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The Radiant News, Port Harcourt (2025)

11/10/2025

Uniport Lecturer, Dr Okwudiri Anasiudu, Gets $10,000 as He Emerges Winner of The Nigeria Prize for Literary Criticism 2025.

The world of Nigerian literature is once again aglow with celebration as Dr. Okwudiri Anasiudu, a distinguished scholar from English Studies, University of Port Harcourt, emerged as the winner of The Nigeria Prize for Literary Criticism 2025 sponsored by Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG).

This annual award, which carries a $10,000 prize, honors exceptional critical writing that deepens our understanding of Nigerian and African literature. Dr. Anasiudu’s victory is both inspiring and well-deserved — the result of years of scholarly dedication and an unwavering passion for storytelling through analysis.

His winning entries captivated the judges with their insight and originality. They include:
- Afropolitan Identity and Afrodiasporic Otherness in Selected African Novels
- Allegorical Conjectures in Helon Habila’s Measuring Time
- Mimetic Designs in Helon Habila’s Oil on Water

Through these essays, Dr. Anasiudu skillfully explores the themes of identity, allegory, and representation that define modern African writing. His work reminds us that literary criticism is not just about analyzing texts — it’s about connecting stories to the realities, struggles, and triumphs of our collective human experience.

Dr. Anasiudu’s win reaffirms the importance of critical thought in shaping how we understand literature and life itself.

We celebrate this outstanding achievement and applaud him for bringing honor to Uniport and to Nigeria’s literary community at large.

The celebration held yesterday in Lagos State with Prof. Owunari Georgewill, Uniport Vice Chancellor in attendance.

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11/10/2025

Nigerian Army Rescues Two Kidnap Victims in Kwara State Raid

Soldiers from the Nigerian Army’s 2 Division, led by Major General Chinedu Nnebeife, carried out a daring rescue mission in a Kwara State community.

11/10/2025

Trouble for Sowore as Lawyers Demand U.S. Investigation Into Sahara Reporters’ Funding, Tax Records

A group of Abuja-based lawyers has petitioned the Attorney General of the State of New York, United States of America, seeking a full-scale investigation into the financial activities of Sahara Media Group Incorporated and its founder, Mr. Omoyele Sowore.

The lawyers, through Heartland Advisors & Solicitors, in a petition dated October 7, 2025, and submitted to the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, also requested the suspension or invalidation of Sowore’s U.S. travel documents. The petition, signed by Barristers Sunday Oluwole and Felix Olanrewaju Wolemiwa, calls for an in-depth review of Sahara Media Group’s financial records, including grants received from the MacArthur Foundation, to determine compliance with New York nonprofit laws.

Specifically, the petition urged U.S. authorities to “examine Sahara Media Group Inc.’s financial records for compliance with New York nonprofit laws (e.g., N-PCL §112), investigate whether funds raised are used for their intended charitable purposes or diverted to personal or political activities, and review Mr. Sowore’s individual and corporate tax filings for compliance with U.S. tax laws, particularly regarding income supporting his U.S. property and lifestyle.”

The lawyers expressed concern over what they described as “potential discrepancies” in the financial reporting and asset declarations of Sowore, who is also a former Nigerian presidential candidate. They pointed out that public records showed Sahara Media Group received a $1.3 million grant from the MacArthur Foundation between 2016 and 2019 for journalist training in Nigeria, yet there has been limited public reporting on how those funds were utilized.

They further alleged inconsistencies in Sowore’s asset declaration to Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), noting that while he declared only one Nigerian property worth ₦5 million and a 2008 Toyota Camry, public records in the U.S. indicate he purchased a property valued at about $552,000 around 2018 — which they claimed was not disclosed in his INEC filings.

The petition also questioned Sowore’s financial capacity in light of his son’s enrollment at Dwight-Englewood School in New Jersey, where annual tuition stands at approximately $59,235 for the 2024–2025 session. They said such expenses, coupled with his political activities in Nigeria, appear inconsistent with the reported earnings of Sahara Media Group.

