The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Trump, Saudi Arabia shock the world

    Trump, Saudi Arabia shock the world

    US president Donald Trump has hosted all sorts of foreign leaders in his uninspiring pursuit of economic diplomacy and personal self-aggrandisement. Some of them he disrespects so intensely that it borders on bigotry, and some others he snivels before them that it is so befuddling. Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky and South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa are examples of leaders who could not seem to place a foot right; but Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman al Saud (famously called MBS), Qatar’sTamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and Syria’s new leader and former al-Qaeda-affiliated operative, Ahmed al-Sharaa, are examples of the other class whose business deals with Mr Trump appear to expiate their dangerous predilections.

    Mr Ramaphosa is of course completely innocent of the accusation of white genocide against White farmers, and Mr Zelensky is fighting for the freedom and independence of Ukraine. On the other hand, MBS, answering questions during his November visit to the White House, acknowledged that the murder of Saudi journalist and Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Turkey in 2018 was a ‘painful mistake, but denied ordering it. Despite US intelligence confirming MBS ordered the hit, Mr Trump did not so much as wince during the interaction. Instead, he growled at the journalist who asked the crown prince the question. Al Thani has many question marks on his head regarding his links to jihadist groups, but his plane gift to the US president obviously absolves him of every allegation. And Syria’s al-Sharaa, despite his past as an al-Qaeda commander, received the backing of MBS who goes on to orchestrate the former’s November visit to the White House.

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    What probably shocked the world the most was how cavalierly and spontaneously Mr Trump came to the defence of MBS. He asked the reporter who queried MBS on the murder not to embarrass the Saudi crown prince, declared that MBS knew nothing about the crime, and dismissively suggested that Mr Khashoggi was controversial and not liked, and ‘things happen’. No one ever thought the day would come when an American president would treat murder so offhandedly. Well, the promise of ‘nearly $1 trillion Saudi investments in new US partnerships are obviously capable of rewriting American and global jurisprudence and moral code.

  • Insecurity and hereafter

    Insecurity and hereafter

    • By Abdu Rafiu

    The trumpet of insecurity is blowing louder by the day, literally speaking. It is blowing loud enough for the deaf to hear and the accompanying air thick enough for the blind to touch. The waves are sweeping unrelentingly through the land, mostly through the Northern states. It was such that the Speaker, House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas came back from end-of year/New Year Recess in January last year seething with rage, determined to give the setting up of state police unhindered and priority legislative attention. That was as far back as January, 2024. Bubbling with excitement I wrote:

    “It has been reported that top on the legislative thinking of the House of Representatives when it reconvenes on January 30 is the issue of security and the concomitant imperative of the establishment of state police. We should all applaud and support them. In the face of seeming intractable insecurity bedevilling the country, that certainly is the right step and it raises a great deal of hope. It would have been a height of insensitivity to watch on, believing that the present security architecture is all there to protect Nigerians from terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and what have you. It is said that you cannot continue to do the same thing, using the same method and expect a different result.

    “It has been the same shibboleth, the same beaten track, the same old hat since Yusuf Gobir Committee report which recommended one central policing system for the whole country in 1967. We have heard it repeatedly said and as much as possible, done—that all that is needed is increased funding, training and raising the numerical strength of the police under the current dispensation. But all that has not given Nigerians the desired protection.”

    As I have said on these pages a few times by way of a reminder, “The Gobir Committee was set up by General Aqui-Ironsi but he did not live to see the report and implement it. The recommendations were passed to General Gowon, his successor who gave them effect in August 1967. Regional police formations were consequently abolished, swallowed by the Federally-run Nigeria Police. Understandably, generals are raised under one command system. But why should the system subsist and tie the hands of states under a democratic order waving the federalism emblem going to 25 years come May?”

    I was rounding off this column on Wednesday when my attention was drawn to President Bola Tinubu’s statement undoubtedly made in response to the nation’s recent experiences. The statement is commendably action-packed. It is no longer an indication of intent and all heat, but no motion. He had said in June this year that the setting up of “state police is no longer an option but an imperative”. Now, he is walking his talk. He has called on the National Assembly to begin reviewing our laws to allow states that require state police to establish them. That is how it should be.

    Two months earlier, March 14, 2024, there was a clear hope-filled development on the subject as it had become clear that the Federal and State governments had reached an agreement of minds that the establishment of state police was the way to go in order to tackle the hydra-headed insecurity challenges in the land. Picking the vibes, most people must have found it enheartening that both tiers of government had come to the same page, hearkening to the outcry across the landfor the establishment of state police. But then time was of the essence. It is must be given bite immediately. It is quite a pity that it has taken such a long time to see that the solution to the insecurity bedevilling our land is the establishment of state police.

