Fola Badmus, Author at Trendbrio.com

Bye-Election: Labour Party Slams INEC Over Candidate Omission, Vows Legal Action

Fola Badmus2 months ago2 months ago04 mins

By Kamal Yalwa: August 2, 2025 The Labour Party has condemned the omission of its candidates by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from participating in the upcoming August 16, 2025 bye-election, describing the move as unlawful, shocking, and an abuse of power. In a strongly worded statement issued on Saturday, the party accused the electoral body of overstepping its constitutional boundaries and interfering in internal party affairs. “As a duly registered political party in Nigeria, the Labour Party is fully aware of its rights under the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended) to sponsor candidates in all elections,” the statement read. “The law does not empower INEC to stop any political party from fielding candidates, nor does it allow the commission to pick and choose which elections a political party can participate in.” The party cited the April 4, 2025 Supreme Court judgement, clarifying that the ruling addressed only the issue of jurisdiction of lower courts and did not nullify the current leadership of the Labour Party. According to the party, the apex court emphasized that internal party disputes must be resolved through internal mechanisms. “At no point did the Supreme Court empower INEC to interfere with the internal matters of a political party,” the statement added. “INEC cannot arrogate to itself the powers of the courts or interpret the ruling of the Supreme Court beyond what was clearly stated.” The party demanded that INEC immediately upload the names of its duly nominated candidates for the forthcoming bye-election and cease any further interference in its internal affairs. It further warned that proceeding with the bye-election without Labour Party representation would be a waste of resources and could result in legal consequences. “The Labour Party will explore all lawful means to resist any attempt to harass, intimidate or ridicule our party. INEC’s actions, if not redressed, will be challenged in court.” Urging its members and supporters to remain calm, the party assured that it is committed to protecting its candidates’ interests and will do everything within the law to ensure their names are listed for the August 16 bye-election. It also called on Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue to pray for the country, expressing hope for a day when the electoral process will reflect fairness, justice, and accountability.

FG Launches 50 Million Date Palm Project in Jigawa to Combat Desertification

Fola Badmus2 months ago2 months ago03 mins

By Kamal Yalwa August 2, 2025 The Federal Government has inaugurated a major environmental restoration initiative in Jigawa State with the launch of a project to plant 50 million date palm trees, aimed at combating desert encroachment and restoring degraded land in northern Nigeria. The project was officially flagged off by the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, in collaboration with the Deputy Governor of Jigawa State and the Director-General of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) during a ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of the agency. Held under the theme “Sustaining the Momentum – Ten Years of NAGGW’s Contributions to Environmental Sustainability,” the event underscored the government’s commitment to environmental protection and sustainable development in the Sahel region. The Minister described the initiative as a crucial intervention to address the growing threat of desertification, which continues to displace communities, degrade farmlands, and threaten food security in the North. “This ambitious project will not only mitigate the harsh effects of climate change and desertification but will also enhance livelihoods, improve food security, and generate green jobs for thousands of Nigerians,” Lawal stated. According to the NAGGW, the date palm trees—well-suited to arid environments—will be planted across key frontline states affected by desert encroachment, with Jigawa serving as the starting point due to its critical ecological vulnerability. The project is also expected to bolster economic activities in rural communities through the commercial value of date palm fruits, fostering both environmental and economic resilience. Stakeholders present at the event praised the Federal Government’s continued investment in climate adaptation strategies, and reaffirmed support for the Great Green Wall programme—Nigeria’s contribution to the African Union’s vision of restoring 100 million hectares of land across the continent’s drylands by 2030.

Former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe Sentenced to 12 Years House Arrest for Bribery and Witness Tampering

