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Your goodwill is fast depleted, Catholic Bishops tell Buhari

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The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria on Thursday told President Muhammadu Buhari that the enormous goodwill with which he assumed office in 2015 is being fast depleted by some “glaring failures” of his government.

The bishops said this when they paid the President a courtesy visit at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Their address at the visit, copies of which were made available to journalists, was jointly signed by the CBCN President and Archbishop of Jos, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama; and the Secretary who is also the Bishop of Gboko, Most Rev. William Avenya.

“There is no doubt that when you came into office, you had an enormous amount of the goodwill of Nigerians, since many saw you as a person of integrity who would be able to bring sanity into a system that was nearly crippled by endemic corruption.

“Nearly three years later, however, one has the feeling that this goodwill is being fast depleted by some glaring failures of government, which we have the moral responsibility to bring to your notice, else we would be failing in our duty as spiritual fathers and leaders,” the bishops told Buhari.

They regretted that there was too much suffering in the country, with poverty, hunger, insecurity, violence and fear, among others, pervading the land.

They said, “Our beloved country appears to be under siege. Many negative forces seem to be keeping a stranglehold on the population, especially the weaker and defenceless ones.

“There is a feeling of hopelessness across the country. Our youths are restive and many of them have taken to hard drugs, cultism and other forms of violent crime, while many have become victims of human trafficking. The nation is nervous.

“Just as we seem to be gradually emerging from the dark tunnel of an economic recession that caused untold hardship to families and individuals, violent attacks by unscrupulous persons, among whom are terrorists masquerading as herdsmen, have led to a near civil war situation in many parts of the country.

“We are saddened that, repeatedly, innocent citizens in different communities across the nation are brutally attacked and their sources of livelihood mindlessly destroyed.

“Lives are wasted and property, worth billions of Naira, including places of worship, schools, hospitals and business enterprises are torched and turned to ashes.”

The Catholic Bishops said they were still saddened by the recent massacre of unarmed citizens by suspected terrorists in some communities in Benue, Adamawa, Kaduna and Taraba states, which has caused national shock, grief and outcry.

They said the Federal Government’s silence in the wake of the attacks was shocking.

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Update : Bola Tinubu, with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron

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President Bola Tinubu, with his French counterpart, President Emmanuel Macron, during a working private lunch at the Elysee Palace, Paris. Wednesday, September 10, 2025

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Breaking : EFCC declares Sujimoto CEO , Olasijibomi Ogundele, wanted over money laundering

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has declared a Lagos-based businessman, Olasijibomi Ogundele, wanted over alleged diversion of funds and money laundering.

In a wanted notice signed by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, and posted on its official X handle on Friday, the Commission appealed to members of the public with credible information about Ogundele’s whereabouts to come forward.

The notice read, “The public is hereby notified that Olasijibomi Ogundele of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited, whose photograph appears above, is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in an alleged case of diversion of funds and money laundering.

“Ogundele is a 44-year-old indigene of Ori-Ade Local Government Area of Osun State. His last known address is: G29, Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos State.

“Anybody with useful information as to his whereabouts should please contact the Commission in its Ibadan, Uyo, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Benin, Makurdi, Kaduna, Ilorin, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Gombe, Port Harcourt or Abuja offices, or through 08093322644; its e-mail address: [email protected], or the nearest Police Station and other security agencies.”

Ogundele, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Sujimoto Luxury Construction, is known for high-end real estate developments in Lagos, particularly in Ikoyi and Banana Island.

The company has gained prominence in Nigeria’s luxury property market, with projects valued in billions of naira.

Although the EFCC has not disclosed the specific amount allegedly diverted, the declaration signals that Ogundele is under investigation for serious financial crimes.

The wanted notice also highlights the Commission’s increasing focus on high-profile individuals in the private sector who are suspected of laundering illicit funds through real estate and luxury investments.

The EFCC has in the past vowed to curb money laundering and bring to book those suspected of involvement, whether among politicians, the civil service, the private sector, or within Nigeria’s booming property market, which anti-graft agencies have repeatedly identified as a key channel for concealing the proceeds of corruption.

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Insecurity : Tinubu seeks federal lawmakers’ backing, says I have to create state police

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday expressed his administration’s readiness to work with the National Assembly leadership to dismantle political and bureaucratic bottlenecks stalling the operationalisation of state police.

Speaking at the State House, Abuja, during a meeting with members of the Northeast Governors Forum led by Borno State Governor Prof Zulum, the President said the time had come for a clear, collective path towards community-based policing that reflects the peculiar needs of different regions.

“I have been looking at the security situation more carefully. I have seen the Civilian JTF react to the security challenges, finding so many creative ways to protect neighbourhoods and communities around you, and that provoked my thinking about state police again.

“Politics apart, we can discuss with the National Assembly leadership to really look at a critical path to that again, see how we can eliminate or douse political alliances from state police that will be indigenous to the community and provide the additional safety buffer and effectiveness in the area. We have to look at it collectively together.”

The President stressed that while political concerns will always surface around the issue, they must not be allowed to derail urgent security reforms.

He said his government was committed to ensuring that the proposed structure would be insulated from partisanship and designed purely to strengthen safety across communities.

Tinubu also vowed not to allow partisan politics or early campaign distractions to shift his focus from national priorities.

“In the political environment we are being drawn into early political activities from our rival political parties but whichever way it is, I am not detracted. I am solidly focused, laser focused on what is ahead,” he told the governors.

He said the gains already being recorded in the Northeast – including improved security, resettlement of displaced persons, rising school enrolment, and new housing projects – were proof that collaborative governance works.

The president urged the governors to sustain their commitment to development and security while assuring them of continued federal support.

“In the short run of two years, we can beat our chest, the economy has turned round. Many of you are already sending back displaced citizens, the housing programme you embarked upon in Borno and collectively seen how displaced people are returning to their normal residences and having a roof over their head,” the President noted.

Tinubu further highlighted agricultural mechanisation as a priority, disclosing plans to establish training and maintenance centres in all zones of the country to drive food sovereignty.

He also commended Yobe State for producing outstanding students despite the region’s challenges, describing it as a sign of resilience and progress.

The president concluded thanked the governors for their dedication, saying the combined efforts of federal and state governments were laying the foundation for a safer and more prosperous Nigeria.

Zulum, who spoke for the governors, urged the president to prioritise the completion of 17 strategic roads across the region and resume oil exploration in the Kolmani and Lake Chad Basins.

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