National
IYC Calls on Lokpobiri to Abandon Bayelsa Gubernatorial Aspirations
The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) has urged Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of Petroleum, to set aside his ambitions for the governorship of Bayelsa State and focus on fulfilling his ministerial duties to realize the objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda within the oil sector.
The council expressed concerns that Lokpobiri appears more invested in rallying support for his gubernatorial bid than in responsibly executing the responsibilities of his current position.
In a statement signed by Secretary-General Maobuye Nangi Obu and three other officials, the IYC noted that many of the minister’s decisions, particularly those affecting his home state of Bayelsa, seem to be driven by his political aspirations rather than the needs of the community.
“This distraction has caused the minister to lose focus and concentration. How else can we explain his failure to tackle the chaos and numerous issues plaguing the oil sector?” the statement read.
The council further criticized Lokpobiri’s ambition for undermining the operations of the IYC, a non-political organization, claiming that he is utilizing his brother, the council’s president, to garner youth support for his political goals.
“This president cannot even lend his voice to the political turmoil in Rivers State or support the governor, who is one of our own, due to his brother’s ties to a political rival of Siminalayi Fubara,” the statement added.
The IYC accused Lokpobiri of prioritizing the interests of those he believes can aid his political ambitions, neglecting the responsibilities that come with his ministerial role.
“His ministry demands unwavering focus and a deep understanding of the complexities of the petroleum industry. It is impossible for someone preoccupied with a governorship campaign to effectively manage such an important office,” the council stated.
The IYC appealed to Lokpobiri to abandon his political pursuits and concentrate on his ministerial responsibilities to forge a clear path toward resolving the challenges facing the oil sector.
They asserted that his inability to address these issues has contributed to the rising hardships faced by rural and coastal communities in the Niger Delta.
“Oil is the backbone of our economy, guiding its direction and ensuring stability in other sectors. The turmoil in the industry since Lokpobiri’s appointment has led to significant hardships nationwide, including soaring prices for goods and services, currency instability, and increased transportation costs, overshadowing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s genuine efforts to improve the situation,” they emphasized.
The council urged Lokpobiri to cease distracting himself with political ambitions and concentrate on his ministry to tackle these pressing issues and help rejuvenate the economy.
They also pointed out that, unlike some of his peers, Lokpobiri has not leveraged his position to create opportunities for his constituents, lacking any initiatives aimed at alleviating their current economic struggles.
“The Minister previously visited the region to discourage Ijaw youths from participating in hunger protests, with the help of his brother, the president. The youths complied, hoping for alleviation of their hardships, but instead, Lokpobiri has retreated to his comfort while the people continue to suffer,” the statement concluded.
National
‘Natasha Was Wrong About Seating Arrangement, But She Once Told Me About Meeting Akpabio In Hotel’, Kingibe Reveals
The Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ireti Kingibe, has stated that her Kogi Central counterpart, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, was wrong by not adhering to Senate rules about seating arrangement in the Red Chamber.
She, however, noted that before things went south between Natasha and Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the Kogi Central Senator had enjoyed more privileges than other three female Senators in the Senate.
Elanza news reports that Natasha, who featured on Arise News breakfast programme, ‘The Morning Show’ on Friday morning, claimed that her continuous faceoffs with Akpabio began after she rejected his alleged sexual advances.
However, speaking in an interview on Arise News Friday afternoon, Senator Ireti Kingibe, who serves as the Senate Chairperson for Women Affairs Committee, remarked that the four female Senators share a close bond and that she considered Natasha as a daughter due to their age difference.
However, she criticised Natasha for not adhering to Senate rules, noting that seat changes have affected other lawmakers as well.
“The day in question, I was not in the Senate. When I came out, my driver told me there was a problem in the Senate. As soon as I heard her name, as I always do with everything that concerns her, I promptly called her,” Kingibe said.
“She tried to explain about seating, but she had not given me the proper explanation before she said she’d call me back. Till today, Senator Natasha has not called me. I have a smartphone; before I called Senator Natasha’s husband, I had called her twice without a response.
“He said she went to Singapore; maybe that’s why. And then I said to him, this is not the way things should happen.”
Kingibe explained that although the Senate was “not gender-friendly,” it has made significant improvements.
“The truth is that the Senate is not gender-friendly, but it has been improving—much better than when we first entered the Senate. I must say, when we make a fuss and draw the attention of the Senate President, he does correct it.
“Truly, the Senate can do better than it’s doing, but there’s hardly anything that has been done to us that’s not done to other men.
“It’s more appropriate to say that the Senate is not opposition-friendly.
“The truth is, Senator Natasha has gotten the most privileges among all four of us (female senators). The seat I sit on now has been moved four times.”
Kingibe also defended the silence of the other female Senators, explaining that they chose not to speak publicly against Natasha.
“The reason why you hear that the three (remaining) women in the Senate are being silent. yes, because silence is golden, especially when one of us is not following the rules. And as women, we did not want to come out publicly to say anything negative about her, and we were hoping all of this would blow over, as a lot of things do.”
On the allegations of sexual harassment, Kingibe distanced herself, stating that she is not close enough to Akpabio to discuss such matters.
“Whether there’s sexual harassment between them, they already had a personal relationship before they came to the Senate. Three of us had no relationship with Senator Akpabio before we came.
“I don’t have enough of a relationship with Senator Akpabio to discuss sexual harassment with him. When I go to the Senate and my neighbours or Senator Natasha are not there, I collect documents on their behalf.
“I collected documents for Senator Natasha. I called her, and she said she was home. I went to her house. I got there, and after offering a meal, she told me she was supposed to discuss something with him, and he said he would meet her in some hotel.
