The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • ‘King’ Kuti rules as African Table Tennis Players in Diaspora Tourney ends

    ‘King’ Kuti rules as African Table Tennis Players in Diaspora Tourney ends

    The African Table Tennis Players in Diaspora Invitational Tournament in Abeokuta was a success, with praises directed to the organizers and sponsors, and the defending champion, Mathew Kuti, retained his title in a closely contested match.

    A total of 25 budding ping-pongers were in the ancient city between December 27th and 29th to compete keenly for honours at the Alake Sports Complex, Ijeja with massive fans turning up to see the young ones exhibit their skills.

    A former national player and coach, Waheed Ekun, who was one of the Special guests at the final,

    said he was particularly happy that the tournament showed that Nigeria is blessed with many talents that will be of help in the future for the senior national team.

    Ekun said: “I came from Ibadan because I saw the event last year and decided to witness it again. I am happy with the standard and I thank the sponsors and organisers for creating good template for the players to show their talents.”

    Hon. Allen-Taylor Oluwafemi Wilfred,  a senior Legislative Aide to Senate President and other stakeholders  showered praises on the sponsors and organisers of the tournament.

    Read Also: Lagos agog  for 11th  Elicris Table Tennis Cup’s climax

    In the final, defending champion, Matthew Kuti, defeated Basit Abdulfatai 4-1 in a keenly contested match which kept fans at the edge their seats despite final score.

    One of the sponsors, the players in diaspora, Charles Olayinka, said he was elated with the skills exhibited by the young ones which he saw on live stream.

     “For us watching the live streaming and seeing smiles on the faces of the players. It gives us joy to do more but we call on corporate bodies to partner with us to take this event to the next level,” Olayinka said.

    Coordinator of the tournament, Wale Ajetunmobi, said he was impressed with standard exhibited by the players.

     “What we saw was like a national or continental standard and it is evident with the champion who is a West African Champion. It was a delight to see the level of keen contest by these players and I want to thank the sponsors for their consistency,” he said.

  • Wike, Bala in war of words

    Wike, Bala in war of words

    A political battle broke out yesterday between Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

    Both men traded blistering accusations that underscore the deepening crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The confrontation was triggered by Mohammed’s claim that Wike was deliberately working to destabilise Bauchi State and destroy his political career through intimidation and smear campaigns.

    Speaking on Channels Sunrise Daily, the Bauchi governor alleged that the FCT minister had “put fire” in his state by fuelling political attacks and linking him to banditry and terrorism.

    “I am a sitting governor, and my state is among the most secure in the North-East, if not northern Nigeria. Yet, I am being associated with banditry for political reasons,” Mohammed said, dismissing the allegations as calculated falsehoods meant to discredit him as a rising opposition figure.

    The governor insisted that Bauchi has remained relatively peaceful under his leadership and described the accusations as part of a broader plot to silence dissenting voices within the opposition.

    He said: “Somebody said he is going to put fire in my state. That person is the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike. A rising opposition leader being accused of terrorism is very painful.

    “When you want to destroy a dog, you give it a bad name.”

    The governor claimed that unnamed “powerful forces” were behind the campaign against him, naming Wike as a central figure.

    He further alleged that pressure was being mounted on him to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). But he did not states where the pressure was coming from.

    Read Also: W’Cup 2026: NFF begs Tinubu, Nigerians over  Super Eagles’ setback

    Mohammed said he had written to the Attorney General of the Federation and copied security agencies, seeking protection and redress.

    He also threatened to escalate the matter to the international community, describing the situation as victimisation and a violation of his fundamental human rights.

    He accused Wike of acting as a destabilising force within the PDP, saying the FCT minister could not genuinely claim opposition credentials while openly aligning with the APC-led Federal Government.

    “He is an undertaker in our party. You cannot be in two places at the same time. It is against the rule of nature,” Mohammed said.

    He urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to be wary of individuals he claimed were undermining democracy by misusing state institutions.

    The allegations come against the backdrop of renewed tension between the Bauchi State Government and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Mohammed accused the Federal Government of using the anti-graft agency to harass his administration following charges filed against the state’s Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, and others over alleged terrorism financing involving $9.7 million.

