Flowerbud News

Year: 2026

  • Column: Middle East is caught in U.S. manufactured conflicts amid security illusion

    Column: Middle East is caught in U.S. manufactured conflicts amid security illusion

     

     

    –  U.S. interventions in the Middle East, particularly through military actions and alliances, have escalated instability, reshaped regional balances, and failed to foster sustainable peace.

     

    by Ahmed Sallam

    When discussing the escalation currently taking place in the Middle East as a result of the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, we must return to the period following the end of World War II.

    At that time, Washington presented itself to the region as the “sole guarantor” of stability, the exclusive sponsor of peace processes, and the indispensable security umbrella for allied states.

    However, a careful review of developments over the past three decades reveals a striking paradox: the deeper the U.S. military and political interference in the region’s affairs, the greater the pace of instability, the deeper the divisions, and the more formerly stable states have been transformed into open arenas of conflict.

    This paradox has become particularly evident in recent years, especially during the second term of U.S. President Donald Trump.

    The Trump administration’s foreign policy witnessed a noticeable shift from “maximum pressure” based on economic sanctions to the direct use of military power. The U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran represents the clearest manifestation of this reality.

    This pattern of intervention reflects a clear decline in Washington’s commitment to international legal rules and raises serious questions about the future of the international order based on multilateral legitimacy, said researchers.

     

    ARENA FOR GEOPOLITICAL COMPETITION

    Throughout these years, it has become clear that the Middle East has not only been a stage for its own internal crises, but has also become a field of geopolitical competition among major countries, leaving deep impacts on the region’s stability and development.

    By following the chain of crises beginning with the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, through the events known as the “Arab Spring,” and to the current escalation in the Palestinian territories and the escalating conflict with Iran, it becomes evident that U.S. strategy has never truly aimed to establish sustainable stability.

    Instead, it has practiced a form of “managed chaos” that ensures continued dominance and the uninterrupted flow of Washington’s interests, even if the price is the fragmentation of the social and political fabric of the countries in the region.

    To date, Washington has established at least 19 military bases in the Gulf under the banner of protecting regional security and ensuring the stability of global energy supplies.

    Regarding the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, a question arises: Were these military bases truly established to protect the Gulf states, or have they instead made those states part of a broader regional and international battlefield?

    In reality, recent security developments suggest these bases have not prevented regional tensions or attacks; instead, some have become targets during periods of escalation.

    As tensions between the United States and its allies on one side and Iran on the other have intensified, the risk has grown that some Gulf states may become arenas for conflicts unrelated to their national interests.

    RESHAPING REGIONAL BALANCES

    An increasing number of analysts believe that what the region is witnessing today is not merely a series of separate crises but rather part of a broader phase of reshaping strategic balances in the Middle East.

    Successive wars, tensions among regional powers, and attempts to build new alliances or expand existing ones all indicate that the region is undergoing a geopolitical reordering that may continue for years.

    However, historical experience in the Middle East shows that attempts to impose a new regional order through military force or through alliances that ignore the region’s real complexities and balances often lead to the opposite results.

    Sustainable security cannot be achieved through arms races or by turning states into arenas of international conflict.

    Instead, it requires building a regional system based on respect for national sovereignty, adherence to international legitimacy, and addressing the root causes of historical conflicts in the region, especially the Palestinian issue.

    In conclusion, U.S. interventions in the Middle East appear to have reached a dead end. Neither the people nor the countries in the region are any longer able to bear the cost of the chaos resulting from them.

    The reality suggests that U.S.-led alliances have functioned less as partnerships and more as instruments of dependency, serving to protect Israeli supremacy rather than Arab sovereignty.

    Restoring stability in the region requires reducing U.S. influence, strengthening national states, and building genuine regional alliances based on shared interests and mutual benefit rather than external forces.

    Without such changes, the Middle East will remain trapped in a cycle of crises imposed from outside but borne by the region itself.

    Editor’s note: Ahmed Sallam is a former undersecretary of Egypt’s State Information Service and a member of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs.

    The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of Xinhua News Agency.

     

  • MainPower DisCo completes major maintenance in Enugu, appreciates residents for patience

    MainPower DisCo completes major maintenance in Enugu, appreciates residents for patience

    MainPower DisCo completes major maintenance in Enugu, appreciates residents for patience

    The MainPower Electricity Distribution Limited (MEDL) says it  successfully completed the installation of a newly-procured 11KV indoor switchgear panel at its Trans-Ekulu Injection Substation within Enugu.

