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Islamic cleric insists on death penalty for whoever changes religion

An Islamic cleric and the National Chairman of the Council of Ulama, Dr. Ibrahim Jalingo, has endorsed death penalty for religious faithful who renounce their religion.

In a strongly worded statement shared on his official Facebook page on Thursday, Jalingo openly defended a Hadith prescribing the death penalty for apostates and accused critics of Hadith literature of what he described as “compound ignorance.”

The cleric made the statement in response to criticisms questioning the authenticity of the Hadith, alleging that it contradicts the Quran.

A Hadith is a report of the sayings, actions, or approvals of the Prophet Muhammad.

It serves as a key source of guidance in Islam, second only to the Qur’an.

In his post, Jalingo launched a detailed theological rebuttal against what he described as “fabricators” attempting to discredit the Hadith.

Jalingo wrote: “Today, I came across the first Hadith among the supposed ‘100 Hadiths’ which the fabricators claim contradict the Qur’an. They assert that Muslims who believe in both the divine revelation of the Hadith and the Qur’an cannot respond to them! The Hadith in question is: ‘Whoever changes his religion, kill him.’ The person who presented this statement by the fabricators to me is someone named Issiyaku Abdulkadir.

“Here is what I wrote in response to the claims of these fabricators: First, I thank you for starting to bring me what this compound ignoramus refers to as ‘100 Hadiths that contradict the verses of the Qur’an.’ This will, God willing, give me the opportunity to expose his ignorance to the world”, Jalingo’s statement partly read.

He continued by reinforcing the divine origin of Hadith, equating it with the Qur’an: “Second: It should be made clear to everyone that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) never said: ‘The role of Hadith is to interpret the Qur’an.’ However, the Prophet said: ‘Indeed, I was given the Qur’an and something like it alongside it.’ What is true is that the Qur’an is a revelation from Allah, and so is the Hadith a revelation from Allah. Often, the Qur’an addresses a matter in a summarised or brief way, and then the revelation of Hadith comes to elaborate on that matter.”

In what is sure to spark fierce debates among scholars and human rights advocates, Jalingo defended the Hadith calling for the execution of apostates, citing Qur’anic verses in support: “Third: The Hadith you cited—’Whoever changes his religion, kill him’—is authentic and does not contradict the Qur’anic revelation. This is because Allah says in Surah At-Tawbah, verse 5: ‘Then, when the sacred months have passed, kill the polytheists wherever you find them.’

He supported his claims with another Quranic citation in Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 193, saying, “Fight them until there is no more fitnah (disbelief and oppression) and religion is for Allah alone.’ Meaning: fight them until they accept Islam.
And in Surah An-Nisa’, verse 89: ‘Kill them wherever you find them.’ And again in Surah An-Nisa’, verse 91: ‘Kill them wherever you confront them.’”

He further declared that the widely quoted verse advocating freedom of religion had been abrogated: “You see, unless someone is completely ignorant like the fabricators, no one would claim that the Hadith which says ‘Whoever changes his religion, kill him’ contradicts the Qur’an—because the Qur’an itself goes even further. It does not only permit the killing of apostates, but all polytheists in certain contexts.

“Fourth: You should also know that the verse ‘There is no compulsion in religion’ (La ikrah fi ad-deen) has had its ruling abrogated (naskh) by the verses we’ve just quoted, as well as by the very Hadith you brought: ‘Whoever changes his religion, kill him.’ And abrogation is a well-established concept within the revelation of the Glorious Qur’an.”

In a final explosive comment, Jalingo launched a personal attack on his critics, stating, “This is a brief response to the compounded ignorance of this individual—whose approach and manner resemble that of prostitutes and effeminate men—i.e., the so-called fabricators.”

The cleric’s post has since gone viral across social media, drawing both support and backlash.

While some hardline followers praised him for defending Islam, other Muslim voices have condemned the remarks as dangerous and inflammatory.

Trade War: China ups stakes in Trump’s tariffs ‘game’ with 125% levy on US goods

China has announced it would raise tariffs on all United States goods to 125 percent, further deepening a trade war between the world’s two largest economies.

“The US’s imposition of abnormally high tariffs on China seriously violates international trade rules, basic economic laws and common sense,” Beijing’s State Council Tariff Commission said in a statement announcing the retaliatory tariffs on Friday.

The new levy will take effect on Saturday, the statement said.

China and the US have been engaged in a tit-for-tat tariff war, with US President Donald Trump imposing more tariffs on Beijing earlier this week, even as he put a pause on tariffs for other nations after US markets reacted negatively to the decision.

Trump’s universal tariffs on China now total 145 percent. When he announced on Wednesday that China faced 125 percent tariffs, he did not include a 20 percent tariff on China tied to its role in fentanyl production.

