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Wike Hails Indigenous Contractor, Says Nigerian Firms Can Rival Foreign Counterparts

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Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike, on Monday declared that indigenous contractors have come of age and are now capable of delivering projects to the same standard as their foreign counterparts, following the successful completion of the Karu road project in Abuja.

Speaking during the commissioning of the road by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was represented by the Vice President Kashim Shettima, Wike disclosed that he initially had reservations about awarding the contract to a local firm, Abdul-Val Constructions Limited, because of his previous experiences with some indigenous contractors who failed to deliver after collecting mobilisation funds.

“I was initially sceptical about giving this company the job because of my past experience as a local government chairman and governor. When you give some local contractors money to build, they start eating the profit before commencing the job. Before you know it, you are chasing them around and even involving the police. I didn’t want that experience again,” Wike said.

The minister explained that the contractor personally appealed for an opportunity, prompting the FCT Administration to first test the firm’s capacity with the execution of the War College-Ushafa Road project commissioned last year.

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“But this young man came to my office pleading that we should give him the opportunity. If you remember, last year we commissioned the War College-Ushafa Road. That was the trial project. He showcased himself and convinced me that local contractors have come of age and can do what foreign companies can do,” he stated.

Wike further commended the contractor for demonstrating commitment by keeping work ongoing even when payments had not been made.

“One thing I noticed is that whether the money was available or not, they never abandoned the site. They kept working and kept telling me, ‘Mr. Minister, I believe in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I will complete the project because I know government will pay.’ That kind of confidence is rare these days, and I want to sincerely commend him.”

He noted that the contractor fulfilled his promise by completing not only the road but also the accompanying drainage infrastructure in time for the President’s third anniversary project commissioning programme.

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“I was afraid we would not finish this job before the anniversary activities, but he assured me that it would be completed. Today, he has fulfilled that promise, and on behalf of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, I say thank you for believing in this government.”

The minister said the successful execution of the project has strengthened his confidence in indigenous construction firms and demonstrated that Nigerian companies can deliver quality infrastructure when given the opportunity.

Wike also revealed that President Tinubu had approved the construction of all roads within Karu Town, noting that the administration has fulfilled its promise to residents by delivering the requested infrastructure.

“As you are coming into this area, you can see that the entire landscape has changed. We promised the people of Karu that all the roads they requested, including the EFCC Road, DSS Road, hospital road and others, would be constructed. Today, we have fulfilled that promise.”

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He maintained that quality infrastructure should be appreciated irrespective of political affiliation.

“I don’t know who does not like good things. It doesn’t matter the political party you belong to. When you see good things, you acknowledge them. Nobody can hate this road because this is what development is supposed to be.”

The minister thanked President Tinubu for his continued support to the FCT Administration, noting that the President had devoted nine days out of the 14-day project commissioning programme to personally inaugurate projects across the Federal Capital Territory.

He added that the reconstruction of roads in Karu and the adjoining Nyanya-Mararaba corridor would significantly improve traffic flow and enhance the quality of life for residents.

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“We want every community and every district in the FCT to know that under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, development will reach every part of Abuja. All we ask is for Nigerians to continue supporting this government because, in the end, everyone will benefit,” Wike said.

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Enugu 2027: Nnaji signs one-term pact, vows to quit after four years

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The Enugu State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2027 election, Uche Nnaji, has signed an undertaking to serve only one term of four years if elected governor.

Nnaji signed the pact on Friday at Akpugo, Nkanu West Local Government Area, during a grand reception organised in his honour by PDP supporters and stakeholders.

The candidate said the decision was in recognition of the existing zoning arrangement in the state, assuring that he would not seek re-election after completing his first term.

According to him, the one-term commitment would enable him to focus on good governance and the implementation of his development agenda without being distracted by the pursuit of a second term.

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“I am not interested in perpetuating myself in power. That is not the idea. That is why I said I am not going to disrupt the arrangement that is running, which is zoning of power.

“I am aware that Nkanu has gone for four years. So, being an Nkanu man, I will go for one term. After the one tenure, I will go.

“I am going to bring a different approach to governance. My approach will be just for human beings. I am not going to govern for animals. We must have conscience in governance. Government is said to be for the people, by the people and for the people,” he said.

Nnaji also promised to introduce what he described as a “one-day, one-project” policy, through which his administration would initiate and execute development projects across the state.

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He said his ambition was to leave a legacy of rapid development and improved living standards at the end of his four-year tenure.

The PDP candidate appealed to the people of Enugu to support his aspiration, promising that his administration would be people-oriented, transparent and committed to the development of the state.

On taxation, Nnaji said his administration would govern with “conscience”, arguing that policies imposing excessive burdens on residents and businesses should be reviewed.

“So, we must govern with conscience. If you put a tax regime in place and it becomes so bad for the people, why are you keeping it? You withdraw it.

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“Look at all these taxes going on in Enugu State. The cost of living has risen so high. Enugu State has become the most expensive state in the whole federation, and this is a civil service town, a public service town.

“Most people who want to build industries in Enugu State are taking them to Anambra because of the fear of taxation. So, we must govern with conscience,” he said.

Also speaking, a PDP chieftain, Basil Ani, pledged the support of party members and supporters for Nnaji’s ambition, saying they would work to ensure his emergence as governor in 2027.

Ani said Nnaji had grown beyond being a political candidate, describing him as a movement with growing support among the people.

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“I want to tell you that Uche Nnaji has become a movement that is at the heart of the people. It is no longer about the political party; it is about the conviction of the people towards him.