    He insisted that the allegations were politically motivated.

    Wike swiftly dismissed Mohammed’s accusations, describing them as baseless and symptomatic of internal failures within Bauchi and the PDP.

    Speaking during a visit to Abua-Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State, Wike chided the Bauchi governor, saying he lacked the political structure and party cohesion to manage his affairs or produce a successor.

    “Bala Mohammed came to my state and wanted to impose party leadership. I warned him to be careful and to leave my state alone. I told him there would be consequences, and today, he does not even have a party to produce his successor,” Wike said.

    Reacting directly to the allegation that he threatened to “put fire” in Bauchi, Wike denied any such role and dared Mohammed to confront his challenges head-on.

    “He said all the problems he is facing are because of me, that I claimed I would put fire there. If you have such power, go ahead and use it. Face your problems,” he said.

    Wike also brushed aside claims that the EFCC was acting on his behalf, insisting he had no interest in Bauchi’s finances.

    He said: “Now EFCC is chasing them, he said it’s me. What’s my business? If your state is clean, go there and enjoy yourself.”

    The FCT minister accused Mohammed of weak leadership and internal contradictions, arguing that political leaders must recognise their limits.

    “If you know you do not have the strength to fight, why don’t you retreat? Why create problems you cannot manage?” he asked.

    Wike further launched a personal counteroffensive, questioning Mohammed’s own record as a FCT minister between 2010 and 2015.

    “You were the minister of FCT. Why not tell the people what you did there? The whole land, you sold it. You did not do the roads. Contracts were awarded, money collected upfront, and now I am the one completing the projects,” he said.

    Responding to personal insults labelling him “semi-illiterate” and a former motor washer, Wike said his rise through the ranks of public office spoke louder than name-calling.

    “I have no problem with that. Someone who washed cars became local government chairman, governor of one of the most important states, and a two-time minister,” he said.

    He reaffirmed his support for President Tinubu, citing what he described as unprecedented federal appointments and benefits for Rivers State, and insisted that his political choices were guided by conscience and performance.

    Wike declared: “When you tell people the truth, people get angry. But the truth remains the truth.”

  • Federal Govt’s N30b cash for Bodija explosion victims intact, says Oyo Govt

    Federal Govt’s N30b cash for Bodija explosion victims intact, says Oyo Govt

    The controversy over the Federal Government’s intervention fund for victims of 2024 Ibadan explosion victims has not fizzled out.

    Yesterday, the Oyo State government clarified that the N30 billion cash received by Governor Seyi Makinde is still being kept in the state’s special intervention account.

    The Commissioner of Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, and his counterpart at the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Professor Musibau Babatunde, clarified in a statement that N50billion was requested from the Federal Government to mitigate the impact of the disaster.

    They said the balance of N20billion was still being expected, adding that the N24.6 billion spent on the Bodija victims came from the purse of the state government.

    Giving the analysis of how the money was spent, they explained that N20.141 billion was spent on the reconstruction of infrastructure in Bodija and environs and N4.085 billion paid as support and compensation to the victims.

    A row had broken out between Makinde and former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, who after the Oyo governor’s media chat alleged that he failed to disclose the receipt of N50bn from the Federal Government.

    The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, clarified that N30 billion was released out of the N50bn requested for.

    Makinde added that the balance could not be obtained because some unnamed federal officials requested for inducement.

    According to the statement by the commissioners, the state government deliberately refrained from utilising the N30 billion already released because the balance of N20 billion has been withheld by the relevant federal agencies for reasons that have not been communicated to Oyo State government.

    They said the recent “disgraceful drama of the last couple of days from the Federal Government on the approval”, has justified the wisdom of its decision to “wait and see” before deciding what to do with the money.

    The statement reads in part: “Following the unfortunate explosion that occurred on January 16, 2024, in the Bodija area of Ibadan, and being aware that intervention funds exist at the federal level for states facing emergencies, Governor Seyi Makinde, formally wrote to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, requesting approval for financial support to assist the state in managing the disaster.

