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The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Prof. Nentewe Yilwatda, has assured legacy members of the party that political defectors will not be allowed to take over leadership structures.

He gave the assurance while speaking with newsmen after a closed-door meeting with the party’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) stakeholders on Tuesday in Abuja.

He drew a clear distinction between those who were in the party from the beginning and those who just joined it, saying the interest of both would be protected without allowing one to subsume the other.

“It is a home that we built. If the house was not built, nobody will come, so nobody should come as a warrior and take over,” he said.

He added that the solution, however, was in a deliberate power-sharing formula that guaranteed inclusion across both blocs.

“We must have everybody included; there will be a sharing formula that will ensure that all members of the legacy group and defectors are properly carried along,” Yilwatda said.

On the APC FCT party structure, Yilwatda outlined a five-dimensional sharing formula which included gender inclusion, with women in substantive executive positions and not merely as women leaders.

Others, he said, are geopolitical representation across all six zones of the country, inclusion of the FCT’s indigenous tribes and youth engagement, among others.

The APC national chairman confirmed a committee chaired by the minister of special duties and inter-governmental affairs, Zephaniah Jisalo, describing its members as bona fide APC members.

He noted that the committee had conducted zoning for the FCT APC and that its work had been followed to the letter.

He further noted that so far, no APC member had complained of being cheated or deprived in any way, adding that the party’s Constitution would be strictly enforced in its coming congresses.

He added that defectors seeking executive positions must produce resignation letters accepted by their former party chairmen.

“If you are in opposition, you must give a resignation letter and show evidence of resignation and acceptance of your resignation by your former party chairman,” he said.

He reiterated the constitutional rule on tenure, saying if a member had spent eight consecutive years in one office, he must step down or, at best, change office.

The APC chairman used the occasion to articulate what he described as his core political philosophy, saying inclusion was a non-negotiable organisational principle.

“We must accommodate all tribes, including the geopolitical resource. I am chairing this party because of inclusion.

“If there is no inclusion, I can’t be here because my tribe is only found in two local governments of this country. I am a minority,” he said.

He noted that women were great mobilisers that should not be used only at election periods to win elections, saying they should be seen on the list of experts.

We Won’t Give Leadership Positions To Defectors, Says APC is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

United Nigeria Airlines (UNA) has informed passengers and the general public of a bird strike involving one of its operating CRJ-900 aircraft….

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has declared that Nigeria’s worsening insecurity has escalated into a “state of war,” warning that the crisis now poses an existential threat to the country.

This position was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the 38th meeting of the Board of Trustees of the forum, held on April 11, 2026, in Abuja.

The meeting, presided over by the Chairman of the Board, Bashir M. Dalhatu, brought together prominent northern leaders and elder statesmen, including Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, M. D. Abubakar, Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, Tukur Yusufu Buratai, among others.

In the communiqué, the ACF said Nigeria’s security situation had deteriorated beyond conventional challenges, describing it as a full-blown conflict requiring urgent and decisive action.

“Nigeria’s security crisis has moved far beyond a routine governance challenge; it has since evolved… to a state of all-out war that now threatens the continued existence of Nigeria as we know it,” the forum said.

It noted that the violence, which initially manifested as insurgency in the North-East, had spread to include banditry, mass kidnappings in the North-West and North-Central, as well as persistent inter-communal clashes and farmer-herder conflicts.

According to the forum, “The scale, persistence, and human cost of violence demand a fundamental shift in national priorities. The time has come for the government of Nigeria to treat this crisis not as one issue among many, but as the overriding national emergency.”

The ACF lamented the heavy human toll of the insecurity, stating that hundreds of thousands of Nigerians had either been killed or displaced across states such as Borno, Plateau, Niger and Kwara.

“This is not even counting the large number of our armed forces personnel, including very senior military officers. Families have been shattered, livelihoods destroyed, and entire generations traumatised,” it said.

The forum also warned that the persistent insecurity was crippling the nation’s economy, particularly the agricultural sector, which it said remained a major source of livelihood in the North.

