Former Governor of Edo State, John Odigie Oyegun, has said his refusal to compromise as Permanent Secretary in the Federal Civil Service during the Military regime led to his early retirement at the age of 48 years.

Oyegun who is also a former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, disclosed this during his closing remarks at the formal commissioning of the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy, JOOPSA, an Institution named after him by Edo State government to celebrate his 84-years birthday and 19-years meritorious service as a civil servant at the federal level.

He said “I thank you Mr. Governor Obaseki and your wife, for honouring me when I am alive. I appreciate you and today I feel much fulfilled for this. I was glad when something was named after me, getting calls all around the world that they saw a building named after me, I told them my governor did it.

“Today, I am emphatically proud. I am proud that my name has been associated with an Institution of intense possibility. Naming this great idea after me is considered the peak of my Civil and Public Service career and I thank the governor for this honour.”


Get 5% deposit bonus on all deposits on www.NaijaBet.com


Oyegun, said he did not serve for long in the Federal Civil Service, but served for just 19 years not 35 years, however, he was able to leave his imprint in the sand of time, noting that he had the unique opportunity of serving with the best minds in the Civil service then and contributed his quota to the development of the service, state and the nation at large.

Commending the governor for his transformation of the state civil service, Oyegun said “I am very aware of the transformational drive going on in the State, and also noticed the various hubs established by this Obaseki-led administration and shows that the governor is preparing the State for the future. Governor sees the direction of the world and doesn’t want Edo State to fall behind.

“I commend and appreciate the governor for his decision to give first class graduates of Edo extraction an automatic employment for excellent performance in their academics and offer them opportunities. This step will make Edo citizens proud wherever they are in the world.

“It shows that there are people in authority who are watching to honour citizens of the State wherever they are because they noticed that citizens of the State have distinguished themselves and will be rewarded. Nothing inspired like recognition of talents, contributions, quality and ability of individuals. When you are doing your work people notice, your bosses notice and will determine how you are judged in time to come.”

Oyegun admonished civil servants to be courageous, saying “I was called to manage the Nigeria Airways as Managing Director but refused because the Minister of Aviation was then a Military man. I refused the offer because he will not allow me to do my job. I was that fearless to tell him to his face politely that he will not let me function effectively and will lose credibility with passengers.


“I was bold to tell the Military what I want as a permanent secretary to ensure I don’t get into trouble. The IBB administration then posted me to various Ministries including that of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The first thing the Military did was send me a list of people to be retired but I am not the one to retire them but write to the Public Service Commission with reasons. I sat with my Commissioner, an Armond Commander in the Military, who could not tell me what these people did but said the instructions are from the Supreme Headquarters.

“Three Military officers were appointed by the IBB regime to supervise the different import licenses and I was told that I will be the one to sign all the import licenses but I politely refused. I told them I can’t do that because I was not responsible for it and where I come from we don’t behave this way. Immediately after that conversation, I knew I would be sacked and I went to report myself to the Head of Service (HOS) of the Federation at that time.

“I went to my office, instructed my secretary to prepare a resignation letter, so I can retire before the Military could sack me. We all have a decision to make, it requires courage to take major steps to maintain integrity, defend what you stand for.

“When there was a crisis at the Ministry of Internal Affairs I was the only signatory of the Nigerian Passport at that time, I did all my duties and responsibilities, maintaining my integrity. I retired at 48 years after 19 years of service.

“The greatest problem we have in this country is not how many beautiful roads that you construct, or schools’ roof coloured changed. We are now in a society that has lost its values, ethics, morality and ability to tell rights from wrongs and the focus should be how to change the system and that is where JOOPSA comes in as the academy will equip those that pass through it with re-orientation of the mind indicating that service, excellent performance, and integrity matters as all will be rewarded passing through the system.”

A development expert and co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Global Initiative for Nigeria Development (GIND), Micheal Ale, has advised Nigerians to look up to their governors for palliatives meant to cushion the effect of economic hardship incurred by the removal of fuel subsidies.

Ale, while speaking with journalists in Ibadan yesterday, also expressed the commitment of his organisation to monitor the disbursement of the palliatives to poor Nigerians so as to ensure that the process adheres to principles of transparency and accountability.

He clarified that his organisation’s resolve to monitor the disbursement was meant to ensure that the palliatives promised to poor Nigerians by the federal government in order to cushion the effect of economic hardship brought by the fuel subsidy removal, is creditably implemented.

Promising that GIND would deploy its Track and Trace technology in monitoring the disbursement, he said: “We’ll use the same method to track and trace all projects relating to palliatives whenever the Federation Allocation Account Committee (FAAC) commences disbursement of the funds to States and Local Government in the country.”

“Our Track and Trace volunteers and advocates are being recruited nationwide to monitor and report how palliatives are being utilized through Track and Trace (T&T) technological device. The purpose of this is to ensure transparency and credibility in the disbursement process.”

