Today as we attempt to cosy up to them despite their threats and insults my advice and counsel is that we guard our hearts jealously for we trust them at our own peril.
Men of blood and violence are incapable of honoring agreements and reciprocating friendship. And when they do they cannot sustain it.
In this respect the words of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, are instructive.
A few days ago he said, “the war in Ukraine started because of U.S. interference and now they are imposing a 28-article plan on the country they themselves dragged into the war. The Americans BETRAY even their own friends. They support the Zionist criminal regime, are ready to ignite wars anywhere in the world for oil and underground resources and today this war has reached Latin America. Undoubtedly, such a state is unworthy of having a Government like the Islamic Republic seek ties and cooperation with it.”
Can anyone dispute the veracity of Khamenei’s words?
The truth is that the Americans are pathologically unreliable and unscrupulously treacherous. What this means is that if, God forbid, things get out of hand in our country they may end up supporting the head of Boko Haram and ISWAP as our President. As far as they are concerned today’s terrorist is tomorrow’s leader. It really is that bad and if anyone doubts it they should find out what happened in Syria and Afghanistan!
Yet no leader has encapsulated the American disease better than President Gustavo Petro of Colombia when he said,
“A clan of pedophiles wants to destroy our democracy. To keep Epstein’s list from coming out they send warships to kill fishermen and threaten our neighbor with invasion for their oil. They want to turn the region into another Libya, full of slaves.”
This insightful and incisive contribution cannot be dismissed or ignored because it is rooted in truth.
To those that still trust the Americans despite all these observations I say “caveat emptor” which, for those who never had the privilege of learning or studying latin, means “buyer beware”.
For the record I am aware of the formation of the U.S./Nigeria Working Group which was established a few days ago.
I have implicit confidence in the National Security Advisor, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, who leads it and it’s other members who, in my estimation, are loyal and distinguished patriots like my old friend and brother and our Foreign Minister, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar.
Despite the confidence I have in them I urge them, for all our sakes, to be cautious of those they are working and collaborating with from the American side.
As they say, when you dine with the devil it is wise to do so with a long fork and knife.
Again as the Roman poet Virgil wrote in his literary masterpiece thousands of years ago titled ‘The Aeniad’, “beware of the Greeks, especially when they bring gifts”.
The Trojans learnt that lesson the hard way: let us hope that we do not.
What makes it worse is that now that they are reviewing the ‘Green Cards’ of nationals of all the ‘Countries of Concern’ as a result of the tragic shooting of two National Guard officers (one of whom has died) by Afghan nationals near the White House, this makes the matter even more dicey and complicated.
The Americans are now literally foaming at the mouth and looking for who to blame for their many self-inflicted woes so we must be cautious.
The bitter truth is that every time we take ten steps forward they band together with their local co-conspirators and take us twenty steps back because their greatest nightmare is a strong, independent, united, flourishing Nigeria that brings pride and dignity to Africa and the black race.
Any Nigerian that takes pleasure in the security challenges we are facing in our country today is either a sadist, a masochist, insane or simply naive and unpatriotic. This is not about Tinubu but about our country.
The terrorists are being funded and supported by a dark, sinister and relentless foreign force that seeks to tear us apart, destroy us, humiliate us, rob us, occupy our land, steal our resources, pillage our rare earth minerals, erase our identity, distort our heritage, re-define our history and control the entire globe.
They are doing the same thing in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia, South East Asia and much of the world.
Those that applaud that evil force and encourage it to enter our shores “guns-ablazing” and bomb us in the name of trying to help us fight the terrorists that they themselves are funding do not understand world politics and have no knowledge of modern history.
There is not one country that the Americans have entered with bullets, bombs and violence and left better than the way they found it.
Outside of that once we lose our sovereignty we will never get it back.
Once we rely on another country to fight our battles for us we are no longer a nation but a vassal state of cowardly slaves.
The solution to the problem is to support and encourage our Government and Armed Forces to face the challenge squarely and win this war.
Whatever it takes it is their obligation and duty to do this and with our support and understanding they surely will.
