Author: Tribune Online

According to ITV News, the blockade of all of Iran’s ports began on Monday afternoon, after the Islamic Republic had effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping more than a month ago.

Temi Otedola, the wife of Nigerian singer Mr Eazi, has revealed that her to keep malice and avoids confrontation whenever he is upset with her.

She made this known during an episode of their joint podcast, where she described his approach as “a bit childish,” noting that he often resorts to sending lengthy messages instead of addressing issues face-to-face.

She recalled an incident when she discovered he was upset with her through an email, despite them being in the same apartment.

“The way I found out that Tosin [Mr Eazi] was actually angry with me on a Monday was that he sent me a long message. And bear in mind that we are sitting in the same flat.

“I was minding my business, responding to my emails, and I got a message saying everything he was upset about me for. While I was reading it my body was already becoming hot. At some point, I couldn’t even read it because I was so angry.

Because I have asked him ten times if he was upset with me and he said nothing. Honestly, if you’re in the same flat as someone else, I think it is a bit childish not to go up and speak to them.

“Yes, but that is what you’re comfortable with. You find it easier to express yourself by typing. I have gotten some long emails in the past. At least you’re getting it out. But it would be nice if you could just sit down with me and have it out,” she expressed.

Responding, Mr Eazi admitted that he finds it easier to communicate his feelings through writing rather than verbal discussions, especially during tense moments.

“I would prefer to sit down with you and talk things out. But I see that sometimes when we sit down to talk, I don’t hit the nail on the head. Also, I think if I communicate during tense moments, I might sound too harsh.

“I don’t think texting someone you’re sitting next to is the best way to communicate. But that is my way. And everybody just needs to find what their way of communication is and communicate. For me, it’s typing.

“When I want to really express myself, I can do it via typing better than speaking. Because then I can read it again and cross-check my tone,” he said.

My Husband Is Childish, Holds Grudges – Temi Otedola is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The northern wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has urged Christians to stop engaging in hostile religious exchanges, saying believers cannot defend God through insults or abusive arguments.

In a statement on Wednesday, the northern CAN Chairman, Joseph Hayab, cautioned Christians, particularly youths and clergy, to exercise restraint in the face of growing religious provocations on social media.

Hayab said many of the ongoing online debates, often presented as a defence of the faith, were contrary to biblical teachings and risk deepening divisions among religious groups. He noted that such engagements are “vain and unprofitable arguments,” and warned that they frequently degenerate into strife and ungodliness.

“The Bible warns Christians against engaging in vain arguments. From a biblical angle, vain arguments include reckless, unprofitable and provocative debates. Believers in Christ are, therefore, instructed to avoid vain arguments because they generate strife, ungodliness, and ruin both the speakers and the listeners,” he said.

His remarks stemmed from heated exchanges between members of different faiths on social media, including inflammatory posts, videos, and comments targeting religious figures and beliefs that have repeatedly gone viral.

Hayab, citing biblical passages, Titus 3:9 and 2 Timothy 2:23, stressed that Christians must not respond to provocation with hostility, even when their faith is ridiculed or misunderstood.

“As a Christian leader, I do not teach, encourage or instruct church members or any Christian at all to insult the divinity of another faith just because some disgruntled persons say or write awful things about Jesus or Christianity. An honest study of the Bible will help you understand that as an ardent follower of Christ, you cannot ‘fight for God, ‘” he added.

He further maintained that God, being omnipotent, does not require human defence through verbal attacks, warning that such actions only diminish the essence of Christianity.

“Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ can ‘fight’ those who fight Him. From a Christian biblical viewpoint, no one can battle against the Lord because He is an omnipotent warrior who never loses,” he said.

The cleric also warned against copying what he described as “misguided religious zeal,” stressing that reacting emotionally to provocation undermines the message of love and peace central to Christianity.

“Such debates are unprofitable, worthless, and causes of ungodliness. Therefore, the biblical instruction is to avoid, shun, or have nothing to do with them,” he said, adding that using abusive language in the name of defending the faith not only misrepresents Christianity but also weakens its moral authority.

According to him, Christians using abusive words with others do not portray strength nor defend their faith; instead, such derides the Christian faith, makes a mockery of Christ’s spiritual authority and dims the bright light the Christian gospel brings to the world.

Avoid Religious Insults, Northern CAN Warns Christians is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The immediate past Secretary to the Ondo State Government (SSG), Dr Taiwo Fasoranti, says President Bola Tinubu assumed office at a critical time in Nigeria’s history.

Fasoranti, the son of Afenifere national leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Akure.

He said the president had tackled many of the challenges confronting the country.

“The dividends of democracy are visible for all to see. We are not there yet, but with the reforms introduced so far, I believe we will get there.

“Look at the dollar-to-naira exchange rate; it has started declining, which reflects a stabilising economy.

“Insecurity is also being addressed with deliberate attention. Security challenges are a global issue,” he said.

Fasoranti further noted that the president’s Renewed Hope Agenda had yielded positive results for the country.

“All we can do is support him to ensure that the initiatives aimed at strengthening our democracy are sustained by encouraging and backing these laudable projects.

