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Group Urges Northern Elites to Support Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda
As the legacy projects fever grips the nation with insinuations in some quarters hinting at exclusion, the Concerned Northern Forum has called on Nigerians, especially northern elites to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his quest to deliver on the ambitious Renewed Hope Agenda.
The group made this call while reacting to a motion on the floor of the Senate by the former Governor of Gombe State and Senator representing Gombe Central, Senator Danjuma Goje, alleging that the North East has been excluded from the Renewed Hope road projects across the country.
In a press release signed and made available to journalists in Abuja by its spokesman, Comrade Abdulsalam Moh’d Kazeem, the group empathized with the distinguished Senator and other persons who share his sentiments but maintained that it is too early to complain as the administration is just one year in office with a lot of projects on the drawing board.
The release reads in part, “as northerners, we identify and applaud Senator Goje for his impeccable representation. We are however, constrained to point out that it is too early to complain as it is unrealistic to flood the entire country with projects all at the same time in order not to overwhelm the Ministry of Works in it’s oversight functions.
“Aside from that, major legacy projects are currently ongoing in the northern region like the Badagry-Sokoto Superhighway connecting the North West and the Kaduna-Abuja section of the Abuja-Kano-Maiduguri redesigned dual carriageway and many others. Plans are definitely underway to mobilise contractors to site on some parts of the Kano-Maidguri section of the road. It’s just a matter of time”.
The group therefore called on Senator Goje and other agitators to rather support the President to deliver on the Renewed Hope Agenda, adding that the projects are in phases and there’s no way any region will be excluded as the Renewed Hope Agenda is a detailed and pragmatic blueprint for the overall development of Nigeria.
“As a core nationalist, there’s no way Mr. President will exclude the North East from his legacy projects, moreso that it is the home of his most trusted and loyal Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima. We must understand that these projects are in phases and it’ll get to every region in no distant time as the goal is to holistically develop the whole nation.
“In fact, even without the motion raised by Senator Danjuma Goje, Mr. President has already directed the Ministry of Works to audit previous road contracts and plans are already on the way to commence work on the Akwanga-Jos-Adamawa road project that was awarded by the former adminstration of President Muhammadu Buhari in spirit of continuity of governance.
“As a progressive government that listens to the yearnings of Nigerians, the Calabar-Makurdi-Jalingo-Yola-Maiduguri Highway as suggested by the Senator will be given the desired attention at the right time. All that’s needed at the moment is patience and an unwavering support for Mr. President’s policies and projects”, the statement concluded.
The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has called on President Bola Tinubu to prevail on the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike to retract his publicly disparaging remarks made recently against the socio-political body.
PANDEF described as regrerrable and embarrassing comments by Wike in the aftermath of the group’s visit to Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, even to the extent of insulting the late former Federal Commissioner for Information and South-South Leader, Chief Edwin.
Recall that the FCT minister had, on Thursday, during a media chat, described PANDEF as “the worst organisation anybody can rely on”, while also calling the board of trustee members of the body “political merchants”.
In a statement signed by PANDEF Chairman on Saturday in Abuja, Ambassador Godknows Boladei Igali, urged President Tinubu as the father of the nation, to prevail upon the Honourable Minister to retract his inflammatory statements and extend due respect to these eminent.
Igali clarified that the meeting with the president provided a valuable platform to discuss pressing issues of national and regional importance. Adding that “PANDEF remains unwavering in its commitment to peace, stability, and equitable development in the Niger Delta. We will continue to engage with great vigour, all relevant stakeholders in pursuit of lasting harmony in Rivers State and the broader South-South region.”
His words: ^To set the record straight, PANDEF the foremost socio-political body representing the South-South regions, composed of some of Nigeria’s most distinguished personalities. The delegation to Mr. President included chairpersons of at least four of the six SouthSouth states’ traditional councils, senior traditional rulers of major ethnic groups, former governors, past presiding officers of the Senate, prominent entrepreneurs, academics, and high-ranking retired military officers.
