Babafemi Ojudu, special adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on political matters, on Saturday dismissed a viral quote attributed to Vice-President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, that he will not contest for presidency in 2023 against the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu.
POLITICS NIGERIA recently reported that Osinbajo informed President Buhari of his interest in the 2023 presidential race — the same route Tinubu took.
But a quote linked to the Ogun-born politician seem to portray that Osinbajo has pulled out of the race. However, Ojudu, a top supporter of Osinbajo, says it’s “fake news”.
“Wherever you see this ‘broken news’ shout Fake ! Fake!! Fake!!! It is FAKE NEWS,” he said on his known Facebook page.
Presidential hopeful, Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday met with the Governor of Gombe State, Muhammed Inuwa Yahaya, at his Abuja home.
The national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was accompanied by the Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and former Borno governor, Senator Kashim Shettima.
Naija News gathered that the former Lagos governor met with governor Yahaya over his presidential ambition and to solicit for his support ahead of the APC’s presidential primaries.
Later, the presidential aspirant visited the former Governor of Gombe state and Senator representing Gombe State, Danjuma Goje, in his home in Abuja.
Tinubu, however, appreciated Governor Yahaya and Senator Goje for their hospitality and the engaging discussions shared about his presidential ambition.
Following the call by the governor of Anambra State, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, for a ceasefire by the Indigenous People of Biafra in the interest of South-East people, the group, weekend, said it was ready to toe the line of peace provided Soludo did not take the path of his precedessor, Willie Obiano.
The spokesman of the group, Emma Powerful, said the group was peaceful, and only seeking the emancipation of the Igbo.
According to Mr Powerful, “We wish to assure South-East and South-South governors that IPOB members are human beings, and we don’t have plans to suffer our people but any of them who decide to approach us with harsh manner will receive us with harsh manner.”
While assuring Soludo of the group’s support if he doesn’t pose any threat to IPOB, Powerful added that, “We were here when he came and we would be here when he would be leaving.
“His predecessor, former governor Willie Obiano, allowed himself to be used by Fulani people and allowed them to kill his people at Nkpor in 2016 during our annual remembrance of our fallen heroes and heroines who paid the ultimate price for our freedom between 1967 and 1970.
“We won’t accept such to happen again with our members and citizens of Biafra nation.
“IPOB is a peaceful movement, only seeking freedom of their people and nothing will make us stop unless they give us a date for referendum to ascertain where everybody wants to belong, either in Nigeria or elsewhere.
“We are ready to work with any government who wishes to give our people peace. If you dare us, you will regret it. We are peaceful and cannot jeopardise his government.”
IPOB’s sit-at-home order in Southeast has collapsed businesses in the region since last August.
It was declared to press home the release of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. He is being tried over treason, running a proscribed group, and jumping bail in 2017.
The Alayetoro of Ayetoro-Ekiti, Oba Samuel Olufisan Ajayi (Odundun Asodedero 1) and some other persons led by one Chief Femi Ajibola, the Sajuku of Ayetoro-Ekiti have been quizzed by the police on missing electric transformers.
The monarch and others were alleged to have conspired to vandalise and steal two transformers located at Oke- Odi community in the town.
The police swung into action upon receiving a petition filed by an Akure-based lawyer, Barrister Iyiola Afolabi and addressed to the office of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in-charge of Zone 17, Ijapo, Akure, Ondo State on March 13, 2022.
According to the petition written on behalf of his 19 clients, who are natives of Ayetoro-Ekiti, a copy which was obtained by newsmen in Akure, the Ondo State capital, the attorney stated that “Our clients, the Oke-Odi Quarters, Ayetoro-Ekiti have been thrown into darkness and the business of residents negatively affected by the unlawful removal of the transformers meant to supply electricity to the community.
