₦airaland Forum

TWO traditional rulers in Bayelsa and Delta States, HRM King Dodo II of Bilabiri Kingdom, and HRH King-jerry Prebor (snr.), the Amananaowei of the Meinbutus Federated Communities, have accused President Tinubu of performing the script of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nyesom Wike, against Governor Similanayi Fubara in his Tuesday declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.

HRH Prebor who spoke to Saturday Vanguard on the phone, said: ‘’Tinubu’s actions are biased because throughout his broadcast, he never saw anything wrong with the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, who is behind everything happening in Rivers State.

“What the president did is clear, he played the script of Wike whose aim was to impeach Governor Fubara, so the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State is the alternative to the impeachment by Wike. The script read by President Tinubu is the same script written for the Supreme Court to execute Rivers State, which gave the Rivers State House of Assembly the impunity to attempt impeachment of the constitutionally elected governor.

“If the President had sanctioned the minister before taking the kind of action he took, it would have been a different thing, but I am glad that of a truth, the governor is the people’s choice. He is humble and developmental.”

On his part, King Dodo II said, “Rivers State is under oppression and siege. The removal of the governor of the state is not democratic. It shows that the federal government led by Tinubu is dancing to the tune of the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike. Why not sack the minister himself who is the one orchestrating all the ugly happenings in Rivers State? The president should sack Wike, in order to manage the Rivers crisis and prevent it from escalating to other parts of the Niger Delta.”

Agency Report


The United States said Friday it was terminating the legal status of hundreds of thousands of immigrants, giving them weeks to leave the country.

President Donald Trump has pledged to carry out the largest deportation campaign in US history and curb immigration, mainly from Latin American nations.

The order affects around 532,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans who came to the United States under a scheme launched in October 2022 by Trump’s predecessor Joe Biden and expanded in January the following year.

They will lose their legal protection 30 days after the Department of Homeland Security’s order is published in the Federal Register, which is scheduled for Tuesday.

That means immigrants sponsored by the programme “must depart the United States” by April 24 unless they have secured another immigration status allowing them to remain in the country, the order says.

Welcome.US, which supports people seeking refuge in the United States, urged those affected by the move to “immediately” seek advice from an immigration lawyer.

The Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans (CHNV) program, announced in January 2023, allowed entry to the United States for two years for up to 30,000 migrants per month from the four countries, which have grim human rights records.

Biden touted the plan as a “safe and humane” way to ease pressure on the crowded US-Mexico border.

But the Department of Homeland Security stressed Friday that the scheme was “temporary.”

“Parole is inherently temporary, and parole alone is not an underlying basis for obtaining any immigration status, nor does it constitute an admission to the United States,” it said in the order.

Trump last week invoked rare wartime legislation to fly more than 200 alleged members of a Venezuelan gang to El Salvador, which has offered to imprison migrants and even US citizens at a discount.

AFP

The Senator representing Anambra Central in the National Assembly, Victor Umeh, has fired back at allegations that he received a $10,000 bribe to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s State of Emergency declaration in Rivers State.

A report alleged that 42 senators were allegedly paid to back the decision to suspend Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

However, in a statement on Friday, Umeh dismissed the accusations as baseless blackmail, insisting that he was not part of any deal.

“I did not receive any money to support the state of emergency in Rivers State. I was not at any meeting where such payments were allegedly made,” Umeh declared.

The senator revealed that he was at an Iftar gathering at the Senate Guest House, where he led Christian prayers. He emphasised that no discussions about the state of emergency took place at the event.

“We prayed for peace in Nigeria and reconciliation in Rivers State. There was no talk of emergency rule,” he clarified.

Dismissing the allegations as a deliberate attempt to tarnish his reputation, Umeh assured his constituents that he remains committed to honest and accountable leadership.

“I will not be distracted by false reports. My focus remains on serving my people with dignity and integrity,” he vowed.

https://www.thecable.ng/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Undeclared-dollars-seized-at-Abuja-airport-768x512.jpg

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says its operatives intercepted an undeclared $193,000 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

In a statement on Friday, Abdullahi Maiwada, the NCS spokesperson, said the undeclared currency was concealed inside a carton of yoghurt.

Maiwada noted that the passenger arrived in Nigeria on an Ethiopian Airlines flight, No. 951, from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

He said the undeclared funds violated the Anti-Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, which require travellers carrying over $10,000 or equivalent in negotiable instruments to declare it upon arrival or departure.

“Acting on intelligence, customs officers conducted a detailed inspection, leading to the discovery of the concealed cash,” the statement reads.

“The seized money has been formally handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and possible prosecution.

“As required by law, we are handing over the forfeited funds to the EFCC for further necessary action.”

Maiwada reiterated the NCS commitment to enforcing financial regulations and preventing illicit financial flows across Nigeria’s borders.

He urged travellers to comply with the legal requirement to declare any cash or negotiable instruments exceeding the approved threshold when entering or leaving the country.

By By Adamu Abuh, Abuja


The Deputy Spokesman of the House of Representatives, Mr. Philip Agbese, has hinted that Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State and the state House of Assembly members may be recalled even before the expiration of their six-month suspension, which was imposed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu due to the state of emergency proclamation.

Agbese, who spoke at the end of the House plenary session on Thursday, justified the endorsement of the state of emergency in Rivers State, arguing that it was aimed at restoring peace and tranquility in the state.

Stating that peace and order across the country are necessary for good governance to thrive, he explained that the House’s decision to propose amendments to the proclamation was aimed at appeasing conflicting parties in Rivers State.

He called on Nigerians to support the parliament and President Tinubu in finding a lasting solution to the crisis.

He noted: “The National Assembly is a micro-Nigeria. I say this because every Nigerian has a representative both in the Senate and in the House of Representatives. So, we always try to seek ways to address the problems and challenges of our people.

“We cannot deny that the challenges in Rivers need to be fixed. In his wisdom, Mr. President intervened and sought the approval of the National Assembly to ratify his declaration. But you saw what played out in the plenary.

“The House proposed three recommendations, all of which were approved at plenary. We believe that the Committee of Eminent Nigerians, which we recommended, will play a huge role in resolving the Rivers crisis faster than we envisaged.

“We also proposed a review of the emergency rule, such that if peace is secured before the expiration of the six months, the governor and the State Assembly will be recalled.”

By Leadership News

The Senator representing Bayelsa West senatorial district, Henry Seriake Dickson, has shed more light on his clash with the Senate President Godswill Akpabio at Senate plenary on Thursday over the declaration of State of Emergency on Rivers State and the suspension of democratically elected officials and institution by President Bola Tinubu.

Senator Dickson, the immediate-past governor of Bayelsa State, said Akpabio’s attempt to muzzle and intimidate him over the matter was unfair.

The Bayelsa West Senator also revealed that he was against President Tinubu’s declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State, particularly the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy and the State House of Assembly, as it was unconstitutional.

Taking to his Facebook page on Thursday night, Senator Dickson provided insights on the behind-scene events in the Senate, leading to the ratification of President Tinubu’s declaration on Rivers State by the Senate.

The lawmaker wrote: “Today at the sitting of the Senate, the issue of the President’s proclamation of a state of emergency in Rivers State came up for discussion and as I have stated repeatedly, I raised my objections in the closed session on how the declaration fell short of constitutional prescription, based on my view as a Democrat, sworn to uphold the Nigerian constitution.

“The Senate did not undertake the debate in an open session however, it was quite robust. I want to thank Sen. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal for his strong support of the unconstitutionality of the declaration, especially the aspect that deals with the suspension of the elected officials of the Rivers State government.

“At the end of the day, majority of the senators supported the proclamation as no room was given for an open debate at plenary. I left the plenary before the Senate President was directed to report the outcome because I didn’t want to be present while what I opposed is being reported. I believe Senator Tambuwal, Senator Abaribe and others equally left too.

“I want to make it clear that as I stated repeatedly, I spoke and voted against the proclamation in our closed session, supported by Senator Aminu Tambuwal and a few other senators who were not recognized to speak.

“And so I want to thank all the senators who shared the view that I vigorously canvassed.

“I am, however, aware of the efforts made to modify the declaration as a result of the concerns and views we have expressed and canvassed the past few days. Though I acknowledge the effort being made by the leadership and President to moderate the terms of the declaration and to create a mechanism for oversight, theoretically this does not counter the primary issue of constitutionality.

“The beauty of democracy is such that the minority will have their say while the majority their way. I would have wished for a more robust and open debate so that all views and opinions can be openly canvassed as I requested even at the closed session specifically and thereafter, the majority can have their way but as it is, both chambers have decided and the ball is now on the court of the other arms of government, especially the judiciary, in the event of any challenge.

“My attention has also been drawn to a viral video showing parts of the unfortunate exchanges between the Senate President and I before we desolved to the closed session.

“As I said on the floor, the Senate President was very unfair to me by trying to censor my freedom of expression and by deliberately misrepresenting the import of what I said in the broadcast yesterday which was the same thing I said on the floor today. It is my opposition in principle to the declaration of a state of emergency, as well as the suspension of elected officials.

“I thank all those who have called to commend my composure under unnecessary and unexpected attempt at intimidation. Everyone, including the Senate President, knows I have long gone beyond that stage in my life.

“The Senate as I said is a meeting of equals and everyone should be respected just as we accord respect to the Chair. No senator needs the permission of the senate president to express an opinion in an interview on a topical matter of national interest that is in the public domain.

