New Post Africa

Category: Politics

  • Enugu Monarch, Igwe Agubuzu, Appeals to Tinubu for Nnamdi Kanu’s Release

    Enugu Monarch, Igwe Agubuzu, Appeals to Tinubu for Nnamdi Kanu’s Release

    ABUJA, NIGERIA: A prominent traditional ruler from Nigeria’s Southeast, HRM Igwe, Amb. Dr Lawrence Okolio Chikezie Agubuzu, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to order the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), currently held in Sokoto prison.

    Speaking on Tuesday at the National Traditional and Religious Leaders Summit on Health in Abuja, attended by President Tinubu and a delegation of royal fathers, Agubuzu made an emotional plea for justice and reconciliation. He expressed dismay at the continued detention of Kanu, drawing a comparison with Sunday Igboho, who is being honoured in the Southwest. “Bring this man out,” he told the president. “If we don’t want him in Nigeria, return him to Kenya or London, where they took him from.” He warned that silence from traditional rulers could be misinterpreted by Southeast youths as complicity with the government, adding that such perceptions risk alienating leaders from their communities.

    Kanu was arrested in Kenya in 2021 under controversial circumstances and subjected to what his lawyers described as “extraordinary rendition” back to Nigeria. His detention sparked widespread protests and debate over due process and international law. The Federal Government charged him with terrorism and treasonable felony, citing his Radio Biafra broadcasts and separatist mobilisation. After protracted legal proceedings, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced him to life imprisonment in November 2025 on seven counts of terrorism-related offences. While the government insists his actions endangered national security, his defence team argues the charges are politically motivated and his rendition violated international law.

    Agubuzu’s appeal adds to mounting pressure from lawmakers, civil society groups, and Southeast leaders who have repeatedly called on Tinubu to intervene. Observers warn that Kanu’s continued detention risks deepening unrest in the region and undermining efforts at national reconciliation.

  • Iran’s Foreign Minister Reports Progress After Nuclear Talks with U.S. in Geneva

    Iran’s Foreign Minister Reports Progress After Nuclear Talks with U.S. in Geneva

    GENEVA, SWITZERLAND: Following high-level discussions between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States on Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said the two sides had exchanged views and made progress.

    Araqchi told Iranian media that “different ideas have been seriously discussed, and ultimately we have been able to reach a general agreement on some guiding principles.” He added that future negotiations would build on these principles as the parties move toward drafting the text of a potential agreement.

    Further rounds of talks are expected in the coming days and weeks.

    U.S. Demands

    Ahead of the latest meeting, Washington outlined several conditions for Iran to avoid military confrontation:

    • Nuclear Program: Scale back or halt uranium enrichment and return to compliance with nuclear deal terms.
    • Missile Development: Limit ballistic missile testing, which the U.S. views as destabilising.
    • Regional Activities: Reduce support for proxy groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and other militias across the Middle East.
    • Human Rights: End violent repression of protests, which the U.S. has linked to its military buildup.

    President Donald Trump warned that if no deal is reached, the U.S. is prepared to take “something very tough” military action.

    Iran’s Response

    Iran has maintained a firm stance:

    • Scope of Talks: Insists negotiations should focus solely on its nuclear program, rejecting U.S. demands on missiles and regional influence.
    • Defiance of Threats: Officials argue U.S. military threats are provocative and accuse Washington of seeking regime change.
    • Sovereignty: Frames U.S. demands as interference in domestic affairs, particularly regarding protests.
    • Preparedness: Warns that it will respond strongly if attacked, raising the risk of regional escalation.

    The U.S. has deployed a “massive armada” of ships and aircraft near Iran, signalling readiness for strikes should diplomacy fail. With Israel also a factor in the regional equation, analysts warn that the risk of military escalation remains high as neither side shows willingness to compromise on core demands.

  • Netanyahu Condemns Attacks on Female IDF Soldiers and Police

    Netanyahu Condemns Attacks on Female IDF Soldiers and Police

    TEL AVIV, ISRAEL: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned the violent riots that erupted in Bnei Brak, an ultra-Orthodox city near Tel Aviv, where female IDF soldiers and police officers were attacked. In a statement from his office, Netanyahu said: “I strongly condemn the violent riots in Bnei Brak against female IDF soldiers and officers of the Israeli Police. This is an extremist minority that does not represent the Haredi society as a whole. This is a grave and unacceptable act. We will not allow anarchy, and we will not tolerate any attack on IDF personnel and security forces who carry out their mission with devotion and determination.”

