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Afrobeats superstar Davido has commissioned a female hostel at Clifford University, Abia State, named after his late mother, Dr. Veronica Adeleke.

The facility, Veronica Imade Adeleke Female Hostel, was unveiled during the university’s 6th Convocation Ceremony, where Davido also delivered a commencement speech to graduating students.

Davido urged graduates to lead purposeful lives, emphasising that true greatness is, not fame or wealth, but the lives one touches.

‘When I looked into their faces, I saw the same fire that built me – that hunger to be seen, to make something out of nothing, to turn pain into power.

‘I told them that talent might open the door, but purpose gives it meaning,’ Davido said.

The hostel is a tribute to his late mother, an educationist and philanthropist who believed education and compassion could change lives.

‘My mother, Dr. Veronica Adeleke, was a teacher and giver who believed education and compassion could change lives. This building is a continuation of her purpose – turning love into legacy,’ he wrote.

Davido was joined at the event by his friend, Cubana Chief Priest, who pledged to sponsor 50 students’ school fees.

The university’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Chimezie Omeonu, commended Davido for his contribution to education and for inspiring young Africans.

Every October 17 has become a day that fills the sacred city of Ile-Ife, cradle of the Yoruba race and spiritual heart of an ancient civilization, with celebration and reflection as it marks the birthday ceremony of His Imperial Majesty, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II.

Though Ooni Ogunwusi isn’t one that is particular about birthdays, his subjects, family and people of Ile Ife always use the opportunity to celebrate the monarch whose journey is defined by purpose, peace, and profound cultural rebirth.

As the esteemed monarch marked his 51st birthday, October 17 didn’t just come like another year, it afforded several individuals the opportunity to express gratitude and display affection for the Ooni since his reign began in 2015.

Ooni Ogunwusi has stood tall as a unifier of peoples and traditions, breathing new life into the ancient institution he represents. His reign has become a shining testament to the power of cultural diplomacy restoring dignity to Yoruba heritage while building bridges across Nigeria, Africa, and the world.

At 51, Ooni Ogunwusi embodies the renaissance spirit, a modern monarch rooted deeply in ancestral wisdom, yet forward-looking in thought and action. His reign has been marked by efforts to demystify traditional leadership and make the palace an epicenter of development, dialogue, and youth empowerment. For him, royalty is not just about crowns and rituals; it is about service, vision, and impact.

Under his watch, Ile-Ife has evolved into more than a historical city; it has become a living hub of innovation, tourism, and interfaith harmony. The Ooni has consistently emphasized peace and tolerance, preaching unity among ethnic and religious groups, and urging Nigerians to rediscover the values that bind them as one family under God.

Ooni Ogunwusi’s 51 years on earth and nearly a decade on the throne tells a story of grace and responsibility. From his early entrepreneurial success to his ascension as the Arole Oduduwa, he has navigated life’s turns with courage and vision. His reign continues to inspire a new generation of Africans to believe in their culture, embrace innovation, and lead with compassion.

From the money to the Niger-company

To the country formed from each protectorate,

To those who lost faith in the inequity of the polity

And those who chose to use force

To steer her down the course of chaos

Down to the Dirge that never was.

For the fallen heroes and those who lost their lives in the wars.

Our journey from the 1st through to the 4th Republic may be bleak public history,

Still we stare death in the face and sneer,

As we bare our bodies to brutality,

Butteresses against the breach of free speech

Which is branded, treason and still we find a reason to battle cattle,

While we drive on roads that have become traps for kidnaps and – unsafe for travel

And it is a marvel to imagine the number of the bereaved, displaced, raped and razed down homes.

Atrocities, in communities committed with impunity to law and order –

Our borders have become so porous to insurgency,

And the urgency of insecurity tempt us to arm ourselves, defend ourselves,

And we ourselves know that politics is simply a game played for gain,

By a certain clique who trick us every time it’s time to vote again –

With promises they never fulfill

And how hurt we feel when they abuse this power they possess

And the mess that is our power industry – we – in-this-country, continue to be the casualty of a dysfunctional polity,

buried in the depth of duplicity and disparity that continues to breed disunity among each ethnicity,

And so we will continue to wander within the limits our history circumscribes

Until we all become scribes for a new story, with each chapter embodying the character that will build an enduring legacy,

And there is no exception for leader or laity,

So, this is for the country formed from each protectorate,

To those who have lost faith in the inequity of the polity and

To those who continue to use force to steer her down the course of chaos –

Because, every choice has a voice that echoes consequence

For every actor in this script of deceit

And no matter how intense moments get –

Never forget that the resilience of (a people) will continue to be their defense.

