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‘30,000 Dead, Thousands Bankrupt’ — Kalu Paints Grim Picture Of IPOB Crisis.
The Senator representing Abia North, Orji Uzor Kalu, has raised alarm over the scale of devastation linked to the prolonged secessionist agitations associated with the convicted leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu. According to Nivo News, Kalu disclosed that more than 30,000 people have been killed and thousands of businesses wiped out across the South-East as a result of the unrest.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Kalu, a former governor of Abia State, made the revelation during an appearance on a national television programme on Sunday, stating that the region has suffered immense human and economic losses due to violent confrontations tied to the IPOB movement. He criticised the tendency of public discourse to focus primarily on clashes involving security operatives while ignoring the untold hardship endured by ordinary citizens whose families and livelihoods have been destroyed.
Speaking in the wake of Kanu’s recent conviction on terrorism charges, the lawmaker urged political actors, activists, and supporters to abandon inflammatory rhetoric and instead pursue a genuine political approach to resolving the crisis. He stressed that constructive dialogue is the only viable path to restoring peace and stability in the region.
Kalu recalled the severe impact of the unrest on traders and business owners, narrating personal stories, including that of his late mother’s close associate who became bankrupt after her shop was looted. He lamented that countless individuals experienced the same fate, yet their stories remain largely unheard.
The senator also disclosed that he has been engaging quietly with the Federal Government to secure a political resolution to Kanu’s case. He urged the Igbo community to remain calm, embrace strategic dialogue, and avoid emotional reactions, insisting that only a coordinated political effort can lead to Kanu’s release.
Kalu further revisited his earlier interventions, revealing that he played a major role in convincing the Buhari administration to grant Kanu bail in 2017. He recounted the pressure he faced, including attempts by the previous government to stop his newspaper, The Sun, from publishing stories about Kanu. He insisted that he resisted those efforts in defence of press freedom.
He also defended Justice James Omotosho, who recently convicted Kanu, noting that court judgments must be respected, even when challenged. According to him, disagreements with legal rulings should be addressed through the appellate process rather than through public attacks on judicial officers.
Reflecting on Kanu’s conduct during trial, Kalu criticised what he described as the IPOB leader’s aggressive behaviour in court, contrasting it with his own experience during his corruption case, where he received a 12-year sentence but never insulted the judge. He emphasised the need for respect toward the judiciary and condemned what he called unacceptable courtroom behaviour.
A founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Osita Okechukwu, has identified what he described as the biggest political mistake made by African Democratic Congress (ADC)....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Okechukwu argued that Atiku’s biggest political error was allowing former President Olusegun Obasanjo to secure a second term in office.
Atiku, who served as Obasanjo’s deputy, had reportedly nursed a presidential ambition ahead of the 2003 general election but eventually abandoned the plan to allow the former president to seek re-election.
Speaking with journalists on Sunday, Okechukwu highlighted some of what he considered political missteps in Atiku’s quest to become Nigeria’s president.
He said, “Atiku’s third unforced political error appeared to mirror his first in 2003, when he hurried into a presidential ambition rather than exercising patience in the established political tradition of the Fulani I know, by allowing President Olusegun Obasanjo to complete his constitutionally permitted second term.
“The second unforced error was when His Excellency breached Section 7 of the PDP Constitution and the subsisting rotation convention between North and South in 2023.”
The APC chieftain maintained that the ongoing crisis within the ADC offered another lesson on the importance of patience and strategic political engagement.
He argued that effective political strategy goes beyond assembling a political team, stressing the importance of timing, respect for the rule of law, established conventions and conflict management.
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Osita Okechukwu, has said the factional National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nafiu Bala Gombe, has damaged the widely promoted image of the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, as a master political strategist.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Okechukwu made the remark following revelations that Atiku had not contacted Bala amid the leadership crisis rocking the ADC.
Speaking with BBC Radio, Bala disclosed that despite the political crisis within the party, Atiku had never held a meeting with him.
“Atiku hasn’t contacted me even though he comes from my area. I went to court with just the constitution,” Bala said.
He added, “I said to everyone that if they had followed the correct steps, the court would have decided in their favour.
“But if we are correct, then we deserve our rights.”
Reacting to the development while addressing journalists on Sunday, Okechukwu argued that Bala’s revelation had undermined Atiku’s reputation as a skilled political strategist.
According to the APC chieftain, Atiku should have considered it important to privately engage Bala, particularly given their shared political background and family ties.
He said: “You would think that a politician who is always praised by his supporters as a skilled strategist would have seen it as very important to talk to Gombe privately, especially since they share the same local political background and family history.
