MASSIVE SUPPORT FOR NEW RIGASA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AS AFAKA COMMITTEE SUBMITS 318,600 SIGNATURE PETITION

In a significant step towards the creation of a new Local Government Area, the Afaka Ward Technical Working Committee for the proposed Rigasa Local Government has formally handed over data containing 318,600 signatures of supporters to the Central Working Committee (CWC).

The handover ceremony, which took place at the Skill Acquisition Centre in Mando Sabon Garin Afaka, was witnessed by a broad coalition of Afaka ward stakeholders, including traditional rulers, religious leaders, and youth representatives.

The Chairman of the Technical Committee, Tasiu Musa, while presenting the data, clarified that the 318,600 figure represents a significant portion of public support but is not the ward’s total population. He stated that the enumeration was halted due to constraints of time and finances needed to support supervisors and enumerators. He expressed profound gratitude to the Central Working Committee for its financial backing, which made the extensive data collection possible.

In his address, the Chairman of the Central Working Committee, Alhaji Muazu Abubakar Mohamed Ruma (Tafidan Afaka), commended the technical working Committee for its diligence in achieving the milestone. He then issued a strong appeal to the National Assembly and the Executive arm of the government, urging them to prioritize the creation of the Rigasa Local Government with its Headquarters in Sabon Garin Afaka.

“With this overwhelming number, it is clear that the people have spoken. The combined population of just Rigasa and Afaka is over five million,” Alhaji Ruma noted. “The creation of this Local Government should be a priority for all arms of government to bring governance closer to the people.”

The event featured addresses from prominent religious leaders who unanimously threw their weight behind the movement and praised the efforts of both committees.

Malam Bashir Adam Saleh Algoni, the Deputy Imam of Zangon Daura Jumma’at Mosque in Mando Sabon Garin Afaka, applauded the initiative and the meticulous work of the committees. He offered prayers for the success of the proposal and for divine guidance for the government in considering the request.

Similarly, Sheik Muhammadu Salisu Musa Sudais, the Chief Imam of Sudais Jumma’at Mosque and Hayin Idi Musa Jumma’at Mosque in Mando, described the movement as a righteous struggle for development. He commended the Central and Technical Working Committees for a job well done and prayed for unity and progress.

In a show of cross faith solidarity, Reverend Job David Abubakar, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Airport Afaka, also expressed full support. He joined his voice in appreciating the committees for their dedication and service to the community. Reverend Abubakar further offered prayers, asking for divine intervention so that “those who are going against this movement may come back to their senses and join hands to move Afaka ward forward for the collective good.”

This submission from Afaka Ward follows the earlier completion and submission of data from the Rigasa ward, consolidating the widespread demand for the new local government creation. The movement now awaits the consideration of the state and national assemblies.

Drowning in Promise: The Uncertain Future of the Nigerian Dream.

George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com

“Once the Giant of Africa, now the ghost of its own greatness.”

Where are we truly headed as a nation? What future awaits the millions of young Nigerians whose only inheritance may be frustration and disillusionment? Nigeria, once christened the “GIANT of AFRICA,” now drags its wounded feet in shame; limping under the heavy burden of corruption, insecurity, economic despair and moral decay. The question is not only about where we are headed, but whether we are even moving at all or merely sinking slowly into the quicksand of our own negligence.

A Nation Lost in Transition.
At independence in 1960, Nigeria stood as a symbol of African hope. With its massive population, abundant natural resources and vibrant culture, the world looked to us as the continent’s future powerhouse. Yet sixty-five (65) years later, the same nation that inspired OPTIMISM now inspires PITY. Our democracy, supposedly the “GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE,” has become an endless theatre of political betrayal.

Chinua Achebe, Nigeria’s literary icon, once wrote that “The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership.” His words, written over four decades ago, still echo with haunting precision. Nigeria’s leadership problem has not evolved, but it has metastasized. We have turned governance into a business venture, elections into auctions and public service into personal enrichment.

While nations like Singapore and South Korea (who were behind Nigeria in the 1960s) have built thriving economies and world-class infrastructure, Nigeria still grapples with epileptic power supply, poor roads, collapsed health systems and unemployment that has reduced millions of graduates to okada riders and street hawkers/vendors.

The Economic Mirage.
Nigeria’s economy, though often described as Africa’s largest, remains a fragile façade. The World Bank and IMF repeatedly warn that GDP figures do not feed hungry citizens. In 2024, inflation peaked at over 33%, food inflation soared above 40% and the naira suffered one of its worst depreciations in history, trading above ₦1,700 to a dollar at some points.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), over 133 million Nigerians live in multidimensional poverty. This means that more than half of our citizens lack access to clean water, quality education, healthcare and decent shelter. The World Bank’s 2025 update reaffirmed that Nigeria now hosts the second-largest population of people living in extreme poverty globally, second only to India, a nation seven times our size.

