General
Saraki Says IPOB Ban “Unconstitutional”, Vows to Intervene
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Senate President, Mr Bukola Saraki, has disclosed that the proscription of the group known as Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) by Governors of the South-east states and the categorization of the group as a ‘terrorist organisation’ by the Nigerian military are unconstitutional and does not follow due process.
The Senate President made this disclosure on Monday in a statement he personally signed.
In the statement, the number three citizen of Nigeria promised that the National Assembly would look into the crisis in the region.
However, he called for calm and restraint by all Nigerians so that “we would all jointly find the right solution to the current problem rather than worsening the crisis.”
He further urged residents of the region to “continue to maintain peace and tranquillity and go about their lawful business,” pointing out that, “This crisis will not benefit anybody but would only expose innocent people to unwarranted danger.”
He said at this point, Nigerians outside the South-east who have worked to ensure that the crisis does not spread to other parts of the country deserve our commendation. I therefore call for continued efforts to sustain peace, unity and stability in all our communities so as to ensure that all residents, no matter their religion, tribe and creed remain protected and safe under the law.
In the 10-paragraph statement, the Senate President noted that it is also important that commentators and purveyors of information on all media platforms should be conscious of the need, at all times, to maintain the unity of the country. Therefore, they must refrain from circulating information that has the potential for aggravating the crisis. We should all realize, as individuals and as a collective, that Nigeria is all we have and it is in our individual and collective interests that we do not stoke the fire of crisis and fan the ember of discord through the message we are spreading. We must all protect and strengthen our country rather than contributing to her collapse and disintegration.
“I also wish to state that the announcement of the proscription of the group known as Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) by Governors of the South-east states and the categorization of the group as a ‘terrorist organisation’ by the Nigerian military are unconstitutional and does not follow due process. Our laws make clear provisions for taking such actions and without the due process being followed, such declaration cannot have effect. I am sure the President will do the needful by initiating the right process. This will go a long way in demonstrating to the world at large that we are a country that operate by laid down process under every circumstance. So, those who have been hammering on this point should maintain their cool.
“We must commend the military for their efforts in restoring peace to different parts of the country and sustaining the unity of the country. However, in the face of provocation, the military should allow themselves to be guided by their training which emphasizes respect for human rights, even in war. Also, giving the nature of this particular situation, the military has every reason to be hesitant in the use of force.
“Also, it is my view that we should not over-stretch the military. We need to protect our military against dissipation of their fighting strength. And this means we need to strengthen the police and equip them with the capacity to deal with civil crisis. That is why we, in the aNational Assembly, are already reviewing the Police Act and also looking at the possibility of enabling other para-military agencies to help in curbing civil unrest and maintenance of law and order.
“I want to also make it clear that the National Assembly intends to embark on a fact-finding investigation aimed at determining what actually happened during the period of the military exercise in the South-east. We want to be able to sift the facts from the fiction and determine who did what. It is quite clear that all the facts are not yet known. We assure Nigerians that there will be no cover up. We intend to lay the facts bare.
“On a long term, we want to remind Nigerians that the reason for embarking on constitution review by the National Assembly was to enable us look into issues that are agitating the minds of Nigerians and creating tension among us. We have promised that the exercise would be continuous. We intend to keep that promise by further taking decisions that would strengthen and improve on our structures. The Eighth National Assembly, on resumption, will play its constitutional role by addressing all those issues that are agitating the minds of our people and over which they feel so strong. I appeal to all our people to always direct their grievances to the right channels.
“Let me further reiterate the need for all leaders of thought -political. religious and traditional- to continue to engage with our people on the need to maintain peace and be our brothers’ keepers,” he said.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Media and External Relations Lead of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Mr Abiodun Coker, has been crowned the Future Leader in Media Management.
He clinched this award at The Industry Summit/Awards held on Friday, May 2, 2025, in Lagos, with several persons from across all sectors in attendance.
Mr Coker’s recognition further cements his growing reputation as one of Nigeria’s most dynamic and future-ready communications leaders, with his eyes firmly set on redefining the media management landscape.
The award jury, chaired by Mr Tolulope Ogunjobi, a renowned broadcast business correspondent and Business Editor at TVC News, said Mr Coker was bestowed with the honour because of his exceptional achievements in the public relations field during the year 2024.
The team said one of them was his masterful handling of UBA’s 2024 rights issue, which successfully closed on December 24, 2024, and the impactful execution of the bank’s 75th Anniversary Campaign, both of which were described as commendable and exceptional.
