Politics

Zimbabwean president fixes August 23 for presidential, parliamentary elections

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Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has fixed August 23 for the country’s next elections, setting a campaign season among political parties and aspiring candidates in motion.

Local media reported on Wednesday that Mr Mnangagwa set June 21 as the date on which nomination courts would sit countrywide to accept applications by political parties and their candidates to participate in the polls.

The president was billed to announce the date on Monday but postponed doing so, with his spokesperson, George Charamba, saying he will do so in due course.

More than 5.8 million people have registered to vote in the presidential, legislative and local authority elections, according to the report.

The ruling ZANU PF party has already held primary elections to choose candidates for the polls, while the two major opposition parties, MDC-T and Citizens’ Coalition for Change, are yet to present theirs to the electorate.

Politics

Sly Ezeokenwa emerges new APGA national chairman

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Mr Sly Ezeokenwa has emerged the new National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

Ezeokenwa was elected the party’s national chairman at a National Convention held in Awka, the Anambra State capital on Wednesday, May 31.

Ezeokenwa who will be taking over from Victor Oye, was sworn in alongside the newly elected National Officers of APGA in the presence of Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo.

Politics

President Buhari was a disaster of unimaginable proportions – Former Minister Osita Chidoka

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Former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, has described the Buhari administration as a ‘’disaster of unimaginable proportions.”

In a Tweet posted on his handle, Osita opined that the former President “destroyed every fibre of Nigeria’s consensus as well as the destroyed Nigeria’s pride in the comity of nations.”

He went on to say that compared to Nigeria, the gruesome Nigeria-Biafra Civil war period was a safer and more united period.

‘’President Buhari destroyed every fibre of our national consensus, destroyed our pride of place in the comity of nations, damaged our collective desire to live in peace within our diversity, and reversed the economic progress of the democratic era. President Buhari was simply a disaster of unimaginable proportions.”

Politics

Governor Mbah freezes all Enugu bank accounts

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Governor Peter Mbah has directed that all bank accounts belonging to the Enugu government be frozen with immediate effect until further notice.

The directive was effective May 30, according to a statement signed by the secretary to the state government, Chidiebere Onyia, on Tuesday in Enugu.

“Following the directive given by the Enugu state governor to freeze all government accounts in all the banks in Enugu state, I hereby, direct that all Enugu state government accounts be frozen with immediate effect, till further notice,” the statement said.

Politics

UN secretary general Guterres congratulates Tinubu, seeks stronger ties

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UN secretary general Antonio Guterres on Tuesday congratulated Bola Tinubu on his inauguration as the 16th Nigerian president.

Mr Guterres’ spokesman Stephane Dujarric said this while fielding questions at UN headquarters in New York.

“Nigeria is an important partner of the United Nations, has an important role to play in the promotion of sustainable development, in the promotion of peace and security in the region and beyond,” Mr Dujarric explained.

“And we look forward to deepening the ties between Nigeria and the United Nations.”

In a related development, the UN secretary general also congratulated Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on his reelection as president of Türkiye.

Politics

My cabinet members feared being jailed by Buhari – Jonathan

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Former President Goodluck Jonathan has revealed that members of his cabinet feared being jailed after immediate past President, Muhammadu Buhari, won the 2015 presidential election.

Jonathan who revealed during an interview with Arise TV on Monday, May 29, said he remained in the country even though some of those that served in his cabinet felt he would run away.

He added that the “tense atmosphere” his team faced during the transition period in 2015 was not faced by Buhari’s government.

Jonathan said;

“In my own time especially in the 2015 elections, my ministers, my senior officers, people who worked with me; there was this fear that having lost the election, what would be our fate? Would the new government just throw all of us into jail without giving a fair hearing? Because government is next to the court and can decide to do anything.“By this time, I already conceded defeat. And I knew why I conceded defeat, because I was more interested in the country than myself.”

