Former Lagos governor, Bola Tinubu has revealed that he wasn’t invited to the reconciliation meeting with Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, which was held on Tuesday, March 1, 2022, at the palace of Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi.

Newsrand had reported that Aregbesola met with Adeyemi, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, in a desperate bid to reconcile with Tinubu, whom he recently had a fallout with.

But surprisingly to many people, the chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was absent at the meeting.

https://newsrand.com/2022/03/02/tinubu-i-wasnt-invited-for-reconciliation-meeting-with-aregbesola/

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has disclosed that Nigeria’s currency ‘Naira’ devalues by 10.6 percent annually since 1973.

This is One and Half times more than the long-term rate of the currencies of other emerging markets and developing economies at 7.2 percent, and Sub-Saharan Africa at seven percent over the same time period. According to IMF.

https://newsrand.com/2022/02/25/imf-naira-devalues-by-10-6-annually-since-1973/

Nigerians have taken to social media to express their reaction to President Muhammadu Buhari’s claims that his intervention stopped Nigerians from journeying by foot from Lagos to Ibadan.

Buhari had made the comments at the State House in Abuja when he hosted delegations from Kaduna State, led by the Emir of Zazzau, Ahmed Bamalli, and the state’s Deputy Governor, Hadiza Balarabe.

https://newsrand.com/2022/02/23/reactions-as-buhari-says-he-stopped-nigerians-from-trekking-from-lagos-to-ibadan/

The debate about politicians being among the best actors on earth is as old as humanity. What makes acting in politics so attractive is its subtle nature, emotional appeal and the interplay between human perception, real-life challenges, and human vulnerability. At the centre of all political drama is symbolic and connotative communication, where the unsavvy audience are fed, albeit subtly, messages that the subconscious assimilate, which concretises existing conceptualisations, create new meanings or re(shape) perceptions. Just as Soyinka’s seminal drama, “The Trials of Brother Jero” used an intricate web of plot, setting, and character to communicate the hypocritical nature of religious activists in Nigeria, political drama manipulate the plot and character to advance a metaphor of strength, growth, or decay.

https://newsrand.com/2022/02/21/drama-reality-and-illegal-refineries-by-dakuku-peterside/

A former Senator representing Rivers South-East district in the National Assembly, Magnus Abe has said the President Muhammadu Buhari would be remembered for not interfering in any election.

Abe stated this after paying a courtesy visit to the Chairman, Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers, King Godwin Giniwa, at his palace in the Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State to thank him and the council for the recent chieftaincy title (Mene Suanu I of Ogoniland) conferred on him.

https://newsrand.com/2022/02/21/what-buhari-will-be-remembered-for-senator-abe/

Sadiya Farouq, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, has stated that the federal government’s (FG) N5,000 cash transfer each to poor Nigerians brings them tears of joy.

Addressing participants at the weekly ministerial media briefing organised by the Presidential Communications Team at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Farouq made this statement as she dismissed a popular assertion that the government’s N5,000 monthly national conditional cash transfer to some poor and vulnerable people is insufficient to lift Nigerians out of poverty.

Maintaining that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, with the cash transfer, has helped people move from their dire condition to a soothable position, the minister revealed that some of the initiative’s beneficiaries even save from the N5,000 cash transfer.

https://newsrand.com/2022/02/18/farouq-fgs-n5000-cash-transfer-brings-tears-of-joy-to-people/

Sunday Akere, the Special Adviser to Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun State on Political Affairs, has revealed the cause of the issue between his principal and Rauf Aregbesola, the Minister of Interior.

As reported on Newsrand, Aregbesola had accused All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain of betrayal, as he accused Oyetola of not consolidating on his eight-year achievements.

Addressing a rally held to garner support for his anointed candidate on Saturday, February 19, 2022’s Osun governorship primary of the APC, Moshood Adeoti, Aregbesola said the incumbent governor took him as his enemy even though he had never harmed him.

https://newsrand.com/2022/02/18/why-aregbesola-is-not-happy-with-oyetola-aide/

Timipre Sylva and General Muhammadu Buhari are two of a kind in content and character. They are the typical monozygotic twins. They share so many things in common. Both were once governors at two different times and dispensations. They both have a congenital affiliation with the nation’s oil industry. Sylva comes from the region which produces the nation’s oil. Buhari, on his part, hails from the region which, though does not produce a drop of oil, controls the nation’s oil sector.

