celebrity radar - gossips
A Father of Bandits or a False Prophet?
A Father of Bandits or a False Prophet?
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com
Why Sheikh Ahmad Gumi’s Defense of Terrorists Threatens Nigeria’s Unity and Insults the Victims of Violence.
When a nation begins to call evil “OUR CHILDREN,” morality collapses. Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, a Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, has crossed that dangerous moral line with his recent remarks: “I WILL NOT ALLOW TRUMP TO KILL MY RELATIVES IN THE FOREST. THE TERRORISTS ARE OUR CHILDREN; WE MUST PROTECT THEM.” These words are not merely insensitive; they are a slap in the face to every Nigerian whose loved ones have been kidnapped, maimed or buried as a result of TERRORISM.
Let us be clear, these terrorists Gumi calls “OUR CHILDREN” are responsible for burning down villages, raping women, murdering farmers and kidnapping schoolchildren in the North. They have turned northern Nigeria into a graveyard of broken dreams and shattered families. Their victims are not just statistics; they are Nigerians like you and me, citizens whose only crime was being at the wrong place when evil came calling.
For over a decade, terrorism and banditry have ravaged Nigeria’s North-West and North-East. Reports by the Global Terrorism Index show that Nigeria ranks among the top 10 countries most affected by terrorism since 2015. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) estimates that more than 8 million Nigerians have been displaced by violence in the North. The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) recorded over 13,000 deaths caused by banditry and insurgency between 2021 and 2024 alone. These are not “CHILDREN IN NEED OF PROTECTION”; they are armed criminals and killers who deserve JUSTICE not SYMPATHY.
Sheikh Gumi’s attempt to emotionally blackmail the public (by portraying terrorists as misunderstood “RELATIVES in the FORESTS”) is a dangerous distortion of both FAITH and HUMANITY. Religion should be a tool for healing not an excuse for crime. When a cleric with a national platform begins to sound like a defense attorney for mass murderers, the soul of the nation is in jeopardy.
The Hypocrisy of Selective Justice. Nigeria is a country where law often bends before power. Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was arrested and detained for years on charges of TREASON and TERRORISM. Yet, Sheikh Gumi (who has met, negotiated and publicly defended armed terrorists) walks freely, even giving televised interviews where he calls for leniency toward those who have slaughtered Nigerians.
Is terrorism now defined by GEOGRAPHY or RELIGION? Why is Gumi’s speech treated as “PEACE ADVOCACY” while others’ dissenting opinions are labeled as national threats? This selective justice only deepens division. The Nigerian Constitution, under Section 42, prohibits discrimination based on RELIGION, ETHNICITY or REGION. Justice must be BLIND not BLINDFOLDED.
Gumi’s rhetoric has been repeatedly condemned by security experts and legal scholars. In 2021, the Nigerian Army warned that his comments “UNDERMINED NATIONAL SECURITY and EMBOLDENED CRIMINALS.” Even moderate northern clerics have distanced themselves from him, describing his approach as “DANGEROUSLY SYMPATHETIC.” Yet, he continues to walk the streets freely, unchallenged by the same government that silences journalists for lesser offenses.
The Cost of Condoning Evil. Every time Nigeria delays justice, terror grows stronger. The National Bureau of Statistics reports that more than 3,600 schools have been closed across northern states due to banditry, leaving millions of children without education. Farmers in Katsina, Zamfara and Kaduna can no longer access their lands, triggering food insecurity nationwide. Inflation on basic food items such as rice, maize and beans has skyrocketed by more than 60% in the last three years, according to the World Bank’s 2024 Africa Economic Outlook.
When Sheikh Gumi says, “WE MUST PROTECT THEM,” whom exactly is he protecting? Certainly not the displaced WIDOWS in Zamfara, ORPHANS in Borno or FARMERS in Niger State. His words protect only the interests of those who profit from chaos; the powerful networks of arms smugglers, corrupt officials and opportunists who have turned insecurity into an economy of blood.
As political philosopher Edmund Burke once warned, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” By defending terrorists under the guise of religion, Gumi has not only done “NOTHING”; he has actively contributed to evil’s triumph by giving it a moral cloak.
