Author: GANUX

 

Management and staff of the Peoples Democratic Party have thrown their weight behind the PDP Governors’ Forum and the National Working Committee in recognising Deputy National Secretary, Arch. Setonji Koshoedo, as the acting National Secretary.

 

At a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, PDP’s Director of Administration, Gurama Bawa, on behalf of the 83 staff, voiced concern over ongoing leadership issues, especially regarding the National Secretary role.

 

The PDP has faced internal turmoil since the 2023 elections, escalating in December 2024 when a lower court named former National Youth Leader, Sunday Ude-Okoye, as National Secretary.

 

While the PDP Governors’ Forum, Board of Trustees, and NWC accepted the ruling, Senator Samuel Anyanwu challenged it at the Supreme Court, which on March 21 dismissed his removal, stating that internal party matters are not for courts to decide.

 

In response, PDP governors on April 14 asked the South East to nominate a new secretary and named Koshoedo. The NWC later endorsed him at its 600th meeting on April 29.

 

Despite these efforts, the dispute over the National Secretary’s role persists, splitting party leadership.

 

To address this, serving and former governors appointed ex-Senate President Bukola Saraki to lead a 7-member committee to reconcile differences before the May 27 NEC meeting and the August elective convention.

 

Bawa, joined by about 83 other PDP staff, expressed their strong desire and concern to see the issues resolved promptly.

 

He stated, “After a thorough consideration, the management and staff of the PDP National Secretariat unanimously align with and declare unalloyed loyalty to the recommendation of the PDP Governor’s Forum as adopted by the NWC in recognising and working with Arch Setonji Koshoedo as the Acting National Secretary of our party in line with the provisions of the PDP Constitution.

“We believe that the NWC’s directive that Arch Setonji Koshoedo acts as National Secretary is in the overall interest of the stability of our party being the best step at the moment to restore the confidence of members of the party and preserve the integrity of our internal processes given the sensitive nature of the office of the National Secretary in the operation of a political party.”

 

The PDP staff also urged Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum to take all necessary measures to ensure the NEC meeting holds as planned.

 

They emphasised that the meeting is crucial for addressing key issues and reinforcing the party’s core values of unity, discipline, loyalty, and adherence to its constitution.

 

He added, “The judgement of the Supreme Court led to renewed disputation as Senator Anyanwu argued that it was in his favour because the judgements of both the Enugu State High Court and the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division were struct-out by the Supreme Court for lack of jurisdiction.

 

“However, the NWC in an official statement on the same March 21, 2025, stated that the Supreme Court judgment settled the emergence of SKE Udeh Okoye as the National Secretary having been duly nominated, endorsed and ratified through the internal mechanism of the PDP statutory organs and bodies in line with provisions of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017).

“As you may recall, in its bid to find a lasting solution, the PDP Governor’s Forum at its meeting on Monday, April 14, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State capital reiterated its position endorsing Hon Udeh Okoye as National Secretary but recommended that in the light of the Supreme Court Judgment, the Deputy National Secretary, Arch Setonji Koshoedo should act as the National Secretary pending the nomination and ratification of a substantive National Secretary from the South East Zone and National Executive Committee respectively at its next meeting.

 

“This recommendation, which is in consonance with Section 36 (2) of the PDP Constitution, was duly adopted by the NWC in its 600th meeting held on April 29, 2025 wherein in exercise of its powers under Section 29(2)(b) of the PDP Constitution directed the Deputy National Secretary, Arch Setonji Koshoedo, to act as the National Secretary pending the emergence of a substantive National Secretary.”

 

The PDP Management Staff acknowledged and valued Senator Anyanwu’s contributions to the party’s growth and success.

 

A major scandal has rocked the Lagos State civil service after it was revealed that 30% of civil servants sent abroad for training have failed to return to Nigeria.

 

The Lagos State Commissioner for Establishments and Training, Afolabi Ayantayo, revealed this during a press briefing on Wednesday, to mark the second anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term in office.

 

Speaking openly, Ayantayo said the government’s goal of building a better workforce through international training has been affected by the growing “Japa syndrome”—a slang term used to describe the increasing number of Nigerians leaving the country for better opportunities abroad.

 

“When asked how many staff returned home from such training,” Ayantayo said grimly, “while 70% returned, 30% failed to come back.”

 

He explained that the state is serious about training its workers, saying, “A total of 23,420 staff members benefitted from various training interventions between May 2022 and December 2024.

 

“Within the same period, over 185 training programmes were organised which cut across multiple cadres, skill levels and thematic areas relevant to public sector efficiency, leadership development and regulatory compliance.”

