Some yet-to-be identified gunmen have attacked a permanent voter’s card collection center in Ihitte Uboma Local Government Area of Imo State.
The attackers who wielded sophisticated assault rifles commanded the people at the centre to lie down while shooting in the air.
A viral online video showed some men and women lying on the floor while their children who were gripped with fear could be seen crying.
One of the assailants was heard saying, “These are the stupid people we are fighting for their freedom, as you can see, they are here making votes and preparing for election.
“Today is the 14th of April, we are sending a warning to you people, we don’t want any election, no more elections, no more voter cards.”
Festus Okoye, the spokesman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), confirmed the attack in a statement on Thursday.
2023 presidential aspirant, Atiku Abubakar, has promised to hand over power to a youth if he fulfills his aspiration of becoming Nigeria’s leader.
Atiku, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said this at a recent meeting with leaders of over 200 support groups and the leadership of TeeCom across Nigeria in Abuja.
“I will mentor you and hand over power to you,” the former Vice-President said.
“I would like to work more with young people because young people are more agile, creative, and conversant with contemporary opportunities and challenges.
“Our administration is going to be a transition of power from the senior generation to a younger generation.”
Abubakar, an indigene of Adamawa State, got the ticket of the opposition party in 2019 but was defeated by incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari.
To clinch the PDP ticket in 2019, he defeated other aspirants such as a former senate president, Bukola Saraki, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto, former Kano governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, amongst others.
The 75-year-old is expected to compete for the 2023 ticket with Tambuwal, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi and other PDP presidential aspirants.
2023: Tinubu Rallies APC Speakers, Ex-Legislators Ahead of Primary Election
– Says Nigeria Is In Need Of Drastic Solutions To Challenges
+ Mentions Qualities Needed By Nigeria’s Next President
The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has declared that Nigeria needs a courageous leader to urgently meet the desire of citizens for drastic solutions to the challenges facing the country.
Tinubu also described himself as the most qualified for the position of President in 2023 adding that his aspiration is for a nation that would not be an index of poverty.
The presidential aspirant said this at a one-day parley held for serving Speakers and former Speakers and deputies held in Lagos with the theme: The Legislature, Changing Times and Nigeria’s Democratic Journey.
“We have the brilliance, the resources, the focus. We don’t just know how to run the race and take care of the gear of progress,” Tinubu said at the event hosted by the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa.
Tinubu further described himself as brilliant, courageous and sound enough to know the solutions to Nigeria’s problems adding: “Just as I need Nigeria, Nigeria needs me.”
Noting his can-do attitude, he recalled how he changed the fortunes of Lagos when he became governor of the State at a time of its challenge.
“In the face of tyranny, I have survived, struggled for democracy, I have endured the bush path, lived without a family, spent resources.
“To make Nigeria one is a task and who could do it? I am one. I am the first governor to grant autonomy to the House of Assembly. I survived non-allocation of local government funds. We didn’t suffer, we didn’t retrench. We made progress out of adversity.
“I inherited N600m as Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) with zero allocation from Federal Accounte Allocation Committee (FAAC). But we survived and today, Lagos is number one economy.
“That is why I am begging you to do me a favour so that I can do Nigeria a favour.
“It is a very challenging time for us in the country and we have to get it right. We need to intellectually interogate ourselves.
“I am the first governor to bring Independent Power Project (IPP) to Nigeria. It was 300 megawatts. If they had followed my advice then, Nigeria will not be facing epileptic power supplies,” he said recalling how he brought major investors to Nigeria and promising that he is ready to do it again.
Tinubu also said he believed in religious tolerance and women’s participation in politics.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was a guest of honour at the parley, described Tinubu as his mentor and benefactor.
He also urged the legislators to key into the desire to make Nigeria a better country with Tinubu as President.
Speaking with his colleagues, Dr. Obasa described Tinubu as a true democrat.
“I am standing here before you because Asiwaju is a talent hunter. He is someone that would support you, raise you to a point of leadership and give you room to excel.
“I can confirm that he is the brain behind the legislative autonomy that we enjoy today at the Lagos State House of Assembly and he did this far before the clamour for it by other states.
“So we can see that he is a person that will support the legislative arm of government to remain strong. Dear colleagues, let us all stand with him and support him,” he said.
Vice President and 2023 presidential aspirant Yemi Osinbanjo hosted All Progressives Congress (APC) Senators of the 9th Assembly to Iftar Dinner at his residence.
