President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has asked Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State to provide him with a plot of land in the state to build a retirement home.

Tinubu made the request on Thursday during a reception organized in his honour following his visit to Anambra, where he commissioned a series of infrastructural projects described as “legacy” efforts.

Addressing the crowd, the president expressed his long-standing ties with the state.

“Many of my friends are from Anambra State, and I have seen many of them today,” he said, shortly after receiving a chieftaincy title from the state’s traditional rulers.

“Going forward, we are not just friends. I am now a bona-fide son of the soil – one of you, your own son,” Tinubu added, drawing loud cheers from the audience.

He went on to say, “Maybe my friend and your governor, Charles Soludo, should find me a plot of land for my retirement home after service,” before jokingly adding, “You don’t have to move me from the Villa for only one week. Give me a permanent abode.”

The president was earlier conferred with the traditional title “Dike si Mba” by the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council, which was presented to him at Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka.

According to the council’s chairperson and traditional ruler of Obosi, Chidubem Iweka, the title – which translates to “Warrior from the Diaspora” – was awarded in recognition of Tinubu’s contributions to national development.

“This is a title from all the royal fathers in the 179 communities of Anambra State,” Iweka noted.

In his acceptance speech, Tinubu recalled being given a chieftaincy title by a traditional ruler in the state back in 2005 and said he was deeply honoured by this new recognition.

“To have all the traditional rulers of Anambra confer another title on me is not only historic but one which I will greatly treasure for the rest of my life,” he said.

Chairman and CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has appealed to Nigerians living abroad to actively align themselves with the country’s ongoing reform agenda by supporting the recently introduced ‘Nigeria First Policy’.
The appeal was made in a statement issued on May 8, 2025, and signed by the Commission’s Director of Media, Public Relations, and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun.

In a video message, Dabiri-Erewa spotlighted the executive directive unveiled by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which she said is aimed at putting Nigeria’s interests at the heart of all government procurement, supporting local innovations, and uplifting made-in-Nigeria products.

According to her, the policy marks a crucial turning point and requires the collective participation of Nigerians both at home and abroad to advance national development and create lasting impact.

“My brothers and sisters in the diaspora, this is an opportunity to key into this Initiative. This is an opportunity to bring your expertise, knowledge, and talents, back home to Nigeria,” she said.

She further assured the diaspora community of NiDCOM’s commitment to collaborate with them across various sectors, particularly in areas that align with the goals of the Nigeria First Policy.

President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday, paid a working visit to Anambra State during which time he commissioned some projects executed by Governor Chukwuma Soludo.
Naija News reported that Governor Soludo commended the President for appointing people from the state into federal positions.

He also urged President Tinubu to address the marginalization of the South East region in some national projects.

Speaking, the President thanked the people of Anambra for welcoming him and conferring on him Omenife 1 of Awka.

He commended Governor Soludo for embarking on developmental projects that would boost the state’s economy.

Tinubu assured that he would address the challenges of the state and the region brought to his attention. He stressed that his administration was committed to addressing economic challenges facing the country.

The full text below:

“Anambra Kwenu! Anambra Kwenu!! Igbo Kwezuenu!!!

“About 30 months ago, I stood at this Venue as Candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu. In less than two years since my assumption of office as your president, I am delighted to be back on a state visit and to commission some legacy projects by your state government. I come as a friend to the great people of Anambra and the Southeast. I salute your enterprise, innovation, and unwavering commitment to progress. Anambra has long stood as a beacon of commerce, intellect, and cultural strength — a pride not only to the Southeast but to Nigeria.

“My visit today bears a bold testament to parts of my speech during my campaign here. I recall vividly telling you then, “Charles Soludo, your son…is still my friend. I salute his vision. He is a brilliant man. He has the brain. He is a thinker. He knows the way. We will work together inclusively. When I become the president, Soludo will be one of those advisors who will bring prosperity back to you”. From what I have seen and heard, it is evident that a solid foundation is being laid, and Anambra is indeed on the rise. Charles Soludo has been my friend since 2003, and I can also confirm that we are working together for a better Anambra and Nigeria.

