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The Yahaya Bello Factor: Allegations of Political Protection Behind Kogi West’s Mining Crisis

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Beneath the rich soil of Kogi West, vast deposits of gold, lithium, and other rich mineral deposits promise prosperity. But for the local communities, this mineral wealth has become a wave of insecurity, land grabbing, and fear that residents and security sources directly attribute to powerful political figures and their foreign proxies.

Based on reports from 2024 and 2025, by David Hundeyin there are allegations linking former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello to illegal mining activities, particularly involving the extraction of solid minerals in the Yagba area of Kogi West.

An investigation spanning several weeks, involving interviews with community leaders, security personnel, and mining experts, reveals a disturbing pattern: licensed and illegal miners, allegedly backed by prominent politicians, are suspected of arming bandits to terrorize local populations, driving them from their ancestral lands to allow for unchecked and highly profitable mineral extraction.

The Kogi West Blueprint: Politicians, Proxies, and Fear

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The epicenter of this crisis is in the communities of Kogi West Senatorial District. Residents, who spoke exclusively on condition of anonymity for fear of violent reprisals, point fingers at a well-known network.

“The mining sites are not run by our people,” one community elder from Yagba West Local Government Area explained, his voice barely a whisper. “They are being done by proxy by some Chinese who are holding it for prominent Kogi politicians. Among them is a former Chief of Staff and a former Governor. They have the cover, and the Chinese have the machines. We have the suffering.”

The modus operandi, as described by multiple sources, follows a chillingly consistent script:

Mineral-rich communities are identified, often through covert surveying.

Large parcels of land are acquired through a combination of coercion, deceit, and the exploitation of poverty. Locals report being offered paltry sums for land they did not fully understand the value of.

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For those who refuse to sell or who later protest, intimidation begins. This starts with threats and escalates to violent attacks by armed men who arrive on motorcycles, often in the dead of night.

Once the community is sufficiently terrorized and displaced, the mining operations begin in earnest. Heavy machinery, operated primarily by Chinese nationals, moves in, guarded by private security forces that locals view as an occupying army.

“Most of these lands were sold ignorantly and secretly,” lamented a youth leader from Yagba East LGA. “Our fathers were given crumbs for what they thought was barren land. They were told it was for farming. Now, we see trucks upon trucks leaving with our gold and that black stone [lithium]. When we try to ask questions, we are met with bullets.”

The state government has repeatedly announced initiatives to curb illegal mining, but residents claim these efforts are cosmetic, targeting only small-scale, local artisanal miners while leaving the large, politically-connected operations untouched.

A Disturbing Pattern: From Niger to Zamfara

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The situation in Kogi West is not an isolated incident but part of a broader, more sinister pattern replicated across Nigeria’s mineral-rich regions.

Niger State: In areas like Shiroro, a direct nexus has been established between armed bandits and illegal miners. Bandits attack villages, killing and kidnapping locals, creating a security vacuum. They then offer “protection” to illegal miners operating in the seized territory, taking a cut of the profits. This creates a perverse economy where insecurity becomes a profitable business model for both the bandits and their sponsors.

Zamfara State: This state became the textbook case of the phenomenon. Illegal gold mining was so rampant and so deeply tied to armed banditry that the federal government declared a no-fly zone and implemented a full-scale ban on mining activities in 2019 to cut off the funding source for the terrorists. Despite this, reports persist of operations continuing under the protection of armed groups.

Katsina and Kaduna States: Similar reports echo from these states, where communities accuse “outsiders” of collaborating with bandits to dispossess them of their land, particularly gold-rich areas.

In each case, the playbook is the same: use violence to create fear and displacement, then move in to exploit the resources. The profits from this illegal trade are then used to purchase more weapons, fund more attacks, and bribe officials, creating a vicious, self-sustaining cycle of violence and exploitation.

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Land Grabbing: The Arm-twisting Tactics of Economic Terrorists

 

A sad case of land grabbing is the ongoing legal dispute by Iddo-Ojesa community in Yagba East local government with Relix Mining Company Limited (Chinese company) who through alleged wrong negotiation with Joshman Multiconcept Limited (Nigeria Company owned by current Chairman of Yagba East LGA) and other impersonators reportedly swindled an unsuspecting Chinese company in the fraudulent purchase of a large expanse of land that is up to a quarter of the entire LGA!