    The Head of Communications, MEDL, Mr. Emeka Ezeh, said in a statement on Tuesday in Enugu, that the installation of the switchgear panel was part of a major maintenance carried out over the weekend.

    Ezeh said that the company expressed appreciation to residents affected by the temporary power outage during the maintenance period, “thanking them for their patience and understanding”.

    According to Ezeh, the exercise, originally scheduled to last 48 hours, was completed ahead of time.

    He attributed the early completion to the commitment and resilience of the engineering team, who worked round the clock to deliver the project on schedule.

    He noted that the completed maintenance aligns with MEDL’s ongoing commitment to strengthening network reliability and delivering a more stable and high-quality power supply.

    “Customers served by the three 11kV feeders (Nowas, Phase 6, and Dhamija) connected to the Trans-Ekulu Injection Substation are now expected to experience improved power quality and more reliable service,” he said.

    It would be recalled that MEDL had earlier announced the maintenance, which took place between March 14 and March 15.

    The project became necessary following an explosion that occurred on Jan. 21 in the control room of the Trans-Ekulu Injection Substation.

    The company disclosed that the procurement of the switchgear equipment cost over N200 million.

  • PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE AND CO-OPERATION PAVE WAY FOR DEVELOPMENT, HLGA AFFIRMS.

    The Head Of Local Government Administration, Osogbo West Local Council Development Area. Mr Adeleke Babatunde has applauded the management and members of staff in the council for their unalloyed commitment to work and allow peaceful relations among members.

    Mr Adeleke Babatunde, HLA.

    The council boss, made this assertion while addressing the Management Members of the council area in his office.
    While reacting, the director of administration, Mr Adeyemi Jimoh on behalf of other Directors appreciated his qualitative leadership style.

    A New Big Size 16 Horse power Generator Machine was purchased to enhance conducive working environment for workers whenever there is a power outage.

    It would be recalled the Osun State Nulge President Comrade Nathaniel Kehinde Ogungbangbe directed workers to stay off their duties last year february, 2026 to avoid chaos and loss of life of its members.

    During this period, the secretariat was burgled and vandalized.
    Valuable government properties like :- Television sets, Generators, Air-Conditioners, Computers, Fans, Photocopy Machine e.t.c were carted away by some unscrupulous criminals.
    A culprit was apprehended and handed over to the appropriate authority for prosecution.

    Mr Adeleke, amidst paucity of funds fixed the affected damaged offices in the council secretariat, assuring staff members that welfare promises made will not only be remembered but dilligently pursued at all time.

    The HLA, while appreciating His Excellency Governor Ademola Adeleke for his unrelenting passion for workers welfare in the state also used the medium to thank the management for their support.

    He also lauded all the directors in the council for smooth running of their various Departments.
    Comrade Bolarinwa Olawale Nulge Branch Treasurer appreciated and thanked the HLA, on behalf of the entire staff in Osogbo West Lcda.

    Olawale, describes the council boss as a blessing to the people of Osogbo West LCDA.

    Lateef Adeola Osogbo West LCDA.

  • Untitled post 85780

    Policy sensitisation: NOA seeks stronger collaboration with Kwara Govt

    By Bushrah Yusuf-Badmus

    The North Central Zonal Directorate of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has sought a stronger collaboration with the Kwara State Government on the sensitisation of its programmes and policies.

     

    NOA North Central Zonal Director, Mrs Priscilla Gondoaluor said this on Tuesday in Ilorin, while leading the agency’s management on a courtesy visit to the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Mamman Saba Jibril.

     

    Mrs Gondoualuor said with the ongoing reformation in the state, government policies and programmes would be better accepted when understood.

     

    The zonal director said the collaboration became imperative to create behavioural change and mobilise people to support government policies and programmes.

     

    ”The zonal office was created to bridge the gap and join hands with the state offices in effecting the mandate of the NOA.

     

    ”Our activities are aimed at re-engineering the mindset of the people to support government policies, because support is impossible when the policies are unknown.

     

    ”Presently, we are aware of the collaboration between NOA and the state government but we want a stronger tie.

     

    ”This is because with all that the state is doing and for public acceptance, people have to take ownership of the programmes for them to have a sense of belonging,” she said.

