Don't play politics with insecurity in South-West, OPC warns - Newstrends
Connect with us

News

Don’t play politics with insecurity in South-West, OPC warns

Published

on

The Oodua People’s Congress has advised the Presidency and Arewa Consultative Forum against playing politics and ethnicity with the worrisome state of security in the South West, and has offered to assist Governor Rotimi Akeredolu in enforcing the deadline issued to herdsmen to vacate forest reserves in Ondo State.

Otunba Wasiu Afolabi, also known as Askari, the Deputy President to late OPC Founder, Dr. Frederick Fasehun, said this in a statement on Sunday following an emergency meeting of OPC leaders at the Century Hotel, Okota, Lagos.

Pointing out that no Southerner would dare go to the North and carry out killing, kidnapping and banditry that Fulani criminals have unleashed on Southern communities and highways, OPC issued a stern warning that this would no longer be condoned.

“ACF is threatening reprisals instead of telling its prodigal sons to halt their criminality. ACF should know that nobody has a monopoly over violence,” said the Yoruba socio-cultural group.

“Although the millions of law-abiding Fulani men and women living in our midst have absolutely no cause for alarm, those Fulani criminals hiding under the cloak of being herdsmen to perpetrate evil against law-abiding citizens should know their time is up. Henceforth, it will be fire for fire.”

Afolabi expressed his group’s backing for the pronouncement issued by the Ondo State Governor that herdsmen should leave forests for open areas by Monday.

In the words of Afolabi: “We are fully prepared to help enforce Governor Akeredolu’s quit notice in Ondo State at the expiration of the two-week deadline. Anybody found in the jungle will be regarded as a kidnapper and bandit and will be appropriately dealt with. We Yoruba shall rise up to defend our land from foreign marauders who daily rape our women, kill our farmers and kidnap Nigerian citizens. Enough is enough.”

The OPC also described the manhunt launched by the police for the Yoruba activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, as misguided and provocative.

“The government must guarantee the life of Sunday Igboho. Rather than declare Sunday Adeyemo an outlaw, the Federal Government’s security agencies should turn their attention against criminal elements engaging in kidnappings and killings in the South,” the OPC Deputy President said.

 

Similarly, according to Afolabi, The Presidency’s opposition to Akeredolu’s order was divisive, provocative and ill-advised, as well as an insult to the country’s Federalism and the Separation of Powers principle of the Constitution.

 

He said: “In this Federation, one level of government will be overstepping its bounds by dictating to another level of government.

 

“The evil of kidnapping and killing being perpetrated by Nigerian Fulani and their foreign cousins can no longer be tolerated.

“This kids-glove treatment was how authorities encouraged Boko Haram to transform into a full-blown terrorist organisation that has made the North-East the most dangerous place to live in the world.

“Therefore, in line with His Excellency’s directive as the Chief Security Officer of Ondo State, herdsmen, tourists and farmers alike must vacate forest reserves to enable security agents and vigilantes move in to smoke kidnappers out of their hiding places and restore sanity to the backwoods.”

Urging all Yoruba to speak with one voice against the rising insecurity in their land, the OPC said the race currently faced an existential threat to its survival as foreign criminals had turned highways, forests and farms into danger zones while the Buhari Government turned a blind eye.

Afolabi said: “We cannot fold our arms and wait to be wiped out of our Fatherland by foreign elements.

“The Yoruba are peace-loving people with a great reputation for extending hospitality to visitors in order to produce mutually-beneficial advantages.

 

“But what we see today are invaders, murderers and parasites committed to snuffing the life out of their hosts.

 

“We can no longer tolerate them and we must reclaim not only our land but our peace from these children of Satan.”

 

According to the OPC, the imbalance in the country’s security architecture had always raised suspicion; and the government’s apathy to the rising menace in the South showed that authorities felt nothing about the daily murder and plundering of Nigerians.

 

OPC said: “Time has come for all Nigerians, especially the National Assembly, to compel the President to alter the security architecture to conform to the Federal Character principle of the Nigerian Constitution he swore to uphold.

