Culture
Group takes Ohaneze Ndigbo to the cleaners for placing bounty on illustrious son

A group operating under the aegis of World Igbo Union, has taken the Ohaneze Ndigbo to the cleaners over what it described as a sacrilege the tagging of one of the illustrious son Simon Ekpa as ‘persona non grata’ to Igbo land.
The apex Igbo Organization in the world in a statement on Tuesday by its leader Mazi Ogechukwu Nkere which was made available to newsmen in Abuja, said such call was not only sacrilegious, but also an abomination and frivolous in the face of hundreds of Southeasterners being murdered by marauding Fulani terrorists and Boko Haram in Nigeria without any measurable reaction by Ohaneze Ndigbo to stop the killings.
The statement reads: “The attention of the apex Igbo Organization in the world – The IWorld Igbo Union has been drawn to a sacrilegious publication credited to a moribund organization in the name of Ohaneze Ndigbo seeking a bounty on the head of one of their illustrious sons, Mazi Simon Ekpa in a publication on This Day Newspaper of 1/23/2023.”
He indicated that the Ohaneze has not reacted in strong or measurable terms or issued any active statement to condemn the killings by the terrorists in Southeast Nigeria.
The group which comprises of over 50,000 members of Igbo descent across the world declared the ohaneze ndigbo as a dead and wasted organization that has remained irrelevant in the lives of the average Igbo person in Nigeria.
The group rules out Ohaneze Ndigbo as inconsequential and lacking capacity to decide for over 70 million Southeasterners and Biafrans that are cut across the Southeast Nigeria begging daily to live from the horrors of terrorist invaders imported into Nigeria by the current Nigeria leadership aided by Ohaneze.
The statement declared the group’s total and unwavering support for their illustrious son in the person of Mazi Simon Ekpa who has been exposing the ills and havoc that Fulani terrorists have been wreaking in all parts of Nigeria including the killing of Christians, burning of homes and markets and more recently, the killing of the Catholic priest father Achi in Kaduna State Nigeria.; this killing has been condemned by the United States government and the Vatican.
They said: “One of the major position and factors that will reduce terrorism in Nigeria and in extension the western world would be an immediate call for an independent Referendum by the United Nations in Nigeria.”
According to them, the dangerous diversities in Nigeria in areas of tribe, religion, ethnicity, language and culture, coupled with the corrupt leadership and their destructive policies has created lots of insecurity and deaths in the Country.
“The inability of the government to obey court orders especially in the case of the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu (the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra) of whom Mazi Simon Ekpa is an ardent follower despite the United Nations call for his immediate release and compensation.
It will be recalled that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu whose disciple is Mazi Simon Ekpa has been discharged and acquitted by almost 3 independent courts in Nigeria and also by the United Nations committee on extraordinary rendition.
“Despite all these calls, the Nigeria government has refused to release him, and the moribund Ohaneze Ndigbo has been an accomplice in this total disregard for the rule of law. The world currently awaits United Nations action on the expiration of their order to the Nigeria government to release Nnamdi Kanu.
The World Igbo Union leader used the medium to call the attention of the world leaders, INTERPOL, and leaders of thought and inform them that the Ohaneze Ndigbo group has been rejected by majority of Igbo citizens because of their role and silence on the killings and destruction of properties and means of livelihood of Igbo citizens in Southeast Nigeria.
“The moribund Ohaneze Ndigbo has committed sacrilege in Igboland by placing a $50,000 bounty on the head of an innocent and illustrious son of Igboland whose only crime was calling for the freedom of his people and their self-protection from Fulani terrorists that have invaded Southeast Nigeria.
“These terrorists has wreaked havoc in Ehamufu Enugu state where over 200 innocent men, women and children were massacred in their own land without protection from either the state or federal government, In fact a Sahara newspaper report on December 24th, 2022 enumerated how the Nigeria military masterminded the Ehamufu killings of these innocent citizens.
“The Nigeria government has daily rehabilitated and reintegrated known terrorists into the country’s security forces and use them to kill, maim and burn down innocent peoples homes and businesses especially those that condemn this practice and seek for their freedom from Nigeria.
“The World Igbo Union hereby calls on the international body, INTERPOL and Nigerians to disregard the sacrilegious call by the moribund Ohaneze Ndigbo and its Secretary Okechukwu Isiguzoro.
“The group declared its unflinching support for its erudite scholar and illustrious son Mazi Simon Ekpa whose expositions have created lots of awareness to citizens from the Southeast Nigeria on ways to mitigate and protect themselves against Fulani terrorist invaders.
It described Ohaneze Ndigbo as a stooge of the Fulani terrorist government in Nigeria whose actions have led the United States embassy to order families of embassy employees to depart Nigeria due to heightened risk of terrorism in October 2022.
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Culture
Lamido Sanusi restored officially as Kano emir

