Politics
ADC Slams Bago Over Radio Station’s Closure In Niger
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned the recent shutdown of Badeggi 90.1 FM Radio in Minna allegedly by Governor Umar Bago of Niger State.
The party said that the development revealed a disturbing pattern of executive overreach, disdain for constitutional rights, and a steady erosion of democratic norms under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The ADC stated that Governor Bago’s decision to shut down Badeggi FM “with immediate effect” was nothing short of a brazen assault on press freedom and a clear violation of the rule of law in a manner reminiscent of military dictatorship.
National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, said the party was greatly concerned about what he called the growing dictatorial tendencies among the governors of the ruling APC.
“We recall the recent public statement made by the APC Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, declaring the presidential candidate of the Labour Party and a leading member of the coalition movement persona non-grata in Edo State.
“Now this: Another APC Governor of Niger State, Muhammed Umaru Bago, has just announced a clamp down on a private radio station in the state, with “immediate effect” in a manner reminiscent of the worst form of military dictatorship.”
Mallam Abdullahi said Governor Bago needed to be reminded that he was elected by the same people whose truth he now finds uncomfortable.
“The cardinal principles of liberal democracy are the freedoms it guarantees, which includes freedom of speech, movement or association.
“Under our constitution, no one has the power to truncate these freedoms under any pretext whatsoever. But it does appear that the APC governors who consider themselves as some kind of emperors need to be educated on this democratic principle,” Mallam Abdullahi said.
The opposition party said if the said radio station had behaved unethically in any way or had transgressed the limits of free speech, there are provisions in the laws for legitimate redress as there are institutions saddled with the responsibility of ensuring compliance.
“Under Section 2(1)(b) of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Act, the power to sanction a radio station rests solely with the NBC—not with any state governor.
“By criminalising free speech and declaring dissent as treason, Governor Bago has demonstrated the scant regards he has for the very constitution that he has sworn to uphold.
“For an elected governor to accuse ordinary citizens of the highest crime in the land, which is treason, and then proceed to summarily pronounce them guilty all by himself, just because they dared to broadcast information that made the governor uncomfortable is outrageous in every respect,” the ADC said.
The party, however, warned that if the act is allowed to stand, it would set a precedent that will further imperil press freedom across the country.
“Today it is Badeggi FM—tomorrow it could be a newspaper, a social media platform, or a journalist asking the “wrong questions.” This is how autocracy begins: not with tanks in the streets, but with microphones being seized and studios being bulldozed.
“We call on all Nigerians to resist this creeping dictatorship. Governor Bago must unseal Badeggi FM immediately, and an independent probe must be launched into the misuse of security operatives for political retaliation,” he said.
The ADC charged the National Assembly to take urgent steps to reinforce the autonomy of the NBC and insulate broadcast regulation from political interference.
Mr Rufai, who described young Nigerians as the backbone of the ADC, expressed confidence that their support would play a crucial role in unseating President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election.
He also noted that the ADC had become a unified platform for key opposition figures—including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, and former APC presidential aspirant Rotimi Amaechi—to challenge the ruling party.
Mr Rufai stated: “The Federal Government claims to prioritise youth empowerment, but their actions tell a different story.
“Only ?14 billion was allocated to the Ministry of Youth in this year’s budget, and the student loan scheme has left many applicants frustrated. This administration is not serious about youth development.”
He explained that the ADC was selected as the preferred opposition platform due to its freedom from ethnic, religious, or regional bias.
“The ADC is not a northern or southern party. It is not a Muslim or Christian party. It is a party for ordinary Nigerians,” he said.
Mr Rufai also underscored the party’s commitment to allocating 40% of both elected and appointed positions to young people, describing the policy as a pathway to genuine transformation.
He criticised the APC-led government’s approach to youth empowerment, noting that even the ?29 billion allocated to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) was mostly designated for administrative costs rather than direct youth welfare.
“We need a mind reset. Things cannot continue this way. Nigerian youths, we are here to change the narrative, not to enrich ourselves.
“Democracy is about participation and accountability. We will monitor our leaders, correct them, and speak up if they go astray. ADC will not operate like the others,” Mr Rufai added.
In his remarks, CONYIP Convener, Nnamdi Ezemagu, commended the ADC for appointing what he described as a capable youth leader and urged other political parties to prioritise the inclusion of young people in leadership.
