In an interview with Pakistan-based ARY News, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said that Pakistan is like a second home for the Taliban. He pledged to deepen strategic ties with the country. “Afghanistan shares its borders with Pakistan. We are traditionally aligned when it comes to religion, the people of both the countries mingle with each other. So we are looking forward to further deepening of ties with Pakistan,” Mujahid said In another interview, Taliban Spokesperson Suhail Shaheen urged the international community to help Afghanistan start a new chapter in their lives leaving the 20 years of war behind. “Our message…
Author: Ifeanyi Nwagboso
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday accused the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government as being responsible for spreading division and hatred among Nigerians, and not Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom. Recall that Mallam Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, in a statement, had accused Ortom of stiring up hatred by targeting an ethnic group in Nigeria – using language reminiscent of the Rwandan genocide, adding that for the governor of a major state in Nigeria to be politically driven by ethnic hatred is a stain on the country. However, in a statement issued on…
Justice Nusirat. I. Umar, a vacation Judge of the Kebbi State High Court, has ordered Uche Secondus to return to his position as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman. Justice Umar gave the order in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday while ruling in suit no: KB/AC/M. 170/2021. The judge said she was satisfied after reading the affidavit of the respondents that an interim order be granted on the purported suspension of Secondus pending judgment. She granted leave to Secondus “to continue exercising all the constitutional powers of the office of Chairman of PDP (second defendant) as enshrined in both 1999…
Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa; leader of pan-Yoruba sociopolitical group, Chief Ayo Adebanjo; former member, House of Representatives, Hon Uche Onyeagocha on Thursday called for a new constitution for Nigeria. They made the call at the second annual Ripples Centre for Data and Investigative Journalism (RCDIJ) dialogue on Wednesday. According to them, the current situation challenging the unity, economy and political system of the nation would not be resolved until the country changed the current 1999 Constitution to a truly federal constitution. Governor Okowa explained that Nigeria needs a new constitution. The PDP chieftain ruled out the amendment of…
Former Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Stella, currently the Senator for Anambra North, was part of President Goodluck Jonathan’s cabinet. The lawmaker defected on Thursday at a brief ceremony the APC held in Abuja to admit her into the fold. In attendance were the Chairman, APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) and Yobe Governor, Mai Mala Buni. Others were Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege; Chairman, Progressive Governors’ Forum and Kebbi Governor, Atiku Bagudu; Imo Governor, Hope Uzodimma, among others. The Anambra APC governorship candidate, Senator Andy…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has appointed the Deputy National Chairman (South), Yemi Akinwonmi, as its acting National Chairman. Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP Spokesman confirmed the development to newsmen on Thursday. Akinwonmi was affirmed as the National Chairman after the National Working Committee closed door meeting in Abuja on Thursday. He confirmed the reschedule of the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) for Saturday. Ologbondiyan said “Elder Yemi Akinwonmi was unanimously affirmed as Acting National Chairman. “We will be holding our caucus and another NWC meeting tomorrow preparatory to holding our National Executive Council meeting at 12 ‘O’clock on Saturday.” The confirmation…
The security threat that prompted the State Department to urge Americans to move away from the perimeter of the Kabul airport was credible and urgent, the acting U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan said Thursday. Speaking to ABC News from Kabul, Ross Wilson said he could not discuss specifics of the threat or its current status. It was clearly regarded as credible, as imminent, as compelling, he said. Ross spoke as the United States worked to get remaining Americans out of the country. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that as many as 1,500 Americans may be awaiting evacuation from Afghanistan…
The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) Osun Chapter has described as a mere political jamboree, the statements by some groups endorsing Governor Adegboyega Oyetola for a second term. In a statement signed by the NNPP Chairman, Dr Tosin Odeyemi called on the governor to be wary of individuals endorsing him for a second term. The party claimed Oyetola was barely three years in office adding that the same individuals will still endorse another candidate who will offer them money as 2021 approaches. It called on the groups to allow the people of Osun pick their governor noting that it is…
The Senator representing Niger East Senatorial District of Niger State, Alhaji Sani Musa has hinged his desire to vie for the Chairmanship seat of the All Progressives Congress, APC, on the need to bring new vision and direction into the party. Declaring his intention in Minna, Musa explained that he has already gotten the support of the state, especially from Governor, Alh. Abubakar Sani Bello who is the APC leader in the state. “I have the backing of relevant stakeholders in the state. I also have support of majority of the members of the National Assembly, especially the Senators and…
Former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, has slammed the presidency for attacking Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State over his criticism bothering on cattle ranching. The presidency had on Wednesday, accused Governor Ortom of inciting ethnic hatred in the country. In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the presidency said Governor Ortom had changed political parties five times, hence has no right to criticize the president. Reacting, Reno said Buhari had also moved four times, stating that he should not be the one to throw stones. The socio-political activist made the…
