Renowned playwright and elder statesman, Professor Wole Soyinka, has announced his intention to withhold any commentary on the administration of President Bola Tinubu until May 2024, a year into Tinubu’s tenure. Soyinka, a Nobel Laureate, made this statement during a courtesy visit to President Tinubu, who is currently on holiday in Lagos. Emphasizing that this was his personal policy, Soyinka explained that the one-year delay would allow President Tinubu sufficient time to address any challenges and “make up” for any shortcomings in his administration. In his words, “Well, you know, something you may have noticed about me is that most…
Author: Ifeanyi Nwagboso
Pakistan’s Supreme Court has reportedly returned an appeal filed by former Prime Minister Imran Khan seeking to overturn his three-year conviction in the Toshakhana corruption case. The appeal was returned by the registrar’s office on Saturday, citing several deficiencies in the petition. Imran Khan, 71, had filed the appeal through his counsel Latif Khosa under Article 185 of the Constitution, challenging the Islamabad High Court’s decision to reject a similar plea on December 11, 2023. The High Court had rejected the plea, citing the absence of actual controversies or a chronology of past litigation. Toshakhana case revolves around allegations that…
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kaduna State chapter, has extended warm Christmas greetings to all Nigerians, urging them to uphold the country’s constitution and strive for peaceful coexistence. In a statement issued by Rev. John Joseph Hayab, the state chairman of CAN, the association expressed its wishes for a joyous Christmas celebration and called on Nigerians to reflect on the significance of the birth of Jesus Christ, which brings hope and emphasizes the importance of compassion and unity among people. CAN emphasized the need for peaceful celebrations, especially during the festive season when many travel across the country. The…
The Ekiti State Government has revealed plans to introduce the Land Use Charge (LUC) starting from 2024. Governor Biodun Oyebanji assured residents that the property tax would be implemented progressively and would not pose a significant burden. Stakeholders in the state have voiced their support for the initiative and pledged their willingness to comply with the charge. These sentiments were expressed during a one-day dialogue on Tax for Service in Ekiti State organized by the New Initiative for Social Development (NISD) in collaboration with the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room in Ado-Ekiti. During the dialogue, various stakeholders, including market women,…
Garus Gololo, a prominent figure in the All Progressives Congress (APC), has urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the ongoing political turmoil in Benue State. Gololo made this plea during a press conference held in Kaduna on Sunday. Gololo specifically called on President Tinubu to exert his influence on the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, urging him to rein in his political allies and address the escalating crisis in the state. Gololo accused Akume of exacerbating the situation for his personal gain and called for his intervention to allow Governor Hyacinth Alia to focus on…
In a Christmas message to Nigerians, the National Chairman of Action Alliance Party (AAP), Dr Adekunle Rufai OmoAje, has urged citizens to embody the spirit of love, tolerance, and sacrifice as they celebrate the festive season. Dr OmoAje emphasized the importance of upholding these values to maintain harmony, foster progress, and promote the well-being of all Nigerians. He highlighted the significance of Christmas as a time of joy, peace, hope, love, and goodwill, stating that these qualities are crucial amidst the various challenges facing the nation. “I celebrate with the Christian fold and enjoin all of us to remember the…
Former Nigerian military Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida, has spoken about his service to Nigeria, stating that history will judge him for his contributions to the nation. He emphasized that he served to the best of his ability and regarded his understanding of the country and his ability to build friendships across various sectors as his greatest achievements. Addressing journalists at his Hilltop residence in Minna, Niger State, Babangida acknowledged using coercion and dialogue as leadership styles during his tenure. When asked about his achievements, he remarked, “Number one is that I served the country the best I could.…
Former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Kingsley Moghalu, has criticized Godwin Emefiele, describing him as the worst governor of the apex bank. Moghalu cited various reasons for his assessment, including Emefiele’s alleged failure to maintain Naira stability, involvement in illegal lending practices, unauthorized presidential campaign activities, and mishandling of the Naira redesign policy. In a post on X, Moghalu expressed his belief that Emefiele was ill-prepared for the role of CBN governor, stating, “The foregoing notwithstanding, my views on Emefiele’s performance as CBN Governor have been a matter of record even when many now opining on…
Primate Elijah Ayodele, the leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, has made several predictions regarding the political landscape of Nigeria and global events. Among his predictions are the assassination of a sitting president, the death of a governor, and attempts by cabals to influence President Bola Tinubu’s administration. In a statement released by his Media Aide, Oluwatosin Osho, Primate Ayodele warned of challenges that may arise during Tinubu’s potential presidency. He predicted that Tinubu would face deception from those around him, leading to difficulties in governing. Additionally, he foresaw an increase in corruption, nepotism, favoritism, and tribalism under Tinubu’s administration.…
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued certificates of return to 16 members-elect of the Plateau State House of Assembly. This follows the nullification of the March 18 elections results by the Court of Appeal, which declared the newly issued members as the rightful winners. Out of the 16 members-elect, 15 belong to the All Progressives Congress (APC), while one is from the Labour Party. Dr. Oliver Agundu, the Plateau INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), confirmed that the issuance of certificates was in compliance with the Appeal Court’s directive. Dr. Agundu congratulated the lawmakers-elect on their victory and wished…