Fola Badmus2 months ago2 months ago02 mins

By Kamal yalwa August 2, 2025 In a historic ruling, a Colombian court has sentenced former President Álvaro Uribe to 12 years of house arrest on charges of fraud and witness tampering—making him the first former head of state in Colombia’s history to be criminally convicted. The 73-year-old, who governed Colombia from 2002 to 2010, was also barred from holding public office and fined $578,000 by the court. The decision marks a significant chapter in Colombia’s ongoing reckoning with political accountability. Uribe, once hailed as a hardliner against guerrilla insurgents and still widely respected in conservative political circles, denied all allegations, labeling the case a politically motivated attack aimed at silencing “a voice for the democratic opposition.” “I maintain my innocence,” Uribe said, confirming that he will appeal the ruling. Despite his legal troubles, Uribe remains a polarizing yet influential figure in Colombian politics, known for his tough stance on security and for founding the right-wing Democratic Center party. His attorney had requested bail while the appeal process was ongoing, but Judge Sandra Heredia rejected the request, citing the former president’s resources and political connections as potential risks. “It would be easy for the defendant to leave the country and evade the imposed sanction,” Judge Heredia said in court on Friday. The sentencing comes amid a wave of high-profile cases across Latin America involving former leaders facing corruption charges. Similar cases in Gabon and Myanmar have seen ex-leaders placed under house arrest, reflecting growing judicial assertiveness across the Global South.

Senator Lawal Slams Tinubu for Prioritizing Kaduna Airport Over Abuja-Kaduna Road

Fola Badmus2 months ago2 months ago03 mins

Kaduna, Nigeria – Senator Shehu Lawal has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration for what he described as a misplaced priority in infrastructure development, accusing the government of abandoning the critical Abuja-Kaduna highway in favor of an airport project that already exists. Senator Lawal, a former Kaduna Central lawmaker, expressed his concerns in response to recent remarks by National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu, who claimed that improved security has made it safe for top officials, including ministers, to now travel by road from Abuja to Kaduna. “You drove on the Abuja-Kaduna highway to make a political statement, but your government still abandoned the road and chose instead to start constructing a new airport in Kaduna, even though there’s already one,” Lawal stated via his official X (formerly Twitter) handle. The Abuja-Kaduna expressway has long been plagued by insecurity, including kidnappings and armed banditry, making it one of the most dangerous routes in Nigeria. While the NSA claimed the recent killing of key terrorist leaders had restored safety, Senator Lawal believes that investment in actual road infrastructure is more critical than optics or symbolic gestures. The Tinubu administration recently commenced construction of a second airport in Kaduna, a move that has sparked mixed reactions from stakeholders who argue that funds could have been better utilized to fix deteriorating roads or bolster other essential services. “If the road is truly safe, then the priority should be to fix it properly — not sidestep it with an expensive project that serves the elite,” Lawal added. As the debate continues, public scrutiny grows over how federal infrastructure spending is being allocated, especially in regions still grappling with insecurity and poor transportation networks.

Soludo: Any Politician Promising One Term Needs Psychiatric Evaluation

Fola Badmus2 months ago2 months ago04 mins

Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, has issued a strong rebuke to politicians promising to serve only one term in office, describing such pledges as dishonest and a sign of mental instability. Speaking during a political engagement in Awka on Thursday, Soludo stated that no serious politician with genuine developmental goals would commit to a single term, especially in a challenging political and economic environment like Nigeria’s. “Any politician promising to do just one term needs psychiatric evaluation,” Soludo said bluntly. “Such people are either lying or don’t understand the magnitude of governance. Real transformation takes time, planning, and continuity.” His comment comes amid growing political tension and debate in Anambra State as the 2025 governorship election draws near. The issue of zoning and power rotation has taken center stage, with some southern aspirants proposing a single-term agreement as a way to convince voters and political blocs to support them. Soludo, who is from the southern part of the state and currently serving his first term, has been a vocal advocate for performance-based governance rather than ethnic or zonal sentiments. While he did not mention any candidate by name, observers believe his remark was targeted at aspirants attempting to breach the informal zoning agreement in Anambra, which rotates the governorship among the three senatorial districts — North, South, and Central. Last week, prominent political figures from Anambra North, including some traditional rulers and community leaders, warned against attempts by Southern politicians to contest the 2025 election, insisting that the North should retain the seat to complete its turn. Soludo’s intervention appears to align with the growing call for political sincerity and competence over what he described as “emotional blackmail and gimmicks.” “Let’s not deceive our people. Development is not magic. If someone tells you they’ll fix decades of dysfunction in four years and leave, they’re either lying or need serious help,” Soludo added. He urged voters to focus on candidates with proven integrity, competence, and a realistic agenda rather than be swayed by “cosmetic pledges designed to win cheap votes.” With Soludo yet to officially declare his re-election bid, political watchers say his recent statements are part of a broader effort to shape the narrative ahead of the 2025 contest.

