By Sunny Igboango

Very Dark Man, you’re right to take umbrage against Obi Cubana for being coopted into the Tinubu campaigns. You’re right to have felt the way you did that a whole Obinna Iyiegbu would be reduced to singing that On Your Mandate we shall stand mantra.

Like you, many Nigerians are utterly disappointed! Now, who wouldn’t be? Obi Cubana has not only come to represent the grass to grace narrative every youth in Nigeria should emulate, but a special and specific brand, and like the golden serpent, ought to be mounted on a standard where each youth suffering from the snake bites the scotch-earth policies of the APC government has spread on the Nigerian landscape, should look up to for healing.

So, to see him descend from that Olympian height to kowtow to the level of renditioning that awful song, must be as disgusting as it is gutting. I’m equally gutted as I’m sure most Nigerians are.

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But then here is where you’re wrong. You’re wrong when use that singular act to define the Igbo people. You gave the impression that Obi Cubana, by signing into that notorious project, represents Ndigbo and that, that gamble will make an impact in deciding where the pendulum of Ndigbo will swing in the 2027 presidential election. Nada! Negative. Not at all!

Now, let me tell you from the outset that it is a wasted effort – I mean that gambit. As far as what the political decision of the South East will be in that election – it is completely wasted without mincing word.

Speaking the way you did confirms that you VDM know very little about Ndigbo. But what you don’t know you’ll learn and some of us are here to teach you.

Now, let us take just a little peek into history to help you understand a small bit about the Igbo persona – I mean the character of Ndigbo either individually and collectively.

VDM! I don’t know how much you know about The Igbo Landing. Have you heard about it? Let me give you a snippet – not the whole story – just a scratch of it. It was about a group of Igbo men captured from their land and transported by ship into slavery in America.

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But right there in the ship, they had discussed among themselves that instead of becoming slaves in a foreign land death was the better option. They plotted their operation in whispers as they lay like sardines inside the ship.

You know what they did? Immediately they emerged, even still bounded in chains, they lounged on their captors, not only fought and defeated them, but knowing that there was no escape despite their temporally victory, they collectively plunged themselves into the sea and sunk deep down.

In case you believe I just told you a fairy tale, go and read up the details. Most of the story was written by the white man. It is there available.

The Igbo tribe is the only people in human history known to have carried out such an escapade. VDM! Did you know why Igbo slaves were the cheapest at that time? Simple! They were the ones that questioned the orders of their masters and in many cases, refused to carry them out, choosing punishment or even death as a result.

So, for the slave merchants, whenever the products on sale were Igbo, they were sold last as cheap commodities, some as giveaways. Yes! As gbanjo! Why? Oyibo wanted those who could work without question with minimal resistance and Igbo slaves were not with those qualities. To them, resistance was bad for business and the Igbo spelled resistance and therefore, bad business.

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What are we even talking about? Certainly, you’re not born during the war. But you could ask your parents to tell you. Look at that war? Is it not enough example to indicate who Ndigbo really are? This was a dot in the circle, as Buhari once described them – a group of people on a tiny space in Nigeria. But look at how they were able to hold on.

Within that tiny enclave came enough resistance, enough resilience and enough power that contained the combined fire power from entire Nigeria with Egypt, UK, US and Russia providing all the supports they could muster. Who else is capable of doing so?
Som, you talk about Obi Cubana when there is no stake that requires the collective Igbo spirit. That is when such characters matter in the scheme of things.

In the instant case Ndigbo have identified Peter Obi as the go-man and there is no going back. What will surprise you is that the choice of Obi, has very little to do with tribal thinking. It has more to do with the larger picture before them. In that picture, Tinubu doesn’t count.

The way things stand today, go and get 10 more Obi Cubanas, add 20 Charles Chukwuma Soludos and 50 more South East governors and combine them, Tinubu will not get 10,000 votes in the entire South East in 2027. I’m not exaggerating! From where will he get it? Who would do the voting and what would be the person’s convictions?

Yes! If you want to the Tinubu capable of competing with Obi in Igboland, then go and get the Tinubu of 2003-2007 or even Tinubu of 2014. That’s the Tinubu they will identify with and not the Tinubu that has been tainted and inherited the Buhari spirit. As I said, it has very little to do with tribe. Tribal politics means very little to the Igbo man.

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In fact, to prove this, put a Yemi Osinbajo on the ballot today and see how the Igbo will react to him. He’s a Yoruba man. He has even worked with Buhari. But put him on the ballot and see Obi struggling to beat him in the South east.

So, don’t worry yourself VDM. You saw what happened to Soludo during the inauguration of the Nnewi Catholic Church Cathedral when Obi’s name was mentioned. Is it such people that you’re going to tell to vote for Tinubu. Soludo cannot even convince his own siblings or his household to join him in that odious project, no matter what he uses.