“I have just commissioned two landmark projects—the Solution Fun City and the Government House mini-city as part of the initial steps towards your audacious vision of Anambra as African-Dubai-Taiwan-Silicon Valley (ADTS). Together with the massive infrastructural transformation and human capital development, these are bold statements of vision and what leadership can achieve in such a short time. A few years ago, Dubai was largely a desert. Today, it is a global hub because one man dared to dream. I remember when Soludo wanted to consolidate the Nigerian banks; many said it was impossible. It was done, and Nigeria became better for it. I also recall when we dared to tame the Atlantic Ocean, and many naysayers doubted it. But we made it happen. Anambra has huge potential, and with Soludo, we can all work together to fast-track the vision.

“Let me commend the Government of Anambra State for its proactive efforts in improving security. I wish to assure you that the Federal Government will continue to partner with the State and the Southeast to secure our people and their future.

“I have noted the state’s various challenges and your request for assistance and partnership. We will continue to partner with your state to deliver shared prosperity to Ndi Anambra and all Nigerians.

“As your president, I am pleased to assure you that the nation’s state is strong and getting stronger by the day under our Renewed Hope Agenda. We met near-insolvent public finance, a decades-old monster of unsustainable multiple subsidies, a chaotic and debilitating forex regime, etc. Like we tamed the Atlantic in Lagos, many of these monsters have been tackled: petroleum and forex subsidies have been tamed; macroeconomic stability has returned within predictable bounds; tax reforms are on the way, etc. These reforms are difficult, yes, but inevitable. Everyone had long recognised their imperatives. Courage and our collective action were required to confront them to lay a strong foundation for a more stable, prosperous and inclusive economy. Already, we are seeing renewed investor confidence, expanding opportunities, and targeted support for small businesses, especially in the tech and manufacturing sectors where Anambra is already excelling. Agriculture is receiving massive attention, and the results are beginning to show.

“We have renegotiated and passed a new minimum wage into law as part of our effort to cushion the effect of these reforms on the working class. I am particularly happy that the Government of Anambra State has fully implemented the new minimum wage, and I understand that you are paying above the National minimum.

“We are working to build critical infrastructure — roads, rail, and power — and ensure that every corner of Nigeria, including Anambra, feels the impact of governance that works. The Presidential Power Initiative and the ongoing digital economy drive will open more doors for the resourceful people of this State.

“We continue to plead with Nigerians for their patience and understanding. We call on all patriots and progressives to rise and continue to work hard every day for the greatness of our dear country. We have no other country but Nigeria. We must make it great as the pride of the black race.

“Before I conclude, let me thank the government and the great people of Anambra State for your warm hospitality. In particular, I feel deeply honoured by the conferment of a Chieftaincy title by all the traditional rulers of Anambra State on behalf of the State. In 2005, the traditional ruler of Awka, HRH Gibson Nwosu (Eze Uzu II), conferred on me the title of Omenife Awka. To have all the traditional rulers of Anambra confer another title on me today is not only historic but one which I will greatly treasure for the rest of my life. Thank you to the traditional rulers.

“Thank you, Ndi Anambra.

“Many of my friends are from Anambra state, and I have seen many of them today. Going forward, we are not just friends: I am now a bona fide son of the soil—one of you, your own son! Maybe my friend and your governor, Charles Soludo, should find me a plot of land for my retirement home after service.

“It is well with Anambra State! It is well with Nigeria!! God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has blamed foreigners for the recent waves of attacks and killings which ravaged communities in Plateau and Benue States.

The DHQ said most of the attacks have been discovered to have been carried out by foreign herders who came into Nigeria through the country’s porous borders.

This was made known during a press briefing on Thursday in Abuja by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Markus Kangye.

He explained that the way the captured suspects speak is different from the way locals speak, adding that even their physical attributes give them off as foreigners.

“When you hear them speak, you can often tell they are not from here. For example, the Hausa spoken in Nigeria differs from that spoken in Mali, the Central African Republic, or Ghana.

“When we arrest these herders and terrorists, their speech and even their hair distinguish them from Nigerians. Perhaps only the Shuwa Arabs in Borno State have similar features, but not quite the same,” Kangye said.

