“Make yourself Nigeria & we will treat you like Nigeria, make yourself Biafra & we will pamper you like one of us. The choice is here before you, good luck.” He said
“IPOB made this known while reacting to the information making around social media that its leadership has issued a sit-at-home order on the 9th,10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th of December 2022 respectively.”
” He has earlier been accused of romancing the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, which he denied.”
“According to the group, the plans of the Agendists toward the 2023 general election remain the same.”
“He further regretted giving the job to his people, even as he affirmed that other contractors given the same job have long completed it.”
“As the shooting lasted, we heard loud cries from some worshippers inside the mosque,” Larry said.
“The women are carrying placards scripted Free Nnamdi Kanu, FG Release our Son From DSS custody, Obey Orders of Courts.”
“The court had also ordered the payment of N10 million to the Applicant.”
“Justice O. Oguntoyin had in a September 27 judgment ordered the State Executive Committee of the PDP to rerun the primary within 14 days.”
“The fire started at around 1 am on Monday, and the men of the Anambra State Fire Service were cited at the scene, battling to extinguish it.”
“This development is indeed a step towards the acceleration of intra-African trade as facilitated by the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA).”
“An independent Regulatory Commission found that his conduct was both improper and violent during a subsequent hearing, and imposed these sanctions.”
“In further inquiry to ascertain the reason for the development, those that impounded the flight said…”
” He said that the appeal to set aside the order staying the execution of Kanu’s judgment will be fixed for hearing any moment from now.”
“Already, trial Justice Binta Nyako has slated date for both Kanu’s team of lawyers led by Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, and the prosecution counsel to address the court on the way forward in the matter.”
“Today’s exchange rate is higher compared to yesterday’s rate.” Reviewers said.
The President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari has embarked on another foreign medical trip to London, United Kingdom.
He departed the shores of Nigeria on Monday 31st October for the medical trip.
According to a statement made available to Naija News by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, President Buhari will be away until the second week of November 2022.
He also described the medical trip as a routine medical check-up
According to Adesina, “President Muhammadu Buhari leaves for London, United Kingdom, October 31, 2022, for routine medical check-up.
“He returns to the country in the second week of November, 2022.”
Fresh information has emerged that the Federal Government (FG) has reaffirmed that there is no need for panic or fear in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)and that residents are safe.
Naija News reports that the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno (Rtd.), disclosed this n Monday in Abuja after an emergency National Security Council meeting convened by President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to him, the panic created by the recent terror alert in Abuja raised by the recent United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK) was needless.
Monguno noted that even though the terror alert was hyped so much by the U.S and U.K that it created unfounded panic, Nigerians and other residents should go about their businesses without any sense of apprehension.
Monguno, who was with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyema, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai Abubakar told pressmen that the armed forces, security and intelligence agencies are not relenting in their duty to ensure that all Nigerians and every part of the country are safe for all.
The Director of Strategic Communications of the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Council, Dele Momodu, has warned Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and his allies against maligning the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
Speaking in an interview with Vanguard on Monday, Momodu said it was wrong for Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state to label Atiku as an agent of Miyetti Allah.
The PDP chieftain stated that the former Vice President is a Pan-African leader and not an ethnic bigot, stating that labeling Atiku is taking things too far.
He said: “Calling him an agent of Meyitti Allah is to the extreme. Anybody who has followed the trajectory of Atiku will know that he is detribalized, and has friends in every part of Nigeria. I currently work in his office, where a lot of young men and women from every part of Nigeria are doing their work. Atiku Abubakar cannot be an agent of Miyetti Allah, I think that is carrying it too far.
“Wike is carrying it too far. He is a man I like so much. Of course it is wrong to label him (Atiku) an agent of Miyetti Allah. You can say anything about Atiku Abubakar but calling him an agent of Miyetti Allah, I disagree vehemently with that. It is wrong.”
A Federal High Court sitting in the Federal Capital Territory on Monday dismissed the bid by a factional group in the Action Alliance (AA) to stop the certificate forgery suit filed against the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu.
