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The Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has revealed that he played a key role in Gbenga Daniel’s gubernatorial victory in 2003 and subsequent election as senator for Ogun East on the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform in 2023.

According to Abiodun, if Daniel feels the only way to repay his gesture was through media attacks, then he leaves him to his conscience.

A video which has gone viral showed that Abiodun spoke at an APC stakeholders meeting held at his Iperu Remo residence on Tuesday night.

DAILY POST learnt that the governor at the meeting announced his intention to contest the Ogun East Senate seat in 2027.

It will be recalled that some APC leaders, at a recent caucus meeting held in Ijebu-Ode, adopted Abiodun as the consensus candidate for the Ogun East Senatorial District in the forthcoming election.

However, Daniel, on Tuesday, despite the outcome of the meeting, purchased the nomination form in a bid to continue representing the district at the senate.

Governor Abiodun explained that in 2003 when he lost the governorship ticket to Daniel on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he practically handed over his structure to the former governor to boost his victory at the poll.

The governor disclosed that he pleaded with the former deputy governor, Segun Adesegun, and the then incumbent senator, Lekan Mustapha, to step down their senate ambition for Daniel.

He said, “I was here when Senator Amosun became the governor, I was here when Otunba Gbenga Daniel became the governor and I actually contested against him in 2003 and when he emerged from the primaries, I was the first to congratulate him and handed over all my structures to him.

“And we know what we have done for each other over the years. I know how my relationship with Governor Daniel is when I assumed office, how I held his hands to reintegrate back him into the party. These are facts.

“I know what I did for Governor Daniel to become a senator, this is not something that I have ever said publicly but these are facts. Prince Segun Adesegun and Senator Lekan Mustapha were the front runners in that election.

“I know what my intervention was before the two of them agreed to step down for Otunba Daniel to eventually emerge as the party’s candidate. If Senator Daniel now feels that the only way he wants to repay my years of support is to be sponsoring negative publicity and media attacks against me, I leave him to his conscience.”

Abiodun while addressing the meeting promised to give the people of Ogun East quality representation at the Senate.

“When you gave me the mandate of Ogun State, I never disappointed you. I want to assure you that I will offer Ogun East the best representation ever in the history of the Red Chamber. I want to promise you that I will offer the district the best representation.

“I will not be a back bencher. I will not be a person that will get there to just look . I will offer good representation to the good people of Ogun East, so help me God.”

Ogun East Senate race: I helped you become gov, senator – Abiodun tells Daniel

Ikotun Olayemi, President of the Nigeria Biochemistry Practitioners Association, says the recent approval by the World Health Organisation (WHO) of a newborn-specific malaria drug offers major biochemical and public health benefits for Nigeria.

Olayemi made the remarks in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos, highlighting the importance of the breakthrough ahead of 2026 World Malaria Day.

The World Health Organization recently announced the prequalification of the first malaria treatment developed specifically for newborns and young infants weighing between two and five kilograms marking a significant milestone globally.

He described the development as more than a new medicine noting it represented a shift toward precision medicine in infectious disease management tailored specifically for neonates who required specialised dosing considerations.

Olayemi said effective adoption in countries like Nigeria could significantly reduce early life malaria deaths among newborns but warned poor implementation might limit access and impact across vulnerable populations nationwide.

He explained that previously newborns faced risks of overdose toxicity and poor pharmacokinetic outcomes because malaria treatments were designed for older children affecting immature organs such as the liver significantly.

The new therapy he said offered safer treatment options for newborns representing a major advancement while also opening opportunities for Nigerian biochemists to engage in drug monitoring and metabolism research activities.

He added that the development created pathways for further exploration of natural medicinal supplements and plant based adjuncts that could complement conventional malaria treatment especially within African neonatal populations.

Olayemi urged WHO to collaborate with the Nigerian government to ensure affordable distribution and availability of the drug across rural clinics primary healthcare centres and biochemistry practice facilities nationwide.

He also called for expanded training support for biochemists pharmacists and clinicians focusing on neonatal drug metabolism and appropriate dosing protocols to ensure safe and effective administration across healthcare settings.

According to him the association considers the drug scientifically sound and potentially lifesaving for neonates in malaria endemic regions urging continuous research pharmacovigilance and population specific evaluation to maximise its benefits.

Expert Hails WHO Approval Of Newborn Malaria Drug is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has raised concern over a worsening malnutrition crisis in northwestern Nigeria, warning that over 500,000 children across Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara states are at risk of severe malnutrition.

The concern followed the presentation of findings from the 2025 Nutrition SMART Survey at a dissemination workshop held in Sokoto on Tuesday, where stakeholders gathered to review the region’s nutrition outlook and discussed response strategies.

The one-day workshop focused on translating data into action, with participants emphasising the need to scale up life-saving nutrition interventions and strengthen community-based responses to curb the growing crisis.