    “In the letter dated January 19, 2024, Governor Makinde outlined the immediate steps already taken by the Oyo State Government to mitigate the impact of the explosion.

    “These measures included the deployment of earth-moving equipment to aid search-and-rescue efforts; the hospitalisation of injured victims with all medical bills fully covered by the state government; the deployment of ambulances and medical personnel to the scene; and the provision of accommodation for displaced victims in hotels at the expense of the state government.

    “The governor then highlighted additional areas where federal assistance was required. These included: clearing of rubble and debris as part of continued search and rescue operations; immediate integrity tests on buildings within the affected axis and demolition of unsafe structures; compensation for owners of affected properties; reconstruction of Old Bodija and its environs; expansion of the emergency response hub; environmental impact assessment; logistics support and reimbursement; and infrastructural development required to restore normalcy to Bodija and surrounding communities after the massive destruction.

    “To address these needs, the Oyo State Government estimated the cost of intervention at N100 billion and requested the President’s approval for that amount.

    “The president, however, approved N50 billion— half of the requested sum.

    Read Also: Oyo PDP governorship aspirant joins ADC

    “The purpose of the approved fund was clearly stated by the Federal Government as “Support for the reconstruction of Old Bodija and environs after the Bodija explosion.” (See memo dated 29 August, 2024, from the Accountant General of the Federation to the Minister of Finance, released by the political agent of the Federal Government, Mr. Ayo Fayose).

    “Following the approval, an Oyo State Government Infrastructure Support Account (No. 2045199879) was opened with First Bank of Nigeria for the intervention fund.

    “Out of the approved N50 billion, the Federal Government, through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), released N30 billion to Oyo State on November 4, 2024.”

    The statement added: “As of December 31, 2025, the N30 billion remains untouched in the Oyo State infrastructure account with the First Bank. Interested members of the public may verify this information with the bank.

    “The Oyo State Government has deliberately refrained from utilising the N30 billion already released in recognition of the fact that the remaining N20 billion has remained withheld by the relevant federal agencies for reasons that have not been communicated to the state.

    “Given the disgraceful drama of the last couple of days from the Federal Government on the approval, the government of Oyo State is convinced on the wisdom of its decision to ‘wait and see’ before deciding what to do with the money.

    “Almost two years after the disaster, the Federal Government is yet to release the outstanding balance of N20 billion from the approved sum of N50 billion.

    “The Oyo State Government remains committed to securing the balance of the approved funds to comprehensively address the damage caused by the explosion to both public and private properties. This is particularly important given the scale of the challenges faced by the state and the victims, many of whom have already been supported within the financial capacity of the state government.”

    “Following the explosion, Nigerians are aware of the swift and sustained efforts of the Oyo State Government, which significantly mitigated the effects of the disaster. The state government did not wait for federal intervention, which came in November, 2024, almost a year after the incident.

    “As of January 1, 2026, the Oyo State Government has spent N24.6 billion from its own resources on Bodija and its environs in direct response to the explosion and its consequences. This includes N20.141 billion spent on the reconstruction of infrastructure in Bodija and surrounding areas, as well as N4.085 billion paid as support and compensation to victims of the explosion. These expenditures were fully borne by the Oyo State Government.”

    The commissioners accused the Federal Government of using Fayose as an agent to achieve cheap political gains.

    They said out of N915.5 billion approved as intervention funds for states across the country, the list of beneficiary states shows that one Southwest state received N150 billion, while Oyo State, despite experiencing one of the most devastating incidents, received one of the lowest allocations among beneficiary states.

  • Ekiti State PDP candidate fingers APC for exclusion from INEC list

    Ekiti State PDP candidate fingers APC for exclusion from INEC list

    • Blame your crisis not us, ruling party tells Oluyede

    The governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, Dr Wole Oluyede, has alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is behind his exclusion from the provisional list of candidates released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the June 20 governorship election.

    Addressing reporters yesterday in his Ikere-Ekiti country home, Oluyede said his omission from the list came as a surprise, stressing that his emergence as the PDP candidate was monitored and supervised by INEC.

