News
Obaseki Charges Edo Muslim Pilgrims To Pray For Leaders
The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has charged the state delegation to the 2023 Hajj in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, to pray for the country’s leaders and for the nation to overcome its numerous socio-economic challenges.
The State has 432 pilgrims, including 190 females and 242 males, and two officials from the Board who will be visiting the Holy Land for the 2023 pilgrimage.
Addressing the pilgrims ahead of the departure at the Edo Muslims Welfare Board Office, in Benin City, Obaseki said, “Every year since I became governor, I make sure I come here to bid you farewell as you embark on your pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina, which is one of the key cardinal points or principles of Islam.”
He continued, “I am the governor of Edo people, both Muslims and Christians. Whichever the religion, I am your governor, as everyone voted for me to become Governor of Edo State.
“I have a divine responsibility to take care of you and I am just fulfilling that responsibility, which is why I don’t joke with any issue relating to religion. I have come to realize that over the last six years, the progress recorded is as a result of God’s grace and we will always give Him thanks and always make sure we fulfill our part.
“No matter how difficult the economic situation is, we try to provide support and I am glad that it’s appreciated. Before I became governor, we didn’t have this building or hall to use to bid you farewell, we do not have offices. We have much more to be done as our population keeps increasing. We need to improve the facilities here.”
The governor charged, “This year’s Hajj is significant and important for Nigeria as the Country is challenged from all fronts and Nigerians are concerned about the many challenges facing the Nation.
“As you go to Mecca, don’t forget to pray for our land and ask God to show us mercy and the way out of these challenges.
“This year’s Hajj is one of patience, sacrifice, supplication, prayers, and charity to help us pull Nigerian and Nigerians back from the brink and turn the hearts of those that have responsibility on Nigeria to understand that it’s no longer about them but about the Country.”
In his response, Chairman, Edo Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Sheik Ibrahim Oyarekhua, thanked the governor for his commitment and support for pilgrimage in the State, adding, “Today is a great day in the history of Edo State and under your reign as governor of Edo State for the first time since the creation of Bendel and Edo State, the board is recording 432 pilgrims. The allocation for the State has never gone beyond 300.
“The increment in the numbers is a pointer to the fact that you have always assisted the board and the National Hajj Commission took note of this.”
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.