Politics

President Buhari conveys emergency meeting

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President Muhammadu Buhari has reportedly convened an emergency Council of State meeting which would hold on Friday, February 10.

Daily Trust reported that national crisis including petrol and naira scarcity, insecurity and others will be discussed at the meeting.

The governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is expected to provide an update on the new currency redesign policy scheduled to take place at the Council Chambers, Presidential Villa, Abuja, at 10 am.

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu as well as the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, will brief the council on the preparation for the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections as well as March 11 governorship and state houses of assembly polls.

The meeting is aimed at dousing the tension ahead of the election and avert a potential national crisis given anger over the scarcity of new naira notes.

Politics

BVAS will de deactivated when snatched by hoodlums – INEC

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INEC’s Deputy Director of Information and Communications Technology, Lawrence Bayode has reassured Nigerians that the Bimodal Voter Registration System cannot be manipulated.

Appearing on a Channels Television programme on Wednesday, February 8, Bayode said the BVAS will be deactivated from the backend so that the snatched device won’t be manipulated. He added that this would be done after being reported by the Polling Officer.

Bayode said;

“If a BVAS is snatched, we have a system in place that can deactivate that particular BVAS.

“We deactivate it so that whoever snatches the device will not be able to do anything with the device because the device pushes the accreditation data automatically on its own even without the operator pushing a button. When it is idle, it pushes that accreditation data to the backend.

“If such a thing happens, the PO reports and from the backend, that device is deactivated so that the person who took away that device will not be able to do anything with the device.”

Politics

We have no option than to work with MC Oluomo-led parks committee – INEC

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will work with the Lagos state parks management committee for the distribution of election materials and personnel in the state.

Olusegun Agbaje, INEC resident electoral commissioner in Lagos, spoke on Tuesday, Feb. 7, during the inter-agency consultative committee on election security (ICCES) meeting at the commission’s office in Lagos.

Agbaje said;

“There is a ban on the NURTW and RTEAN, we are only left with the Park Management system and NARTO (National Association of Road Transport Owners) and we are already working with NARTO.

“NARTO is not even able to meet up with 40 percent of our vehicle requirements for this election. The commission in Lagos State does not have any option than to use park management system.

“We are not dealing with Oluomo, we are dealing with the park managers. Individual people that have vehicles are those we are going to use. “So, it will be working against the law if INEC has to continue to work with NURTW or any other group that is proscribed in the state.

“At the Central Bank of Nigeria where they are going to move our materials, there will be security agencies and party agents including the military to monitor and escort these vehicles from CBN to Local Government Areas (LGAs).

“So, I don’t see how this can compromise the election in any way. Our politicians should see the peculiarity in Lagos State; we cannot work with banned NURTW or RTEAN.

“We need over 5,000 vehicles for this election, including trucks, buses and so on to carry our people and materials for the elections. There is no other way we can go.

“We cannot go to other states and bring vehicles here, it is not allowed by law. The only way we can operate is through the park management system.

“These are the only people that can give us any type of vehicles. In fact, most of the NURTW drivers are working with the park management system.”

Politics

Nobody can say what will happen to Nigeria if I don’t become president- Peter Obi

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Peter Obi, the presidential flag bearer on the platform of the Labour Party, says he wishes Nigeria well but expresses concern about what will happen next to Nigeria if he loses the February 25 presidential election.

A large turnout of voters at the poll would pave the way for Mr Obi’s victory, said a poll conducted by Nigeria’s data intelligence provider, Stears, describing the Labour Party standard-bearer as “Nigeria’s most popular presidential candidate.”

New Nextier, an Africa-focused consulting firm, also predicted that the ex-Anambra governor would win in February.

According to the Labour Party standard-bearer, the presidential poll is an existential election, and he urged everyone to be involved.

“If we get it wrong, nobody can tell what next will happen. In all I am doing, I will always wish Nigeria the best,” Mr Obi stressed.

“I know you will, too and in doing that, I urge you to be part of the new Nigeria Datti, and I are fighting for.”

