Category: VIEW PIONT

  • Gov. Mutfwang: Trudging on amidst recurrent distractions

    Gov. Mutfwang: Trudging on amidst recurrent distractions

    In the run up to the 2023 general elections, political analysts identified Mr Caleb Mutfwang, a contestant to the Plateau governorship seat, as one candidate that was sure of victory. They hinged such optimism on the affection the lawyer enjoyed among Plateau residents long before he picked the ticket of his political party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

    Such popularity was amply demonstrated when he returned from Abuja after collecting his party’s flag.The crowd that came to welcome him at the Heipang Airport was so massive that his opponents feared an imminent defeat. And, true to the fears, Mutfwang easily won the election and was sworn in on May 29, 2023.

    The battle for the seat was to continue at the courts with the Supreme Court finally declaring him winner in January 2024. Mutfwang quickly settled into governance, moving with the speed of a leader ready to fulfil his contract with the people. The first challenge was the high debt profile and the decay in the state’s civil service. Civil servants were already on strike as they were owed several months’ salaries. The outstanding salaries and pension arrears were paid and the workers returned to work.

    Available records also show that the government has also paid gratuities and death benefits dating back to 1986. The minimum monthly pension has also been increased from N5,000 to N20,000, with the payment now more regular. Attention has also been paid to transportation. According to Mutfwang, the goal is to “invigorate Plateau economy and draw investors to its vast potential”.

    In this respect, Jos intra-city bus service has been launched, easing movement across the capital. In the first phase launched on May 7, 2024, 15 buses were inaugurated with more coming on board as the demand kept rising, while more routes are getting covered. To boost inter-state transport services, 15 buses have been added to the Plateau Express Ltd, while 20 Toyota Sienna vehicles have been acquired to ply the Jos-Abuja route. The governor has also ratified a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with Valuejets Airline for thrice-weekly flights to Jos. Government has also brokered a deal with the Nigerian Railway Corporation to rejuvenate the dormant rail transport and mitigate the impact of fuel subsidy removal on the populace. The envisaged train service is anticipated to invigorate economic activities, attract investments, bolster commerce, enhance tourism and create direct and indirect jobs.

    The health sector is also being revitalised with the Plateau State Drugs and Medical Commodities Agency, PS-DMCMA, equipped to procure, store and distribute drugs and medical supplies in state-run medical outfits. The goal, Mutfwang says, is to ensure that essential medications are available, accessible, and affordable.

    Until recently, Plateau was celebrated as one of Nigeria’s cleanest states, making it a choice destination for tourists.The Mutfwang administration found a changed situation with Jos grappling with heaps of refuse and strong stenches oozing from all angles. To tackle the menace, government has declared a state of emergency on the environment with refuse disposal trucks evacuating waste in Jos/Bukuru metropolis and beyond. The reintroduction of the monthly sanitation programme, supervised by the Governor, has led to significant improvements and the streets are noticeably cleaner. The monthly stipend of street cleaners in Jos has also been reviewed from N8,000 to N15, 000 to encourage them to put in their best.

    To improve road network across the state, government has initiated significant projects within the Jos/Bukuru Metropolis and across the 17 local governments. The administration has rehabilitated a network of roads constructed more than 40 years ago and had deteriorated into hazardous conditions. It has also completed the flyover bridge linking NASCO and Abattoir communities. This project is significant as it eases traffic within the capital city. The construction of a 6.5km road at Angwan Rogo, with a bridge to Hawan Idi/Ali Kazaure, and a 12.1km road covering Amma Street to Apata, is another critical project. Other critical road projects executed are the Sabon Barki-Building road, the Tudun Wada-Mado-Jabong road, among many others across the state, turning Plateau into a construction site.

    In the agricultural sector, the state has distributed N3.6 billion worth of fertilizer to bolster dry-season farming efforts. The Plateau Agricultural Development Programme, PADP, has also launched coconut and oil palm plantations to further diversify and strengthen the state’s agro-forestry sector, while 500 farmers specialising in maize, rice and wheat value chains, have been given assorted seeds to boost yields. PADP has also procured 200 tractors, while 300 tractors belonging to ASTC were revamped and put to use. Piggery farmers in Jos South and Langtang North LGAs, who were hit by the 2022 floods, have been assisted to restart.

