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State Of The Nation: Clergy Berates FG For Hoarding Truth from Nigerians

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The Bishop of Methodist Church Nigeria, Diocese of Remo Central in Ogun State, Rt. Rev. Olu Akinola has berated the federal government for hoarding the truth about state of the nation from Nigerians.

The Bishop, who spoke at the burial and outing service for Madam Felicia Ambali, mother of Special Adviser to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Politics, Hon. Biyi Adeleye, held at Methodist Church, Isara – Remo, Remo local government area of the State, said the reality of what is happening in the country, is different from what the government is telling Nigerians.

Akinola while saying that truthfulness is no longer the order of the day in the country, urged governments at all levels in the country to tell Nigerians the truth in order for the people to know where to support it.

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Bishop Akinola who spoke from the book of Numbers 23 verse 10, admonished Nigerian leaders to be righteous, stressing that righteousness exalt nations from calamities and woes.

His words: “The Lord said the truth is not prevailing in our country again. Unfortunately for us, our leaders are not saying the truth, we don’t know the state of our economy, we don’t know the state of security, we don’t know the state of education, we don’t know the state of health in the country. They will tell us something but what is going in the grassroots is different from what they are feeding the masses with”.

“I just want to plead with the people that are leading us, from the local government to the federal government, they should tell us the true situation of things because what we are seeing is different from what they are telling us. Let them be faithful to the people that voted them to power, so we may know where we need to support them.

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” We must be righteous for a better society. Before in this country, people will leave their goods outside and people will take goods and leave money where the goods, but today, the story is different. We must be righteous, our leaders must be righteous for improve and better country,” he said.

He however appealed to the government to take the welfare of the elderly as paramount by paying pensioners as at when due.

In his remark, Governor Dapo Abiodun, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Tokunbo Talabi described the deceased as a great woman whose her seed is part of pillars of the current administration in the state.

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READ ALSO: Don’t Amplify Nigeria’s Problem, PFN Begs Nigerians

While commiserating with children and the family, Abiodun urged them to take solace in the fact that their mother lived a good life.

Adeleye while Speaking to newsmen, said the society and the government at all levels, must take care of elderly who have paid their dues to the development of the country.

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He said having commission to look into the welfare of the elderly in society is something government should take serious.

(VANGUARD)

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Africa Coups: 10 In Five Years

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A military coup attempt in Benin Sunday adds to a list of such incidents on the turbulent African continent.
A group of soldiers announced that they had ousted President Patrice Talon, although his entourage said he was safe and the army was regaining control.

Here is a recap of the 10 successful coups in Africa in the last five years:

Mali

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Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita is overthrown by five army colonels in August 2020.

In May 2021, the Malian military takes over from the civilian leaders of an interim government.
Colonel Assimi Goita, who led both coups, is sworn in as transitional president.

After promising to hold elections in February 2024, the military puts them off indefinitely, pointing to the jihadist violence plaguing the country.

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READ ALSO:Guinea-Bissau Military Takeover Is ‘Ceremonial Coup’ – Jonathan

In July 2025, Goita approves a law granting himself a five-year presidential mandate, renewable without election.
In September jihadists launch a fuel blockade, weakening the ruling junta.

Guinea

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On September 5, 2021, mutinous troops led by lieutenant-colonel Mamady Doumbouya take over in Guinea, arresting President Alpha Conde.

Doumbouya in early November 2025 submits his candidacy ahead of December 28 elections that are meant to restore constitutional order.

Sudan

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After weeks of tension between the military and civilian leaders who had shared power since the ousting of dictator Omar al-Bashir, the armed forces led by army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan stage a new coup on October 25, 2021.

Since April 2023 war has raged between the regular armed forces led by Burhan and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, led by his former deputy Mohammed Hamdan Daglo.

READ ALSO:Guinea-Bissau Coup: FG Gives Update On Ex-President Jonathan

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The conflict has so far killed tens of thousands of people and created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso underwent two military coups in 2022.

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In January that year mutinous soldiers led by Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba arrest President Roch Marc Christian Kabore.