Mr Obi stated this at a public presentation of the book, ‘Peter Obi: Many Voices, One Perspective’ in Abuja.

He thanked the organisers of the book launch for believing in him and for choosing to be part of his efforts to see that a new Nigeria is possible and appealed to Nigerians to support him in turning Nigeria around by voting for him in the February 25 presidential election.

“We are committed to it; as I told all the supporters, we need people. We need all of you to support us, especially in these final days to reach the end of this phase. Nigeria has suffered a lot. This is a great country that can be turned around,” the former Anambra governor explained.

Mr Obi added,

“We cannot succeed without your intervention, so as you launch this book, please be part of what we are doing to change Nigeria.”

Politics

Atiku tells Buhari not to make Nigerians scapegoats of poorly implemented naira policy

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PDP presidential flag bearer Atiku Abubakar has condemned the poor introduction of the new naira banknotes and told President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime not to make Nigerians scapegoats “in the ongoing battle of titans over the redesign of the naira.’’

Mr Abubakar made the appeal in a statement by his media aide in Abuja on Tuesday.

He said Mr Buhari’s regime had a duty to swiftly see to it that banks did not become stumbling blocks on “the well-thought out policy of naira redesign.”

The statement said;

“It is commendable that the federal government has rather preferred to work behind the scenes, based on the intelligence it is believed to have received, regarding suspicions that some presidential candidates may have stashed billions of naira as war-chest for vote-buying.’’

The former vice-president lamented widespread anxiety arising from poor execution of the naira redesign policy by banks.

“Businesses and cash-dependent smallholder enterprises are all currently in serious distress. This should be addressed urgently to save the economy from collapse,” he stressed.

Mr Abubakar said he had on January 28 made a crucial intervention on the redesign of the naira, calling on the regime and the CBN to consider adjusting the deadline, to address the challenges faced by the public.He restated that the policy was being mismanaged.

According to him, millions of Nigerians are driven into desperation and despondency because of the policy’s poor implementation.

“In recent weeks, social tension has been growing across Nigeria on account of the poor management of the redesign of the naira policy,’’ the presidential hopeful added.

Politics, World News

Killers of 16 Nigerians in Burkina Faso will be punished — Buhari

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The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Monday said those who killed several travellers, including 16 Nigerians, in Burkina Faso will be “appropriately sanctioned.”

This was as he said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the Nigerian Embassy in Burkina Faso, is engaging with the Burkinabe authorities to ensure that the soldiers who allegedly shot and killed the Muslim Pilgrims are prosecuted.

Buhari revealed this in a statement signed Monday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, titled ‘President Buhari calls killing of Nigerians in Burkina Faso unwelcome.’

At a news conference on Sunday in Abuja, the Jam’iyyatu Ansariddeen Attijaniyya of Nigeria revealed that 16 of its members were shot dead by the Burkinabe soldiers on patrol.

They were reportedly on their way to the home country of their leader, Sheikhul-islam Ibrahim Niasse in Senegal, when they met their untimely death.

The national secretary of the Islamic group, Sayyidi Yahaya, said that the Ansaruddeen members were “randomly selected and cold-bloodedly shot to death in a most horrendous display of bestiality,” after being stopped the Burkinabe soldiers.

Reacting to the incident on Monday, Buhari said he “received the tragic news of the murder of a number Nigerian Muslim pilgrims on their way to Kaolak, Senegal, when the buses conveying them came under gun attack in Burkina Faso.”

The President expressed his condolences and prayed for the safety of other Nigerians stranded there.

He also revealed that “the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the Nigerian Embassy in Burkina Faso, is engaging with the Burkinabe authorities and awaits the outcome of their investigation of the unfortunate incident, and if necessary, to ensure that all culprits are appropriately sanctioned.”

Buhari added that the Nigerian Government will make every effort to secure the mortal remains of the deceased and the survivors of the attack

Politics

Kaduna, Kogi, Zamfara governments drag FG to Supreme Court

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The governments of Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara states have dragged the Federal Government before the Supreme Court, seeking a restraining order to stop the full implementation of the policy.