    But Ekiti State APC Publicity Secretary, Segun Dipe, dismissed the allegations, describing the claim as baseless and a diversionary tactic aimed at covering internal crises within the PDP.

    Oluyede said although there had been legal suits challenging the party’s primary election, INEC officials had sworn affidavits in court affirming that he was the duly elected candidate of the party.

    “In fact, there have been suits against the election and INEC came to swear affidavit that I was the candidate of the party. I am not aware of any reason that should preclude me from the election,” he added.

    Read Also: Lamido’s suspension and the PDP’s unresolved crisis

    He said there was no court injunction or order restraining him or the party from participating in the election, arguing that INEC lacked the power to determine who emerged as a party’s nominee.

    “As far as I know, there is no court injunction; there is no court order that should preclude me from the election. I don’t think INEC is in a position to determine who should be the nominee of a party. They haven’t been doing that before and I don’t know why this is happening,” he said. Oluyede said he had begun consultations with party stakeholders and would also engage the electoral body formally to demand explanations for the action.

    Reassuring his supporters across the state, the PDP candidate urged them not to panic, hoping he would participate in the governorship poll and feature on the final ballot.

    “I want to reassure my supporters that I am going to be the next governor of Ekiti State, which means I am going to be on the next ballot. This is a normal process of elections. People will play games, but it is a game of futility that will not go anywhere,” he said.

    He warned against attempts to exclude candidates through what he described as political manoeuvres, noting that elections should be based on the will of the people.

    “My advice to those trying to preclude others from contesting is that it is not the right way. Elections are meant to give people the opportunity to choose their government. If you are confident in your performance or capacity to govern, then you should have the confidence to face the electorate,” Oluyede said.

    Ekiti State APC spokesman Dipe dismissed the allegations, describing the claim as baseless and a diversionary tactic aimed at covering internal crises within the PDP.

    He said APC had no control over INEC and could not interfere with its constitutional responsibilities, arguing that PDP’s omission was a result of internal leadership crises and ongoing court cases within the opposition party.

    Dipe advised the PDP governorship candidate to seek redress through legal means, rather than making what it described as “wild allegations” against political opponents.

  • Abiodun signs N1.669 trillion Budget 2026

    Abiodun signs N1.669 trillion Budget 2026

    Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun has signed the N1.669 trillion 2026 Appropriation Bill into law, marking another milestone in the state’s fiscal planning and development drive.

    The governor had on December 3, 2025 presented the Appropriation Bill tagged: ‘Budget of Sustainable Legacy’, to the House of Assembly for consideration and approval.

    The signing, done at the Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, was witnessed by Speaker Oludaisi Elemide, principal officers and members of the assembly, as well as members of the State Executive Council.

    Speaking after assenting to the bill, Governor Abiodun said his administration would begin implementation of the budget to ensure improved performance in revenue generation and expenditure.

    He noted that the 2026 Budget represented a leap in the state’s financial profile, recording a 58 per cent increase over the 2025 Budget of N1.054 trillion.

    “We are excited that Ogun State is making progress. This time last year, we signed into law an appropriation of about N1.054 trillion. This year, we are signing into law an appropriation of N1.669 trillion, which represents 58 per cent increase over the 2025 budget,” the governor said.

    Read Also: Sule, Otti, Soludo, Adeleke, Aiyedatiwa, Abiodun, Zulum, Yusuf sign 2026 budgets into Law

    He added that implementation would begin after the holidays, with a commitment to achieving better budget performance on the financing and expenditure sides.

    He said the timely passage of the Appropriation Bill by the house and its signing before the end of the year aligned with the administration’s tradition of ensuring fiscal continuity, predictability and effective governance.

    Prince Abiodun expressed appreciation to the Speaker and members of the House of Assembly for their diligence and cooperation, describing their swift action as a demonstration of dedication to the service of the state and its people.

    “Let me first thank the Speaker and the entire Ogun State House of Assembly for working hand in glove with the Executive. Once we presented the bill, they immediately went to work. They thoroughly interrogated it, engaged all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies, and did so expeditiously, despite the encroachment of the holiday period,” he said.