    Mutfwang has carried women and children along in his vision, beginning with the nomination of Mrs Josephine Piyo as Deputy Governor. So far, the women affairs ministry has trained 102 widows on various skills at the Mangu Centre and equipped them with starter packs to start their businesses. In the area of education, the Governor has reduced tuition fees by 50 per cent for Plateau natives enrolled in state-owned tertiary institutions. Additionally, there has been a 300 per cent increase in scholarship award for Plateau students pursuing higher education across Nigeria.

    Government has also addressed the issue of unpaid salaries for ad hoc staff, some of whom had been on that status for several years. Worried by the destructive malarial menace, the State Malaria Elimination Programme, SMEP, has secured 2,998,650 Insecticide Treated Nets, ITNs, for distribution across households. The Mutfwang leadership has also boosted the capacity of the Plateau Hospital, Jos, with 22 medical consultants across various specialities, while its long-abandoned laboratory complex had been completed and equipment worth N2 billion fitted into it.

    In the area of primary education, government has renovated and constructed 148 classrooms and dug boreholes in schools to make the learning environment conducive. A lot has also been sunk into water supply with N1.3 billion spent to procure assorted water treatment chemicals, while N700 million went into settling liabilities incurred on similar items by previous administrations.

    Inclusive governance

    In pursuing his dream of a greater Plateau, Mutfwang has shown no discrimination either on the basis of religion, tribe or political leanings. Two commissioners – Bashir Lawandi in water resources and energy, and Mohammed Nyalum of commerce – for instance, are Muslims. He also has many Special Advisers, Special Assistants and top aides that are Muslims, and he is on record as sponsoring the highest number of Muslims to Hajj in 2023. Areas with Muslims as residents have also enjoyed many development projects, a privilege that has attracted speedy growth to the areas.

    Security concerns

    But, as Mutfwang speedily moves to build a prosperous Plateau, a recurrent distraction – insecurity – is slowing down the steam and blurring his focus. Indeed, the challenge of insecurity has, for long, been the lot of Plateau residents.

    When Mutfwang came in, he visited camps where Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, are kept in Riyom, Mangu and Bokkos Local Government Areas, to asses the situation. Few weeks before he was sworn in, his own Mangu Local Government Area came under severe attack on May 15, 2023.

    The attacks claimed a lot of lives and appeared to give him a signal that evil was lurking. The violence subsided in the later part of 2023, 2024 and the first quarter of 2025, but resumed in the last few weeks with Bokkos, Bassa, Mangu, Barkin-Ladi and Riyom as the targets. A distraught Mutfwang has since been running from pillar to post to secure his people.He has made it a duty to visit every hit community to commiserate with victims and caution against reprisal attacks. He has severally met with President Bola Tinubu, Chief of Defense Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, and other top security officials to work out ways to tackle the menace. At first, it appeared that the efforts had yielded fruits with both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies adopted to restore peace, but the resurgence of hostilities has shown that more needs to be done.

    To tackle the violence, the Governor has reactivated the hitherto dormant state-owned security outfit —Operation Rainbow. The outfit is expected to mobilise 600 personnel, chosen from across the local governments, to secure the state. Its personnel shall be expected to use the knowledge of their communities to provide effective security, focusing on intelligence gathering and the relay of early warning signals. The administration has also established the State Security and Information Centre where citizens can report security concerns via a toll-free line. This centre enables the government to receive timely information on pressing security issues in rural communities.

    But, as the governor battles to secure the state, analysts fear that the situation would worsen if all stakeholders are not united to end the crisis. They particularly decried a situation where politicians seek to make political capital out of the bloodshed and feared that desperate politicians could even stoke the fire of violence to put the governor on the defence.

    Worried by the recurring attacks on the rural communities, President Tinubu has directed security agencies to fully mobilise all resources to end the bloodshed. He has also promised to fully support measures that could restore normalcy. Former Plateau governor Jonah Jang has also decried the worsening insecurity in Plateau, urging everyone to support the Governor to bring peace. Jang said that resolving the crises and restoring peace to Plateau was not a matter the governor could handle alone. “The attacks in Plateau are not mere communal disputes; they are perpetrated by a group with a specific agenda.