“I intend to meet the Senate President to formally express my displeasure, to prevent a reoccurrence.

“I thank my constituents, Nigerians and all people of goodwill who have called to express solidarity and urge them not to be dismayed at the direction our democracy appears to have taken.

“For someone like me who has been in trenches over the years, all these challenges are actually a call to duty and I therefore implore all people of goodwill to come together and ensure that participatory democracy is promoted in our country.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Rivers State,” Senator Dickson stated.

STATEHOUSE PRESS STATEMENT

PRESIDENT TINUBU SALUTES NATIONAL ASSEMBLY FOR PATRIOTIC STAND ON RIVERS STATE EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday lauded the National Assembly for its decisive and patriotic ratification of the State of Emergency proclamation in Rivers State, a critical step to restoring stability after a protracted political crisis that paralysed governance in the state and endangered national economic security for over 15 months.

The President specifically commended the National Assembly's leadership—Senate President Godswill Akpabio, House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, other principal officers and members—for prioritising the security and welfare of Rivers State people above partisan interests and other considerations.

He further acknowledged the lawmakers' diligent review of classified security briefings, underscoring the urgent need for intervention to prevent further escalation.

"The crisis in Rivers State was at a perilous tipping point, threatening the security of vital oil and gas installations and undermining the national economy and the significant progress we have made in the reforms initiated since our administration commenced in May 2023," President Tinubu remarked.

"As I detailed in my address to the nation on 18 March, the near-total collapse of governance, threats to federal economic assets, and the risk of widespread violence left no room for hesitation. This emergency measure is a lifeline to safeguard livelihoods, secure critical infrastructure, and restore democratic accountability."

The President affirmed that the six-month emergency will empower the newly-appointed Sole Administrator to stabilise Rivers State, address systemic breakdowns, and facilitate dialogue among conflicting parties.

President Tinubu also reaffirmed his administration's commitment to deepening collaboration with the National Assembly to advance peace, economic resilience, and equitable development across Nigeria.

"Today's decision exemplifies what our nation can achieve when unity of purpose and patriotism guide the action of leaders. We remain steadfast in pursuing a safer, more prosperous Nigeria—one where every citizen's potential is safeguarded and nurtured," he said.

The President thanked all Nigerians for their understanding and urged all stakeholders to support the restoration of peace in Rivers State.

Bayo Onanuga

Special Adviser to the President

(Information & Strategy)

March 20, 2025

By Adebayo Folorunsho-Francis


‎The suspended lawmaker representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has taken her frustration to the popular British television station, Sky News, where she narrated that she spent over a year enduring the alleged sexual advances of Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

The senator reiterated during the interview with the British Television network on Wednesday that her suspension was a direct consequence of her outcry against Akpabio’s alleged sexual harassment and not the gross misconduct the Senate reported.

According to her, the Senate president continually told her that she must “please him” if she wanted to enjoy her privileges and perks of office as a Senator.

She said, “I made an allegation of sexual harassment against the President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, on March 5, 2025, and the very next day, I was suspended for six months. I believe my suspension is illegal, unjust, and just a way of silencing me.

“I experienced sexual harassment over the past year in the hands of the Senate President, and this sexual harassment, because I refused to yield to his demands, turned into malice whereby my rights and privileges as a senator were deprived.

“I found the courage to speak up; yes, the breaking point was moving me from that seat; I have had to endure a whole lot in silence.”

When reminded that the Senate attributed her sanction to gross misconduct, the lawmaker refuted it, saying it was a calculated attempt to silence her.

“Yes, they did mention that I was suspended on grounds of gross misconduct, but can they please provide what the gross misconduct is that amounts to a six-month suspension the day after I submitted a petition? I was suspended because of that petition, not because of any gross misconduct.

“Let’s talk about the gross misconduct that had happened in the Nigerian chambers. I was only told to move, and I refused to move my seat because I deserved to be notified; I deserved to be given a chance to explain why I should retain my seat,” she noted.

To further back up her claim, the Kogi legislator recalled that she has witnessed some male colleagues fighting, screaming, and insulting one another with no sanction meted out.

Akpoti-Uduaghan argued that using her as a scapegoat only reflects the hypocrisy and double standards in the Senate.

She said, “I have seen in that chamber where men fight, where Senators throw items at each other, curse each other, shout at each other, but they were not suspended. Why? Because they were men. Things got difficult for me; I was always complaining.

“My husband would actually walk up to him because they are friends, saying, ‘My wife has a very important bill, her constituency needs this, why don’t you give her a chance to speak? And he would tell me, ‘Next time. So he deliberately kept on denying me this.

“Each time I walked to him he’d tell me, ‘Right here I am the chief presiding officer of the National Assembly, so you have to please me, make me happy to get these privileges.’ And that happened several times because I refused. It developed into malice. Which other way was I supposed to make my voice heard?”

Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for six months by the House for breaking the Senate rules after she objected to her new sitting arrangement.

Her appearance as a guest on Sky News comes barely one week after she escalated her dispute with Akpabio, presenting her case at a United Nations forum, the International Parliamentary Union, where she alleged political victimisation.

She was suspended on March 6 after a heated confrontation with the Senate leadership over a new seating arrangement, which she claimed was designed to undermine her.

Tensions intensified when the Kogi politician accused Akpabio on Arise TV of punishing her for rejecting his alleged sexual advances.

Speaking at the Women in Parliament session during the Inter-Parliamentary Union meeting at the United Nations in New York, Akpoti-Uduaghan called for international intervention to hold the Nigerian Senate accountable.

She further decried stringent conditions imposed on her, including withdrawal of security, salary cuts, and a ban from the National Assembly for six months.

Air Peace has said travellers will enjoy up to ₦600,000 reduction in airfares when they connect from cities across Nigeria to London with one additional luggage.

The airline said this in a statement by its Head of Corporate Communications, Dr Ejike Ndiulo, on Wednesday.

Ndiulo added that the promo runs until March 31, 2025, with an extended travel period until April 15, 2025.

Air Peace said the airline continues to redefine international travel with its London route, offering seamless connectivity from major domestic destinations.

The statement reads partly, “As the largest airline in West and Central Africa, Air Peace remains steadfast in its vision of fostering prosperity through reliable air travel, reinforcing Nigeria’s position as a key player in global aviation.

“With its expanding domestic and international routes, the airline is making it easier for people to explore new opportunities and for businesses to thrive in an interconnected world.”

Ndiulo said the Chairman of the airline, Allen Onyenma, had made the announcement at the Silverbird Man of the Year 2024 Awards held recently in Lagos.

He added that at the event, through a raffle draw organized by the airline, five winners namely; Abodede Samuel Opeyemi, Comfort Bassey, and Folajimi Olayinka Oduyebo won return economy tickets to any of Air Peace’s domestic destinations, while Osuagwu Nwamarachi and Eremu Precious struck gold with economy return tickets to London, thus providing them with seamless travel experiences across Air Peace’s extensive route network.

According to Ndiulo, the initiative underscores the airline’s mission to make air travel more accessible while empowering individuals and businesses to reach their full potential.

Quoting the airline’s founder, Ndiulo, emphasized the airline’s role in driving socio-economic development through its robust CSR initiatives.

“At Air Peace, we believe that aviation is more than just transportation; it is a bridge to opportunities, a catalyst for economic growth, and a tool for empowerment. We are committed to supporting individuals and businesses by connecting dreams with possibilities,” he stated.

On Monday, Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesm Wike, announced the revocation of 4,794 land titles, over non-payment of Ground Rent. Among the revoked lands is the National secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In a revocation notice dated March 13, 2025, Director, Land Administration, FCT, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, said the opposition party failed to pay the annual ground rents due on the property for twenty (20) years, from January 1, 2006, to January 1, 2025, despite many publications in several national dailies and electronic media to pay up every outstanding bill and ground rent on its property.
Nwankoweze, who signed the letter on Wike’s behalf said the PDP headquarters had become the property of FCDA.

“I am to further inform you that the subject property (Plot No. 243 Central Area, Cadastral Zone A00, Abuja) has thus reverted to the Federal Capital Territory Administration and the Administration will take immediate possession thereof.”

National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, had described the revocation order as “a drive towards totalitarianism and attempt to stifle opposition”.

Ologunagba who disclosed that the order also extended to the temporary and permanent offices of the party, said the move is a threat to democracy.

On his party, Ambasador Illiya Damagum, Acting National Chairman of the PDP, summoned an emergency meeting. It was in the middle of that meeting that President Bola Tinubu declared a State of Emergency in PDP-governed Rivers over the political crisis in the state.

The president said he could not sit and watch militants who had threatened to blow up pipelines if Fubara were impeached to carry out such threats. He said he tried to intervene in the crisis but the warring parties refused to allow peace reign.

The president appointed a retired Naval Chief to preside over the affairs of the state for the six months when Fubara and the lawmakers would be out of office.

However, Presidential Candidate of the PDP in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, has described the president’s action as an assault on democracy.

In a statement he personally signed on Tuesday night, Atiku said Tinubu was an interested party in Rivers crisis.

“Anyone paying attention to the unfolding crisis knows that Bola Tinubu has been a vested partisan actor in the political turmoil engulfing Rivers. His blatant refusal — or calculated negligence — in preventing this escalation is nothing short of disgraceful.

“Beyond the political scheming in Rivers, the brazen security breaches that led to the condemnable destruction of national infrastructure in the state land squarely on the President’s desk. Tinubu cannot evade responsibility for the chaos his administration has either enabled or failed to prevent.

