Author: Gabby

At his 100th birthday celebration held on Monday, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, the national leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organization Afenifere, made a heartfelt appeal for the group’s unity. He emphasized the need for all members to set aside their differences and work together harmoniously.

Speaking to an audience gathered for the milestone event, Fasoranti stressed that Afenifere must present a united front and communicate with a single voice. He reminded everyone that the organization, which has been built collectively for the Yoruba people, remains one and indivisible.

The elder statesman reflected on his long life, noting that living for a century has allowed him to witness both turbulent and peaceful times, including colonial rule, the struggle for independence, war, and times of tranquility. He shared that life has not been without sorrow, as he has lost his beloved wife, Oladiwura, and two of his daughters. Despite the weight of these losses, he continues to find strength and comfort in his faith, quoting the biblical verse: “The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

Fasoranti urged younger politicians to follow his example of service and clean governance. He stated that Afenifere taught him that true leadership involves sacrifice, and he chose to serve rather than to take. He concluded by emphasizing that holding public office with a large heart and without bitterness is the legacy he hopes the next generation will adopt.

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has officially stripped Oba Joseph Oloyede of his title as the Apetu of Ipetumodu following his conviction in a United States court for defrauding COVID-19 relief programs.

The decision was disclosed by the governor’s media spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, in a statement issued on Monday.

In August 2025, Oloyede was handed a 56-month prison sentence for his involvement in a scheme that siphoned $4.2 million from the U.S. government’s pandemic relief funds.

The monarch’s removal comes after the legal proceedings concluded, with the governor taking swift administrative action.

The National Youth Council of Nigeria has called on the Arewa Youth Assembly to redirect its attention toward pressing youth welfare issues such as unemployment, education, and insecurity, instead of engaging in political matters.

This appeal was made during a press conference held on Monday in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State.

The Arewa Youth Assembly had earlier on Sunday called for the impeachment of Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun and his Enugu State counterpart, Peter Mbah, accusing them of fueling the crisis within the Progressive Governors’ Forum. The group argued that the actions of these governors could jeopardize President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027 and destabilize the All Progressives Congress.

In response, the NYC National Vice President, Comrade Kehinde Olorunjubelo, along with the Ogun State Coordinator of the Commonwealth Youth Organization, Comrade Emmanuel Ojo, and the Financial Secretary of Gateway Progressive Youth, Awonowo Oluwafemi, condemned the move as misdirected and unproductive.

They criticized the Arewa Youth Assembly for making such demands, stressing that youth organizations should avoid being dragged into internal party conflicts that do not benefit young Nigerians.

Olorunjubelo stated, “Education, insecurity, and unemployment are the real challenges we face. These are the areas where we should invest our energy, not in partisan politics.”

He further added, “This action by the Arewa youths is unacceptable, and we strongly condemn it. We advise all Nigerian youths to steer clear of party affairs. There are more urgent issues confronting us. I encourage young people to remain focused and committed only to leadership and policies that impact Nigerian youth.”

He emphasized that the PGF is an internal APC body with its own dispute resolution mechanisms, and using northern youth platforms to advance partisan agendas undermines the credibility of youth advocacy nationwide.

“Stay completely away from party matters. The party has its structure, constitution, and established principles for resolving internal disputes. Young people should not meddle in Progressive Governors’ Forum politics, nor should they tarnish the youth constituency with such politically motivated actions driven by disgruntled elements,” he warned.

Emmanuel Ojo, the State Coordinator of the Commonwealth Youth Organization, also spoke, urging young Nigerians not to allow themselves to be used as pawns in intra-party battles. He noted that Governor Dapo Abiodun has been effectively advancing the President’s agenda and deserves praise, not criticism.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) introduced newspaper articles as evidence on Monday in the ongoing legal proceedings against former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele. The case centers on allegations of disobeying legal directives and causing harm to the nation through the Naira redesign policy.

During the hearing at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, the anti-corruption agency presented the publications through a subpoenaed witness, Jegede Oluwasegun, an employee of the National Library of Nigeria. The documents are meant to support the prosecution’s argument that Emefiele violated legal procedures.