The state governments were worried by the effects the Central Bank of Nigeria’s naira redesign policy is having on the residents of their states.

In the suits as plaintiffs are the three Attorneys-General and Commissioners of Justice of the three states, while the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, is the sole respondent.

The three northern states in a motion ex-parte filed on their behalf by their lawyer, AbdulHakeem Mustapha, SAN, are urging the court to grant them an interim injunction stopping the FG either by itself or acting through the CBN, the commercial banks, or its agents from carrying out its plan of terminating the February 10 timeframe within which the now older versions of the 200, 500 and 1000 denominations of the naira would cease to be legal tender.

Lifestyle, Politics

Police arrest Yoruba Nation agitators ahead of planned Lagos protest

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The police command in Lagos has arrested Yoruba Nation agitators planning to protest in the Alausa area of the state.

The command’s spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed this on Sunday on his verified Twitter handle.

“Earlier today, a number of Yoruba Nation agitators commenced setting up camp at Alausa, planned to be used as the base to launch a massive protest. Camp was promptly dislodged while agitators were arrested. Investigation continues at State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID),” he said.

Mr Hundeyin stressed that the state would not tolerate lawlessness, recalling that protests had, in the past, destroyed properties.

“Protests that started with this format in Lagos always snowballed into infringement of the rights of others, destruction of property and difficult-to-manage situations,” Mr Hundeyin explained.

“At Lagos state police command, we put crime statistics to use.”

He said section 4 of the Police Act 2020 stated that the police should maintain public safety, law and order and protect all persons’ lives and property in Nigeria.

Politics

Tinubu is behind widespread hoarding of cash by Nigerian bankers – PDP

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) expresses optimism that the hopelessness and anguish brought upon our nation by the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration will be a thing of the past when the PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, assumes office as president come May 29, 2023.

The PDP decries the excruciating pain and distress being faced by Nigerians arising from their inability to access the new naira notes occasioned by the reported nefarious activities of corrupt APC leaders who are compromising the system to intercept and hoard the new bank notes for their selfish vote-buying plans ahead of the February 25, 2023 Presidential election.

Nigerians recall the widely-applauded patriotic intervention by Atiku Abubakar that led to the extension of the initial cash swap deadline; an accomplishment which not only demonstrates Atiku Abubakar’s commitment to the wellbeing of Nigerians but also his experience, capacity and integrity to stand for the people and get the system to work for the public good.

Our Party is however saddened that the cash crunch had persisted due to the sabotage of corrupt APC leaders, including the APC Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who are alleged to have masterminded the intercepting and hoarding of the new notes for their selfish agenda.

The PDP is therefore disgusted by the hypocrisy being exhibited by the APC presidential candidate, who, despite his alleged role in the cash scarcity is pointing accusing fingers at others and seeking to exploit the ugly situation to incite unsuspecting Nigerians with the view to disrupting the 2023 general elections.

Asiwaju Tinubu and his apologists in the APC are aware that he has no chance in the election and thus are devising all manner of shenanigans to overheat the polity, derail the electoral process and force an undemocratic situation upon our country.

Nigerians now know the truth and hold Asiwaju Tinubu and the APC directly responsible for the anguish they have been subjected to in the face of this excruciating cash scarcity; another reason they will deal Tinubu a humiliating blow with their votes at the February 25, 2023 Presidential election.

The PDP calls on President Buhari to protect Nigerians by going after these felonious APC leaders as well as the saboteurs in the system who are reportedly working with the APC Presidential Campaign to mop up cash meant for distribution to our citizens.

Our party stands with Nigerians; the artisans, traders, drivers, “keke” and “okada” riders, labourers, food vendors, students and all hard-working citizens at this time of distress.

The PDP charges the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to be mindful of the sufferings being experienced daily by Nigerians and demands that the bank takes urgent measures to arrest the unbearable situation by ensuring adequate protection and effective monitoring of cash distribution process.