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization, once said that “Economic reforms without social protection deepen inequality and weaken trust in governance.” Her warning is prophetic. The removal of fuel subsidy, while economically justifiable, has pushed millions into hardship, without any reliable safety net to cushion the blow. The result? Soaring transportation costs, skyrocketing food prices and widespread despair.

Youth Betrayed.
Nigeria’s young people are the most educated generation in our history, yet also the most unemployed. The NBS Labour Force Report (2024) placed youth unemployment at 53%, a staggering figure for a nation whose median age is just 18. For many, the dream is no longer to BUILD Nigeria, but to ESCAPE it. The brain drain has become a silent epidemic. According to the UK Home Office, over 100,000 Nigerian professionals migrated to the United Kingdom in 2023 alone, including doctors, nurses, engineers and IT experts. Canada, the U.S. and Europe have witnessed similar surges. The exodus is not just of skills, but of hope. As one young doctor recently lamented, “Nigeria does not deserve our loyalty when it gives us nothing but survival struggles.”

Insecurity: A Nation Under Siege.
Insecurity remains Nigeria’s greatest nightmare. The once peaceful northern farmlands are now graveyards of ambition, as Boko Haram, ISWAP, and bandits ravage entire communities. The UNHCR estimates that over 3 million Nigerians have been displaced internally by conflict. Kidnapping for ransom has become a national industry, from schoolchildren in Kaduna to commuters on Abuja highways, no one is safe.

According to the Global Terrorism Index (2024), Nigeria remains among the top five countries most affected by terrorism worldwide. Beyond statistics, these insecurities have crippled agriculture, destroyed local economies and discouraged foreign investment. Farmers have abandoned their lands, leading to food shortages and price inflation that worsens poverty.

The words of Nelson Mandela ring painfully true here: “Safety and security do not just happen; they are the result of collective consensus and public investment.” In Nigeria, that consensus is broken and investment in security too often ends in corruption.

The Collapse of Education and Healthcare.
A nation that fails to educate its youth or heal its sick is a nation preparing for SELF-DESTRUCTION. Nigeria’s education system is in ruins. Public universities go on strike almost yearly, while primary and secondary schools crumble in neglect. UNESCO reports that Nigeria now has over 20 million out-of-school children, the highest number in the world.

Our health system fares no better. Hospitals lack equipment, doctors are overworked and underpaid and many facilities operate without electricity or running water. The WHO (2024) confirmed that Nigeria still accounts for 20% of global maternal deaths; an unthinkable tragedy in a nation blessed with so much potential.

Meanwhile, political elites jet abroad for medical care and send their children to schools in Europe and America, mocking the very citizens who voted them into power. The hypocrisy is glaring; the betrayal, complete.

Corruption and the Erosion of Trust.
Corruption remains the cancer eating away at Nigeria’s soul. Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index (2024) ranked Nigeria 145th out of 180 countries, a sharp reminder that despite decades of anti-corruption rhetoric, little has changed.

Billions are looted yearly, from subsidy scams to contract inflation. Former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry once described Nigeria’s corruption as “a level of theft that would be breathtaking even by Washington standards.” Indeed, we have normalized impunity to the point that thieves are celebrated as philanthropists and patriots mocked as fools.

What Future for the Next Generation?
If Nigeria continues on this path, what future do we leave for the next generation? A future where education is a privilege, justice is purchasable and patriotism is punished? Where the child of the poor cannot dream beyond survival and the child of the rich is exempt from consequence?

The Nigerian child must not inherit chaos as culture. The coming generation deserves better, a nation where merit trumps mediocrity and where leadership means service not self-interest. The youth must rise with renewed consciousness not of violence, but of civic participation and accountability.

A Call for Renewal.
The road to redemption begins with truth and courage. We must rebuild institutions, restore faith in justice and revive the social contract between leaders and the led. Late Dora Akunyili once said, “Nigeria’s problem is not lack of resources, but lack of values.” She was so right.

We must elect leaders with competence and conscience not tribal or religious loyalty. We must strengthen the rule of law so that no one, however powerful, stands above it. We must invest in education, power and technology, the real drivers of modern prosperity.

The Way Forward: The Choice Before Us.
Nigeria stands at a defining moment. The next decade will decide whether we rise again or remain buried under our failures. The choice is ours, to act with vision or continue with vanity.

As Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “The time is always right to do what is right.” For Nigeria, that time is now. The destiny of our nation cannot be outsourced and the responsibility cannot be postponed. IF WE DO NOT FIX NIGERIA, NO ONE WILL.