“This dastardly act was allegedly committed by a group of people led by one Chief Femi Ajibola, the Sajuku of Ayetoro-Ekiti who allegedly sold the transformers to merchants from lbadan, Oyo State. Our clients reported this incident to the Alayetoro-in Council, which mandated Chief Femi Ajibola and his cohorts to return the transformers latest the 15th December 2021.
“Upon failure to comply with this directive, our clients reported the matter to the Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State where their representatives made statements to the Police since the 21st December 2021.
“At the Ekiti State Police Headquarter, facts emerged that the Alayetoro of Ayetoro Ekiti, His Royal Highness, Oba Samuel Ajayi (Odundun Asodedero 1) actually gave the instruction for the removal of the transformers as well as about four other transformers in Ayetoro-Ekiti.
“The suspects were granted bail at the Ekiti State Police Headquarter, Ado Ekiti with an understanding that the transformers shall be returned within two weeks.
POLL
“However, up till date, the transformers are still at large and no charges have been preferred against the affected individuals, possibly owing to their positions in the community. The merchants who received the stolen products in the guise of purchasers were also not invited for interrogation.
“We have the instruction of our clients, the Oke-Odi Quarters, Ayetoro-Ekltl to request that you (AIG) use your good offices to take over the investigation of the case to give succor to the suffering masses and bring any culpable individual to justice, knowing that the law is no respecter of persons and positions.”
However, Chief Femi Ajibola, the Sajuku of Ayetoro-Ekiti, when contacted on the telephone, declined comment, saying “I don’t have anything to discuss with journalists, please keep off.”
Sources disclosed that the AIG office in Akure had summoned the monarch and other suspects for questioning over the incident on Wednesday, March 16, 2022.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Zone-17, Mr. Akeem Adeoye, confirmed the incident, saying the AIG office had commenced investigation into the case.
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has received Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) nomination and expression of interest form for the 2023 general elections.
The Presidential hopeful has presented the form on Thursday, March 17, 2022, Naija News reports.
Expressing gratitude to the North East Business Forum, the group responsible for the purchase of the interest form, Atiku said the gesture was a promise fulfilled and he is appreciative of the forum’s effort.
Naija News reports that the forum paid for the form barely a day after the opposition party announced the price tag for political positions to be contested in the forthcoming elections.
In his remark after receiving the form today, Atiku said, “In 2018 or (20)19 some young men contributed money and bought a nomination form, the first in political history since the return of democracy to our country and truly they made me shed tears. They put together their hard-earned money and purchased me a nomination form, that actually brought tears from my eyes. I was emotional about it.
“Now again today like the chairman of the Northeast Business Forum said, we were invited and another gesture was extended to me. It was a promise. And today, it is a promise fulfilled.”
The Adamawa State-born politician admitted that the challenges before Nigeria is enormous and in fact, the country has never experienced such before now.
“Our unity is threatened, our economy is in the worst state of affairs since the inception of this country. Our security is a disaster. These are very serious challenges. These are challenges that require the unity of everybody in this country,” he said.
Atiku believed the challenges cannot be solved by an individual or a group of individuals but requires all hands to be on deck.
“So my brothers and sisters, my fellow countrymen, what is before us is not an easy job. Nation-building ordinarily is not an easy job,” Atiku.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confirmed the arrest of immediate past Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano.
The Public Relations Officer of the EFCC, Wilson Uwajaren confirmed the arrest.
It will be recalled as previously reported by Naija News that Obiano who just handed over less than twenty-four hours ago to Governor Chukwuma Soludo was picked up on Thursday at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on Thursday night around 8.30pm by EFCC operatives.
He was arrested while on his way to the United States.
Confirming the development during a chat with BBC Pidgin, the EFCC spokesperson said Obiano was arrested because he was on the watchlist of the anti-graft agency.
He added that they couldn’t arrest him earlier because of his immunity as a sitting Governor.
He said, “Obiano has been on our watchlist for sometime now. He had immunity as a governor and that is why we could not arrest him before now.