“It seems strange that Atiku didn’t take such a simple political step, especially when the ADC crisis kept going on, which makes people wonder about the real skill of the so-called master strategist.”
Thousands of supporters took to the streets of Potiskum on Sunday as the campaign motorcade of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, passed through the town, attracting a large crowd of men, women and youths.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
REPHRASE THIS……The Network of Civil Society Groups has announced plans to identify and publicly promote credible candidates across political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections, urging Nigerians to prioritise individual competence and integrity over party affiliation.
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The group said the initiative would provide voters with information about contestants whose records, leadership qualities and policy proposals demonstrate commitment to democratic values, inclusive representation and public accountability.
In a press statement signed on behalf of the network by Emmanuel Olowu Aiyedun, titled “2027: Supporting Persons, Not Parties; Advancing Democratic Pluralism, Inclusive Representation and Accountability,” the organisation said it aims to encourage issue-based electoral choices, political diversity and effective representation at the federal, state and local government levels.
“The initiative is necessary as Nigerians continue to grapple with economic difficulties, rising living costs and challenges in accessing affordable food, reliable electricity, quality healthcare, education and employment opportunities.”
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The organisation stated that citizens should evaluate political aspirants based on their personal records, integrity, competence, leadership experience, public conduct and proposed policies rather than their political parties.
It warned against blind political loyalty, noting that religious sentiments, ethnic affiliations, financial inducements and longstanding party attachment should not determine electoral decisions.
According to the statement, “While political parties remain important democratic institutions, party affiliation should not replace individual credibility, integrity, character, competence and a demonstrable record of public service.”
“We maintain that allowing candidates from different political parties and ideological backgrounds to participate in governance would strengthen democratic institutions, encourage constructive debates and promote checks and balances.”
As part of its planned activities, the organisation said it would organise civic education programmes, public engagements and discussions to enable voters to examine candidates’ backgrounds, policy proposals and commitments to public service.
It added that selected contestants from different political parties would be featured through candidate engagements, public interviews, policy discussions and media outreach to give Nigerians access to information about their leadership capacity and proposed contributions to governance.
The Network also called on political parties, aspirants, civil society organisations and the media to promote issue-based campaigns.
While urging Nigerians to reject vote-buying, ethnic divisions, religious manipulation and other forms of electoral inducement, it stressed the need for the 2027 elections to produce effective representation and accountable leadership responsive to citizens’ needs.
The Network of Civil Society Groups has unveiled plans to identify and publicly promote credible candidates across political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections, urging Nigerians to consider individual competence and integrity rather than party affiliation when choosing their leaders.
The organisation said the initiative would provide voters with information about candidates whose track records, leadership abilities and policy proposals reflect a commitment to democratic values, inclusive representation and public accountability.
In a press statement signed by Emmanuel Olowu Aiyedun on behalf of the network, titled “2027: Supporting Persons, Not Parties; Advancing Democratic Pluralism, Inclusive Representation and Accountability,” the group said the initiative was designed to promote issue-based voting, political diversity and effective representation at the federal, state and local government levels.
It noted that the initiative had become necessary as Nigerians continued to face economic challenges, rising living costs and difficulties accessing affordable food, reliable electricity, quality healthcare, education and employment opportunities.
The organisation urged citizens to assess political aspirants based on their personal records, integrity, competence, leadership experience, public conduct and proposed policies rather than the parties they represent.
It also cautioned against blind political loyalty, stressing that religious sentiments, ethnic affiliations, financial inducements and longstanding attachment to political parties should not influence electoral decisions.
“While political parties remain important democratic institutions, party affiliation should not replace individual credibility, integrity, character, competence and a demonstrable record of public service,” the statement read.
The network further argued that allowing candidates from different political parties and ideological backgrounds to participate in governance would strengthen democratic institutions, encourage constructive debates and promote checks and balances.
As part of its planned activities, the organisation said it would organise civic education programmes, public engagements and discussions to help voters examine candidates’ backgrounds, policy proposals and commitment to public service.
It added that selected candidates from different political parties would be featured through public engagements, interviews, policy discussions and media outreach to give Nigerians more information about their leadership capacity and proposed contributions to governance.
The Network also called on political parties, aspirants, civil society organisations and media outlets to promote issue-based campaigns ahead of the elections.
It urged Nigerians to reject vote-buying, ethnic divisions, religious manipulation and other forms of electoral inducement, emphasising the need for the 2027 elections to produce effective representation and accountable leadership that responds to citizens’ needs.
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