Nigeria Archives - Page 11 of 21

Buhari has hidden agenda to Fulanise Nigeria —Gov Ortom

August 24, 2021 No Comments

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has accused the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari of a hidden agenda to fulanise Nigeria.

He alleged that the president was in support of the activities of Fulani herdsmen who were terrorizing citizens, and killing people in efforts to chase them from their ancestral lands.

The governor spoke on Tuesday during an interview on Channels Television, where he also lamented that Buhari was not the first Fulani man to rule Nigeria, and asked why his administration was different in condoning the atrocities of Fulani herdsmen.

Ortom said, “Because of the body language of President Muhammadu Buhari, Miyetti Allah has been killing our people. My citizens have sent me to tell the President that they don’t want open grazing.

The Presidency is aware of the atrocities of the Miyetti Allah because I alerted them of the threats being issued by the Fulani herders but nothing was done.

President Buhari told me to tell my people to learn to live with their neighbours; neighbours with AK-47s who kill and pillage our people; I have alerted the Presidency several times, but Miyetti Allah is always in Abuja with the President, being protected with taxpayers’ money.”

Regarding the stance of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum on open grazing, Ortom noted that his position is widely known amongst his colleagues.

“I have made my position known to the NGF but I am just one governor; the southern governors resolved over what should happen but they were castigated.

“The position is known with the support of most of the northern governors but most of them are afraid to confront the matter due to the fear of the EFCC. The presidency is frustrating the efforts of the NGF regarding the issue of open grazing.”

Ortom further lamented that he has been blocked from seeing the president by his handlers, to present the plight of his people to Buhari.

Entertainment

Man becomes Canadian citizen after six years, says leaving Nigeria was worth it

August 20, 2021 No Comments

A Nigerian man, Tunde Omotoye has become a citizen of Canada after years of hard work and dedication.

According to him, he left Nigeria six years and 7 months ago and the decision was worth it as he has finally become a Canadian citizen.

On August 16, he took the oath of citizenship, and shared a photo of himself the country’s flag colours in the background.

He shared a back story of how he was struggled during his early days as a student in the North American nation, before finally

Tunde wrote; ”This morning, I officially became a Canadian Citizen after taking the ‘Oath of Citizenship’.

It’s been 6yrs 7months since I embarked on the bravest journey of my life to come study here (many know this story). Today, I am glad that journey was worth it.

I still remember that cold winter breeze that blew my face when I stepped out of Pearson as a broke student.

The days of working factory jobs to pay for certification and complete tuition.

The days of numerous internship applications and job interviews.

I remember them all.

I am thankful to this country for the numerous opportunities it has provided since day one.

I am mostly glad that I can now vote and be voted for. I can now add to its political landscape.

To everyone reading this, just want to let you know that immigrating to a new country isn’t as easy as it may seem. Either via study/permanent residency.

There’s the emotional, psychological and financial aspect of it that majority of new immigrants have to deal with.

To add, I used to think that being Canadian will make me less Nigerian, but honestly I have never been more wrong.

I celebrate not just being a Canadian and having a new home, but having two countries to call mine.

Finally, in 2015, I embarked on the bravest journey of my life. This is not to encourage anyone to follow this same pathway, yours might be a different one form mine, but whatever it is I hope it works out for you.

P.S: Thank you all for the congratulatory messages.”

Politics

I did the right thing for Nigeria,’ Babangida defends June 12 annulment again

August 17, 2021 No Comments

The former military President, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (retd), insisted on Monday that the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election was in the best interest of the country.

Bagandida, who featured in a Channels Television’s programme, Politics Today, said he took the decision 28 years ago to save the country from a major crisis.

The former military ruler controversially annulled the election widely acknowledged as the freest and fairest in Nigeria’s history on June 24, 1993, and plunged the country into a major political crisis that lasted five years.

Babangida had in an interview on Arise TV about two weeks said he annulled the election in order to prevent a violent military coup in Nigeria.

