Author: Tribune Online

…says Nigerian Christianity lacks unifying father figure Founder of The Word Assembly Churches, Rev. Isaac Omolehin, has said that Christianity in Nigeria does not have a single unifying father figure, arguing that prominent church leaders operate largely as heads of their respective denominations. Omolehin made the assertion in a sermon shared on the official YouTube […]

A group, the Loudest Voice for Dr Peter Mbah, over the weekend, demanded the emergence of a woman to fill the vacant Enugu North senatorial seat in the National Assembly.

The seat became vacant following the death of Senator Okey Ezea, who died last year.

The convener of the group, Amb Onyinye Mamah, told journalists in Enugu that the emergence of a woman would promote gender inclusivity and strengthen democratic representation in the state.

She also made a case for the micro-zoning of the position to Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area where the late Ezea hailed from. According to her, there are many women with competence, experience, and capacity in the LGA, and assured that they have the wherewithal for effective representation of the zone at the National Assembly.

“Giving a woman the opportunity to occupy the senatorial seat would align with ongoing calls for greater female participation in governance across Nigeria,” the group said.

The women charged Gov Peter Mbah to use his good offices to actualise the yearning of the group for a female senator to represent the zone.

Quoting her, “Gov Mbah, you have been including women in your government but as Oliver Twist, we are asking for more. Enable the emergence of a woman to represent Enugu North in the Senate. We have capable women.”
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Another member of the group, Mrs Ifeyinwa Ojukwu, urged political stakeholders and relevant authorities in the zone to support the nomination of a qualified female candidate. She said such a decision would set a progressive precedent for other states to emulate.

Ojukwu reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the policies and leadership of Governor Mbah, while expressing confidence that he would consider their appeal in the interest of equity and inclusive governance.

Group Demands Female Senator For Enugu North Senatorial District is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Meta Platforms Inc. has announced plans for a new round of layoffs, with the first wave scheduled to start on May 20, while more is expected to come later as the company continues efforts to restructure operations and reduce costs. The planned job cuts are expected to affect multiple teams across the company, though the […]

A former presidential adviser, Reynolds Beks Dagogo-Jack, has raised fresh concerns over what he described as the “personalisation of political power” in Rivers State, warning that such a trend could deepen insecurity and stall economic growth ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking at a policy-driven town hall meeting in Port Harcourt, Dagogo-Jack argued that the state’s current political structure is increasingly shaped by individual interests rather than institutional strength, a situation he said poses a direct threat to long-term stability.

The event, themed “Citizens, Leadership and the Road to 2027: Discussing the Future of Rivers State Beyond the Next Election,” was organised by the Rivers Peace Initiative in collaboration with Super 93.3 FM and the Centre for Peace and Security Studies, University of Port Harcourt.

According to the former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, the concentration of political influence in the hands of a few individuals undermines democratic values and fuels tension within the state.

He cautioned that attempts by political actors to “appropriate the state as a personal estate” would inevitably lead to disharmony, weaken institutions, and discourage economic investments.

“When politics is reduced to personal ambition and control, it cannot deliver peace or prosperity. It breeds insecurity and damages the economy,” he said.

Dagogo-Jack further linked Rivers’ declining economic standing to its political realities, recalling a time when the oil-rich state rivalled Lagos State in key development indices.

He expressed regret that despite its vast natural and human resources, Rivers has slipped in competitiveness, attributing the downturn to weak political foundations and lack of merit-based leadership.

“We once stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Lagos and even had more resources. But without the right political principles—merit, transparency, and humility—we cannot reclaim that position,” he noted.

The former governorship aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party also criticised what he described as the silence of elders in the state, urging them to speak up against emerging political distortions.

He warned against claims by some political figures who allegedly assert control over leadership selection in the state, describing such positions as “offensive” and dangerous to democratic order.

Dagogo-Jack called for a collective effort by citizens to rebuild the political framework, stressing that sustainable development can only emerge from strong institutions rather than dominant personalities.

In his keynote address, former president of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Senibo Bobo Sofiri Brown, said Rivers currently lacks a clear developmental vision.

He urged the state government to refocus its economic strategy around its maritime strengths, proposing a transformation into a leading West African maritime hub.

“No society becomes great without a clear aspiration. Rivers must define sectors where it wants to lead, particularly in maritime and agro-processing industries,” Brown said.

Earlier, convener of the Rivers Peace Initiative, Obinna Ebogidi, said the dialogue was convened in response to growing concerns about governance and development gaps in the state.

He stressed that the disconnect between the state’s resource inflow and actual development outcomes highlights the need for stronger accountability mechanisms.

