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Northern Group Slams Sunday Dare Over Comments on Gov. Mohammed
The North-East Unity Forum (NEUF), a prominent non-governmental organization, on Saturday, faulted Sunday Dare, Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications to President Bola Tinubu, over his recent remarks about Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed.
The NEUF expressed its disapproval of Dare’s article titled “Governor Bala Mohammed Playing Irresponsible Politics: An Expression of Crass Irrationality and Utmost Insensitivity by a Nosediving Government.”
In a statement issued by its Chairman, Comrade Yusuf Umar, the group described Dare’s remarks as misplaced, arguing that the President’s aide should focus on the widespread struggles of Nigerians instead of attacking Governor Mohammed for addressing the pressing issues affecting ordinary citizens.
He said: “We at the North-East Unity Forum (NEUF) have read the statements made by Sunday Dare, the Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications to the President.
“It is unfortunate that the spokesperson, who should be concerned about the realities of the majority of Nigerians’ suffering, has instead chosen to berate Governor Bala Mohammed for speaking the truth about the plight of the masses.
“This pedigree and record of accomplishments position Governor Mohammed to speak authoritatively on issues of public concern, particularly on policies like the controversial Tax Reform Bill, which the Governor has rightly criticized for its potential harm to Northern Nigeria and the nation at large.”
The group highlighted Governor Bala Mohammed’s extensive public service record, emphasizing his nearly 30 years of experience, including roles as Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and now as a second-term governor of Bauchi State.
NEUF dismissed Dare’s criticisms as baseless, stating that he lacked the qualifications, exposure, and understanding of the realities facing ordinary Nigerians. “Dare, who has failed in previous roles and now occupies his position by accident, lacks the grasp of real issues affecting the people. In his attempt to defend his daily bread, he has waded into sensitive matters without understanding their implications.”
The forum accused Dare of defending what it termed “the malicious policies of the Tinubu administration,” which it claimed were empowering a select few while impoverishing the majority of Nigerians.
He added, “Governor Mohammed has spoken the minds of the masses in Northern Nigeria, highlighting the need for the insensitive government of Bola Ahmed Tinubu to recognize that under his leadership, Nigerians are dying of hunger and illnesses caused by harsh and unworkable policies. The average Northerner is living in fear, hunger, and trauma due to these policies.
“2027 is just around the corner, and youth coalitions will work tirelessly to ensure President Tinubu does not return for a second term. This government has been adjudged the worst since the inception of democracy in Nigeria, thanks to its unrealistic and inhumane policies.
“The masses of Bauchi State are pleased with their Governor, who has created policies that promote egalitarianism and development. Dare should focus on fixing the damage caused by his principal and avoid meddling in issues he does not understand.”
The group urged Dare to focus on advising the President to withdraw harsh economic policies and address the suffering of Nigerians rather than commenting on issues in Bauchi State, a region they claim he knows little about.
A coalition of youth organisations has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to reconsider its wanted tag on socialite, Dr Aisha Sulaiman Achimugu, OFR.
The organisations, Niger Delta Youth Council for Good Governance and Middle Belt Youth Stakeholders’ Initiative said this in a joint press statement they issued on Thursday in Abuja.
According to them, the declaration of Achimugu wanted by the anti-corruption agency came to them as a rude shock.
The joint statement was signed by Comrade Emma Niboro and Ali Ameh for Niger Delta Youth Council for Good Governance and Middle Belt Youth Stakeholders’ Initiative, respectively.
They described Achimugu as a dedicated friend of the youths, who had always shown commitment to the welfare and care of the downtrodden.
According to the youth coalition, “we know the Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, as a man who came with utmost zeal to sanitize the agency. He has already demonstrated this and we are proud of his achievements so far.
“However, we urge him to resist pressure from politicians, which is a plague that has dwarfed EFCC for several years of its existence.
“The commission had hitherto remained a tool for politicians to undue their perceived political foes and this has always rubbed off on the credibility of the agency.
“The case of Achumugu doesn’t appear to be different in any way, as the haste with which she was declared wanted showed there is a hand of Esau and voice of Jacob.
“Our appeal is that the commission should withdraw the wanted tag on her and give her ample time to report to the commission, as she has never been indicted of any offence whether in Nigeria or outside the country.”
While noting that Achimugu is a global figure, they added that they can always vouch for her integrity.
“We know her, she has always been of immense help to the youths and other members of the society.
“Her closeness to certain politicians should not be used as a tool to persecute or harass her,” the youths further stated.
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.