Read Also: China slams 84% revenge tariffs on US goods hours after Trump’s 104% levy – as global financial markets sink again

Meanwhile, China’s Ministry of Commerce has announced it was filing a new lawsuit with the World Trade Organization (WTO) challenging the US tariffs, adding that the US is to blame for the global economic “turbulence” unleashed by Trump.

Washington’s levies “(caused) the current world economy, global markets and multilateral trading systems to suffer serious shocks and severe turbulence”, a ministry spokesperson said. “The US should bear full responsibility for this.”

The ministry urged the US to “take a big step forward in eliminating the so-called ‘reciprocal tariffs’ and completely correct its wrongful practices”.

“The US alternately raising abnormally high tariffs on China has become a numbers game, which has no practical economic significance, and will become a joke in the history of the world economy,” a spokesman said.

“However, if the US insists on continuing to substantially infringe on China’s interests, China will resolutely counter and fight to the end,” the spokesman added.

Al Jazeera’s Katrina Yu, reporting from Beijing, described the statements from Chinese officials as “pretty strong”.

But our correspondent also pointed out that Beijing is offering an “off-ramp” for a dialogue with Trump, noting that China “continues to be open to consultation”.

“However, threats and pressure are not the way. So China is saying it does have a door open,” she said. “But it does seem that as long as the Trump administration continues to impose these high tariffs, which Beijing perceives as coercion, then that is a non-starter for a true dialogue and a possibility of a true deal.”

Karl Widerquist, a professor at Georgetown University in Qatar, told Al Jazeera that he expects the trade war between China and the US to quickly drive inflation up.

He explained that US consumers may already be rushing to buy goods even before the tariffs take effect, thus driving up demand and resulting in retailers raising prices.

Al Jazeera

The Kemi Olunloyo bombshell! We lost our driver, I lost my virginity to hands of total strangers, my dad was at his side chics house all day KNACKING

  • Says, “Dad ruined our lives”

In 1978, Education Minister Adamu Ali raised tertiary school fees, Unilag students came out on April 28th 1978 at 7pm to protest on Ikorodu rd, Lagos 🇳🇬 and vowed to attack government vehicles. We left Ibadan traveling in two cars. No internet no cellular phones and the car radio was turned off. We drove straight into them. A 43yo newly appointed Minister of Science and Technology and his 5 children age 8-14 leaving the youngest 12 mos old at home with our grandma 👵🏽(Engr Pastor Ayobami Olunloyo of Redeem Jesus house London) Both cars were attacked by rioters who pelted stones smashing my 8yo brother’s head and throwing me on the concrete sidewalk with another rock kpaing our driver instantly.

When the car came to a crashing stop, rioters opened the petrol tank and lit it on fire with the car blowing up and 8yo Tayo and 13yo Kemi still inside. Tayo was heavily bleeding from the head with the rock stuck in there. I was thrown out of the burning car and immediately stripped naked by rioters and area boys in the dead of night and se*ually mol*sted by at least 25 male rioters feeling many hands penetrating thru my female organ. I began to bleed screaming with pain as they crowdsurfed (throwing me from person to person) me yelling with excitement. The force of my head on the pavement destroyed the brain motor coordination of my eyes causing me to lose sight in one eye.

So, when I’m talking, my eyes blink at almost 80 times per second. Some people ask why, others like Iyabo Ojo make fun of it, some found out in May 2023 that I am actually blind in one eye. Now you know how. Just because someone’s eyes are open doesn’t mean they are seeing with both eyes. People are shot dead and their eyes are still opened. I wear sunglasses to stop people making fun of me. Only if they knew. With partial sight I still went on to get 3 first-class degrees in pharmacy, journalism and public relations management and had to read a lot of school textbooks. Iyabo does not know but described me in her Mohbad post September 2023 when I announced that nobody should donate for Wunmi Adebanjo as she was a black widow as “eyes like fire truck sirens” 👁️🚨🚒describing my blinking.

Tayo was rushed to Igbobi hospital in Lagos by bystanders, I was missing and was posted all over Lagos television but unknowingly to my parents, I was rescued by a man who grabbed me from the crowd taking turns mol*sting me naked at 13yo. He took me to his house and his wife bathe me then saw me on TV and rushed me to LUTH the next day stating where they found me. It is impossible to reunite with that couple again, they matter to me, their age estimated mid 80’s like my parents now 89 and 84. My dad was 43yo and mom 38. I was bleeding 🩸heavily in my private part and received 16 stitches.

