Politics
US hurricanes followed by Republican storm of misinformation about relief efforts
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and supporters spread falsehoods about federal response and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris
Incessant rains and flooding battered Florida on Thursday after Hurricane Milton made landfall in the US as a Category 3 storm, leaving at least four dead and more than three million homes and businesses without power – two weeks after Hurricane Helene claimed more than 220 lives across six states, including Florida, North Carolina and Georgia.
Typically, US disaster relief is a bipartisan effort. But the back-to-back hurricanes have collided with this overheated election season, and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and his Make America Great Again allies have relentlessly criticised the federal response, propagating bizarre claims and unfounded conspiracy theories.
Trump has sought to leverage the grim situation to intensify his anti-immigration rhetoric while also labelling US President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris – his Democratic rival for the White House – as “very irresponsive” to the crisis.
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“They have no money. You know where they gave the money? To illegal immigrants coming in,” Trump repeated during a rally in Pennsylvania on Wednesday, implying that the administration was spending disaster relief funds of the Federal Emergency Management Agency on immigrants.
The misinformation was so pervasive that Biden condemned Trump on Wednesday for his “reckless, irresponsible, relentless promotion of disinformation and outright lies that are disturbing people”.
“It’s ridiculous, and it’s got to stop,” Biden warned.
But it’s not just Trump. US Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia known for spreading conspiracy theories, last week told her 1.2 million followers on X that the government “can control the weather”.
“It’s ridiculous for anyone to lie and say it can’t be done,” Greene, a staunch Trump supporter, added.
Even Republican officials in the affected areas have pushed back against the misinformation.
On September 30, Trump visited the swing state of Georgia, claiming that Brian Kemp, its Republican governor, had not been able to reach a “sleeping” Biden.
Kemp dismissed the allegation, saying he had spoken with the president the previous day and that Biden had offered whatever assistance Georgia might need.
And Greene was corrected by a colleague, US Representative Carlos Gimenez, a Republican from Florida, who said on Wednesday that she should get her “head examined”.
“Humans cannot create or control hurricanes,” Gimenez posted on X, as Hurricane Milton approached his state.
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump with Georgia Governor Brian Kemp at a temporary relief shelter in Evans, Georgia, on October 4. Photo: AP
Several US media organisations fact-checked Trump’s allegations, finding no truth to them and noting that, in fact, it was the former president who tried to use Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster funds in 2019 to pay for immigration programmes – in his case, detaining and transporting undocumented immigrants on the southern border.
According to CoreLogic, a data analysis consultancy, Hurricane Helene resulted in an estimated total loss of US$30.5 billion to US$47.5 billion; the losses from Hurricane Milton are still being assessed.
The disinformation has become so widespread that FEMA set up a response page on its website to debunk the lies, stating, for example, that it has “enough money right now for immediate response and recovery needs”.
No matter. In Michigan last week, Trump accused the Democrats of “stealing” money for “their illegal immigrants who they want to have vote for them”.
The billionaire Elon Musk, who is backing Trump and has campaigned with him, has used his social media platform X to amplify the disinformation.
“And FEMA used up its budget ferrying illegals into the country instead of saving American lives. Treason,” he wrote on his account, which has 201 million followers, without providing any evidence.
He also shared a post that claimed FEMA was blocking victims of Helene from receiving payments in Republican areas.
Harris has countered Trump’s claims, positioning herself as a reliable leader in a crisis, in contrast to his tumultuous approach.
“There’s a lot of mis- and disinformation being pushed out there by the former president about what is available, in particular, to the survivors of Helene,” Harris said. on Monday, condemning Trump as “extraordinarily irresponsible”.
Over the past week, Harris has met with disaster victims, attended high-level briefings and connected with local officials in the affected areas.
However, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican who endorsed Trump following his brief presidential campaign earlier this year, said he had declined to take Harris’ calls.
“I’ve had storms under both President Trump and President Biden, and I’ve worked well with both of them,” he said, adding “she’s the first one who’s trying to politicise the storm, and she’s doing that just because of her campaign”.
The Harris campaign has also used the opportunity to highlight Trump’s climate denial, mocking him for calling climate change “one of the great scams of all time” in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
A woman walks past a large oak tree that fell at her apartment complex in Sanford, Florida, due to Hurricane Milton. Photo: AP
Trump has often called climate change a “hoax” and favoured ramping up oil and gas production.
In 2017, he pulled the US out of the Paris climate agreement, reached by over 200 countries two decades earlier to set targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Biden rejoined the accord in 2021.
Project 2025, a 900-page policy paper assembled by the conservative Heritage Foundation to guide the next Republican administration, proposes radical changes to federal disaster preparedness agencies.
The document contends that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which oversees the government’s weather and research operations, should be “broken up and downsized” – claiming that the agency “is harmful to US prosperity” because it has “become one of the main drivers of the climate change alarm industry”.
It also seeks to overhaul FEMA, shifting the majority of emergency responsibilities to state and local governments.
Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris (centre) walks with members of the US Armed Forces and North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper (left) after being briefed on Hurricane Helene recovery operations at the Charlotte Air National Guard Base on Saturday. Photo: Getty Images via AFP
Harris, who does not dispute the reality of climate change, released a campaign paper promising to “unite Americans to tackle the climate crisis”.