    It is crucial for the President to understand the true nature of these attacks in order to address them effectively,” Jang said. Jang advised Tinubu to convene an expanded meeting with community leaders to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the situation in Plateau. He said that such a meeting would provide a platform for stakeholders to share their insights and experiences, enabling the President to develop a more informed approach to tackling the problem. Jang urged the people of Plateau to remain strong and resist any attempt to destroy their state. He urged the people to love everyone around them, but admonished them to “always remain alert so as to protect the state from invaders”.

    Retired Admiral Bitrus Atukum, former Plateau Military Administrator, has spoken in the same vein and urged President Tinubu to give security agencies “specific instructions” to flush out miscreants invading Plateau rural communities. Atukum, who ruled Plateau from 1984 to 1985, said that the attacks were constituting a “huge economic sabotage”. “We are now in the farming season; if the attacks continue, farmers won’t go to the farm. That will lead to hunger and poverty,” he fumed.

    On his part, Mutfwang has consistently rehashed what his predecessors had always said – that the violence is targeted at land grabbing – vowing, however, that no Plateau land shall be ceded to anyone. While lamenting that many communities had been seized by the invaders, the Governor has promised to ensure that all displaced people return to their ancestral lands.

    Analysts believe that the governor’s current consultations will bring peace to the state and ward off recurrent distractions obstructing his focus toward building a greater Plateau.

  • 10 youngest presidents in the world

    10 youngest presidents in the world

    The position of presidency factorises age as a requirement. It is often believed that the older the president, the better the nation will be governed.

    However, there is a modern drift from that trend. Young, youthful and charismatic leaders are now emerging as presidents across the world. The age range of these leaders are more than between 35 to 49 years.

    Here are the ten (10) youngest presidents in the world.

    1. Ibrahim Traore (Burkinaso, age 37)

    Ibrahim Traore, the military leader of Burkina Faso

    Since September 30, 2022, Ibrahim Traoré has served as Burkina Faso’s military and acting leader. At the age of 34, Traoré staged a coup d’etat to remove Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, the previous interim president. Traoré, a 36-year-old Burkinabe leader who was born on March 14, 1988, is now Africa’s youngest president.

    . Daniel Noboa (Ecuador, age 37)
    Daniel Noboa Azín, the youngest president of republican Ecuador and modern Latin America, took over as head of the National Government at the age of 35. He was a member of the National Assembly before winning 52.1% of the vote in his first run for the presidency of the Republic on October 15, 2023.

    Jakov Milatovic (Montegnero, age 38)
    After serving as Minister of Economic Development in the 42nd Government of Montenegro (2020–2022), President Jakov Milatović created the Europe Now Movement! in June 2022 prior to his election.

    He became President of Montenegro on May 20, 2023.

    4. Gabriel Boric (Chile, age 39)

    In December 2021, Gabriel Boric, a Chilean politician and law graduate, defeated José Antonio Kast in the second round of the presidential election with 55.9% of the vote, becoming the youngest president in Chilean history and the seventh youngest state leader in the world. Boric has thus been the 37th president of Chile since 2022, having previously served two four-year terms as a deputy in the Chamber of Deputies.

    5. Mahamat Deby (Chad, age 41)

    (Photo by Denis Sassou Gueipeur / AFP)

    The son of a Gourane mother and Idriss Déby, the commander-in-chief of the Chadian Ground Forces at the time, Mahamat Déby was born in 1984.

    A politician and military officer from Chad, he has led the country since 2021. He served as the Transitional Military Council’s president from 2021 to 2022, then as Transitional President from 2022 to 2024, and finally as the country’s seventh president since 2024 after winning the presidential election.

    6. Assimi Goita ( Mali, age 41)

    Mali junta leader Assimi Goïta

    Colonel Goita was born in 1983. He was trained in Mali’s military schools and, notably, attended the Combined Military School of Koulikoro and the military Prytanee of Kati. He is the son of an officer in the Malian Armed Forces.

    He served as Mali’s Head of State from August 24 to September 25, 2020, and as president of the National Committee for the Salvation of the People beginning August 19, 2020. He served as the Transition’s vice president from September 25, 2020, to May 27, 2021. The following day, he became the President of the Transition.

    7. Vjosa Osmani (Kosovo, age 42)

    After serving as Speaker of Parliament and winning five consecutive terms as a Member of Parliament (MP) of the Republic of Kosovo, President Osmani was elected on April 4, 2021.

