President Muhammadu Buhari and his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan, on Saturday graced the birthday celebrations of former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim.
Anyim’s 61st birthday celebration was held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.
Buhari, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, was accompanied by aides and other government officials.
Also at the event are former Vice President, Namadi Sambo, former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara and ex-Sokoto state state governor, Attahiru Bafarawa, among others.
Speaking at the event, Jonathan described Anyim as a humble man who did well to serve Nigeria creditably when he was Senate President and SGF.
The former president also stated that Anyim can do better “if given the opportunity” having done well in previous positions.
This newspaper reports that Anyim has declared his intention to contest for the presidency in 2023 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Aphrodisiac seller Hauwa Saidu popularly known as Jaruma has once again challenged Regina Daniels after she was remanded in prison for some days.
Recall that Naija News earlier reported that Regina’s billionaire husband Ned Nwoko had filed a petition against Jaruma, accusing her of peddling fake news against him and his wife on her Instagram page.
The s3x therapist was arraigned before an Abuja high court on charges bordering on defamation of character, false news publication and intimidation.
Police Prosecutor, E. A Inegbenoise, informed the court that Nwoko had written a petition through his lawyer to the FCT command for proper investigation into the matter.
The judge, Justice Ismailia Abdullahi ordered that the defendant be remanded in Suleja Correctional Centre pending the bail hearing on Friday January 28. He then proceeded to adjourn the case to February 23, 2021 for trial. She was later granted bail and released.
However, it does not seem that Jaruma was intimidated by Nwoko’s law suit and has once again called out Regina Daniels on Instagram for not honoring their N10m contract.
The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola has opened up and revealed more details about the ongoing fight between him and the incumbent Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola.
According to the Minister, Oyetola is on a vengeance mission because he (Aregesola) didn’t support his gubernatorial political ambition in 2018.
Aregbesola revealed further that when he noticed Gov.Oyetola was hell-bent on destroying his legacies in Osun State as a former Governor, he sent people to him and continued begging for two years but all his pleas fell on deaf ears.
The Minister made the revelation while speaking on Friday during a political meeting with supporters and stakeholders at Isale Abata in Ikire, Osun State.
“I begged Oyetola for two years. I sent people to help me beg him that he should not destroy my legacies and policies. He refused the pleas.
“Our hope is in God and the good people of Osun State. Nobody can overcome God. It is not a sin to contest for a position in a democratic government. The constitution of the party stipulates that after four years, we can change our candidate. But if he abides by the tenets of the party, we will support him for another term,” Aregbesola stated.
Speaking further, the Minister said there’s no going back in his total support for the former Secretary to the State Government, Moshood Adeoti to emerge as the APC flagbearer in the party primary election scheduled for Saturday, 19th February (today) to choose a candidate for the July 16 governorship polls.
“The leaders of the party have agreed that we should go back to where we missed the road in 2018. We have realized our mistake that the person we ought to put in front, we neglected him. We followed an ingrate and a wicked soul,” he told the people of Ayedaade/Isokan/Irewole Federal Constituency who were at the meeting.
2023: Why Nigeria Must Avoid Fire Brigade Approach To Election – Obasa
The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, on Friday urged Nigeria to avoid what he described as “fire brigade approach” to the 2023 elections.
Dr. Obasa said this at the State’s 17th Legislative-Executive Parley stressing that adequate preparations were needed to make the elections successful.
According to him, there should be adequate voter education to avoid voter apathy, violence and cases of void votes during the exercise.
A statement by the Speaker’s Chief Press Secretary, Eromosele Ebhomele, quoted him as saying that the fact that Nigeria is preparing for the 2023 elections means that democracy has become entrenched in the country.
“The fact that Nigeria is planning another election after twenty three years of democratic transition is a sign that democratic principles have been widely accepted in spite of the myriad of problems confronting the process.
“As the nation shows growing commitment to its stability, the time is ripe for civil society to prepare itself and the citizenry to demand power sharing in a truly participatory democracy,
“As is evident enough, the negligence of the importance of voter education has been responsible for violence, a bulk of void votes, and apathy during past elections. It is unfortunate that Nigeria operates fire brigade approach in some of our undertakings, especially as regards to voter education.
“As it were, political education is a prerequisite for enhanced political skills, knowledge and participation in democracy.
“Electoral violence and other factors such as cultural practices, family background, institutional and low level of political knowledge, no doubt, militate against political participation.
“The citizens for want of security, consequent upon electoral violence, develop aparthy toward political participation. Therefore, to maximize the benefits of political education programmes and ensure sustainable democracy in Nigeria, the government and other political education agencies should develop a pragmatic political education framework,” Obasa said.
