News
5 Of My Grandchildren Are Yoruba, Sen Ndume Tells Ethnic Jingoists
Senate Chief Whip Ali Ndume has firmly dismissed claims made by ethnic jingoists, asserting that five of his grandchildren are of Yoruba descent.
Ndume’s statement comes as a response to accusations that he only advocates for the betterment of the Northern region.
Ndume passionately argues that if he held any animosity towards the Yoruba race, he would never have allowed his two daughters to marry Yoruba men.
Ndume’s reaction stems from comments made regarding the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) plan to relocate certain offices to Lagos.
Ndume clarifies that his intervention in this matter was driven by a sense of patriotism and not by any disdain for the Yoruba people.
Unfortunately, some individuals have used sections of the media to attack his character and question the credibility of his daughter, who is a staff member at the CBN.
Undeterred by these attempts to discredit him, Ndume firmly asserts that his role as a lawmaker does not prevent his children from pursuing careers in any government agency, as long as they possess the necessary qualifications.
Ndume emphasizes that these attempts at subtle blackmail will not hinder him from pointing out deficiencies in the government.
In fact, Ndume said he sees it as his duty to assist President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in achieving success.
Ndume said he remains resolute in his commitment to speak truth to power and to address any errors made by those responsible for governing the country.
Ndume challenges those who criticize him and accuse him of harboring negative sentiments towards the Yorubas to demonstrate their pan-Nigerian credentials.
Ndume proudly reveals that both of his daughters are married to Yoruba men and have blessed him with five Yoruba grandchildren.
He firmly states, “My two daughters are married to Yoruba men and have both given me five Yoruba grandchildren,” Ndume said urging ethnic jingoists to showcase their commitment to a unified Nigeria.
Ndume makes it clear that he has no regrets for criticizing the plans of the apex bank to relocate its offices from Abuja to Lagos.
Instead, Ndume calls on the CBN Governor to prioritize stabilizing the country’s monetary situation, particularly the escalating exchange rate and rising inflation, rather than focusing on the relocation of departments to an already densely populated Lagos State.
As a senator, Ndume said he believes he has the right to make necessary interventions.
Ndume takes the opportunity to clarify that he does not speak on behalf of the North or Northern senators but rather in the best interests of all Nigerians and President Tinubu, whom he deeply respects.
“I stand by what I’ve said about the relocation of FAAN and some departments of the CBN to Lagos State. If it is about decongestion, Lagos is not the right place. There are CBN offices in all the states of the Federation. Why move the departments to Lagos, which is already populated?’ Ndume asserts.
Since voicing his concerns, Ndume has faced unwarranted attacks in a particular newspaper, with false accusations that he harbors hatred towards the Yorubas.
Ndume dismisses these accusations as baseless and asserts that his daughters’ marriages to Yoruba men, one from Lagos State and the other from Kwara State, along with his five Yoruba grandchildren, are clear evidence of his love and acceptance of the Yoruba people.
Ndume questions those who accuse him, asking how many of their own sons and daughters are married to Hausas or Northerners.
Ndume proudly declares, “I’m a true Nigerian.”
The Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Muhammad Matawalle, and Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, arrived in Maiduguri, Borno State, on Friday for a high-level operational visit to Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), the military’s counter-insurgency campaign in the North East.
The visit, according to a statement by Ahmad Dan Wudil, the minister’s media aide, aims to evaluate the troops’ operational readiness, boost morale among frontline personnel, and review strategies to restore lasting peace and stability in the region.
The statement underscored the Armed Forces of Nigeria’s commitment to safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The trip comes amid growing concerns over resurgent attacks by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Borno State.
Earlier this month, Governor Babagana Zulum warned that the security situation was deteriorating, with insurgents dislodging military formations in areas such as Wulgo, Wajiroko, and Sabon Gari.
Zulum urged the federal government and security agencies to act decisively to prevent a reversal of the gains made in the fight against insurgency.
“While we appreciate the tremendous support from the federal government and the military, the current shift in focus away from the North East risks undermining our progress,” Zulum said, highlighting the need for renewed efforts to curb the escalating violence.
The minister’s visit signals a renewed commitment to addressing the security challenges in Borno, where sporadic attacks have raised fears among residents and displaced communities.
Operation HADIN KAI remains a cornerstone of Nigeria’s efforts to combat insurgency and restore stability to the troubled region.
By Israel Bulus, Kaduna
As Nigeria joins the global community to mark World Malaria Day 2025, the Caleb Danladi Foundation has stepped up its efforts to combat the disease, with a special focus on protecting vulnerable populations.
Aligning with this year’s theme, “Malaria Ends With Us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite,” the Foundation facilitated the re-enrollment of hundreds of women, children, and other at-risk groups into the Kaduna State Health Insurance Scheme.
Founder of the Foundation, Captain Caleb Danladi, disclosed that the organisation fully funded the beneficiaries’ insurance premiums to enhance their access to malaria prevention and treatment services.
Speaking during Friday’s commemoration, Danladi lamented that malaria continues to claim countless lives, particularly in underserved communities.
“Healthcare is a right, not a privilege,” he said. “On this World Malaria Day, we reaffirm our commitment to saving lives through direct support, strong advocacy, and strategic investments in community health solutions.”
He emphasised the need for sustained investments in healthcare and a reimagined approach to delivering equitable services across communities.
Danladi also urged government agencies, healthcare workers, and development partners to strengthen collaboration efforts aimed at eradicating malaria, noting that safeguarding the health and dignity of Nigerians especially women and children is a shared responsibility.
The Director-General (D-G) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, stated that Africa would be minimally impacted by the tariffs imposed by the President of the United States of America (USA), Donald Trump.
Okonjo-Iweala made the remark during an interview with Nigerian journalists at the Spring Meetings of the World Bank in Washington D.C. on Friday.
She explained that only 6.5 per cent of Africa’s exports go to the USA, while 4.4 per cent of its imports come from the U.S., meaning that the impact on the continent would be minimal.
“The trade of the continent is very limited with the USA. We have done the analysis, and the impact on the continent as a whole is not significant,” she said.
However, she noted that Africa’s limited trade with the USA was also not ideal, as it hindered economic growth.
The D-G emphasised that Africa needed to focus on utilising its own resources to reach its full potential, as aid was declining, and the continent required more investment.
She pointed out that Africa must strengthen internal trade, citing Lesotho as an example.
In spite of Lesotho exporting 200 million dollars’ worth of textiles to the USA, the country faced challenges due to the shrinking U.S. market.
Okonjo-Iweala noted that Africa spent 7 billion dollars annually on importing textiles, suggesting that Lesotho should instead focus on selling textiles within African markets.
She also urged the USA to consider the effects of tariffs on least-developed countries, calling for a reassessment of the reciprocal tariffs in poorer nations.
Okonjo-Iweala concluded that Africa needed more investments and should work towards boosting intra-Africa trade, which remained underdeveloped.
“We cannot trade more externally, where our trade is only 3 per cent of world trade, or internally, where intra-Africa trade is 16 to 20 per cent at most,” she said.(NAN)