Ooni of Ife Hails Zulum as True Reformer, Praises Borno’s Renewal Efforts

By: Michael Mike

The Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has described Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, as a genuine reformer whose leadership is reshaping governance and development in the nation’s North-East.

The revered monarch made the remarks on Friday during a private meeting with Governor Zulum at the Government House in Maiduguri, on the sidelines of the combined convocation ceremony of Kashim Ibrahim University, a state-owned institution.

Oba Ogunwusi, who also chairs the Southern Nigeria Traditional Rulers Council (SNTRC), said he had followed Governor Zulum’s leadership trajectory with keen interest and admiration, noting that the governor has become a role model for young Nigerians through his commitment to rebuilding a state long affected by insurgency.

“I like what you are doing and I am very proud of you,” the Ooni said. “I have been a fan of yours for a long time. You have shown that purposeful leadership can make a difference, and you have proven to everyone that you are truly a reformer.”

The monarch added that his visit to Maiduguri gave him a deeper appreciation of the governor’s passion for the state, describing Borno as endowed with immense beauty and potential. He noted that seeing the state firsthand helped him understand why Governor Zulum remains personally invested in its progress.

Reflecting on history, the Ooni spoke of the long-standing cultural and ancestral ties between the Kanuri and Yoruba people, describing the two ethnic groups as closely linked through history and bloodlines. He said these connections reinforced the need for stronger unity and collaboration across Nigeria’s regions.

The traditional ruler also highlighted Borno’s vast agricultural potential, saying the state possesses extensive arable land capable of supporting large-scale farming and contributing significantly to national food security. He pledged to encourage investors to explore opportunities in the state.

As a symbol of cultural solidarity and respect, the Ooni presented Governor Zulum with an ancient artefact representing Yoruba heritage, describing it as a reminder of the enduring bonds between the South-West and North-East.

The Ooni was accompanied by a delegation of prominent traditional rulers, including the Ajero of Ijero-Ekiti, Oba Joseph Adewole Adebayo; the Alaagba of Aagba, Oba Rufus Olayinka Ogunwole; the Onigbaye of Igbaye, Oba Joseph Okunlola Oni; the Salu of Edunabon, Oba Kehinde Adesoji Oladepo; and the Vice-Chancellor of Ojaja University, Ilorin, Professor Jeleel Ojuade.

In his response, Governor Zulum thanked the Ooni for the visit and for accepting the role of Chancellor of Kashim Ibrahim University. He described the monarch as a bridge-builder and a strong advocate of national unity, cultural preservation and peaceful coexistence.

The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to rebuilding Borno State, strengthening institutions and promoting sustainable development, while fostering peace and cooperation across Nigeria.

Ooni of Ife Hails Zulum as True Reformer, Praises Borno’s Renewal Efforts

ADC Unveils Timetable, Guidelines for 2025/2026 Congresses, National Convention

By: Michael Mike

The African Democratic Congress (ADC), has released a comprehensive timetable and guidelines for the conduct of its congresses and national convention for the 2025/2026 political year, as part of efforts to strengthen internal democracy and reposition the party ahead of future elections.

The guidelines are contained in a National Secretariat Circular dated December 30, 2025, and signed by the party’s National Chairman, Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe.

According to the circular, the party’s activities will commence with a Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting scheduled for January 5, 2025, followed by a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on January 7, 2025.

Key agenda items at the NEC meeting include the filling of vacancies in the National Working Committee (NWC), the fixing of dates for membership registration and revalidation, and preparations for ward, local government and state congresses.

He said: “For 2026, the ADC announced that membership registration and revalidation will take place from January 2 to January 15. This will be followed by ward executive committee congresses on January 17, with matters arising to be addressed between January 19 and 22.

“Local government congresses are scheduled for January 24, while state executive committee congresses will be held on January 31, 2026. Matters Arising: February 2-5, 2026 National-Level Activities.

“National Working Committee Convention: d. The approved delegates to the State Congresses, as provided for in Article 24 (a) – (e) and specifically modified by a resolution of the NWC at its 17th December, 2026 in National
headquarters Abuja are as follows: Local Government Chairmen

“LGA Secretaries; Youth Leader; Women Leader; State Executive Committee members and National Executive Committee (NEC) members from the State; PWD Leader; Ex-Officio Member; All Elected Council Chairman and their Deputies; Board of Trustees Member; Zonal National Officer; Any Elected National / State Assembly Members; Legal Adviser.

“States shall constitute Congress Planning Committees, membership of which shall not include persons contesting for any of the state executive offices.

“All persons willing to contest for state offices shall register their intentions with the State Congress Committee with an intention Fees N2,000.00 (Two Thousand Naira Only) which the Congress Committee may utilize for the purpose of financing the congresses, in part.

“The State Executive Committee shall supervise the work of the Congress Planning Committee to ensure strict compliance with the guidelines on State Congresses.

“Approved composition and distribution of the State Executive Committee members should, as much as practicable, be carried out according to the Senatorial Zones and in compliance with the Party’s Constitutional provision (Article 5, 17):

“Senatorial Zone with the highest number of members (6 positions). Chairman; Asst. Secretary; Asst. Financial Secretary; Auditor; Organizing Secretary; Women Leader; Senatorial Zone with 2nd highest number of members (5 positions); Vice Chairman, Treasurer, Legal Adviser, Asst. Publicity Secretary, Asst.”

On zoning, the ADC disclosed that distribution of state executive committee positions should, as much as practicable, reflect senatorial zones and comply with the party’s constitutional provisions.

