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Natasha’s ides of March and the vindication of Akpabio

Published

1 year ago

May 5, 2025

Whirlwindnews

By Yusuf Ali

The internet was abuzz the night of 2025 May Day, as a United States-based activist, Dr Sandra Duru, with the moniker Prof Mgbeke, made good her threat to expose the shenanigans of the suspended Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, as a chronic liar, manipulator, and embarking on a malicious campaign of deceit to malign the reputation of the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

According to Prof Mgbeke, the Kogi Central Senator who was linked to her through a top opposition politician, had sought her support to join in the campaign of calumny against Akpabio and she had actually started pilloring the man. Evidence abound on her social media pages. This was until she asked the Senator for evidence of the sexual harassment allegations. “Natasha told me there was nothing like sexual harassment. I was shocked. Honestly I broke down because I had already started fighting the Senate President, in my effort to support Natasha,” Prof Mgbeke said. According to her, the sexual harassment allegation was her strategy to garner public sympathy and support in the fight to discredit the Senate President.

For Prof Mgbeke, the confession by Natasha that there was no sexual harassment marked the turning point for her. “Natasha is on a mission to destroy men. I cannot watch her destroy our men, I cannot watch her destroy our sons, I cannot watch her destroy our girls who are following her blindly,” she said.

In her continued desperation to nail Akpabio, Prof Mgbeke further said that after realising that her sexual harassment allegation wasn’t getting much traction and public sympathy, Natasha offered her N200 million to accuse the Senate President of organ harvesting, linking him with the death of a young girl who passed away a few years ago. How desperate can a woman be to manufacture such inanity!

She summed it up this way: “What is happening is not activism. It is an orchestrated strategy and an abuse of gender advocacy, a staged performance designed to provoke public sympathy and manufactured false narratives and target political opponents.”

However before Prof Mgbeke’s explosive exposé, many discerning minds had asked Senator Natasha for evidence of the sexual harassment allegation. To take her seriously, many demanded concrete evidence in the form of private chats, love text messages, pictures, videos and voice recordings, call logs, etc, especially with her reputation of having made similar claims about other men in the past which turned out to be false accusations. Till date she has not provided any scintilla of evidence despite making local and international media rounds her favourite pastime. All she was interested in was to drag the reputation of the Senate President in the mud .

So Prof Mgbeke only confirmed what many Nigerians had suspected and some questions asked. How can a man sexually harass you in front of your husband and in the presence of many other Senators? How can a victim of sexual harassment indulge in effusive praise and adoration of the abuser in the social media the day after the alleged incident? How can the victim go ahead to travel to different countries with the abuser and taking selfies in foreign countries with the same man whom she alleged sexually harassed her? In any case, why remain silent over such grievous act (by her admission not even informing her husband) for over one year until you were removed as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Content and your seat in the Senate chamber was changed?

However, the evidence of Prof Mgbeke were stunning and incontrovertible: from call logs, private chats, voice recordings of the Kogi Senator, it became obvious that Senator Natasha was on a pull-him-down mission through fabricated allegations for political gains. More stunning were Natasha’s claim, according to Prof Mgbeke of having recruited and paid Dr Oby Ezekwesili and Dr Abiola Akiyode of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) to disrupt the Senate Committee sitting and how she bragged about having media organisations on her pay roll to do her biddings. She described her followers who swallowed her lies hook, line and sinker as “gullible and hungry” while those she recruited to wage this war were described as “useful idiots.”

In view of the weighty allegations of the Kogi Senator’s scheme, the security agencies, especially the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), have to get to the roots of the allegation about Natasha’s plot to bring down a “Yoruba Government.” According to Prof Mgbeke, “She said the reason for the fight was not really about the Senate President but it is about the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, that they don’t want Yoruba government to go beyond four years. She said there was no sexual harassment evidence of any kind.” To destabilize the Tinubu administration, her sponsors would reward her with the governorship of Kogi State or the Minister of Petroleum. “She said all she wanted was for the Senate President to step down, that the Senate President is the one shielding Nigeria’s President,” Prof Mgbeke revealed.

This is hardly surprising though because no sooner had Natasha made her unfounded allegations than opposition politicians started making a political capital out of it. Obviously, Natasha was not working alone. The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, jumped into the fray and talked about corruption (laugh out loud), former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, pontificated about the integrity of the Senate while Dr Ezekwesili called on Akpabio to step aside. Obviously, Natasha was playing a political script, she was dancing naked to the drum beats of the opposition with President Bola Tinubu as their main target using the fabricated allegations against Akpabio.