UNICEF Nutrition Specialist, Edward Kotundo, disclosed that the data revealed a troubling prevalence of acute malnutrition among children under five years, particularly in Sokoto and Kebbi states.

Kotundo said wasting affects 11 per cent of children in Sokoto and Kebbi, while Zamfara records 8.5 per cent, placing the first two states in the “high prevalence” category and Zamfara at a “medium level,” but still of serious concern.

He further disclosed that the survey found a “very high” rate of stunting across all three states, highlighting widespread chronic malnutrition and long-term nutritional deprivation among children.

He, however, noted that the findings are consistent with the October 2025 Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Acute Malnutrition analysis, which projected that over half a million children could become severely wasted if urgent interventions are not implemented.

“The data clearly shows that this is not just a health issue but a development emergency that requires coordinated, multisectoral action,” Kotundo said.

The UNICEF Chief of Field Officer in Sokoto, represented by Michael Juma, commended government agencies and development partners for their collaboration in conducting the survey, stressing that credible data is key to effective planning and response.

Also, the Director of Medical Services at the Sokoto State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Muhammad Kaura, described Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara as sharing similar cultural and socio-economic realities, underscoring the need for a unified regional approach to tackling malnutrition.

He further acknowledged UNICEF’s continued support in strengthening primary healthcare systems, particularly in maternal and child health services.

The workshop witnessed the presence of state nutrition officers, officials from ministries of information and budget and planning, state bureaus of statistics, security agencies, and development partners such as Médecins Sans Frontières and Action Against Hunger.

The event witnessed goodwill messages from stakeholders who praised UNICEF’s interventions and expressed optimism that the survey findings would guide more targeted nutrition programmes and policies.

They called for sustained partnerships and increased investment to address the root causes of malnutrition, including food insecurity, poverty, and limited access to healthcare.

Over 500,000 Children Face Severe Malnutrition In Northwestern Nigeria — UNICEF is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has charged the Anambra State Technical Team for the 2026 Integrated Biological and Behavioural Surveillance Study (IBBSS) to identify persons living with HIV/AIDS in the state.

The agency also urged the team to ensure access to antiretroviral therapy and achieve significant viral suppression as part of efforts to control the spread of HIV/AIDS in Anambra.

Director-General of NACA, Dr Tope Ilori, gave the charge during the inauguration of the technical team at the 2026 IBBSS state entry meeting held at the Anambra State AIDS Control Agency (ANSACA) in Awka.

Ilori, represented by Mrs Joy Egwuonwu, Principal Programme Officer of NACA, said the survey was aimed at achieving HIV epidemic control in Anambra.

She explained that the IBBSS was a nationally coordinated survey designed to improve the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS in the country.

According to her, the survey will provide reliable data needed to strengthen HIV intervention programmes in the state. Ilori commended Gov. Chukwuma Soludo for appointing Dr Hilary Okeke as Executive Director and Programme Manager of ANSACA, describing him as a vibrant and competent public health expert.

She noted that Anambra was among the 12 states selected for the survey due to recent improvements in the state’s HIV response system.

“Anambra State data on HIV has been very poor, but with the appointment of Dr Okeke, the future is very bright,” she said.

Speaking, Okeke said the survey would focus on key populations, including female sex workers, men who have sex with men and people who inject drugs.

He said the Soludo administration had provided an enabling environment to reduce the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the state. He also assured that the technical team would begin implementation strategies and policies necessary for the successful conduct of the survey.

Also speaking, Mr Chukwuebuka Ejekam, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the West Africa Centre for Public Health and Development, said the IBBSS was targeted at key populations as part of efforts to achieve HIV epidemic control in Nigeria by 2030.

Ejekam said the study, recommended by the World Health Organisation, was expected to be conducted across countries every three to five years. He pledged the organisation’s commitment to support the state government with evidence-based data and programme intelligence to strengthen health interventions in Anambra.

NACA Begins HIV Epidemic Control Survey In Anambra is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

A coalition of women groups from across the 36 states and 700 local government areas on Wednesday submitted petitions to the National Assembly, demanding the immediate passage of the Special Seats for Women Bill to address the underrepresentation of women in governance.

The groups, led by the League of Women Voters of Nigeria and the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), said the petitions were collated from constituencies nationwide over the last three weeks and delivered to members of the House of Representatives.

President of the League of Women Voters of Nigeria (NILOWV) Hon. Irene Mngupado Awunah-Ikyegh who addressed journalists at the entrance of the National Assembly, said some lawmakers received the petitions personally while others were submitted in their absence.

“Three weeks ago, we went to every constituency office and houses of House of Representatives members to submit a petition demanding an immediate passage of the Special Seats Bill. We are here today to formally submit all the petitions that we have collated across Nigeria,” she said.

