News
Soyinka, Nwabuaze, Clark, Ezekwesili to address Grand National Summit in Abuja


Prominent Nigerians including Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, Legal Icon, Prof. Ben Nwabueze, elder statesman, Mallam Adamu Ciroma, and former military Governor of Kaduna state, Col. Dangiwa Umar are among top personalities listed to address political summit tagged the Grand National Summit fixed for Abuja this week.
A statement by the organisers of the Grand National Summit 2018 signed by the spokesperson, Mallam Naseer Kura, listed other Nigerians including Economist, Prof Pat Utomi, former Governor Donald Duke and Air Commodore Dan Suleiman among the speakers at the summit holding in Abuja on Wednesday.
The statement reads: “Nigeria Intervention Movement, NiM, a Rainbow Coalition of new breed political forces and movements; mobilising towards paradim shift within Nigeria’s political configuration, wishes to announce that its grand national summit scheduled to hold on Wednesday in Abuja received a major boost at the weekend from eminent national leaders and front line political activists invited to intervene in the political future of Nigeria at the summit.”
It said that the historic even has already received the blessing of Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, eminent Jurist, Prof Ben Nwabueze SAN, Air Commodore Dan Suleiman (Rtd), Colonel Abubarkar Umar Dangiwa, Mr Donald Duke, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, Senator Shehu Sanni, Dr Olu Agunloye.
It also listed other speakers at the event to include Mallam Adamu Ciroma, Gen TY Danjuma, Dr Paul Unongo, Chief Edwin Clark, among other leaders.
The organisers said that the summit is designed to bring together both old and new generation of political leaders in Nigeria, for the first time, “towards finding an appropriate political road map for Nigeria’s troubled democracy, while facilitating a grand political coalition of fresh breed political leaders ahead of the 2019 elections.”
The statement further reads: “For the avoidance of doubt, these elders and leaders, given their experience in the political affairs of the country as well as their past roles in the life of the country, at one point or the other, have been invited to address Nigeria’s past, in order to provide a veritable political compass for emerging fresh breed leaders in navigating the future for the country.
“The grand summit, which promises to be a very fertile ground to breed national understanding and reconciliation is also conceived as a serious intervention to re set the future of Nigeria’s constitutional democracy which presently skewed against the majority of Nigerians, as many young emerging political leaders will be provided the rare
opportunity to interact and share their aspirations with the invited political veterans at the national confab.
“Some of the burning issues rocking the political fabric of country to be agreed and sorted, once and for all, at the summit, holding at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja is; Inclusive democratic review of the Nigerian Constitution, Referendum, equitable political structure for
Nigeria, popular democratic system of government suitable for the country, Sovereignty of the Nigerian peoples, peoples’ right to self determination, 2019 general elections and the options for masses, among others
“The event which will be co chaired by Dr Olisa Agbakoba SAN and Dr Abduljalil Tafawa Balewa is expected to come out with a communique on the future of Nigeria with the theme: birthing an equitable and prosperous democratic Nigeria at a special interactive session with
media editors on Thursday. Some of the young aspiring leaders who are invited to the Summit include, political aspirants like, Mr Fela Durotoye, Mr Kingsley Moghalu, Dr Chris Nwaokobia, Mallam Adamu Dauda, Mr Jaye Gaskia, Mr Omoyele Sowore, Ms Toyosi Akerele, Mr Abayomi Mighty, among other 35 young leaders aspiring to lead the country in various capacities.”
News
70% of Christians killed in 2024 are African – Group
ORJI ISRAEL reports that the group accused ANC of maintaining silence on religious persecution, while deepening ties with ideological extremists in Tehran


