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How ECOWAS idea started, by Yakubu Gowon

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Nigeria’s former military head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, has shed light on the birth of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), tracing its origin to a conversation he had with the late Togolese leader, General Gnassingbé Eyadema, in the aftermath of Nigeria’s civil war.

Gowon made the revelation in Lagos during the 50th anniversary celebration of ECOWAS, held on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs on Kofo Abayomi Street, the same venue where the historic treaty establishing the regional bloc was signed by leaders of 15 West African nations on May 28, 1975.

The former Head of State, who remains the only living founding father of ECOWAS, recalled that the idea emerged during his visits across the sub-region to thank countries for their support and understanding during Nigeria’s civil war.

It was in the course of those diplomatic engagements, he said, that the vision for a united West African economic community began to take shape.

He said, “The idea started soon after the civil war, when I went on a thank you visit to member States to thank them for their understanding and support, and was also engaged in entering into, similar bilateral agreement, with each President and Heads of State of the region then. But with General Gnassingbé Eyadema of Togo, we further discussed extending the idea beyond the bilateral level, to what is happening in some parts of the world e.g, in Europe, EEC, later EU, ECA in East Africa, Africa and Caribbean organization.

“We both agreed to get to work at it and got our respective Ministers of Economic and External Affairs to produce a working document for consideration. Prof. Bayo Adedeji and Dr. Arikpo from Nigeria and Mr. Edem Kodjo and another from Togo and their staff set to work, getting other member States involved to produce a working document for consideration.

“Meanwhile, between me and President Eyadema, we were in constant contact with our other colleagues, English and French speaking President and Heads of States, to get their firm commitment to it and subsequently we succeeded to have the ECOWAS programme launched on 28th May, 1975 in Lagos as Lagos Treaty.”

He explained, “The Treaty of Lagos primary aim and objective is to promote Economic Co-operation and integration between and among the member States, focusing on achieving collective self-sufficiency and improving the citizens standard of living – the call for ECOWAS Community of the people not only for its leadership.”

Gowon said ECOWAS has made significant progress since then.

He noted that the regional body has implemented various policies and programmes, protocols and operations to stabilize entities such as Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea Bissau.

He said they have achieved “Trade Liberalization”, by introducing policies to reduce trade barriers and promoting intra-regional trade, thus increasing trade among member State and helping to promote economic growth and development.”

He lamented that despite some of the achievements, the bloc has however fallen short in certain areas.

He stressed that the regional body is still faced with some formidable challenges such as security issues like terrorism, kidnapping, various criminal activities and various ‘activity of man’s inhumanity to man’.

He also expressed his sadness over the withdrawal of the three African states-Burkina-Faso, Mali and Niger.

“ECOWAS was hopefully looking forward to a trouble-free peaceful golden jubilee this year, then the bombshell from the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) – Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, withdrawing from the Community. This came as a great concern to the Community which curtailed its 50 years of existence. It is sad that the Community is Celebrating its Jubilee short of the 50 years as a full original membership.”

“Although ECOWAS had to reluctantly let them go as they decided, it is commendable of the Commission still leaving the door of the stable open and also consider giving the group (AES) to be joint partner and for ECOWAS now to be ECOWASS – ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN STATES (and) SAHEL. It is still to maintain its original name and purpose.”

He however said despite the plight, there is reason to celebrate the milestone.

“But it is 50 years of the majority members of the Community and they should be duly Celebrated and let us say “happy golden jubilee, ecowas”, he said.

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First Lady Remi Tinubu Bags Traditional Title In Osun

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Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu, arrived in Ile-Ife, Osun State, on Sunday to be installed with the prominent chieftaincy title of Yeye Asiwaju Gbogbo Ile Oodu’a.

The installation ceremony, which took place at the Palace Square of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, also served as a celebration of the monarch’s 10th coronation anniversary.

She arrived at the palace of Ooni of Ife around 1 PM amid fanfare and heavy security, and was received by Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and his chiefs.

Dignitaries in attendance include the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and former Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun, among others.

 

The ceremony is currently underway as more guests continue to arrive at the venue.

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Harrison Gwamnishu’s Lawyer Gives An Account Of What The Activist Did With The Ransom Given To Him By Family Of Abducted Couple

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Harrison Gwamnishu’s lawyer has given an account on what transpired between the activist and the N5.4 million deduction from the N20 million ransom family members of abducted Edo couple raised for their release.

There has been a controversy over the money Harrison delivered to the kidnappers. The family claimed they handed N20 million to Harrison to pay the ransom for the release of the abducted couple but upn handing the money to the kidnappers, the assailants discovered some monies were missing from the ransom and decided to hold on to the husband and then released the pregnant wife. Harrison has since denied any wrongdoing, insisting he has a modus operandi to handle abductors.

His lawyer has come out to give an account of what transpired between the ransom money and the activist. Read below

‘’I just got off the phone with Harrison Gwamnishu’s Lawyer. A lot has been said and done in real life investigation. Now, HARRISON’s CONFESSION

📌 That his modus operandi is to get a prototype look alike cash where he inserts the chip for tracking as our cash is too light to carry the chip.