“It is, therefore, highly regrettable and totally unacceptable that a serving minister in the Federal Government would exhibit such brazen disrespect towards individuals of this standing. This attitude perhaps explains his continued refusal of the Minister to engage with the Peace and Reconciliation Committee, which PANDEF constituted as far back as October 2024, despite repeated attempts to reach.
“The Honourable Minister (Wike) characterized PANDEF as the worst organization ever” and accused its members of visiting the Presidential Villa merely to solicit financial favors. These statements are not only false but also unbecoming of a public official of his stature.
“PANDEF hereby calls upon Mr. President, as the father of the nation, to prevail upon the Honourable Minister to retract his inflammatory statements and extend due respect to these eminent Nigerians and traditional rulers who were, after all, esteemed guests of the Commander-in-Chief. It is apt to remind that the Minister does not own the Niger-Delta and his errant conduct should not be condoned.
“Notwithstanding this regrettable development, PANDEF remains unwavering in its commitment to peace, stability, and equitable development in the Niger Delta. We will continue to engage with great vigour, all relevant stakeholders in pursuit of lasting harmony in Rivers State and the broader South-South region,” Igali stated.
On efforts to restore peace in River State, Igali restated PANDEF’s commitment for peace in the oil-rich State.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Peace and Reconciliation Committee, which remains committed to resolving the Rivers State crisis,” Igali stated.
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IPOB’s lawyer accuses Anambra govt of violating citizens’ rights, wants all arrested charged to court
The counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has called on the Anambra State Government to either charge to court or release individuals allegedly detained for the past five weeks without trial.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Ejiofor criticized what he described as “violations of citizens’ rights,” emphasizing that the detainees have not been presented before any court or formally charged with a crime.
“Today, March 15, 2025, marks five full weeks since several citizens of Anambra State were arbitrarily arrested and detained in a private facility controlled by the state government. Shockingly, they have not been charged with any offense or brought before any court of law. This is a flagrant violation of their fundamental rights,” Ejiofor stated.
He expressed concern that the detainees were not held by the police, the Department of State Services (DSS), or the military, but instead in an undisclosed facility, without any official explanation from the government.
Ejiofor, who has previously supported the government’s security efforts, urged Governor Chukwuma Soludo to ensure the rule of law is upheld.
“I have always championed active citizen participation in combating insecurity and have publicly urged the government to act against criminal elements. However, this must be done legally and transparently,” he said.
While commending the efforts of the state’s Agụnechemba security outfit, Ejiofor insisted that professionalism and adherence to due process are crucial.
He reaffirmed his support for lawful measures to combat crime but warned that arbitrary detentions could erode public trust in the government’s security strategy.
The Osun State Amotekun Corps has denied allegations of nepotism in its ongoing recruitment of 1,000 cadets, following claims by some dismissed recruits that they were removed in favor of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members.
Some affected candidates, seen outside the NYSC camp venue in Osogbo, alleged they were removed due to their affiliation with the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC). Speaking on behalf of the group, a dismissed cadet, Usman, claimed that they had been in camp since Sunday before being replaced by PDP members, some of whom, he alleged, were unfit for training.
However, Amotekun’s Board Chairman, retired Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Wale Abass, dismissed the allegations as baseless. He explained that those removed from the training camp either failed to meet the required standards or did not follow the proper recruitment process.
“The 1,000 cadets invited for training went through a rigorous selection process. They submitted applications online, underwent document verification, and passed physical fitness tests before being invited to camp,” Abass stated.
He further revealed that some unqualified individuals managed to gain access to the camp, while some selected candidates failed to meet the reporting deadline. Those with health issues were also disqualified.
Abass reaffirmed that the Amotekun Corps remains committed to fairness and impartiality in its recruitment process. He described the allegations as an attempt to create confusion and undermine the security outfit’s credibility.
PANDEF Clarifies Visit To Tinubu, Knocks Wike Over Inflammatory Comments
IPOB’s lawyer accuses Anambra govt of violating citizens’ rights, wants all arrested charged to court
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