    The unrest began when two female IDF soldiers conducting a welfare activity were surrounded and chased by a mob of ultra-Orthodox men. Police intervened to rescue them, but the situation escalated as rioters overturned a police car and set a motorcycle ablaze. The incident has been linked to growing anger over Israel’s draft law mandating conscription for ultra-Orthodox men, a policy strongly opposed by parts of the community.

  • Amaechi Warns of 25% Deductions Under New Tax Law

    Amaechi Warns of 25% Deductions Under New Tax Law

    ABUJA, NIGERIA: Opposition figure and 2027 presidential aspirant Rotimi Amaechi has cautioned Nigerians against re-electing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, warning that the administration intends to implement a controversial tax policy after the forthcoming elections. Speaking during a campaign event in Abuja over the weekend, the former Rivers State governor and ex-Minister of Transportation told traders that under the new law, “every payment made to you, 25% will be deducted by 2027.”

    Amaechi alleged that the ruling party had delayed implementation of the measure until after the polls, adding: “If you receive ₦100 million for goods you sold, ₦25 million will be deducted from your bank account immediately. By January–February next year, all of you will be in trouble if the APC wins.”

    Nigeria’s new tax laws, which came into effect on January 1, 2026, represent the most ambitious fiscal overhaul in the country’s history. The reforms consolidate multiple statutes—including the Companies Income Tax Act, Personal Income Tax Act, Value Added Tax Act, and Capital Gains Tax Act—into a single streamlined regime. While the legislation introduces significant exemptions for low-income earners and small businesses, Finance Minister Wale Edun has emphasised that the reforms are designed to broaden the tax base, stimulate economic activity, and support the federal government’s ambition of building a $1 trillion economy.

  • Enugu Govt, Haier Group Launch $20m Factory, Eyes $30m Expansion

    Enugu Govt, Haier Group Launch $20m Factory, Eyes $30m Expansion

    ENUGU, NIGERIA: The Enugu State Government has inaugurated the Enugu Haier Factory, a $20 million Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) project by China’s Haier Global Business Group in partnership with the state. The facility, located in Enugu city, positions the state as a hub for the production of smartphones, tablets, computers, smart boards, Android televisions, education and health technologies, and renewable energy solutions for electricity, agriculture, and transportation.

    Under the partnership, the state provided land for the factory’s infrastructure and will serve as its largest customer, purchasing 25,000 all-in-one desktops and 300,000 tablets to power its 260 Smart Green Schools. Governor Peter Mbah described the investment as a milestone in his administration’s drive to reposition Enugu as a premier destination for industry and innovation, with a vision to grow the state’s economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion.

    “This partnership represents the convergence of vision, innovation, and opportunity—to generate Made in Enugu technologies that compete globally, while enabling us to support key local sector developments,” Mbah said. He added that the initiative reduces import dependence, lowers costs, ensures sustainability, and builds local capacity. He also praised President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies, noting that steady inflows of FDIs reflect improved macroeconomic stability, a stronger naira, rising foreign reserves, and easing inflationary pressures.

    Haier Group Vice President Sun Yongle announced that the factory will produce 200,000 units annually across ICT, medical equipment, and new energy product lines, employing about 100 workers initially, with plans to expand to over 200 employees. He emphasised that this is only the first stage of Haier’s investment in Enugu, with future cooperation expected in agriculture, mining, and transportation. Total investment is projected to exceed $30 million. “Our goal is for our products to be not only Made in Enugu, but also Designed in Enugu, with management and technical teams mainly composed of local professionals,” Yongle stated.

  • Umahi Says It’s Not Igbo’s Turn for Presidency, Urges Support for Tinubu

    Umahi Says It’s Not Igbo’s Turn for Presidency, Urges Support for Tinubu

    ABA, NIGERIA: Nigeria’s Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has downplayed the presidential aspiration of former Anambra State governor Peter Obi, a leading contender in the 2027 elections. Speaking during an inspection of the ongoing Aba–Port Harcourt Road project, Umahi praised President Bola Tinubu’s administration for what he described as unprecedented infrastructural development in the Southeast.