By the time I was reunited with my parents Tayo already had brain 🧠 surgery performed by the renowned neurosurgeons late Dr Adadevoh VC of Unilag and renowned late Professor Ojikutu. He lost parts of his spinal cord and became paralyzed at 8yo. His care was tedious for my mom and the whole family. Tayo traveled on federal govt estacodes to several countries to get treatment and physiotherapy from Abu Dhabi to Singapore to Harley street London clinics, he could no longer WALK AGAIN. Akintayo lived 43 years on a wheelchair 🦽 From the small ones to the big ones as he grew into a 6ft man. Many epileptic seizures, the most intelligent of the Olunloyo children who recited the 9X table at 5yo was now learning diminished and maimed. Tayo lost the use of his left hand he could still talk, laugh, listen to music but was confined to the wheelchair for life. He would ask me to take him to ShopRite and we would go get groceries so he could see the outside sunshine 🌞 every often.

He never liked my mom and believed she put him on the wheelchair via witchcraft. He would call my dad begging for help to leave her care as my parents separated 2015. He took 3 prescriptions medications that I took over from them to personally give him daily. They claimed I was poisoning him with pharmaceuticals. These were drugs his neurologist and psychiatrist gave him to decrease seizures. Tayo’s health was deteriorating ‼️My sister Funke who is in a cult like worship called the GRAIL MESSAGE CROSS BEARER CHURCH will deny Tayo of his neurological meds and give him some black drink claiming herbal medicine.

Funke my sister who bullied and assaulted me from childhood kept Tayo’s numerous moneys in a bank account she was the only signatory of and started bullying him. She traveled abroad many times on lavish vacations to America 🇺🇸 and Dubai 🇦🇪with her children spending Tayo’s money. Obasanjo, Babangida and other leaders sent Tayo hard currency in pounds and dollars yearly for his birthday. Nobody knows what she did with the cash when he died and suddenly opened a foundation in his name with the rest of my siblings, an occasion in Ibadan that I wasn’t even invited to in 2022.

I saw Tayo last when I separated from my family for good and told him I’m leaving for Lagos in 2019 citing the words “a pade layo” meaning “we will meet happily again”. It was the last time. He lost his livelihood, the most intelligent of the children Tayo recited the 9X table at 5yo just like the mathematician my dad was. No university, no friends, no wife or children but 43yrs of agony and pain.

The riots of 1978 were called #Alimustgo after Ahmadu Ali who raised university school fees. In August 2023, a tweet I wrote went viral when Unilag students started protesting increased tuition. I wrote “That’s how it all started in 1978 when Unilag students kpaied my brother 43 yrs later“ This is the reason I do not participate in any protests in Nigeria due to this traumatic life experience. I’ll rather voice out on Twitter. Violent protests are not acceptable and you don’t know when a peaceful protest will turn violent. The bed they admitted me to in LUTH was the bed Mrs Funlayo Kuti just died on the previous week after Obasanjo had army raid Fela’s house. That year 1978 was tough for the Olunloyos and the Kuti families. Seun Joked that my activism came from what his grandma left in the mattress😀

My last outing together with Tayo was my 53rd birthday party in 2017 at Oluyole Cheshire home for disabled motherless babies and adults….I did this because of my brother and many forgotten disabled Nigerian kids who became adults in Motherless babies homes when their families disowned them or could no longer care for them. TVC followed me there.😓

Tayo passed away in his sleep around 9pm the evening of September 28th 2021 🙏🏾 May my brother continue to rest in peace 🪦 😇🕊️ as I said earlier, Fmr President Obasanjo who my dad was in his cabinet at the time and fmr President Babangida his best friend occasionally sent notes, cards, hard currency and even first class plane ✈️ tickets to Tayo to travel abroad and just make him happy. I have attached them in this reel. Fmr President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration did NOT pay for Tayo’s continued care when my dad approached him. GEJ told my dad that he had no record of him in the Federal government. My dad called Obasanjo and OBJ replied that Jonathan was a 19 yo boy hawking plantains with no shoes at the time in 1978.

Another reason history should return to school. Dad subsequently declined any more help from the federal government for Tayo’s day to day activities and sort help from his dear friend the late Ooni of Ife King Okunade Sijuwade who pumped thousands of dollars into Tayo’s care. Other political affiliates also did the same. To my dad, it was disrespect from Jonathan. Tayo was maimed in a CVU government car(ask your parents what this means. Cars designated for high ranking government officials) and we drove into an anti-govt riot. Very sad bait😞

Why do I blame my dad for Tayo’s death? On the morning of April 28 1978, we were all packed up, car ready, mom’s pot of soups and food ready to go to Lagos the first time when daddy became science and technology head, we were scheduled to LEAVE Ibadan 10am arrival at Federal Palace hotel, Victoria Island Lagos in the family suite which was our temporary dwelling till we moved to our government GRA house in Ikoyi. We left nine hours later 7pm with all the kids tired, no longer enthusiastic and my mom started yelling on him not to go at night anymore. He insisted we leave. We lost our driver, and I lost my virginity to hands of total strangers. Where was my dad? All he said was that he was going to his outgoing office to pick a few documents. 