Among other measures, the CBN should immediately provide dedicated mobile banks and special cash points in areas of need particularly in the markets and rural areas of our country.

Using such facilities to dispense low amounts in markets and rural areas will drastically reduce the pain and anguish being experienced by Nigerians at this time.

Politics

I’ll restructure Nigeria within six months if elected, Atiku vows

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Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar says he will ensure Nigeria is restructured within six months of his administration if elected.

He said this at the PDP presidential diaspora campaign grand finale held in Abuja.

Mr Abubakar, who was represented by former National chairman of the PDP, Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo, said that sufficient research work needed to achieve restructuring in Nigeria had been concluded.

Mr Nwodo is the Deputy Director, Research and Strategy, of the PDP presidential Campaign Council (PCC).

He said that Nigeria worked better when every region controlled its natural resources.

The former vice president recalled that existing socio-economic developments were put in place when regions controlled their resources.

“When we are talking about restructuring by Executive Order, in the first six months, this country will not be what you are seeing today.

“This has been worked out and I’m just waiting to be sworn in on May 29 and the plans will be rolled out.”

He said that Nigeria was a great country, adding that all that it required was good leadership.“We will provide that kind of leadership,” he declared.

Mr Abubakar further said that if elected, he would rescue Nigeria from all indices that had portrayed it in bad light.

He listed his five-point agenda to include education and security, saying that he would restore security to the country by nipping in the bud factors responsible for rising violence.

Earlier, Director, Directorate of Diaspora Groups, PDP PCC, Professor Isa Odidi, had said that Nigerians in Diaspora believe that Mr Abubakar would articulate and implement the Diaspora Policy Framework to help capture, harness and channel their expertise to the country.

“Atiku’s government will do more to remove obstacles and create opportunities for Nigerians in the Diaspora to engage in economic development of Nigeria.

“We all unequivocally support Atiku/Okowa for President and Vice President of Nigeria,” he asserted.

Lifestyle, Politics

Governor Makinde suspends campaign activities over fuel, naira scarcity

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Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo has suspended his campaign activities until further notice over unending fuel and new naira notes crisis in the state.

Mr Makinde, whose campaign trail had visited parts of the state, announced the suspension at the flag off of the Omi-Adio-Ido Road on Friday.

The suspension was contained in a statement by Wasiu Olatubosun, the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism.

Mr Makinde said the suspension was in solidarity with the people over the harrowing experiences in recent time over the unending fuel and currency scarcity.

The governor, who was in Ido to continue his campaign, directed all campaign activities be suspended, noting that the people’s suffering was too much.

He said that the decision was taken because he was elected to protect the interests and wellbeing of citizens of the state.

Mr Makinde, who flagged off the Omi-Adio-Ido Road, also directed leaders of the party in the state to suspend further political activities.

“Makinde’s love for his people necessitated this unprecedented move, at this time.

“We urge all residents and citizens of the state to remain calm as we navigate through this difficult period together,” the governor was quoted as saying.

Politics

Buhari holds closed-door meeting with APC governors on cash, fuel scarcity

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President Muhammadu Buhari has met behind closed doors with governors elected under the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Though the agenda of the meeting was not officially disclosed, it was gathered that some national issues including the ongoing currency swap, fuel shortages in some parts of the country and their possible effects on the February and March general elections might have been discussed at the meeting.

Some of the governors in attendance include the chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu, governors of Ebonyi, Dave Umahi, Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Imo, Hope Uzodimma.

Others are those of Zamfara, Bello Matawalle; Ogun, Dapo Abiodun; Yobe, Mai Mala-Buni; Kaduna, Nasir El-Rufai; Kano, Abdullahi Ganduje; Kwara, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq; Niger, Sani Bello among others.

Politics

Tinubu promises to double four-year university education to eight years

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Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, on Thursday promised to double the duration of university education in the country from the current four years to eight years, saying Nigerians should elect him to be able to actualise his intention.

