By Anietie Ekong

Over the weekend the internet was abuzz with the “news” that the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio had suddenly collapsed, rushed in an air ambulance and flown to London where he was admitted into the intensive care unit of an unnamed London hospital. They claimed he was battling for his life in London.

Those who peddled this rumour and obviously fake news could swear that they saw when the Senate President allegedly collapsed while others said they heard it from their “sources” in London.

Indeed the rumours about Akpabio’s health status has become a periodic pastime and an industry of its own. Two years ago, immediately after a colloquium at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, with President Bola Tinubu in attendance, to mark his 61st birthday, the same rumour mill took over: Senator Akpabio had collapsed and was rushed to London. The following day, it became like a miracle that the same man they claimed was receiving treatment in London, showed up and met with the Senate Press Corps. The rumour died down, albeit temporarily.

Few months back the same narrative was reinvented by people whose only job is being authority of fake news concerning the health status of Senator Akpabio. Again they said he was hospitalzed in London. Live videos with fellow Senators could not convince the doubting Thomases that Senator Akpabio was hale and hearty until his return to Nigeria few days later.

Then the last weekend episode. The peddlers of these fake news are not even creative. Same story, same narrative: Akpabio had collapsed and was rushed to the hospital in London. How many times does Akpabio have to collapse and rushed to London in a year?

When the “news” first filtered in, I wondered who they were talking about. Was it the same Godswill Akpabio, my boss, whom I had had a long chat with on Friday night cum Saturday morning or was it someone else? Was he chatting with me from the intensive care unit of the London hospital?

The most dangerous of these fake news carriers are those who repost the “news” with their fake sympathy: “Pray for Akpabio”, “I wish him quick recovery,” “Nothing must happen to Akpabio.” “May God heal him.” In the voice of Chief Nyesom Wike: fake, fake, fake.

As with everything Akpabio, bloggers jumped into the fray to drive traffic to their social media pages, and earn some dollars in the process. They did live videos and one even said Akpabio had “kpai” in London.

I had only one word for Journalists who reached out to me to “confirm” this story: don’t take my denial for it, wait till Tuesday and see who would preside over the Senate plenary.

Then on the first legislative sitting day of the week, the same man they claimed was battling for his life in an intensive care unit of a hospital showed up and presided over an extended plenary that lasted well into the evening, where major decisions were taken by the Senate without showing any signs of distress.

With these kind of satanic rumours and fake news, how can someone argue against the regulation of the social media to prevent the anguish these cousins of the devils bring to people and their families through peddling and sharing fake news. The fake news carriers never said never. As early as tomorrow they can cook another one again.

We wait till the next episode.

By Magnus Chukwudi, Port Harcourt

The Chief of Defence Staff General Olufemi Oluyede has declared, that the under 15 football championship, a key component of the Armed Forces of Nigeria’s non-kinetic intervention strategy, aimed at addressing insecurity, especially in the South/South region, as well as Imo and Abia states.

In such a strategic move to curb youth-related crime and promote peace in the Niger Delta region, the CDS, General Oluyede, launched the maiden edition of the ‘Under-15 Boys Football Championship 2025’, on Monday evening, in Port Harcourt, with participants across the South-South region.

Represented at the event by Rear Admiral Gideon Kachim, the CDS explained that the six-day competition is designed to engage young people positively, discourage criminal tendencies, and strengthen collaborations between security agencies and host communities.

He noted that sports remain a powerful tool for unity, discipline, and early talent development, adding that sustained youth engagement is critical to long-term peace and stability in the region

“This championship symbolizes the spirit of teamwork, discipline, and healthy competition that defines our great nation. As we mark this significant milestone, it is a testament to our nation’s commitment to promoting unity, social cohesion, and national pride.

The football championship which will continue for the next six days, provides an avenue to deter future security challenges with the cooperation of the good citizens of Nigeria through a non-kinetic approach.

“
This championship forms a critical part of the Armed Forces of Nigeria’s non-kinetic intervention efforts, especially in the South-South region”, the army boss affirmed.

According to the CDS, sports provide a platform to deepen engagement with youths, channel their energy toward excellence, and steer them away from crime and other social vices.

“The Niger Delta region, like many parts of our nation, faces unique social and security challenges. While the Armed Forces of Nigeria continue to apply kinetic and non-kinetic strategies to enhance peace and stability, initiatives such as this football competition are crucial in redirecting the energy, creativity and potentials of our young population toward meaningful pursuits. By empowering this generation, we help build a safer, more stable and more prosperous future for all,” he said.

