Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has warned groups and individuals calling for secession as a result of growing insecurity and perceived injustice, saying Nigeria cannot afford another civil war.
Indeed, the Vice President declared that agitation for disintegration could lead to a war without end and urged the political elite to rise up in defence of national unity.
Osinbajo, who spoke on Wednesday in Anambra State, received the support of two prominent traditional rulers – the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, with both royal fathers cautioning against calls for secession.
Osinbajo spoke during a meeting with All Progressives Congress governorship aspirants in Anambra State.
He expressed worry over the silence of the elite on the spate of attacks in the South-East and other parts of the country.
At the session organised by Anambra APC patriots, led by Dozie Ikedife, the Vice President said Nigeria should avoid “a war without end.”
He said, “Everyone who thinks they have some monies stored up somewhere, will eventually run out of money. Everyone who thinks they can go and hide somewhere, won`t even find a place to hide. In the end, everyone will suffer.
“Even if you don’t suffer, your parents, children, young and old people and your relations will suffer. We cannot afford a war in this country, we can`t afford it.”
The Vice President said the failure of the elite to act now would expose the country to danger.
He said, “I pray that our country will never know conflict, but I know that every conflict is as a result of elite failure to speak up the truth and tell the truth to their communities.
“If we don`t speak up against disunity, if we keep quiet and remain under the radar, the enemies of peace and those who want to promote disunity will have their way. And when this happens, we will find ourselves running helter shelter.”
At another event in Lagos, Osinbajo, the Sultan, the Ooni and the APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, attributed rising agitations and dissatisfaction across the country to illiteracy and misinformation.
They spoke at the presentation of a book titled ‘Islam in Yorubaland: History, Education and Culture’, by the Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN).
Osinbajo said it was saddening that those who are ill-informed have taken the mantle of demanding separation and promoting issues capable of pitching Nigerians against one another in a bid to achieving their agenda.
He argued that though the country was facing challenges and that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration was exploring different options to bring about lasting solutions, Nigerians should support the government by shunning divisive rhetoric and their promoters.
The Vice President at the Lagos forum was represented by the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu.
He urged religious and traditional rulers to continue supporting the government in amplifying the message of peace and religious tolerance.
Sultan Abubakar said apart from history, religious leaders and scholars in Nigeria must feed their followers with the truth and the true meaning of the faiths they profess.
He called for religious tolerance to foster harmony across the country.
The monarch said it had become imperative for stakeholders to initiate policies that would bring down misinformation on religious differences.
Sultan Abubakar said calling for secession at the time Nigeria is seeking to fix its security apparatus.
Oba Ogunwusi also called for harmonious relationship among all tribes irrespective of their religious background. He called for unity among Nigerians.
He urged other regions to learn from the religious harmony in the South-West.
According to him, hardly is there a family in Yorubaland without having Muslims and Christians among them.
Despite this, Oba Ogunwusi said, it was rare finding people fighting over religion in the region.
Asiwaju Tinubu called for unity among Nigerians in the face of insecurity.
He urged Nigerians to support the Federal Government’s efforts at quelling insurgents and banditry in the country.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo at a different forum expressed optimism that the nation would soon overcome its security challenge.
He called for prayers for the nation to overcome the security situation.
He spoke at the 108th Annual Convention of the Nigerian Baptist Convention held at the Baptist International Conference Centre, KM 54 Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Obasanjo said, “On the situation we are in the country, I am an incurable optimist about a number of things particularly about Nigeria. The situation in Nigeria threatening but we won’t be consumed by it.
“Keep praying that the situation will only be threatening, but we won’t be overcome by it. May we continue to prosper. Continue to pray for the nation’s leaders towards surmounting its challenges.
“The issue of insecurity is a very big challenge. We need prayers; we need you to continue to pray for the leaders in this country and continue to do your bit because the government alone cannot do it.”
Barcelona beat Atletico to set up cup final against Real Madrid
It will be the eighth time there has been an El Clasico in the Spanish Cup final, with the nation’s two most successful club sides set to meet on 26 April in Seville.
Ferran Torres’ first-half effort proved decisive for Barcelona at Metropolitano Stadium, with the Spain forward poking the ball past Argentine goalkeeper Juan Musso after Lamine Yamal’s superb pass had split the home defence.