“Those of you in school, write it down,” Mr Tinubu said to Nigerian youth during a campaign stop in Osogbo on Thursday afternoon.

“Call me a bastard if you spend more than eight years in school. You will be in school for eight years.”

Mr Tinubu’s comments could be deemed insensitive in a country plagued by unnecessary delays in academic years due to persistent strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other tertiary education bodies.

Mr Tinubu’s promise marks a breakaway from longstanding academic programmes in Nigerian universities that run typically four years with the exception of highly specialised studies such as law and medicine, which last five and six years of university study, respectively.

The comment has further fueled criticism from Nigerians on social media, who maintain that Mr Tinubu’s worsening physical health has diminished his mental awareness and should be disqualified from seeking the country’s highest office.

A spokesperson for Mr Tinubu’s campaign did not return comments seeking clarification of his comments.

Mr Tinubu has made comments that seemed to disparage Nigerian youth in recent months.

While seeking the ruling party’s ticket for president, he vowed to conscript 50 million Nigerian youth into the military, saying they would do well feeding on corn, cassava and other farm produce while protecting the country.

He, however, failed to say how his idea would help modernise the country’s military infrastructure, which has been deemed among the most backward globally.

Politics

Court orders INEC to accept LP candidates in Lagos, Kano, Rivers, 21 other states

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The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to accept the nomination of candidates of the Labour Party (LP) in 24 states of the federation for the 2023 general elections.

Justice Inyang Ekwo gave the order on Thursday while delivering 24 different judgments in 24 different suits brought before him by the party.

The judge held that INEC violated Sections 31, 33 and 36 of the Electoral Act 2022 in rejecting the Labour Party’s candidates in the affected states on the grounds of non functioning of its nomination portal.

The court asked the electoral umpire to accept the list of the candidates in the 24 States either manually or through its electronic nomination portal.

Mr Ekwo held that the evidence of the Labour Party through exchanged letters with INEC in the nomination issue was credible and proceeded to attach probative value to it.

He said that the consequences of a non-functional electronic nomination portal could not be visited on the Labour Party.

He agreed with the submissions of the party that nomination and submission of candidates list could not be rejected by INEC from any party until 90 days to the general elections.

The court said that the time the Labour Party sought to submit the list of its candidates in the 24 states was more than 90 days to the 2023 general elections, and so it was within the time allowed by law.

Mr Ekwo held that INEC was bound to accept the party’s candidates’ list manually if its electronic nomination portal was faulty.He subsequently ordered INEC to open its website for the purpose of allowing the Labour Party to submit the list of its candidates or accept the same manually with immediate effect for the purpose of the 2023 general elections.

The 24 states affected include; Bayelsa, Niger, Rivers, Sokoto, Akwa Ibom, Gombe, Borno, Osun, Adamawa and Cross Rivers.Others are Benue, Bauchi, Ebonyi Ekiti, Kwara, Plateau, Katsina, Nasarawa, Lagos, Kaduna and Oyo states among others.

The Labour Party told the court that in November 2022, it substituted candidates who withdrew from the 2023 general elections in the affected states.

The party told the court that the withdrawals were communicated to INEC by the National Chairman and National Secretary of the party.

This, the party said, was done along with notification of the October 27 date to conduct substitution nomination primary elections.

However, at the point of uploading the fresh candidates names, INEC claimed that its nomination portal was faulty and declined to accept the candidates list manually and this led to the filing of 24 suits.

Lifestyle, Politics

INEC says 522,000 PVCs remain uncollected in Edo

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Thursday, announced that a total of 522,000 permanent voter cards (PVC) had yet to be collected in Edo.

INEC Head of Voter Education and Publicity, Timidi Wariowei, stated this during a town hall meeting on youth’s participation in elections.

The town hall meeting, organised by a non-governmental organisation (NGO), YES Project, was tagged: ‘Value Your Votes Najia.’Mr Wariowei, said that the 522,000 uncollected PVCs comprised both the old and the new ones.

