News
ON GOV ZULUM’S HONOUR FROM A FOREIGN LAND
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By: Inuwa Bwala
It is no longer news, that, Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum has bagged yet another award, this time from far away Niger Republic.
He was decorated with the National medal of the country’s “De Grand Officer Dans’l Odre”, the equivalance of Nigeria’s Grand Commander Of The Order of the Niger, GCON. And was decorated by President Muhammad Bazoum of Niger.
While this is reserved for Vice Presidents, Senate Presidents, Speakers of the House of Representatives and the Chief Judge of the Federation, here in Nigeria, President Bazoum of Niger felt Zulum deserves the medal from his own country, because of the Governor’s extra statemanlike disposition.
I did not hear about it, untill I listened to some young men discussing from the sidelines, during my sister’s funeral service, expressing their disappointments that Nigeria has failed to honour Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, only for such honour to come from a foreign land.
They were all agreed that, if ordinary Nigerians have their ways, they could have awarded Professor Zulum the highest award for leadership in the land.
I could not help agreeing with them, that, amongst the present crop of leaders, the Borno State helmsman stands out as one who has earned the admiration of Nigerians for his numerous exploits in meeting yearnings of his people.
Shortly after listening to the young men, I came across the post by the Deputy Governor, Umar Usman Kadafur, in which he explained why the Governor’s attainments could not be hidden from the scrutiny of foreign leaders.
He said, that, “bagging yet another Meritorious award from Niger Republic of Second Order National Honour “de Grand officer Dan’s I’ Ordre” which is the equivalance of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, GCON, was not only appropriate but timely.
Not long after, I came across another post, by the Secretary of the Borno Elders Forum, Bulama Mali Gubio, mni, also extolling the virtues of Governor Zulum and hailing the award from the President of Niger. And torrents of other posts followed from different quarters, including Nigerians in the diaspora.
Reading through the goodwill messages sent to the Governor, I had to cast away the mourning countenance and join fellow Nigerians in celebrating the man.
Long before he became the Governor and before this award, I have been an admirer of Professor Babagana Umara Zulum. He has been very pragmatic in leadership, honest in his dealings, brutally frank and straight forward, shrewd in politics and very generous with his own resources.
Testimonies of people he worked with have been endearing enough. And as commissioner in one of the buoyant ministries, he had no material things on display, as his achievements.
His emergence as Governor, remains the greatest things Senator Kashim Shettima did for the people of Borno state. Kashim’s foresight in that regards remains unrivaled anywhere in Nigeria.
It was not surprising that Governor Zulum hit the ground running in 2019 when he took over as Governor. The things he did, the developments he brought about and the hopes he bequeathed are stories for another day.
It remains an incontrovertible fact, that if anybody deserves honours in this country, Zulum will be amongst the first. It is left for President Muhammadu Buhari, to emulate his Nigerien counterpart in also honouring Professor Zulum.
I congratulate Professor Babagana Umara Zulum and wish him good health, long life and many more attainments.
News
DSS Moves Against Agbo, over Alleged impersonation as Benue PDP Guber candidate

The operatives of the Department of State Security Services, DSS has laid a manhunt on embattled former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Benue State, over Alleged impersonation.
A highly placed Security source on Thursday, confirmed to our correspondent that the service is currently looking for Dr. Emmanuel Agbo for impersonating himself as the Governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party in Benue state.
The source said that Dr. Agbo, must be interrogated to enable the service have an idea were his candidature was decided as well as venue it took place.
He further added that from preliminary findings Agbo, is playing a role of a ” useful idiot ” been sponsored by political bigwigs in the state that must be unravel by the service.
He queried that all the primary election that took place across the 36 states of the Federation including the Federal Capital Territory was monitored by the DSS and reports were filed including that of Benue State which officially in the PDP, the former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN emerged.
Already, a political pressure group has petitioed, Dr. Emmanuel Agbo who they Alleged he is now parading a “fake” Certificate of Return as the party’s candidate is just an “impostor” who didn’t participate in the party’s primaries in May, 2026.
“The Certificate of Return which the disbanded Turaki-led Interim National Executive Council presented to Dr. Agbo yesterday is fake and will not be recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission during the uploading of party candidates on their portal” the group noted.
The group however challenged Agbo to present evidence that he partook in the said primaries, and also make available proofs that representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission, officials of the party from Abuja as well as representatives of Nigeria’s security agencies were present in his own selection process if there is any.
The group stated further that there are proofs that Dr. Emmanuel Agbo is being sponsored by some “disgruntled” elements to ruin the chances of the People’s Democratic Party in the forthcoming governorship election in Benue state.
The statement reads in parts:”Emmanuel Agbo has been warned to desist from this act of impersonation before it’s too late, and if he fails to stop this act, we shall drag him before a competent court to face criminal charges.