Two out of the three from Lagos State, Senator Solomon Adeola Olamilekan and Tokunbo Abiru honored the VP’s invitation while Lagos Central Senator and wife of APC national leader, Oluremi Tinubu was conspicuously absent.
The dinner which took place on Tuesday, April 12, was hosted with the intention of wooing the senators to support his presidential ambition.
Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, led the senators to the meeting.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Lawan said: “We had Iftar dinner with His Excellency, the Vice President and thereafter we had brief interaction on our Government and of course on the Vice President’s declaration to run for the presidency of our great country, the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Maturally, the Vice President told us that he has expressed his interest and that he wanted to consult with the Senate APC caucus.
“He wanted us to hear from his mouth and we did and he was seeking our support in whatever way we can at the appropriate time and we wish the Vice President goodluck in this endeavour.
“But let me assure everyone that the Senate APC caucus and indeed the National Assembly caucus of the APC will continue to work very hard for our great party, the APC, to continue to provide services to Nigerians and also work hard to ensure that by 2023, the next administration is an APC administration at the center and majority of the States in our country, by the Grace of God will be APC.”
The Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo has asked Nigerians to ignore one Olugbenga Olaoye, Co-Convener, ‘Osinbajo Think Thank’ over his comments during an interview.
Olugbenga while reacting to the presidential ambition of the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Bola Tinubu in an interview with Arise TV said Nigerians do not want another sick president who would be embarking on foreign medical trips.
He said Nigeria needs a capable person like the Vice President who formally declared on Monday to run for the top political office in the 2023 elections.
Osinbajo while reacting to the comment through his spokesman, Laolu Akande, said Olugbenga does not represent the office of the VP and should be ignored.
In a tweet on his official Twitter page, Akande claimed that he is not aware of the Osinbajo Think Tank group
The tweet reads, “Indeed this gentleman does not represent the VP nor the Office. His views are completely & totally his own. This particular opinion he has expressed on TV is deplorable and in bad taste. I am not even aware of the so-called Osinbajo Think Tank he purports to represent. Pls IGNORE”
Chelsea manager, Thomas Tuchel, has blamed the referee for his team’s Champions League exit.
After suffering defeat to Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu, Tuchel during an interview faulted Szymon Marciniak for not reviewing VAR himself when Marcos Alonso’s goal was overruled.
Tuchel’s side went to Spain on Tuesday after going down 3-1 at Stamford Bridge in the first leg of the clash.
But the Blues made an impressive start leading the Madrid 3-0 by the 75th minute. The match was forced to the extra time where Madrid squeezed in 2 goals to qualify on 5-4 aggregate.
“I think this is the very, very worst time to do this,” Tuchel said.
“After 126 minutes with one team giving their heart and desire, fighting to the very last drop.
“I know Carlo is a gentleman and a nice guy but when I wanted to go and say thank you (to the referee, Zymon Marciniak) I see him smiling and laughing loudly with the opponent coach (Ancelotti). I think it’s very, very bad timing.”
The Blues manager also expressed disappointment that the referee failed to review a goal scored by his team in the 62nd minute which was cancelled by VAR.
Tuchel lamented, “If you play against Real Madrid you can maybe not expect everybody to have the courage. I felt little decisions went against us also in the first leg and today as well.
“I did not see the goal but I told him I’m super disappointed he didn’t go to check it himself. You should stay the boss and not give decisions like this to somebody in a chair and isolated from the atmosphere.
“A referee has a certain style, things he allows and doesn’t allow, so I think he should stay in charge and check it on his own, then he could explain it better.
“But this is just my opinion. Maybe it’s too much to ask for in matches like this against this opponent.”
Award-winning Nigerian singer Oluwatosin Ajibade, better known by his stage name Mr Eazi, has received a gift from one of his friends after his proposal to his long-term girlfriend Temi Otedola.
Recall that the singer/businessman got on one knee and proposed to the billionaire’s daughter over the weekend.
Congratulating him on his new engaged status, Eazi’s doctor sent him £1,000
The singer took to his Instagram account to share a screen shot of the credit alert.
Mr Eazi and Temi dated for six years before deciding to get engaged. The duo met through Temi’s sister DJ Cuppy.
The couple have a podcast together where they share insights on their relationship.
In one of their podcast episode the couple revealed Mr Eazi pays for their dates while Temi is responsible for planning them.