    Speaker Elemide said the passage of the bill followed scrutiny by lawmakers to ensure its alignment with the developmental needs and aspirations of Ogun State.

    “A lot went into the process of passing this bill. Members worked very hard and tirelessly to ensure the budget was passed before the end of the year. We thank God that the governor has now signed it into law,” he said.

  • Oyebamiji’s posters, billboards flood Osun

    Oyebamiji’s posters, billboards flood Osun

    Posters and billboards of the candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming governorship election in Osun State, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO), have flooded strategic places across the state.

    The standard-bearer urged the residents to await people-oriented government from August 8.

    Oyebamiji, whose posters and billboards dotted Osogbo, the capital, Ikire, Ede, Gbongan, Iragbiji, Ikirun and other places, speaking with reporters yesterday, rejoiced with the people on the occasion of New Year celebration.

    He extolled the high sense of resilience and patriotism exhibited by the citizens since the creation of Osun State.

    He told them to await masses-focused and people-centred progressive government this year.

    Read Also: Akande, Oyetola: Oyebamiji will win

    “As we all walk into the year of manifestation, let’s continue to champion the virtues of love, unity, sacrifice, resilience and peaceful coexistence that define us as a people and as a state. Let’s demonstrate high sense of ‘Omoluabi’ as we approach election period. Let’s scale up our support for the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as he continues to stimulate our economy and build a virile nation where everyone triumphs.

    “As the candidate of APC, I am ever ready to lead our party and our people to victory on August 8. My pact is to build a state, when elected governor, where every sector works for the benefit of all, regardless of our political, cultural and religious affiliations. Let’s rekindle our hope and set our state on the path of sustainable growth and development.’’

  • Obi enters coalition of chaos, says Lagos APC

    Obi enters coalition of chaos, says Lagos APC

    Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) says it views the formal defection of Mr. Peter Obi to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the long-awaited unveiling of a contraption deliberately assembled to undermine Nigeria.

    ‘’What has occurred is not political evolution; it is the public activation of a coalition forged in grievance, sustained by falsehood and animated by an unhealthy appetite for national dislocation,’’ the party added.

    Spokesman Seye Oladejo in a statement in Ogba, said: ‘’We congratulate the ADC that Mr. Peter Obi eventually yielded to their prolonged plea -or is it their instruction – to come on board. Either way, the pretence of independence has now been formally abandoned. The choice of venue for this declaration is also not lost on discerning, pan-Nigerian electorate who understand political coding and symbolism. Nothing about this exercise was accidental; everything was calculated.

    ‘’It is now abundantly clear that a predictable opposition can neither thrive nor have a meaningful place in a vibrant democracy. Long before this moment, even a political neophyte knew that Mr. Obi would not contest elections twice on the platform of the same political party – judging by his well-documented record of political promiscuity. ‘’His latest move merely confirms a pattern of convenience politics masquerading as principle.

    ‘’Let us be clear: ADC has not discovered ideology overnight. It has merely confirmed its true identity as a political scrapyard where rejected ambitions, electoral failures and serial aspirants converge to rehearse recycled anger. This is not a coalition of ideas; it is a cartel of convenience. It is not about Nigeria; it is about power without responsibility.

    Read Also: APC pledges renewed commitment to Nigerians

    ‘’Obi’s entry seals what Nigerians already knew. This so-called coalition was conceived with a sole beneficiary in mind – process be damned, zoning suspended, internal democracy euthanised. The loud pretence of moral purity has collapsed under the weight of naked ambition. The hypocrisy is now official.

    ‘’Indeed, Nigerians cannot but wonder when Obi will summon the courage to inform his handful of sympathisers that he has already agreed in principle to serve as a running mate to a pre-determined, perennial presidential candidate – a political factory-reset decision taken even before the coalition’s public unveiling. In this arrangement, consultation is cosmetic, participation is decorative and ambition is centrally-allocated.