     

    The zonal director also urged the state government to continue to initiate and support the inclusion of NOA in all programmes to drive the agenda of President Bola Tinubu to ”build Nigerians to build Nigeria”.

     

    Mrs Gondoualuor said the citizen’s mind need to be reoriented towards the government especially in the rural communities who have less trust in the government.

     

    She said citizens will have better understanding of the policies when communicated to them in ways they understand which the NOA was already known for.

     

    In his response, the SSG said the reorientation by the NOA is necessary as the human nature is forgetful when not reminded.

     

    Prof. Jibril pledged the government’s support to the agency for it to achieve the purpose it was created for.

     

    He said the government would provide all needed materials and the enabling environment to make the agency’s work easier.

     

    The SSG urged the zonal directorate to continue to remain focused to achieve desired results.

     

    Meanwhile, the NOA management had earlier visited the Commissioner for Communication, Mrs Bolanle Olukoju to strengthen the working relationship between the agency and the ministry.

     

    Gondoualuor suggested that the ministry approve a working committee comprising the Ministry, the State Directorate, and the Zonal Directorate to immediately commence the creation of awareness and sensitization of citizens on the mandates of existing bodies, ministries, and parastatals.

     

    She said this would project what the state government is doing and help the people appreciate the government, appreciate governance, trust the government, and cooperate with it.

     

    The commissioner, in her response, expressed delight at the visit and looked forward to a working relationship with the Agency.

     

    She also noted that the challenges faced as a people are not necessarily awareness but rather acceptability.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • APC stakeholders in Igbo-Etiti celebrate Gov. Mbah at 54

    APC stakeholders in Igbo-Etiti celebrate Gov. Mbah at 54

    APC stakeholders in Igbo-Etiti celebrate Gov. Mbah at 54

     

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Stakeholders of Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area in Enugu State has celebrated Gov. Peter Mbah as he marks 54th birthday anniversary and his remarkable leadership.

    Speaking on behalf of the stakeholders on Wednesday in Enugu, Ozor Kennedy Agu, in a birthday congratulatory message, said that the group was joining the people of Enugu State and Nigerians in celebrating a remarkable leader.

    According to the statement, Your Excellency, your birth is not only a moment of celebration but also a reminder of the hope, vision, and purposeful leadership you have brought to Enugu State.

    The stakeholders noted that since assumption of office, Mbah had continued to demonstrate uncommon commitment, courage, and determination in transforming the state through progressive policies, infrastructural development, and people-centered governance.

    They said that Mbah’s administration had ignited a new spirit of innovation, development, and accountability in public service.

    “The vision you have shown in building a modern and prosperous Enugu State, through strategic investments in education, security, infrastructure, technology, and economic growth, continues to inspire confidence among the people.

    “As stakeholders of the APC in Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area, we recognise and appreciate your dedication to inclusive leadership and the progress of every community in the state.

    “Your efforts to uplift rural communities, empower youths, and create opportunities for the future generation stand as a testament to your deep love for the people you serve.

    “Today, as we celebrate you, we also celebrate the ideals of visionary leadership, unity, peace, and development which you represent,” they said.

    The stakeholders said that they were proud to identify with Mbah’s achievements and the positive transformation taking place across Enugu State under his watch.

    They said, “We pray that Almighty God will continue to grant you wisdom, strength, sound health, and divine guidance as you continue to pilot the affairs of Enugu State.

    “May your years ahead be filled with greater accomplishments, renewed strength, and continued service to humanity.

    “On behalf of the entire APC Stakeholders in Igbo-Etiti, we wish you a very joyful and fulfilling birthday. Long life, greater wisdom, and more remarkable achievements in the service of Enugu State and humanity.”

     

  • Holy See on Islamophobia: Freedom of belief is not optional

    Holy See on Islamophobia: Freedom of belief is not optional

    The Permanent Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations issues a statement warning that when the fundamental freedom of belief is denied, “trust gives way to fear, suspicion replaces dialogue, and oppression breeds violence.”

    By Kielce Gussie

    On March 16 at the UN headquarters in New York, the Permanent Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations issued a statement at the High-Level Event marking the International Day to Combat Islamophobia.

