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Home Coming: Minister Of Budget State, Honoured

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Dignitaries from all works of life particularly from Edo North, Monday, converged on Agenebode, Etsako East Local Government Area of the state to honour the Minister of Budget and National Planning, State, Prince Clem Agba in a warm party reception organised by Afenmai Patriotic development Association (APDA).

The rich culture of the community and others such as the Ainikeke masquerade of Weppa Uwanu kingdom were in display to hold guests awe with their acrobatic dance.

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Presenting gift of honour to the Minister, the Otaru of Auchi, His Royal Highness, Momoh Ikelebe, described Prince Agba as illustrious and patriotic son of Afenmai whose good works worth emulation.

Minister of Budget and National Planning, State, Prince Clem Agba

While making known that the Prince as a minister now belong to the whole country, he urged him to use his position to influence more development to the area and help Afenmai natives like he did when he was a commissioner in the state.

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We know as a minister, the whole federation is your constituency, we want to however implore you to use your present position to attract more development to our area like you did as a commissioner. We know you as a hardworking and illustrious son of ours, so please attract development to our area and help Afenmia people”, the Monarch added.

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From left 3rd, Minister of Budget and National Planning, State, Prince Agba, his wife Mrs. Agba and the interim president of APDA, Kennedy, Otaru of Auchi HRH, Momoh Kélébé (2nd left) and another traditional ruler at the ceremony

Earlier in his speech, interim president (APDA), Patriot (SHC) Kennedy Izuagbe, said they were proud of the minister for flying the flag of Afenmai without blemish both in the state and national.

We remain proud of the monumental strides he achieved as Commissioner for Environment in the glorious years reigning of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as governor of Edo State”, he added.

He therefore urged Prince Agba to use his present position and collaborate with the state government to harness the abundant minerals resources in Afenmai to develop the area, saying Afenmai deserves more than what it receives going by the resources in the area.

He added, “We implore you to collaborate with the Edo State government for optimal and strategic engagement on the huge natural resources deposited in both land and seas on Afenmai land for the immediate benefits of the Afenmai communities/people.

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Afenmai land is the most blessed part of our dear Edo State but yet the least developed.

“So many of the federal, state and community roads are impassable and have made commerce and social life of our people miserable.

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Knowing your pedigree, we believe that this your appointment will kindle and trigger all that is required to address these yawning developmental gaps in our affairs as a people.”

On his part, the celebrant, Clem Agba, thanked APDA for deeming it fit to honour and give him such warm reception.

He specially thanked the National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, for recommending him to President Mohammadu Buhari and for Mr. President for appointing him into his next level cabinet, saying he is the first Afenmai person to be appointed at the Federal level since 1999.

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While noting that Afenmai, which comprises of Akoko Edo, Etsako and Owan is peopled by the best brains and leaders that have over the years demonstrated selflessness and commitment to national development, he said the area produced the first female senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The minister who said though he has money to offer individuals, vowed to use his present position to attract more development to the area and also Influence job placement for the Afenmia in his little way.

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Why Bauchi’s Future Rests with Speaker Abubakar Suleiman

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By Isa Danbala

As the political landscape in Bauchi State begins to realign ahead of the 2027 governorship race, one name is commanding growing support across party lines, youth groups, and civil society is that of Rt. Hon. Dr. Abubakar Y. Suleiman, the seasoned Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly.

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With increasing calls for him to declare his ambition, it is becoming evident that Suleiman represents the most credible, tested, and people-focused option to take over from Governor Bala Mohammed and lead Bauchi into a new era of inclusive development and political stability.

On June 18, 2025, the Bauchi State Coalition of Youth and Civil Society Groups, under the Dangaladiman Ningi Vanguard, formally urged Speaker Suleiman to step forward and contest the 2027 gubernatorial elections. Their message, delivered at a press conference in Bauchi, was clear and resonant: “This is not just a political endorsement,” they said, “it is a call to service.” And few public servants in Bauchi today better exemplify a life of service, humility, and performance than Abubakar Suleiman.

