Category: Politics

A former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olabode George, on Friday, warned President Bola Tinubu to think twice before declaring war on the Niger Republic.

George gave the warning in a letter he personally wrote to the President, stating that it is better for him to continue the diplomatic channel instead of embarking on a “needless war.”

The PDP chieftain also warned that adopting the military approach could result in the collapse of the Economic Community of West African States.

He stated that Nigeria is already facing serious challenges and adding the Niger crisis to it might not augur well for Tinubu’s government.

The Ogun State House of Assembly has passed a resolution requesting for a review of the security architecture of the state with a view to giving necessary recognition and create a synergy between the unconventional and conventional security outfits to curb the menace of kidnapping in the state.

Opening debate on the motion at Thursday’s, April 3, 2023, plenary, presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Olakunle Oluomo, the sponsor and a member representing Odeda State Constituency, Hon. Oludaisi Elemide, cited instances of recent kidnappings in his constituency and sought a strategic empowerment of local security, including the hunters, to complement the operations of the Nigeria Police Forces, in securing lives and property of the people, especially in the rural areas.

Corroborating the sponsor’s submission, other Honourable members, comprisng Lawal Samsideen, Adegoke Adeyanju, Odunuga Kaka and Waliu Owode, stated that the present security peculiarity in the state required the reinforcement of more support from local hunters, So-Safe and Amotekun Corps, to aid effective community policing.

They sought the immediate convocation of stakeholders’ meeting of all security agencies and the local security operators to provide a common front for a more effective security network.

Not fewer than four persons including a businessman, Chief Bode Olayinka, were injured and goods worth millions of naira were destroyed at Efon Alaaye, Efon Local Government area of Ekiti State when a group of hoodlums unleashed violence on some All Progressives Congress chieftains in the area.

Sources alleged that the attack was connected with the forthcoming local government elections billed to hold in December across the local government areas and local council development areas in the state.

One of the victims, Mr Olaitan Olayinka, alleged that the assailants who numbered about 20 led by one Oluwafemi, popularly known as Owolesu, came to attack them with cutlasses, guns and other dangerous weapons in the front of his family house while relaxing Monday evening.

Olayinka, who had plastered his forehead, narrated his ordeals in the hands of the hoodlums on Thursday in Ado Ekiti, alleging that a political leader in the local government area was behind the incident in a bid to silence other aspirants in the forthcoming election.

He said, “I am a retired civil servant. I am also interested in contesting as Chairman of Efon Local Government area. But the political leader, with the use of a group of political thugs, attacked us.

A ministerial nominee from Kwara State, Lateef Fagbemi, says the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Services (DSS) cannot continue to disobey court orders.

The Senior Advocate made a subtle jibes at DSS for illegally detaining suspended Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa without charges and re-arrest of ex-CBN Governor after the Court has granted him bail.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who spoke on Wednesday when he was screened by the Senate in Abuja, pledged to work with the National Assembly and the judiciary “on certain parameters” if appointed the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice by President Bola Tinubu.

Fielding questions from the lawmakers on disobedience to court orders by federal agencies, Fagbemi, who was accompanied to the screening exercise by over 10 senior advocates, said the DSS and the EFCC should conduct investigation before arrest and not arrest before investigation.

He said, “The major areas where we have these disobedience of court orders, with main respect, are between these agencies. My advice will be that in matters of law, the AGF should be involved.
“DSS cannot be an island onto itself. EFCC cannot continue to behave as if there is no law. There is law and if you want to do investigation, you do investigation before inviting the accused person. It is not a question of inviting him and say you have caught a big fish and at the end of the day you say you are investigating.”

On his reaction if a President flouts court orders, the senior lawyer said, “I think with respect, you will not find the President flouting any order because the Attorney General will be made a party to.”

“The mere fact an order is made does not mean that you should obey it immediately. You’ll think about it, do I appeal? If I am not appealing what do I do next? If I am not appealing, of course, I cannot subject the order of court to any order of validity. “By Section 287, it has to be obeyed, not only by the government but by every authority and persons in Nigeria,” he said.

The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has congratulated the immediate-past Osun State governor, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola , on his nomination as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The state chairman of the APC, Sooko Tajudeen Lawal, in a statement issued by the party’s Director of Media and Information, Chief Kola Olabisi, in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, today described the nomination of former Governor Oyetola as a deserving reward for his excellent performance in both public and private offices.

Lawal stated that based on his antecedents, there is no doubting the fact that Oyetola would add a significant value to President Tinubu’s administration.

The state APC chairman congratulated all the APC members and leaders in Osun State on the nomination of ex-Governor Oyetola, adding that he would bring to bear his vast experience garnered over the years.

He enjoined the APC members and leaders in the state to engage in ceaseless prayers for the divine guidance of the Osun State minister-nominee in office.