The Role of Religion: Healing or Hypocrisy?
Religion should never be weaponized to excuse barbarism. The Holy Qur’an itself states CLEARLY in Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:32: “Whoever kills a soul, it is as if he has slain mankind entirely.” Islam, like Christianity, condemns the taking of innocent life. No legitimate interpretation of ISLAM supports KIDNAPPING, RAPE or the BURNING of VILLAGES.
As the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu once said, “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” By choosing neutrality (or worse, defense) in the face of bloodshed, Gumi has abandoned the prophetic duty of TRUTH TELLING. The clerical robe is not a license for hypocrisy.
The Double Standards of the North and the Division of the South. It is often said that the North is united in defending its own, while the South remains divided at every turn. Gumi’s case proves this painfully true. When a northern cleric openly sympathizes with terrorists, northern leaders rush to silence criticism. Then when a southern activist demands justice or equity, he is branded an enemy of the state.
This hypocrisy fuels resentment and weakens the fragile fabric of national unity. A nation cannot survive when moral codes differ based on tribe or region. Justice must be equal for all; whether you are a herder in Zamfara or an activist in Enugu.
The unity of Nigeria depends not on political slogans but on moral consistency. As Nelson Mandela once said, “There is no such thing as part freedom. You are either free or you are not.” Likewise, there is no such thing as part justice. You are either against terrorism or you are not.
What Must Be Done. Nigeria cannot afford to tolerate double standards in the fight against terrorism. Sheikh Gumi must be investigated and prosecuted under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, which criminalizes any act of support, encouragement or harboring of terrorists. This is not persecution; it is the application of the law.
Secondly, the government must prioritize victims over narratives. Instead of debating the “HUMANITY” of terrorists, attention should be directed toward rebuilding destroyed communities, compensating victims and ensuring that children in IDP camps return to school.
Thirdly, religious bodies must reclaim the moral high ground. The Council of Ulama and Christian associations must condemn any cleric who misuses faith to justify crime. The pulpit should never become a platform for political propaganda or moral confusion.
Lastly, Nigerians (North and South) must unite in one voice against terrorism. EVIL has no TRIBE, RELIGION or REGION. It only thrives where silence reigns. According to George O. Sylvester “Evil does not grow by strength; it grows by silence.”
The Hard Truth: The Price of Silence. THE TIME HAS COME TO DRAW A MORAL LINE. Sheikh Ahmad Gumi’s words are not harmless; they are a DAGGER in the HEART of JUSTICE. Nigeria cannot continue to excuse evil because it wears the mask of RELIGION or ETHNICITY.
As philosopher John Stuart Mill once wrote, “Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends than that good men should look on and do nothing.” Every time a leader defends terrorists, every time a cleric excuses murderers and every time citizens remain silent in the face of evil, the nation sinks deeper into moral decay.
We cannot protect terrorists and expect peace. We cannot defend criminals and expect safety. And we cannot choose silence and expect freedom.
TRUTH, JUSTICE and COURAGE must now speak louder than FEAR, HYPOCRISY and DECEIT.
I ask again, since when sympathy for killers becomes treason? Gumi’s defense of bandits is an insult to every Nigerian grave.
celebrity radar - gossips
Kingdom Advancement: God Does Not Confirm Lies or Gossip — He Confirms His Word .” — Dr. Chris Okafor
Kingdom Advancement: God Does Not Confirm Lies or Gossip—He Confirms His Word
“When Doing Business with God,
People’s Opinions Do Not Count.”
— Dr. Christian Okafor
The greatest investment any Christian can make is partnering with God. According to the Generational Prophet of God and Senior Pastor of Grace Nation Global, Christopher Okafor, when a believer commits to serving and advancing God’s kingdom, no barrier, lie, gossip, or blackmail can prevail against them.
This message was delivered during the Prophetic Financial Sunday Service held on February 15, 2026, at the international headquarters of Grace Nation Worldwide in Ojodu Berger, Lagos, Nigeria.