Reading from the petition titled ‘Urgent demand for the passage of the Special Seats for Women Bill to enhance inclusive governance in Nigeria,’ Awunah-Ikyegh said Nigerian women, who make up about half of the country’s population, remain “severely underrepresented in all tiers of government.”

“Representation often hovers around less than five per cent in elected positions — one of the lowest in Africa,” the petition stated, while citing constitutional guarantees of freedom from discrimination and the right to participate in governance.

The Special Seats Bill for Women seeks to create additional seats for women in the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly.

The petitioners argued that the mechanism, if adopted, would align Nigeria with countries like Rwanda, South Africa, Kenya, and Uganda in accelerating women’s political inclusion.

Awunah-Ikyegh noted that similar constitutional amendment bills considered by the 9th and 10th Assemblies “failed to secure required constitutional mandatory due to lack of political will.”

The coalition called on lawmakers to “mobilise all your colleagues and ensure that the bill gets majority to vote at the House of Representatives and Senate,” and to “vote in favour of it and reject any motion opposing it during plenary.”

Their prayers include an appeal to legislators to use their “good offices to influence the passage of this bill” and to “advocate for an emergency sitting to vote for this bill.”

Also speaking, National President of the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) Nigeria,Princess Edna D.D. Azura, said Nigerian women have signed several protocols on women’s representation, including the 35 percentaffirmative action, but implementation remains poor.

“Other countries have passed that stage. Rwanda, they are about 67 percent now. Nigerian women, we don’t even want to go that far. They must get the 35 percent and above. But now, we are about just four percent representation in Nigeria and it’s not healthy for the entire nation,” Azura said.

She added that over 800 women are seeking elective positions in the current political transition, with more than 300 under the All Progressives Congress alone.

“The women are ready, and the women are vast. We are well-read, we are politicians, and you have tested, you have seen many that have been there and how they have performed,” she said.

Azura stressed that women groups are now “speaking with one voice” across the country.

“We are loving, but we are calling a critical call. Please, let them pass this bill because it is time. Other countries are far behind, maybe second to the last in the entire world for representation of women,” she said.

Women Groups Storm NASS, Demand Special Seats Bill Passage is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The increasing number of mentally-deranged people in Nsukka town of Enugu State has become a source of worry to the residents of the university community. Those who spoke to THE WHISTLER demanded urgent action from relevant agencies to evacuate the patients for treatment.

“They are now multiplying daily,” according to an Okada operator at Odenigbo roundabout, Ifeanyi Agbedo. “Everyday new faces emerge. I don’t know if they are being dumped in Nsukka by some disgruntled persons or they are migrating from somewhere. Some of them are not shabbily dressed, implying that they are newly infected. Some are almost going naked. They should not be left to be roaming along the roads because they constitute road hazards to both motorists and pedestrians.”
A resident of Enugu road, Uchenna Ogbodo, said the prevalence of mad men and women in the town is becoming an eyesore. In her words, “Some of them walk naked. It makes the environment indecent. They walk unclothed in public. Concerned authorities should find a solution because it is getting out of hand. I am yet to hear that they hurt anybody, but allowing them freely does not portend a serene environment which we project. I saw many of them by dustbins, eating whatever they can lay their hands on.”

Johnpaul Ezea lives at Alor-Uno, Nsukka. He said, “I suspect that they are evacuated from neighbouring states to Nsukka. Some of them don’t understand Igbo; some speak Igbo very well. Some are natives. I know one said to be a native of Ede-Obara in Nsukka here. Some are very young, and one wonders what can make adolescents mad! Security agencies should do more to unravel where they are coming from.”

A social worker, Dr Sunday Agbo, said the situation might be difficult to handle because there are no psychiatric and rehabilitation centres in the state.

According to him, “The Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital in Enugu is a tertiary health institution. It is more of a teaching hospital. The management won’t go about mopping up mental-challenged people for treatment. The closest place they can be treated is at Irrua in Edo State. But who will take up the responsibilities? Some of them may be hard-drug related. They need to be isolated at rehabilitation centres and given psychotherapeutic support. Unfortunately, Enugu-based Borstal Training Institute has been abandoned for decades. The core mad ones are also treatable. In the interim, the local government authorities can isolate and evacuate them to any centre where they can be taken care of. It is a responsibility of the government to handle.”

Residents React As Mentally-Challenged Persons Flood Enugu is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The former Lagos State Chairman of the Labour Party, LP, Pastor Dayo Ekong, on Wednesday said her defection to the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, followed the new party’s promising and emerging future.

Ekong, who disclosed this in Lagos, decried the LP’s protracted leadership crises and legal battles since 2023.

Noting that she currently serves as the Southwest Vice Chairman of the NDC, said activities were in top gear to organise hitch-free congresses in the zone.