It was a week without spectacle – no roaring motorcades through Abuja, no grand state receptions, no boisterous summits at Aso Rock. Yet, for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the past week was as eventful as it was defining. From the serene precincts of Rome to the corridors of Nigeria’s energy sector, his steady hand on the levers of governance quietly delivered another chapter in what is shaping up to be one of Nigeria’s most reform-driven Presidencies in modern times.

At a time when leadership is often judged by the noise it makes rather than the results it produces, President Tinubu’s governance style continues to favour the latter – a methodical, deliberate, and reform-focused rhythm that is now bearing fruits in instalments. The latest evidence came in the form of Shell’s $2 billion Final Investment Decision (FID) for a new offshore gas development in Nigeria’s HI Field – a major boost that pushes total upstream oil and gas investment commitments under his watch to over $8 billion in just 18 months.

It was also a week that revealed the multiple layers of the Tinubu persona; the reformer, the diplomat, and the doting father.

President Tinubu began the week in Rome, where he joined other Heads of State and Government for the Aqaba Process meeting – a global counter-terrorism forum co-chaired by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Italian government. The session focused on the evolving security landscape in West Africa, particularly the twin threats of terrorism and transnational crime.

Though Rome was not abuzz with the familiar ceremonial flourish of high-level summits, the significance of Tinubu’s attendance was unmistakable. It underscored Nigeria’s centrality to regional peace efforts and reaffirmed his standing as a continental stabiliser.

At the heart of the discussions was the understanding that no nation can tackle violent extremism in isolation. Nigeria, as the anchor of the Sahel and the most populous country in Africa, remains both a target and a solution. Tinubu’s presence ensured that the voice of West Africa’s frontline state was heard – a reminder that Nigeria’s security concerns are inseparable from the stability of the entire region.

If diplomacy dominated the President’s early week, economic validation took the stage by midweek. On Tuesday, global oil giant Shell announced a $2 billion FID for its new offshore gas development in OML 144 – the HI Field. The project, which will deliver approximately 350 million standard cubic feet of gas per day from 2028, represents one-third of the feedgas requirements of Nigeria LNG Limited’s Train 7 project.

For a government that has spent its first two years rolling out painstaking reforms to unlock investment bottlenecks, the Shell FID was more than a corporate milestone, it was vindication.

‘This major FID announcement by Shell, their second in one year, is a clear validation of our wide-ranging reform efforts and a signal to the world that Nigeria is fully open for business and investment,’ President Tinubu said in a statement through his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

The investment came on the back of two earlier FIDs – the Ubeta Non-Associated Gas project and the Bonga North Deepwater Development – both cornerstones of Tinubu’s energy revitalisation drive. Together, the three projects bring total upstream commitments to over $8 billion since he assumed office in 2023.

These achievements were not accidental. They were the outcome of structural reforms painstakingly crafted through Executive Orders the President signed in March 2024, introducing fiscal incentives, shortening contracting cycles, and reducing costs for oil and gas investors. For years, international oil companies had complained about Nigeria’s bureaucratic inertia. Tinubu’s response was swift: dismantle red tape, streamline approvals, and restore investor confidence.

Special Adviser on Energy, Olu Arowolo Verheijen, captured the significance succinctly: ‘With the Ubeta FID and now the HI FID, we have secured the gas supply needed to make NLNG Train 7 not just possible, but transformative’.

Beyond the numbers, the investments carry strategic importance. They anchor Nigeria’s energy transition, boost foreign exchange earnings, and reinforce the country’s aspiration to become Africa’s gas hub. Shell’s Global Upstream President, Peter Costello, was unambiguous: ‘This project will grow Shell’s leading gas portfolio while supporting Nigeria’s ambition to become a more significant player in the global LNG market’.

For Nigeria’s economy, still adjusting to post-reform realities, this was not just a gas story, it was a story of restored confidence. Investors are voting with their wallets again, and the results are trickling in.

If Tinubu’s economic strides have been visible, his diplomatic manoeuvres often unfold in quiet corridors – effective, understated, yet deeply strategic. On Friday in Rome, that subtle statecraft was again on display when the President met with Massad Boulos, Senior Advisor to U.S. President Donald Trump for Arab and African Affairs.