“It is an unforgivable failure that under Tinubu’s watch, the Niger Delta has been thrown back into an era of violent unrest and instability — undoing the hard-won peace secured by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua. Years of progress have been recklessly erased in pursuit of selfish political calculations.

“If federal infrastructure in Rivers has been compromised, the President bears full responsibility. Punishing the people of Rivers State just to serve the political gamesmanship between the governor and Tinubu’s enablers in the federal government is nothing less than an assault on democracy and must be condemned in the strongest terms.”

A police inspector, Ajele Oloyede, has reportedly died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at a ceramics company in Igbesa, Ogun State, where he was stationed as part of the security detail.

PUNCH Online gathered on Sunday that the incident occurred on Thursday.

According to the state police spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, an officer from Force Headquarters Annex, Lagos, Tolorunloju Stephen, discovered the incident upon returning from Ikeja around 1:20 p.m.

Stephen reportedly found Oloyede resting his head on a table inside the security office.

When asked about his well-being, the inspector assured Stephen that he was fine.

Odutola said Stephen then placed his bag and pistol on the table and stepped into the restroom.

Moments later, a gunshot was heard.

Odutola stated that Stephen allegedly found Oloyede lying in a pool of blood.

Odutola said, “With the help of private security personnel, the wounded officer was immediately taken to Ota General Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead by the doctor on duty.

“Police officers visited the scene, and the deceased’s pistol was recovered. His body has been deposited at Ota General Hospital for autopsy, while we have begun notifying his family.”

She disclosed that the case would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Eleweran for further investigation.

The appointment of Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as Chairman of the Board of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has sparked speculation about his potential ouster from his position as the party’s leader.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced Ganduje’s appointment on Friday in Abuja through his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

Ganduje, a former governor of Kano State, and several of the members of the National Working Committee (NWC), were among 42 individuals appointed as board chairpersons for federal agencies, alongside secretaries for the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Immigration, and Prisons services.

While there have been insinuations that Ganduje and the NWC members’ appointments might be the first time party executives are also given board appointments, findings by Daily Trust revealed that there are precedents.

Late Tony Anenih was appointed Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in 2009, during his tenure as the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees.

However, the dual role sparked criticisms from some quarters, as it was perceived as a consolidation of power and influence within the political and administrative spheres.

Similarly, the appointment of Ganduje as chairman of the board of FAAN has reignited debates in the North Central zone about reclaiming the national chairmanship slot—a position the region has sought since the controversial resignation of Senator Abdullahi Adamu.

Stakeholders from the North Central have expressed optimism that Ganduje’s new role might pave the way for the region to regain the position.

“We are gradually inching toward 2027. Mr President must do the right thing by reversing the chairmanship to the North Central,” said a party source from the region, speaking on condition of anonymity.

During earlier controversies surrounding Ganduje’s leadership, there were rumours of an ambassadorial role being proposed as a soft landing, though the party denied such claims. With his recent appointment, speculation has resurfaced about whether this signals an eventual change in party leadership.

Despite these rumours, credible sources within the APC assert that Ganduje’s appointment, like those of other National Working Committee (NWC) members, is unrelated to his duties as the party’s chairman.

However, the North Central APC Forum continues to push for a return of the chairmanship to the region. The forum, led by Sale Zazzaga, filed a lawsuit against Ganduje, arguing that his appointment breached the party’s zoning agreement before the 2023 elections.

The forum is insisting that the remaining tenure of Adamu should be completed by a North Central member.

Ganduje has so far weathered these challenges, maintaining his position amid opposition and legal disputes.


Possibility of NEC intervention

Political analyst and APC chieftain, Chief Jackson Lekan Ojo, believes Ganduje’s appointment is part of a strategy to provide soft landing for him and other NWC members ahead of anticipated changes in the party.

“The appointments are a way to settle them pending their eventual exit,” Ojo said, adding that the National Executive Committee (NEC), the party’s second-highest decision-making body, might use its next meeting to dissolve the NWC.

According to Ojo, Ganduje’s leadership goes against the party’s earlier zoning arrangements. He argued that the North Central should have been awarded the chairmanship, as the North West already holds prominent positions, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives and Deputy Senate President.

“I believe they are preparing for the 2027 elections by reorganising the party’s structure,” Ojo stated.


APC stands firm on Ganduje

In contrast, the APC insists that Ganduje remains firmly in his position and will continue to deliver on his mandate despite ongoing criticisms.

“The new appointment given to Ganduje is not an executive role. It will not interfere with his duties as the national chairman of the party,” APC National Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, told Daily Trust in a phone interview.

Ibrahim dismissed the speculations as baseless, accusing critics of attempting to undermine Ganduje’s relevance. “Every day, they come up with permutations that do not materialise,” he said.

He further emphasised that the North Central’s complaints about zoning lacked merit, pointing out that the region now holds the position of National Legal Adviser, occupied by Prof. Kana.

The “Critics should ask themselves if the legal adviser will also be sacked,” Ibrahim remarked.

Despite persistent opposition, the APC maintains that Ganduje’s position is secure. “His relevance cannot be diminished by the wishes of his critics or the opposition,” Ibrahim concluded.

The Lagos State Government has lamented the persistent operations of Okada riders on the highways in Lagos where they have been banned.

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, expressed this concern during a dialogue with journalists in Ikeja on Friday, asking whether Okada should be totally banned in the entire state or not.

Addressing questions at the programme with the theme ‘Joint Citizens’ Media Engagement Forum,’ Omotoso said motorcyclists kept returning to the areas where they were banned, especially on the highways and bridges, saying it is “a very controversial matter.”

“The government keeps taking them off the road and you wonder where the new ones are coming from,” he told the gathering.

Omotoso stressed, “Don’t forget, Okada is not banned all over Lagos, they are banned on major highways, on bridges and in some local governments. So, where they are not banned, they are free to operate. But where they are banned, like on the highways in Mile 2 and others, every time, the Task Force goes there to seize the Okada from them.

“Unfortunately, some human rights organisations feel that Okada is a human rights symbol and should be allowed to move freely in the state, I think this is not responsible for us.”

Omotoso lamented that despite the ban, “you still find Okada riders on the bridges, riding against the traffic, even on Eko Bridge, and the more you take them off the street, the more they come. As I have said, Lagos is a victim of its own success.

“So there is a new controversy now, should Okada be totally banned everywhere in Lagos or should we stick to this gradual withdrawal? So I will leave it to you, journalists, through your various channels, to let us know the opinions on whether Okada should go (totally or not).

“Because once there is a total ban, the excuse of riding where it was not banned will be out of it.”

By Ahmed Oluwasanjo


Despite Katsina state being one of the poorest states in Nigeria, Fatima Dikko-Radda, wife of the Katsina governor, was seen spraying wads of dollars at a party over the weekend.

A video seen by Peoples Gazette showed Mrs Dikko-Radda dancing and spraying dollar notes as a musician sang her praises.

“Fatima Dikko, Fati-Radda,” the Hausa musician sang as the first lady and her friends lavishly sprayed dollars at the party.

The Gazette learned the video was recorded on Saturday at Mrs Dikko-Radda’s sister’s wedding in Katsina.

A recent clampdown on naira abuse at parties and other gatherings by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reportedly forced elites like Mrs Dikko-Radda to adopt foreign currency for their display of wealth.

Mrs Dikko-Radda’s dollar-spraying amid severe economic hardships in the country, particularly in Katsina—one of the poorest states in Nigeria—highlights the insensitivity of the Nigerian ruling class.

Katsina, where Mrs Dikko-Radda went on a dollar-spraying spree, also has one of the highest populations of out-of-school children in Nigeria, with over 500,000 children out of school.

Additionally, Katsina has been a hotbed of banditry in recent years. Bandits in different coordinated attacks have raided schools and kidnapped students in their hundreds.

Two major projects were announced in Abuja last week: a polytechnic and a military barracks. Both were named after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I thought the president would say no to such fawning sycophancy. But no. He appears to love it. He actually sat and presided over the inauguration and naming of the barracks.

A man goes to the stream to bathe and all maidens of the village struggle to be his wife or at least his mistress. That is the fortune of our president today; every loin scrambles for his hood. A sycophancy championship is afoot. If I were the president, I would be afraid and worried. Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar was offered the crown three times, and three times he rejected it. Yet, that gesture was used to consummate a conspiracy against him.

Niger State governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, about this time last year, was overwhelmed by his love for our president. The governor looked up, he looked down, he thought of how best to sujada to the father of the nation. He raced to the airport in Minna and yanked off its recently printed name. The airport belongs to the Federal Government but the Niger governor told Tinubu’s TVC that in appreciation of the president’s magnanimity, he thought the only way his state could celebrate him (Tinubu) “for now” was to name that airport after him. Governor Bago said: “I sat down with my stakeholders, we got his (Tinubu’s) consent and his approval and here we are.”

Just nine months earlier, the place was named Dr Abubakar Imam Kagara International Airport. Abubakar Imam (1911-1981) was a writer and pioneer in journalism in Nigeria. He edited Nigeria’s first Hausa language newspaper, Gaskiya Ta Fi Kwabo in 1939. Naming the airport after him in June 2023 was thought appropriate and fit. But by March 2024, the airport had another naming ceremony. It became Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport. Bago said Imam’s name had been given to a polytechnic since he was more a scholar. If I would be a bad boy, I would have used that point to ask Bago if he renamed the airport after the president as a confirmation that he is a frequent traveller. The president did not see anything wrong in his name being connected with such a change with such an argument. He was at the unveiling event in Minna to “commission the remodeled and upgraded terminal.” Tinubu was less than ten months in power when that honour fell on his shoulders. A commenter told BBC pidgin that time: “If na me be President Tinubu, I no go even accept di change of name.” Fortunately for Governor Bago and his stakeholders, Tinubu wasn’t that person.

