Chivita|Hollandia wins double honours at 2025 Marketing Edge Awards

Chivita|Hollandia (CHI Limited), one of Nigeria’s leading fruit juice and dairy manufacturers, emerged as a major winner at the Marketing Edge Awards 2025, taking home dual awards in a night that celebrated excellence and innovation in marketing and brand leadership.

The glamorous award ceremony, organised by Marketing Edge, brought together dignitaries from both the private and public sectors, including representatives from the Ekiti State governor’s office to honour the best in Nigeria’s Marketing Communication industry.

In recognition of the brand market dominance and consumer trust, Hollandia clinched the Segment Leadership Award (Yoghurt) on the night. This accolade reaffirms the brand consistency and commitment to delivering top-quality, nutritious dairy products that have become staples in Nigerian households.

For over a decade, Hollandia has led the market with innovations that cater to the dynamic needs of consumers, offering a wide range of dairy beverages that combine taste, nutrition, and convenience that empower consumers to Stay Ahead with Dairy Power.

The evening of recognition was filled with more surprises as Chivita, another powerhouse brand from Chivita|Hollandia (CHI Limited), was unanimously recognized with the Segment Leadership Award (Juice), celebrating enduring leadership in the juice category. Known for premium-quality, natural fruit juices, Chivita has consistently set the standard for healthy and delicious refreshments in Nigeria.

With a focus on providing consumers with products made from natural fruit juice, The Chivita legacy of quality has earned the trust and loyalty of millions of consumers nationwide.

Speaking on the dual recognition, Chief Commercial Officer Chivita|Hollandia (CHI Limited), Bola Arotiowa said, ‘We are deeply honoured to receive this dual recognition from a highly respected institution like Marketing Edge. The theme of the evening, ‘Excellence Beyond Borders,’ perfectly captures our aspiration.

These awards are not just trophies, they re-affirm our commitment to world-class manufacturing, superior product quality, and consumer-centric innovation resonating loudly in the marketplace. We are inspired to continue our hard work, service, and dedication, ensuring that our brands not only meet but exceed the expectations of our loyal consumers across Nigeria and beyond.’

These prestigious Segment Leadership Awards further cement the roles of Chivita and Hollandia as drivers of growth and innovation within the Nigerian Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sector, promising an even greater focus on consumer value and market expansion in the coming year.

BREAKING: Super Eagles arrive Uyo

The Super Eagles of Nigeria arrived safely in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, on Sunday morning at about 8:05 a.m.

Earlier, The Nation had reported that the team made an emergency stop in Luanda, Angola, on Saturday after experiencing a mid-air technical issue following their 2-1 victory over Lesotho.

According to a statement from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the aircraft was forced to land due to a cracked windscreen, which caused the in-flight scare.

With their arrival in Uyo, the Super Eagles will immediately shift focus to preparations for their crucial World Cup qualifying clash against Benin Republic on Tuesday, as they seek maximum points to boost their qualification hopes for next year’s tournament.

Firm installs N20m solar streetlights to boost Lagos security

In its ongoing drive to enhance sustainable power solutions across Lagos, Welbeck Electricity Limited has commissioned a N20 million solar-powered streetlight project at the National Stadium underbridge, Surulere.

The installation, comprising 20 solar lighting units, reflective vest for officers and traffic booth for Nigeria Police force and LASTMA was carried out under the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility initiative to improve night-time visibility and enhance safety for commuters and pedestrians.

The unveiling ceremony also coincided with updates on Welbeck’s Oregun Independent Power Plant (IPP) – a 4.4 megawatt (MW) gas-powered facility expected to deliver 24-hour reliable electricity to commercial and industrial clients across Lagos.

According to Afolabi Aiyela, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Welbeck Electricity, the firm is focused on expanding its footprint across industrial clusters in Lagos and Nigeria through a blend of natural gas and renewable energy technologies.

‘We came with a solution to provide solar streetlights that are renewable and require less maintenance,’ Aiyela said. ‘Now people can walk here even at midnight without fear. This is our way of giving back to the community.’

Aiyela added that Welbeck plans to ensure 20% of its total power generation comes from renewable sources within the next five years. He also credited the Lagos State Government for creating an enabling business environment that encourages private investment and CSR participation.

‘Without supportive laws and policies, we couldn’t do projects like this. This is a small start – but we’ll do more,’ he said.

