Minister of Works and former Ebonyi State governor, Senator Dave Umahi, says he is the true political leader of the South East, not Peter Obi. He challenged Obi to a public debate so people can compare what both of them have done for the region.
In a video on Sunday, August 17, 2025, Umahi said Obi should not claim he has the full support of the South East without showing proof of his achievements. He explained that if the presidency will come to the South East, he deserves to lead the way because of his record as governor and now minister.
Umahi bragged about his work in Ebony State, saying God used him to change the state, and his record is better than many other leaders from the region. He said: “Let us debate. Let us compare records. I can boldly say God has used me, and even President Tinubu has used me to help the South East.”
He also said that governors of the South East (Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi, Abia) are all standing with President Tinubu. According to him, the region should focus on building strong alliances, not just relying on emotions or sentiments.
Umahi’s advice: “Our people should re-engage. We cannot get the presidency by emotions. When God’s time comes, no one can stop it-and who knows who will be chosen at that time?”
As of August 18, 2025, the Nigerian Naira to US Dollar exchange rate stands at approximately 1 USD to 1,531.23 NGN, with a 0.05% increase from yesterday’s rate. This translates to a value of $0.00065 per Naira.
The US Dollar to Nigerian Naira exchange rate has experienced fluctuations, with a 30-day high of 1,554.53 and a 30-day low of 1,523.83. The 90-day average rate stands at 1,558.63, with a -5.04% change.
On June 17, 2025, far from Abuja, a Federal Court in Ontario, Canada, delivered a ruling that should shake every Nigerian who still believes in democracy. The case was not about a coup, an insurgency, or a terrorist cell in the usual sense. It was about our politics—our political parties—and the shocking conclusion of a court with no partisan interest in our affairs: Nigeria’s two dominant parties, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), have, through systemic violence and democratic sabotage, operated in ways tantamount to terrorism under Canadian law.
The case arose from an asylum application by Douglas Egharevba, a Nigerian politician who once belonged to the PDP. He sought refuge in Canada, citing political persecution. But Madam Justice Phuong T.V. Ngo upheld earlier findings that both PDP and APC have histories of political violence so entrenched that mere membership in either is grounds for inadmissibility under Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. The evidence laid before the court was damning: ballot stuffing, voter intimidation, violent suppression of opposition, and a culture of impunity stretching from the PDP’s early years in 2003 and 2004, through the APC’s more recent reigns.
The judge rejected the lazy excuse that “this is just how politics works in Nigeria,” calling it “circular and paradoxical.” In other words: if corruption and violence are the rules of the game, then the game is not democracy.
Why Nigerians Must Pay Attention
This was not a judgment written by an opposition politician, an activist blogger, or an NGO desperate for donor funding. This was a neutral, foreign court assessing our democracy through cold, legal reasoning—and finding it diseased at its core.
We can dismiss it as foreign meddling. We can wave it off as ignorance of our “complex realities.” But to do so would be to miss the point entirely. This ruling is a mirror, held up from afar, reflecting the ugly truth many Nigerians already know but are too fatigued, fearful, or compromised to confront: since 1999, our political system has been managed, not by political parties in the true sense of the word, but by political cartels.
What a Political Party Is Meant to Be
The word party suggests a gathering where everyone present has a voice, a stake, and a role. In political science, a party is an organized group bound by an ideology—shared beliefs about how society should be governed. It has rules that bind both leaders and members. It educates its members. It disciplines those who betray its values. It exists to serve the nation, not the personal ambitions of a clique.
By this definition, no political party in Nigeria today qualifies as a true party. We have electoral machines, not ideological movements. We have platforms for power capture, not schools of democratic thought. We have cults of personality, not communities of purpose.
This is why elections feel like recycling—moving from PDP’s failures to APC’s failures and back again—because the rot is not in the logo or the colours, but in the structure and culture.
The Two Choices Before 2027
This Canadian ruling leaves Nigerians with two stark choices:
1. Revolution from Within: Citizens—especially youths—must enter these parties en masse and fight for internal democracy. Demand charters of principles. Demand transparent primaries. Demand that violence and vote buying attract swift expulsion. Demand that ideology—not godfatherism—determines who leads.
2. Look Beyond the Cartels: Support smaller, disciplined parties that stand on clear principles and refuse to rent themselves out to power brokers. Build movements around ideas, not personalities. Yes, it will be hard. Yes, they may lose at first. But democracy is not a one-election project—it’s a culture we must build brick by brick.
