Category Nigeria News

In keeping with the spirit of this year’s Christmas holiday, Bishop of the Katsina Catholic Diocese, Most Reverend Gerald Mamman Musa, has urged the Federal Government to support micro, small, and medium businesses with grants and soft loans.

He also urged the government to cut government excesses before tightening the belts for the poor, and avoid taxes that lack a human and compassionate face. He urged them to recover lost revenue from oil theft, reckless borrowing, and waste.

Bishop Musa stated that taxation should not be imposed on those who are poor in his Christmas message, “LET PEACE BE BORN AGAIN IN NIGERIA,” which he delivered at a press conference on Wednesday.

While communities continue to clamor for food, security, and jobs, public funds are being subdued into political machinery. These leaders must remember that God chose the poor over the powerful, and that ignoring the weak is against the holiday spirit.

In light of this, Christmas urged us to remember the poor, which included the farmers, market women, artisans, independent contractors, and small business owners, who constitute the country’s backbone.

These groups continue to suffer from inflation, inflation, and the effects of the elimination of fuel subsidies.

Therefore, the government must support farmers and rural workers with targeted assistance, strengthen micro, small, and medium businesses with grants and soft loans, prevent taxes from having a human-like face, recover revenue from oil theft, reckless borrowing, and waste, and tighten the belts for the poor before tightening the belts for the poor. Being poor shouldn’t lead to it becoming a punishment.

READ ALSO: FG Declares Public Holidays for Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

Most Reverend Musa, who has transitioned from the political to the religious sphere, argued that divide-and-rule serves as a sobering reminder for those in power that tyrants, not shepherds, prefer to follow.

Leadership is viewed as a sacred trust that needs to be honored rather than a chessboard to be manipulated. Additionally, he noted that it is troubling that some people in our beloved country have turned themselves into “instruments of darkness.”

The Bishop said, “Equally concerning is the behavior of many political actors, who have already abandoned governance for early campaigns before the 2027 elections.

The cleric lamented that communities continue to clamor for food, security, and jobs while public funds are being defensibly diverted to political machinery.

According to Most Reverend Musa, kidnapping, banditry, assassination, and organized violence are now profitable for the few at the expense of the many.

No one profits from blood without bringing it to their own, let it be known. The preacher remarked that “There is no peace for the wicked” (Isaiah 48: 22), and that this is true for those who profit from the tears of farmers, traders, travelers, and vulnerable citizens.

The rising presence of foreign miners, who don’t work as partners but as predators, is what adds to this tragedy, which is igniting conflicts that destroy our people.

Something is wrong when the visitor begins to harvest more than the host, according to another African proverb.

Pastor Chris Okafor, the spiritual director of the Mountain of Liberation and Miracle Ministry, has threatened legal action over accusations that he is the father of Chidera Okafor.

Chidera claimed that the Lagos-based cleric is her father in a now-viral conversation with VeryDarkMan, whose real name is Martins Vincent Otse. She claimed that the preacher had abandoned her.

Pastor Okafor’s attorneys disputed the allegations at a press conference, calling them “damaging, misleading, and unacceptable.”

The attorneys stated during the briefing that they wanted to make it clear that those claims, as made by the so-called Ms. Chi Okafor, are frantically untrue, deceptive, malicious, inciting, and injurious to our client’s personality and character.

They demanded an apology in two national newspapers, along with the immediate retraction of all false, defamatory, and misleading statements about our client that had been published online or elsewhere, and that a copy of the apology be sent to the appropriate authorities.

In the absence of the prior DNA certificate, the impostor was asked to avoid “any further presenting or implying any familial relationship with our client.”

Additionally, Pastor Okafor’s attorneys requested that “all material that falsely associates him with claims of paternity or abandonment be removed.”

At the press conference, the attorneys said, “TAKE NOTICE that failure to comply with these demands may leave our client with no choice but to pursue appropriate legal remedies to protect his reputation and integrity.”

VDM’s Commentary, Chidera’s Allegations, and VDM’s Commentary

Chidera had argued with VeryDarkMan that the preacher had treated her unfairly while she was staying with him.

The woman claimed to be “the daughter of Prophet Dr. Chris Okafor.” I once shared a home with him, but I left soon after, as a result of a planned breakdown.

I am the only one from my mother, and the other four from a different mother, while my mother was living there as well.

Chidera claimed that while I was residing in the house, I used to receive unfair treatment because it was so clearly visible to even the house’s workers.

This disturbing testimony from one of your daughters, your own flesh and blood, was stated in a caption that came with the audio, VeryDarkMan (VDM).

Your three adult daughters have all written troubling accounts. It’s shocking at that age, but after listening to this particular testimony, I was literally ill.

