Author: Drum Africa Correspondent

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has hailed the emergence of a former Senator representing Rivers East, John Azuta Mbata, as the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide. Fubara said that the politician’s victory at the poll in Enugu on Friday is a testament to his wide acceptance as an accomplished Nigerian whose test of character and integrity is exemplary. This was contained in a statement issued on Friday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Nelson Chukwudi. He said that the overwhelming votes of the delegates showed the implicit confidence of members of the socio-cultural organisation in his ability to…

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Senator John Azuta-Mbata on his election as the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide. Azuta-Mbata, a former senator, represented Rivers East in the Senate from 1999 to 2007. He was elected as President of the preeminent Pan-Igbo socio-cultural group at its meeting in Enugu on Friday. President Tinubu also congratulated the group on the successful leadership transition and enjoined the new leaders to uphold the principles of their predecessors. A statement issued by the presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, explained that “the President recognises the critical role of socio-cultural organisations in nation-building; hence, his commitment to…

After nearly three years of controversy and litigation, a new Alaafin has been approved by the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde. This was disclosed in a statement on Friday by the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade. He said Prince Abimbola Akeem Owoade after thorough consultations and divinations, has been recommended by the Oyomesi and approved by the Governor of Oyo State. According to the commissioner, a statement to this effect has been issued by the Honourable Commissioner for Local Government anod Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Ademola Ojo, who said that the announcement has put to rest, all…

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Samuel Anyanwu, has said he is the authentic National Secretary of the party. The major opposition party is embroiled in a fresh crisis as both Anyanwu and another party chieftain, Sunday Ude-Okoye, are claiming the position of national secretary. Drum Africa reports that In December 2024, the Court of Appeal ruled that Ude-Okoye should replace Anyanwu as the PDP national secretary. The South East Zonal Executive Committee of the party nominated Udeh-Okoye to replace Anyanwu after he became the PDP gubernatorial candidate in Imo in the 2023 election. Anyanwu had obtained several court…

Following disparaging comments against the Spiritual Director of the Holy Ghost Adoration Ministry (Uke), Rev Fr Emmanuel Obimma, aka Fr Ebube Muonso by some Anambra State Government Officials, a youth group, the Omambala Youths Association,(OYA) has given the Governor seven days to direct the withdrawal of such statements. The group, an umbrella body of Youths in the old Anambra Local Government Area comprising Oyi, Anambra East, Anambra West and Ayamelum pointed out and alleged that Mr Ejimofor Opara, the National Publicity Secretary of APGA, described the priest as a “hypocrite”, while the Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, also called Fr…

The US Supreme Court on Thursday denied a last-minute bid by President-elect Donald Trump to halt sentencing in his hush money case. The top court, which includes three justices appointed by Trump, rejected his emergency application seeking to block Friday’s sentencing by a 5-4 vote. The court, in a brief unsigned order, said the “burden that sentencing will impose on the President-Elect’s responsibilities is relatively insubstantial” and noted that Trump will be allowed to attend virtually. The court also noted that Judge Juan Merchan, who presided over the hush money case, has already said he plans to impose a sentence…

Former Abia State Governor Theodore Orji has condemned a recent publication linking him to an interim forfeiture of N228.4 million and the fraudulent activities linked to a company, Effdee Nigeria Limited. In a statement yesterday by his liaison office, the former governor said the publishers were out to tarnish his hard-earned reputation. He described the publication as “baseless” and “malicious,” accusing the publishers of spreading defamatory content without proper fact-checking. Orji said the report falsely claimed that he served as Abia State governor between 2016/2017, even though his tenure had ended in May 2015. The former governor also refuted the…

The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, says the new minimum wage will be reviewed in less than two years from now. Onyejeocha said this on Thursday in Umuahia while addressing newsmen after a meeting with labour leaders in Abia. She said that President Bola Tinubu was committed to his promise to Nigerian workers by ensuring the minimum wage was reviewed after three years. She said that the president was deeply concerned about the welfare of workers and would keep to every promise he made to them. “We are not going to allow minimum wage review to…

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, on Thursday, said his administration plans recruitment of additional 2,000 teachers under the Ogun Teach initiative this year. The governor said the move would increase the number of teachers in the initiative to 6,000. Abiodun said the recruitment would help to close the gap in the student-to-teacher ratio in the state. Speaking at his Oke-Mosan office when he received the management team of Teach For All and the Teach For Nigeria programme, Abiodun noted that his administration, in line with current realities, had increased the wages of the Ogun Teach interns in the state to…

The Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has raised alarms about the increasing security challenges in Nigeria, particularly the rise in kidnappings and killings. Obi, in a tweet posted on Thursday, described the situation as worrisome, stating that the pervasive nature of these crimes is causing huge apprehension across the country. Obi said no one is currently spared from the dangerous wind of many kidnappings and killings blowing through many parts of the nation. Obi tweeted, “The frequent occurrence of crimes, especially kidnapping, in the country today is worrisome, and it’s causing a lot…