“That he is being sponsored to ruin the chances of the party is no longer a secret but, we will make sure that we stop him and his co-travellers who are hell bent on destroying the party”
News
EUYI Alleges Secret Recruitment, Job Racketeering in JAMB Ahead of Oloyede’s Exit
The Empowerment for Unemployed Youth Initiative (EUYI) has raised concerns over an alleged recruitment exercise conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), claiming that more than 100 employment letters were issued in June 2026, barely six weeks before the expiration of the tenure of JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede.
In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Danesi Momoh Prince, and Secretary, Comrade Igwe Ude-Umanta, the group described the alleged recruitment exercise as secretive and called on relevant government agencies to investigate the matter.
According to EUYI, the recruitment process was allegedly carried out without public advertisement and may have violated established procedures governing employment into federal public institutions.
The organisation argued that the timing of the recruitment raises questions, particularly following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s appointment of Professor Segun Aina as the incoming Registrar of JAMB, effective July 30, 2026.
“There is no apparent urgency that would justify a major recruitment exercise by an administration that has only a few weeks remaining in office,” the statement said.
EUYI further alleged that previous recruitment exercises conducted during Professor Oloyede’s tenure had attracted public controversy and scrutiny from the National Assembly, although the JAMB management had maintained that it obtained the necessary approvals from the Federal Character Commission (FCC).
The group contended that if the latest allegations are confirmed, the exercise could amount to violations of constitutional and statutory provisions governing public sector recruitment. It cited Section 14(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and relevant provisions of the Federal Character Commission Establishment Act, which emphasize equitable representation, transparency, and compliance with federal character principles in public service appointments.
The advocacy group also called on the Federal Character Commission to clarify whether it approved the alleged recruitment exercise and, if so, whether all legal requirements were met before employment letters were issued.
In addition, EUYI urged anti-corruption agencies, including the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), to investigate possible cases of nepotism, abuse of office, or other irregularities should evidence emerge to support such claims.
The organization stated that illegal recruitment practices and job racketeering have contributed significantly to the frustrations of millions of unemployed Nigerians, arguing that employment opportunities in public institutions should be transparent, merit-based, and accessible to all qualified citizens.
EUYI gave JAMB a three-day ultimatum to respond to the allegations and provide clarification regarding the reported recruitment exercise.
News
THE GENETICS OF BETRAYAL: WHY ALIA WAS BORN TO FIGHT AKUME
By Aondoakaa Tersugh Daniel | 22/06/2026
The moment Chief Hyacinth Iormen Alia took his oath of office, he turned his guns on Senator George Akume without any visible provocation, and the confusion that followed has lingered ever since. Akume himself could not hide his bewilderment. He has been quoted saying that people should pray for Father, because the man fighting him is not the Father he used to know. Yet a closer look into Alia’s family history reveals that this hostility is not new at all. It is simply genetics finding its way back to the surface.
Decades ago, when Senator Joseph Sarwuan Tarka championed the United Middle Belt Congress and became the face of that movement, Thomas Kastina Alia rose as his fiercest opponent within Benue. The elder Alia went as far as planting the headquarters of Nnamdi Azikiwe’s NCNC, the opposition party of that era, right inside Aliade, the very heartland of Tarka’s Masev support base. The rivalry between the two men was bitter and beyond repair.
As though that chapter of hostility was not enough, another figure emerged to continue the assignment. While Tarka served as a Minister, Godwin Dabo raised allegations of corruption against him, a move that eventually forced Tarka to resign from his position. That blow is widely remembered as one of the most damaging episodes of Tarka’s political career.
This raises a question the Kunav elite of today owe the younger generation an answer to. What truly happened between the Kunav and Jemgbagh people that birthed this chain of political vendetta? Thomas Alia, a Kunav son, frustrated Tarka of Jemgbagh first. Then it was as if a baton had been quietly passed to Godwin Dabo to finish the job. Both men were not only of Kunav extraction but shared the same Kyan constituency, a detail too specific to ignore.
It becomes difficult to understand why Akume, who descends directly from Tarka’s lineage, did not study this history closely enough to avoid walking into the same trap that Alia represents. There is an old saying that a blind man does not allow his roasted groundnuts to burn twice. If the first batch is ruined, he learns to manage the fire better on the second attempt, ensuring it comes out either half done or perfectly roasted. Akume has now looked history squarely in the face and still ended up handing power to the son of Tarka’s oldest political enemy.
So when people call this current war between Akume and Alia madness, they are not entirely wrong, but it is madness with deep roots. It is nothing more than a genetic expression of rivalry that has existed for generations, simply resurfacing in a new political season. Akume owes the memory of Tarka a final reckoning. The score can only be balanced if Akume does to Hyacinth Iormen Alia exactly what Godwin Dabo once did to Tarka.
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