By Our Correspondent

Controversy trails recent chieftanicy title conferred on the first lady Sen. Oluremi Tinubu as a Pan Igbo Socio-political Organization, Imeobi Igbo Forum, Tuesday in Awka, Anambra state capital, condemned in strong terms the conferment of a Chieftaincy title of “Osodieme,” on Sen. Remi Tinubu, wife of President Bola Tinubu, by Igbo Traditional Rulers’ Council with the latest coming from traditional Rulers in Anambra state, recalling her hatred on the Igbo race.

Insisting that she does not deserve such an honour from the Igbo race, the forum disclosed that she once threatened and massively abused the Igbo residents in Lagos in 2019 during electioneering campaigns, demanding for their being driven out and their property to be confiscated by the Yoruba.

Making the condemnation through her national chairman, Chief Ikegulu Chukwukpezie, the forum reiterated that conferring such honour to her is desecration of Igbo customs and tradition, lamenting that those who are suppose to speak out against the injustices meted out to their Igbo brothers turned deaf ears and endorsed her conferment.

Frowning at their calmness the forum said, “The drum beats are silent.The canopies and chairs returned to the rental. The hired crowd has dispersed. Not minding the way and manner the desecration of Igbo custom and tradition went. All for a woman who has massively abused the Igbo in 2019 in Lagos.

” She pontificated that Igbos should be driven out of Lagos and their properties confiscated and taken over by the yorubas.In another encounter with an Igbo woman voter in Lagos, she sinically claimed that ‘Igbos we no dey trust una again’.

“Ever since, the woman had neither recanted her statements nor apologized to Ndigbo. Imeobi Igbo Forum wonders whether this new love she now professes while collecting titles is genuine? Could it be just for votes? Since when did she restore trust for the untrustworthy Igbos.

“So why are some Southeast political elites falling over each other to please her and endorse her husband? These characters occupying political offices paid glowing tributes to her husband, even promised to ensure that Ndigbo by all means vote for APC, come 2027.

“After these many days of jamboree, what is there for Ndigbo? Or is it just to link up a few individuals to the seat of power to beg, cap in hand?
It was expected that the old and new APC members including those with a foot on two camps, would have sat down with the August guest to secure some mouth watering concessions for Ndigbo.

” Some would say that she is not the president, but having been conferred with the title of Oso di eme, means that she is hand in gloves with her husband in managing or mismanaging Nigeria.If Remi Tinubu is an ‘Oso di eme’, it means that she is an accomplice to all the injustices perpetrated against Ndigbo by her husband’s mismanagement of Igbo concerns.

” Ndigbo want answers to many issues, which include that, young Igbo youths randomly picked up in the pretence of being IPOB/ESN are languishing in various secret detention centres across Nigeria without trial.

“Recruitments and appointments are done in Nigeria federal establishments, excluding Igbos. Loans are procured, for which igbos will be part of the repayment, for infrastructure development, but Southeast zone would not benefit. Rail lines that have crisscrossed Nigeria with a tube train, to go from Lagos to Maiduguri, but have not found its path in the Igbo heartland.
Even the gas harvested in the Southeast is reticulated away, circumventing the Igbo heartland.

“Enugu – Port Harcourt expressway have remained a death trap.No functional seaport in the Southeast which is the destination of most imports in Nigeria.No international airport in the Southeast, with the most travelled population in Nigeria.
So what exactly drives some Igbo political and business elites to support an administration that is more anti Igbo than Buhari administration.

“Greed! No other force than greed for wealth and material acquisitions. Prominent yorubas have ascerted that they are Yorubas before Nigeria. When will the Igbo be Igbo first, before Nigeria? So we ask again, what exactly is the benefit of the jamboree with the First Lady for Ndigbo?
Ndigbo must borrow a leaf from other nationalities in Nigeria, having suffered deadly sabotage and back bitting in the past. We must learn to be our brother’s keeper and demand what is due to us as a people”, the forum maintained.

By David Owei

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has stressed the importance of a strong and professional civil service to effective governance, saying permanent secretaries must serve as a critical bridge between political leaders and the bureaucracy.