Speaking at the event, Hon. Desmond Elliot, representing Surulere Constituency 1 at the Lagos State House of Assembly, commended the project, describing it as a major step toward improving security and livability under Lagos bridges.

‘Before now, this under-bridge was dark and unsafe. But thanks to Welbeck Electricity, the area is now well lit, and residents can move freely even late at night,’ Elliot stated. ‘This is what community partnership means – not just waiting for the government alone.’

He urged residents to protect and maintain public facilities like the solar lights, stressing that community ownership is key to sustainability.

‘When people see others trying to destroy public infrastructure, they must speak up or alert the police. Maintenance culture begins with us,’ he added.

Also speaking, the Lagos State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources praised Welbeck’s initiative, describing it as aligned with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s clean energy vision, which targets the installation of 40,000 solar-powered street lights across the state.

‘Projects like this reflect the administration’s priorities – safety, sustainability, and service delivery,’ the Commissioner said. ‘Renewable energy will continue to power critical areas like bridges and intersections, reducing carbon emissions and improving visibility at night.’

The Commissioner further disclosed that Lagos is expanding solar adoption to schools, general hospitals, and public institutions to enhance energy reliability.

Other dignitaries present included Prince Dosunmu, representing Suleiman Bamidele, Olayiwola Abdul Rahmon, and community leaders from Surulere alongside representatives of the Nigerian Police Force, LASTMA, and Lagos Neighborhood Safety Corps (LNSC), who all commended the company for its commitment to public service and safety.

Haaland hat-trick helps Norway sink Israel

Erling Haaland stole the attention with a hat-trick on it, rendering his early double penalty miss a distant memory, and the upshot was that Norway could look with clear heads toward a near-certain first World Cup appearance in 27 years.

A win over Estonia next month will confirm their presence; Egil Olsen, their manager at France 1998, looked on as Israel offered scant opposition to Europe’s most ruthless attacking force.

Israel’s very presence in Oslo had been highly contested, the buildup framed by the Norwegian Football Federation’s public stance that they should be banned from international football due to the war in Gaza.

There will be relief that confrontations were kept to a minimum beyond a brief spate of trouble outside the Ullevaal Stadion during half-time.

Monarch urges National Assembly to revisit bill for Lisa Memorial Arcade recognition

In a passionate appeal during a high-level community engagement session, held in the Oyero area of Ifo Local Government, Ogun State, Oba Oladele Najeem Ayinla Odugbemi, Alli Odu I, the Onilisa of Lisa, Ogun State, has called on the National Assembly to revisit and accelerate the bill seeking federal recognition and development of the Lisa Memorial Arcade.

The stakeholder engagement event, which coincided with the inspection of the Odo Awela Bridge project facilitated by Rt. Hon. Ibrahim Ayokunle Isiaka, Deputy Chief Whip of the Federal House of Representatives, took place along the Oyero-Lisa Road corridor.

It was attended by Hon. Folawewo Fatiu Salami of the Ogun State House of Assembly (Ifo Constituency 2); Chairman, Ifo Local Government, Hon. Kusimo Idris Olalekan; past chairmen of Ifo, APC party leaders, and Community Development Committee (ACDC) leaders from Oyero, Lisa, Oluke, and neighbouring communities.

Speaking on behalf of the 32 communities under the Ifesowapo Forum, Oba Odugbemi emphasised the historical and emotional significance of the Lisa Memorial Arcade, which was established following the tragic Bellview Airlines crash of 22 October 2005. The disaster claimed 117 lives and brought global attention to Lisa town. The memorial, inaugurated by then President Olusegun Obasanjo and Governor Gbenga Daniel, was intended to serve as a lasting tribute and a catalyst for development-but has since fallen into neglect.

‘Nearly two decades later, the once-hallowed ground has been abandoned to bush and erosion,’ the monarch lamented. ‘We ask the National Assembly to give this site the national attention it deserves by transforming it into a tourist and educational landmark. Let the memories of the departed be honoured with dignity, and let our communities benefit from the infrastructure that was once promised.’

Oba Odugbemi also addressed a lingering misconception that the region is sparsely populated or dominated by farmland. ‘From Oyero to Lisa, Arugudu to Sonde, Oluke to Layemi, our area is home to journalists, engineers, entrepreneurs, farmers, and professionals across many fields. We are not just cassava stems-we are builders of the nation.’