He reaffirmed the position in Monday’s interview.

Babangida said: “It is a decision we took. I had to take that decision. I did that to the best of my knowledge in the interest of the country.

“I did the right thing. I can sit back and say some of the things I said manifested after I had left. We had the coup, and that coup lasted for five years.”

Lifestyle

HIV more prevalent among unmarried men and women in Nigeria –NACA DG, Aliyu

August 10, 2021 No Comments

The Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Dr Gambo Aliyu has disclosed that single men and women in Nigeria were the highest numbers of persons infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in the country.

However, he noted that according to a recent survey carried out by the agency, single women were more infected with HIV than men in the country

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Aliyu said while individuals who were never married contributed 64 per cent of the new infections in the country, new infections among female sex workers (FSW) and men who have sex with men (MSM) make up 91 per cent of all new infections among adults.

According to him, the younger generations who are never married do not use prevention and do not listen or want to have anything to do with HIV services.

“If we can reach them and connect them, we can come closer to reducing the pandemic. The younger people living with the virus need to be reached with services to curtail transmission among them and newborns.

“To reduce child infections due to mother-to-child transmission, we must go beyond the hospital and go to the communities to deliver services. We are working at hospitals and community levels. They now have more access. Expectant mothers who don’t go for antenatal service are now reached at the comfort of their homes,” he said.

Furthermore, Aliyu said NACA in collaboration with development partners is working tirelessly to develop strategies to stem the spread of HIV in the country.

Meanwhile, the report stated that the unmarried population, which is the youth, is the largest contributor to new infections, which is mostly between the ages of 17 to 34 for females, and 19 to 31 for men.

Also, the report stressed the need for special efforts to be made to reach the youth population in schools, workplaces, gathering spots, and especially through social media.

The report also noted that there were new infections through newborns due to low coverage of prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT), noting that efforts will be targeted at encouraging women to attend Antenatal Care (ANC), especially in high prevalence states.

Also, it outlined that increased efforts should be put in, especially for the highest risk FSW and MSM, which have shown that even though the population is small, noting that despite the high levels of reported condom use, prevalence remains high among sex workers and MSM.

“Although there is a law against MSM in Nigeria, the law does not deny them access to services or restrain us from delivering service to them. They can assess our HIV services across the country,” the NACA report noted.

To this end, the Mode of Transmission Study (MOT) focuses on identifying the sources of new HIV infections in the country and was first conducted in 2009 and was recently repeated, using an updated model known as the Incidence Pattern Model (IPM).

Politics

Nigeria joins U.S, Ghana navies for Gulf of Guinea exercises

August 8, 2021 No Comments

The Nigerian Navy will this week join their counterparts from Ghana and the U.S. for a three-day at sea training exercise.

The training is part of efforts by the U.S government to strengthen partnership with coastal African nations and also mark the return to Nigeria, Sea Base USS Hershel “Woody” Williams (ESB 4).

USS Hershel “Woody” Williams is the first warship permanently assigned to the U.S. Africa Command acting as a militay sea base.

According to a statement from the U.S embassy in Nigeria, officers assigned to the USS Hershel “Woody” Williams (ESB 4) with Nigerian offshore patrol vessels and members of Ghana’s Special Boat Squadron (SBS) will engaged in different military routines.

“Maritime engagements that include many navies working together really improve our interoperability and collective capability, which are absolutely necessary for a busy area such as the Gulf of Guinea,” Capt. Chad Graham, USS Williams commanding officer, was quoted as saying.

The captain who met with the chief of operations for the Nigerian Navy Western Naval Command (WNC), Commodore Daupreye Franklin Matthew, praised Nigeria’s commitment to a peaceful, well-policed Gulf of Guinea.

According to him, Nigeria maintains the largest navy in the Gulf of Guinea region and is critical to security and stability in Africa.