Governor Diri, represented by his deputy, Dr Peter Akpe, stated this on Monday while declaring open a three-day executive training programme for permanent secretaries in Yenagoa.

The training, organised by the Bayelsa State Government in collaboration with the Nigeria Institute of Management (Chartered), has the theme, “Strategic Leadership and Public-Sector Governance for Effective Service Delivery.”

The Governor said his administration holds the civil service and bureaucracy in high esteem, maintaining that the “bureaucracy is expected to promote order, efficiency, fairness, accountability, proper record-keeping and institutional continuity.”

While urging permanent secretaries to provide professional advice to political leaders and work closely with directors and other professionals within their ministries, Governor Diri stressed the need for continuous learning.

Making reference to the managerial principles of the German political economist, Max Weber, the Bayelsa Chief Executive warned that public servants who failed to update their knowledge could become disconnected from current realities.

He equally urged the permanent secretaries to also recognise the contributions of directors and other officials in their ministries, saying effective administration could not be left to commissioners and permanent secretaries alone.

His words: “Until you have a strong bureaucracy, you can’t run a good government. We should ensure that we are intentional and conscious of that particular role. You are a bridge.

“There are people that are permanent secretaries today. They joined service maybe about 30 years ago, and they are still working with the old knowledge, you can’t fit in now. So, you really have to update through learning.

“Most of the times, you see that activities and decisions in some ministry are between the commissioner and the permanent secretary, or sometimes they add the DFA. You don’t assume you know it all. You must carry your directors and other officers along.”

In his welcome address, the Head of Service, Dr. Ebiye Wisdom Sawyer, said the training was coming at a time when citizens expected government institutions to be more responsive, transparent and efficient.

Dr Sawyer noted that permanent secretaries occupy a strategic position in the machinery of government, with responsibility for policy implementation, strengthening institutional systems and promoting professionalism in the public service.

He also urged the participants to embrace digital transformation and improve administrative processes, data management and access to government services.

According to Dr Sawyer, “Citizens expect government institutions to be responsive, transparent, efficient and capable of delivering quality services that positively affect their lives.”

“Strategic leadership requires more than the ability to manage routine administrative responsibilities. It demands vision, sound judgement, innovation, effective communication, accountability and the capacity to inspire officers towards achieving clearly defined institutional goals.”

In his goodwill message, the Chairman of the Bayelsa State Civil Service Commission, Hon. Perekiye Buruboyefe, urged the participants to open their minds and hearts to the knowledge to be offered during the programme, wishing them a successful training.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Nigeria Institute of Management (Chartered), Dr. Sani Abubakar, expressed the institute’s commitment to ensuring that the training achieved its objectives, assuring the state government and participants of the institute’s support.

On his part, the Bayelsa State Director, Code of Conduct Bureau, Mr Jonathan Asigo, said the training would help permanent secretaries understand the guiding principles governing the conduct of public officers and enable them to discharge their responsibilities effectively.

In his vote of thanks, the Chairman of the Permanent Secretaries Forum, Dr Agadah Zuoboemi, noted that training the leadership of the civil service would have a wider impact on other workers, expressing hope that the trainees would apply the knowledge acquired to improve service delivery across their various ministries.

Present at the event were the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Nimibofa Ayawei, Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Hon. (Mrs.) Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai; Commissioner for Public Utilities, Engr. Karin Kumoko; Deputy Chief of Staff, Deputy Governor’s Office, Comrade Gowon Toruyouyei; and commissioners from the state civil service commission, among others.

By George Mgbeleke

The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and security agencies of complicity in a rising wave of political violence and voter intimidation across the country ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Monday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said every Nigerian has a constitutional right to support any party of choice, and every registered party has a right to organize and campaign without fear.

“The Nigerian police is not APC police; it is the police of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Abdullahi said.

*Pattern of Attacks Documented*

Abdullahi said the ADC has documented incidents between July 2025 and September 2026 across Kaduna, Kebbi, Ekiti, Cross River, Rivers, Edo, Osun, Kogi and Enugu states.