    Something so simple to see and so commonsensical to contemplate and perceive! Because of the lackadaisical attitude of certain leaders criminals were let loose on the country. Citizens have been exposed to mindless attacks and destruction of properties. It is already 11 years since 276 Chibok school girls in Borno were kidnapped from their dormitories; no fewer than 96 of them remain in captivity till date! On February 19, 2018, terrorists broke into another girls’ school, Government Girls’ Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State, running away with 110 girls. Five of them died that same day. Boko Haram released 104, except Leah Sharibu who refused to deny Christ and change her faith.

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    Not long after, a new wave of kidnapping returned to Borno State when about 400 persons were kidnapped. It was followed by the abduction of 287 school children again in one go in Kaduna State. And to muddle the situation, on Tuesday, 60 more persons were kidnapped in the already menaced axis of Kajuru, bringing to more than 300 kidnapped in the state within a week. Sokoto lost 15 persons in the earlier wave in which two persons were killed.

    Read Also: Tuggar blames structural weakness for unconstitutional changes of govt, others

    The heightened state of insecurity got to a choking frustration at a stage that the then Governor of Zamfara State, who doubled as the national chairman of Governors’ Forum, Mr. Abdullaziz Yari, threw up his hands in resignation. He washed off his hands being decorated as the chief security officer of his state. He saw his position, not having operational control over the police in his state, as a joke.

    After the Northern Establishment raised the nation’s hope a notch higher, throwing their full weight behind the establishment of state police, President Tinubu cemented the hope: It is a done-deed. He said creation of “state police is no longer optional but a national imperative.” The Northern Establishment, comprising state governors and traditional rulers, met in May and unanimously endorsed the urgent need for the creation of state police in the country.

    Given the renewed waves of kidnapping of school children, first in Kebbi State where 25 students were victims, and vice-principal killed; Niger State where 303 students of St, Mary’s Private Catholic School were abducted and an attack in Kwara during thanksgiving worship and 38 worshippers were seized and taken away, Bola Tinubu’s response on Wednesday could not have been timely. The country was headed toward state failure, chaos and collapse.

    Before President Tinubu’s Wednesday statement, I was mulling the idea of an urgent and drastic step that could be taken to halt the embarrassing and frightening mess. Given the burning heat and indignation with which the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas,came back from his holiday with his colleagues one would have thought the Legislature would act promptly, put everything else on hold, then go the extra mile and evoke the Doctrine of Necessity because of its emergency nature; and the President, would issue Executive Orders to put presidential stamp on the decision of the Legislature, and if still necessary, take steps to regularise it later, dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s! As elders in the South-west would say: Eni t’o kan l’omo! That is, what does not touch you is hardly yours! Until Tinubu’s response declaring a state of emergency on security, the legislative fuss bogged by foot dragging was going to amount towhat William Shakespeare Macbeth might want to describe as “a tale… full of sound and fury, signifying nothing”! Otherwise, where are we today? Within a week, the bandits sent cold shivers down our spine with a renewed wave of kidnapping from schools and a raid in Eruku town, Kwara State.They were attacked during a thanksgiving worship in their church.

    Other steps President Tinubu announced in his statement included urgent increase in the numerical strength of the Army and the police. The police are directed to recruit an additional 20, 000 officers. The Department of State Services are directed to send trained forest guards to flush out terrorists and bandits living in the forests and using them as attack launching bases. Officers being withdrawn from VIP guard duties are to undergo crash training to debrief them so they can operate efficiently in police duties when they are deployed to their core duties as policemen and deployed to security challenged areas of the country. Tinubu said he had approved upgrade of police training facilities nationwide and authorised the use of various National Youth Service Corps camps as training depots.

    He went on: “States should rethink establishing boarding schools in remote areas without adequate security. Mosques and churches should constantly seek police and other security protection when they gather for prayers, especially in vulnerable areas.”

    The issue of the security challenges has been of grave concern to state governments for quite a while and they have been pressing for the laws to be amended to permit them police operational control in their states through the establishment of state police. They always speak with one voice to drive home their points from the time Babatunde Fashola was chairman of the Governors’ Forum; also when Abdulaziz Yayi was leader of the Forum. Only a few days ago South-West Governors Forum pressed for the establishment of state police. On Wednesday, the Southern Governors Forum which met in Ogun State did the same.

    Former leaders have added their voices, making convincing cases for the establishment of the state police. Former President Ibrahim Babangida, for example, was unequivocal on the imperative of state police in the land. He went as far as allaying fears on the possible misuse of the institution by governors. He said the fear is “unfounded” and “exaggerated.” It is one subject from which he did not shy away. In his words: “Added to this desire,” referring to the issue of restructuring, “is the need to commence the process of having state police across the states of the Federation… The initial fears of state governors misusing the officers and men of the state police have become increasingly eliminated with renewed vigour in citizens’ participation in and confidence to interrogate power. We cannot be detained by those fears and allow civilisation to leave us behind. We must as a people with one destiny and common agenda take decisions for the sake of posterity in our shared commitment to launch our country on the path of development and growth. Policing has become sophisticated that we cannot continue to operate our old methods and expect different results.”