Barely four years after he was deposed by the immediate past Governor of Kano state,Abdullahi Ganduje, Governor Abba Yusuf at the Government House in Kano on Friday issued the letter of appointment to Sanusi Lamido which restored him as Kano Emir.
Governor Yusuf said,
“By the powers conferred on me by the Kano Emirate Council Law of 1984 and 2024, and supported by the recommendation of the kingmakers, I have the singular pleasure to confirm the reappointment of Muhammadu Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano and the head of the Kano Emirate Council,” the governor said.
The governor urged the emir to lead according to Islamic tenets, as he read out his role.
“As the Emir is being appointed for the second time, it is based on his competence, credibility, and popularity,” he said.
“I urge him to be guided by the principles of Islamic teachings and to use his position to unite the emirate, fostering harmony among the Islamic sects in the state.”
Traditional rulers, kingmakers, and other top dignitaries were in attendance at the event which came barely one day after Governor Yusuf signed the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Bill 2024 into law.
The Emir is expected to lead the Juma’at prayer at the Government House.
The new law replaces the Kano State Emirates Council Law, 2019, and dissolves the emirate councils created by Ganduje.
Ganduje had splited⁵ the Kano Emirate into five in December 2019 and deposed Sanusi II, on March 9, 2020. The emirates created by the Ganduje administration were Karaye, Bichi, Rano, and Gaya, in addition to Kano.
Governor Yusuf at the reinstatement event clarified that the 2019 move was a case of victimisation and narrated events leading to his return as emir
“We had a series of meetings with the Kingmakers yesterday, extensive discussions with the Speaker, and we also sat with all the heads of security. At the end of the day, we all gathered in the chamber where I received the bill that repealed the former law,” the governor said.
He continued, “We did that out of our convictions and belief that this gentleman was victimized in 2019. We all feel that we must restore what is due to the good people of the state.”
Governor Yusuf also thanked the legislative body for the accelerated passage of the bill
“Let me use this opportunity to humbly thank the Speaker and all members of the House for your determination and respect for the rule of law. It shows your interest in the welfare of the people of the state,” he said.
Emir Sanusi II, a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), was known as Lamido Sanusi before becoming king.
His deposition generated controversy in the state and beyond. But in reversing it, Governor Yusuf said it was the repeal of the old law that “balkanised the over 1,000-year- Kano Emirate.”
“From the very moment I signed the bill into law, it means that all appointments made in accordance with that 2019 law are voided, and the balkanised Kano Emirate has been restored to its original pre-2019 status,” the governor said.
“The repeal of the 2019 law means that there is no emir in Kano as of now except the reinstated emir.”
Following the new law, he gave the emirs who were in charge of the dissolved emirates 48 hours to leave their palaces.
Before signing the bill, Governor Yusuf and the speaker of the Kano State Assembly Aminu Abdussalam had met with traditional rulers and kingmakers behind closed doors.
Sanusi II started his reign on June 8, 2014, when Rabiu Kwankwaso was the governor of Kano State. His appointment came about four months after Goodluck Jonathan – the then-president – removed him as the governor of the CBN.
Culture
Minister Musawa commemorates World Culture Day, says, ‘our strength is in our diversity’

