General News
MIDDLE BELT FORUM REJECTS SULTAN OF SOKOTO AS PERMANENT CO-CHAIRMAN OF NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR TRADITIONAL RULERS
The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has expressed its firm opposition to a contentious clause in the National Council for Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2024, currently before the National Assembly. In a statement signed by its National Spokesman, Luka Binniyat, the MBF described the proposal to make the Sultan of Sokoto a permanent co-chairman of the proposed national traditional council as an affront to the region’s diverse cultural heritage and a distortion of Nigeria’s historical realities.
Luka Binniyat said the MBF unequivocally rejects, abhors, and condemns the institutionalization of the Sultan of Sokoto as a permanent co-chairman of the proposed council. Binniyat emphasized that the rejection is anchored on strong historical, cultural, constitutional, and moral grounds.
The MBF argued that the Sokoto Sultanate is historically junior to Middle Belt monarchies, citing the Kwararafa Confederacy, which flourished for centuries before the Caliphate. The Aku Uka of Wukari, its current spiritual heir, represents a legacy that predates the Sokoto Caliphate’s existence. Binniyat noted that the Sultan of Sokoto cannot supersede the Aku Uka of Wukari in status and prestige to seat over him as Chairman of the Traditional Council created by law.
The Forum also highlighted the Attah of Igala’s higher historical and traditional status, the Tor Tiv’s powerful and independent cultural identity, and the Nupe Kingdom’s precedence over the Sokoto Caliphate. Additionally, the MBF emphasized that the Sultan’s role is primarily religious, serving as the spiritual leader of Nigerian Muslims, and questioned the appropriateness of placing a religious figure at the head of a secular national council.
The MBF further raised concerns over the Sultan’s patronage of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN), an organization linked to violent Fulani herdsmen accused of killings and displacement in the region. Binniyat stated that the Sultan’s failure to clearly distance himself from MACBAN’s alleged atrocities rendered him unfit for the position.
In light of the above, the MBF stated emphatically that if the Senate passes the bill with the contentious clause and it is assented to by the President, they will mobilize all ethnic nationalities across the Middle Belt to boycott participation in the Council. Traditional rulers of the Middle Belt will neither recognize nor attend meetings of a Council whose leadership is permanently skewed in favor of a non-indigenous, religiously aligned, and lesser monarch status to their traditional rulers.
To preserve national unity and fairness, the MBF proposed that the chairmanship of the council be rotational, tenure-based, or democratically decided by the traditional rulers themselves. “The Middle Belt Forum stands firm in its belief that true national cohesion can only be achieved through fairness, mutual respect, and recognition of our rich historical diversities,” the statement concluded.
General News
World Water Day 2026: Oluremi Tinubu Calls for Gender Equity Through Improved Water Access
The First Lady of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu, has called for collective action to promote gender equality through improved access to water and sanitation, as the world marks World Water Day 2026.
In a message commemorating the day, Senator Tinubu highlighted this year’s theme, “Water and Gender,” alongside the campaign slogan, “Where Water Flows, Equality Grows,” emphasizing the strong link between water access and gender equity.
She noted that in many communities, women and girls bear the burden of sourcing water, often trekking long distances to streams, a situation that negatively impacts their education, health, and economic opportunities.
“When we ensure safe, clean, and accessible water, we do more than quench thirst; we open doors for girls to stay in school, for women to pursue livelihoods, and for families to live healthier lives,” she said.
The First Lady urged Nigerians to work together to ensure equitable access to water resources across the country, stressing that improved water systems can drive social and economic development.
She concluded by encouraging citizens to embrace the spirit of the global observance and reaffirm commitments toward building a more inclusive society.
“Let us work together to ensure that where water flows in Nigeria, equity truly grows,” she added.
World Water Day is observed annually on March 22 to raise awareness on the importance of freshwater and advocate for sustainable management of water resources worldwide.
Fresh hostilities in the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict intensified early Sunday, with Iran launching strikes near Israel’s main nuclear research centre, leaving dozens injured and raising fears of wider regional escalation.
According to reports, missiles hit areas close to the nuclear facility in Dimona and the southern city of Arad. Rescue services confirmed that nearly 70 people were injured in Arad alone, with several in serious condition and multiple residential buildings severely damaged.
The Israeli military said it had begun retaliatory strikes targeting locations in Tehran, further escalating the conflict, which has now entered its fourth week.
Iran warned that any attack on its energy facilities would trigger retaliatory strikes on U.S. and Israeli infrastructure across the region. The threat followed a statement by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who warned that the United States could target Iranian power plants if Tehran fails to reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours. Iranian authorities described such threats as provocative, vowing a firm response if carried out.
Saudi Arabia also confirmed that its air defence systems intercepted missiles and drones targeting its territory, including areas near key oil installations, with no casualties reported. In a separate incident, a projectile struck near a commercial vessel off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, causing an explosion but leaving the crew unharmed.
Iran’s state media reported that the death toll within the country has surpassed 1,500 since the conflict began, raising humanitarian concerns. Legal experts have also warned that targeting civilian infrastructure such as power plants could violate international law.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the situation as “a very difficult moment,” as emergency teams continued search-and-rescue operations in affected areas.
In Yemen, Iran-backed Houthi rebels warned they could join the conflict if attacks against Iran intensify, cautioning that further escalation could disrupt global energy supplies and economic stability.
Despite diplomatic signals, including a temporary U.S. move to ease sanctions on Iranian oil shipments, there are no clear signs of de-escalation, with both sides continuing military operations. Analysts warn the conflict risks expanding into a broader regional war with significant global implications.
The monarch of Ozoro Kingdom in Delta State has denied any prior knowledge of a controversial festival linked to the alleged abuse of women and girls, as outrage continues to trail the incident across Nigeria.
The traditional ruler, His Royal Majesty Anthony Ogbogbo, made the clarification when a delegation from the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) visited his palace following reports of harassment during the ‘Alue-Do’ festival.
According to the monarch, he had never encountered such practices in his over two decades on the throne. He stated that he had “never heard that a festival is celebrated with girls being harassed or molested” in the community, distancing the palace from the widely condemned incident.
The controversy stems from viral videos showing women being chased, stripped, and assaulted by youths during the cultural event held in Ozoro, Isoko North Local Government Area. The disturbing footage sparked nationwide outrage and renewed concerns over gender-based violence.
During the palace visit, the NANS delegation; alongside student leaders from Southern Delta University, confirmed that some of the victims were students who had since received medical attention. While reports indicated no confirmed cases of rape, the students described the incidents as serious molestation and a violation of human dignity.
NANS condemned the attacks, describing them as a gross violation of human rights and a threat to the safety of students in the community. The association called on security agencies to ensure a thorough investigation and bring perpetrators to justice.
Meanwhile, the Delta State Government has also condemned the incident, describing it as “barbaric” and unacceptable, stressing that no cultural practice should justify violence against women. Authorities have launched investigations, with police confirming the arrest of suspects linked to the incident.
Civil society organisations, including ActionAid Nigeria, have also demanded immediate prosecution of those responsible, insisting that cultural traditions must not be used to excuse abuse or undermine the rights and dignity of women and girls.
The incident has intensified calls for stricter enforcement of laws protecting women and for a review of traditional practices that may expose individuals to harm.