    ‘’More worrisome still is the tragic symbolism with which Obi chose to end the year – by returning to the very political ecosystem he often described as a nest of criminality and corruption. Having built a brand on performative moral outrage, he has now openly embraced the same characters and structures he once condemned with evangelical fervour. History, it appears, is repeating itself: Peter Obi, like the first Peter, continues to betray the people – not under pressure, not under duress, but out of calculated self-interest. Nigerians must therefore take note: a man who can so conveniently return to his vomit, without remorse or even a whimper, cannot be trusted with the destiny of a nation. Those who choose to place their hopes in such political inconsistency do so at their own peril.

    ‘’More troubling – and Nigerians must not look away – is the shameful refusal of the principal actors in this coalition of confusion to unequivocally condemn terrorism and its many murderous offshoots. This silence is deliberate. It is a cowardly calculation designed to avoid upsetting home-based sympathies and regional comfort zones. Any political formation that cannot clearly denounce the slaughter of innocent Nigerians, for fear of losing sectional applause, has forfeited the moral right to seek national leadership. Silence in the face of terror is not neutrality; it is complicity.

    ‘’While this coalition sharpens propaganda as weapons against the Nigerian state, the APC-led Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is confronting hard truths – stabilising the economy, dismantling criminal networks, restoring investors’ confidence and rebuilding institutions weakened by years of reckless governance. One side traffics in noise, sabotage, and wishful failure; the other delivers governance.

    ‘’This explains the coalition’s obsession with exaggeration, misinformation and international pity-seeking. With no record of transformative leadership to present, chaos becomes their campaign strategy. Hardship is weaponised. National challenges are converted into talking points. They pray for failure because they have nothing credible to offer.

    ‘’Nigerians have seen this script before -and they will reject it again. No amount of political make-up, hurried alliances, or sanctimonious sermons can disguise the emptiness of this project. Democracy is not strengthened by desperation, nor is nationhood built by those who wish the country ill merely to validate their personal ambition.

    ‘’Lagos APC assures Nigerians that the Renewed Hope Agenda remains irreversible. The coming together of political weapons fashioned against Nigeria will fail spectacularly.

    ‘’At the polls, Nigerians will once again rise above deception and decisively reject their nemesis.

    ‘’The future belongs to builders, not professional complainers; to patriots, not political tourists; to courage, not cowardly silence in the face of terror.’’

  • Ondo okays new Tax Law

    Ondo okays new Tax Law

    Ahead of January 1, 2026 implementation of the new Tax Law,  Ondo State Government has approved a new Tax Bill for transmission to the House of Assembly for consideration and passage into law.

    The approval was granted at the State Executive Council (SEC) meeting held on Tuesday and presided over by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

    Briefing reporters after the meeting, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Olukayode Ajulo, SAN, said the proposed tax law aligned with the state’s commitment to harmonising its fiscal policies with the federal tax reforms scheduled to take effect from today.

    He said the bill was designed to ensure Ondo State’s tax framework operated in line with national standard under the Nigeria Tax Act 2025 and related reforms.

    He said the legislation would promote efficiency, transparency and sustainable revenue generation, while providing relief for low-income earners and small businesses.

    Read Also: Tinubu: New Tax Laws will bring prosperity

    “By adopting these measures, the state aims to foster economic growth, improve public services and create a more equitable tax environment that supports businesses and individuals alike,” Ajulo said.

    He added that the approval marked a proactive step towards integrating Ondo State into Nigeria’s evolving national tax landscape. “The bill will now proceed to the House of Assembly for legislative review and debate. The government encourages public participation and remains open to constructive feedback from stakeholders,” he said.

    The state government has appointed Owei Kekemeke as the pioneer Amananawei of Agadagda-Obon in Ese Odo Local Government.

    Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Amidu Takuro, who also spoke after the SEC meeting, said the government was ready to fill vacant traditional stools once affected communities began the selection process.

    He confirmed that warrant chiefs had been approved for the appointment of Alade Okun of Alade in Idanre Local Government, clearing the way for the installation of a new monarch.

    On infrastructure development, Commissioner for Infrastructure, Lands and Housing, Abiola Olawoye, hailed Governor Aiyedatiwa for his commitment to advancing key projects across the state.

