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Bianca Ojukwu calls for Nnamdi Kanu’s release

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FG, some states implementing grand plot against Igbo –Bianca Ojukwu alleges
Bianca Ojukwu
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Wife of former Biafran leader, late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, has reiterated the call for the release of Leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who, a competent court of jurisdiction has declared should be freed.

Ojukwu’s widow made the call in her keynote address at the Annual National Conference and Convention of the American Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID) in Dallas, Texas, United States of America (USA).

The keynote address for the event, which took place between Aug.19 and Aug. 20, was released to newsmen in Enugu on Tuesday.

AVID is a congregation of American citizens, both men and women of Igbo extraction who are currently serving military officers and veterans who have served honourably in various branches of the United States Military at different times, conflicts and theatres of war.

Mrs. Ojukwu maintained that “it is only when the leaders in Igboland rise up, jettison their perceived conspiracy of silence and confront the truth will there be the slightest possibility of healing and recovery from the unfortunate condition which Igboland currently finds itself in.”

According to her, the onerous task of confronting the Leviathan can only start when we come to terms with the fact that it was the neglect of the leadership in Igboland to effectively highlight and address the blatant marginalization of Ndigbo through the years.

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Mrs. Ojukwu, who is a former Nigerian Ambassador to Spain, said: “This majorly created the vacuum which led to the emergence of Nnamdi Kanu, and then proceed to make the necessary amends.”

She called for greater synergy among the governors of the South-East and urging them to continue to intensify efforts towards the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

The former Ambassador noted that their (Igbo leaders) initial nonchalant attitude towards his (Kanu) illegal rendition and continued unlawful incarceration contributed greatly towards inflaming the tensions within the South-East region today.

Mrs. Ojukwu, who was the special guest at the event, said: “This nonchalant attitude also brought about the unforeseen consequences of opportunistic criminal elements not even remotely connected with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) coming into the picture.

“Today, they (opportunistic criminal elements) are masquerading as freedom fighters to perpetuate the most heinous crimes in South Eastern Nigeria,” she said.

In a presentation, Amb. Jean Pillard, Haiti’s former Ambassador to the United Kingdom, who went down memory lane, recalled with emotions the sojourn of the Igbos through the Trans-Atlantic slave trade to Haiti.

Pillard noted that in the midst of Haiti’s darkest times, the Igbos contributed their strength and courage to the struggle for freedom against an adversary, none other than Napoleon Bonaparte.

“Napoleon Bonaparte had defeated so many armies in Europe; but the Igbos in Haiti got united to impose an amazing defeat on Napoleon and the mighty French army,” he said.

The President of AVID, Dr Sylvester Onyia, a US veteran, restated the resolve and commitment of the organisation towards a safe, prosperous and peaceful Alaigbo (Igboland), their homeland of origin.

Onyia said that the continued detention of Kanu, in spite of his ordered release by the courts was of grave concern to the organization.

He stressed the fact that Ndigbo were currently anxious about the inability of the Federal Government to secure their lives, properties and investments in their states of residence and business in other parts of the country.

He also expressed the organization’s concerns about the current hardships being experienced by Nigerians as a whole, and the marginalisation and insecurity in Igboland that had been exacerbated by seemingly insensitive government with the implementation of anti-people policies.

“These have caused nothing but suffering and a heightened sense of hopelessness among the people,” the AVID leader said.

Several speakers, including diplomats and government officials, made presentations at the conference which featured award presentations to deserving officers, music and cultural presentations.

There was also fundraising activities for the organization’s ongoing project for the provision of solar powered boreholes to provide potable, clean water for schools and local clinics in South Eastern communities.

The event witnessed the convergence of AVID associates as well as other attendees who came in from other parts of the United States and Nigeria.

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I might not be alive to contest in 2027 – Peter Obi raises alarm over threats to his life

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Peter Obi not arrested by DSS – Aide
Peter Obi, NDC Presidential candidate
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Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Mr Peter Obi, has cried out over alleged threat to his life.

Obi, who is a major contender ahead of the 2027 presidential election said he might not be alive to participate in the election.

According to him, there is obvious attack on everything that had to do with him, including his life.

The former Anambra state governor made the allegation during a podcast with Chude Jideonwo.

“The way they are going now I might not be alive,  I’m telling you every single thing I do for a living this government is frustrating it deliberately so.

“Everything, so there’s even a possibility if they have opportunity I will not be alive. I get frustrations every day because you do things that may think it may be normal it is not normal they won’t come directly and say oh we are doing this but you could see their hand in eventually everything.

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“The government is attacking everybody, I am being attacked personally even to provide me with things I am entitled to, not at all,” he said.

He recalled how his vehicle was clamped down at the airport while he was right there, whereas other vehicles lined up on the same spot were untouched.