We Must Redefine “Party” Before We Can Rebuild Nigeria
Until we fix how parties are structured, Nigeria cannot be fixed. You cannot have a functional nation without functional political parties. The party is the factory where leaders are produced, tested, and refined. If the factory is broken, every product will be defective—no matter the packaging.
Our failure to build ideological parties is why the same recycled elite move from platform to platform without shame. It is why parties have no policies beyond slogans. It is why governance feels the same no matter who wins.
The Path Forward
We must:
Demand legislation that ties party registration to internal democratic standards.
Push INEC to audit party constitutions and enforce compliance.
Build civic education campaigns that teach citizens what a political party truly is and why it matters.
Organize—not just to vote—but to shape the platforms we vote for.
Conclusion: A Foreign Court Has Done What Our Own Will Not
That a Canadian court could declare our ruling parties as violent actors should embarrass our judiciary, our electoral bodies, and our political elite. But embarrassment alone will change nothing. The question is: Will Nigerians use this as a turning point?
2027 will not save us if we walk into it with the same mindset that brought us here. Whether we reform the APC and PDP from within, or build credible alternatives from without, one truth remains: until Nigerians reclaim the ideology and structure of the political party, democracy will remain an empty ritual, and our nation a mismanaged project.
We can keep dancing at this masquerade of democracy—or we can crash the party, rewrite the rules, and host a new one worthy of Nigeria’s future.
Dr. Bolaji O. Akinyemi is an Apostle and Nation Builder. He’s also President Voice of His Word Ministries and Convener Apostolic Round Table. BoT Chairman, Project Victory Call Initiative, AKA PVC Naija. He is a strategic Communicator and the C.E.O, Masterbuilder Communications.
Anambra police reacts to trending video of sister recounting how kidnappers k!lled her brother after he refused to obey their order for him to sleep with her.
The Anambra state police command has reacted to the trending video of a young lady recounting how her brother was k!lled by suspected kidnappers.
In the trending video, the young lady recounted how herself, her brother and another sister of theirs were on the farm working when the assailants abducted them and took them into the bush. While in the bush, she said the kidnappers ordered her to remove her clothes and for her brother to have carnal knowledge of her. She said her brother stated that instead of him to carry out their order, they should rather k!Il him. The bereaved sister said immediately, the assailants used their machete to hack her brother right before her eyes.
She said the assailants then ordered her and her other sister to start running away from them before they k!! them.
Reacting to the trending video via a statement, the state police PRO, Tochukwu Ikenga, said the state Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, condemned the attack and described it as heartless and barbaric act.
“The CP while condoling with the grieving family as well as the good people of Amansea, ordered the Operatives of the State Intelligence Department to identify the survivor to assist the Police in its Investigation. The Command urges members of the public to remain calm, vigilant, and cooperative by providing credible information that will aid the swift arrest of the suspects!”
He mentioned that the CP reiterated the Command’s resolve to remain firm in the fight against k!dnapping and other v!olent crimes in the State. He further assured that the Command will continue to prioritize the protection of every citizen in line with the constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property.
In an uncommon move that changes the transportation landscape in Enugu State, Governor Peter Mbah, on Thursday, inaugurated five ultramodern transport terminals in various parts of the state in line with his integrated blueprint for a modern and multimodal transport ecosystem.
Mbah also launched the Enugu State Modern Transport System that would enable residents commute with ease, as well as a digital platform and over 80 modern bus shelters constructed across the state.
The terminals visited and personally commissioned were the Holy Ghost Terminal 1 (Enugu Central Station 1), designated for inter-state transport; Holy Ghost Terminal 2 (Enugu Central Station 2) for inter-city transport; Nsukka Terminal (Nsukka Central Station); Abakpa Nike Terminal (Abakpa Central Station), and Gariki Terminal (Gariki Central Station).
Mbah said the projects, which drew huge crowds and elicited palpable joy among the residents, were a key part of the administration’s integrated five-terminal Transport Infrastructure Projects, Phase 1, in line with his vision to grow the state’s economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion.
Features of the terminal include food courts, banking halls, motels, shops, CNG refilling stations, and cinemas, while the Holy Ghost Terminals 1 and 2 are connected by 400m long sky bridge, said to be the longest in Nigeria. The buses feature free wifi and security equipment.
Addressing a mammoth crowd at the Holy Ghost Terminal 2, the governor recalled that until the commencement of the project in late 2023, the Holy Ghost area was “practically a synonym for chaotic traffic and general disorderliness.”