As told to my mom by the now late driver when we left for the express: He was actually at his side chics house all day KNACKING‼️😡

That side chic was a married woman Mrs Akere and the mother of my half-brother Businessman Gbenga Olunloyo aka Kapor.

My dad impregnated her in his early years as a commissioner in the 60’s and Gbenga was born May 1964 while my mom was pregnant and I was born August 1964. This now explain the age old question many of you ask about Dele Momodu’s best friend Gbenga Olunloyo, “How come Kapor and Kemi are the same age?”

The story of my se*ual molestation was not told to my siblings. Some are finding out TODAY in this write up✍🏽 while others found out in a domestic family fight in 2016. Each child have their own individual traumas in the Olunloyo family. The worst part of this story was when it was leaked to bloggers in 2016 obviously by Funke 🙄they got it all wrong and it was blogger Esabod who distorted the story as being “Her dad knacked her as a teenager” and she even made my 37yo autistic son a product of the made up incest. Tokunbo Aboderin has since apologized to me and my family in a 2019 live video. She grew up in Molete down the street from us in childhood, but I have no idea how the 1978 story was told to her by her late parents.

In the final years I was in Ibadan, my dad bought Akintayo an IPad and I taught him how to watch YouTube videos which he became addicted to. His livelihood began improving. I showed him a lot of multimedia platforms but I just wanted him to walk again‼️Ayobami was 12 mos old and never saw 8yo Tayo ever walk.

Every April fools day April 1st, I remember Tayo’s birthday🎂April 28th (1978 riots) 👩🏼‍🚒🧯⚔️🇳🇬and September 28🕊️💔

When he went to the Lord I heard God shout to him at heaven’s gates “STAND UP‼️ Tayo STAND UP”

May he rest in peace 🪦

PLEASE SHARE AND LEARN FROM MY LIFE STORIES #Kemitalkskemi.

Note: Unedited as written by Kemi Olunloyo.

Watch Kemi’s TikTok video on these issues below.

@drkemiolunloyo

Part 3: My father’s death Victor Omololu Olunloyo 1935-2025 #Drkemiolunloyo🇳🇬 #Kemitalkslife

♬ original sound – Dr Kemi Olunloyo🇳🇬

Eedris Abdulkareem hits back as NBC bans his new song from radio, TV

Singer, Eedris Abdulkareem has reacted to the decision of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to bar radio and television stations from airing his trending song “Tell Your Papa”. 

The commission had in a memo sent to broadcasting corporations, declared the track ‘Not To Be Broadcast (NTBB)’ under Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.

Despite the song gaining traction on social media, the commission said its lyrical content violates responsible broadcasting standards.

Reacting to this development, Eedri in a post shared on his Instagram page, said the Tinubu administration is “going on record as one of the most insensitive, vindictive and grossly maleficent administration ever to preside over the affairs of Nigeria,” adding that “constructive criticism is always deemed as a big crime by his government.”

Her wrote

‘’NBC JUST BANNED MY NEW SINGLE “TELL YOUR PAPA”

It’s obvious that in Nigeria, Truth and constructive criticism is always deemed as a big crime by the government, and this present government led by President Bola Tinubu, is now going on record as one of the most insensitive, vindictive and grossly maleficent administration ever to preside over the affairs of Nigeria.

Just under 2 years of his presidency, and the results are just frighteningly abysmal from all fronts. And this is a fact, known by all Nigerians, irrespective of religion, tribe and political affiliations, except for the few happy slaves grovelling for crumps from their paymaster’s table!

The attached letter has been sent to all broadcast houses in Nigeria, instructing them to shield the government by hiding the candle under the table.

Well, I have travelled this road before as this is reminiscent of the ban of my song “Jaga Jaga”, by the Obasanjo administration 21 years ago!

Any wonder why Nigeria hasn’t made impactful strides all these years?

“The Conscience is an open wound, only the Truth can heal it”

Aluta Continua!!!”

Eedris Abdulkareem fires back as NBC bans his new song from radio, TV

Fatal Negligence: FCT High Court slams Louisville School with N100M damages, says “No amount can bring back the child to life…”

Sequel to the death of a 9-years-old girl at Louisville Girls Secondary School, Gwagwalada in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Hon. Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the FCT High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on Tuesday awarded the sum of N100 million in general damages against the school for negligence of duty of care, which led to the death of one of its students.

His Lordship also awarded the sum of N300,000 against the school as the cost of the action.

