News

2023: Fulani Group Disowns Miyetti Allah’s Statement On Obi

Published

3 years ago

August 15, 2022

A Fulani professional group, Coalition of Fulbe Professionals in Africa, COFPIA,has distanced itself from a statement authored by one Alhaji Alhasan Salah, National Secretary of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, which claimed to be against the candidature of former Anambra State governor and the candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, in the 2023 presidential election.

COFPIA enjoined Nigerians to disregard any statement from Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, saying the group did not speak for Fulani ethnic group or represent the Fulani in any way.

Alhasan, who is the National Secretary of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, the most controversial Fulani group in Nigeria,had in an interview with a national paper,said the Fulani nation would not support the candidature of Obi,who is contesting the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party.

Alhasan had described Mr Peter Obi not only as a tribal bigot but also as someone who hates the North and by extension the Fulani tribe.

He said the leadership of the group has instructed every Fulani in the country not to vote for Mr Peter Obi, because açcording to him, “Obi is a tribal bigot and represents the Biafran interest which would not favour the Fulani nation in Nigeria.”

The National Secretary-General of the Fulani socio-cultural group,had noted that “as far as Miyetti Allah is concerned, Obi is out of the options of persons to be voted for in the forthcoming elections.

“As far as we are concerned, we know those we cannot vote for. You see one that they call Obi or OBIdient, any Fulani man who votes for him must be questioned because he may not be a true son of the soil.

“Obi represents the Biafran interest. So, we know those we cannot vote for and those that cannot be president of Nigeria. He is a tribal bigot,” he said.

Alhassan claimed that when Obi was the governor of Anambra State, he “destroyed the businesses of northerners and chased plenty Hausa and Fulani people from entering Anambra.”

But the Fulani group, operating under the umbrella of Coalition of Fulbe Professionals in Africa, picked hole in Alhasan’s claim.

The Fulbe professional group,in a statement,Monday,signed by Prof. Mohammed Gidado,its National President and Hajiya Mairo Modibo,National Secretary, respectively, said while it acknowledged the group’s right to freedom of expression and opinion, it would “remind them that they don’t have the right to speak for the entire Fulani in Nigeria, especially when they have not lived up to expectations.

In a statement to this effect, COFPIA said Fulbe people all over Nigeria “will not be binded by that politically sponsored statement of Miyetti Allah.

“Our attention has been drawn to a sectional, unpatriotic, ungodly and senseless statement credited to one of our brothers, Alhajji Hassan Saleh, the National Secretary of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, the most controversial Fulani group in Nigeria, which no doubt,is responsible for the bad name Fulani nation has been branded with in Nigeria.

“The Fulbe all over Nigeria will not be binded by that politically sponsored statement of Miyetti Allah anymore.

“The Fulani people are wise now and cannot be used as tools of extortion and religious sentiment any more. We will enlighten our people to vote for competence and capacity come 2023. We will never vote for any candidate who has nothing to offer. We have gone far beyond religious and ethnic sentiments.

“We will vote for a president that will tackle poverty, and acute hunger that have held our people hostage for so long. We will vote for a president that will fight insecurity with every commitment and unbiased mind, no matter who is in involved,” the statement read.

The group said, “Our respected tribal group, Miyette Allah,should channel their campaign to redeem the bad image they have created for Fulani people in Nigeria rather than casting aspersions on Peter Obi, who has demonstrated capacity to rescue Nigeria from the current hopelessness.

“We wish to also make it categorically clear that we have not endorsed Peter Obi or any presidential candidate in the forth coming general elections and we are not Peter Obi’s mouthpiece, but it’s wrong for our people to continue to brand Peter Obi as a tribal bigot and that he doesn’t like the North,” the group said.

COFPIA said: ”available data has shown Peter Obi as an ardent nationalist that believes in the unity of Nigeria.”

“We, therefore, call on our brothers in the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, to only speak for their group, rather than misleading Nigerians that they are speaking for the entire Fulani people.

“They lack the moral, spiritual, and religious rights to speak for the entire Fulani people in Nigeria, especially when they have reduced themselves to tribal bigots that has no regards for other tribes and faiths,” the group said.

Açcording to COFPIA, “Nigerians have taken position in the forth coming Election to vote for the best man for the job and cannot be distracted by any selfish agenda and blackmail.

“As campaigns start, we shall mobilize and enlighten Fulani young and old to every ruga’s and town to sensitize our people so as not to be deceived by Miyetti Allah, Kautal Hore and its like,” the statement added.

VANGUARD.

News

NAFDAC Warns Of Fake Artemetrin DS, Antibiotic Ciprofit 500 In Circulation

Published

23 minutes ago

September 17, 2025

Editor

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a public alert over falsified versions of two essential medicines, warning of serious health risks.

In a statement numbered 030/2025, the agency said counterfeit batches of the anti-malarial Artemetrin DS and the antibiotic Ciprofit 500 were in circulation, despite being sourced from licensed vendors and wholesalers.

Laboratory tests showed the products contained dangerously low levels of active ingredients. NAFDAC said Artemetrin DS, labelled as manufactured by A.C. Drugs Ltd in Enugu State, contained only 59.2 per cent artemether and 71.2 per cent lumefantrine — well below the 90-110 per cent potency limit.

Ciprofit 500, falsely labelled as produced by Impact Pharmaceutical Ltd, was found to contain just 5.7 per cent ciprofloxacin. Neither drug is registered in NAFDAC’s official database and the registration numbers printed on the packaging were fabricated.