The party’s National Working Committee convention is slated for February 13 to 15, 2026.

The party emphasised that only validly registered or revalidated members whose names appear in the official membership register will be eligible to participate in the congresses, in line with provisions of the ADC constitution.

State chapters were also directed to formally notify the National Secretariat of the dates, venues and times of their congresses to enable proper communication with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He said: “The criteria for qualification to contest for executive positions in the State Executive Committee are as follows: At least, attendance of Secondary School; The Offices of State Legal Adviser, Treasurer and Financial Secretary should have experiences in their respective professions; else the offices should be occupied by persons best deemed suitable.

“The Office of the State Youth Leader must NOT be more than 25 years while that of the State Woman Leader is exclusively reserved for Women.

“All pre-congress appeals shall be determined not later than 24 hours before the congresses while all appeals consequent upon the congresses shall be determined within 3 days after the congresses.

“The Congress Planning Committee shall submit reports of congresses to the National Secretariat via adcnationalcongressreformcommitee@gmail.com not later than 5 working days after the congresses.”

The party urged members and state chapters to strictly adhere to the guidelines to ensure transparent, credible and orderly congresses nationwide.

ADC Unveils Timetable, Guidelines for 2025/2026 Congresses, National Convention

Multiple terrorists neutralised in Sambisa as coordinated strikes unsettle ISWAP commanders

By: Zagazola Makama

Fresh intelligence emerging from the Sambisa Forest indicates significant disarray within the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) following a series of coordinated ground and aerial strikes by Nigerian forces that dislodged key terrorist hideouts and neutralised dozens of fighters at the turn of the new year.

Zagazola Makama report that on Jan. 2, 2026, intercepted intelligence revealed growing concern among senior ISWAP commanders, including Jundullah and Ibn Hataf, after troops launched a surprise and “deadly” assault on the Balangaje hideout deep inside the Sambisa Forest on Jan. 1.

According to the sources, the Balangaje position described as a long-standing ISWAP enclave was completely overrun by the troops of Operation HADIN KAI, forcing surviving fighters to flee in disarray to other parts of the forest.

The commanders reportedly admitted that their forces were caught unprepared, resulting in a chaotic retreat in which many fighters were cut off and forced to escape individually, abandoning weapons, logistics and command structures.

More critically, the terrorists expressed concern over the fate of several senior commanders who have remained unaccounted for since the assault, raising strong indications of leadership casualties or severe command-and-control breakdown.

Security sources confirmed that the ground assault on Balangaje was launched by forces of 21 Armored Brigade operating in Nguro Soye in Bama Local Government Area.

Zagazola report that this ground success was decisively reinforced by precision air operations conducted under Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), marking what one source described as a “welcome to 2026” for insurgent groups operating in the North-East.

On Jan. 1, following authorisation by OPHK, air assets engaged multiple high-value terrorist targets across Sambisa, Gava and the wider OPHK Area of Responsibility.

At about 0027 hours, an armed aircraft code-named Dragon, carried out a precision strike on a building with solar panels at Chiralia, identified as a terrorist logistics and command facility. Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) confirmed the structure was engulfed in flames, with secondary explosions suggesting the presence of stored fuel, explosives or logistics caches.

Further ISR operations tracked suspected Boko Haram Terrorists converging between rocky outcrops in the Gava axis. At approximately 0035 hours on Jan. 2, a precision strike was authorised and executed on the identified coordinates, with Battle Damaged Assessment confirming that about 11 suspected terrorists were neutralised.

Minutes later, surveillance assets observed about 10 additional terrorists fleeing the Gava settlements in panic after hearing the explosions. Continuous tracking revealed another convergence of about eight fighters under a tree, prompting a second precision strike at about 0114 hours.

BDA from the second engagement indicated that the eight terrorists were neutralised, while others fled in different directions. A secondary explosion was again observed near the strike point, reinforcing assessments that the location served as a weapons or logistics cache.

In a related operation, ISR assets identified a large concealed structure covered by trees and fitted with materials suspected to be solar panels, alongside a smaller adjoining building. Following clearance, the larger structure was engaged at about 0229 hours on Jan. 2, with BDA confirming its complete destruction.

Security analysts say the cumulative impact of these strikes has been profound. Beyond the immediate neutralisation of fighters, the operations degraded ISWAP’s logistics, energy supply, shelter and command infrastructure, while also exposing vulnerabilities in what had been considered secure forest hideouts.

The fact that ISWAP commanders are openly worried about missing senior leaders is significant. It points to either high-value casualties or a breakdown in their internal communication, both of which weaken their operational effectiveness.

The Sambisa Forest, once the symbolic and operational heartland of Boko Haram factions, has increasingly become a contested battlespace, with sustained intelligence-driven operations denying terrorists the freedom to regroup or reorganise.

The latest operations also illustrated the growing synergy between ground surface forces and air assets, particularly ISR-enabled precision strikes that exploit real-time intelligence to devastating effect.

The loss of Balangaje and the destruction of multiple hideouts across Chiralia, Gava and IRONS GATE axes further compress ISWAP fighters into smaller, more exposed pockets, increasing the likelihood of defections, internal fragmentation and further leadership losses.

As of press time, operations across the Sambisa Forest were ongoing.

The latest successes reaffirm the momentum of Operation Hadin Kai and suggest that insurgent groups entering 2026 are doing so under sustained pressure, shrinking space and growing internal anxiety over survival.

Multiple terrorists neutralised in Sambisa as coordinated strikes unsettle ISWAP commanders