The DHQ spokesperson acknowledged that some criminal elements who are Nigerians are also involved in the attacks, but held that most of the dangerous attacks are carried out by foreigners.

“Some of those involved are Nigerians who encroach on farmlands during cattle grazing, leading to conflict. However, the most dangerous and frequent attacks come from infiltrators who enter through our porous borders,” he noted.

He called for stronger collaboration between security and border agencies to monitor and manage Nigeria’s extensive frontiers effectively.

The Abia State Government says it will convert the proposed new Government House at Ogurube Layout, Umuahia, into a five-star hotel.

The Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, said this during a media tour of the site on Thursday.

Kanu also revealed that a new governor’s office and lodge will be built at the current Government House Complex.

He addressed claims that the current Government House is rented, saying, “And let me debunk another lie. Before now, they said that the current Government House was a rented apartment. But it is not a rented apartment.

“That property was acquired, duly acquired by the state government, but those people who were in office before now were busy paying themselves rent from government coffers, deceiving the public that they were paying rent for a Government House.”

The commissioner said the building project, which was claimed to be completed and commissioned by the last administration, is not livable and was never meant to be a residential building.

He stated, “This place appears inhabitable. There are no wardrobes anywhere. Most of what we saw were just halls, empty halls.

“Did anybody see any wardrobe on any of the floors? There were no wardrobes. So this place was never meant to be a residential house.

“And one begins to wonder, the person or persons who designed this so-called Government House. One wonders what they had in mind when they designed this kind of Government House and expected a governor to come and live in this kind of place.”

Kanu stressed that only one floor appears finished, while the rest are still incomplete.

He added, “And there is only the first floor that appears to have been finished. The rest of the floors were not finished.”

He also accused a former commissioner, John Okiyi Kalu, of spreading false information.

“Of course, when Dr. Alex Otti spoke about this Government House a few days ago, John Okiyi went to Arise, to, as usual, spew falsehood. Almost everything he said was a lie. Now I brought you people (pressmen) here to see for yourselves and to confirm what Dr. Alex Otti said.”

He described the building as unsafe.

He said, “You can see a lot of the places were not plastered, and the elevator was not installed. The whole place looks dangerous. If anybody missteps there, you can fall through the place to your death.”

Kanu said the previous government rushed the construction just to impress the public.

“Granted, you will see a few furniture here. But that is as much as you can see. Nothing on the next floor. They misused the resources of the state to put up this gigantic edifice that is meant to achieve nothing, so to speak. This place is not habitable.”

He also noted that the location of the building poses security risks because it is surrounded by other buildings.

He called on Abians to ignore the opposition and keep supporting Otti.

“Otti, being a responsible governor, would not allow waste and would never misuse the resources of Abians,” he said.

At least N20.03bn was spent on the maintenance and operations of the Presidential Air Fleet from July 2023 to December 2024, The PUNCH reports.

This was as the new presidential jet purchased last year has been flown to South Africa for refurbishment and upgrades.

Findings by our correspondents from GovSpend, a civic tech platform that tracks and analyses the Federal Government’s spending, revealed that for 2024, the payouts amounted to N14.15bn, representing 71 per cent of the allocations for the fleet in the 2024 fiscal year.

Most disbursements were labelled ‘Forex Transit Funds,’ usually funds allocated for foreign exchange requirements to facilitate international transactions and engagements.

For the Presidential Air Fleet, such funds cover expenses related to operations abroad, including fuel purchases, maintenance or services in foreign currencies.

“When aircraft on the fleet are abroad, payments are often made in U.S. dollars or another foreign currency to ensure we have uninterrupted operations,” a government official explained.

In July 2023, N1.52bn was disbursed in two tranches of N846m and N675m for ‘Presidential air fleet forex transit funds.’

The following month, N3.1bn was disbursed in three tranches of N388m, N2bn, and N713m for the same item. In November of that year, N1.26bn was released to the Presidential Air Fleet naira transit account.

The first overhead for 2024 was in March, when N1.27bn was disbursed twice, amounting to N2.54bn. The transit account received N6.35bn in April, N4.97bn in May and N210m in July.