Recent reports indicate that over 4,400 Christians were murdered for their faith last year, while over the past decade, jihadist violence has driven 16 million Christians from their homes, millions of which are African citizens.
This is according to global Christian charity, Open Doors, which also confirms that for every five Christians, one will face persecution in Africa specifically.
Open Doors’ 2025 World Watch List reveals the top 10 most dangerous countries for Christians are dominated by Islamic states in the Middle East and Africa, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Yemen, Sudan, Somalia, Libya, and Nigeria. A more detailed UK Parliament briefing recently noted that 70% of Christians killed in 2024 were indeed in Africa.
Over the last six months, the brutality against Christians in Africa has escalated to alarming levels, with a series of devastating attacks across the continent. Just last month, ISIL-affiliated rebels stormed a Catholic church in Komanda, DRC, murdering close to 50 worshippers, including women and children. That same month in Mozambique, Islamic State fighters captured and beheaded six Christians from Natocua village, just across South Africa’s border. A month earlier, in June 2025, armed militants in Nigeria massacred nearly 200 Christian civilians in Yelwata village.
“What we are witnessing is not random violence or isolated attacks. It is a deliberate, coordinated campaign by jihadist networks to wipe Christianity from vast regions of Africa and the Middle East,” says SAFI spokesperson, Bafana Modise. “These acts of terror are the early stages of a genocide against Christians, and history will record who spoke out and who shamefully looked away. Tragically, the ANC has chosen the latter.”
This silence is even more damning in light of last week’s news that South Africa’s military chief, Gen. Rudzani Maphwanya, met with Iranian Maj. Gen. Amir Hatami in Tehran to discuss deepening military and strategic ties, when Iran remains one of the world’s most notorious persecutors of Christians.
A recent report by the Middle East Africa Research Institute (MEARI) warned that Pretoria’s deepening ties with Tehran has compromised South Africa’s democratic foundations by defending Iran at the UN and IAEA, downplaying its human rights abuses, and potentially benefitting from covert support, including speculation around the ANC’s repayment of a multi-million-rand debt shortly after filing the ICJ case against Israel.
“These atrocities are not just crimes against individuals; they are part of a war against the freedom of religion itself,” Modise warns. “This is religious genocide, and it is gaining momentum as it edges closer to South Africa’s borders.”
Instead of defending religious freedom, the ANC government has remained silent. It has issued no meaningful condemnation or rallying call to protect persecuted Christians: “The ANC has done nothing to defend the rights of Christians,” says Modise. “Instead, it has squandered South Africa’s moral standing on discredited genocide charges against Israel – the one country in the Middle East where Christians live in safety and equality.”
This betrayal is even more unforgivable in a nation where 80% of South Africans identify as Christian. Freedom of religion is a fundamental human right, but the ANC, once the global champion of human rights, has made its bed with regimes and groups that have used Islamic law to suppress and destroy those freedoms.
“The ANC’s alliances make it clear: they have abandoned South Africa’s Christians, choosing friendship with the very forces driving this campaign of genocide,” Modise concludes. “Silence in the face of such evil is complicity, and the ANC is guilty of both. They have aligned themselves with Jihadist Islamic ideology, without further thought.”
We call on every pastor, every congregation, and every believer to demand that the ANC account for its indifference and betrayal. The blood of persecuted Christians cries out from across the African continent. If South Africa will not stand with them now, the day may come when their fate becomes our own.
News
Government Should Support Media with Tax Incentives, Relief on Import Duties – Soneye
….Media Sustainability: Soneye Advocates Tax Reliefs, Independent Fund for Journalism


Former Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), Mr. Femi Soneye, has called on the Federal Government to support the Nigerian media with targeted incentives, including tax reliefs and import duty waivers on essential media tools.
Soneye made the appeal in Abuja on Tuesday after receiving the NUJ FCT Excellence in Corporate Communications Award, conferred on him by the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council.
The NUJ leadership, led by Chairperson Grace Ike, alongside the Deputy Chair, Secretary-General, and other executives, described Soneye as a consummate professional who has distinguished himself with tact and excellence in the communications field.
In his remarks, Soneye noted that while the Nigerian media remains one of the most vibrant in Africa, it continues to grapple with systemic challenges that weaken its effectiveness.
“The Nigerian media remains one of the most vibrant in Africa, but it also faces systemic challenges, financial, political, legal, and technological that weaken its effectiveness. The government can play a supportive role by granting tax incentives or relief on import duties for newsprint, broadcast equipment, and digital infrastructure,” he said.
He also urged the Federal Government to establish an independent media development fund to support investigative journalism, community radio, and newsroom innovation, drawing parallels with models in South Africa, the United States, and Canada.
The award underscores Soneye’s long-standing contributions to journalism and corporate communications, as well as his advocacy for a stronger, independent, and sustainable Nigerian media.


… GFD Executive Director emerges chapter Vice Chairperson*
The Lagos State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has elected a new executive council at the close of its flagship Lagos PR Fest 2025, reinforcing its commitment to professionalism, innovation, and societal impact.
In elections supervised by NIPR Registrar, Chief Uzoma Onyegbadue, Samuel Ayetutu emerged as Chairman, while Eniola Mayowa was elected Vice Chairman in a closely contested race.
Other members of the executive include Secretary Samuel Adeyemi, Assistant Secretary Rita Ali-Nock, Public Relations Officer Ogochukwu Okeke, Financial Secretary Bassey Nta, Treasurer Olabamiji Adeleye, Welfare Officer Funmilola Akintola, and Ex-Officio Provost Marshal Quadri Adeleke.
In his acceptance remarks, Ayetutu pledged to drive professional standards, promote inclusiveness, and foster collaboration among members to enhance the chapter’s influence locally and nationally.
This year’s PR Fest, themed “Urban Farming for Food Security: The Role of Communication”, convened communication professionals, policymakers, and stakeholders to explore innovative strategies for tackling food security through effective public engagement.
Over the years, the Lagos PR Fest has evolved into a leading platform for advancing the role of public relations in societal development, with the 2025 edition underscoring the Institute’s mission to position communication as a driver of sustainable development in Nigeria.
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