“We’re happy to be working with our Nigerian partners to plan our at-sea multinational engagements, and we’re looking forward to a successful event that demonstrates our commitment to maritime security in the region.

“We greatly appreciate Nigeria, and the city of Lagos, for welcoming our crew to their country,” Graham said.

“Nigeria is the lynchpin for Gulf of Guinea maritime security; our Sailors are excited to be working with their counterparts at sea and to engage with Nigerian communities ashore,” he added

While visiting Lagos, Sailors assigned to Hershel “Woody” Williams will also help paint Lagos State Model Nursery and Primary School Achakpo Ajegunle, as well as play sports with members of the Nigerian Navy.

Politics

We are saints when compared to the level of corruption in Nigeria today —IBB

August 6, 2021 No Comments

Former Military President, Ibrahim Babangida fondly referred to as IBB, has launched a scathing critique on the present state of corruption in the country.

Ripples Nigeria had repeatedly reported how the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) uncovered pilfered funds linked to various members of the political class without major indictments.

IBB who stated this during an interview on AriseTV which held on Friday, opined that military leaders were “saints when compared to the level of corruption in Nigeria today.

He was reacting to insinuations that corruption thrived under his administration.

I sacked a governor for misappropriating about N300,000. But now you have people who have stolen billions of naira walking the streets. They are taken to court and come out.”

He further highlighted how the political class has contributed to the downward spiral of the country due to its impunity.

“Nigeria’s problem is leadership. There is a disconnect between leadership and followership.

“The leaders need to understand Nigeria and Nigerians.

Speaking in the vexed issue of restructuring, the former leader said “Restructuring means different things to different Nigerians. The people at every level have to participate in deciding how Nigeria is to be governed.

“We have to rewrite the narrative. Nigerians don’t have core values as a people, and the politicians have to play a role in this direction.”

Politics

Sultan of Sokoto decries insecurity, high cost of living, in Nigeria

August 6, 2021 No Comments

The Sultan of Sokoto and President, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has decried the lingering insecurity threats and the high cost of living in the country which in turn has led to things not improving in every sector.

The Sultan made the observation in Gombe State on Thursday during the 3rd Conference of the Da’awah Coordination Council of Nigeria (DCCN), which is an amalgamation of about 52 Da’awa groups in Gombe.

In his speech, the Sultan lamented the high cost of living insecurity bedevilling the country, and said
“action must be taken by political leaders and elite to address the issues.

We must tell ourselves the home truth and stop deceiving ourselves that things are getting better. The truth is, things are not getting better.

Therefore, the earlier we know things are not getting better the better for us, so that we can sit down and find means and ways of solving our problems.

“We must work hard to tackle the insecurity, hunger, poverty and all the negative things afflicting our great country.

“We have problems, yes we know we have problems and I have said it before that things are not just normal and right in this country, but we can make things normal and right by Allah’s wish, so we have to work hard.

“People are suffering and we have few people that have so much and too many people that have nothing, yet we are not helping the poor,” the revered monarch said.

Abubakar therefore, advised the government to get adequate food supply and store, so as to sell at a much subsidised rate to the common man.

“Without food, the country cannot experience peace, security and development. And without development we are just a bunch of people sitting down,” he added.

Business

Nigerians consume 57m litres of petrol daily in March, increase of 24.1%

August 2, 2021 No Comments

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has announced an increase in the country’s daily supply of Premium Motor Spirit, also known as petrol, in March.

This was revealed in the company’s March 2021 Monthly Financial and Operations Report (MFOR), which was released on Sunday.

According to NNPC, Nigerians consumed 1.75 billion litres of petrol in March 2021, and more than 1.41 billion litres consumed in February 2021.

This implies a consumption growth of 24.1 percent or 340 million litres and an average daily consumption of 56.5 liters.

NNPC also revealed that its downstream subsidiary, the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC), recorded N234.63 billion revenue from the sale of white products in March 2021.