The encounter, though brief, carried profound implications. In recent weeks, a small chorus of influential American voices, including television host Bill Maher and Senator Ted Cruz, had amplified the narrative of ‘Christian persecution’ in Nigeria. The aim was clear: to distort Nigeria’s complex security situation into a simplistic religious frame that could influence American foreign policy.

But Boulos’ comments after his meeting with Tinubu shattered that narrative in seconds. Speaking to journalists, he said: ‘Those who know the terrain well know that terrorism has no colour, no religion, and no tribe. We even know that Boko Haram and ISIS are killing more Muslims than Christians.’

It was a blunt and factual repudiation of the misinformation being peddled. In less than three minutes, the Trump advisor not only neutralised the false claims but also reaffirmed Washington’s confidence in Tinubu’s leadership: ‘The Nigerian government and President Tinubu’s administration have recently taken additional measures and put more resources in those areas, and we’ve seen some improvements. We appreciate those measures and we definitely look forward to more.’

For Tinubu, who has consistently pursued a balanced approach to international relations, favouring results over rhetoric, the Boulos meeting was another exercise in quiet diplomacy. It showed a President who doesn’t rush to counter every provocation with outrage but patiently waits for the right moment and the right voice to validate his government’s position.

In doing so, Tinubu demonstrated one of his defining traits: a capacity for calm engagement in the face of noisy provocation. Nigeria’s image, often a casualty of global misinformation, was subtly but powerfully defended, not through counter-punching tweets, but through strategic engagement.

What binds Tinubu’s economic, diplomatic, and domestic efforts together is a simple philosophy: reform without hysteria. His administration has shown that structural change need not be chaotic. From fiscal reforms and investment incentives to security coordination and sub-national partnerships, his leadership style blends firmness with flexibility.

Observers note that the President’s hallmark has been an uncanny ability to build consensus even among diverse stakeholders – industry leaders, governors, security chiefs, and development partners. His reforms are deliberate, and his policies are layered with consultation.

The petroleum-sector transformation, for instance, wasn’t just about signing executive orders. It involved months of inter-agency collaboration between the Ministries of Finance, Justice, Petroleum, Budget and Economic Planning, and the Federal Inland Revenue Service – a rare display of bureaucratic harmony in a system often defined by silos.

That is Tinubu’s quiet genius: aligning institutions without fanfare, pushing reforms through coordination rather than confrontation.

Amidst the business of governance and global diplomacy, the week also unveiled Tinubu’s human side, the father, not the President. On Sunday, he penned an emotional tribute to his son, Seyi Tinubu, who clocked 40 the next day.

‘Happy 40th Birthday, my son. You have made us proud, and I know you will continue to make Nigeria proud,’ he wrote, in what many Nigerians saw as a deeply personal moment from a leader known more for his political resilience than public sentimentality.

The letter radiated warmth, humility, and introspection. He praised Seyi’s determination, creativity, and leadership, describing how his son had ‘turned ideas into institutions and challenges into opportunities.’ He also lauded Seyi’s devotion to family and nation, calling his journey a reflection of values ‘beyond material success.’

For a President often viewed through the prism of politics and power, the message offered a rare glimpse into his private world – a father proud of his son’s growth, yet grounded enough to remind him that true success lies in service to others.

‘May God bless you with wisdom, good health, and peace. As you celebrate this milestone, remember that your strength lies in what you achieve and how you inspire others’, he concluded.

It was a moment that resonated far beyond family, a symbolic message about continuity, legacy, and responsibility. It humanised the Presidency and offered a softer counterpoint to the rigours of governance.

Nearly two and a half years into his tenure, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has moved beyond the honeymoon of reform announcements into the reality of outcomes. The FIDs, the renewed investor confidence, the diplomatic poise, and even the personal reflections are all threads of one narrative – that Nigeria is being quietly repositioned.

The results may not yet be fully visible to all, but the trajectory is unmistakable. The economy is recalibrating. The energy sector is awakening. Diplomacy is being redefined. And through it all, the President remains consistent in tone and temperament – firm but not fiery, strategic but not sensational.

As he wrapped up his engagements in Rome, Nigeria’s leader seemed content to let his results do the talking. The Shell FID spoke of faith restored. The Boulos encounter spoke of perceptions corrected. And the birthday note spoke of values sustained.