He, however, advised that the responsibility of educating potential voters should not be left to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) alone.
“Political parties, civil societies, religious and traditional institutions, as well as the National Orientation Agency (NOA) should also collaborate with the electoral body in this regard.
“The government should be willing to fund such organisations in the voter education campaign, from the grassroots level upwards. When this is prioritised, the process of complaints where one’s name is omitted, the dangers of violence and rigging, how to protect votes and how to make votes count generally will be avoided,” he said.
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) on Friday banned Nigeria’s 2008 Olympic long jump silver medalist, Blessing Okagbare for 10 years over doping.
“The Disciplinary Tribunal has banned Nigerian sprinter Blessing Okagbare for a total of 10 years,” read an AIU statement.
The 33-year-old sprinter won silver in the long jump at Beijing 2008.
The Nigerian competed in the 100m heats in Tokyo on July 31 2021 but was suspended prior to the semi-final.
The AIU had said that Okagbere tested positive for presence and use of a prohibited substance due to human growth hormone at an out-of-competition test in Slovakia on July 19.
“The AIU requested EPO analysis be conducted on the sample on July 29 and the adverse analytical finding was reported to it on Aug. 12,” the AIU said on August 20.
The presidential candidate of the Young Progressives Party in the 2019 general elections, Kingsley Moghalu, has officially announced to run for 2023 president.
Moghalu, a former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in a post on Friday on his Twitter account noted that he is not waiting for any fake call before he declares his intention to contest in the 2023 presidential election.
Moghalu further stated that he is running on a vision and not on ethnic identity politics, adding that he is capable like any other candidate contesting in the race.
He wrote “I’m running for President of Nigeria. I’m not waiting for anyone to (fake) “call on me”, or until the presidency is zoned to anywhere.
“I’m running on a vision, not on ethnic identity politics. I’m as good as anyone in Nigeria, north or south, to be President.”
The likes of the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, the chief whip of the Senate, Orji Uzor Kalu and several others have expressed their intention to contest in the 2023 presidential election.
Nigerians have condemned the Federal Government over the increase in the electricity tariff by Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) in the country.
It was gathered that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) had adjusted the electricity tariffs been paid to DisCos, which invariably means that the tariffs have been hiked.
It was gathered that some of the distribution companies saw an increase in their tariffs, while others got theirs reduced. Checks by this platform show that the silent increase wasn’t announced or published on the NERC website.
An electricity consumer in Abuja confirmed an increase in the tariffs without public notice, saying that he recharged N5,000 today but was given 91.7 units instead of the usual 107.
Following the development, electricity consumers on Thursday frowned at the silent hike in the electricity tariff in the country, saying that the increase is untimely and anti-people.
The consumers berated the Muhammadu Buhari government for allowing Discos to raise electricity tariffs amid fuel scarcity and economic challenges facing the country.
In a chat with The Punch, the President of Nigeria Consumer Protection Network, Kola Olubiyo, said his group took up the matter with the regulator last week.
He stated that while some customers said their tariffs were increased by N4, others could not actually tell the amount by which theirs were raised, adding that there had been no public confirmation by the NERC.
He said, “They (NERC) raised it last week or thereabout, and is like it is a N4 adjustment. Port Harcourt and Abuja (Discos) raised it and in fact, I think it is across board.
“But what we are asking the regulator is that if they approved something that is going to affect our pocket without letting us know, it is like shaving our heads in our absence.
“They said labour was part of them and I said is that what labour went to negotiate for us? I was told that they have a structured table that has already been approved and it is just for them to implement.
“But if they have approved the table as they said, are they giving us the required services? You and I know that services have not improved. We are having low generation and all manner of blame games.”
He asserted that the regulator should provide a table on the increase as it used to publish in the past, stressing that consumers had the right to know.
He said, “They should let us have the table that shows the bit-by-bit increment. We should have it. They are not communicating with the public.
“If they are taking a decision that will affect our disposable income, are we not supposed to be in the know? If you raise it they will argue that are we not aware that things are increasing everyday. Is that the way we are going to work?”
Also, an official at the Federal Ministry of Power said the increase had to be implemented because the Federal Government had withdrawn some of its financial support to power firms.
The official disclosed that there was an official communication sent to the DisCos to notify them of the adjustment in tariff.
He said: “The Federal Government has to withdraw every support or most of its support to power firms, such as subsidy on electricity,” the source, who pleaded not to be named for lack of authorisation, stated.
