Politics
You have no moral right to criticize Tinubu, Northern group carpets El-Rufai
Northern Patriots Forum (NPF), on Wednesday, came hard on the former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, for criticizing President Ahmed Bola Tinubu and his administration.
El-Rufai had, during his interview on Arise Television on Monday, accused President Tinubu and National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu of orchestrating his failed ministerial nomination.
The embattled former Governor specifically said it was President Tinubu who did not want him in his cabinet, and not any security report, while accusing the NSA of fighting him due to his (Ribadu) Presidential ambition in 2031.
Reacting through a statement signed by its Coordinator, Capt. Monday Ishakwu on Wednesday, the Northern Patriot Forum said El-Rufai lacks moral right to attack President Tinubu in such a manner, having failed woefully in his 8-year administration as Kaduna Governor.
The Forum acknowledged that, President Tinubu’s outing as President in less than 2 years, have recorded more trophies than the 8 year’s misrule of Governor El-Rufai.
While warning Mallam El-Rufai to guide his mouth, the Forum opined that it was mouth and conducts as Kaduna State Governor that made him unpopular politically in the north, and discredited him nationally and internationally, including his failed ministerial ambition.
“President Tinubu actually wanted him to join his cabinet. He actually nominated him and sincerely reserved a lucrative portfolio, if he had scaled through the Senate screening.
“But multiple security reports from security agencies indicted him and suggested he would be a ‘diplomatic liability’, should he eventually emerged a cabinet member of President Tinubu.
“The agencies cited his controversial past statements and actions. One of such incidents was El-Rufai’s 2019 threat to European Union election observers, where he warned, ‘We are waiting for the person who will come and intervene. They will go back in body bags’.
“I’m sure the President too would have regretted it, if El-Rufai had eventually made the list, because shortly after that, his one State House of Assembly indicted him of mismanaging a whooping N423bn under 8 years.
“Now, he is driven by envy and jealous of the Tinubu’s administration’s laudable reforms, and he is pained that all these great achievements could be recorded in less than 2 years, without him as a Minister.
“He blames everyone for what his mouth has cost him. It is either he is blaming the Kaduna Governor, or he is blaming Ribadu, or Senator Shehu Sanni, or he is blaming President Tinubu. What an obsession!
“He has forgotten all his atrocious outings as Kaduna Governor, he never knew all those would come to hunt him after his tenure. He could enjoy constitutional immunity, but he can’t erase the bad impressions on the memories of Nigerians and international community.
“El-Rufai’s alleged role in the Zaria Shiite Massacre of 2015, where 438 civilians were killed, as well as accusations of funding violent herdsmen responsible for attacks in Southern Kaduna, were also part of the security reports that stopped his ministerial ambition.
“Nigerians can not also forget in a hurry, his derogatory remarks about Jesus Christ in 2013 and his 2019 assertion that even if he brought the Pope, Christians will never vote for him. His religious intolerance is one of the major obstacles and people see him as a fanatic, extremist”, the statement added
Politics
RSHA continues impeachment of Fubara, writes Chief Judge
The Rivers House of Assembly has continued its resolution to impeach Gov. Siminalaye Fubara and his deputy, Nma Odu.
All 26 members of the Assembly on Friday unanimously resolved during plenary to proceed with the impeachment process against both Fubara and Odu.
Consequently, the lawmakers resolved to write to the Chief Judge(CJ) of the State, as enshrined in Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
They are urging the CJ to constitute a seven-man investigative panel to examine the alleged gross misconduct leveled against the governor and his deputy.
Politics
Sen. Yari’s constituency office lauds APC e-registration exercise in Zamfara
Hon. Sha’ayau Sarkinfawa, the Coordinator, Sen.. Abdul’aziz Yari Constituency office for Zamfara West Senatorial District, has commended the ongoing nationwide membership e-registration exercise of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Sarkinfawa, who stated this while speaking with journalists in Gusau on Thursday, stated that the exercise would promote integrity and credibility in the party membership.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the APC nationwide e-registration exercise commenced recently and would run until the end of this month.