Doing Business with God
Teaching on the theme “Kingdom Advancement” with the subtitle “Doing Business with God,” Dr. Okafor emphasized that when a believer enters into covenant partnership with God, divine backing becomes inevitable.
“God is still in the business of covenant,” he declared. “When you make a covenant with Him, He honors the terms. When you win souls into the kingdom and remain committed to His work, He rewards you with what you could never achieve by your own strength.”
The Man of God stressed that God does not confirm lies, gossip, or negative narratives—He confirms His Word. Therefore, anyone genuinely committed to kingdom business should not be distracted by public opinion.
“No matter the blackmail or falsehood circulating around you, if you are focused on God’s assignment, those attacks will only strengthen you,” he stated.
He further noted that a believer’s understanding of God’s covenant determines their experience. “Your mentality about God’s covenant becomes your reality. When you truly know the God you serve, no devil can move you.”
Biblical Examples of Kingdom Partnership
Dr. Okafor cited several biblical figures who prospered through their partnership with God:
Abel
Abel served God with sincerity and offered his very best. His sacrifice pleased God, demonstrating that when a master is honored, he responds with favor.
David
David’s heart was fully devoted to God, and in return, God’s presence and favor rested upon him throughout his life.
Hannah
Hannah made a covenant with God, promising that if He blessed her with a child, she would dedicate him to His service. After fulfilling her vow, God rewarded her abundantly, blessing her with additional children.
Peter
Peter, a professional fisherman, surrendered his boat at Jesus’ request for kingdom work. Through that act of partnership and obedience, he experienced supernatural provision and divine elevation.
Conclusion
In closing, Dr. Okafor emphasized that one’s approach to God’s covenant determines the level of success and prosperity experienced. Commitment to kingdom advancement secures divine confirmation and supernatural results.
The Prophetic Financial Sunday Service was marked by prophetic declarations, deliverance, healings, miracles, restoration, and solutions to diverse cases presented before Elohim.
At 55, Omoyele Sowore Remains a Defiant Voice of Conscience
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG
“SaharaWeeklyNG Management and Staff Salute a Relentless Campaigner for Justice and Democratic Accountability.”
As activist, journalist and politician Omoyele Sowore marks his 55th birthday, the management and staff of SaharaWeeklyNG join millions of Nigerians at home and in the diaspora to celebrate a man widely regarded as one of the most persistent and fearless voices for democratic accountability in modern Nigeria.
Born on February 16, 1971, in Ondo State, Sowore rose from student activism at the University of Lagos to become one of the country’s most recognisable pro-democracy figures. His early involvement in the student movement during the military era of the 1990s placed him at the forefront of protests against dictatorship and repression, a role that would shape the course of his life and career.
He later founded Sahara Reporters in 2006, an online investigative platform that quickly gained prominence for exposing corruption, abuse of power and human rights violations. Operating initially from the United States, the outlet became a symbol of citizen journalism and digital activism, publishing stories often ignored or suppressed by mainstream media. Over the years, the platform has reported on high-level corruption cases, electoral malpractices and security failures, earning both praise and fierce criticism from political authorities.
Sowore’s activism took a dramatic turn in 2019 when he contested Nigeria’s presidential election under the African Action Congress (AAC). Although he did not win, the campaign amplified his calls for systemic reform. Months later, he launched the #RevolutionNow movement, a nationwide protest demanding an end to corruption, economic hardship and insecurity.
In August 2019, he was arrested by Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) on charges of treasonable felony. His detention, which lasted several months despite court orders for his release, sparked international condemnation from human rights groups, civil society organisations and foreign observers. The case turned him into a global symbol of resistance against state repression.
Over the years, Sowore has faced multiple arrests, court trials and travel restrictions. Yet he has remained resolute, insisting that his activism is rooted in the constitutional right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Supporters describe him as a principled crusader against injustice, while critics accuse him of political extremism. Regardless of the perspective, his impact on Nigeria’s political discourse is undeniable.
His life’s work echoes the enduring words of Nelson Mandela, who once said, “Freedom is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” For many of Sowore’s followers, his sacrifices represent precisely that spirit, an unyielding struggle for a more accountable and equitable society.
