News
Igbo Group Excites As Atiku, Northern Elders’ Promise To Release Kanu,
Leader of the South East Grand Cohesion Alliance for Atiku, Kenneth Uzumaki Austin has urged the South-east to accept the olive branch offered to the region by Atiku Abubakar, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party and some notably reliable Northern leaders.
Austin said the call became necessary in view of the obvious fact that Labour Party candidate Peter Obi lacks the necessary wherewithal to win the elections as well as the strength of solemn pledges made by Atiku which were all endorsed by reputable Northern leaders.
He assured that he was privy to a meeting held in the residence of a Rtd Military General and onetime Minister of Defence in Abuja, at which part of the deal was concluded and ratified.
According to Austin who spoke on the sidelines of a press conference by the Group in Abakaliki, he said part of the agreements were that Atiku, if elected shall within the first 100 days in office, ensure that the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, would be released unconditionally.
“This much has been officially confirmed by a former Senate President and the Chairman, Board of Trustees, BoT of the PDP, Adolphus Wabara.
“The second is that Atiku has promised to work to actualize the dream of an Igbo Presidency by ensuring he hands over to an Igbo successor.”
He pointed to Atiku Abubakar’s repeated promises to be a “stepping stone” to Igbo presidency.
“One of these affirmations was made by Atiku early this week on Tuesday during the party’s presidential campaign rally in Enugu.
This is the third time the PDP candidate would make the promise to Igbos in the South-east.
Recalled that Atiku first made the promise in September during a zonal conference of the PDP in Enugu and he also made the same promise during his campaign flag off for the South-east region in Awka, Anambra State, in December.
Mr Austin pointed to a meeting between the Northern Elders Forum and South-east leaders where the NEF chairman, Ango Abdullahi, presented all the terms agreed upon.
Abdullahi, in an interview with the Tribune of February 12, 2023, confirmed this meeting in these words: NEF is still discussing with other stakeholders from other parts of the country who are interested in the elections. Even today [Thursday], we are having a meeting with the representatives of the Ohanaeze in Abuja.
“NEF and Ohanaeze are meeting right now and we don’t know the outcome of their discussion yet,” Austin quoted Abdullahi to buttress his claims.
He concluded by urging the Igbo not to allow sentiments or discontent to hold them back from coming out to vote massively to secure their future based on the promises made by Atiku and the Northern leaders.
“At least Atiku himself has been bold enough to openly declare his position in favour of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, whereas even our kinsman, Obi could not do that publicly.
“We, the Igbo should key into this agreement reached and sealed by the North and its leaders by taking full advantage of this window of hope by voting massively for Atiku and ensuring their votes count, ” he said.
News
ACOMIN Conducts Monthly Stakeholders’ Advocacy Aim to strengthen supply chain to Combat Malaria in Taraba State.
By Nahum Sule, Jalingo
The Association of Civil Society Organizations in Malaria Control, Immunization, and Nutrition (ACOMIN) conducted its monthly Stakeholders’ Advocacy Visit in Taraba State on Monday, March 17, 2025.
The visit, an activity under the Community-Led Monitoring Project for AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (CLM-ATM), the community component of the Global Fund GC7 Grant was conducted by ACOMIN’S State Advocacy Team (SAT).
The project aims to empower communities to identify and address issues related to the quality of ATM services, community accountability, commodity utilization, and community engagement.
The team conducted four advocacy meetings with the: Logistics Management and Coordinating Unit (LMCU), State Malaria Elimination Programme (SMEP), Society for Family Health (SFH) and Management Sciences for Health (MSH).
The advocacy team led by ACOMIN’s State Chair for Taraba State, Alhaji Muhammad T. Danburam, accompanied by the State Program Officer, representatives from two Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), and a Media Correspondent advocated for: the restocking of Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies (ACTs) and Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) in two health facilities in Kurmi and Donga LGAs, where shortages have been reported, ensure broader coverage of the upcoming Insecticide-Treated Nets (ITN) mass distribution campaign, particularly for underserved communities in Bali and Takum LGAs.