 

“What obtains now is lopsided in favour of a section of the country and this is dangerous.”

 

Loading

News

Tinubu Nominates Tegbe as Minister of Power, Seeks Senate Confirmation

Published

on

Tinubu Nominates Tegbe as Minister of Power, Seeks Senate Confirmation

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated Mr Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as the new Minister of Power, subject to confirmation by the Senate.

The nomination, contained in a State House press release issued on Thursday, has been formally transmitted to the National Assembly in line with constitutional provisions requiring legislative screening and approval of ministerial appointments.

Mr Tegbe’s nomination follows the resignation of the former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, who stepped down from office to pursue elective political ambitions.

According to the Presidency, the nominee is a seasoned fiscal and economic reform expert with more than 35 years of experience across both public and private sectors. He previously served as Senior Partner and Head of Advisory Services at KPMG Africa, where he led major initiatives in fiscal policy reform, institutional restructuring, and governance.

The statement also highlighted Tegbe’s advisory roles to key government institutions and private sector organisations, particularly in the areas of regulatory frameworks, strategic reforms, and investment structuring.

Currently, Tegbe serves as Director General and Global Liaison for the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP), where he oversees efforts to deepen development cooperation between Nigeria and the People’s Republic of China. His role includes coordinating engagements with public sector stakeholders to advance economic and social development objectives aligned with the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

In the power sector, Tegbe is said to have participated in several reform-driven engagements involving agencies such as the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET), focusing on regulatory and institutional improvements.

The Presidency expressed confidence that, if confirmed, Tegbe would strengthen ongoing efforts to reform Nigeria’s power sector, improve grid stability, and attract sustainable investment in line with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

President Tinubu also urged the minister-designate to deploy his extensive expertise toward delivering measurable improvements in electricity supply and overall sector performance for Nigerians.

Tinubu Nominates Tegbe as Minister of Power, Seeks Senate Confirmation

Loading

Continue Reading

News

Tinubu Orders Crackdown on Plateau Killers, Approves ₦2bn Relief Package

Published

on

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Tinubu Orders Crackdown on Plateau Killers, Approves ₦2bn Relief Package

President Bola Tinubu has pledged to deploy the full instruments of federal authority against individuals and groups responsible for the recurring violence in Plateau State, warning that those identified as instigators or sponsors of unrest will face decisive government action.

The President made the declaration on Tuesday evening during a high-level meeting with Plateau State leaders and stakeholders at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where he also approved a ₦2 billion humanitarian relief package for victims of the March 29 attack in Angwan Rukuba, Jos North Local Government Area.

The meeting, which lasted several hours and ended around 8 p.m., brought together Governor Caleb Mutfwang, all living former governors of Plateau State, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and political stakeholders, including the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda.

According to the Presidency, Tinubu told the delegation that his administration would no longer tolerate cycles of violence, urging leaders in the state to take responsibility in identifying those fueling conflict.

“No protocols, no obstacles; we are here to speak our minds and find a permanent solution to a recurring conflict and chaos,” the President said.

He stressed that tolerance, unity, and accountability among leaders were essential to ending decades of recurring communal clashes in the state.

Tinubu also issued a strong directive to state authorities to identify individuals allegedly responsible for instigating violence, warning that they would face firm government action.

READ ALSO:

“If you identify and you know the names of troublemakers, agents provocateurs who want to continue killing or instigate killing, let us know. We will use the instrument of office to deal with them,” he warned.

The President added that anyone found to be recruiting or inciting violence would face the full weight of federal power.

He further called for fairness, justice, and ethnic inclusiveness in governance, insisting that peace-building efforts must be rooted in equity and mutual respect among communities.

At the meeting, the Federal Government approved ₦2 billion in humanitarian assistance for victims of the March 29 attack in Angwan Rukuba, where over 27 people were reportedly killed in a violent assault on returning worshippers.

The funds, according to officials, will be used to support displaced families, rebuild damaged property, and provide emergency relief to affected communities through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.

The approval follows Tinubu’s earlier promise during his visit to Jos on April 2, shortly after the incident.

