News
Arewa Forum: Producing President In 2023 Not Exclusive Right Of South
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) on Wednesday said it was not the exclusive right of the South to produce the president in 2023.
Speaking exclusively with Daily Independent, Anthony Sani, a northern leader and the outgoing Secretary-General of the ACF, said there was no national consensus on zoning that was binding on political parties in the country.
According to him, since Nigeria was practising a multiparty democracy, each political party was free to zone its presidential ticket to any part of the country.
“In a multiparty democracy, it is political parties that field candidates for elective positions because there is no provision for independent candidates.
“And if any political party, in its winning game plans, fields a candidate from the South and majority of Nigerians vote for him, so be it! That would be democracy in action.
“I say so because the president coming from the South is not a matter of right, considering there is no national consensus on politics of identity symbolised by zoning that is binding on the political parties.
“As long as there is no national consensus on politics of identity symbolised by zoning that is binding on political parties, it is not possible to shut out any region or zone or state from the contest for the post of the president.
“Recall when President Obasanjo wanted to force politics of zoning on the nation by bringing the late President Umaru Yar’Adua from the North after the South, he had to use political blackmail to shut out people like former Rivers State governor, Peter Odili, from the South.
“And when President Yar’Adua died, one did not expect former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest with Muhammadu Buhari in 2011 and 2015, in the spirit of zoning. But he did.”
Also reacting to the statement made by Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State that the presidency should rightly return to the Southern part of the country, Sani said the statement was El-Rufai’s personal opinion and not the general belief of the North.
The ACF scribe said, in the last presidential election, even when it was agreed that the North should produce presidential candidates, a large percentage of presidential candidates that participated in the 2019 elections were from the Southern part of the country.
“In 2019, it was thought that the spirit of zoning would leave the field for presidential candidates from the North, but there were over 70 candidates, most of them from the South.
“This is testament to the fact that there is no national consensus on zoning that is binding on political parties with exclusive preserve to field candidates for elective posts in our multiparty democracy. That is why what Governor El-Rufai has said is not more than his personal opinion,” he said.

Foreign
Trump Imposes Entry Ban on Citizens of Iran, Afghanistan, Yemen, and Nine Other Countries

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation barring citizens from 12 countries from entering the United States, as part of a renewed effort to tighten immigration controls.

The affected countries include Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. According to the proclamation, nationals from these countries will face a full suspension of entry into the U.S.
Additionally, citizens from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela will face partial travel restrictions.
The directive is scheduled to take effect at 12:01 a.m. EDT (5:01 a.m. Nigerian time) on June 9, 2025.
In a video posted to X on June 5, President Trump explained that the travel restrictions are intended to bolster national security and prevent the entry of individuals who cannot be adequately screened.
“We cannot have open migration from any country where we cannot safely and reliably vet and screen… That is why today I am signing a new executive order placing travel restrictions on countries including Yemen, Somalia, Haiti, Libya, and numerous others,” Trump said.
He further stated that the list of affected countries could be updated in the future, depending on security assessments.
According to Trump, countries facing the most severe restrictions were found to host significant terrorist activity. Others were cited for poor cooperation with U.S. visa security measures, failure to provide reliable identity verification, inadequate record-keeping on criminal histories, and high incidences of visa overstays.
The new proclamation follows an earlier executive order issued on January 20, at the start of Trump’s second term, which called for intensified vetting procedures for all foreign nationals seeking to enter the U.S. That order also instructed relevant government agencies to recommend countries to be included in the travel ban based on deficiencies in security screening processes.
The latest move is part of a broader immigration agenda that includes tighter controls on individuals from regions deemed to pose potential security threats, including the Gaza Strip, Libya, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen.
News
2027: Ex-Lawmaker Urges Makinde Not to Contest Against Tinubu

Jude Idimogu, a prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State and former lawmaker, has cautioned Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde against considering a presidential run against President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election.
Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos, Idimogu, who also serves as the Deputy Leader of Ndigbo in Lagos APC, described such a move as a futile endeavor that would ultimately waste time and resources.
“The reality is that Governor Seyi Makinde cannot defeat President Bola Tinubu. Tinubu will secure re-election by God’s grace. Nothing will stop his victory,” Idimogu stated.
He further described President Tinubu as a strategic leader and “game changer” whose political prowess remains unmatched in Nigeria.
While acknowledging that Governor Makinde has the constitutional right to seek any elective office, Idimogu expressed doubt that Makinde would heed calls urging him to challenge Tinubu, especially given their cordial relationship.
Addressing the emergence of a potential opposition coalition ahead of 2027, the former lawmaker dismissed its chances of unseating Tinubu, asserting that no alliance could stand in the way of the president’s re-election.

News
Police Restore Calm in Omu-Aran After Violence, Palace and Bank Attacks; Five Arrested

The Kwara State Police Command has restored order in Omu-Aran, Irepodun Local Government Area, following a wave of violent disturbances on May 25 and 26, 2025, sparked by the actions of unruly youths.

According to a statement released by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, and made available to Just Event Online TV, the unrest was triggered by the arrest of a suspected drug dealer and arms trafficker known as Azeez, also called “A-Z,” by the Anti-Kidnapping Squad.
Azeez was reportedly freed by a mob while being transported to the police station. The group later attempted to storm the station but were successfully repelled by officers. The mob then moved to the Olomu’s Palace, where they set a motorcycle belonging to the monarch’s police orderly ablaze.
The situation escalated on the second day as the mob attacked the Olomu Aperan Microfinance Bank, vandalizing vehicles, the bank’s signboard, CCTV system, and other assets.
Police have arrested five suspects in connection with the attacks. Staff of the affected bank were safely evacuated and taken to the police station for protection.
In response, the Commissioner of Police, CP Adekimi Ojo, has directed enhanced patrols and surveillance across the community to maintain peace. The public has been urged to remain calm and refrain from spreading misinformation while investigations are ongoing.
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