    Former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo even while in office had spoken in the same vein as Babangida: “Securing Nigeria’s over 923, 768 square kilometres and its 180 million people requires a continual re-engineering of our security architecture and strategies. We cannot realistically police a country of the size of Nigeria centrally from Abuja. State and other community policing methods are the way to go.”

    Former Governor, now Senator Henry Dickson and ex-Governor Jonah Jang who shared their experiences while in office came to the same conclusion as Professor Osinbajo. They argued that the prevailing security situation and the need for an effective challenge had made the establishment of state police mandatory. Dickson’s conviction was anchored on the fact that the personnel would be drawn from the locality that makes up the state. Such personnel would be able to access valuable information required to track criminals. It is a position also shared by Major-General David Jemibewon, although he did not expressly press for state police. His thoughts are contained in his book, The Nigeria Police in Transition: Issues, Problems and Prospects.

    TheAssociation of State Assembly Speakers also called for the establishment of state police.

    As of February 2018, Nigeria was host to the sixth largest IDP population in the world. That year, Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states had the largest number of IDPs. Together with its outskirts, Maiduguri saw its population almost doubled from one million to nearly two million. From incessant mayhem, Benue as of 2018, had 160, 000 displaced persons.

    The idea of different communities and zones establishing their own police preceded the coming of Nigeria Police established in 1930. The Egba United Government had muted the idea of setting up its own police in 1900 and members of the hunters’ society constituted itself into a force. By 1903, the thought crystallised and was put forward by the Alake and the Order-in-Council of Egba United Government to Governor MacGregor in Lagos but the nod to go ahead came in 1905. Ibadan followed suit in 1906 and Oyo in 1907. The North also decided to have its own policing system between 1900 and 1906. It resented what it called the centralising tendences in Lagos.

    This is why the agitation for state police is loudest in the South West. It was already used to a three-tier policing system—native Authority, Regional and Nigeria Police fondly called OlopaEko, smart and well attired. The East did not have local or regional police in the First Republic. Tinubu deserves praise and support for holding the bull by the horns and courageously setting the ball rolling to change the narrative of the nation’s security challenges. The primary purpose of a government is security of the citizens, the protection of lives and property. Tinubu has given the green light; the ball is now in the National Assembly’s court!

    • This article was culled from www.radiatingthetruth.com
    • Abdu Rafiu is a renowned editor, newspaper manager and respected elder of journalism.
  • Insecurity: APC govs back Tinubu, to strengthen community-based initiatives

    Insecurity: APC govs back Tinubu, to strengthen community-based initiatives

    • Forum implores leaders to shun divisive rhetoric
    • Troops rescue 14 kidnap victims in Enugu forest

    All Progressives Congress (APC) state governors yesterday concluded a two-day strategic meeting in Lagos with an expression of their support for President Bola Tinubu’s latest security measures.

    Specifically, they resolved to  “strengthen community security, intelligence gathering and support for victims of violence.”

    The meeting comes on the heels of last month’s meeting of southern governors in Abeokuta which called for the establishment of state police as part of the efforts to boost security across the country.

    In the last few weeks, President Tinubu has appointed a new Minister of Defence,a new Chief of Defence Staff, and new service  chiefs for the army, navy and air force.

    He also ordered the withdrawal of police escorts from Very Important Personalities (VIPs) and the deployment of such officers for core duties across the country, in addition to the recruitment of more hands for the police and the armed forces.

    Besides its supports for the president on security, the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) also  reaffirmed its commitment  to the  Renewed Hope Agenda of the Tinubu Administration.

    Chairman of the forum and Governor of Imo, Sen. Hope Uzodinma, said the meeting provided a platform for the governors to review the nation’s political, economic and social direction, deepen coordination and strengthen collective action.

    “We met to assess where the nation stands, align our priorities, and reinforce our shared responsibility to the Nigerian people.

    “Our commitment to the Renewed Hope vision remains unwavering,” Uzodinma said.

    The chairman said that the governors agreed that every reform of the current administration must have a direct and positive impact on Nigerians.

     “Reforms must improve lives, protect dignity and expand opportunities for all, whether in rural or urban areas, young or old, men or women,” he added.

    He commended the Federal Government for efforts to stabilise the economy, boost national security and set  foundations for sustainable growth.

     Uzodinma noted  ongoing reforms in food security, power, transport, social investment and enterprise development.

    Read Also: Fubara, Speaker clash over deplorable condition of schools in Rivers 

     “Our job as progressive governors is to ensure these national reforms translate into real improvements in every ward and every community,” he said.

    On the cost of living, he acknowledged that Nigerians were making sacrifices.

    “We fully recognise the temporary burdens the public is facing.

    “We deeply appreciate the patience and resilience of our people as we work toward a stronger, more inclusive economy,” the governor said.

     He said that APC governors resolved to step up interventions in food production, SME support, youth employment, social protection and targeted relief for vulnerable households.

     “No one will be left behind. We will intensify efforts to ease hardship and support families,” he said.