“Insecurity is now directly undermining Nigeria’s economy. Agriculture—especially in the North—is under severe threat. Supply chains are disrupted, inflation is worsened, and rural economies are collapsing,” the communiqué added.

It stressed that continued neglect of the crisis would make recovery more costly, arguing that prioritising security spending should not be seen as a distraction from development.

“Redirecting national resources toward security is not a diversion from economic development; it is a prerequisite for it,” the forum stated.

Calling for what it described as a “war-time approach,” the ACF urged the Federal Government to temporarily suspend or scale down non-essential projects and channel resources toward tackling insecurity.

“Extraordinary threats require extraordinary measures. Nigeria needs to temporarily suspend or scale down budgeting on non-essential projects and focus national energy, funding, and leadership attention on bringing the security crisis to an end without further delay,” it said.

The forum, however, clarified that such measures did not imply abandoning development efforts but rather prioritising security as the foundation for sustainable growth.

“This does not mean abandoning development—but sequencing it correctly: secure the nation first, then build it,” the communiqué noted.

The ACF further warned that Nigeria stood at a critical crossroads, stressing that failure to act decisively could jeopardise the country’s stability and future.

“The escalating security crisis threatens not just lives, but the very stability and future of the nation. The government must act with urgency and clarity of purpose—reordering national priorities, mobilising all available resources, and treating the crisis with the seriousness it demands,” it added.

It concluded that until Nigerians could live and work without fear, national aspirations would remain unattainable.

“Until Nigerians can live in peace and with dignity, work on their farms, travel without fear, every other national ambition remains on hold in practice, if not in policy. The path forward is clear: secure the nation first—decisively, comprehensively, and without delay,” the communiqué stated.

Insecurity Now ‘State of War’, ACF Warns, Urges Emergency Measures is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

United Nigeria Airlines operations have been disrupted following a bird strike incident that forced the grounding of one of its aircraft, marking the fifth such occurrence for the airline in 2026.

The airline disclosed that the affected aircraft, a CRJ-900, encountered a bird strike while landing in Abuja on Flight UN0579 from Kano.

The flight had departed the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport en route to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport when the incident occurred.

This was contained in a statement made available on Wednesday by the airline’s spokesperson, Chibuike Uloka.

Confirming the development, the airline said the aircraft was immediately withdrawn from service in line with safety protocols.

“In line with our strict and uncompromising safety standards, the aircraft has been immediately withdrawn from operations to undergo comprehensive technical inspections and any required maintenance before being returned to service,” the airline stated.

The development is expected to affect flight schedules across the airline’s network.

United Nigeria Airlines, however, appealed for patience, assuring customers that every decision taken prioritises their safety.

“Consequently, some flights across our network may not operate as scheduled; however, safety remains our highest priority. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this unforeseen development may cause to our passengers’ travel plans,” the airline added.

While acknowledging that this is the fifth bird strike incident involving its fleet this year, the airline maintained that all cases have been handled in accordance with aviation standards.

“Each occurrence has been managed in full compliance with applicable aviation safety regulations and established operational procedures,” the statement read.

The airline further reassured the flying public of its commitment to safe and reliable operations.

The statement stated, “We appreciate the understanding of our valued passengers and reaffirm our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of safety and operational reliability. We will continue to take all necessary measures to optimise our operations and exceed the expectations of our passengers.”

Bird Strike Grounds United Nigeria Aircraft, Disrupts Flights is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Counter-narcotics police in eastern Afghanistan have destroyed more than 100 kilogrammes of illegal drugs as part of an ongoing nationwide crackdown…

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has warned that regulatory bottlenecks, high right-of-way charges, and infrastructure vandalism continue to hinder Nigeria’s digital expansion drive.

The Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Aminu Maida, raised the concern during a training programme held in Abuja. The event was organised by the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI) in collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), with support from the European Union (EU).

Represented by the NCC Executive Commissioner for Technical Services, Sunday Abraham, Maida said the challenges continue to slow progress despite ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s digital infrastructure.