    “I thank Mr President for the Southeast people. All the marginalisation—unless we are not telling ourselves the truth—there is no more marginalisation in the Southeast,” Umahi said. “We never had a Minister of Works, and you can see the product of it. You can see the intention of the president. You can see the good heart of the president. And so it’s time for payback.”

    Highlighting projects across the region, Umahi noted, “You all know the amount of work from Port Harcourt down to Enugu. There is no section of this work that is not going on for completion. Never in the history of Nigeria have we benefited as such.” He recalled that during his years as deputy governor and later governor of Ebonyi State, no federal road projects were executed in the state, but now “several projects worth trillions of naira are ongoing in the Southeast, just like in other regions.”

    He also pointed to key appointments under Tinubu’s administration, including a service chief from the Southeast, as evidence of inclusion. “We have a lot going on in the Southeast under President Bola Tinubu. So it’s a time to support the president. The people of Southeast should support President Bola Tinubu,” Umahi said.

    To ensure continuity of federal projects, Umahi added, “We should tell our brother Peter Obi, it’s not our turn now. When it is our turn, Nigerians will know, and Southeast people will know. No matter the noise anybody is making, he that has started this good work, President Bola Tinubu, God has given him the grace to complete it. We don’t want any other person that will come and stop all these projects.”

    He concluded by calling for prayers for the president and his team: “So we have to pray for the president. We have to pray for all those who are working with him. Criticise us and praise us, nothing goes wrong. The important thing is that our eye is on the ball, and our eyes are closed in prayers for the president, and our hands are raised in appreciation to God Almighty for giving us President Bola Tinubu.”

  • U.S. Sanctions Boko Haram Sponsors Amid Rising Violence in Nigeria

    U.S. Sanctions Boko Haram Sponsors Amid Rising Violence in Nigeria

    WASHINGTON, D.C. / ABUJA: The United States government has sanctioned eight individuals in Nigeria for alleged links to Boko Haram, the Islamist insurgent group responsible for widespread violence across Nigeria’s northeast, northwest, and north-central regions, as well as in the wider Lake Chad Basin covering Cameroon, Chad, and Niger. Boko Haram, designated a foreign terrorist organisation by the U.S. in 2013, has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions since its insurgency began in 2009.

    The sanctions were announced in a publication by the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which blocks the property and interests of designated persons. Among those listed is Salih Yusuf Adamu (a.k.a. Salihu Yusuf), born August 23, 1990, who was convicted in the United Arab Emirates in 2022 for establishing a Boko Haram cell to raise funds for insurgents in Nigeria. Others named include Babestan Oluwole Ademulero, Abu Abdullah ibn Umar Al-Barnawi, Abu Musab Al-Barnawi, Khaled Al-Barnawi, Ibrahim Ali Alhassan, and Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Mainuki.

    The U.S. indictment alleges that all sanctioned individuals actively participated in Boko Haram’s operations in Nigeria and neighbouring countries.

    This action follows the October 31, 2025, designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act, after reports that jihadist groups killed more than 7,000 Christians and abducted 7,800 others in the first seven months of 2025.

    On December 25, 2025 (Christmas Day), the U.S. military launched Tomahawk missile strikes against suspected Islamic State (ISIS) camps in Sokoto State, northwest Nigeria. The operation, coordinated with the Nigerian government, targeted militants linked to the Islamic State–Sahel Province and its affiliate, Lakurawa. The U.S. Africa Command confirmed the strikes, describing them as aimed at “ISIS terrorists in Nigeria.”

    In early 2026, the U.S. deployed a small team of troops to Nigeria, marking the first official American military presence on the ground in support of counterterrorism operations.

  • Peter Obi Vows Votes Must Count in 2027 Elections

    Peter Obi Vows Votes Must Count in 2027 Elections

    ABUJA, NIGERIA: Nigeria’s leading opposition figure and presidential aspirant for the 2027 elections, Peter Obi, has vowed that the votes of Nigerians “must count” in the forthcoming polls. His remarks come amid heated debate over the ongoing amendments to the Electoral Act, particularly regarding the electronic transmission of results.