Many more of such ‘recognitions’ will roll in for our president now that the world knows what tickles our Daddy.

Someone looked at all the frenzy and ‘feverity’ of last week in Abuja, and combined them with last year’s one in Minna, and suggested that we do something more monumental: we should change the name of our country to Tinubu Kingdom. Another suggested that ‘empire’ would be more appropriate. An emperor presides over an empire.

They may be right. If IBB, the man who built Abuja, had been as smart and quick and alert as this president, the Presidential Villa would by now be called Ibrahim Babangida House; or the city itself named IBB City. But the smart General was slack; he missed that opportunity to house every subsequent president in his ‘house’ and city. And if each of Tinubu’s other predecessors had been as alive as the incumbent, the FCT and the 36 state capitals would by now be galleries of their names and labels. But they were all like Babangida – too shy, or too careful – to do what Napoleon now does.

And, why not change Abuja, our federal capital’s name to Tinubu? After all, the Liberian capital, Monrovia, is named after James Monroe, America’s fifth president who pioneered the creation and colonization of Liberia . Monrovia, until 1824, was known as Christopolis. It was originally created in 1822 by Monroe and his friends as a solution to the problem of having too many blacks in their United States. We have a local example. Port Harcourt, our garden city, owes its identity to the name of Sir Lewis Harcourt, the British Secretary of State for the colonies who approved and supervised the amalgamation that birthed Nigeria.

There are more ancient local examples that will strengthen our argument for a total, comprehensive and permanent immortalisation of Bola Ahmed Tinubu. And it is significant that these positive vibrations are coming from northern Nigeria where there are plenty of points to pick from history. History says Daura, the spiritual home of Hausa people, is named after a woman, Magajiya Daurama, the ninth queen of that town. History adds that even the city called Katsina is named after a princess of Daura named Kacinna. There is a major town in Jigawa State called Hadejia. Hadejia is a toponym derived from the names of a hunter and his wife who founded the town. Their respective names were Hade and Jiya. We can use these examples to promote our next motion that the FCT should become the next addition to our president’s honour. For regional balancing, I wanted similar examples from Yorubaland to bolster our argument but I spent the whole of yesterday asking around if there was a traditional Yoruba town named after a human being, living or dead. I am still searching.

Tinubu as governor of Lagos State did not do these things for himself or for those who made him. Those he made have not done so too. So, he is lucky Nigeria is bigger, more generous, more appreciative.

It is true that Abuja is not Lagos. The demons controlling the aura of both places are different in the virulence of their demands and expectations.

In ‘The Art of War’, Sun Tzu says “the superior man must be watchful over himself when he is alone.” Tinubu is the superior man here. You would think he would be “watchful over himself” from the assaults of sycophants and parasites. But no. He enjoys every bit of the game. He is too big to be bothered about external corruption and internal corruptive tendencies. A large mirror is placed before him everywhere he goes, and he loves the big, ‘beautyful’ something he sees in that mirror. So, why risk his anger by warning him about his unclothedness? I also join my voice to the voices of his worshippers and adherents, people who say he is an idol.

If a man would be blind, my people warn such a person to be completely blind. Half-blind persons are perfect mongers of trouble. We can’t copy America’s presidential democracy without copying everything in and about it. The United States is currently savouring the sweetness in our sour soup: a lawmaker is proposing a third term for Donald Trump who started his second term just last week. America is fated to fall in love with the content of our shithole. We should reciprocate that love.

Give-me-I-give-you is what the toad croaks at the river bank. We should also go the American way by making idols of our presidents, past and present – particularly the present. Let us name our country and its capital, Abuja, after this hardworking Tinubu. Washington State and Washington DC in the United States are named after America’s first president, George Washington. Many of his worthy successors were similarly honoured with cities created in their names: There is the city of Lincoln in Nebraska named after Abraham Lincoln; There is Jackson in Mississippi named after Andrew Jackson; Jefferson City is in Missouri, the name honours Thomas Jefferson. There is also Madison in Wisconsin; it is named after President James Madison. We should not ask if these presidents did all these for themselves during the lives of their presidency. Except we are an ungrateful lot, our own president deserves honours as those that are sure to last beyond the end of the world. That is what an appreciative nation does.

An airport, a polytechnic and a barracks wearing the name of an incumbent president who is less than two years old in office is nothing. Those who did it have not done a tenth of what obtains in other countries of this continent. Hastings Kamuzu Banda was president of Malawi from 1964 to 1994 – thirty short years. I first came in contact with him and his ways in Jack Mapanje’s ‘Of Chameleons and the Gods’ taught me by Funsho Aiyejina (God repose his soul). While he was alive, Banda got his name inscribed on everything he touched: roads, hospitals and schools and everything that would make him live forever. At his death, 14 May of every year was declared ‘Kamuzu Day’ in celebration of the life of the father of the nation. An attempt to denigrate his memory surfaced soon after his exit. A succeeding president, in a fit of madness, declared 14 June as ‘Freedom Day’ to mark the end of Banda’s dictatorship. That insult did not last beyond the next election. Banda’s spirit moved against that president and his place another took. Another president soon came to sanitise the memory of their lord and saviour. He cancelled the dirty ‘Freedom Day’. Banda’s name is on an international airport and on other national monuments. That is how countries show gratitude to their fathers.

Literature scholar, Reuben Makayiko Chirambo, in 2010 wrote a piece in ‘Africa Today’ on the memories “of the Father and Founder of the Malawi Nation, Dr. H. K. Banda.” He wrote that some of Banda’s supporters hailed him as Ngwazi which means ‘Conqueror’. Some others called him Nkhoswe – ‘guardian’, ‘protector’, ‘provider’. Yet, to a large number of others, he was simply “savior, messiah, father and founder of the nation.” Banda’s fanatics pronounced him Wamuyaya – meaning, president for life. When I read that, I wanted to say may that not be our portion in Nigeria. But I cautioned myself. That would have been a very subversive prayer. May my mouth not kill me.

For those who say that it is too early for Tinubu to start inscribing his name on our breasts and buttocks, they should go check Banda’s records. It is from Chirambo that we read that in 1963, one full year before Malawi got independence, Kamuzu Banda had already boasted that: “I am dictator of the people by consent . . . by permission.” He was that open and transparent even before he took full control of the country. Leaders who would be ‘father’ and ‘saviour’ of their nation don’t sneak in their dagger under their tunic. They come early in broad daylight clutching the flashing torch of narcissism. Banda did his dictatorship so well that a cowardly Malawian poet, Frank Chipasula, in 1981 wrote a poem from exile in celebration of the president. The title: ‘A Monument to a Tyrant’.” If we work hard enough, Banda can be our model. We will benefit from his memory.

But why are the president’s friends and fans making a Banda out of him? The old man can still get all the honour being dashed him later when he is done and is found to have done well with the power he has. Obafemi Awolowo, Murtala Muhammed, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Tafawa Balewa are some of the examples he can copy. But he is not looking the way of those legends. He has not done well by not stopping all sycophantic drooling around him. He is an elder who ought to know that there are implications and consequences for the wealthy who choose to eat salt according to the size of their wealth. The president’s morsel is in improper dalliance with soup that draws and soils the breast embroidery.

When a democracy grows old and wrong, it becomes an oligarchy. Someone said that in a democracy, the key actors are idolators; in an oligarchy, they are idols. I know that in vain are all these lines and calls for sanity and moderation. Idolators must worship their idols. So, I plead that if we all want to survive the courtiers of this president, all of us – journalists, lawyers, judges, lawmakers, law breakers and law enforcers – will perform one last duty. We should join voices and forces, rename our country, rebuild the Presidential Villa and the FCT and make all of them bear the name and logo of Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He deserves the honour.

By Dotun Omisakin, Lagos


Peter Obi, Presidential Candidate of Labour Party in the 2023 election, has criticised the present administration, saying there are more “Yahoo people” in government than those outside.

Obi said this in his keynote address as guest speaker at the 4th graduation ceremony of Nexford University.

At the event themed: “Lead the change; ignite your future”, Obi stressed that the country is at the mercy of corrupt officials milking from the government coffers.

“For governance, don’t think when we talk about vices, it is only Yahoo boys. There are actually more Yahoo people in government than there are outside because we have turned the entire country into a crime scene where people inside are stealing and people outside are stealing,” he said.

He emphasised on the need for quality leadership to manage the affairs of the country, urging the graduates to become positive change agents in their communities.
“It is about leadership and igniting the future. It is not rocket science but it is difficult. It is being able to have a strong character, the ability not to do the wrong thing.

“It is for you to help to bring a better change in that society that you want to live in. You have acquired knowledge today. Use what you have learnt to help us change society.

“You are a victim of Nigeria because our age and the age before has refused to do what is right and you are suffering it,” he stressed.
The former Minister of Solid Minerals, Obi Ezekwesili described service as the bedrock of leadership, urging the graduates to engage in services that impact positively in both their workspace and the country as a whole.
“Service is the best of leadership. We hope that you see graduation as the opportunity for service to the work.”

