News
Olumide Akpata’s Statement on the unnecessary controversy over the clarification made by the Oba of Benin

Candidate of the Labour Party, in Edo 2024 Election, OLUMIDE OSAIGBOVO AKPATA, has released a written statement on the unnecessary controversy over the clarification made by the Oba of Benin .
His statement reads:
On Saturday, June 15, 2024, the Labour Party held its flag-off ceremony for
the Edo State gubernatorial elections, an event that sent shockwaves
through the established political order in our great State. While this
occasion was a resounding success, the crowning moment for me was
the profound honour of being warmly received by His Royal Majesty, Omo
N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, the Oba of Benin,
alongside our leader, Mr. Peter Obi, and other members of our entourage.
The Oba graciously offered us royal blessings and well-wishes, a moment
that filled me with immense pride and gratitude beyond measure.
During my address to His Royal Majesty, I inadvertently referred to myself
as a “son of the palace,” which could be misconstrued as claiming to be
born a Benin Prince, which I am not and have never claimed to be.
However, in his usual candour, my royal father, the Oba of Benin, swiftly
and graciously intervened, correcting me with the more appropriate term
“an indigenous illustrious son of the soil.” His Royal Majesty then proceeded
to recount my antecedents and achievements and the numerous
occasions when he had personally made interventions on my behalf as a
“true son of Benin.”
As a humble and loyal subject of the Oba, who has nothing but utmost
reverence for the revered throne of His Royal Majesty, I promptly
accepted the Oba’s correction and rephrased my statement
accordingly. I am not too proud or arrogant to acknowledge my mistakes
or to accept guidance when offered, especially from the revered throne
of the Oba of Benin, a throne that commands the utmost respect and
deference from all true sons and daughters of the Benin Kingdom.
It is a well-known fact that I am not among those who delude themselves
into believing that they are above the authority of the Oba of Benin, a
mindset that has plagued some misguided individuals — we know who
these individuals are — who seem to have forgotten the sacred traditions
that bind us together as a people.
It is therefore with profound dismay that I must address the recent
attempts by certain irreverent individuals to distort the words of His Royal
Majesty and create unnecessary controversy through their warped and
self-serving interpretations. Furthermore, I am compelled to issue this
statement due to the utterly unacceptable reactions of some individuals
who claim to be acting in my defence. I categorically condemn any
conduct or language that could be deemed insulting or disrespectful
towards the Oba of Benin, the embodiment of our rich cultural heritage.
As I have repeatedly and emphatically stated, anyone who fights the
Oba of Benin is also fighting me, and I will never be party to any scheme
or ploy that brings disrepute to the sacred throne of the Benin Kingdom.
It is imperative that this deliberate misrepresentation of the harmless and
educational exchange between the Oba and myself ceases
immediately. All parties should refrain from twisting the Oba’s words to fit
their own narrow and self-serving narratives, as this only serves to
undermine the reverence and respect due to the throne, a disrespect
that strikes at the very heart of our cultural identity.
As we embark on this consequential journey of the 2024 Edo State
Elections, I reaffirm my unwavering commitment to upholding the values
and traditions of the Benin Kingdom and the traditional institutions across
the state at large, a commitment that extends beyond mere words to a
deep-seated reverence ingrained in my very being.
The Labour Party and I stand resolute in our determination to bring about
positive change while preserving the rich cultural heritage that defines our
great state, a heritage that must never be tarnished by the actions of
those who have lost their way.
To the good people of Edo State, I call upon you to join me in collectively
rejecting any attempts to sow discord or disrespect towards our revered
monarch. Let us unite in our reverence for the throne and work together
to build a prosperous future for Edo State, guided by the wisdom and
blessings of His Royal Majesty, the Oba of Benin. Let us be the
embodiment of the values that have sustained our great kingdom for
centuries, values that must be upheld and passed on to future
generations, untainted by the misguided actions of those who are
inexorably fixated on their dastardly agenda to wit: the insidious
denigration of our revered monarch and the throne of his ancestors, upon
which he seats.

