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Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former President Olusegun Obasanjo were among the dignitaries who attended the 60th birthday colloquium of former Imo State Governor, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, in Abuja.

Atiku, in a message shared on social media, described Ihedioha as a patriot and long-time associate. He noted that birthdays are a time for reflection and appreciation, commending Ihedioha for his unwavering support over the years.

“More than anything, it is a moment to thank the Almighty for His blessings and grace upon you,” Atiku stated.

He also joined other well-wishers in praying for Ihedioha’s continued good health and service to humanity.

The event brought together family, friends, and political leaders who gathered to celebrate the milestone with Ihedioha.

Youths in Gombe State have looted Ramadan palliatives meant for distribution by Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Seyi Tinubu has been visiting northern states to launch a Ramadan feeding programme for the less privileged. However, the initiative has faced criticism on social media, with mixed reactions from the public.

While some have welcomed the effort, others argue that the region deserves more substantial interventions beyond palliative donations. Among the critics is Shamsuddeen Bala Mohammed, son of the Bauchi State Governor, who called for sustainable empowerment programmes instead.

In a Facebook post, he urged Seyi Tinubu to provide employment opportunities, financial support for businesses, ICT infrastructure, and training in digital skills such as cryptocurrency trading.

“We, the youths of Bauchi, don’t need rice and food in nylon bags during Ramadan,” he wrote. “Teach our youths how to fish rather than feed them for one day. They are not beggars.”

Reports indicate that Seyi Tinubu’s palliative had arrived in Gombe before the looting incident. A video obtained by newsmen showed angry youths carting away cartons of food items from a truck parked by the roadside. The items, including rice, sugar, oil, salt, and pasta, were thrown down to others who eagerly took them.

Two trucks containing 3,500 cartons of food supplies were allocated to Gombe. While one truck’s contents were successfully distributed, the second was intercepted and emptied by the youths.

Seyi Tinubu’s visits to northern states have been described as part of the Renewed Hope Youth Engagement (RHYE) initiative and Ramadan outreach. However, political observers suggest they may also serve as a strategic move to bolster his father’s influence in the region amid emerging resistance to his re-election bid.

There are speculations that individuals who felt sidelined during the distribution, which initially took place at the state All Progressives Congress (APC) Secretariat, may have sabotaged the programme.

A group of registered voters from the Kogi Central Senatorial District has submitted a petition to the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC for the recall of the suspended senator representing the district at the National Assembly, Barr. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

The petition dated 21st March 2025 was submitted on Monday 24th March 2025 at the INEC headquarters in Abuja by the group, Concerned Kogi Youth and Women.

Leader of the group, Charity Ijoshe Omole said they have lost confidence in the senator.

She said; “We have lost confidence in her because of her gross misconduct that led to her suspension in the Senate and we the Kogi Central not to be represented.

“We have cone to recall her, because we cannot afford not to be represented. This petition is from Concerned Kogi Youth and Women.

“We, the people of Kogi Central voted her in, and we are here to recall her. We have four 488,000 registered voters and as I speak to you now, we have more than 250,000 voters who have signed for her recall”.

In the petition addressed to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and titled, “Constituents Petition for the Recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on grounds of Loss of Confidence”, the petitioners said; “We, the undersigned being duly registered voters of the Kogi Central Senatorial District, hereby invoke our rights under the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to formally demand the recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from the Nigerian Senate.

“In particular, this petition for the recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is brought pursuant to Section 68 of the 1999 Constitution of The Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended), as well as INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines for Recall Petitions.

“Kindly recall that Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan emerged as our Senator by verdict of the Court of Appeal, Abuja on Tuesday October 31, 2023 which affirmed the Peoples Democratic Party PDP candidate as winner of the February 25, 2023 Kogi Central Senatorial election.

“This petition arises from our loss of confidence in the Senator on grounds of gross misconduct, abuse of office, evasion of due process and a pattern of deceitful behaviour that has not only embarrassed the people of Kogi Central constituency but has also tarnished the integrity of the Nigerian Senate and our nation’s democratic institutions.

Aged women from Ishinkwo Autonomous Community in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State staged a peaceful protest on Monday, accusing government officials of fraudulent activities in the ongoing land demarcation exercise between their community and the neighboring Abaomege community.

The Ebonyi State government had initiated the demarcation process as part of efforts to resolve the longstanding land dispute between the two communities, a conflict that has resulted in the loss of lives and destruction of properties worth millions of naira. The exercise follows the terms outlined in a government white paper aimed at ensuring a lasting settlement.

The protesting women, who stormed the Ebonyi Government House in Abakaliki, carried placards with inscriptions such as: “Gov Nwifuru, father of the State, please come to our aid,” “Enough is enough to land grabbing, follow the white paper,” and “Return Ugwuekuma Primary School to Ishinkwo, it’s our ancient landmark.”

They also marched to the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, where they registered their grievances with lawmakers. The women accused the Chairman of Onicha Local Government Area, Mr. Ikechukwu Ogbofia, of allegedly colluding with the land demarcation committee to favor his Abaomege community.

In an open letter addressed to Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru and signed by the National President of the Women Wing of the Ishinkwo Community Development Union (ICDU), Mrs. Fidelia Nworie, along with 12 others, the protesters claimed the demarcation process was flawed and could undermine the government’s peace efforts.

They alleged that the Deputy Surveyor-General of the state, Mr. Ekeroku, was conducting the demarcation without reference to the white paper, which they described as the legal framework for the exercise.

“The demarcation is being executed without reference to the white paper, which renders the process illegal, null, and void. No one can place something on nothing and expect it to stand,” the letter stated.

The women further claimed that a key survey map, which is crucial for guiding the demarcation, had been withheld from Ishinkwo community leaders while allegedly being made available to the Onicha LGA chairman, an Abaomege native.

They called on Governor Nwifuru to urgently intervene and ensure that the demarcation exercise adheres to the government’s approved white paper to prevent further tension between the two communities.

Peter Obi the Labour party presidential candidate of the 2023 general election has strongly criticized the release of statutory allocations to an appointed Sole Administrator in Rivers State, despite a Supreme Court order barring such action.

In a statement on social media, Obi described the development as an “aberration” that is “unknown to our Constitution” and must be condemned by all well-meaning Nigerians. He decried what he called a “brazen disobedience and disregard for the rule of law and our democratic principles,” stressing that such actions set a dangerous precedent for governance in the country.

The Supreme Court had previously ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) not to release funds to the Rivers State government until a duly constituted House of Assembly passed an Appropriation Act. Obi, however, noted that the order was being ignored, raising concerns about the implications for the rule of law.

He warned that allowing government institutions to flout judicial directives could erode Nigeria’s democratic foundation. “A country cannot function where the rule of law is trampled upon, where the separation of powers is disregarded, and where judicial decisions are treated as mere suggestions,” he said.

Obi called for respect for the judiciary, urging authorities to uphold constitutional principles to safeguard the nation’s democracy.