According to the jury, his management of UBA’s media ecosystem during the year under review was remarkable, with several media professionals praising his public relations craftsmanship and ability to skilfully manage the image of one of Africa’s most formidable financial brands.
“Abiodun Coker’s achievements in 2024 are a beacon for greater accomplishments ahead. He is undoubtedly one of the strategic communication experts to watch in 2025,” the jury noted.
A seasoned professional, Mr Coker’s journey from an acclaimed financial journalist at BusinessDay Newspapers to a powerhouse in corporate communications has been nothing short of inspiring.
With over eight years of robust journalism experience, coupled with leadership roles at top-tier public relations firms such as BD Consult Ltd and Quadrant, he has consistently demonstrated his ability to transform and manage leading brands successfully.
Organized by The Industry Newspaper, the leading brand marketing publication in West Africa, the prestigious awards recognize outstanding professionals shaping the future of brand marketing and communications across the region.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, has reiterated the federal government’s commitment to fostering a more enabling investment climate, anchored on macroeconomic stability, structural reform, and a clear pathway to inclusive prosperity.
He gave this assurance at a high-level private dinner, organized by Kuramo Capital Management Lagos as part of Africa Venture Capital Week.
The Minister lauded Kuramo Capital and its partners for their steadfast belief in Africa’s promise and highlighted the alignment between private capital and Nigeria’s renewed hope reform agenda.
According to a statement, participants recognized the vital role of blended finance and innovation in driving sustainable development.
The event brought together a distinguished group of global investors, development partners, and business leaders for a candid exchange on unlocking long-term capital for Africa’s growth and transformation.
It also marks Kuramo Capital’s first formal convening in Nigeria in several years, underscoring a renewed sense of commitment to deepening its strategic footprint across the continent.
Mr Edun said with this renewed commitment, the federal government is poised to unlock new opportunities for economic growth, investment, and inclusive prosperity.
He also called for more investment into the country, assuring participants that the right mechanisms are being put in place towards driving Nigeria’s development and improving the lives of its citizens.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government is fast-tracking the implementation phase of its economic and financial inclusion strategy aimed at improving access to economic opportunities for Nigerians.
This was disclosed by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Mr Ibrahim Hadejia, at the inaugural meeting of the Technical Committee of the Presidential Committee on Economic and Financial Inclusion (PreCEFI).
He said that “Financial inclusion is not just about having a bank account—it means access to quality services, credit, and the visibility that digital platforms offer.”
The meeting was held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.
The federal government established an inter-agency task force to address challenges delaying President Bola Tinubu’s approved conditional cash transfers to 15 million vulnerable households.
The task force includes the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), National Social Safety-Nets Coordinating Office, National Cash Transfer Office (NCTO), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS).
The mandate of the taskforce goal is to unlock bottlenecks and fast-track the distribution of critical financial support to Nigeria’s most vulnerable.
The meeting also endorsed steps to work with state governments in localising data from the Enhancing Financial Innovation and Access in Nigeria (EFInA) Access to Financial Services survey – a biennial study conducted by the EFInA.
Mr Hadejia explained that the meeting brought together high-level stakeholders from government agencies, financial institutions, and academia to align on the President’s vision and execution roadmap.
“We are off to a very good start. What has led to the success of what we’ve done so far is alignment and inclusive stakeholder engagement,” he said.
On hsi part, the committee’s Secretary, Mr Nurudeen Zauro, said the meeting also approved PreCEFI’s strategic roadmap and governance structure.
Mr Zauro, who is also the Technical Advisor to the President on Financial Inclusion, said ” an inter-agency committee has been established to address delays in the disbursement of conditional cash transfers to 15 million households as mandated by President Tinubu.
“We will be presenting the report to the National Economic Council and the Nigerian Governors Forum to ensure data is domesticated and acted upon at the subnational level.”
Also, Director-General of NIMC, Mrs Abisoye Coker-Odusote, explained that digital identity plays a foundational role in achieving inclusion goals.
“The beauty of the NIN is that it bridges the financial divide. It provides access to health, education, and agricultural services and strengthens national data infrastructure,” she said.
The Director of Consumer Protection and Financial Inclusion at the CBN, Mrs Aisha Isa-Olatinwo, urged the committee to focus on implementable outcomes that serve those at the base of the pyramid.
According to her, financial inclusion is one of the eight reform pillars of the President’s agenda.
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