The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Jonathan, Akpabio, Pondi to be honoured at Niger Delta peace, meritorious awards

    Jonathan, Akpabio, Pondi to be honoured at Niger Delta peace, meritorious awards

    Arrangements are in top gear for the long-awaited Niger Delta Peace and Meritorious (NDPM) Awards slated for December, an annual platform created to celebrate individuals and institutions advancing peace, development, and innovation across the Niger Delta and Nigeria.

    This year’s edition will confer one of its highest honours on former President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, who is set to receive the title of Niger Delta Agent of Peace in recognition of his longstanding commitment to unity, stability, and diplomatic engagement both within Nigeria and across the African continent.

    The NDPM Awards highlight outstanding achievements in peacebuilding, leadership, community development, arts, and innovation while inspiring younger generations to model the values and accomplishments of honourees.

    Also set for recognition is President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, who will be decorated as Niger Delta Pillar of Peace for his role in championing developmental initiatives and legislative interventions that support socio-economic growth in the region.

    Renowned community leader Chief Keston Pondi will receive the Niger Delta Man of the Year award in acknowledgment of his contributions to community empowerment and regional development. Organisers describe this category as one of the key avenues through which the NDPM Awards encourage emerging leaders to pursue excellence and impactful service.

    Read Also: Jonathan accuses Embaló of orchestrating ‘ceremonial coup’ in Guinea-Bissau

    According to the organisers, the award initiative seeks to showcase the abundant talent, achievements, and innovations of the Niger Delta while fostering stronger collaboration among government bodies, private-sector actors, and grassroots stakeholders.

    The high-profile ceremony will hold on January 13, 2026, at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, and is expected to attract national leaders, development advocates, cultural figures, and captains of industry.

    Organisers further disclosed that preparations have reached advanced stages, with the complete list of honourees and programme schedule to be unveiled in the coming weeks.

  • ‘It’s now total war on terrorists’

    ‘It’s now total war on terrorists’

    • President vows to hunt down enemies of state

    It is now total war on bandits, terrorists and criminal elements behind the escalation of insecurity in parts of the country, the Federal Government said yesterday.

    It added that the declaration of security emergency by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given the military the marching order to take the war to the terrorists and bandits in a major push to end the insecurity in the country.

    Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris said this in Lokoja, Kogi State capital.

    He spoke at the 10th memorial anniversary for former Kogi State Governor, Prince Abubakar Audu.

    The minister quoted the President as vowing to hunt down the enemies of the country, reform the national security architecture and restore peace.

    Idris, who represented the President at the event, said: “Prince Audu understood that democracy is only as strong as the prosperity and security of its people. He was a builder.”

    He added: “The recent Declaration of a State of Emergency on national security underscores the gravity with which we view this challenge. This is not a mere proclamation; it is a declaration of war against all forms of insecurity. As part of this, we have immediately begun the process of expanding the capacity of our armed forces and security agencies in numbers, in advanced weaponry, and in intelligence capabilities.

    “We will hunt the enemies of our state wherever they may be and restore the peace that is the rightful inheritance of every Nigerian.”

    The President insisted that reform of the security architecture would start with the setting up of state police.

    He said: “To secure our people permanently, we must reform the architecture of our security. This is why my administration is courageously championing the establishment of State Police.

    “We believe that a more localised, community-sensitive security structure is vital to complement the valiant efforts of our national forces. It will also boost employment.

    “This is a bold, necessary constitutional step, one that requires our collective will, and we are committed to seeing it through.

    “We are actively presenting the true picture of Nigeria to the world, a nation where people of different faiths live, work, and pray side-by-side in peace. We will not relent until the world sees us for who we truly are.”

    He noted that the recent setbacks and security challenges have tested the nation’s resolve. The President said ensuring safety and welfare of Nigerians required a decisive action.

    President Tinubu emphasised that the security emergency signalled a renewed commitment to the expansion of security manpower, modernised intelligence, and strategic reforms.

    He explained that the Federal Government is also intensifying international diplomacy to correct false narratives that misrepresent Nigeria’s religious harmony and peaceful co-existence.

    At the weekend, the military swooped on terrorists’ camps in Katsina and Borno states with airstrikes.

    Many abducted persons were also rescued by troops.