Obi further that stated that even close associates were beginning to avoid him over fear of government clampdown.

He disclosed that friends now send him invitations for occasions but tell him not to bother attending.

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Yilwatda hails Tinubu’s intervention funds as a promise kept

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President Tinubu and APC National Chairman, Prof Yilwatda
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The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has said that the intervention programmes of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu have continued to demonstrate that the Renewed Hope Agenda is delivering tangible economic benefits to millions of Nigerians through strategic investments in entrepreneurship, small businesses, and youth empowerment.

According to Professor Yilwatda, the Presidential Intervention Funds represent yet another example of the Tinubu administration fulfilling its campaign promises by providing the critical financial support needed to stimulate enterprise, create jobs, and deepen economic inclusion across the country.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Information Strategy, Abimbola Tooki, the National Chairman noted that for decades, access to affordable financing remained one of the biggest obstacles confronting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), despite their enormous contribution to national economic growth and employment generation.

The current administration, he said, has deliberately moved to address this challenge through targeted intervention programmes that are unlocking the entrepreneurial potential of Nigerians.

“The Tinubu administration understands that sustainable economic growth begins with empowering the productive sector. By supporting small businesses and young entrepreneurs, government is laying the foundation for long-term prosperity and shared economic progress,” he stated.

Professor Yilwatda highlighted the ₦75 billion Presidential Intervention Fund for MSMEs as a landmark initiative designed to provide accessible financing for small businesses across various sectors of the economy.

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He said the programme is enabling entrepreneurs to expand their operations, increase productivity, and create employment opportunities.

He further pointed to the ₦11 billion support package through the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), describing it as a strategic investment in strengthening the capacity and competitiveness of Nigerian small and medium enterprises.

The APC National Chairman also commended the ₦30 billion Youth Entrepreneurship Fund through the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), noting that the initiative reflects President Tinubu’s commitment to equipping young Nigerians with the resources required to transform innovative ideas into successful businesses and become drivers of national development.

Professor Yilwatda emphasized that these interventions are already making meaningful differences in the lives of ordinary Nigerians. Across the country, young entrepreneurs, artisans, farmers, traders, tailors, manufacturers, and other small business owners are accessing capital to expand their businesses, employ more people, and contribute to the economic development of their communities.

He explained that the impact extends beyond individual beneficiaries, creating a multiplier effect through increased productivity, higher household incomes, stronger local economies, and expanded opportunities for wealth creation.

“The APC remains committed to building an economy that works for all Nigerians. These intervention funds are not mere policy announcements; they are practical investments in the dreams and aspirations of millions of our people.

“The evidence is clear. Businesses are receiving support, young people are being empowered, jobs are being created, and economic inclusion is expanding. This is governance that delivers results, and it is another demonstration that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is keeping his promises to the Nigerian people,” Professor Yilwatda said.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the APC and the Tinubu administration to implementing policies that promote entrepreneurship, stimulate investment, strengthen local industries, and build a resilient economy capable of delivering sustainable prosperity for all Nigerians.

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Ex-Minister Uche Nnaji set for arraignment as ICPC files six criminal charges over alleged certificate forgery

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Uche Nnaji when he was arrested by security operatives
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The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has filed a six-count criminal charge against former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, , over alleged certificate forgery and related offences.

The charges, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, are contained in suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/389/2026, with the Federal Government listed as the complainant and Nnaji as the sole defendant.

According to the charge sheet, the ICPC accused the former minister of receiving N29.58 million in salaries and allowances while serving in office, alleging that he ought to have known the funds were proceeds of an unlawful act arising from corruption and fraud. The commission said the action contravenes provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The anti-graft agency also alleged that Nnaji used his office to confer corrupt advantage on himself and knowingly presented false information to the Federal Government by submitting forged > (NYSC) and (UNN) certificates during his ministerial appointment in 2023.

In separate counts, the ICPC accused him of producing and using as genuine a forged NYSC Certificate of National Service and a forged UNN degree certificate, offences punishable under the Penal Code.

The filing of the charges follows Nnaji’s arrest last Wednesday after arriving in Abuja from Enugu aboard a chartered flight.

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The prosecution stems from an investigation published by Premium Times, which alleged that Nnaji forged his university degree and NYSC certificates submitted to President and the Nigerian Senate during his ministerial confirmation.

The newspaper reported that the confirmed Nnaji was admitted in 1981 but neither graduated nor was issued a degree certificate, while the NYSC also reportedly disowned the discharge certificate attributed to him.

Nnaji resigned as minister shortly after the allegations became public. He has since defected from the APC to PDP , where he emerged as the governorship candidate of a faction of the party for the 2027 Enugu governorship election.

He is expected to be arraigned before the Federal High Court in the coming days.

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