The training programme, held at the DBI headquarters in Abuja’s Jabi district, brought together 31 participants from 10 countries across Africa and Europe. It aims to equip them with critical skills in fibre optic infrastructure deployment.

Maida linked the initiative to Nigeria’s broader goals of expanding broadband penetration, improving financial inclusion, and enhancing service delivery nationwide.

“Robust, well-regulated fibre optic infrastructure is the foundation for any digital transformation agenda,” he said.

He noted that under Project BRIDGE, the Federal Government plans to deploy 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic cables across the country to improve connectivity in all 774 local government areas. However, he stressed that regulatory constraints and vandalism remain significant obstacles.

According to him, 13 states have already waived right-of-way charges, a move he said is attracting increased investment from telecom operators. He also cited a 2024 presidential order designating telecom infrastructure as critical national information infrastructure as a step toward strengthening asset protection.

In his remarks, DBI President and CEO, David Daser, described the programme as a strategic effort to develop a future-ready workforce capable of driving broadband expansion and innovation.

“This programme represents a significant milestone in advancing resilient, inclusive, and future-ready digital infrastructure,” he said, adding that it also serves as a platform for knowledge exchange and international collaboration.

Daser explained that participants would gain competencies in fibre deployment planning, regulatory frameworks, infrastructure sharing, and stakeholder engagement—key areas needed to unlock broadband growth and digital job opportunities.

Also speaking, ITU Project Officer, Ghazi Mabrouk, said the initiative is part of the organisation’s broader capacity-building efforts, which deliver over 150 training programmes annually.

He commended participants for their commitment to learning and collaboration, noting that DBI remains a key partner within ITU’s global network of training centres.

Meanwhile, Head of Section for Green and Digital Economy at the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Inga Stefanowicz, reaffirmed the EU’s support for Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.

She highlighted the development of fibre optic infrastructure as central to enabling digital growth and disclosed that the EU has committed €820m to Nigeria’s digital economy. The package is targeted at boosting digital skills, innovation, and infrastructure expansion.

Stefanowicz also emphasised the importance of private sector participation, noting that EU-backed initiatives are designed to mobilise financing, expertise, and sustainable technologies to bridge infrastructure gaps.

Right-of-Way Charges, Vandalism Slowing Digital Growth — NCC is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

United Nigeria Airlines has recorded another bird strike, bringing the total number of such incidents involving its aircraft to five since January.

The latest incident involved a CRJ-900 aircraft during the landing of Flight UN0579 from Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Tuesday.

The airline’s public relations officer, Chibuike Uloka, in a statement, said the development could disrupt some flights across its network.

The statement reads: “In line with our strict and uncompromising safety standards, the aircraft has been immediately withdrawn from operations to undergo comprehensive technical inspections and any required maintenance before being returned to service.

“Consequently, some flights across our network may not operate as scheduled; however, safety remains our highest priority. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this unforeseen development may cause to our passengers’ travel plans.

“While this marks the fifth bird strike involving our aircraft since January 2026, each occurrence has been managed in full compliance with applicable aviation safety regulations and established operational procedures.”

Recurring bird strike incidents across the country’s airports have continued to raise concerns among stakeholders.

An ornithologist, Jalo Muhammad, who recently spoke on the issue, fingered environmental factors around airports.

Muhammad said, “Usually, birds are highly mobile, and this makes them an incredible creature. They are always attracted to the habitat. If the airport is around a big wetland area, there will definitely be an abundance of birds, which may lead to bird strikes. In grassland areas, there are a lot of rodents which draw the attention of certain birds.

“If an airport in an untouched area is not properly managed, the activities can attract most of those birds. Even though birds do not like noise, the ones (lapwings, kite, Shikra and others) that settle around an airport area are good adapters. No matter the changes made around them, they will adapt as long as there is food around them.”

 

The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, has defended the controversial airstrike on Jilli in Borno State, insisting that those killed in the operation were not innocent civilians but individuals actively supporting insurgents.

