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New Yam Festival: Soludo tasks Anambra indigenes on agriculture
Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo has charged residents to return to farm and contribute their quota towards efforts to bring down prices of food stuff in the country.
Soludo, who spoke on Saturday in Awka while inaugurating the state New Yam Festival (Iriji), said the measure would enhance food security for the state and the nation.
“Let us all go back to farm in order to ensure food security for our state and Nigeria in general.
“ Let us return to utilise all the available lands around us during the farming season to produce more food,” he said.
He recalled that the state government had inaugurated “farm to feed,” towards promoting agri-business in the state.
The governor also directed members of his executive to go return to farm yams and other food stuff, adding that he expects them to win the best prize in farming next year.
“I will also join in this competition next year in order to promote agriculture in the state. The new yam festival is the epic of all cultural and traditional festival in the state.
“Today, Anambra State officially flags off new yam festival, knowing full well that some communities in the state have celebrated same.
“This one is unique because we have come together to celebrate our cultural heritage,”he said.
Soludo, who decried lateness of the people in attending state functions, emphasised that the 2025 new yam festival must be timely in order to properly showcase the state rich culture and tradition.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that highpoint of the occasion was cash rewards to the producers of highest weighed yams in one harvest.
NAN also reports that Chigozie Anele from Akwaeze in Anaocha Local Government Area (LGA) produced yam weighing 80kg in one harvest to clinch the first position, with a reward of N3 million and a tricycle pick-up.
The second and third positions went to Igwilo Paschal from Isuofia in Aguata LGA and Emeka Stephen from Nimo in Njikoka LGA, who harvested yams weighing 71.5k and 44kg. They went home with N1 million each.
Responding on behalf of the winners, Anele assured that they would use their rewards judiciously.
NAN further reports that the 21 LGAs in the state paraded different masquerades during the event. (NAN)
The Supreme Court has overturned the Court of Appeal’s decision that recognised Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP). In a decisive ruling, a five-member panel declared that the Court of Appeal lacked the legal authority to determine the party’s leadership matters.
In a unanimous verdict, the highest court in the land stated that the Court of Appeal had no jurisdiction over the matter. The panel observed that since the case revolved around the internal leadership structure of the Labour Party, it fell outside the jurisdiction of the courts.
The ruling reinforced the long-standing principle that leadership disputes within political parties should be resolved internally, rather than through judicial intervention.
The Supreme Court stressed that leadership struggles within political parties are purely internal matters. According to legal principles, courts should not interfere in such issues, as they fall under the party’s constitution and governance framework. By upholding this legal doctrine, the apex court reaffirmed that political parties must settle their leadership crises independently.
The Supreme Court upheld the appeal lodged by Senator Nenadi Usman and a fellow appellant, ruling that their claims were valid. Their appeal challenged the earlier judgment, arguing that it was flawed due to jurisdictional overreach. After thorough legal scrutiny, the Supreme Court found merit in their argument and ruled in their favour.
The legal battle also involved a cross-appeal filed by supporters of Julius Abure, who sought to challenge the decision against their leader. However, the Supreme Court dismissed this cross-appeal, declaring it unsubstantiated and lacking merit. The ruling effectively ended the legal contest over the Labour Party’s chairmanship, cementing the judiciary’s stance on non-interference in party leadership disputes.
Bitcoin experienced sharp fluctuations following President Donald Trump’s April 2 tariff announcement, initially surging to $88,000 before dropping to $82,000.
By April 3, it stabilized around $83,000, with the broader crypto market down over 4%. Major altcoins like Ethereum and Solana also declined over 6%, hitting multi-month lows.
Analysts see the tariff news as reducing market uncertainty, potentially attracting institutional investors.
Despite higher-than-expected rates, experts believe the clarity could help Bitcoin regain momentum toward $90,000. Bitcoin ETFs, led by BlackRock, recorded $218 million in inflows on April 2, reversing prior outflows.
Kraken’s Thomas Perfumo challenged the idea that institutional interest stabilizes crypto, emphasizing that volatility signals demand for a scarce asset.
Some analysts viewed the sell-off as an overreaction to trade policy concerns, highlighting Bitcoin’s resilience as a store of value.
With ETFs showing strong demand, Bitcoin’s price may stabilize and rise, though market participants remain cautious, monitoring trade policies and economic conditions.
Violent clashes between pastoralist groups and settled farming communities have long been a challenge in South Sudan.
However, the recent outbreak of violence in the northern Ruweng Administrative Area has further heightened concerns over the nation’s fragile peace. At least 30 people lost their lives after an armed youth group launched a brutal attack on a northern South Sudanese town, according to local officials.
The incident, linked to an escalating cattle raid, saw the town briefly fall under the control of the attackers before security forces regained control.
The violence began when a group of armed youth stole lambs earlier in the week. Security forces quickly intervened, forcing the raiders to retreat. However, instead of dispersing, the group reorganised and launched a more aggressive attack on Abiemnom the following day.
Local Minister of Information, Simon Chol Mialith, confirmed that despite resistance from local youth and security personnel, the town was overrun by the Mayom armed youth. The attack led to significant casualties and destruction before security forces were able to reclaim the town.
On Wednesday, the South Sudan People’s Defence Force (SSPDF) successfully pushed the attackers out, restoring a semblance of calm. However, the scale of the destruction was already severe, with over 40 individuals injured in addition to the fatalities.
Although reports suggest that some of the deceased were members of the armed groups, official confirmation remains pending.
The attack comes at a time of growing instability in South Sudan, with tensions between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar intensifying. This political rivalry threatens to unravel the delicate 2018 peace agreement that ended the nation’s five-year civil war.
Since gaining independence in 2011, South Sudan has struggled with continuous unrest. Despite its vast oil resources, the country remains impoverished, with conflicts like these exacerbating economic and social difficulties.