Despite this large investment, the fact that nearly a third of the trainees stayed back abroad has raised serious concerns about how the programme is monitored and how the state plans to retain its workers.

 

Ayantayo also said about 8,000 civil servants across various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies have been granted study leave in the last three years to improve their qualifications and skills.

 

He highlighted some of the ministry’s achievements, including Governor Sanwo-Olu’s approval of a N35,000 wage increase for workers to reduce the effect of economic hardship.

 

In the health sector, Ayantayo said the state has paid the Medical Residency Training Fund, Rural Allowance for Primary Healthcare Workers, and also given bonuses and wage awards to staff of the Lagos State College of Medicine.

 

However, when asked about severance packages for political appointees whose terms have ended, the Commissioner “was, however, silent on the amount of severance allowance the state government paid to political office holders whose tenure have expired.”

 

Barry Showkey Set to Drop New Single “ROBOROBO” on May 1

Balogun Adewale Akanji, popularly known as Barry Showkey, is set to make a grand return to the music scene with his much-anticipated single “ROBOROBO,” scheduled for release on May 15, 2025.

 

Barry Showkey is the son of the legendary Fuji music pioneer, Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, also known as Alhaji Agba Barusati, who is widely credited with the invention of Fuji music. Like his father, Barry Showkey is a multi-talented artist, blending traditional roots with modern sounds to create a unique musical experience.

 

Speaking ahead of the release, Barry Showkey revealed that “ROBOROBO” marks his first major release in years, signaling his renewed commitment to pushing the boundaries of Fuji music. He also spoke about the influence and guidance of his father, saying:

 

“My father always told me, ‘focus on your own path, build your legacy, don’t depend on mine.’ That’s the energy behind ROBOROBO. It’s about authenticity, resilience, and rhythm.”

 

The single will be distributed globally by Digital Music Commerce and Exchange (DMCE) across over 30 digital music platforms, including:

 

Spotify, Apple Music, Boomplay, YouTube Music, Audiomack, Deezer, TIDAL, Pandora, SoundCloud, TikTok, Amazon Music, and many more.

 

In addition to being a musician, Barry Showkey is part of a musical family, with his younger brother Barry Jhay also making waves in the Nigerian music industry. However, Barry Showkey has carved out his own path, choosing to explore a sound that pays homage to his roots while embracing a fresh, contemporary direction.

 

“ROBOROBO” is expected to be a major comeback hit, and fans of Fuji, Afrobeats, and Nigerian music culture are eagerly awaiting its debut.

 

Release Date: May 15, 2025

Distributed by: Digital Music Commerce and Exchange (DMCE)

Platforms: All major global digital streaming platforms

 

Award-winning novelist, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, has been announced as the headliner of the 2025 Things Fall Apart Festival, a week-long celebration of Chinua Achebe’s literary legacy.

 

The Centre for Memories, organisers of the festival, in an Instagram post on Tuesday, said the festival will take place from June 29 to July 5, 2025, at the Centre for Memories in Enugu.

 

“We are screaming with excitement because the iconic Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie — globally celebrated novelist, feminist, and one of the most powerful literary voices of our time — is coming home to headline the Things Fall Apart Festival 2025, taking place from June 29 to July 5 at the Centre for Memories, Enugu!

 

“Adichie, fresh from her worldwide tour for her new book “Dream Count,” joins us to honour one of her greatest inspirations, the legendary Chinua Achebe, the pre-eminent storyteller whose words redefined African literature and consciousness,” the statement read.

The statement added, “Adichie will reflect on storytelling, cultural rootedness, and the timeless dialogue between history and identity. Her presence marks a powerful moment in our collective exploration of the festival’s theme:

“Masculine, Feminine, Human: The Dialogue of Complements in Things Fall Apart.”

 

Organisers said the festival will feature dramatic performances, tech-driven storytelling, art exhibitions, film screenings, memory walks, youth programmes and a reimagined Umuofia village experience.

 

An essay competition and saloon-style conversations are also scheduled to be held throughout the week.

 

The United States and Europe must put together new sanctions to “suffocate” Russia’s economy in order to force Vladimir Putin to end the war against Ukraine, France’s foreign minister said on Wednesday.

 

The EU on Wednesday approved a fresh package of sanctions on Russia, but Jean-Noel Barrot pointed out that multiple rounds of punitive measures have failed to halt Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, now in its fourth year.

 

“We will have to go further, because these massive sanctions have not yet deterred Vladimir Putin from continuing his war of aggression against Ukraine,” Barrot told broadcaster BFMTV.

 

“We must prepare to impose devastating sanctions that could suffocate the Russian economy once and for all,” he said.