In fact, the mistake the APC and those engaging in this lost project are making today is the same NPN made ahead of the 1983 election when they believed that bringing back the late Ikemba Nnewi Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu would swing the Igbo votes for them. They wanted to ride on the wings of Ojukwu’s war record. But it was a futile attempt.

In the same vein, relying on that playbook in 2027 will backfire. In fact, go and bring out Nnamdi Kanu today – he is about one of the most popular Igbo currently – stand him on a podium and let him make a positive comment on Tinubu, let alone a suggestion that Ndigbo should vote for him and witness how everything about him crumbles.

I repeat, if Tinubu is able to garner up 10,000 votes in Igbo land, it will be a miracle! So, the only option available is toeing the rigging templates that NPN resorted to, which gave them the infamous landslide victories of 1983 and we all saw how that ended. As for organic votes of Ndigbo, that one is a no-go area.

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Even Obi Cubana knows that much. He’s aware that even that young boy he started business for or the young girl he saw through school would disappoint him on election day if it comes to a choice between Obi and Tinubu.

Ndigbo have rejected the Jagaban the same way they rejected Buhari. So, the acquiescence of Obi Cubana in that wacky project, is purely a business decision. Of what use would it be to waste his resources or jeopardise his business for something he knows won’t bear any fruit?

It is not that he is dealing with an Obafemi Awolowo or Lateef Jakande government that favour physical development and economic enhancement over politics. Those in charge today, will think nothing of it to send bulldozers to level down the Cubana Nightclub at GRA Ikeja overnight if it comes to that. They’re that vicious. They’ve done worse than that already.

All it will take is to remind him that he is Igbo and accuse him of trying to take over Lagos or find any other flimsy or convenient excuse to latch on. Whether it makes any sense or not is another kettle of fish altogether. A mindset that decided to change all streets bearing Igbo names overnight, regardless of the history behind them, what will it take them to destroy that imposing structure and forget the revenue and other important purposes it serves.

They’re that desperate. Afterall, haven’t they started with the same Cubana in Abuja? That was a test-run to show him that they mean business.

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So, VDM, instead of disappointment or disgust, let us show pity to our brother, Obi Cubana! What is greater than the cricket has visited it in its hole. Even Peter Obi will not encourage him to be too reckless with his choices knowing the consequences.
If it is about Igbo votes, forget about that one.

Obi Cubana’s attempt will be as effective as the fingernails of the lizard on the trunk of an iroko tree. Recall that Ojukwu contested presidency twice, without making any impact. That the late Ikemba could be given such a cold shoulder despite his gripping influence on Ndigbo, is an indication of how the Igbo man thinks.

As for an Igboman becoming President. The possibility has already been proven. Obi won the 2023 election with wide margin across the country. But for the machinations of Yakubu Mahmoud’s INEC with their technical glitches, he would be President today.

He will win again, ceteris paribus. In fact, if he secured 90 per cent in South East in 2023, expect him to up the stakes to 99 per cent in 2027. Not with the disaster Tinubu and his government have become.The only option the APC will have even with 10 Obi Cubanas and 50 Soludos is to rig the election like the NPN did. And that will be a national problem.

So, VDM, where your job is cut out for you. That job is not the South East. That one is sealed. You should be talking about the entire country. Mobilise 50 million Nigerians to storm the National Assembly next week. Get them to make it mandatory for the INEC to transmit election results into the IReV as part of the new electoral law for 2027.

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After that, go and take a good rest. Even go on holidays with that your babe – satisfied that you’ve delivered – you’ve given Nigeria a secure process for free and fair election. That way, before the noon on election day, Peter Obi, an Igbo man will be declared the President-elect and on April 29, 2027 Tinubu’s disastrous government will come to an end.

Of course, that feat will not be achieved by the thumbprints of Ndigbo alone! Hausa, Yoruba, Efik, Edo, Nupe, Gbagi, Kanuri, Igbira, Tiv, Ijaw, Ogoni – Nigeria will have theirs in it. That way, Nigeria is set for the future and your decade-long advocacy for the good of Nigerians will have meaning.

My name is Sunny Igboanugo, I’m The Tiny Voice!

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By Sunny Igboanugo

When AKACHAAM, the man whose video went viral a few weeks ago for giving up Christianity on account of the poor treatment he believed the Catholic Archdiocese of Nnewi, gave Ifeanyi Uba, the late Senator representing Anambra South at the National Assembly, he was sending a message!

The jury is still out on the propriety of his choices and style. But certainly not confused about that message! He was pointing out what he considered a major flaw – the lack of empathy and compassion by the leadership of the Church!