    Vjosa Osmani had initially been elected Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Kosovo on February 3, 2020, making her the first female Speaker of the Parliament before becoming president. From November 2020 to March 2021, she also held the position of Acting President of the Republic of Kosovo. She served as the deputy chair of the Committee on Constitutional Reform and as the chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs and European Integration during her prior tenure as an MP.

    8. Nayib Bukele (El Salvado, age 43)

    Nayib Bukele is El Salvador’s 81st president. Following several political initiatives, he soon established the Nuevas Ideas political party and ran for president in 2019. Bukele defeated the two major political forces for a lengthy period of power sharing when he campaigned for president with the Grand Alliance for National Unity (GANA) and won with 53% of the vote after the Supreme Electoral Court (TSE) denied his party’s registration.

    9. Bassirou Diomaye Faye (Senegal, age 45)

    Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye

    On March 25, 1980, Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye was born in the M’bour department of Ndiaganiao.

    His Excellency, The Republic of Senegal’s fourth president, Mr. Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye, took office on April 2, 2024, at the age of 44. Up until Ibrahim Traore of Burkina’s coup, he was the youngest democratically elected president of Africa, representing a new generation of leaders dedicated to modernity and transformation on the continent.

    10. Xavier Espot Zamora (Andorra, age 45)

    In the Antoni Martí administration, Xavier succeeded Rosa Ferrer Obiols as Minister of Social Affairs, Justice, and Interior from July 25, 2012, to February 28, 2019. To prepare for his bid to become prime minister in the 2019 general election, he resigned from his position as minister on February 28, 2019.

    Thus, on May 16, 2019, he was elected prime minister.

  • Blessing Nwachukwu’s Japa Story: Lost $30,000 to visa fraud, now a tech guru, US citizen

    Blessing Nwachukwu’s Japa Story: Lost $30,000 to visa fraud, now a tech guru, US citizen

    Blessing Nwachukwu had her life ahead of her when she decided to leave Nigeria for Russia at 21. Interestingly, her rough journey to Moscow in 2009 laid the foundation for a significant success story in the United States of America, USA.

    Leaving her fatherland with just $65 and a plane ticket to study at the People’s Friendship University of Russia, Blessing could only imagine herself landing in a greener pasture. But life didn’t immediately smile at her as she had thought.

    ‘It was rough’

    Recounting her rough journey to Russia, Blessing said in an interview with Vanguard, “I moved from Nigeria to Moscow, Russia, in 2009, when I was 21 years old. I moved with only $65, a plane ticket, my visa, and the usual two suitcases. But it was a very rough journey.”

    To survive in Russia, she resorted to selling food items sent by her mother and teaching herself how to make hair for profit despite having no prior experience.

    To augment her income, she took up a cleaning job for an American church, and when she had made enough money to settle her tuition, she decided to buy a laptop, paid for internet access and pleaded with the school to allow her to pay in installments.

    With the internet, she discovered there was a high demand for English teachers in Russia, who were paid well ($30-$100 per hour).

    “I chose to buy a laptop and an internet. With that I started applying for jobs. I noticed that they were looking for English teachers in Russia. It’s one of the most sought after professions and they pay really well. They used to pay like between $30 to $100. hour,” she said.

    Blessing’s teaching career significantly advanced when a Russian millionaire hired her to be a governess for his one-year-old daughter.This opportunity opened doors to teaching jobs with other wealthy families, and Blessing began training and referring other Nigerians, effectively carving out a significant niche in the market by offering more affordable rates than American teachers.

    According to her, she was earning a substantial $3,000 to $4,000 per month between 2010 and 2012.

    However, life in Russia presented significant challenges, including prevalent racism against black people, the extremely cold climate, and the lack of dual citizenship options at the time.

    “I was making a lot of money. But one day, I told myself I really could not stay in Russia because to be honest, at the time, I don’t know about now, Russians were not used to black people. So, there was a lot of racism going on,” she said.

    These challenges prompted her decision to start looking for other opportunities in Canada and the US.

    Sadly, her plans were tragically disrupted when her passport was stolen and she was scammed out of $30,000, her entire savings, including the money from her mother, by some dudes who promised her a Canadian visa.