Politics

I’ll review Buhari’s Naira redesign policy – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at his inaugural speech today, May 29, promised to review the Naira redesign policy of his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari.

Tinubu who noted that the new and old currency notes would be treated as legal tender, added that the Central Bank of Nigeria must work towards a unified exchange rate.

He said;

“Monetary policy needs thorough house cleansing. The Central Bank must work towards a unified exchange rate. This will direct funds away from arbitrage into meaningful investment in the plant, equipment and jobs that power the real economy Interest rates need to be reduced to increase investment and consumer purchasing in ways that sustain the economy at a higher level.

Whatever merits it had in concept, the currency swap was too harshly applied by the CBN given the number of unbanked Nigerians.

“The policy shall be reviewed. In the meantime, my administration will treat both currencies as legal tender.”

Lifestyle, Politics

The only thing Buhari did for me was to give an award to AY over Uncle 30k – Shade Ladipo throws shade

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Media personality, Shade Ladipo, has commended President Buhari for bestowing a National honor on comedian AY Makun.

On Sunday, May 28, AY was enlisted to receive the national honor, Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR).

In a post shared on her Instastories, Shade stated that honoring AY and not ‘’Uncle 30k” is something President Buhari did for her.

Recall that AY had recently granted an interview where he stated that the reason he and his colleague, Basketmouth are not on speaking terms is because Basketmouth failed to pay him his N30, 000 after a performance.

Politics

Lagos state governor Sanwo-Olu sworn in for second term

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Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat have both been sworn in for their second terms in Lagos State.

The oath of office and oath of allegiance was carried out on Monday, May 29th by the Chief Jude of the state, Kazeem Alogba, at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS).

Sanwo-Olu was re-elected on March 18, having secured a total of 762,134 votes against his main challengers — Olajide ‘Jandor’ Adediran of the PDP who polled 62,449 and Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the LP who got 312,329 votes.

Politics

Tinubu will unveil cabinet within 60 days – Faleke

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James Faleke, the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign council secretary has said that President Bola Tinubu will unveil members of his cabinet within 60 days.

Speaking to Channels Television at Eagle Square where Tinubu was sworn-in, Faleke said that the new President will act differently in accordance with his mantra of ‘Renewed Hope’.

He said;

“Of course, within 60 days, that’s what the law says. He can announce anytime but I just know he must do it within 60 days.”

Politics

Tinubu sworn in as Nigeria’s 16th president

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Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress has been sworn in as Nigeria’s 16th president.

Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola, administered the oath of office on Mr Tinubu at Eagle Square in Abuja on Monday (May 29, 2023).

“I, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, do solemnly swear that I will not allow my personal interests to influence my official conduct or decisions… So help me, God,” Mr Tinubu said while taking the oath of office.

Mr Tinubu, 71, succeeded former President Muhammadu Buhari, whose two terms of eight years elapsed on May 29.

Mr Tinubu was on March 1 declared the winner of the February 25 presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Politics

Buhari appoints Sharada as Almajiri commission executive secretary

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President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the outgoing legislator (Kano Municipal), Sha’aban Sharada, as executive secretary of the newly established National Commission for Almajiri.

The president’s media aide Garba Shehu confirmed this on Sunday night.

Mr Shehu said Mr Sharada’s appointment followed the president’s assent to the National Commission for Almajiri and Out of School Children Education Bill 2023.

Mr Sharada has a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from Bayero University, Kano and a master of Business Administration from the University of Chichester, United Kingdom.

Politics

Turkey: Buhari congratulates Erdogan on reelection

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President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated President Recep Erdoğan on his victory in the presidential election.

Mr Erdoğan defeated opposition candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu in the second round of voting.

In a statement by his media aide Garba Shehu on Sunday night in Abuja, Mr Buhari said Mr Erdoğan’s reelection would augur well for the well-being of the relations between Nigeria and Turkey.