📌 So before ransom is paid they remove a huge part of the money and replace it with the prototype money because the chip can only sit well on the fake money. The removed money will be given back to the family after a successful operation.

📌 That he did this in the presence of the family member who was in the room with him. Now, the family member was called to answer and he claimed that Harrison was backing him and so he didn’t see what he was doing…🙄 Hmmm na so Harrison back thick to occupy and cover all the space that you couldn’t see abi? Na God go judge you.🙄

📌 When he entered the bush at midnight to deliver the ransom the bandits were all wearing mask despite the fact that eveywhere was very dark they were pointing guns and touchlights at him and other victims family who also entered the bush with him to pay ransom for the release of their loved ones. There are other kidnapped victims who are in the custody of the bandits.

📌 After he gave them the ransom only the Pregnant Woman was released to him and the man was begging for forgiveness from his younger brother according to him he was saying that his brother should forgive him. Remember that this couple were kindnapped from their home…. Could it be an insider job???🤷🏻‍♀️ It was this same brother that first raise the alarm that the money was not complete. 1+1=🤡

📌 After the operation they went to the police station in Auchi to give report. Harrison when confronted about the money hesitated to tell them about his modus operandi, but when the family started threatening him, he told them and the police how he operates and he was asked to bring the money… He went to his hotel room took the money he kept aside and handed it over to the police in Auchi, Edo State that same day before leaving the town.

📌 Harrison begged that none of this should enter social media until after the man had been released but shockingly, the family went on social media and the dragging started. They claimed he was on the run and his car was seized by the police.

📌 Harrison then made a rebuttal to state that no money was taken (he didn’t go into details), his car was not seized by the police but rather he left his car there for safety as the people were already threatening him and he didn’t want them to trail him and injure him on his way home.

📌 Harrison went on his own to SCID EDO COMMAND at Benin city for further investigation and the police there brought out the money and made him act like he was returning it so they can snap him and which they did🤦🏻‍♀️ A Money he had returned in Auchi voluntarily suddenly became a tool of amusement for them.

📌 After that, they prepared a search warrant claiming that they searched his hotel room at Auchi and recovered the money and were forcing him to sign the warrant and he refused. Now after 48 hours of the hand over they want him to sign a warrant that I was them that recovered the money. At that point his Lawyer vehemently refused him signing that warrant and he was locked up in the police cell.

📌 The 14 days remained that is flying on social media by propagandist NEVER HAPPENED.

📌 Harrison inserted a chip inside a prototype money that was mixed with the ransom paid for the release of the pregnant woman and according to him, the chip is still very active cos from his system he can still see where the kidnappers are and he is willing to assist the police track the bandits down and release the Man.

📌 But instead of talking about how to go into the bush and face the bandits, they are all focused on Harrison. The #5.4m is with the police so why can’t the police or the family of the man go into the bush to rescue the man???

On my own i will advise Harrison to not enter that bush again. He should allow the police do their work.

I understand the bad blood between him and some powers that be and competitors in the game and thats why the whole thing is looking somehow and he is being judged by his past ugly shortcomings.

However, person no dey bad finish and so i will hang on to the one good Harrison has done in his life and until a court of competent jurisdiction finds him guilty… i will not throw him under the bus.

It’s very shameful that a private citizen is the one who interfaces with bandits while the police sits in their office. The family be playing with their brother’s life.

NB: This is a first hand account of what i gathered from Harrison’s lawyer this Beautiful Saturday morning. Thank You🙏

Barr Awele Ideal wrote:

AweleChukwukaumemma💞

I am really disappointed in you calling Harrison bad names

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Lady Nearly Plunged To Her Death From 10th Floor Window While Escaping From Lover’s Wife (Video)

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A woman in China was captured on video clinging to the exterior of a high-rise building as she attempted to avoid being caught by her lover’s wife—a dramatic scene that has since gone viral online.

Residents in Guangdong province watched in disbelief as the woman dangled from a tenth floor balcony, appearing at moments to lose her grip.

Footage shows a shirtless man speaking to her through a window before retreating inside. Holding her phone, she begins lowering herself toward the floor below, using drainpipes and narrow ledges to steady herself.

The video shows her sliding down a water pipe and knocking urgently on a neighbour’s window. The occupant eventually opens up and pulls her to safety.

Local reports say a married man pushed his mistress out onto the balcony in a panic when his wife unexpectedly returned home, forcing her to attempt the perilous escape. The recording spread rapidly across Chinese social media, with many users saying the pair had been left “socially dead” by the public exposure and would face deep embarrassment.

Commenters also warned that climbing the exterior of a high rise posed extreme risks and could easily have ended in a fatal fall.

The incident comes shortly after a separate tragedy in the UK, where twenty nine year old Bartosz Urbaniak died after falling from a balcony at a holiday park event in Skegness.

Witnesses said he attempted to climb between balconies before losing his footing. A trainee nurse at the scene administered CPR, and he was flown to Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham, but he died two days later from severe head injuries.

Watch the video below…

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DR40X2njDrC/?igsh=MTRwZGd4N2Q3NDNmeQ==

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