The Federal High Court rejected the suit by the group loyal to Tinubu led by Adekunle Rufai Omo-Aje.
The group had wanted to join the suit to defend Tinubu in the certificate forgery suit filed against Tinubu by the AA party.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu in his ruling said the conditions precedent for such a joinder to be granted was not placed before the court.
The presiding Judge further stated that Omo-Aje did not establish his claim as National Chairman of the AA and also did not disclose how his interest would be jeopardized if not joined as a defendant in the suit.
Justice Egwuatu while dismissing the joinder request held that the group remains a meddlesome interloper and busybody until their interests likely to be affected are clearly established.
In the ruling, Justice Egwuatu said both Adekunle Rufai Omo-Aje and Ambassador Suleiman Abdumalik who filed the joinder application on behalf of their faction failed to satisfy the conditions on why they should be joined.
The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) says what Nigeria needs is a leader that can be trusted to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people if elected.
The group maintained that all the major presidential candidates contesting the 2023 polls are experienced managers with enough money to get them to where they are currently but Nigerians need to subject them to more scrutiny to know who will deliver his promises if elected.
The spokesman of NEF, Baba Hakeem-Ahmed dropped the charge when he featured as a guest on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.
He said: “Nigerians need to press our candidates. We desperately need to find out who among these people should be trusted.
“These (the candidates) are all hugely-experienced people in terms of managing people. These are also people with enough money to get to at least a point where they are now candidates. Their personalities should be scrutinized.”
Baba-Ahmed called on other regions to emulate what the northern region did by giving the presidential candidates the opportunity to share their plans for Nigerians with the people.
He said it will help voters in making informed decisions.
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers has slammed a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dele Momodu, over his comment on the ongoing crisis in the party.
Wike was reacting to the comment made by Momodu warning the Rivers governor and his allies “not to cross the lines” in their call for the resignation of the PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu.
Naija News reports that Momodu, in an interview with Vanguard, asked Wike and his allies not to malign the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, over their insistence not to work with him in the 2023 general elections.
Reacting to Momodu’s comment in a media chat, Wike mocked the Ovation magazine publisher, saying that he moved from becoming a presidential aspirant to a spokesperson.
The Rivers governor said Momodu contested in the PDP presidential primary for the sake of recognition, stressing that he scored zero votes during the election.
Wike said he will not allow anybody to use him to gain “relevance”, adding that he has not left the PDP since 1999 unlike some of his critics.
The Labour Party‘s (LP) presidential candidate for the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has today debunked the release of the party’s manifesto.
Naija News reports that Obi, who revealed this on the micro-blogging platform Twitter, said the document in circulation was the party’s earlier draft that found its way into the public space, and not the final approved copy.
According to him, the LP’s manifesto is yet to be formally released, and he will be the one to personally release it.
His reaction followed news-making waves on social media and online news platforms of the release of the party’s manifesto.
The LP presidential hopeful noted that until he approves the final copy to be released, the general public should disregard any copy-making rounds.
The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has declared that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state will win its Governorship, House of Reps, Senate and State Assembly election in 2023.
According to him, he is not hiding the fact that the Rivers PDP governorship candidate, all the House of Representatives, Senate and House of Assembly candidates would win in the 2023 general elections as far as the state is concerned.
Naija News reports that the governor at the inauguration of 319 wards and 32 constituency liaison officers in Port Harcourt today said “PDP will win our State. I am not hiding it as far as the governorship, House of Reps, Senate and State Assembly are concerned. The other one we have not decided until the right thing is done.”
Wike, however, revealed that the state was yet to determine what to do concerning the presidential election, adding that it is yet to decide who it will support for the presidency in 2023.
The governor also slammed the Rivers Director of Atiku Supporters, Dr Abiye Sekibo, saying he lacks the capacity to speak for the people of the state.
He said that Sekibo is a self-seeking politician, who was unable to attract demo
The camp of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has described the flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu as a tribal evangelist.
The spokesman of the Atiku/Okowa presidential campaign council, Daniel Bwala stated this while reacting to the statement of Tinubu during his meeting with leaders of Afenifere on Sunday.