Meanwhile, rounding off a week defined by reforms paying off and quiet, effective diplomacy, Tinubu’s Presidency’s cadence of service also echoed in tributes, policy signals, and moments of national pride. On Monday, President Tinubu mourned Evangelist Uma Ukpai, hailing the late revivalist as ‘one of God’s Generals,’ and saluted labour icon Abiodun Aremu for a lifetime defending workers. By Tuesday, the President paired condolences for trailblazing diplomat Joy Ogwu with a hard-edged regional message-urging ECOWAS to classify resource theft as an international crime-while congratulating EFCC Chair Olanipekun Olukoyede for reformist momentum and commiserating with the Church on Bishop-Emeritus Michael Fagun’s passing.

He also cheered the Super Eagles’ 4-0 rout of Benin Republic, framing football’s lift as shared national optimism. Midweek, he condoled Kenya on the passing of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and celebrated Senators Basheer Lado and Ahmed Wadada, underscoring executive-legislative synergy and fiscal discipline.

On Thursday, he feted NILDS DG Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman at 60 for scholarship in the service of democracy and on Friday, he applauded Nigerian lawyer Tolu Obamuroh’s elevation to global partnership at White and Case-another marker of Nigerian excellence.

In the end, perhaps the story of Tinubu’s leadership is best told not through grand proclamations but through the quiet accumulation of progress; one reform at a time, one handshake at a time, one heartfelt message at a time.

The Grassroots Movement for Tinubu 2027 has commended President Bola Tinubu for steering Nigeria through a complex economic landscape with courage, innovation, and a firm commitment to national renewal.

The organisation noted that under president Tinubu’s leadership, the nation has witnessed unprecedented strides across the key pillars of economic stability, infrastructural growth, youth empowerment, and national security.

It noted that two years of Tinubu’s administration has enthroned purposeful and progressive governance, characterised by bold reforms, infrastructural expansion, and renewed national confidence.

National Coordinator, Grassroots Movement for Tinubu 2027, Dr. Sani Zangina said in a statement on Saturday applauded the administration’s sweeping economic reforms that have repositioned Nigeria as a strong and competitive player in the global market.

The uproar over the exercise of the President’s Prerogative of Mercy is yet to die down. Many in the legal community and the politically aware have raised objection to the rather large number of those convicted for drug-related offences and the case of Maryam Sanda who murdered her husband and got sentenced to death by hanging. While no one could query the President for complying with the constitution by receiving recommendation by a panel for the purpose and duly passing same to the Council of State for approval, the feedback from the public is quite helpful.

The task of public review of policies has been left to the government and a few activists for too long. As long as we practice democracy, the people must be at the centre of all government activities and all decisions should be subjected to intense scrutiny, despite the fact that some could do so from narrow subjective angles. While, in this case, the government could be commended for listening to the public outcry, it must be said, too, that any institution of state saddled with such and similar responsibilities should be more thorough before coming up with its recommendations.

It would appear that due diligence was not exercised in this process. Before the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), appended his signature to the list and passed it to the President, he ought to have done a thorough review. It is expected that the recommendations would be accompanied case-by- case with reasons for the advice. Had this been done, when the criticisms mounted, they would have been met with acceptable explanations, rather than capitulation.

We hope that the attorney-general who assumed the office as a learned silk would take time to personally review the final list after it might have been compiled by his subordinates. And, it should be realised that passing a list that had not been vetted to the President is an embarrassment, especially when the Council of State had to approve. Now that it is being further reviewed, should the improved list be re-presented? Everything that has the imprimatur of the President should have the mark of near perfection.

For the avoidance of doubt, the law that empowers the President to grant pardon does not limit him in anyway. He could grant a hardened criminal, a political prisoner or anyone long gone, especially in cases where injustice is established in the process of conviction and or sentencing. What we are saying is that presidential pardons are usually controversial, even in advanced countries.

In the United States of America, President Joe Biden, in 2024, just before his tenure expired, elected to pardon 39 persons and commuted the sentences of about 1,500 others. One prominent name on the list was Hunter Biden, his son. The convicts were those jailed for non-violent crimes. Each case had a short description of how and why the pardoned got their sentences and reasons for the pardon.

Biden’s successor, Donald Trump, who had been indicted for inciting his supporters to invade Congress on January 6, 2021, got all the convicts pardoned. This generated public uproar but it had little effect because the President acted within his constitutional powers.

In Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari granted clemency to former Governors Joshua Dariye of Plateau State, and Jolly Nyame of Taraba State, who were convicted for corrupt enrichment. The reasons given were found even more ridiculous. Claiming that both were ill and getting old did not cut an ice with the public who argued that there were more persons in jail who had no access to appropriate medical care and were older, yet did not catch the attention of the President.

With regard to Herbert Macaulay, a foremost nationalist who was also pardoned but whose family felt he should not have been lumped with ”all manner of characters”, the Federal Government may want to consider the family’s request for a separate pardon for him in the coming review of the list. This is notwithstanding the argument in some quarters that Macaulay’s sentence was under colonial laws and therefore irrelevant; the optics is good.

To formally cleanse such an iconic figure of any possible stain is commendable. Indeed, it would not be out of place to now follow the presidential pardon with the conferment of the nation’s highest national honour, the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, on him.

We call on the state and federal chief executives to constructively use their prerogative of mercy to free as many deserving persons awaiting trial in the various correctional centres in the country. The congestion that has formed the crux of eyebrows of managing criminal justice in the country should receive more than the occasional pardons. Since correctional centres were moved from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent, state governments have been reluctant to take up the responsibility. This should change.

The attorney-general of the federation, must now ensure that the chapter on the list just released is closed as soon as possible. It helps to assure Nigerians that the engine driving management of the justice system is still working effectively.

The Federal Government, in partnership with the European Union (EU), has inaugurated a National Programme Steering Committee (NPSC) to oversee the pound 40 million education and youth empowerment in Northwest Nigeria (EYEPINN) programme.

The programme, which is being implemented in Jigawa, Kano, and Sokoto States, aims to tackle out-of-school children, facilitate teacher development, and promote youth skills acquisition in the Northwest region.

The committee has the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, as chairman and is co-chaired by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu.

They are expected to meet annually to provide strategic guidance, with a secretariat handled by the EU Technical Assistance Team (EU-TAT).

Also, quarterly technical meetings are planned to monitor progress closely.

Speaking during the official inauguration of the committee yesterday in Abuja, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Abel Enitan, praised the EU’s investment in Nigeria’s education sector, which he said has continued to improve access, equity, quality, and system resilience.

Enitan, who was represented by the Director of Poly Education and Allied Institutes, Dr. Usman Ejeh, said: ‘The EYEPINN project represents one of the most strategic interventions aimed at addressing the persistent challenges of out-of-school children, teacher capacity development, safe learning environments, and skills acquisition for youths in Nigeria’s Northwest region.

‘The EU’s continued support through programmes such as EYEPINN and Expand, Integrate and Strengthen Systems (EISS), reflects a shared commitment to empowering our young people and ensuring that every child, irrespective of gender or background, has the opportunity to learn and thrive.’

Highlighting the committee’s role in ensuring accountability and integrating results into national policies, he added: ‘The committee serves not only as a platform for oversight, but also a forum for strategic dialogue to ensure that the collective efforts of all partners are coherent, complementary, and impactful. The success of EYEPINN depends on how well we collaborate, federal, state, and local governments, working hand-in-hand with our international partners.

‘We must ensure that every Euro invested translates into measurable impact, better learning outcomes, empowered teachers, safer schools, and a more resilient education system that leaves no child behind.’

Team Leader, Human Development, European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Leila Ben Amor Mathieu, highlighted the programme’s significance as the delegation’s first standalone education initiative.

She said: ‘This is the EU Delegation to Nigeria’s first project solely on education. It is our flagship project. We hadn’t had any before. We really wanted it to be designed in tune with the ministry and to serve the needs of Nigerian people.’

She said that the EU was committed to remaining a very strong partner to Nigeria, as shown in its commitment for the period of 2021-2027.

She said: ‘We have about pound 800 million for that period only on national programmes, plus another several hundred that benefit Nigeria, but out of regional programme windows.’

She added that the project would address existing gaps in basic education. ‘This is a pound 40 million project that we fund through UNICEF, Plan International, DIME, and also some technical assistance provided to the ministry. We would have loved to add secondary education, but we stopped at basic education, in particular targeting out-of-school children, nomadic education. We worked with the Quranic schools.

‘So, now we should start to see results and be able to deliver results. We have our partners from the World Bank that are also in charge of checking the impact of what we do,’ she said.