The judgment was delivered in the suit, marked CV/1738/18, filed by Ifeanyi Ikpeatusim, the father of the departed student, Kamzie, against Louisville Girls Secondary School, Gwagwalada.

Mr. Ikpeatusim alleged that the school’s negligence of duty of care led to the death of his nine-year-old daughter, Kamzie, after she fell ill just a few weeks following her admission into the school as a boarding student.

Kamzie was admitted to the school in September 2017, became severely ill by October 2, 2017, and tragically passed away a few days later.

Delivering his judgment, Justice Oriji held that the school’s negligence of duty of care was indeed responsible for the death of Kamzie.

According to the judge, evidence presented before the court showed that the deceased was not given adequate attention when she complained of illness.

While awarding costs against the school, Justice Oriji acknowledged that no amount of money could bring the deceased back to life.

He ordered that 10 per cent interest be applied to the judgment sum from April 8 until full payment is made.

“The claimant established his allegations of negligence against the school. There is no amount of money that can bring back the child to life.

“The court, therefore, awards N100 million against the defendants as general damages, with 10 per cent interest on the judgment sum from today, April 8, until the judgment sum is paid. In addition, the sum of N300,000 is awarded as the cost of the action,” the judge ruled.

Justice Oriji commended the school management for improvements made to its sick bay following the unfortunate death of Kamzie, highlighting that the introduction of doctors attending to students twice a day is commendable.

Responding to the relief sought by the bereaved father that a school structure be named in honour of Kamzie, the judge held that the father should take solace in the improvements made to the sick bay, which he described as honouring Kamzie’s memory.

“The court is of the opinion that this improvement is in honour of Kamzie, as part of reforms recommended by Kamzie’s family. The claimant should take solace in the fact that Kamzie has been honoured by the school through this improvement,” the judge stated.

Counsel to the plaintiff, Ezenwa Anumnu Esq, expressed his satisfaction with His Lordship’s verdict, highlighting his understanding of the complexity of the case. Anumnu further expressed gratitude that the seven-year legal tussle culminated in a positive outcome for the family. He also noted that, although monetary compensation cannot restore human life, the court’s decision will certainly alleviate the family’s grief and initiate the process of closure following the sudden and still painful loss of young, vibrant, and promising Kamzie.

It Takes Two to Tango-The Role of Lawyers as Accomplices to the Sole Administrator of Rivers State in the Daily Disobedience to Court Orders: A case study of Prof. Worika and Dr. Sam Kalagbor

By Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja.

“It takes two to tango” may be used to mean “a quarrel requires two disputing parties,” is an expression which is often used in situations in which both partners in the dispute should or could be said to share responsibility, or when one person is being blamed, but two are actually at fault.

As the foregoing cliche clearly states, it takes two to tango, apart from the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (PBAT), Wike, the National Assembly, the Sole Administrator of Rivers State on the one hand.

There are other accomplices that are collaborating to perpetuate the brazen violation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and disobedience of court orders in Rivers State.

Unfortunately, these acxomplices are lawyers who took an oath to uphold the Rule of Law at the point of their enrollment as lawyers of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

It is ironic that by both their words and actions, these lawyers are violating both the rule of law that they swore to uphold and, more ergeriously, they are disobeying judgments of the Supreme Court of Nigeria of which they are ministers in the temple of Justice!!!

Although there are many lawyers that are currently serving as accomplices to the Sole Administrator of Rivers State in this brazen and daily violations of the rule of law and disobedience to judgments of the Supreme Court we shall focus on Prof. Ibibia Worika and Dr. Sam Kalagbo as Representative case studies.

Prof. Ibibia Worika accepted the appointment to serve as Secretary to the unconstitutional Sole Administrator of Rivers State Government.

Similarly, Dr. Sam Kalagbo has also accepted to serve as Sole Administrator of Port Harcourt Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State under the unconstitutional regime of the Sole Administrator of Rivers State.

There are a lot of similarities between both Prof. Worika and Dr. Kalagbo.

One of the similarities is that both men are lawyers who ought to know better, and nobody put a gun to their heads and forced them to serve as accomplices to the said Sole Administrator of Rivers State.

They both voluntarily accepted to serve as accomplices to the unconstitutional government of the Sole Administrator of Rivers State.

Both Prof. Worika and Dr. Kalagbo are die-hard supporters of His Excellency Nyesom Ezenwo Wike (NEW) who is the prime agent provocateur of the current crisis in Rivers State.

Both Prof. Worika and Dr. Kalagbo are accomplices with the Sole Administrator in violation of the Supreme Court of Nigeria judgments of July 2024 and 28th February 2025, respectively.

Coincidentally, the lead judgments in both Supreme Court of Nigeria judgments were delivered by Hon.. Justice Emmanuel Agim, JSC.