Bwala in a statement released on Monday said the comment of Tinubu that he would bring the trophy home at the meeting is an ethnic insinuation and divisive remark.
Recall that Afenifere and some Southwest leaders on Sunday endorsed Tinubu’s presidential ambition.
The son of internationally renowned Nigerian singer, Davido, Ifeanyi Adeleke, has reportedly died.
Naija News gathered that the little child died after drowning in a swimming pool.
The three-year-old drown in a private swimming pool at the family’s residence in Lagos, according to a family source.
“The boy was inside water for too long and they pulled him out and rushed him to the hospital,” the family source said.
“By the time they rushed him to Lagoon Hospital it was already too late.”
This article was originally published on Naija News
President Muhammadu Buhari has scheduled an emergency security meeting with the heads of the nation’s security outfits to discuss growing security concerns in the country.
The meeting is scheduled to hold on Monday, 31st October, at the presidential villa in Abuja, Naija News reports.
This development was confirmed in a statement on Sunday by the senior special assistant to the President on media and publicity, Garba Shehu.
To accommodate the emergency meeting, the President has postponed the planned commissioning of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) new Technology and Innovation Complex earlier scheduled for tomorrow.
A new date will be announced for the commissioning.
President Muhammadu Buhari has finally broken his silence about the approval of the new naira note that has caused controversies between the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Ministry of Finance, Budget, and National Planning.
According to Buhari, the CBN had his backing on the decision to introduce new naira notes, adding that he approved the policy because he was sure it is in the national interest.
Naija News gathered that the President in a statement on Sunday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, noted that the only people the policy will affect are those hiding illicit money, not people with legitimate businesses.
Recall that the Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Amina Ahmed disclosed last Friday that she and her ministry were not consulted or had prior information about the redesigning of the N200, N500, and N1000 notes.
Scores of terrorists suspected to be Islamic State in West African Province (ISWAP) fighters have been neutralized by the Nigerian troops after a failed attempt to free their leaders in a concentration camp located in New Bussa, Niger State.
According to PRNigeria, a defence intelligence source revealed that the military had been anticipating the terrorists who met a massive ambush laid for them.
“Though the incident happened in the night, the troops had been anticipating such daring moves and have been on high alert. They just came into our trap.
“While at least seven dead bodies of the terrorists were counted this morning, the troops succeeded in arresting one of their commanders who led the fighters.
“NAF aircraft were also timely in supporting the ground troops from Wawa Military cantonment in Borgu local government area of Niger state, hence the success in decimating the terrorists,” he said.
As part of efforts to advocate for the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu, the Southeast Governors on Sunday suggested to the Federal Government that a political solution is still applicable to the situation.
Naija News learnt that the Governors noted that despite the federal government’s stay of execution, they still believe a political solution can still be used to free Kanu.
The Governors’ reaction follows the federal government’s refusal to obey the Appeal Court’s judgement that discharged the IPOB leader and dismissed the six-count charge preferred against him by the federal government.
Kanu’s freedom had been described by the federal government as a threat to national security.
Therefore it got a stay of execution from the Appeal Court, to still detain him while it appeals the ruling of the Supreme Court.
However, the Southeast Governors after their meeting in Enugu said they were monitoring the situation.
Chairman of the Southeast Governors’ Forum and Ebonyi Governor, Dave Umahi, read the meeting’s communique to pressmen after the end of their gathering.
Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde, has hinted on the presidential candidate he would support amidst the fallout with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
He made a promise on Sunday to agree with the decision of the Yoruba social-cultural organization, Afenifere.
This is amidst reports that Afenifere is backing the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari come 2023.
Makinde announced his stand in Akure, Ondo State capital when the former Governor of Lagos State visited the state to meet with the Afenifere leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti.
Represented by his Deputy, Bayo Lawal, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain said although they belong to different political parties, he is in support of the decision of the Afenifere and Yoruba race.
The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has dared the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Iyorchia Ayu, to stop any contestants if he indeed has what it takes.
Naija News reports that Wike, who said this at a press briefing at his private residence in Port Harcourt today, described Ayu as corrupt and lacks integrity.