In August, N5.60bn was released in six separate disbursements, the highest frequency that year. The monies were paid into the Presidential Air Fleet naira transit account, including a N168m transfer made on September 11 and 19. From December 7 to 24, 2025, N469.72m was released in eight tranches.

In April, the transit account received N5.08bn; this came around the same time the President was on a two-nation tour to the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia.

Although Tinubu arrived in the Netherlands in a state-owned Gulfstream AeroSpace 550 Jet, the aircraft could not proceed to Saudi Arabia due to unspecified technical problems. He reportedly continued his journey on a chartered private plane.

At the time, the President’s Boeing 737 business jet was undergoing maintenance. It was later replaced with an Airbus A330 purchased for $100m in August through the service-wide votes.

The nearly 15-year-old plane, an ACJ330-200, VP-CAC (MSN 1053), is “spacious and furnished with state-of-the-art avionics, customised interior and communications system,” Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, said, adding “it will save Nigeria huge maintenance and fuel costs, running into millions of dollars yearly.”

However, The PUNCH observes that since February 2025, the President has been using a San Marino-registered BBJ (REG: T7-NAS).

Sources who spoke to one of our correspondents confirmed that the primary aircraft had been flown to South Africa to change its livery to reflect the office of the President.

“The last I heard is that they took it abroad, I think to South Africa, to change the body design. You know it doesn’t have the green white green,” one source said, asking to remain anonymous.

“It’s not only the body paint. I learned they are doing some refurbishment on it,” a second official stated.

The new Airbus A330 is just one of several aircraft currently on the Presidential Air Fleet, arguably one of Africa’s largest, with around 11 aircraft of various makes and models.

Until August, it comprised the 19-year-old B737-700 (BBJ) and a 13-year-old Gulfstream Aerospace G550. The BBJ was acquired during the tenure of former President Olusegun Obasanjo at $43m, but became a money guzzler as it aged.

The presidential fixed-wing fleet includes a Gulfstream G500, two Falcon 7Xs, a Hawker 4000, and a Challenger 605. Three of the seven fixed wings are reportedly unserviceable.

The rotor-wing fleet includes two Agusta 139s and two Agusta 101s, all operated by the Nigerian Air Force but supervised by the Office of the National Security Adviser.

Since 2017, budgetary allocations for the PAF have shown a growing trend, with one exception in 2020. The allocation for the fleet increased from N4.37bn in 2017 to N20.52bn in 2024, showing a 370 per cent rise in running costs. In 2022, maintenance expenses for each aircraft ranged from $1.5m to $4.5m annually.

In 2018, the fleet’s budget rose significantly by 66.13 per cent to N7.26bn, driven by a substantial increase in capital project allocations while maintaining similar levels for recurrent costs. This upward trajectory continued into 2019, slightly increasing the total allocation to N7.30bn.

The exception came in 2020, when the budget dropped by nearly 7 per cent to N6.79bn, primarily due to decreased overhead costs, a reflection of the global economic impacts of lockdowns and disruptions in operations.

By 2021, however, the budget surged dramatically to N12.55bn—a record increase of 84.83 per cent from the previous year. The 2022, 2023 and 2024 appropriation acts earmarked N12.48bn, N13.07bn and N20.52bn respectively.

On his way to the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit in Samoa, a foreign object damaged the cockpit windscreen of Vice President Kashim Shettima’s Gulf Stream aircraft during a stopover at JFK Airport in New York.

According to Lee Aerospace, manufacturers of Gulfstream jet windshields, these thick, multilayered structures comprise varying layers of glass and transparent acrylic, built to withstand collisions with a 2 kg object.

However, damage to the windshield must have affected its inner layers. While specific prices for replacement can vary based on supplier, labour rates and regional costs, estimates suggest that a single windshield replacement for a G550 can range from $50,000 to $70,000 for part and labour costs.

In an interview with our correspondent, the General Secretary of the Aviation Round Table, Olumide Ohunayo, blamed the meteoric rise in the allocations for the PAF on the age of some of the fleet’s aircraft, the declining value of the naira, and the Nigerian Air Force’s “commercial use” of aircraft.

