Fantazie Exclusive

  "If Peter Obi is not given the coalition presidential ticket, then the ADC is dead." Statements like this are exactly the kind of toxic mindset complicating our political progress. Why the threat?  Why the blackmail?  Why not allow him contest openly and credibly like every other aspirant? This is Politics, Not a Charity Organization. Atiku has declared his interest and encouraged others to contest if they believe in their vision.  That's politics.  That’s democracy. ADC is not Labour Party, and it is not a personal fan club. They have a constitution, a structure, and internal rules. They will not break it for emotional blackmail or populist pressure. Even Peter Obi himself has repeatedly said he will follow due process to Aso Rock. So why are some of his followers bent on undermining the very democratic principles he claims to represent? This is not a coronation. It’s a contest. If Peter Obi is truly the most qualified and most popular, then he should win the...

 When I first saw the video clip of Governor Monday Okpebholo threatening Mr. Peter Obi not to enter Edo State without his “permission”, I genuinely thought it was fake — perhaps one of those AI-generated videos or a poorly written skit. But it’s now clear it wasn’t fake. The Governor hasn’t denied it, no spokesperson has disowned it, and it’s been reported on credible news platforms. So, we must assume it was real — and that’s deeply troubling. Edo people are known for being warm, open, and hospitable. We welcome visitors. We don’t chase them away — much less someone like Mr. Obi who came to make a modest, generous contribution by donating ₦15 million to an educational institution in our state. Let’s be clear: Mr. Peter Obi does not need anyone’s permission to visit Edo State or any other State for that matter. Not now, not ever. Perhaps Governor Okpebholo should focus more on governing in a way that earns him the kind of love and connection that Peter Obi enjoys amongst the peopl...

 The Executive Governor of Abia state H.E. Alex Otti celebrates H.E. Mr. Peter Gregory Obi, CON as he marks 64 today.  Today, He celebrates not just a birthday, but a life that has consistently echoed the values of compassion, integrity, and progress. Mr. Peter Obi has proven time and again that leadership is not just about power but service. His enduring commitment to nation-building and humanitarian causes continues to inspire and uplift many lives. From classrooms to boardrooms, communities to hospitals, his influence is felt in every space where equity and growth are sought. His example reminds that true leadership is not just spoken but lived. And in every stride, Mr. Obi has shown that he is who he says he is. Mr. Peter Obi has earned a huge barn of followers who are thrilled by his discipline, humility, and relentless pursuit of a better society. Through him, one sees what it means to lead with heart and serve with vision. This is wishing him more fruitful years in good...

  The Southeast Council of Traditional Rulers has officially abolished the use of the title "Eze Ndigbo" by Igbo leaders residing outside Igbo land. This decision was announced in a communique signed by His Royal Majesty, Eze (Dr.) E.C. Okeke, CFR (Eze Imo), His Royal Majesty, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe (Leader), and the chairmen of the Traditional Councils of Enugu, Anambra, Abia, and Ebonyi States.  *OFFICIAL RESOLUTION ON THE TITLE FOR IGBO LEADERS IN DIASPORA*  The Southeast Council of Traditional Rulers appreciates the efforts of Igbo leaders in Diaspora in unifying Ndigbo and fostering peaceful coexistence with host communities. Their commitment to promoting Igbo culture and traditions is highly commendable. However, the council deems it necessary to provide clarity regarding the use of the title "Eze" outside Igbo land.  *Clarifications on the Use of the Title “Eze”*  1. “Eze” is a sacred traditional title exclusively reserved for recognized traditional rulers ...

  Israel’s ongoing blockade of Gaza is forcing doctors in crammed medical facilities to make difficult decisions about who to treat. Patients with chronic illnesses are often the first to miss out because emergency departments are overwhelmed by people wounded in Israeli attacks. “Before the war, I used to receive dialysis three times a week, with each session lasting four hours. At that time, the situation was stable, the treatment was effective, and we would return home feeling well and rested,” Omda Dagmash, a dialysis patient, says at the barely functioning al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. “Now we can barely make the journey to the hospital particularly that we are not eating well.” At al-Shifa, the dialysis schedule has been scaled down to shorter and less frequent sessions. For some, it is matter of life and death. “The journey here is long and costly,” said Rowaida Minyawi, an elderly patient. “After all this exhaustion, we sometimes can’t find treatment. I have heart disease...