“Clearly, no one has been left behind.
“I believe Tinubu has performed well. Another four-year term will further secure his legacy in the annals of history.

“In 2027, I am 110 per cent confident of his victory. I have no doubt in my mind,” he said.

Fasoranti, who also spoke on his ambition to represent Ondo Central Senatorial District, said his decision to contest was driven by a strong desire to serve the people.

“I believe our people deserve quality representation, purposeful leadership, and committed service. I also believe we can do better than what we currently have.

“My goal is to serve my community and ensure they benefit from the dividends of democracy under the present administration, where I served as SSG.

“The state is currently on a steady path under the leadership of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa. The best we can do is attract more federal presence in this dispensation.

“This will help stabilise ongoing programmes and sustain them while introducing fresh ideas from the federal level,” he said.

The former SSG added that, given his background and grounding in Afenifere’s Omoluabi ethos, he would remain accountable to the people.
Fasoranti said he had consulted widely and adequately prepared before joining the senatorial race, and expressed confidence in victory.

He also noted that his experience as a physician who worked at the presidential villa for 15 years, as well as his network of allies, would be beneficial to the district.

“I am not a stranger to Abuja, and I believe returning there as a senator will greatly benefit Ondo Central.

“We are not novices when it comes to delivering development. Our track record speaks for itself,” he said.

NAN reports that Fasoranti, who was appointed SSG by Ayedatiwa in 2024, resigned on April 3 to contest the Ondo Central Senatorial seat in the 2027 general elections.

Tinubu’s Re-Election Assured by His Performance, Says Fasoranti is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The Kano State Government has announced plans to recruit newly graduated postgraduate scholars into the state civil service, aiming to fill critical manpower gaps and accelerate development across key sectors. Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf made the revelation while presenting academic certificates to 110 indigenes who recently completed their postgraduate studies under the state’s Foreign Postgraduate […]

Former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, and his son, Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, were on

Recent criticisms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda—particularly by Rauf Aregbesola—invite not only political response but analytical reflection. When a former public official dismisses an ongoing reform programme as a “scam,” the credibility of that claim must be weighed against both empirical developments and the critic’s own administrative record.

In this instance, the critique is as revealing as it is unconvincing. It exposes less about the substance of current reforms and more about the limits of perspective shaped by past governance experience.

Reform as Measurable Reality, Not Rhetorical Promise

The Renewed Hope Agenda, far from being a mere rhetorical construct, has manifested in tangible institutional and sectoral changes. Nowhere is this more evident than in the transformation of the Ministry of Interior under the leadership of Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.

Within a short period, longstanding inefficiencies—particularly in passport administration—have been decisively addressed. A backlog of over 200,000 applications was cleared, automated systems introduced, and opportunities for rent-seeking significantly reduced. Border control systems have been modernized, while correctional services have undergone structural reforms aimed at decongestion and enhanced security.

These are not abstract claims; they are measurable administrative outcomes. To dismiss them outright is to disregard verifiable institutional change.

The Problem of Administrative Memory

Criticism, to be meaningful, must be grounded in institutional awareness. When Rauf Aregbesola previously acknowledged limited familiarity with the Ministry of Interior upon assuming office, it raised legitimate concerns about the depth of administrative preparedness at the time. The subsequent performance of that ministry—marked by systemic inefficiencies and recurring security lapses—only reinforced those concerns.

It is therefore difficult to separate current criticisms from the legacy of that period. A reform that fundamentally restructures a system may appear invisible to those who never fully grasped its dysfunction in the first place.

Infrastructure and the Politics of Denial

Beyond institutional reform, the Renewed Hope Agenda has prioritized large-scale infrastructure as a driver of economic recovery and integration. Projects such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto-Badagry corridor reflect a strategic commitment to long-term national connectivity.

Simultaneously, critical road networks—including the Kaduna-Abuja, Kaduna-Zaria-Kano, and Onitsha-Enugu corridors—are undergoing reconstruction, alongside improvements in the East-West Road and key arteries within the Federal Capital Territory.

To characterize these developments as illusory is not a critique; it is a denial of observable reality. Infrastructure, by its nature, is visible, measurable, and economically consequential.

Social Investment and Human Capital

The administration’s interventions in education further complicate the “scam” narrative. Financial support mechanisms that have benefited over a million students, alongside renewed investment in tertiary institutions, signal a deliberate effort to address long-standing barriers to human capital development.

At a time when access to education is directly tied to economic mobility, such policies represent more than welfare—they are structural investments in national capacity.

Fiscal Stabilization and Subnational Relief

Perhaps one of the less publicly dramatized but most consequential achievements of the current administration is fiscal stabilization at the subnational level. Prior to 2023, a majority of states struggled to meet basic salary obligations without federal intervention. Today, improved revenue flows—driven in part by difficult but necessary reforms—have significantly eased that burden.

This shift underscores a central principle of economic reform: sustainability often requires short-term adjustment for long-term stability.

