ADC L/ship crisis: Adamawa Court Adjourns to Nov 20 for hearing

Adamawa State High Court IX adjourned the case of African Democratic Party (ADC) to Nov. 20 for hearing, a suit filed by Yohanna Kambile and Zubairu Ishaq, Adamawa ADC’s chairman and secretary respectively challenged their removal from office unconstitutionally.

Kambile who challenged: Amb.Omar Suleiman, Chairman Coalition Adamawa stakeholders; Sadiq Dasin, Chairman Transition Electoral/Congress Commitee; Malam Saidu Komsiri, State Interim Chairman and his Led Executive Committee members.

Others are: Babachir Lawan, National Vice Chairman North East; Sen. David Mark, ADC National Chairman and his Led National Executive Committee Members; National Working Committee and the ADC.

Yakubu philimon SAN, counsel of the plaintiffs said, the removal was done without recourse to the provisions of the Constitution of the party.

He said they made it clear to the courts that the defendants should show cause, and the court was inclined to take in all the applications together.

“And ordered defendants to file their statement of defense in the main case, so that both the primary objection and the statement of defense should take him on the next agenda”, he said.

According to him the 20th will be for hearing of every application and also the main suit.

The Counsel for the defendants, Dr Emem Ibrahim-Effiong, asked the Court for three days to enable them to file their response to suit the merits without delay.

He said, the case is a political matter that needs to be addressed internally before coming to the Court.

The presiding judge, Justice Benjamin Manji, granted the three days and adjourned the case to November 20th for further hearing.

ADC L/ship crisis: Adamawa Court Adjourns to Nov 20 for hearing

Persistent Dedication: China’s 15th Five-Year Plan to Continue the Development Miracle

By: Michael Mike

A foreign head of state used to tell Chinese President Xi Jinping, “China has a major advantage, which is always formulating various plans and ensuring they are fully implemented.” One of the most representative examples he noted is the Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development. President Xi Jingping emphasized that the formulation and implementation of these well-designed five-year plans reflect important experience on governance of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and represent a significant political advantage of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

In October, during the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC in Beijing, the Recommendations of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development was adopted. Once reviewed and approved next year by the National People’s Congress, the plan will become the 15th Five-Year Plan since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, providing top-level design and strategic guidance for China’s economic and social development over the next five years and outlining a dynamic blueprint that captures the momentum of the times.

Since its founding in 1949, the People’s Republic of China has successfully implemented 14 Five-Year Plans spanning more than seven decades. Through the sustained efforts of successive generations, the country has steadily transformed itself from a poor and backward nation into the world’s second-largest economy and largest manufacturing hub. Throughout this period, Chinese society has maintained enduring harmony and stability, with its people living and working in peace and contentment and its per capita GDP now exceeding $13,000. These achievements exemplify what has been termed the “Two Miracles” — rapid economic growth coupled with long-term social stability — a phenomenon rarely seen elsewhere in the world. Central to this success is the distinctive Chinese approach to Five-Year Planning.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China saw its economic and technological strength as well as its comprehensive national strength leap to a new level, and Chinese modernization made solid new strides. China’s economic strength rose substantially, its global influence was further enhanced, and its scientific and technological capabilities gained global attention. In 2024, China’s GDP reached 18.9 trillion USD (based on the average annual exchange rate), firmly maintaining its position as the world’s second-largest economy. China’s annual contribution to global economic growth remains around 30%, making it one of the most stable and reliable sources of global economic development, fully demonstrating the resilience and vitality of a major economy, and becoming one of the fastest-growing countries in terms of innovation capacity.

At the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the goal was set to basically achieve socialist modernization from 2020 to 2035. The 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021–2025), representing the first phase of this timeline, has achieved a strong start. The subsequent period from 2026 to 2030, which falls under the 15th Five-Year Plan, will be a crucial stage for consolidating the foundation and achieving all-out progress to basically achieve socialist modernization by 2035. As such, it will serve as a key link between the past and the future. A well-formulated and effectively implemented 15th Five-Year Plan will lay a more solid foundation for reaching this goal. The 15th Five-Year Plan will continue to focus on promoting high-quality development as its central theme and set out the guiding principles, major objectives, strategic tasks, and significant measures for economic and social development over the next five years, thereby drawing a grand blueprint for economic and social development.

Looking ahead, China’s development prospects are bright. By leveraging the strengths of socialism with Chinese characteristics, China’s enormous market, its complete industrial system, and its abundant human resources and under the strong leadership of the CPC, the Chinese people will pool their strength and turn this grand blueprint into reality through sustained and determined efforts.