On the 17th of January 2023, a consent was signed between the Omo Meru Family of Iddo Ojesa community and Joshman Multiconcept Company, owned by the current Chairman Yagba East Local Government Area, Mr Dare Joshua, for a mining exploration licence covering a small portion of the family land.

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Mr Dare’s company failed to stick to earlier agreement by selling the entire Meru family land to the unsuspecting Chinese company (Rellix Mining Limited) aided by unscrupulous representatives of Meru’s family and others who appended their signatures to the illicit deal without the consent of the family head and other principal members of the family.

Meru’s family has an ancestral land in Odo- Osin. There has never been any dispute in the past and interestingly, Meru Family are one of the largest land owner in Yagba land and Okun nation in general.

Joshman Multconcept Limited only came into the scenario January 2023 for a consent letter towards mining exploration which was given to him. It was later discovered that the consent letter signed on 17th January 2023 for the exploration licences was doctored by Mr Dare’s company and resubmitted for the purpose of small scale mining lease, but both documents bear the same date which is quite impossible if due process was followed.

By July 2023, Mr Dare came seven months after the consent letter was issued to his company and connived with some elders who are illiterates and created the impression to the elders that a compensation will be paid to the family as a result of the consent granted to his company. He told them they must append their signatures on some document in the palace of Agbana of Isanlu, His Royal Majesty, Oba Moses Etombi. The elders includes: Chief Osadumi Sunday, Elder Elder Rowland Olorunsola, among others. They were made to sign agreement for the sale of the entire land covering over 253 square kilometres which is over a quarter of the Local Government Area.

With documents presented to the Chinese company, the land mass currently in dispute has encroached into many other communities including Idofin, Makutu, Odogbe, Ilafin and part of Ifare, Iboro, Ofe, Ipele clans in both Yagba East and Yagba West Local Government Areas.

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Curiously, the Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) for the disputed land has been issued by the state government. More curious is the fact that the date on the CofO showed it was issued within 24 hours after the land agreement was signed. This further proves the interest of some state actors in the ongoing land grabbing activities in Kogi West.

 

The Forgotten Communities: Minerals Rich Villages’ Neglect a Deliberate Act?

Most of the communities under intense bandit attacks across Kogi West are ‘forgotten towns, villages and hamlets’. With near zero social amenities, the obvious neglect by government is glaring in these communities.

When bandits began to attack communities like Okoloke, Isanlu Esa in Yagba West LGA, Olle Bunu and other interior communities in Kabba Bunu LGA, Odogbe, Idofin and Ilafin in Yagba East LGA, many wondered why they were being attacked. These are communities populated mainly by poor peasant farmers and low-income traders. There are no security posts in these forgotten communities.

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Emerging evidence showed that these poor communities have diverse economically viable mineral deposits in their soil.

A registered Nigerian Company with Registration No RC 1091756, Sincerity Mining And Construction Co Ltd, posted on their corporate website that the company was granted an Exploration License on 4 Cadastral Units by the Mining Cadastral Office an Agency under the Ministry of Solid Minerals & Mines on the 8th of September 2015 to get involved in mining activities.

The allocation was at Okoloke, Yagba West, Kogi State, Nigeria. The Exploration License is for Tantalite & Gold Exploration but surprisingly, the Geology and Geochemical Survey discovered arrays of Minerals that were not quoted to be in Nigeria. These strange discoveries at National Geological and Mineral Laboratories Kaduna further led the Geologist from Nigeria Geological Survey Agency to send the report of the tests to Bureau Veritas Laboratories of Canada to conduct further tests of the materials which led to the discoveries of the following in the other of importance – (1) Nickel (2) Chromium (3) Cobalt (4) Copper (5) Barium (6) Marble (7) Gold etc.

“Further Exploration exercises carried out include a Geotechnical Survey, Aeromagnetic Data Interpretation among others that led to the Government granting of expansion of the Cadastral Units from the initial 4 units plus an additional 148 units on the 2nd Exploration License and subsequently the grant of SSML (Small Scale Mining Lease) while Exploration exercises continue the 148 Cadastral.

“On record, it was on our Okoloke Site, Kogi State that the Nickel, Chromium, and Cobalt were first discovered in Nigeria before that of Kaduna State for which a visiting Australian Minister of Mines a few years ago quoted as a strange occurrence in Nigeria.