“The world of work you are in is different from our world of work. This whole world that you are in, you have to master it,” she said.
The founder of the institution, Fadl Al Tarzi, highlighted that no fewer than 1200 students graduated, earning both first degrees and Master’s.

He said the institution is poised on improving education with the aid of technology, attributing it to the support of the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support learning.
“We have Artificial Intelligence (AI) specialisation for almost five years actually and we have integrated AI in all our courses in all of our programmes.

He stressed that AI could help Nigeria talents connect with global talents and improve the country’s economy.

“AI is going to improve the economy depending on how developed it is and it is going to unfortunately put people out of jobs whether in Nigeria and in other markets but it has the potential to increase productivity and to solve problems that could have taken years to solve significantly to accelerate research and development,” he said.

One of the graduates, Yewande Matthew who finished first class in Digital Marketing, said her academic voyage was mixed with excitement and labor, attributing her academic feat to prioritizing activities and effective time management.

The Nigeria Labour Congress has said the Federal Government is prioritising revenue generation over the welfare of citizens by supporting the recent 50 per cent increase in telecommunications tariffs.

The tariff hike, announced by the Nigerian Communications Commission on Monday, will see MTN, Airtel, Glo, and 9mobile charge more for calls and messages.

The move, the first in 11 years justified by the need for telcos to cover inflation and the high cost of operations of over 300 per cent, has sparked outrage among citizens, with the NLC particularly calling for protest.

Speaking on Arise TV on Friday, the Labour Union president Joseph Ajaero criticised the government for aligning with telecom companies while Nigerians grapple with the rising cost of living.

Ajaero, who leads a workforce earning less than $50 monthly as minimum wage, expressed concern that the government is neglecting its regulatory responsibilities and acting as though these private telecom companies are public enterprises.

“These corporate entities will be smiling to the bank while poverty among Nigerians continues. That’s the challenge we face now. We hear the minister speaking as if these are government-owned businesses.

“When you increase tariffs by 50 per cent, aside from the taxes the government may collect, it’s seen as a way to boost government revenue. This has been the same approach even in the power sector.

He warned that the tariff increase would disproportionately affect low-income earners, many of whom already struggle to cover basic living expenses.

“Government officials often say that higher tariffs are good, but this only pushes the people further down the poverty line. This is where we disagree. The government has not acted as a proper regulator to strike a balance between corporate interests and the welfare of the people.

“The government needs to strike a balance. For someone earning N70,000, paying over N10,000 on this tariff increase alone is significant. How will they afford transportation, housing, and other basic needs? It’s not realistic because, in reality, there’s no housing that costs N10,000, and transportation costs are equally high,” Ajaero said.

The NLC president also criticised the government’s reliance on imported telecom and power equipment, arguing that local production of essential components like cables and meters could reduce costs.

The NLC chief urged the government to encourage local manufacturing rather than passing the cost of importation onto consumers.

Ajaero criticised officials who defend the tariff hike on the grounds of inflation and operational costs, describing their arguments as a pretext to boost government revenue while neglecting the plight of Nigerians.

“The justification for this increase—citing inflation, cost of living, and importation of equipment—doesn’t hold when there’s potential for local production. Why are we importing cables and other materials that can be manufactured locally?

“For instance, even for metering, we’re importing cables. These are items we could produce domestically, but instead, we rely on imports and then blame rising costs on currency value and importation expenses.

“Where did we go wrong that ordinary Nigerians must always bear the brunt? We need to rethink these policies and ensure that people aren’t left struggling to survive while corporations thrive,” he lamented.

On Wednesday, the union issued a statement warning of potential collective action, including a nationwide boycott of telecom services, to compel the government and the NCC to reverse the decision.

The National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers will today engage the telecom regulator seeking a possible reversal of the 50 per cent telecom tariff hike to 10 per cent.

Miss Abasifreke Joseph, a Corps Member, kidnapped on January 9, 2025 along Enugu-Ezike Road, on her way to Kogi, says she faced torture and hunger in the hands of her captors.

Joseph, who was released on January 13, gave the narration in Abak, on Sunday, when Mr Sam Pepple, the NYSC Coordinator in Akwa Ibom, visited her.

She said: “I spent five days and five nights at the kidnappers’ den without water and food.”

The corps member said she and other hostages were beaten and dispossessed of their mobile phones and other valuables.

“I was posted to Kogi for national youth service, I reported at the orientation camp, and was sworn in on November 29, 2024.”
“I became sick while the orientation course was ongoing, so I got the permission and approval of the Camp Director to travel home for medical attention.

“I was returning to Kogi on Jan. 9, the incident happened at about 4.30p.m along Enugu-Ezike Road in Igbo Eze North Local Government Area,” she said.

Joseph said while the journey was ongoing, a motorcycle rider broke the news of armed robbery attack in front, but surprisingly, the driver of our bus did not listen and kept going forward until they ran into the kidnappers.

“When they started shooting, our driver quickly came down from the vehicle, opened the door and asked us to run into the bush. It also surprised us that the kidnappers asked our driver to go unhurt, he was not taken hostage,” she said.

She expressed her appreciation to the NYSC scheme for its prompt response and solidarity during her ordeal

Earlier, Pepple thanked God for sparing the corps member’s life, and expressed the commitment of the NYSC scheme towards the safety of members.

“As soon as we were informed of the incident, we swung into action to ensure her safe release. We are happy that she is back with her family.

“The NYSC is a responsible organisation, we ensure adequate care for our members. We treat corps members as our children, so NYSC knows what to do for her.

“I have seen her, she is in high spirit, and in good condition, which is different from what is being reported on the social media,” he said.(NAN)

A Hilux Van carrying two company workers, including an expatriate, has plunged into the Okulu river in Rivers State.

The incident happened while the driver was reportedly trying to escape from kidnappers who targeted the van along the Eleme section of the East-West Road.

The Interesting Things About Pha Din Pass, Dien Bien That Just A Few People Know

Our reporter learnt that the vehicle lost control after the suspected kidnappers attempted to stop it.

Eyewitnesses said the vehicle and its occupants were still trapped in the River on Tuesday afternoon, though frantic efforts were made to rescue them.

The Chairman of Eleme Local Government Area of the State, Hon. Brain Gokpa, had mobilised a rescue team to the scene on Tuesday,

Gokpa who confirmed the incident called on the operatives of the Nigerian Navy and rescue agencies to assist in retrieving the van and rescuing its occupants.

It was gathered that professional divers and marine police have also been deployed to the scene to boost the rescue efforts.

Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, has visited the scene, lauding the rescue workers.

Gokpa, in turn, pledged his commitment to ensuring the security of lives and property in the area and promised to empower more personnel to aid in the rescue efforts and apprehend those responsible for the attack.

Kidnapping, related crimes and road crashes have been a regular occurrence on the road due to its deplorable state.

Spokesperson of the state Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said efforts were in place to arrest those behind the incident.

Seyi Makinde, the governor of Oyo, says those who received bribes for the selection of the Alaafin of Oyo designate would be prosecuted.

Makinde spoke on Monday when he presented the staff of the office to Abimbola Owoade, the new Alaafin of Oyo.

The presentation of the staff and certificate of recognition took place at the Oyo state government house in Ibadan, the capital city.

Makinde announced Owoade as the Alaafin-designate on Friday despite pushback from a five-member faction of the Oyomesi (kingmakers).

Those in the faction insisted on Lukman Gbadegesin as their preferred choice for Alaafin.

In July 2024, the other two members of the Oyomesi told the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that Gbadegesin offered each of the five kingmakers N15 million during the Alaafin selection process.

While presenting the instruments of office to the monarch, Makinde reiterated that the Alaafin stool would not be for sale under his watch.

He added that those who sought to destabilise the traditional institution in the state will be prosecuted.

“The government is not letting down. We will prosecute them. The money they collected, they will still be prosecuted,” the governor said.

“Except they go to Kabiyesi and apologise; if he forgives them, then I will also forgive them.”

The governor further said there was no political consideration in approving Owoade as Alaafin.

He said he had neither spoken to Owoade nor met him or either of the other princes contesting the stool.

This, he said, was to allow him to be objective in his decision.

“Some people said maybe it was political consideration. No. Politics, electioneering is a game,” he said.

It’s only when you have been elected that governance becomes a serious business because you will take decisions that will affect millions of people. So, we will not play politics with governance.

“Let me say this clearly: when we came in 2019, we had challenges with the traditional institution in Ibadanland, and it has been resolved to everybody’s satisfaction.

“The Alaafin stool became vacant in 2022. We were moving towards the election, and people said, ‘you have to approve the appointment of Alaafin; otherwise, Oyo people would not vote for you’.

“I said, ‘the people should not vote for me, but that I would do what was right,’ and Oyo voted for me massively. And Oyo will still continue to vote for me.”

Makinde said the coronation will take place in four weeks, adding that, “on that day, I’ll talk”.

https://cdn.thenationonlineng.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/05054533/Aruna-485x340.pngAruna

Khamis Haruna, the groom who escaped death by a whisker after eating a poisoned meal prepared by her bride two days after their wedding, has expressed shock over the incident, saying that he was of the opinion that his bride, Zahara’u, was in love.

Contrary to earlier reports that the ugly incident occurred on the night they were married, Haruna said the incident occurred last Sunday, two days after their marriage penultimate Friday.

He recalled that the poisoned food prepared by Zahara’u at their Albasu village in Jahun Local Government Area was consumed by him and two of his friends as they prepared to go to bed following the departure of other friends, family members and well-wishers.

