News

Drama As Obaseki Sends Deputy Gov’s Press Crew Out Of Event

Published

2 years ago

August 28, 2023

A mild drama that almost marred the 60th anniversary colloquium of the creation of the Midwest Region now Edo and Delta states, Monday, happened as the press crew attached to the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, was sent out of the Sir Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub, venue of the ceremony based.

Members of the press crew were sent out of the event on “orders from above”.

An aide to Shaibu said that “they were inside before they were flushed out; they were picked out, flushed out.

“The deputy governor had to go and as what was going on but he was told ‘it’s an order from above. As we speak, we are all in his house. They were asked to leave. They said it was an instruction from above, that is what the security men said.”

The deputy governor eventually left the venue when his media crew were not allowed back into the hall.

Meanwhile, the colloquium had in attendance several dignitaries including former governors of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole now a senator; Professor Oserheimen Osunbor; former Chief Whip of the Senate, Sir Rowland Owie; Deputy Governor of Delta State, Sir. Monday Onyeme; representatives from the governor of Bayelsa State; former deputy governor of Edo State, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe; Secretary to Edo State Government, Osarodion Ogie; Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Mr. Blessing Agbebaku, among others.

Governor Obaseki, in his remarks saluted Oba Eweka II, Oba Akenzua II, Chief Dennis Osadebey, and Chief Anthony Enahoro among others, who secured the creation of the then Midwestern Region.

He said these heroes braved the odds and battled to create a distinctive political identity for a people who have always loved and cherished their freedom, culture and creative energies.

Obaseki said, however, that 60 years after the referendum, the people are still bedeviled with numerous socio-economic challenges, which require a reset of the institutions and structures that propped the region up in the past.

In his goodwill message, Oshiomhole who lauded the initiative to organise the colloquium, noting that a lot had been achieved since the 1963 referendum.

He added that if the people of Edo and Delta were to be still part of the Western region, persons like himself, Prof Oserhiemen Osunbor and the present governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki would not have had the opportunity to become governors.

Oshiomhole, therefore, asked Obaseki as the most senior governor of the South-South, to reactivate the Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta (BRACED) Commission, a regional body aimed at championing the welfare of people of the core Niger Delta.

During a panel discussion session, the panelists composed of Prof. G. G. Sarah, Prof. Eddy Erhagbe, and Prof. Eghosa Osaghae, discussed “60 Years After the Referendum, Which Way Midwest?”

They advocated a redesign of Nigeria federalism to suit the country’s present political dynamics, the need for good governance that would promote accountability, a return to the 1963 federal structure that promotes, fiscal Federalism, resource control and devolution of powers.

News

Trump’s Airstrikes: Halt Military Cooperation With US Immediately – Sheikh Gumi Tells Tinubu Govt

Published

8 hours ago

December 26, 2025

Editor

Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has called on the Federal Government to immediately halt all military cooperation with the United States following reported US airstrikes.

Gumi warned that American involvement could worsen Nigeria’s security challenges and undermine national sovereignty.

Gumi made the call in a statement posted on his Facebook page on Friday.

He said while Islam permits the fight against terrorism, such actions should only be carried out by what he described as “clean hands,” arguing that the United States lacks the moral authority to lead such efforts because of its global military record.

According to the cleric, Nigeria made a mistake by allowing foreign powers to play a role in its counterterrorism operations, insisting that “terrorists do not truly fight terrorists” and that such interventions often result in civilian casualties and hidden political motives.

Gumi warned that allowing Nigeria to become a theatre of war would attract anti-US forces into the country, further destabilising it.

He also cautioned that US involvement, particularly under claims of protecting Christians, could polarise the country along religious lines.

The cleric further argued that airstrikes alone cannot defeat terrorism, stressing that effective counterterrorism requires strong ground operations, which he said Nigeria has enough personnel to carry out if properly organised.

“This is the mistake Nigeria has made. Terrorists don’t fight terrorists in truth; they may only kill innocent people and have ulterior motives behind the drama of fighting ‘terror’.

“As a principle, no nation should allow its land to be a theater of war. And no nation should allow its neighbors to be their enemies.

“If Nigeria wants military assistance, China, Turkey, and Pakistan can do the job effectively,” part of his statement reads.

News

Shehu Sani Reacts To Trump’s Military Strikes In Nigeria

Published

8 hours ago

December 26, 2025

Editor

Former lawmaker, senator Shehu Sani, has reacted to reports of United States military strikes on terrorist targets in Nigeria’s North-West, saying foreign powers cannot permanently handle the country’s security challenges.

Sani made the remarks on Friday via his X handle while responding to a post by the United States Africa Command, AFRICOM, which indicated that the strikes were carried out in coordination with Nigerian authorities.

According to him, if the reported strikes were indeed a joint operation with Nigerian security agencies, then such action was justifiable, given the threat posed by terrorist groups in the region.

He described terrorists operating in parts of northern Nigeria as “cancerous cells,” stressing that they survive through violence and should be confronted decisively.

Sani also dismissed narratives suggesting that terrorist attacks target only one religious group, describing such claims as false and misleading.

He said: “If actually, the military strikes against the terrorists targets in the North Western part of Nigeria were a joint operation with the ‘Nigerian Authorities’ as posted by the US AFRICOM on their verified X handle, then it’s a conscionable action.

“Terrorists have become cancerous cells in our part of the country.They live by the sword.The narrative that the evil terrorists only targets one faith, remains absolutely false and misleading.

“Again, the ultimate security and peace in our country lies with ourselves and not with the US or any foreign power. They can complimentarily or unilaterally strike, but they can’t eternally fight our battles.”