Other than disrupting voting preparations in the southern states of Georgia, North Carolina and Florida, the effect that the two natural disasters may have on the election, now four weeks away, is not clear.
A Gallup survey published on Wednesday found that just 21 per cent of voters identified climate change as a top priority, while immigration was among the top five issues cited as “extremely important” by 41 per cent of the respondents.
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By Prince Uwalaka Chimaroke
17- DEC- 2025
The Senator representing Imo West Senatorial District and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Capital Markets, Senator Osita Izunaso, has expressed deep concern over what he described as the increasing occupation of political offices by individuals lacking the training, discipline, and values required for effective leadership.
Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday at the public presentation of Leadership 365: Daily Reflection for Effective Leadership, authored by Dr. Linus Okorie, President of the GOTNI Leadership Centre, the lawmaker noted that leadership in Nigeria is often misunderstood as merely holding public office rather than demonstrating character, competence, and vision.
Senator Izunaso stressed that authority does not automatically confer leadership, lamenting the absence of intentional leadership development structures in the country. According to him, many political actors assume leadership positions without adequate preparation, resulting in poor conduct, weak decision-making, and a disconnect from the people they serve.
He explained that true leadership reflects in attitude, speech, and behaviour, noting that leaders are constantly under public scrutiny and must therefore conduct themselves with responsibility and restraint. He added that leadership is not exclusive to political office holders, pointing out that leaders often emerge naturally in everyday settings based on influence and character rather than titles.
The lawmaker commended Dr. Okorie for contributing to leadership discourse through his book, describing it as a thoughtful work that highlights leadership as a daily responsibility applicable to all spheres of life. He emphasized that leadership is often revealed through action and integrity, not position, and can be identified even among children through observation of behaviour and influence.
Addressing young Nigerians, Senator Izunaso cautioned against the growing obsession with quick wealth, urging them instead to embrace mentorship and positive role models whose lives reflect sound values. He advised that money should not be the primary measure for choosing role models, stressing the importance of character and long-term impact.
The senator further observed that while technology and artificial intelligence are shaping the modern world, they can never replace the power of the human spirit. He noted that when properly guided, human capacity can drive meaningful change capable of transforming institutions, economies, and nations.
In his remarks, Dr. Okorie underscored the importance of deliberate leadership grooming, stating that nations that have achieved sustainable development did so by investing consciously in leadership capital. He explained that the book was written to encourage consistent self-reflection and inspire individuals committed to making a positive difference in society.
Observers note that concerns about leadership quality have remained a recurring issue in Nigeria’s governance discourse, with critics often pointing to weak institutions, policy inconsistency, and a political culture that prioritizes patronage over competence as major challenges to national development.
Politics
Engineers Farouk Ahmed, Gbenga Komolafe resign, President Tinubu nominates successors to the Senate for approval
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has asked the Senate to approve the nominations of two new chief executives for the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
The requests followed the resignation of Engineer Farouk Ahmed of the NMDPRA and Gbenga Komolafe of the NUPRC. Both officials were appointed in 2021 by former President Buhari to lead the two regulatory agencies created by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
To fill these positions, President Tinubu has written to the Senate, requesting expedited confirmation of Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan as CEO of NUPRC and Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed as CEO of NMDPRA.
The two nominees are seasoned professionals in the oil and gas industry.
Eyesan, a graduate of Economics from the University of Benin, spent nearly 33 years with the NNPC and its subsidiaries. She retired as Executive Vice President, Upstream (2023–2024), and previously served as Group General Manager, Corporate Planning and Strategy at NNPC from 2019 to 2023.
Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed, born in 1957 in Gombe, graduated from Ahmadu Bello University in 1981 with a Bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering. He was announced today as an independent non-executive director at Seplat Energy.
His prior roles include Managing Director of Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company and Nigerian Gas Company, as well as Chair of the boards of West African Gas Pipeline Company, Nigeria LNG subsidiaries, and NNPC Retail.
He also served as Group Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer, Gas & Power Directorate, where he provided strategic leadership for major gas projects and policy frameworks, including the Gas Masterplan, Gas Network Code, and contributions to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Engineer Mohammed played a pivotal role in delivering key projects such as the Escravos–Lagos Pipeline Expansion, the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline, and Nigeria LNG Train.
President Bola Tinubu felicitates Senator Ifeanyi Godwin Ararume, astute politician and accomplished businessman, on his birthday, December 16.
Senator Ararume’s odyssey in politics began in the late 1980s, when he served as the State Treasurer of the Liberal Convention in old Imo State. He later joined the National Finance Committee of the defunct National Republican Convention.
He represented Imo North in the 9th National Assembly. He was first elected in May 1999 and re-elected in April 2003. He also served on several committees and held other official roles.
President Tinubu commends the former senator for his years of service to the nation and contributions to its peace, unity, and progress.
The President describes Senator Ararume as a resolute and shrewd politician, highlighting his courageous and remarkable political journey through the years.
President Tinubu wishes Senator Ararume a happy 67th birthday and prays that God Almighty will grant him more years of good health and strength.
IMO WEST SENATOR IZUNASO WARNS AGAINST RISING TREND OF ILL-PREPARED LEADERS IN NIGERIA.
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