Formulating and implementing Five-Year Plans with Chinese characteristics not only injects sustained momentum and stability into China’s own development, but also offers a new governance paradigm for many Global South countries that have been exploring modernization—namely, a “long-termism” development approach that is self-reliant and sustainable. Chinese modernization will provide important references and practical opportunities for Nigeria and other African countries to achieve economic transformation, advance industrialization, and enhance self-reliant development capacity. Within framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China is willing to strengthen governance experience-sharing and development strategy alignment with Nigeria, deepen practical cooperation between the two countries across various fields. The two countries will work together to implement zero-tariff policies through negotiation and signing of joint development economic partnership agreements, therefore enabling Nigeria to unlock its development potential, strengthen its endogenous driving force, and promote the building of a high-level China-Nigeria community with a shared future.

Persistent Dedication: China’s 15th Five-Year Plan to Continue the Development Miracle

China Shows Interest in Nigeria’s Music Industry

By: Michael Mike

China has shown interest in collaboration at building Nigeria’s music industry as a tool of advancing the existing cultural diplomacy between both countries.

Speaking at the final of the “China-Africa Good Partners – 2025 Chinese-English Singing Competition” held at the Nigeria-China Cultural Centre in Abuja, Counselor of the Chinese Embassy, Yang Jianxing while reaffirming his government’s commitment to advancing cultural diplomacy as a cornerstone of its foreign relations with Nigeria, said China was ready to use the power of music to strengthen mutual understanding and deepen people-to-people connections between the two nations.

He said: “Music transcends borders, and song is a bridge connecting hearts,” adding that: “Today’s competition is not merely a vocal contest but a dialogue between Chinese and African cultures, and a testament to friendship that transcends mountains and seas.”

He said over the past 54 years, China and Nigeria have nurtured a relationship built on equality, mutual respect, and shared development.

Yang said: “Since the establishment of diplomatic relations 54 years ago, China and Nigeria have remained good brothers who respect each other and treat each other as equals, and good partners who seek mutual benefit and win-win development.”

He noted that cultural diplomacy has become a central pillar of China’s engagement with Africa, complementing economic and political cooperation.

“Cultural exchange is a crucial link in promoting the steady and long-term development of bilateral relations,” he remarked. “This competition serves as a window into the harmonious interplay of our cultures and strengthens the belief that mutual appreciation can lead to lasting friendship.”

He further explained that the competition reflects the goals of the “People-to-People Exchange Partnership Action” proposed by President Xi Jinping during the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2024.

Yang said: “By allowing different languages to blend in melodies and different cultures to resonate through exchange,” stressing that “we are reinforcing the foundation of public goodwill that underpins the China-Nigeria comprehensive strategic partnership.”

Addressing the participants, the Chinese diplomat lauded them as “ambassadors of cultural understanding” whose performances have strengthened the human bond between both nations.

He told the contestants that: “Each and every one of you is a winner. Your voices express love for life and friendship, allowing us to feel the joy of closer ties between our peoples.”

Also speaking at the event, the President of the China Alumni Association of Nigeria Muhammed Sulaiman commended the initiative for its role in advancing China-Nigeria relations through soft diplomacy.

He said: “This is not just a competition—it is a profound way of cultural exchange, Over the years, China and Nigeria have built a smooth and enduring relationship, and events like this help to strengthen those bonds.”

He encouraged future editions of the event to incorporate performances in Nigerian indigenous languages alongside Chinese and English songs, describing such inclusion as an opportunity to enhance cultural understanding.

Sulaiman said: “Perhaps one day, we will not only hear English and Chinese songs but also Nigerian languages,” he said. “That will tie us even closer together.”

He further praised the China Cultural Centre in Nigeria for providing a platform that consistently promotes mutual respect and cooperation between both nations.

He said: “This initiative shows the strength and unity that cultural diplomacy can foster,” he added. “It must continue to grow.”

The 2025 Chinese-English Singing Competition, is part of ongoing cultural initiatives supported by the Chinese Embassy and the China Cultural Centre in Nigeria, is widely seen as a soft diplomacy effort aimed at deepening understanding between the peoples of both nations while showcasing the unifying power of art.

In the Chinese Category, Glory Livingston emerged as the overall winner, earning loud applause for her heartfelt rendition. James Augustine took second place, while Yang Xin, Shen Lili, and Zhu Xiang Yang jointly clinched the third position.

In the English Category, Zhang Ji won the top prize for his outstanding vocal performance. Lu Yongbin and Wang Jiayi secured second place, while Liuyiming, Ekpety Edima, and Igwe Okezie shared the third-place spot.

The winners were presented with awards and certificates in recognition of their artistry and contribution to promoting cultural understanding between China and Nigeria.

The event closed with a group performance that brought all finalists together on stage—symbolizing, in the words of Counselor Yang, “the harmony of two peoples united by song, friendship, and shared aspiration.”

The event was attended by diplomats, cultural officials, and art enthusiasts.

China Shows Interest in Nigeria’s Music Industry