“So in a way, there is an adjustment in tariff because they (power firms) are shouldering higher cost responsibility now. However, some of them actually have reductions in their tariffs and nobody is talking is about it.
“They (Discos) have been communicated more than a month ago, since January or so,” he said.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has filed an application in court for the extension of the detention of embattled Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Abba Kyari and four other suspects involved in the 25-kilogramme cocaine deal.
It was learnt that the agency’s officers are currently investigating assets Kyari claimed to own in a video that has gone viral. The source said Kyari was the equivalent of El Chapo — in reference to a Mexican drug lord currently on trial in the USA.
This is just as sources said the NDLEA is also carrying out forensic analysis of the exhibits recovered from the suspects and other accomplices with a view to arresting all the suspects involved in the deal.
Recall Kyari was arrested by the police on Monday for alleged drug trafficking and handed over to the NDLEA along with four others – Sunday Ubuah, ASP Bawa James, Inspector Simon Agrigba and John Nuhu. Another officer, ASP John Umoru, is said to be at large.
The DCP, who was suspended by the police last July for his alleged links to international fraudster, Ramon Abbas, popularly called Hushpuppi, was caught on video during a sting operation by the NDLEA attempting to sell part of the cocaine which was seized from some drug dealers in Enugu State, while his suspension was subsisting.
Meanwhile, the NDLEA on Wednesday said that it had no reason to shield anyone who may be indicted in the course of the ongoing investigation of a 25kg cocaine deal involving a gang headed by Kyari.
The agency in a statement by its Spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said it remained committed to evidence based investigation and its resolve cannot be weakened by any misrepresentation of facts.
The Nigerian government had said last week that it was looking at the possibility of extraditing him to the US after investigations had been concluded.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba has ordered the posting of CP Idrisu Dauda Dabban to Katsina State Command as the new Commissioner of Police (CP) in charge of the State.
This development was made known in a statement on Thursday by the acting Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.
According to Naija News, the posting follows the elevation of the erstwhile Commissioner of Police in charge of the command, AIG Buba Sanusi, to the next rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police.
The IGP, while reiterating the commitment of the Police leadership in containing prevailing and emerging crime trends in the State, charges the new Commissioner of Police to consolidate on the achievements of his predecessor in ensuring increased public safety and security of lives and property in Katsina State.
He further calls on the Government and good people of Katsina State to give the new Police Chief maximum support in his new role.
The posting is with immediate effect.
Profile of CP Idrisu Dauda Dabban
The new Commissioner of Police, CP Idrisu Dauda Dabban, was appointed into the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police in 1990.
He holds a Master’s Degree in Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and has attended several leadership and strategic courses within and outside Nigeria.
He has equally served in various operational, investigative and administrative capacities within the Force, some of which include DCP Operations in Delta and Enugu State Commands, DC SCID and subsequently Commissioner of Police in Kogi State Command.
Until his recent posting, he was the CP Communications, Department of Information and Communication Technology, Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The Nigerian Government has been told to disengage Ex-Osun state Governor, Rauf Aregbesola as Minister of Interior for reportedly fuelling a party crisis in the State.
Ahead of the Osun State governorship primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) scheduled for Saturday, a Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Osun State called on the federal government to sack Aregbesola, for allegedly promoting crisis in the state.
The spokesperson of the coalition, Mr. Wasiu Alli made the call while addressing a press conference on Thursday in Abuja.
The coalition accused Aregbesola of promoting rascality and encouraging his supporters to undermine the state governor, Gboyega Oyetola. The fiery politician trended earlier this week after mocking and insulting his now former ally and leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The coalition pointed out that if the federal government fails to call Aregbesola to order and charge him to focus on his official responsibilities instead of going about causing civil unrest, he will end up inflaming the otherwise peaceful Osun State.
It added: “It is to be stated that the number of jailbreaks in the referenced period is unprecedented in the over 60 years of existence of the country. This speaks about the administrative incompetence of Mr. Aregbesola whose superintendence over the Interior Ministry has seen it degenerate into one that cannot secure its own Correctional Centres.”
“Where Mr. Aregbesola should be seen finding solutions to these now-common jailbreaks; he has been busy promoting unrest in Osun State.”
“Where he cannot be cautioned, we demand his outright sack or redeployment if he cannot act responsibly in line with the dictates of the Office he presently holds. A Public Officer must never be seen acting contrary to the spirit and provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.”
The coalition said where the federal government is unable to act swiftly to caution Aregbesola, the Senate must show capacity by sanctioning his sack and impress it on the President to effect same.