In response, Rt. Hon. Ibrahim Isiaka confirmed that the bill for the rehabilitation and federal recognition of the Lisa Memorial Arcade had already been presented to the House of Representatives. ‘I assure you, Kabiyesi and the good people of Ifesowapo, that this bill will be given the necessary push. It is not just about the monument-it is about the dignity of our people and the roads that lead to it. We are committed to seeing this through,’ Hon. Isiaka stated.

The engagement session also brought to light broader infrastructural concerns, notably the impassable 10.5-kilometre Ijoko-Oyero-Lisa access road, which continues to hinder economic growth and restrict access to healthcare and education for thousands of residents.

The Onilisa concluded with a call for youth and women empowerment, urging government intervention to unlock the potential of the region’s vibrant population. ‘We are ready to work hand in hand with the government. Let this visit mark the beginning of visible transformation. May history remembers those who stood with the voiceless until they were heard.’

Debunking the ‘genocide’ frenzy by Senator Ted Cruz. bill Maher. Van Jones. et al

These three above are piling on false narratives. Orchestrating wild allegations about unproven ongoing ‘Genocide’ in Nigeria. We disagree. Nigeria must reject this attempt to robe it with a garment that is not hers.

Nigeria’s elected President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu was forged in the crucible of religious tolerance and understanding, that of democracy and respect for individual rights and of course modern politics. His words and testimony ring out about Nigeria and religious tolerance. Nigeria stands by what their President Said.

The words of the President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu holds strong and that’s what we believe.

1.’ Let me also say this clearly, Nigeria is a proud, sovereign nation built on the faith and resilience of its people. Here, no faith is under siege, no community is excluded. Our churches, mosques, and traditional shrines stand side by side – not as rivals, but as symbols of the unity that binds us.

2.’We must never allow outsiders to tell us who we are or sow division among us. We are Nigerians, and we will stand together. Nigeria will not accept lectures from those who seek to profit from our divisions. No one loves this country more than Nigerians themselves, and no one will define us except us.

3.’Our duty is to stand guard over our unity, protect every citizen, and continue to prove to the world that our diversity is not our weakness, but our strength and when Nigeria stands united, no falsehood can prosper against her. So help us God,’

4.’Hate is not an option for us Love is what we preach and we should love one another.

‘I inherited Islam from my family, and I didn’t change; but my wife is a pastor, and she prays for me. No conflicts ‘I have never tried to convince or convert her. I believe in freedom of religion. We all pray to and are answerable to the same Almighty God. Our love and compassion for others are what truly matter. We must learn to live together as one people.’

Recent comments by Bill Maher and Senator Ted Cruz alleging a ‘Christian genocide’ in Nigeria are both misguided and deeply troubling coming from these ones who should know better.

Such narratives, if left unchecked, distort the reality on the ground and risk inflaming tensions in an already fragile region.

Nigeria is a multi-religious nation founded on principles of freedom of worship, mutual respect, and coexistence. Its Constitution guarantees religious liberty for all – Christian, Muslim, or adherent of any other faith – and successive governments have consistently upheld this right.

What Maher and Cruz have labeled as a ‘Christian genocide’ is, in fact, the brutal wave of terrorism and banditry that Nigeria, like many other nations, continues to battle. These acts are carried out by non-state actors – violent extremists and criminal elements – whose objectives have nothing to do with faith or theology but with chaos, profit, and destabilization. They target soft civilian populations, attacking churches, mosques, markets, motor parks, schools, and villages indiscriminately. Their victims are Nigerians of every religion, ethnicity, and creed.

To suggest that these atrocities amount to a campaign of Christian extermination is to misunderstand and oversimplify a complex security challenge. It also plays directly into the hands of the terrorists, who thrive on division and global misperception. By framing Nigeria’s collective struggle against terrorism as a religious war, such narratives undermine the sacrifices of both Christian and Muslim communities who have stood together in defiance of terror.

Nigeria’s fight against terrorism is national, not sectarian. The government has continuously collaborated with faith leaders across divides – from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs – to strengthen peacebuilding, community dialogue, and counter-extremism initiatives. This inclusive approach reflects the reality that Nigeria’s strength lies in its diversity and the shared humanity of its people.

Bill Maher and Senator Cruz et al would do well to engage with the facts before amplifying falsehoods that embolden extremists and malign an entire nation. Nigeria deserves solidarity in its fight against terror – not careless rhetoric that fuels misunderstanding. The truth remains simple: Nigeria is not witnessing a Christian genocide; it is confronting terrorism that targets everyone. And whoever alleges must prove.

