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All hands must be on deck to eradicate poverty in Nigeria – Stakeholders By Ifeoma Ikem

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All hands must be on deck to eradicate poverty in Nigeria – Stakeholders

By Ifeoma Ikem

Some stakeholders urged that all hands must be on deck to help pull Nigeria out of extreme poverty.

They made the call at the International World Peace Advocate (IAWPA) event to commemorate the 2024 World Poverty day in Lagos.

The UNDP had reported that more than one billion people are living in acute poverty across the globe and that Nigeria is the second to the last.

Dr Bolaji Akinyemi, a guest speaker at the event noted that the major root of poverty is the deprivation of people’s access to basic necessities.

He said that the poor in Nigeria keep struggling for basic needs and there is no solution in sight to lift them out of extreme poverty.

“The poverty level across all the country is alarming, for the giant of Africa to overtake India, a country seven times its population is so worrisome.

`”We need to expand our economic opportunities and embrace technology which will end poverty in Nigeria.

“Technology will help to improve the country’s economic productivity and opportunities for its citizens.

He called for more investment in human capital to create more jobs for women and young people.

“We have to get the mind, which is a place of moral and educate the hands, which is where skills take place.

“So that if you can’t get something to do with your head, you can find something to do with your heart.

“If you can’t find something to do with your mind, you can get something to do with your hands, he added.

He urged the government to increase access to financial opportunities to people in the rural communities and advance technological innovations across the nation.

Amb Prof Chidi Eheriodo, the Director of IAWPA said Nigerian need to come home to restructure, promote and develop the youth with skills and mega resources.

” Youths are the future of the country, now is the time for us to salvage the nation.

“No one is going to do it for us, we have to come together, reason together and forget about palliatives’’.

HRM Dr Eberechukwu Kanu Oji in his goodwill message noted that poverty is a challenge that needs to be tackled or it will tackle us.

“About 4.29million people are living in extreme poverty and Nigeria has the largest number in Africa.

“With deep sense of responsibility as a royal father, with all these information, they show that this is the best time to act.

“In the 19 communities in Arochukwu, Abia state, we have a special youth empowerment programme where all the youth get grants.

“The programme is to empower youths and eradicate poverty, when the youths are empowered, there would be no reason for them not to succeed and the future secured’’.

He reiterated that when youths are empowered, their future is guaranteed.

“Work is going on in my communities; we are constantly giving orientation to youths on the importance of sport, fighting drugs and cultism.

“Most importantly, we train them to become leaders in the society. If other zones would emulate our programmes, poverty would be reduced to the barest minimum, he added

 

All hands must be on deck to eradicate poverty in Nigeria – Stakeholders  By Ifeoma Ikem

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Professor Muhammad Omolaja, NLP Dump SDP, join NRM

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Professor Muhammad Omolaja, NLP Dump SDP, join NRM

BY COMRADE AJIBADE ALABI

Former presidential aspirant under the Action Democratic Party (ADP) during the 2023 general election and the National Chairman of the National Liberation Patriots (NLP), a political group having members in all the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Nigeria – Professor Muhammad Omolaja – and his group have finally dumped the Social Democratic Party (SDP). The high profile politician cum academician per excellence together with his group members in Nigeria and in Diaspora, have joined the National Rescue Movements (NRM) ahead of the forthcoming 2027 general election. This announcement was made by the Media Director for Professor Muhammad Omolaja and NLP, Comrade Ajibade Alabi, who addressed the press in Abuja on Friday, July 18, 2025.”I have to officially announce to you the gentlemen of the press that the marriage between Professor Muhammad Omolaja, a former Chieftain of the SDP, has come to an end and so also the NLP has seized to be a political group under the SDP. The group and its National Chairman, Prof. Omolaja, have moved on to join the National Rescue Movements (NRM). We will as usual do our best in the Party (NRM) to contribute to its becoming a household name in every home throughout the nooks and corners of Nigeria and accepted to the generality of Nigerians. As the name of the Party (NRM) implies, we are out to rescue (liberate) Nigerians from the bondage that the present government of All Progressive Congress (APC) is unleashing on them. We pray and hope that comes 2027, Nigerians will take the bull by the horns and make a good choice by rally round our Party to rescue the country thereby restore its lost glory in all ramifications. Thank you all.” Ajibade concluded.  The alignment of the NLP and their new Party (NRM) took place on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at the Abuja palatial home of the National Chairman of the Party – Chief (Dr.) Edozie Njoku – where the NLP representatives including the National Chairman, Prof. Muhammad Omolaja, were well received; and lavishly and cordially entertained. Other National Officers of the Party in attendance with the National Chairman were the Deputy National Chairman (South) – Hon. Anselem Chinadu Nebeife, Chief Freedom Okwuchukwu, the National Publicity Secretary – Hon. Henry Chinyelugo Abatete, the Deputy National Treasurer – Chief Festus Ukwu, a Leader and one of the Southern State Chairmen – Dr. Mike Nze as well as the Ogun State Chairman who was instrumental to this golden union – Prince, (Dr., Otunba, Chief) Adeyemi Alli. While formally receiving the entire NLP members both in Nigeria and in Diaspora into the Party, the National Chairman of NRM, Chief (Dr.) Edozie Njoku, used the golden opportunity to assure all new members of the Party particularly from the NLP of a perfect level-playing ground in all political engagements of the Party. He further reinstated his determination and commitment to building the great Party (NRM) into an enviable first force political platform across the nooks and corners of the Federal Government of Nigeria