Kemi Badenoch Recalls Harsh Boarding School Experience in Nigeria, Compares It to Prison

Fola Badmus2 months ago2 months ago05 mins

London, UK — UK Conservative Party leader and Member of Parliament for Saffron Walden, Kemi Badenoch, has spoken candidly about her difficult upbringing in Nigeria, describing her time at a Federal Government Girls’ boarding school in Sagamu as comparable to being in prison. In a recent podcast interview recorded at Westminster, Badenoch reflected on her early life in Lagos, Nigeria, where she lived above her father’s medical clinic. She shared vivid memories of her childhood across three countries — Nigeria, the United States, and the United Kingdom — and how those experiences shaped her values, political views, and resilience. Now a rising star in British politics, Badenoch opened up about being sent to boarding school at the age of 11 — a formative period she characterized by hardship and discomfort. “It was very grim,” she said. “There was no running water. We fetched it with buckets. We had to cut the grass with machetes because there were no lawnmowers.” She revealed that about 300 students were housed in the school’s dormitory, with 20 to 30 girls crammed into each room. The living conditions, she said, were physically and emotionally demanding. She recalled swapping her meals for books and losing a significant amount of weight due to the poor diet and her aversion to certain foods, particularly fish. Reflecting on Family, Identity, and Nigeria’s Legacy Badenoch also offered intimate insights into her family history, including how her parents — both medical professionals — met at university. Her father, a doctor, and her mother, Professor Feyi Adegoke, a physiology lecturer, raised their family in Lagos during what she described as a relatively prosperous period for Nigeria. Born in Wimbledon in 1980, Badenoch explained that her birth in the UK was the result of fertility treatment her parents sought abroad, at a time when Nigeria’s oil wealth enabled affluent families to access private healthcare overseas. “Mr. Roberts, a surgeon based in Wimbledon, helped facilitate my mother’s pregnancy,” she said. “It turned out she had endometriosis, which at the time, doctors in Nigeria said only affected Europeans.” The interview also touched on Nigeria’s colonial legacy and how it influenced the social culture of her parents’ generation. She described seeing photos of her parents from the 1970s, surrounded by what she called “funky, jazzy” Western influences — from disco music to fashion trends — at a time when Nigeria was transitioning out of British colonial rule. Politics, Pain, and Personal Growth Throughout the interview, Badenoch credited her challenging upbringing with shaping her conservative worldview and approach to public service. “Those tough experiences made me who I am,” she said. “They gave me the tools to succeed in a country like the UK, where grit, ambition, and resilience are essential.” Badenoch’s comments have sparked mixed reactions, particularly among Nigerians on social media, where some defended the country’s public boarding school system, while others agreed with her depiction of its harsh realities. As she continues to rise within British politics, Badenoch’s dual identity as both British and Nigerian remains central to her narrative — one that fuses personal adversity with political ambition.

