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Anglican leader calls for part-time legislature, restructuring of Nigeria

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Prof Nneoyi Egbe

 

The Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Calabar, Prof Nneoyi Egbe, has called on Nigeria to adopt a part-time legislature to save the country from excessive financial wastage and corruption.

He has also stressed that the country should adopt true federalism, especially as the nation considers political restructuring.

He spoke in an exclusive interview with DAILY POST on Saturday.

“I advocate for part-time legislators. I believe that it will add credibility to what they are doing.

“Part-time legislators will still afford them the opportunity to do their private work. And when it is time for sitting, they go for sitting and be paid for such sittings.

“I believe that will help us better than this current system because we have packed all the money to the politicians and left the populace empty.

“For me, a part-time legislative system will do us good; it will reduce and conserve the nation’s funds. This will reduce unnecessary flamboyance.”

Egbe, a lecturer at the University of Calabar for 31 years, said a part-time legislature would enable lawmakers to understand that they are purely into politics for service and to add value to the nation, not frolicking without vision.

He expressed pain that many lawmakers do not sponsor any bills yet draw significant financial rewards.

The clergyman called for a reduction in their payments if they cannot adopt a part-time legislature in Nigeria. “Better still,” he said, “they should all be on the minimum wage and then earn sitting allowances. We would have freed up so much money.”

He reasoned that the hefty sum saved could go into taking care of other areas of the economy, including paying other workers.

“I feel we all should look at the issues of the quality of the legislature objectively. We need to understand that it is not about me or those who are there but about the nation called Nigeria and the future of our children.

“Sometimes, these laws are made without considering the fact that these laws will catch up with us somewhere. We should make laws for the general good of the people, not with particular people or groups in mind.

“They should stop thinking of themselves. Let us divest ourselves of this self-centeredness and be objective about what we want Nigeria to be. That’s my take on it.”

He wondered why the Nigerian government should borrow money to put into people’s pockets.

On restructuring the country, Egbe advocated that states should be allowed to control the resources they produce, so that development in those areas will align with what they are producing.

“The centre can take care of foreign affairs, defense, and other such areas, rather than harassing us about who should take care of primary education, which should be the focus of the states and local governments.

“It is unfair for someone to produce something from one area and for the person who is sharing it to be from another area and then distribute it as they see fit.

“Let a percentage of the resources go to the federal government. The center will not be too attractive. People are killing themselves over too much money at the center.

“I think restructuring will do us good. If we restructure at all levels, it will work for us.”

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Buhari: Nigerians mourn as ex-president set for burial in Daura

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It was a tearful moment for Nigerians on Sunday following the announcement of the unfortunate death of former President, Muhammadu Buhari.

Ekwutosblog reports that President Bola Tinubu’s media aide Bayo Onanuga, who announced the sad development on Sunday evening, disclosed that the former Nigerian leader died in London, United Kingdom after a brief illness.

Although Buhari’s family failed to reveal the cause of his unfortunate demise, there are reports indicating that the former president battled blood cancer, leukemia, before he bowed.

 

The media has since been flooded with eulogies as leaders across the world and Nigerian politicians from both the ruling and the opposition parties continue to rain tribute for the foremost elder statesman.

Some socio-political organizations, including Afenifere and Arewa Youths in an exclusive chat with Ekwutosblog on Sunday, expressed utmost sadness over his death.

Buhari left legacies that cannot be forgotten easily – Afenifere

 

In a chat with Ekwutosblog, the National Publicity Secretary of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, Comrade Jare Ajayi expressed condolences.

According to Ajayi, the former president left legacies that cannot be forgotten easily.

“Among the things for which people will continue to remember him was how the administration he led, with the support of late General Tunde Idiagbon, made it known that Nigerians can lead a disciplined life.

 

“Unfortunately, the spirit of discipline his administration instilled in Nigerians was not sustained by successive administrations.

“Also, the noble image that his government as military Head of State would have earned was stained by some of the draconian steps that the administration took, including scant regard for human rights,” he said.

Ajayi added that Buhari’s second coming when he served as civilian President between 2015 and 2023 sort of demystified the public image he had as a ‘no-nonsense man’.

He noted that there is “one important lesson in his conduct towards winning the election that brought him in as President.

“This was the ‘never-say-die’ spirit that he demonstrated. After previous attempts that failed, some faint-hearted people would have given up, but he did not.

“The lesson here is that anyone pursuing a noble goal should not give up even if the initial attempts did not bear the desired result,” he added.

Ajayi stated that although his eight-year tenure as civilian president can be described as a ‘mix-grill’, “the man certainly did his best, given the challenges that he had.

