‘Go To Court, Dirtiest Governor In Africa’, Ekwunife Fires Back At Soludo, Says Anambra Now A K!lling Field

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September 9, 2025

The Deputy Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State, Senator Uche Ekwunife, has issued a fiery response to allegations by Governor Chukwuma Soludo, who recently questioned the authenticity of her academic qualifications.

In a video circulating on social media, Ekwunife addressed the governor directly, defending her educational background and accusing him of poor leadership.

She challenged Soludo to seek legal redress if he believes her PhD certificate is fraudulent.

“If Soludo is convinced my certificate is fake, he should go to court,” she said, adding that her academic records can be independently verified at the University of Calabar for her first degree, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka for her Masters and the U.S institution where she obtained her PhD.

Ekwunife also questioned the legitimacy of Soludo’s own academic and professional standing, describing his professorship as “a departmental title” and calling his criticisms a distraction from his failure in office.

Taking a swipe at the governor’s performance, the APC deputy candidate accused Soludo of overseeing a period of increasing insecurity and instability in Anambra State.

According to her, the state has witnessed rising violence, including the deaths of two House of Assembly members during his tenure.

“Before Soludo came in, Anambra was peaceful. Now, people are afraid to visit. People used to come in droves every Thursday, now they are fleeing,” she alleged.

Ekwunife painted a grim picture of the current state of affairs in Anambra, saying that parts of the state have become unsafe and that residents now live in fear, with incidents of violence and insecurity reportedly on the rise.

In her emotional address, she also made several personal attacks on the governor, accusing him of being “the dirtiest governor in Africa” and hurling unprintable insults.

Tinubu Orders Overhaul Of Military Operations Following Deadly Borno Attack

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Dailygazettenig

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September 9, 2025

In response to Friday’s devastating Boko Haram attack in the Darajamal community, Borno State, President Bola Tinubu has directed a comprehensive review of military operations across Nigeria.

The decision includes reassessing the deployment of advanced weaponry and surveillance systems.

The attack, which claimed the lives of 63 people, comprising five soldiers and nearly 58 civilians, many of whom were resettled internally displaced persons, occurred in a community recently repopulated after earlier displacement .

Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima extended his sympathies to the people of Borno State, the governor and military families.

He reiterated President Tinubu’s order instructing the Armed Forces to review security operations and expand the use of military assets including drones to eliminate terrorist threats nationwide .

Shettima emphasized:

“These deaths have left the entire nation in collective grief, but we are confident that justice will be served…”

He also affirmed that the government is evaluating the establishment of state police units to enhance security in vulnerable communities .

Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum visited Darajamal on Saturday, where he extended heartfelt condolences to bereaved families and described the attack as “very sad and unfortunate.”

Calling for broader security support, he urged the immediate deployment of Forest Guards, recently trained militants familiar with the terrain, to support beleaguered military efforts .

In the immediate aftermath, Nigerian forces, operating under Operation Hadin Kai, conducted joint air and ground operations.

These efforts resulted in the neutralization of more than 30 insurgents as they attempted to flee into the Sambisa Forest .

The attack stirred national outrage.

Leaders including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, the United Nations, and Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume condemned the massacre and demanded accountability.

Senator Ndume underscored the urgent need for improved military technology, from drones to armed community units, to bolster local security capabilities .

Nottingham Forest Appoint Postecoglou As New Manager

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Dailygazettenig

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September 9, 2025

Nottingham Forest have announced the appointment of Ange Postecoglou as their new manager, following the departure of Nuno Espírito Santo, who was dismissed after a breakdown in his relationship with club owner Evangelos Marinakis.

Postecoglou, 60, will take charge for the first time in Forest’s Premier League clash against Arsenal this Saturday.

The club currently sits 10th in the table with four points from three games.

Nuno, who joined in December 2023, guided Forest to European qualification last season, their first in three decades, by finishing seventh.