“I said to her, ‘You only meet the Senator in offices.”
News
“No Injustice Was Done Against Ex-Minister Turaki By the Police Regarding DNA Test Result, Woman Tells Court
A woman, Hadiza Baffa, has told a Federal High Court in Abuja that tno Injustice was done against Kabiru Turaki, former minister, special duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, in obtaining a DNA Test result to determine the paternity of her child.
She said by her knowledge, all that transpired in the Police Headquarters was with every sense of humility against the parties involved.
Hadiza told Justice Inyang Ekwo in her affidavit to show cause filed by her lawyer, Sani Idris, on why the reliefs sought in Turaki’s motion ex-parte should not be granted.
Turaki, in the motion ex-parte marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/244/2025, dated Feb 11, but filed on Feb 13, had sued the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), Inspector-General (I-G) of Police; DCP Rita Oki Oyintare, who is Deputy Commissioner of Police for Gender and Hadiza Musa Baffa as 1st to 4th respondents respectively.
He sought an order of interim injunction restraining the respondents from presenting, using, or relying on the purported DNA paternity test result procured from the DNA Labs Limited or any other DNA laboratory on Nov. 5, 2024, or any other date thereafter.
Hadiza, in her counter-affidavit alleged that the ex-minister “maliciously filed the suit when it came to his knowledge that the DNA Test forms part of the evidence at the Magistrate Court and knowing the result shows that 99.9% the applicant is the biological father of the baby.”
“ That contrary to the denial of the Applicant having illicit sexual intercourse with me and also denying being a biological father of our daughter, the Applicant volunteered his swab in the daylight not night, and the Applicant the next day equally took the swab of our daughter by his medical doctor in the presence of his lawyers at Police Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), and some days after reached out to me that he had confirmed the DNA and asked me for settlement;
“ That his lawyers on the 9th Day of January, 2025 asked me to come to Police Force Intelligence Department (FID) to collect their proposed terms of settlement;
“That after collecting the proposed terms of settlement it was stated therein that the Applicant will take custody of the daughter in order to grow up and bond with his children which he refers to as her siblings, and also offered to give me access to our daughter, and I refused the Applicant’s proposed terms,” Hadiza said.
She said the purported restraining order Turaki mentioned in his originating summon was obtained ex-parte by fraud and misrepresentation to restrain the 1st to 3rd respondents from accepting any complaint, and same was vacated by the presiding Upper Area Court Judge.
According to her, contrary to the allegation of the applicant the order was made after I had made my complaint and my statement was already obtained by the Nigerian Police.
“The applicant knows full well that it is only the DNA Test that will exonerate me or him if at all what I am saying about the pregnancy is not that of the applicant and the paternity issue.
“That by my knowledge, all that transpired in the Police Headquarters was done with all sense of humility against the parties involved,” Hadiza said.
She said Turaki had been arraigned at the Chief Magistrate Court, Wuse at Zone 2 in Abuja.
“That it is in the interest of justice to dismiss the applicant’s application,” she prayed
Giving a 13-ground argument why his application should be granted, Turaki said he instituted an action against Hadiza (4th respondent) vide suit No CV/35/2024 on June 24, 2024.
The ex-minister alleged that on Nov. 5, 2024, he was invited by DCP Oyintare and he honoured the invitation.
He further alleged that upon honouring the invitation, Oyintare insisted that she must take a swab from him to conduct a DNA to prove the paternity of Hadiza’s daughter.
He said though he protested, he was detained at the Force Criminal Investigation Department’s cell at Area 10, Garki, Abuja for about 6 hours from 12 noon till 6pm, and at about 9pm, his “swab sample was collected by a purported scientist at the behest of the 3rd respondent,” before he was allowed to go home at about 10pm on that day..
He further said unless the court promptly intervened, the respondents would rely on the said purported DNA test paternity result, the validity or otherwise being the subject matter of the instant suit.
Justice Ekwo had, on Feb. 18, ordered the former minister to put all the respondents on notice when the motion was moved by his lawyer, Abdulaziz Ibrahim, SAN.
The judge directed the respondents to show cause in the next adjourned date why the prayers sought by the ex-minister should not be granted.
Meanwhile, Hadiza, in her affidavit to show cause, told the court that granting Turaki’s application would prejudice her and would cause her and her child an irreparable damages.
The police, in their counter affidavit, also urged the court to dismiss the ex-minister’s request.
Justice Ekwo adjourned the matter until March 24 for hearing.
The Sultan of Sokoto and President General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III on Friday confirmed
the sighting of new moon and urged all Muslim ummah in Nigerian to commence fasting from Saturday 1st March, 2025.
Speaking in his palace in Sokoto, Sultan noted that, the new Moon of Ramadan, 1446AH was sighted in various places as confirmed by both the state and national Moon Sighting Committee.
According to him, they have accepted the position of the committees hence admonishing Muslims to commence fasting accordingly from Saturday 1st March, 2025 being the first day of Ramadan 1446AH.
The Sultan who appealed for understanding, tolerance and love among Nigerians also admonished the Muslim ummah to seek the face of Almighty Allah in the fasting period.
He therefore use the opportunity to implore Muslim Ummah to devote themselves fully to Ibadat throughout the Holy Month, and also implore them to show love and understanding to all irrespective of religion, tribe or political affiliations.
Sultan further urged Muslims to pray fervently for the blessings of Allah for leaders in Nigeria to succeed in steering the affairs of the country, as well as sustenance of peace and and peaceful coexistence.
And to Nigerians, Sultan said, “I want to implore all of you to continue to pray for peace and stability of the country”.