“I welcome the reelection of Erdoğan, a steadfast champion of a fair and just global order and a true friend of Nigeria. On behalf of the government and the people of Nigeria, I say happy cheers, my friend and a true friend of Nigeria,” Mr Buhari said.

“Under your leadership, the engagement between our two nations will grow from strength to strength.”

He added, “I wish you yet another successful tenure of office.”

Mr Erdoğan won a historic runoff vote that is set to extend his 20-year rule until 2028.

Mr Erdoğan had won 52.14 per cent of the votes, while his challenger Mr Kılıçdaroğlu received 47.86 per cent.

Politics

Buhari renames Airports after Awolowo, Danfodio, Idiagbon, others

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Outgoing President Buhari has approved the renaming of 15 airports after some prominent Nigerians.

A statement released by the Ministry of Aviation and signed by the Head of Press and Public Affairs, Odutayo Oluseyi, disclosed that the approval was given on Friday, May 2.

According to the statements, the airports to be renamed include Akure International Airport named after Olumuyiwa Bernard Aliu; Benin International Airport now known as Oba Akenzua II; Dutse International Airport renamed Muhammed Nuhu Sanusi; Ebonyi International Airport renamed Chuba Wilberforce airport and Gombe International Airport renamed Brigadier Zakari Maimalari.

Others include Ibadan International Airport renamed after Samuel Ladoke Akintola; Ilorin International Airport renamed after General Tunde Abdullahi Idiagbon; Kaduna International Airport renamed after Gen. Hassan Usman Katsina and Maiduguri International Airport renamed after President Muhammadu Buhari.

The statement added that Makurdi International Airport will now be known as Joseph Sarwuan Tarka; Minna International Airport renamed Mall. Abubakar Imam; Nasarrawa International Airport renamed after Sheikh Usman Danfodio; Osubi International Airport renamed Alfred Diete Spiff; Port Harcourt International Airport renamed Obafemi Jeremiah Awolowo and Yola International Airport now known as Lamido Aliyu Mustapha Airport.

Politics

Erdogan wins Turkey’s presidential election, extends rule to third decade

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Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan won re-election on Sunday, May 28, extending his rule into a third decade in a country reeling from high inflation and the aftermath of an earthquake that levelled entire cities.

Erdogan prevailed by winning more than 52% of the vote in Sunday’s presidential runoff, which came two weeks after he fell short of scoring an outright victory in the first round.

A majority of Turkish voters in the second round chose him over challenger Kemal Kilicdaroglu, showing their support for a man who they see as a strong, proven leader.

Following the results, Erdogan thanked the nation for giving him another five years, saying:

“We hope to be worthy of your trust, as we have been for 21 years.” He further ridiculed his opponent, saying ‘Bye Bye Bye Kemal’, adding, “The only winner today is Turkey.”

The result led to Erdogan supporters honking their cars, cheering and gathering in public squares with the leader booming out: “It is not only us who won, it is Turkey. “It is our nation that won with all its elements. It is our democracy.”

Many analysts are shocked at Erdogan’s victory; he’s managed to win the elections despite the country’s inflation running at 50 per cent.

There has been anger over the government’s response to the powerful earthquakes in February that left at least 50,000 people dead.

Some analysts have said that another five years of Erdogan would mean a more assertive and authoritative rule from the leader.

Erdogan has been in power since 2003, first as prime minister and then since 2014 he has been president of Turkey.

In his years of rule, he has consolidated his power through constitutional changes, eroded the country’s democratic institutions, including the judiciary and media, and jailed many opponents.

He has crushed anti-government protests and evaded a corruption investigation into his inner circle. Such has been his crackdown that in its World Report 2022, Human Rights Watch said Erdogan’s AK party (AKP) has set back Turkey’s human rights record by decades. Sweden’s V-Dem Institute has designed the country as one of the world’s top 10 autrocratising countries and in 2018, Freedom House had downgraded the country’s status from “partly free” to “not free.”