“I have moved on and gone to NDC, in fact, I am currently the National Vice Chairman of the party for the whole of Southwest,” she said.

Ekong said she decided to dump the LP to protect her political future.

“I am a politician and I have political aspirations. The way political parties are beset by all sorts of problems and leadership crisis is sickening.
One just has to find a way to achieve goals at the end of the day.So, I have to move forward.”

On the chances of NDC in the zone, Ekong said, “We all know that NDC is making waves everywhere now. It is a new political party and the hope of the future”.

Why I dumped LP for NDC — Lagos Chair, Ekong

Experts have urged African countries to strengthen bankable projects to attract private capital and accelerate the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
 

The experts said this at the ongoing 12th African Regional Forum on Sustainable Development, focused on mobilising large-scale investments through innovative financing instruments monitored virtually.
 
They made the call at a private sector session convened by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in partnership with Convergence Blended Finance and the International Institute for Environment and Development.
 
The Participants emphasised the need to move from fragmented initiatives to coordinated and structured approaches that can deliver measurable results.
 

They said blended finance, innovative debt instruments, and risk-sharing mechanisms are critical tools for unlocking private investment.
 

Ms Ngone Diop, Director of ECA Subregional Office for West Africa, said shrinking fiscal space was limiting Africa’s ability to finance development.
 
She called for urgent adoption of innovative financing solutions and stronger public-private partnerships.
 

According to her, such measures are necessary to mobilise investments and accelerate SDG implementation across the continent.
 

Also speaking, Ms Soumaya Iraqui, Chief of Section at ECA’s Subregional Office for West Africa, said fiscal pressures had intensified in recent years.
 

She said that fiscal space in West Africa had narrowed significantly between 2020 and 2025, with rising debt levels posing structural constraints.
 

Iraqi officials emphasised that the situation underscored the urgency of developing sustainable and attractive investment pathways.
 

The session also highlighted the growing role of debt-for-climate and debt-for-development swaps in expanding fiscal space.
 

Participants cited ongoing initiatives in Senegal, The Gambia, and Ghana as examples of innovative financing in practice.
 

They said such mechanisms could reduce the cost of capital and support investments in climate action and social development.
 

The experts agreed that stronger coordination among governments, development partners, and the private sector was essential.
 

They added that building credible, well-prepared projects would be key to attracting large-scale private investment.
 

The session formed part of the ARFSD-12 Private Sector Forum focused on strengthening partnerships to accelerate SDG progress in Africa.

Africa Must Strengthen Bankable Projects To Attract Private Capital – Experts  is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Hon. Abbey Awara Ukpukpen has formally joined the race for the Abi/Yakurr Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives after obtaining the All Progressives Congress (APC) nomination and expression-of-interest forms ahead of the 2027 general election.

“I dedicate these forms to God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. El Roi, the God of my journey,” she stated shortly after picking the forms at the APC secretariat on Wednesday.

Ukpukpen is not new to the legislature. She won the 2018 Obudu State Constituency bye-election and served as a member of the 8th Cross River State House of Assembly.

She subsequently served as Special Adviser on Gender to the Cross River State Government. The role brought her close to the women and girls she had always said she wanted to serve.

She is also respected within APC circles. The Cross River chapter of the party recently commended her work in the 2023 presidential campaign through the Grassroots Independent Campaign Council. She has joined the “Prince is Coming 2027” movement in Ikom to mobilise support for Governor Bassey Otu’s second term bid.

She holds a degree in Environmental Protection and Resource Management from the University of Calabar and attended Federal Government Girls College, Calabar.

Abbey Ukpukpen Joins Abi/Yakurr Reps Race, Picks APC Forms is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, has said Murtala Sule Garo was chosen as deputy governor because of his experience and commitment to the state’s development.

In a statement released by his spokesperson, Mustapha Muhammad, the governor said Garo was selected after carefully reviewing several candidates. He explained that the decision was based on past performance, competence and the ability to contribute meaningfully to Kano’s progress.

Yusuf made this known during the 39th Executive Council meeting held at the Government House in Kano.

He said the government wanted someone who could effectively support its development plans.

Garo’s name was sent to the State House of Assembly last week after the former deputy governor, Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo, stepped down.

The Assembly quickly screened and confirmed him.

The governor praised the lawmakers, led by Speaker Jibril Ismail Falgore, for their swift action in approving the nomination.
He also said Garo would be sworn in soon and urged the public to support him in carrying out his duties.

Yusuf congratulated the new Head of Service, Hajiya Bilkisu Shehu Maimota, noting that she had already made valuable contributions while serving in previous roles.

He called on civil servants and stakeholders to support her in her new position.

Gov Yusuf defends choice of Garo as deputy, cites experience, commitment to Kano