Ohunayo explained, “The cost will definitely increase over the years because, for one, this issue of the naira against the dollar. As the naira keeps falling to the dollar, we will see a rise in cost because most of the costs of training crew and engineers and replacing aircraft parts are all in dollars.

“Also, some of these aircraft are not new. The older the aircraft, the higher the cost of maintenance and operation. Lastly, during these past years, terrorism and insecurity have increased in Nigeria, which has also affected the cost of insuring the aircraft.”

The Executive Chairman of the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, Debo Adeniran, argued that the administration’s spending habits were contrary to Nigerians’ expectations of frugality.

“What we are getting from this administration is the opposite of our expectations. We thought we would have an administration that would be frugal in spending and very meticulous at implementing its budget. But what we are getting is an administration that has fallen in love with profligacy, that doesn’t see anything wrong in living big in a poverty-stricken nation.

Adeniran further said, “It is a reenactment of the Shagari administration, whereby they bought the biggest Mercedes Benz and made themselves as comfortable as possible without considering how much the masses are suffering.

“So when you look at a Vice President saying he’s not travelling [to Samoa] again because there was a splinter on the windscreen of his private aircraft. Why should that be the case?

“First and foremost, we need to be represented at such an international meeting, where we should be well represented by the first two citizens of this country. He abandoned that, which means we would have lost certain representation that we deserve at that forum. Two, money will have been spent on advance parties that went ahead of the Vice President. But he abandoned the journey altogether.”

The CEO of Centurion Security Limited, John Ojikutu, justified the figure considering all related expenses.

“That’s not a big deal. If they are going to go and repair, particularly for C-checks, it’s always around that range. They will fly it abroad, but fuel, catering, and hotel bills are also involved; pilots will fly it back, and the figure likely includes far more than the direct cost of repairing the aircraft,” Ojikutu explained.

Meanwhile, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, argued that the new Airbus 330 aircraft and the costs of maintaining the air fleet are not for the President’s comfort but in the interest of Nigerians.

“It’s not President Tinubu’s plane; it belongs to the people of Nigeria, it is our property…the President did not buy a new jet; what he has is a refurbished jet – it has been used by somebody else before he got it, but it is a much newer model than the one President Buhari used.

“The one President Buhari used was bought by President Obasanjo some 20 years ago. There was a time when the President went to Saudi Arabia, and the plane developed some problems. The President had to leave the Netherlands with a chartered jet.

“Nigerians should try to prioritise the safety of the President. I’m not sure anybody wishes our President to go and crash in the air. We want his safety so that he can hand it over to whoever wants to take over from him,” Onanuga said.

The presidential aide said he discussed with the NSA, Nuhu Ribadu, on the faulty plane (Boeing 737 jet), and he said the maintenance costs were excessive because of the age of the aircraft, hence the need for another plane.

Felicitations from world leaders greeted the emergence of Cardinal Robert Prevost (Pope Leo XIV) as the 267th Bishop of Rome.

Pope Leo XIV was elected on Thursday after the fourth ballot cast by Cardinals in the conclave, which began on Wednesday.

The 69-year-old Prevost is the first American Pope in the history of the Catholic Church.

He succeeds Pope Francis, who died on April 21, 2025 (Easter Monday).

Pope, who is of the religious order of St Augustine, was ordained a priest on June 19, 1982, by Archbishop Jean Jadot, at the Autustinian College of Saint Monica.

The new Pope, born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, spent many years as a missionary in Peru before being elected head of the Augustinians for two consecutive terms.

On September 26, 2015, he was appointed Bishop of Chiclayo by Pope Francis.

In 2019, Pope Francis appointed him a member of the Congregation for the Clergy and in 2020, a member of the Congregation for Bishops.

On January 30, 2023, the Pope called him to Rome as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, promoting him to the rank of Archbishop.

Pope Francis created him Cardinal in the Consistory of September 30 that year and assigned him the Diaconate of Saint Monica.

Minutes after white smoke billowed from the chimney above the Sistine Chapel, Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti announced to the waiting crowds, “I announce to you a great joy: We have a Pope.”

Emerging from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, the first words of Pope Leo XIV to the waiting crowds at the Vatican were, “Peace be with all of you.”