In the most recent judgment of 28th February 2025, Hon. Justice Emmanuel Akomaye Agim, JSC stated that Governor Fubara was guilty of hindering the operation of the Rivers State House of Assembly led by Amaewhule.

The judgment also declared that the election of 23 Local Government Area (LGA) Chairmen conducted by Governor Fubara was null and void.

In that judgment, the Supreme Court of Nigeria SPECIFICALLY ORDERED Governor Fubara to re-submit the 2025 Appropriation (Budget) Bill to the Rivers State House of Assembly.

It did not mention that the said Appropriation Bill should be submitted by any Sole Administrator of Rivers State to any legislature!!!

Also, it did not order Governor Fubara or any other person to appoint persons to serve as Sole administrators of the 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Rivers State.

It specifically ordered the conduct of fresh elections!!!

This is in line with the previous July 2024 judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria which amongst others specifically stated that under no circumstances should unelected officials be allowed to superintend or administer the affairs of the LGAs.

Prof. Worika and Dr. Kalagbo are in direct violation of this particular judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria considering that it was Prof. Worika that announced that with effect from 7th April 2025, Dr. Kalagbo and other unelected officials are to serve as Sole Administrators of the 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Rivers State.

For the avoidance of any doubts the summary of the Supreme Court of Nigeria judgment of July 2024 is reproduced hereunder:

“Justice Emmanuel Akomaye Agim JSC, who read the lead judgment, said states are mandated to ensure that their local government councils are democratically elected, ⁠and that governors cannot use their powers to dissolve democratically elected local government councils.

“The amount standing to the credit of local government councils must be paid by the federation to the local government councils and not by any other person or body,” the judge said.

“The said amount must be paid to local government councils that are democratically elected.”

Remembering Oronto Douglas: Rivers State as the place where vultures feast, when vultures surround you, try not to die (We Shall Overcome)

By Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja

Oronto Douglas died on 9th April 2015.

Yesterday was the 10th year anniversary of his death!!!

I had the privilege of meeting him during my days as an undergraduate law student at the Rivers State University.

In the year 2002, as a fourth-year law student, I selected Environmental Law as an elective course.

I spent a lot of time at the environmental library of the Environmental Rights Action (ERA) which was located at the D/Line Area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

It was during those library visits that I held discussions with Oronto Douglas (then the head of ERA) and others such as the late Patrick Naagbanton.

These discussions inspired me to write environmental law as the focus of my master’s degree dissertation.

During my PhD dissertation, the 2003 book co-authored by Oronto Douglas was an invaluable reference material.

The title of the book is: “Where Vultures Feast: Shell, Human Rights and Oil in the Niger Delta”.

It was co-authored by:
“Ike Okonta and Oronto Douglas”, in the said book, both authors “present a devastating case against the world’s largest oil company, demonstrating how (in contrast to Shell’s public profile) irresponsible practices have degraded agricultural land and left a people destitute. The plunder of the Niger Delta has turned full circle as crude oil has taken the place of palm oil, but the dramatis personae remain the same: a powerful multinational company bent on extracting the last drop of blood from the richly endowed Niger Delta, and a courageous people determined to resist.”

Even though he did not live to see it, Shell has now vacated Nigeria’s Niger Delta for good.

And the previous impunity and neglect of previous governments of Nigeria against the Niger Delta region has at least abated!!!

In the place of Shell and oppressive governments, another monster has arisen in the form of the quartet of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (PBAT), Nyesom Ezenwo Wike (NEW), a group of pliant members of the judiciary and the current leadership of the National Assembly.

Beginning with the Supreme Court judgment of 28th February 2025 to the unconstitutional declaration of a State of Emergency in Rivers, this quartet has demonstrated that nothing, no legal or constitutional impediment can stand in the way of the illegal political ambition (s) to capture and control both the revenue and political capital belonging and emanating from Rivers State.

Just like Roman Emperors of historical times, they have appointed a Consul/Procurator holding the unconstitutional title of Sole Administrator, a title that is not mentioned under Section 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 under which they purported to derive powers to impose the said State of Emergency in Rivers State.

If Oronto Douglas were alive, he would be heartbroken to watch that one of the arrow-heads of this illegal contraption is a former comrade named Professor Ibibia Worika, recently appointed as Secretary to the unconstitutional Government of the said Sole Administrator of Rivers State.

It will be heart-breaking to Oronto Douglas considering that Prof. Ibibia Worika was one of the intellectual heavyweights in the fight for environmental justice for the Niger Delta region.

Prof. Ibibia Worika’s PhD study at the University of Aberdeen and the book based on his this is entitled: “Environmental Law & Policy of Petroleum Development: Strategies and Mechanisms for Sustainable Management in Africa” and was published by Anpez Centre for Environment and Development in 2002.