  A British surgeon who has been working in Gaza hospitals during the war about the dire conditions in the territory’s devastated health system. Victoria Rose, a consultant plastic surgeon, returned from her third stint working in Gaza in May, where she worked in the Nasser Medical Complex. She said the area where the hospital was located had been designated a “red zone” by Israeli authorities – meaning people should evacuate because military action is likely to occur – adding to the difficulties faced by staff. “I really couldn’t see how the situation could get any worse,” she said, adding that conditions had nevertheless deteriorated further since her latest stint. Rose said that as acute shortages of medical supplies meant staff prioritised emergency patients over others, she would be presented “on an almost daily basis” with children with congenital condition such as cleft palates but “had to take the decision not to operate on these babies”. “At that stage, malnutrition was so...

  "Based on the ridiculous amount of publicity given to Jeffrey Epstein, I have asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony, subject to Court approval," he said. It's unclear if Trump is authorising the public release of these documents. Such action would typically require the approval of a court. It came shortly after Trump said he would sue The Wall Street Journal over an article alleging that a "bawdy" birthday greeting bearing Trump's name was sent to Epstein in 2003, before the late financier was charged with sex crimes. The letter, which the newspaper claims was sent on Epstein's 50th birthday, has been decried by Trump as a "fake". In a post, Trump said that the newspaper and owner Rupert Murdoch "were warned directly" they would be sued if they printed the story, describing it as "false, malicious, and defamatory". According to The Wall Street Journal, a letter bearing Trump...

  The trial of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), resumed today, Friday, July 18, 2025, at the Federal High Court in Abuja, with strict attendance restrictions in place.  Justice James K. Omotosho, who is presiding over the case, approved a list of only ten individuals from the side of defendant who are permitted to be present in the courtroom. The list, obtained by our correspondent, includes eight senior lawyers and two close associates of Nnamdi Kanu. The approved legal team features several Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), including Kanu G. Agabi, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, Paul Erokoro, Emeka Etiaba, Mela Audu Nunghe, Dr. Joseph Akubo, Uchenna Njoku, and Aloy Ejimakor. Also cleared to attend are Hon. Obi Aguocha, a member of the House of Representatives, and Prince Emmanuel Kanu, younger brother to the IPOB leader. The court session, slated to begin at 9:00 a.m., follows the previous hearing where the Federal Government closed its case, and t...

The   Abia State   Government has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Blue Giraffe Development Ltd to establish 20 smart schools in the state. In a speech at the brief event in Umuahia on Saturday, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Goodluck Ubochi, described it as “a significant moment”. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the smart school project, which promotes digital learning, features interactive learning systems, computerised boards, high-speed internet access and solar-powered electricity. Mr Ubochi said the MoA would create the enabling environment for the consultant to commence in full swing. He said that one school was chosen in each of the 17 local government areas for the establishment of the smart school. According to him, the three remaining ones will be established in each of the three senatorial districts of Abia North, Abia South and Abia Central. Mr Ubochi said: “We have classified the timeline into three. The first nine will be ...

  In a time when Nigeria is yearning for visionary leadership, principled reformers, and youthful energy, a new name is stepping forward. Prince Kennedy Chigozie Ahanotu is declaring his intention to contest for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under the Labour Party. He is not just another candidate. He is a transformational leader offering Nigeria a fresh start - rooted in justice, innovation, environmental consciousness, and people-focused governance. He represents a generational awakening and a bold break from the old system. His candidacy is a call for a new era where leadership is driven by integrity, competence, and compassion. A visionary leader with the heart of a servant and the courage of a reformer, Prince Kennedy Ahanotu is not just a name - he is a symbol of integrity, innovation, and inclusive leadership. With years of experience in public service, environmental economics, youth advocacy, and party organizing, he stands ready to lead Nig...