    Realising her American dream

    Back in Nigeria, Blessing started the Blessy Jackson Show, a YouTube channel, and was also applying to a film school abroad.

    While she struggled to find her feet in the content business, her Russia-based best friend, Faithful advised her to return to Moscow to start her PhD programme.

    “My best friend Faithful, was very supportive during the time. She used to take care of me and sent me money from Moscow. She applied for me to do PhD. She paid $6,000 for everything — my tuition, my flight, everything, and brought me back,” Blessing said.

    In April 2014, Blessing’s dream came true. Her mother, who had just received her gratuity from the defunct Nigerian Electricity Power Authority (NEPA), asked her to return home and handed her an open check.

    She said, “My mother said ‘Tell me anywhere you want to go, and I’ll make it happen for you’. Faithful and I came back home. That was the time of Ebola. She paid for our trip to come back, which I’m glad I did because that was the longest I had ever stayed with her before she died.

    “She wanted me to decide what I wanted to do in my life. I always wanted to go to Canada. It was my dream country and I can’t explain why. I know nothing about the United States, but for some reason my spirit just picked the US. I’m not going to lie, I didn’t have an idea what I was going to do when I come to United States.”

    Making it in the US…

    Despite having been denied a US visa twice before and having Canada as her dream country, she decided to apply for a US visa again for film production after realizing her previous denials were likely due to applying for the same degree she already held.

    After getting her US visa, Blessing, in January 2015, went back to Moscow, terminated her PhD programme, packed her belongings and headed for the US.

    After settling in in Georgia, Blessing, motivated by the good salary her ex-husband earned in tech, transitioned into tech-related jobs, pursuing database administration and website development.

    She said, “When I saw the money my ex-husband was making in tech, it kind of motivated me to want to make that sort of money. So I shifted to database administration, from there I started creating website for companies. A lot of companies, small businesses not even big ones, would pay me over $2,000 to create a website for them. And when I saw that kind of money; I was like oh my God, I could have my own business creating websites and I could also be working for someone.”

    After making some good money in tech, she ventured into real estate, buying up properties at a time when people didn’t even care about properties in the US.

    “I started buying properties and turned them into Airbnbs and that’s how my money more than tripled.”

    Ten years after relocating to the US, Blessing’s tech and real estate business has pushed her net worth to over N3 billion.

    “My net worth is over $2 million to be honest — in properties and other things. And I’m doing really great.”

    When asked if she plans to return to Nigeria, the middle-aged lady, who is now a US citizen, said America has become her home.

    “This is where I want to reside till I pass on. It is where I want to be buried,” Blessing stated.

    TodayPriceNG News:

  • Wike visits China over water project for FCT satellite towns

    Wike visits China over water project for FCT satellite towns

    The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Mr Nyesom Wike, is enroute to China for a series of official engagements toward the provision of water for satellite towns in the FCT.

    Mr Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant to the minister on Public Communications and Social disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Thursday.

    Olayinka said that the minister was currently in  Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, en route to China.

    He explained that while in China, Wike would meet with officials of the China Geo-Engineering Corporation Overseas Construction (CGCOC) Group over the water project.

    He recalled that President Bola Tinubu had visited China in September 2024 and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) and CGCOC Group.

    The MoU, he said, was to improve electricity and water supply in the FCT, particularly in satellite towns.

    He added that projects were part of Tinubu’s agenda to renew the hope and confidence of FCT residents in the government, through the execution of people-oriented projects.

    He said that Tinubu had approved N50 billion for the provision of potable water in FCT satellite towns.

    The spokesman said that Wike’s trip to China was to finalise discussion with CGCOC on the project in fulfillment of Tinubu’s directive to ensure water supply in Gwagwalada, Kwali and Kuje area councils.

  • Edwin Clark was conscience of the nation, pillar of national unity – Ex-IGP Arase

    Edwin Clark was conscience of the nation, pillar of national unity – Ex-IGP Arase

    Former Inspector General of Police, Dr. Solomon Arase (Rtd), has paid glowing tribute to the late elder statesman, Chief (Pa) Edwin Clark, describing him as the “conscience of the nation” whose enduring legacy helped secure peace, stability, and unity in Nigeria—particularly within the often-restive Niger Delta region.