Let us therefore rise not as TRIBES, but as ONE PEOPLE, united by the shared dream of a country worthy of its children. Because if we fail, history will not forgive us and the future will not remember us kindly.

Written by George Omagbemi Sylvester
Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com

“Nigeria’s Conflict not a Holy War”, says Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin

_The Vatican’s call for nuance exposes how foreign lobbyists have turned faith into an instrument of politics._

By O’tega Ogra

*Cardinal Pietro Parolin’s remarks on Nigeria’s violence were calm and factual, yet they disrupted an entire industry of outrage. His insistence that the crisis is social, not religious, has revealed how global lobbying is reshaping Nigeria’s story for profit.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin’s recent comments on Nigeria’s violence did not make headlines because they were loud. They made them because they were true. At the Rome launch of Aid to the Church in Need’s 2025 Religious Freedom Report, the Vatican Secretary of State described the conflict tearing through Nigeria as a social crisis, not a holy war. He said extremist groups make no distinction between Christians and Muslims, and that many Muslims are themselves victims of the same violence. It was a simple statement, yet it challenged months of foreign storytelling that has cast Nigeria as a nation at war with its faiths.

Inside Nigeria, Parolin’s words resonated with those who live the consequences of the conflict. Reverend Joseph Hayab, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Northern Nigeria, said that the killings have long since crossed religious lines. “These terrorists moved beyond just killing Christians and started killing virtually everybody,” he said. “Mosques have also come under attack, and they kill Muslims who do not agree with them.”

From the Muslim community, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has repeatedly cautioned that there is no genocide against any group in Nigeria. He warned that careless language and imported labels could inflame tension and undo years of interfaith peacebuilding. Professor Khalid Aliyu, Secretary General of Jama’atu Nasril Islam, has said the same that criminals should be treated as criminals, not as representatives of any faith. Together, they paint a picture more complex than the one exported abroad.

Marta Petrosillo, author of Aid to the Church in Need’s Religious Freedom Report whose report was used by some lobbyist to counter the Cardinal, later clarified that Parolin’s comments had been taken out of context. In her interview on EWTN, she said Cardinal Parolin’s speech was one of the strongest defences of religious freedom, and it also recognised the layered social and economic causes of Nigeria’s insecurity. The report itself recorded violations across faiths, noting that both Christians and Muslims who reject extremist ideology are being targeted.

That nuance, however, was quickly drowned out in Washington. For months, lobbyists tied to the self-styled Biafra Republic Government-in-Exile an affiliate of the proscribed IPOB began citing Nigeria as a country persecuting Christians. Public filings under the U.S. Department of Justice show that Moran Global Strategies is registered to represent that group. Its leader, Simon Ekpa, was convicted in Finland this year for terrorism-related offences linked to deadly attacks in Nigeria’s southeast mostly against christians. Yet, in Washington, the same network funds lobbying efforts under the banner of religious freedom and self-determination.

Documents filed under the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act describe the firm’s mission as advocacy for human rights. Those words now appear almost verbatim in congressional briefings from US congressmen including Senator Ted Cruz of Texas who is said to have met with the group’s representatives, and press statements. The pattern is unmistakable: a proscribed group using paid lobbying to recast its armed campaign against Christians as a moral crusade for christians. By turning terrorism into advocacy, it becomes easier to attract sympathy, funding, and foreign political cover.

Independent data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project show that over seven thousand Nigerians were killed in violent incidents in the past year. That is about 319,000 deaths less than the number of those killed by gun violence in the US in 2025 alone. The dead in Nigeria include Christians, Muslims, and those of no faith. Most attacks were driven by local resource disputes, criminal gangs, Sahel terrorism and manipulation. To call that a “Christian genocide,” as some lobby groups like MGS do, is to erase the wider truth of shared suffering.

The Vatican’s message, far from political, was moral. It called for empathy without distortion. Nigerian faith leaders have made the same appeal. Across Plateau, Kaduna, and Niger States, Christian and Muslim groups continue joint peace initiatives, rarely noticed by the international press. Their work is slow and human, grounded in community rather than ideology.

Those who profit from inflamed narratives have no patience for that kind of truth. They rely on foreign outrage to raise funds and on simplistic headlines to sustain relevance. In that economy, suffering becomes strategy, and faith becomes a tool of influence.

Cardinal Parolin’s statement was not a denial of persecution. It was a defence of proportion. Every life lost in Nigeria, be they Christian, Muslim, or otherwise, carries the same value. To frame the entire crisis as the persecution of one faith is to trade truth for convenience and compassion for politics. Nigeria’s conflict was never a holy war. It is a human one. And until the world learns to see it that way, the merchants of distortion will keep finding buyers.