It was no more than the visitors deserved, with 17-year-old Yamal a constant source of danger and Raphinha also twice threatening to extend Barca’s lead.
Unlike the thrilling first-leg tie in February, when Diego Simeone’s side twice scored late on in a dramatic 4-4 draw, this was a tighter and more tense affair without the grandstand finish from Atletico.
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The hosts did have opportunities.
Substitute Alexander Sorloth elected to shoot instead of squaring the ball to Antoine Griezmann for a tap-in, while the Norway forward was also ruled offside after rattling in what he thought was an equaliser.
However, in truth, Atletico were second best to Hansi Flick’s side for long periods, with the record 31-time winners always appearing relatively comfortable as they extended their unbeaten run to 21 games across all competitions.
The Catalan club remain the only side in Europe’s top-five leagues yet to lose in 2025 and remain on course for a potential quadruple.
Barca, who have already won the Spanish Super Cup this term, lead the La Liga table by three points from Real Madrid.
They also host Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on 9 April (20:00 BST).
Meanwhile, the final against Carlo Ancelotti’s team in Seville will come just over two weeks before a potentially pivotal fixture between the clubs in the Spanish top flight.
Wike congratulates Okpebholo on tribunal victory
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has congratulated Gov. Monday Okpebholo of Edo on his victory at the tribunal.
The Edo Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, sitting on Wednesday, affirmed Okpebholo as the duly elected governor of Edo.
A three-member panel, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, dismissed the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, against the election outcome.
The petition challenged the result of the governorship election held on Sept. 21, 2024 but was struck out by the tribunal for lack of merit.
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Reacting, Wike, in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, urged the governor to remain focused on delivering good governance.
He advised Okpebholo not to be distracted but to remain dedicated to serving the people of Edo.
Wike described the tribunal’s ruling as a confirmation of the mandate freely given to Okpebholo by Edo voters.
The minister expressed confidence in the governor’s ability to bring relief and development to the state.
“This victory belongs to the people of Edo who elected, as their governor, Okpebholo.
“I believe in him, and with the way he has started, his government will positively impact Edo and its people,” he added.
(NAN)
Teacher arrested in Osun for allegedly molesting 7-year-old pupil
22-year-old male school teacher, Rufai Akorede, has been arrested in Ilesa, Osun State, by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for allegedly molesting a seven-year-old female pupil.
The NSCDC stated that Akorede is accused of “thrusting his manhood” into the child’s mouth in a classroom after school.
Following a report, the Osun NSCDC Commandant, Igbalawole Sotiyo, ordered an immediate investigation, which revealed the alleged molestation began in 2024, according to a statement signed by the state command’s public relations officer, Kehinde Adeleke.
According to NSCDC, in his confessional statement, Akorede admitted to the crime, explaining that after school hours, he instructed the victim to close the windows in the classroom before assaulting her.
“The second incident happened on March 20, 2025, after school hours. It was only the teacher and the girl who were in the class, and he pressed her buttocks,” Adeleke said.
Akorede was arraigned before the Magistrate Court in Ilesa, Osun State, on March 26, 2025, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges and was remanded in the correctional centre. The trial has been adjourned.
In a separate case, 20-year-old Tiamiyu Samuel was arrested for allegedly having unlawful carnal knowledge of a 12-year-old girl in Gbongan, Osun State.
Adeleke, the NSCDC spokesperson, stated that Samuel had known the victim for three years and, after she rejected his advances, forcibly dragged her into his room on March 23, 2025, with the help of an accomplice.
The suspect allegedly threatened the victim with a cutlass before assaulting her, causing the victim to bleed. He then threatened to kill her if she told anyone.
“The accomplice is currently at large but will be apprehended to face the consequences of his actions. The suspect admitted committing the offence and a medical report confirms that the victim’s hymen was broken,” Adeleke said.
The NSCDC has assured the public that once the investigation is concluded, the suspect will be charged in court.
The Osun NSCDC urged parents and guardians to remain vigilant and safeguard their children from such predatory individuals. The Commandant also warned that those engaging in such heinous acts will face severe consequences
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