In one long and black October day In the year of our loss, 2026 Death ran to the stage for a cameo And with a random pick, plucked From the tree of life, one of the luscious And fanciful fruits. Throwing Nollywood into another Fit of mourning, and a nation Into a fresh colour of grief. Cry? How long shall we cry Over the demise of our thespians Who mirror an alternate universe of bliss? With them we see our lives as creatures Creating our own realities to challenge The prevailing menace and stasis. When art imitates life we learn,…
Author: National Update
Operatives of the Kogi State Vigilante Service (KSVS) have arrested two suspected members of a syndicate allegedly targeting heavy-duty trucks and construction materials after a gun duel in Zariagi, Kogi State. The suspects, identified as Idris Muhammed, 38, and Musa Muktar, 33, were arrested at about 6am on Friday, October 23, following a two-week intelligence operation by the vigilante service. The service said other suspected members of the syndicate escaped during the operation with gunshot wounds. According to a statement issued on Saturday by the KSVS Public Relations Officer, Idris S. Idris, the suspects allegedly engaged operatives in a gun…
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has mocked the All Progressives Congress (APC) over what it described as a disappointing turnout at the ruling party’s Northwest zonal rally in Kaduna, alleging that the event exposed declining public support for President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general election. The ADC Presidential Campaign Council (ADC-PCC) accused the APC of relying on paid crowds and recycled campaign promises, claiming that the Kaduna Township Stadium remained sparsely occupied despite alleged mobilisation efforts across the seven Northwest states and beyond. In a statement signed by its Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, the council…
Shouts of joy and thanksgiving reportedly erupted across several countries on Friday as Pastor Chris Oyakhilome opened the final edition of the 2026 Healing Streams Live Healing Services, with participants sharing accounts of relief from pain, improved mobility and renewed hope. The three-day programme, which runs from October 23 to 25, brought together a global audience for worship, biblical teaching, testimonies and prayer ministrations led by the president of LoveWorld. The opening day featured Pastor Chris praying for people seeking healing in the Healing Lines before extending his ministration to participants joining remotely from different parts of the world. Organisers…
Victor Okorie, founder of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and National Chairman of the Igbo Agenda Dialogue, has criticised Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo over his decision to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027. Okorie described Soludo’s position as embarrassing and scandalous, accusing the governor of departing from the founding principles of the party that provided the platform for his emergence as governor. He spoke during an interview with Arise News on Friday, October 23, 2026, while reacting to Soludo’s support for Tinubu and his opposition to the presidential ambition of Peter Obi. According to Okorie, APGA…
By Salihu Othman Isah In Yoruba cosmology, the Iroko is not just a tree. It is a presence. It does not fall easily. It dominates the forest by its height, its depth, its quiet authority. When the wind rages, smaller trees bend, break, and scatter. The Iroko remains. That is Lade Bonuola. That is Ladbone. Last Wednesday, at the Lagos City Hall, the Nigerian press gathered not to mourn an Iroko, but to celebrate one. Oyinlade Bonuola, the legendary journalist’s journalist, editor’s editor, turned 80. And in that hall, chaired by Aremo Olusegun Osoba, himself a journalist-governor, with a book…
***Links local industrialisation to jobs, human dignity, fairer global trade Senator Neda Bernards Imasuen has called for a shift from Nigeria’s dependence on exporting raw materials to building industries that create jobs, retain wealth and improve living standards, warning that economic growth means little when producing communities fail to enjoy its benefits. Imasuen argued that the structure of international trade should be examined not only in terms of commercial transactions but also through its impact on human dignity, economic opportunity and the distribution of wealth between nations. The Edo South senator made the argument while addressing the Golden Rule Summit…
The Peter Obi Media Office has condemned an alleged AI-generated image purportedly depicting Peter Obi, Cardinal John Onaiyekan and Enugu State NDC governorship candidate, Sir Chinyeaka Oha, seeking Pope Leo XIV’s blessing for electoral victory, describing it as misleading and an attempt to drag the Catholic Church into partisan politics. In a statement issued on October 22, POMR spokesman, Idris Zekeri Jnr, urged political opponents to keep the Pope and the Catholic Church out of electoral campaigns, insisting that sacred religious institutions must not be exploited for political advantage. The office said the disputed image was deceptive and unwarranted, calling…
Security has been stepped up in Akwa Ibom State ahead of a solidarity rally organised by supporters of Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, in Uyo on Saturday. The rally, tagged a two-million-man march by its organisers, is expected to draw members of the NDC, Obidient Movement, OK Movement, Kwankwasiyya Movement and other support groups. The gathering is also expected to express support for the party’s Akwa Ibom governorship candidate, Hon. Michael Enyong, popularly known as Babantan, ahead of the 2027 general elections. Speaking at a press conference, Akwa Ibom Coordinator…
Eleven people have been confirmed dead after a trailer rammed into two cars and five motorcycles at Tashan Magarya Junction in Kumo, Akko Local Government Area of Gombe State. The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) confirmed the fatal crash, which occurred on the Gombe–Billiri road on Thursday. According to the incident report, the heavy-duty DAF trailer was travelling from Gombe towards Yola when it reportedly suffered brake failure, causing the driver to lose control at the junction. The runaway trailer crashed into two Volkswagen Golf cars and five motorcycles, leaving several people dead and others injured. The FRSC said its…