Speaking during an interview on Arise TV yesterday, following a high-level security meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu, Musa maintained that the strike was based on credible intelligence and targeted a known hub for terrorist logistics and supplies.

He said: “There was no innocent person there. Anybody in that location knew what they were doing. They were there for business with terrorists.”

The airstrike, which has drawn criticism amid reports of civilian casualties, has sparked renewed debate over Nigeria’s counterinsurgency tactics and the delicate balance between military necessity and civilian protection.

But Musa dismissed suggestions of operational error or faulty intelligence, insisting that the military acted on verified information and struck at the right time.

“We moved based on intelligence, we identified the location, and we hit the target. It was a deliberate operation,” he said.

According to him, the Jilli area had long been designated a no-go zone due to its use by insurgents and their collaborators. He explained that the location served as a marketplace where individuals supplied food, fuel, and materials to terrorist groups operating in the region.

“That place is not a normal civilian market,” Musa stated. “It is a point where terrorists meet with those who support them—people who bring in supplies, including items used to sustain their operations.” he said.

He argued that economic incentives have driven individuals into such activities, noting that traders could make significant profits by selling goods to insurgents in remote areas.

“If you take a bag of rice there, you can sell it for as much as N150,000. The attraction is huge. People go there deliberately to make money, fully aware of who they are dealing with,” he said.

Musa stressed that individuals who knowingly provide logistics or financial support to insurgents cannot be classified as innocent civilians under the laws of armed conflict.

“He who supports a terrorist is one of them,” he declared. “Your actions enable them to survive, to fight, and to kill others. That makes you part of the system.”

The Defence Minister acknowledged that the distinction between civilians and combatants can be complex in asymmetric warfare but insisted that the military remains careful in its targeting decisions.

He, however, drew a clear line between those coerced into cooperation and those who willingly engage with insurgents for profit.

“There are people who are forced, who are victims themselves—that is different,” Musa said. “But those who willingly go into these areas to trade with terrorists are not innocent. They made that choice.”

Reports following the strike suggested that dozens of people may have been killed, raising concerns among rights groups and local communities. However, Musa questioned the credibility of such claims, noting the absence of verifiable evidence.

“Did anybody show pictures? Did anyone confirm those numbers?” he asked, casting doubt on casualty figures circulating in the media.

He also referenced feedback from local authorities, including regional leaders familiar with the area, to support his position that Jilli was not a conventional civilian settlement.

“Anybody who knows that area understands what it represents. It had been evacuated. So what were people doing there?” he queried.

Musa further argued that continued collaboration between civilians and insurgents is a major factor prolonging the conflict in the North-East, stressing that cutting off such support networks would significantly weaken terrorist groups.

“These logisticians are the ones sustaining them. Without them, the terrorists cannot operate,” he said. “If Nigerians collectively refuse to support these groups, this war can end much faster.”

The Defence Minister also warned that individuals who expose themselves by engaging with insurgents risk being caught in military operations.

“If you make yourself available in that environment, you become part of the threat landscape,” he said.

The pioneer national chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, and Convener of Igbo Agenda Dialogue, Chief Chekwas Okorie, says the crisis that rocked APGA led to the formation of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.

According to him, Nnamdi Kanu, who was the Chairman of APGA in the United Kingdom, was aggrieved with the way APGA was engulfed in crisis, forcing him to form IPOB.

Okorie stated this when he featured on Enugu-based Dream FM’s “Political Voices”. He also spoke on many Igbo issues.

Birthing Of IPOB

He said he discovered Nnamdi Kanu in 2002, and consequently appointed him the chairman of APGA in the UK because of his commitment to the Igbo cause. “Kanu was part of the efforts to reconcile the parties that were quarrelling in APGA,” says Okorie. “We were in court for eight years. By 2012, we decided to move on, and formed UPP. Kanu and all the European APGA members lost confidence in the political process, and then formed IPOB.”

He said Kanu’s life imprisonment was part of Igbo subjugation in Nigeria. “There was nothing that Kanu did that other agitators didn’t do more to address the causes of their own people, not to talk about Igbo people whose marginalisation is crying to the high heaven.” According to him, Kanu is “a symbol of what we are in Nigeria today”.

