Connect with us

News

Uzor Kalu Denies Sponsoring Militant Group In South-East

Published

on

Former Abia State Governor and senator representing Abia North, Orji Uzor Kalu, has dismissed claims linking him to the financing of Autopilot or any other militant group operating in the South-East, describing the allegations as false and irresponsible.

Kalu addressed the controversy during an interview on Arise TV on Sunday, speaking on separatist agitation, insecurity, his relationship with President Bola Tinubu, and public criticism over his daughter’s ambassadorial nomination.

Reacting to the accusation by IPOB spokesperson Emma Powerful, Kalu said he had no connection whatsoever to Autopilot.

He said, “I don’t know anything. I’ve never heard this name. I cannot sponsor anything. I was governor. I established the Bakassi, and the Bakassi was in charge. I think these kids should take Nigeria serious and take Igbo people serious.”

He explained that the Bakassi outfit he created as governor was strictly for security.

The lawmaker further stated, “The Bakassi was not for boyfriend or for girlfriend. It was purely to police and keep our place safe. I have no regrets in doing it. If you give me the opportunity again, I will keep the place safe again.”

Kalu criticized violent agitation in the South-East, accusing separatists of undermining the very region they claim to protect.

He said, “These guys should stop this old-fashioned way of doing things. They should think of how to move forward, how to use political solutions to sort out the Igbos.

“Nobody takes the Igbo serious when it comes to these things.”

He challenged IPOB’s spokesperson directly, “If Emma Powerful is alive, he should come on with you in a programme and tell me where I established Autopilot. What is called Autopilot? I don’t understand. I’ve never heard that name before.”

Kalu said the violent campaigns were pushing the region to economic collapse.

He said, “Even if these boys want Biafra, who are you going to rule when you kill all the Igbos? When you stop all Igbos from doing business? When on Mondays, if you see people going out for business, you start pursuing them and killing them? It is not rational.

“Even if they want Biafra, they should drop their arms and go with their flags and demand for what they want… Talk for a referendum, if that is what they want.”

The senator also rejected suggestions that he, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu and Works Minister Dave Umahi were competing to be President Tinubu’s closest ally in the region.

He said, “No, no, no, no. “I spoke to Umahi the day before yesterday, and I spoke to Ben Kalu yesterday. There’s no hustling for what? I am a senator… Ben Kalu is like my younger brother. I put him in business. I put him in politics.”

He added that Umahi recently sent Christmas gifts to him, insisting there was no rivalry. “So I don’t know why you want to cause trouble,” he said.

Kalu rejected calls for President Tinubu to step down over rising insecurity, arguing that the crisis is driven by broader regional instability and weapon proliferation.

He said, “This insecurity has nothing to do with any particular person.

“All the arms coming from [Libya, Mali and parts of Iraq] are turning back to Nigeria. This war is not only a war of weapons. It is a war of intelligence.”

He urged security agencies to deepen cooperation.

Kalu said, “The army, air force, navy and all related agencies must work more on intelligence and cooperation. These people are not insurgents. They want to scare everybody away from where there are minerals so they can take them.”

Defending President Tinubu, he added, “President Tinubu has done what he thinks he should do. I don’t know any new thing critics will do.”

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

2027: Tinubu Plot To Relocate Nigeria’s Capital From Abuja – Timi Frank

Published

on

Tinubu Chairs ECOWAS 67th Session

Timi Frank, former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has alleged that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu wants to relocate Nigeria’s capital from Abuja to Lagos upon his re-election in 2027.

Frank made this allegation known in a statement on Monday.

The former APC chieftain slammed Tinubu’s government for what he described as a ‘Lagos-centric agenda.’

He said that it has become clear to him that the President is pursuing an agenda of sidelining other regions.

According to Frank, major decisions of Tinubu’s administration are targeted to benefit Lagos State.

“It is now clear that the President’s long-term plan is to concentrate political and economic power in Lagos if given another term in office,” Frank said.

Frank also claimed that federal appointments and development initiatives under Tinubu have been largely one-sided, warning that such a trend undermines national unity.

“We do not want a president who is one-sided,” he said.