     On infrastructure, he praised Lagos State for  innovations in transport and urban renewal.

     “Lagos continues to show leadership in modern infrastructure delivery.

     “We agreed to deepen peer learning and expand investments in roads, housing, public transport, water, digital connectivity and climate-resilient structures,” he said.

     Uzodinma said that the governors also reviewed Nigeria’s security situation, commending improved coordination across security agencies and community volunteers.

     “Safety of lives and property is non-negotiable, Uzodinma said.

     He urged leaders at all levels to promote unity, moderation and respect, warning against hate speech and divisive tendencies.

    “Social cohesion is essential. We must all use our voices to promote peace, not division,” he said.

    He said that the forum emphasised the importance of effective local government administration in realising the Renewed Hope Agenda at the grassroots.

     “We are committed to improving transparency, accountability and service delivery in local governments,” the chairman added.

    He said that the governors would expand citizen-engagement platforms such as town halls and consultations with traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society, labour and professional groups.

     “Listening to the people and adjusting based on feedback are key to building trust,” he said.

    Increasing number of APC governors  shows Nigerians’  trust  – Sanwo-Olu

     Lagos State  Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, host of the meeting commended his colleagues  for their commitment to national development.

     Sanwo-Olu described their deliberations as a reaffirmation of loyalty to APC and commitment to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

     He said he was grateful that all governors created time to participate fully in the meeting, adding that the depth of discussions reflected their dedication to strengthening governance.

    He commended the governors for  dedication to improving the welfare of Nigerians.

    “For the past 12 hours, we have asked ourselves  tough questions: How do we better the lives of our people?

     “How do we support our president and strengthen our country by supporting national agenda?”

     The governor applauded the increasing number of APC governors, crediting it to the forum’s leadership under Gov. Hope Uzodinma.

     “We are now 25 progressive governors.

     “When we began, we were barely 18 or 19. This growth shows that Nigerians trust our party’s direction,” he said.

     Sanwo-Olu announced that Lagos would host its first cultural festival in nearly a decade, on Dec. 27, promising an event that would showcase the state’s heritage.

    “This year, about 10,000 of our people will proudly wear the festival uniform.

    “We are excited to revive this tradition and celebrate our culture in a grand way,” the governor said.

    Nigeria must come first, COAS charges officers, soldiers

    The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, yesterday  charged officers and men  of the Nigerian Army to place the nation above every personal consideration.

     He spoke at the passing out parade of  250 new officers from the Executive Commission Course 2/2025 at the Jaji Military Cantonment in Kaduna State.

     General  Shaibu described their commissioning as a milestone earned through sacrifice, resilience and unwavering commitment to national service.

     He reminded the new officers that they were now full stakeholders in safeguarding Nigeria’s sovereignty and must be guided at all times by the principle that “Nigeria must come first” in every action and decision throughout their careers.

     Many of the officers, he noted, would soon be deployed to operational theatres where their courage, discipline and training would be tested. He urged them to fall back on the knowledge, skills and values instilled in them while remaining focused and adaptable.

     The COAS assured them that they would never face challenges alone, stressing that the Nigerian Army officers’ corps is built on camaraderie, loyalty and shared commitment to the fatherland. He urged them to uphold these values as they prepare for the realities of command.

     Shaibu emphasized sound judgment, strategic planning and responsibility, warning that leadership carries both consequences and rewards. “Always have a plan. A bad plan is better than none,” he told the new officers.

     He reiterated the Army’s dedication to improving personnel welfare and supporting their career development, urging them to pursue continuous professional growth in line with his vision of a more adaptable, combat-ready and resilient force.

     The Army chief also reaffirmed the unwavering subordination of the military to democratic authority, describing respect for constitutional governance as the foundation of professionalism. He charged all personnel to be proud defenders of democracy and remain apolitical in the discharge of their duties.

    Troops storm kidnappers hideout, rescue 14 victims in Enugu forest

    Troops of Sector 1 of the Joint Task Force Operation UDO KA rescued 14 kidnap victims, following an ‘high-impact” raid on a  kidnappers’ den in Orokam Forest linking Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State and Ogbadigbo Local Government Area of Benue State.

    The operation stemmed from actionable intelligence  provided by vigilant community sources, it was gathered yesterday.

     The victims were abducted on Friday from Ezimo Agu community in Udenu LGA  and Orokam in Ogbadigbo LGA, but held by their abductors in dispersed clusters across the forest.

    The troops, in collaboration with local vigilantes launched an assault on one of the  kidnappers’  hideouts deep inside  the forest.

     “On contact, the criminals unleashed gunfire, prompting a fierce engagement,” a military source said.

    “The joint force’s superior firepower, tactical manoeuvre and relentless advance forced the kidnappers to break contact and flee, abandoning the abductees.”

    The source said the troops subsequently handed over the rescued victims to the Divisional Police Officer, Udenu Division, for proper profiling and to reunite them with their families.