“The implications of substandard anti-malarials in a malaria-endemic country like Nigeria cannot be overstated,” a NAFDAC spokesperson said in the alert. “These falsified products undermine treatment efficacy and could lead to preventable deaths.”

The agency urged the public to stop using the medicines and return the stocks to its nearest office. Those who have taken the drugs and experienced adverse reactions or treatment failure should seek immediate medical attention.

The World Health Organisation estimates that substandard and falsified medicines make up about 10 per cent of the global market. In Nigeria, prevalence may be higher, complicating the fight against malaria, which kills over 200,000 people annually, and bacterial infections, which contribute to high morbidity.

The latest warning comes after NAFDAC seized fake malaria drugs worth 1.2 billion naira ($750,000) in Lagos on 12 September. Earlier alerts this year covered falsified Postinor-2 contraceptives, Oxytocin injections, and milk products. The regulator has pledged to reduce falsified medicine prevalence to below five per cent by the end of 2025.

NAFDAC advised healthcare providers, distributors, and consumers to verify products using its online database, purchase only from authorised outlets, and report suspicious cases via its hotline or dedicated email.

The agency’s director-general, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, reaffirmed its commitment to tackling counterfeit medicines. “With the full support of the government, we will continue to intensify surveillance and enforcement to eliminate these threats,” she said in a recent address.

News

Police Clear Pastor Paul Adefarasin Over ‘Gun-like’ Object In Viral Video

Published

44 minutes ago

September 17, 2025

Editor

The Lagos State Police Command has cleared Pastor Paul Adefarasin of any wrongdoing following an investigation into a viral video in which he appeared to be holding a gun-like object from his vehicle.

The police spokesperson, Abimbola Adebisi, confirmed in a statement on Wednesday that the object was not a real gun, but a stun gun, which is not a deadly weapon.

The police added that there are no sufficient grounds to proceed with the matter and that the case is hereby discontinued.

The statement read: “Following the incident, wherein Pastor Paul Adefarasin turned himself in at the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters, Ikeja, in connection with a viral video showing him holding a gun-like object, the Lagos State Police Command wishes to provide a further update on the matter.

“After a thorough investigation, including interrogation and a cautionary statement from Pastor Adefarasin, it was established that the object in question was a stun gun and not a lethal weapon or firearm.

“Consequent on our findings, the Lagos State Police Command has determined that there are no sufficient grounds to proceed with the matter. The case is hereby discontinued.

The incident happened on June 6, 2025, when a short video went viral online.

In the video, Pastor Adefarasin rolled down his tinted car window and appeared to hold a gun-like object. A man filming the car quickly began to apologise, saying, “Boss, boss, sorry sir, sorry sir,” as the pastor drove away.

After the video caused a stir on social media, Pastor Adefarasin spoke out to deny claims that he had a gun or threatened anyone.

“You might be aware of a video circulating on social media showing me in what some have misunderstood as brandishing a firearm. I want to assure you that was certainly not a firearm, and at no point did I point such at anyone,” he stated.

News

Govt Urged To Enforce Anti-ozone Layer Laws, Embrace Clean Energy Technology

Published

3 hours ago

September 17, 2025

Editor

The Nigerian government has been called upon to enforce existing anti-ozone layer depletion laws and support the use of clean energy technologies.

Stakeholders, who made the call in Benin City on Tuesday at the commemoration of the 2025 International Ozone Day celebration with the theme: ‘From Science to Global Action,’ lamented that Borno, Rivers, Abuja and Lagos are the worst hit states by radiation from the Ozone layer.

The 2025 International Ozone Day celebration was organised by Save The Ozone Nigeria in collaboration with the Federal and State Ministries of Environment and the National Centre for Energy and Environment (NCEE) situated at the University of Benin City.

In his opening address, the chairman of the event, Professor Anthony Ogbeibu, said Nigeria must sustain its policies on the ozone layer because “recent scientific research shows that Ozone depletion and exposure to erythemal UV radiation (EUVR), affect Nigeria more than many places. So we are not isolated from this global threat.”

He added: “It is documented that in Borno, Rivers, Abuja and Lagos, UV radiation often reaches very high extreme levels in the midday, especially in the dry and early rainy seasons. Even a short exposure with no protection can have harmful effects.”

Ogbeibu, who advocated for enlightenment on UV risks and protective behaviours, added: “We must support clean technologies by enforcing existing laws more strictly and ensuring that ozone-depleting substances are not imported or used illegally.”

In his keynote address, the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, who was represented by Osagie Edomwandagbon said the Nigerian government has been carrying out a lot of sensitization on the protection of the ozone layer through various policy formulations and implementations.

On his part, the Acting Director of the NCEE, Dr. Emmanuel Ogbomida said the Energy Commission of Nigeria and its specialised research centres have been supporting the global mission to protect the ozone layer.

“Then the Ozone hole is shrinking and experts project that the ozone layer will return to pre-1980slevel between 2060 and 2070. However, this could only be achieved by not allowing complacency in the efforts at protecting the ozone layer.”

Earlier in his welcome address, the Executive Director and Founder of Save The Ozone, Nigeria, Ozaveshe Balogun commended participants, saying the annual event was as a result of the Montreal Protocol that gave a clear global definition to the protection of the environment.