By George Mgbeleke

President of the Senate,Senator Godswill Akpabio has congratulated Vice President Kashim Shettima on his 60th birthday anniversary.

In eulogizing Vice President Shettima Akpabio said,”Birthdays are milestones in the journey of life, but for those entrusted with the service of a nation, they are also moments to celebrate the footprints they have left along the way.

In a statement he signed himself and available to the Media on wednesday, the President of the Senate noted,” Today, I celebrate one such journey—that of an accomplished public servant, steadfast patriot and Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Senator Kashim Shettima.

“Your Excellency, your journey through public service—from Commissioner to Governor, Senator and now Vice President—has been distinguished by courage in adversity, intellectual depth, loyalty to country and an abiding conviction in the promise of Nigeria.

“You governed Borno State at one of the most difficult periods in its history, when terror tested the resilience of its people and challenged the authority of the Nigerian state. Yet you remained at your duty post, providing leadership in the face of danger and demonstrating that adversity must never be permitted to extinguish hope.

“Today Kashim Shettima , as Vice President, you bring that same resilience, experience and patriotic commitment to the service of our nation. Your partnership with His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, in advancing the Renewed Hope Agenda demonstrates the importance of unity of purpose at the highest levels of government as we confront the challenges of the present and lay the foundations for a more prosperous future.”

Continuing Apkabio said,”On this special day, I celebrate not merely the addition of another year to your life, but the years you have invested in the service of our fatherland.

“On behalf of my family, my constituents and the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I wish you many more years of good health, wisdom, strength and fulfilment.

“May Almighty God continue to guide you, strengthen you and grant you the grace to serve our nation with distinction.

“And may the years ahead bring us ever closer to the Nigeria for which generations have hoped and laboured—a nation at peace with itself, confident in its diversity, prosperous in its economy and respected among the nations of the world.

“Happy Birthday, Mr Vice President.
May God bless you, and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

By Our Correspondent

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Peter Obi, has called for greater transparency and accountability in public leadership, faulting attempts by political office holders to prevent the release of records relating to their past, particularly educational credentials.
Obi, in a statement on his official social media platform, expressed concern over what he described as an “embarrassing” situation where a sitting President would seek to stop a foreign court from releasing documents concerning his history despite the public interest attached to such records.
The former Anambra State governor said responsible leadership requires the courage and humility to confront one’s past, explain areas of concern and accept responsibility where necessary.
“Leadership, in my humble view, demands the courage and humility to confront one’s history — to acknowledge mistakes, provide candid explanations where questions arise, and, where necessary, apologise and seek forgiveness,” Obi stated.
He argued that the strength of leadership is not weakened when leaders admit past shortcomings, but rather enhanced when they demonstrate honesty, accountability and a willingness to make amends.
According to him, issues surrounding educational background, especially foundational records such as primary and secondary school credentials, should be addressed through openness and credible explanations rather than prolonged legal battles.
“Nigerians deserve clear, credible and verifiable explanations, especially when such had been submitted in the past,” he said.
Obi expressed concern about the message such controversies send to young Nigerians, particularly millions of students aspiring to build a better future, stressing that the highest office in the country should reflect the values of integrity, transparency and ethical conduct.
The NDC candidate noted that imperfections are part of human existence, but maintained that true character is demonstrated by the willingness to acknowledge mistakes, apologise where necessary and place national interest above personal ambition.
He questioned the commitment of Nigeria’s political class to prioritising the country’s long-term interests over individual aspirations.
“When will our political class fully appreciate that individual ambitions are temporary, while the nation endures?” Obi asked.
He added that while political offices are occupied for limited periods, the standards and values established by those who occupy them have lasting implications for future generations.
Reaffirming his commitment to Nigeria, Obi said he had never sought citizenship of another country despite opportunities to do so, insisting that the country’s integrity must remain above personal considerations.
“Nigeria is greater than any one person, and the integrity of the Republic must always come before the interests of the individual,” he said

By David Owei, Bayelsa

Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, on Tuesday, formally brought a closure to his reconciliation effort in the Ijaw National Congress (INC) with the hosting of a Mega Unity Reception at the Ijaw House in Yenagoa, the state capital.