 It is no news that His Excellency Dr. Alex Ortiz, the Executive Governor of Abia state is a man who has the interest of Ukwa people. His leadership style is worthy of being emulated.  For over a decade, ASA DEVELOPMENT UNION CIVIC CENTER OBEHIE ASA had been abandoned and left with no hope of completion being the first ever socio-cultural and multi-purpose center in the whole of Ukwa land.  The most common cry of Ndi-ASA was that of the region being neglected by past administrations and all thought that emergence of Dr. ALEX CHIOMA OTTI would not make any difference, this shows the extent of trauma and faithless had been subjected to before now.   Thanks to the beacon of hope,DR ALEX CHIOMA OTTI OFR the Executive Governor of Abia State For bringing this seemingly dead dream back to life and allaying the fears and worries of Ndi-ASA by recognizing some key stakeholders to work the path of progressive developmental strides with. In just less than three years in of...

  TROOPS OF OPERATION HADIN KAI NEUTRALIZE 24 BOKO HARAM INSURGENTS AND RECOVER WEAPONS IN OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS BETWEEN 4 - 9 JULY 2025 In continuation of the series of coordinated offensive operations across the North East Theatre of operations, troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), bolstered by close air support from the Air Component and collaboration with Civilian Joint Task Force and hunters, have carried out successful kinetic operations against Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in theatre between 4 - 9 July 2025, eliminating several terrorists. In one of the ambushes conducted at Platari on 4 July 2025, the gallant troops, while lying in wait, made contact with JAS/ISWAP terrorists mounted on bicycles moving from the Sambisa Forest axis to the Timbuktu Triangle. The terrorists were immediately subdued with heavy fire, leading to the neutralization of 3 terrorists. Similarly, following intelligence on  movements of the insurgents around Komala general area, troops sprang anoth...

  In a moment of pride and promise, the Abia State Expanded Executive Council meeting yesterday concluded on a high note with the official celebration of Miss Grace John Nkpa, a teenage student of Academic Planet School, Aba, who has emerged as one of Nigeria’s shining stars on the global stage. Grace, who is barely in her teens, was selected as one of only three girls to represent Nigeria at the prestigious TechGirls 2025 International Exchange Programme in the United States triumphing over more than 250,000 contestants nationwide. The TechGirls International Exchange Programme, an initiative of the U.S. Department of State, is a globally recognized summer exchange designed to empower young women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). The programme brings together talented teenage girls from 37 countries for three months of immersive learning at Virginia Tech, where participants engage in hands-on workshops, leadership development, and mentorship with STEM pr...

 The visit was in line with my unwavering commitment to investing in our people through education, healthcare, and human capital development. First, I visited the Muhammad Sambo Memorial Islamic Institute founded by Sheikh Yusuf Sambo Rigachukwu. I gave my support to the school and assured them that I will always be available and committed to supporting their efforts, now and in the future. I then visited the Madarasatul Hidayyatul Auladi Muslimima Almajiri School in Kawo, where I have previously visited about 5 times to assist the school’s developmental projects and studies. I gave an additional donation of ₦5 million, as I have always insisted that no child deserves to be left behind, when it comes to education, and no matter their location, we can take education to them as this is the key index of pulling our people out of poverty. After that, I proceeded to Womenhood College of Health Sciences and Technology, Kaduna, where I also donated ₦5 million, recognising the critical rol...

By every measure, Atiku Abubakar has achieved his core objective. The so-called “Coalition” was never a sincere, people-centered movement. It was a cleverly orchestrated political ambush designed to elevate his own dwindling political brand through the borrowed face of Peter Obi. Let it be said without ambiguity, Peter Obi is being used. Not as a partner. Not as an equal. But as a convenient image to rebrand Atiku in a political market hungry for change. Today, what we see is the unveiling of a brutal strategy,  the systematic collapse of PDP northern structures into ADC, controlled wholly and ruthlessly by Atiku’s loyalists. From Benue to Jigawa, Gombe to Adamawa, the dominoes are falling. Not for national redemption, but for one man’s insatiable hunger for relevance. Atiku is not just flexing his political muscle. He is waging a cold war against Nyesom Wike, consolidating power, and declaring loudly that the North is his. PDP in the North is dead, and Atiku owns its carcass. This...