READ MORE: VDM Apologises for In-Flight Clash, Mr. Jollof

Pastor Okafor threatens legal action.

Pastor Okafor’s attorneys, however, criticized VDM for failing to “have the decency to reach out to our client before publishing such malicious, self-serving content all over the internet.”

They added that the social media critic is only concerned with “creating content and cheap popularity, having known that our client, a pastor, may not respond to him on social.”

The lawyers claimed that while the woman and Pastor Okafor were married at some point, the union was disbanded because of alleged infidelity by the woman. The lawyers narrated how Chidera’s mother and the cleric met.

Following a DNA test that proved conclusively that the impostor’s children were not his biological children, the attorneys claimed that our client and the impostor’s mother had ended the sworn marriage and had severed personal ties.

The woman left the marriage’s children with them.

“Despite this finding, our client has continued to support the children’s education and general welfare, despite this finding, purely out of compassion and goodwill,” according to the client. a gesture that is not meant to convey paternity in a misleading manner.

Let us reaffirm for clarity that the publication of statements alleging abandonment and the ongoing public portrayal of Ms. Lilian Okafor and her sibling as our client’s clients constitute libel and misrepresentation. They claimed during the briefing that these actions were “damaging, misleading, and unacceptable.”

Actress accuses a Cleric and demands compensation.

In response to allegations made by Nollywood actress Doris Ogala, Pastor Okafor recently tied the knot with his lifelong partner, Pearl, at a gathering attended by family, friends, and well-wishers.

Ogala claimed to have been dating Okafor since 2017 and has been dating her since then. After the cleric’s engagement video went viral, the allegations grew even more serious.

After years of assurance and intimacy, she claimed to have left her previous marriage at the request of the preacher.

The actress alleged that Pastor Okafor’s marriage to her or her financial settlement resulted in her experiencing emotional distress as a result.

During a midnight enforcement operation along Airport Road in Lagos, the Lagos State Mobile Courts ordered the remand of six of seven suspected miscreants for assaulting Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) employees and other sister agencies.

Olalekan Bakare-Oki, the general manager of LASTMA, collaborated with other government departments, including Lagos State Task Force, Lagos State Task Force, and security operatives.

Adebayo Taofiq, the director of LASTMA’s Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, stated in a statement that the exercise was necessary in response to formal complaints from the Nigerian Airport Authority (NPA), lamenting the ongoing and unlawful encroachment on its facilities by criminals and business bus operators, in violation of current laws.

According to Taofiq, the NPA’s management acknowledged the miscreants’ and illegal operators’ activities, which had allegedly caused nuisances at the airport, with frequent reports of harassment, intimidation, and the sequestering of unsuspecting passengers’ personal belongings.

Taofiq asserted that despite severe provocation and an imminent threat to their lives and public assets, its officers held a restraint during the assault, leading to an arrest.

The statement stated that the suspects were charged with four counts of arraignment on Tuesday in front of the Lagos State Mobile Court on the heels of their arrest.

One of the defendants, he claimed, was later granted bail while the remaining six were kept in custody.

The hearing has been moved to February 19, 2026.

The AFCON Quest starts in 2025 with Nigeria’s Super Eagles flying past Tanzania.

Bakare-Oki reiterated the State’s unwavering commitment to uphold law and order in the city and safeguard critical public infrastructure, ensure the safety of all road users, and protect critical public infrastructure.

He urged the government to not tolerate violent acts against criminals, stressing that the law’s full force would be used against them in all cases.

Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) can call four telephone numbers to report uncleared refuse in their localities, according to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).

By ensuring that waste management contractors perform their duties when they were due, this was intended to address the FCT’s growing waste problem.

Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister for Public Communications and Social Media, urged people to send pictures and videos of uncleared refuse to the phone numbers via WhatsApp in a succinct statement on Tuesday.

He claimed that it was important to specify who the contractors who were working in the areas were.

Lai Mohammed, the former minister of information and culture, defended the decision by the Muhammadu Buhari administration to suspend Twitter (now X) in Nigeria.

Mohammed made this statement on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday during an interview.

The ex-minister claimed that Twitter’s later demands forgoed and supported its position.

He cited his book Headlines and Soundbites: Media Moments That Define an Administration, which documents the correspondence between Nigeria and Twitter prior to the ban’s lifting.

You’ll find all the Twitter correspondence when you read the book. Prior to the signing of the agreement, Twitter was not even registered to conduct business in Nigeria, and neither was it required to pay taxes.

The agreement they signed with us is contained in this book, according to the NCC and other parastatals. Yes, we made the right decision, he said, “and it’s obvious.”