Macroeconomic Recovery and Structural Reform

When President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office, Nigeria faced severe fiscal and external constraints, including critically low net foreign reserves. Since then, reserves have strengthened considerably, while oil production has rebounded from historically low levels.

Equally important are reforms in the energy sector, including the settlement of legacy debts and ongoing investments in transmission infrastructure and gas distribution networks. These are foundational steps toward restoring confidence in critical sectors of the economy.

Aviation and the Logic of Scale

Reforms in the aviation sector further illustrate the administration’s broader economic ambition. Revenue growth within the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria reflects improved operational efficiency, while ongoing upgrades to major airports signal a shift from maintenance culture to expansionary vision.

The comparison with global aviation hubs is instructive—not as a measure of current parity, but as an indication of direction. Economic transformation at scale requires infrastructure that aligns with global standards, and aviation is central to that objective.

Reform, Time, and Political Judgment

A recurring critique from opposition voices is that reforms have yet to eliminate poverty. While this concern is valid, it overlooks a fundamental reality of economic transformation: structural reform is inherently gradual.

Historical precedents—from Singapore under Lee Kuan Yew to other emerging economies—demonstrate that meaningful change unfolds over years, not months. The expectation of immediate outcomes often reflects political impatience rather than economic understanding.

Conclusion: Between Critique and Credibility

The characterization of the Renewed Hope Agenda as a “scam” ultimately collapses under the weight of evidence. What emerges instead is a pattern of reform—imperfect, evolving, but undeniably substantive.

This is not to suggest that the administration is beyond criticism. Rather, it is to insist that critique must be grounded in fact, proportion, and institutional awareness. When measured against these standards, the ongoing reforms under President Tinubu reflect a serious attempt to confront structural challenges that have accumulated over decades.

In this context, the more appropriate question is not whether reform is occurring, but whether it is being adequately recognized—and by whom.

Kayode Akinmade: Defending the Renewed Hope Agenda: Reform, memory, and the burden of perspective

A major political shift unfolded in Oluyole Local Government Area of Oyo State on Friday as Olóyè Ambassador Ademọla Oyepeju Ara formally declared his

Operatives of the CP-Special Assignment Team, CP-SAT, have recovered one pump-action gun with three rounds of live cartridges abandoned at Ekiugbo, Ughelli North Local Government Area.

The operatives made the recovery at about 20:45hrs yesterday.

The Delta State Police Command led by CP Yemi Oyeniyi confirmed the report in a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe.

The said, “At about 2045hrs, operatives of the CP Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT), acting on credible intelligence, recovered one pump-action gun with three rounds of live cartridges abandoned at the Ekigbo area of Ughelli.

“The recovery is connected to an earlier case in which three suspects have been arrested, charged to court, and remanded in prison custody for the murder of one Alex Adanike, which occurred on 15 January 2026 in Ughelli.”

According to SP Edafe,”Further intelligence revealed that one Eddy Onose, male, who is currently at large, was in possession of the firearm before abandoning it upon realising he was being trailed.

“The suspect is also linked to the Supreme Vikings Confraternity, also known as “ARO BAGGAR”.

“Efforts are ongoing, in collaboration with local vigilante groups, to apprehend the fleeing suspect and recover additional evidence.”

Police recover guns, others in Delta Community

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze has said it is sad and unfortunate that President Bola Tinubu and his government could take the country to what he describes as ‘this inglorious path’ after what they all sacrificed to bring the All Progressives Congress, APC to power.

Eze also commended the leadership of the African Democratic Congress, ADC and every well meaning Nigerian who has lend a voice against the alleged coordinated, undue interference by the Tinubu government in the affairs of opposition political parties in an effort to obliterate their strength and establish a one-party system in Nigeria.

In a statement made available to the media, Chief Eze said the alleged efforts by the President to have a smooth sail in the 2027 election and return to power unchallenged will be strongly resisted by the sheer determination of Nigerians who have shown a deep sense of patriotism by standing up to reject a scheme by the President to foist himself on the country for a second term.

Eze commended the Lagos Chapter of ADC for their ongoing protest against what he called an evil system and urged the ADC leadership to sustain the protest to last a longer period for the message from Nigerians for a free and credible poll sinks in the brain of thos at the helm of affairs of INEC.

“I suggest that this protest should not be a one or two days action but should be carried out on daily basis until Tinubu sees reasons to call himself to order.

“After all it was Tinubu who taught Nigerians this strategy and it helped to push PDP out of power and we will use it to rescue Nigeria from his devious hands.”

Eze urged Nigerians to unite with the ADC in this mission of rescuing our nation from the APC Government that has brought unprecedented and untold hardship to all and sundry.

“Shamefully Tinubu is more concerned about how he will turn himself to Paul Biya of Cameron, perpetuating himself in power regardless of his zero impact in leadership who has reduced the country in all ratings,” he said.

“It is sad and unfortunate that Tinubu and his government could take us to this inglorious path after what we all sacrificed to bring APC to power.”

Eze called on Nigerians to remain steadfast in their determination to bring to an end the sufferings brought upon the country by the Bola Tinubu administration.

ADC: Tinubu more concerned about turning himself to Paul Biya – Eze