Author: Najeebat Oyerinde

Deputy President of the Senate and the First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, has hailed President Bola Tinubu for promptly acceding to the request of the Government of the Benin Republic, for Nigerian military intervention to thwart the coup attempt in the country.

Soldiers under the banner of the Military Committee for Refoundation, CMR, had on Sunday announced the ousting of President Patrice Talon through a broadcast on the country’s state-owned television station.

The swift intervention of the Nigerian Armed Forces played a leading role in foiling the coup and restoring law and order in the neighbouring country.

Senator Barau, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir, commended President Tinubu for his swift response to the country’s request.

Describing democracy as the best system of government, the Deputy Senate President said military government has no place in the modern world’s scheme of things.

“I commend the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for swiftly acceding to the request of the Government of the Benin Republic, for Nigerian military intervention to foil the coup in the country.

“Military rule has no place in our society. Regardless of the situation, democracy remains the best option for our subregion and continent. We must all work together to promote, defend and make the system work based on our peculiarities,” he said.

Through the ECOWAS Parliament, he said that they will continue to promote legislative cooperation, democratic development, regional integration, and shared prosperity across West Africa.

” At the ECOWAS Parliament, the people’s parliament, our commitment to building a more integrated, stable, and prosperous West Africa is rock solid. We are collectively working to strengthen parliamentary diplomacy, foster unity among member states, and advance peace and security for the development of our region,” he said.

Members of the Correspondents’ chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kwara state council, have reaffirmed validity and outcome of the election of the new Executive Committee of the chapel, stressing that the election was conducted in full compliance with the NUJ Constitution and due process.

 

In a letter dated November 13, 2025 and written to the NUJ National President, through the National Secretary, members of the Correspondents’ chapel said that the November 1 election was lawful, transparent, and constitutionally valid.

 

The letter, signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the Credentials Committee of the chapel, Hammed Shittu and Umar Abdulwahab, respectively, was copied to the NUJ

Vice-President/Secretary, Zone D

Chairman/Secretary, and the Kwara State Council.

 

The letter, titled, Re: Allegation of Illegal Election in the Correspondents’ Chapel, stated that, “we stand firmly by the legality of the election and the legitimacy of the new Executive Committee of the Correspondents’ Chapel. We, therefore urge the National Secretariat to review its earlier position in the interest of fairness, justice, and the unity of our noble Union”.

 

“With specific reference to paragraph six of your letter, we wish to clearly state that we were not aware of any disagreement between the Chapel and the Council in the build-up to the Correspondents’ Chapel election held on 1st November, 2025.

 

“The Credentials Committee, which was validly constituted and duly acknowledged by the National Secretariat, acted based on the date approved for the election by the Council through an undated letter signed by the Council Secretary, Mr. Mahmood Olayinka Alaya.

 

“We also affirm that the entire process leading to the smooth transition of leadership was duly communicated to the Council by both the outgoing Chapel leadership and the Credentials Committee, and the Council duly acknowledged this communication in writing.

 

“Consequently, the Credentials Committee acted strictly in accordance with the provisions and spirit of the NUJ Constitution, having secured the Council’s commitment to conduct the election on November 1, 2025.

 

“On the issue of Article 6(6) of the NUJ Constitution, which clearly assigns supervisory roles in Chapel elections to the State Working Committee (SWC)—not solely to the Council Chairman or Secretary—we reiterate that the election was duly supervised by two SWC members, namely: Mrs. Bushra Yusuf-Badmus (Treasurer) and Mr. Lukman Oyedeji (Auditor).

 

“While we respect the hierarchy and authority of the Union, we must stress that the Credentials Committee did not flout any law or directive, as wrongly insinuated in your correspondence. It is important to clarify that we did not report the matter to the National Secretariat; rather, the Council did.

 

“Our correspondence to the National Secretariat was purely a formal response to a petition already transmitted there by the Council.

 

“If there had been any directive from the National Secretariat instructing the Credentials Committee to suspend or halt the election, it was the Council’s obligation to communicate such directive to us. No such communication was ever received.

 

“Regarding membership status and the NUJ portal, we maintain that all 36 Chapel members who participated in the election were duly certified by the National Secretariat, having fulfilled all constitutional requirements, including payment of ₦25,000 each as prescribed for full membership. Each of these members possesses a valid NUJ identity card confirming their full membership status.

 

“We note that the National Secretary’s letter of November 11, 2025 further supports our position by acknowledging that while the portal reflects membership status, categorization remains the prerogative of the National Secretariat.

 

“It is also pertinent to recall that prior to the 2024 Kwara Council election, the National Secretariat directed all Correspondents’ Chapel members to pay ₦50,000 each, yet many were unjustly denied voting rights despite fulfilling this requirement.

 

“Additionally, the 2024 NUJ ID cards duly issued to these members by the National Secretariat remain withheld by the Kwara Council Chairman, Comrade Ahmed Abdulateef, and the Secretary up to the time of writing this letter.

 

“We, therefore, reaffirm, without equivocation, that the Correspondents’ Chapel election held on November 1, 2025 (not 31st November, 2025 as erroneously stated) was lawful, transparent, and constitutionally valid.

 

“For emphasis, the election was supervised by two members of the State Working Committee—the Treasurer and the Auditor—thus satisfying the constitutional requirement for Council oversight.