There is room for criticism and even anger but there is no room for disloyalty to the national cause or betrayal and collaboration with those that want to bring our country to her knees.
Things are tough and the enemy appears to be gaining ground but we must keep faith with God and have confidence that our President can and will turn things around.
This is a time to pray for Nigeria and to pray for our leaders and Armed Forces and not to gloat or cheer on those who mock, despise, undermine and insult us and seek to subvert their efforts.
This is a time to show those that have described us as being “a disgrace” that we are more than able to handle our own affairs and solve our problems despite their obvious malice and acts of sabotage.
This is a time to have faith in our country and our people and remember God’s promise and word that Nigeria shall be great again.
This is a time to line up behind our President and let him know that despite all that is happening we still have confidence in him and that he is not alone.
Thankfully there is light on the horizon. For example it is great news that the 24 female students that were abducted by terrorists from Government Girl’s Comprehensive Secondry School in Maga, Kebbi state have all been rescued.
Kudos to President Tinubu, our Armed Forces and our security agencies.
When we couple this with the fact that just a few days earlier every single one of the 33 worshippers that were abducted by terrorists from a Church in Eruku, Kwara state were also rescued and 50 of the 303 male and female students that were abducted from St. Mary’s school in Papiri, Niger State regained their freedom it rekindles our joy and gives cause for hope.
We still have a long way to go and our joy cannot be full until every single person that has been abducted is rescued and regains their freedom and until every terrorist has been killed but these efforts are promising and noteworthy and put a lie to the tactless assertion by Trump that we are a “disgraced country” which should be shamed, insulted, threatened and brought to her knees before the entire world.
Anyone that believes that a man like that who violates international law and all the norms of decency and civilisation by bombing and blowing small fishing boats out of the Atlantic ocean and murdering innocent, defenceless and faceless Venezuelan fishermen in cold blood on the grounds that they are supposedly carrying hard drugs into his country, is sane or capable of fighting for Christians in Nigeria is uninformed and unintelligent.
Again anyone that believes that if and when Trump starts dropping bombs on Northern Nigeria in the name of delivering Christians from terrorism and persecution that he will make a distinction between Christians and Muslims when those bombs start flying is a dullard.
A few days ago Professor Wole Soyinka, the literary giant and Nobel Laureate, described him as a “mad man”.
He went further by saying “Trump said he would come to Nigeria ‘guns ablazing’ and that it would be ‘fast, vicious and sweet’”.
He concluded by asking, “do these words sound like those of a sane person to you?”
On another occassion he referred to him as “a petty dictator” and “a white version of Idi Amin”.
Soyinka is absolutely right.
On his part Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, a respected former Minister of Foreign Affairs said,
“when the most powerful man in the world threatens you with his own troops the devil is at the door knocking. We don’t want that devil to come in.”
I concur.
To compound the point one of the few intelligent and rational American commentators left on earth, Professor Jeffrey Sachs of Colombia University, in his reaction to Trump not turning up to the G20 meeting in South Africa, said the following to a South African audience the day before the meeting started.
He said, “why isn’t Donald Trump coming tomorrow? Because he has a four year old mentality and he is having a tantrum”.
This is apt.
Imagine a man with a “four year old mentality” that is given to “tantrums” having control over the worlds largest arsenal of nuclear weapons and being the Commander in Chief of the most powerful army in human history.
Only God can save us from such a creature.