    Recall that opposition parties, civil society groups and demonstrators at the National Assembly are calling on the Nigerian Senate to pass a law mandating the electronic transmission of results. They blamed the manual transmission for creating the room for malpractices and election rigging, which they alleged has robbed the country of quality leadership.

    In a statement, Obi declared: “Unlike in the past, in 2027 our votes MUST count.” He warned that those who attempt to undermine the process would be “counted among those destroying Nigeria.” The aspirant, who commands the Obidient Movement, urged supporters and citizens to remain at polling units after casting their ballots to witness both the counting and transmission of results.

    Obi stressed that anyone who obstructs the proper counting of votes would face “the full weight of the law against rigging.” He added: “If you do not count our votes, we will count you among those who destroy our democracy, thereby destroying our future, and you must answer to the law.”

  • Ohanaeze Accuses Asari Dokubo of Inciting Ethnic Violence Against Igbos

    Ohanaeze Accuses Asari Dokubo of Inciting Ethnic Violence Against Igbos

    PORT HARCOURT, NIGERIA — The Rivers State chapter of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has accused former Niger Delta militant leader Asari Dokubo of attempting to incite ethnic violence through what it described as a “false and venomous video.”

    In a statement issued on Monday, January 16, and made available to Newpost Africa, the chapter president, Livingstone Wechie, criticised Dokubo’s claims that Igbo communities in Rivers State were behind attacks on Northern Muslims during recent clashes in Rumuokwurusi, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area. Wechie said the video was “inciting and malicious,” aimed at pitching Igbos against their northern neighbours. He clarified that the violence at the Oil Mill Fruit Market on January 14 stemmed from a dispute between Benue and Hausa traders, not Igbo communities.

    Wechie stressed that Igbos are neither anarchists nor destroyers, noting their significant population in Rivers State and across northern Nigeria, where they coexist peacefully with other ethnic and religious groups. He emphasised that both Christian and Muslim Igbos live in Rivers State and respect the religious rights of others.

    The Rivers State Police Command also confirmed that the incident was a clash between Hausa and Benue traders, not involving Igbos, and that the suspect in the killing had been arrested. Wechie urged the public to disregard Dokubo’s “emotional outburst and combustible propositions,” warning that such rhetoric could destabilise the state. He commended Governor Siminalayi Fubara for his swift intervention, which restored calm and prevented further escalation.

  • Lagos Governor Celebrates Esther Etiyemonu—Spelling Bee Champion and “One-Day Governor”

    Lagos Governor Celebrates Esther Etiyemonu—Spelling Bee Champion and “One-Day Governor”

    LAGOS, NIGERIA — Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Monday hosted Miss Esther Etiyemonu, the newly crowned One-Day Governor of Lagos State and overall winner of the 21st Lagos State Spelling Bee Competition, at Lagos House, Marina.

    In his remarks, Governor Sanwo-Olu praised Esther, a student of Lagos State Senior Model College, Igbokuta, describing her as “a brilliant student” whose confidence, focus, and hard work distinguished her in the statewide contest.

    “Today, I received Miss Etiyemonu Esther, the One-Day Governor and overall winner of the 21st Lagos Spelling Bee Competition, a brilliant student of Lagos State Senior Model College Igbokuta, at Lagos House, Marina. Her confidence, focus, and hard work stand out. She represents the very best of our youth, and I am incredibly proud of her achievements,” Sanwo-Olu said.

    He added: “Esther, all of Lagos is rooting for you and your bright future. Congratulations once again.”

    The Lagos State Spelling Bee Competition, inaugurated in 2001, produced its first One-Day Governor in Bisi Adeyemi. Since then, the tradition has continued, inspiring generations of Lagos students.

    Organized by the Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education through the Office of Education Quality Assurance, the competition aims to promote literacy, language development, and academic excellence. Beyond spelling, it fosters confidence, leadership, and public speaking skills, with the highlight being the winner’s symbolic opportunity to serve as One-Day Governor of Lagos State — sitting in the Governor’s chair and experiencing leadership firsthand.