Author: Gbenga Oluranti OLALEYE

Prominent Nigerian lawyer and human rights activist, Femi Falana, has sparked controversy with his recent remarks about Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). In a live interview with Sahara TV, Falana accused Adeboye of constructing “business centers” instead of genuine religious institutions. Falana’s criticism came in response to a statement from Pastor Adeboye, where he shared plans to open more churches across Nigeria to ensure that people have a place of worship within walking distance. According to Falana, the expansion of churches in this manner was not a religious initiative but a…

A group in Rivers State, the Rivers Restoration Movement (RRM), has strongly criticised former Niger Delta militant leader, Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, for his recent comments attacking President Bola Tinubu and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. The group described Asari-Dokubo’s statements as baseless, malicious, and an unwarranted attack on the president and the political leadership of Rivers State. The controversy stems from an interview in which Asari-Dokubo accused President Tinubu of supporting Wike in efforts to destabilize Rivers State and to manipulate judicial decisions. The former freedom fighter further alleged that the duo was conspiring to remove the state’s…

The Federal Government has disclosed that its expenditure on personnel costs will rise by at least 60 percent in 2025, following the implementation of the newly approved national minimum wage and consequential salary adjustments for federal civil servants. According to the newly released Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF), the government’s personnel costs will increase by N2.46 trillion, bringing the total personnel budget to approximately N6.56 trillion for the 2025 fiscal year. The increase is directly linked to President Bola Tinubu’s approval of a new minimum wage for Nigerian workers in July 2024, which raised the monthly…

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has sharply criticised President Bola Tinubu for conferring the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), Nigeria’s second-highest national honor, on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The party called the gesture a “misplaced priority,” questioning the justification for awarding such a prestigious honor based on diplomatic relations alone. The criticism came shortly after a high-profile meeting between President Tinubu and Prime Minister Modi in Abuja, where the Indian leader was honored during the Nigeria-India Bilateral Meeting held at the Presidential Villa. Speaking to our correspondence on Sunday, November 18, Timothy Osadolor, the Deputy…

Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the former governor of Kano State, has accused the Lagos political establishment of making concerted efforts to “colonize” the northern part of Nigeria. Speaking to a gathering of supporters and political allies in Kano, Kwankwaso expressed concern over what he described as growing interference from the southwestern economic hub in the region’s political affairs. “Today, we can see very clearly that there is a lot of effort from the Lagos axis to colonize this part (the North) of the country,” Kwankwaso said, referring to what he perceives as undue influence from Lagos in the selection of leadership…

The official results for the 2024 Ondo State gubernatorial election, as compiled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), show a commanding lead for the All Progressives Congress (APC) after results from 15 local government areas (LGAs) have been announced. As of the latest update, the APC has garnered 268,144 votes, significantly ahead of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which trails with 79,125 votes. The ongoing collation process, which began earlier today, has seen the completion of results from over half of Ondo’s 18 local government areas. However, three LGAs remain, with the full picture yet to emerge. Despite this,…

Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has announced the appointment of Gani Audu as his new Chief of Staff. The appointment, which takes immediate effect, was officially communicated in a statement issued on Friday, November 15, by the Secretary to the State Government, Musa Ikhilor. According to the statement, Audu’s appointment is aimed at driving meaningful reforms and contributing to the development of the state under Governor Okpebholo’s administration. “It is hereby announced for the information of the general public, particularly the good people of Edo State, that Governor Monday Okpebholo has approved the appointment of Gani Audu as his…

A gas cylinder explosion at a filling station in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State has left six vehicles severely damaged, the state police command confirmed on Friday, November 15. According to a statement by the police spokesman, Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, the explosion occurred on Friday when a loud blast was heard by police officers at the Jibia Divisional Police Headquarters. The Divisional Police Officer immediately led a team of officers to the scene, joined by military personnel, to assess and control the situation. The explosion took place at the Tamal filling station, located along the Kagadama-Magamar Jibia Road, where…

Nigerian gospel film director and founder of Mount Zion Faith Ministries, Mike Bamiloye, has penned a heartfelt tribute to the late actor Moses Korede Are, better known as “Baba Gbenro,” who passed away recently. In a touching Facebook post shared on Thursday, November 14, Bamiloye reflected on the last conversation he had with Are before he was hospitalised, describing it as a poignant moment that underscores the actor’s dedication to his work and his unwavering faith. Bamiloye recalled speaking with Baba Gbenro just before his hospitalization, revealing the actor’s calm and reassuring words: “Please, greet my friend for me. Please,…

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has successfully repatriated 13 trafficked Nigerian girls from Ghana, bringing the total number of rescued victims to 163 since July 2024. In a statement released on Friday, November 15 by NiDCOM spokesperson Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the commission highlighted the continued efforts to combat human trafficking, emphasising the collaborative nature of the operation that involved key stakeholders including the Ghanaian Anti-Human Trafficking Police, Rescue Live Foundation International, and NIDO Ghana, with NiDCOM providing vital support. The rescued girls, aged between 19 and 30, were reportedly lured to Ghana with promises of employment but were instead forced…