Rumours

T emidayo Akinsuyi, Lagos Yinka Odumakin, National Publicity Secretary of Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, on Tuesday said deposed Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi must have crossed some political lines under the All Progressives Congress (APC). Speaking in a chat with DAILY INDEPENDENT, Odumakin said Sanusi as governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) lied about missing money during the Goodluck Jonathan so as to force a regime change that ushered in the Buhari administration. “I have no strong views on his dethronement as there are more pressing important issues that should engage our attention ranging from insecurity to falling oil prices. Sanusi was a CBN Governor who turned the office to a personal one aid donating public money like a Donatus all over the place. There was a time we used to know CBN Governors by their photographs and signatures on Naira notes. “He became part of the political machinery in 2014 telling lies about missing money that was not proved ...

The power play over who succeeds President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023 may have created a wedge in the relationship between Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and his mentor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State and national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Daily Independent has gathered. Though he is yet to confirm or deny reports that he is nursing a presidential ambition in 2023, many loyalists of Tinubu, who played a significant role in President Buhari’s election in 2015 and 2019, have confirmed that he is passionate about becoming the number one citizen in the next political dispensation. It was gathered that Tinubu had decided to lie low in respect of his ambition for now so as not to upset Nigerians and President Buhari, who is just six months into his second term. It would be recalled that Tinubu’s rumoured plan was to serve as running mate to President Buhari during the 2015 presidential election but some stakeholders such as Bukola Saraki, ...

Investigation by our reporter has revealed that the major textile and rice markets in Cotonou, Benin Republic, have seen a massive decline in patronage following the complete closure of the land borders and increased clampdown on smuggling. A 24-hour observation at the Seme border post revealed a complete compliance with the FG’s directive on the closure of borders to both imports and exports as only passenger movement is aloud. In August, President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the closure of Nigeria’s land border with Benin, hence preventing the import of goods. This recent move is part of an effort to tackle smuggling and associated corruption and also to spur domestic agricultural industry. On October 14, 2019, Nigeria ordered the closure of its border with Benin, as well as those with other countries, for the same reason. According to the Nigerian maritime site Ships and Ports, in 2014 Benin lowered its tariffs on rice imports from 35 to seven per cent, while Cameroon erased it...

There were wild jubilation as the Appeal Court, Owerri division on Thursday, November 7, dismissed the suit challenging the victory of, Orji Uzor Kalu, as the senator for Abia North Senatorial District, Igbere TV reports. Igbere TV reported earlier that The National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Umuahia, Abia State, has nullified the victory of a former governor of the state, Orji Uzor Kalu, at the 2019 general election. However, the court of appeal dismissed the case of irregularities brought before it by Senator Ohuabunwa. The Court delivered a judgement affirming the election of Senate Chief Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu as the duly elected representative for Abia North senatorial district.

Daily Trust Online has exclusively obtained names and portfolios of some of the aides of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who were sacked by President Muhammadu Buhari. The crisis rocking the presidency yesterday worsened as Buhari sacked 35 aides of Osinbajo, Daily Trust reports. Prominent on the list of the affected aides is Ajibola Ajayi, the daughter of former governor of Oyo state, Isiaka Abiola Ajimobi. She was appointed Special Assistant, Legal to the President (VP’s office) in August 2019. She was a former SA to the President on Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE (VP’s office) from October 2015 to May 2019. Also on the list are Lanre Osinbona, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on ICT; Imeh Okon, SSA on Infrastructure; Jide Awolowo, SA, Oil & Gas; Gambo Manzo, SA Political and Edobor Iyamu, SSA, Niger Delta. But the presidency also yesterday insisted that there was no rift between the president and his embattled deputy. Multiple presidency sources confirmed the sack ...

The statement that roads in the country are not as bad as they are portrayed, attributed to Babatunde Fashola, Minister for Works and Housing, has earned him a response from a member of the House of Representatives, Bamidele Salam. Mr Salam (PDP–Ede North/Ede South/Egbedore/Ejigbo federal constituency) challenged Mr. Fashola and other relevant stakeholders to boycott air travels for road ones for the next 90 days in order to estimate the ratio of good to bad roads in the country. Mr Fashola had on Wednesday while addressing state house correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, said: “The roads (in the country) are not as bad as they are often portrayed. I know that this is going to be your headline, but the roads are not that bad.” The gauntlet But Mr Salam, while speaking with journalists Thursday, chided the minister. “I found this statement, which had been repeated by the Hon Minister at least on two previous occasions as a clear indication that som...

The Federal Government has given approval for the construction of the $5.3bn Ibadan to Kano standard gauge rail line project. Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, disclosed this on Thursday at the third Maritime Stakeholders Interactive Forum. “Just yesterday, we got approval to complete the $5.3bn Ibadan to Kano rail project. We have also applied for funding to commence coastal rail for the Port Harcourt to Warri segment,” Amaechi said. According to a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Transportation in Abuja, the minister also revealed that the Minister of State for Transportation, Gbemisola Saraki, would be in charge of all maritime agencies, while he (Amaechi) would focus on the railway sector. He said, “In my first term as minister, I completely abandoned the maritime sector to the heads of agencies. This time, that won’t be happening again. “I have instructed that the Minister of State for Transportation should personally supervise the maritime...

