Oluwasegun Adesuyi, Author at SocietyGazette.com

El-Rufai Declares Support For Bola Tinubu’s Presidential Ambition

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has openly endorsed the Presidential ambition of the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu.

The Kaduna governor openly backed Tinubu’s ambition at the Murtala Square in Kaduna on Thursday.

It was gathered that Tinubu alongside the former Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, former EFCC boss, Nuhu Ribadu and other dignitaries were in the state to seek the support delegates ahead of the ruling party’s primaries.

Shetimma had earlier assured the delegates that the Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai was “solidly by their side,” according to Daily Trust.

However, while speaking, El-Rufai said he would need the support of delegates from Kaduna State before taking a decision.

“I want to correct Kashim Shettima because he said the governor is fully with them,” El-Rufai said.

The governor added that he cannot fully back Tinubu unless the delegates from the state agree.

“Before we confirm what Kashim Shetima said here, I want to confirm from our statutory delegates are you with Asiwaju?” El-Rufai asked, to which the delegates stood in unison, shouting yes.

“Your Excellency, I do what they tell me, they are my bosses. This is how APC in Kaduna works,” he said while addressing Tinubu.

2023: what will happen to Ministers, Appointees Who Fail To Resign – Presidency reveals

The Presidency has said ministers and political appointees who are seeking elective office but refused to resign would be sacked.

Naija News reports that Presidential Spokesman, Garba Shehu, made this known in an interview on Channels Television on Thursday.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had directed members of his cabinet and other government appointees nursing political ambitions to resign before May 16.

According to Shehu, any political appointee who has political ambition but continues to stay in office “would have someone decide for him or her”.

The presidential spokesman noted that the presidential directive is clear and straightforward, stressing that the appointees have to obey the order.

He added that the circular of the government to the effect was issued by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and duly approved by the President.

“We are dealing with a government policy, a government directive, a circular of the government issued by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation duly approved by the President [which] clearly states who is to go.

“So, I think that in a few occupied offices like that, you make the decision by yourself otherwise, someone would decide for you. So, that’s the point,” he said.

Speaking further, Shehu said the furore about the cost of the presidential nomination and expression of interest forms for the All Progressives Congress (APC) was unnecessary.

The presidential aide stated that aspirants can source money by various means such as donations from their supporters, associates and well wishers.

Shehu, however, said it is not the place of the presidency to direct the various anti-corruption agencies in the country to investigate the sources of funding of the aspirants.

He also suggested that the APC should not refund monies used in the purchase of the forms even if an aspirant makes a U-turn in their pursuit.

BREAKING: Female student burnt to death in Sokoto ‘for insulting Muhammad’ [VIDEO]

A yet-to-be-identified female student of Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto was on Thursday beaten and burnt to death for alleged blasphemy.

The school has announced its shutdown over the crisis.

The treatment of those deemed to have insulted the prophet of Islam (Muhammad), or the religion itself in Nigeria’s northern region is a source of concern.

In 2020, a Shariah court in that axis condemned Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, a 22-year-old Muslim gospel musician, to death for committing blasphemy in a series of private WhatsApp messages. The same court found a 16-year-old boy, Umar Farouk, guilty of blasphemy for reportedly insulting the Prophet Muhammad while arguing with a friend and sentenced him to 10 years in prison with manual labour.

Farouk’s sentence has been overturned, and Sharif-Aminu’s case has been sent for retrial. But these sentences critics consider harsh, are only examples of the problematic application of Shariah law in some states in northern Nigeria.

More worrisome is the latest mob action against the tertiary institution student.

Watch video

Breaking: Buhari Breaks Silence On ASUU Strike

President Muhammadu Buhari has finally shown concern about the prolonged strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.

ASUU had embarked on a month warning strike in early February over the failure of the Buhari’s government to meet its demands.

The varsity lecturers pressed home its demands, with the prominent ones being the renegotiation of the ASUU/FG 2009 agreement and the sustainability of the university autonomy by deploying UTAS to replace the government’s “imposed” (IPPIS).

Also in its demands is the release of the reports of visitation panels to federal universities, distortions in salary payment challenges, funding for revitalisation of public universities, earned academic allowance, poor funding of state universities and promotion arrears.

After a series of deliberations, ASUU’s demands were still not met at the end of the warning strike in March.

Without hesitation, ASUU on Monday extended its ongoing roll-over strike by another three months to give the government more time to meet its demands.

Naija News understands that President Buhari has been mute about the lingering strike which has caused university students across the country to return to their parent’s homes while others find their way into society doing dirty jobs.

However, the Nigerian leader on Thursday urged ASUU to consider the plight of the students and call off the industrial action.

Naija News understands that Buhari expressed his concern today at the 19th National Productivity Day Celebration and Conferment of National Productivity Order of Merit Award, held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.

The number one citizen also appealed to the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, to exercise patience as the government tries to resolve the crisis.

Meanwhile, the President is reported to have earlier directed his Chief of Staff, Ibrahim Gambari, Minister of Education and Labour and Employment, Adamu Adamu and Chris Ngige, respectively, to address the concerns of the striking aggrieved workers’ unions.

2023: APC Denies Jonathan’s Membership

The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Bayelsa State, Dennis Otiotio on Thursday said Goodluck Jonathan is not a member of the party in the state.

According to Otiotio, Jonathan can only join the ruling party if granted a waiver by the national chairman of the party, Adamu Abdullahi.