After invoking peace, he pledged to work for a united Church faithful to Jesus and to the Gospel.

He said, “Peace be with you! Dearest brothers and sisters, this was the first greeting of the risen Christ, the good shepherd who gave His life for the flock of God.

“I, too, would like this greeting of peace to enter your hearts, to reach your families and all people, wherever they are; and all the peoples, and all the earth: Peace be with you.”

His historic election immediately drew reactions from global leaders, who expressed hope for a papacy focused on unity, peace, and human dignity.

United States President Donald Trump called the appointment a “great honour” for the country and said he looked forward to meeting Pope Francis, describing it as a “very meaningful moment.”

President Bola said the election of Pope Leo XIV opens a new chapter in the history of the Catholic Church and the values of love, humanity and charity, particularly to the underprivileged, that it has consistently projected.

The President, therefore, prayed that the Almighty God will continuously shed his light of glory over the new leader of the Catholic Church and grant him good health and wisdom so that he can reach the world with the message of peace and love.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro voiced hope that the new pope would become a strong advocate for migrants, particularly Latin American communities facing adversity in the United States.

Petro noted, “I hope he becomes a great leader for migrant peoples around the world, and I hope he encourages our Latin American migrant brothers and sisters, humiliated today in the United States. It’s time for them to organise.”

Israeli President Isaac Herzog welcomed the opportunity to deepen relations between Israel and the Vatican, expressing a desire for strengthened interfaith ties.

Herzog said, “We look forward to enhancing the relationship between Israel and the Holy See, and strengthening the friendship between Jews and Christians in the Holy Land and around the world.

“May your papacy be one of building bridges and understanding between all faiths and peoples.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin noted the shared Christian values between Russia and the Vatican, affirming continued dialogue and cooperation.

“I am confident that the constructive dialogue and cooperation established between Russia and the Vatican will continue to develop based on the Christian values that unite us,” said Putin.

“Through your role, you provide hope and guidance to millions of believers around the world in these challenging times,” said German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed hopes that the pontificate would strengthen dialogue and human rights.

Polish President Andrzej Duda reaffirmed Poland’s readiness to build on its historic ties with the Vatican, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wished Pope Leo XIV a tenure marked by peace and wisdom.

“We wish that his pontificate be guided by wisdom and strength, as he leads the Catholic community and inspires the world through his commitment to peace and dialogue,” said Leyen.

Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), on Thursday, said in a video played in court that the destruction witnessed during the #ENDSARS protest in October 2020 could not have been a result of his broadcasts on Biafra Radio.

Kanu stated this during his interrogation by the Department of State Service (DSS) on July 17, 2021, and the video evidence was played before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The video recording of the session where the DSS investigators, including the witness identified as BBB, interrogated Kanu and obtained a written statement from him, was played in court.

BBB identified Kanu in the video as well as two of his lawyers who were with him during the session, including Alloy Ejimakor.

He, however, admitted making broadcasts in respect of the #ENDSARS protest and other broadcasts on Biafra Radio.

He said the protest that took place in Lagos during the protest was outside the Biafran territory and that the mayhem witnessed during the period could not have been a result of his broadcast.

Kanu confirmed being the founder and leader of IPOB and the Eastern Security Network (ESN).

Kanu said he was not directly involved in the day-to-day running of both organisations (IPOB and ESN), which he said were managed by their states’ coordinators.

During the interaction session, Kanu sought and was granted permission to ease himself.

He went into the restroom, returned a moment later, and the interview session continued.

Kanu said he did not have authority over his members, adding that if he had had authority over them, he would not have subscribed to the referendum.

He said he would have just pronounced Biafra into existence.

In the video, Kanu denied that IPOB was responsible for the violent attacks in some parts of the South East and the killings witnessed.

He said that IPOB was a peaceful and non-violent movement.

Kanu, who said he facilitated the establishment of ESN, explained that the organisation was necessitated by the killings of the people of the South East.

“If you look at what was happening in our land, that was what gave rise to ESN.

“If our people cannot go to the farm, and people are killed in their land, do you sit down and do nothing?

“People can no longer go to the farm; people can no longer carry out their economic activities,” he said.