Wike’s reaction follows Ayu’s statement against the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom.
Ayu is reported to have earlier boasted that he had the power to stop Ortom and others from contesting the 2023 elections.
The Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), has told Nigerians to vote for the next president of the country at the 2023 polls based on competence and integrity, and not based on religion.
Naija News reports that the governor, who was reported to have said this at the 16th Jesus Festival Dinner of the Ibadan Anglican Diocese held at the Ibadan Civic Centre, Agodi, Ibadan, noted that past records of candidates in the forthcoming presidential election should be the basis for Nigerians to judge who has the capability to lead Nigeria next year.
According to him, it was time for power to shift for the south to produce a president “in the spirit of equity and fairness,” for peace to reign.
Akeredolu advanced that on that premise, Nigerians should stop the debate on the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the APC because that is not important, instead, they should maintain the debate on equity and justice to allow peace to reign.
The governor, who was reported to be the Chairman of the occasion said “competence and integrity should be the criteria for representation,” and not based on faith.
The Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu on Sunday disclosed that some individuals wanted President Muhammadu Buhari to endorse one of the presidential aspirants in the party but he declined.
Tinubu, in a statement issued Sunday by his Media Office and signed by Tunde Rahman, stated that despite the pressure from various individuals, Buhari refused to back any aspirant but rather insisted that all the aspirants must be allowed to go to the field.
The APC flag bearer argued that the role played by the President and northern governors proved to him that Nigeria can survive its unity and challenges.
Naija News recalls that a day before the party’s presidential primary, the National Chairman of the APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu during a meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) announced that the President of the Senate, Dr Ahmed Lawan had been anointed the candidate of the party.
However, other members of the NWC and APC northern governors insisted that all the presidential aspirants must be allowed to go to the field.
Tinubu, while speaking to the leaders of Afenifere at the residence of Pa Reuben Fasoranti on Sunday in Akure applauded President Buhari for sticking to his beliefs despite others trying to convince him to do otherwise.
The former Lagos Governor revealed that at a time he became confused because of the different rumours getting to him.
The Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has declared that there are no Obidients, a term used for supporters of Labour Party’s (LP) Presidential candidate Peter Obi in his state.
According to him, power must shift to the South, therefore his state is ready to deliver.
Naija News reports that the governor who was represented by his Deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, spoke in Akure when the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Bola Ahmed Tinubu visited Afenifere leaders to present and explain his manifesto to them.
The governor insisted that it was time for power to shift to the Southwest region.
The Nigerian Flamingos defeated Germany on Sunday to claim the bronze medal at the under-17 Women’s World Cup in India.
The Nigerian girls, including their Substitute Etim Edidiong, made several goals and attempts in the opening minutes of the game and raced into a 3-0 lead.
But the Germans proved to be a tough nut to crack as they levelled the game at 3-3 in regulation time, forcing the game into a penalty shootout.
The Flamingos won 3-2 on penalties to take third-place bronze and became the second African team to accomplish this.
This article was originally published on Naija News
The Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government has increased security in the Federal Capital Territory after the terror alerts issued by the United States and the United Kingdom.
The US Embassy had in a statement last Sunday announced that it would offer reduced services until further notice and urged American citizens to avoid non-essential movements.
The statement added that possible targets by the terrorists may include government buildings, places of worship, schools, markets, shopping malls, hotels, bars, restaurants, athletic gatherings, transport terminals, law enforcement facilities, and international organizations.
Also, in an advisory issued on the same Sunday by its Embassy in Abuja, the United Kingdom advised its citizens in Nigeria to stay alert and consider their movements carefully.
The British government also urged its citizens to follow the local news and the advice of security authorities in order not to be victims of a terrorist attack.
On its part, the Australian government on Wednesday advised its citizens to reconsider the need to travel to Nigeria.
The country listed Abuja and surrounding areas as places of possible high threats of terrorist attack and kidnapping, adding that those who have to travel to Nigeria are at risk of terrorist attacks, kidnappings violent civil unrest, and crime.
Controversial Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has slammed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for moving to redesign the naira at this time.