    NAF strikes in Katsina, troops repel ISWAP in Chibok

    Precision airstrikes by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and coordinated land operations by troops have continued to degrade terror networks in the country.

    Security agents were also confronted with fresh cases of abductions in Kogi, Kwara, Kano and Taraba states.

    NAF spokesman, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said yesterday that fighter jets under Operation FANSAN YAMMA conducted two intelligence-driven strikes on Thursday, destroying fortified hideouts of terror kingpins in Kankara, Faskari and Malumfashi councils of Katsina State.

    The first strike about 6:30am levelled the camp of a notorious kidnap leader, while a second attack at 5:55pm hit another enclave in Danfako, destroying structures, logistics hubs and neutralising several insurgents.

    In Borno State, NAF aircraft also supported ground troops of 28 Task Force Brigade, Sector 4 of Operation HADIN KAI, to repel a coordinated ISWAP/Boko Haram assault on Chibok. Four precision strikes on regrouping fighters along their escape routes inflicted heavy casualties and disrupted the terrorists’ withdrawal.

    “Additional precision strikes on fleeing fighters further disrupted their withdrawal and shattered their ability to reorganise.

    Read Also: Tinubu, First Lady, Shetimma, hail PFN at 40

    “The integrated air-ground response ensured the terrorists suffered substantial casualties while protecting the community and preventing a resurgence of the offensive,” Air Commodore Ejodame said.

    Troops rescue seven kidnap victims in Kano

    Troops of Operation MESA, under 3 Brigade rescued seven abducted persons during a late-night operation in Tsanyawa Local Government of Kano State.

    The operation followed a distress call from Yankamaye Cikin Gari village where a 60-year-old woman was killed. Four other victims remain missing as troops pursue the fleeing bandits toward Kankia in neighbouring Katsina.

    Four militia members killed, policeman arrested in Taraba

    In Taraba State, troops of 6 Brigade neutralised four militia members during an operation to quell renewed communal clashes between Shomo and Wurkun communities in Karim Lamido Local Government.

    Brigade spokesman Lt. Umar Muhammad said a serving police officer allegedly found operating with the militia was arrested for investigation. Weapons, ammunition and motorcycles were recovered.

    “Subsequent exploitation of the area led to recovery of three dane guns, fabricated AK-47 rifle, 25 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, and two motorcycles.

    “One personnel of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) found operating with the militia was arrested. He is undergoing further investigation and profiling to determine his level of involvement,” he said.

    Pastor, wife, church members abducted in Kogi

    A Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Ejiba, Yagba West Local Government of Kogi State was yesterday attacked by gunmen, who kidnapped the officiating pastor, identified as Orlando, his wife and several worshippers during service. The attack forced congregants to flee amid heavy gunfire.

    Information Commissioner Kingsley Fanwo said security agencies and local vigilante structures launched an operation to rescue the victims.

    “Yes, I have information to that effect and I am also aware that the security network, comprising conventional security agencies and the local security architecture are doing what they should do.

    “The authorities of Yagba West Local Government are working hard with the security agencies to ensure those kidnapped are rescued alive. The perpetrators too know that Kogi will do everything possible to secure every one of its residents abducted,” said the commissioner.

    He urged residents to report suspicious movements and advised worship centres in remote locations to remain vigilant.

    Abductors of Kwara monarch demand N150m

    In Kwara State, kidnappers of the Ojibara of Bayagan, Alhaji Kamilu Salami, have demanded N150m ransom. They were said to have contacted his family to make their demands known.

    The monarch was abducted from his farm in Ifelodun Local Government on Saturday. His abandoned motorcycle was discovered by other farmers, prompting a search.

    A witness who hid in a guinea-corn farm reportedly saw the monarch being forced onto a motorcycle.

    Police were yet to confirm the incident as at last night.

    Bride, bridesmaid, eight others kidnapped in Sokoto

    Spokesman of the Sokoto State Police Command, Ahmad Rufa’I, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), yesterday confirmed abduction of a bride-to-be, her close friend and eight others in the state.

    They were kidnapped by suspected bandits in a fresh attack on Chacho community in Wurno Local Government of Sokoto State about 1:30 am.

    All the victims were women, except for a man. One person, who sustained injuries during the attack, was taken to a facility for medical attention.

