A former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Shina Abiola Peller, has enjoined opposition political figures to come together and rescue the country from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

Peller made this declaration while addressing journalists shortly after the 7th Annual Shina Peller Ramadan Lecture/Iftar held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Secretariat, Iyaganku, Ibadan, on Sunday.

Peller, who represented Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Iwajowa/Kajola Federal Constituency between 2019 and 2023, maintained that there is hunger in the land.

The former lawmaker, while speaking, urged opposition political figures to unite and rescue the country from APC in 2027.

Peller further stated that Nigeria is now in bad shape and needs a formidable opposition to put the present administration on its toes.

He said that what is happening in the country, where a few individuals who criticize the present administration are being persecuted, indicates that there is no longer freedom of speech.

He said, “We all know the present state of the nation; the country is in bad shape. There is hunger in the land. It is very evident that there is hunger in the land. It is not something that anybody needs to hide to say. I am well connected with people, even market people; we can hear the voices on the streets, religious people. I can tell you categorically that there is hunger in the land, people are not happy, and you will agree with me that a hungry person is an angry person.

“So, the country as it is now is going through these difficulties, and I don’t know the magic the government of the day will do. Things are getting worse day by day. You begin to have this fear, and to cap it all, there is no longer freedom of speech. As you are looking at it, there is a corps member who spoke her mind, and the next thing is that people are threatening her to take down the video.

“So, either people are getting scared of what the government could do to them, or those who can speak are busy embezzling money and don’t want to talk. But whether we like it or not, we believe so much in this country. I believe that God has given us a country that can stand as one of the best in the world. Our faith tells us that after hardship comes ease. In the Quran and even in the Bible, it says after darkness comes light.

“God is light. Whatever we are facing now is darkness, and we believe that light shall definitely overcome darkness. Honestly, where Nigeria is now, people should drop individual ambitions. Nigeria is at a stage where people must rescue the country. They should try as much as possible to drop personal ambitions and prioritize national interest.

“So, whether there is a merger or not, everybody should come together to form a formidable opposition.

“Democracy needs a functional opposition so that there can be constructive criticism of the government. Nigeria is not a one-party state.”

Chairman of the Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare Board (Muslim Wing), Sheikh Hashim Atere, while delivering a lecture titled “Youth Empowerment and Entrepreneurship in Islam: Lessons from the Prophet’s Life,” advised governments at all levels to empower more youths.

“We need to thank God for the opportunity given to us to witness this year’s Ramadan. It is not that we are the most godly, but God is the one who gave us the opportunity to witness today. Youthful age is very important in Islam.

“Youths should not run away from the things that are happening in the country. Empower more youths to save Nigeria’s future.

“Economic empowerment is key. Let the number of empowered youths exceed that of the aged. If you are knowledgeable, opportunities will come at any time. There are many youths with talents but no sponsors. Let us empower the youths because they are the future of Nigeria.”

The Special Counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Aloy Ejimakor, has urged the Nigerian government to order the release of Chukwu Sunday Obasi.

Ejimakor charged the Nigerian government to stop the persecution of Igbos perceived to be fighting for justice.

Posting on X, Ejimakor said Obasi has been detained since March 2021.

According to Ejimakor: “CHUKWU SUNDAY OBASI has been detained by DSS since March 2021 without trial. Efforts by lawyers have proved futile.

“The Federal Government should direct its security agencies to halt this persecution of Igbos who are perceived to be fighting for justice for Ndigbo. Free him, now.”

President Donald Trump of the United States is considering issuing sweeping travel restrictions for the citizens of dozens of countries as part of a new ban.

According to an internal memo regarding the move, a total of 41 countries divided into three separate groups would be affected.

The first group of 10 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Cuba and North Korea among others, would be set for a full visa suspension.

In the second group, five countries, including Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar and South Sudan, would face partial suspensions that would impact tourist and student visas as well as other immigrant visas, with some exceptions.

According to the memo, in the third group, a total of 26 countries that includes Belarus, Pakistan and Turkmenistan among others would be considered for a partial suspension of US visa issuance if their governments do not make efforts to address deficiencies within 60 days.

The move harkens back to President Donald Trump’s first term ban on travelers from seven majority-Muslim nations, a policy that went through several iterations before it was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018.

It could be recalled that Trump issued an executive order on January 20 immediately after his inauguration requiring intensified security vetting of any foreigners seeking admission to the US to detect national security threats.

That order mandated several cabinet members to submit by March 21 a list of countries from which travel should be partly or fully suspended because their vetting and screening information is so deficient.