Otiotio disclosed this in a chat with Punch on Thursday morning.

The Bayelsa APC Chairman spoke amidst the claims that Jonathan had joined APC in his Ogbia ward in Bayelsa.

Otiotio said, “I think the person you people should be asking the question is the national chairman of the party. He should be the one to grant him (Jonathan) a waiver.

“As of now, he has not officially joined our party. Ask the national chairman if he has granted him a waiver.”

The APC Chairman, however, described the former president as a big fish and an elder statesman.

He further stated that it would be great if Jonathan decides to join the ruling party ahead of the 2023 general election.

‘I Avoided His Childishness For My Own Sanity’ – Comedian AY Speaks On Beef With BasketMouth

Nigerian comedian cum filmmaker Ayo Makun popularly known as AY has revealed why he’s currently at loggerheads with his colleague Basketmouth.

This comes after a curious fan asked Ay if he was having any issues with the comedian cum singer.

Responding, AY said there are no issues between him and Basketmouth noting that people having unnecessary issues sometimes pay with being progressive in life.

According to AY, his colleague Basketmouth has been battling an uncontrollable superiority complex for a long time.

The father of two who seemed not comfortable with the character of Basketmouth added that avoiding his incessant childishness became necessary for his own sanity.

When pressed further if they do not talk to each other, AY said people only talk to those who want to talk to them.

He said: “I don’t have issues with him. But people having unnecessary issues sometimes pay for being progressive. He has been battling with an uncontrollable superiority complex for the longest. So avoiding his incessant childishness only became necessary for my own sanity. We only talk to those who want to talk to us. Does this make sense?”

[Breaking] 2023: Buhari Orders CBN Governor, Emefiele, Others To Resign

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed all heads of agencies, departments, parastatals and ambassadors with political ambitions to turn in their resignations.

The President in a circular on Thursday also directed the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele to resign.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha signed the circular which directed all heads of agencies with political ambition to resign.

The circular with reference number SGF/OP/ I/S.3/XII/ 173 was titled, ‘Ministers, heads of government agencies, ambassadors and other appointees with political ambitions to resign.

Meanwhile, some ministers in the cabinet of President Buhari have turned in their resignation letters following the directive of the President during the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.

The President directed them to submit their resignation letters on or before Monday the 16th of May, 2022.

The likes of Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajuiba, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio and Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu and Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi have tendered their resignation letter to focus on their presidential ambition.

Just In: Amaechi resigns as Transport Minister

Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has resigned his appointment

Amaechi resigned his position following President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive that all cabinet members vying for elective offices in the 2023 elections, should resign before May 16.

The President’s directive was made known on Wednesday, at the end of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja.

The resignation of Amaechi was confirmed in a tweet by APC Twitter UK handle.

It wrote, “Nigeria’s Minister of #Transportation, HM Chibuike R. Amaechi [@ChibuikeAmaechi] has resigned from the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to focus on his Presidential Campaign.

“Thank you for your service to Nigeria.”

Gunmen Attack JAMB officials In Lagos Hotel, Kill Gateman

A gateman with Mabila Hotel in Ikorodu, Lagos State, was killed in the early hours on Wednesday by some unknown gunmen and robbed some officials of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) that lodged there.

The Police spokesman for Lagos Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said that the JAMB officials had been relocated to a safe place.

The PPRO said, “One Prof. Odunsi, an official of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) who lodged at the hotel was robbed of his two phones, one HP Laptop and N20,000 cash.

“Similarly, two female officials of JAMB, who lodged at the hotel, were robbed of their phones and jewellery,” he said.

The spokesman said that the hoodlums shot the hotel’s gateman, simply identified as Peter, 40, who attempted to prevent them from escaping.

He explained that the gateman was rushed to an undisclosed hospital where he later died, adding that the corpse had been deposited at the Ikorodu General Hospital mortuary.

Hundeyin said that the police got a distress call at about 2.40 a.m. on Wednesday that some hoodlums had invaded the hotel located at No. 60, Omodisu St., Asolo-Owutu, Agric area in Ikorodu.

He said that based on the call, the police from Owutu Division went to the place immediately, adding that when the hoodlums sighted the police van coming, they all fled in a Lexus SUV.

“The Commissioner of Police for Lagos State, CP Abiodun Alabi, has assured that no stone will be left unturned. He has ordered a serious manhunt for the suspects,” he said.

Palestinian Female Journalist Killed During Refuge Camp Raid By Israeli Soldiers

An Al Jazeera journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh, was killed at her point of duty covering Israeli raids in the occupied West Bank.

The news network confirmed the incidence to AFP, describing the shooting of the Palestinian-American journalist as a deliberate act by Israeli forces.

A colleague of the deceased, Ali Samoudi, who also spoke to the French news agency said “We were going to film the Israeli army operation and suddenly they shot us without asking us to leave or stop filming.

“The first bullet hit me and the second bullet hit Shireen… there was no Palestinian military resistance at all at the scene,” Samoudi said.

The news network has called on the international community to “condemn and hold the Israeli occupation forces accountable for deliberately targeting and killing our colleague,” suggesting they may “try to cover up their crime.”

The fatal shooting comes nearly a year after an Israeli air strike destroyed a Gaza building that housed the offices of Al Jazeera and news agency AP.

Responding to the murder allegations, Israeli authorities claimed Palestinian gunmen had opened fire at the time Akleh was struck, adding that it is investigating the possibility that she was shot by Palestine gunmen.