Lawal disclosed that the nomination of former Governor Oyetola as the minister of the federal republic of Nigeria is a pointer to the fact that a golden fish has no hiding place.

The party chairman was grateful to President Tinubu for finding ex-Governor Oyetola worthy for an appointment as a minister-nominee.

He assured the President that he was convinced beyond reasonable doubt that the nominee would turn around any ministry he is assigned to as his enviable performance is indelible as the Osun State governor.

In his words: “I am, on behalf of my family and the state executive officers of our party under my watch, congratulating our amiable former governor for making the list of the ministerial nominees.

“My prayer is for God Almighty to continue to grant you a sound health, wisd

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will, on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, grace the 63rd independence anniversary celebration of the Republic of Benin.

The confirmation came via a statement released by Presidential Spokesman Dele Alake on Monday.

As the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the statement has it that President Tinubu has been appointed as the Special Guest of President Patrice Talon in the event.

The visit will mark the second time the two leaders meet, following their initial interaction during the summit on the New Global Financing Pact in Paris, France. Subsequently, they met at the 63rd Ordinary session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS held in Guinea-Bissau and, more recently, at the State House, Abuja, where the Benin Republic President honoured the invitation to President Tinubu.

To accompany him in the one-day visit will be six governors: Ogun’s Dapo Abiodun, Lagos’ Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Oyo’s Seyi Makinde, Kwara’s AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq, Kebbi’s Nasir Idris, and Niger’s Mohammed Umar Bago including the president’s aides.

“I understand the hardship you face. I wish there were other ways. But there is not. If there were, I would have taken that route as I came here to help not hurt the people and nation that I love.”

The Nigerian leader had pronounced an end to the payment of fuel subsidy among others.

While the move has resulted in a hike in the pump price of the commodity cost of living also high, Tinubu told Nigerians that he understands their plight.

“Our economy is going through a tough patch and you are being hurt by it. The cost of fuel has gone up. Food and other prices have followed it. Households and businesses struggle,” he said in a national broadcast Monday evening.

“Things seem anxious and uncertain. I understand the hardship you face. I wish there were other ways. But there is not. If there were, I would have taken that route as I came here to help not hurt the people and nation that I love.”

Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe says Nyesom Wike’s ministerial nomination is “compensation” for the ex-Rivers governor’s role in President Bola Tinubu’s emergence.

Wike, who led Rivers State under the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), worked for Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the presidential poll following a fallout with the leadership of his party.

About two months after Tinubu was sworn in, the Nigerian leader sent a list of ministerial nominees to the Senate with Wike, who has not officially left the PDP, headlining it.

While the move has stirred controversy with the PDP yet to decide on Wike’s fate, Senator Ogunlewe says the former governor deserves the nomination.

“It is so easy to decipher. If you are following the development that cumulated in the last election, you would know the role Wike played and you must give him compensation for that role,” he said.

According to him, Wike was not the only one that worked for the success of the APC in the presidential election.

He says people like ex-governor Dave Umahi and Nasir El-Rufai merit nominations based on their antecedents.

Senator Ogunlewe believes someone such as Umahi needs to “replicate” his infrastructural drive in Ebonyi State at the national level.

“Everybody participated actively in the success of the APC, whether you are in opposition or not,” he added.

But Ogunlewe has warned the nominees to not work against the party’s manifesto.

He believes Tinubu “will not allow you [cabinet members] to mess him up” and as such the nominees should gear up for work.

The former minister of works is also optimistic about a smooth screening process on Monday.

Nigerians are eager to see the country fix its issues and such, there’s no time for further delay, he argued.

“The National Assembly has very little to do. The situation of the country does not warrant plenty talk,” the former lawmaker added.

“We are in a hurry to have a cabinet to move on,” Senator Ogunlewe maintained.

President Bola Tinubu, former Head of State Gen. Abusalam Abubakar, and Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun paid tribute to the late Lt. Gen. Oladipo Diya (retd.), who was laid to rest on Saturday.

Representing Tinubu at the burial service, Governor Dapo Abiodun praised Diya’s courageous and patriotic life, stating that he would serve as an exemplary figure for future generations of military officers.

The funeral took place in Diya’s hometown of Odogbolu, with the ceremony held at the Cathedral Church of St Paul, Anglican Communion, Odogbolu, Ogun State. Lt. Gen. Oladipo Diya passed away on March 26, 2023, at the age of 79.

Throughout his life, he held various positions, including that of a former Military Administrator of Ogun State.

The Ondo State Executive Council on Thursday announced the creation of 33 Local Government Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state.

The State Commissioner for Information and Orientation Bamidele Ademola-Olateju disclosed this while briefing Government House reporters shortly after the State Executive Council meeting.

Details later…