If anyone has any doubts about the accuracy of Sachs’ categorisation of Donald Trump’s infantile and fragile state of mind I urge them to consider the following words which he posted on his X handle on November 28th, after few days after the successful conclusion of the G20 meeting in South Africa, and which graphically reflects his vindictive, petty and puerile disposition. He wrote,
“The United States did not attend the G20 in South Africa, because the South African Government refuses to acknowledge or address the horrific Human Right Abuses endured by Afrikaners, and other descendants of Dutch, French, and German settlers. To put it more bluntly, they are killing white people, and randomly allowing their farms to be taken from them. Perhaps, worst of all, the soon to be out of business New York Times and the Fake News Media won’t issue a word against this genocide. That’s why all the Liars and Pretenders of the Radical Left Media are going out of business! At the conclusion of the G20, South Africa refused to hand off the G20 Presidency to a Senior Representative from our U.S. Embassy, who attended the Closing Ceremony. Therefore, at my direction, South Africa will NOT be receiving an invitation to the 2026 G20, which will be hosted in the Great City of Miami, Florida next year. South Africa has demonstrated to the World they are not a country worthy of Membership anywhere, and we are going to stop all payments and subsidies to them, effective immediately. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
If this vile, disrespectful and nonsensical verbiage does not betray the mindset of a spoilt, ill-bred and delusional four year old brat whose toys have been taken away from him then I don’t know what will.
Jeffrey Sachs, together with men and women like Colonel Douglas Macgregor, Lt. Colonel Scott Ritter, Chris Hedges, Abby Martin and Candace Owens are amongst the few that have the courage to call out Trump and his MAGA movement and still speak truth in America today.
They are the saving grace and redeeming factor of the American intellectual space.
The rest are mostly Yankee cowboys and cowgirls with little or no intelligence that are only interested in extending the boundaries of American hegemony and that present a very real danger to the peace and stability of the civilised world.
Recent events in Gaza, Darfur, Congo, Syria, Yemen, Lebanon and Venezuela prove that.
When it comes to his threats against Nigeria we must consider the fact that such is the level of Trump’s utter depravity that he is quite capable of blowing up a whole town with ALL the people in it, both Christian and Muslim, in the name of targetting and killing terrorists and saving Nigeria’s Christians.
His agenda is not hidden. Trump is attempting to demonise and dehumanise us ALL so that he can come in and slaughter us without consequence.
That is what we are toying with when we urge him to come and have his wicked way with us.
In case anyone is in any doubt about this I urge them to consider his words, spoken on the 5th of November.
He said, “we don’t lose wars. Sometimes, we don’t fight to win. We’ll stay around a country for 15 years, just bomb the hell out of everybody, make everybody miserable. Nobody knows why we’re there. You know the wars that never end — that wasn’t me. That was the stupidity of the people before me”.
He says that wasn’t him and describes the people that were in power before him as “stupid” but frankly none of them has been as brutal and brazen as he has been when it comes to killing innocent people and deploying military force and economic coercion against not just his own people but also the rest of the world.
Even his countries’ traditional allies have not been spared of his insults, threats, mockery and blackmail.
Those that believe his “that wasn’t me” mantra do so at their own peril.
Those that are praying for Trump to come and “save us” in Nigeria remind me of the proverbial turkey that is praying for Christmas and the proverbial ram that is praying for Sallah.
In the end, after their prayers have been answered, they will be slaughtered and devoured on that day but due to their low intelligence quotient they don’t see it coming despite all the evidence.
There is a reason that Rev. (Dr.) Munther Isaac of the Orthodox Church, Bethlehem in the West Bank said, “we Palestinians prefer to die and be martyred than to have someone like Trump defending us”.
I urge every Nigerian Christian, especially the excitable ones that claim to love Trump, that see him as their saviour and that insist on calling themselves Biafrans, to ponder on this.
You do not invite satan in to solve your problems. You do not invoke a demon to provide a solution for your challenges.
It is better for us to solve our problems ourselves and fight our own battles as Christians than to rely on Trump and the Americans to come and fight them for us.
A word is enough for the wise.
Before ending this contribution permit me to address the fundamental issues.
The question is whether we really do have a Christian genocide problem in Nigeria and the answer is ‘yes, we do’.
Again the question is whether we have a Muslim genocide problem in Nigeria and again the answer is ‘yes we do!’
Both Christians and Muslims are the victims of the terrorists and anyone that says otherwise is a pernicious and specious liar.
Any assertion that seeks to deny this incontrovertible fact is nothing but perfidy and deceit.
The final question is what can we do to solve these problems and the answer is as follows.
