The Regional Chairman of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo, has denied reports that he prayed for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima on the platform of a Muslim-Muslim ticket ahead of the 2027 presidential election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Reports had emerged in some quarters alleging that Dachomo specifically prayed for Tinubu’s electoral success and expressed support for the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

However, in a post shared on his Facebook page on Monday, the cleric, who is currently in Israel for what he described as his first International Christian Advocacy Tour, dismissed the reports as an attempt to frame him.

Dachomo said his social media post, in which he prayed for the progress and success of Nigeria, had been misconstrued by some people as a prayer for Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.

The cleric categorically denied praying for Tinubu and Shettima to win the 2027 election, stressing that nothing in his original statement suggested such an endorsement.

He wrote, “People are trying to frame me, saying I prayed for a Muslim-Muslim ticket. But I did not, and I will never pray for a Muslim-Muslim ticket because Nigeria belongs to both Muslims and Christians.

“I pray for both Muslims and Christians in Nigeria. I pray for Nigeria to succeed. If you truly want to come to God, come with a clean heart.

“I did not pray for President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima to win in 2027. My prayers have always been for Nigeria to succeed.”

Dachomo is currently in Israel as part of his advocacy tour, which he said is aimed at drawing the attention of world leaders to alleged persecution of Christians in Plateau State.

Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets have been placed in Group B alongside Niger Republic and tournament hosts Burkina Faso for the WAFU B U-17 Championship.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The tournament will also serve as a qualifying competition for next year’s U-17 Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled to be held in Morocco. Group A consists of Ghana, Togo and Benin Republic.

The five-time world champions will head into the competition with a 25-man squad made up of three goalkeepers, seven defenders, eight midfielders and seven forwards.

The Golden Eaglets are expected to depart Nigeria today, October 6, giving the team eight days to complete their tactical and technical preparations before their opening fixture on October 14.

Head coach Eboboritse Uwejamomere selected Mutiu Adenle, Abdulfatai Seriki and Richard Oguama as the three goalkeepers.

The defensive department comprises Chinedu Nchoje, Goodness Ukwubile, Victor Ogbonna, Daniel Dickson, Chinonso Umenozie, Jamiu Issa and Daniel Agunzi.

The eight midfielders named in the squad are Israel Irabor, Adewolu Lukman, Izuchukwu Ogboji, Sochima Emeka, Michael Ekundayo, Al-Ameen Adegboya, Saeed Hussaini and Abubakar Abdulrasaq.

The attacking options are Godswill Usoro, Daniel Lawrence, Chiedozie Igboenyobe, Faruq Azeez, David Fagbamila, Mubarak Fasiu and Abiodun John.

Full Golden Eaglets Squad

Goalkeepers:
Mutiu Adenle, Abdulfatai Seriki, Richard Oguama.

Defenders:
Chinedu Nchoje, Goodness Ukwubile, Victor Ogbonna, Daniel Dickson, Chinonso Umenozie, Jamiu Issa, Daniel Agunzi.

Midfielders:
Israel Irabor, Adewolu Lukman, Izuchukwu Ogboji, Sochima Emeka, Michael Ekundayo, Al-Ameen Adegboya, Saeed Hussaini, Abubakar Abdulrasaq.

Forwards:
Godswill Usoro, Daniel Lawrence, Chiedozie Igboenyobe, Faruq Azeez, David Fagbamila, Mubarak Fasiu, Abiodun John.

The media team of Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi has called on Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo to stop what it described as an excessive focus on the former governor.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Obi’s Media Adviser and Spokesman for Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR), Idris Zekeri Jnr, made the call in a statement on Monday.

Zekeri was reacting to a publication reportedly linked to the state’s ruling circle, which urged Anambra voters to reject Obi and the opposition.

He dismissed the publication, saying Obi’s camp had chosen not to engage in a prolonged exchange in order not to give undue attention to what he described as an institutional absurdity.

Drawing from an Igbo philosophical expression, Zekeri said, “Adighi ibua ayi ara”, meaning that one should not join a mad person in the public square.

The media aide alleged that some insiders within the Soludo administration had recently complained that the governor spends a significant portion of executive council meetings discussing Peter Obi.

“Insiders in the administration had recently lamented that Governor Soludo spends half of executive council (EXCO) meetings obsessing over Peter Obi, treating his fixation on Obi as more vital than pressing state matters,” he claimed.

Zekeri further criticised what he described as the governor’s alleged preoccupation with Obi and called on stakeholders to intervene.

He also alleged that Anambra’s fortunes were deteriorating while the governor’s focus on Obi continued to grow.

The statement cited a recent meeting in Port Harcourt, where the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) reportedly discussed the state’s preparedness for disasters and public safety.

According to Zekeri, officials at the meeting suggested that Anambra had performed better under Obi in managing disasters and public safety.

“They were talking about the state’s preparedness for the recent flood that took lives in the state. The only reason they gave to justify what the flood destroyed was that NIMET announced the impending flood, after they failed to follow the preemptive NIMET prescription,” he alleged.

The Obi media team also claimed that the Anambra State Government had recently mobilised more than 500 internet trolls to attack the former governor, with plans to increase the number to 1,000 based on their performance.

Zekeri described the alleged strategy as a misuse of public resources, accusing the government of diverting funds into what he called “digital vandalism.”

The media office said it was highlighting the allegations to ensure that the Soludo administration could not later attribute its shortcomings to Peter Obi.

“Instead of obsessing over Obi, the governor should use those hours to tour Anambra and see how state funds are being wasted on roads that crumble while construction is still ongoing,” the statement said.

The media team also pointed to large crowds reportedly recorded at events such as the Nnewi Cathedral gathering and the coronation of the Igwe of Adazi-Ani as evidence of Obi’s continued connection with people in the region.

It further argued that political attacks would not erase what it described as the strong relationship between Obi and many people in the South-East.

Zekeri subsequently appealed to Anambra elders, religious leaders, traditional rulers and other stakeholders to intervene and call Governor Soludo to order.