Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan may be eyeing a return to the Aso Rock Presidential Villa as reports have emerged claiming he met with Southsouth leaders coordinating his alleged 2023 campaign.
It was gathered that shortly after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja last Thursday, Jonathan at held a meeting with his coordinators on December 27, 2021, at Aridolf Hotels and Spars in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
According to The Nation, two northern All Progressives Congress (APC) governors are reportedly behind plots for Jonathan to return to power which will also enable the North to reclaim Aso Rock after four years.
A source said the governors of two Northwest states are championing the plot for a Jonathan presidency and they want one of their own to run as his Vice President.
He added that the scheme was part of the reasons a minister from the Southsouth spoke recently against the then administration of Jonathan.
“The coordinators of the group plotting for Jonathan to return to Aso Rock in 2023 met recently with Jonathan at his wife’s Aridolf Hotels and Spars,” the source said.
“The chairman of the group, Chief Dikivie Ikiogha, and other Southsouth coordinators were present at the meeting. Jonathan indicated an interest in their campaign and asked them to return to their different states to continue with their campaign.
“This plot has been kept active by two governors from the Northwest, who are plotting for a strong APC Northern governor to become Jonathan’s running mate.
“There is also a plan to reconcile Jonathan with the Southsouth minister.”
Markets in Oyo State will not open for business today, Monday the 3rd of January it has been announced as stores and stalls have been ordered to remain shut.
The Babaloja General of Oyo State, Asiwaju Yekini Abass who issued the directive in a statement on Sunday said the move is in honour of the late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji.
It will be recalled as previously reported by Naija News that the foremost traditional ruler joined his ancestors on Sunday at the age of 93.
He passed on at the University of Ibadan College Hospital following a brief illness.
According to Abass, the decision to shut down the markets follows an emergency meeting of all market leaders on Sunday. He urged all traders and marketers to comply.
While praying for the repose of the late monarch’s soul, Abass recalled the Olubadan’s contributions to the development of Ibadanland and market activities in the area.
Meanwhile, Adeola Oloko, spokesman of the late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, has denied rumours that the late monarch died of COVID-19.
In a chat with reporters on Sunday morning inside the palace, Oloko said the monarch died after a brief illness and not from COVID-19.
Oloko said: “It was around 1am that Kabiyesi passed on.
“Around 9pm (Saturday), he was first taken to a private hospital, before he was carried to UCH Ibadan around 1am, thereafter he passed on.
“Baba passed on after a brief illness. He spent about five to six days at the hospital.”
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige has revealed how he was removed as governor of Anambra State in 2005.
The Minister said he was ousted from office because he refused to obey his political godfathers and decided to develop the state.
Ngige said his impeachment was the consequence of his disobedience to the godfathers, who had asked him to open the state treasury for them.
The former Anambra governor made the disclosure on Saturday in Akwa after he was conferred with a royal title by the Traditional Ruler of Awka, Obi Gibson Nwosu.
Ngige, who was conferred with the title of “Onyili Mmagba,” disclosed that his erstwhile godfathers were behind his abduction and almost ruined his political career because he was disobedient.
With huge debts, the minister said he was able to construct infrastructural projects, ensure that the state was peaceful, reformed the public service sector, prioritised workers and pensioners welfare and sustain the state financially.
Ngige added that he decided to work for the people and develop the state as a governor and has no regret about his actions.
He said, “I decided to work for the Anambra people and that became the main crux of the problem. Will you stand and work for the people or the godfathers? So, I stood with the people and worked for them.
“Before I came into office, Awka was a village but we transformed the village to a befitting capital city. We brought infrastructural development and introduced reforms in the public service. We tarred all the roads in the GRA, Awka. We dualised Nnamdi Azikiwe Road and put streetlights on them. We repaired the water scheme and got water running in three-quarters of the city including Akwata.”
The General Evangelist Worldwide of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Prophet Samuel Kayode Abiara, had told Nigerians to shun prophets of doom.
He spoke during the New Year Service held simultaneously by Christian and Muslim faithful at the Lagos House in Marina.
The cleric prayed for Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, his family, members of the State Executive Council and Lagos State.
He urged the people not to listen to prophets of doom against Nigeria and her leaders at the national and state levels.
“Don’t listen to prophets of doom against Nigeria, our nation and the leaders. Don’t listen to prophets of doom against Lagos State. The future of Nigeria and Lagos State is bright,” Prophet Abiara declared.
Former Vice-Chancellor of the Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo State, and Bishop of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Prof. Dapo Asaju noted that Governor Sanwo-Olu has shown good leadership in Lagos State.
In his message, titled ‘God, the rulers and the people’ Asaju said: “Sanwo-Olu has done very well, and prayed that the governor will finish well and be celebrated like the late first civilian governor of the state, Alhaji Lateef Jakande.
“The Bible tells us that when the righteous are in power, the people will rejoice. We are rejoicing in Lagos State because we have a godly governor.
“If I can assume the role of the good people of Lagos State, I will like to pass a message across to Governor Sanwo-Olu that we love you, we appreciate you and we are proud to be your subjects. We thank God for what He is doing in your life.
“Mr. Governor, you have been running this administration very well. You have done very well but your tenure is going gradually and as another election is coming, there shall be a new song. You will finish well and you will be celebrated.
“Like Lateef Jakande was celebrated, you will be celebrated and the glory of the future would be greater.
“People will decide the kind of governor they have.
“So, people of Lagos should better open their eyes and pray for another governor like this, and I pray that God Almighty will give you the grace even to continue in the name of Jesus Christ.
“If it is a political statement, I say it with every sense of confidence that God Almighty will give you the possibility to perfect what you have started in Jesus name.”