    In a heartfelt eulogy made available to Vanguard, Dr. Arase praised Pa Clark’s life of national service, hailing him as an iconic nationalist and a resolute believer in the Nigerian project who sacrificed relentlessly for the country’s peace and unity until his final days.

    “The passage of our dear Pa (Chief) Edwin Clark is, undoubtedly, a wound in the heart of the nation, the anguish of which not even time could heal, and the loss of which may never be repaired,” Arase wrote in a tribute titled “PA (CHIEF) EDWIN CLARK, CFR, CON: AN EULOGY TO AN ICONIC NATIONALIST.”

    Describing Pa Clark as “an authoritative repertoire of Nigeria’s socio-political history,” Arase noted that the late statesman’s fearless dissection of national issues, his unwavering principles, and his towering presence in both national and global spheres made him a treasured voice of wisdom and courage.

    As a founding leader of the Pan Niger Delta Development Forum (PANDEF), Arase said Clark’s leadership “guaranteed stability in a usually restless Niger Delta region and fostered national cohesion, security, and development across the country.”

    Despite being a proud Ijaw son, Clark, according to Arase, believed in the unity and progress of Nigeria as a whole. “He committed his entire life to projecting our national security and socio-economic interests,” Arase said.

    On a personal note, Arase reflected on the mentorship and wisdom he received from Pa Clark, whom he described as a “rich and ever-flowing fountain of wisdom.”

    “While the nation will miss this iconic nationalist, my family and I will treasure him eternally,” he added.

    Referencing words by Pope Francis and author Chuck Palahniuk, Arase concluded his tribute with a call for Nigerians to honor Pa Clark’s legacy not only in memory but by advancing his dreams for a just, united, and equitable nation.

    “His life and passage should challenge us to begin a new phase in our national evolution—a phase that will fulfill Pa Clark’s desire for cohesion, patriotism, peace, and justice. That is the true way to immortalize him.”

    “Adieu, Our Dearest Iconic Nationalist!” the former police chief concluded.

  • Tunisia opposition figures get prison terms in mass trial

    Tunisia opposition figures get prison terms in mass trial

    A Tunisian court handed down jail sentences of up to 66 years to multiple defendants, including prominent opposition figures, for national security offences, local media and a defence lawyer said Saturday.

    The trial, criticised by rights groups and decried by a defence lawyer as a “masquerade”, is of unprecedented scale with around 40 defendants including vocal critics of President Kais Saied.

    They were found guilty of “conspiracy against state security” and “belonging to a terrorist group”, and received sentences raging from 13 to 66 years, an official from the anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office told media outlets including Jahwara FM.

    Among those sentenced were well-known opposition figures, lawyers and business people, with some already in prison for two years while others were in exile or still free.

    Issam Chebbi and Jawhar Ben Mbarek of the opposition National Salvation Front coalition, as well as lawyer Ridha Belhaj and activist Chaima Issa were sentenced to 18 years behind bars, defence lawyer Abdessatar Messaoudi told AFP.

    Activists Khayam Turki was handed a 48-year term while businessman Kamel Eltaief received the harshest penalty of 66 years in prison, added the lawyer.

    Kamel Jendoubi, a rights advocate and former minister tried in absentia, slammed what he called a “judicial assassination” by the courts.

    “This is not a judiciary ruling, but a political decree executed by judges under orders, by complicit prosecutors and by a justice minister” who all serve “a paranoid autocrat”, charged Jendoubi.

    Since Saied launched a power grab in the summer of 2021, during which he assumed total control, rights advocates and opposition figures have decried a rollback of freedoms in the North African country where the 2011 Arab Spring began.

    On Friday evening, defence lawyers denounced the trial after the judge finished reading the accusations and began deliberation without hearing from either the prosecution or the defence.

    Samia Abbou, one of the lawyers, told AFP that there were “flagrant violations of judicial procedure” with the accused “not heard”, denouncing it as a “masquerade”.

    The hearing lasted much of the day, with media barred from the proceedings, along with foreign diplomats who had previously been admitted.

    Since proceedings began on March 4, lawyers for the defence have repeatedly called for all the defendants to appear in court, including at least six who have been on hunger strike.

    The lawyers denounced the case as “empty”, while Human Rights Watch said the trial was taking place in the context of repression with President Saied “weaponising the judicial system to target opponents and dissidents”.