Continuing, he said, “Aside from the fact it constituted a major municipal blight, we knew we could not attain our audacious economic goals if we lacked an efficient public transport system that offered both comfort and dignity.
“We knew that our goal to make Enugu the most livable city in Nigeria would be a futile bid if we were unable to tackle problems such as persistent traffic gridlock.
“So, from the very first day of this administration, we made a promise: to build a world-class transport system that moves people, connects businesses and communities, and, crucially, that rightfully positions Enugu State as a model of modern governance, sustainable growth, and human dignity.
“Today’s commissioning of the newly completed world-class terminals and the CNG Bus Mass Transit Scheme is indeed beyond a ribbon-cutting exercise. It ushers in a whole new experience; fundamentally connecting our vision to action, and our action to the daily lives of the over seven million residents of Enugu State.”
He explained that alongside the CNG Rapid Bus Service (Mass Transit Scheme), the terminals were “central pillars of our transport agenda – a multimodal highway to the future – integrating road, rail, air, and waterways into one seamless, safe, and efficient ecosystem.”
He also described the terminals as catalysts for economic development and “engines of economic revival.”
“They represent our capacity to deliver projects that empower Ndi Enugu and set our state on a robust trajectory of growth.
“Already, this project is creating jobs, stimulating SMEs, and positioning Enugu to compete with Africa’s best. Through it, we’re creating over 20,000 jobs across BRT, 2,000 hybrid city taxis, airport operations, ride-hailing, and support services.”
He said that the Enugu Transport Management System would eliminate corruption that had been the bane of government enterprises to ensure sustainability, counting on an e-ticketing system that eliminates leakages, guarantees transparency, and ensures every payment is accounted for.
“Commuters simply need to purchase a ticket and top up as they find suitable. Remarkably, a single valid ticket grants the holder access to other buses. Importantly, our comprehensive insurance coverage protects both the assets and the people who use them,” he stated.
Mbah thanked President Bola Tinubu for his commitment to the state’s development.
“Through words and deeds, the President has demonstrated a sincere love and support towards Enugu – and indeed the South East’s progress. An example is the concession of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, which would clearly reposition Enugu as an aviation and economic hub.
“So, we commend the President because no administration has given as much support to the sub-nationals as this President has done,” he concluded.
In his goodwill message, the Programme Director/CEO of the Presidential Initiative on CNG, Engr. Michael Oluwagbemi, who was represented by Engr. Tari Mayor-Bright, commended Governor Mbah for the ultramodern terminals and massive deployment of CNG buses.
“This is not just infrastructure, but a bold step in setting up a modern transportation system geared towards a cleaner, safer, and more affordable transport for the people of Enugu State,” he stated.
Also, the Managing Director of the contractors, Planet Project Construction Company, Biodun Otunola, said that building five terminals simultaneously was unprecedented.
“No administration has ever done this before in the history of Nigeria. We are in this industry and we have the records,” he stated.
He described the terminals as products of good research and the political will of the governor to get things done.
Speaking at the various locations, the Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Obi Ozor; Council Chairman of Enugu North LGA, Dr. Ibenaku Onoh; Chairman of Nsukka LGA, Engr. Jude Asogwa; Chairman, Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers, Igwe Samuel Asadu; Chairman, Ogige Market Traders Association, Hon. Onyema Idoko; President, Nsukka General Assembly, Clinton Ogbonna; Chairman, Enugu East LGA, Beloved Dan-Anike; Traditional Ruler of Nike, Igwe Julius Nnaji; Chairman, Enugu South LGA, Hon. Caleb Ani; and the Chairman, Enugu South Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Mike Nna Ukwu, expressed the people’s joy over the projects and buses, describing them as economic catalysts.
Nigeria’s two major political parties, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), have rejected a Canadian Federal Court ruling classifying both organisations as terrOrist groups.
The June 17, 2025 judgment by Justice Phuong Ngo upheld a decision by Canada’s Immigration Appeal Division
(IAD) to deny asylum to Nigerian national Douglas Egharevba, citing his decade-long membership in both parties.
According to court records, Egharevba was a PDP member from 1999 to 2007 before joining the APC, where he remained until 2017, when he moved to Canada and disclosed his political affiliations.
Canadian court filings show the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness argued that both parties were involved in political violence, democratic subversion, and electoral blOOdshed. The PDP’s alleged role in the 2003 state elections and 2004 local government polls was cited, including accusations of ballot stuffing, voter intimidation, and the killing of opposition supporters.