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“The Laboratory Tests conducted at FUTA (Federal University of Technology) Akure, Ondo State this year 2022 further confirm the presence of Lithium Ore through Geochemical Analysis with further tests on other associated minerals ongoing on the same site,” the company wrote on its website.

It is confirmed that many of these communities in Kogi West have huge solid mineral deposits. Also, these communities are grossly under-developed. They were deprived basic amenities and now being ruthlessly displaced by unchecked armed terrorists. People are already asking if these communities were deliberately sidelined in the development initiatives to frustrate them and probably force them to leave their lands for better communities.

Mining Activities Remain a Black Market Operation in Kogi West

Indigenes of host mining communities are largely unaware of what is going on in their forests. Only a few sellouts know the companies mining in their communities and they prefer it remains so.

They approach local miners, usually artisanal, and ask about mineral-rich communities. They know the areas better than these foreigners, so they take them to the mining sites and introduce them to the traditional rulers. They pay these monarchs between five hundred thousand and two million naira, depending on the sincerity of the middlemen. The excited traditional ruler readily gives them letter of consent to operate in their forests. They also sign the mandatory Community Development Agreements (CDAs) without input from their subjects. In almost all mining host communities, contents of CDAs are not known by indigenes. A preferred black market operation. The traditional rulers are usually excited because they felt the coming of ‘investors’ will bring rapid development to their communities. It is worth mentioning that these are usually ‘forgotten communities’ with little or no government presence. Of course, the ‘greek gift’ also encouraged these tradition rulers to act without carrying out due diligence.

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The state government has not been transparent in its dealings in this sector as well. Few months ago, the incumbent Governor announced the acquisition of 15 mining licenses and promised to involve communities in the operations. He is the first Governor to make public the state government acquisition of mining licenses. Truth is, this is not the first time Kogi state government is securing licenses and seeking ‘investors’ to trade with in the extractive industry. Since the acquisition was done in secret, these licenses usually ended up in private hands without public knowledge.

Hostile Takeover of Mining Sites
The battle that began in the forest is currently consuming communities. Quite a number of mining sites across Kogi West are not known to Ministry of Solid Minerals Development or the cadastre office. Legal, illegal and unlicensed artisanal miners control these sites. For the illegal miners, their men largely live in the forests, sleeping in makeshift huts and are usually armed to protect themselves. Battle for control of these mining sites have seen the weaker players being displaced violently by the sides with state backing. Changes in government also brings about change in power play in these forests. When the lesser ones are displaced they usually find it difficult to re-integrate themselves back into normal society having spent years being ‘Lords of the Forests’. They are still armed and now jobless. Crime becomes the easiest route to survival.

In March 2025, while celebrating one year success of the mining marshals, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr. Dele Alake, announced that 3,000 illegal gold miners had been flushed out.

He alluded to the fact that these illegal miners had some sort of of corporate backing.

“The gravity of illegal mining worsened with the emergence of companies that collaborate with individual miners to perpetrate this evil. While individual illegal miners are unable to excavate deeply due to the limitations of modern equipment and finance, corporate collaborators encourage deeper excavation and scale up the criminality.

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“The first clearance operation took place at Mining Lease 19325 of North-South Extractive Industries Limited, located in Jagula, off Isanlu in Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi State. Over 3,000 illegal miners were digging and carting away precious grams of gold, whereas threats barred the real owners, who obtained the license in 2016, from operations.

“The Mining Marshals flushed them out completely and stationed men on site to maintain law and order till date,” he said.

This clearance operation was carried out by federal government without recourse to sub-national authorities. Nobody monitored where those dislodged moved to after the clearance operation.

Our Lives Better Off Before the Coming of ‘Investors’
The communities that have come under severe attacks in Kogi West are largely agrarian communities. They have lived in peace for decades living and enjoying their simple lives. Though not rich to afford luxury lifestyles, they were happy people.

When miners started coming in, their hopes were high that mother fortune had smiled on them. They thought their communities will get benefits that had eluded them for decades but years after, there is nothing to show for their hospitality.

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Instead of getting a better lease of life, their fortunes sadly nosedived. Their dusty but motorable roads are now in sorry state. Their main source of sustenance, farms, are no longer accessible due to activities of armed hoodlums. Despondency sets in.