“Where are Tinubu’s MOUs tied to agricultural and livestock production in the North, industrial development in the Southeast, and oil and gas development in the South-South? None!

“Secondly, no president in Nigeria’s history has divided the country and its people along regional and ethnic lines the way this administration has done.

“There is a growing sense of alienation and division among Nigerians that is deeply troubling.

“It appears to be a deliberate strategy to impoverish certain regions, especially the North, South, and Southeast, so that citizens are economically weakened ahead of the 2027 election cycle,” Frank stated.

Continue Reading

News

BREAKING: Sultan Receives Moon Sighting Report, Announces Date of Eid-ul-Fitr in Nigeria  

Published

on

His Eminence the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar II, has announced the date for Eid al-Fitr in Nigeria.

The Emir, who is the Chairman of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs in Nigeria, has not reported the sighting of the crescent moon of Shawwal, 1447AH, today, Wednesday, the 29th of Ramadan .

This was contained in a statement posted on the Facebook page of the Daular Usmaniyya , signed by the Wazir of Sokoto and Chairman of the Religious Affairs Committee of the Sultan’s Palace, Professor Sambo Wali Junaidu.

The statement stated that the Sultan’s Palace Moon Sighting Committee had not received any reliable reports of moon sightings from anywhere in Nigeria. According to this information, Thursday, March 19, will be the day to complete the 30th day of Ramadan.

The Sultan of Sokoto has declared Friday, March 20, 2026, as the day of the lesser Sallah, i.e. the 1st of Shawwal 1447AH.

He urged Muslims to use this time of Eid al-Fitr to pray for peace, unity, and sustainable development in Nigeria.

The statement said: “His Eminence, Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar CFR, mni, and Chairman, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), has received the moon sighting report, which showed that the crescent moon was not sighted today, Wednesday.

“Accordingly, he declared Friday, March 20, 2026, as 1 Shawwal 1447AH (the Day of the Small Prayer). He also congratulated the Nigerian Muslim community on the occasion, and wished them the guidance and blessings of God.”

“He also called for continued prayers for peace, progress, and development of the country . He also wished Muslims a peaceful and prosperous Eid. May Allah (SWT) accept our acts of worship, amen.”

Continue Reading

News

BREAKING: Nigerian Governor To Build N19.6bn Specialist Hospital, Details Emerge

Published

on

Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri approves ₦19.6 billion Mother and Child Specialist Hospital in Yola The Adamawa State government says the hospital aims to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates in Adamawa State Fintiri explains that the facility will serve as a training center and improve healthcare services in the North-East.

Yola, Adamawa State – Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State has approved the construction of a state-of-the-art Mother and Child Specialist Hospital in Yola. The proposed Mother and Child Specialist Hospital will cost the state ₦19.6 billion, and it’s expected to be completed within 52 weeks. The landmark project is designed to significantly strengthen maternal, neonatal, and child healthcare services across the state.

The project aligns with Governor Fintiri’s commitment to reducing maternal and infant mortality rates. The hospital will also improve access to quality healthcare and position Adamawa as a referral hub for specialized medical services in the North-East region.

As reported by Daily Trust, the hospital will be equipped with modern medical technology and specialized units when completed.

The state governor explained that the hospital capable units to handle high-risk pregnancies, neonatal intensive care, pediatric emergencies, and other complex medical cases affecting women and children. Mother and Child Specialist Hospital will also serve as a training and research centre for healthcare professionals.

It will help to strengthen capacity and improve the quality of medical services within the state’s health sector. It will offer other healthcare services like advanced diagnostic and laboratory services, fully equipped operating theatres, intensive care units, emergency response facilities, and modern inpatient wards designed to provide quality care for patients.

Recall that Fintiri’s administration executed over 100 infrastructural, educational, health, and social projects across Adamawa state, transforming both urban centres and rural communities. The administration completed major road networks, flyovers, and township roads, including the Lamido Aliyu Mustapha Flyover, Yola, and the Nyibango-Yolde Pate Road in Yola South.

Over 100 new primary health care centres were built, while hospitals such as Numan General Hospital and Specialist Hospital, Yola, underwent comprehensive development and modernisation.

 

Continue Reading

Trending