Kanu faulted the invasion of his house by armed soldiers, which he said accounted for why he left the country for fear of being killed.

He argued that the invasion was unnecessary and also faulted the manner he was arrested in Kenya and brought back to Nigeria.

Meanwhile, BBB, who was the 2nd prosecution witness (PW-2), while being led in evidence by the Federal Government’s lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, narrated how Radio Biafra broadcasts by Kanu led to the killing of eminent Nigerians, including security officers.

The witness said Kanu’s broadcasts led to the killing of a former Senior Special Adviser (SSA) to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Ahmed Gulak.

BBB said he was part of the DSS team that investigated the complaint made against Kanu by the then Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami.

He said the defendant’s broadcast also led to the killing of a retired judge, Justice Stanley Nnaji and an intending military couple; Sergeant Audu Lucas and Private Glory Matthew.

The witness said Kanu, in one of his broadcasts, ordered his followers to enforce a sit-at-home in all South Eastern states, and in the process, many people who went out of their houses on that day were killed.

He said the investigation revealed that Sergeant Lucas and Private Matthew were not only killed by those who were enforcing Kanu’s sit-at-home order, but they were also beheaded.

The witness said investigation also revealed that before killing Gulak, those enforcing the sit-at-home directive by Kanu blamed him (Gulak) for coming out on a day their leader asked people not to go out of their homes.

He added that, from their investigation, they found that Kanu founded IPOB and ESN, which is the armed wing of IPOB, and that he was the leader of both groups.

“We were also able to establish that he (Kanu) founded Radio Biafra, through which he made inciting comments like the killing of police officers and burning of property,” the witness said.

He added that they also found that Radio Biafra was not registered in Nigeria and that, owing to Kanu’s broadcast, police stations in Cele and Ilasa (both in Lagos) were burnt by his followers.

Not few stakeholders in Kaduna State have continued to voice out their concerns over the alleged uneven disbursement of the $350m World Bank loan secured by the immediate past administration of the state under the leadership of ex-Governor Nasir El-Rufai.

Said to be most hit by the alleged injustice occasioned by the uneven disbursement of the loan are 12 local government areas in the state.

These council areas have been identified to be left in the lurch, years after the much-touted Urban Renewal Road projects initiated by the immediate past administration of ex-Governor Nasir El-Rufai took off.

Arewa PUNCH investigations revealed that despite the continued repayment of the $350 million World Bank loan secured under El-Rufai’s government, not a single kilometre of road has been said to have been completed in the affected LGAs, some of which are among the poorest in the state.

Field investigations and corroborated testimonies from community leaders and government insiders point to widespread neglect in areas such as Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Ikara, Jaba, Kagarko, Kajuru, Kauru, Kudan, Makarfi, Sanga, Soba, and Zangon Kataf.

Arewa PUNCH sources further alleged that the projects in these LGAs either never took off beyond the flag-off stage or were outrightly abandoned shortly after the groundbreaking ceremonies.

Unimpressed by the outcome of the situation, several civil society groups and opposition lawmakers in the state have raised concerns over the opaque manner in which the loan was managed, especially in relation to equitable distribution of infrastructure.

Comrade Phelimon Andrew, a transparency advocate based in Zango-Kataf, called for a legislative audit of the Urban Renewal Programme.

“We can’t keep taking loans for political PR. The communities have the right to know where every dollar went,” he said.

Our correspondent reports that although the World Bank facility was secured to fund El-Rufai’s flagship Urban Renewal Programme, said to be an ambitious infrastructural plan meant to modernise urban and rural Kaduna State, however, the execution has remained lopsided.

The residents, while expressing their frustrations over the current state of the abandoned Urban Renewal Road Projects, lamented that the initiative now lies in various stages of disrepair, disrupting livelihood and daily commuting.

“This road was supposed to be completed under El-Rufai’s administration years ago,” said Musa Yakubu, an okada rider in Sabo Tasha, “Now, it’s just a dust trap in the dry season and a muddy mess during the rains,” Yakubu bemoaned, adding, “we spend more money fixing our vehicles than making profit.”