  • I didn’t authorise manhandling of Obaseki, says Oba of Benin

    I didn’t authorise manhandling of Obaseki, says Oba of Benin

    The Benin Monarch, Oba Ewuare II, has said he never authorised the manhandling of a former Managing Director of Daar Communication, Dr. Pedro Obaseki.

    He said he remained a father of all.

    The former Daar Communication boss was, on Sunday, abducted where he was playing football by suspected thugs.

    He was beaten up, stripped naked and paraded through the streets of Benin City on allegation of being an ‘Oghionba’ (enemy of the Oba).

    Obaseki was taken to the Oba’s Palace from where he was taken to the police station.

    Read Also: Ex-Daar Communication boss Obaseki vows to pursue justice

    The Benin Monarch, in a statement signed by Secretary to the Benin Traditional Council, Frank Irabor, advised youths not to take the law into their hands on any issue, no matter the degree of provocation. 

    The statement said: “The Benin Traditional Council uses this medium to inform the public that the unfortunate incident in which Pedro Obaseki was manhandled was not authorised by the Oba of Benin.

    And it cannot be authorised because it is not in the character of our revered monarch to do so. The Oba of Benin is a peace-loving father to all.

    “The Benin Traditional Council also wishes to advise our youths not to take the law into their hands on any issue, no matter the degree of provocation. They should always respect the laws of the land in all actions and utterances and allow appropriate security agencies handle all matters.

    “Social media users should equally endeavour to cross-check information appropriately before posting.”

  • Troops foil bandits’ attack, kill five in Plateau

    Troops foil bandits’ attack, kill five in Plateau

    • Gunmen kill seven on New Year’s eve
    • Kidnappers of 28 travellers cut ransom to N30m, demand three motorcycles

    Troops of 3 Division Nigerian Army, under Joint Task Force Operation Enduring Peace (JTF OPEP), have foiled a planned bandit attack on communities in Plateau State, killing five bandits during an intelligence-led operation.

    A military source told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the operation was conducted yesterday as part of Operation Peace Shield in Wase Local Government Area of the state.

    The source said the troops ambushed the Dutsen Zaki–Odare Forest axis after receiving a report that some bandits were mobilising to attack adjoining communities.

    Apart from killing the bandits, two AK-47 rifle magazines loaded with 11 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, two machetes and a knife were recovered.

    Also, gunmen struck at Bum village of Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State, killing seven residents.

    In a statement, the National Publicity Secretary, Berom Youths Moulder Association (BYM),Rwang Tengwong, said the residents were attacked about 11:00 p.m. on December 31, last year.

    Read Also: Plateau: Kidnappers demand N42m ransom from 28 travellers

    He added: “The incident came despite an earlier security alert, warning that several communities in Jos South council had been earmarked for possible attacks. Sadly, the Bum community has fallen victim to this renewed wave of violence.

    “This latest attack adds to the growing list of violent assaults on innocent rural communities in Plateau State, further deepening concerns over the safety of lives and property, especially during festive periods meant for peace and celebration.”

    Kidnappers of the 28 travellers abducted in Zak community of Wase Local Government Area have reduced the ransom from N42 million to N30 million.

    The abductors have also demanded the relatives of the victims to provide three new brand motorcycles in addition to the N30 million.

    The victims, including men, women and children, were heading to Sabon Layi community of the same Bashar District to attend a Maulud when the bandits intercepted their vehicle and took them to their den.

    The kidnappers had on Tuesday contacted the victims’ relatives, demanding N1.5m ransom per person, a demand the relatives said they could not afford, pleading with the kidnappers to release the victims.

    However, on Wednesday, the kidnappers slashed the ransom to N30million and asked the relatives to buy three new brand motorcycles.

    Babawo Gwadabe, a resident of Zak community, whose seven nephews and nieces, were among the victims, said: “We don’t have that amount. It is huge. The community and relatives have raised a little amount, but they have refused to agree. We are really in tension and apprehension. Even if the money is provided, there is no certainty if they would release them because last year, my father was abducted and N3million was demanded. We paid; yet, they killed my father. We are confused. Only God can help us out of this trauma.”