Ehiozuwa Agbonayinwa, a senatorial aspirant for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Edo South and a former member of the House of Representatives, has expressed significant regret over his decision to leave the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the NDC. During a recent interview on Arise News’ News Day, he characterized his political shift as moving from the “frying pan to hellfire”.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• Primary Election Dispute: Following a failure to reach a consensus, the party proceeded with a direct primary; however, Agbonayinwa claims he won the election but is being prevented from appearing on the ballot.

• Lack of Transparency: He noted that although the primary was conducted on May 29, the results remained unannounced as of June 5. He further stated that he has never experienced such a lack of process in his time with the APC or the PDP.

• Alleged Conflict with Leadership: Agbonayinwa alleged that the NDC national leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, personally encouraged him to purchase the nomination and expression of interest forms. He expressed deep surprise after Senator Dickson later denied ever giving such encouragement during a subsequent meeting.

In a recent meeting with local leadership in his palace, the Emir of Argungu, Muhammad Samaila Mera, called on residents to legally obtain weapons to bolster their defenses against ongoing bandit attacks. The monarch stressed that communities should consider pooling resources to acquire authorized weaponry, noting that demonstrating the capacity for self-defence could act as a deterrent to criminals.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Highlighting the gravity of the security situation, the Emir argued that it is unacceptable for citizens to remain passive while facing kidnapping, violence, and other atrocities. He further noted that the current security challenges have become too severe for security agencies to manage independently.

Key points from the Emir’s address include:

• Self-Defence vs. Lawlessness: The Emir clarified that his call for self-defence is not an invitation to engage in terrorism or take the law into one’s own hands.

• Warning Against Reprisals: He issued a stern warning against ethnic violence and revenge attacks, emphasizing that extrajudicial killings only serve to trigger further cycles of violence against innocent people.

• Ongoing Threats: While acknowledging that many members of the Lakurawa group have departed the region, the Emir warned that armed bandits remain, continuing to terrorize communities with the help of former collaborators.

• Call for Vigilance: He urged all communities within the Argungu Emirate to maintain high levels of vigilance, cooperate closely with security forces, and act with integrity.

Former presidential political adviser, Babafemi Ojudu, recently argued that national leadership should be prioritized based on competence rather than ethnic, regional, or rotational considerations. In a recent interview on Channels Television’s Inside Sources, Ojudu contended that having a leader from one’s own ethnic group is ultimately meaningless if that individual fails to address the country’s pressing challenges.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

To support his stance, Ojudu pointed to past and present leadership, noting that former President Olusegun Obasanjo did not specifically favor the Yoruba people during his tenure.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               He further questioned the relevance of ethnic representation by highlighting the ongoing economic and security struggles faced by Nigerians under the current administration, regardless of President Bola Tinubu’s background. Ultimately, Ojudu emphasized that the nation’s problems require effective, capable governance above all else.