“In 2018, GoFundMe temporarily suspended a $2 million fundraiser for Sowore’s ‘Take Back Nigeria Movement’ over concerns about its purpose,” the lawyers recalled, adding that the incident warrants further scrutiny to ensure compliance with U.S. charitable solicitation laws.

The petition concluded by urging the New York Attorney General to take appropriate steps to ensure accountability and transparency in the financial operations of Sahara Media Group and its founder.

“This request is made in good faith to promote accountability and transparency, protecting the integrity of nonprofit operations in New York and public trust in cross-border political activities,” the lawyers stated.

11/10/2025

Senator Nwebonyi Hails Umahi as a Result-Oriented Leader, ‘A Professor of Engineering in Equity’

Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi has described the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, as a highly capable and result-oriented leader whose performance and technical expertise are transforming Nigeria’s infrastructure landscape.

Speaking in an interview with TVC, Nwebonyi said he had worked closely with Umahi in different capacities—first as his party chairman and later as his commissioner—and could confidently attest to the minister’s commitment to excellence and innovation.

The senator said he found it amusing when an Arise TV anchor attempted to challenge Umahi during an interview about the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project, noting that the presenter clearly did not understand the calibre of person Umahi is.

“He is somebody who has the same spirit as the President; he is a result-oriented person,” Nwebonyi stated. “When I saw one of the anchors on Arise TV trying to be hard on him, I laughed because he doesn’t know who Umahi is. This is a man of proven capacity.”

Nwebonyi commended the quality of work being executed under Umahi’s supervision, describing him as an “engineer extraordinary” whose attention to detail and passion for quality have set new benchmarks in public works. He said the ongoing Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project, being constructed with reinforced concrete, is a testament to Umahi’s engineering ingenuity and could last for over a hundred years.

“So even when he called himself a professor of engineering, he is a professor of engineering in equity,” Nwebonyi added, praising Umahi’s outstanding contributions to Nigeria’s infrastructural development and his unwavering focus on delivering durable projects across the nation.

11/10/2025

Remi Tinubu Visits Qatar National Library, Sets Vision for Nigeria’s World-Class Digital Knowledge Hub

Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has toured the Qatar National Library in Doha, expressing optimism that Nigeria’s forthcoming National Library will become a modern, digitised hub for learning, innovation, and cultural pride.

With over two million books and 500,000 e-books, Qatar’s library serves as a global model for knowledge preservation and accessibility. Senator Tinubu revealed that Nigeria would draw key lessons from Qatar’s approach to enhance its own national repository.

Her visit also precedes strategic talks with the Qatar Foundation aimed at forging partnerships to address out-of-school children and advance Almajiri education in Nigeria.

11/10/2025

Which of them favoured you or dealt with you?

11/10/2025

National Assembly lawyers call for new INEC chairman Amupitan’s disqualification

Over 1,000 lawyers under the aegis of the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP) have called disqualification of Joash Amupitan as the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The lawyers who are also staff and consultants of the National Assembly warned that Amupitan’s involvement with the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last election creates room for bias and conflict of interest which in turn violates Section 5 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act and Section 19 of the ICPC Act.

In a letter addressed to the Senate President through the Committee on Electoral Matters, the group of lawyers said their goal is to promote professionalism in the enactment of the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

According to the group, this can only be achieved through public legal education programmes, and public interest litigation.

The lawyers said it further deemed it fit to notify the Nigerian Senate of President Bola Tinubu’s expected plan to seek the confirmation of Amupitan as the new INEC chairman.

According to the group, it is pertinent to note that Amupitan does not meet the qualifications required to assume the position of the chairman of the electoral empire in the first instance.

It called on the National Assembly to, as a matter of urgency, dispatch the president’s letter without taking the next step of referring the said letter to the Committee on Electoral Matters.

“The reason is because Prof. Joash Amupitan as a former Legal Counsel to the All Progressives Congress-APC at the 2023 Presidential Electoral Petition at the Supreme Court of Nigeria is automatically disqualified from holding the position of Chairman of INEC.