 

Barrot said that he was set to meet US Senator Lindsey Graham in Turkey on Thursday to discuss a US sanctions bill he was working on.

 

Graham has rallied dozens of lawmakers to support a plan to impose additional sanctions on Moscow as well as tariffs on countries that buy Russian energy.

 

Graham “has designed a package of extremely powerful sanctions”, with tariffs of 500 percent on countries that continue to import Russian oil, the French foreign minister said.

 

“Russia has found ways to circumvent the blockade imposed by Europe and the United States,” Barrot said.

“Turning off the tap in this way is a way of grabbing Russia by the throat,” he added.

 

“I hope that Europe will in turn be able to impose sanctions on hydrocarbons,” Barrot said.

 

On Saturday, the leaders of France, Britain, Germany and Poland called on Russia to accept a 30-day unconditional ceasefire starting this week, but to no avail.

 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on Putin to personally attend upcoming Russia-Ukraine talks in Turkey on Thursday, but Moscow has so far not said who will go.

 

On Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Europeans would slap Russia with more sanctions if it did not agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine.

 

The 17th round of sanctions aims to clamp down on Russia’s “shadow” oil fleet. Officials admit that the latest package is relatively limited compared to previous sanctions as the EU finds it more difficult to agree on targets.

 

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has recorded 717 confirmed Lassa fever cases out of 4,881 suspected cases from January to May 4, 2025, in 18 states, across 93 local government areas.

 

This was disclosed in the latest situation report by the NCDC on its website on Wednesday.

 

So far, the country has recorded 138 deaths with a Case Fatality Rate of 19.3 per cent.

 

The states with reported death cases are Ondo (27); Bauchi (15); Edo (19); Taraba (34); Ebonyi (11); Kogi (four); Gombe (seven), Plateau (five), Benue (five), Nasarawa (four), Kaduna (two), Enugu (one), Delta (two), Cross-River (one), and Ogun (one).

 

Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic fever caused by the Lassa virus.

 

The natural reservoir for the virus is the multimammate rat (also known as the African rat), although other rodents can also act as carriers.

 

The report partly read, “In week 18, the number of new confirmed cases decreased from 11 in epi week 17, of 2025, to 10. These were reported in Ondo, Edo, Bauchi and Benue States.

 

“Cumulatively in week 18, 2025, 138 deaths have been reported with a CFR of 19.2 per cent which is higher than the CFR for the same period in 2024 (18.0 per cent).

“In total for 2025, 18 States have recorded at least one confirmed case across 93 Local Government Areas.”

 

It stated that 71 per cent of all confirmed Lassa fever cases were reported from three states (Ondo, Bauchi and Taraba) while 28 per cent were reported from 15 states with confirmed Lassa fever cases.

 

It added that of the 71 per cent confirmed cases, Ondo reported 30 per cent, Bauchi 25 per cent, and Taraba 16 per cent.

 

The predominant age group affected is 21-30 years (Range: 1 to 96 years, Median Age: 30 years); and the male-to-female ratio for confirmed cases is 1:0.8.

 

“The number of suspected and confirmed cases decreased compared to that reported for the same period in 2024.

 

“No new healthcare worker was affected in the reporting week 18.

“The National Lassa fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Incident Management System activated to coordinate the response activities at all levels,” it noted.

 

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, on Wednesday, declared that there was no fraud uncovered in the student loan scheme.

Alausa made this known at the end of a meeting held with Vice Chancellors, officials of the National Universities Commission, Nigerian Education Loan Fund and the Federal Ministry of Education.

 

Alausa also described the statement put up by the Independent and Corrupt Practices Commission and other related offences as incorrect.

 

“Let me start by saying that there is no fraud in NELFUND. ICPC reported that the information was not correct. There is no fraud in NELFUND; what we have are issues that have to do with the timeline.”

 

Recently, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission said it commenced a comprehensive investigation into alleged discrepancies surrounding the disbursement of student loans under the Nigeria Education Loan Fund.

 

The commission said its preliminary findings revealed that while the Federal Government released N100 billion for the scheme, only N28.8 billion was disbursed to students, leaving N71.2b unaccounted for.

Worried by the development, the National Association of Nigerian Students vowed to protest the alleged discrepancy.

 

The National Orientation Agency had alleged that certain schools, conniving with some banks, delayed payments to students who qualified for loans so they could make money off the situation.

 

This followed a media report that alleged that some institutions made unauthorised deductions ranging from N3,500 to N30,000 from students’ fees received from the loan fund.