    Residents claimed that the bride was preparing for her wedding scheduled for yesterday when the attackers struck.

    A community member, who did not want his name in print, described the incident as tragic.

    He said her wedding was supposed to hold this morning. Instead, she and the bridesmaids were abducted.

    He added that security operatives were alerted during the attack but arrived about an hour after the gunmen had fled, a delay he said has left villagers frustrated.

    DSP Rufa’i, who confirmed the incident, noted that preliminary information had been received and further details were being compiled.

    The attack is the latest in a string of mass abductions that has rocked parts of the country.

  • Accept your past failures, support Tinubu’s anti-terror war, Dare tells Obasanjo

    Accept your past failures, support Tinubu’s anti-terror war, Dare tells Obasanjo

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication,  Sunday Dare, yesterday urged former President Olusegun Obasanjo to acknowledge his role in national security deterioration and support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s counter-terrorism efforts instead of undermining them.

    Dare said in a statement posted on his verified X handle that Obasanjo’s recent comments that the president is failing to protect Nigerians, were not only “hypocritical” but “ignoble.”

    The presidential aide recalled that terrorism took root in the country during the former leader’s tenure.

    Dare said: “If Obasanjo wishes to help, he should acknowledge the past failures that allowed terrorists to gain a foothold, and then, support ongoing efforts, not undermine them.”

    Chiding the former president for attacking the administration, he said true statesmanship requires sober reflection, not finger-pointing.

    He recalled that Boko Haram’s ideological cells and early structures “were incubated during Obasanjo’s civilian presidency,” recalling that extremist groups quietly recruited, indoctrinated, set up camps, and challenged state authority without decisive state action.

    He stressed: “For the leader under whom the first seeds of terrorism were allowed to germinate to now issue public lectures is not just ironic; it is reckless.”

    Dare objected to attempts by Obasanjo and “a few habitual presidential aspirants” to paint the Tinubu administration as incapable, saying that Nigerians have not forgotten those who “looked away when these threats first sprouted.”

    He said Nigeria is today confronting a multilayered terrorist ecosystem comprising internationally designated terror organisations, ISIS- and al-Qaeda-linked franchises across the Sahel, local extremist groups disguised as bandits, cross-border cells exploiting porous frontiers, and ideological insurgents operating in ungoverned spaces.

    Dare said: “Let’s call them what they all are: terrorists.”

    Read Also: Tinubu, First Lady, Shetimma, hail PFN at 40

    He also faulted Obasanjo’s suggestion that Nigeria should effectively subcontract aspects of its internal security to foreign governments, describing the idea as “capitulation, not statesmanship.”

    He added: “Before recommending surrender, the former President should reflect on what he failed to do when these terrorists first began organizing under his watch.”

    In his view, undermining the country’s capacity only hands psychological victories to the terrorists.

    The presidential adviser defended Tinubu’s security strategy, saying that government is meeting the threat “head-on” through kinetic and non-kinetic measures, modernising military capability, intensifying intelligence-led operations, restoring governance to neglected areas, deploying economic stabilisation programmes, countering radicalisation, and strengthening community trust.

    He said while Nigeria is cooperating with the United States and allied nations, it “will not outsource its security or raise a white flag because someone who once had the chance lost his nerve.”

    Dare warned that former leaders who publicly disparage ongoing efforts could only weaken national resolve, adding that “a real statesman offers support, not sound bites.”

    He said that under President Tinubu, Nigeria is committed to “securing every inch of the country by confronting terrorists with strength, unity, and a whole-of-government strategy,” stressing that the administration “will not be distracted by selective amnesia wrapped in elder-statesmanship.”

     “Let him (Obasanjo) put his position and connections at Nigeria’s disposal like he has done for other countries, not seeking to put down an administration that is fully engaging on many fronts: economic turnaround, providing security, and building key infrastructure,” he added:

    Dare maintained that with unity of purpose, the country would defeat terrorism, urging all patriots to “join hands now and not raise alarms.”

  • Abbas: we are making steady progress

    Abbas: we are making steady progress

    House Speaker Abbas Tajudeen yesterday said  the country was making steady progress in the fight against insecurity as a result of the bold steps taken by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the resilience of the  Armed Forces.