Tinubu reiterated his support for the establishment of state police, describing it as a necessary reform to address Plateau’s persistent security challenges.

He urged federal lawmakers present at the meeting to work toward constitutional backing for decentralized policing, arguing that local security structures would improve response times and enforcement.

The President also directed the newly constituted Plateau peace committee—made up of all living former governors of the state—to review existing white papers on past conflict resolutions and present consolidated recommendations.

He encouraged flexibility in restructuring previous peace frameworks, stressing that ineffective committees should be dissolved or merged for better results.

“Forget those committees you mentioned to me; if it’s not working, it’s not working. Consider this group as the committee until we find a lasting solution,” he said.

The Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba, urged the Federal Government to strengthen security deployments in the state, noting that existing forces were overstretched and required better equipment and manpower.

He also reiterated the need for the promised installation of thousands of AI-enabled surveillance cameras across Plateau State to enhance monitoring and early warning systems.

Governor Caleb Mutfwang described the meeting as historic, noting that it was the first time all living former governors of Plateau State were gathered together in a unified peace initiative.

He pledged full cooperation with the Federal Government’s peace efforts and emphasized the need to rebuild trust across ethnic and religious divides.

Former Deputy Speaker Idris Wase also highlighted drug abuse as a growing driver of insecurity in the state, calling for stronger enforcement measures.

Tinubu concluded the meeting by urging stakeholders to prioritize unity, warning that continued violence would only deepen poverty and instability in the region.

He also proposed expanded inclusion of non-indigenous communities in governance structures as part of broader reconciliation efforts.

The President reaffirmed that his administration is committed to ending violence in Plateau State and across Nigeria, stressing that peace and stability remain central to national development.

Tinubu Orders Crackdown on Plateau Killers, Approves ₦2bn Relief Package

Loading

Continue Reading

News

Tinubu Appoints Bianca Ojukwu as Minister of Foreign Affairs

Published

on

Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu
Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu

Tinubu Appoints Bianca Ojukwu as Minister of Foreign Affairs

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu as Nigeria’s new Minister of Foreign Affairs following the resignation of Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, who reportedly stepped down to pursue political ambitions ahead of the 2027 elections.

The appointment places Ojukwu in charge of Nigeria’s external relations, diplomatic engagements, and international partnerships at a time the administration is intensifying efforts to reposition the country’s global image and strengthen economic diplomacy.

Until her latest appointment, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu served as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, where she was involved in Nigeria’s diplomatic outreach and regional engagement programmes.

Her elevation to the substantive ministerial role is seen as a continuation of her work within the foreign affairs ministry and a move to ensure continuity in Nigeria’s diplomatic policy direction.

In a related development, President Tinubu also nominated Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, pending confirmation by the Senate.

READ ALSO:

Enikanolaiye, who hails from Kogi State, previously served as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and International Relations. He is a career diplomat with over 30 years of experience in Nigeria’s foreign service.

His extensive diplomatic background includes serving as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as postings in several Nigerian missions abroad, including Addis Ababa, Belgrade, Ottawa, London, and New Delhi.

The Presidency said the appointments are part of broader efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s foreign policy architecture, improve coordination in international engagements, and expand economic and strategic partnerships across key global regions.

President Tinubu congratulated both appointees and urged them to prioritise national interest, enhance economic diplomacy, support regional stability, and ensure the protection of Nigerians in the diaspora.

He further emphasised the need for a more proactive foreign policy approach that aligns with Nigeria’s economic growth agenda and global competitiveness objectives.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs remains central to Nigeria’s international relations, overseeing bilateral and multilateral engagements, consular services, and diplomatic missions worldwide.

Political analysts say the reshuffle signals a renewed focus by the Tinubu administration on strengthening diplomatic leadership and expanding Nigeria’s influence in global affairs.

Tinubu Appoints Bianca Ojukwu as Minister of Foreign Affairs

Loading

Continue Reading
HostArmada Affordable Cloud SSD Shared Hosting
HostArmada - Affordable Cloud SSD Web Hosting

Trending