The puerile attempt by Natasha to deny Prof Mgbeke’s allegations with hard evidence as “entirely untrue and most manipulated to serve Sandra Duru’s ulterior motive” is most unconvincing. It is true to her character. If with the avalanche of proofs and evidence which Prof Mgbeke said she has submitted to security agencies for forensic analysis, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan still denies knowing the US-based activist, then she is irredeemable. Concerned citizens are demanding for speedy investigation by security agencies and their findings made public while those found to be involved in the plot to destabilise the administration of President Tinubu be brought to justice on account of their conspiracy.

The story rings true with fact that there was never a thing like sexual harassment. It only existed in the imagination of the Kogi Senator and her gullible followers.

Ali, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Ekpoma, Edo State

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Tinubu to Nigerians: I share your pain, but I’m with you all the way

Published

6 minutes ago

May 25, 2026

Whirlwindnews

For the umpteenth time, President Bola Tinubu has once again, urged Nigerians to be patient with his government, saying the reforms he embarked upon in the last three years, which had begun to yield result would come to its full manifestation soon.

The President, also expressed gratitude to those who had remained supportive of his government during the period, praising them for their resilience and promising that he would not disappoint in the end.

Tinubu, who spoke on Sunday while accepting the fresh nomination of the All Progressives Congress (APC) after being announced as the winner of last Saturday’s presidential primaries across the country, was particularly grateful to the members for their support and renewed his commitment to national development.

With a total of 10,999,162 votes against Stanley Osifo, his only opponent during the exercise who polled 16,503 votes, the President told his audience: “In accepting this nomination, I renew my commitment to serve our nation with even greater determination.

“With another four years of discipline, focus and national cooperation, we will firmly place Nigeria on an irreversible path of economic expansion, industrialisation, energy security, infrastructural development, food sovereignty and democratic consolidation.”

Anyim Pius Anyim, former Senate President, Chairman of the Presidential Primaries Committee of the party, had announced the result of the exercise, subsequent upon which the President received the party flag for the 2027 presidential polls from Nentawe Yilwatda, the APC National Chairman.

Tinubu, while acknowledging the economic hardship experienced by Nigerians since the introduction of key reforms under his administration, including the removal of fuel subsidy and foreign exchange reforms introduced in 2023, told the party faithful: “You have given me the encouragement. Sometimes it is difficult, and I share the pain with you.

“I know what it is to reform an economy that was in tatters. If you lost sleep, I lost some too. If you have lost weight, I think I have lost some too. But I have always remembered one thing: in 2022, I asked for this job, you all supported me, and I got it, so I must do it.”

Highlighting several reforms implemented by his administration, including the student loan scheme, tax reforms, and infrastructure projects, he said more than ₦282 billion had been disbursed to about 1.5 million beneficiaries under the student loan programme, pledging to strengthen electricity supply and create more opportunities for young Nigerians and businesses across the country ahead of the 2027 election.

The president reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to security, promising intensified efforts against banditry and other criminal activities across the country.

Tinubu also urged Nigerians not to become “complacent” or allow politicians without “clear alternative visions” to derail the country’s progress, noting that the forthcoming election must be “a reaffirmation of Nigeria’s democratic maturity.”

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Cooking gas inches N2,000 per kg price *We fear the worst – marketers

Published

1 hour ago

May 25, 2026

Whirlwindnews

“We feel that if the situation is not immediately checked, the citizens may rise against the owners of gas filling stations,” were the words with which gas marketers raised alarm on Sunday about the consequences of the continued scarcity of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), otherwise known as cooking gas across the country.

At the current prices, of ₦1,500 per kg, the Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM) warned stakeholders of an impending public anger against their operations, regardless of their innocence in the rising prices of the commodity.

They particularly drew the attention of the Federal Government, government agencies, industry regulators, importers, LPG producers, depot owners, LPG consumers, and the general public to the situation, exculpating members of blame, as they were now forced to pay between N25,200,000 and N26,200,000 for 20MT of cooking gas in parts of the country.

Part of the statement, read: “It is sad and rather very pathetic to inform the general public that the citizens of Nigeria have woken up to buy cooking gas, which should be a social item at a prohibitive cost of over N1,500per kg, while the Marketers are made to pay as much as N25,200,000, or, depending on location, N26,200,000 for 20MT of cooking gas.

“This sad situation has brought untold hardship to millions of Nigerian households, small businesses, food vendors, and low-income families who rely on LPG for daily cooking and livelihood.