Buhari was once a Minister of Petroleum. During that inglorious era, his enemies alleged that a huge sum of our patrimony, derived from the sales of our oil, developed wings and flew away. The issue of $2 billion oil money remains indelible till date. At another time, Buhari found his way to the helm of affairs to manage our oil resources as the chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund, PTF. That was during the era of the expired dark goggled Head of State, Sani Abacha. From Hades, Abacha is still sending us windfall from the loot from petrol dollars.

Why this analogy? It is to show that the recent contaminated fuel the Buhari and Sylva NNPC imported or approved to be imported to Nigeria is not by accident. Some people, as a multibillionaire once described, “are born with the opposite of the Midas touch”. Anything they touch dies or fails to prosper.

https://newsrand.com/2022/02/15/nigerias-contaminated-fuel-and-adulterated-leadership/

Babawale Olayinka, identifying as a media aide to Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The crime commission had arrested Olayinka, alongside 25 others for alleged internet fraud at the Soka area of Ibadan, Oyo State.

This was disclosed through a statement released by the Ibadan Zonal Office of the EFCC, following a verified intelligence on the suspects’ cybercrime activities.

https://newsrand.com/2022/02/15/efcc-arrests-man-identifying-as-governor-mankides-aide/

The Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, the fifteen member sub-regional group would have to adorn its fire brigade attire once again, the third time in less than two years, to put out the fire of yet another full blown military takeover of a member state.

And to make matters even more intractable, a section of the military struck in Guinea Bissau to seize power but has been unsuccessful so far, barely two weeks after the successful military coup in Burkina Faso.

The military in Burkina Faso on January 24, snatched former President Christen Roch Kabore and announced to the country that his government has been taken over, because extremist Jihadists have held the country by the jugulars especially in its outskirts, where they are savagely murdering people and destroying properties while politicians in the capital make merry and snore away. Furthermore, the military alleged that as the economy stagnates and heads to the tailspin as a result of insecurity, politicians are surfing around the land to award themselves another tenure to continue the same thing.

https://newsrand.com/2022/02/14/west-africa-democracy-and-military-rule/

Support Groups Management Council, a pro-Bola Tinubu coalition, has broken its silence on the viral picture of the former Lagos governor in a wet dress.

Tinubu had on Saturday, February 11, 2022, visited some traditional rulers in Ogun State, including the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain embarked on the visitation to seek royal blessing on his presidential ambition.

https://newsrand.com/2022/02/14/tinubus-camp-breaks-silence-on-wet-dress-controversy/

Legal juggernaut, Afe Babalola has revealed that the most-effective way of stopping the recycling of failed leaders in Nigeria is for professionals to occupy 40% of the National Assembly seats.

Speaking during the closing of a four-day regional workshop for implementation of Outcome-Based Education in engineering programmes in Nigerian universities, Babalola explained that such a quantity of professionals would give Nigeria full and equitable representation devoid of elections of legislators who are sponsored by godfathers.

https://newsrand.com/2022/02/11/how-to-stop-recycling-of-failed-leaders-afe-babalola/

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) has debunked claims that he blamed the judiciary for the delay in the handling of high-profile corruption cases in the country.

In a statement issued by Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, the Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Office of the AGF and Malami, said he noted with dismay the way his response to a question in a recent interview was construed to evoke “unintended and non-existing inferences” which some mischief makers projected as him blaming the judiciary.

https://newsrand.com/2022/02/10/malami-denies-blaming-judiciary-for-delaying-cases/

Daniel Bwala, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has given his reason why Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will not be contesting for the presidency in 2023.

He revealed the reason when he featured on Channels’ Politics Today, adding why Osinbajo will not be dragging the APC ticket with Asiwaju Tinubu.

