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Articles by Okoi Obono-Obla
Bala Mohammed’s candour: A lesson in statemanship for the sour grapes opposition
News / 7 Oct 2026 By Okoi Obono-Obla Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State deserves unreserved commendation for his rare candour and statesmanship. In an era where opposition politics in Nigeria has been reduced to perpetual wailing, cynicism and playing to the gallery, Bala Mohammed has risen above partisanship to speak truth to power in the most patriotic sense.
Peter Obi & The Anambra Debt Record: Facts VS Fiction By Obono-Obla
Peter Obi & The Anambra Debt Record: Facts VS Fiction By Obono-Obla by naptu2(op): 5:18am*. Modified: 5:38am PETER OBI AND THE ANAMBRA DEBT RECORD: FACTS VERSUS FICTION By Okoi Obono-obla The Anambra State Government's detailed rebuttal to Mr. Peter Obi's claims on "Phantom Debts" has finally laid bare the hollow foundation of the Obi mystique.
OPINION: The Perils of Power and the Forgotten Lessons of History By Okoi Obono-Obla
President Donald Trump, now basking in the euphoria of a second term secured after a bruising campaign, must not lose sight of history’s unforgiving lens. The brutal contest that nearly unraveled his political ambitions—where detractors dug deep into his past to expose the frailties of his character—has seemingly emboldened him. But that emboldenment risks tipping into recklessness, a dangerous posture for any leader entrusted with the weight of global influence.
Letter To President Buhari: Urgent Request For Evacuation Of Nigerians Stranded In Wuhan, China By Ayodeji Idowu
February 08, 2020 His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR), President, Federal Republic of Nigeria Dear Mr President, Urgent Request For Evacuation Of Nigerians Stranded In Wuhan, China My name is Ayodeji Adetunji Idowu, I am one of the Nigerians currently residing in Wuhan, the epicenter of the Coronavirus epidemic outbreak.
2019: The Media And The Need To Fully Understand Its Role As Fourth Estate By Adejumo Kabir
"The crux is not the publisher's freedom to print; it is rather, the citizen's right to know" - Arthur Hays Sulzberger, 1956 Equal-time rule is the act giving equal opportunity to legally qualified political candidates when it comes to selling or giving away air time during the election by media outfits and for this reason, the media role cannot be overlooked in our political life.
What The VP Debate Taught Us About The Alternatives To APC/PDP By ‘Fisayo Soyombo
In a country of 91 political parties in theory but just two in practice, a vice-presidential debate was always going to be a hard sell. For many reasons. When the Nigeria Elections Debate Group (NEDG) and the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) announced the five parties to participate in the exercise, not many Nigerians could, off the top of their heads, name the respective vice-presidential candidates.
Social Media Users And Information Poison: Buhari's Aide As A Case Study By Adejumo Kabir
Lauretta Onochie, social media aide to President Muhammadu Buhari "I will never know, because I will never be able to be in the position to witness those things. And I don't care to know something I myself cannot confirm. No one should care about this" - Maria Karvouni The spread of fake information on social media has recently posed lots of threat to peaceful co-existence in the society.
Wamakko urges corps members to be patient, patriotic
Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko has called on the out-going corps members in the country to strive to be patient, patriotic and diligent in their future endeavours. A statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Bashir Rabe Mani said that Wamakko spoke when some outgoing corps members of the 2016 batch B, Stream two paid him a farewell visit at his Gawon Nama residence.
Xmas: Bindow cancels homage, urges prayers for state
Gov. Muhammadu Bindow of Adamawa has ?cancelled the traditional Christmas homage to the Government House by traditional rulers and associations, and directed them to use the opportunity to pray for the state. The governor’s directive was contained in a statement Sunday signed by the State Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Mr Ahmad Sajoh.
PDP wins 17 chairmanship, 177 councillorship seats in Ekiti election
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won all the 16 local government chairmanship and 177 Councillorship seats in the local polls conducted in Ekiti State on Saturday. Addressing newsmen and other stakeholders, Chairman of the Ekiiti State Independent Electoral Commission (EKSIEC), rtd. Justice Kayode Bamisile, said the elections were peaceful, free and fair.
Help refugees wherever they come from, Austria’s Kurz says
Help refugees wherever they come from, Austria’s Kurz says Austria’s new Chancellor, Sebastian Kurz, on Sunday urged the EU to help refugees wherever they come from. Kurz also called for an end to “failed” attempts to achieve a quota system for distributing asylum seekers around the EU.
China closes more than 13,000 websites in 3 years
China has closed more than 13,000 websites since the beginning of 2015 for breaking the law or other rules and the vast majority of people support government efforts to clean up cyberspace, state news agency Xinhua said on Sunday. The government has stepped up already tight controls over the internet since President Xi Jinping took power five years ago, in what critics say is an effort to restrict freedom of speech and prevent criticism of the ruling Communist Party.