There is no use crying over spilled milk.

There is a popular saying: “When Vultures Surround You, Try Not To Die”.

The above-named proverb is apt and is a call for resilience in the face of the great odds.

The Niger Delta region has demonstrated resilience and survived the combined assault of both Shell and successive Nigerian governments!!!

There is no doubt that Governor Fubara and others who uphold the Rule of Law, would be survivors of this current onslaught against Rivers State and the quartet and the unconstitutional Sole Administrator!!!

We shall overcome!!!!

Video: Did you know that Nigerian professors earn $300 a month while his South African peer earns $3750?

By Osita Chidoka

We have a remuneration crisis in our universities.

A Nigerian professor earns about $300 a month while his South African peer earns about $3750 – ten times more than his Nigerian peer. In the US, a Professor earns about $7500 a month.

This crisis of remuneration is at the root of the declining output in our higher education system.

In this explosive episode of #OsitaInsights, Osita Chidoka dives deep into the crisis in our higher education system, where degrees are being churned out, but capabilities are not.

Are we building futures or just printing certificates?

Watch the video below.

#EducationCrisis

#Nigeria

#OsitaInsight 

#CLEARPATHTV

Revealed! Why Trump is hitting China on trade

  • US-China Trade War: Top entrepreneur says tariffs could be ‘nail in coffin’ for small businesses

Suddenly, Donald Trump’s trade war is in much sharper focus.

Rather than a fight on all fronts against the world, this now looks far more like a fight on familiar Trumpian territory: America v China.

The 90-day pause on the higher “retaliatory” tariffs levied on dozens of countries still leaves a universal across-the-board tariff of 10% in place.

But China – which ships everything from iPhones to children’s toys and accounts for around 14% of all US imports – has been singled out for much harsher treatment with an eye-watering rate of 125%.

Trump said the increase was due to Beijing’s readiness to retaliate with its own 84% levy on US goods, a move the president described as showing a “lack of respect”.

But for a politician who first fought his way to the White House on the back of an anti-China message, there is much more to this than simple retaliation.

For Trump, this is about the unfinished business of that first term in office.

“We didn’t have the time to do the right thing, which we’re doing now,” he told reporters.

The aim is nothing less than the upending of an established system of global trade centred on China as the factory of the world, as well as the once widely held view that underpinned it – the idea that more of this trade was, in and of itself, a good thing.

To understand just how central this is to the US president’s thinking, you need to go back to the time before anyone ever thought of him as a possible candidate for office, let alone a likely winner.

In 2012, when I first reported from Shanghai – China’s business capital – increased trade with the country was seen by almost everyone – global business leaders, Chinese officials, visiting foreign governments and trade delegations, foreign correspondents and learned economists – as a no brainer.

It was boosting global growth, providing an endless supply of cheap goods, enriching China’s army of new factory workers increasingly embedded in global supply chains, and providing lucrative opportunities to multinational corporations selling their wares to its newly minted middle classes.

Within a few of years of my arrival, China had surpassed the US to become the world’s biggest market for Rolls Royce, General Motors and Volkswagen.

There was a deeper justification, too.

As China got richer, so the theory went, Chinese people would begin to demand political reform.

Their spending habits would also help China transition to a consumer society.

But the first of those aspirations never happened, with China’s ruling Communist Party only tightening its grip on power.

And the second one didn’t happen fast enough, with China not only still dependent on exports, but openly planning to become ever more dominant.

Its infamous policy blueprint – published in 2015 and entitled Made in China 2025 – set out a huge state-backed vision of becoming a global leader in a number of key manufacturing sectors, from aerospace to ship building to electric vehicles.

And so it was that same year, a political outsider launched his run for US president, making the case repeatedly on the campaign trail that China’s rise had hollowed out the American economy, driven Rust Belt decline and cost blue-collar workers their livelihoods and dignity.

Trump’s first-term trade war broke the mould and shattered the consensus. His successor, President Joe Biden, kept much of his tariffs on China in place.

And yet, even though they have undoubtedly caused China some pain, they have not done much to change the economic model.

China now produces 60% of the world’s electric cars – a large proportion of them made by its own homegrown brands – and 80% of the batteries that power them.

So, now Trump is back, with this tit-for-tat escalation on levies.

It would, arguably, be the biggest shock ever delivered to the established global trading system, were it not for all the other on-again off-again tariff measures the US president has rolled out in recent days.

What happens next depends on two key questions.

Firstly, whether China takes up that offer to negotiate.

And secondly, assuming it eventually does, whether China is willing to make the kind of major concessions that America is looking for, including a complete overhaul of its export driven economic model.

