The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Monday called on political leaders to build one Nigeria devoid of partisanship, ethnicity and religious differences.

YENAGOA—IJAWS resident in Lagos and Ogun states started relocating from the two states, weekend, to the South-South for fear of attack following the expiration of the ultimatum issued to Ijaws in the states by the Reformed Odua Peoples Congress, ROPC.

Jesus says: “Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. You shall know them by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:15-16). This echoes Jacob’s prophecy: “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.” (Genesis 49:27).

The Nigerian Army said last night that its training exercise for the Niger Delta code named “EXERCISE CROCODILE SMILE” in 82 Division and part of 2 Division areas of responsibility traversing the South-South geo-political region will commence this weekend.

Indonesia on Friday executed one local and three Nigerian drug convicts by firing squad, an official said.

Indonesia Thursday rejected appeals from the UN and EU to halt the execution of 14 drug convicts including foreigners, as speculation mounted they could face the firing squad in a matter of hours.

SOME eminent Nigerians and employers of labour, yesterday, disagreed with Information Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed over President Muhammadu Buhari’s economic policy

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has replied former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah on his alleged comment that Biafra is for Igbo alone, asking him to explain who Philip Effiong was if Biafra is just for Igbo.

Acting Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Ibrahim Idris, yesterday said investigations into the disappearance of many vehicles parked at Force Headquarters a week to his appointment had commenced.

President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, directed the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to reopen investigation into the unresolved murder of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige, and ex-Deputy National Chairman, South-South, of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Aminosari Dokubo, and fish out the perpetrators.

The Senate, yesterday, rebuffed insinuations of a plot to initiate impeachment proceedings against President Muhammadu Buhari, saying such suggestions were speculative.

Former governor of Lagos State and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, yesterday, described Dino Melaye as a disgrace to the Senate.

The temptation to believe that Ayodele Fayose was now also among the prophets of God was a serious temptation last Friday at the rally ground at the centre of Ado Ekiti. On the rostrum was Fayose attired in a flowery T-shirt upon a pair of jeans trousers reeling out bible verses or the Word of God as his defence against the goliaths he claimed were ranged against him. His fight of faith which was intermittently laced with political histrionics was enthusiastically lapped up by the audience that consisted mostly of the working class. His audience bussed in from various parts of the town to Ojumose Roundabout in the centre of town hung on to every word of the prophet who shouted and railed as a prayer warrior in combat against a host of darkness set to entrap him into hell. Fayose fought with the word which has lately become his sword in the increasingly trenchant political warfare directed against him from various quarters.

THE Federal Government explained yesterday why it has refused to enter into dialogue with the Niger Delta Avengers who has continuously bombed pipelines in the region even as the militants vowed not to beg government for negotiation. The Federal Government gave the explanation a day after the Avengers blew up three more trunk lines in Bayelsa and Rivers. Meanwhile, residents of over 75 riverine communities Delta state have cried out over the pollution of their environment and environment by the activities of the Avengers and other militant groups.

Whether a constitutionally governed nation is to exist in perpetuity, sacred and inviolable even by the existential realities of irredeemable socio-cultural fault lines, is a matter for the conjecture of the jurisprudence of law and of morality. The question being: should a democratic society be presumed immune –legally-speaking or morally so- even from the rumbling dissent of self-determined minorities bent on opting out of the union?