Similarly, the philosophy of Martin Luther King Jr. (that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”) resonates deeply with the trajectory of Sowore’s activism. Whether confronting police brutality, electoral irregularities or economic injustice, he has consistently framed his struggle as one for the collective dignity of Nigerians.
Nigerian Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka once observed that “the man dies in all who keep silent in the face of tyranny.” That sentiment captures the essence of Sowore’s public life. For over three decades, he has refused silence, even when it meant imprisonment, harassment and personal sacrifice.
At 55, Sowore’s journey is far from over. He remains active in political advocacy, civil rights campaigns and public commentary, continuing to challenge what he describes as systemic failures in governance and leadership. His career reflects both the promise and the peril of dissent in a fragile democracy; where the line between patriotism and confrontation is often fiercely contested.
On this milestone birthday, SaharaWeeklyNG management and staff recognise Sowore not merely as an individual, but as a symbol of the enduring struggle for transparency, justice, and democratic renewal. His story is one of conviction under pressure, a reminder that the quest for a better society often demands courage, resilience and a willingness to stand alone.
As Nigeria navigates its complex political and economic realities, figures like Sowore continue to shape the national conversation. Whether praised or criticised, his voice remains a constant in the country’s democratic journey; loud, uncompromising and impossible to ignore.
Banwo Accuses Alex Otti Administration of Governance by Propaganda
Public commentator and lawyer Dr. Ope Banwo has criticised the Abia State Government under Governor Alex Otti, accusing the administration of running what he described as a “propaganda-driven government” built on exaggerated claims and selective messaging rather than measurable governance outcomes.
In a detailed commentary, Banwo argued that while Abia State has recorded some progress in specific sectors, the government’s media machinery has inflated limited achievements into what he called “statewide miracles,” creating a disconnect between online narratives and lived realities.
Banwo, who said he initially viewed Governor Otti as a symbol of hope following the 2023 elections, noted that his concerns emerged after engaging residents and professionals living in Abia to verify widely circulated claims about infrastructure, power supply, healthcare, and transportation.
Central to Banwo’s critique is the portrayal of Abia as a state with uninterrupted electricity. He acknowledged the existence of the Aba ring-fenced power arrangement involving Aba Power and Geometric Power but argued that the arrangement has been misrepresented as statewide energy independence.
According to him, extending the Aba power project to represent the entire state amounts to misinformation, especially given acknowledged outages and the limited geographical coverage of the scheme.
He further questioned claims that Abia was the first state to assume intrastate electricity regulation, stating that other states, including Lagos State, had taken similar steps earlier.
Banwo also raised concerns over viral claims suggesting that biogas facilities are already powering Abia communities, arguing that pilot projects have been prematurely presented as fully operational infrastructure.
He noted that residents he spoke with were largely unaware of any functional biogas-powered communities, stressing that government announcements should be backed by publicly available data on scale, output, and sustainability.
On healthcare, the founder of Naija Lives Matters (NLM) questioned reports that Abia offers free medical care to all citizens above 60 years of age for life, describing the claim as unverified and unsupported by legislation, budgetary provisions, or formal policy documents.
Similarly, he criticised claims suggesting that electric vehicles operate widely across the state and that all roads have been tarred, describing such assertions as exaggerated and misleading.
The self-acclaimed Mayor of Fadeyi argued that the core issue is not the absence of development but what he described as a governance style driven by social media optics rather than transparent performance metrics.
He warned that excessive reliance on viral content, influencers, and unverified claims risks eroding public trust and undermining accountability, noting that effective governance requires data, timelines, and measurable outcomes.
“A serious government does not need to exaggerate results,” Banwo said, adding that citizens require reliable services, not slogans.
He also advised the Abia government to avoid constant comparisons with states like Lagos and its governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, urging the administration to focus instead on publishing verifiable performance records.
Banwo challenged the Otti administration to release clear documentation supporting its claims, including power coverage maps, healthcare policy instruments, infrastructure project lists, and implementation timelines.
He concluded that while Abia State has not “collapsed,” the growing gap between online narratives and on-ground realities could become more damaging than infrastructural deficits if left unaddressed.
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