He described the exercise as the bedrock for internal democracy.
“The APC e-registration would strength the party’s membership.
“The ongoing APC e-registration exercise is a wise political initiative and imperative determined to upgrade the data of the progressive party members electorally,” Sarkinfawa further said.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for making the APC proud and wished him more strength ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
According to him, Yari and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, had already built a stronger political platform in the APC structure of the state.
“Therefore, we are expecting a tremendous success.at the end of the exercise” he added.
Sarkinfawa further said, the exercise would provide an ample opportunity for all the eligible members of the party to be duly captured in its digital register.
He added, “It will also ensure accuracy, transparency and integrity in the party’s membership.
“The exercise guarantees sanity and credibility of the party’s membership register.
“A data-driven membership registration is expected to capture every eligible member of the party across the 147 political wards of the state.
“Therefore, our members should participate fully in the exercise and make sure they are captured electronically.
“I therefore urge all APC members and stakeholders in the state to take full advantage of the e-registration and participate promptly and responsibly.$
Sarkinfawa further described the APC as the most dominant political party in Zamfara and Nigeria. adding that it would record massive victories in the 2027 General Elections.
Cover
Soludo denies Bianca Ojukwu’s chieftaincy title, calls it fake
Anambra State Governor Prof Charles Soludo, has disowned the chieftaincy title of ‘Anyanwu N’Awalu Ora’ conferred on the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu, purportedly by the embattled traditional ruler of Awka, Obi Austin Ndigwe, insisting that Ndigwe is not a traditional ruler in Awka or Anambra State.
In a letter dated December 31, 2025 and signed by the state Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, TonyCollins Nwabunwanne, the state government said the conferment of the chieftaincy title on the minister did not follow the right channel.
Nwabunwanne said the conferment of chieftaincy titles in Anambra State is the exclusive prerogative of recognised/certified traditional rulers in their respective communities, and they do so only to residents/indigenes of their communities.
He added that in the case of a person not from the community, the approval of the traditional ruler of the conferee’s community and the Commissioner for Local Government, Communities and Chieftaincy must be sought and obtained.
According to him, this is in line with the extant Traditional Rulers’ Code of Conduct, insisting that none of the above conditions was met in the case of Bianca Ojukwu.
He said the chieftaincy title as posted by Ojukwu on her social handles have caused massive confusion in the camp of the All Progressives Grand Alliance and across the state.
The letter is titled, ‘Amb. Bianca Ojukwu and the fake chieftaincy title from a fake traditional ruler’, was made available to journalists on Thursday.
It read partly, “The attention of the Anambra State Government has been drawn to a publication by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, H.E Amb. Bianca Ojukwu indicating that she has been conferred with a chieftaincy title of ‘Anyanwu N’Awalu Ora’, which according to her was “conferred at the prestigious Igu Aro Cultural Festival by His Majesty Obi Austin Ndigwe (MON).
“Mrs Ojukwu is an APGA chieftain and her posts have caused massive confusion leading many to wonder whether her involvement in the phoney chieftaincy title signals a change in the state government’s policy stance or simply an unnecessary/avoidable affront to the state government and the Anambra traditional institutions and culture.
“As a government committed to law and order and to the promotion and protection of our culture and traditional institutions, the Anambra State Government wishes to clarify and state as follows a) The conferment of chieftaincy titles in Anambra State is the exclusive prerogative of recognized/certified traditional rulers in their respective communities, and they do so only to residents/indigenes of their communities.
“In the case of a person not from the community, the approval of the Traditional Ruler of the conferee’s community and the Commissioner for Local Government, Communities and Chieftaincy must be sought and obtained. This is in line with the extant Traditional Rulers’ Code of Conduct. None of the above conditions was met in the case under reference.