This represents a 24.7 percent increase from the N188.15 billion sales recorded in February 2021.

The total revenues generated from the sales of white products for the period of March 2020 to March 2021 stood at N2.129 trillion, where petrol contributed about 99.2percent of the total sales with a value of N2.113 trillion.

NNPC also revealed it sold 0.45million litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).

For gas, a total of 222.74 billion cubic feet (bcf) of natural gas was produced in March 2021 translating to an average daily production of 7,183.33 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd).

This implies that 63.18 per cent of the average daily gas produced was commercialized while the balance of 36.82 per cent was re-injected, used as upstream fuel gas or flared.

The report also recorded that the Corporation recorded 70 vandalised points across its pipeline network in the period under review, representing 29.63 per cent increase from the 54 points recorded in the previous month.

Lifestyle

Nigeria to get 4m doses of COVID-19 vaccine from U.S

July 30, 2021 No Comments

In the next few days, the US government will supply 10 million vaccines to South Africa and Nigeria.

5.6 million Pfizer doses will be going to South Africa and 4 million Moderna doses will be heading Nigeria’s way.

This was revealed by Dana L. Banks, US Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Africa at the National Security Council, at a virtual press conference for African journalists on Wednesday.

According to banks, the deliveries are part of a pledge by President Biden to share 80 million doses globally–with about 25 million doses expected to arrive in 49 African states.

We have been, over the past three weeks, working through the African Union and COVAX delivering first rounds, in some cases second rounds, of doses to our African partners. And just today, we are happy to announce that we will be sending over 5 million doses to South Africa as well as 4 million – 5 million doses – over 5 million doses to South Africa of Pfizer vaccines as well as 4 million doses of Moderna vaccine to Nigeria.

So we’re very excited about that and we hope that these will go a long way in helping to provide safety and health security for the people of Nigeria and South Africa, which will then enable them to get back to their regular activities, their economic activities, and help them to build back better,” She said.

The United States is ramping up vaccine deliveries to Africa as a third wave of the pandemic continues to accelerate across the continent.

Vaccine availability in Africa has been hampered by a factor called ‘vaccine nationalism’, which has seen wealthy nations snapping up excess doses of available vaccines for their own populations.

So far, only less than 1 percent of Nigerians have so far received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

According to Faisal Shuaib, the Executive Director National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), as of June 15, 2021, a total number of 1,978,808 targeted eligible Nigerians had partaken in vaccination against the Virus.

This represents 1.9 doses of vaccines per 100 people.

Politics

Osinbajo charges leaders in Nigeria to remain calm in times of adversity

July 18, 2021 No Comments

The Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Saturday charged Nigerian leaders to remain calm even in times of adversity.

Osinbajo, according to a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, stated this in his keynote address at the 25th anniversary conference of the Redeemer’s International Leadership Academy.

He said: “It is in times of adversity or hardship that leaders are most relevant and most needed.

The leader cannot afford to lose his cool or his focus. He must calm himself down and calm the people down as well.

“When all is well, there is no need for guidance, encouragement, or instruction but it is especially in the midst of wars, conflicts, insurgency, famines, danger, and fear, that people look to leadership.”

He made references to the Biblical Moses and the Israelites, saying the prophet looked up to God for help and God spoke to Him.

The Vice President added: “But note that Moses first gave the people confidence in the power of God to deliver and fulfill His promises.

“He had not yet heard from God on this particular problem, but because he knew the God he served, he was able to say this with confidence.

“In adversity, especially where the future looks bleak, people want to give up, retreat, go back and they certainly don’t want to go forward.”

Politics

COVID-19 still around in Nigeria –NCDC

July 18, 2021 No Comments

The Director-General of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. ChIkwe Ihekweazu, on Saturday, warned Nigeria against a false sense of COVID-19 eradication in the country.

Ihekweazu spoke on the COVID-19 pandemic at a webinar for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) 2021 Batch B members in Abuja.

