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Breaking News: Senator Dickson Endorses Trump’s Threat
Senator Seriake Dickson, former Governor of Bayelsa State, has backed former U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent comments on the mass killings and insecurity in Nigeria, describing the remarks as “a necessary wake-up call” for the Nigerian government.
In a statement titled “Alleged Genocide: My Stance on President Trump’s Statement,” issued on Thursday, Dickson said Nigeria must balance the defense of its sovereignty with meaningful international cooperation to end the persistent wave of terrorist violence across the country.
“Nigeria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national institutions must be respected by all,” he said.
“At the same time, I fully support any global collaborative effort aimed at eradicating the murderous terrorist groups that have slaughtered thousands of Nigerians, Christians, Muslims, and people of other faiths alike.”
The Bayelsa West senator pointed out how terrorist groups such as Boko Haram, ISWAP, ISIS, and al-Qaeda have, for nearly 15 years, inflicted “unimaginable devastation” on communities across northern Nigeria.
“They introduced suicide bombings and began a campaign of mass murder, particularly in Borno State, which later spread throughout the northeast,” Dickson said.
He lamented that both Christians and Muslims have suffered heavily, with countless villages razed and religious centers destroyed.
“Places of worship, both churches and mosques, have been targeted. Traditional rulers have been killed, and schoolchildren kidnapped, murdered, or forcefully married off,” he stated.
“To this day, Nigeria has not fully accounted for the whereabouts of many of the abducted students, including Leah Sharibu and several of the Chibok schoolgirls.”
According to the senator, terrorist groups continue to hold territories in Borno, Zamfara, and Katsina States, where they impose illegal taxes and operate outside the authority of the Nigerian state.
“This situation is a direct affront to Nigeria’s sovereignty and should not be tolerated any longer. President Trump’s statement should be seen as a call to action, not an attack on Nigeria,” Dickson added.
He noted that the Nigerian Senate has repeatedly raised alarms over the deteriorating security situation, saying that “hardly a week passes without reports of killings and attacks on villages from one constituency or another.”
The Senate, he revealed, has proposed a National Security Summit and urged engagement with the presidency to dispatch a “non-partisan delegation of experts and statesmen to Washington, D.C.” for strategic dialogue.
Dickson also criticised what he described as “policy failures” and “institutional imbalance” during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, arguing that lopsided security appointments deepened public mistrust.
“The former president’s decision to appoint mostly Muslims to lead all the security agencies worsened perceptions of bias and eroded public confidence,” he said.
The senator urged President Bola Tinubu to embrace stronger collaboration with the United States and other allies in the global fight against terrorism.
“We need help. No nation can tackle terrorism alone,” he stressed. “President Tinubu should work closely with President Trump, the U.S. government, and other friendly nations to eliminate these terrorist networks.”
Dickson further called for the expeditious appointment of ambassadors to bolster Nigeria’s diplomatic presence and enhance international cooperation.
“Nigeria’s embassies must be fully functional. This diplomatic gap should be addressed immediately to help the country maximise its global partnerships,” he advised.
“May God help Nigeria.”
The senator’s remarks come amid global debate over Donald Trump’s threat to classify Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” and his suggestion that U.S. military intervention could be considered to address alleged mass killings and government inaction.
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Ogun State Government Announces Pension, Gratuity Backlog Clearance Between 2012 and 2020
The Ogun State Government has announced the clearance of pension and gratuity arrears owed to workers who retired between 2012 and 2020, reaffirming its commitment to the welfare of retirees.
The Economic Adviser and Commissioner for Finance, Dapo Okubadejo, disclosed this on Tuesday during a media parley organised by the Ogun State Ministry of Budget and Planning.
Okubadejo explained that the backlog was linked to the Defined Benefits Scheme, under which retirees receive monthly pension payments, stressing that the present administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun has not defaulted on pension obligations since assuming office.
“Since the inception of this administration, we have not missed a single month of pension payment. What we inherited were arrears tied to the Defined Benefits Scheme,” he said.
According to him, annual pension payments rose from ₦6.7 billion in 2019 to ₦20 billion in 2025, with projections showing a possible increase to ₦40 billion by 2029.
He disclosed that the state had so far paid ₦23.3 billion in gratuities covering retirees from 2012 to 2020, alongside ₦32.8 billion in outstanding gratuities for local government retirees inherited by the administration.
Okubadejo added that between 2019 and July 2, 2025, the state disbursed ₦93.26 billion in pensions under the Defined Benefits Scheme and ₦94.78 billion to local government pensioners.
He assured that the remaining backlog would be cleared as Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) continues to improve, noting that over 300 workers who retired in July 2025 are currently receiving six-month palliatives pending the completion of their pension documentation.
The commissioner also described the newly approved Additional Pension Benefits (APB) as the first of its kind in Nigeria, adding that amendments to the state’s pension law would be pursued to formally integrate the scheme.
On the state’s fiscal outlook, Okubadejo revealed that the 2026 budget increased from ₦1.054 trillion in 2025 to ₦1.668 trillion, while Ogun’s economy expanded from ₦3.5 trillion in 2019 to ₦18.96 trillion in 2026.
He added that IGR grew from ₦50 billion in 2019 to ₦240 billion in 2025, with projections of ₦512 billion this year.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Olaolu Olabimtan, said the 2026 budget reflects strong fiscal reforms, noting an 85 per cent budget execution rate in 2024 and sustained financial stability.
Other commissioners highlighted sectoral achievements, including massive road construction, increased healthcare funding, rail extension plans, education support programmes, and expanded housing projects across the state.
African Democratic Congress, ADC, chieftain, Peter Obi, has urged Nigerians to focus on the country’s future and vote for a change in leadership.
Obi spoke at a meeting with Hausa/Fulani chiefs in Abuja on Wednesday.
“We have to talk about the future of our country. All of you know what is happening to our country today. That’s why we are campaigning that you vote out this government,” he said.
He described the situation in Nigeria as dire, citing insecurity, hunger and hardship.
“today we have insecurity across Nigeria. We have hunger across Nigeria. We are suffering across Nigeria. The only thing that is working in Nigeria today is bad news. Every morning you wake up is bad news,” Obi stated.
The former Labour Party presidential candidate said a new administration would prioritize social services.
“We’re urging you to vote for a change and bring a new Nigeria, where our children will be in school. Our hospitals will work,” he added.
Obi also questioned government spending priorities, particularly in the health sector.
“today, if you’re sick in Nigeria you’re praying to Almighty God because we’re now in a country where our president spends 360 billion to buy and refit his plane and spends 36 million in capital vote for the Ministry of Health. There’s nothing working,” he said.
He appealed to Nigerians to use their votes to usher in what he described as a “new Nigeria” focused on improving citizens’ welfare and restoring key public services.
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