“Previous Precedent of Senate’s disqualification of INEC Nominees such as Lauretta Onochie in the year 2021 due to their affiliation to the All Progressives Congress-APC to be disqualified from confirmation by your respected Committee,” ALDRAP said in the letter.

It also stated that the confirmation of Amiputan as the substantive chairman of INEC would be evidence that he is using his previous position as lead Legal Counsel to the APC to benefit himself and confer advantage upon himself.

“There are over 200,000 lawyers in Nigeria, if the President and the National Council of State have decided that the next Chairman of INEC ought to be selected from the legal profession, then there are not less than 100,000 Nigerian lawyers who are not registered members of any political party or previously acted as legal counsel to any political party in Nigeria. His Excellency President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria can select from this category of lawyers to avoid the appearance of bias,” the letter added.

ALDRAP went further to state that, should the Senate go ahead to confirm Amupitan’s nomination as INEC chairman, the association would be left with no other option than to initiate a legal action against the Red Chamber.

11/10/2025

PRESIDENT TINUBU DEPARTS ABUJA FOR AQABA PROCESS MEETING IN ROME

President Bola Tinubu will depart Abuja on Sunday, October 12, for Rome, the capital of Italy, to participate in the Aqaba Process Heads of State and Government Level Meeting, with special focus on the security crisis in West Africa.

The meeting, which will begin on October 14, will bring together Heads of State and Government, senior intelligence and military officials from African countries, and representatives of intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations to discuss the evolving security challenges in West Africa.

The Aqaba Process Meeting is a counter-terrorism initiative launched by King Abdullah II of Jordan in 2015. It is co–chaired by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Italian Government.

It recognises the complex security challenges confronting West Africa, including the expansion of terrorist networks, the growing crime-terror nexus and the increasing overlap between land-based terrorism in the Sahel and the maritime piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.

At the meeting, participants will exchange assessments of the current security landscape in West Africa and foster collaboration between regional and international partners to address cross-border security challenges. Participants will also develop strategies to counter the terror threat on land and the sea.

The meeting will discuss ideas on how to coordinate efforts to combat online radicalisation and disrupt digital networks that facilitate terrorist propaganda and recruitment.

In addition to attending the plenary sessions of the Aqaba meeting, President Tinubu will hold bilateral talks with other leaders to explore ways of addressing the rising security challenges across the subregion.

The President will be accompanied by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu–Ojukwu, the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed, and other senior government officials.

Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information & Strategy)
October 11, 2025

11/10/2025

UMAHI BLAST MAKINDE OVER CRITICISM ON LAGOS-CALABAR HIGHWAY PROJECT COST

The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, has responded sharply to Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, over his recent comments questioning the cost per kilometre of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

Umahi, who spoke through his media aide on Friday, said the governor’s remarks were based on a “misunderstanding of technical parameters and project scope,” emphasizing that the cost structure of the project was in line with global engineering standards and the unique challenges of coastal terrain construction.

Governor Makinde had earlier expressed concerns about the cost of the 700-kilometre highway, suggesting that the amount being expended on the project was inflated compared to other federal roads across the country.

Reacting, Umahi said it was “misleading and unfair” to compare the Lagos-Calabar project with ordinary road projects, explaining that the coastal highway includes multiple components such as reinforced concrete pavement, dual carriageways, extensive drainage systems, and future rail integration.

“The governor’s comment did not take into account the engineering depth, soil condition, and coastal protection structures that significantly influence the project’s cost,” Umahi said. “This is not a simple asphalt road — it’s a long-term infrastructure investment designed to last over 100 years.”

He further maintained that President Bola Tinubu’s administration was committed to transparency and value for money in all ongoing projects, adding that the coastal highway will revolutionize trade, tourism, and economic connectivity across Nigeria’s coastal states.

Umahi urged state leaders to seek clarification from the Federal Ministry of Works before making public statements that could misinform the public about national projects.