    He spoke at at the Renewed Hope Empowerment Programme and distribution of empowerment materials to his constituents in Zaria, Kaduna State,

     Abbas said empowerment is a pillar of national security, adding that:  when communities are strong, criminals lose ground.

    Items distributed to farmers, entrepreneurs, artisans, and communities include 50 tractors, 92 combine threshers, 4,000 solar-powered water pumping machines, 1,920 grinding machines, 450 petrol-water pumping machines, 1,500 fertiliser applicators, 1,500 knapsack sprayers, 1,700 deep freezers, and 1,400 industrial sewing machines.

    He said: “When farmers have the tools they need, production rises. When young people have livelihoods, they turn away from violence. When women gain financial strength, families become stable. Today’s distribution is part of our answer to a national challenge. It is our local contribution to the wider effort to secure this country,” he said.

    The two-day empowerment series began on Saturday with the groundbreaking of major legacy projects that will transform learning.

    The Speaker who also donated about 25 SUVs to traditional leaders said the government will continue “placing tools directly in our people’s hands,” adding that “empowerment is most meaningful when it reaches families.”

    Read Also: Tinubu, First Lady, Shetimma, hail PFN at 40

    He stressed that empowerment is most meaningful when it strengthens livelihoods and builds resilience from the ground up.

    He said: “This two-day programme is part of our commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. It is a continuation of the vision to build prosperity from the bottom upward. It aligned with our work in the House of Representatives. It reflects our belief that every community deserves visible development, practical development and evelopment that improves daily life.

    “Our nation still faces serious security challenges. Many communities across the north continue to confront threats. Farmers have been attacked; traders have suffered losses; families have endured hardship. Yet progress is being made. This progress stems from the bold actions of President Tinubu, the courage of our security forces and the resilience of our people.”

  • How to halt escalating insecurity, build nationhood, by Bakare

    How to halt escalating insecurity, build nationhood, by Bakare

    Citadel Global Community Church pastor has urged the Federal Government to suspend all non-essential gatherings in vulnerable areas nationwide, and place them under emergency patrols.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Pastor Tunde Bakare made the call at a State of the Nation news conference, titled: “The Darkness before Dawn” held at the Citadel Global Community Church in Lagos yesterday.

    The pastor noted that while such measures might appear as militarisation of affected communities, they remained essential and temporary steps of neutralising terrorism in the country.

    “The suspension of mass gatherings and increased emergency patrols measures must be taken to prevent further mass kidnappings.”

    He lamented that terrorists have intensified their attacks on Nigerians from the moment the U.S President, Donald Trump redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over allegations of a government-tolerated killing of Christians.

    “In a space of one week, troops were ambushed and some killed, dozens of secondary school pupils abducted  in Kebbi, worshippers in  a church in Kwara attacked, kidnapped, some killed and hundreds of students from St Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri town, Niger kidnapped.

    “The level of insecurity seems to have worsened in response to the global focus on Nigeria as terrorists and bandits brazenly dared the Nigerian state.

    “While we rejoice at the release of some of the kidnapped victims, including the Kebbi schoolgirls and the Kwara church worshippers, as well as escape of some of the pupils kidnapped in Niger, the continued attacks on communities further underscore the need for fundamental interventions.

    “These interventions go to the very essence of our nationhood and the quality of governance in both domestic and foreign policy contexts.”

    Pastor Bakare noted that years of leadership failure to confront the nation’s underlying crises finally came to a head.

    “It is sad that it took the United States Congress—not the representatives elected by Nigerians (National Assembly) to convene a hearing on the experiences of citizens suffering under insecurity.”

    According to him, to position Nigeria strategically in the shifting global order, an integrated approach is required, one that would involve a critical review of our governance structure, security architecture and geo-economic strategy.

    “From convening the Save Nigeria Group to accepting the invitation to be running mate to the late president Muhammadu Buhari, to sponsoring the Nigerian Charter for National Reconciliation and Integration at the 2014 National Conference, I have been guided by a realisation.

    Read Also: Tinubu, First Lady, Shetimma, hail PFN at 40

    ”The best of the North and the best of the South must come together at the table of brotherhood to forge a strong and united Nigeria,” he said.

    Pastor Bakare said it is the failure of state institutions over the years that transformed a local revolt into a vicious terrorist movement and other unresolved grievances.