Nigerians should celebrate the country’s cultural diversity, because it the nation’s source of strength and unity, the Minister of Arts and Culture , Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa has advocated
In her address to commemorate the 2024 World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development (World Culture Day), M
Musawa emphasized the need to appreciate and promote Nigeria’s diverse cultural heritage.
A statement by her special adviser on media and publicity, Nneka Ikem Anibeze, she urged Nigerians to take pride in their culture and recognize its potential to drive economic development, social and mental wellbeing, and national unity.
The Minister noted that the country’s plurality of culture and ethnicity should be leveraged to promote dialogue, understanding, and peaceful coexistence, rather than allowing differences to divide us. She encouraged Nigerians to see their diversity as a source of strength and unity, rather than a source of conflict.
“The World Culture Day is an opportunity to remind and help us to understand the value of cultural diversity and the vital role it plays in ensuring peaceful co-existence as a vital tool for socio-economic growth and development.
“It is a day for deep reflection on where we are as a nation. Taking into cognizance that our dear country is characterized by plurality of culture and ethnicity, it behooves on us to change the narrative on people who are culturally, ethnically and religiously different from us, in order to curb terrorism, kidnapping and banditry and other negative vices as we forge ahead as one people with a common goal”.
She also announced that the Ministry will continue to work tirelessly with its agencies and stakeholders to promote Nigeria’s creative economy and boost the nation’s image, in line with its Eight-point Plan to make Nigeria ,Africa’s Creative Capital by 2030.
“I wish to assure you that the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, in line with its Mandate to harness the potentials of Nigeria’s Creative Economy for socio-economic empowerment, economic diversification and job creation, will continue to work tirelessly with our Agencies and relevant stakeholders to boost the image of Nigeria and improve the lives of our people through the Ministry’s Eight-point Plan for Nigeria’s destination 2030 to become Africa’s Creative Capital.
“I call on all Nigerians to present our culture with with deep pride and appreciation and encourage us to continue to see our diversity as our source of strength and unity from which we can build a progressive nation for us all”.
The World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development (World Culture Day) is a day set aside by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on May 21st every year to raise awareness on the role of Culture in sustainable socio-economic growth and development.
Culture
Culture Ministry secures UNESCO Inscription for Sango Festival, Midwifery traditions

According to Musawa, the achievement was made possible through the Ministry’s tireless efforts and strategic collaborations at the national and international levels, in line with the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.
“The UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, plays a crucial role in safeguarding and promoting cultural diversity worldwide. It helps in raising the awareness about the significance of Intangible Cultural Heritage, encourages dialogue between communities, fosters respect for cultural expressions and promotes sustainable development by preserving traditional knowledge and practices.
“The inclusion of these two Nigerian cultural elements on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity has transformed them into shared global heritage (products) with enhanced visibility. The 181 States; Parties to the 2003 UNESCO Convention for Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage are predisposed to visiting Nigeria to enjoy these cultural expressions.
“The anticipated increase in tourism inflow into the country, will result in global visibility, job creation and wealth generation , thereby contributing to sustainable national growth and development, economic well-being and pride in national cultural identity”.
The two key products from Nigeria were inscribed on the UNESCO representative list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity during the 18th Session of the Inter-Governmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Kasane Botswana from 4th to 9th December 2023.
The Sango Festival and Midwifery traditions have now been recognized as integral parts of human cultural heritage, joining five previous Nigerian inscriptions: Ifa Divination System (2008), Oral Heritage of Gelede (2008), Ijele Masquerade (2009), Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival (2016), and Kwagh-hir Theatrical Performance (2019).
This milestone not only promotes cultural diversity and community cohesion but also contributes to sustainable development, job creation, and wealth generation through increased tourism. It aligns with the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, which prioritizes the appreciation and preservation of Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage.
The Minister of Arts Culture and the Creative Economy Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa has announced the Ministry’s achievement in pushing for UNESCO’s inscription of Sango festival Oyo and the multinational nominating of Midwifery: knowledge skills and practices.
A statement by her special adviser on media Nneka Nkem Anibeze quoted the minister to have spoken at the Federal Executive Council Meeting, presided over by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday, while briefing the Council on the strategic activities of the ministry since its establishment in August 2023.

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