Then in September army officers announce they have dismissed Damiba. Captain Ibrahim Traore becomes transitional president, but elections he promised do not materialise. In May 2024 the junta authorises him to stay for another five years in a country wracked by Islamist violence.

Niger

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On July 26, 2023, members of the presidential guard overthrow Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum, elected in 2021. General Abdourahamane Tiani, head of the presidential guard, takes over.

In March 2025, the junta extends by at least five years its transitional leadership of the country which is plagued by jihadist violence.

READ ALSO:Coup In Guinea-Bissau? Soldiers Deployed Near Presidential Palace After Gunfire

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Gabon

In Gabon, ruled for 55 years by the Bongo family, army officers on August 30, 2023 overthrow President Ali Bongo Ondimba, less than an hour after he is declared winner of an election the opposition says was fraudulent.
General Brice Oligui Nguema is named transitional president.

In April 2025 he is elected president with 94.85 percent of the vote. He is sworn in on the basis of a new constitution approved by referendum during the transition.

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Madagascar

In October 2025, the military ousts Madagascar’s president Andry Rajoelina and takes power following weeks of “Gen Z” anti-government protests.

Army colonel Michael Randrianirina is sworn in as Madagascar’s new president, promising elections within 18 to 24 months.

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Guinea-Bissau

In November 2025, military officers in Guinea-Bissau declare they have “total control” of the coup-prone west African country, closing its borders and suspending its electoral process three days after general elections.

The military says a command “composed of all branches of the armed forces” is taking over the leadership of the country “until further notice”.

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Benin Republic Presidency Breaks Silence On ‘Military Takeover’

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Benin Republic military
Military personnel in Benin on Sunday said they had ousted President Patrice Talon, but the Presidency said he was safe and the army was regaining control.

Talon, 67, a former businessman known as the “cotton king of Cotonou,” is due to hand over power in April next year after 10 years in office marked by strong economic growth and rising jihadist violence.

West Africa has seen several coups in recent years, including in Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea, and most recently Guinea-Bissau.

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Early on Sunday, soldiers calling themselves the “Military Committee for Refoundation” (CMR) said on state television that they had met and decided that “Mr Patrice Talon is removed from office as president of the republic.”

READ ALSO:Guinea-Bissau Military Takeover Is ‘Ceremonial Coup’ – Jonathan

The signal was cut later in the morning.

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Shortly after the announcement, a source close to Talon told AFP the president was safe.

“This is a small group of people who only control the television. The regular army is regaining control. The city (Cotonou) and the country are completely secure,” they said.

“It’s just a matter of time before everything returns to normal. The clean-up is progressing well.”

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A military source confirmed the situation was “under control” and said the coup plotters had not taken Talon’s residence or the presidential offices.

READ ALSO:Coup: ECOWAS Suspends Guinea-Bissau

The French Embassy reported on X that “gunfire was reported at Camp Guezo” near the president’s official residence in the economic capital and urged French citizens to remain indoors.

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Benin has a history of coups and attempted coups.

Talon, who came to power in 2016, is due to end his second term in 2026, the constitutional maximum.

The main opposition party has been excluded from the race to succeed him, leaving the ruling party to compete against a so-called “moderate” opposition.

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Talon has been praised for driving economic development but is often accused of authoritarianism.

(AFP)

 

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JUST IN: Soldiers Announce Military Takeover Of Govt In Benin Republic

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A group of soldiers appeared on Benin’s state television on Sunday to announce the dissolution of the government in what is being described as an apparent coup, marking yet another power seizure in West Africa.

Identifying themselves as the Military Committee for Refoundation, the soldiers declared the removal of the president and all state institutions.

READ ALSO:Guinea-Bissau Military Takeover Is ‘Ceremonial Coup’ – Jonathan

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President Patrice Talon, who has been in office since 2016, was scheduled to leave office next April after the presidential election. His party’s preferred candidate, former Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni, had been widely viewed as the frontrunner. Opposition candidate Renaud Agbodjo was disqualified by the electoral commission on the grounds that he did not have “sufficient sponsors.”

The takeover comes a month after Benin’s legislature extended the presidential term from five to seven years while retaining the two-term limit.

(AFP)

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