Peace has eluded their communities and the usual low-budget fun activities have all ceased.

Is it a curse to have mineral deposits in their communities?

Observations and The Human Cost

Our investigation observed several key issues:

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The mining sites are ecological disaster zones. Forests are cleared, deep, unregulated pits are dug and left open, and waterways are contaminated with mercury and other chemicals, poisoning the primary source of water for remaining communities

The promise of jobs for locals is a mirage. The skilled operation of heavy machinery and security is handled by outsiders. Young men in the communities, stripped of their farmlands, are left in poverty, making them vulnerable to recruitment by the very bandits terrorizing them.

Beyond the land, communities are being stripped of their heritage. Sacred sites and ancestral graves have been desecrated and bulldozed minerals.

The most palpable observation is the overwhelming climate of fear. No one is willing to speak on the record. The names of the powerful politicians are an open secret in whispered conversations, but the fear of being labeled, attacked, or “disappeared” ensures public silence.

The illegal mining in Kogi West and beyond is more than an economic crime; it is a primary driver of Nigeria’s internal security crisis. It represents a brutal form of resource-backed colonialism, where local populations are violently subdued so that national resources can be carted away with impunity.

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Until there is a sincere, unbiased effort to dismantle the powerful political and corporate networks behind this trade—and to address the complicity of elements within the security forces—the cycle of violence will continue. The land in Kogi West may hold the key to a technological future powered by lithium and a prosperous future built on gold, but for now, it only yields fear and bloodshed.

Source: https://x.com/davidhundeyin/status/1801546826165727303?s=48&t=6183R9SJ6i9BggqMHCBt5g

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How NAF Plane Vanished From Radar Shortly After Take-Off, Crashes In Ondo Swamp

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A Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft on a routine flight from Benin City to Lagos crashed into a swamp in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, on Monday after reportedly disappearing from radar shortly after take-off.

The aircraft, with tail number NGR 931, lost communication with air traffic controllers at about 9:13am. A senior air traffic controller, who spoke anonymously, said repeated attempts to re-establish contact with the aircraft failed.

According to the source, personnel around Okitipupa later reported hearing a loud bang suspected to have come from the crash site.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, confirmed that the aircraft had disappeared from radar and that all efforts to raise it on radio were unsuccessful.

He later announced that the wreckage had been located near the Naval Base in Igbokoda.

Keyamo said 32 people—25 passengers and seven crew members—were on board.

The Nigerian Air Force confirmed the crash, saying the aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos and that search-and-rescue operations had commenced in coordination with relevant authorities.

The crash site, located in a swampy creek, proved difficult to access, with military personnel, emergency responders and local fishermen joining the rescue operation.

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa said no survivor had been found as of Monday evening, although the authorities had yet to officially announce a death toll.

The governor said rescuers recovered parts of the aircraft, identification cards and military uniforms from the site.

President Bola Tinubu expressed sadness over the incident and directed the Nigerian Air Force to immediately commence a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash.

Investigators are expected to examine the wreckage, flight path, weather conditions, maintenance records and air traffic control communications. Efforts were also being made to recover the aircraft’s flight recorder, which could provide crucial information about its final moments.

The cause of the crash remains unknown.

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No Survivor Found Yet in Ondo Air Crash — Aiyedatiwa

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Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has disclosed that no survivor has so far been found following the crash of a Nigerian Air Force aircraft in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of the state.

Aiyedatiwa made this known during an interview with Channels Television on Monday, saying local residents, security personnel and emergency responders had searched the crash site without finding anyone alive.

The governor said he received information about the incident at about 10:30am after the chairman of the local government contacted him.

According to him, residents living across the river from the Nigerian Navy base in Igbokoda heard a loud sound and subsequently saw the aircraft plunge into a swampy area.

He explained that personnel of the Nigerian Navy initially stayed back to determine whether the crash had triggered a fire or explosion before proceeding to the site.

“When they noticed that it’s just an accident, they didn’t see any sign of fire. So they moved in, trying to see if they could rescue the people,” Aiyedatiwa said.

He added that officials of the state emergency management agency, local residents and personnel of the Amotekun Corps later joined the search and rescue operation.

“But from the information we got, no single life was saved up to this moment. They could not see any living soul that was in that aircraft,” the governor said.