“Decline does not happen overnight. It begins when citizens lower expectations and leaders avoid accountability,” Ebogidi said, urging residents to actively engage in governance processes.

The town hall forms part of a series of engagements aimed at fostering dialogue and shaping policy direction as political actors and citizens begin to position for the 2027 elections.

2027: ‘Personalised Politics’ Threatens Rivers Stability — ex Presidential Aide Warns is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Brazil’s president has urged major world powers to rethink their approach after failing to stop the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Speaking at an international summit of progressive leaders in Barcelona, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva called on the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council to change direction and take greater responsibility for global peace.

He also criticised U.S. President Donald Trump over his frequent social media posts aimed at Iran.

“We cannot wake ⁠up every morning ⁠and go to bed every night with a ⁠tweet from a president ⁠threatening the ⁠world and declaring wars,” Lula said.

Brazil’s Lula criticises Trump for ‘declaring wars’

Suspected bandits attacked the palace of a traditional ruler in Olayinka community, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, early on Saturday morning and abducted the monarch.

There were conflicting reports about the incident. According to the Nigerian Tribune, some community sources said the monarch’s wife and another person were also taken away, but the police said only the traditional ruler was kidnapped.

The Kwara State Police Commissioner, Adekimi Ojo, confirmed that only the monarch was abducted and added that the attackers also stole a large sum of money from the palace.

According to him, the monarch had brought the money home on Friday before the armed men struck in the early hours of Saturday.

The attackers reportedly stormed the palace around 1:40 am, firing shots into the air before taking the monarch away.

The abducted monarch was said to have been recently elevated and officially installed by the Kwara State Government earlier this year, making the incident even more shocking to residents.

This is the third time in about a year that a traditional ruler has been kidnapped in Kwara South.

Bandits abduct Kwara monarch in night raid

Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori; former governors James Ibori and Ifeanyi Okowa; a former Deputy Senate President; and a host of others on Thursday paid their last respects to the late former Deputy Governor, Sir Benjamin Elue. Speaking at the service, Governor Oborevwori paid glowing tributes to the late former deputy governor. He described the […]

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has said the country is prepared to deliver more bitter defeats to its enemies as tensions increase in the Strait of Hormuz.

In a statement released on Telegram to mark the anniversary of the Islamic Republic and the birthday of his late father, Ali Khamenei, he praised Iran’s military for standing firm against the United States.

He said the country’s forces had responded strongly despite growing pressure.
He warned that Iran’s navy was ready for further action, saying, “our valiant navy is also ready to inflict new bitter defeats on its enemies.”

The comments come as Iran tightens control over the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil route. Authorities confirmed the waterway has been closed again and is now under strict military supervision.

According to a statement from Iran’s joint military command, the move followed the United States’ refusal to lift its blockade on Iranian ports in the Persian Gulf.

A military spokesperson said the situation would remain unchanged until Iran is allowed full freedom of movement for its ships.
Iran’s state broadcaster also confirmed that ships can no longer pass freely, stating that access now requires approval from Iranian authorities.

The military explained: “The Islamic Republic of Iran, following previous agreements in negotiations, has agreed in good faith to the managed passage of a limited number of oil tankers and commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz.”

It added: “Unfortunately, the Americans continue the so-called blockade. For this reason, control of the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its previous state, and this strategic strait is under the strict management and control of the armed forces.”

The statement further warned: “As long as the United States does not end the complete freedom of passage of vessels from Iran to destination and from destination to Iran, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz will remain under strict control and in its previous state.”

Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran had promised not to shut the strait again after briefly reopening it.
“It will no longer be used as a weapon against the World!” he wrote on his Truth Social platform.

Iran vows ‘bitter defeats’ for US

United States President, Donald Trump has said that Iran cannot blackmail the US with its flip-flopping on the fate of the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump said this on Saturday at a White House event following the closure of the strategic waterway a few hours after it opened.

“We’re talking to them. They wanted to close up the strait again, you know, as they’ve been doing for years, and they can’t blackmail us,” Trump said.

According to the president, there would be some information about Iran later in the day.

DAILY POST reports that Iran’s military on Saturday declared the Strait, through which about one-fifth of the world’s crude and liquefied natural gas normally passes closed, a day after saying it was open.

The Islamic Republic stated that it was responding to a continued US blockade of Iranian ports.

Iran described it as a violation of their ceasefire, while Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said Iran’s navy was ready to inflict new bitter defeats on its enemies.

Strait of Hormuz: Iran can’t blackmail us -Trump

A presidential aspirant on the platform of the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Saturday said Nigeria is bleeding from within because of institutionalised corruption on a massive scale. In a post on his X handle, the former governor of Anambra State said it was “deeply troubling” to read recent World Bank reports indicating that, […]