The IAD found that party leadership benefited from the viol3nce and took no action to prevent it, meeting Canada’s legal threshold for democratic subversion under paragraph 34(1) (b.1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).
Justice Ngo ruled that under paragraph 34(1) (f) of the
IRPA, “mere membership of an organisation linked to terrOrism or democratic subversion” is enough to render a person inadmissible to Canada, even without proof of Direct involvement.
(AON) has lifted the lifetime ban on Ms. Comfort Emmanson, an Ibom Air passenger previously sanctioned for unruly behaviour.
The decision followed an appeal by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, according to AON spokesperson Professor Obiora Okonkwo. He said the ban was lifted after considering Emmanson’s display of remorse, the withdrawal of the complaint, the striking out of charges, and her release from custody.
Okonkwo commended the Federal Government for proposing a retreat to retrain Aviation Security (AVSEC) personnel and airline crew on handling disruptive passengers. He also urged aviation agencies to intensify public sensitisation on the dangers and legal consequences of unruly behaviour, as outlined in Section 85 of the Civil Aviation Act, 2022, and Part 17 of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations, 2023.
Unruly conduct, he noted, includes assaulting or threatening crew members, ignoring safety instructions, smoking in prohibited areas, fighting, disorderly behaviour, or tampering with aircraft equipment.
The AON further reiterated that pilots-in-command and
AVSEC officers are empowered to restrain and de-board disruptive passengers and hand them over to competent authorities to safeguard flight operations and maintain order. Okonkwo added that members will cooperate with relevant aviation agencies and participate in the proposed retraining retreats.
The unfolding events at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) have drawn unusual public attention. What began on 18 December 2024 as a botched Senate election to choose three representatives for the Joint Council/Senate Selection Committee has now become a defining test of law, integrity, and institutional honour.
That flawed exercise, conducted under the watch of the Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kate Omenugha, was annulled only after the Visitor, Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, intervened through the Council Chairman.
A fresh election on 9 July 2025, closely monitored by the Honourable Commissioner for Education, Professor Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, restored credibility to the process. This was followed by the 30–31 July interview of shortlisted candidates by a seven member Selection Committee. At the end, three names emerged in order of merit:
1. Prof. Chike Osegbue (Professor of COOU: 83%)
2. Prof. Leonard Onuba (Professor of COOU:81%)
3. Prof. Chukwudi Onyeaghana Okani (Professor of COOU:78%)
The university is created & governed by the COOU Law of 2014, together with the university Statute & Ordinance.
Under the COOU Law, the appointing authority is the Visitor (State Governor).Ordinance II(4) (d), of the COOU Law requires him to appoint from a list of 3 candidates recommended by Council ‘’in its own order of merit” which it also requires to “recommend the candidate who places first on its own merit to the Visitor for appointment, but shall also include the names of the candidates who placed second and third respectively, justifying its order of merit’’.
It is now open knowledge that the report to the Visitor submitted on 1 August from the interviews of 30-31 July included the names of the top three candidates ranked in order of merit and accompanied by reasoned justification.
In a letter addressed to the Pro-Chancellor & Chairman of Council The Visitor ‘’commended the council for the elaborate and rigorous process (as documented in the Report of the Joint Committee) pursuant to Ordinance 11 of the University Law 2014. The Visitor is satisfied that the process has been transparent and credible’’.
However the letter signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Professor Solo Chukwulobelu conveyed the Visitor’s approval of the appointment of the Ag Vice chancellor Professor Kate Azuka Omenugha (who came a distant 5th in the interview with a score of 73%), as the substantive Vice chancellor, citing benchmarks that are alien to the COOU Law 2014.
This staggering violation of the COOU Law has compromised a process that has for the first time in the 25 years history of the university followed a rigorous process that is transparent, credible and fair.
The announcement of this appointment has thrown the university community, staff and students into mourning and public outcry against the imposition of a candidate who was not statutorily before the Visitor. This gross and flagrant abuse of the COOU Law portends danger for an institution where merit as a benchmark is a core value.
The COOU’s reputation as a credible centre of learning has been dragged back 10 years since the coming of Professor Kate Azuka Omenugha as Ag Vice chancellor and this foray into the murky waters of political interference could spell doom for the institution.
This appointment is not only a violation of the university law, it is also against the recommendation of the 2014 Visitation Panel Report, wherein it accepted that “all organs” involved in appointing the Vice Chancellor must “duly and fully comply with the provisions of the University Statute to confer legitimacy on the chosen candidate.” In these circumstances, the person announced as Vice-Chancellor lacks both authority and legitimacy.