Oyetola partners ICTSI, others to position Nigeria as a maritime hub in Africa

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has pledged to strengthen collaboration with the International Container Terminal Services (ICTSI) Inc. and engage other credible private investors to unlock Nigeria’s vast blue economy potential and position the country as a leading maritime hub in Africa.

Oyetola said the partnership with ICTSI is rooted in the company’s significant investments and contributions to Nigeria’s maritime development, as well as the need to sustain a business-friendly environment that fosters private sector participation and innovation across the industry.

The Minister made this commitment when a high-level delegation from ICTSI paid a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja.

The visit formed part of ongoing efforts to deepen collaboration between the Federal Government and private investors in advancing Nigeria’s maritime and blue economy agenda.

The ICTSI delegation, led by Farouk Adamu Aliyu, Chairman of ICTSI Nigeria, included Hans Ole Madsen, Vice President of ICTSI; Nicolo Scannavini, Managing Director of Onne Multipurpose Terminal (OMT); and Chidi Nzerem, a Director of the company.

Discussions during the meeting focused on current operations at OMT and explored strategies for future expansion, operational efficiency, and alignment with the Federal Government’s vision for a dynamic and sustainable blue economy.

Oyetola commended ICTSI for its investments and contributions to Nigeria’s maritime growth, emphasising the Ministry’s readiness to sustain a business-friendly environment that encourages private sector participation and innovation across the sector.

‘Our goal is to make Nigeria’s ports globally competitive by ensuring efficiency, transparency, and sustainability,’ the Minister said.

His offices, Oyetola added, ‘ will continue to work with credible private investors like ICTSI to unlock the immense potential of our blue economy and position Nigeria as a major maritime hub in Africa.’

Since commencing operations in 2021, ICTSI’s Onne Multipurpose Terminal has played a transformative role in boosting cargo throughput and reducing vessel turnaround time at the Onne Port Complex in Rivers State.

The terminal, designed to handle a diverse range of cargo – including containers, break bulk, project and heavy-lift, and roll-on/roll-off cargo – features a 1,000-metre heavy-lift quay, 45 hectares of yard area, modern warehousing, and four new Gottwald mobile harbour cranes, among other state-of-the-art equipment.

In June 2025, OMT made history when it received the Kota Oasis, a Singaporean-flagged, LNG-powered container ship – the first of its kind to berth in West Africa.

The vessel’s arrival, operated by Pacific International Lines (PIL), marked a milestone in the region’s shift toward environmentally sustainable shipping and underscored OMT’s commitment to green port operations.

Beyond its operational achievements, OMT has demonstrated strong corporate social responsibility (CSR) leadership in its host communities, particularly in Ogu and surrounding areas.

The company has executed several community-focused initiatives, including a Safe Water Scheme, youth empowerment programmes, and vocational training projects aimed at promoting local development and social inclusion.

As one of Nigeria’s key logistics and cargo-handling hubs, Onne Multipurpose Terminal continues to strengthen its position as a vital gateway for maritime trade and logistics in West Africa.

Through strategic partnerships, technological advancement, and community engagement, OMT remains a driving force in supporting Nigeria’s maritime economy and fostering sustainable growth.

’No governor in Bayelsa deserves ‘Governor-General’ title after Alamieyeseigha’

The Movement for the Survival of Ijaw Ethnic Nationality in Niger Delta (MOSIEND) has said that no governor in Bayelsa State that came after the late Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha deserves the title of ‘Governor-General of Ijaw Nation’.

The Ijaw group in a statement issued in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, by its President, Dr Kennedy Tonjo West, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Alamieyeseigha’s death said only the late governor died with the title.

Alamieyeseigha was the governor of Bayelsa State from May 29, 1999 to December 9, 2005 when he was impeached by the Bayelsa State House of Assembly following a dramatic case of corruption against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

After his conviction, Alamieyeseigha was granted a state pardon by President Goodluck Jonathan but later died on October 10, 2015 at a hospital in Port Harcourt.

Alamieyeseigha’s predecessors are Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Timipre Sylva, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson and the incumbent Senator Douye Diri.

A Warning To Senator Ted Cruz

American Senator Ted Cruze is the joker of the century.