    It began by welcoming the initiative to have the event dedicated to combating Islamophobia and by expressing the Delegation of the Holy See’s gratitude to the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations and the Permanent Observer Mission of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to the United Nations for organizing the High-level event.

    A slow decay of bonds

    The Holy See’s statement highlighted how the “growing instances of intolerance, discrimination and hostility targeting Muslims, Jews, Christians and followers of other traditional religions” are a result of a failure to acknowledge and defend “the right to freedom of religion or belief.”

    This right, it argued, is not optional. Rather, it is a “cornerstone of any just society.” The statement referenced Pope Leo XIV’s warning from his address to the delegation of “Aid to the Church in Need” (October 10, 2025) that when freedom is denied, the human person “is deprived of the capacity to respond freely to the call of truth.”

    As a result, the Pope stressed, there is a slow decay of the ethical and spiritual bonds which sustain communities—“trust gives way to fear, suspicion replaces dialogue, and oppression breeds violence.”

    Both individuals and societies are impacted

    The continuation of Islamophobia in the world, the statement continued, is a stark reminder of the urgent need to defend religious freedom. Violence and discrimination against Muslims harm more than individual people.

    What is also damaged are “the spiritual, moral, and social fabric of societies at large, weakening the bonds of trust and solidarity that humanity particularly needs in the current international context.”

    Today, this discrimination is amplified online, “where hostile narratives can spread rapidly and shape public perceptions.” To combat this, the Holy See’s statement called for better educational programs, particularly dedicated to digital literacy and to helping people develop better critical thinking skills and cultivate a freedom of spirit.

    Closing, the statement once again turned to the words of Pope Leo—this time to his address celebrating the sixtieth anniversary of Nostra Aetate on October 28, 2025. The Holy Father emphasized that dialogue is not a tool or tactic, “but a way of life – a journey of the heart that transforms everyone involved, the one who listens and the one who speaks.”

    This, the Permanent Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations explained, requires true interreligious dialogue, “enabling differences to become a source of enrichment rather than division and ensuring that no religion is exploited or instrumentalized.”

    Against Islamophobia

    Over the last few years, data has revealed a rise in Islamophobia. A report from the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights in 2025 reported that one in two Muslims in the EU has experienced racial discrimination, most notably in the labour and housing markets.

    Held annually on March 15, the International Day to Combat Islamophobia was first held in 2022 after the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution sponsored by 60 Member-States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

    This year’s High-level event was entitled “From Norms to Action: Addressing Islamophobia and Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief – The Nexus to Human Rights”.

  • Cuba’s president fires back at Trump over takeover remarks

    Cuba’s president fires back at Trump over takeover remarks

    Takeover

    Mexico City, March 18, 2026 (dpa) Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has fired back at comments by U.S. President Donald Trump about a possible takeover of Cuba.

    On Monday, Trump told reporters he thinks he will have the “honour of taking Cuba.”

    “I do believe I’ll be … having the honour of taking Cuba. That would be good. That’s a big honour,” he said during an executive order signing at the White House.

    On Tuesday, Díaz-Canel said the U.S. would face “unbreakable resistance” if it attempted a takeover.

    In a post on X, Díaz-Canel said the U.S. publicly threatened Cuba, almost daily, to overthrow the constitutional order by force.

    “This is the only way to explain the fierce economic war being waged as collective punishment against the entire people.”

    For weeks, Trump has been repeating that Cuba is on the brink of collapse.

    Under Trump, Washington has increased economic pressure on Cuba, aiming to cut off the flow of foreign currency and oil to the Caribbean island.

    The pressure intensified after U.S. authorities carried out an operation in January in which Venezuela’s president, Nicolás Maduro, was arrested in the capital Caracas and taken to the U.S.

    The move deprived Havana of one of its most important allies, which had long supported the island, particularly through oil supplies, amid the decades-long U.S. trade embargo with Cuba.

    Currently, Cuba is in one of its most severe economic crises since the revolution led by Fidel Castro in 1959.(dpa)

  • Oji River Council Chairman felicitates Gov. Mbah at 54 for purposeful leadership 

    Oji River Council Chairman felicitates Gov. Mbah at 54 for purposeful leadership 

    Oji River Council Chairman felicitates Gov. Mbah at 54 for purposeful leadership

    The Chairman, Oji River Local Government Area in Enugu State, Mr Greg Anyaegbudike, has felicitated with Gov. Peter Mbah on his 54th birthday anniversary and his development-driven and purposeful leadership.

