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Irakpo Faults Fadahunsi, Says Entertainers Should Not Be Exempted in the War Against Drug Abuse

Published

3 years ago

November 26, 2022

Eric

Following the appeal by the senator representing Osun East Senatorial zone, Francis Fadahunsi, that celebrities and entertainers should be exempted in the war against drugs and substance abuse, Anti-drug Advocate , founder /president Silec Initiatives, Sunny Irakpo, has condemned the call, saying that “It is so disheartening, unfatherly, unpatriotic and highly ridiculous that a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who should be a role model and custodian of values would say something as repulsive as this in this critical moment when Nigeria is combating with so many challenges including insecurity, value depreciation and criminality.”

He opined that for a Senator to voice that the Nation Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and other regulatory bodies that are against the use of hard drugs to develop soft spots towards entertainers, simply because he feels that the entertainment industry is arguably one of the most lucrative industries that is accommodating many Nigerian youths in depressing economic condition, this position for me is not logical, belittling, unacceptable and will never hold water .

“The Senator said ” and I quote, “The only area where the youths are doing well is in the entertainment industry. That’s why I’m pleading with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) not to take the fight against drug abuse to their domain.”

As a well known anti-drug and advocacy organization in the forefront of sensitization that has witnessed first hand damages of drug abuse for over a decade in the lives of the youths in the country , we caution the law maker not to use his highly exalted office to promote drugs and cause more family and Nation troubles but rather use his office to educate on dangers of drugs and applause agency such as NDLEA that has done wonderfully in the history of Nigeria under the Buba Marwa’s administration.

Silec Initiatives therefore find this statement ludicrous and highly antagonizing to the incredible work of the Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa-led NDLEA who is saving the youths and Nation from further destruction.

Dear lawmaker since you feels that many Nigerian youths mismanaged the proceeds of COVID-19 palliatives, hence they sought refuge in the entertainment industry, agreed that the entertainment industry a good platform that should be used to absorbed the energies of youths meaningful and Government at all levels should give the industry serious attention so youths can use such channel productively to better their lives ; that should be your take and not you requesting NDLEA not to do their work as required by law . I throw this to you , because entertainment industry is lucrative so youths should deeply engaged themselves in drugs?. I think you are cut-off on reality of how drugs is currently destroying the lives of promising Nigerian youths from the family, community and National level.

You should know that countries of the world are taking drugs issues very seriously and capital punishment await violators of which many Nigerians are in a death roll just to be executed for drug trafficking.

As well meaning Nigerians have come out to challenge a parliamentarian like you with misplaced priority, questioning your motive for making such plea, we join to condemned in totality your uncalculated statement directed as read.

As good as entertainers are ,are you not aware that same entertainers have reck havoc to the lives of some youths who sees them as role model.? Is it that the laws for entertainers should be different from the laws that guide the common man on the street? We have many entertainers who remain good role models such as Alibaba, King Sunny Ade, Chief Ebenezer Obe and many more.

We have reiterated over and over again that no stone should be left unturned in our fight against drugs and substance abuse. We stand on our ground, that no matter whose ox is gored, the law enforcement agency should be allowed to do their job in the continued fight as we strive to cleanse our society of drug abuse. Every sane Nigerian knows the monumental effects of drug abuse and it is so visible to everyone how it has caused so much damages in the lives of many Nigerians, mostly our youths.

Therefore,your position as a serving Senator to maintain this stance for entertainers to have immunity to laws that pertain to drug usage , it is barbarically moved.

Our entertainers/celebrities are supposed to be role models that shouldn’t be indulging in hard drugs or showcasing their weak moral standards at the public space due to millions of followers, or its promotion as seeing with many. If drugs are the source of their inspiration and they cannot do without it, then they are not worthy of emulation. If we must build a Nigeria of our dream, then there should be no compromise in our quest to raise future leaders in all sectors of our economy.

Who says an actor, an artiste, a dancer or a producer cannot do without drugs? What happened to our compass of morality? What happened to our value system?

The level of proliferation of drugs is on the increase because of mindset like this. If we don’t come out and fight this cancer called drug abuse, we shall become victims of it’s colossal effects now and then.

We all most take a stand and condemn hard drugs in it’s entirety in order to save this generation from moral decay, habitual decadence and destruction, Irakpo concluded.

News

‘ADC Membership Hits 500,000 after INEC Derecognition of Leadership’

Published

2 hours ago

April 6, 2026

Eric

The African Democratic Congress has recorded a surge in new members following the Independent National Electoral Commission’s decision to delist Senator David Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as national chairman and national secretary of the party.

ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, revealed in a statement on his X account on Sunday that the party’s membership “had grown from over 40,000 registrations on April 2 to more than 500,000 new Nigerians joining between April 1 and today.”

INEC, through its National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, announced the delisting on April 1, citing a court order that directed the commission to maintain the status quo pending a suit challenging the legality of Mark’s leadership.

The commission removed Mark and Aregbesola from its portal and said it would not recognise Nafiu Bala Gombe, who had approached the court seeking to be declared national chairman.

Haruna explained that INEC had received conflicting legal demands from opposing camps, including a cautionary letter from Suleiman Usman SAN & Co. advising against recognising Gombe, and a counter-letter from Summit Law Chambers requesting enforcement of the Court of Appeal judgment affirming Gombe’s position.

Reacting to the development, Abdullahi and his Peoples Democratic Party counterpart, Ini Ememobong, insisted the development was “a calculated attempt to undermine democratic structures,” and urged supporters to mobilise in defence of democratic principles.

News

Yusuf Tuggar Resigns As Foreign Affairs Minister

Published

7 days ago

March 30, 2026

Eric

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has resigned.

Tuggar’s resignation was confirmed by the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, on Monday.