    Analyst Hatem Natfi said in a post on X that any acquittal in the mass trial “would have negated the conspiratorial narrative that the regime has relied on since 2021” and “accepted by a large part of the population” relying on restricted media coverage.

  • Iyabo Ojo begged me not to come in a weird way – Pretty Mike

    Iyabo Ojo begged me not to come in a weird way – Pretty Mike

    Popular Lagos socialite and nightlife personality, Pretty Mike, has revealed that he initially planned a dramatic appearance at Priscilla Ojo’s star-studded wedding but had a change of heart after a heartfelt plea from the bride’s mother, Nollywood actress Iyabo Ojo, and her partner, Paulo Okoye.

    Pretty Mike, who is no stranger to flamboyant and headline-grabbing entrances, recently drew backlash for attending Obi Cubana’s birthday celebration with an entourage of 51 individuals dressed as zombies—a tribute to the 51 lives lost in the recent Plateau State massacre.

    Ahead of the wedding, Pretty Mike revealed that Priscilla had personally encouraged him to go big on her big day.

    However, her mother and stepfather-to-be urged caution, requesting he tone things down out of respect for their Tanzanian in-laws.

    In a post shared via his Instagram story, Pretty Mike explained:

    “My sister, the Bride @its.priscy said I should bring the heat tonite… The Bride’s Mother @iyaboojofespris saw me some days back and begged me not to come in a weird way, that her in-laws think she is wacko enough.”

    “Bride’s mother’s sugar daddy aka Obim @pauloo2104 called and asked me to tone it down small, but I should still give them a show. Some of my sisters that are on the train are rooting for me to bring fresh new attention to the atmosphere aka scatter everywhere as e dey hot.

    While some are using style to say, ‘Abeg don’t chase our Tanzania in-laws away.’”

    He concluded with a message to the couple’s new family ties:

    “Dear Tanzania in-laws, you did not just marry our sister and daughter; you married an entire nation. You will have to take us as we come…”

  • Things to know about Lt. Col. Anele Onyinyechi Appolonia, Nigeria’s first female army spokesperson

    Things to know about Lt. Col. Anele Onyinyechi Appolonia, Nigeria’s first female army spokesperson

    In a historic move that underscores the Nigerian Army’s evolving commitment to gender inclusion and professionalism, Lieutenant Colonel Anele Onyinyechi Appolonia has been appointed as the Acting Director of Army Public Relations — the first woman ever to hold the position.

    Her appointment, announced on April 22, 2025, marks a major milestone in the Army’s history, and her leadership is already generating widespread optimism for improved military-civil relations and strategic communication.

    Lt. Col. Anele brings a unique combination of military discipline and communication expertise to her new role. She is expected to lead reforms that will strengthen the Army’s public image and foster trust through: Enhanced Transparency: She has pledged to uphold core Army values while ensuring greater openness in communication with the public.

    Effective Communication: With a background in Mass Communication and Strategic Studies, she is well-equipped to manage media relations, social media, and public engagement.

    Public Engagement: Her experience in the Department of Civil-Military Relations and as a Public Relations Officer in the Office of the Chief of Army Staff positions her to deepen the Army’s connection with civilian populations.

    Promoting Gender Inclusion: Her elevation symbolizes a significant step forward for gender representation in the Nigerian military, potentially encouraging more women to pursue careers in defense communication.

    Strategic Leadership: Having completed an elite strategic course at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, she is poised to bring long-term vision and strategic depth to her responsibilities.

    Career and Educational Background

    A graduate of the prestigious Direct Regular Course 15, Lt. Col. Anele’s military foundation has been marked by discipline and strategic thinking. Her communication credentials are further reinforced by her membership in the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), underscoring her dual strength in operations and media strategy.

    Rising Through the Ranks

    Her professional journey has seen her take on numerous leadership roles within the Army’s public affairs and civil-military interface, earning her a reputation for excellence and commitment. She notably served as Public Relations Officer under the former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (Rtd), where she managed high-level media engagements and official communications.

    A Historic Appointment

    Following the redeployment of her predecessor, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, to the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre, Lt. Col. Anele was tapped for the prestigious spokesperson role — a testament to her capabilities and the growing recognition of merit over gender in military leadership.