News
Anambra Govt Debunks Video of Soludo’s Reelection Visit to Native Doctor

The Anambra State Government has debunked the misinformation, malicious and deliberately fabricated online publication and social media comments in the video of the recently arrested Native doctor in the state.
In a press statement signed by Christian Aburime, the state Press Secretary to the Governor on June 4, 2025, the State Government debunked the allegations that the Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, consulted a native doctor regarding his reelection prospects, stressing that the information is totally false.
The statement reads: The attention of Anambra State Government has been drawn to a malicious and deliberately fabricated online publication and social media comments making spurious claims that the Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, consulted a native doctor regarding his reelection prospects.
The State Government hereby debunks the allegations as totally false. For the interest of the general public, the video clip being maliciously circulated and misrepresented, as evidence of native doctor consultation, was taken during a recent official government meeting with Anambra-based content creators.
The session, facilitated by the Special Senior Assistant to the Governor on New Media, Mazi Ejimofor Opara, was organised to strengthen the partnership between the State Government and the creative industry as part of Governor Soludo’s commitment in encouraging and supporting Anambra’s creative economy.
During the interactive session, content creators were encouraged to showcase their talents, ask questions, and share their concerns about the creative industry in the state.
As part of the presentations, one of the content creators performed a native doctor skit, a common comic genre in Nigerian entertainment, to demonstrate their creative abilities to the Governor and other officials present.
This was purely an entertainment performance by a content creator, not a consultation session. The State Government thus found it deeply disappointing that critics and political opponents would stoop so low as to deliberately fabricate malicious narratives from an innocent entertainment performance and spread misinformation to mislead the public.
Rather than engage in frivolous consultations, Governor Soludo has consistently demonstrated his commitment to developing Anambra’s creative economy through investment plans as part of the state’s economic diversification strategy.
The recently commissioned SOLUTION FUN CITY project is part of such investment plans.
The State Government also clarified that Governor Soludo does not need consultations with any native doctor to win reelection, as he relies solely on the support of Ndi Anambra based on his impressive performance and focus on delivering the SOLUTION AGENDA by transforming Anambra State into a livable and prosperous homeland.
Therefore, the Anambra State Government calls on Ndi Anambra, media channels and social media users to disregard the misinformation concerning the circulated video clip.
The public is also urged to always verify information before sharing or amplifying content and reject malicious stories sponsored to mislead the public.
As always, Governor Soludo remains committed to the development of Anambra State and will not be deterred by the antics of desperate political opponents who have chosen the path of falsehood over constructive engagement.
News
Tinubu hosts Gov Adeleke, Davido at Lagos residence (Photos)

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu welcomed Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, to his Lagos residence for a private meeting on Monday.

Accompanying the governor was his elder brother and renowned businessman, Chief Adedeji Adeleke, along with his son, internationally acclaimed Afrobeats artiste David Adeleke, widely known by his stage name, Davido.
The visit was announced in a post by President Tinubu’s Special Assistant on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, who shared details on X on Tuesday.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu receives in audience H.E. Ademola Adeleke, the Executive Governor of Osun State, along with Chief Adedeji Adeleke and his son, Afrobeats icon Davido, at his Lagos residence,” Olusegun wrote.
As of the time of filing this report, the reason for the courtesy call had not been made public, and no official statement has been issued either by the Presidency or the Adeleke family.

Images from the visit have surfaced on social media, capturing moments from the closed-door meeting between the President and the Adeleke family members.

News
Nigeria should fence its borders for security, says defence chief
Nigeria shares borders with four countries: Niger Republic, Cameroon, Benin, and Chad. All of these neighbouring countries are currently dealing with different levels of insecurity and conflict.

Christopher Musa, Nigeria’s chief of defence staff, has called for the country to build fences along its borders to improve national security.
Speaking at a security conference in Abuja on Tuesday, Musa stressed the need for better control of Nigeria’s borders.
He pointed out that other countries like Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have had to fence their borders with Afghanistan and Iraq because of security problems.
Musa said Nigeria needs to fully secure and control its borders, explaining that the country’s wealth and natural resources are attracting insurgents and criminals.
“It is Nigeria that everybody is interested in. That is why we need to secure fully and take control of our borders. It is critical for our survival and sovereignty.”
Nigeria shares borders with four countries: Niger Republic, Cameroon, Benin, and Chad. All of these neighbouring countries are currently dealing with different levels of insecurity and conflict.
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