“Nigerian youths will no longer tolerate being used and dumped. We will only support parties that recognise and empower us, he said”.
Speaking during a familiarization visit to the State Secretariat of the APC in Uyo, Governor Eno said a register will be sent to all the wards through the ward chairmen while the exercise will commence on August 4, 2025, to last for about a month giving room to all interested persons to register.
He said the party membership registration was very necessary to ascertain the actual members of the party adding that afterwards the issue of camouflage and pretence in the party would be laid to rest.
Governor Eno explained that everyone, irrespective of their status, whether new entrant or aboriginal members of the party, should take part in the process to be followed by a digital capturing from the national Secretariat of APC.
He ordered every member of the party to show commitment and unity of purpose and desist from unnecessary internal bickering for the overall good of the State.
Governor Eno informed members of federal government empowerment initiative on a one per ward basis assuring members that the President Bola Tinubu led government was doing very well for the country.
“There is something I saw and decided to stand with this President.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu means well for this country. Some of us know what he went through when he took over and today two years after, things are stabilizing.
“We need to support him. We believe that he is stabilizing the economy. As a Governor, we can tell you that he is releasing money for the State, that’s why we are doing projects, not owing contractors and paying gratuities,” he added.
Governor Eno also drummed support for the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and all other APC candidates for re-election in 2027.
“Today, we have come, as part of our familiarization with the Party office. We started with the Party Structure. We met with the stakeholders. We are now at the Party Office to pay respect to the party because Party is supreme.
“We had to go step by step, precept upon precept. There is no need to rush any. So we are going to put everything that we need to put in place, and there is nothing to rush about.
“To all of you that have given us the support to have transited easily, I am here today to thank those that believed in good governance, who have believed in the ARISE Agenda and all of the little progress we have been able to make in the last two years”
He inaugurated a 10 man Committee for an APC Secretariat project with a mandate to search for land, raise funds, and deliver a befitting Secretariat for the party.
Members of the project committee include Sir Monday Ebong Uko — Chairman, Obongemem Ekperikpe Ekpo, Obong Nsima Ekere, Senator Ita Enan, Rt Hon.Unyime Idem, and Ambassador Asam Asam.
In his remarks, the State Party Chairman, Obong Stephen Ntukekpo, appreciated the governor for his leadership disposition, describing it as a testimony of grace, compassion and inclusivity.
He thanked Governor Eno for not only breaking boundaries, but building bridges which, according to him, has brought the people of the State together across party lines.
Politics
Tinubu’s Visit To Saint Lucia: ‘It’s Shameful, Disgraceful’, PM slams Opposition’s Criticism
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President Tinubu paid a state visit to Saint Lucia on June 29 to deepen ties with the Caribbean and boost South-South cooperation. Despite its historic nature, the visit sparked criticism from some quarters in Saint Lucia.
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The prime minister, in his speech to mark the 2025 Emancipation Day on Monday in Castries, criticised the backlash as politically motivated by a group tacitly backed by the opposition party.
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He said the visit was a success, enhancing diplomatic, cultural, and economic relations between Nigeria and Saint Lucia.
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Mr ?Pierre emphasised the symbolic importance of African unity and pride that the visit reignited.
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?“The vilification and denigration of the president of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, by a politically motivated group, tacitly supported by the opposition party, was another demonstration of the harmful effects of the legacy of slavery: self-hate and a readiness to accept African people and their descendants as inferior.
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?“That behaviour was nothing short of shameful and disgraceful. Had the visit been by a head of state from another country, the reception from that group would have been at the very least respectful,” Mr Pierre stated.
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?The Prime Minister noted that several strategic memoranda of understanding (MOUs) were signed during President Tinubu’s visit.
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?“I am pleased that during the visit of the president and his delegation, several memorandum of understanding (MOUs) were established for fostering economic, social, educational, and cultural relations with Saint Lucia and the OECS.
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?“My administration will do its best to ensure that those MOUs bear fruit at the earliest opportunity,” Mr Pierre stated.
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?Mr Pierre also expressed gratitude on behalf of Saint Lucia’s government and people for President Tinubu’s visit.
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?The Prime Minister used the occasion, which marked the 191st anniversary of the abolition of slavery, to call on Saint Lucians to confront the lingering effects of colonialism while embracing African unity.
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M?r Pierre acknowledged Saint Lucia’s progress since 1834, but noted that slavery’s legacy still lingers in minds and systems.
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