  • Fubara: I returned as gov because of Tinubu’s special favour

    Fubara: I returned as gov because of Tinubu’s special favour

    Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara has credited his return to the Rivers State Government House after six-month of emergency rule to ‘special favour’ from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

     Fubara disclosed this during the combined 37th and 38th convocation of the Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwu, Port Harcourt, yesterday.

    He  noted that many issues would not have arisen if democracy had not been temporarily interrupted in the state.

    Addressing the issues raised by the RSU management, the governor said:

    “Like you said, a report was given to us. But you all know what happened in the life of our administration. It is only by the special grace of God, the special favour from Mr President, that we are standing here still as the ones presiding over the affairs of Rivers State.”

     Fubara went on to assure the institution’s  stakeholders that his administration would resume full responsibilities, pledging to address the complaints raised during the convocation.

     He added that satellite campuses outside Port Harcourt facing operational challenges would receive accelerated attention in 2026.

     “We will continue to fulfil our financial obligations to the university, ensuring improved infrastructure as well as the security and welfare of staff and students. Education remains the most vital investment for national development,” Fubara said.

    Read Also: Fubara, Speaker clash over deplorable condition of schools in Rivers 

     Congratulating  the 13,242 graduates of the combined convocation, he said:

    “As you step into the future, let integrity, hard work, and honesty guide you. Cherish the sacrifices made for your education and live a life of purpose, kindness, and compassion. ”

     The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, expressed delight presiding over his first convocation since his March 6, 2025, appointment by Governor Fubara. He highlighted progress under his administration, including accommodation for 40,000 students and full accreditation for all programmes.

     Of the 13,242 graduates, 10,648 received first degrees, 2,594 completed postgraduate programmes, 157 earned First Class honours, 2,587 received Second Class Upper, and 6,275 were awarded Second Class Lower degrees.

  • 2027: PDP to constitute national caretaker committee this week

    2027: PDP to constitute national caretaker committee this week

    • Loyalists of Wike, Sule Lamido, Saraki working on ending PDP crises

    Former Senate President Bukola Saraki,former Jigawa State governor Sule Lamido, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesome Wike and some other concerned stakeholders are in the process of launching a fresh initiative to save the Peoples Democratic party (PDP) from total destruction, The Nation learnt yesterday.

    The party is currently embroiled in a battle of attrition that has depleted its rank and file over the last one year.

    Six  of the governors elected on its platform have already defected, five to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).  The sixth governor, Ademola Adeleke of Osun State is being courted by the Accord Party.

    The infighting has also sparked a wave of expulsions and counter expulsions of influential members by the two factions fighting  for the soul of the party.

    It was gathered yesterday that the crisis is threatening the chances of the party in next year’s off season governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states.

    Saraki is said to be the main driver of  the initiative which is anchored on the constitution of a caretaker committee made of  representatives of the rival factions.

    The caretaker committee, if and when constituted, will run the affairs of the party pending the conduct of a national convention acceptable to all sides.

    Last month’s convention of the party in Ibadan which elected  a new national executive committee under the leadership of Alhaji Kabiru Tanimu is now a subject of litigation.

    Saraki  first mooted the idea of a caretaker committee shortly before the Ibadan convention.

    He declined  to attend the convention because,according to him,it would only compound the crisis.

    Sources told The Nation that he has now revived the idea and is reaching out to as many party chieftains as possible.

    Wike,whose group is contesting the legality of the Ibadan convention,and Lamido who got a court injunction to stop the convention, are understood to be open to the idea of a caretaker committee.

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    A meeting of concerned stakeholders is being planned possibly for this week to endorse the idea.

    “Former Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki who has been the leading factor in efforts towards reconciliation suggested the formation of a National Caretaker Committee weeks ago and his loyalists as well as those working with FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike and former Jigawa state governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido have already gone far on the National Caretaker Committee project,” a source said.

     “Efforts have reached a climax and with the expiration of the current PDP National Working Committee’s four-year tenure on December 10 and the legally invalid basis for the November 15 gathering in Ibadan, the only pragmatic way out is for PDP to have a National Caretaker Committee.”

     “Contending sides in the leadership tussle are aware that the next ruling from the Federal High Court will most likely be based on the constitutional pre-convention  conditions that were never fulfilled before the so-called Ibadan convention and without the immediate constitution of a Caretaker Committee, the party may find itself in limbo,” a PDP legislator told The Nation in Abuja.

    Another source said  loyalists of influential members of the party are moving fast towards actualising the agenda for a national caretaker committee which they see as the most effective strategy for ending the party’s crisis.

    Shortly after the Ibadan convention, Ambassador Umar Damagum handed over the reins of leadership to Tanimu.

    However, the website of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) checked by The Nation on Friday night still displayed  the names of Damagum and Senator Samuel Anyanwu as PDP National Chairman and National Secretary respectively.

    PDP at risk of participation in Ekiti, Osun governorship elections

    The uncertainties  created by the crisis in the party are now putting  at risk the participation of its candidates in  the June 20,2026 off-season governorship election in Ekiti State and that of August 8,2026 in Osun State.