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BREAKING: ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON ANAMBRA PDP GOVERNORSHIP CANDIDATE SIR JUDE EZENWAFOR — HON. PRINCE CHINEDU NSOFOR (KPAKPANDO NDIGBO) CONDEMNS DASTARDLY ACT

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BREAKING: ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON ANAMBRA PDP GOVERNORSHIP CANDIDATE SIR JUDE EZENWAFOR — HON. PRINCE CHINEDU NSOFOR (KPAKPANDO NDIGBO) CONDEMNS DASTARDLY ACT

BY JOSEPH MONDAY

Anambra, Nigeria — Hon. Prince Chinedu Nsofor, frontline PDP senatorial aspirant in the August 16th Anambra South Senatorial District bye-election, has issued a strong condemnation of the recent assassination attempt on Ambassador Sir Jude Ezenwafor, the PDP governorship candidate in the forthcoming Anambra State gubernatorial election.

The attempted attack, which comes barely a week after Nsofor himself narrowly escaped a violent kidnapping, has sent shockwaves across political circles and ignited fresh concerns about the escalating insecurity in Nigeria. In a somber statement, Nsofor said, “This is not just a coordinated attack on a person, but an attack on democracy, justice, and the will of the people.”

Nsofor recalled his own traumatic experience on Thursday July 10th, 2025, when he was ambushed by armed men disguised in military uniforms while traveling by road through Loma, Kogi State. The vehicle he had chartered for a night journey, in a bid to save campaign costs, was forcefully diverted into the forest, where he and others were severely beaten and held captive for ransom. “It was only by divine intervention — rain scattering the captors — that I was able to untie myself and escape,” he recounted.

Expressing deep concern, he added, “Barely one week after my escape from kidnappers, our party’s governorship candidate faces an assassination attempt. Who is safe in this country anymore?”

Nsofor called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to overhaul Nigeria’s deteriorating security architecture, demanding a robust intelligence and operational framework to combat violent crime and terrorism. “The Federal Government must increase intelligence gathering, equip our security forces, and act decisively to fish out the evil terrorizing our land,” he stated.

While praying for the speedy recovery and fortitude of Ambassador Ezenwafor, Nsofor did not mince words in calling for divine justice. “I pray that the judgment of God will fall heavily on the wicked men who tried to take the life of His Excellency Sir Jude and on the bandits who kidnapped me last week. May their evil plans boomerang upon them a hundredfold, in the mighty name of Jesus.”

He emphasized that such attacks should never deter good people from answering the call to serve. “We must not allow Nigeria to become a place where noble aspirations are cut short by the bullet. My thoughts are with the people of Anambra and every conscientious Nigerian who is working for a better future.”

