Year: 2025

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the Federal Government of abusing its powers following the controversial closure of its national secretariat in Abuja by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) over 28 years of unpaid ground rent. In a strongly-worded statement after an emergency caucus meeting at the Bauchi Governors’ Lodge, Abuja, PDP’s acting National Chairman, Umar Iliya Damagum, described the action as a “reckless provocation” and a direct attack on democracy. He warned that the party would not tolerate further harassment and dared the authorities to arrest PDP leaders if they so desired.“We are prepared for them. This is a clear attempt to undermine democracy, and we won’t take it lightly,” Damagum declared. The emergency meeting, which was relocated after the PDP headquarters was sealed, also addressed deepening internal disputes, particularly the rift with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike. Wike had recently withdrawn from reconciliation talks, accusing Governors Seyi Makinde and Peter Mbah of betrayal, sparking fresh tensions within the party. A party insider revealed that the Board of Trustees (BoT) is considering postponing the upcoming National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting to allow time for further peace efforts. The crisis, sources say, threatens the unity and future of the PDP. Meanwhile, a PDP support group, Frontiers for Change and Progress, openly criticized Wike, labelling him the “real betrayer” behind the party’s woes. They accused him of secretly working with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) since 2023 and urged him to leave the PDP. Amid the political storm, President Bola Tinubu intervened, ordering a temporary suspension of the property seizure operation and granting a 14-day grace period for defaulters to settle their debts. The FCTA’s Director of Land Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, confirmed the presidential directive, revealing that over 4,700 properties—some unpaid for up to 43 years—are on the list for possible takeover, with total arrears amounting to N6.96 billion. Penalties range from N2 million to N5 million, depending on property location. Wike’s media aide, Lere Olayinka, dismissed allegations of political witch-hunting, insisting the enforcement was a routine administrative action affecting various properties, including banks, hotels, and even the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). As the PDP strategizes its next steps, political observers are watching closely to see if the party can resolve its internal divisions and reassert itself as a credible opposition force in Nigeria’s evolving political landscape.

Alexandria, Egypt | May 2025 – Egypt has successfully drained the groundwater threatening the centuries-old site of Saint Menas, a key Christian pilgrimage location near Alexandria, in an effort to have it removed from the United Nations’ list of endangered world heritage sites. Top Egyptian antiquities officials, including the Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Mohamed Ismail, along with Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II, and the director of UNESCO’s regional office for Egypt and Sudan, Nuria Sanz, toured the site on Tuesday. The Saint Menas complex, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1979, was added to the agency’s endangered sites list in 2001 due to rising groundwater that damaged ancient ruins, including churches, baptistries, basilicas, and pilgrims’ facilities. Egyptian officials say the draining operation, completed in 2022, significantly reduced water levels, but further restoration is needed. “We managed to lower the water table and maintain the archaeological structures,” said Ismail, adding that Egypt aims to have the site removed from the endangered list by next year. Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy also participated in the site visit. The site’s significance dates back to the early days of Christianity, when the burial of Saint Menas, a Christian martyr, became a magnet for pilgrims traveling to and from Jerusalem. Over time, the area evolved into a bustling pilgrimage hub, featuring churches, public buildings, houses, workshops, and facilities for travelers. “People started to come to this place, and it transformed into a destination with a church, rooms, and eventually a full city,” explained Priest Taddaeus Ava Mina. Today, visitors can still see the ruins of marble columns and remnants of the ancient structures, alongside a modern church built on the original altar site. Egypt’s restoration effort reflects the government’s broader goal to protect cultural heritage and boost tourism.