“Yemi Osinbajo is not running for President. He is not interested. Bwala said.

https://newsrand.com/2022/02/09/why-osinbajo-wont-vie-to-contest-2023-presidential-race-apc-member/

The Lagos State Government has banned the use of speakers, microphones, amplifiers, megaphones at garages to reduce the state’s noise pollution.

This was disclosed by the Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Dr. Omobolaji Gaji at a briefing, stating that the rate of noise in public places is alarming.

https://newsrand.com/2022/02/09/lasg-moves-to-reduce-noise-bans-use-speakers-at-garages/

Former President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan has revealed that he built schools for Almajiris in the North as a way to reduce crisis and insecurity.

Jonathan disclosed this at the maiden Bayelsa State Education Summit in Yenagoa while giving a speech on “Optimising the Delivery, Performance, and Sustainability of Outcomes in the Education Sector”.

He added that western education remains the key to change and bringing about development in a region.

https://newsrand.com/2022/02/08/how-i-planned-to-end-north-crisis-goodluck-jonathan/

The Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN), has hinted that President Muhammadu Buhari, may withhold assent from the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill if it is considered to have proposals based on personal interests.

According to the minister, the bill, which the National Assembly transmitted to the Presidency the second time on Monday last week, just got to him on Monday, February 7, 2022, for legal advice.

https://newsrand.com/2022/02/08/why-buhari-wont-sign-electoral-bill-malami/

Former Lagos governor, Bola Tinubu, who’s vying to run for a presidential election, has returned to Nigeria after spending 10 days in the United Kingdom (UK).

The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in the late hours of Sunday, February 6, 2022, where he was received by some leaders of his 2023 campaign train.

https://newsrand.com/2022/02/07/tinubu-returns-to-nigeria-after-10-days-uk-trip/

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will not give out 2023 Presidential tickets to those who will not think of Nigerians interests.

The Governor has announced that by his performance, he is a qualified candidate to rule Nigeria in 2023, as earlier reported on NEWSRAND.

“No doubt, people believe that by my performance, I am likely to run. There is no doubt about the belief of the people. Wike said.

https://newsrand.com/2022/02/07/wike-pdp-2023-presidential-ticket-is-not-for-self-interest-people/

Former presidential candidate, Patrick Utomi has stated that there is no difference between the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), whom he described as Nigeria’s political juggernauts.

In an interview on Sunday Politics, a current affairs programme on Channels Television, in which he made this statement, Utomi who’s a co-convener of Nigerian Consultative Forum, said even though there are 16 other registered parties in the country, the political ecosystem of the country is built mainly on APC and PDP.

https://newsrand.com/2022/02/07/utomi-apc-pdp-are-the-same/

Two female students were rushed to the hospital as a kerosene explosion rocks their hostel at Madonna University, Rivers State.

The students who were both freshers had returned home to cook on their kerosene stove when they were met by an unfortunate disaster.

Eyewitnesses had revealed that the kerosene had been tampered with by the black market sellers, and this will not be the first time it has caused an explosion.

https://newsrand.com/2022/02/04/explosion-at-madonna-university-leaves-two-students-hospitalized/

Chaos has risen in Imo state as suspected cult members kill retired Assistant Commissioner of Police, Christian Kpatuma.

According to reports, he was killed at his residence in Agwa, Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State.

The murder of the police chief, popularly known as ‘Hippies’ has caused apprehension among residents of the area. Cult members are said to have taken over the Agwa community.

https://newsrand.com/2022/02/03/tension-in-imo-state-as-cultist-kills-police-commissioner/

Following Femi Otedola‘s acquisition of a 7.57% stake in First Bank Holdings, Julius B. Omodayo-Owotuga, who’s Deputy Chief Executive of Geregu Power Plc, a company chaired by the billionaire, has joined the financial institution.

Omodayo-Owotuga joined FBN Holdings’ Board as a Non-Executive Director.

This development came three months after Otedola started acquiring shares in First Bank Holdings, which eventually led to him becoming the bank’s largest single shareholder.

https://newsrand.com/2022/02/02/geregu-powers-omodayo-owotuga-becomes-first-banks-director/

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, is likely to turn down Abubakar Atiku’s request to run as the Vice President, as he believes that by his performance he could be running for Presidency.