    “The state’s failure over decades, to address long-standing disputes between Hausa farmers and Fulani pastoralists allowed local tensions to mutate into a sophisticated and deeply entrenched network of terror.

    “Whether the violent attacks are motivated by land grab, ethnicity, religion or all of the above, the situation is the height of failure to guarantee security and welfare of the Nigerian people.”

    “The Nigerian state has a responsibility to invade camps of armed marauders who hide under the cloak of herdsmen of whatever ethnicity, and who invade defenceless communities and gleefully massacre unarmed men, women and children.

    ”From the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to the Eastern Security Network (ESN), to the so-called unknown gunmen, the reaction has ranged from a revolt against the Nigerian state to sheer criminality.

    “The trial and sentencing of Biafran separatist, Nnamdi Kanu, which took place at the same time that Donald Trump shifted the world’s attention to Nigeria, has tended to reopen old wounds.

    ”It is time for Nigeria to truly heal from the Civil War. It is time for the Nigerian state to take concessionary steps to ensure equity for the Southeast.

    According to Bakare, at the 2014 National Conference, the progressives were convinced that Nigeria does not need the creation of additional states.

    ”We strongly believed that what was needed was the consolidation of states into geopolitical zones, rather than the further balkanisation of non-viable states.

    “However, for the sake of trustful give-and-take, and in the spirit of equity, we, at the Committee for Political Structure and Forms of Government, aligned with our Committee Chairman, elder statesman, retired Gen. Ike Nwachukwu, and advocated an additional state for the Southeast.

    “Concessions such as these will lay the groundwork for genuine integration and inclusion in the Southsouth, which includes Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, and Rivers states. Years of environmental degradation and resource control disputes led to militancy.”

    The pastor also reiterated the call for restructuring Nigeria to ensure cohesion and unity.

    “While we acknowledge  ongoing efforts of  President Bola Tinubu to swiftly  address the situation—from the declaration of emergency on security to mass recruitment into the police force—we urge him  to rise up to the occasion and restructure Nigeria.

    Bakare also suggested that the Federal Government should render an apology and compensation to victims of terrorism nationwide.

  • Dangote pushes 50m litres of petrol per day into market

    Dangote pushes 50m litres of petrol per day into market

    • Writes NMDPRA, engages marketers to stabilise fuel market
    • Invites agency for daily output monitoring

    Beginning from today, Dangote Petroleum Refinery will supply 50 million litres of petrol per day into the Nigerian market.

    The decision was taken to ensure that there is no shortage of the product during the festive season, the company said yesterday.

    This translates to 1.5 billion litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) for the month of December.

    The same amount of product will also be supplied in January 2026, it was added.

    President and Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, announced the plans. 

    Dangote said: “In line with our commitment to national well-being, and consistent with our track record of ensuring a holiday season free of fuel scarcity, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery will supply 1.5 billion litres of PMS to the Nigerian market this month. This represents 50 million litres per day. We are formally notifying the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) of this commitment. We will supply another 1.5 billion litres in January and increase to 1.75 billion litres in February, which translates to over 60 million litres per day.”  Speaking during a visit by the South-South Development Commission (SSDC) to the refinery and the Dangote Fertiliser complex, he stated that the facility currently has adequate stock and is producing between 40 and 45 million litres of PMS daily. He added that the daily supply of 50 million litres should dispel long-standing claims that domestic refineries lack the capacity to meet national demand.

     Dangote also revealed ongoing engagement with petroleum marketers to strengthen distribution systems, including expanding the use of CNG-powered haulage.

     “Our priority is to ensure Nigeria receives the products it needs. This is not driven by profit motives; it is about guaranteeing the availability of essential energy products. It is similar to the transformation we delivered in the cement sector,” he added.

     In a letter signed by David Bird, Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Refinery, and addressed to the Authority Chief Executive of NMDPRA, the company invited the regulator to independently verify its actual daily production capacity, countering prevailing speculations.

    “We request your support to host NMDPRA officials onsite at our refinery starting December 1, to validate and publicly confirm our daily supply volumes. In the interest of full transparency, we are prepared to publish our daily production and stock figures across both online and print media.”