Igbo Leaders Not Right Calibres

Okorie regretted that Igbo leaders have not united to pursue a common Igbo agenda. “In politics, there is nothing like begging. We have what it takes to stand on our own, and tell the president of the political consequences if such demands were not implemented. Until we use the strength that God has given us, we will not be able to assert ourselves and get what we want. That is the essence of Igbo Agenda Dialogue.”

He said the Igbo should blame themselves for their relegation in the country’s polity. In his words, “We should blame ourselves more than the people we are looking up to. You can’t give what you do not have. We have not recruited the right persons to be governors, senators and even councillors. If we ask Igbo people who their foremost senators are, out of 45, I can tell you that 90 percent will just mention one person.”

Can you imagine where the five state assemblies we have in the South East will meet to agree to move a motion that if Nnamdi Kanu is not released unconditionally, that South East will review their stay in Nigeria? That statement alone will rattle the government of the day, but who will have the courage to even initiate it? Nobody can look at the Igbo number and say we are a dot in a circle.

The Goal Of Igbo Agenda Dialogue

Chief Okorie said the goal of the Igbo Agenda Dialogue is to unite the people of the South East towards having their political space in Nigeria. He said the failure of the Igbo race to found their own native political party is adversely affecting their efforts to produce Nigeria’s president, hence the new initiative.
“Last August, I and a few friends took a decision that the time had come for us to address that matter. Igbo is like a sleeping giant. That giant has to be woken up. The vision bearers of the Igbo Agenda Dialogue took a decision to disengage from all partisanship. We resolved to hold town hall meetings across the 36 states of Nigeria and the FCT to interface with our people in a normal town hall setting. It is taking off in Enugu, being the political capital of Ndigbo and cradle of political civilisation of the Eastern Region.” He said a compendium of all opinions gathered would be produced, and would be used to articulate the Igbo agenda.

According to him, “Igbo people never founded a political party as a tool for national negotiations. NCNC, which Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe led, was founded by Dr Herbert Macaulay as Nigerian National Democratic Party, and later NCNC.”

Rise And Fall Of APGA

Okorie said efforts to form APGA began in 1996. “We made three attempts. The first two failed. The third one became APGA. We then formulated a policy that an Igbo man must be a presidential candidate on the platform of APGA. Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu was the first beneficiary of that initiative.”

According to him, APGA was destroyed by a conspiracy to disunite the Igbo race. “When APGA came up, everything was done to stop the presentation of Ojukwu as its presidential candidate. Offers were made. We resisted all that because the whole idea of forming APGA is to give Igbo people relevance.”

How PDP Misled Igbo Nation

Okorie claimed that the Peoples Democratic Party destroyed the prospect of an Igbo man emerging as president of Nigeria. “When PDP was formed,” according to him, “The North gave the impression that Dr Alex Ekwueme was going to be the president that they would support. They based it on the fact that he was a committed Nigeria, having served as VP to Alhaji Shehu Shagari. We didn’t know that it was a trap. They came up with the policy that any aspirant that did not win his ward in the election that took place earlier would not be eligible to contest as a presidential spirant during their convention. Igbo people gave 100 percent of their political capital to PDP.”

However, he said, there was an unseen gang-up against the Igbo. “Before the convention, PDP changed that policy because Chief Olusegun Obasanjo lost his ward and the entire South West to Alliance for Democracy. They short-changed Alex Ekwueme in Jos. It is the greatest political 419 in the history of this country.”

Building Igbo Consciousness

The IAD convener called for unity among Igbo people. He said the prospect is brighter if pursued with determination. “There are indigenous Igbo people in at least 19 states in this country. I am not talking about where they settle. And we are settled in all the 36 states and the FCT. In terms of population, Igbo people constitute about 99 percent of the population of South-East, and the second to the indigenous population of every other state in Nigeria. No race will have this type of number and spread, and still remain irrelevant. Igbo people also accommodate other people.”