    The uncertainties were responsible for the recent exit of Osun Governor Ademola Adeleke who is now seeking reelection on the platform of another party. He is currently being wooed by the  Accord Party.

    Under the guidelines for the elections,the various parties are required  to upload the names of their candidates for the Ekiti election by December 22 and those for Osun by February 9, 2026.

    Access code for  uploading  the details  of  the governorship candidates on the INEC portal was due for collection on November  10 in respect of  Ekiti and December 15 in respect of  Osun governorship elections.

    Only the  National Chairman and National Secretary of the parties are in possession of the code.

    The section reads: “The National Chairman and National Secretary of political parties  as contained in the Commission’s records shall be issued access code for the electronic submission, withdrawal and substitution of names and particulars of their candidates as elected at the political party primaries monitored by the Commission”

    The guidelines also say that “where there are conflicting requests from the National Chairman and National Secretary of a political party, the access code shall be issued to the National Chairman of the party.”

    With Damagum and Anyanwu belonging to  different camps,the situation looks messy for the PDP.

    INEC is keeping mute on the leadership crisis in the  party.

    National Publicity Secretary of the  Turaki faction,  Ini Ememobong, declined to speak on the issue when contacted yesterday.

    The Wike faction also  could not be reached for reaction  on the development.

    The preliminary lists of candidates contesting the two elections are expected to be displayed by the Commission on the 29th December for Ekiti and 26th February, 2026 for Osun.

    Turaki faction vows legal action against Rivers lawmakers

    The Turaki faction yesterday threatened to  institute legal action against 17 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who defected to the APC on Friday.

    National Publicity Secretary of the faction,  Ini Ememobong accused  the lawmakers of  working against democratic progress of  the state.

    Ememobong  called them political puppets and a clog in the wheels of democratic progress.

    “They will go down in history as enemies of democracy and those who made mockery of the legislature,” he said.

    “Consequently, the PDP will take legal steps to activate the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria(1999 as amended) to recover the mandate gained under the banner of our party which these people have now ignobly and surreptitiously switched to another platform.

    “We urge all party members in Rivers State to remain faithful and resolute, as efforts are underway to rebuild the party along the path of inclusiveness, fairness and equity.”

  • CAC targets fintechs, firms in renewed fight against money laundering

    CAC targets fintechs, firms in renewed fight against money laundering

    • Cracks down on unregistered POS operators

    Fintechs are coming under the surveillance of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) under fresh efforts to curb money laundering in the country.

    The commission announced yesterday that  Fintechs enabling illegal operations would  be placed on watch list and reported to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    The agency also plans a nationwide clampdown on unregistered Point-of-Sale (PoS) agents effective January 1,2026.

    The CAC in a statement  directed all operators to regularise their businesses before Jan. 1, 2026.

    The commission said the directive became necessary following the rising number of PoS operators conducting business without registration,which it said is in violation of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020 and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Agent Banking Regulations.

    The CAC described the trend as a reckless practice often enabled by some fintech companies.

    This,it said,poses significant risks to the country’s financial system and the investments of citizens.

    It said that beginning Jan. 1, 2026, no PoS operator would be allowed to operate without CAC registration, adding that security agencies have  been mandated to enforce full compliance nationwide.

    “Unregistered PoS terminals will be seized or shut down by Security Officials. Fintechs enabling illegal operations will be placed on watchlist and reported to the CBN.

    Read Also: ODI partners Customs, Immigration, NDLEA in advocacy against illicit drugs in Southwest

    “All operators are advised to regularise immediately and compliance is mandatory,” the statement said.

    The commission reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring orderliness within the sector.

    It said the directive aligned with broader efforts to sanitise the financial services space and strengthen regulatory compliance for the protection of users and investors.

    It added that the enforcement drive underscored its resolve to promote transparency, safeguard the economy, and deliver prompt and efficient services in line with its mandate.

  • Court declares police wanted notice on lawyer illegal

    Court declares police wanted notice on lawyer illegal

    The Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday declared unconstitutional the police’s publication of lawyer Emmanuel Chinyere Orji (N.C. Orji) as a wanted person.

    It held that the action was taken without lawful authority.

    Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa set aside the police declaration and granted all the reliefs sought by the applicant, except N1billion damages.

    The court instead awarded N500,000 as costs against the Nigeria Police Force.

    The suit was initiated by Orji’s counsel, Edwin Anikwem (SAN), leading Yinka Muyiwa, under the Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure Rules.

    Orji had approached the court seeking to nullify the publication of his name and photograph in The Nation, the Police Special Gazette Bulletin, and on the police official website.

    The publications, dated August 20, 2025, had declared him wanted.

    Justice Lewis-Allagoa held that the Police acted outside their constitutional and statutory powers by issuing the wanted notice without first obtaining an order from a court of competent jurisdiction.