The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Lagos State, Dr Dominic Adegbola, has died of COVID-19 related ailments. His death was confirmed by the Publicity Secretary of the party, Taofik Gani, on Wednesday. Gani hailed Adegbola as “an exceptional politician who had deployed much of his hard-earned money into philanthropism.” Until his death, Adegbola was the Medical Director of Santa Maria Hospital. He had held many political positions, notable amongst being State SDP officer; State Chairman of PAC; National Chairman of APN (Founded by late Jakande); State Chairman of Lagos PDP. Adegbola had also contested for the Lagos…
President Xi Jinping told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Wednesday that Beijing stands ready to strengthen communication with Moscow and the broader international community on the Afghan issue and called for inclusive government in Kabul which “thoroughly dissociate” itself from all terrorist groups. Xi spoke to Putin over phone on Wednesday and discussed the situation in Afghanistan post-Taliban takeover, a day after G-7 leaders virtually met to discuss the crisis. The phone call also comes a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed the Afghanistan situation with the Russian President. Xi told Putin that China stands ready to strengthen…
Following the leadership crisis currently rocking the opposition People’s Democratic Party, PDP, governors elected under the platform are to hold an emergency meeting on Thursday in Abuja. This was disclosed in a statement on Wednesday by the Director-General, PDP Governors’ Forum, C.I.D Maduabum. According to the statement, the emergency meeting was summoned by the forum Chairman and Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, in consultation with his colleagues. It noted that the meeting slated for 5pm would discuss recent developments in the PDP. The forum enjoined all PDP members and stakeholders to exercise patience as efforts were on to ensure…
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has been accused of ‘kidnapping’ the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. A chieftain of the New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP, Barrister Olusegun Bamgbose, was reacting to the interim order by a High Court in Rivers State restraining Prince Uche Secondus, from parading himself as the PDP National Chairman. He said the Port Harcourt court ruling signaled the end of PDP as a national party in Nigeria, adding that the party has now become a regional party. Bamgbose said that this will ultimately spell doom for the party in 2023, adding that Wike and…
A former governor of Osun State, chieftain and former National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola has revealed his interest in the National Chairmanship position of the party. Oyinlola also stated that his aspiration would depend on two conditions, which will include if the position is zoned to the South West and his ability to muster the stakeholders of the party. Speaking on a radio current affairs programme in Osogbo to mark the 30th anniversary of creation of Osun State on Wednesday, Oyinlola revealed that he is more prepared to serve in the office of PDP…
The Taliban have said that religious scholars will lead the upcoming government in Afghanistan as the country’s government collapsed over a week ago when the terror group seized Kabul, a media report said. At a gathering in Kabul, the Taliban said that their 20 years of struggle should not go in vain and religious scholars should take the lead and be the core of the upcoming government in Afghanistan. The terror group had invited tens of religious scholars in a grand gathering to ask their cooperation in forging a sound political system and inviting people to support the future government,…
Those expecting an early resolution of the leadership problems in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, may have to wait long as the crises over the leadership of the main opposition party ahead of the 2023 general election seem to be getting messier by the day. For one, the Wadata House headquarters of the party in Abuja was virtually turned into a market on Tuesday with different hues of protesters in support and against the continued stay of Prince Uche Secondus led National Working Committee, NWC of the party. A court in Rivers had also a day before restrained Secondus from…
Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has described the late former military governor of the Old Ondo State, Rear Admiral Sunday Abiodun Olukoya (rtd) as a man who marked a phenomenal moment in many ways. According to Akeredolu while reacting to the death of the former governor, Olukoya’s untainted humility, self discipline and incurable desire for a better society stood him out as a dependable ally in the journey towards Nigeria’s quest for an egalitarian society. The governor stated this in a statement issued by his Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo. Olukoya who died on Tuesday served as…
Former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has insisted that Nigeria has comparatively fared better during the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, than what it is currently facing under the All Progressives Congress led by the government of President Muhammadu Buhari. Alhaji Abubakar who stated this Tuesday when he paid a visit to Akwa Ibom State as part of his tour across the nation to ascertain the state of affairs decried the downward economic situation of the nation. The former Vice president said the PDP-led government did not only increase the GDP and…
The serving overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has said anyone who decides to contest in the 2023 election, is putting his head inside hot water. Bakare stated this during an interview with Channels Television on Tuesday night. The fiery cleric revealed that he and a group of Nigerians are building a formidable team, like a shadow cabinet, for the next administration. According to him, some members of the team are members of the current President Muhammadu Buhari administration. “Anyone plunging into the election in 2023 is just plunging his head inside hot water, and therefore…