Afenifere commiserated with President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, Buhari’s immediate family and the country “over the death of a man who had the fortune of leading the country first as a military head of state and as a civilian president. May the Almighty Allah forgive his sins and grant him Aljonnah Firdaos”.

Buhari’s death marks end of an era in Nigerian politics – Arewa Youths

On his part, Yerima Shettima, President General, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, AYCF told Ekwutosblog hat the passing of Buhari “marks the end of an era in Nigerian politics, and we take this moment to reflect on his life, legacy, and the profound impact he had on our nation.

Shettima described the sad incident as “immeasurable”, stating that the organization stands with the family of the former president “in this time of grief”.

He called on all Nigerians to honour Buhari’s “memory by continuing to work towards the unity and progress of our beloved country.

“We call on all citizens to reflect on the lessons learned from President Buhari’s life and to strive for a Nigeria that embodies his vision of integrity, unity, and progress.

“Let us come together as a nation to ensure that his legacy lives on through our collective efforts to build a better future for all Nigerians,” he stated.

Buhari set for burial today in Daura

The former president, whose remains are being accompanied back to Nigeria by Vice president Kashim Shettima and other government officials, will be laid to rest on Monday (today) at his home town, Daura.

Recall that when Buhari vacated Aso Rock on May 29 following the completion of his second tenure, he moved to his hometown, Daura, where he was reportedly taking care of his cattle.

However, Buhari on February 25, 2025 relocated back to his Kaduna residence, a move some Nigerians attributed to the build up of 2027 general elections.

Shortly after his demise on Sunday, hundreds of Nigerians gathered at his residence in Kaduna to mourn and pay their last respects.

Former Minister of Water Resources, Alhaji Suleiman Adamu, was said to be among the early visitors to the ex-president’s residence.

Security around the area has been reinforced as two military gun trucks were stationed at key points near the house, while armed soldiers patrolled the street.

Vehicular movement was restricted, and loitering around the narrow residential area was firmly discouraged by security operatives.

Our correspondent gathered that the situation was not different in Daura as security was beefed-up ahead of the burial.

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Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Meets Nkem Owoh At Things Fall Apart Festival 2025

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Renowned Nigerian novelist, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and beloved Nollywood actor, Nkem Owoh, aka Osuofia, recently graced the Things Fall Apart Festival 2025 with their presence. The festival, held in Enugu, Nigeria, from June 29 to July 5, 2025, was a tribute to Chinua Achebe’s timeless classic, “Things Fall Apart”.

During the festival, Chimamanda Adichie delivered a keynote speech, where she invited Nkem Owoh to the stage, praising him as a “cultural icon” whose work has profoundly impacted Nigerians. She gushed, “This man is an icon for us. I’m his biggest fan,” as the audience erupted in applause. The duo shared a warm hug, and Nkem Owoh reciprocated with words of admiration for Chimamanda’s literary prowess.

Photo source: Instagram

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Ex-House of Reps member dragged to court for beating man who demanded accountability

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A business man, Mr Chinedu Anaukwu, has dragged a former member of the House of Representatives from Anambra State, Chinedu Obidigwe, to court for beating him up for demanding accountability for his performance as lawmaker.

Obidigwe who represented Anambra East/West Federal Constituency, was said to have carried out the act in 2023, shortly before the general election.

According to the victim: “It was in 2023, just before the general election, I had written in Aguleri World Forum, a WhatsApp group, demanding accountability from Obidigwe who was then recontesting to return to the House of Representatives.

“I told him it had been over three years that he had been in the National Assembly, and that before aspiring for re-election, he should give us account of his constituency funds and other achievements in the area.

“His boys were not happy about it, and one day he accosted me with over 13 thugs and ordered them to kill me. They beat me until I lost consciousness.”

When the matter came up on Tuesday at Otuocha High Court, Anambra East Local Government Area, counsel to Anaukwu, Chief Gozie Obi, SAN, withdrew the charges against the second and fifth defendants in the matter, who were identified as aides of Obidigwe who participated in the assault.

While the second defendant is said to be already late, the fifth was said not to have been served with the processes.

Obi who spoke to journalists, said: “Today is the first time the matter is coming up in court for pretrial hearing and in the course of the proceeding it came to light that the second defendant is late and since you can’t sue a dead person, we had to withdraw against him.

“Also, the fifth defendant was not served, but we wanted the case to progress, so we had to withdraw against him too, moreso when we know that the principal defendant is Obidigwe as all the others were just his aides, and acted under his instruction.”

During the sitting, the principal defendant, Obidigwe, was represented by his lawyer, Barrister Emmanuel Offoh.

The matter was later adjourned to November 18 for continuation pretrial before full hearing.

The plaintiff, Anaukwu, in his prayers, is asking for N200 million compensation for his ordeal, as well as the conviction of the former Rep.

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