How could the Church which opened its vault to receive proceeds from the late Senator, ignore him on the day of celebration – an event that was marked with plenty tributes and recognitions – without sparing a thought for the man, he claimed to have contributed more than 80 per cent to the building of that edifice – the raison d’etre for the celebration?

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I watched the subsequent interviews of the same man where he gave further details to support his action. I heard him complain that if the Bishop of the cathedral had not recognised anyone in person as it was supposed to be in church business, he would not have acted the way he did.

But in a situation where he – his Lordship – recognised other people and their contributions lavishly and failed or – gave a scant recognition to Uba – only using the phrase – “also contributed” for the late Senator – was the end of the story for him.

Now, the question is, would His Lordship have acted in the same manner if the Senator was alive and sitting in that church as part of the audience during that ceremony?

The answer is blowing in the wind. But what cannot be left so-floating is the underlining issue – compassion or lack of it as it concerns the church – in this case – the Catholic! If you like, add hypocrisy or even wickedness.

That brings me to the issue leading to this long turenci – the dog-fight between the same Catholic Church and residents of a property in Onitsha. I woke up this morning being confronted with it immediately I opened my Facebook page.

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Here, the Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha is intent on evicting a slew of residents from a property it claimed to have bought in the commercial city for the residency of students of a university it owns and runs.

Now I have not read from the other side – that is – the affected residents. I’m relying solely on the account of the church as well-delivered by their lawyers. From what I could glean, the tenants are resisting the move. That is enough for me to take sides.

Unequivocally and without mincing words, I declare my sympathy and empathy with those residents. I don’t even have to hear their side before becoming seized of their matter. Why? Simple! I know what that move by the church means. I know what it entails for both sides. If you do not, just visit any magistrate court and hear the cases of landlords and tenants.

Now, by my donating my support to the residents, did I say, or suggest that the church is not on its rights legally-speaking? No! On the contrary, on that score, the church is spot-on. It is right in building a university as a means of educating the society and it is right to provide convenience by way of accommodation for the students of the institution, using its own facility.

But is the church right in evicting residents from their abode in the present Nigeria? That is where the matter is stuck in my throat? Mind you, some of the concerned residents could even be members of the church and could have contributed to the building of the said university.

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The Archbishop or the priests, could even have zero monetary contribution to the university. Yet, they will be the ones pressing for the eviction of those with whose money the institution was built. Now how does this relate? Irony, did I hear you say?

But that is actually not at the heart of the matter. What is, is the larger implication for those tenants in the said buildings the Church is trying to repossess by their eviction. What is their fate? Where will they go?

Reading the well-laid, well-tailored account of the lawyer to the Church, it is not difficult to deduce his recourse to the law. Everything is clear – signed and sealed – six months quit notice for yearly tenants – ticked – seven days after the expiration – ticked – the next thing – the law – OUT – QUIT! That is the law!

Certainly, only few could miss the impersonal tinge of the lawyer in advancing the position of the church – using the handy instrument – THE LAW. Naturally, lawyers are supposed to be impersonal.

If not, how are they going to evict a widow from the only land left for her by the husband, just because a big man paid them to do so? Were lawyers not responsible for throwing Nigeria into the dark abyss it is today by defending those who stole the 2023 elections? So, yes! The law. It must be obeyed! Else, “society will be in chaos!”

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But then, the question! What would Jesus Christ do in the same situation? Since the issue is not about the old retiree who needs the proceeds of those buildings to sustain his life, having been denied of his pension – we are talking about The Church – the body of Christ – is that the way to go?

Would Christ throw those out without caring where they would go because the law permits it? Don’t forget, the law of the Jews permitted them to stone Mary Magdalene to death for the sin of adultery? But did Christ permit it? So, don’t talk law to me, talk Christianity and Christ, since we’re talking about The Church – Christ’s Body. What would Christ do here?

Now, did you know that it is the prayer-point of many of your compatriots never to be remembered by their Nigerian landlords? Did you know the cost of renting a new apartment anywhere in Nigeria? Did you know that as an old tenant you were in earthly kingdom if you were not harassed by your landlord with quit notices or threats of them? Did you know some of the tenants, left without options, could be village-bound as a result? Is that the Church?

Yes! The Church has done well to build a university, even if, as usual, many of the contributors to such projects might not be able to access them. It is also the remit of the church to provide for the students. But is it right for the church to throw out struggling Nigerians into the street to do so?

These questions become even more relevant when the university project is not charity as in the days of old but purely commercial. Did I hear you shout – Money! Again, the question – What would Christ do?

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Now, before you began to grumble – cast and bound, hear this. Yours truly is a Catholic – in a “State of Grace” – meaning a Communion-receiving Catholic. Yet, I ask!