 Here are strong indications that the economy may slide back into another round of recession, given the apparent stagnation of government activities and the uncertainties surrounding its policy direction and priorities. It could be recalled that the 2019 presidential election was held on February 23 and the incumbent, President, Muhammadu Buhari, was declared the winner within a couple of days after the election. On May 29, he was formally sworn in as President for his second four-year tenure. However, there are apprehensions that the economy is currently at a standstill following the prolonged absence of ministers to drive government’s policies and programmes. In 2015 when President Buhari was first elected into office, he spent six months before appointing a cabinet, a situation that was largely responsible for plunging Nigeria into a recession the following year. Experts fear that the nation may be headed on a similar path as the President does not seem to be in a...

The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has said President Muhammadu Buhari and his government would be held responsible should any northerner fall victim of the consequences of the concerns they raised about the safety of Fulani herdsmen in the southern part of the country. Buhari had told Fulani herdsmen in the southern part of the country to ignore northern elders' statement urging them to leave southern Nigeria. However, not convinced by the assurance of safety from the presidency, CNG's spokesperson, Abdul-Aziz Suleiman, said in a statement made available in Abuja that while they welcomed the assurance by the president, they were not oblivious of the fact that the lives of their kinsmen were not secure in the southern part of the country. “CNG wholeheartedly welcomes the assurance given by Mr. President and his government to protect and guarantee the safety of all Nigerians anywhere they are, including the threatened herdsmen in the South. “We, however, wish t...

The immediate-past Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Chris Ngige, on Friday, stirred many, including some Senior Advocates of Nigeria into laughter at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja. Ngige, who attended the proceedings of the tribunal for the second time caused the laughter while trying to make a joke out of an alleged server of the Independent National Electoral Commission said to be containing the authentic results of the February 23, 2019, presidential election as claimed by the Peoples Democratic Party and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in their petition. Shortly after, the Justice Mohammed Garba-led tribunal of five judges went on break on Friday, Ngige walked up to a group of SANs having a chat within the courtroom. They were joined by the PDP’s Vice- Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, who had succeeded Ngige as the governor of Anambra State. After the exchange of greetings, Ngige held Obi by his hands and walked him u...

Petitioners’ Witness 62, Osita Chidoka, who served as the Peoples Democratic Party’s collation agent at the National Collation Centre for the February 23, 2019 presidential election, told the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal on Friday that he had never seen the server of the Independent National Electoral Commission. But Chidoka said INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, consistently told them about the server and also acknowledged its existence during the collation of the presidential election. The witness who also said he served as the head of the PDP’s situation room in Abuja where he was during the election receiving reports from the party’s agent, spoke under cross-examination by INEC’s lawyer, Yunus Usman (SAN). He said, “I have not seen the server but INEC consistently told us of the server and the INEC Chairman at the national collation of results of the election acknowledged the existence of the server.” When asked, he said, “I was there when the results were col...

Former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, on Friday attacked his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, describing it as a party dominated by ungrateful and sadistic elements. The former minister said also that the PDP is a party that kills the spirit of loyalty, love and commitment of members, who dedicate themselves to its cause. Orubebe, who is well remembered for openly confronting INEC’s declaration of Buhari as winner of the 2015 over Goodluck Jonathan, said that the PDP was doing sadistic things at the local government, state and national levels and that the behaviour of the party was hurting. Orubebe, who made the damning remarks in a chat with Vanguard, said he would soon expose those behind the ominous acts in the party. According to the former minister, the behaviour of some of the party bigwigs is also laughable and funny to him. The former minister said: The Peoples Democratic Party is a party of so many ungrateful and sadistic people, ...

I woke up this morning to find out that the agents of the Buhari administration have changed their story. They initially lied that I received grants from foreign agencies and NGOs. When I publicly challenged them to provide evidence or at least name even one of these agencies, they changed their story and now claim that I visit churches to preach and collect money for #FreeLeahSharibu This new lie is as easily dismissed as their first lie. I have NOT preached in ANY church in the last 3 years, nor sold books at ANY church. I have NEVER collected even a penny from ANY church for #FreeLeahSharibu or ANY other activity, and I challenge these liars to show evidence that I did. I have close to a million followers on Twitter alone and hundreds of thousands more on Facebook and Instagram and I have advertised on those media for ANY church that has given me even one penny to please speak up. I am still waiting. Perhaps their imagined churches or NGOs are in Mars. I was informed by...