Emefiele faces a four-count charge, including allegations that between October 19, 2022, and March 5, 2023, he approved the printing of 375,520,000 pieces of color-swapped 1,000 Naira notes at a cost of over 11 billion Naira without the required approval from the CBN Board and the President. The prosecution claims this act caused public injury.

The defendant has pleaded not guilty to all charges. In court, prosecution counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), led the witness through his testimony. The witness explained his role in certifying the newspapers.

Oyedepo then submitted copies of several national dailies, including Punch, ThisDay, Vanguard, Daily Sun, and The Nation, along with certification receipts from the National Library. Emefiele’s lawyer, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), did not raise objections, and the judge admitted them as exhibits.

During cross-examination by the defense, the witness acknowledged that he did not author the newspaper articles. He stated, “I only certify the newspapers. I cannot guarantee the accuracy of the content. I am not the writer.”

Ojo later referred to a specific ThisDay publication from January 31, 2023, and its certification. The witness confirmed the document, and after the prosecution had no objections, the court marked it as an exhibit.

Justice Maryanne Anenih adjourned the trial until May 12 for further proceedings.

Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has revealed that his administration successfully paid off N90 billion in debts inherited from the previous government led by Nasir El-Rufai. The announcement was made during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today program on Monday.

Sani further disclosed that his government has attracted $2.5 billion in investments to the state. He emphasized that since taking office, no new loans have been taken due to a lack of fiscal space.

“In the last three years, we have repaid over N90 billion of the inherited debt, and we have not taken any new loans because we lack the fiscal capacity to borrow,” Sani stated.

Explaining the challenges, the governor noted that his team attempted to restructure the loans with the World Bank but were unsuccessful because all funds had been fully disbursed before their tenure. “We started repaying the loan in our first week in office in June 2023,” he added.

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has urgently convened a security council meeting in response to a surge in attacks and the destruction of public assets across the state. The decision was announced on Monday through a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, highlighting the need to address what the administration describes as politically motivated violence.

The meeting, scheduled to take place at the Governor’s Office, will bring together service commanders to deliberate on curbing thuggery allegedly carried out by individuals linked to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Adeleke emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “I have called this emergency meeting to tackle a matter of critical public concern. We must investigate why hoodlums damage public property while security forces fail to intervene or make arrests.”

The governor stressed that the security council will formulate strategies to prevent future occurrences and rebuild public trust. “It is our constitutional duty to maintain the public’s faith in security agencies,” he added. This development occurs against a backdrop of escalating political tensions ahead of the August 15 governorship election, with reports of vandalized campaign materials across the state.

The Imole Campaign Council has accused suspected APC supporters of destroying billboards belonging to both the governor’s campaign and the Accord Party. In response, the APC campaign council, through its spokesperson Oluremi Omowaiye, dismissed the allegations as false and politically driven. Meanwhile, DAILY POST reported the killing of Kolade Eluyera, son of the Accord Women Leader in Ikire, Irewole Local Government Area, by unidentified assailants, further underscoring the deteriorating security situation.

The head of the National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, has appealed to the electoral commission to increase the compensation for corps members engaged as election workers. During a meeting with the INEC chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, at the NYSC headquarters in Abuja, Nafiu stressed that better pay would encourage more youth corps members to volunteer for election duties.

In addition to higher allowances, he demanded the swift payment of insurance benefits or medical aid for corps members who are killed or wounded while performing election-related tasks. He pointed out that the existing insurance coverage for corps members does not apply to election assignments, so they rely entirely on INEC’s provisions.

The NYSC chief also asked for the early release of the list of corps members assigned as electoral officers, arguing that this would enable the scheme to train and prepare them effectively before election day. He commended INEC for the security support extended to corps members during the recent Anambra governorship poll and expressed hope that such measures would continue.

Nafiu described corps members as exceptionally competent, impartial, quick to learn, and digitally skilled, making them ideal for ensuring credible elections. He reaffirmed the NYSC’s commitment to Nigeria’s democracy, noting that the partnership with INEC has been vital since 1999, with a formal pact signed in 2011 and renewed several times.

“We have enough manpower to assist INEC not only for the 2027 general elections but also for off-cycle polls this year,” Nafiu stated. He called on government agencies, NGOs, and individuals to back INEC’s efforts. “Our corps members are ready, and we take pride in INEC’s success because your success is ours,” he added.