What then should the Church do? Direct answer – buy a virgin land, construct hostels and get your students move in. Else, rent virgin buildings – there are many of them around. Don’t throw those residents into the streets. Yes! You have the law, but you are constrained by the bigger law – CHRIST – which is LOVE!

Now folks, before you wonder what this rant is all about, take time to read the below! May God give us the discerning spirit! IJN – Amen!

37 LIMCA ROAD NKPOR: FALLACIES v HARD FACTS.

The social media denizens have been inundated in recent days with blatant lies, half-truths,vile propaganda and outright blackmail against the Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha by suborned individuals of other faiths, masquerading as Catholics.

The central message of these individuals is that the Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha is chasing them away from their flats which, according to them, they have been occupying for ages. Now, let these propagandists know this and know peace:

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1. No 37 Limca Road Onitsha, comprising 4 buildings,is the property of Igwe Okonkwo- Etusi of Eziowelle,a Knight of the Catholic Church .

2. As part of his support for the nascent Shanahan University, the said Igwe invited the Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha to lease the property and use same as Hostels for the teeming and bourgeoning student population of Shanahan University owned by the Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha .

3. For valuable consideration, a Deed of Lease was executed in August 2025, between Igwe Okonkwo-Etusi as Lessor and the Registered Trustee of the Roman Catholic Mission of the Archdiocese of Onitsha as Lessee.

4. The tenants were duly issued 6 months notices to quit and deliver up possession as required by law, which notices will expire 31st March 2026. In this connection , Barr Azubike Anazor was appointed by the said Igwe Okonkwo- Etusi as his solicitor in respect of the said Estate with full powers which include power to eject existing tenants from the buildings .

5. The rents paid to Igwe Okonkwo- Etusi expired since December 2025, yet the Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha is not ejecting them and will not eject them until the expiry of the statutory notices, after which 7 days notices of owner’s intention to apply to court for possession will be issued.

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6. It was an essential part of the Lease Agreement that a signpost should be mounted on the Estate indicating the use of the property as Hostels and Igwe Okonkwo- Etusi Estate name visibly added.
7. The said signpost was mounted on Tuesday,27/1/26 but some tenants of other denominations pulled it down, vandalized and defaced same. 8.

A written petition was forwarded to Ogidi Police Station whose men visited the site and invited the Estate Chairman to station this Monday morning.

9. People are advised to discountenance whatever lies they are being fed by certain individuals bent on frustrating the successful take-off and blossoming of Shanahan University. We know them and their ill-fated motives. Let them be assured that they can never succeed in this plot.

10. We are determined to protect and defend the rights and interests of the Church and will not give in to false propaganda and outright blackmail.

Barr Azubike Anazor , KSJI.
Counsel and Solicitor to the Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha

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For the second time in her pursuit for the quashing of the suspension handed her by the Senate on March 6, 2025 came to naught on Monday, with the Court of Appeal affirming the judgement of the Federal High Court, Abuja on the matter.

The appellate court held that the court below was right in holding that the suspension of the Senator representing Kogi Central at the National Assembly was withing its rights.

Emphasising the rights of the Senate to discipline any erring member, the court held that in the instant case, Uduaghan-Akpoti’s fundamental right was never breached as she alleged, adding that the Senate had the power to invoke disciplinary action to ensure orderliness in the conduct of Senate’s proceedings.

Justice Abba Bello Mohammed who read the the lead judgement corroborated by his colleagues, dismissed the grounds on which the Senator based her appeal, the court agreed for the Senate’s application on the provision of Section 66(4) of its standing rules, to hand down the suspension.

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Also agreeing that the behaviour of the Senator on February 20, 2025, when she refused to take the seat allocated to her, but instead, displayed agitation against its leadership was out of place, the court said that, the claim of the Senator that she was not given prior notice on the change of seat was unattainable because there was no provision for prior notification.

Mohammed in the unanimous judgement, also held that the Federal High Court, in the first instance ought to have declined jurisdiction in entertaining the suit having discovered that the Senate acted in line with the provision that permits it to suspend any erring member.

He added that upon been told the re-allocation of seat, the Senator ought to have moved to the new seat and having declined to do so, the Senate was right to enforce order six rule two following her persistent refusal to obey the order.

To worsen the situation, the appellate court observed Akpoti-Uduaghan’s refusal to appear before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Petition and Privileges did not help her matter, while also dismissing her claim that her suspension was carried out in violation of an order by Justice Obiora Egwuatu.

In this regard, the upper court, held that since Egwuatu recused himself and the matter started afresh by Justice Binta Nyako, the previous orders were no longer subsisting.

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But it was not all woes, as the court, also faulted the contempt charge against the Senator and the N5 million fine imposed on her by Nyako, saying  the failure by the trial court to serve forms 48 and 49 on her was fatal and therefore went ahead to set both punishments aside.