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Ohanaeze Youth Lauds Tinubu, Kalu for Establishing South East Development Commission
The Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), the apex socio-cultural organization of Igbo youths, has expressed deep appreciation for the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, in establishing the South East Development Commission (SEDC).
The council commended the two leaders for their collaboration, describing their relationship as a significant asset to the Igbo people.
In a press briefing held in Owerri on Wednesday, OYC President, Comrade Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, lauded Hon. Kalu’s role in ensuring the passage of the long-awaited SEDC bill, noting that his dedication and patriotism were crucial to the bill’s success.
Igboayaka condemned recent attempts by certain individuals, including Dr. Josef Onoh, the self-acclaimed South East Campaign Spokesman for President Tinubu, to undermine Hon. Kalu’s efforts.
He described Onoh as a “misguided enemy of progress” and accused him of attempting to discredit the Deputy Speaker’s achievements for personal gain.
“There is no such thing as a ‘former spokesman’ for President Tinubu in the South East,” Igboayaka stated, accusing Onoh of lobbying to become the Managing Director of the newly-established SEDC without understanding the commission’s framework.
He criticized Onoh’s approach, saying, “You don’t become the Managing Director by attacking political leaders, especially someone like Hon. Benjamin Kalu, who worked tirelessly to see this bill become law.”
Igboayaka emphasized the importance of recognizing those who introduce and champion bills through to their final passage.
He praised Hon. Kalu for utilizing his influence and strong relationship with President Tinubu to push the bill forward.
The OYC leader also thanked President Tinubu for signing the SEDC bill into law, describing the move as a milestone in ensuring balanced development across the country, particularly in the South East.
“Ndigbo are not ingrates,” Igboayaka remarked. “We deeply appreciate President Tinubu for breaking a 54-year jinx by signing the SEDC bill into law, and we honor Hon. Benjamin Kalu, our illustrious son, for his tireless efforts.”
Drawing historical parallels, Igboayaka compared Kalu’s achievement to the visionary leadership of Dr. M. I. Okpara, whose efforts made the Eastern Region one of the fastest-growing regions between 1953 and 1966.
He expressed optimism that the SEDC would foster similar economic growth and development in the South East.
The OYC further called on President Tinubu to initiate additional developmental programs for the region and urged him to consider the release of detained IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, through a political solution, echoing Hon. Kalu’s earlier appeals.
“Ndigbo are waiting for another celebration,” Igboayaka added, expressing hope that President Tinubu will heed their call for unity and progress in the region.
General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff, has assured that all security challenges facing the nation will be effectively addressed by the year’s end.
This statement was made during the launch of attack drones and the demonstration of locally produced bombs, developed by a homegrown technology firm.
The event was attended by security specialists and senior government officials, as General Musa showcased the indigenous Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to the audience.
Accompanied by Ajao Adewale, the Federal Capital Territory Commissioner of Police, and Caleb Mutfwang, the Governor of Plateau State, General Musa emphasized the ongoing bureaucratic obstacles in acquiring military equipment from abroad.
Governor Mutfwang stressed the urgency for decisive measures against insecurity, calling on leaders to prevent any entity within the nation from possessing military capabilities.
The operational features of the UAVs were also demonstrated, with General Musa expressing satisfaction with this advancement, labeling it a pivotal step in combating insecurity in the country.
The Supreme Court has set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Abuja recognising Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP).
In a unanimous judgment on Friday, a five-member panel of the apex court held that the Court of Appeal lacked the jurisdiction to have pronounced Abure National Chairman of the LP having earlier found that the substance of the case was about the party’s leadership.
It held that issue of leadership was internal affair of a party over which courts lacked jurisdiction.
The court allowed the appeal filed by Senator Ester Nenadi Usman and one other and held that it was meritorious.
It proceeded to dismiss the cross-appeal filed by the Abure faction of the LP got being unmeritorious.
Details shortly…
Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, special adviser on political matters to Vice-President Kashim Shettima, has resigned from his position, According to Daily Trust.
The newspaper quoted sources as saying that the former spokesperson of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) resigned two weeks ago.
President Bola Tinubu appointed Baba-Ahmed as special adviser on political matters to Shettima in September 2023.
Baba-Ahmed is the elder sibling of Datti Baba-Ahmed, vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election.
Baba-Ahmed served as chief of staff to Bukola Saraki, former senate president, from 2017-2019.
CONFRONTATION WITH MATAWALLE OVER NEF
In April 2024, Bello Matawalle, minister of state for defence, described the NEF as a “political paperweight” after the group stated that the north made a mistake voting Tinubu in 2023.
In his reaction to Matawalle’s remarks, Baba-Ahmed said it would have served the Tinubu administration better if Matawalle had listed his achievements as minister — and the achievements of the other northern appointees — instead of attacking NEF.
“Scathing criticism of NEF by a junior minister of defence, Matawalle, is ill-advised. He could have done a better job for this admin if he identified contributions of especially northern ministers and other appointees like me to improving security and reducing poverty in the North,” Baba-Ahmed said.
In a riposte, the minister said any appointee must defend and promote the administration they work for.
“Dr. Baba-Ahmed’s relationship and affinity with Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF) is well-known,” Matawalle said.
“The fact now is that he is an appointee of the administration as Special Adviser and it is incumbent on him to work for the success of the government he is part of, protect and defend the government against unjust and vicious attacks from those who hide under ethnic and other primordial interests to heat up the polity for myopic reasons.
“It is pertinent to state that every appointee of President Tinubu including Dr. Baba-Ahmed owes the government a copious duty to promote, elucidate and advance the good works and commendable efforts of the government across all sectors.”
He added that northern appointees must defend the government or take their exit.
Matawalle is a native of Zamfara while Baba-Ahmed hails from Kaduna.