Christmas: Buhari felicitates with Nigerians, says better days ahead
President Muhammadu Buhari has felicitated with all Nigerians, particularly the Christian community, on the occasion of this year’s Christmas day celebration, and reassured that “better days lie ahead for us as a nation.’’ The president, who stated this in a Christmas message released by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Saturday, said his administration had redouble efforts to surmount the challenges facing the country.
Passengers hail NURTW for stable transport fares in Jos
Many passengers in Jos, on Saturday, lauded the Plateau chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), for not increasing transport fare, despite fuel scarcity. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that passengers at motor parks in Jos, expressed happiness, as commercial drivers maintained the normal transport fare this yuletide.
Presidency presents 55-minute documentary on Buhari Sunday
The presidency says it has concluded arrangements to present to the public a 55-minute documentary on President Muhammadu Buhari on Dec. 24 and 25. Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, in a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday, said the documentary was put together by the media and publicity department of the State House.
NOA attributes fuel scarcity to hoarding by marketers
The Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr Garba Abari, has attributed the present fuel scarcity to deliberate hoarding by some unpatriotic marketers. Abari in a statement on Saturday in Abuja described it as an intentional “ploy by conscienceless and unpatriotic marketers to force government to increase the pump price of the product.
China punishes 8,123 people for misuse of govt funds - Xinhua
China has punished 8,123 people for committing fiscal violations after an audit of how the government’s 2016 central budget was spent revealed multiple problems, the Xinhua state news agency reported. Hu Zejun, head of the National Audit Office, announced the infringements while briefing lawmakers, Xinhua said.
Hoarding of petrol: DPR shuts 6 stations, arrests 4 persons
The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in Ogun, on Saturday, sealed off six petrol stations and arrested four persons in the state. The DPR made the arrests for fuel hoarding, under-dispensing, sabotage, obstruction of justice and installation of commercial gas cylinders without approval. All the affected petrol stations were found to have more than enough of the commodity but refused to sell it to the public.
Price of goods soar in Ile-Ife as Christmas approaches
As the Yuletide celebration approaches, prices of goods and services have soared in major markets in Ile-Ife, Osun State. A market survey conducted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Ile-Ife, showed that the hike is caused by high cost of transportation occasioned by the ongoing fuel scarcity across the country.
NNPC intensifies efforts to flood market with products
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has intensified efforts to flood the market with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise called petrol, and other products. Already, six major marketers: Total, Forte Oil, Oando Plc, MRS, 11 Plc and Nipco Plc, are now loading products round the clock from their various depots in Lagos for onward trucking to all parts of the Country.
Yuletide: Borno Police Command raids black spots
The Borno Police Command has carried out raids on black spots as part of proactive measures to ensure peaceful Christmas and New Year celebrations. Mr Victor Isuku, the Police Public Relations Officer of the command, made the disclosure in a statement issued in Maiduguri on Sunday.
Man slashes girl-friend’s throat, wife kills husband through food poisoning
The Katsina State Police Command says it has arrested a 23 year-old man, Abubakar Musa, who slashed the throat of his girl-friend, Aisha Dikkom. The police also said it has arrested a 15-year-old house wife, Daushiya Abdullahi, for allegedly killing her husband and another person through food poison. Mr Benson Gwana, the State Commissioner of Police, made this known to newsmen on Saturday in Katsina while parading the suspects.
Philippines shopping mall fire kills 37
Fire swept through a shopping mall in the Philippines killing at least 37 people, most of them workers at a call centre, city government officials said on Sunday. The vice mayor of the southern city of Davao, Paolo Duterte, said the chance of survival for any of the 37 people missing at the NCC Mall was “zero”. “Let us pray for them,” said Duterte, the eldest son of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Traffic violation: FRSC impounds 5 vehicles in Ogun
The Ogun Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says it has impounded five vehicles that drove against traffic on Sagamu-Ijebu-Ode Highway since it begun special patrol on Dec. 20. Mr Clement Oladele, the FRSC Sector Commander, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ota, on Saturday. He said that the vehicles would not be released until the end of January, 2018.
Cleric urges parents to preach virtues of love
Most Rev. Martin Uzorukwu, the Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Minna?, has urged parents and guardians to inculcate the virtues of love in their children and wards for peaceful coexistence among Nigerians. Uzorukwu made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)? in his office at St Michael Cathedral Minna. “Parents should teach their children and their wards how to beat the drum of peace, love and not war or intolerance,” he said.
Nasarawa State Govt. increases minimum pension to N5, 000 - Official
Mr Abdullahi Sani-Oseze, the Director-General, Nasarawa State Pension Bureau, has said that the State Government, had increased the minimum pension of retirees to N5, 000. Sani-Oseze made this disclosure in Lafia on Saturday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). He said that the government made the adjustment in order to make life more meaningful for pensioners, in view of the prevailing economic realities in the country.