Nigeria Pardons Ken Saro-Wiwa and Ogoni Nine, 30 Years After Execution

Fola Badmus2 months ago2 months ago07 mins

Lagos, Nigeria – On June 12, Nigeria’s Democracy Day, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu granted posthumous pardons to Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other environmental activists known as the Ogoni Nine, executed by the military regime of General Sani Abacha in 1995. The announcement came with national honours and a declaration: they are now national heroes. For many, it was a long-overdue vindication. For others, including the families of the executed men, it is too little, too late. Saro-Wiwa, a celebrated writer and leader of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), was convicted by a military tribunal for inciting the murder of four local chiefs—charges widely condemned as politically motivated. The execution, carried out by hanging on November 10, 1995, triggered international outrage. Nigeria was suspended from the Commonwealth, and countries including the U.S. imposed sanctions. “I want the convictions quashed, not pardoned,” said Noo Saro-Wiwa, Ken’s daughter, speaking from London. “A pardon suggests guilt. My father committed no crime.” A Writer Turned Activist Ken Saro-Wiwa once aspired to be remembered as a writer. He authored more than two dozen books, including the prescient short story Africa Kills Her Sun, a fictional account of a man facing execution. But his legacy was shaped by his real-life advocacy. In the 1990s, Saro-Wiwa led a non-violent campaign demanding environmental justice for Ogoniland, a small region in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta devastated by oil spills and gas flaring. In 1993, MOSOP mobilized 300,000 Ogonis to protest against Shell and the federal government. The scale of the protests prompted Shell to halt operations. The military responded with brutal force. Saro-Wiwa’s calls for autonomy and environmental reparations drew global attention—and local ire. Following a mob killing of four Ogoni leaders during a MOSOP rally in 1994, the military arrested Saro-Wiwa and eight others. Their trial, marred by irregularities and alleged torture, was condemned by Amnesty International as a “sham. International Outcry, but No Justice Despite appeals from global figures like Nelson Mandela and the Pope, the executions went ahead. Saro-Wiwa reportedly uttered, “Lord, take my soul, but the struggle continues,” before being hanged. In 2009, following a civil lawsuit in the U.S., Shell agreed to a $15.5 million out-of-court settlement with the families of the Ogoni Nine. The company denied wrongdoing, saying the payment was for legal fees and humanitarian aid. A separate case in The Hague filed by the widows of the executed men was dismissed in 2017. Meanwhile, a 2011 UN report found benzene levels in Ogoni water up to 900 times higher than safe limits. The clean-up project launched in 2012—Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP)—has made limited progress. Though Shell has contributed $270 million, critics say the Nigerian government has underfunded and neglected the initiative. Political Motives? For some, Tinubu’s timing raises suspicion. Nigeria is battling a financial crisis and seeking to boost oil production. Resuming operations in Ogoniland—halted since the 1993 protests—could generate 500,000 barrels of crude per day. “The pardon is political,” said Nubari Saatah, president of the Niger Delta Congress. “The state needs oil, so it needs Ogoni consent.” But consent seems unlikely. Many Ogonis remain wary of government promises. Old wounds remain unhealed, especially among the families of the four men whose deaths in 1994 led to the arrest of the Ogoni Nine. Tinubu’s pardon did not mention them. “Rather than bring healing, it’s reopened divisions,” Saatah said. The Legacy Lives On Now 49, Noo Saro-Wiwa has returned to Ogoniland several times. A travel writer based in London, she’s working on a new book about the environmental devastation in her ancestral land. Her family has suffered deeply—her brother and mother have since passed away—but she continues the struggle her father died for. “My father was a real David versus Goliath,” she said. “He made the world see Ogoni. What he did was incredible.” For Ogoni people, and for Nigeria, the question remains: Is symbolic honour enough, without justice or restitution?

Business

Dangote Refinery Appoints David Bird as CEO of Petroleum, Petrochemicals Division

Fola Badmus2 months ago2 months ago03 mins

By Kamal Yalwa: August 2, 2025 The Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has appointed David Bird as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of its petroleum and petrochemicals business. The appointment, which took effect in July 2025, was first reported by S&P Global on Friday. Bird’s arrival comes as the refinery seeks to scale up operations, resolve production challenges, and roll out an ambitious nationwide fuel distribution scheme already facing significant regulatory and logistical hurdles. A source at the company told TheCable that Bird is a mechanical engineer and an alumnus of Imperial College, London, with an MBA from Stanford University. He brings extensive global experience in the oil and gas industry. Prior to this appointment, Bird served as the head of Oman’s Duqm Refinery, and also held senior roles at Santos Ltd and Shell, including Vice President of Prelude FLNG, where he led operations on the world’s first floating LNG facility. He also chaired Shell Australia’s RAP board and headed operations at Shell’s largest refinery in Singapore — Pulau Bukom. Aliko Dangote, Chairman of Dangote Industries Limited, will continue to serve as chairman of the refining business while retaining his role as CEO of the broader Dangote Group, which spans cement, fertilizer, and sugar refining operations. In a LinkedIn post cited by S&P Global, Bird stated that his focus will be on driving maximum output, operational efficiency, and expanding Dangote’s market presence beyond Nigeria and into the wider African continent. His appointment marks a pivotal phase for the 650,000 barrels per day refinery, which has been gradually ramping up output since its commissioning by former President Muhammadu Buhari in May 2023. The refinery is expected to commence fuel distribution to end-users by August 15, 2025, using a fleet of 4,000 CNG-powered trucks, further positioning itself as a critical player in Africa’s energy landscape.