UNICEF’s Chief of Education, Vanessa Lee, described the programme as timely, saying: ‘It came at a critical time in Nigeria’s education reform progress to support both the Federal and the State Ministries of Education and Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB) and State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) in transforming the education system.’

Lee said that UNICEF is committed to getting every child learning in Nigeria. ‘We continue to lead and support in the area of digital data transformation, education financing, reducing the number of out-of-school children, especially through establishing integrated Quranic centres and learning centres, scaling up foundational literacy and numeracy with the government, and providing teachers with school-based professional learning and learning through play teacher professional learning,’ she said.

Similarly, Country Director, Save the Children International, Duncan Harvey, said: ‘This is indeed an important step that will encourage and improve the leadership of the overall programme. Every child, no matter their status, no matter where they are living, no matter their gender, ability or disability, every child deserves the right to quality basic education.’

Detectives from the Ondo State Police Command have apprehended a notorious cultist, identified as Abdul Boluwatife, for allegedly terrorising residents of Akungba-Akoko and neighbouring communities in Akoko South-West Local Government Area of the state.

The arrest was confirmed in a statement on Sunday by the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, in Akure.

According to Ayanlade, the suspect was arrested on October 15 during a cult initiation ceremony at A.U.D. Secondary School, Akungba-Akoko, following credible intelligence from vigilant residents of the community.

‘Upon receiving information that a group of young men were holding a secret meeting and chanting cult-related slogans within the school premises, police operatives swiftly mobilised to the scene,’ Ayanlade said.

He added that on sighting the police, the suspects fled but Boluwatife was pursued and apprehended.

During interrogation, the suspect reportedly confessed to being a member and leader of a cult group operating within Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA).

Ayanlade noted that Boluwatife had long been on the command’s watchlist for alleged involvement in a series of cult-related activities in the area.

Items recovered from the suspect include a locally made pistol, five cutlasses, a battle axe, a shisha box, two cult berets, five bottles of Squadron gin, a red knife, and a black glove.

The police spokesman confirmed that the suspect remains in custody as investigations continue, adding that efforts are ongoing to track down other fleeing members of the cult group.

He, however, further disclosed that the Anti-Cultism Squad has launched a discreet operation to uncover the full network of the syndicate operating around Akungba-Akoko.

Old habits die hard. Under Donald Trump, the United States has indicated isolationism as its foreign policy core. But it is now embroiled in the Middle East, and the president is loving every bit of it. It finds Asia a tough nut to crack, so it will forebear in the short run. It cannot best Europe in moralising, or in Whiteness, so he will stay aloof or try to force them to blink first. Overall, the US president, despite mouthing isolationism, wants to become president of the world. This may partly explain the hoopla about designating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over claims of genocide based on the recommendation of the United States Commission on international Religious Freedom (USCIRF).

Apart from misusing the term, which could cause Nigeria to be designated as a CPC, thereby attracting economic sanctions, the USCIRF has consistently recommended Nigeria to be designated a CPC since 2018. In any case, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Egypt, Pakistan, all of them Mr. Trump’s new friends, in addition to dozens of other countries, have been on the list for years. So, why the hysteria when in fact what is taking place in some parts of Nigeria is terrorism mixed with ethnic cleansing over grazing and mining lands? The Nigerian parliament is working to engage the US Congress over the issue, but this whole furore is one more reason for those who specialise in washing Nigeria’s dirty linens in foreign lands to be circumspect. If sanctions are imposed, and they prove debilitating, it will affect everyone, Christians and Muslims alike, not to say every ethnic group.

Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ward 9, Etsako – East Local Government Area, Mallam Adamu Ototobor, has been suspended.

Mallam Ototobor’s suspension was contained in a statement by Edo APC Publicity Secretary, Prince Peter Uwadiae.

The statement said Ototobor was suspended from all activities of the party with immediate effect after careful review of his recent actions and conduct.

It said the actions and conduct were considered inconsistent and insubordinate with the principles, discipline, and rules of the APC in Edo State.

The party declared: ‘Accordingly, the APC Chairman of Etsako – East Local Government Area is directed to bar Mallam Adamu Ototobor from attending or participating in any of the Party’s meetings, events, or functions until his suspension is officially lifted by the appropriate authority of the Party.

‘The party maintains that discipline, loyalty, and respect for constituted authority remain the bedrock of the APC, and any act capable of undermining these values will not be tolerated.’