In a statement titled: “Changing the Naira: This is no time for economic kamikaze!”, the cleric said the plot to resign the naira is ill-timed as it could lead to economic suicide, especially among rural dwellers.
He said most Nigerians depend on cash transactions, adding that any policy that will cause more cash crunch will be a disaster for the nation.
According to Gumi, the policy will not starve kidnappers of cash because they may decide to demand for dollars and other currencies to make life harder for the people.
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has denied social media reports that bombs were being planted in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Naija News reports that the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, made the denial in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.
Adejobi asked Nigerians and visitors to disregard reports that bombs were being planted in FCT in connection with the terror alert issued by the United States on the possible attack in Abuja.
He warned individuals who have continually spread fearful rumours to further create more panic among citizens and residents of the FCT and Nigeria at large to desist from such action.
Some presidential aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have concluded plans to meet with Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers and other aggrieved governors in the party to end the rift with former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar.
Naija News reports that Wike alongside his Oyo, Enugu, Benue, and Abia states counterparts, Seyi Makinde, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Samuel Ortom, and Okezie Ikpeazu, respectively, had pulled out of the party’s presidential campaign, insisting that the PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, must be removed or resign from his position for a southerner to replace him.
They accused Ayu of going back n his promise to resign his position if a northerner emerged as the party’s presidential candidate.
Recall that the Board of Trustees had set up an ad hoc committee to broker peace between both parties. One of the recommendations of the committee was that the chairman should commit to vacating his seat after the elections. Wike and his group, however, rejected the report and insisted that Ayu must resign as the chairman before next year’s election.
It was gathered that some National Executive Committee members of the PDP have also thrown their weight behind the renewed bid by the presidential aspirants to end the ongoing dispute between Wike’s and Atiku’s camp.
The crisis rocking the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has taken a new twist as loyalists of the party’s former caretaker committee chairman and Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, have lambasted the party’s National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, over recent allegations he made against Buni.
Naija News recalls that Adamu had in a press conference accused the former caretaker committee of leaving N7.5 billion debts on legal fees alone when he took over the affairs of the party.
Adamu had said: “There were more than 200 staff on the payroll and during the audit we had to query where these number of people work. They went to the media that we can’t pay salary of staff just to blackmail us.”
It was gathered that the comments made by the APC National Chairman have unsettled governors, senators, and other leaders of the party, who were members of the Buni-led caretaker committee.
Speaking to Saturday Sun, a member of the National Working Committee (NWC) said Adamu’s outburst may further escalate the crisis rocking the party since the emergence of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the presidential candidate of the APC.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reacted to the statement of the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, claiming that her ministry has no knowledge about the redesigning of the Naira Notes.
Naija News had earlier reported that Ahmed stated this on Friday when she appeared before a Senate committee.
Ahmed had faulted the process of the apex bank, which she described as ill-timed.
The spokesman of CBN, Osita Nwanisobi, while reacting to the statement of the Minister said the apex bank remains a very thorough institution.
He said the management of the CBN, in line with provisions of section 2(b), section 18(a), and section 19(a)(b) of the CBN Act 2007, had duly sought and obtained the approval of the President Muhammadu Buhari in writing to redesign, produce, release and circulate new series of N200, N500, and N1,000 banknotes.
He called on Nigerians to support the currency redesign project, adding that the process is in the interest of Nigerians.
The Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi on Saturday officially flagged off his campaign in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital.
The spokesman of the Labour Party, Yunusa Tanko in a statement released on his Twitter account on Saturday disclosed that the initial flag-off of the party’s campaign was shifted from the 20th of October due to the rampaging flood across the country.
Tanko wrote, “Our presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi had to visit affected states to empathize with the flood-ravaged communities across the country, as the first call of governance is being responsive to the people.
“However, immediately after the visits of Mr. Peter Obi, our Presidential Candidate, the campaign council of our great party has deemed it necessary to earnestly kick off the campaign from the north-central geo-political zone of Nigeria.”
He called on support groups and supporters to make themselves available for the campaign of the party ahead of the 2023 general elections.
