News

Irakpo Congratulates New ‘Sheriff’ in Delta, Seeks Partnership to Combat Drug Abuse

Published

3 years ago

June 10, 2023

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

Delta State born Anti-drug Advocate and Founder, Silec Initiatives, Amb. Sunny Irakpo, has sent a hearty congratulatory message to the newly sworn in governor of Delta State, Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, urging the governor to pay adequate attention to the fight against drug abuse among the youths while seeking partnership and support to continue to propagate the Delta Beyond Drugs campaign.

In the message, the US exchange alumnus, hailed the new governor for the overwhelming reception that heralded his election victory, and the swearing in ceremony that followed, describing the excitement and ovation in the air as “electrifying”. He maintained that “Deltans, home and abroad, felicitate with you as you assumed the number one position and wish you all the best in your tenure.”

Irakpo reminded that governor that his position is a call to duty as the task ahead demands assiduous efforts to fulfill the MORE Agenda of his government to the good people of Delta State while urging him to see youth welfare as the centre piece of his administration.

“As a lover of youths, we know that your administration will take the centre stage to address the social issues that affects young people which includes drug abuse, unemployment, lack of youth inclusiveness in governance, foster leadership and capacity building and opportunity for a robust engagement with the youths and critical stakeholders in order to achieve meaningful socio-economic development.

“Your Excellency, the issue of drug abuse has become so prevalent in the state that for the past decade, Delta State has been in the news, where some of her indigenes have been arrested as drug traffickers and barons inflicting lots of harm in the lives of the youths and damaging the good image of the state.

“The availability of these drugs has triggered in the youths an unlawful quest for consumption of one form of hard drugs or another thereby increasing social vices such as criminality, prostitution and cyber crime,” he said.

The anti-drug advocate also found space to commend the immediate past governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa for some of his social intervention policies under his SMART Agenda and for engaging youth in skills acquisition and entrepreneurship programmes. He urged the new governor to sustain the programmes to continue to arrest social ills.

Speaking on the Delta Beyond Drugs Campaign Project, Irakpo said it is for the wellbeing of the state and to attract foreign investment and make youths to add their quota to the development of the state.

“Over the years, Silec Initiatives as one of the leading anti-drug agencies in the country is passionately driving this message home with massive sensitization and drug prevention programs to assist the government in the fight against drug abuse. We are urging the governor to make a proclamation against drugs and substance abuse currently destroying the lives of promising youths”, adding that “as a pragmatic non-governmental organization, we shall continue to lead the campaign across the nooks and crannies of the 25 LGAs of the state for the rate at which our youths consume these drugs without medical prescription has led to behavioural, cognitive and psychological dysfunction of their brains in recent times.”

He also frowned at the rate women are also getting involved in drugs, citing the case of Bridget Emeka aka Mama, who was arrested on May 17, 2022 for the production of methamphetamine. He noted that according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) as at 2018 revealed that 1 out of every 4 drug users is a woman. So where does the wellbeing and sanity of our homes lie? He queried.

“My recent tour to Delta has fueled my passion to address this challenge that is confronting the state because on a regular basis seeing youths experimenting different types of hard drugs to get ‘high’ without considering even the health implication is extremely worrisome.

“The commercialization of hard drugs like Colorado (colos), tramadol, codeine, refnol, swinol, pentatozine, Canadian loud, cannabis (marijuana), cocaine, heroin and other substances in clubs and public space, the state under your leadership should clamp down on drug merchants in order to drastically reduce these hazardous threats to our existence.

“The consumption of drugs in secondary schools is also what we are bringing to the front burner. It was identified that secondary school students in the country abuse over 15 different types of hard drugs. Our tertiary institutions have become profitable markets for the sales of drugs. Most students cannot do without drugs, and the irony is that they are replacing foods for drugs. This is most pitiable.

“Delta State remains one of the richest states in Nigeria, our strength is in our youths, it is so troubling seeing the lives of our productive work force and greatest resource being wasted. Your Excellency, as one of the United States Government Sponsored Exchange Alumni, invited and trained in this regards, we shall deploy all our technical know-how to bring the best in our youths.

“We cannot fold our arms and watch the drug market grow exponentially while other productive sectors are nosediving. As we have taken it upon ourselves to prevent our people from poor life through community education, grassroot mobilization, peer-to-peer sensitization, awareness creation through concert, seminars and town hall meetings,” he informed the governor.

Irakpo used the opportunity to inform the governor of a Silec Initiatives programme in partnership with the Anglican Diocese of Oleh Church of Nigeria under the Episcopal Leadership of His Lordship The Rt Rev’d John Usiwoma Aruakpor in commemoration of the United Nations International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking this Saturday.

He therefore called on the needed support from the government and the governor, who was a one-time parliamentarian, representing Okpe Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, known for being a listening leader.

“We believe so much in you, and that you will work with NGOs, civil society groups and other well-meaning Deltans to fight the scourge of drug abuse head long,” Irakpo concluded.

News

Jigawa ADC Receives Defecters from APC, NNPP, PDP

Published

6 hours ago

April 6, 2026

Eric

A wave of defections has hit the All Progressives Congress, the New Nigeria People’s Party, and the Peoples Democratic Party in Jigawa State, as politicians and supporters defected to the African Democratic Congress.

On Sunday, Dutse, the Jigawa State capital witnessed a large turnout of supporters and politicians during a mass gathering to formally receive a two-term senator representing Jigawa South-West Senatorial District, Senator Sabo Nakudu, who joined the ADC alongside other defectors.

Nakudu, accompanied by other politicians from across the state, was received by ADC leaders and supporters.

The former senator, who chaired the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) in the 9th Assembly, resigned from the APC on Friday and joined the ADC on Sunday.

Speaking after receiving his ADC membership card, Nakudu said, “I am grateful to my supporters for turning out en masse to receive me into my new party,” adding, “I promise to work towards a greater Jigawa and the country at large.”

Nakudu, who contested against Governor Umar Namadi during the 2023 APC governorship primaries, is expected to run for governor on the ADC platform in 2027.

Sources close to him said he has begun consultations with key stakeholders in the state.

Another prominent figure linked to the ADC is Aminu Ringim, a three-time governorship candidate in Jigawa State under the PDP (2015, 2019) and NNPP (2023).

Ringim, described as a protégé of former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, said he would soon formally join the ADC at a similar event in his hometown.

Also present at the event was Senator Ubale Shittu, a political figure who previously represented Jigawa North-East Senatorial District in the 8th National Assembly on the PDP platform before later moving to the APC.

Earlier, the Jigawa State ADC coordinator, Ahmad Gumel, welcomed Nakudu and other defectors, describing the development as a boost to the party.

He said the defections reflected the party’s growing popularity in the state and praised Nakudu’s experience as an asset.

Similarly, ADC chieftain Bashir Jumbo welcomed the new members, saying, “We pledge equal opportunities within the party structure.”

He urged party members to work towards unity, adding, “We must take over power in 2027 by the grace of God.”

Reacting, the PDP Public Relations Officer in the state, Umar Kyari, dismissed the defections, saying they did not involve key members of the party.

“They’re just a group of political jokers seeking relevance,” he told our correspondent via telephone on Monday.

Kyari challenged the ADC to test its popularity at the polls.

“If they want to test their power, come out and contest — we’ll show them what politics is,” he said.

Also reacting, the APC spokesperson in the state, Bashir Kundu, downplayed the development, describing the defectors as driven by personal interests.

“They’re chasing personal interests, not the public good,” he said.

Kundu added that Namadi’s performance would continue to attract support, expressing confidence that more politicians would join the APC.

News

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

Published

14 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

1 week 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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