Recall, NEWSRAND had reported that according to a reliable source, the former Vice-President of Nigeria, who is vying for the seat of the president has picked Wike as his running mate over Peter Obi.

https://newsrand.com/2022/02/02/why-wike-might-turn-down-atikus-request-as-running-mate/

Former Anambra Governor, Peter Obi has disclosed that he can only contest the 2023 presidential race if the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) considered zoning its ticket to the southern region of Nigeria.

Obi, who contested alongside former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, made this known on Tuesday, February 1, 2022, in a post on his Twitter handle cited by Newsrand.

“Yes, I will step into the field to contest for the opportunity to serve this great country as President if my party, the @OfficialPDPNig, zones the ticket to the south. But if it is thrown open, Nigerians will also hear from me,” the tweet read.

https://newsrand.com/2022/02/01/why-i-will-contest-2023-presidential-race-peter-obi/

As COVID-19 continues to rage, Nigerians who withdrew funds from their Retirement Savings Accounts (RSA), according to data from the National Pension Commission (PenCom), rose to 28,041 in the nine months to September 2021 from 26,458 in the corresponding period of 2020.

The data from PenCom on the withdrawal of 25% of RSA balances, has it that the workers withdrew N15.11 billion from January to September 2021, compared to N14.91 billion in the same period a year earlier.

8, 221 job losers withdrew N4.31 billion in the first quarter of 2020 while 4,668 workers withdrew N2.25 billion in Q2 2020.

https://newsrand.com/2022/01/31/nigerians-withdraw-n30bn-pension-savings-over-loss-of-jobs/

A few weeks ago, former Lagos Governor Bola Tinubu informed President Muhammadu Buhari that he would like to succeed him in office after his second term tenure elapses next year (2023). “I have informed the President of my ambition but I have not informed Nigerians yet, I am still consulting,” the former Governor said as he addressed journalists after meeting the latter at the State House, Abuja.

Following Tinubu’s expression of interest to contest the 2023 presidential race, there have been reactions from the country’s political stakeholders, his critics, and supporters. While some of them threw their weights behind the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, others rebuffed him, saying affliction would not rise the second time in a row.

https://newsrand.com/2022/01/31/4-things-tinubu-has-in-common-with-buhari/

As the 2023 presidential race stiffens, former Vice President Abubakar Atiku, who’s aiming to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in office, has picked Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State as his running mate.

Sources familiar with this development disclosed that Atiku preferred Wike to Peter Obi, with whom he contested the last presidential election.

Obi, a former Anambra State governor, and economist was Atiku’s running mate in the 2019 general election, and even though his brilliancy and economic management were widely known, he lacked the political affluence to pull clout and votes, the sources claimed.

https://newsrand.com/2022/01/31/2023-presidential-race-atiku-picks-wike-as-running-mate/

Chicago State University has confirmed that former Lagos governor, Bola Tinubu, is indeed its graduate.

Beverly Poindexter, who is in charge of official transcript requests, enrolment, and degree verification at the Office of the Registrar, CSU, made this confirmation in a mail response.

“Mr Tinubu did attend our university, however, if further information is needed, go to studentclearinghouse.org website to make a formal request,” Poindexter wrote.

https://newsrand.com/2022/01/27/chicago-university-tinubu-truly-graduated-from-our-school/

Some yet-to-be identified gunmen have invaded the palace of the traditional ruler of Agodo village in Ewekoro local council of Ogun State, Oba Ayinde Odetola, where they set him ablaze alongside four of his aides.

The incident, which had since stirred panic in the Ewekoro environs, happened in the early hours of Monday, January 24, 2022.

https://newsrand.com/2022/01/25/gunmen-invade-palace-set-monarch-ablaze/

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed confidence in producing the next governor of Ogun State.

Iyorchia Ayu, the National Chairman of the party, while addressing PDP members in Abeokuta, Ogun capital, said the state doesn’t belong to the incumbent All Progressives Congress (APC).

https://newsrand.com/2022/01/24/pdp-expresses-confidence-in-winning-2023-guber-in-ogun/