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Nothing wrong with indigenisation bill – Ohanaeze youths back Deputy Speaker, Kalu

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5 months ago

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Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, has condemned opposition to the indigenisation bill being proposed under the constitution review process of the House of Representatives.

Benjamin Kalu, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, is heading the Constitution Review Committee.

The bill seeks to indigenise individuals who have stayed in a state for 10 years or are married to a nation.

It has been generating controversy, with some labelling it a means to make Ndigbo possess Lagos.

However, in a statement issued on Sunday by the National President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, he described as unfortunate the swiftness by some persons to “attack Ndigbo at every material time.”

Okwu wondered how a bill that would benefit every citizen of the country could be termed to be favourable to Ndigbo.

He reminded those making anti-Igbo sentiments that “a Fulani man from Sifawa in Sokoto Caliphate – Mallam Umaru Altine, had in 1952 become elected as the first Mayor of the City of Enugu, the heart land and heartbeat of the Igbo Nation.”

“Following from above, it is strange when people struggle to present Ndigbo as a people that are not accommodating other tribes, even when they know deep down in their hearts that such postulation is a fallacy.

“The fact that Ndigbo live and cohabit with other Nigerians freely is a testament to the fact that they have open and large hearts.

“Unfortunately, certain persons have also continued to make baseless claims that they cannot buy landed property because they were not from the South-East. What could be far from the truth.

“I make bold to say that no person selling property in Igbo land bothers about the state of origin of the buyer, the central point is readiness to pay the price tag for the property. The South-East remains open for investment, for all Nigerians and beyond.

“To therefore use this as lame excuses to oppose the bill are clear indications that one Nigeria remains a mirage, only practicable when it is convenient for some people.”

Okwu stressed that those who wish Nigeria to move forward should stop dissipating energy on things that polarize the country.

“We should make an effort to unite and not disunite the country.

“If people can be counted during a census in their places of residency, why then can’t they be regarded as citizens of such places after staying for over 10 years?

“We firmly stand behind the Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon Benjamin Kanu and urge those opposed to the bill to look at it on merit and not with ethnic lens.

“The biggest problem that has held Nigeria down for decades is ethnicity and time has come to let it go,” he further stated.

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‘I entrusted over $9billion (N13.9 trillion) to Dauda Lawal Dare, the current governor of Zamfara State’: Ex-Petroleum Minister Diezani

Published

20 hours ago

on

September 18, 2025

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ByIbrahim Bamidele
•
Sep 17, 2025, 7:20 PM WAT

Former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke, who served under ex-President Goodluck Jonathan and later fled to the United Kingdom over fears of investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has alleged that she entrusted $9 billion (approximately ₦13.9 trillion) to Dauda Lawal Dare, the current Governor of Zamfara State.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has revealed that former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke, who is reportedly battling stage two cancer, is pleading with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to permit her return to Nigeria to confess her alleged financial misconduct while in office.

Speaking to journalists in London after a medical appointment, Mrs. Diezani admitted she is now prepared to disclose details about the billions of dollars she is accused of misappropriating during her tenure as Minister of Petroleum.

‘’I am a born again Christian and currently suffering from second stage cancer, which my United Kingdom’s physician adviseded me to continue taking medication for the rest of my life. Yes, no human is perfect, but some time, God Almighty allows some of such to happen

I have been accused of misappropriation when I was the petroleum minister, which is true! but I would like President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Nigerians to forgive me to come back home and offer my contribution because life is temporal”, a statement from EFCC says Diezani said in tears

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The statement from EFCC further reads;

“My husband and my entire family members including My Nigeria lawyer based in the United Kingdom knew my relationship with Dauda Lawal Dare, the current Zamfara State governor whow I entrusted over 9 billion dollars for safe keeping while he was the Executive Director of the First Bank Nigeria PLC .

“Sadly, it has reached a point where Mr. Dauda Lawal no longer answers my calls and has even collaborated with the UK police to place me under surveillance, perhaps with the intention of claiming the money I entrusted to him after my death,” she said.