He is the AIPAC-sponsored village idiot and asinine fool who says he wants to save Nigerian Christians from what he has described as ‘Christian genocide’ whilst three others, namley Congressman Riley Moore, Congressman Chris Smith and American Secretary of State Senator Marc Rubio, are his happy cheerleaders.

An Israel-loving, genocide-enabling, Muslim-hating, Zionist-pampering and Gaza-slaughtering Yankee hill-billy who supports a cruel, leperous, lawless, racist, extremist, bigoted, arrogant, vile, land-grabbing, child-killing, rogue, pariah and deluded apartheid state with an all-conquering colonial mentality and who has nothing but contempt for Arabs, Asians and Africans, whether Christian or Muslim, is telling us that he will help to solve our problems and save the Christian population in Nigeria?

He alleges Christian genocide in a country where the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Navy Staff, the Chief of Defence Intelligence, the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of the DSS, the Chairman of the EFCC, the Comptroller General of Immigration and so many more heads of our security and intelligence agencies are headed by Christians?

He alleges Christian genocide in a country whose President has a wife that is not only a Christian but also a Pastor?

He alleges Christian genocide in a country where every single Governor from the South and a good number of Governors from the North Central zone are Christian?

He alleges Christian genocide in a country where the Senate President, the Secretary to the Federal Government and the National Chairman of the ruling party are Christian?

He alleges Christian genocide in a country whose Federal Government on assumption of office two years ago removed the great injustice that existed for the previous 8 years in which every single head of our 17 security and intelligence agencies and every single operational head of our Armed Forces was a Northern Muslim?

He alleges Christian genocide in a country where the Federal Government, despite the fact that it has a Muslim President and a Muslim Vice President, has given 62% of all political appointments at the federal level to Christians whilst giving the Muslims 38%.

He alleges Christian genocide in a country where the Federal Government has done more to protect, further the interests and allay the fears and concerns of the Christian population in the North than any other in recent memory?

He alleges Christian genocide in a country where the Vice President went to the United Nations General Assembly, together with the Foreign Minister, and boldly condemned the holocaust of our time and unconciable genocide of the innocent and defenceless Christians and Muslims of Gaza by a psycopathic, cruel, genocidal and mass-murdering Jewish supremacist state which Senator Cruze and his crusaders are so enamoured with and insisted on an immediate cessation of the ethnic and religious cleansing and the unconditional establishment of peace, equity, humanity and a two-state solution?

He alleges Christian genocide in a country in which the Governor of Kaduna state, in North Western Nigera, has in just two years restored peace, harmony and love between the Christian and Muslim communities, built trust between the two more than any other Governor in recent history and has brought an end to the greatest carnage and persecution that Christians have ever faced in any state in our country which occurred under the watch of his predecessor in office for the previous eight years?

He alleges Christian genocide in predominately Muslim Northern states like Borno, Yobe, Zamfara, Kebbi, Kogi, Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, Niger, Nassarawa, Kebbi and Bauchi whose Muslim populations have sufferered far more in terms of casualties at the hands of the terrorists than the Christians?

He alleges Christian genocide in predominantly Muslim states like Kaduna, Borno, Kwara and Yobe where the Governors have not only gone out of their way to allay the fears and address the challenges and concerns of Christians with compassion, sensitivity and understanding but have also gone out of their way to bring peace and harmony between members of the two faiths, protect Christian communities and allow for the establisment, re-establishment, building and rebuilding of more Churches than at any time in their history?

Senator Ted Cruz and his Yankee crusaders will not know all this and neither do they care to find out because they are driven by a pathological hatred for Muslims, believe that all Muslims are terrorists and cannot conceive or abide a situation where Muslims and Christians can, generally speaking, abide in peaceful co-existence and skillfully manage their challenges and differences.

To Cruz the only good Muslim is one that is dead or does what he is told by the Americans and the only good Christian is one that goes running to Washington with his tale between his legs, asking for handouts and telling tall tales about how wicked and intolerant all Muslims in Nigeria supposedly are and how primitive and backward our country is meant to be.

That is the false narrative they applaud and wish to hear and these are the perfidious tales and infantile fables that bring joy to their hearts and that feed and justify their arrogance, condescending attitude, contempt and irrational hatred for and towards us.

It also provides them with a reason and plausible excuse to destabilise our nation in an insidious and desperate attempt to pillage our mineral resources, including our rare earth, our gems, our oil and our gold through their local surrogates and agents and eventually come in themselves to pick up whatever is left of us after we have torn ourselves to pieces.