READ ALSO: A Court Orders Lai Mohammed to Inform About a FEMALE Agreement

He claimed that concerns over national cohesion and the dangers posed by unregulated social media activity were the reason the government took action rather than ego or political vendetta.

“It’s because there’s a country called Nigeria, and that’s where all kinds of freedom are available. You must not push that far enough to oppose one side of the nation.

He claimed that social media had reached a point where the gatekeepers were no longer present and that they were dangerous to everyone in contrast to the news media, radio, and television.

Unregulated Social Media

Mohammed began a public campaign against fake news, hate speech, and disinformation in 2017 after becoming aware of the government’s concerns.

He explained that the government initially desired self-regulation rather than legislation after numerous meetings were held with media stakeholders and social media companies.

“I believe the campaign against fake news and disinformation began in 2017.” In my subsequent visits to media outlets, I incorporated that information to help us avoid the risks of fake news, hate speeches, and disinformation.

We pleaded with several of these microblogs to support self-regulation. We didn’t even consider passing a law to stifle the media. However, he said, “Were we concerned about the dangers that a censored social media had on society?”

Despite repeated warnings from the government, the ex-minister added that some platforms eventually turned into tools for individuals who wanted to undermine Nigeria’s unity and stability.

Twitter Suspension Argumentation

Mohammed refuted the claim that Twitter was banned because it offended the political class, arguing that it was done in response to long-standing engagements and unresolved regulatory issues.

He revealed that President Buhari only posed one question when Twitter was set to be suspended in June 2021.

The President, God bless his soul, questioned me on the decision to suspend Twitter’s operations, and I was only given the following: “Do I have the capacity to do so? And I agreed.

I had a discussion with the Communications and Digital Economy Minister, my colleague. However, Mohammed stated that the only reason we suspended Twitter’s operation was because it was becoming reckless.

Following a 222-day suspension, Nigeria and Twitter finally reached an agreement in 2022.

In addition to appointing a country representative and cooperating with the government on content regulation, Twitter also pledged to establish a legal presence in Nigeria and pay any applicable taxes.

The government has argued that the measures were necessary to protect national interests rather than to obstruct free expression, despite the rumor that some conditions took some time to fully materialize.

One of the most contentious digital policy decisions in recent years for Nigeria was the Twitter ban, which came after President Buhari removed a tweet in June 2021.

Jide Ojo, a development consultant and political analyst, described the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) ongoing crisis as a lingering result of numerous electoral defeats, claiming the party has been dealing with what he called “post-election loss traumatic disorder” since 2015.

Ojo made the remarks on Tuesday as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today, in light of the growing conflict between Nyesom Wike, the Federal Capital Territory minister, and Oyo State governor Seyi Makinde.

“You talk about the remote and immediate causes of the problem when you are looking at and dissecting it.” So, according to Ojo, the PDP has been suffering from post-election loss traumatic disorder since 2015 and has been in pain for ten years.

Makinde–Wike Fallout

Ojo claims that despite the party’s history, Makinde and Wike’s open fallout, which has exposed underlying tensions, is what is at the heart of the current crisis.

Seyi Makinde has admitted that the current crisis is the result of a “friendship gone sour,” and I believe that is the root of the problem.

Given that Makinde’s wife is from Rivers State, Wike has always called Seyi Makinde his in-law. However, as we all know in politics, there are no permanent friends or enemies, he said.

Ojo added that the public discussion has provided insight into the PDP’s internal conflicts and that unresolved tensions may have an impact on the party’s chances in the run-up to the 2027 elections.

Nigerians are now more informed about the root causes because the gloves are off. Let’s see if the issue is resolved quickly enough for those who are still waiting for the PDP to avoid losing their 2027 candidacy, he said.

The analyst’s comments came in response to Governor Makinde’s recent remarks, who openly disagreed with Wike regarding Bola Tinubu’s support ahead of the 2027 general election.

Makinde said Wike had the right to make political decisions for himself during a media conference in Ibadan on Tuesday, stating that he would not support Tinubu’s re-election campaign.

When Wike volunteered to hold the PDP for Tinubu against 2027, I was shocked when I met with President Tinubu, Nyesom Wike, and others. In 2027, “Wike can support the president, but I won’t,” Maude said.

He urged the FCT minister to “permit us to make our choice” and said his top priority was to ensure the PDP’s survival.

Following disagreements over the PDP’s leadership and zoning arrangements, Makinde and Wike founded the G5 organization that supported Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 presidential election.

However, since then, the two have gotten worse, with the PDP suspending Wike and other well-known figures, including ex-Ekiti State governor Ayodele Fayose, over alleged anti-party activities, allegations they have denied.