The President of Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Paul Usoro, has declared that judges are afraid of performing their duties as expected due to fear and intimidation from the executive arm of government. Usoro lamented over the “intimidation of judges by members of the executive arm and security operatives”, stressing that judges now “operate under an oppressive and pervasive climate of fear and insecurity.” He made the disclosure while speaking at NBA’s National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting, held at the association’s secretariat in Abuja. The Senior Advocate of Nigeria said: “Our Judges are threatened, intimidated and blackmailed mostly by the executive arms of government and their agencies both at the federal and state levels. “Our judges cannot deliver justice under a climate of fear and intimidation. Justice thrives where and when there is an independent judiciary. There can be no such independence when there is no security of tenure for our Judges. There can be no...

Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Osun State 2018 governorship election, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has called on his supporters to be prayerful ahead of the Supreme Court judgement, Igbere TV reports. Igbere TV reports that the Supreme Court will on Friday, July 5 deliver judgment in the appeal filed by Adeleke following the Appeal Court ruling in favour of Governor Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In a statement sent to Igbere TV on Friday by Adeleke’s Media Aide, Mr. Olumide Lawal, he called on his supporters to remain calm and be law-abiding. He expressed hope and confidence that “by the special grace of God and the judicial process,” he would emerge victorious on July 5. Adeleke assured the people of the state that he will not disappoint them when he eventually, “through the grace of God and instrumentally of the judiciary,” emerge victorious after the Supreme Court judgement. He urged his supporters to discountenance the u...

The Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, and his deputy, Simon Achuba, have allocated to themselves a total of N14million for staging burial ceremonies. This is contained in the 2019 Appropriation Act of the state, a copy of which was sighted by PREMIUM TIMES. It was however not clear whose burial the funds were allocated for as the subhead did not state further details. Under the provisions for the state’s Government House, N12million was earmarked for the governor for burial, while the deputy governor got N2million for the same purpose. An interesting provision was N15million budget for the “Hire of Private Houses.” Other curious planned expenditures include a provision of N50million for Financial Assistance, whereas different provisions had already been made for donations and financial assistance to different organisations. For instance, N70million was provided for Donations; N70million for Assistance to Nigerian Legion; N10million to NYSC; N10million to the Less Privi...

Former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan have been cautioned against jeopardizing the country’s existence in a bid to propagate their selfish agenda. Some concerned Nigerians gave this counsel in a letter signed by Rev Musa Fomson and Prince Raymond Enero, Convener and Secretary respectively and addressed to the former leaders. According to the group, the comments of the pair has reached the head and can no longer be condoned. Read full letter below: Your Excellencies, please permit us to extend our heartfelt and warm greetings to you. And may we also congratulate both of you on the June 12, 2019, Democracy Day celebration. We believe President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR took the appropriate steps by redefining and normalizing Nigeria’s most suitable date for the commemoration of our Democracy Day. We all celebrated in grand style, as we fondly remembered our struggles for the entrenchment of democracy in Nigeria with the Late Chief MKO Abiola as the nati...

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) received N1.47 billion to replace and maintain computer servers for use during the 2019 general elections, PREMIUM TIMES has confirmed. It is not clear though how the servers, which store computer data, were used during the polls. But the finding raises fresh concerns over the commission’s recent claim it had no server for the elections. Determining whether the commission operated a central computer database that received election results has become central to the 2019 presidential election dispute, after former Vice President Atiku Abubakar said results on the server proved he defeated President Muhammadu Buhari. The electoral commission declared Mr Buhari winner of the February 16 election, but Mr Abubakar, his main challenger, has rejected the decision, saying his win was suppressed by INEC. The electrocal commission, INEC, has disputed Mr Abubakar’s claims, and has denied transmitting election results electronically...

Archbishop of Kaduna Catholic Diocese, Most Rev. Mathew Manoso Ndagoso has said that the current administration has shown that it cannot lead Nigerians out of hunger and insecurity. He noted that issues of hunger and insecurity were becoming worse by the day. The Bishop stated this when he fielded questions from journalists at the ongoing Annual General Meeting of the Nigeria Catholic Diocesan Priests’ Association taking place at the Catholic Social Centre, Kaduna. The cleric said since his ordination into priesthood 33 years ago, he had yet to know any regime as bad as the President Buhari led All Progressives Congress, APC, government. He said since the present government came to power, people from all walks of life had been trouping into his office to beg for money and food to feed their families. According to him, “You see, in governance or democratic government, if you know you don’t have the capacity to even rule a local government, don’t put yourself forward. ...

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, says the house will hit the ground running in terms of electoral reforms. Mr Gbajabiamila made the promise while receiving the European Union Election Observer team on Nigeria and ECOWAS in Abuja on Tuesday, a statement by the Speaker’s aide, Smart Olanrewaju, said. “Nigeria is ready to always follow International best practices. I commend the fact that there has been improvement in Nigerian electoral process but more needs to be done. “Parliament will hit the ground running in terms of electoral reforms as the process of elections is before, during and after the elections. “Election is the bedrock of any democracy and there is the desire to get the process right,” he said. The speaker commended EU for the tremendous job done all over the world, particularly in Nigeria. He said the reeled out recommendation would be looked into and that parliament would look into how to domesticate the recommendation as ...