He recalled that in the First Republic, a Fulani man was elected the first mayor of Enugu, adding that he was re-elected as an independent candidate for his second tenure when NCNC denied him the ticket.

“We have supported every other race to be president of Nigeria, but this Igbo that led the struggle for independence has never been given the opportunity to produce the president of Nigeria.”

He advised Ndigbo to shun apathy towards election, noting that it would be counter-productive. “Our own Igbo people began gradually to withdraw from participating in the electoral process. They began to feel that they are no longer Nigerians based on not being wanted because the evidence is everywhere.”

He said the quest for an Igbo presidency is not only because an Igbo man led the struggle for Nigeria’s independence, but because Ndigbo have contributed towards the development of Nigeria. “Igbo are more Nigerian than others, unfortunately there has been a conspiracy based on morbid fear that has no basis or envy to stop the Igbo man from rising to that level. That conspiracy has come at different times.”

He recalled that when Ojukwu emerged APGA’s presidential candidate, the military cabal were rattled. Their reason, according to him, was that if Ojukwu gained foothold in South East that he would resurrect the Biafran struggle. “But Ojukwu had said before then that he led the first war, which was justified for self-defence, but he would not support another war because of its devastation. He tried to make himself more Nigerian than other Nigerians, yet that suspicion remained. It has been conspiracy after conspiracy against our people.”

Possibility Of Igbo Presidency In 2027

He bemoaned Igbo leaders adopting President Bola Tinubu as a sole candidate. According to him, “How can an Igbo man say that it is not the turn of Igbo people to become president? Zik, even if he didn’t win, contested twice. Ojukwu contested too. We have a singular opportunity come in 2027. That is why we want Igbo people to show consciousness. Don’t sit back and say they will rig it. That is a defeatist posture. If we fail to vote, we have voted for the person we do not want to lead us. Let us have more of Abaribe and Aguochas as our leaders.”

Endorsement of Tinubu By South-East Leaders

Okorie described the gale of endorsement of President Tinubu by South-East leaders as a fluke. Quoting him, “Tinubu is embracing South East because he got about five percent votes from the zone in 2023. Igbo people cannot change their tradition and nature. They have always believed that it is unwise to put one’s eggs in one basket. Even in the first and second republics, we didn’t put our eggs in one basket. What will encourage average Igbo men to give Tinubu 80 percent of votes when they have seen nothing to encourage them? To an average Igbo man, once he has left his house to vote, he requires little persuasion to know who to vote. Tinubu has proven that Buhari was a learner in the area of nepotism and parochialism. We have not been accommodated at all in the government. I doubt if there has been any works minister better than Dave Umahi in terms of performance, but the politics he plays is a major minus.”

Crisis In APGA Birthed IPOB, Chekwas Okorie is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Buckingham Palace and U.S. officials have released additional details about the upcoming four-day state visit by King Charles III and Queen Camilla to the United States, scheduled from April 27 to 30, 2026.

This will mark the first state visit by a British monarch to America since Queen Elizabeth II’s trip in 2007.

The tour is intended to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence while highlighting the historic and ongoing ties between the United Kingdom and the United States.

The royal couple is expected to arrive in Washington, D.C., where they will receive a formal welcome from President Donald Trump and the First Lady.

The programme includes a private tea with the presidential couple and a prestigious state banquet hosted at the White House on the evening of April 28. King Charles is also set to deliver an address to a joint session of the US Congress, an honour rarely extended to foreign leaders.

In addition to events in the capital, the King and Queen are likely to visit New York and possibly Virginia during their stay.

The visit comes amid some diplomatic sensitivities, including recent public criticisms from the Trump administration regarding the UK’s position on the Iran conflict.

On the return journey, King Charles is expected to stop in Bermuda, marking his first visit to the British Overseas Territory as monarch.

This state visit represents a significant diplomatic engagement for the royal family and is expected to draw considerable international attention as both nations mark a major historical milestone.

King Charles, Queen Camilla To Make Four-day United States Visit is first published on The Whistler Newspaper