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Court restrains NUPENG from going on strike, disrupting Dangote refinery’s operations

Published

21 hours ago

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September 18, 2025

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The National Industrial Court has granted an interim injunction restraining the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) from blocking Nigerian roads, or frustrating and shutting down the operations of Dangote refinery, MRS Oil Nigeria Limited, and MRS Oil and Gas Company Limited.

The court also restrained NUPENG and other drivers’ associations from embarking on an industrial action or compelling other truck drivers to join in its industrial action.

Emmanuel Subilim, the presiding judge, delivered the ruling on Wednesday following an ex parte motion filed by George Ibrahim, the refinery’s lawyer.

Granting the ex parte, the judge said ‘irreparable damage” may be caused to Dangote refinery if the necessary orders were not granted.

Ibrahim approached the court with an ex parte motion filed alongside the originating processes and a motion on notice, dated and filed September 15.

The lawyer prayed the court to direct NUPENG and its members to continue petroleum trucking services to the refinery, MRS, and the Nigerian public pending the determination of the motion on notice.

In an affidavit deposed by Ahmed Hashem, the group’s general manager, government and strategic relations of the refinery, the applicants provided an undertaking of damages to the organisation if the court ultimately rules against the restraining request.

After hearing Ibrahim, the judge held that “this court, having satisfied itself that there is a serious issue to be tried, that the balance of convenience tilts in favour of the Applicants (Dangote Refinery), that irreparable damage may be occasioned if the necessary orders are not granted, and that the Applicants have given an undertaking as to damages”.

He ruled that NUPENG ought to be restrained, granting interim injunction on the refinery’s request.

‘RESTRAINING ORDER TO LAST FOR SEVEN DAYS’

The judge noted that the restraining orders would remain in effect for seven days.

He further directed the applicants to serve the respondents with the motion on notice and all accompanying processes in the suit within seven days from the date of the order.

The judge also noted that the court’s authority to sit during the ongoing vacation would expire on September 23.

Consequently, he ordered that the case file be forwarded to the president of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria for reassignment to another judge, who will hear and determine the motion on notice as well as the substantive case on its merits. 

On September 11, NUPENG placed its members on red alert for the resumption of its nationwide industrial action — two days after it suspended its strike action, in protest against Dangote refinery’s “anti-union practices”.

The union said it made the decision after Sayyu Dantata, the owner of Mrs Oil, allegedly instructed his truck drivers, who had been NUPENG-Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) members for several years, to remove union stickers from their trucks.

NUPENG said the action led to an altercation between the truck drivers and its officials.

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Edo Govt rescues citizen poisoned in Burkina Faso

Published

22 hours ago

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September 18, 2025

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The Edo State Government has successfully repatriated an indigene, Godstime Uwoghiren, who has been battling life-threatening health complications after allegedly being poisoned in Burkina Faso.

Uwoghiren, who was said to have been poisoned out of jealousy for purchasing a motorcycle, had been struggling with paralysis and deteriorating health for over three years before Governor Monday Okpebholo intervened to secure his return.

According to the Director-General of the Edo State Migration Agency, Lucky Agazumah, the matter was first brought to the agency’s attention four months ago, prompting the governor to act swiftly in collaboration with the Nigerian Embassy.

Uwoghiren arrived at Benin Airport around 1 pm on Wednesday aboard a flight from Burkina Faso. He was received by Agazumah and officials of the agency before being rushed by ambulance to the Edo Specialist Hospital, Benin City, for emergency medical attention.

Agazumah revealed that the rescue mission faced initial resistance from some family members but emphasised that the state government remained committed to saving his life.

“If not for Governor Okpebholo’s quick intervention, this young man would have died quietly in a foreign land. He was poisoned out of sheer envy because he bought a motorcycle. We caution Edo youths not to be deceived by the illusion of greener pastures abroad, as many Nigerians are being lured into hardship and modern slavery,” Agazumah said.

Uwoghiren’s mother, Mrs Susan Uwoghiren, expressed gratitude to the state government for stepping in to save her son. She disclosed that before travelling to Burkina Faso, Godstime had trained as an automobile mechanic in Nigeria.

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