 

Celtic head coach, Brendan Rodgers, has confirmed that Nigerian striker Kelechi Iheanacho sustained a hamstring injury during the club’s 2–1 UEFA Europa League win over Austrian side Sturm Graz on Thursday night.

Iheanacho was forced off early in the game after picking up the injury, sparking concerns about his fitness ahead of upcoming fixtures.

Speaking after the match, Rodgers revealed that the 27-year-old could face a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

“The first two [Iheanacho and Johnston]? It doesn’t look great. It looks like hamstrings. But okay, that’s what happens,” Rodgers told TNT Sports.

Iheanacho, who joined Celtic on a free transfer this summer, has quickly become the club’s first-choice striker, impressing with his performances in both domestic and European competitions.

The extent of the injury will be determined after further medical assessment in the coming days.

Super Falcons goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie, has expressed confidence in the team’s readiness ahead of their 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifying clash against the Amazons of Benin Republic.

The first-leg encounter will take place at the Stade de Kegue in Lome, Togo, on Friday (today).

The defending African champions have been in camp in Lome since Monday, preparing intensively for the crucial qualifier.

Speaking at a press conference, Nnadozie assured fans that the Falcons are both mentally and physically primed for the encounter.

“The spirit is very high. From the day we knew we were going to face Benin Republic, we’ve been communicating on how we can defeat them. We are mentally and physically prepared,” said the Brighton goalkeeper.

The highly anticipated fixture is scheduled to kick off at 4 p.m. Nigerian time.

Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has announced a donation of ₦1 million to each family of the deceased victims and ₦500,000 to every injured survivor of the recent tanker explosion in Essa, Katcha Local Government Area.

The governor made the announcement during a condolence visit to the community on Thursday, where he met with local leaders and residents while assessing the extent of the tragedy.

According to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, the gesture followed Tuesday’s fatal incident along the Bida–Badegi–Agaie Road, where residents were reportedly scooping petrol from a fallen tanker before it caught fire.

The Director-General of the Niger State Emergency Management Authority (NSEMA), Abdullahi Arah, confirmed that the death toll had risen to 42, with 52 others injured. He attributed the incident to the poor condition of the road and intense heat in the area, which likely triggered the fire.

Expressing sadness over the loss of lives, Governor Bago prayed for the speedy recovery of those receiving treatment in hospitals in Bida and Abuja.

He also condemned the act of fuel scooping, describing it as dangerous and criminal.

“It is a terrible thing that a truck will fall and people of the community will carry containers to scoop fuel. It is theft and must be addressed as such, and we can’t encourage it,” Bago said.

While acknowledging that the deplorable state of the road contributed to the tragedy, he urged residents to act responsibly during emergencies and assist in rescue efforts instead of putting their lives at risk.

The governor further disclosed that business magnate Aliko Dangote had pledged to rehabilitate the Mokwa–Lambata Road, with work expected to commence soon.

In addition, he announced plans to build a new primary healthcare centre in Essa Community to cater to the residents’ medical needs.

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has called on traditional rulers across the state to lead with humility, integrity, and dedication, emphasizing their crucial role in promoting good governance and community development at the grassroots level.

The governor made the appeal in Abeokuta, the state capital, during an orientation workshop organised for 72 newly installed royal fathers in the state. He was represented by his Chief of Staff, Dr. Toyin Taiwo, at the event themed “Traditional Rulers: The Harbingers of Good Governance.”

Abiodun described traditional rulers as custodians of culture and moral compasses of their communities, urging them to uphold peace, justice, and unity while balancing tradition with modern governance practices.

“This event underscores the central roles royal fathers play in sustaining peace and progress within our communities, functioning as the bridge between the government and the people,” he said.

“Obas are the living embodiments of the values, customs, and aspirations of the people. It is therefore incumbent on you to lead with dignity, be models of selfless leadership, and work in line with government efforts to bring development to every nook and cranny of Ogun State.”

The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ganiyu Hamzat, explained that the workshop was a follow-up to resolutions made during the Ogun State Council of Obas meeting earlier in the year. He said it was designed to equip the newly installed monarchs with the knowledge and skills needed to manage their domains effectively in a modern governance context.

“This orientation programme will equip participants, who are relatively new in the system, with the expertise necessary to navigate the challenges of exercising authority in this contemporary age,” Hamzat stated.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr. Rotimiolu Akinlesi, assured that the state government would continue to prioritise capacity building for traditional rulers to accelerate development across the state.

The Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, commended the state government for the initiative and urged participants to make the most of the training to strengthen leadership in their kingdoms.

Other dignitaries at the one-day event included the Permanent Secretary and Solicitor General, Ministry of Justice, Olusegun Olaotan; the Elese of Ilese-Ijebu, Oba Oluremi Obayomi; Ogun State Surveyor General, Ebenezer Ewulo; and the Onirolu of Irolu Remo, Oba Sikiru Adeyiga.

A communiqué issued at the end of the workshop, chaired by Oba Adefuwape Okuribido, stated that the session had in attendance 11 First Class Obas, 17 Part II Obas, and 44 coronets, representing the four traditional councils in the state.

The communiqué highlighted the workshop’s emphasis on the vital role of traditional institutions in promoting peace, governance, and cultural identity. It also advised royal fathers to lead with vision, humility, and accountability, ensuring the balance of tradition and modernisation for the continued development of their communities.