“Chief Austin C. Ndigwe IS NOT a traditional ruler in Awka or Anambra State. To put it mildly, he is simply an impostor. We have sighted a letter signed by him under a letterhead as the “Eze Uzu III” of Awka (a clear criminal offence under the Anambra Law) when the traditional ruler of Awka, HRH Gibson Nwabueze Nwosu (Eze Uzu II) is still alive, and with the official certificate and recognition by government as the traditional ruler of Awka.
“The 92-year-old Eze Uzu Awka is known to be the first Nigerian that flew a fighter jet solo. He was Second in Command in the Biafran Air Force who left with Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu to Cote d’Ivoire and later to Zambia— and was in exile for 15 years. It was this same Eze Uzu Gibson Nwosu who in 2004 conferred the chieftaincy title of OMENIFE AWKA on the current president of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
“Sadly, it is this aged veteran, now blind but still agile, who this dance of infamy is denigrating as well as insulting the sensitivities of Awka people and the Anambra traditions and culture. Even the late Dim Odumegwu-Ojukwu will be turning in his grave at this unwarranted insult on HRH Gibson Nwosu designed just to wet some megalomaniacal appetite. In the Anambra/Igbo culture, this is an abomination.
“Hon Minister Ojukwu—with her background and pedigree, knows or should know these FACTS very well. She was in the home of Chief Ndigwe when the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, attended his birthday celebration a few years ago and publicly advised him “as a friend” to desist from impersonating the traditional ruler of the town and that the recognised traditional ruler remained HRH Gibson Nwosu.
“The video went viral. Indeed, in her publication in her verified Facebook account, Mrs Ojukwu carefully avoided referring to Mr. Ndigwe as a traditional ruler but rather described him as “Supreme Commander of Awka Ancient Kingdom”—a phantom title/position that does not exist in Awka.
“We do not object to whatever pet name she chooses to call her friend to massage his ego, but such must not be elevated to a point of sacrilege against law and custom. The whole exercise appears to be an indirect affront to the authority of the Traditional Ruler of Awka and the sanctity of the Traditional Institution in Anambra State established by the Traditional Rulers Law of Anambra State. By proceeding to describe Mr. Ndigwe conjunctively as “His Majesty” and “Obi”, the message unequivocally evinced an intention to portray and as a matter of fact portrayed him as a Traditional Ruler. This is against the spirit of the Traditional Rulers Law of Anambra State.
“By purporting to confer a chieftaincy title, Mr. Ndigwe usurped the ceremonial functions of the bona fide Traditional Ruler of Awka—HRH Gibson Nwosu—and this is totally unacceptable. Arrogating to oneself the non-existent and childish title of “Supreme Commander” and using same to confer vain Chieftaincy titles is designed to subjugate
the Traditional Ruler and ridicule the Traditional Institution thereby creating a dangerous precedent which the State Government will not allow. The State Government will not tolerate this desecration of the Traditional Institution and will take every lawful step to promote and protect our culture and traditional institutions.
“Amb. Bianca Ojukwu knows that Mr. Ndigwe has neither legal nor customary rights to confer a Chieftaincy title on anyone. She is eminently qualified to be honoured with Chieftaincy titles by recognized traditional institutions—at least, as the wife of late Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu.
“But it cannot be a vain or fake Chieftaincy title from an impostor or fake traditional ruler like Mr. Ndigwe. We therefore state that the Chieftaincy title she purports to have received from Mr. Austin Ndigwe is fake and not recognized under the Anambra culture and tradition or law. She should desist from addressing herself by any such fake title conferred by Mr. Austin Ndigwe.
“In conclusion, Anambra State government wishes to assure our people that it is committed to a new social order. We must restore sensible values and respect for law and order, custom and tradition and ennobling values that elevate our collective social consciousness rather than the nascent subculture that celebrates a few with megalomaniacal delusions and who attempt to play God.
“These few cannot be role models for our children nor the foundation for our future. As a responsible government we must take all necessary steps to protect our collective heritage from willful assault. To the great and law abiding people of Awka, we have your back.”
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