Aiyedatiwa said searchers recovered parts of the aircraft, including pieces of the wings, identification cards and military uniforms, which helped establish that the aircraft was a military plane.

“But they saw the ruins, some of the wreckage from the wings of the aircraft, you know, some ID cards, I was told, and then uniform. That was when they knew it was a military aircraft,” he said.

The governor described the incident as a painful development, noting that the crash occurred not only in Ondo State but also in his home local government area.

“So it’s a sad situation today. And we’re all really, really agreed as a Nigerian. And also it happens in my own state, not just my state, even in my own local government where I’m from,” he said.

Aiyedatiwa expressed sympathy for the military personnel involved, describing them as officers assigned to protect the territorial integrity of Nigeria.

The Nigerian Air Force had earlier confirmed that an ATR-42 aircraft with tail number NGR 931 crashed in Igbokoda while on a routine mission from Benin, Edo State, to Lagos.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, said preliminary information indicated that 25 passengers and seven crew members were on board the aircraft.

The Nigerian Air Force said search and rescue operations were ongoing following the crash.

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Sacked Works Commissioner: Release or Charge Him to Court, Oganiru Izzi Challenges Nwifuru

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“If You Have Evidence Against Stanley Mbam, Charge Him; Otherwise, Release Him” — Oganiru Izzi

A socio-cultural organisation of Izzi extraction, Oganiru Izzi, has challenged Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, to either release the state’s sacked Commissioner for Works, Mr Stanley Mbam, or charge him before a competent court if the government has credible evidence of wrongdoing against him.

The group said the continued detention of the former commissioner without a formal charge raises concerns about due process, constitutional rights and the rule of law.

The leader of Oganiru Izzi, Mr Godwin Mbam, made the demand while speaking with correspondents of National Issue Newspapers at the Crack Department of the Ebonyi State Police Command in Abakaliki.

Mbam condemned what he described as the prolonged detention of Stanley Mbam without allowing a court to determine whether he had committed any offence.

He challenged the state government to produce evidence if it believes the former commissioner committed a criminal offence.

“If there is credible evidence against him, charge him to court and let the court decide. If there is no case against him, he should be released,” Mbam said.

He also appealed to the Ebonyi State Police Command to uphold the Constitution and resist any pressure that could result in unlawful detention.

Vanco Flyover: “We Will Reveal the Full Details”

Mbam also issued a three-day challenge to Governor Nwifuru, declaring that if the former commissioner was not released or charged to court, his organisation would make public what it described as the “full details” of the Vanco Flyover project.

According to him, the proposed disclosure would address issues surrounding the project, including its funding, payments, contractual arrangements and other financial details.

“We will let the world know the full details of the Vanco Flyover and how the funds were utilised,” he warned.

He further challenged the state government to demonstrate transparency by making relevant documents concerning the project available to the public.

“What About the Alleged ₦1.5 Billion Forfeiture?”

The Izzi group also questioned what it described as the selective application of the state government’s anti-corruption campaign.

Mbam referred to allegations involving an account reportedly frozen by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and an alleged ₦1.5 billion forfeiture to the Federal Government.

He questioned why, according to him, the governor had allegedly not taken similar action if the facts surrounding the matter warranted it.

Mbam stressed that he was not opposed to the fight against corruption but insisted that any anti-corruption campaign must be comprehensive, transparent and applied equally.

“If Governor Nwifuru wants to fight corruption, let him fight it holistically. Nobody should be targeted while other serious allegations are ignored,” he said.

“If Nwifuru Says He Knows Nothing, We Will Produce the Facts”

Mbam further challenged Governor Nwifuru to publicly state whether he was aware of alleged corruption issues within the Ministry of Works.

“If Nwifuru publicly claims that he is unaware of corruption in the Works Ministry, I will make public the facts available to me. The facts will shock the state,” he declared.

He insisted that the matter should not degenerate into a political vendetta, arguing that the appropriate place to determine criminal liability is a court of law.

According to him, the people of Ebonyi State deserve clear answers concerning the Vanco Flyover and other issues involving public funds.

“Everybody Should Be Subject to the Law”

The Oganiru Izzi leader maintained that the controversy should be resolved through transparency, documentary evidence and due process.

“If there is a case, charge him. If there is no case, release him. The government cannot claim to be fighting corruption while abandoning the principles of justice and the rule of law,” he said.

