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We Must Reject A Fractured Nigeria – Onaiyekan

Published

2 years ago

August 4, 2023

The Emeritus Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, has urged Nigerians to reject a fractured nation in which political parties and ethnic groups are locked in continuous conflict.

He made this call during the memorial service of the late Prelate Emeritus of the Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence Dr. Sunday Mbang, which was organized in Abuja by the Christian Association of Nigeria.

The event included special tributes and songs that were performed to honor Dr. Mbang, who served as the President of CAN from 1995 to 2003.

During his exhortation, Onaiyekan also emphasized the importance of unity and peace amidst the current ethnic and political tensions in the country.

“We cannot however simply resign ourselves to a broken nation where political parties are at each other’s throats and where ethnic groups are fighting unfinished ancient tribal battles,” he stated.

The respected religious leader emphasized the need for unity and common action to address the country’s challenges.

Drawing from the exemplary life of the late Prelate Mbang, Cardinal Onaiyekan highlighted the deceased’s dedication to God, his commitment to the Church, his love for the Word of God, his role as a peacemaker, and his efforts as a unifier.

“We thank God for the gift of our Prelate Mbang. He was a gift to the Church of God not only in Nigeria but worldwide. He was a gift to our nation, as a great Statesman,” Onaiyekan said.

The President of CAN, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, remembered the late Prelate as a strong and fearless voice in Nigeria, who stood against injustice and led Christ’s people on the path of righteousness.

“The late Prelate was a very strong voice in Nigeria, and his voice was not only strong but loud and consistent, which rang out from the church,” Okoh said.

Furthermore, Okoh acknowledged Mbang’s contribution to the completion of CAN’s main auditorium and his unshakeable belief in the power of prayer.

“He was fearless, he was courageous, he was bold as he stood and spoke to power and the authorities in this our nation, even during the military era,” Okoh added.

The deceased’s son, Ini Mbang, painted a picture of his father as a God-fearing, fearless man, a strict and loving father, and a teacher.

He revealed plans by the family to build a museum and a library in Akwa Ibom State in order to immortalise the late Prelate.

As Nigeria grapples with intense political and ethnic tension, these religious leaders’ call for unity and peace, drawn from the life and works of the late Prelate Mbang, serves as a timely reminder of the nation’s urgent need for reconciliation and unity.

News

JUST IN: Olubadan, Oba Olakulehin, Is Dead

Published

6 hours ago

July 7, 2025

Editor

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, has passed away.

Olakulehin died at the age of 90.

According to The PUNCH, the monarch died in the early hours of Monday.

Olakulehin died during the ongoing 90th birthday and first anniversary coronation celebrations.

He succeeded the late Oba Lekan Balogun.

A source close to the Olubadan-In-Council confided in our correspondent in Ibadan, the state capital, that “we received the message that the paramount ruler passed away this morning. He has joined his forefathers. Though it has to be officially announced by the state government.”

Another palace source, who confirmed the news, said the Otun Olubadan, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, who is the next in line to become Olubadan, is currently out of the country and he is expected back.

“We are expecting a former Governor of the State and the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, who is currently out of the country, to come back home.

“He must have been briefed,” he said.

News

NBSAP Validation: HOMEF Commends FG, Says It’s A Welcome Step Towards Food Sovereignty, Biosafety

Published

10 hours ago

July 7, 2025

Editor

Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) has commended the Federal Government for endorsing the revised National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP).

Recall, in June 2025, Nigeria officially approved its National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, NBSAP, 2025-2030, aiming to stop and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.

According to the Nigerian government’s statement, the NBSAP fully aligns
with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (K-M GBF), with a focus on halting and reversing biodiversity loss by 2030.

The revised National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, NBSAP, has been adopted as a comprehensive government policy with 23 national targets, each aligned with the corresponding global biodiversity targets and goals.

Reacting to the development in a statement made available to INFO DAILY by Kome Odhomor, Media/Communication Lead, HOMEF, the Executive Director of the organisation, Dr Nnimmo Bassey, stated that it is a vital step toward protecting Nigeria’s biodiversity and advancing environmental
justice.

“We are especially encouraged by NBSAP’s firm stance on the regulation of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), which aligns with ourBlong-standing advocacy for biosafety and food sovereignty. In a time when the indiscriminate adoption of genetically engineered crops is
increasingly being pushed by multinational interests, NBSAP rightly
cautions that unregulated GMO use could be catastrophic to our environment, health, and sustainable development,” he said.

Also, Joyce Brown, Director of Programmes and Lead on Hunger Politics, HOMEF, noted
that “the Strategy’s support for traditional plant breeding,
non-transgenic biotechnologies, and the fair sharing of benefits from biological resources reflects a welcome policy shift. It affirms the rights of smallholder farmers and communities to control their seeds and food system, putting the power back in the hands of people.”

They, therefore, “urged the government to back this with action by halting GMO approvals pending a biosafety audit, reviewing the National Biosafety Management Agency Act 2015 as amended in 2019, in line with the National Biosafety Framework, investing in agroecology, and supporting community seed systems.

“HOMEF remains committed to ensuring Nigeria’s biodiversity thrives, free from genetic pollution and corporate control.”

News

JAMB Releases Results Of Mop-up Examination

Published

19 hours ago

July 6, 2025

Editor

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the results of the mop-up Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) held on Saturday, June 28, 2025.
According to a statement issued on Sunday evening by JAMB’s spokesperson, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, results have been released for 11,161 candidates who sat for the exam out of the 96,838 candidates scheduled for the mop-up exercise.

The board, however, noted that some candidates who are unable to access their results failed to comply with the prescribed instructions.

“Candidates who are not able to access their results have been found not to have fully complied with the instruction to send ‘UTMERESULT’ (as one word text) to 55019 or 66019 using the same phone number (SIM) used during registration for the UTME,” the statement read.

JAMB urged all affected candidates to follow the correct procedure in order to access their results.