    Read Also: Tinubu, First Lady, Shetimma, hail PFN at 40

    Dangote further noted that the refinery is progressing with its expansion plan to reach a capacity of 1.4 million barrels per day. More than 100,000 workers are expected to be involved in the expansion of both the refinery and the fertiliser complex. Dangote emphasised that the Group remains committed to its vision, driven by the strong public support for the company’s role in shaping Nigeria’s economic development.

     During the visit, the Managing Director of SSDC, Usoro Offiong Akpabio, commended Dangote’s leadership and his continued contribution to strengthening Nigeria’s industrial capability, national energy security and long-term economic competitiveness.

     She described the South-South region as Nigeria’s natural energy corridor, with vast crude oil reserves, gas infrastructure, maritime assets, agro-industrial activity and emerging industrial clusters. She noted that deeper collaboration between the region and the Dangote Group could unlock opportunities in product distribution, CNG infrastructure, petrochemicals, agriculture, and employment creation.

     Akpabio added that such partnerships would advance the Federal Government’s energy stability agenda and position the South-South as a strategic growth hub for the Dangote Group.

     “As the statutory development body for the South-South, SSDC is mandated to drive regional economic development, infrastructure integration, human capital advancement, and private-sector-led–led growth. In this regard, we stand prepared to support State-level policy and regulatory support for Ease-of-doing-business across our six states. Enabling environments for Dangote Group’s expansion into strategic sectors such as gas processing, agro-industrial value chains, renewable energy, logistics, and export-oriented manufacturing,” she said.

  • Ndume hails Army over teenage girls’ rescue

    Ndume hails Army over teenage girls’ rescue

    Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, yesterday praised the Nigerian Army for rescuing the 12 teenage girls abducted by Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in Mussa District of Askira/Uba Local Government Area, Borno State.

    The victims aged between 15 and 20, were kidnapped last Sunday while harvesting crops on their family farmlands.

    A statement by the Nigerian Army said the victims who were freed on Saturday, sequel to swift, intelligence-led operation by troops of Operation HADIN KAI in the southern Borno axis, were evacuated to a secure facility for comprehensive medical care.

    Read Also: Tinubu, First Lady, Shetimma, hail PFN at 40

    In a statement issued yesterday in Abuja, Ndume, a former Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Army, commended the gallantry and swift response of military officers in Borno, whose operation ensured the rescue of the girls.

    “That successful operation was another significant statement on professionalism and selflessness. I will continue to appeal to the sense of patriotism of men of the Nigerian Army to remain determined to destroy evil forces, driven by vain glorification to cower the rest of us,” Ndume said.

    He restated his call on the Federal Government to give priority to adequate funding of the military and review their remuneration in order to boost their morale.

  • PDP abandoned me, says Olisa Metuh

    PDP abandoned me, says Olisa Metuh

    A former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, yesterday accused the party of leaving him in the cold when he needed its solidarity most.

    Metuh said he laboured for the PDP and was sent to a 10-month jail for the party but its leaders turned their back on him during his travails.

    Metuh, who spoke at a thanksgiving service to mark his 60th birthday, said it was only President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma who identified with him during the period he described as the worst in his life.

    The former PDP spokesman promised to assist President Tinubu’s administration in whatever way he can.

    He said: “My trial was one of the worst things that happened to me. The day I was convicted, I celebrated. There have also been good times. God has brought good people close to me, people who have shown me love and care. One of the people who have shown me love is the governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma.

    “All my life, I gave it to the PDP. (Former Works Minister Babatunde) Fashola was my classmate at the Law School. He would call me to come and take land in Ikoyi, Lagos, and I would say: ‘How can I take land from the All Progressives Congress (APC)? I was very dedicated to the PDP. I cannot when I am in the PDP.’

    “When we lost the (2015) election, and the President wanted APC to have the Senate President and Speaker, he called several times. He kept on saying he wanted to work with me, but I refused.

    “When I had problems, I did not see my party; I did not see the people I suffered for. I did not see my party. I was in the court with my family. But in the midst of that, somebody whom I criticised so much reached out to me.

    Read Also: Tinubu, First Lady, Shetimma, hail PFN at 40

    “President Tinubu was the head of the opposition then. Every week, we must find something to criticise him with. In the middle of my problem, he sent the Speaker of the then House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, to come and see me.

    “He reached out to me, he comforted me and he did a lot of things for me then. This is someone who was my political enemy. So, I say today that it is really not where you sow that you will reap. It is where God says you will reap what you sowed.