He called for collaboration with corps members to ensure sustenance of the measures aimed at checking the spread of the virus across the country.

The NCDC chief said: “The mistake we can all make is to think the COVID-19 virus has gone away.

“Corps members have to work collaboratively with us to sustain the goals we have made in mitigating the risk of transmission in orientation camps.”

World News

Onochie’s INEC nomination a dangerous precedent for Nigeria’s democracy – CUPP

July 10, 2021 No Comments

Against the backdrop of the screening of Lauretta Onochie as a commissioner with the Independent National Electoral Commission, the Coalition of United Political Parties has warned that it is a prelude to a third-term agenda for President Muhammadu Buhari.

The coalition made this assertion on Friday via its spokesman, Mark Adebayo, titled, ‘Onochie’s INEC nomination is to perfect Buhari’s third term agenda – CUPP’.

According to CUPP, this action sets a dangerous precedent which is dangerous for the country’s democracy.

An excerpt from the statement reads, “In the established tradition of the Buhari administration, it has again turned deaf ears to the overwhelming public outcry against the ill-advised nomination of a known sycophant of the president as an INEC commissioner.

“Since last year that the nomination of Mrs Onochie went public, many sociopolitical organisations, opinion moulders, Civil Society Organisations and the general public have raised an alarm on the danger a publicly biased individual can unleash on our Electoral system and democracy, but typical of this government that runs a near-fascist regime, it has ignored these patriotic calls for restraint on this Onochie nomination nonsense”.

The CUPP further disclosed that Onochie is an APC member despite her denials.

“Meanwhile, whatever Mrs Onochie says to the contrary, she is an APC member and an active member of Buhari campaign groups. She has not resigned her membership of the APC and remains vocal in her support for the Buhari government.

“If the president wouldn’t listen to the voice of reason and the citizens’ concerns as he is wont to, you the representatives of the people must save our fledgling democracy by rejecting Mrs Onochie’s nomination and reserve for yourselves a place on the right pages of history and posterity. An Onochie confirmation would inflict a damaging dent on the integrity of our elections. Don’t confirm her”, the statement urged.

Politics

IPOB threatens ‘war’ over arrest, detention of Kanu in Nigeria

June 29, 2021 No Comments

The Lagos State Coordinator of the proscribed Igbo separatist group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Sam Igwe, has warned the Nigerian government that nothing must happen to their leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who was arrested in London on Sunday, and returned to Nigeria at the instance of the Federal Government.

According to the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN) at an emergency press briefing in Abuja, Kanu was arrested by a “combined team of Nigerian and foreign security agents in a coordinated interception”, after two years of evading arrest.

But while reacting to the arrest of the fugitive in a phone chat with Ripples Nigeria, Igwe said if anything should happen to the “Supreme leader, there will be war” as the South-East will be too hot for Nigeria.

We want to sound this as a warning that nothing should happen to our Supreme leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu or else there will be war.

“The South-East, South-South and indeed every part of Nigeria will be too hot.

“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not a criminal. His only crime is fighting for the liberation of Ndigbos. Is that a crime? Does that make him a criminal?

“We are giving the Nigerian government 24 hours to release Kanu or there will be serious repercussions. We are warning them,” Igwe threatened.

Politics

Nigeria, with borrowed laws, has no structure to restructure —Northern Coalition

June 29, 2021 No Comments

Spokesman of the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), Abdul-Aziz Sulaiman, has called on advocates of restructuring to have a rethink as there is nothing on ground in Nigeria that warrants a restructuring.

Sulaiman who was a guest at a retreat organised by the Northern Caucus of the House of Representatives on Monday in Abuja, warned that those who are “hell-bent on putting the country in a dilemma before and after their exit through agitations should be tackled” to desist from such actions.

The CNG spokesman argued that “someone could not be an advocate of restructuring and at the same time insisting he must exit the country, adding that Nigeria as a nation had no existing structures which could be restructured.”