Temi stated that she has no problem paying for dates because she doesn’t believe in the social construct around the gender roles that put it upon the man to pay for dates, but Mr Eazi does not care.
2023: Community Leaders, APC Chieftains Endorse Speaker Obasa
The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. (Dr) Mudashiru Obasa, on Sunday evening got the endorsements of respected leaders of the State from Agege and Orile-Agege for a return to the House.
The leaders all agreed that the Speaker has an unbeatable chance of winning if he vied for a seat in the Senate ahead of the 2023 election, but said their appeal for his return to the House of Assembly was in the interest of the entire Agege people and Lagos state, which he has made better through effective legislations and related activities.
At an Iftar programme that inadvertently provided an opportunity for the leaders to speak about Obasa’s achievements so far, the leaders said the Speaker had become a pride, not only to Agege, but to Lagos State.
At least 80 leaders, political appointees and chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC), including Dr. Babatunde Adejare of the House of Representatives; Wale Ahmed, Lagos Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; Afolabi Ayantayo, Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Parastatals Monitoring Office; and Oba Ambaliu Hakeem Agbedeyi, the Alaige of Orile Agege supported that the Speaker return to the House.
Some of the others who gave their support included Chief Safari Adaranijo, APC Apex Leader in Agege; Gani Owolabi Dada, leader; Elder Rotimi Adesina; Olaniyi Salau Ojo APC chairman in Orile-Agege, Alhaji Tunde Azeez; APC chairman in Agege; former and current local government council chairmen; vice chairmen; councillors; supervisory councillors and Special Advisers of the two council chairmen.
While urging that the Speaker be asked to return to the House, Adejare said Agege is now noted for good road networks with the help of Obasa.
“Days ago, during the 80th birthday of Ebenezer Obey, a visiting Senator was marvelled that Agege now has very good roads. I told him not to forget that we have the Speaker of Lagos here,” he said while praying for more wisdom for Obasa in his leadership position.
Wale Ahmed who said he expects Obasa to be unopposed, added: “My prayer is that after the elections next year, we would all gather here to celebrate again.”
Oba Agbedeyi, while thanking Obasa for positively making Agege a place to reckon with, urged the Speaker to return so as to bring more developments to the area.
Mr. Johnson Sunday Babatunde, chairman of Orile-Agege LCDA, who led the conversation, warned that Agege must not lose all that it had gained through Speaker Obasa. Rather, he said, the area should experience more dividends of democracy.
“A lot of people from Agege have been employed because of Obasa. A lot of infrastructure have come to us because of Obasa. There should be no vacancy in Agege Constituency 1,” he said.
He noted that one way Agege can appreciate Obasa’s love for the area is to ask him to return and work for him to occupy the position again.
Supporting the collective decision by the leaders, Ganiyu Egunjobi, chairman of Agege local government council, said the Speaker had brought glory to Agege and that he should be encouraged to return to the House unopposed.
Earlier, the Islamic clergy at the Iftar, Chief Imam Quadri Abdul Ganiu Ayorinde, harped on love and the importance of Ramadan.
He prayed for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, National Leader of the APC, and Obasa and described those who invite Muslim faithful to break fast with them as blessed.
A 25-year-old housewife, Sadiyya Idris and her 4-year-old daughter have been brutally murdered by unknown gunmen in Labarana rice mills area in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State capital.
The father of the deceased, Malam Idrisa said he was informed of his daughter’s passing around 5am on Monday morning.
Idrisa told the deputy governor of Kebbi state, Colonel Samaila Yombe (rtd) and Wazirin Gwandu Abdullahi Umar, who paid condolence visit, that the assailants broke into his daughter’s matrimonial home and carried out the dire act.
He said, “When I and my relatives came we saw our daughter and our granddaughter in a pool of blood, lifeless, nothing was missing and no traces of the murderers, we want justice for our gruesomely murdered daughter he told government officials who visited on behalf of Kebbi governor”.
Sister to the deceased told Vanguard that the deceased husband who is a tailor left their home around 1am for his shop and his wife was killed around 4 am with a machete.
She said that Sadiyya also had a 3-month-old daughter who was breastfeeding.
The husband, Hakilu Muhammad is currently undergoing treatment at the Sir Yahya memorial hospital as he collapsed from shock after hearing the news of his wife and daughter murder.
However the State Police Spokesman, SP Nafiu Abubakar, could not be reached when contacted by the publication.
