Politics
Problems That Led To Civil War Still Linger – Ekweremadu
The Deputy President of the Senate, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, has expressed regret that the factors that led to the Nigeria Civil War are still existing among Nigerians, 41 years after the end of the war that lingered for three years.
Ekweremadu who made his feelings known last Saturday in Enugu while answering questions from reporters during his condolence visit to the family of the late Biafran leader, Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, who died on November 26, this year in a London hospital.
His words: “You see as we speak today, the things that gave rise to the Civil War are still with us and that is why many years after the Civil War, we had the Ife/Modakeke crisis and the problem we still have in Plateau State. Even in Anambra state, we have Aguleri/Umuleri crisis”.
Chief Ekweremadu further said: ”So, these crises are still there. What gave rise to the civil war was massacre of the people who are Nigerians living within Nigeria. You see that such thing is still going on. It is still that same hatred of one another that gave rise to the civil war. We still have them here and there and those problems are yet to be addressed.”
On the late Biafran leader, the Deputy Senate President said Ojukwu was a phenomenon, stressing that each person should do his best to give him a befitting burial.
“Ikemba as a person came before his time. Ikemba lived ahead of his time. He died ahead of his time because his vision, his views are yet to be realized. And I believe surely his views will be realized. And it is at that time Nigerians will begin to realize that Ikemba was a man who saw tomorrow,” he further stressed.
According to him, the best that could be done for the late statesman was for Nigerians to sit down and dialogue to address the unresolved issues to enable Nigerians live as a nation, pointing out that ”As at now we are all managing to survive as one country. It is important to address these problems because they are with us and I do not believe that they are insurmountable”.
He said: “It is possible we find an arrangement to accommodate everybody in Nigeria so that people can live peacefully wherever they find themselves and be able to earn their living without confrontation. For me, Ikemba is a phenomenon and everybody should do his best to give him a befitting burial. Ikemba, people knew him as a humble and focused man. The man inspite of the wealth of his father abandoned the luxury of life and joined the army which at that period was meant for children of the less privileged.”
Ekweremadu also said: “Also in spite of his education, he was prepared to serve Nigeria. And when it became necessary for him to fight, he lived almost like an animal. He did not know what will happen to him in the next moment. What a better sacrifice will a man do than that?
“He loved his people. So what we have seen since his death shows that his people also loved him. I believe that the people of South East and indeed Nigerians will give him a befitting burial”, he further stressed.
Politics
Alleged Coup: Protests Rock N’Assembly As Detained Officers’ Children, Wives Demand Justice
Scores of children and wives of military officers detained over an alleged coup plot yesterday staged a peaceful protest at the National Assembly, demanding a speedy trial and the release of the accused officials.
The protesters who gathered at the entrance of the National Assembly complex, moved in a slow procession while clutching placards with inscriptions such as “Don’t Kill Our Daddies,” “Detention Without Trial is Injustice,” and “Six Months of Torture: Enough Is Enough.”
Amid tears and trembling voices, the children appealed for justice and access to their detained fathers, many of whom they said they had not seen for months.
The appeal was made during a press briefing in Abuja attended by no fewer than 20 wives and several children of the detained officers, including a two-month-old baby.
The families were accompanied by human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju and activist Omoyele Sowore.
At the briefing, the families lamented that the officers had been held for over 160 days without trial or contact with their relatives, describing the situation as a violation of their fundamental rights.
Speaking on behalf of the families, Memuna Bashiru said the prolonged detention had thrown their households into uncertainty and emotional distress, noting that while allegations had been widely publicised, families remained in the dark about the fate of their loved ones.
The arrest of the indicted officers was first announced on October 4, 2025, by the then Director of Defense Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, who disclosed that 16 officers were taken into custody for alleged breaches of military regulations and acts of indiscipline.
However, an interim investigation later suggested the existence of a clandestine network of officers, allegedly coordinated by a senior Army officer, which had begun preliminary planning for a coup.
According to the report, the alleged plot involved surveillance of key national assets, including the Presidential Villa, Armed Forces Complex, Niger Barracks in Abuja, and major international airports, with October 25, 2025, cited as the planned date for the operation.
Those reportedly in custody include Brig Gen M. A. Sadiq, Col M. A. Maaji, Lt Col S. Bappah, Lt Col A. A. Hayatu, Lt Col P. Dangnap, Lt Col M. Almakura, Maj A. J. Ibrahim, Maj M. M. Jiddah, Maj M. A. Usman, Maj D. Yusuf, Capt I. Bello, Capt A. A. Yusuf, Lt S. S. Felix, Lt Cdr D. B. Abdullahi, Sqn Ldr S. B. Adamu and Maj I. Dauda.
The alleged plot, according to findings, targeted senior government officials, including President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.
In a statement issued yesterday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Felix Morka, said the exercise would take place in all wards and designated centres nationwide.
He called on existing members to update their records, while encouraging new entrants to join the party through the digital platform.
“As the electronic membership registration exercise resumes in all wards and designated locations nationwide, we urge existing members to validate their membership while new members are encouraged to register and join the progressive family,” Mr Morka said.
According to him, eligibility for registration is limited to individuals aged 18 and above who possess a valid National Identification Number (NIN).
The party said the initiative is part of efforts to modernise its operations by transitioning to a digital database that would enhance record accuracy and accessibility.
Mr Morka noted that the e-registration would “digitise the party’s membership register, ensure the integrity of records, and enhance efficient access to membership data for planning and management decisions.”
He added that the move is also aimed at promoting internal democracy within the party and strengthening its commitment to democratic innovation.
The APC had previously introduced electronic registration as part of broader reforms to streamline its membership system and improve organisational efficiency.
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