“It is rather worrisome to state that this situation is seriously eroding the substantial progress made by the Government on the usage of Clean Energy in the country.

“We observe that where product is available, it is sold at rates far beyond the reach of average Nigerians. NALPGAM hereby observes that the current crisis is undermining years of progress achieved through Federal Government policies, public-private investments, and awareness campaigns aimed at deepening LPG penetration and promoting clean cooking energy as a safer alternative to kerosene, charcoal, and firewood in Nigeria.

“While millions of Nigerians have embraced cooking gas as a result of the national clean energy transition agenda, it is sad to state that those gains are at risk as households are struggling to refill cylinders, small businesses are folding under rising energy costs, while many families are reverting to firewood and charcoal despite the serious implications for public health, environmental degradation, and deforestation.”

On the wider socio-economic implications, the Association warned that if urgent and coordinated actions are not taken immediately, the current crisis could trigger broader consequences, including accelerated food inflation, the collapse of small-scale LPG retail businesses, job losses, reduced investor confidence, and a significant setback to Nigeria’s clean energy and climate commitments.

The Association is calling on the Federal Government, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd, domestic producers, terminal operators, international suppliers, and all critical stakeholders in the LPG value chain to take urgent, coordinated steps to stabilise the market before it degenerates further.

It called for immediate measures to improve the availability and accessibility of LPG nationwide, increased domestic LPG allocation to the Nigerian market, ensuring transparent and equitable distribution of available supply across regions, reduction of bottlenecks in product importation, storage, and distribution, implementation of strategic interventions to stabilise retail prices, and protection of consumers.

The marketers also called for other measures, such as investment in critical infrastructure, including storage and distribution facilities, and adoption of policies that support affordability, sustainability, and long-term growth of the sector.

NALPGAM reaffirmed its commitment to constructive engagement and collaboration with government agencies, regulators, producers, and other stakeholders to develop sustainable solutions that will guarantee an affordable, stable supply and continued growth of the LPG sector.

“In conclusion, it is apposite to state that “We cannot stand by and watch millions of Nigerian families suffer in silence while access to clean cooking energy becomes increasingly difficult and unaffordable. For years, Government and industry operators have worked to move Nigerians away from unsafe fuels. Those gains are now under serious threat”, the statement added.

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Be careful! Terrorists planning major hit during Sallah, military warn!

Published

1 hour ago

May 25, 2026

Whirlwindnews

Nigerians have been warned to be on the lookout during the festive period this week, as Muslims across the world mark the Eid-Kabir, authorities of the Nigerian Army, warned on Monday, as intelligence has filtered in that terrorists would use the opportunity to launch attacks against civilian targets.

Sani Uba, a Colonel and spokesman of the Joint Task Force of the military in a statement, warned the general public to be on security alert, citing indications of the possibility of isolated attempts by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists to exploit the

Sani, Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI, who noted that the strikes would employ the use of suicide bombers and IEDs, particularly in areas of high population concentration, however, assured that the military had deployed troops and surveillance, and fully activated ISR assets to critical and vulnerable locations ahead of the Wednesday celebrations.

He said in the statement: “Patrols have been intensified, and security forces are operating in close coordination with sister agencies, the CJTF, and community vigilance groups to forestall any threat and guarantee a secure festive period for all residents.

The statement, further advise the public to conduct Eid prayers and festivities as close to their homes and familiar localities as possible, and avoid large open gatherings where practicable, adding: “Exercise heightened vigilance in crowded public spaces such as markets, motor parks, banking halls, and prayer grounds.

“Report any suspicious persons, unattended objects, or unusual movements to the nearest military checkpoint, police station, or civil-military liaison point immediately.

“Cooperate fully with security personnel during patrols and screening operations. Avoid unnecessary movement, particularly at night or in areas with limited security presence. Refrain from spreading unverified information or rumours capable of causing public panic. Rely only on official information from verified government and security channels.”

Stressing the roles of traditional rulers, religious leaders, media organisations, and community stakeholders to actively engage their communities and encourage the timely reporting of credible security information ahead of and during the celebration period, the statement said: “Your cooperation with security forces remains invaluable to the success of ongoing operations

“The Command remains resolute in its determination to deny terrorists any freedom of action and ensure that the Eid El Kabir celebrations proceed in an atmosphere of peace, safety, and dignity for all. The Theatre Command wishes the entire Muslim community a peaceful and rewarding Eid El Kabir celebration.”

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