He recalled the attack on the ADC Secretariat in Benin in February during a political gathering, and gunshots at the residence of former Governor John Odigie-Oyegun where political leaders had gathered. He said the Edo Police Command confirmed the attack and promised investigation, but since February there has been “no arrest, no prosecution, and no report.”

According to him, the violence has intensified in recent days:

– In Rivers State, three days ago in Community Ward One, Odual LGA, home of the ADC vice presidential candidate, an attack on members preparing for a meeting led to the killing of a member identified as Kamadiyoi.
– In Enugu, armed men disrupted an opposition gathering with injuries recorded.
– In Kogi State, about five days ago, thugs suspected to be acting for the APC attacked ADC members in two wards, leaving several hospitalized.

*Inciting Rhetoric*

Abdullahi also pointed to what he called inciting rhetoric from APC members, saying it started with President Bola Tinubu’s statement that “all is fair in politics,” which he said has provided a “philosophical background” for thugs to act.

He listed:
– A commissioner, Kosain Abuba, who allegedly threatened amputation of arms against those who refuse to vote APC.
– The Chairman of Kuje Area Council, Danjuma Shekulo, who allegedly told residents to vacate the council if they will not vote APC.
– Senator Fadehusin Francis in Osun, who allegedly called on supporters to “look out for members of opposition and kill them,” and later claimed it was metaphorical.
– An APC woman leader who allegedly said women whose husbands do not support APC should divorce them.

“What we are saying is that a record of repeated violence against lawful political activity demands serious government response, which we are not seeing. So it’s either government is sanctioning what is happening, or they are saying that they are powerless and incompetent to stop it,” Abdullahi said.

*ADC’s Demands and Next Steps*

The party demanded that the Inspector General of Police provide a public account of all investigations into political violence. It said it maintains a central record with dates, locations, witness accounts, photos, videos, medical reports and police complaints.

Abdullahi said the party will preserve evidence and engage the National Human Rights Commission, the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, the African Union and international human rights bodies, while protecting witnesses.

He also warned international observers, including ECOWAS, that assessment of 2027 should not be limited to election day.

“Look around Abuja; the only posters and billboard you see is that of the ruling party,” he said, alleging that states now charge up to N200 million for billboards to shut out opposition. “The election is not free and fair if opposition parties cannot campaign freely.”

Addressing President Tinubu directly, Abdullahi asked him to withdraw or clarify his “all is fair in politics” statement:

“You need to come out to say you actually did not incite violence… You have that duty to the Constitution.”
Fielding questions on the allegation that the Federal Government is sponsoring the attacks?
bdullahi said the party is not making a direct accusation of sponsorship in every case, but noted that “where attacks occur around announced meetings, the opening of party offices, movement of certain political leaders… the authorities must examine whether adequate preventive arrangements were made.” He added that the failure to investigate and prosecute gives cause to believe the government is either sanctioning it or is incompetent to stop it.

On What ADC will do if attacks continue? Will you resort to self-defence?*
He stressed that the ADC stands for non-violence and that National Chairman Senator David Mark has directed that no candidate should engage in divisive rhetoric. However, he warned: “We are not crying. We are only serving notice, because when the state refuses to protect citizens, citizens have the right to embark on self-help before the condition degenerates into that… We cannot control how people will respond when they are being attacked.”

Are you saying you may not accept the 2027 election result?*
Abdullahi said the integrity of 2027 is already being undermined by denial of campaign space and intimidation. “We are not going to wait for you to come on election day and tell us that voters arrived on time, materials arrived on time, there were no incidents anywhere, and tell us that the election is free and fair… This will form the basis whether we accept the outcome of the 2027 election.”

On What concrete evidence the party has
He said the party has compiled witness accounts, photographic and video evidence, medical documentations and records of complaints submitted to law enforcement. “We are keeping records. We are documenting every single incident. All those who hide under the authority of the state today… no matter how long it takes, they will face the consequence.”

He added,”We want to know where they have promised us that they are investigating, it’s about time we know the results of those investigations. People have been killed, people have been maimed, properties have been burned and destroyed.”