Challenges Okpebholo to publish his own record as revenue, debt, education data reshape campaign battle Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, may have intended to turn Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke’s dancing into a campaign weapon, but the jibe has instead opened a fresh battle over governance records, with Adeleke’s defender challenging the Edo governor to produce his own scorecard. Okpebholo, who was campaigning for the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Osun State, Bola Oyebamiji, repeatedly mocked Adeleke as a “dancing governor” and accused him of paying insufficient attention to governance. But Paul Nosa Ogiehor, who said he was not…
Author: National Update
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Jibrin Okutepa, has raised the alarm over what he described as the dangerous degeneration of Nigeria’s legal profession, warning that lawyers who manipulate the justice system for partisan or selfish interests are helping to pave the way for democratic dictatorship. Okutepa, in a blistering intervention on the state of the profession via his X-Handle said the Nigerian Bar Association could no longer afford to look away as ethical standards, public confidence and the administration of justice come under increasing pressure. He also took aim at the conduct of some practising lawyers, accusing them of deploying “chameleon”…
Former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, has challenged the reported comments of Sheikh Yahaya Jingir on the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, warning against reducing Nigeria’s democracy to a contest over religious numbers. Dalung, in a strongly worded reaction, questioned the reported argument that continued support for a Muslim-Muslim ticket should be justified by the numerical strength of Muslims in the country. He described such reasoning as a dangerous departure from the central questions of democratic governance, arguing that the value of a political ticket should be measured by what it delivers to citizens rather than the religion of the…
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has rejected Senator Orji Uzor Kalu’s proposal for an amnesty for former public officials accused of looting public funds, urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to instead intensify the fight against corruption. HURIWA warned that granting amnesty in exchange for the return of allegedly stolen funds could institutionalise impunity and create an incentive for public officials to steal with the expectation that they could later return the money and escape prosecution. In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, the rights group said the return…
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has demanded an immediate forensic investigation into billions of naira allocated to Nigeria’s Safe Schools Initiative, following reports that at least 65 schools across northern Nigeria have been shut or rendered non-functional because of insecurity. The rights group described the situation as a national disgrace and questioned how terrorists, bandits and kidnappers continue to drive children out of classrooms more than a decade after the Safe Schools Initiative was launched in response to the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction. At the centre of HURIWA’s demand is a question it says government can no…
By Richard Elesho All eyes are on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to deliver free, fair, and credible general elections in 2027. Expectations are sky-high from Nigerians and the international community for the agency to usher Nigeria into a glorious era of electoral transparency and democratic consolidation. The expectations are not misplaced. The streak of improvements and excellent appraisals from the last two off-cycle guber elections in Anambra and Ekiti States formed its building block. Conducted between November 2025 and June 2026 under Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, who was appointed INEC boss in October 2025, those polls were adjudged…
The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has thrown its weight behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 15-year gas supply framework for UTM Offshore Limited, pledging to mobilise Niger Delta communities to support the take-off and long-term success of Nigeria’s first Floating Liquefied Natural Gas project. PANDEF National Chairman, Ambassador Godknows Igali, disclosed the forum’s commitment in a letter of appreciation to President Tinubu over the approval, describing the development as an opportunity to change the economic fortunes of the Niger Delta through indigenous participation in the gas industry. The proposed multi-billion-dollar FLNG project is planned for offshore Akwa Ibom State and…
Amirah Salihu became a lifeline for pregnant captives—but refused terrorists’ demand to remain with them For nearly six months, Amirah Salihu was not simply another captive in the forest. She became the woman other captives turned to when pregnancy, labour and childbirth arrived in a place without hospitals, medicines or even gloves. The Kwara nurse has revealed that she helped about 10 pregnant women deliver their babies during captivity, using her bare hands because there was no medical equipment available. But her ordeal took an even more disturbing turn when her abductors discovered that she was a trained nurse. According…
A cash trail allegedly linked to a terrorist leader has led security forces to two suspected logistics suppliers in Zamfara State, in one of the latest operations targeting the support networks sustaining terrorist activities across the North-West. The breakthrough came after troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, carried out coordinated operations across Zurmi, Birnin Magaji, Shinkafi and Maradun Local Government Areas on Friday. The operation began with the disruption of a suspected attack when troops, working with the Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal team, located and safely neutralised an Improvised Explosive Device near Jabanda village in…
The Circle of Friends Forum extends its warmest congratulations to Julian Osula, distinguished entrepreneur and widely celebrated as Nigeria’s Luxury King, as he marks his 60th birthday. The milestone represents six decades of life, enterprise, relationships and remarkable experiences, offering an opportunity to reflect on a journey defined by personal accomplishments, professional distinction and enduring friendships. Julian Osula has established himself as a prominent figure in Nigeria’s luxury industry. Through Julian’s Luxury, he has built a respected business and a strong reputation within the high-end luxury market, distinguished by quality, sophistication and excellence. Beyond his achievements in business, however, Julian…