He noted that at the end of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, a total of 419,000 PVCs, including transfers and information updates, were sent to the INEC office in the state.

“As at Feb. 1, out of the 419,000 PVCs, 299,000 had been collected, while a total of 120,000 are still uncollected.

“Also, about 402,000 old PVCs have yet to be collected in the state,” he said.

Mr Wariowei noted that when the distribution of the PVCs commenced, the daily collection was above 20,000, adding, however, that now, the daily collection had reduced to between 1,000 and 3,000 across the state.

He called on youth organisations and civil society organisations in the state to continue to sensitise residents on the need to collect their PVCs.

“It is the only means through which they can vote for their preferred candidates during forthcoming general elections,” he added.

Earlier, the Executive Director of YES Project, Oche Precious, in his address of welcome, said that the event was aimed at sensitising the youth on the need to come out en masse and cast their votes for their preferred candidates.

“This is the time to change the narrative by going out to cast our votes and decide the next leader that will pilot the affairs of our nation,” he said.

Politics

Supreme court dismisses suit against Oyetola’s participation in Osun poll

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The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seeking to restore the nullification of the participation of Osun ex-Governor Gboyega Oyetola and Deputy Governor Benedict Alabi in the July 16, 2022 governorship election.

A judgment by a five-member panel of justices led by Centus Nweze held that the appeal by the PDP was without merit and directed the lawyer to the PDP, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, to withdraw it.

The court held that the PDP could not, under the law, question the process leading to the emergence of Mr Oyetola and Alabi as candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the election.

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court had, in a judgment on September 30, 2022, nullified the participation of Oyetola and Alabi in the governorship election on the grounds that their nomination forms were endorsed by an acting chairman of APC, Governor Mai Mala Buni.

Mr Nwite’s judgment was set aside by the Court of Appeal, Abuja, in a judgment in December 2022, a decision the PDP appealed to the Supreme Court.

Politics

Akwa Ibom Government Demands Apology From Tinubu For Insulting, Making ‘Immature’ Comments About Gov Emmanuel, Indigenes

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The Akwa Ibom State government has vowed to take seriously, the threats made by the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu to send reptiles to invade the Governor’s Lodge in the state and eventually seize the property.

The state government in a statement issued on Wednesday by the state commissioner for information and strategy, Ini Ememobong, berated the former Lagos State governor for calling Governor Udom Emmanuel “a boy” and hurling what it described as “unwarranted, uncharitable and anachronistic” on the people of the state without provocation.

The state government asked Tinubu to tender a public apology to the state governor and the people of the state.

It said the APC candidate should rather concern himself with answering questions about his “nebulous history and his amorphous manifestos” as the matter of Nigeria’s presidency is a very serious business that must be treated with seriousness and intellectual depth.

“Mr. Udom Emmanuel was duly elected as Governor of Akwa Ibom State and therefore, it is clearly unpresidential and undemocratic for Senator Tinubu to say that he ‘calls himself governor’.

“Senator Tinubu should, during his campaigns, concern himself with answering questions about his nebulous history and his amorphous manifestos. The Presidency of our country Is a very serious business that must be treated with seriousness and intellectual depth.

“The Government advises all her citizens to ignore the vituperations of Senator Tinubu and continue to co-exist peacefully with all Nigerians who are living and doing legitimate business in our state.”

Also speaking on Tinubu’s outing in the state, Governor Emmanuel in a video making the rounds on the internet questioned Tinubu’s actions, including calling him a boy, pointing out that if he should return the insults, Tinubu will be unable to bear it.

Politics

Two killed as gunmen attack INEC office, police station with bombs in Anambra

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The Idemili South Local Government Area office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was attacked early Wednesday, police authorities confirmed.

The Anambra police command also said a police station was attacked by the gunmen in Ojoto.Spokesman Tochukwu Ikenga added that two casualties were recorded.

“The hoodlums, who came in their numbers at about 1:45 a.m. today with four unmarked Sienna cars, armed with improvised explosive devices, petrol bombs, invaded the INEC office, the police station and a residential building within the station.