We have always insisted that you can’t restructure where there is no structure. We need to have a nation first before we build a structure for it and then we can restructure consequently.

“Honestly, we need to tell ourselves the truth; there is no Nigeria because a section of the country has insisted and persisted that they are not Nigerians for 60 years now.

“Why must we insist that they are part of Nigeria? Why must we insist on restructuring in keeping the people who said they are not part of us?

“These people just want to go and leave us in problems. We are not concerned about restructuring. What we are saying is a referendum to define the name ‘Nigeria’. We are living on a borrowed name, borrowed boundaries and borrowed laws.

The National Assembly must stop the ongoing constitutional review across the country and look for a way to put up a referendum that will pave the way for the agitators to leave,” Sulaiman added.

Politics

Nigeria unveils world’s largest flag

June 26, 2021 No Comments

The Federal Government has announced the unveiling of the world’s largest flag covering an area of 3,275 square meters in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The flag has a length of 75.3 meters and a width of 43.5 meters.

Ripples Nigeria gathered that the flag was created by the designer of the Nigerian Flag, Taiwo Akinkunmi, and unveiled on Thursday by the Chief of Defense Staff, General Lucky Irabor.

Prior to the unveiling, the Guinness world record for the largest flag was held by the United Arab Emirate which covers an area of 2,448.6 square meters.

General Irabor during the unveiling said the flag is a symbol of a United Nigeria and should send a signal of unity to all Nigerians.

He urged Nigerians to, “always remember that the flag is not a mere symbol of Nigeria, it is a symbol of a United Nigeria. Let us work together for unity and love in the country.”

Pa Akinkunmi designed the Nigerian flag in October 1959, when he was barely 23.

In his remarks, Akinkunmi, now 85 years old, said the journey to creating Nigeria’s national flag started when he was studying Electrical Engineering at Norwood Technical College in London.

He said: “I have always dreamt about Nigeria being at the front of every good thing and I am delighted to be part of this historical event.”

Politics

Nigeria is poor, the only option is to keep borrowing – Senate President

June 25, 2021 No Comments

Senate President, Ahmad Lawan has explained that it is significant for the Federal Government to continue to borrow responsibly to fund critical projects in Nigeria because the country is poor.

Lawan disclosed this on Thursday while briefing State House correspondents following a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja.

The Senate President believes it is not reasonable for the Federal Government to tax the people more in the face of the present economic condition, adding that the country’s infrastructure must be developed.

He said; “You can’t, in my view and judgement, tax Nigerians further for you to raise the money for infrastructural development; other countries do that, but we’ve serious situation across the country

“So, you can’t put taxes on the people. The only option left is for us to borrow responsibly, utilise prudently and economically, and ensure that the projects are self-sustaining; that they can pay back the loan.

“Our options are really very limited as a country. First, we don’t have the necessary revenue; Nigeria is poor, we shouldn’t deceive ourselves. Nigeria is not rich given the circumstances we live in, given the challenges we have.

“Our resources are so low, our revenues are so low; therefore, the option of not doing anything just to sit (because we’ve no money, we should not go for infrastructure development) is not an option worthy of consideration. You cannot keep the economy stagnant.”

Politics

Igbos are the glue holding Nigeria together – Abaribe

June 22, 2021 No Comments

The Senate Minority leader, Eyinnaya Abaribe has said the Igbos are the “glue” holding the country together, noting that they had invested in the unity, oneness and progress of the country more than any other ethnic nationality or people.

Abaribe, who represents Abia South senatorial District at the National Assembly, made the comment in Enugu on Monday at the inauguration of “Igbonine”, a newly formed socio-cultural organisation.

“We are the largest domestic investors in Nigeria today and have our investment scattered all over the country even to the remotest parts,” Mr Abaribe declared at the gathering.

“Igbos are the glue that holds Nigeria together.”

We are found everywhere; we interface and inter-cohabit with other tribes and ethnic nationalities in the country very peacefully and progressively.