Twenty-nine-year-old Haruna recalled that while he and his friend Isyaku Adamu were lucky to survive the poisonous food after spending a night at Kiyawa Hospital, his other friend, Muhammed Alfah, was not so lucky, as he eventually gave up the ghost.

Speaking to The Nation in an exclusive interview, Haruna said: “We were married on Friday and the ceremony continued till Sunday when the bride, Zahara’u, came into my house as the last phase of the ceremony.

“At about 10 pm on that day, my two friends urged me to go into Zaharau’s room, but I said no, because some of the women that escorted her to the house had not left.

“So we were in my tailoring shop when some of the bride’s friends came and told us that we should come in to eat, but I told them we were not yet ready.

“Later, they came back with the food, which was jollof spaghetti, and left.”

Haruna, who said that he and Zaharau courted for two years before they got married penultimate Friday, however, said the bride was only 14 years old at the time they got married.

He said: “We were married of love. She loved me I loved her too.

“Since she was still a small girl, we were in love for two years before our marriage.

“We saw her in a neighbouring village, Bakata, also in Kiyawa Local Government Area, and approached her almost two years ago.

“We continued dating until she reached 14 years and I made arrangements for marriage.

“We got married on (penultimate) Friday and I brought her to my house on the day of the tragic incident.”

Recalling the events immediately preceding the incident, Haruna said: “I was on my sewing machine when they brought the food while my two friends sat on the floor.

“Muhammad Alfah opened the food immediately and asked me to come down and eat, while he and Isyaku started eating before I joined them.

“I had only taken about six spoons when we observed that there was a substance in the food.

“Noticing that, we became suspicious and stopped eating. We all became uncomfortable and scared.

“A few minutes later, Alfah started complaining about his stomach. He stood up to leave but he could not control himself, so we took him to a friend’s house which was closer.

“By the time we got inside, all of us had started feeling the same. We were given milk but we felt no relief as the situation worsened.

“We were then rushed to Jahun Hospital where Alfah died while Isyaku and I were rescued.”

Haruna alleged that on the day Zaharau was to be taken to his house, she went to collect her new clothes from a tailor in their village where she met one of her ex-lovers (name withheld) who gave her the substance and asked her to put it in the food that he (Haruna) would eat.

“I’m really surprised. We were married for love. She never showed any worries about our relationship and never displayed any sign of ill feeling before she carried out the evil act.”

The father of Alfah, Malam Muhammad Sani, said the deceased was his only son, and he was survived by his wife and twin children who were only six days old.

Lamenting the loss of his son, Mallam Sani described him as loyal, responsible, religious and disciplined.

“I really lost him. He was the only one I had and totally relied on.

“As you can see, I am already old. He was the one carrying the family’s responsibilities.

“Alfah was really gentle. May Allah forgive all his sins and grant him Jannatil Fiddausi”.

On his part, Isyaku, the other friend who narrowly escaped death, described the late Alfah as his childhood friend whose death occurred a day to the naming ceremony of the twins his wife had just given birth to.

Isyaku said: “The late Alfah joined us after he came back from market where he had gone to buy rams to be slaughtered for the naming of the new born twins the following day.

“The three of us were together when the bride sent some people to bring food to us and without any delay, we started eating.

“It was jollof spaghetti and meat. While trying to share the meat, I brought forth a torch and lighted the food only to discover a strange substance.

“We became suspicious and Khamis (Haruna) offered to throw the food away, but I said no.

“I covered the food while we were thinking and trying to ascertain what the substance in it really was.

“Alfah then complained about his stomach and we were all scared, knowing that we had been poisoned.

“There and then, Khamis and I started feeling pains in our stomachs. That was when we realised what we saw on the food was poison.

“We did not even know when we were taken to the hospital where Alfah died.”

Alfah’s father, Isyaku and Haruna all appealed to the authorities for justice.

Confirming the incident, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Jigawa State Police Command, Lawal Shiisu Adam, a Superintendent of Police (SP), said: “One Zahra’u Dauda ‘f’ age 15yrs of Bagata Gabas village conspired with her ex-lover, one Lawan Musa ‘m’ age 22yrs of Bagata Gabas Yamma village, all in Kiyawa LGA, to poison her husband’s food, one Kamisu Haruna ‘m’ age 29yrs of Albasu village, Jahun local government area.

According to police spokesperson, “the husband and his two friends ate the food together, and as a result, they both developed stomachache. Victims were rushed to the hospital where one of the groom’s friends was confirmed dead by the medical doctor on call. The case is under investigation”.

Emomotimi Agama, the director-general (DG) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), says the regulator’s top priority for 2025 is to revamp regulations on investment fraud, also known as ponzi scheme, to enhance detection and accountability.

In his new year message to the capital market over the weekend, Agama said the commission’s plans for the year also include mainstreaming the Nigerian capital market into the economy.

“The SEC is positioned with a dual mandate in regulating and developing the capital market in Nigeria. Naturally, our top priority in 2025 will cut across the dual mandate. For us, mainstreaming the Nigerian Capital Market into the economy is very vital,” he said.

“Enforcement is the backbone of effective regulation. We are revamping our investigative processes to enhance efficiency and hold bad actors accountable more decisively.

“Insider trading undermines activities and dampens market fairness. By revising our regulatory framework, we aim to strengthen detection, prevention, and accountability mechanisms.

“Transparency is at the heart of investor confidence and capital markets. We will introduce measures to ensure greater visibility and trust in securities transactions.”

Agama also said the commodities market is a major area of interest for the SEC.

“Nigeria is purely an agrarian nation and as such, taking that comparative advantage to the next level, is something that the SEC is proud to be a part of,” he said.

“It is a vital part of the Nigeria economy. This year, we will focus on reinforcing the legal and regulatory structures that support growth so we can create a solid foundation for the vibrant commodities ecosystem. Be it a soft commodity or a hard commodity.

“More so, when we have a plethora of commodities all over Nigeria. The SEC as a partner in development will make sure that we will make the difference.”

The DG added that the commission intends to steer the capital market towards a direction that ensures development reaches every Nigerian in the capital market community.

A bride-to-be identified as Nansik Dashe, reportedly ran away one day to her wedding in Plateau State.

The wedding between Nansik and Kapnan Daniel Ventur, was scheduled to be held on December 27, 2024, at COCIN LCC, NIMTIM, PIL Gani in Langtang North Local Government Area of the state.

It was gathered that Dashe disappeared on December 26, after developing cold feet, leaving the groom and family members stranded.

It was further learnt that her whereabouts is unknown.

At the time of filing this report, there are no wedding photos and updates on the Facebook pages of the groom, friends, family members who had excitedly shared the prewedding photos and invite

https://alexis.lindaikejisblog.com/photos/shares/p5_1736081186.png

Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has dissolved the state executive council comprising his commissioners and sacked Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Barrister Muhammad Aliyu-Ubamdoma.

Weekend Trust reports that the decision was announced by the governor at a special emergency executive meeting in Government House, Lafia, on Friday, shortly after the departure of Vice President Kashim Shetima, who was in the state for a one-day working visit to inaugurate some projects in the state.

A top government official, who preferred anonymity, told our correspondent that although the exact reasons for the dissolution were not yet clear, he said the governor was known for restructuring the state’s administration.

Our correspondent reports that in 2021, Sule dissolved the state executive council, citing the need for a more effective and efficient governance structure.

“As the situation unfolds, citizens of Nasarawa State await further clarification on the implications of this decision and the future direction of the state’s administration,” the source added.

Meanwhile, a statement signed by Mohammed Iliyasu-Idde, permanent secretary cabinet affairs and special services, said Governor Sule expressed his gratitude to the outgoing council members for their contributions towards the growth of the state and wished them well in their future endeavours.

The statement read in part, “All the outgoing council members are to hand over the affairs of their ministries and government property in their possession to the permanent secretaries in their respective ministries while the SSG is to hand over to the permanent secretary cabinet affairs and special services.”

The governor had in July 2023 submitted the names of 17 commissioner-nominees to the Nasarawa State House of Assembly for screening and confirmation as members of the State Executive Council.

by Elo Edremoda, Warri


A man identified as Mr Okandeji, has been arrested for engaging “thugs” to beat up the daughter’s boyfriend, Ochuko Ikolo, which led to his death.

According to a rights activist, Comrade Israel Joe, the incident happened last December 12, at Bright Hope Street in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State.

Joe said the suspect had been against the relationship between his 20-year-old daughter and Ikolo, 35, a barber and boutique owner.

Joe said the father was particularly irked by Okolo’s occupation.

However, on December 12, the suspect reportedly hired thugs who stormed the barbing salon of the deceased and beat him to stupor.

“He was taken to the hospital but died on Friday, December 20. The father of the girl was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Asaba on December 30, but the daughter is at large,” Joe added.

The Delta State Police Command’s spokesman, Superintendent of Police, Bright Edafe, confirmed the development.

A former Special Adviser on Political Matters to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, Babafemi Ojudu, has revealed how he and other allies like former Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, convinced President Bola Tinubu to reject an offer to serve as Minister of Finance under the late President Umaru Yar’Adua.

Ojudu disclosed this during an appearance on State Affairs, a podcast hosted by Edmund Obilo.

He noted that accepting the role would have posed significant political risks for Tinubu, who was then the leader of the Action Congress.

