Defections to APC won’t end hunger, poverty  - Makinde - Newstrends
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Defections to APC won’t end hunger, poverty  – Makinde

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Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde
Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde

Defections to APC won’t end hunger, poverty  – Makinde

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has criticised the wave of defections from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing it as a distraction from Nigeria’s worsening economic hardship.

In his recent monthly newsletter, Makinde said while political actors are busy switching parties, millions of Nigerians are struggling to survive amid hunger, poverty and inequality.

“Political pundits are reading meanings into every handshake and silence,” Makinde wrote. “But for me, the only defection that truly matters is the one that has not happened yet, the defection of hunger. I will only be moved when hunger defects into the APC.”

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His comments follow the recent defection of Enugu Governor Peter Mbah and Bayelsa’s Douye Diri to the APC. Makinde said such moves have done nothing to ease Nigerians’ suffering.

“Families are making impossible choices daily. These are the real issues, not political realignments. It is hunger, not partisanship, that fuels frustration and hopelessness,” he stated.

The governor warned that any government policy that takes money out of people’s pockets pushes them further into poverty. “Policies divorced from the realities of hunger, unemployment, and loss of dignity are not policies worth defending,” he said.

Makinde recalled that the PDP once oversaw a period of relative prosperity, saying Nigerians still remember when salaries had value and hope was real. He urged the party to use its November national convention to “reset and reassert” its values, prioritising people over politics.

“No matter how many defections are engineered, Nigerians will decide the outcome of the 2027 elections,” he added. “Our task is to deliver relief where others have brought pain. The hunger gripping our nation will not last if we refuse to normalise it.”

Defections to APC won’t end hunger, poverty  – Makinde

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MURIC Congratulates Hamzat, Other Successful Candidates Across Party Primaries

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Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola
MURIC Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola

MURIC Congratulates Hamzat, Other Successful Candidates Across Party Primaries

 

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has congratulated the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, over his emergence as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

 

In a statement issued on Friday by the Executive Director of MURIC, Ishaq Akintola, the Islamic human rights organisation also congratulated candidates who emerged victorious in various primary elections across political parties and levels of contest.

 

MURIC described Hamzat’s emergence as a reflection of competence and credibility, noting that he successfully scaled through the party’s screening process and primary election.

 

According to the group, the Lagos deputy governor polled 657,917 votes in the APC governorship primary to defeat his rival, Olanrewaju Jim-Kamal, who secured one vote, while other aspirants, Abdul-Azeez Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, and Samuel Ajose, had earlier withdrawn from the race.

 

The organisation said it looked forward to Hamzat replicating the feat during the 2027 governorship election in Lagos State.

 

“MURIC heartily congratulates Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat for this great feat. We look forward to its replication at the 2027 general elections,” the statement said.

 

The group also commended the endorsement of Hamzat by APC leaders and the support reportedly given to his candidature by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

 

While extending congratulations to other successful aspirants in governorship, senatorial and other primary elections, MURIC urged political stakeholders not to sideline Muslims in the search for competent leaders.

 

The organisation argued that highly skilled Muslims exist in all sectors and should be given equal opportunities in political appointments and elective positions.

 

“MURIC reaffirms its earlier position that there is no desertification of expertise in Islamdom. Highly skilled Muslims exist in all fields of human endeavour,” the statement added.

 

The group warned against what it described as the monopoly of public offices by Christians under the guise of searching for competence, stressing that Muslims also possess the capacity to excel in leadership positions.

 

To support its position, MURIC cited the achievements of Ishaq Oloyede at the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), as well as the contributions of former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami.

 

According to the organisation, both individuals demonstrated excellence in public office while also being respected Islamic scholars.

 

MURIC Congratulates Hamzat, Other Successful Candidates Across Party Primaries

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EFCC Arraigns ‘Mama Boko Haram’, Two Others Over Alleged N42 Million Fraud

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EFCC Arraigns ‘Mama Boko Haram’, Two Others Over Alleged N42 Million Fraud

EFCC Arraigns ‘Mama Boko Haram’, Two Others Over Alleged N42 Million Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a woman popularly known as “Mama Boko Haram” alongside two others over an alleged fraud involving N42 million.

The defendants were brought before a Federal High Court on charges bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretences and alleged diversion of funds.

According to the anti-graft agency, the suspects allegedly collected the sum from victims under questionable circumstances, with investigators accusing them of involvement in fraudulent financial dealings linked to false representations.

The EFCC told the court that the alleged offences contravened provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act as well as other relevant laws.