Governor Sanwo-Olu, who said Lagos has a brighter future, urged members of his cabinet to work toward achieving the Greater Lagos agenda.
Reading the second lesson from Philippians 3:12-16, the governor charged to lead with the fear of God, make good things out of their life and ensure that people remember them for good.
He said: “Let us open a new chapter and know that the new chapter is about togetherness. They have said to us that we all have a brighter future.
Our state has a bright future. But it is really for us to open our eyes very well and see the bright future. We should connect to God Almighty and ask for His direction in everything we do.”
Speaking at the Muslim prayer, Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, assured Nigerians of a better life in 2022, and asked all religious leaders to continue emphasising religious tolerance.
He said only unity, peace and love can engender prosperity in any society.
“It is practically difficult, if not impossible, to achieve prosperity where insecurity permeates in any society.
“I, therefore, urge every Nigerian to support the government in her quest for socio-economic and political development.
“The THEMES agenda of the Sanwo-Olu administration encompasses every aspect of the life of every Lagos resident.
“Therefore, we solicit the support of everyone so that our noble objectives may be a reality,” he added.
The leader of Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide, a Yoruba self-determination group, Professor Banji Akintoye, has said no election will be allowed to hold in the southwest in 2022.
In a statement on Friday, Akintoye expressed hope for the quick release of Yoruba agitator, Sunday Igboho Adeyemo, who is in detention in Benin Republic.
The historian urged the supporters of the youth leader to remain hopeful, adding that Yoruba nation will be achieved soon.
He said: “I am sure that all Yoruba people everywhere are expecting me to make a statement about our dear hero, Chief Sunday Adeyemo. How I wish I could announce now that he has been released.
“Unfortunately, we are not blessed with that wonderful news today. But I join all Yoruba patriots everywhere in the fervent hope that he will soon be released.
“Adeyemo will soon be blessed with liberation from detention. The Yoruba people will soon be blessed with their Yoruba nation state, the greatest desire of their hearts. Their new Yoruba country will quickly blossom into a marvellous country of peace, love and exceptional prosperity.
“Among most Yoruba self determination advocates worldwide, the determination exists and is growing that there shall be no state governorship and house of assembly elections in our homeland in 2022. The next election that we Yoruba people will engage in will be the first election in our own new country.”
The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Muhammad Bello, has tested positive for COVID-19.
In a post on his official Facebook page on Friday, he said: “After a hide and seek period spanning 21 months (one year, nine months) between COVID-19 and my humble self, the virus finally caught up with me during the dying days of 2021.
“After feeling unwell since 28th December, I decided to do a COVID-19 test yesterday (Thursday) morning.
“The result came out positive this morning.
“Currently doing fine, with some sore throat, feverish feeling and mild running nose. Undertaking treatment and isolation at home.
“I salute and wish all the medical personnel in the FCT and beyond who have been in the front line fighting this pandemic a happy and prosperous new year 2022.
“I pray for the quick recovery of all of us currently afflicted with COVID-19.
“I have been informed by the experts that my case is mild because I took two shots of the COVID-19 vaccine.
“I appeal to all those who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 to do so.”
In what appears like a conscious effort to prevent himself from losing political relevance after leaving office in 2023, Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, has called for “peace and reconciliation among political parties’ stakeholders” in the state.
Governor Ganduje made the call in his New Year message to the people of Kano State issued by the state’s commissioner for information, Muhammad Garba, on Friday.
In the message titled “Year 2022 era of reconciliation, peace building,” Ganduje expressed optimism that political parties in the state would create platforms for internal democracy to flourish.
The governor urged political parties to “produce more credible representatives at various levels who have the capacity and ability to win elections and subsequently build on laudable programs and policies initiated by the past leaders.”
Ganduje said “political gladiators” in the state already made efforts recently to usher in a new dawn in political history of the state.
According to Garba, the governor said “the event, which saw Kano political gladiators emphasizing on the need for reconciliation, elicited excitement from the people of Kano state who have been yearning for the much-needed peace and conciliation in order to advance the cause for proper development in the political terrain and the society at large.”
THE WHISTLER recalls that Ganduje’s appeal for peace and political reconciliation in Kano came a month after an FCT Federal High Court sacked the Kano All Progressives Congress executive committee led by him and recognised the faction led by Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, a former governor of the state and his political rival.
Amid the rift, the governor’s Special Adviser on State Affairs, Muhammad Shehu, had on Tuesday resigned his position and joined Shekarau’s APC faction to support the governorship ambition of Barau Jibrin, the chairman Senate committee on appropriation.
The Oyo State Joint- Security Task Force, Operation Burst, has recovered some stolen Apple phones from a suspect at Sabo area of Ibadan.
Operation Burst comprises of soldiers and operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
The security outfit, according to a statement by the Commissioner for Information in the state, Dr Wasiu Olatunbosun, said the recovery was made during its raids on black spots and hideouts for criminals in Ibadan.
Director General of Oyo State Joint Security Task Force, Operation Burst, Colonel James Oladipo (retd.), confirmed that 23 Apple-phones were recovered from the suspect, who is now at large.
Oladipo said that this was part of the outfit’s efforts to protect lives and property in the state especially at this festive period.
“We have been on the trail of criminals who have been terrorising citizens and residents at strategic locations, especially in the Sabo area of Ibadan, the state capital.”
He said that a surveillance team of the joint security task force, recently, raided some ‘blackspots’ in Ibadan where the i-Phones were recovered.
Oladipo therefore called on victims who were recently robbed of their i-Phones within Ibadan to come forward with proof of ownership to reclaim them.
The Director General, while assuring the public of the task force’s immediate response to distress calls, urged them to give useful information that will aid security agencies in performing its duties.
Col. Oladipo also added that the outfit is in synergy with other sister security agencies.