“Tinubu called me one day and said, ‘Congratulations to me.’ I asked, ‘Congratulations for what?’ He then told me that former President Yar’Adua had called him to join his government of unity as Minister of Finance,” Ojudu recounted.

According to the journalist, he immediately warned Tinubu about the potential fallout of the decision, citing the fate of Bola Ige, a former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, who was assassinated under controversial circumstances.

“I said, ‘You are in Action Congress. Are you not a student of history? Do you not see what happened to Bola Ige? You are digging your political grave if you accept that type of job,” he stated.

Former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, a close ally of Tinubu and former Governor of Osun State, reportedly joined the discussion and supported Ojudu’s stance.

He added: “Rauf walked in and said, ‘Femi is right. That is not a job to take. One businessman walked in and said, ‘You guys are too radical. This thing will benefit everyone.’ But I insisted, ‘No, we are not looking for this type of benefit. We are looking for his political survival.

“He is our leader. Our dream for him is bigger than him becoming a minister in Yar’Adua’s government. Nine months down the line, they would arrest him, try him, and finish him off — the way they did to Bola Ige.”

Ojudu also addressed allegations of betrayal during the 2023 presidential election, where he backed former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo instead of Tinubu for the All Progressives Congress ticket.

He dismissed the claims, emphasising that their differing visions at the time were not personal.

His words: “We cannot quarrel. It is about our vision taking different routes. I just came from Bayo Onanuga’s daughter’s wedding. People saw me and said, we never knew you would come around.

“I told them, Do you think we are boxing each other? It is not personal. For me, loyalty to friendship is on a lesser scale than sacrifice for the country,” he explained.

The Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LASWARCO) has sealed the factories belonging to Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company, FrieslandCampina WAMCO, and Guinness Nigeria for extracting groundwater for commercial purposes without proper authorisation.

Speaking on Tuesday in Lagos, Olowu Babatunde, director of technical services at LASWARCO, said the commission had been engaging with the three companies for over seven years, but they had either partially complied or failed to comply with regulations, prompting enforcement action.

“We operate a law that empowers us to regulate most of these heavy abstractors in Lagos State,” Babatunde said.

“Abstractors are individuals or entities that extract large quantities of groundwater for commercial purposes.

“So, these companies that we have sealed, basically three of them – Coca-Cola, FrieslandCampina and Guinness, abstract water in large quantities.

“And we have been engaging them over time. At least, I have been here for more than seven years now. We’ve been engaging these companies for more than seven years now.

“Some, either they do partial compliance, or some don’t comply at all. So, now that we started implementation of our regulation, we now compel them to fulfil all their regulatory demands.”

On Monday, Tokunbo Wahab, Lagos state commissioner for environment and water resources, during a press briefing on unregulated groundwater abstraction, said the environmental management protection law of 2017 empowers LASWARCO to regulate groundwater activities and impose penalties for unauthorised abstraction.

Wahab explained that unregulated groundwater extraction could lead to serious environmental consequences, including land subsidence and groundwater contamination.

According to Wahab, the government in 2020 introduced a 75 percent waiver on groundwater abstraction fees, but unfortunately, many organisations failed to take advantage of the incentive.

As a result, the commissioner said LASWARCO had been forced to take enforcement action against those who hadn’t complied.

Wahab noted that LASWARCO had issued letters to non-compliant organisations, giving them a 72-hour deadline to comply, where if they fail to do so, they will face penalties for operating without proper authorisation.

Chief Bode George has said that there is no humanity in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s media chat.

George stated this during an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today.

Tinubu on Monday held first media chat since the start of his administration.

But reacting to the president’s comment where he said he had not regret whatsoever removing the fuel subsidy, George urged the president to listen to Nigerians.

He said that there is anger and hunger in Nigeria and that was why people were killed during food distribution stampedes.

He said, “If anybody believes that he was elected and supported by the electorate, can you give something bad to somebody who has done you good? We are talking that there is abject poverty in the land. There is hunger in the land. There is anger in the land.

“Look at the stampede. If those guys were okay, would they go out looking for a pittance to eat and die because of it. I am surprised that there is no iota of calmness, soberness of in-depth humanity in the discussion. He was saying that there was no need to revisit?

“I expect that those journalists were giving him the situation as they experienced it outside. And you were saying nothing. We should just hold on, we should just bear it. Is everybody surrounding you bearing it? Why should we bear it? It is completely outrageous. It is not a good way to start a year.

“I want to advise Bola Tinubu that leadership is not by pumping and bashing people. It is not a military administration. You and Buhari said that the people supported you. Do you pay them back? You say yes you won’t go back, you won’t do this. Which kind of political administration will do that? Listen to the people.”

By Tunde Asaju

It was wrong to change the fancy name of jails to correctional centres. It is a serious attempt to transform official jails into Swedish lookalikes. Once that happened, bad things started happening. Lately, crossdresser Idris Olanrewaju Okuneye went to one of these centres and returned, six months later, almost three times his normal size. From jail, the correctional centres are now fattening rooms, and it was only time that we would all become celebrity ex-cons.

image maker, the handsome Olumuyiwa Adejobi has confirmed our best fears. He has confirmed that henceforth, anyone who insults another being on social media would go the way of Bobrisky. When you think of the fact that nearly 100 Nigerians have died in stampedes within a week, going to a correctional centre for insulting people is something we all should look forward to. After all, we all already live in and conduct our businesses behind steel grills. The difference is that if insecurity allows us, we can still manage our time.

Come to think of it, the safest place in Nigeria today is not Aso Rock, it is the correctional centre. That’s the only place where one’s security is guaranteed. A place to choose a slim diet or a fattening one. Insults are worse to deal with than state-sponsored propaganda.

Those with razor-sharp tongues must not be allowed to choose their habitual jailhouse. They should consult their political leaders who are experts at escaping the long arms of the law. The PPRO considers insults as cyberbullying, it could only mean one thing – it is worse than breaking and entering, armed robbery, kidnapping and ritual murder.

Our dynamically inactive lawmakers passed a Cybercrime Act while we were sleeping on our rights. The best way to test the fangs of any law is to punish those who breach it. In the Eldorado that the ruining APC has created, Nigerians haven’t had it better. They spend their lazy behinds watching television and imbibing the horrible habits of others on social media.

Western critics are spoilt brats. In Canada, citizens constantly ambush their prime minister and pour as many invectives as they could on him. Usually, he smiles coyishly and moves on. Those who have no direct access to him have their stickman stickers simulating an ass grind visibly on their vehicles. Yet, the Canadian RCMP pretends that such sacrilege is not a violation of the law or as important as tracking the thieves picking luxury cars from garages or chasing the blatant thieves breaking and entering malls in Ontario.

In Britain a state-owned media, the BBC once questioned the motive for going to war in Iraq. Its on-air personalities spend their shifts mocking the foibles of their government, including the ceremonial monarchy. Why, they even forced a royal prince to drop his inherited duties.

In America, insulting and abusing officials are erroneously considered an Amendment Right. They stick their phone cameras at everything and everyone while streaming their despicable behaviour live on the Chinese app – TikTok. Now, the government wants full control of Tik-Tok or it would block its signals.

The irony in China is that insulting a Politburo member might attract more than a correctional centre sentence. But then, even in 2024, Chinese officials punish corruption with death. Li Jianping, a high-powered official accused of mismanaging a paltry $412 million was recently shot publicly. This cruel and inhumane sentence contrasts sharply with events in Nigeria, where Mr Jianping would have hidden in the hallowed offices of his state governor, then surrendered to the EFCC, went to court and emerged from detention on crutches. If he had faced a Nigerian legislative enquiry, he would have caught epilepsy on his way to the hearing and publicly exhibited his fainting spells until his case was terminated or heard a huit close.

Mr Adejobi knows that if Nigeria continues to allow the unhindered bullets of insults to hit those in high office, the earth itself will become too hot for their siren immunity.

We all expect a time like this would come, albeit too late. Didn’t our father, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu confess that he stopped all social media activities after realizing that he was the subject of unbridled tongues? And in spite of all the great things the man is doing in Aso Rock and on his flights across the globe, the insults have not stopped.

We do not have a caring president, but a passionate First Vice President in the person of our dear mummy, Pastor Mrs Oluremi Tinubu. She recently launched her Renewed Hope Initiative with the announcement of her billion-naira freebies to the aged, institutions and poor Nigerians. The latter are becoming very hard to find these days, but trust the enemies of the regime, they had to make Nigeria look like a big beggar colony. This was what led to the organization of the so-called palliatives by groups and individuals that led to the death three days of around 100 people, mostly children in three different parts of Nigeria.

The opposition just has to look for a way to make it look like all the misanthropic policies of the government are having an effect on our socialist government. Not only is the government doling out Wi-Fi money through Bluetooth to unknown citizens, but it has also announced free train rides for the Yuletide season. Yet, it must increase its global credit score by borrowing to finance the 2025 budget.

Mr Adejobi’s warning came late. It ought to have started on the day the president was sworn in. Adejobi’s elders say that a toad must be eaten hot because its hide gets tough once it gets cold. Sending critics to the correctional centres is good for business. It keeps all others in check. This is a tactic that has worked everywhere else except Nigeria.

Jail terms for critics are synonymous with the ruse of the law. In Thailand, it is used to jail anyone maligning the King, the Queen or their heir apparent. The term ranges between three and 15 years in the slammer. Critics are a scarce commodity in Togo where the Eyadema Dynasty exerts permanent control over its 10 million population.