The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Iyorchia Ayu, has said he could stop Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State and other party chieftains who calling for his resignation from realizing their ambition.
Naija News reports that Ayu stated this in Tiv dialect on Friday while addressing the crowd that welcomed him back to his country home, Gboko in Benue state.
Recall that Ortom alongside five other PDP governors has called for Ayu’s resignation after the party presidential primary election that produced Abubakar Atiku as the party’s standard-bearer.
According to Ortom and the camp of Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, the presidential candidate and the National Chairman cannot come from the same region, hence the call for Ayu to step down.
However, the PDP crisis which has split the party in Benue is threatening the senatorial ambition of the governor with Ayu’s kinsmen in the Jemgbah axis accusing Ortom of teaming up with others to pull down their son from his exalted office.
Speaking with his supporters, Ayu said that he had the power to stop any candidate contesting on the party’s platform, particularly in the state, to avenge the calls for his resignation.
A leading global rating company in the world, Fitch has predicted that the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will emerge winner of the 2023 general elections.
In a report by the global company, Fitch stated that earlier surveys tipping the presidential flagbearer of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi was ahead of his opponents, Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), were mostly based on online responses.
While stating that Obi is unlikely to win next year’s election, the report maintained that Tinubu is the candidate most likely to win the presidential election as a split opposition vote will favour the ruling party’s candidate.
According to the report, since only 36.0% of Nigerians use the internet (World Bank, 2020), “we believe that these results are skewed towards urban, affluent voters who are most likely to support Obi. We also highlight that these polls suggest that a large share of voters remain undecided.
“Even if these surveys were accurate at a national level, Obi’s lack of support in Nigeria’s Muslim-majority North would make it difficult for him to win next year’s election. Indeed, the North is home to the majority of all voters and turnout in this part of the country tends to be relatively high, underscoring the importance of the Northern electorate.
“According to Nigeria’s 1999 constitution, a candidate can only be elected if they both receive the majority of overall votes and over 25.0% of votes in at least 24 of the country’s 36 states. Given that Obi’s Labour Party has limited infrastructure in the North, he will struggle to meet this second voting requirement.”
With the 2023 presidential election in sight, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, are hoping to take over power which they lost in 2015.
PDP, in its effort to emerge winner in 2023, has commenced its campaign intending to capture the support of Nigerians in 2023.
However, some in-house issues in the party might hinder the main opposition party from emerging victorious in the forthcoming general elections.
The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, and his allies in their call for justice in the PDP had called for the resignation of the party’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu.
The aggrieved Governors and other stakeholders had condemned northern dominance in key positions in the party.
The grievances of the Governors saw them pull out of the presidential campaign council of the PDP, insisting that Ayu must resign.
This article was originally published on Naija News
Aren’t political and public officeholders in Nigeria the luckiest? At a time when labour unions in other climes are agitating and demonstrating for wage indexation against rising inflation, Nigerian officials are poking the bear at home. South Africa’s Public Servants Association (PSA) has announced its intention to embark on strike by Wednesday after rejecting a 3 percent wage offer from the government. The government’s offer to public servants included a once-off cash payment of 1,000 rands ($55), but the unions say that does not materially improve their income. Most unions in the country’s largest labour federation COSATU have also rejected the government’s wage offer and are demanding a 10 percent increase.
Across Europe, workers and their trade unions have been pushing for wage increases that will compensate for the soaring energy bills and the rising cost of living. In Belgium, unions are fighting against employers and right-wing parties to avoid a suspension of the raise that upholds their purchasing power. In Luxembourg, unions have just managed to reverse a decision by Parliament to cancel indexation in 2022 and 2023. The main unions in Spain are demanding an increase in wages across the board in response to spiraling inflation that has made many people’s salaries to have fallen in real terms. The story is the same in Austria where metal industry workers are demanding 10.6 percent pay rise.