It is also believed that Erdogan may push for a stronger Islamic influence in the nation. Before he became president, Turkey was staunchly secular, so much so that the wearing of headscarves by women was banned in many official venues. But he has steadily pushed the nation into a more religious sphere.

His government may come under pressure from these parties to pursue more Islamist policies. In his regime, he has expanded religious education and transformed the Hagia Sophia, Turkey’s most famous historic landmark, from a museum into a mosque.

Politics, World News

Belarus president Lukashenko offers nuclear weapons to nations willing ‘to join the Union State of Russia and Belarus

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Belarus President, Alexander Lukashenko has claimed that nations who are willing “to join the Union State of Russia and Belarus” will be given nuclear weapons, days after the dictator confirmed the transfer of some tactical nuclear weapons from Moscow to Minsk.

Lukashenko, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, made the comments in an on-camera interview released Sunday, May 28 on the state-run Russia 1 channel.

During the interview, Lukashenko said, “no one minds Kazakhstan and other countries having the same close relations that we have with the Russian Federation.”

“It’s very simple,” he added. “Join the Union State of Belarus and Russia. That’s all: there will be nuclear weapons for everyone.”

Signed in 1999, the Agreement on Establishment of the Union State of Belarus and Russia Treaty is an agreement that gives wide-ranging cooperation on economy, information, technology, agriculture, and border security among other things between the two countries, according to the Belarus government website.

Lukashenko’s comments on handing out nuclear weapons to like-minded allies are likely to heighten concerns as Moscow threatens the world with its own atomic arsenal as its war against Ukraine continues to drag on.

On Thursday last week the Belarusian dictator said the transfer of some tactical nuclear weapons from Russia to Belarus had begun, following an agreement signed by Moscow and Minsk.

“It was necessary to prepare storage sites, and so on. We did all this. Therefore, the movement of nuclear weapons began,” Lukashenko said, according to state news agency Belta.

He also promised the safety of those weapons, saying: “This is not even up for discussion. Don’t worry about nuclear weapons. We are responsible for this. These are serious issues. Everything will be alright here.”

Putin has said that Russia would retain control over any tactical nuclear weapons stationed in Belarus and likened the move to Washington’s practice of stationing nuclear weapons in Europe to keep host countries, like Germany, from breaking their commitments as non-nuclear powers.

Belarus has had no nuclear weapons on its territory since the early 1990s. Shortly after gaining independence following the collapse of the Soviet Union, it agreed to transfer all Soviet-era weapons of mass destruction stationed there to Russia.

Politics

There will be efforts to taint my hard-earned image, but Nigerians must remain peaceful and law abiding – Peter Obi

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Ahead of the inauguration of Bola Tinubu as the 16th President of Nigeria, Labour Party Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, who is challenging the All Progressives Congress candidate’s victory in the presidential poll in court, has again appealed to Nigerians to remain peaceful and law-abiding.

In the lengthy statement he released today, Obi noted that Nigeria remains our only patrimony and it is a patrimony we must protect, rather than violate.

He also that while there are efforts to taint his hard-earned image, he expects that the Nigerian judiciary will use the election cases to reaffirm its independence and integrity.

The statement reads;

“For all Nigerians, this is a time for deep reflection. It is also a time to re-examine our assumptions, even as we reaffirm our hopes. Let us calmly review our aspirations, in order to recalibrate our expectations and pin down the causes of our missed opportunities and disappointments. We stand at that critical moment in time when, as a people, we must collectively come to grips with the reality of our injured destiny as well as the reasons for that injury.

“It is for us to reassess our plight as a young democracy and identify clear pathways to a better and greater future for us all. As we await the verdict of the election tribunal, I urge all Nigerians to use this opportunity to renew their commitment to the Nigerian ideal. That ideal remains noble and worth every sacrifice we can make.