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    The judge affirmed that although the Police may, in certain circumstances, publicise a wanted declaration, such action must strictly comply with the law and the necessary conditions precedent, chief among them being prior judicial authorisation.

    According to the court, the failure to comply with these legal requirements amounted to a violation of Orji’s fundamental rights.

    Citing the authorities relied on by the applicant, the judge said: “The act of declaring the applicant a wanted person on the official website of the police without any prior order or leave of a court of competent jurisdiction, first had and obtained, is unconstitutional and constitutes a violation of the Applicant’s fundamental rights to personal liberty and freedom of movement as guaranteed under Sections 34 and 41 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).”

    Justice Lewis-Allagoa declared the publication illegal and ordered the Inspector-General of Police to retract and quash the wanted notice. The court also directed that a formal apology be issued to Orji.

  • Hundreds of mutilated bodies found in abandoned Imo mortuary

    Hundreds of mutilated bodies found in abandoned Imo mortuary

    Hundreds of dead bodies, suspected to have been used for organ harvesting, have been discovered in an unregistered dilapidated mortuary in Ngor Okpalla Local Government Area of Imo State.

    The mortuary, located in an isolated, bush-surrounded area, contained bodies in an advanced state of decomposition.  Many of them were mutilated.

    The Commissioner of Police Aboki Danjuma, who visited the scene yesterday, expressed shock at the conditions of the bodies.

    “We received an intelligence report that this place was used for organ harvesting,” he said, appealing to the public to come forward if they have relatives among the bodies. “We will arrest the suspect; we have already declared him wanted.”

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    Danjuma added that the state government plans a mass burial for the bodies, citing health hazards, and may demolish the building after obtaining legal clearance.

    “We may soon organise a mass burial because it is constituting a health hazard to the entire village,” he said.

    Imo State Health Commissioner Dr. Chioma Egu, who inspected the facility on the governor’s directive, confirmed it was unregistered. “We found hundreds of dead bodies, decomposed and not taken care of. There is nothing to show this place is a mortuary,” she said, declaring the site a public health concern.

    A pathologist, Dr. Ibeaja from Imo State Specialist Hospital, described the corpses as being under “unfair preservation,” with no efforts to maintain them.

    The local government chairman, Mrs. Chika Ibekwe, urged residents to identify the bodies before the  planned mass burial and demolition of the facility.

  • Buratai, Malami, Yahaya deny links with terrorism financiers

    Buratai, Malami, Yahaya deny links with terrorism financiers

    • By Etsu Bologi

    Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya (rtd) has dismissed a report by Sahara Reporters alleging that he was linked to individuals involved in terrorism financing. The publication, citing retired Maj.-Gen. Danjuma Ali-Keffi, as its source, named Yahaya among several individuals purportedly connected to terrorism financiers.

    Reacting on Saturday through a former Army spokesperson, Brig.-Gen. Sani Kukasheka Usman (rtd), Yahaya described the claims as “false, malicious and baseless.”

    The statement said Yahaya had never, at any point in his military career or afterwards, had any direct or indirect association with persons or entities engaged in terrorism financing or activities that undermine national security.

    “Regrettably, Major General Danjuma Ali-Keffi appears to be pursuing a personal vendetta, seeking to tarnish General Yahaya’s impeccable reputation based on disciplinary actions lawfully taken during service,” the statement said, accusing Sahara Reporters of publishing unverified allegations without basic fact-checking.

    It said the claims were inconsistent with Yahaya’s “impeccable service record, modest lifestyle, and commitment to the defence of Nigeria,” and demanded immediate retractions from Ali-Keffi, Sahara Reporters, and all those circulating the “defamatory content.” Failure to do so, it warned, would prompt legal action.

    In a similar reaction, another former Chief of Army Staff and Ambassador to the Benin Republic, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd) also rejected the publication, saying the allegation linking him to terrorism financing was fabricated and inconsistent with his values and long service record.

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    Buratai, in a statement also issued by Brig.-Gen. Usman described the claims as “false, unfounded, mischievous, and a smear campaign” designed to tarnish his reputation.

    However, the statement described such allegations as “false, unfounded, mischievous, and amount to a smear campaign deliberately designed to tarnish his name and reputation.”

    The statement stressed that Buratai had never been questioned, investigated, or indicted by any security, intelligence, judicial, diplomatic, or administrative body over terrorism financing.

    It read: “At no point in his distinguished career has he ever been questioned, investigated, indicted, or associated with any such matter by any official body or authority. No security institution, intelligence agency, judicial panel, diplomatic mission, oversight mechanism, or administrative body has ever linked him with terrorism financing in any form.

    “The narrative being circulated by Sahara Reporters, relying solely on the unverified personal claims of Major General Danjuma Ali-Keffi (rtd), is therefore a clear misrepresentation borne out of malice and lacks any factual or legal foundation.”

    The statement averred that it was “regrettable, though unsurprising,” that the online publication had once again attempted to drag the precious name into disrepute, a pattern he said it has repeatedly pursued over the years, albeit unsuccessfully.