The youth wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has called on all political stakeholders in Enugu State to unite and prioritize the state’s development following the Supreme Court’s verdict affirming Governor Peter Mbah’s victory. In a statement released to journalists on Sunday, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, the National President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, expressed the organization’s concern over the prolonged legal battle surrounding the Enugu gubernatorial election, which resulted in significant financial costs. Nnabuike recalled that the Ohanaeze youths had previously urged the Labour Party governorship candidate, Barr Chijioke Edeoga, not to contest the election results after Governor Mbah’s victories…
Governor Umar Bago of Niger State has announced plans to generate approximately N1 trillion in revenue through the Niger Food Security and Logistics Company over the next five years. This ambitious target was revealed by Abdullberqy Ebbo, the Special Adviser on Digital Media and Strategy to the Governor, in a statement released on Saturday in Abuja. The initiative aims to create employment opportunities for over 100,000 farmers who will cultivate crops on more than 100,000 hectares of land across the state. The statement highlighted that an agreement had been signed between the Chairman of Niger Foods, Mr. Sammy Adigun, and…
Troops of the Joint Task Force North-West, Operation Hadarin Daji (OPHD), have successfully rescued 52 kidnapped victims in a well-coordinated operation in Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State. The Army, in a statement shared on its official channels, reported that the operation was part of ongoing efforts to combat terrorism through a series of clearance operations in their Areas of Responsibility. According to the statement released on December 22, 2023, the troops cleared and destroyed terrorist enclaves at Saruwa, Kubuta, Gundumi villages, and Bunwanga Gundumi forest in Isa LGA. During the operation, several terrorists were neutralized. The rescued victims,…
The Taraba State Command of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has announced heightened security measures to ensure a safe and peaceful Yuletide season across the state. This assurance was conveyed by Police Commissioner Joseph O. Eribo through a press statement released on Saturday, as reported by the command’s spokesperson, Usman Abdullahi. According to the statement, the command has implemented comprehensive security arrangements before, during, and after the festive celebrations. Commissioner Eribo directed area commanders, divisional police officers, and tactical commanders to ensure the deployment of robust security measures throughout the Yuletide period. Assuring the people of Taraba, Eribo stated that…
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has accused former local government chairmen, who were sacked in 2019, of attempting to distract his administration. The governor asserted that the dismissed chairmen had been employing various tactics to disrupt his government’s operations. The former council bosses were elected during the tenure of Governor Abiola Ajimobi in 2018 but were removed by Governor Makinde in 2019. Subsequently, they obtained a court order freezing the state’s accounts in ten commercial banks due to the non-payment of their entitlements by the current administration. Governor Makinde, in response to the situation, affirmed that his government would…
Speaking at the State House on Saturday, the wife of the President, Oluremi Tinubu, shared her optimism about the coming year, stating that 2024 would be a glorious year for Nigerians. She conveyed this message during her Christmas address following a festive celebration she organized for the children of the Nana Berry Orphanage in Abuja. In her remarks, the First Lady urged parents to inspire hope in their children, emphasizing the need to focus on transforming the lives of the young generation. She stressed the importance of avoiding discussions about poverty in front of children, encouraging the affluent to support…
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to conduct re-runs and by-elections in nine states of the federation on Saturday, February 3, 2024. These elections will fill vacancies declared by presiding officers of the National Assembly and state houses of assembly. Sam Olumekun, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, stated that the commission has approved the timetable and schedule of activities for these elections. The vacancies occurred across two senatorial districts, four federal constituencies, and three state constituencies, spanning nine states. Olumekun explained, “The Commission is conducting re-run elections stemming from the 2023…
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Osun State Command, has decorated 746 newly promoted officers in a ceremony held at the command’s headquarters in Osogbo. In a statement issued by the Command’s spokesperson, Adeleke Kehinde, and obtained by the media on Saturday, the Commandant of NSCDC Osun State, Agboola Sunday, described the promotion as a recognition of excellence, dedication, hard work, loyalty, and discipline. Commandant Agboola urged the newly promoted officers to consider their promotion as a milestone in their careers and to continue to uphold the values of the NSCDC. He commended the Minister of Interior, Dr.…
Katsina State has taken a significant step in addressing violence against persons with the establishment of specialized courts following the enactment of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act and the Child Protection Law. The move is aimed at expediting the resolution of cases related to violence. The Chief Judge of Katsina State, Justice Musa Danladi Abubakar, announced the establishment of these specialized courts after Governor Dikko Umaru Radda ceremonially assented to both laws earlier on Friday. In his remarks, Justice Danladi commended Governor Radda’s leadership and commitment to human rights. He emphasized the importance of not only enacting strong…
During the 2023 Ngboejogu Nation Day Celebration held at the Central School Ngbo, Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Governor Francis Nwifuru reiterated his commitment to ending all communal clashes in the state. Represented by the Deputy Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Mr. Chinedu Onah, Governor Nwifuru assured citizens that his administration would prioritize the security of lives and property in the state. The governor expressed satisfaction with the return of peace between the Ngbo community and their Agila neighbors in Benue State. He urged stakeholders from both sides to work together to maintain this peace. Highlighting…