“Igbos remained the most travelled ethnic nationality to other parts of the country to interact and understand them better,’’ he said.

The senator further advocated inclusive governance as panacea to quell accusations of marginalisation being registered by ethnic nationalities in the country.

Abaribe noted that the alleged unequal treatment of various people and segments that made up the country remained the root of the present political challenge of the country.

He said; “Luckily, it is not only the South-East or Igbos that feel alienated; but the cry of marginalisation is spread over the country.

“They are only painting Igbos as only those complaining and causing trouble.

“Our country is supposed to be an inclusive country, where fairness, equity and deliberate action to ensure every part of the country is duly represented and carried along.’’

In a lecture titled; “Igbos: What Do We Want’’, Professor Kingsley Moghalu, noted that although Igbos had gradually recovered economically from the civil war, “our people are yet to recover politically’’.

The Presidential Candidate of Young Progressive Party (YPP) in the 2019 election, urged Igbos to close ranks and build a formidable force to assert themselves politically.

He said: “I will also urge our people to go for those that have wisdom and intellect to deliver on set goals rather than the ongoing cash-and-carry politics prevailing among us.

“The first generation of Igbo politicians in the first republic like Zik of Africa, Michael Okpara, Akanu Ibiam etc were great intellectuals endowed by God to deliver the region and country at that time’’.

According to him, what we want now is Nigerian President of South-East extraction. It is achievable with a collective and united will of our people.

In an address, President-General of Igbonine, Emeka Okonkwo, said that Igbonine was born out of the passion to lend positive and unifying voices to affairs concerning and affecting the Igbo man.

Okonkwo said that the association would support the renaissance of the Nigerian new social order as encapsulated in the 1999 Constitution for the enthronement of equity, justice, fairness and some measure of ideal of freedom.

He said: “We believe it is only in this way that we can achieve a united Nigeria that is enviable to the rest of the world.

“Therefore, our main thrust would be to pursue the course of Igbos through dialogue, friendship, understanding and application of all favourable dynamics at play without coercion or unnecessary friction’’.

Entertainment

Olamide’s ”Rock” becomes Number 1 song in Nigeria

June 22, 2021 No Comments

Ace Nigerian rapper, Olamide Adedeji is one artiste who has maintained relevance and secured a reserved spot for himself in the league of top entertainers.

The YBNL founder’s 2021 track, Rock has emerged the number song in Nigeria, after amassing a cumulative total number of streams which puts him ahead of his peers on digital platforms.

Rock came tops as the Nigerian song with the highest number of streams for the week across all online streaming platforms.

Olamide beat the likes of Wizkid who came 2nd with Essence and Ladipoe, sitting at 3rd with his feel good track, Feeling.

See the top 10 songs in Nigeria based on the most recent data:

1. Olamide -Rock

2. Wizkid -Essence

3. LadiPoe -Feeling

4. Rema -Soundgasm

5. Buju -Outside

6. Lojay -LV N ATTN

7. Adekunle Gold -It Is What It Is

8. Burna Boy -Kilometre

9. Joeboy-Show Me

10. DolapoTheVibe -Work

Entertainment

Igbos will lose more if Nigeria breaks up – Rochas Okorocha

June 21, 2021 No Comments

The senator representing Imo West in the senate, Rochas Okorocha has cautioned Igbos in the south-eastern region that they would be the worst hit if Nigeria breaks up.

The former Imo state governor who spoke in Abuja while addressing some women groups, said Igbos stand to lose more.

Okorocha said: “It is only an Igbo man that goes to a place and remains put in that place, buys a land and builds a house for his family without feeling insecure. The Igbos will lose more if Nigeria divides.

“Most Nigerian leaders who were successful had one thing or the other to do with the Igbos. It is either they married Igbo women or had some links with them.

I can call names like, former President, Obasanjo; former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, Buba Marwa, just to name a few”.

Entertainment