They did it in Libya, Iraq, Somalia, Lebanon, Congo, Syria and elsewhere and now it appears that their evil eye has been focused on us.

That is and has always been the plan and that is why most of the insurgent groups that kill, terrorise and displace our people, both Christian and Muslim, are covertly armed and supported by western intelligence agencies.

More can be read about this in my widely published article titled ‘The Fiction of Christian Genocide and the Conspiracy Against Nigeria’ which I released one week ago.

When one considers all the facts that I have listed above it is clear that under such circumstances the charge of ‘Christian genocide’ and that Nigeria is ‘the most dangerous place in the world for Christians to live’ seems hardly sustainable. As a matter of fact it sounds utterly absurd.

Who in our Armed Forces and security and intelligence agencies pulls the trigger on the Christians and who gives the orders for them to be singled out for genocide whilst the Muslims are left unscathed and untouched?

Is it the Christians that head most of those institutions that are doing so? I doubt it and neither has it happened.

Ironically, to my recollection, it was only on one occassion that the Nigerian Armed Forces specifically targetted and killed over 1000 Nigerians in one day simply because they blocked a road and on account of their faith and the victims were not Christians but rather Shia Muslims and members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN).

This terrible incident occurred in Zaria, Kaduna state in December 2015 eight years before the inception of the Tinubu administration and under the watch of the previous Chief of Army Staff General Tukur Burutai.

In truth if any religious group in our country has the right and legitimate reason to complain to the world that they have been singled out for elimination by the state in the last twenty years it is the Shia Muslims who have suffered mass murder in the hands of both Muslim and Christian leaders.

This begs the following question: have Christians been targetted and massacred in Nigeria over the years and the answer is ‘yes’ and a chilling and horrendous example is the massacre of Christians in four local Government areas in Southern Kaduna on December 25th 2016 in which no less than 808 Christians were targetted and killed in one day!

The difference here though is that firstly those massacres were perpetuated by non-state actors and savage ethnic militias and certainly not by our security agencies and secondly the same group of savages have consistently committed similar atrocities against Muslim communities too.

Both Muslims and Christians are still being massacred by those same non-state actors and savage ethnic militias today and our Armed Forces are engaging them in the field of battle and killing them in greater numbers than ever before.

Their attacks are not against Christians alone but against the Nigerian state and against men, women and children of all faiths.

That is the point that is lost on our Yankee crusaders and their supporters in Nigeria.

Thousands of Muslim scholars, teachers, Sheiks and Mallams were murdered in cold blood by these same terrorists simply for opposing and preaching against their beastly behaviour and barbarity. Two examples are that of Sheik Jafar Mahmoud Adam from Kano and Sheik Albani Zaria from Kaduna who were two of the most respected Islamic scholars of their time.

They were both murdered in cold blood, one whilst praying in the mosque and the other whilst in his car on the way home.

Those that escaped with their lives were few but my good friend Sheik (Professor) Isa Pantami from Gombe, the former Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, was one of them.

His ‘crime’ was to have roundly defeated Mohammed Yusuf, the founder of Boko Haram, in a six hour public debate on western education and the place of violence in Islam where he argued that it was unislamic to kill innocent people and to reject western education.

After Mohammed Yusuf was himself killed by security forces whilst in detention and Abubakar Shekau took over as the new leader of Boko Haram the first thing the lattter did was to publicly announce that Pantami must be killed but thankfully, despite the fact that they tried to eliminate him no less than three times, he did not achieve his objective and the Sheik not only remains alive and well today but he has gone from strength to strength in his preaching, his academic achievements and his political career.

It was the same Sheik Isa Pantami that saved the lives of a number of Christians that had been attacked by a violent mob of criminals and terrorists a few years later in Bauchi.

To those that say Muslims are not targetted by Christians as well I challenge them to find out what happened in a mosque in Jos, Plateau state in 2012 when a mob of depraved so-called ‘Christian’ youths not only attacked and killed the Muslims as they prayed and burnt down their mosque but also cut them to pieces and proceeded to cook and eat them! The videos can be found on YouTube till today.

I can also cite the example of a well-respected Muslim Senator from one of the North Eastern states who is the Chairman of a powerful commitee in the Nigerian Senate today whose father was killed a number of years ago by a wild and blood-lusting so-called ‘Christian’ mob before his very eyes a number of years ago.