The team highlighted gaps in the malaria supply chain, emphasizing that these shortages have increased the financial burden on patients, many of whom are already economically disadvantaged.
In their response, the stakeholders appreciated ACOMIN’s continuous efforts in sharing community findings and encouraged the organization to sustain its engagement.
Regarding the stockouts of ACTs and RDTs, as well as the lack of ITN coverage in some communities, the stakeholders committed to addressing these issues in the next distribution cycle.
Operatives of the Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), have arrested popular TikTok influencer, Murja Ibrahim Kunya, for allegedly abusing and mutilating the Naira.
Specifically, Kunya was arrested for allegedly spraying Naira notes for fun during her stay in a hotel room at Tahir Guest Palace in Kano. The arrest followed her diligent pursuit by EFCC operatives after she jumped an administrative bail granted her by the Commission over one month ago.
She was initially arrested in January 2025 for violating the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN, Act which prohibits the abuse and mutilation of the Naira. She was granted an administrative bail by the Commission pending her arraignment before the Federal High Court in Kano. However, when it was time for her court appearance, Kunya absconded, evading the legal processes
However, after weeks of intensive investigation and surveillance, EFCC operatives successfully re-arrested the TikTok Influencer on Sunday March 16, 2025. She was subsequently conveyed to the Kano Zonal Directorate of the Commission, where she is currently in custody awaiting her arraignment.
The EFCC reiterates its commitment to enforcing laws protecting the integrity of the Nigerian currency and warned against acts of abuse including spraying, stamping, or mutilating the currency during social events.
Nigeria is set to host the 7th African Spelling Bee (ASB) from April 9 to 13, marking the first time the prestigious competition will be held in a West African nation.
National Coordinator of the Nigeria Spelling Bee, Mr Abdulsalam Ibrahim, announced this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday.
Established in 2016, the ASB has previously been hosted by South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, and Malawi.
The Nigeria Spelling Bee, operating under the Bee Spelling Competition Initiative, serves as the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for this year’s event.
Endorsed by the Federal Ministry of Education, the organisation conducts spelling competitions across all Nigerian states and represents the country in international contests, including the ASB.
According to Ibrahim, the African Spelling Bee was founded with the vision of celebrating the African child, inspiring literacy, and creating a platform for connection and confidence-building among young learners.
He stated that the competition aims to enhance literacy and academic excellence while cultivating a strong reading culture.
The national coordinator noted that the competition also seeks to develop self-esteem and interpersonal skills while building human capital through capacity development.
He said it also aims to promote community-based partnerships and celebrate the cultural diversity and unity of African children.
He noted that this year’s event will bring together the top National Spelling Bee Champions from over 20 African countries.
They include; Benin, Botswana, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
“The ASB embodies the spirit of Pan-Africanism by uniting young people from diverse backgrounds to celebrate linguistic prowess and cultural heritage.
“Through spelling competitions, African general knowledge quizzes, and cultural exchanges, the event fosters unity and mutual respect among participants, nurturing a generation poised to lead and transform the continent”.
Ibrahim highlighted Nigeria’s strong track record in the ASB, having secured multiple championship titles in previous editions.
He also noted that Nigerian spellers are preparing to defend the Senior Championship title won by Praises Minabowa in the last African Spelling Bee, reflecting the nation’s commitment to educational excellence and youth development.
“The upcoming event in Abuja is expected to be the largest yet, with more than 20 African countries anticipated to participate, each presenting their top six champions vying for the coveted title of African Spelling Bee Champion in both the senior and junior categories.
“Beyond being a competition, the event will be a celebration of Africa’s rich linguistic and cultural heritage, reflecting the continent’s dedication to fostering education, unity, and excellence among its youth,” Ibrahim said. (NAN)