Mbam warned that failure to address the issues could compel the organisation to make further disclosures concerning the Vanco Flyover and other matters it considers to be in the public interest.

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Nigeria at 66: Ebonyi Reps Candidate Urges Nigerians to Keep Hope Alive

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By Our Correspondent

As Nigeria celebrates its 66th Independence Anniversary, the candidate for the House of Representatives seat representing the Ezza South/Ikwo Federal Constituency, Hon. Chief Kevin Tobias Chukwu, has called on Nigerians to remain hopeful and committed to building a better country.

Chukwu, also known as Ochiri Ozua 1 of Amagu Ikwo, made the call in an Independence Day message to Nigerians, particularly the people of Ezza South/Ikwo Federal Constituency and Ebonyi State.

He described the anniversary as not only a moment for celebration but also an opportunity to reflect on the state of the nation and the responsibilities of leaders in building a Nigeria that meets the aspirations of its citizens.

According to him, Nigeria’s journey since independence has been marked by significant challenges, with millions of citizens currently facing economic hardship, while young people continue to search for opportunities and many communities contend with insecurity and uncertainty.

Despite these challenges, the Ebonyi politician said the resilience of Nigerians remained a source of hope for the country’s future.

“I believe in the resilience of our people. I believe in the ingenuity of our youths, the strength of our women, the wisdom of our elders and the determination of ordinary Nigerians who wake up every morning and refuse to give up on this country,” he said.

Chukwu, however, stressed that hope must be matched by responsible leadership, arguing that public office should be viewed as a responsibility rather than a privilege.

He called for leadership that prioritises the protection of lives, creation of economic opportunities, provision of infrastructure, strengthening of institutions and responsible management of national resources.

The candidate also emphasised the need to create an environment where young Nigerians can pursue successful lives within the country and where hard work, merit and enterprise are rewarded.

He said Nigeria had “come too far to surrender to hopelessness,” urging citizens and leaders alike to remain committed to the country’s progress.

“A better Nigeria is still possible, but it will require responsible leadership, accountable institutions and citizens who refuse to give up on their country,” he said.

Chukwu concluded by expressing optimism about Nigeria’s future, declaring: “Nigeria will rise. Nigeria must rise. And together, we must build the Nigeria we deserve.”

He also paid tribute to the nation’s past heroes, praying that their sacrifices would continue to inspire the country.

“May the labour of our heroes past never be in vain,” he said, as he wished Nigerians a happy 66th Independence Anniversary.

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Nigeria @66: Democracy Evolving, Says Anambra APC Chairman Anosike

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By Okey Maduforo, Awka

As Nigeria celebrates its 66th anniversary of independence from colonial rule, democracy in the country has continued to evolve and deepen, the Anambra State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Emma Anosike, has said.

Anosike made the observation in a message to mark Nigeria’s Independence anniversary, noting that despite the challenges the country had encountered since 1960, its democratic system had continued to improve under successive administrations.

According to him, since the return to democratic rule in 1999, Nigeria has witnessed relatively smooth transitions from one administration to another, while citizens have continued to exercise their fundamental rights to hold governments accountable for their performance.

“Before the return of the democratic process, it was indeed difficult and near taboo to challenge the leadership of the country, and those who may have attempted it in the past faced grave consequences.

“Similarly, we have had smooth transitions from one dispensation to another, producing five presidents through the ballot and not through the barrel of the gun. These elected presidents were produced by different political parties.”

Anosike said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had sustained the country’s democratic principles and created an avenue for Nigerians, irrespective of tribe, race or religion, to express their views on government policies and programmes.

“Under the stewardship of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigerians have been enjoying the freedom to express themselves over issues, policies and programmes of government, and those expressions have been shaping and guiding the administration of Mr President,” he said.

The APC chairman said Nigeria’s 66th independence anniversary provided an opportunity for citizens to reflect on the country’s journey as a nation and the progress made since independence.

He said President Tinubu’s Independence Day broadcast had offered another opportunity for Nigerians to renew their hope for a greater and more prosperous country.

Anosike also commended what he described as the “enormous infrastructural development” taking place across the country under the Tinubu administration.

He urged Nigerians to continue to support and have faith in the administration as the country approaches the 2027 general elections.

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