Firstly, we must resolve to kill every single terrorist and make it a criminal offence punishable by death to assist, collaborate, encourage, support, negotiate or pay ransoms to them.
Secondly we must resist every attempt by the Americans or any other group of foreigners and their local collaborators to drive a wedge between Christians and Muslims in our country.
Thirdly we must get the Federal Government to provide the necessary security, do their job properly, keep them on their toes and hold them to account.
Fourthly we must inspire, motivate, encourage and equip our soldiers and security agencies and give them all the weaponry, resources and support that they need to do the job.
Fifthly we must urge our President to reach Lt. Colonel Eebyn Barlow, the highly acclaimed, celebrated, experienced and respected retired South African Special Forces officer that scored great successes against Boko Haram when President Goodluck Jonathan brought him and his company, Executive Outcomes, into our country in 2014 to assist and support our Armed Forces.
And finally we must get President Tinubu to reach out to President Vladimer Putin, enter a defence pact with the Russian Federation and urge the Russians to assist our Armed Forces in our fight against the terrorists.
We must also build greater, deeper and stronger economic ties with China and consolidate our friendship and diplomatic ties with the United Kingdom, Germany, France and the European Union.
What we must NOT do is trust the Americans or rely on them for ANYTHING.
We cannot trust a nation whose President has publicly referred to ours as “a shithole” and “a disgrace”, who has contempt for us, who constantly threatens us and says he will withdraw all the aid they have been giving us and who has a clear and distinct psychopathic disposition.
This seems to me to be basic logic.
Let us hope that someone is listening.
Permit me to end this contribution with the words of Trump himself which will give even his greatest and most ardent supporters in Nigeria and indeed throughout Africa and the Global South pause for thought and an insight into just how dark and sinister the inner recesses of his complex mind really are.
In a long post on his X page on Thanksgiving Day he wrote, inter alia,
“even as we have progressed technologically, Immigration Policy has eroded those gains and living conditions for many. I will permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries to allow the U.S. system to fully recover, terminate all of the millions of Biden illegal admissions, including those signed by Sleepy Joe Biden’s Autopen, and remove anyone who is not a net asset to the United States, or is incapable of loving our Country, end all Federal benefits and subsidies to noncitizens of our Country, denaturalize migrants who undermine domestic tranquility, and deport any Foreign National who is a public charge, security risk, or non-compatible with Western Civilization. These goals will be pursued with the aim of achieving a major reduction in illegal and disruptive populations, including those admitted through an unauthorized and illegal Autopen approval process. Only REVERSE MIGRATION can fully cure this situation. Other than that, HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL, except those that hate, steal, murder, and destroy everything that America stands for: you won’t be here for long!”
After reading this if you still believe that Donald Trump is our friend I wish you luck!
May the Lord defend and protect the Federal Republic of Nigeria!
(Chief Femi Fani-Kayode is a former Minister of Culture and Tourism, a former Minister of Aviation, the Sadaukin Shinkafi, the Wakilin Doka Potiskum, the Otunba of Joga Orile, the Aare Ajagunla of Otun Ekiti and a former Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to President Olusegun Obasanjo)
• Army confirms rescue of 21 kidnapped passengers in Kogi
Angry parents of the abducted students of St Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State yesterday staged a protest over what they called Governor Umaru Mohammed Bago’s insensitivity to their ordeal.
The parents, who converged on the school premises, wept and took exception to a remark allegedly made by the governor that the students were missing, not abducted.
The protest came on a day Northwest leaders gathered in Kaduna to chart a new security architecture for the region following the recent surge in banditry and terrorism.
President Bola Tinubu, in a message to the Passing Out Parade (POP) of the Regular Course 7/2019 Cadets of the Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil, Kano, also yesterday reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to equipping the police and other security agencies with modern tools, advanced training and sustained logistical support to combat insecurity nationwide.
The abducted students’ parents, who have been distressed for the eighth day running, carried placards with inscriptions like “Bring back our students, teachers”; “We need security in Agwara” and “Is education a crime?”