However, tensions reportedly escalated between him and Marinakis during the summer, particularly after Forest missed out on Champions League football and following public comments Nuno made about the club’s transfer dealings.

Despite his successful season, Nuno became the first managerial casualty of the 2025/26 Premier League season.

The club confirmed his departure in a late-night statement on Tuesday:

“Following recent circumstances, Nuno Espírito Santo has today been relieved of his duties as head coach,” the club said.

“The club thanks Nuno for his contribution during a very successful era at the City Ground, in particular his role in the 2024/25 season, which will forever be remembered fondly in the history of the club.”

Postecoglou’s appointment marks his return to Premier League management just three months after being sacked by Tottenham Hotspur, despite winning the Europa League and ending the club’s 17-year trophy drought.

His dismissal came after Spurs endured their worst league finish since 1976/77, ending the season in 17th place.

Forest’s owner, Evangelos Marinakis, expressed strong confidence in Postecoglou’s ability to lead the club to further success:

“We are bringing a coach to the club who has a proven and consistent record of winning trophies,” said Marinakis.

“His experience of coaching teams at the highest level, along with his desire to build something special with us at Forest, makes him a fantastic person to help us on our journey and achieve consistently all our ambitions.”

Postecoglou’s previous successes include winning silverware with Tottenham, Celtic, Yokohama Marinos, and the Australian national team.

Forest’s rise under Nuno was built on a pragmatic, defense-first strategy, but Postecoglou is known for his attacking and possession-based style.

His appointment signals a possible tactical shift as the club aims to build on last season’s achievements.

Marinakis made clear the club’s vision to continue progressing:

“After gaining promotion to the Premier League, then building consistently season after season to secure European football, we now must take the right step to compete with the very best and challenge for trophies,” he added.

“Ange has the credentials and the track-record to do this, and we are excited he is joining us on our ambitious journey.”

Nuno’s relationship with the club began to sour toward the end of last season. A tense on-pitch exchange between him and Marinakis followed a 2-2 draw with Leicester in May.

The disagreement reportedly stemmed from the decision to allow striker Taiwo Awoniyi to continue playing despite an injury that later required urgent surgery.

He further stoked tensions by criticizing the club’s transfer activity during pre-season, saying he was “worried” about Forest’s prospects and that his squad was “unbalanced.”

Although Forest later added 13 players under new sporting director Edu Gaspar, the rift had already widened.

Firearms Recovered, Cultist Arrested As Enugu Police Intensify Anti-Crime Operations

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September 9, 2025

The Enugu State Police Command has recorded significant breakthroughs in its ongoing clampdown on criminal activities across the state, arresting suspects and recovering firearms and ammunition in multiple intelligence-driven operations.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, said the successful operations were part of the Police’s continued commitment to maintaining law and order in the state.

On September 6, 2025, at approximately 4:00 pm, operatives of the Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad, in collaboration with the Neighbourhood Watch Group, stormed a suspected criminal hideout in Ameke Ngwo, Udi Local Government Area, acting on credible intelligence.

Upon sighting the operatives, a group of suspects fled the scene, abandoning a bag believed to contain weapons.

A search of the bag led to the recovery of two locally fabricated firearms, a triple-barrelled pistol and a single-barrelled pistol.

In another incident, on September 5 at about 11:05 pm, patrol officers from the Abakpa Police Division arrested Peter Kalu, a 26-year-old resident of Enugu, for causing a public disturbance.

A search conducted on the suspect revealed a locally fabricated imitation pistol in his possession.

Three days earlier, on September 3 at around 11:00 pm, operatives of the Umabor Police Division, supported by local vigilantes, intervened to rescue Ugwu Collins, 23, from a mob who had caught him allegedly threatening a man with a firearm.

Upon his arrest, officers recovered a locally made double-barrelled pistol loaded with one live cartridge.

During interrogation, Collins reportedly confessed to being a member of the Black Axe Confraternity, a notorious cult group.

SP Ndukwe confirmed that investigations into the three cases are ongoing.

