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Inciting Tweets: APC Spokespersons, Onanuga, Fani-Kayode Under Scrutiny
Days after the February 25 presidential election, there are fears that actions of some politicians may widen disunity and threaten the already fragile peace in the country.
The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, had expressed concern about the nationwide rise in hate speech fueled by politicians seeking political patronage.
NHRC warned that ethnic and religious sentiments were being used to create division, fear, and hatred among different groups.
The commission noted that using and misusing social media to spread ethnic and religious hate-laced messages is worrisome, with far-reaching and complex implications.
Chief Tony Ojukwu, the Commission’s Executive Secretary, who disclosed the organisation’s worry, lamented that the threat had crept into places of worship where religious leaders have joined the unholy enterprise of spreading hate speeches.
Findings revealed that the ethnic hate-laced messages cut across political parties. However, APC spokespersons Bayo Onanuga and Femi Fani-Kayode, have come under the radar recently because of their tweets.
This is even as the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has maintained silence about the development.
DAILY POST reported how Onanuga warned the Igbo in Lagos State against “interfering” with politics in the state.
Following the conclusion of the March 18 Gubernatorial election in some States, Onanuga tweeted the warning via his official Twitter account.
“Let 2023 be the last time of Igbo interference in Lagos politics. Let there be no repeat in 2027.
“Lagos is like Anambra, Imo, any Nigerian state. It is not No Man’s Land, not Federal Capital Territory. It is Yoruba land. Mind your business,” he wrote.
Onanuga would later double down on his tweet, saying he owed nobody any apology for asking the Igbo never to interfere with the politics of Lagos State.
Meanwhile, on Monday, the International Criminal Court (ICC) formally acknowledged receipt of a petition written by Professor Gideon Christian to investigate election and post-election violence in Nigeria, which alleged incitement to ethnic hate by Onanuga.
Christian had, in his petition titled: “Request to Investigate the Election and Post-Election Violence in Nigeria as well as Incitement to Ethnic Hate by Mr Bayo Onanuga”, invited the Office of the prosecutor to investigate a series of ethnically motivated violence resulting in injuries and death during the just concluded presidential and governorship elections in Nigeria.
He alleged that Onanuga issued a threat on Twitter warning individuals from the Igbo ethnic group that 2023 should be the last time they would be interfering in Lagos politics.
Similarly, the United Kingdom has hit out at Fani-Kayode over controversial comments made during the electoral season.
The British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ben Llewellyn-Jones, faulted Fani-Kayode for derogatory remarks, warning that the UK government would issue visa bans to people undermining democracy.
Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, last week, wrote a letter to the Department of State Services (DSS) calling for the arrest of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, over their comments on the outcome of the 2023 presidential election.
Keyamo, who served as the spokesperson of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, accused Obi and Datti of making incendiary claims on the presidential election, which he said was capable of truncating the nation’s democracy.
Datti was reported to have said that if the President-Elect is sworn in on May 29, 2023, it would “signal the end of democracy”.
An Abuja-based activist, Maduabuchi Idam, told DAILY POST in an interview that the statements of these individuals had incited the Nigerian public and could amount to treasonable offence.
Idam, a lawyer, warned that individuals acting for their political principal should consider that the country has different religions and tribes.
He said, “These statements have clearly incited the Nigerian public. And they can be construed to mean a treasonable offence. You cannot say that those statements have not incited Nigerians or, in one way or the other, attempted to cause disunity.
“Nigeria is, without a doubt, a complex society with different religions and different tribes. And that is why individuals acting for their political principal should factor that in mind so that they don’t do anything that would cause disunity.
“So for anybody writing to ICC, I don’t know how that would go because ICC is actually having jurisdiction over the government or individuals when it has to do with war crimes. I don’t know how that will fly, but I can tell you that under our local laws, those comments have clearly flouted the provisions of the penal code.”
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Oyo 2027: Adelabu Quits As Power Minister To Focus On Guber Race
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu has formally resigned from his position in the Federal Government to pursue his governorship ambition in Oyo State.
In a resignation letter dated April 22, 2026, and addressed to the President, Adelabu stated that his resignation will take effect on April 30, 2026, to enable him to focus on his governorship ambition in Oyo State.
The letter, routed through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, stated that he was stepping down with “a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude.”
He wrote, “I write with a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude to formally tender my resignation as the Honourable Minister of Power of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This resignation is to take effect on 30th April 2026, in order to allow sufficient time for a smooth and orderly handover of responsibilities.”
Adelabu thanked the President for the opportunity to serve, describing his appointment as a privilege.
He said, “Your Excellency, I remain sincerely grateful for the privilege and confidence you reposed in me by appointing me to serve our great nation in this capacity.
“It has been a rare honour to contribute to national development under your leadership and to play a role in advancing reforms in the power sector—one of the most critical foundations of Nigeria’s industrial growth and economic transformation.”