They said no one has been able to give them information about their children.
The governor, according to them, has not even deemed it fit to visit them (parents).
The parents had gone to the school to formally register the names of their children following a complaint by the state government that the management of the school was not cooperating by failing to provide the names of the missing students.
It then opened a register for the parents to provide the details of their children.
A father, Mr Bulus Duchi, whose three children are among the abductees, told The Nation that life has not been the same for him since the incident.
He said no government official has shown up to engage with the parents on their misfortune.
“We heard the Governor went to New Bussa to see the Emir. Is New Bussa Papiri or Agwara? He did not even sympathise with us enough to identify with us in our period of pain,” Mr. Duchi said.
Another parent, Zakaria Sule, said four of his children were abducted.
Two of them are in primary school and two in nursery school.
He pleaded with security agents to expedite action in rescuing the children.
Samson Ndaja whose child is also being held captive by the terrorists who attacked the schools said he was traumatised by the thought of what his nursery class child was going through.
A weeping parent was heard saying “my children are too young to be left uncared for in the bush for eight days. What are they eating? What are they wearing? Are they well?”
Another parent, Samson Najadi, who was once abducted in 2021, said he knows what it feels like to be in kidnappers’ den.
Two of his children are among the abductees. He wondered how they are coping under the situation they find themselves at their tender age.
“I was abducted before and I know what it entails. I wonder how these kids are coping with the same conditions I went through,” he said.
He added: “When I was in captivity, they gave us very little food, and no bathing at all. It is an experience I do not like to recall, but now I think about what my children are going through, the same torment.
“There is usually little food, little water when someone is in their captivity.
“If you are sick, there is no hospital to treat you.
Rebecca Sunday, whose primary 2 daughter was abducted, expressed her frustration at the lack of communication from government.
A female teacher in the school, Martha Mathias, said her crying children saved her from being abducted.
But her husband, also a teacher in the school, was not that lucky. He was taken away by the terrorists.
She said: “I did not know when they (terrorists) entered, but we heard the children shouting and calling for their parents.
“When they entered the boy’s hostel, they were screaming for help. I wanted to go out but my husband asked me not to go out; that it seemed there were bandits around.
“We heard the bandits asking the students, “where are your parents?” And the students replied that they didn’t have parents here.
“They now asked for teachers and they showed them our lodge. The bandits first went to Mr Godwin’s room, brought him out and tied his hands backwards.
“They came to our room, knocked on it and my husband came out. They also held him and tied his hands, and they went round all the rooms, gathered the teachers and took them to where the children were.
“They asked me to come out. When I came out, I heard my baby started crying. I told them I wanted to go back and carry my baby, and they agreed that I should go back.
“Going back, I was followed by four of them. When I took the baby, my five-year-old daughter saw them and screamed and followed me.
“When we came out, she saw her father on the ground, she shouted and wanted to go to him, but the bandits said that if she didn’t go back, they would shoot her. They put a gun to her head.
“She said she must follow mummy and daddy, and because of that, one of them asked me to take the children back to the lodge and stay with them.”
Marthias said the bandits had not contacted anyone to make a demand.
She claimed the terrorists conversed in Hausa, Igbo, Kambari and other languages.
The Priest in charge of Social Information of the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora, Rev. Fr Stephen Ndubisi Okafor, explained that the school had sent messages to the parents of the abducted children to come and register the names of their children who were abducted.
The Principal of St. Mary’s Catholic Private School, Rev. Sr. Felicia Gyang, said that unlike what the government claimed that there was no large number of people, the bandits came with several vehicles and motorcycles which were used to take their victims away.
“We heard the sound of vehicles and motorcycles but we cannot tell their number. We heard them driving off in the vehicles. We also heard a helicopter flying around the school during the abduction and left some minutes after the bandits left.”
The head teacher of the nursery and primary section, Rev Sr. Blessing Amodu, looked devastated.
She pleaded with the government and security agencies to intensify their efforts towards recuing the children.
