The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) chieftain, Aisha Yesufu, has criticised the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, over the 48-hour ultimatum he issued to the party’s national leader, Senator Seriake Dickson.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

News reports that Keyamo, in a statement on Saturday, challenged Dickson to explain why members and supporters of the NDC sang the old national anthem during a recent town hall meeting in Lagos State.

The minister expressed displeasure over the incident and demanded that Dickson clarify within 48 hours whether the party officially recognises the repealed national anthem as its national symbol.

In his statement, Keyamo argued that a national anthem represents a country’s history, values and sovereignty and serves as a symbol of unity among its citizens.

He further suggested that deliberately using an anthem different from the one prescribed by law could amount to laying the foundation for secession, particularly if the leader of the group endorses the action.

Keyamo consequently called on Dickson, whom he described as his former classmate and friend, to publicly clarify the NDC’s position on the matter.

He wrote, “A National Anthem is one of a country’s national symbols. It represents a country’s history, values and SOVEREIGNTY. It is meant to UNITE citizens.

“When a group of people decide to defy it and sing something different from what others are signing as prescribed by law, that group is preparing grounds to break away from the country. It is one of the ingredients of SECESSION. And once the leader of such a group endorses the action, it means the group is then OFFICIALLY a secessionist movement.

“I AM THEREFORE OFFICIALLY CALLING ON the original ‘COUNTRYMAN’, my CLASSMATE, my friend and a man of considerable courage from our school days, SENATOR SERIAKE DICKSON, the official leader of the NDC, to within 48 hours SPEAK UP as to whether the NDC officially endorses a proscribed anthem as its own NATIONAL SYMBOL. The world is waiting.”

Reacting to the development in a post on her X account, Yesufu said the ancestors of the South-South region would be disappointed if Dickson responded to Keyamo’s ultimatum.

She also accused the aviation minister of remaining silent when the current administration brought back the old national anthem without adequately considering the history and opinions of Nigerians.

Yesufu argued that the decision to change the national anthem was made without sufficient consultation with the people.

She wrote, “If Seriake Dickson answers YOU as in the YOU that watched a National anthem being desecrated, whose history was not considered nor its people consulted before one man decided his ego had to be assuaged and changed it, then he fall hand!

“Proper falling! Our South South ancestry go cry for their graves!!!!!

“This monopoly of anyhowness that you think you own has been manufactured by many.”

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has described the party’s presidential flagbearer, Peter Obi, as an incorruptible individual, insisting that his integrity makes him an important figure in Nigeria’s quest for good governance.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

President Bola Tinubu has apologised to the people of Plateau State over his previous visit following the deadly attacks in Anguwan Rukuba, Jos North Local Government Area, which claimed several lives and left many others injured in March 2026.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

News recalls that the attack, which occurred in March, left at least 20 people dead, while several others sustained injuries.

On April 2, Tinubu met with families affected by the incident at the Jos Airport, where he expressed his condolences and assured them that such attacks would not happen again.

However, the President faced criticism for failing to visit the affected communities during the trip. His spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, subsequently explained that Tinubu’s visit was constrained by a scheduled meeting with the President of Chad.

Speaking at the All Progressives Congress (APC) North-Central presidential campaign rally in Jos on Saturday, Tinubu apologised to residents, explaining that he was restricted to the airport during his previous visit and could not travel into the affected communities.

He said, “When I last visited the other time, I was limited to the airport. Forgive me if you didn’t see me in the hinterland.

“But I saw the devastation. I got the report from the governor. I saw horror in the faces of our people. But since then, that has changed; we are forging together.”

The President also assured residents that affected communities would be rebuilt to enable displaced persons to return to their homes.

Tinubu further disclosed that he had directed security agencies to take decisive measures to restore and sustain peace across Plateau State.

He said, “I have directed all the security agencies to take decisive action and sustain peace and stability on the Plateau.

“What we should be getting is prosperity, not havoc, not crisis. Our government is not elected to inflict wounds on one another or to bury people. We have to lift people up from penury to prosperity.

“One thousand forest guards are undergoing training right now. You will feel them; you will see them. You will feel secure in your villages and communities.”

The President maintained that his administration was committed to improving security, restoring stability and creating an environment where residents could live without fear of further attacks.