Gimbiya Musa, a shop owner near the uncompleted stretch of road around Television Garage to Sabo Tasha bridge, also lamented the significant drop in patronage.

“Ever since the road was dug up and abandoned, customers now avoid this area. Business has dropped by more than 50 per cent. We were excited at first, but now, it feels like they just forgot us.”

Residents of Kauru, too, have voiced out their concerns. “We see abandoned construction equipment every day, rusting by the roadside. It’s a constant reminder of a broken promise,” said Ezekiel Haruna, a community leader.

“Children now play on half-graded roads, and people have started throwing waste into open drains that were meant to relieve stormwater,” observed another resident in Zitti Village in the Zango Kataf Local Government Area.

For many, the unfinished roadworks have become a symbol of neglect. “El-Rufai gave us hope that Kaduna would be transformed,” said Fatima Bello, a school teacher, “But what we were left with were potholes, traffic jams, and dust storms,” she pointed out.

“This present  administration of Uba Sani must probe the previous administration of Nasir el-Rufai to tell Kaduna State citizens the truth about what happened to the $350 million World Bank loan that it secured,” Garba Habibu from Birning Gwari declared.

A top government source in one of the ministries directly involved in projects, but who does not want his name in print for fear of a possible attack or sanction alleged that while the Kaduna North reportedly benefitted from nearly 76 per cent of the projects, residents in the South and Central senatorial zones were left with incomplete and deteriorating roadways.

Similarly, a youth leader in Kaura, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisal, also queried what he termed as the injustice in the uneven disbursement of the loan.

“This is not just about bad governance. It is about injustice. How can we be paying back a loan and have nothing to show for it?”

He pointed out that among the most glaring cases is the Yarbwan-Kafanchan road, among others, which were initially designed as a signature project to boost connectivity into Southern Kaduna and which construction began with much fanfare but has since been stalled, “leaving commuters stranded during rainy seasons and sight of local businesses bearing the brunt of a failed promise.”

In Birnin Gwari, an area plagued by banditry and poor infrastructure, residents informed Arewa PUNCH that the road projects would have significantly eased movement and enhanced security if completed.

Another senior source within the Kaduna Government House, who equally spoke under the condition of anonymity, confirmed that “no single project initiated by the El-Rufai administration reached completion stage” in the listed LGAs.

“Some areas didn’t even have the contractors mobilised. All the attention were on projects that had media visibility within the Kaduna metropolis,” the official disclosed.

Meanwhile, community leaders from the neglected LGAs are calling for immediate government intervention, warning that continued neglect may fuel further social discontent.

Efforts by our correspondent to get a response from the current administration of Governor Uba Sani were unsuccessful as calls and messages to key officials in the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure were not returned as at press time.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied taking a final decision on the leadership crisis rocking the Labour Party and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Specifically, INEC denied recognizing any specific persons as the National Chairman and National Secretary of the Labour Party (LP).

It also said it is yet to reach a final decision on the National Secretary position of the PDP.

The electoral body added that it is yet to reach a decision regarding the disputes within the Labour Party.

The position of INEC was made known in a statement released on Thursday by the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, following the emergence of a report that the electoral body has reinstated Julius Abure and Umar Farouk Ibrahim as the National Chairman and National Secretary of the Labour Party (LP) respectively based on information from its website.

It also claimed INEC has recognized Samuel Anyanwu as the National Secretary of the PDP.

However, Oyekanmi refuted media reports suggesting it had acknowledged specific individuals as the National officers of the two affected parties.

The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to some media reports claiming that the Commission has recognised certain persons as the National Chairman and National Secretary of the Labour Party (LP). The reports also inferred that the Commission has restored a particular individual as the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), referring to the listings on the Commission’s official website.

“However, the reports are false and misleading. The Commission has not made any decision in respect of either the LP or PDP.

“The names of the National Officers of the LP had previously been uploaded to our website following a court order, not related in any way to the latest judgement of the Supreme Court. In the same manner, the name of the National Secretary of the PDP on the same website was neither deleted nor reinstated.

“As a law abiding institution, the Commission is carefully studying the judgement of the Supreme Court on the Labour Party and will communicate its decision to the public in due course.”