    It added that Buratai’s four decades of military service were marked by “honour, courage, and steadfast commitment” to defeating terrorism, noting that under his leadership, the Nigerian Army significantly degraded Boko Haram and ISWAP, recovered occupied territories, restored civil authority, and facilitated the return of displaced persons.

    “It defies logic and conscience to suggest that the same person who led decisive actions against terrorism would in any way be associated with the very elements he spent his career confronting,” the statement noted, demanding an immediate public apology from Sahara Reporters and Ali-Keffi or face legal action.

    Meanwhile, former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has also dismissed insinuations linking him to terrorism financing.

    Malami, in a statement, described the claims as misleading, unfounded, and politically motivated.

    Malami, who served as AGF from 2015 to 2023, said he had never been accused, invited, interrogated, or investigated by any security or intelligence agency in Nigeria or abroad over terrorism financing. He added that even the retired military officer cited in the contentious report had clarified that he was not accusing Malami or the other individuals named.

    He said the misleading headline overshadowed this clarification and appeared deliberately weaponised by political opponents to create false impressions. Calling terrorism financing a grave offence, Malami said allegations of such magnitude must be based on verifiable facts, not conjecture.

    The former minister highlighted his role in strengthening Nigeria’s anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorism-financing frameworks, citing reforms such as the establishment of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) as an independent body and the enactment of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act and the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act in 2022. He said these efforts contributed to Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list.

    Malami warned against sensational reporting that could erode public confidence in national security institutions and said he reserved the right to seek legal redress over any publication that misrepresents his record or impugns his integrity.

  • IBB, Akinrinade to leaders: emulate Hassan Katsina’s leadership

    IBB, Akinrinade to leaders: emulate Hassan Katsina’s leadership

    • Insecurity in North threatening national stability – Siddique

    Former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), on Saturday, urged Nigerian leaders, particularly those from the north, to emulate the leadership virtues of the late General Hassan Usman Katsina, whom he described as “a great icon of Northern Nigeria’s development.”

    General Katsina, who died in 1995 at 62, was Military Governor of Northern Nigeria, Chief of Army Staff and Deputy Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters.

    Speaking in Kaduna at the 2nd General Hassan Katsina Memorial Conference organised by the New Vision Development Initiative (NEVDI), IBB who was represented by Col. Lawan Gwadabe (rtd) said Katsina’s humility, patriotism and lifelong pursuit of peace remain instructive for today’s leaders.

    He praised NEVDI for sustaining a forum that keeps alive the ideals of past leaders at a time the nation faces “numerous development challenges.”

    According to the former president, General Katsina’s philosophy should “rekindle our nostalgia for the development of Arewa” and galvanise today’s leaders to confront the socio-economic obstacles stunting the region.

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    He recalled Katsina’s passionate commitment to the underprivileged, especially his strong stance against the Almajiri system and advocacy for modern, balanced education for Northern children.

    “To the underprivileged he devoted all his time… to be their voices,” Babangida said, describing the late army chief as a unifier who believed Nigeria could only prosper through peace and cohesion.

    “Together we can be strong and progressive; divided we will fail,” he quoted Katsina, noting that despite his princely heritage, “he remained humble, serene and service-driven.”

    IBB prayed for the continued repose of Katsina’s soul, urging participants to draw inspiration from the values he lived by. “May Almighty Allah bestow upon us the wisdom to tread the great paths that immortalised him,” he added.

    Also paying tribute, former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lt.-Gen. Alani Akinrinade described Katsina as “a distinguished military leader and patriot” whose selfless service continues to inspire generations. Akinrinade, represented by former NDA Commandant, Maj.-Gen. Paul Tarfa (rtd), called him “a prince among soldiers and a soldier among princes.”

    He highlighted Katsina’s leadership during the civil war, including the expansion of the armed forces, the timely payment of entitlements and post-war rehabilitation of soldiers.

    “A Sandhurst-trained officer, his integrity and commitment to Nigeria’s unity remain exemplary. The Nigerian Army has produced many illustrious generals, but few match his mettle,” he said.

    Guest Speaker, Prof. Abubakar Siddique Mohammed, warned that rising insecurity in the north now threatens national stability. Siddique, who heads the Centre for Democratic Development Research and Training (CDDRT), said the region hosts 65 per cent of Nigeria’s multidimensionally poor population.

    He said the statistics are bleak: 10 million out-of-school children nationwide, 60 per cent of them in the North; youth unemployment exceeding 50 per cent in some states; and 350,000 hectares lost annually to desertification.

    On security, he noted that Boko Haram has claimed over 35,000 lives and displaced 2.5 million people since 2009, while banditry and kidnappings have devastated hundreds of communities.

    Siddique said these crises are intertwined, creating a “poverty–insecurity trap” that threatens the nation’s stability. He called for urgent reforms in governance, security, education and economic diversification to halt the region’s slide.