Months after the purchasing power of Tunisians got eroded amid rising prices, high unemployment and widespread poverty, Tunisia’s government and the country’s main labour union (UGTT) recently struck a pay deal that involves a five percent annual hike to public sector wages every year until 2025. The agreement between both parties came after arduous negotiations and a general strike that shut down the North African country in June. It is unconscionable that despite the wave of agitations by workers elsewhere for wages to match inflation and the rising cost of living, all the Nigerian authorities can think of is to increase the emoluments of the already gorged public officials.
Following his return to Abuja from his six days visit to Seoul, the South Korean capital, President Muhammadu Buhari has told Nigerians not to panic over the security alert from the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK).
According to the President, the U.S. and U.K warnings to their citizens in Nigeria should not destabilise the country because the nation’s security operatives are on top of the situation.
Naija News reports that President Buhari, in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, urged Nigerians and the various security agencies to be vigilant and security conscious.
Recall that the US Department of State had on Sunday issued a travel advisory to warn its citizens to avoid travelling to some parts of Nigeria, especially the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), noting the possible terror attacks.
This has caused panic in most areas of the FCT and even Nigeria at large, as some businesses and activities have been hindered and closed.
Some individuals have even called for the suspension of campaigns by political parties all to avoid possible terror attacks on the lives of innocent Nigerians.
On Friday, the Appeal Court suspended the execution of its judgment that ordered President Muhammadu Buhari’s government to release the embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
In its previous ruling, Naija News recalls that the appellate court had ordered the Federal Government to release the Biafra agitator.
The court in a unanimous decision by a three-man panel led by Justice Haruna Tsanami, granted the application Buhari’s government brought for a stay of execution of the judgment pending the hearing and determination of the appeal it lodged before the Supreme Court.
However, amid anxieties, the appellate court today ordered FG to, within seven days, transmit the record of the appeal and its verdict on the matter to the apex court to enable speedy determination of the case.
Recall that last Monday, the court had reserved its ruling on the application FG filed for the judgement that quashed the 15-count terrorism charge it preferred against Kanu not to be executed, pending the determination of an appeal it has lodged before the Supreme Court.
Nigerian investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo and his colleagues have uncovered fake prophetic declarations by clerics of a Cherubim and Seraphim (C&S) church in Lagos.
After seven months of receiving separate prophetic declarations about their lives, the journalists concluded that the prophecies were fake and deluding.
The Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) in a series of reports released online today said it embarked on an investigative mission in February 2022 and that C&S was its targetted church.
Naija News understands that FIJ revealed in its reports that fifteen prophecies were given by clerics of the Eternal Sacred Order of C&S in Pearse Street, Yaba, Lagos.
The investigative team had disguised itself as some persons seeking divine help and decided to approach the church branch in February 2022.
Describing his arrival at the church, the team leader, Soyombo, said, “It is unclear why the gatekeepers at ‘national headquarters of the Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim on Pearse Street, Yaba, Lagos, are so unwelcoming when we arrive in the morning of the second day after the famous Valentine’s Day, but one of them parks us grudgingly, anyway. Madu Chiboka, the prophet we had been conversing with, tells us on the phone that a “senior prophet” would attend to us in a matter of minutes. The wait for him inside the church gifts me a few minutes to run my eyes through the auditorium.”
Sharing the view of the said Church, Soyombo said: “It is not the biggest church you’ll ever see. But I count deep brown pews studiously arranged in 13 rows and four columns, meaning that the ground floor can sit at least 312 congregants per time if six occupy a pew. There are three more pews at the rear but they are not arranged to fit into the rows; my hunch is that they’re reserved for in-service protocol officials.”
The Department of State Services (DSS) has denied viral reports that its operatives and some American soldiers carried out a raid against terrorists in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city.
The spokesperson of the DSS, Peter Afunanya who made the denial said what was widely reported in the media is false.
Afunanya, however, went ahead to confirm a sting operation in an Abuja estate by the DSS but denied the involvement of American or other foreign security forces.
According to him the DSS operation in Abuja was carried out in collaboration with other Nigerian security agencies.
PR Nigeria quoted Afunanya as saying: “I can categorically tell you that we did not carry out any joint operation with American Soldiers as being widely reported in the media.
“Though we carried out an operation in an Abuja Estate with sister agencies, no foreign troops were involved.”