The well-attended event brought together leaders of the Ijaw ethnic nationality, stakeholders and contestants in the disputed April 2026 INC election that produced the High Chief MacDonald Igbadiwe leadership.

The inauguration of the Igbadiwe-led executive in Warri, Delta State, outside the traditional Ijaw House in Yenagoa, generated controversy that threatened the fabric of the foremost Ijaw nation’s socio-cultural organisation until the Bayelsa governor intervened and constituted a reconciliation committee chaired by former Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Dr. Mathew Seiyefa.

At the unity reception, Governor Diri implored stakeholders to bury the hatchet in the interest of the unity and cohesion of the ethnic group.

He also urged the new INC leadership to unify the people and build an institution that would protect the identity of the ethnic nationality.

Senator Diri said the Ijaws must rise and speak with one voice that commands a seat at every table where Nigeria’s destiny is decided, stressing that they must act together in helping to shape decisions that affect their future.

He further challenged the INC to move beyond rivalries, narrow interests, and old divisions, emphasising that the Ijaw nation’s collective glory must come before personal ambition.

According to the governor, “this powerful gathering tells Nigeria, Africa, and the world that the unity, solidarity, and indivisibility of the Ijaw nation are non-negotiable.

“Most Ijaw people cherish and will defend this sacred unity. When we stand together with shared purpose and destiny, no force can weaken us. The Ijaw nation stands at a critical crossroads and must embrace the responsibility of unity.

“We must understand what is at stake. If we fail to act together, others will decide our future without us. We will live with their decisions instead of helping shape them. The time to organise is now. Our relevance, resources, dignity, and shared future depend on what we do today.”

Acknowledging the Igbadiwe-led INC, Diri, who is known as the Governor-General of the Ijaw Nation, maintained that this was not a time for division but a time for unity and every son and daughter under the INC must rise above narrow interests and unite for their dignity, destiny, and greater glory.

In his remarks, chairman of the event and one-time deputy governor of Rivers State, Sir Gabriel Toby, lauded the Bayelsa governor for his timely intervention in resolving the leadership crisis within the organisation.

Sir Toby equally praised Dr. Seiyefa and other members of the reconciliation committee for their selfless efforts and sacrifices on such a critical assignment.

He charged the INC president to be a team player and work effectively to represent the collective interest of the Ijaw nation and embrace issues that promote peace, unity and progress.

The Ibenanaowei of Ekpetiama Kingdom, King Bubaraye Dakolo, who is chairman of the Bayelsa State Council of Traditional Rulers and also chairman of the Conference of Ijaw Traditional Rulers and Elders (CITRE), an INC advisory body, equally encouraged Igbadiwei, to see his position as a call to service and to unite all zones of the Congress.

“So, today, you are bestowed as the chief servant to ensure that no piece of Ijaw land, no piece of Ijaw property, no Ijaw man, no Ijaw woman is mistreated in any part of the entire globe. That is why you are president worldwide,” the monarch said.

In his remarks, the INC President, High Chief Macdonald Igbadiwei, a former lawmaker in the Bayelsa Gouse of Assembly, expressed gratitude to Governor Diri for not allowing the INC to disintegrate undr his watch.

He assured that the INC would work with the governor, other leaders, traditional rulers, youth bodies and relevant stakeholders towards actualising the mandate of the Ijaw nation.

Dignitaries at the ceremony included the Bayelsa Deputy Governor, Dr. Peter Akpe, serving and non-serving lawmakers from the state, former Bayelsa deputy governors, Rt. Hon. Peremobowei Ebebi and Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John-Jonah (rtd), former deputy governor of Delta State, Deacon Kingsley Otuaro, Speaker of the Bayelsa Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abraham Ingobere represented by Leader of the House, Rt. Hon. Monday Bubou.

Also present were the National Chairman, Pan Niger Delta Form, Dr. Boladei Igali, Dr. Mathew Seiyefa, and Chairman, Tantita Security Services Limited, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo.

Also in attendance were the Pere of Tuomo Kingdom and retired Justice of the Supreme Court, King Francis Tabai, the Amanyanabo of Bolo Kingdom in Rivers State, Sir Acheseinimie Frank and other traditional rulers as well as Mrs Juliana Oguara, Vice Chairman, INC in the United States of America, and Chief Meg Agidee, president, Izon Ladies Association among other prominent personalities.