“Today he lost the immunity and was traveling out of the country before we finally arrested him”.
Bianca Ojukwu, the widow of the late Biafra warlord, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu has expressed her optimism that Anambra State will be better.
TRIXX NG recalls Bianca trended on social media when she was involved in a fight with the immediate past First Lady of Anambra State, Ebelechukwu Obiano.
Both women had to be separated by security agents and some personalities as they exchanged slaps at the inauguration of Soludo. Mrs Obiano was later taken away and shortly afterwards, her husband, Willie Obiano left the venue.
Bianca while reacting to Thursday’s swearing-in of Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo as the new Governor of the state tagged March 17, 2022, ‘Liberation Day’, while stating that she is expecting ‘redemption’.
“It’s liberation day, and today we sing the Redemption Song. Anambra will be better!” she wrote on her known Facebook page on Thursday.
The management of the University of Ibadan on Thursday ordered students to vacate its halls of residence following the extension of the ongoing strike by members of the Academic Staff Union if Universities.
The Registrar of the UI, Mrs Olubunmi Faluyi, announced the order to vacate the hostels in a bulleting issued on Thursday.
The university however exempted post graduate students who have paid their fees and undergraduates students on industrial attachment and practical training from vacating the campus.
The registrar said, “Management, at its meeting on Wednesday, 16 March, 2022, deliberated on the ongoing industrial action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which had now been extended by eight (8) weeks.
“As a result, academic activities in the University have become paralysed.
“Consequently, the vice-chancellor, on behalf of Senate has directed that the university be closed until further notice.
“Therefore, all students are hereby mandated to vacate the halls of residence with immediate effect.
“Postgraduate students who have paid their school fees and undergraduate students who are on industrial attachment or practical training are exempted from this vacation notice. Such students are to visit the Office of the Dean of Students for accommodation arrangement.
“A new date of resumption will be communicated in due course.”
Abubakar Malami, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, on Thursday said that he will not resign from office.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that Malami rather said he will see out his tenure, in May 2023.
Malami made this vow during his keynote address at a conference organised by the National Association of Judiciary Correspondents.
“Many who relied on some unprofessional information disseminators will be taken aback that the Malami that was claimed to have resigned as Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice was still seen in office discharging his functions including attending the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting yesterday, granting interviews to journalists and still today declaring this conference open as the Attorney General of the Federation.
“There is naturally an end to everything. My tenure in office has not yet ended. I pray for a glorious end,” he said.
Rumours are rife that Malami will contest for the governorship seat of Kebbi State in 2023, but the 54-year-old has not declared his intention in that respect.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus in the House of Representatives on Wednesday endorsed the National Leader of the party, Bola Tinubu, for the 2023 presidential election.
The caucus endorsed the former Lagos State governor during a visit to the National Assembly on Wednesday.
House Leader, Hon. Alhassan Doguwa, who led the lawmakers in the endorsement, spoke of Tinubu’s track record as Senator and governor.
He said the APC leader has all it takes to aspire to the presidency and has physical and mental capacity to run the affairs of this country.
Hon. Doguwa then put the question to his colleagues asking whether it was their wish to endorse Tinubu for the 2023 race to which they all answered in the affirmative.
Earlier addressing them, Tinubu described the National Assembly as a vital arm of government.
He noted that the legislators had made important contributions to the unity and stability of the country and sustenance of her democracy as the most direct representatives of the individual constituencies at the Federal level.
The APC leader said he was in the National Assembly to seek the lawmakers’ counsel, collaboration and support for his ambition.
House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila expressed surprise that many of those claiming to be in the race were sitting at home and not interfacing with Nigerians.
“I don’t think it’s good that Nigerians are still waiting six weeks to the primaries to know those in the race. It’s not fair on Nigerians,” he said.
He described Tinubu as one man who had indicated he would not take Nigerians for granted and would consult widely and talk to anyone who cared to listen.