It was in the same way that a Christian from Benue state by the name Gideon Akaluka was dragged out of a police cell and butchered by a wild, fanatical and crazed so-called ‘Muslim’ mob in Kano 1996.

A similar atrocity occurred in Sokoto state in 2022 when a young lady called Deborah Samuel Yakubu was literally torn from limb to limb and then burnt alive by a group of utterly deranged and lawless so-called ‘Muslims’.

There was also the case of Bridget Agbahime, a Pastors wife, who was killed by another crazed supposedly ‘Muslim’ mob in Kano in 2016.

These killings and sectarian mob actions are a great tragedy, as is the the case with the loss of any life, but that does not mean that Muslims or Christians are being subjected to genocide in Nigeria but rather that ALL Nigerians are being subjected to mass murder by demon-possesed, psychotic, cold-blooded killers and wild mobs that do not represent any faith, any cause or anything other than that which is evil.

There are many other examples of Christians being attacked and killed by so-called ‘Muslims’ and Muslims being attacked and killed by so-called ‘Christians’ and the cycle just goes on.

Criminals and drug-crazed, bloodthirsty mobs use these religious labels just to effect their evil purpose and none of them can legitimately describe themselves as members of a faith neither of which endorses or supports the genocide, ethnic cleansing and mass murder of innocents.

This is not Christian genocide, it is not Muslim genocide but rather it is genocide against all our people by depraved mobs of mindless killers from both sides of the religious divide and we as a people must resist them and despatch them all to hell.

I am glad that the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has rightly put a lie to the absurd and dangerous notion that what we are witnessing in our country is exclusively a ‘Christian genocide’ and have finally laid the matter to rest.

In an additional statement signed by Bishop Okah, the President of CAN, they affirmed the fact that Christians were being targetted by non-state actors, acknowledged the fact that the Federal Government is doing its best to address the issue after many years of neglect and they urged the security agencies to do even more than they have already done to put an end to the scourge.

There is nowhere in Bishop Okah’s statement where he alleged that the Federal Government or its security forces are subjecting Christians to genocide and neither did he allege or even insinuate that the horror that has been unleashed on our land by the barbarians affected only Christian communities.

There is also the aspect of a deadly and equally barbaric insurgency group and ethnic militia based in the South East called ESN which has been targetting and killing innocent Christians and Muslims from all over the country.

The members of this militia, just like Boko Haram, Ansaru and ISWAP who falsely claim to represent Islam, claim to represent Chriistianity and ethnic liberation but in actual fact they do not: they represent only satan, his fallen angels and the Angel of Death.

Given the fact that this militant cult of murderous vampires has targetted and killed as many Nigerian Christians as any other and are indeed interested in the total dismemberment of the Nigerian state, it is interesting that Sentor Cruz and his crusaders did not express any concern about their activities and have instead insisted on focusing on only what is going on in the North.

Could this be because he, his AIPAC sponsors and his ZIonist and Isreali friends are the ones bankrolling and encouraging them?

Is that why the de facto leader of the political wing of their militia covertly met with select members of the American Republican caucus in Washington recently where and when they discussed events in Nigeria, the upcoming 2027 presidential election and finally came up with the battle cry of ‘Christian genocide’ as a way of rallying Christians in and outside of the country, discrediting and destabilising our Government and dividing our nation as a first step towards effecting regime change on or before the 2027 election?

These are questions that need to be answered by Senator Cruz and his cheerleaders.

The truth is we do not need a misguided and mischevous white-skinned religious zealot and deluded fake Messiah from Texas to save us.

In the name of God the Great, the Ancient of Days and the Lord of Hosts we shall save and deliver ourselves from the murderous psycopaths and homicidal barbarians that are butchering our people and that have afflicted our land and we shall protect both the Christians and Muslims in our country that are being slaughtered on a daily basis by the Janjaweed hordes from Mordor and the western-backed terrorists of ISWAP Ansaru and Boko Haram.

Whether Christian or Muslim we are first and foremost Nigerians and there is no division between us on religious lines.

Our common enemy are the terrorists and those that covertly empower, aid and support them from outside our shores and not one another and we shall fight them as one!

