Author: Gbenga Olaleye

A medical panel commissioned by the President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has concluded that the health condition of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), is not life-threatening and that he is fit to stand trial. The panel was appointed following an order by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja, who sought an independent medical assessment after conflicting health reports were presented by the prosecution and defence. According to the panel’s report, which was submitted to the court on 13 October by the prosecution team led by Senior Advocate…

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has reacted to recent defections from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying those who once accused him of destabilising the PDP have now joined the party they claimed he supported. Wike made the remarks on Wednesday at the flag-off ceremony for the construction of the main carriageways of the Outer Southern Expressway (OSEX) from Ring Road I Junction to Ring Road II Junction along Wasa Road, near Shoprite Junction in the Apo area of Abuja. Speaking on the growing list of defectors from the…

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly criticised the recent defections of the Governors of Enugu and Bayelsa States to the All Progressives Congress (APC), warning that the move confirms fears of a growing attempt to turn Nigeria into a one-party state. In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said the defections validate longstanding concerns that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is intent on undermining democracy by systematically absorbing opposition figures into the ruling party. “The recent defections by the governors of Enugu and Bayelsa States to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) validates…

Federal workers under the aegis of the Federal Workers Forum (FWF) have issued a renewed appeal to the Federal Government led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging the immediate payment of their outstanding three-month wage award. In a statement released to the press on Wednesday, the FWF’s National Coordinator, Comrade Andrew Emelieze, criticised the government’s failure to fulfil its promise regarding the ₦35,000 monthly wage award – a temporary relief measure introduced following the removal of fuel subsidies. According to Emelieze, the non-payment of the outstanding balance, despite assurances from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, reflects…

The Federal Government has removed the mandatory requirement of a credit in Mathematics for students in the Arts and Humanities seeking admission into Nigerian universities and polytechnics. The Federal Ministry of Education announced the policy change on Tuesday as part of a comprehensive revision of the National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Nigerian Tertiary Institutions. Under the previous policy, candidates across all fields of study — including the Arts and Humanities — were required to have five credit passes in core subjects including English Language and Mathematics in their Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), organised by the West African Examinations…

In an extraordinary display of forgiveness and humanity, Alhaji Ahmed Bello Isa, father of the late Bilyaminu Bello, has expressed his joy and gratitude over President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to grant a presidential pardon to Maryam Sanda, who was convicted of murdering her husband in 2017. Speaking at a joint press conference in Abuja on Tuesday alongside Maryam’s father, Alhaji Garba Sanda, Alhaji Bello Isa revealed that he had long been advocating for clemency for his daughter-in-law, motivated by compassion and concern for the wellbeing of her two young children. “There is nothing more painful than for someone to…

Renowned entrepreneur and philanthropist Tony Elumelu has called for a fundamental rethinking of Africa’s relationship with the world, advocating a move away from charity-driven approaches towards models focused on investment, entrepreneurship, and equal partnership. Speaking on Monday at a high-level Africa-Europe summit dedicated to economic cooperation and sustainable development, Elumelu emphasised that “Africa needs partners, not charity. Our future will not be built by aid, but by investment, partnership, and entrepreneurship.” His remarks come as Africa stands at a pivotal moment, brimming with opportunity yet still grappling with entrenched structural challenges. For decades, much of the global engagement with Africa…

Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, has formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), describing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as “not just a leader of our nation, but a partner in purpose.” Speaking at a press conference in Enugu on Tuesday, Governor Mbah said the defection would facilitate faster development in the state by aligning Enugu’s ambitions with the federal government’s reform agenda. “I have found in His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, not just a leader of our nation, but a partner in purpose, a man with the courage to look…

The Federal Housing Authority (FHA) has announced plans to commence construction of 200 housing units in Ekiti State later this year, aiming to reduce the housing deficit in the region. Work on the project is expected to begin after the rainy season, in either November or December. The FHA Chief Executive Officer, Oyetunde Ojo, disclosed this in a briefing with journalists in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday. He revealed that Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, had graciously allocated 20 hectares of land along Ekiti State University Road and provided the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) for the development free of…

Khamis Musa Darazo, a staunch supporter of President Bola Tinubu and member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has urged the Presidency and the party’s national leadership to take urgent action to prevent key figures from defecting, amid reports that Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami may be considering leaving the party. Darazo expressed serious concern over the potential exit of the former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, warning that such a move would be a significant political setback for the APC, particularly in northern Nigeria and across the country at large. “Professor Pantami is not just a politician;…