“Nwakaibie is here to stay. Nwakaibie is here to take over,” he said.

Ani maintained that Enugu State remained a stronghold of the PDP, expressing confidence that the party would reclaim the governorship in the 2027 general election.

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UNIZIK Begins Investigation Into Alleged Sexual Misconduct, Attack On Lecturer

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The Management of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, has said that it is investigating a case of sexual misconduct involving a lecturer in the Department of Chinese Studies, Faculty of Arts, over a female student of the University.

This followed Videos of the incident, which went viral, in which the lecturer was attacked by irate students on Saturday, August 15, 2026.

A statement signed by the Director, Information and Public Relations, comrade Aloysius Emeka Attah, said management is “deeply saddened by the unfortunate incident and strongly condemns the resort to violence, self-help, or any form of jungle justice under any circumstance”.

The Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Prof. Ugochukwu Bond Stanley Anyaehie, it said, has consistently reaffirmed the University’s zero-tolerance policy towards sexual misconduct, harassment and all forms of inappropriate behaviour.

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However, management emphasised that allegations of misconduct must be handled through established institutional procedures and due process. “No individual or group is permitted to take the law into their own hands within the University environment”, it added.

Given the seriousness of the matter, it said the University Management has directed that an immediate, comprehensive and impartial investigation be conducted to establish the facts and circumstances surrounding the incident.

It said that an administrative process had been activated to ensure that justice is served fairly and objectively to all parties involved, because, according to it, “the University remains firmly committed to protecting the dignity, safety and wellbeing of its staff and students and will continue to take decisive action against any conduct that violates these principles”

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Real reasons I left Christianity for Ifa – Ex-pastor

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An Ondo State-based pastor, Olabanjo Felix, who renounced Christianity and embraced Isese, an indigenous Yoruba spiritual tradition, has explained that the “deceit in Christianity” prompted him to abandon the faith to become an Ifa priest.

Felix, who spoke with Sunday PUNCH on Saturday, alleged that there was “no true pastor of the Bible in Nigeria”, adding that many pastors in the country had turned Christianity into personal and family businesses.

He said he became fed up with Christianity and what he described as the brainwashing of Christians by some pastors.

Felix, who previously founded the Image of God Evangelical and Prophetic Ministries in Ibaka, Oka Akoko area of the state, renounced Christianity and declared his allegiance to Isese in a video which went viral on Thursday.

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Announcing his transition from Christian ministry to Ifá practice, the former cleric also revealed his new spiritual identity.

“I’m now Ifawamiri Aworanolodumare, Babalawo of Ifá,” he declared in the video.

Felix expressed gratitude to his new spiritual mentor, the Araba of Isara-Remo, Olusegun Aifuwape, and his spiritual sons for guiding him.

He maintained that he publicly announced his decision to stop people from continuing to address him as a pastor even after he had stopped practising Christianity.

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“I did that video to announce to the world that I’m no longer a pastor because people kept addressing me as pastor, but I cannot continue to accept that. I don’t support deceit, so people have to know that I’m now an Ifa adherent,” he said.

Felix, who said he was a pastor for more than three years, noted that his decision followed a two-year “soul-searching journey” during which he became increasingly disturbed by what he described as contradictions in the Bible and deception among some Christian leaders.

According to him, his decision was not sudden, noting that he consulted several pastors in an attempt to examine his convictions before eventually leaving Christianity.

He said, “I became fed up of Christianity because there is no true pastor of the Bible in Nigeria aside from Pastor Gbile Akanni. I’m a Bible student and I understand the Bible very well, but I was arrested by Ifa. I did not just change my religion overnight.

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“I changed from Christianity to Ifa worshipping two years ago when I was on a soul-searching journey. I was very disturbed with the confusion in the Bible and the deceit in Christianity. Before taking my decision, I tried consulting with other pastors to check myself because I thought maybe I was not truly born again, but I still could not continue with Christianity even with their attempts to change my mind.”

Felix also disclosed that he considered converting to Islam before eventually settling on Ifa.

“I even tried converting to Islam because I consulted a cleric who advised me to go and study the Quran. I downloaded the Yoruba version of the Quran and I read, but I discovered that it is the same deceit.

“After this, I made up my mind to learn Ifa and become an Ifa priest and I started looking for genuine Ifa priests to mentor and lead me. My conviction was further rooted in the potency of herbs and roots,” Felix added.

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According to him, his conviction was strengthened by his experience with herbs and roots, which he said contributed to his decision to embrace traditional Yoruba practice.

Felix said he eventually found the Araba of Isararemọ, Oluṣẹgun Latunji Aifuwapẹ, on Facebook and contacted him about his intention to learn Ifa.

He dismissed the perception that traditional religion was fetish, insisting that his practice of Ifa was centred on prayers, supplications and the use of herbs and roots, rather than fetish activities.

“I found Araba of Isararemọ, Oluṣẹgun Latunji Aifuwapẹ on Facebook and I told him of my intention to learn Ifa. And since I joined him, I have never engaged in any fetish act. We have only been praying and doing supplications,” he said.

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Felix added that foreigners from different parts of the world visit the centre to learn about Ifa.

The former pastor further alleged that some Christian clerics secretly consult Ifa practitioners for divination despite publicly condemning traditional religious practices.

“There is too much deceit in Christianity. The so-called men of God have used the religion to brainwash a lot of people. I cannot count the number of pastors that contact us for Ifa divination.

“But I cannot do that, and that is why I came out openly to renounce Christianity and declared my allegiance to Ifa,” he said.

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