Paul Biya has enjoyed the unquestionable loyalty of his citizens and party for 42 years in Cameroon. Usually in countries under military rule, freedom of speech is forever guaranteed, but freedom of speech is a different matter.

As the giant of Africa, Nigeria should step up on its game and enlarge its correctional centres. It could even adopt the Latin-American model in which errant loudmouths are sent to privately run jails while the hardened ones are sent to the type that transformed Bobrisky. After all, it is obvious that we have done fantastic with the jailhouses we inherited from the colonial overlords, so much so, that at a time, even Britain was willing to pay us to send any of our children caught violating their laws to our reformed prisons.

The rule should be that those who have the audacity to criticize others must have the liver to do their time in a correctional centre, different from the iron grills on their traditional doors and windows.

Stephen Angbulu and Gift Habib:


President Bola Tinubu will spend part of his holiday in Lagos considering the final list of prospective Nigerian envoys to various countries and international organisations, Sunday PUNCH can report.

Reliable sources close to the President confirmed that Tinubu has “activated” the process of appointing the envoys.

However, our correspondents gathered that the process suffered delays due to the paucity of funds required to pay arrears of foreign service officials, settle a backlog of overheads, replace ageing vehicles and renovate embassy buildings.

Almost $1bn is required to foot the bills, a source told our correspondent.

President Tinubu is currently in Lagos for the Christmas and New Year holidays. Upon assuming office in May 2023, he reassessed Nigeria’s foreign policy, leading to the recall of the 83 career and non-career ambassadors from their stations in September 2023.

Nigeria has 109 missions, 76 embassies, 22 high commissions, and 11 consulates globally.

Although senior officials with knowledge of the developments said Tinubu would transmit the names of ambassadorial nominees to the National Assembly before the end of December, new updates show that the President changed his mind.

An official who spoke anonymously revealed, “Right now, Baba [President Tinubu] has activated the process of appointment of envoys. He has asked that the final list of names be submitted to him for review in Lagos, and those names will undergo security and background checks again before they are appointed.

“Then, their names will be sent to the Senate for screening. They are considering the list now while the President is in Lagos.

“If you remember, we were expecting the list to be out before this year runs out; that process may take until January now.”

“That will be in January. I understand that, as of this morning, the final list is ready,” another senior official in the Presidency told one of our correspondents.

Feelers in the foreign service show that concerns continue to grow as the country’s foreign missions are left without top envoys.

Experts also warn that Nigeria’s ‘absence’ from the international stage could have long-term consequences for its reputation.

Others say host governments may question why Nigeria had not sent new envoys 15 months after the big recall, potentially seeing the prolonged absence as a sign of instability.

However, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, who earlier spoke about the delays, said nominations for ambassadorial roles must be thorough before a final list is transmitted to the National Assembly.

“Don’t forget that the ambassadorial list has two components. There are career ambassadors and political ambassadors.

“The foreign affairs list and the consolidated list will still go through certain processes before it is released,” he said.

“It is a money problem,” Tuggar said during a ministerial sectoral briefing in Abuja in May.

Tuggar argued that appointing ambassadors without the financial resources to support their travel and the effective running of missions abroad was pointless.

“We met a situation where Foreign Affairs was not being funded like it should be. Some loopholes are exploited by the likes of Binance. It is a money problem.

“There is no point sending out ambassadors if you do not have the funds for them to even travel to their designated country and to run the missions effectively, one needs funding.

“Mr President is working on it, and it will be done in due course,” Tuggar explained.

Nonetheless, the foreign minister did not state how much is needed to send out new envoys.

Senior Presidency and Foreign Service officials say the country needs around $1bn to clear backlogs of bills and adequately finance its 109 missions, 76 embassies, 22 high commissions and 11 consulates globally.

One official said, “You see, the major issue is money. Not money to pay them [ambassadors], because how much is their salary and benefits? The main money is CAPEX [Capital Expenditure]. By the time they put the cost together to fix the issues, it is running to almost $1bn.

“Most of those embassies, almost 90 per cent, are rundown. Either the residence is not good, the embassy does not have a functional office, or their rent has expired. The embassies that are really buoyant may not be up to 10 as we speak.

“I understand that some of them don’t have serviceable vehicles. The last vehicles they bought were from 10 years ago. Some of them are broken down, and ambassadors cannot use such vehicles because they carry the image of the country. Some of them don’t even have power and running water. So, if you post an ambassador there today, you’re sending them to trouble.”

Another official, who spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not allowed to talk to the press, explained that the unpaid allowances of foreign service officers added to the backlog.

The official said, “When they say there is no money, it is not money to pay ambassadors. Most of that money is the arrears of allowances for the foreign service workers. The idea is, why do you want to send an ambassador to where he will meet problems? Why don’t you solve those problems first before you send them there?

“The money required now is for CAPEX to fix some of the residences and embassies, purchase vehicles and pay some of the arrears and overheads for some foreign service officers. Some of them are being owed seven to eight months’ allowances. Some of them are owing rent. The President is trying to iron that out before announcing the list.”

Speaking to one of our correspondents, a foreign service staff member in one of the missions said, “If you send an ambassador here now, the embassy staff may look up to the ambassador to solve their problems. And the ambassador will be helpless.

“It’s even understandable now because the Head of Chancery and Chargés d’affaires are civil servants like everyone here. So, we’re all in the same boat. But once you send a political head like an ambassador, it’s like sending a president.”

Following the uproar sparked by the death of 35 children during a stampede at a funfair in Ibadan, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has taken charge of investigations into the tragic incident.

The stampede occurred when participants rushed to gain access to the venue of the event reportedly organised by the ex-queen of the Ooni of Ife, Prophetess Naomi Silekunola, and an Ibadan-based broadcaster, Oriyomi Hamzat.

Apart from the 35 children who lost their lives in the stampede, six others who were injured were rushed to hospitals.

The event was said to have been initially planned for 5,000 children, but over 7,500 children showed up, worsening the tense situation.

Naomi, who was arrested by the police, reportedly collapsed on Friday.

A popular broadcast journalist in Ibadan, Seun Aribikola, revealed this in a Facebook post.

According to him, she was immediately rushed to the Police Hospital at Eleyele for medical treatment.

The broadcast journalist said the ex-queen was taken to the hospital alongside the Chairman of Agidigbo FM, Hamzat.

“It is confirmed. But she is responding to treatment,” he told Saturday PUNCH.

A senior staff member of the police hospital also confirmed the development to one of our correspondents.

“Both of them are currently at the hospital. They brought them in today. But I can’t give you further details because it is a sensitive matter and the police have barricaded the whole hospital,” the hospital worker said.

The spokesperson for the Oyo State Police Command, Adewale Osifeso, had in a statement, said eight individuals were arrested in connection with the incident.

However, a top police source on Friday said the matter had been taken over by the IG.

The source said, “The IG is now in charge of the case. Anything you want, I think you should call Abuja.”

When contacted, the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, declined comment.

Saturday PUNCH gathered that Agidigbo FM House, one of the hosts of the tragic event, has been shut.


Dead, injured victims

Speaking on the incident, the Chairman of Medical Advisory Council of Adeoyo State Specialist Hospital, Adeoye Allen-Taylor, said four children were on admission at the hospital.

Asked to mention the number of casualties brought dead to the hospital, he said, “Some were brought dead; I think the government has already released the number.

“I have seen online the number and the total, and I will only be able to echo what has been announced. The children were brought here at the same time. The Commissioners of Health and Women Affairs and the Commissioner of Police worked together as a team.”

Allen-Taylor said the government was footing the bills, as everything was being centrally coordinated.

The Public Relations Officer of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Funmi Adetuyibi, said five people were confirmed dead in the facility.

She, however, noted that none of the bodies was taken to the hospital’s mortuary.


Govt fumes as Makinde cancels birthday

In response to the incident, the Oyo State Government, through the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Dotun Oyelade, in a statement, mandated all media houses hosting end-of-year children’s funfairs or public events to ensure the implementation of stringent safety measures.

The government also warned that any organisers of social gatherings, who jeopardised public safety, especially for children and the elderly, would face strict penalties as the year concludes.

Governor Makinde on Friday said he would put off his December 25th birthday celebrations in honour of the children who died in the stampede.

Makinde stated this in Ibadan on Friday while receiving the South-East delegation of the Peoples Democratic Party, led by its Board of Trustees Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, to condole with him.

The governor described the incident as painful, unfortunate and preventable.

He said due to the incident; he would have to put off his December 25th birthday celebrations and remain alone indoors.

“I will not go out; no birthday celebration this year,” he said.


PDP, Fayemi condole with victims

In another development, the South-West chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has expressed condolences to the government and people of Oyo State following the tragic incident.

The Publicity Secretary of the PDP, South-West, Chief Sanya Atofarati, in a statement on Friday in Ado Ekiti, sympathised with Governor Seyi Makinde and the affected families, praying for divine comfort.

Atofarati attributed the tragedy to the harsh economic conditions in the country, which he said pushed families to seek free entertainment for their children.

Atofarati, however, lauded the swift intervention of the Seyi Makinde-led government of Oyo State and the rescue efforts which saved the lives of some of the children, who sustained injuries and the probing of the incident.

Also, the former Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, expressed deep sorrow over the incident.

Fayemi, in a statement on Friday by the Head of his Media Office, Ahmad Sajoh, described the incident as heartbreaking and casting a pall of sadness over the Christmas celebrations.

The former governor condoled with the families of the victims and the Oyo State Government and prayed for the injured and grieving families.