Political tension is at a boiling point in Osun State as violent clashes between supporters of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) over local government control turn deadly.
Amid the unrest, former APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Timi Frank, has sounded the alarm, accusing the APC of orchestrating chaos to justify a federal takeover of the state.

In a strongly worded statement issued on Monday, Frank called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and rein in Minister of Marine and Blue Economy and former Governor Gboyega Oyetola, whom he accuses of fueling the crisis. According to Frank, Oyetola and his allies are deliberately stoking violence in a bid to make Osun ungovernable for Governor Ademola Adeleke, creating grounds for a state of emergency declaration.

“Their major target is to declare a state of emergency because they know that if elections are held today, Governor Adeleke will still win,” Frank stated. “So they want to abort his second term through crisis and violence.”

The crisis stems from a contentious Court of Appeal ruling, which both the APC and PDP interpret differently regarding the reinstatement of sacked local government chairmen. While Governor Adeleke has insisted that security concerns make their return impossible, Oyetola has vowed to enforce the ruling through legal channels.

The APC National Secretary, Dr. Ajibola Basiru, escalated tensions further by suggesting on live television that the Federal Government should consider declaring a state of emergency in Osun to curb the violence.
Frank, however, sees this as a calculated move to use federal might to undermine Adeleke’s administration.

“We call on the people of Osun to stand with Governor Adeleke and resist this political coup disguised as a crisis,” Frank urged. “This is nothing but an attempt to take Osun by force because APC knows they can’t win the state through the ballot box.”

As uncertainty looms, Osun residents watch closely to see whether the Federal Government will step in to douse the flames or if the crisis will spiral further, threatening the state’s stability.

Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs, Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan, has called for greater gender equity in global security and governance.
She made this strong appeal at the 2025 Munich Security Conference (MSC), where she joined world leaders to discuss the challenges facing women in leadership and peacebuilding.

Speaking on a high-profile panel alongside Kosovo’s President Vjosa Osmani, former Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin, and EU Commissioner Hadja Lahbib, Akpoti Uduaghan stressed the urgent need for inclusive governance and gender-sensitive security policies.

“The exclusion of women from decision-making isn’t just unfair—it’s a security risk. To build lasting peace, women must not only be at the table but leading the discussions that shape our future.”

A statement from her media office on Sunday in Abuja highlighted the senator’s concerns over the growing global backlash against women’s participation in leadership, warning that this trend threatens long-term stability and development.
Bringing an African perspective to the discussion, Akpoti Uduaghan shed light on the systemic challenges Nigerian women face in politics, ranging from intimidation to exclusion and political violence.
She called for stronger policies to protect women and create an enabling environment for their active participation in governance.
“The backlash against gender inclusivity in politics and security is not just a setback for women; it is a setback for global development.
“The world must move beyond rhetoric and take concrete actions to ensure that women are not just included in peace and security discussions but are given equal opportunities to lead and influence policies.”
The MSC panel, moderated by a senior policy expert, saw a robust exchange of ideas on gender-based discrimination, political violence, and the role of women in conflict resolution.
President Osmani shared insights from Kosovo’s experience in advancing women’s leadership.
Sanna Marin pointed to the Nordic model of gender inclusivity as a global benchmark.

Commissioner Lahbib reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to integrating women in crisis preparedness and security frameworks.
As the conference wrapped up, there was a unanimous agreement that reversing gender regression requires policy reforms, international cooperation, and sustained efforts to empower women in governance and security.

Senator Akpoti Uduaghan’s participation at MSC 2025 reinforces her growing influence as a global advocate for women’s rights, governance reform, and inclusive security policies. Her message was clear: a just, stable, and peaceful world cannot be achieved without women at the forefront of decision-making.

Prominent Nigerians, including diplomats, military officials, and government representatives, have called for a thorough investigation following allegations by U.S. Congressman Scott Perry that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been funding terrorist organizations, including Boko Haram.

Perry, a Republican lawmaker from Pennsylvania, made the claim during a congressional hearing on government waste, stating that USAID channels approximately $697 million annually to groups such as Boko Haram, ISIS, and Al-Qaeda. His remarks, captured in a viral video, have sparked widespread reactions in Nigeria.

Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, recently expressed concerns over the funding sources of terrorist groups operating in the country, emphasizing that foreign currencies have been found on captured insurgents.

Reacting to Perry’s claims, former Nigerian Ambassador to Brazil and Argentina, Dele Cole, called for a detailed investigation, questioning whether such funds were given directly to Nigerian entities. Former Minister of Education, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, urged the government to engage with international partners to verify the allegations and take necessary action if proven true.

Retired Brigadier General George Emdin described Perry’s claims as longstanding suspicions within security circles, while Bashir Ahmad, a former aide to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, suggested that Nigeria and other affected nations should seek compensation from the U.S. for the devastation caused by terrorism.

However, the Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Prof. Eghosa Osaghae, advised caution, emphasizing that Nigeria should await concrete evidence before making formal diplomatic moves.

With the allegations fueling concerns over foreign aid oversight and national security, there is growing pressure on the Nigerian government to investigate the claims and ensure that international funds do not contribute to sustaining terrorism in the country.