In answering them, the first thing to say is that we are in completely unchartered territory, so we should be wary of anyone who says they know how Beijing is likely to react.

But there are certainly reasons to be cautious.

China’s vision of its economic strength – one based on strong exports and a tightly protected domestic market – is now closely bound up with its idea of national rejuvenation and the supremacy of its one-party system.

Its tight control over the information sphere means it will be unlikely to drop its barriers to American technology companies, for example.

But there is a third question, and it is one for America to answer.

Does the US still believe in free trade? Donald Trump often suggests that tariffs are a good thing, not merely as a means to an end but as an end in themselves.

He talks about the benefit of a protectionist barrier for America in order to stimulate domestic investment, encourage American companies to bring those foreign supply chains back home, and raise tax revenues.

And if Beijing believes that is indeed the primary purpose of the tariffs, it may decide there is nothing to negotiate anyway.

Rather than championing the idea of economic cooperation, the world’s two biggest superpowers may find themselves locked in a fight for winner-takes-all economic supremacy.

If so, that really would mark a shattering of the old consensus and a very different, possibly very dangerous, future.

Meanwhile, when you think of who would be affected by the global turmoil the tariff war is causing, and MrBeast (real name: Jimmy Donaldson) – the world’s most successful YouTuber – probably isn’t the first person who springs to mind.

But as well as making viral videos, MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, has a number of side hustles, including a chocolate business, Feastables.

While it is a US company, America isn’t exactly renowned as a cocoa producer, meaning their chocolate bars rely on imported raw ingredients – now facing tariffs.

The Trump administration hopes its import levies will encourage more companies to set up in the US. For Feastables, the opposite is true.

“Ironically because of all the new tariffs it is now way cheaper to make our chocolate bars we sell globally NOT in America,” MrBeast posts on X.

“We’ll figure it out. I feel for small businesses, though. Could really be a nail in the coffin for them,” he adds.

His intervention is bad news for the White House because it’s a real world example of the potential unintended consequences of its policies.

But secondly – and possibly more importantly – it represents one of the most influential voices for young Americans publicly criticising the Trump tariff policy.

Read Also: China slams 84% revenge tariffs on US goods hours after Trump’s 104% levy – as global financial markets sink again

Credit: BBC

My daughter’s reason for refusing a £400 jacket I was paying for left me stunned…By Mogaji Wole Arisekola

Parents, let me tell you: If you don’t train your children well, your own wealth might become your curse—and theirs.

Last Sunday, I had a life-altering moment. It wasn’t in a church or mosque—it was inside a shopping mall, thanks to my daughter Diekolami, my third-born.

We were heading to a shopping center just 20 minutes away from home. I had a few errands to run and figured we’d make it quick. As promised, she showed up at 2 p.m. sharp. Punctual, responsible—the kind of discipline every parent dreams of.

While we browsed, I spotted a dazzling leather jacket in a luxury store. It was classy, elegant, and absolutely perfect. Earlier, I had scolded her for not dressing warmly enough. The sun was out, yes, but that breeze? Pure ice.

So I handed her my card. “Go on, get it,” I said.

Minutes later, she returned… empty-handed.

“What happened?” I asked.

She looked me in the eye and said, “Dad, I didn’t buy it. It’s too expensive—£400!”

My jaw dropped. I snapped, “What’s your problem? Go back and pay for it!”

But she stood her ground. Calmly, she said, “Dad, I just completed my Master’s. How much do you think I’ll be earning to justify a £400 jacket?”

I said, “You’re not paying—I am!”

Then came the statement that silenced me completely.

“If you’re not around, how can I survive if I’ve been trained to live above my means?”

Boom. That was the slap of truth I never saw coming.

My heart sank. My mind flew straight to Nigeria. I thought of Gen Z girls who demand HERMÈS bags just because their father is going to Mecca. Girls who beg for bone-straight hair worth N5 million—on top of empty ambition.

That day, I realized the kind of treasure I have in my children. I must give all the credit to my wife. She deserves not just an award—but a statue in her honor. May God bless her with long life to enjoy the fruits of her labor.

Nigerian parents, hear me loud and clear: Comfort is good, but overpampering is a silent killer. Giving our children everything we were denied as kids can lead them to ruin.

A friend’s 19-year-old son was recently seen speeding recklessly through Lagos in a brand-new Range Rover. Music blaring, friends dancing, zero accountability. Is that what wealth is for?

So many rich men die and vanish into silence. Not because they weren’t great—but because they failed to raise children who could sustain their legacy.

Many corrupt officials and politicians think they’ve stolen enough to secure their children’s futures. But guess what? Money you didn’t earn will vanish faster than morning dew.

Train your children today, so they don’t destroy your name tomorrow.

Mogaji Wole Arisekola (Wole Streetjournal)

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