 

In a statement last Thursday by the ICPC spokesperson, Demola Bakare, the commission stated that its Special Task Force immediately commenced investigations upon receiving the allegations.

 

The Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has officially inaugurated the Cross River State Diaspora Commission to engage Cross Riverians abroad in state policies and development projects.

 

Speaking during the inauguration on Tuesday in his office in Calabar, Otu emphasised the critical role the commission will play across the global diaspora community.

 

He said, “I welcome and congratulate you all. You have an important job to do: manage our people in the diaspora and build the image of Cross River on a global scale. The task is crucial, and I encourage you to give it your best shot. We expect you to start work immediately and build on the foundation we have laid.”

 

The commission is expected to serve as a bridge between the government and Cross Riverians in the diaspora, fostering investment, cultural exchange, and strategic partnerships that contribute to the state’s development.

The commission’s mandate also includes fostering unity among Cross Riverians abroad, facilitating developmental initiatives, and serving as a strategic arm for foreign relations and investments.

 

In his response, the Chairman of the Cross River State Diaspora Commission, Otu Esu Okor, described the appointment as an honourable call to serve.

 

He stated, “We are grateful to His Excellency for giving us this platform to contribute our quota to the growth of our beloved state. We are already in talks with diaspora partners to attract investments to Cross River. We will not fail.”

 

Global sales of electric vehicles are expected to exceed 20 million this year, accounting for more than 25 per cent of all vehicles sold.

 

This is according to a report by the International Energy Agency on Wednesday.

 

Global EV outlook report says that sales continue to grow in spite of uncertainties in the global economy and pressures on the automotive sector.

 

While global sales exceeded 17 million in 2024, the market share of these vehicles exceeded 20 per cent for the first time.

 

China maintained its leadership in the market, accounting for more than half of last year’s sales.

 

The 11 million electric vehicles sold in China in 2024 equaled the total number of electric vehicles sold worldwide in 2022.

 

The EV sales in emerging markets in Asia and Latin America also climbed by 60per cent last year.

 

In the U.S., the sales were up by 10 per cent year-on-year, while they remained stagnant in Europe as incentives and supportive policies weakened.

 

Two-thirds of electric vehicles sold in China in 2024 were priced below conventional vehicles in spite of a lack of purchase incentives, but the gap between electric and conventional vehicle prices remained wide in many countries.

In the first three months of this year, electric vehicle sales rose by 35 per cent year-on-year.

 

It said that with continued growth, total electric vehicle sales are expected to exceed 20 million this year.

 

“EVs remain consistently cheaper to operate across many markets, based on current energy market prices.

 

“Even if oil prices were to fall as low as $40 per barrel, running an electric car in Europe via home charging would still cost about half as much as running a conventional car at today’s residential electricity prices,” the report said.

 

However, Global economic growth, trade development, and industrial policies may affect the outlook for the electric vehicle sector, but sales are being supported by electric vehicle prices becoming more affordable.

“Our data shows that, despite significant uncertainties, electric cars remain on a strong growth trajectory globally. Sales continue to set new records, with major implications for the international auto industry,” said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol.

 

“This year, we expect more than one in four cars sold worldwide to be electric, with growth accelerating in many emerging economies.

 

By the end of this decade, it is set to be more than two in five cars as EVs become increasingly affordable,” he added.

 

NAN

 

Mali’s military junta has dissolved all political parties in the country.

 

A statement read on state television on Tuesday said the country’s military leader, Assimi Goita, validated the decision.

 

Last month, a national conference of political actors in Mali recommended the dissolution of all political parties and the naming of Goita as president with a five-year mandate.

 

The recommendation led to protests in Bamako on May 3 and May 4, with several hundred critics carrying placards displaying messages calling for multi-party elections.

 

They also chanted slogans like ‘Down with dictatorship, long live democracy’.

 

Ahead of another protest planned for May 9, Mali suspended political activities across the country.

 

The move forced opposition groups to cancel the demonstration.

The dissolution of political parties coincides with reports of disappearances of opposition figures, as human rights groups said several politicians have disappeared in recent days.

 

On Thursday, Human Rights Watch said in a statement that Abba Alhassane, secretary general of the Convergence for the Development of Mali (CODEM), was arrested by “masked gunmen claiming to be gendarmes” on May 8.

 

The group also said on the same day, “unidentified men” seized El Bachir Thiam, leader of the Yelema party, in the town of Kati outside Bamako.

 

Goita first seized power in August 2020 amid escalating attacks from armed groups affiliated with ISIL (ISIS), and al-Qaeda’s regional affiliate, Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM).

 

The junta originally committed to holding elections in February 2022.

 

AFP