Identifying insecurity as the foremost challenge facing Nigeria, Nsofor proposed a bold and comprehensive legislative solution. “I will sponsor a bill to formally regulate the Fulani herdsmen enterprise by mandating a nationwide biometric registration system. Every herdsman must present a minimum of fifty credible guarantors and undergo biometric capturing to be issued a traceable ID card. Any herder found without this ID or operating unlawfully shall be deemed an illegal operator and face life imprisonment. Guarantors of any offender will also be held equally accountable. Through this system, we can trace, monitor, and eliminate rogue elements hiding behind a legitimate trade,” he declared.

In his closing remarks, Hon. Chinedu Nsofor raised heartfelt prayers for national healing and peace:
“I pray for divine intervention in our land. May the Almighty God protect every sincere leader and candidate from the snare of the wicked. I pray that the spirit of violence, terrorism, kidnapping, political thuggery, and assassination will be destroyed completely in Nigeria. May our military and security agencies be empowered, and may the God of justice avenge every bloodshed by evil men. I ask that the peace of God flood across the North, South, East, and West of our great nation. May no parent mourn their child because of politics, and may Nigeria rise again with a new order of safety, unity, and progress. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.”

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Constitution Review: recommendation for additional states creation, most unreasonable

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Constitution Review: recommendation for additional states creation, most unreasonable

By Ebere Agozie

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), J B Daudu says the proposal for state creation is the most unreasonable of all the proposals for amendment of the constitution.

Daudu made the assertion at a one day Rule of Law Foundation Webinar Series No. 14, organized to address the problems of modern day Nigeria through Constitutional Amendment.

The event was to commemorate the 45th year anniversary of the call to the Nigerian bar and 30 years of conferment of the Rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria on J B Daudu.

Daudu said that the reasons are not far-fetched as, allowing this brazen political agenda to proceed unabated, would appear to be the greatest breach of faith committed by the present administration.

“Firstly, the APC government promised a gravitation to true fiscal federalism when campaigning for the 2023 general elections.

“Thus, in the minds of reasonable Nigerians, this administration should encourage a debate among well-meaning Nigerians as to how to reduce the size of government.”

He called for a concerted effort to enthrone true democracy and set out plans to shrink the states and collapse them into a more manageable number such as six or eight regions or states.

The learned silk added that in financial terms, therefore, it is not viable to embark on the creation of new states for now.

“The demonstration of the unreasonableness of the demand for creation of additional states can be viewed from two angles.

“The first being that Nigeria is just about the size of the state of Texas in the United States. But if Texas was an independent nation, it would rank as the eighth largest in the world.

“The other reason which has been given, especially by the southeast, is that of marginalization and the need for additional states for balance with other places that were also regions, just like the southeast’’.

He stressed that other states are not created based on perceived marginalization but on the strength of several strong factors.

“The most important of which is viability in economic terms. Based on the weak economic ground that the nation presently stands on, what should be the agenda for state creation is the transmutation of the 36 states to six institutionalized geopolitical zones.

“That is what every patriotic Nigerian should back. Nigeria’s constitutional amendment process presents a rare opportunity to correct foundational defects in governance, justice and institutional accountability.”

He urged the National Assembly and public-spirited individuals and groups to seize this opportunity and make far-reaching and transformative suggestions for amendments that will address the root causes of Nigeria’s dysfunction.

“There have been at least five alterations to the 1999 Constitution between 2011 and 2023, the last being the 16 alteration Bills signed into law by the late President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Barely two years after the last exercise, Nigerian politicians, mainly from the National Assembly, are keen on engaging in another rash cycle of amendments, which activity has provoked in the writer veritable alarm bells signifying ‘DANGER’ to the efficacy and longevity of our political/governmental system.”

He noted that governance in Nigeria, since her independence, has operated under successive constitutional frameworks aimed at fostering unity, good governance, and infrastructural development.

“However, the 1999 Constitution (as amended) continues to reflect a unitary and overcentralised structure that limits innovation, accountability, and regional development.

“It is increasingly evident that some of Nigeria’s major challenges such as insecurity, bad individual and communal attitudes, economic underdevelopment, administrative inefficiency, and political tension, are rooted in leadership vacuum not resolvable by constitutional amendment.

“The seeming structural imbalances entrenched in the constitution are there because of the selfish agenda that have been, by subterranean means, embedded in the said document.

“These imbalances can be adjusted by realistic and unselfish constitutional amendments,’’ he added.

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