    A Symbol of Progress

    Lt. Col. Anele’s appointment sends a powerful message to women in Nigeria and across Africa: that competence, resilience, and dedication can break long-standing barriers. As the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, she now oversees all official communications, shaping public perception of the Nigerian Army and serving as the key interface between the military and the media.

    Poised for Impact

    Described by peers as disciplined, intelligent, and proactive, Lt. Col. Anele is widely respected within both military and civil society circles. Though she maintains a modest public profile, her leadership style is expected to usher in a new era of transparency, strategic communication, and increased civic engagement for the Army.

    As she steps into this historic role, Lt. Col. Anele Onyinyechi Appolonia not only paves the way for women in uniform but also redefines what effective military communication can look like in modern Nigeria. Her journey is one to watch — for inspiration, innovation, and leadership in action.

  • Assassins came for Oyedepo, he was staring at them but they couldn’t see him – Daughter

    Assassins came for Oyedepo, he was staring at them but they couldn’t see him – Daughter

    Love Ogah, daughter of Bishop David Oyedepo, the founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, has recounted a harrowing childhood experience involving a failed assassination attempt on her father.

    Speaking during a sermon titled “Building a Successful Marriage,” which she shared on her Instagram page Tuesday, Mrs. Ogah reflected on a night from her school years when a group of armed men stormed their home in search of her father.

    “I remember when we were growing up—I believe I was in secondary school then—one particular night, we were visited in our house by hired killers,” she said. “They came to our house specifically, stating from the time they entered the gate, ‘We’re here to execute him.’ By ‘him’, they meant my father (Bishop David Oyedepo). Our house was like a war zone. They were like, ‘Where is he?’”

    According to her, the attackers searched the entire house for hours, unaware that the man they were looking for was watching them the entire time.

    “The most interesting thing I’ll never forget in my life, which has stuck with me since I was a child, was that he (Oyedepo) was looking at them the entire time, but they couldn’t see him,” she said. “They ransacked our house for hours. There was a time we hid behind the door, and at a particular point, they shut the door. The door hit my lip—my entire top gum came off, and my gum was dangling. They came ready to execute.”

    Despite the chaos, Oyedepo remained unharmed and hidden in plain sight. Mrs. Ogah described how, after the intruders left, family members were in disbelief when the bishop emerged from his room unscathed.

    “After they ransacked the whole house for hours, my aunt came into the house crying. She said, ‘Oh my God, I don’t know what would have happened. Oh my God, where is he?’ And my father came out of his room, and we all looked like it was a film trick. He said, ‘I was staring at them the entire time.’ They entered his room and ransacked everywhere—he was looking, but they couldn’t find him,” she recounted.

    Using the story as a metaphor for divine protection and spiritual resilience, Mrs. Ogah urged believers to deepen their personal relationship with God.

    “When you’re in the centre of God’s will for your life, challenges will come to test what you stand on. You can’t fake this thing forever,” she said.

    “And that’s why I’m begging you, for your destiny, to know God for yourself. There are plenty of enemies that want to execute you. But when you’re in God, you come from a place of victory. They can’t touch you.”

  • PwC shuts operations in nine African countries

    PwC shuts operations in nine African countries

    PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has announced the closure of its operations in nine Sub-Saharan African countries, citing the outcome of a strategic review aimed at streamlining its global network.

    The affected countries include Ivory Coast, Gabon, Cameroon, Madagascar, Senegal, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Republic of Guinea, and Equatorial Guinea. The move marks a significant pullback by the global professional services firm in the region.

    In a statement on its website, PwC said the decision was part of a broader strategy to concentrate on markets with long-term growth prospects. “We remain confident in the long-term growth potential of the continent,” the firm noted, emphasizing continued operations in key markets such as Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa.

    A report by the Financial Times, citing sources familiar with the matter, revealed that revenues in several local markets had dropped by over a third in recent years. The slump reportedly followed directives to sever ties with clients deemed high risk.

    Although PwC did not provide specific reasons for the exits, the firm is also grappling with reputational challenges elsewhere. In Saudi Arabia, for instance, the country’s $925 billion sovereign wealth fund recently halted engagements with PwC. Additionally, the firm has reportedly ended affiliations with member offices in Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Fiji.