President Muhammadu Buhari returned to Abuja on Friday morning after attending the first edition of the World Bio Summit in Seoul, the capital of South Korea.
President Buhari, who arrived at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at about 6am, was received by two governors, senior government officials, and security chiefs.
Among those at the airport to receive the President were the Governors of Katsina and Niger States; Aminu Bello Masari and Abubakar Sani Bello respectively; the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mohammed Musa Bello, and the Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari.
Others were the Inspector-General of Police (IPG), Usman Alkali Baba; the Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS), Yusuf Magaji Bichi and some other senior military and other security officials.
While in Seoul, President Buhari delivered a statement to the Summit, held a number of high-powered consultations and bilateral/diplomatic meetings with the South Korean President, Yoon Suk-yeol, the Speaker of the country’s National Assembly, Kim Jin-Pyo, and former United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon.
Barely 48 hours after Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele announced plans to redesign naira notes, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, has revealed that she or her ministry knows nothing about the recent decision of the apex bank.
Naija News reports that Ahmed, who made this disclosure while responding to a question by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele of Ekiti Central at the 2023 budget defence session with the Senate Committee on Finance, cautioned the CBN of the repercussion of its action.
According to her, she and her Ministry were not aware of the policy or foretold about it, adding that she only heard about it from the media just like everyone.
She said “Distinguished Senators, we were not consulted at the Ministry of Finance by CBN on the planned Naira redesigning and cannot comment on it as regards merits or otherwise.
“However as a Nigerian privileged to be at the top of Nigeria’s fiscal management, the policy as rolled out at this time portends serious consequences on the value of the Naira to other foreign currencies.
“I will however appeal to this committee to invite the CBN Governor for required explanations as regards merits of the planned policy and rightness or otherwise of its implementation now.”
The Chairman of the Independent National Election Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has revealed that it is out of the commission’s jurisdiction to mandate electoral candidates to partake in debates.
According to the INEC boss, even though the electoral body doesn’t have any power to force electoral candidates to attend debates, there are “unspoken consequences” for candidates who failed to attend.
Naija News reports that Yakubu, who said this at the quarterly consultative meeting with media executives in Abuja noted that debates are democratic rights and cannot be forced on any candidate.
Yakubu pointed out that even in advanced countries, electoral candidates are not compelled to partake in debates because it is a democratic dispensation.
He remarked that debate just like voting is a democratic right meant to better inform the voters, adding that he is aware some candidates always avoid debating to prevent making mistakes to discourage voters.
The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Friday reversed the March 8 judgment by a Federal High Court that sacked the Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, and his deputy for defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to a three-member panel of the appellate court in a judgment today, the nation’s Constitution did not provide any punishment for a Governor or Deputy Governor who defects from the party on which platform he/she got to the office.
Naija News reports that Justice Haruna Tsanami, of the appellate court on this premise noted that the only option the aggrieved political party can explore is to work with the impeachment option provided in the Constitution.
Justice Tsanami said that was the only way the PDP can deal with the governor and his deputy who defected from its platform.
It was however reported that the Appeal Court’s judgment in Abuja was in line with the judgment of the court’s Enugu division on the same matter.
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar is in the United States for some high-level engagements.
He is in the United States along with some senior members of the PDP presidential campaign council, personal aides, and other members of the PDP, Naija News reports.
He arrived on Thursday, 27th October 2022.
Confirming the present location of Atiku and his mission in America, the media adviser to the former Vice President, Paul Ibe in a statement made available to our newsroom on Friday said Atiku is in the US for a working visit.
He added that the aim of the visit and engagements by Atiku is to set a framework for a more secure Nigeria and an economically stable country.
During his time, he would share his thoughts with the business communities, young Nigerians, and other professionals living in America as well as, Ibe confirmed.
The statement reads: “The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party and former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar on Thursday arrived in Washington DC, United States on a working visit.
The visit will afford the PDP presidential candidate the opportunity of high-level engagements aimed at setting the pace for building an economically stronger and more secure Nigeria.”
This article was originally published on Naija News
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