The Bishop of Kontagora Catholic Diocese, Most Rev Bulus Dauwa Yohanna put the students’ population of the schools at 689. Primary has 430 while the rest are in the secondary section.
“After the first count, 315 were recorded to be missing, including 303 students. But after some days, we started receiving calls from parents that their children had returned home after escaping from the terrorists.
He denied claims that the school and the Catholic Diocese were not cooperating with the government and security agencies.
He said he personally sent information about the missing people to the security agencies and the government.
“What other cooperation do they want?” he asked.
Yohanna, who is also the proprietor of the institution, explained that the school serves over 50 rural communities across Agwara and New Bussa, saying that most of these communities do not have good schools.
“It takes two to three hours to reach some of those communities by motorcycles. So we thought that instead of students spending that much time to get to school, we can make provision for them to come and stay in the school and return home during holidays.
“That is why we have children as old as seven years in nursery one, because we cannot take them direct to primary one without them knowing the basics,” he said
Defence Minister, others call for unified security approach in Northwest
Reviewing the security situation in the North West at a summit organised by the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on National Security Summit in Kaduna yesterday, stakeholders made a fresh call for decentralised security architecture to deal with the challenge.
The summit, themed “Building Robust Regional Collaboration to Tackle Insecurity: Pathways for Securing the Future,” brought together senators, governors, traditional rulers, academics and security experts to review escalating banditry, kidnapping and cross-border criminality in the zone.
Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani pushed for the establishment of a Northwest Theatre Command to unify all military and security operations under a single operational structure. He said only an integrated system rooted in community trust, cross-border partnerships and structural reforms could deliver long-term peace.
He also advocated the establishment of State Police.
“Today, virtually every governor agrees that progress is impossible without State Police,” he said.
“Many states already rely on vigilante services; Sokoto, Katsina, Kano and others. But they remain ineffective because the law forbids them from carrying the weapons needed for self-protection. Sending them out unarmed amounts to a death sentence.”
He insisted that State Police must be built on safeguards that prevent political abuse and preserve professionalism.
“A new policing architecture must include an Independent State Police Commission, clear oversight mechanisms, professional standards and strict limits on political interference. This is the model I have advocated for years.”
Beyond policing reforms, Governor Sani pressed for deeper regional synergy, saying that the North West “requires an integrated system that balances military effectiveness, community engagement and development. The central component should be the creation of a North-west Theatre Command, bringing the Army’s 1 Division and F Division under a unified structure.”
Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru Abubakar said government was committed to a whole-of-society approach, warning that Nigeria could no longer rely solely on military solutions.
He said progress had been recorded with the reopening of major routes, activation of Forward Operating Bases and the return of displaced villagers, but more work remained to tackle bandits, terror cells and organised criminal networks.
“The shield of the Armed Forces must be paired with the foundation of a Whole-of-Society Approach. National security cannot be achieved by the military alone; it requires the active participation of every citizen,” the minister said.
Badaru commended governors for establishing complementary security outfits such as the Community Protection Guard in Zamfara and the Community Watch Corps in Katsina, describing them as effective force multipliers.
He also acknowledged the role of traditional rulers, religious leaders, women, youth and civil society in mobilising communities and strengthening resilience.
Prof. Muhammad Kabir Isa of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria identified governance deficits, poverty, unemployment and environmental stress as core drivers of insecurity. He called for a multidimensional framework that addresses the root causes alongside military operations.
The summit resolved to establish a regional security collaboration mechanism for the Northwest as part of broader national efforts to stabilise the country and entrench sustainable development.
Earlier, Chairman of the Organising Committee, Senator Babangida Hussaini, said similar meetings had been held in other zones as a prelude to the National Security Summit slated for December 1, 2025, in Abuja.
He described the initiative as evidence of the Senate’s sensitivity to Nigeria’s worsening security challenges and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to finding actionable and lasting solutions.
Hussaini noted that the North-west’s security problems, from banditry and kidnappings to ransom-driven exploitation and humanitarian displacement, required a holistic and region-specific intervention.