The COOU Collectives rejects in its entirety, the flagrant abuse of the COOU Law and calls on the Visitor to uphold merit by appointing the top ranked candidate, in accordance with the University’s statutes and the principles of fairness.
We want to make it clear that we shall not accept the imposition of a candidate who placed 5th in a process adjudged transparent and credible by all including the Visitor himself. And we urge the university community to resist this imposition for the sake of the university, staff, students and the general public.
The COOU law Is clear. The process has been transparent and fair. Merit has spoken. It is time to listen.
As of August 7, 2025, the Nigerian Naira has recorded a slight drop against the US Dollar in the parallel market. Here’s the latest update:
Official Rate: 1 USD = ₦1,530.53 NGN, with a 0.02% increase from the previous day
Black Market Rate: 1 USD = ₦1,550 (buy) / ₦1,570 (sell), reflecting a modest depreciation.
The naira’s slight drop is attributed to seasonal demand ahead of international travel periods and sustained pressure from business-related forex needs. Without substantial injection of forex liquidity, the naira is likely to remain under pressure.
The attention of the Dr. George Moghalu Campaign Organization has been drawn to the unfortunate and reckless remarks made by Governor Chukwuma Soludo during a political rally at Ekwulobia. In a speech filled with mockery and condescension, Governor Soludo referred to citizens of our state as “street urchins” and went on to declare that any governorship candidate who pledges to serve a single term “needs psychiatric examination.”
This kind of language is unbecoming of the high office he occupies. Rather than speak to the real challenges facing Ndi Anambra, Governor Soludo has chosen to insult the sensibilities of the electorate in an apparent show of desperation.
For clarity, the Nigerian Constitution allows an elected official to serve one term, not a mandatory two. A second term is earned through performance, not demanded as a birthright. Leadership is a privilege to serve, not an entitlement. Nelson Mandela is still regarded as the father of democracy in Africa. Guess what Mr. Soludo, he served only one term.
Three years into his administration, Governor Soludo has yet to account for the lofty promises he made to Ndi Anambra. The people are asking: Where is the “Africa Dubai Taiwan” transformation he promised? Let him show us one foreign investment he has attracted to Anambra. Why has insecurity escalated under his watch, with a disturbing rise in killings and kidnappings even in the state capital? What are his visible and verifiable achievements in education, health, job creation, and infrastructure?
These are the questions Ndi Anambra are asking not because of political rivalry, but because their lives and livelihoods are at stake.
For someone who once claimed he is not contesting with anyone, Governor Soludo’s outburst reeks of panic. If truly he isn’t worried, why the insults? Why the mockery? His words betray fear, fear of a people rising, fear of accountability, and fear of a credible alternative in Dr. George Moghalu.
Governor Soludo is becoming increasingly boastful and arrogant, forgetting that power belongs to God and to the people. Let him remember it is God who raises up and brings down kings. His tone no longer reflects service, but entitlement. When a leader begins to mock the very people he swore to serve, it is a clear sign he has lost touch with reality, and the people will remind him on November 8 that no one holds Anambra hostage.
It is unfortunate that instead of offering answers, the Governor has chosen to drag the conversation to the gutters with insults. It is particularly disheartening that a sitting Governor would resort to such unguarded rhetoric, thereby dishonoring the legacy of Anambra’s founding icons, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Prof. Chinua Achebe, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, and Rt. Hon. Nwafor Orizu, men who embodied dignity, courage, and visionary leadership. They would be turning in their graves at the mockery being made of the governorship seat today.
This is a betrayal of the values of leadership and a disservice to the proud political heritage of our people.
In sharp contrast, Dr. George Moghalu represents the kind of leadership Ndi Anambra need at this critical time. He has pledged to serve only one term, not out of weakness, but out of conviction to respect zoning, restore balance, and deliver results. With his proven record in both public and private service, he believes that four years is enough for a focused and capable governor to turn things around.
As we move toward the November 8 election, the people must choose between careless arrogance and thoughtful leadership, between broken promises and a credible plan for recovery.
Dr. George Moghalu remains committed to engaging the people with respect, humility, and a clear vision. As a focused gentleman, he will not trade insults but will continue to speak directly to the needs and hopes of Ndi Anambra.
Anambra deserves better. The time for responsible leadership is now.
ANAMBRA GA ADI MMA OZO!
Onyebuchi Okoye
Special Assistant on Media to
Dr. George Moghalu