Suleiman’s credentials speak for themselves. A lawmaker with a deep understanding of governance, he has served three consecutive terms as Speaker an unprecedented achievement in Bauchi’s legislative history.

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Under his leadership, the Assembly has emerged as a model of efficiency, discipline, and people-centered lawmaking. While others campaign with promises, Suleiman has a portfolio filled with results bills passed, institutions strengthened, and lives impacted. He has proved that leadership is not about noise but about steady, measurable progress.

Beyond the Assembly floor, Suleiman’s human development initiatives are widely acknowledged. In many rural communities, his presence is felt through classroom construction, educational materials for school children, medical outreach programs, food relief efforts, and vocational training for youths.

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These interventions have not only improved lives but shown the Speaker’s grasp of what governance means at the grassroots level. He is not just a politician he is a servant leader who understands the needs of the people and responds to them directly.

Another compelling reason why Suleiman is best positioned as the ideal successor to Governor Bala Mohammed is his unwavering loyalty and capacity for cooperation. As Speaker, he has built and sustained a productive relationship with the executive arm of government, ensuring that the state’s development agenda proceeds without needless friction.

His ability to mediate, harmonize and prioritize the public good over personal ambition has earned him wide respect, both within his party and across the broader political spectrum. This loyalty has never been about personal gain—it has been about continuity, stability, and ensuring that the wheels of progress keep turning.

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In contrast, many of the other aspirants lining up for the 2027 race are either disconnected from the realities on the ground or lack the political temperament to sustain harmony in governance.

While some may have impressive federal titles, they lack Suleiman’s deep local roots and first-hand understanding of the challenges facing Bauchi communities. Others have spent more time in Abuja than in Bauchi, speaking more to elite concerns than to the daily struggles of farmers, artisans, and students. Speaker Suleiman, on the other hand, has never left the side of his people.

Even within the APC, a party blessed with high-profile aspirants like Dr. Ali Pate, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar, and Senator Shehu Buba, Suleiman’s profile is not just competitive it is superior in many key areas. He brings to the table not only legislative experience but also political tact, grassroots acceptability, and a proven ability to unite divergent interests. He does not divide—he builds bridges. And in a state as politically dynamic as Bauchi, that quality is indispensable.

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The same can’t be said of the PDP field, where names like Senator Abdul Ningi, the current Commissioner of Finance, and other technocrats have been mentioned. While many of them have solid records, none possess Suleiman’s unique combination of experience, humility, and direct impact. None have his unmatched tenure as Speaker, or his widespread support among the youth and civil society.

Moreover, Suleiman’s political strength lies not just in the number of supporters he has but in the nature of that support. The call for him to contest is coming not from political jobbers or godfathers, but from ordinary people: community leaders, young professionals, market women, and non-governmental actors who see in him a leader they can trust. They believe that the same man who stood with them in quiet seasons of need can be trusted to govern them with fairness, vision, and courage.

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The argument about zoning is another issue that Suleiman’s candidacy intelligently addresses. Coming from Ningi in Bauchi Central, he stands in a strategic position to bridge the recurring agitation between Bauchi North and Bauchi South. He is acceptable across the zones and has no history of divisive politics. In a state where unity is the foundation for progress, Suleiman is that neutral voice that all sides can rally around.

As 2027 approaches, the decision before the people of Bauchi is not merely about electing a new governor it is about choosing the direction of the state’s future. Will Bauchi continue on the path of meaningful development, stability, and inclusive governance, or will it retreat into the uncertainties of experimental leadership? With Speaker Abubakar Suleiman, the path is clear. His experience is deep, his temperament calm, his record solid, and his compassion genuine.

The call has been made. The people are ready. The moment is now. All that remains is for the man himself Rt. Hon. Dr. Abubakar Y. Suleiman to answer the call.

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If he does, Bauchi may be set for a smooth, impactful, and people-focused transition that will deepen development and restore confidence in leadership. And history, as always, will remember those who stood up when the people called.