Senator Ted Cruz and his colleagues and compatriots including Rep. Chris Smith, who has called on President Donald Trump to ‘arm Christian communities in Nigeria and to bomb Muslim ones’, Rep. Riley Moore who has alleged that Nigeria is the ‘dedliest place on earth for Christians’ and urged Trump to designate our nation as ‘a country of particular concern’, Senator Marco Rubio, who has been supporting all three in their nefarious endeavours and who has backed Moore strongly in his quest to ensure that our country is formally designated as one of concern and all the other members of the mischevous, misguided and misinformed cabal of Yankee crusaders and congress of fools, stand warned!

Your jaundiced and delusional perspective, which is rooted in a crass and vulgar display of ignorance and arrogance, defies logical and rational reasoning when it comes to the affairs of our nation and it must come to an end.

You are biting off more than you can chew and the consequences of your bullish and irresponsible behaviour and your mendacious categorisations and characterisations, if unchecked, will ultimately affect American vital and strategic interests not just in Nigeria but in the entire West African sub-region which remains our backyard and firmly under the sphere of our influence.

Stop misrepresenting our situation, leave our country alone and stop trying to provoke chaos and ignite a religious war.

You cannot love us more than we love ourselves! You are part of the problem and not the solution!

It is true that Christians are being killed in large numbers in Nigeria but it is NOT true to say that Muslims are not being killed in equal numbers.

There are over 110 million Christians in Nigeria and there can be no denying the fact that they have suffered immensely over the years in the hands of terrorists.

They have been subjected to mass murder, ethnic cleansing, torture, persecution, vilification and marginalisation for decades particularly in parts of the North.

I would not deny that and I have opposed it and spoken out against it for the better part of my adult life.

Where you have got it wrong though is that this does not translate into ‘Christian genocide’ simply because the Muslims in Nigeria, who are also 110 million strong, are suffering precisely the same things at the hands of the same people.

They have also been subjected to mass murder, ethnic cleansing, torture, persecution, vilification, marginalisation and in some cases even cannibalism in some parts of the North.

That does not however translate to ‘Muslim genocide’ because these terrible atrocities that are being unleashed are not limited to Muslims.

Both faiths have suffered immeasurably in Nigeria over the years and members of both faith have been subjected to genocide.

The terrorists that perpetuate this great evil make no distinction between their victims on religious grounds.

They wipe out Christian communities, take their land, enslave their women and children and desecrate and burn down their Churches and they mete out precisely the same treatment to our Muslim compatriots, Muslim communities and Mosques as well.

I repeat for the purpose of emphasis that what we are witnessing in Nigeria is not a genocide against Muslims or a genocide against Christians but a genocide against us all.

To couch or describe it in any other way as a consequence of ignorance or mischief is most unhelpful and darn-right dangerous and could ignite a full scale religious war the likes of which the world has never witnessed.

We need to tread very carefully indeed and we need to scrutinise the motivations of the Americans and view with the utmost suspicion their new found love for our Christian population.

As they say, ‘beware of the Greeks, especially when they bring gifts!’ Ancient Troy learnt that lesson the hard way with drastic and frightful consequences: let us hope that we don’t end up learning it the hard way as well!

To the Yankee crusaders I say the following. If you want to talk about genocide in Nigeria then talk about the genocide of ALL Nigerians, both Christians and Muslims, at the hands of a group of vile and unconciable terrorists who are throughly evil and who represent no faith.

To call it ‘Christian genocide’ and not the ‘genocide of all Nigerians’ betrays the fact that you have an evil agenda and sinister motive.

No matter how hard you try we shall not drink from your poisoned chalice and you shall not divide or destroy us.

You will not plunge us into a cataclysmic cycle of fratricidal butchery and a second civil war which will undoubtedly result in the massive bloodletting and carnage that you so desperately seek.

That is not our portion and God will not allow it.

Benin arrive Uyo for big showdown

The delegations of Nigeria and Benin Republic are scheduled to arrive in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital on Saturday afternoon, ahead of Tuesday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Series Matchday 10 encounter at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles earned a 2-1 win over Lesotho in Polokwane on Friday to put themselves firmly in contention for the lone automatic ticket from Group C, while table-topping Benin Republic scored late against Rwanda’s Amavubi in Kigali to pick up the maximum points and maintain their three-point lead on their West African neighbours.

Three-time African champions Nigeria fly from the South African city of Polokwane to Uyo aboard a chartered ValueJet Airline airplane, just as the Cheetahs’ delegation will arrive about the same time at the Obong Victor Attah International Airport.