We’re committed to equipping Police, security agencies to tackle insecurity — Tinubu
President Tinubu yesterday reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to equipping the Police and other security agencies with modern tools, advanced training and sustained logistical support to combat insecurity nationwide.
In a message through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, at the Passing Out Parade (POP) of the Regular Course 7/2019 Cadets of the Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil, Kano, the President described the graduation ceremony as “a momentous milestone” and a testament to the country’s progress in strengthening its security architecture.
He applauded the academy’s evolution, noting significant improvements in infrastructure, academic standards and training quality, leading to its establishment as a fully accredited degree-awarding institution.
Army confirms rescuing 21 passengers abducted by bandits in Kogi
Troops of 12 Brigade Nigerian Army, in collaboration with other hybrid forces, on Thursday rescued 21 passengers abducted by bandits along highways in Kogi
The 12 Brigade’s spokesperson, Lt. Hassan Abdullahi, confirmed the rescue to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Lokoja.
Abdullahi said the passengers were abducted on Thursday along the Kabba-Obajana road axis, where two security personnel lost their lives during the rescue operation.
He said rescue efforts had continued toward locating any remaining abductees and apprehending the perpetrators.
“Yes, it’s true. The incident happened on Thursday, and the troops are still combining the forest to apprehend the perpetrators,” Abdullahi said.
Sources had earlier reported that about 100 bandits targeted a convoy of six vehicles travelling between southern and northern Nigeria.
The source said that the attacks, which occurred around 2:00 p.m, affected a Toyota Siena (YAB 968 AX) from Osogbo to Kaduna, a Toyota Hiace (7BGT‑78LG) from Owo to Abuja.
It also added that a Hiace (GKP 178 XA) from Abuja to Ekiti, a Toyota Carina (JMU 648 AA) from Lokoja to Kabba, a Dangote truck hauling 900 bags of cement, and a J5 bus (FTA 313 XV) carrying pepper from Kano to Lagos, were also involved in the attacks.
The source said a joint rescue operation by the 12 Brigade Nigerian Army, Quick Response Units (QRU), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, local vigilante, and hunters engaged the bandits in a gun duel, securing the release of 21 passengers, including men, women, and infants.
“Rescued individuals include: Moses Oladimeji, Adele Jacob, Obed Onche, Babayemi & Funmilayo Ajayi, Samuel Olawoyin, Samuel Job, Jemima & Nanko Joseph, and Enenche Paulina.
“Also rescued were Bright, Rachael & Deborah Enenche (9 days old), Bukola & Toyin Clement, Glory & Faith Clement, Peter Olawale, and the drivers of the Dangote truck and J5 bus.
“Tragically, one soldier from Oshokoshoko sector and one vigilante from Odo-Ape were killed,” the source said.
The troops of the 12 Brigade had in a coordinated operation on Tuesday foiled an ambush by bandits, killed one bandit and rescued a kidnapped victim along Kabba-Obajana Road.
The communities were urged to remain on high alert amid rising bandit activity in Kogi State.
Soldiers foil fresh terrorist attack in Borno
Troops of the 28 Task Force Brigade, Sector 4 Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), yesterday repelled a fresh attack by ISWAP/Boko Haram terrorists in Chibok, Borno State.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) simultaneously targeted the fleeing fighters from the air.
The terrorists, numbering about 300,had swooped on the community at about 3am only to meet ready troops.
The fight lasted about two hours before the terrorists beat a retreat.
The Air Force was soon drawn in and combat aircraft hit the fleeing gunmen.
Ex Governor Bello blames anti-democratic forces for insecurity
Former Kogi Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello yesterday claimed that anti-democratic forces are behind the current security challenge in Nigeria.
He said those saying the Federal Government lacks capacity to tackle the problem were doing so to thwart the 2027 elections.
The former governor spoke at the maiden convocation of the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara, Kogi State.
Bello urged Nigerians to give full support to President Tinubu as he tackles the security challenge.
He added that Nigeria is capable of ending the security without any external influence, insisting that the country has capable hands who are ready to tackle the insecurity.
