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Atiku under fire over anti-Yoruba, Igbo comment

Published

3 years ago

October 17, 2022

Atiku Abubakar

Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has come under fire over comment that northerners needed someone from the north and not a Yoruba nor Igbo candidate in 2023.

Answering questions during an interactive session organised by the Arewa Joint Committee for presidental candidates in Kaduna, Atiku said: “I have traversed the whole of this country. I know the whole of this country. I have built bridges across the whole of this country.

“I think what the northerners need is someone who is from the north and also understands the other parts of Nigeria, who has built bridges across the country. This is what a northerner needs. He doesn’t need a Yoruba candidate or an Igbo candidate.”

His comment has drawn backlash with many accusing him of canvassing for votes along ethnic lines while claiming to be a unifier.

Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, described him as an ethnocentric opportunist.

Asiwaju, in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, director, Media & Publicity, Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), emphasised that Atiku lacked the rectitude to make such claim.

“The statement of PDP’s presidential candidate, Atiku to the effect that Northerners don’t need a Yoruba or Igbo president is the worst expression of ethnocentric opportunism ever uttered by a former Nigerian Vice President,” Tinubu fired in the opening paragraph. This clearly demonstrates how low a man honoured with the second highest office of the Nigerian Constitution is willing to sink in search of a perennial wild goose chase after the highest office in the land.

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“It confirms the argument that Atiku has feasted on such base, cheap, primordial sentiments to use the masses and the elite of the North as the ladder to ascend to power since 1989 without any dividends to show.

“In clear terms, Atiku who stole the PDP ticket, by a similar mindset, has cast himself as a northern candidate, who should solely be supported by the people from his region. We view Atiku’s public declaration which framed him as an ethnic and regional champion as unbecoming for a man who was once a Vice-President of Nigeria.

“But we are not surprised by his desperate position. Atiku has resorted to whipping up ethnic sentiments, knowing that his chances of being elected have become a mirage. He has himself, not anybody else, to blame for his expected electoral misfortune. First, he broke the fundamental rules of power rotation in his party and the country.

“As if this cardinal sin was not enough, the PDP candidate has remained defiant in the face of pressure by preserving the two topmost posts in his party for people from his region.”

Former vice president of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Kingsley Moghalu, said Atiku saying what the north needed was a northerner to be president was a direct appeal to divisive ethnic sentiment and a denigration of the largest ethnic groups in Southern Nigeria.

“I was very disappointed to view the video clip of Atiku Abubakar, a former Vice-President of Nigeria, telling an audience in Kaduna that what the North needs is a northerner to be President, and not a Yoruba or Igbo candidate.

“I have a lot of respect for Atiku who, despite his flaws (which all the other leading contenders also have), I have always regarded as a truly cosmopolitan politician in our country.His reference to his “building bridges” across the country does not negate his clear message

“That message was a direct appeal to divisive ethnic sentiment and a denigration of the largest ethnic groups in Southern Nigeria. I think he should withdraw the statement and apologize to Nigerians for it. All candidates in the 2023 presidential election must avoid ethnic or other divisive sentimental appeals,” he said.

In the same vein, founder of Stanbic IBTC, Atedo Peterside, said Atiku misspoke.

“My take is that mistakes will be made by the candidates between now and February 2023. How they own up to and manage their mistakes may well be the difference,” he said.

Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of the APC described the utterances by Atiku as tomfoolery and threat to national unity.

Director of New Media for the PCC, Femi Fani-Kayode, on his verified Facebook page, attacked the comment as insulting irresponsible and despicable.

He emphasised that unlike Atiku and members of his divided party that do not see Southerns as slaves, many northerners regard the southerners as being equal

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“Such tomfoolery is rarely not seen from the worst amongst us. Atiku’s word are not only unacceptable but also insulting, irresponsible and despicable,” he said

Tinubu interact with Northern leaders

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will today honour the invitation of leaders from north under the auspices of Arewa Joint Committee for an interactive session.

The meeting is part of a wider interaction with selected presidential candidates to discuss their plans for the region, ahead of the 2023 general elections.

The event, which holds at the Arewa House in Kaduna, is organised by a coalition of six groups and institutions from the North. They include the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Arewa House, Jam’iyyar Matan Arewa and Arewa Research and Development Project.

A statement by Tinubu Media Office on Sunday said the APC presidential candidate would attend the event as part of his decision to engage all segments of the Nigerian society with his campaign message of hope, national unity and prosperity.

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Court Orders DIA to Produce Cleric Accused of Coup Plot by February 18

Published

12 hours ago

February 13, 2026

Trends Admin

Sheikh Sani Abdulkadir Zaria

Court Orders DIA to Produce Cleric Accused of Coup Plot by February 18

A Federal High Court in Abuja has directed the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) to produce Sheikh Sani Abdulkadir Zaria, an Islamic cleric accused of plotting a coup against President Bola Tinubu’s government, before the court on February 18, 2026. The order follows a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed on behalf of the cleric challenging the legality of his detention.