Don’t accept wrapped gifts from strangers during the Christmas, CP advises Nigerians
The Commissioner of Police in Niger, Mr Dibal Yakadi, on Saturday advised Nigerians against accepting wrapped gifts from strangers during the Christmas and New Year festivities. Yakadi, who gave the advice in Minna in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said such gifts could turn out to be parcel bombs and be dangerous if opened. He also urged the people to be security conscious, especially while attending public functions during and after festivities.
Harvestplus to release zinc rice, iron beans, sorghum in Nigeria - official
Harvestplus, an international agriculture organisation would soon release zinc rice, high iron beans and sorghum in Nigeria to diversify the chain of nutritious crops in the country. The Harvestplus Country Manager, Dr Paul Ilona made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Ibadan.
Fuel sells at N200 per litre in Lagos, as NNPC intensifies fuel distribution
Fuel sells at N200 per litre in Lagos, as NNPC intensifies fuel... Against the backdrop of the ongoing fuel scarcity, the prices have skyrocketed as petrol is currently selling at N200 per litre in Lagos, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). NAN checks revealed that more filing stations have joined the growing numbers of stations without the product while few who had product sell between N 170 to N200 per litre with long queues.
Medview Airlines apologises to passengers over flight delays
Medview Airlines on Saturday apologised to its passengers following flights delay and rescheduling experienced in the week. Mr Obuke Oyibotha, the Airline Media Consultant, in a statement said the airline regretted the inconveniences caused passengers as a result of the delays and flight rescheduling. “We share your pains for our inability at the material time to fly you to your destinations at the appointed time,’’ he said.
Let’s get 'Nigeria working again' Newsdiaryonline
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on Nigerians to ensure the country is “working again”. He made this call in his 2017 Christmas message released Saturday by his media office. Atiku said: “as we unite in celebration of this season, and in reflection of the months past, we must never forget, that to get Nigeria working again is the responsibility of each and everyone of us.
Christmas: APC youth caucus urges Christians to pray for Nigeria
Mr Haruna Okatahi, the Publicity Secretary, All Progressives Congress (APC) National Youth Caucus, has urged Christians to use the occasion of Christmas to pray for Nigeria to overcome its challenges. Okatahi in a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday, also called for prayers for security personnel in the North East and other parts of the country as they battle to rid the nation of terrorism and violence.
Nipco Pushes NNPC Petrol Supplies into Market
Nipco Plc, a major Downstream operator which the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in a statement cited as one of the six major marketers which benefitted from NNPC cargo supplies, has confirmed the Company’s receipt of the Products from the Corporation. Nipco, in a release this evening by its Chief Corporate Affairs Manager, Alh. Lawal Taofeek, said 24 hour-loading of trucks had begun in earnest at the Company’s depot in Lagos.
Diet of tomatoes, fruits help restore lungs damaged by smoking - study
Smokers who quit smoking and live on a diet high in tomatoes and fruits, particularly apples, have better chances of restoring their lung functions impaired by smoking, a new study finds. The study, published in the December issue of the European Respiratory Journal, said former smokers who eat more tomatoes and fresh fruits on a regular basis saw a slower natural decline in lung function over a 10-year period. The study was conducted by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Boko Haram: NGO distributes tools to 200 widows of fallen soldiers in Borno
The North-East Regional Initiative (NERI) has distributed tools and equipment to 200 widows and dependents of soldiers killed in the war against Boko Haram insurgents in the region. NERI’s representative, Mr Suleiman Dauda, who spoke at the distribution exercise, said that the 200 widows and dependents were given machinery on agriculture, tailoring, knitting and fashion design.
OIC: Presidency warns religious organizations against divisive utterances
A presidential spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu,has said the responsibility of maintaining peace and peaceful coexistence is not only the duty of the government, but also of religious organizations whose words carry weight. Shehu stated this in a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday while responding to the allegations by the Supreme Council for Sharia, accusing the President of letting down Muslims for his inability to attend the emergency summit of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Ghana’s Torgah eagles last hole to win 2017 Tour Championship
Defending champion Vincent Torgah on Saturday shot an impressive eagle on the last hole as he came from behind to win the 2017 Tour Championship in Abuja. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the tour championship which had teed off on Wednesday at the IBB International Golf and Country Club climaxed with the final round on Saturday. Ghanaian Torgah started the final day of the tour championship 5 shots behind 54-hole leader Aaron Simfukwe.