“Nigeria remains our only patrimony and it is a patrimony we must protect, rather than violate. We have no other nation but this, so let us remain committed to rescuing and rebuilding it.

“The judiciary is part of the democratic enterprise and a critical governance tool for determining the propriety of the decisions and actions of every citizen and every institution of state. To that extent, and for that reason, I urge everyone to treat it with the respect and dignity it deserves. We expect that the Nigerian judiciary will use the election cases now before it to reaffirm its independence and integrity. It has to do so, for all our sakes and for itself.

“Nigerians must, therefore, remain peaceful and law abiding. No matter the depth of anyone’s reservations about what is going on in the polity today, no matter the real and imagined provocations, and no matter the disagreement out there, we should remember that this will not last forever. I remain committed, and untiring, in my determination to work with like-minded fellow Nigerians to end the curse of missed opportunities and squandered hope that has become our lot here.

“I will never shrink from that original commitment, because I firmly believe that we must change from the present politics of criminality, and corruption, in order to make a new Nigeria possible. I call on fellow Nigerians, especially the youths to remain steadfast, calm, patient, and peaceful. Our journey may be long and difficult but it is worth it in every way. Victory is assured.

“We have to work together to move our beautiful country from corruption and criminality to a center of productivity rather than aimless consumption. I am aware of some evil designs being hatched against me and my supporters in the coming months. Efforts will be made to taint my image. Campaigns of calumny are being perfected to defame my character and diminish my hard-earned integrity.

“These schemes will aim at degrading our support base and confusing the public. But, no evil campaign will alter the substance of my character; nor diminish my patriotic commitment to a better Nigeria. It is about the future of our youths. it is about ending the Years of Locust. In all of this, I thank Nigerians, our great party (LP) and the media. The latter, as the Fourth Estate of the realm, has remained a trusted ally.

“This Estate must continue to guide our people on the immense promise of a future in a new Nigeria. God bless Nigeria and protect the troops keeping us safe in this season of vaulting insecurity. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria. -PO”

Politics

Osinbajo, Remi Tinubu, Others Attend Presidential Inauguration Church Service

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The Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, and his wife, Dolapo, Oluremi, wife of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, attended the presidential inauguration interdenominational church service at the National Christian Centre in Abuja on Sunday.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Senator-elect Godswill Akpabio, and other dignitaries attended the service.

The service is one of the events scheduled for the Monday, May 29, inauguration ceremony of Tinubu and Vice President-elect Kashim Shettima.

Politics

I will never call Tinubu my President – Pastor Bakare

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The Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has said that he will never call the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, his president.

The clergyman said this during a webinar on Saturday, May 27, after delivering his speech on the Zoom programme titled, ‘Building the New Nigeria: The Role of the Diaspora.”

Bakare had said the 2023 elections were below acceptable standards.

When asked if he would be happy to work for the new government as a ‘Minister of Diaspora Engagements,’ the clergyman laughed and spoke about how he addresses President Buhari.

Bakare said he recently told Buhari that sometimes he called him President of Nigeria and other times, he called him “My President.” He however said he would never refer to Tinubu as “My President.”

“Last Wednesday, I was at the Glass House where he (Buhari) has been restricted now because the main house is being renovated. I said I have done that for you.

I want you to know that, because of the circumstances of your flying into power on the wings of integrity and incorruptibility, but you’re now passing onto someone who does not have that value,” the cleric told the participants.

He continued; “at any public lecture anywhere, before this mess is cleared off, I will address Asiwaju as a President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria but I will never call him my president.”

He said he didn’t participate in the elections, therefore, no one would say he lost in the exercise. Bakare, who participated in the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary election on June 14, 2022 and polled no vote, said;

“I participated in the primary, and there were hundreds who participated only by stepping down, so there is no shame in what we have done. We spoke truth to power within seven minutes. I wasn’t there when they voted, I wasn’t there when they scored (me) zero, but we won that badge of zero and badge of honour.”

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