“Physical activities such as football not only promote fitness, but also instil teamwork, resilience and discipline which are essential qualities for nation-building.

“This aligns with our broader national strategy of strengthening youth development through constructive platforms that encourage excellence.”

He, however, emphasized that the Armed Forces of Nigeria will continue to work closely with relevant stakeholders, state governments, development partners, sports organizations and community leaders to ensure sustained youth engagement and peace-building efforts across the country.

The CDS charged the youths to compete with the spirit of fair play, discipline and sportsmanship. To the coaches and officiating team, I urge you to uphold professionalism, fairness, integrity and most importantly empathy throughout the championship.

He expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu, whose commitment to youth empowerment, national security and the welfare of the Armed Forces continues to inspire initiatives such as the football competition.

He also thanked the service chiefs, Slstate authorities, community leaders and partners particularly Greater Heights Global Sports Development Limited for their invaluable support in organizing this event as well as the Rivers State Government for, co-sponsoring the event.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Director of Sports, Defence Headquarters, Air Vice Marshal Patrick Phillips, said sports like the current tournament, transcend boundaries and unite people from diverse background.

“It teaches us the values of teamwork, discipline and perseverance. The importance of fitness to our youths cannot be over emphasized.

“Undoubtedly, this championship has come at a time when good working relationships between the military and civil is mostly required to ultimately overcome the enormity of security challenges being faced by our dear nation.”

He highlighted the importance of friendly sporting competitions like this in strengthening working relationships between the military and the community, noting that such unity ultimately benefits the broader citizenry and supports the nation’s constitutional objectives.

By Our Correspondent

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the Supreme Court of creating a “constitutional tyrant” in the President by affirming his power to suspend elected governors and state assemblies during a state of emergency.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party warned that the ruling, though academic in nature, sets a dangerous precedent and concentrates excessive power in the Presidency in a manner that undermines not only Nigeria’s federal system, but democracy itself.

The full statement read:

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is alarmed by the judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria which grants the President the power to suspend elected governors and state assemblies during a state of emergency. Although the ruling appears innocuously academic, it represents a potential inflection point in our democratic development, one that may alter the nature of our democracy forever.

According to the Supreme Court judgment, the President has the “discretion to determine the measures required to restore peace and security” after declaring a state of emergency in any state. In essence, the President may take any “extraordinary measures” if, in his opinion, such measures are necessary to restore peace in that state.

The obvious implication of this position by the apex court is that the President of Nigeria, or his agents, could easily contrive a security situation in any state whose governor is deemed “unfriendly” and proceed to suspend both the Governor and the State House of Assembly. Although the same judgment notes that the Constitution provides that “no arm or tier of government is constitutionally superior to another,” the clear effect of the ruling suggests the opposite and grants the President firm control over the political conduct of state governors. The ADC therefore considers this judgment an extremely dangerous threat to Nigeria’s federalism and democracy.

The grave risk inherent in this judgment becomes even more apparent when the safeguards identified by the apex court as checks against abuse of presidential discretion are examined. These safeguards include proportionality, legislative oversight, and judicial review.

When confronted with a President willing to do anything to retain power, including the total decimation and annihilation of opposition parties, as Nigerians have witnessed under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu since he assumed office, proportionality is clearly out of the question. Secondly, with the President’s effective conquest of the National Assembly, and a legislature that has shamefully reduced itself to a mere appendage of the Presidency, legislative oversight is equally implausible. Finally, on judicial review, this very judgment has settled any doubt as to the nature of review that is now possible, when the highest court in the land chooses to prioritise the letter of the law over its spirit, a spirit expressly intended to prevent the very danger the Court has now sanctioned.

With this form of “judicial review,” the Supreme Court has inadvertently aided the imposition of constitutional tyranny on Nigeria, a dangerous form of autocracy in which those in power exploit legal frameworks and constitutional loopholes to accumulate and entrench absolute authority.

The ADC wishes to warn Nigerians that constitutional tyranny does not always arrive through military coups. It often advances gradually, as rulers steadily erode democratic norms and institutions, precisely as we have witnessed over the past two years. What has now become painfully clear is that neither the legislature nor the judiciary can be relied upon to halt this descent.