“Unfortunately, a 16-year-old relative of a serving policeman in the station was murdered by the armed men while another 15-year-old girl sustained gunshot injury,” Mr Ikenga said.

He said that the injured girl was taken to an undisclosed hospital for treatment.

Entertainment, Politics

Writer Solomon Buchi Weds Fiancée

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Popular writer, Solomon Buchi, has wedded his fiancée, Arike.

Buchi shared pictures from the wedding via his Instagram account on Wednesday.

He wrote, “The most beautiful moment in our lives yet. I got to be joined as one with Àríké Adeola, now Adeola Solomon-Buchi 🥰Marriage, an institution so sacred, and in the presence of family and a few friends, we tied our nuptial vows and committed to forever.

On this note, on behalf of my wife and I, we’d like to wish you a happy Wednesday ✌🏾🫶🏾”

Politics

Buhari back in Abuja after Lagos, Senegal, Kano, Katsina, Bauchi, Jigawa trips

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President Muhammadu Buhari has returned to Abuja after visits to five states (Bauchi, Lagos, Katsina, Kano and Jigawa) in the country and a trip to Senegal.

Before departing for Lagos on January 23, Mr Buhari had attended APC rallies in Bauchi.

The president departed Lagos for Senegal on Tuesday after a two-day official visit to the state.

While in Lagos, the president inaugurated the Lekki Deep Sea Port, and the Imota Rice Mill projected to create more than 300,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Mr Buhari also inaugurated the Bestaf Lubricant at MRS Holdings Company Limited, Apapa, the historic first phase of the Blue Line of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit, and the John Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History on Tuesday.

The first phase of the Lagos Blue Rail Line, taking a ride from the Marina Station to National Theatre Station, executed by the State Government, which spans 13km, has five stations – Mile 2, Suru-Alaba, Orile Iganmu, National Theatre and Marina.

The Nigerian leader arrived in Senegal on January 24, to attend the 2nd Dakar International Conference on Agriculture. The high-level Dakar second summit was hosted by President Macky Sall of Senegal and the Chairperson of the African Union.

The conference, which seeks to create favourable conditions for achieving food security in Africa, was convened jointly by the government of Senegal and the African Development Bank.

In his goodwill message to the Feed Africa Summit of Heads of State and Government on Wednesday in Dakar, Buhari welcomed the provision of 538.05 million Dollars for the first phase of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) for Nigeria programme.

The African Development Bank, the Islamic Development Bank and the International Fund for Agricultural Development provided the facility.

Mr Buhari held a bilateral meeting with the president of Ireland, Michael Higgins, on the sideline of the Dakar conference on agriculture.

The Nigerian president, who returned to Nigeria on Wednesday night, embarked on another official visit to Katsina on Thursday.

While in Katsina, he inaugurated projects across the state and visited the Emir of Daura, Farouk Umar Farouk.

Mr Buhari inaugurated the Muhammadu Buhari Meteorological Institute undertaken by the Ministry of Aviation, the Darma Rice Mill in Batagarwa and the Katsina State General Hospital.

He also inspected ongoing work on the first flyover in Katsina, which had reached 90 per cent completion in the Government Reserved Area.

The president hosted the APC presidential candidate Bola Tinubu at his country home Daura. Mr Buhari had on Monday, and Tuesday visited Kano and Jigawa, respectively. During his one-day official visit to Jigawa on Tuesday, the president visited four local government areas to inaugurate some projects, including the Hadejia Valley Irrigation Scheme at Auyo, Birnin Kudu Specialist Hospital, Malam Alu Integrated Agro-Allied Farm, Birnin Kudu, and the dualised Unity-Pentagon-Fanisau Road.

The president unveiled a 50.3 metres flag pole at the farm, described as the tallest in the country.

Before returning to Abuja on Tuesday evening, Mr Buhari also had an aerial view of some roads, infrastructure, bridges and places affected by the September flooding disaster, which affected many parts of Jigawa.

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