    Anyaegbudike gave the congratulatory birthday message in a statement signed and issued by him to journalists on Tuesday in Enugu.

    The chairman noted that Mbah’s leadership had inspired hope and rekindled flame of sustainable development and progress in the hearts of residents of Enugu State.

    According to him,. your commitment to inclusive governance and sustainable development has continued to shape Enugu State into a model of purposeful leadership and intentional growth.

    “On behalf of my family, the government and people of Oji River Local Government Area, I am delighted to celebrate you, our visionary and transcendental leader per excellence, Your Excellency, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah.

    “Your achievements stand as  emblems of a true leader whose priority is to place Enugu State on the global map as the premier destination for business, investment, tourism, leisure and safe living.

    “These stellar accomplishments have set the stage for another term of outstanding leadership come 2027.

    “Your Excellency, as you celebrate your 54th birthday, I join your family, friends and well-wishers, Oji River people and entire Enugu State in praying God to grant you many more years in good health,” he said.

    Anyaegbudike also prayed the Almighty to grant the governor strength and wisdom to continue to champion the cause of the state.

    “This is wishing you beautiful and rewarding years in fulfillment of your noble aspirations for greater service to entire Enugu State people and humanity,” he said.

  • Iran strikes Tel Aviv with cluster warheads in retaliation for killing of security chief

    Iran strikes Tel Aviv with cluster warheads in retaliation for killing of security chief

    Retaliation

    Dubai/Tel Aviv, March 18, 2026 (Reuters) Iran targeted Tel Aviv with missiles carrying cluster warheads in what it said was retaliation for Israel’s assassination of Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani, Iranian state television reported ​on Wednesday.
    The attack overnight on Tuesday killed two people in a neighbourhood close to densely populated Tel Aviv, where there are also key military facilities, bringing the death toll in Israel from the war to at least 14.
    A statement by Iran’s ‌Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps read on state TV said weapons used included Khorramshahr 4 and Qadr missiles, both with multi-warheads.
    Israel has said that Iran has repeatedly used cluster warheads, which disperse into multiple smaller explosives mid-air and spread over a wide area, making them difficult to intercept.
    In Iran, a projectile hit an area near the Budget nuclear power plant on Tuesday evening but caused no damage or injuries, Iran told the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
    IAEA chief Rafael Grossi reiterated his call for maximum restraint during the conflict to avoid the risk of a nuclear accident.
    Israel and the U.S. have said preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapons programme was one of the goals of the attacks ​they launched more than two weeks ago, which killed the country’s supreme leader and many other top officials.
    The Iranian government on Tuesday confirmed the killing of Larijani, the most senior figure targeted since the U.S.-Israeli war’s first day, when an Israeli strike killed Iran’s ​Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
    Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, which Larijani led as secretary, said Larijani’s son and his deputy, Alireza Bayat, were also killed in an Israeli attack on Monday night.
    The targeted killings took place ⁠as the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran shows no signs of de-escalation.
    Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has rejected proposals conveyed to Iran’s Foreign Ministry for “reducing tensions or ceasefire with the United States,” according to a senior Iranian official who asked not to be identified.
    Khamenei, attending his first foreign-policy meeting since ​his appointment, said it was not “the right time for peace until the United States and Israel are brought to their knees, accept defeat, and pay compensation,” according to the official.
    The official did not clarify whether the younger Khamenei, who has not yet appeared in photos or on TV since being ​named last week to replace his slain father, had attended the meeting in person or remotely.
    Iran had executed a man convicted of spying for Israel, the Iranian judiciary’s media outlet Mizan said on Wednesday.
    The man, identified as Kurosh Keyvani, had been convicted of providing Israel’s spy agency Mossad with pictures and information about sensitive locations in Iran, it said.
    In Lebanon, an Israeli airstrike hit Beirut’s Bachoura neighbourhood in the centre of the city on Wednesday, a Reuters witness said.
    Loud explosions were heard in the area after the Israeli military warned residents to evacuate a building ahead of the strike.
    The attack was part of a broader wave of Israeli strikes ​on Lebanon on Wednesday, including raids on other parts of the Lebanese capital, as well as southern and eastern areas of the country, signalling an intensification of Israel’s campaign against the Iran-backed Hezbollah.