It was double tragedy for the Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State as he lost his 24-year-old son, Abdulwahab, on Thursday, a day after his mother, Maryam passed on.

Abdulwahab died in a road crash when he was going to Kafin-Hausa local government area of Jigawa state for the condolence of his grandmother who was buried on Wednesday, the governor’s spokesperson, Hamisu Gumel said in a statement on Thursday.

According to the statement, the vehicle in which the Governor’s son was riding in had a on-head collision with a Volkswagen golf resulting in his instant death.

One other person also died in the accident.

The statement by the Governor Namadi’s spokesperson reads: “With a heavy heart and total submission to the will of Almighty Allah, His Excellency Mallam Umar Namadi, Governor of Jigawa State, announces the passing of yet another member of his family; his dear son Abdulwahab Umar Namadi.

“He departed this world this afternoon (Thursday, December 26th, 2024) as a result of a ghastly motor accident along Dutse-Kafin-Hausa Road.

“The burial rite is taking place at this moment in Kafin Hausa town, in accordance with Islamic traditions.

“A 24-year-old, late Abdulwahab is survived by his parents and many siblings.

“To Allah belongs that which He has taken, and to Him belongs that which He has given, and everything has an appointed time with Him,” Mr Gumel stated.

The Jigawa governor had also on Wednesday announced the death of his mother, Maryam Namadi-Umar, after a brief illness.

Ngozi Ezeobika Orabueze, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Biafra Government In Exile, has said efforts are ongoing to ensure Simon Ekpa’s release from detention and the actualisation of the independent nation of Biafra.

Ekpa, the self-proclaimed Prime Minister the Biafra Government In Exile, is being detained in Finland.

Orabueze who made the vow in her Christmas message to the ‘people of Biafran Nation,’ said she and others were working to achieve the actualisation of the United States of Biafra and ensure Ekpa’s release.

Recall Finland district court in Lahti had ordered that Ekpa should be remanded in prison following his arrest for suspected terrorist activities.

Ekpa was accused of using social media platforms to spread separatist propaganda linked to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a group advocating for the secession of southeastern Nigeria.

The court alleged that the offences dated back to August 23, 2021.

Finland authorities have also investigated Ekpa in the past for alleged financial crimes, including the collection of funds through questionable means.

Orabueze in her message said, “As we celebrate this festive season, I extend my warmest Christmas wishes to every law-abiding Biafran, and especially to the Biafra Defense Forces for their unwavering defense of the territory of the United States of Biafra against the occupying Nigerian terrorist state actors.

“May this Yuletide bring joy, peace, and an abundance of love into your homes.

“We stand on the cusp of a new year, and with it, we look forward to a future filled with great promise and prosperity.

“I urge you to continue placing your trust in and supporting our government-the United States of Biafra Government-under my stewardship.

“Together, we are working tirelessly toward the recognition of our country and preparing for the triumphant return of our able Prime Minister, Ekpa Simon Njoku.

“He leads and will continue to lead us through the final stretch of our journey to realize the dream of the United States of Biafra as an independent, sovereign nation, guided by the principles of justice, fairness, and equity.”

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The House of Representatives Minority Caucus has slammed the Federal Government over crackdown on citizens criticisms and demanded for the immediate release of detained persons.

The caucus also reiterated the importance of dissenting opinions in a democracy, reminding President Bola Tinubu of his critical stance during the reign of President Goodluck Jonathan.

This was contained in a statement dated December 22, 2024 and signed by the Minority Caucus Leader, Rep Kingsley Chinda, stating that:

“The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives is very concerned about the growing controversial clampdown of citizens criticizing government.

“It is equally disturbing that agents of state are fingered in the brazen, callous, and ill-tempered harassment, and intimidation of citizens who on various medium express their respective disagreement, and apprehensions about some government policies which they believe will further exacerbate the near-zero situations of Nigerians.

“As a responsive and responsible group, we condemn in strong terms any, and every actions by the government; through security, and law enforcement agencies geared towards creating fears, panic, and make people to cow-tow to submission.

The Caucus further explained that: “We wish to reiterate that democracy can only thrive where there is virile opposition, and dissenting voices, as well as enabling alternative opinions
to express their differing views without fear or let.

“The Caucus recalls that, before 2015 when the All Progressives Congress (APC) came to power, the party was very brazen, sharp-shooting, and sometimes not courteous in it’s vilification, and pillorying of the government in power.

” Indeed, President Bola Tinubu in 2011, as the National Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) was very frontal in his criticisms of (then president) Goodluck Jonathan.

” It is surprising that a party that went roughshod in attacking, and castigating the PDP, now abhors, rejects, and hates criticism with much derision.

“As a Caucus, while we counsel that every criticism should be civil, and align with accepted regulations, we enjoin government to eschew every action of citizenry intimidation, coercion, and prosecution which may have negative effects on democracy.

” We also encourage the government to evolve results-yielding, and life-changing policies, and initiatives that will impact positively on Nigerians as an ingenious strategy to “defeat” its critics.

“While the Caucus calls for immediate release of anyone detained by state agencies for criticizing government policies, or under any guise, we also promise to resort to legislative actions against continuous abuse.