Author: Gbenga Olaleye

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, has praised the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, describing him as a detribalised leader devoted to religious tolerance, harmony, and peaceful coexistence across Nigeria. The remarks were made on Tuesday during a courtesy and solidarity visit by the Sultan and his delegation to the Olubadan Palace, Oke Aremo, in Ibadan, Oyo State, according to a statement issued by Ladoja’s Chief Press Secretary, Chief Ayoade Olugbemiga. Oba Ladoja commended the Sultan’s record as a military officer, diplomat, and religious leader, all of which were groomed in Ibadan. He urged other spiritual leaders to…

The Senate on Tuesday intensified calls for a decisive overhaul of Nigeria’s security architecture, urging President Bola Tinubu to immediately authorise the recruitment of 100,000 additional military personnel to confront worsening insurgency, banditry, and the renewed wave of school abductions. This followed the recent attack on Government Girls School, Maga, in Kebbi State, where gunmen killed the vice principal and reportedly abducted 25 students. The incident sparked outrage among lawmakers, prompting demands for accountability and urgent reforms. The motion gained momentum after additional prayers by Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North), sparking a heated debate over rising insecurity across the country.…

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has called for decisive political action, deeper socio-cultural reforms, women’s empowerment, and strengthened health systems to tackle Nigeria’s persistently high rates of maternal and neonatal mortality. The appeal was made on Wednesday during the 66th National Council on Health meeting in Calabar, themed “My health, my right: Accelerating universal health coverage through equity, resilience, and innovation.” Speaking on the topic “The critical missing link in crashing maternal and neonatal mortality in Nigeria,” UNFPA Nigeria’s Technical Specialist for Reproductive and Maternal Health, Lordfred Achu, warned that structural and societal barriers continue to obstruct progress. These,…

The Oyo State Mobilisation Agency for Socio-Economic Development (OYMASED) has appealed to residents affected by the 500-metre Circular Road corridor to embrace dialogue and avoid actions that may hinder the progress of the state’s flagship infrastructure project. The appeal was made in a statement issued on Tuesday by the agency’s Director-General, Dr Morohunkola Thomas, in Ibadan. Describing the Circular Road as a transformative project, Thomas said it was designed to ease traffic congestion, expand economic opportunities, improve transportation, and enhance the overall quality of life across Oyo State. “The Circular Road is a major infrastructure project which aims to ease…

The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to harnessing ocean resources as a driver for Nigeria’s economic growth and sustainable development. Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, made the statement on Tuesday during the 1st International Marine and Blue Economy Conference and Trade Exhibition held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. Represented by the ministry’s Director of Conservation, Innovation and Technology, Alhaji Husaini Shettima, Oyetola emphasised the need to capitalise on Nigeria’s maritime potential amid growing global interest in sustainable ocean management. The conference, themed “Sustainable Blue Economy: Advancing Safety, Economic and Social Resilience in the Coastal Ecosystem,” was…

The Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, has addressed his ongoing faceoff with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, suggesting that the former Rivers State governor’s approach threatens Nigeria’s multi-party democratic framework. Makinde, speaking on the crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following Tuesday’s clashes at the party’s Abuja national secretariat, said the dispute goes beyond party politics, framing it as a fight for the future of Nigerian democracy. “This is not about PDP alone; it is about the future of democracy in Nigeria,” Makinde said. “We should know that it gets worse before it gets…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to bolstering Nigeria’s judicial system, describing a functional, independent, and well-equipped judiciary as central to the nation’s democratic stability. Speaking at the 2025 Conference of All Nigerian Judges of Superior Courts of Record in Abuja, Tinubu stressed that the judiciary must operate within a united democratic framework in which all arms of government collaborate in serving Nigerians. “Their faith in the judicial process is the foundation of our national stability. I wish to reaffirm, with clarity, my administration’s unwavering commitment to supporting the judiciary in fulfilling its constitutional mandate. The…

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has once again asserted that a “Christian genocide” is underway in the country, citing prolonged violence, persecution, and insecurity endured by Christian communities across the North and Middle Belt. CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, made the declaration on Tuesday during the association’s Fourth Quarterly National Executive Council Meeting, held in Jos, Plateau State. Okoh said the choice of Jos for the meeting was deliberate, describing the city as a symbol of both suffering and resilience for Christians who have faced years of attacks, displacement, and devastation. “Our presence in Jos today is not accidental.…

Supporters of the Nyesom Wike-aligned faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday flooded the streets surrounding Wadata Plaza, the party’s national headquarters in Wuse, Zone 5, Abuja, in the latest escalation of the party’s internal crisis. The demonstrators, primarily women and youth groups, arrived early in the morning carrying placards bearing messages aimed squarely at the newly elected PDP National Chairman, Tanimu Turaki, SAN. Some of the inscriptions read “No to Turaki” and “Turaki must go”, reflecting their rejection of the outcome of Saturday’s convention, which Turaki won but which the Wike-led faction boycotted. Turaki, a former Minister…

The Publicity Secretary elected at the Ibadan convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ini Ememobong Essien, on Tuesday sharply criticised the police for dispersing party officials and journalists with tear gas at the PDP’s national secretariat in Abuja. Speaking to reporters after the chaotic incident, Essien issued a direct appeal to President Bola Tinubu, urging him to rein in the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, whom he accused of fuelling internal tensions and destabilising the opposition party. According to Essien, the confrontation began when police officers fired tear gas at party members, journalists, and even…