11/10/2025

Do you agree or disagree with Femi Falana, SAN, who said that there was no “sign of governance” in previous governments in Abia, and further stated that he is impressed with the way Governor Alex Otti of Abia State is tackling the development deficits in the south-eastern state?

11/10/2025

"Nnamdi Kanu’s Continued Prosecution Is Illegal, Must Be Opposed By All" - Barr Ejimakor

Legal counsel to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, Barrister Ejimakor, has said that the continued prosecution of his client is unlawful and should be opposed by all well-meaning Nigerians and lovers of justice.

In a statement made available to ABN TV, Ejimakor condemned the ongoing trial of Kanu, stressing that the IPOB leader cannot be lawfully tried in Nigeria because he was brought into the country through extraordinary rendition — an illegal process that violates both local and international laws.

He said while it is commendable that individuals and groups have pledged to monitor Kanu’s trial, such efforts are misplaced because, in his words, “there is no trial to monitor in the first place.”

“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu cannot be tried on the basis of the infamous extraordinary rendition that saw him to Nigeria. If you truly support Kanu and the rule of law, you must oppose his prosecution,” Ejimakor stated.

The lawyer compared Kanu’s case to that of former Transport Minister, Umaru Dikko, who was nearly abducted from London in 1984 and returned to Nigeria. He explained that Dikko’s attempted rendition sparked global outrage, leading to the arrest and conviction of the culprits, Britain’s expulsion of the Nigerian High Commissioner, and a two-year break in diplomatic relations between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

“Just as Britain denied Nigeria’s subsequent extradition requests against Dikko, Nigeria by its own actions has lost jurisdiction to prosecute Kanu,” he said.

Ejimakor maintained that any legal process arising from such a “manifestly criminal act” as Kanu’s abduction and rendition is null and void.

He warned that those calling for a fair trial or volunteering to monitor the court proceedings are unwittingly legitimizing a grave violation of international law.

“When you say you will monitor Kanu’s trial or demand a fair trial, you are unknowingly buying into a grievous State crime that should shock your conscience,” he said.

The legal practitioner further urged Nigerians and the international community to join calls for Kanu’s immediate release, emphasizing that the campaign tagged is aimed at drawing renewed attention to his plight.

“Now you have seen why you must oppose Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s continued prosecution and detention. Join the train for his freedom before it leaves the station to A*o Rock for ,” Ejimakor concluded.

11/10/2025

President Tinubu Receives over 64,000 Jigawa Defectors into APC

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, today received over 64,000 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ADC and other political parties in Jigawa state who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The President who was represented by Yobe State Governor Hon. Mai Mala Buni CON, COMN, assured the new members of equal treatment and opportunities in the party.

"From today you will be treated equally with older members of the party and we are proud of your courage and determination to support the ruling party in its mission and commitment to national development" Tinubu said.

The President assured the commitment of his administration to improve security across the country to safeguard lives and property of Nigerians, and to facilitate economic development.

"Similarly, government would ensure the completion of the Kano to Maiduguri federal highway to ease delivery of goods and services to promote economic growth" the President assured.

Tinubu commended the Jigawa state Governor Umar Danmodi, for his developmental strides, saying, it has impacted positively on the lives of the people.

The APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, who led members of the party's National Working Committee, commended the Jigawa state Governor for moving the state forward.

He urged the new members of the party to feel at home "the party belongs to you, you should feel at home, and work for the APC".

In his address, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Political and other matters, Alh. Kabiru Ibrahim Masari, called on the people of Jigawa state to support the APC administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in moving Nigeria forward to succeed.

"You should support the party, and l assure you Jigawa state would continue to benefit from the APC National government.

"APC government would continue to improve the lives of the people of Jigawa state and Nigeria" Hon. Masari assured.

Earlier in his welcome address, Jigawa state Governor, Umar Namadi Danmodi, said the support enjoyed by Jigawa state government from the federal government has improved the lives of the people.

He assured that Jigawa state would continue to be an APC leading state.

"With the new defections, APC can not be challenged in Jigawa state" the Governor assured.

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