    “Politically, I am now active. Anywhere Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma goes, there I shall go too.”

    Admitting that Nigeria was facing some challenges, Metuh promised to contribute his quota to grow the nation’s democracy.

    He said: “I am trying to make sure that I assist the government at the centre and the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to deliver the goods, the dividends of democracy.

    “I have seen the steps, I have seen the challenges. As a patriotic Nigerian, I want to join hands in resolving those challenges. I wish the PDP well. I gave my life to the PDP, but I have moved on, and I wish them well.”

    The former PDP spokesman said he believed there are credible people in the opposition who would make sure Nigeria does not become a one-party state.

    “There are a lot of credible citizens. Atiku Abubakar is a very credible person. Peter Obi is a very credible person. David Mark is very credible. There are a lot of people,” he said.

    Metuh said he was invited several times by President Tinubu to join the ruling party but declined.

    He added: “It took me a long time to get involved in politics. I’ve been called several times. The President wanted to work with me. Even in 2015, when we lost the election, I didn’t bother. He reached out to me again.

    “When I left politics in 2022, he called me to come into his party. I refused. After he won the election, I went to see him. He called me to join the party because he needed me, and he needed the kind of things that we could do. I refused because I stopped partisan politics.

    “Now that I’m in politics, I want to help. Maybe I could be a good voice on this side to ensure that the polity is good. As I explained to you, we need space in our democracy. We need to grow it. We need a vibrant opposition. We need people to express their views. We need to do all sorts.”

    The thanksgiving service was attended by Governor Uzodinma, former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim, former Governors of Abia, Ebonyi, and Imo States, Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Sam Egwu (Ebonyi), and Ikedi Ohakim (Imo), Emeka Ihedioha (Imo), as well as Senator Victor Umeh and Tony Nwoye.

  • Fani-Kayode’s inclusion on envoys’ list excites monarch

    Fani-Kayode’s inclusion on envoys’ list excites monarch

    • PDP, ADC gang up, urge Yakubu, Senate to reject nomination

    The Oore of Otun-Ekiti and paramount ruler of Moba land, Ekiti State, Oba Adekunle Adeagbo, has congratulated a former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, on his nomination as Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    Fani-Kayode is a holder of the traditional title of Aare Ajagunla of Moba land, Otun Ekiti.

    In a statement yesterday, Oba Adeagbo said: “We are delighted by this honour done to one of our sons, the Aare Ajagunla of Mobaland, Otun Ekiti, by the Federal Government.

    “We are proud of you. Well done. More glory and more grace.

    Additionally, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have urged the former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to reject his nomination as an ambassador.

    The opposition platform also urged the Senate to drop the former INEC chairman from the list, arguing that doing so is necessary to protect the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral system.

    The party said Yakubu’s nomination, coming barely two years after he oversaw the 2023 general election that brought President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to office, risks deepening public distrust in INEC and reinforcing perceptions that the former chairman may not have acted as a neutral umpire.

    In a statement yesterday in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said the country is still grappling with a major confidence deficit in INEC following the contentious 2023 polls.

    It warned that elevating the former electoral chief to a high-profile diplomatic role so soon after leaving office sends “an insensitive and troubling signal” at a time when the independence of democratic institutions should be strengthened, not weakened.

    The party argued that even though the law does not prescribe a cooling-off period for former electoral officials, ethical standards require restraint, especially when such appointments could blur the line between political actors and electoral umpires.

    It cautioned that allowing the nomination to stand may encourage future INEC leaders to view their positions as pathways to political reward, a development it said would be damaging to election neutrality.

    The ADC maintained that Yakubu should decline the offer in the interest of institutional integrity, adding that if he does not, the Senate should reject the nomination to safeguard public trust in Nigeria’s democracy.

    Read Also: Tinubu, First Lady, Shetimma, hail PFN at 40

    The PDP requested that President Tinubu withdraw the list of ambassadorial nominees sent to the National Assembly for clearance.

    The main opposition said the list contains the names of some discredited persons.

    A statement in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, reads: “The Peoples Democratic Party strongly condemns the list of ambassadorial nominees as submitted by President Bola Tinubu. This list contains the names of many people (disgraced propagandists, characterless politicians, and public officials) who are widely perceived negatively by Nigerians and the global community, for their integrity deficit and notable anti-democratic activities.