The minister’s action followed the directive of President Bola Tinubu to all political appointees in his administration who intend to contest elective positions in the 2027 elections to resign from their posts on or before March 31.

The president had hinged his decision on Section 88(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 and the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for party primaries ahead of the 2027 polls.

Tuggar’s resignation comes amid the speculation of his interest in contesting the 2027 Bauchi State governorship election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He is a seasoned diplomat, policymaker, and political figure who was appointed as minister by Bola Ahmed Tinubu in August 2023.

Born on March 12, 1967, he has built a distinguished career spanning diplomacy, politics, energy, and strategic consulting.

He is widely regarded for his role in shaping Nigeria’s global engagement and advancing its foreign policy priorities.

His political career includes serving as a member of the House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011, representing the Gamawa Constituency in Bauchi State.

The diplomat later contested the governorship of the state in two election cycles.

From 2017 to 2023, Tuggar served as Nigeria’s ambassador to Germany, where he played a key role in strengthening bilateral relations, enhancing trade cooperation, and promoting Nigeria’s interests in Europe.

As Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tuggar led Nigeria’s diplomatic efforts under the Tinubu administration.

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WAEC Releases Results of CB-WASSCE 2026-First Series for Private Candidates

Published

1 week ago

March 27, 2026

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has announced the release of the results of candidates, who participated in the 2026-First Series Computer-Based West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (CB-WASSCE) for private candidates.

The release notice is contained in a statement signed by the Ag. Head, Public Affairs, Moyosola F. Adesina, on behalf of the Head of National Office, and made available to The Boss.

The statement, containing the details of the number of candidates, passes and failures as well as those still undergoing processing, is produced below:

RELEASE OF RESULT OF THE COMPUTER-BASED WEST AFRICAN SENIOR SCHOOL CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION (CB-WASSCE) FOR PRIVATE CANDIDATES, 2026-FIRST SERIES

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Nigeria, wishes to announce to candidates, stakeholders and the general public that the result of the Computer-Based West African Senior School Certificate Examination (CB-WASSCE) for Private Candidates, 2026–First Series, has been released.

The examination took place in Nigeria between Wednesday, January 28, and Saturday, February 14, 2026. The Coordination of Examiners and Marking of Candidates’ Scripts were carried out at THREE (3) Marking Venues in Lagos, Enugu, and Kaduna from Thursday, February 26, to Friday, March 13, 2026. A total of SIX HUNDRED AND EIGHT (608) Examiners participated in the Coordination and Marking Exercise.

TEN THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-THREE (10,523) candidates, representing an 11.49% increase, when compared with the 2025 entry figure of NINE THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED AND THIRTY-EIGHT (9,438),enrolled for the examination, while TEN THOUSAND, FOUR HUNDRED AND EIGHTY (10,480) candidates sat the examination at ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-SIX (166) centres spread across the country.

Among the candidates that sat the examination, FORTY-THREE (43) candidates, with varying degrees of Special Needs, registered for the examination. Out of this number, ELEVEN (11) were visually impaired, FOUR (4) had impaired hearing and FOUR (4) were Albinos. All these candidates with special needs were adequately provided for in the administration of the examination.

Of the total number of TEN THOUSAND, FOUR HUNDRED AND EIGHTY (10,480) candidates that sat the examination, FIVE THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED AND SIX (5,106) were males while FIVE THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-FOUR (5,374) were females, representing 48.72% and 51.28% respectively.

Out of the total number of candidates that sat the examination, EIGHT THOUSAND, FOUR HUNDRED AND EIGHTEEN (8,418) candidates, representing 80.32% have their results fully processed and released while TWO THOUSAND AND SIXTY-TWO (2,062) candidates, representing 19.68 % have a few of their subjects still being processed due to some errors traceable to them.

However, efforts are being made to speedily complete the processing to enable all the affected candidates to get their results fully processed and released, subsequently.
The analysis of the statistics of the candidates’ performance shows that out of the TEN THOUSAND, FOUR HUNDRED AND EIGHTY (10,480) candidates that sat the examination:
 FOUR THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED AND NINETY-EIGHT (4,598) candidates representing 43.87% obtained credit and above in a minimum of FIVE (5) subjects (with or without English Language and/or Mathematics);
 THREE THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED AND TWENTY-NINE (3,429) candidates representing 32.72% obtained credit and above in a minimum of FIVE (5) subjects, including English Language and Mathematics

Of this number, ONE THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED AND FORTY-SEVEN (1,847) i.e., 53.86% were male candidates, while ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNRED AND EIGHTY-TWO (1,582), i.e., 46.14% were female candidates. The percentage of candidates in this category in the WASSCE for Private Candidates, 2024 and 2025 – First Series, that is, those who obtained credit and above in a minimum of five (5) subjects, including English Language and Mathematics, were 30.95% and 26.96% respectively. Thus, there is a marginal increase of 5.76% in performance in this regard.

Furthermore, SEVENTY-FIVE (75) Candidates’ results, representing 0.72% of the total number of candidates that sat the examination, are being withheld in connection with various reported cases of examination malpractice. The cases are being investigated and reports of the investigations will be presented to the appropriate Committee of the Council for determination. The Committee’s decisions will be communicated directly to the affected candidates, thereafter.
Candidates may check their results by visiting www.waecdirect.org to ascertain their status before visiting the Digital Certificate platform (www.waec.org) to access the digital copies of their certificates, which have been released along with the results. Candidates will be required to apply for the printing of the hard copies of their certificates online, through the WAEC Certificate Request Portal (e-Certman). The portal address is https://certrequest.waec.ng/. All candidates who sat the diet are hereby advised to check their results carefully and take necessary actions as required.