The suspects will be charged to court once the investigations are concluded.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Mamman Bitrus Giwa, commended the officers involved for their prompt and decisive actions.

He reaffirmed the Command’s unwavering resolve to rid the state of criminal elements.

“These arrests and recoveries are proof of our determination to make Enugu a safer place,” CP Giwa stated.

“We urge residents to remain law-abiding, vigilant, and cooperative by providing timely and credible information to the Police.”

The Police Command also reiterated its appeal to the public to report any suspicious activities, assuring citizens of confidentiality and swift response to distress calls.

BREAKING: Tension In Onitsha As Soludo’s OCHA Brigade Allegedly K!lls Pregnant Woman, Three Others

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September 9, 2025

Tension and outrage gripped the city of Onitsha on Tuesday morning following reports that operatives of the Anambra State government-backed OCHA Brigade allegedly opened fire in the bustling Emeka Offor Plaza axis of Onitsha Main Market.

The incident reportedly claimed the lives of four people, including a pregnant woman.

Eyewitnesses at the scene described a terrifying atmosphere as panic swept through the area.

Traders and residents were seen fleeing in all directions amid the sounds of gunfire.

“This is heartbreaking. Four innocent people who left their homes this morning have been cut down in cold blood. Among them is a pregnant woman.”

“Anambra people are now living in fear because criminals have been handed guns and uniforms in the name of government enforcement,” a visibly distraught trader told reporters.

The exact reason for the shootings remains unclear as of press time, and efforts to ascertain what prompted the violence have so far yielded no official explanations.

According to multiple accounts, the victims were ordinary citizens who had set out for their daily business.

Allegedly, they were caught in a wave of gunfire unleashed by heavily armed members of the OCHA Brigade, a team often associated with state enforcement activities under the administration of Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo.

The group has faced growing criticism over the years for its alleged involvement in harassment, brutality and excessive use of force in the guise of enforcing market regulations and environmental laws.

Tuesday’s incident has reignited those concerns.

“Anambra people are now living in fear because criminals have been handed guns and uniforms in the name of government enforcement,” the same trader added, visibly shaken by the event.

At the time of filing this report, neither the Anambra State Government nor the OCHA Brigade has issued an official statement regarding the incident or the deaths reported.

Speaker Abbas Makes U-turn, Denies Criticising Nigeria’s Borrowing Practices

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September 9, 2025

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has refuted claims that he condemned Nigeria’s borrowing strategy, clarifying that his comments were aimed at calling for better oversight and fiscal reforms, not a blanket disapproval of public debt.

At the recent West Africa Association of Public Accounts Committees (WAAPAC) conference, Abbas represented by Hon. Babatunde Salam raised concerns over the country’s growing debt profile.

He noted that as of Q1 2025, Nigeria’s public debt stood at ₦149.39 trillion (approximately $97 billion), with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 52%, surpassing the statutory ceiling of 40%.

“This is not just a budgetary concern but a structural crisis that demands urgent parliamentary attention and coordinated reform,” Abbas was quoted as saying.

However, following media reports suggesting he criticised the Federal Government’s borrowing, his Special Adviser on New Media, Jowosimi Enitan, issued a clarification, stating that the Speaker’s position had been misrepresented.

“For the record, Speaker Abbas never condemned borrowing,” Enitan said.

“On the contrary, he emphasised that when managed prudently, public debt can serve as a tool for economic growth.”

Enitan explained that the Speaker supports responsible borrowing tied to measurable development outcomes, such as infrastructure, education, and healthcare.

He also praised the Tinubu administration’s efforts to boost non-oil revenue and reduce reliance on loans.

“For the first time in decades, Nigeria has met its 2025 revenue target ahead of schedule, without borrowing. This is proof that with discipline and focus, economic sovereignty is achievable,” Enitan added.

The statement further stressed that oversight of public debt is both a constitutional mandate and a moral obligation for the legislature.

“The Speaker’s message was a call for transparency, accountability, and stronger legislative oversight, not an attack on the government’s economic strategy,” Enitan concluded.

Fuel Scarcity Looms As Truce Between Dangote, NUPENG Hits The Rocks

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Dailygazettenig

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September 9, 2025

Efforts by the Federal Government to resolve a standoff between the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Dangote Refinery ended in a stalemate early Monday, with both sides refusing to reach a compromise.

The marathon emergency meeting, convened in Abuja by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, aimed to address NUPENG’s allegations of anti-union practices at the Dangote Refinery.

Presiding over the talks, Labour Minister Alhaji Muhammad Dingyadi confirmed that no agreement had been reached.

“We’ve not been able to reach a final agreement. Negotiations will continue. Hopefully, we’ll resolve this soon,” he told reporters.

He urged all parties to remain calm as discussions proceed.

However, the meeting reportedly collapsed after representatives from the Dangote Group walked out, a move that angered labour leaders.

Mr. Benson Upah, Acting General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), accused Dangote’s team of undermining the negotiation:

“They walked out on the Honourable Minister and Organised Labour. Even when we made concessions, they refused to engage sincerely. We’re left with no option, the strike continues.”

Despite the breakdown, Upah said the labour movement remains open to meaningful dialogue.

“We are ready to talk, even tonight, if they come back. But we cannot negotiate with ourselves.”

NUPENG President Williams Akporeha strongly criticized the Dangote Refinery, accusing it of attempting to suppress workers’ rights and monopolise Nigeria’s energy sector.

“We cannot support an investor who seeks to enslave Nigerians. The refinery has refused to let workers unionise. Nigerians have supported him; he should not repay them with oppression.”

Akporeha warned that the union’s ongoing action is in the interest of all Nigerian workers.

“Dangote cannot take us back to the dark days of slavery. We say no to this.”

Chukwueze, Nwabali Confident As Super Eagles Face Crucial South Africa Clash

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September 9, 2025

As the Super Eagles prepare to face South Africa today in Bloemfontein, players say the match is their biggest challenge yet in the bid to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Nigeria’s journey to the global tournament has been rocky.

They missed the 2022 edition in Qatar after losing the final qualification spot to Ghana on away goals, drawing 0-0 in Cape Coast and 1-1 in Abuja.

It was their second absence from the World Cup, having failed to qualify for the 2006 edition as well, when Angola edged them out on goal difference.

This year’s qualification campaign has shown similar signs of difficulty.

The Super Eagles currently sit third in Group C with 10 points, trailing South Africa (16 points) and Benin Republic (11 points).

To stand any chance of qualification, Nigeria must beat South Africa and win their remaining matches against Lesotho and Benin Republic.

They’re also hoping for a favorable ruling from FIFA regarding South Africa’s fielding of ineligible player Tehobo Mokoena in an earlier match against Lesotho.

A points deduction could swing the group standings in Nigeria’s favor.

Despite the odds, Super Eagles forward Samuel Chukwueze remains upbeat.

Speaking ahead of the match, he praised South Africa as a well-organised team but expressed full belief in Nigeria’s ability to win.

“We are Nigerians, and we don’t fear anybody,” Chukwueze declared confidently.
“We know how important it is to win this game. We’re treating it like a final.”

He added that he hopes the match environment in Bloemfontein will allow for quality football.

Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, who plays club football in South Africa, echoed Chukwueze’s optimism.

He said the team is focused and prepared to face a potentially hostile crowd.

“We have a strong squad that can compete with any team. South Africa is on top of the group for a reason, but we’re not intimidated,” said Nwabali.

“People judge us based on the Rwanda match, but every game is different. Teams always bring their best when they play Nigeria.”

Nwabali emphasized that qualification requires collective effort, not just from the players, but from the entire nation.

“We will be at the World Cup, 100 percent. But we need every Nigerian’s support. This isn’t a solo mission, it’s a team effort,” he said.