Firecracker is for fun, not scriptural - Clergymen
Firecracker is for fun, not scriptural – Clergymen A clergyman, Pastor Jonathan Olaoye, has described the throwing of firecrackers by youths during Christmas festival as mere fun rather than being scriptural. Olaoye of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Ijomimo Oluwa, Isolo in Lagos told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday that firecracker “is just for fun’’. According to him, it does not have anything to do with the birth of Jesus Christ.
Germany supports Nigeria with €29.9m to eradicate polio
The Federal Republic of Germany and Nigeria has signed a 29.9 million Euros agreement in support of polio eradication programme in the country, a statement has said. Mr Saadu Salahu, Head, Public Relation Unit, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), made this known in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja. Salahu said the agreement was the ninth of such financial agreement and support for polio eradication in Nigeria by Germany.
Food prices rise in Oweri amid fuel scarcity
The current fuel scarcity has triggered hike in the prices of food items in Owerri as traders attributed the rise to the high cost of transportation. A check by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday at the popular Relief market in Owerri showed that the price increase started as the fuel scarcity bites harder few days ago. NAN also gathered that as Christmas was fast approaching, the race to stock up food items reached its peak as suppliers struggled to meet demands.
Group laments lack of access to BOI funds, says 20,000 businesses dying
Chairman National Association of Small Scale Industrialists(NASSI), Dr Andrew Nuwanta, has said the cumbersome process of securing credit facilities from Bank of Industry (BOI) by Small Scale Industrialists have stifled the prospect of over 20,000 micro industrialists in the country.
NEMA deploys personnel on 24-hour patrol in South-East roads
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has deployed its personnel on 24-hour patrol in major roads within South-East to enable it to attend to emergencies. Mr Brandon Walson, the South-East Zonal Co-ordinator of NEMA, said this while inaugurating the agency’s ‘‘2017 Operation Eagle-Eye’’ in Enugu on Saturday. Walson said that the agency would deploy four teams with four rescue vehicles on critical road corridors in the zone.
Emirate raises N91m for vulnerable persons in Zamfara
Anka Emirate Foundation in Zamfara on Saturday realised N91 million for education and empowerment programmes for orphans, less privileged youths and women. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the fund was collected at the N100 million appeal fund project for the development of the emirate in Anka town, Anka Local Gvernment Area. NAN reports that political office holders, businesses men and well meaning individuals from the emirate presented various donations to the project.
OIC: Presidency warns religious organizations against divisive utterances
A presidential spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, says the responsibility of maintaining peace and peaceful coexistence is not only the duty of the government, but also of religious organizations whose words carry weight. Shehu stated this in a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday while responding to the allegations by the Supreme Council for Sharia, accusing the President of letting down Muslims for his inability to attend the emergency summit of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
FG to begin $2.8bn Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano gas pipeline
The Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) said that the 2.8 billion dollars Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) gas pipeline project would soon commence. The acting Director-General, ICRC, Mr Chidi Izuwah, in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, said that the project would be executed through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP), under the supervision of the Minister of State for Petroleum. “The Federal Executive Council (FEC), at its meeting on Dec.
Kaduna Police arrest 2 suspected kidnappers on wanted list
The Kaduna State Police Command, on Thursday said that it had arrested two suspected kidnappers operating on major highways in the state. The Command’s Public Relation officer, ASP Muktar Aliyu, who made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the suspects were arrest on Dec. 17. Aliyu said the operatives of the Intelligence Respon Team (IRT) attached to Operation Absolute Sanity Along Abuja-Kaduna Express way arrested the suspects.
How Town Union encourages Igbo traders back to school
Legal Adviser, Abuja chapter of Umulumgbe Progressive Union (UPU), Barr Remy Agu has said his union has over the time succeeded in encouraging traders among them to go back to school in order to compete favorably in business. Speaking to this medium shortly after the 2017 end of party party at Event Centre, Byazhin, Abuja, Agu said most of UPU members were dealers in Zuba Motor Spare Parts Market in Abuja.
Cameroonian journalist to be freed after terrorism charges dropped
A Cameroonian journalist jailed for more than two years for contact with Islamist militant group Boko Haram is to regain freedom after a court on Thursday shortened his sentence, his lawyer said. Radio France Internationale reporter, Ahmed Abba was arrested in July 2015 and sentenced in April this year to 10 years imprisonment on terrorism charges that rights groups denounced as a sham.
Army urges vigilance against suicide bombers
The Nigerian Army on Thursday called on people in the north east to be security conscious to guard against suicide bomb attack by Boko Haram insurgents during the yuletide. Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Operation Lafiya Dole, made the disclosure in a statement issued in Maiduguri.
Okoi Obono-Obla: Coming to equity with dirty hands, By Ufot Elvis Abasi
It is an age-old religious cum judicial dictum that “he who comes to equity must come with clean hands”. By this it means, like the Biblical allusion, he who wants to cast the first stone must be sure of his purity else the stone ricochets to the source.
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