The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has condemned the abduction of a Catholic seminarian and another worshipper during Sunday Mass at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Inoyi, Affa, Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, describing the attack as proof that insecurity remains a major threat despite official assurances. In a statement issued on Monday by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, the rights group said the daring invasion of a church by armed kidnappers exposed serious gaps in the state’s security framework and demanded an immediate rescue operation to free the victims unharmed. HURIWA urged the Nigeria…
Author: National Update
Human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has reignited the long-running controversy over President Bola Tinubu’s educational records, suggesting the President should enrol in adult education or online learning programmes to obtain missing primary and secondary school qualifications. Sowore made the remarks on Monday outside the Federal High Court in Abuja after proceedings in his trial over alleged cyberbullying of the President, reviving a politically sensitive issue that has repeatedly surfaced in Nigeria’s electoral discourse. The activist mocked Tinubu over sections of documents submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that have drawn public…
The Catholic Bishop of Kafanchan Diocese, Most Rev. Julius Yakubu Kundi, on Monday delivered a scathing indictment of government over the worsening insecurity in Southern Kaduna, declaring that authorities had failed in their constitutional duty to protect citizens as 30 victims of a deadly terrorist attack were laid to rest. Speaking during a mass burial for 27 victims of last Sunday’s attack on Naridon community in Kauru Local Government Area, the bishop said the victims “should not have died,” insisting their deaths symbolised the state’s inability to safeguard innocent lives. Three other victims had been buried earlier, bringing the death…
Former Abia State Governor and Senator representing Abia North, Orji Uzor Kalu, has thrown his weight behind the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, saying the clerics remain among the few voices willing to tell President Bola Tinubu the truth, even when politicians around him may choose to do otherwise. Kalu said the Catholic Church’s interventions on national issues are driven by patriotism and a commitment to justice rather than partisan politics, urging the Federal Government to heed the bishops’ warnings instead of dismissing their criticisms. “The Catholic Church has always played a vital role in speaking truth to power. Whenever…
Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Fred Agbedi, has declared that Nigeria has suffered a steep decline under the All Progressives Congress (APC), urging the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to field former President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the 2027 election. Speaking on Arise Television, Agbedi said Jonathan remains the party’s preferred choice despite not appearing on the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) published list of presidential aspirants. He insisted the former president’s omission from the list does not signal his withdrawal from the race, explaining that the PDP has adopted a special approach because Jonathan is…
INEC Publishes 2027 Presidential Candidates’ Credentials, Sets Stage for Public Scrutiny The race for Nigeria’s 2027 presidency entered a decisive phase on Saturday as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released the personal particulars and academic credentials of the 19 presidential candidates and their running mates, opening the door for public scrutiny before campaigns officially commence on August 19. The publication of Form EC9, as required under Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act 2026, gives Nigerians and interested parties the opportunity to examine the educational qualifications, dates of birth, occupations and other information submitted by candidates seeking the country’s highest…
By Sonnie Ekwowusi For snubbing the Catholic bishops on July 28, the Tinubu administration is unlikely to return to power in 2027. No politician who has abused or ignored the Catholic bishops has emerged unscathed. Many years ago, a well-known politician in Enugu (name withheld) was alleged to have oppressed the Catholic Church in Enugu and confiscated some of its land. When efforts to recover the land from the politician failed, the then Catholic Bishop of Enugu was said to have pronounced a curse on him. It was further alleged that, from that moment, the politician’s life took a tragic…
Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has called on Christian and Muslim leaders across Nigeria to emulate the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) by confronting President Bola Tinubu with what he described as the harsh realities facing the country. In a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, Frank said the Catholic bishops distinguished themselves by openly raising concerns about Nigeria’s worsening economy, democratic governance and the nation’s political direction during their engagement with the President. He described the bishops’ intervention as a rare display of moral courage, insisting that religious leaders…
The presidential candidate of the National Democratic Coalition (NDC), Peter Obi, has celebrated veteran entertainer Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, and renowned environmentalist and adventurer Newton Jibunoh as two Nigerians whose lives exemplify courage, patriotism and unwavering commitment to national development. Obi paid the tribute after attending the launch of *999: The Memoir of Charly Boy* in Lagos and visiting the newly established Newton Jibunoh Centre and Museum in Asaba. He said Charly Boy’s unconventional public image has often overshadowed the depth of his character, describing the entertainer as an intellectual, compassionate humanitarian and patriot dedicated to making…
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has declared that the ongoing expansion and restructuring of the Nigerian Army must translate into a decisive military offensive against Boko Haram, ISWAP and other armed groups terrorising communities across the country. The rights group said the creation of four new Army divisions, appointment of fresh commanders and plans to improve troop welfare have raised public expectations that Nigeria’s security forces will now take the battle to criminal elements occupying parts of the country, rather than merely responding to attacks. In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA…