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Boycott June 12 activities – IPOB tells Igbos, says Ohanaeze has no factions

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4 weeks ago

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The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has urged Igbos to boycott all June 12 activities.

June 12 is the date the Nigerian Government designated as Democracy Day.

IPOB said Igbos should boycott June 12 activities until the Nigerian Government learns to honour May 30th, the Biafra remembrance day.

Emma Powerful, the spokesman of IPOB made the declaration while insisting that Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex socio-political body of the Igbos, is not factionalized.

In a statement he signed, Powerful distanced the Igbo nation and Biafra freedom movement from statements made by Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, stressing that he does not represent Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

Powerful said Isiguzoro is unknown to the Igbo race as representing any recognised wing or faction of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

According to Powerful: “Ohanaeze is not factionalised. The notion of a “factional” Ohanaeze exists only in the minds of hungry political errand boys doing the bidding of their Abuja slave masters. These inconsequential elements neither represent the Igbo people nor speak for Ndigbo.

“It is appalling that these buffoons masquerading as leaders of a non-existent faction continue their coordinated efforts to give the impression that the Igbo race is disoriented or lacks cohesion. This is a calculated insult to our heritage and identity.

“They are also woefully ignorant of Igbo history. The recent claim that Igboland exists in only seven states of Nigeria is an outrageous falsehood. Igbo-speaking people are indigenous to 13 states of this British-created contraption called Nigeria. Any attempt to shrink our ancestral footprint is an unforgivable betrayal.

“Let it be known that Ohanaeze Ndigbo is currently led by Senator Emmanuel Mbatta, and that remains the only recognised and respected leadership of the apex Igbo socio-cultural body. Any individual parading himself as a “factional” leader is not only insulting the Igbo nation, but also daring IPOB with such impunity.

“IPOB is a proud promoter of free speech, but let everyone make their comments in their personal capacity or through their own platforms. Dragging the name of Ohanaeze into every sponsored narrative is cowardly, fraudulent, and unacceptable.

“We also wish to clarify, once again, that Ohanaeze Ndigbo—whether we agree with them or not—remains the apex body of Ndigbo. IPOB reserves the right to criticise Ohanaeze when they err, but we do not presume to represent them, nor should any other impostor.

“Finally, we call on all Biafrans to ignore any call for participation in June 12-related events. Until Nigeria learns to respect and honour May 30th—our sacred Biafran Remembrance Day—we shall not partake in their selective history or skewed national rituals.

“This is not just about IPOB. This is about our dignity, our truth, and our right to define who we are.”

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Ex-Army chief Yahaya urges overhaul of recruitment, training to bolster military readiness

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13 hours ago

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July 5, 2025

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Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya (rtd), has called for a comprehensive and uncompromising reform in recruitment, training, and performance evaluation to strengthen the Nigerian Army’s professionalism and combat effectiveness.

He made this call while delivering a lecture at the Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) 2025, held at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Kaduna on Saturday.

He emphasized that courage, vigilance, and uncompromising standards must guide every stage of a soldier’s career—from recruitment and training to operational deployment.

“Recruitment and selection into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) and Depot Nigerian Army must be thorough and uncompromising. There is no room for weakness or mediocrity. We must be courageous and firm in weeding out bad eggs at every stage,” Yahaya stated.

He said the evolving modern threats and impacts on current training must include a change in training paradigms to reflect, not only conventional warfare, but also terrorism, asymmetric warfare, ideological extremism, and cyber threats.

He suggested a modification of military training. programs to include important strategic courses on emotional intelligence, military psychology, counter-terrorism tactics, and social media awareness.

“Effective training will help solidify the soldier-first concept in the minds of instructors and students. We must reflect modern threats in our training, not just conventional warfare,” he said.

The retired Army chief also stressed the importance of enhancing simulation-based and hands-on training to match real-time battlefield conditions. He urged military institutions across the country to modernize their facilities to meet 21st-century demands.

Yahaya proposed increased collaboration with international military institutions in countries like the United States, United Kingdom, and Pakistan. He said such partnerships would help fast-track knowledge transfer and improve the technical competence of Nigerian personnel.

“We must scale up our engagements with allied nations on training programs. Our non-commissioned officers should have wider access to Junior Command, Regimentation, and Train-the-Trainer courses abroad to meet international standards,” he added.

He stressed the need for capacity building for senior non-commissioned officers (SNCO) as a key target in modern military operations, primarily when operating below the level of battalion in a decentralized context, such as the North East and Lake Chad Basin.

“Modern security challenges can no longer be addressed solely through massed formations.

The Army must build a force capable of executing small-unit warfighting with speed, precision and initiative using a decentralized command structure grounded in the principle of mission command,” Yahaya said.

He reiterated that providing tactical leadership skills to SNCOs will close the gap of officers especially in remote and high-risk theatres of operation.

Yahaya concluded by saying that any reform effort must be soldier-centric which ensures that soldier’s welfare; professionalism and operational capability are the focus.

“The future of our Army depends on the soldier—how well we train, equip, and support him. Let us define our vision clearly and pursue it with consistency and discipline,” he said.

The guest lecture was part of a series of professional engagements, paving the way for NADCEL 2025, which saw a celebration of the 162nd year of the establishment of the Nigerian Army.

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Keyamo to launch Enugu Air July 7

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20 hours ago

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July 5, 2025

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Nigeria’s minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, will officially launch the Enugu State government-owned commercial airline, Enugu Air, on Monday, July 7, 2025.

The launch ceremony will take place at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport.

This is according to a recent statement from the airline.

The airline will begin operations with a fleet of three Embraer jets from the E170 and E190 series, chosen for their performance, passenger comfort, and suitability for regional routes.

Commenting on the development, the Commissioner for Transportation, Enugu State, Dr. Obi Ozor, said Enugu Air is pivotal to Governor Peter Mbah’s vision for positioning Enugu State as a major aviation hub in Nigeria.

“With a strong foundation built on innovation and sustainability, Enugu Air is poised to transform regional air travel, boost state pride, and raise Enugu’s profile nationally and globally,” he said.

The domestic airline announced that its inaugural routes will be Abuja and Lagos, with plans to expand services to Port Harcourt, Owerri, Benin, Kano, and other key locations in Nigeria.

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Commissioner of Police orders prompt medical care for sick suspects in Abia Command

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1 day ago

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July 5, 2025

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Commissioner of Police, Abia State Command, Danladi Isa has charged officers in the Command to maintain professionalism, avoid corruption, and strictly adhere to the NPF social media policy.

He has also directed that suspects must not be detained beyond 24 hours for bailable offences and that sick suspects must receive prompt medical attention.

CP Danladi, who gave the directive during the Command’s monthly conference, which was attended by Area Commanders, DPOs, Heads of Departments and Tactical Commanders, warned that senior officers would be held vicariously liable for misconducts by their subordinates, hence they must ensure proper supervision of officers under them.

He further prohibited Point of Sales, (PoS) operations within Police premises and urged officers to secure their bases, protect government infrastructure, and work in synergy with Mayors of local governments and the public for effective crime-fighting.

The Commissioner of Police, who commended the officers for their dedication to duties, said that greater responsibility is required from them.

He further recognised the the PRO of the Abia Command, DSP Maureen Chinaka for receiving award from the Inspector General of Police and for completing a short course on New Media Capacity Building in China.

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