Justice Peter Lifu emphasised that in a democratic society, all security and intelligence agencies are subordinate to civil authority, noting that every citizen is entitled to protection under Sections 36(1), (5), and (6) of the 1999 Constitution. He also reminded authorities that Nigeria’s commitments to international human rights conventions require strict adherence to lawful detention procedures.

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The suit, filed by Sheikh Zaria’s legal team led by Sunusi Musa (SAN), Abdul Aliyu (SAN), and Mohammed Sheriff, names the DIA, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, and Jaiz Bank Plc as respondents. The lawyers are seeking either the cleric’s release or an explanation for his continued detention.

During Thursday’s hearing, DIA counsel I.O. Odom Esq informed the court that the cleric was being held on behalf of the Defence Headquarters, but could not provide a valid detention order. The EFCC’s counsel, M.C. Odimbaiwe Esq, supported this position. Justice Lifu adjourned the matter and set February 18 for the DIA to produce Sheikh Zaria or justify his detention, warning that failure to do so could influence the outcome of the rights enforcement case.

Family sources linked Sheikh Zaria’s detention to an ₦2 million gift sent to the cleric’s account by an adherent connected to a suspect in the broader coup allegation. Since December 11, 2025, the cleric has reportedly been held in “safe custody” without access to family or associates, prompting his lawyers to argue that his fundamental rights have been violated.

The case underscores ongoing concerns about civil liberties, human rights, and lawful detention in Nigeria, particularly in high-profile national security investigations. The court’s ruling will be closely watched as it addresses the balance between state security and individual rights.

Court Orders DIA to Produce Cleric Accused of Coup Plot by February 18

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End of Weekly Shutdown: Igboho Advocates Negotiation to Resolve Kanu’s Legal Battle

Published

12 hours ago

February 13, 2026

Trends Admin

Yoruba nation activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho and Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu

Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu and Yoruba nation activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho

End of Weekly Shutdown: Igboho Advocates Negotiation to Resolve Kanu’s Legal Battle

Yoruba nation activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has called on the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, to engage in constructive dialogue with the Federal Government following the formal end of the controversial Monday sit‑at‑home directive across the South‑East region.

In a statement issued on Friday by his legal counsel, Pelumi Olajengbesi, Igboho applauded Kanu for suspending the weekly protest, which had disrupted economic and social activities in the region for over five years. The directive, first introduced in August 2021, led to periodic shutdowns of markets, offices, schools, and transport services, severely affecting local businesses and daily life.

Describing the suspension as a “thoughtful and necessary” step, Igboho noted that ending the sit‑at‑home signals a shift toward constructive engagement and could help restore stability and economic normalcy in the South‑East. He said the move represents the conclusion of a five-year period of economic disruption that has hampered growth and development in the region.

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Beyond applauding the abolition of the civil disobedience measure, Igboho urged Kanu to adopt a conciliatory approach, opening channels for mediation and negotiation with the Federal Government. He emphasised that sustained dialogue could help break the deadlock surrounding Kanu’s legal battle and potentially pave the way for a political resolution to longstanding grievances.

Igboho also warned that those who profit from the destabilisation and violence in the South‑East should desist, highlighting the importance of peace for the economic recovery and prosperity of the region and the nation at large.

“This is a critical moment for the South‑East. True progress depends on dialogue, compromise, and the willingness of all parties to engage constructively,” the statement read. Igboho’s remarks reflect a growing call among activists and stakeholders for peaceful resolution and collaboration to ensure lasting stability in the region.

The end of the Monday sit‑at‑home has been welcomed by several civil society groups and business leaders, who view it as a key step toward restoring normalcy, resuming commerce, and promoting social cohesion in the South‑East.

End of Weekly Shutdown: Igboho Advocates Negotiation to Resolve Kanu’s Legal Battle

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EFCC Nabs Three in Borno Over Viral ₦500 Naira Mutilation Video

Published

13 hours ago

February 13, 2026

Trends Admin

The suspects were arrested following a viral video circulated on social media where they were seen cleaning mucus from their noses using N500 Naira notes

EFCC Nabs Three in Borno Over Viral ₦500 Naira Mutilation Video

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested three suspects in Maiduguri, Borno State, over alleged naira mutilation following a viral social media video showing them misusing the Nigerian currency.

In a statement issued on Thursday by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the anti-graft agency disclosed that the suspects — Adam Muhammad, Muhammad Muhammad, and Bashir Musa — were apprehended by operatives of the EFCC’s Maiduguri Zonal Directorate.

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According to the commission, the trio was seen in a widely circulated video cleaning mucus from their noses using ₦500 naira notes, an act described as abuse and defacement of the national currency.

The statement said the suspects were traced and arrested within the Maiduguri metropolis shortly after the video surfaced online and triggered public reactions.

They are currently being held at the EFCC’s Maiduguri detention facility while investigations continue. The commission added that the suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.

Under the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act, abuse, defacement, spraying, or improper handling of the naira constitutes an offence punishable under Nigerian law. The EFCC has in recent months intensified its crackdown on cases involving naira abuse and currency mutilation across the country.

The latest arrest underscores the agency’s renewed enforcement drive aimed at protecting the integrity of Nigeria’s legal tender.