During the court proceedings, prosecutors presented the charges against the defendants, who pleaded not guilty to the allegations.

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Following their plea, counsel to the accused persons reportedly applied for bail, urging the court to grant them liberal conditions pending the commencement of trial.

The prosecution, however, opposed parts of the application and requested adequate measures to ensure the defendants remain available for trial.

After listening to submissions from both parties, the court adjourned the matter to a later date for hearing on the bail application and commencement of trial.

The EFCC said investigations into the alleged fraud and related transactions are ongoing.

The case has attracted public attention largely because of the nickname “Mama Boko Haram,” which has generated widespread reactions on social media and among observers following the court proceedings.

The anti-corruption agency has continued to intensify efforts against financial crimes, cyber-related offences and alleged diversion of public and private funds across the country.

EFCC Arraigns ‘Mama Boko Haram’, Two Others Over Alleged N42 Million Fraud

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Businessman Sues Ex-Wife Over Refusal to Leave His House Five Years After Divorce

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Businessman Sues Ex-Wife Over Refusal to Leave His House Five Years After Divorce

Businessman Sues Ex-Wife Over Refusal to Leave His House Five Years After Divorce

A businessman, Abibu Yakubu, has filed a petition against his ex-wife at the Upper Area Court 1, Karu, over alleged refusal to leave his house after divorce.

Yakubu is also seeking custody of his four children.

He filed the case against his estranged wife, Shuwadatu Mohammed, on October 13, 2025.

According to the particulars of claim, Yakubu, who resides at Orange Market, Mararaba, Karu LGA, said the respondent is his ex-wife and also resides at the same address.

He averred that the respondent does not respect him and his parents and often insults them.

He said that the marriage is blessed with four children aged 22, 19, and a set of six-year-old twins.

Yakubu alleged that he divorced his wife about five years ago but she refused to vacate his house.

He claimed she said she would not leave until she killed him.

He further alleged that the respondent occupied his house and threatened his life, adding that he no longer sleeps with his eyes closed.

The petitioner told the court that the ongoing dispute has created fear and tension in his daily life.

He prayed the court to hold the respondent responsible if anything happens to him.

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The petitioner also asked the court for a re-dissolution of the marriage and custody of the four children.

The Judge, Mohammed Yakubu, after hearing the matter, adjourned the case until June 3, 2026, for continued hearing.

Under Nigerian law, disputes over property after divorce are governed by several key principles.

For a property to be considered in asset distribution, it must generally have been acquired during the subsistence of the marriage.

Properties acquired before the marriage or after its dissolution are typically excluded.

The court also considers factors such as each spouse’s contribution to acquiring the property, including non-financial contributions like homemaking and child-rearing.

In this case, Yakubu claims the house belongs to him and seeks its vacant possession.

His ex-wife’s refusal to leave, despite the divorce being finalized five years ago, forms the crux of the dispute.

On the issue of child custody, Nigerian courts prioritize the welfare and best interests of the child.

Factors considered include the child’s age, health, education, emotional well-being, and the ability of each parent to provide proper care and stability.

For younger children, courts often prefer that they stay with the mother unless there is a compelling reason to decide otherwise.

Joint custody is often encouraged to ensure that both parents remain involved in the child’s life.

In a similar case, a man named Quadri dragged his ex-wife, Gbemisola, before a Grade A Customary Court in Mapo, Ibadan, over illegal possession of his properties.

Quadri stated that Gbemisola had been in possession of his three-bedroom apartment and shop for more than one year after the court had pronounced their marriage dissolved.

He regarded his ex-wife as either a tenant or a trespasser since they were no longer husband and wife.

Gbemisola, however, refused to be addressed as a tenant, explaining that she contributed N650,000 to the construction of the two properties.

She insisted that the properties be sold and the proceeds shared among her, her ex-husband, and their children.

The court president, Mrs. S.M. Akintayo, ruled that the defendant had no right to still be in possession of both properties since the court had dissolved their union.

Akintayo ordered the defendant to vacate the three-bedroom apartment and shop on or before September 12, 2025.

The Karu court is scheduled to resume hearing on June 3, 2026.

The judge will consider Yakubu’s claims of threats and his ex-wife’s alleged refusal to vacate.

The court may also address the custody request for the couple’s four children.

If the court rules in Yakubu’s favour, his ex-wife could be ordered to leave the property.

The case highlights the challenges some individuals face in enforcing property rights after divorce in Nigeria.

Businessman Sues Ex-Wife Over Refusal to Leave His House Five Years After Divorce

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