    “This development is not just a sad commentary on our country’s history of diplomatic representation; it is very reprehensible and scandalous. While most Nigerians are seriously appalled by the inclusion of most of the nominees, they are not totally surprised, given the history and disposition of this administration.

    “Furthermore, it is an incontestable fact that a nominee is a clear and direct reflection of the values and estimation of the nominator. By making these nominations, the President has shown Nigerians that these are the best people he has to represent our country in the countries where they will be posted.

    “That it took the President almost three years to produce this list speaks to the paucity of excellent people within his reach.

    “Specifically, we convey the disappointment of many right-thinking Nigerians on the nomination of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the immediate-past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), whose administration of our electoral umpire was characterised by countless double-speaks, flip-flops, and undelivered promises, which ultimately resulted in the birth of this administration, which is struggling in all areas of governance.

    “To offer him an ambassadorial appointment at a time like this is an excellent exemplar of a skewed reward system, which we suspect is designed as an incentive to the new INEC Chairman, to also deliver flawed elections in 2027, in expectation of future rewards. This is absolutely scandalous and completely unacceptable.

    “May we remind the President and all Nigerians that the respect a country gets from other countries cannot be separated from the integrity profile and public perception of both the President and the Ambassadors. So, appointing and sending ambassadors with tainted political profiles is not only a great disservice to Nigeria, but a setup for a diplomatic all-time low.

    “To this end, we demand that President Bola Tinubu withdraw the said list and renominate only those with stellar democratic credentials and high moral standing, capable of commanding global respect for the ambassadorial assignments.”

    Also, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has extended warm congratulations to Dr. Florence Ajimobi on her nomination for an ambassadorial role by President Tinubu.

    In a statement at the weekend, the minister described the nomination as a “well-deserved honour and a testament to Mrs. Ajimobi’s exemplary character and dedication to service”.

    The statement reads: “This nomination is a brilliant choice for our nation’s diplomatic corps. Mrs. Ajimobi is a woman of impeccable grace, sharp intellect, and a proven track record of leadership.

    “Her lifelong commitment to philanthropy, women empowerment, and social development has prepared her aptly for the demanding role of representing Nigeria on the world stage.”

    Adelabu thanked the President for the nomination, saying it is also a testament to “our nation’s commitment to leveraging its best and brightest minds for diplomatic service”.

  • Abass: why ex-CPC chieftains must work for Tinubu

    Abass: why ex-CPC chieftains must work for Tinubu

    • Speaker inaugurates President’s support group in Zaria

    House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas has urged former members of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) to work in unison for the re-election bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.

    Abbas spoke at the weekend in Zaria, Kaduna State, while inaugurating the Old CPC Members’ Tinubu Support Group for Northern Kaduna Senatorial District.

    The Nation learnt that the inauguration was meant to galvanise grassroots mobilisation ahead of President Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.

    Addressing members of the group before swearing in the officials, the Speaker said they needed to work tirelessly and deliver on the mandate entrusted to them.

    He noted that the defunct CPC tradition remained strong within the governing party, having produced and is still producing influential figures across the country.

    Abba said the defunct CPC bloc boasts governors, about 30 members of the House of Representatives, and seven ministers in the current administration.

    Read Also: Tinubu, First Lady, Shetimma, hail PFN at 40

    “We thank Allah, and we thank the old CPC,” he said, assuring the group of his continuous support. “We will do everything possible to assist you to perform to expectation.”

    Those inaugurated include Alhaji Abubakar Hayatu (Sarkin Sudan) – Chairman; Umar Tsaibu – Secretary; Surajo Musa – Vice Chairman; Abubakar Maiwada – Treasurer; Idris Abubakar – PRO; Ibrahim Musa – Youth Leader; Hajiya Aisha Abdullahi – Women Leader; and Abdullahi Soja – Assistant PRO.

    Others are: Aliyu Haruna – Welfare Officer; Musa A. Musa – Organising Secretary, while Aliyu Santana, Aminu Ahmad Rahama and Adamu Turaki were inaugurated as elders of the group.

    Abbas announced that similar groups for the Central and Southern Kaduna senatorial districts would be inaugurated soon.