Isa Danbala, write from Abuja

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Ghanaians Protest, Decry ‘State-sponsored’ Harassment In Abuja

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Hundreds of Ghanaian investors and community members on Wednesday besieged the Nigerian High Commission in Abuja, demanding redress over what they described as “systematic harassment, intimidation, and violation of our fundamental rights” by the Nigeria Police and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

“Our businesses are being hounded at every turn,” one of the lead developers of the River Park Estate project in Abuja, Kojo Mensah, said.

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The investors claimed that their fundamental rights were being violated, alleging arbitrary arrests, repeated police invitations, and intimidation by both the police and the EFCC.

We’ve been arrested arbitrarily, summoned without cause, and subjected to endless interrogations, yet the very complaints we cooperated to resolve back in 2012 remain buried in some dusty file,” he said.

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Carrying banners that read, “Hands Off Ghanaian Investors!” and “Tinubu, Mahama: Intervene Now!”, the demonstrators called for the immediate removal of Inspector General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, whom they accused of targeted attacks on Ghanaian businesses operating in Nigeria.

We demand that President Bola Tinubu and President John Mahama use every diplomatic channel to stop this injustice,” the investors said.

The protest follows the filing of a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, in which Jonah Capital and its co-plaintiffs named IGP Egbetokun, the Nigeria Police, and the EFCC as defendants.

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They are seeking a perpetual injunction restraining both agencies “from any further interference in the River Park Estate matter,” immediate disclosure of the long-delayed Special Investigation Panel report, and the sum of N200m in damages for alleged breaches of their constitutional rights.

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The suit, according to the plaintiffs, is not only to seek redress but also to safeguard the integrity of foreign investments in Nigeria and discourage what they describe as state-sponsored intimidation of legitimate investors.

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In their amended writ, the plaintiffs alleged that although the SIP concluded its probe and reported to the IG, those findings had never been furnished to the investors despite repeated formal requests.

“Instead,” the suit contends, “a senior officer in the IG’s Monitoring Unit has unilaterally reopened the investigation, purportedly to undermine the SIP’s clear exoneration of our companies.”

 

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Pastor Enenche Rejects N30m Donation From Kebbi Governor

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The Senior Pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Dr Paul Enenche, has rejected a N30 million donation offered by the Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, during a crusade organised by the church in the state.

The gesture occurred at the Kebbi Healing and Deliverance Crusade, where a representative of the governor, Kebbi’s Commissioner for Social Duties, Zayyanu Umar Aliero, announced the cash gift on behalf of the governor.

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Aliero told the gathering that the N30m was approved as a donation to the crusade’s organising committee and was available in cash.

Aliero said, “Our Governor, His Excellency Dr Nasir Idris, a faithful Governor and also a Comrade Governor, who you all know is the only Comrade Governor in this country. He has therefore graciously approved the donation of the sum of 30 million naira to this gathering.

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“That is to the organising committee. His Excellency has approved the donation of a sum of 30 million naira to the organising committee, which you know that whenever His Excellency makes a donation, he doesn’t leave without bringing that donation in cash. So before I leave this stage, I want to present that sum of 30 million naira in cash.”

However, Enenche declined the offer, taking to the stage to urge that the money be redirected to charitable causes.

“If there is anything like orphanage, if there is anything like that, at your discretion, please apply this amount of money to it. No. It will not be received,” the senior pastor said.

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Speaking later, Enenche explained the church’s stance, emphasising that public funds should be used solely for public causes.

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We are one of those who believe that government money should be used for government projects and government things should be used for government things; and church money should be used for church things, not mixed together.

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“That is what we did that is what we do. As small as the Glory Dome is right there, government money is not in it. From land to the building to everything,” he said.

He added that the body of Christ should “trust God for supernatural supplies.”

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He suggested that the donation be handed over to a government-approved religious body instead, such as the Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board or the Christian Association of Nigeria.

This is so that we can retain our dignity as a body of Christ; retain our dignity as a church, and say what we need to say when we need to say it. And be able to say what we need to say when we need to say it,” he said.

Aliero, speaking after the rejection, acknowledged Enenche’s position.

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They don’t accept it because whatever he is doing, he is doing it for the sake of God. We really appreciate and we really thank him for what he is doing in our state,” he said.

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