The former minister said his resignation was to enable him focus fully on his governorship ambition in Oyo State, citing provisions of the amended electoral law.
He added, “My decision to step down is informed by my intention to focus fully on my gubernatorial ambition in Oyo State. This aspiration, which dates back to 2016 during my service as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, ultimately led to my voluntary resignation from the Central Bank in 2018 in order to pursue the same goal.”
“In line with the provisions of the Amended Electoral Act 2026, which preclude political office holders from contesting elections, I consider it both appropriate and necessary to resign at this time.”
Adelabu’s exit marks a major political development ahead of the next electoral cycle, particularly in Oyo State, where he is expected to contest the governorship election.
News
Wale Edun, Musa Dangiwa Resigned Voluntarily, Not Sacked – Presidency
The Presidency has clarified that Wale Edun (former Finance Minister) and Ahmed Musa Dangiwa (former Housing Minister) voluntarily resigned from their positions and were not sacked by President Tinubu.
In a statement released this evening April 22, presidential media aide, Bayo Onanuga, said that contrary to public opinions, Wale Edun resigned on health grounds while Dangiwa also tendered his resignation and thanked the President for the opportunity given him to serve in the Federal Executive Council.
Onanuga stated that Edun, who clocked 70 on Monday and has battled recent ill health, fittingly submitted his resignation letter on his birthday, thanking the President for the opportunity to serve Nigeria.
“It has been a pleasure and privilege to serve your administration and the Renewed Hope Agenda, Under your leadership, Nigeria has emerged stronger, more resilient and more internationally respected. I wish you and the administration every success in the future” he wrote
Onanuga stated that on Tuesday, before the Office of the Secretary of the Government of the Federation announced his departure from the Cabinet, Edun paid a valedictory visit to the President at the Villa and held an hour-long discussion with the president and then left to focus on his private businesses.
The presidential aide stated that President Tinubu has expressed deep appreciation to Edun and Dangiwa for their dedicated service and significant contributions to the administration’s economic reform programme and wished them continued success in their future endeavours.
‘’In the same vein, the President has urged the new Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, to consolidate ongoing reforms and advance the administration’s fiscal and economic objectives with renewed focus, discipline, and innovation.
President Tinubu will shortly send the ministerial nominee for housing, Muttaqha Rabe Darma, also from Katsina, like Dangiwa, to the Senate for confirmation” the statement concluded
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Unity Bank, Experts Advocate Green Investment, Climate Innovation To Drive Economic Resilience
Nigeria’s retail lender, Unity Bank Plc, alongside leading climate innovation experts, has called for increased investment in the green economy and the adoption of frontier technologies as critical pathways to driving economic resilience and reducing the impact of climate change on vulnerable populations across Africa.
The call was made during a thought-provoking webinar hosted by the Bank to commemorate this year’s Earth Day, themed “The True Cost of Climate Change and Who Pays?”. Climate experts and stakeholders convened to examine the human, economic, and institutional costs of climate change, while spotlighting practical solutions to address its growing impact.
In his opening remarks, Unity Bank’s Head of Strategy and Innovation, Ibukun Coker, emphasised the urgency of addressing climate risks from both a societal and business perspective.
He said: “Climate change is no longer a distant or abstract challenge. It is an existential threat with direct consequences for individuals, businesses, and economies. At Unity Bank, we recognise the role institutions must play in incorporating sustainability in project financing, supporting businesses and promoting solutions that build resilience in communities where we operate.”
The webinar featured Chinwe Udo-Davis, Founder and CEO of Instollar, and Oluwatosin Ajide, Programme Manager at the Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre, both of whom provided insights into the drivers of climate change and the pathways to mitigation and adaptation.
Speaking during the session, Udo-Davis highlighted the disproportionate burden which climate change places on underserved communities and the need for inclusive solutions.
“The true cost of climate change is not evenly distributed. Communities with the least resources are often the most affected, whether through energy poverty, environmental degradation, or limited access to sustainable alternatives. Addressing this imbalance requires intentional investment in clean energy solutions that are both accessible and scalable.”
Ajide underscored the importance of coordinated, system-wide approaches in tackling climate challenges, particularly through innovation and policy alignment.
“Climate change is fundamentally a structural problem, and its solution requires a paradigm shift: from innovation and policy to financing and implementation. Stakeholders must work collaboratively to drive solutions that are sustainable and inclusive.”
The session also explored emerging opportunities in climate technology, renewable energy, and ecosystem financing, reinforcing the role of innovation and cross-sector collaboration in building long-term resilience.
By hosting the webinar, Unity Bank continues to demonstrate its commitment to advancing sustainability-focused dialogue and supporting initiatives that promote responsible growth and environmental stewardship.
The initiative underscores the Bank’s broader strategic focus on environmental sustainability as well as its commitment to financial inclusion.
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