Ale who is also the national coordinator of the Courageous Nigerian Livelihood Project (CNLP) praised Nigerians for their perseverance and resilience in this hard time when prices of commodities have skyrocketed due to the hike in fuel prices and Dollar which has brought untold hardship on the citizenry.

In another development, Ale, who is also national President of the Association of Water Well Drilling Rig Owners Practitioners (AWDROP) urged President Bola Tinubu to consider declaring a state of emergency on water resources the same way he had declared a state of emergency on food security, saying it is high time water was given priority in novel national development strategies to forestall an imminent scarcity of the resources.


The water expert also tasked the government at all levels to pay important attention to the issue of water resources (mis)management and treat it as a part of the current national emergency.

He called for increased awareness and citizens’ action in order to draw government attention to the dire need to address water scarcity and water resource management in the country.

Ale warned that the water level is receding down in the earth and that there is an urgent need to pay attention to its accessibility, affordability and management as a critical part of livelihood for all Nigerians, especially the rural dwellers who may be badly affected.

His words: “In less than 20 years from now, I am afraid water may become too scarce for human use or consumption if we do not do something now.”

The president made the above call while speaking to the audience on how to attain Net Zero Water Roadmap during a technical session at the Future Cities Summit held in Abuja between Wednesday and Thursday.


“Water is very critical to daily human existence but unfortunately, our government at all levels do not pay attention to the issue of water in terms of its availability, affordability and management.”

Ale also harped on the need for Nigeria to attain “net zero emission in order to meet the global benchmark of emission reduction by 2030 and to attain net zero by 2060”.

To get to the next zero-emission, he said: “You need to look at the source of your water. The developed world has a centralized power system that pumps water for distribution and consumption but in Nigeria and, of course, Africa, individuals provide water for themselves.”

“You see every compound having boreholes and using a generator to pump water into the overhead tanks thereby discharging carbon into the atmosphere and other ecological problems.”

“Water leadership and governance system”, as well as “a synergy between government, the media and nongovernmental organizations to join hands so as to ensure that water issues are addressed through policies and effective implementation,” he said.

The Osun State Muslim Community, OSMC, an umbrella body of Muslim groups in the state, yesterday, exonerated Governor Ademola Adeleke of any wrongdoing in the compilation of the list of his cabinet nominees.

Addressing newsmen as part of the one-week event to mark the 1445 Hijrah Calendar, the President of the group, Sheikh Mustapha Olayiwola, said the governor has been balanced in his appointments, so far.

His words: “The Governor had first appointed his kitchen cabinets, who are all Muslims. His Chief of Staff, the Secretary to the State Government and his spokesperson are all Muslims and powerful members of the administration.


Get the best odds on various fixtures only on www.naijabet.com


“Besides, the appointment of commissioners is not an exclusive duty of the governor, so many factors are considered in concluding, but so far, we believe the governor has done well and has not marginalised the Muslims in the state. Many appointments would still be done and more Muslims would be appointed.

“Our advice is that more Muslims should be involved in politics rather than staying away from it under the guise that it is a dirty game.”

The construction company handling the renovation of the National Assembly Complex, Visible Construction Limited has said that users of the complex are on stoppage of leaking points soon.


Recall that the 9th National Assembly had as a result of the deterioration of the complex over the years, appropriated N30 billion to the Federal Capital Development Authority ( FCDA) in the 2021 fiscal year for comprehensive renovation.




Speaking on the project yesterday, the Project Engineer, Tajudeen Olanipekun while reacting to a report on rainwater leakages at some points in the White House Segment of the Complex on Tuesday this week and Thursday last week, said that his firm was on top of the situation as specialised chemicals for the affected expansion joints, will soon be applied, adding that all the roofs of the complex both at the White House and adjourning structures have been thoroughly checked for the discovery of expansion joints requiring watertight chemicals that will prevent any form of leakages.

Visible Construction which won the contract, commenced work in April last year with the provision of temporary Hallow Chambers for both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The Engineer who noted that the was already imported from the United States of America but would be applied after the rainy season this year, said, ” The report on roof leakage in National Assembly to us at Visible Construction is like marking script of a student still writing his or her examination.

” Renovation work on the entire complex is still being carried out by us. It is when we have finished the work that a report on roof leakage can be written which to us, would never happen as the problem, would be a thing of the past by the time it is handed over to FCDA gave us the job

” There should be no cause for alarm from any quarters as regards the project since Engineers from FCDA are also with us,”

He added that containers of State of the Art furniture to be fixed at both Chambers of the Senate and the House of Representatives, have landed from America along with expatriates who would do the job, which according to him, would make the two Chambers among the best in the world.

THE Senator representing Edo North Senatorial District and former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole said he was ready to sacrifice his senatorial ambition for President Bola Tinubu to win his presidential election.


He also said even though he knew his political opponents would have harassed him out of Edo North if he had lost the National Assembly election, he was ready to take the risk for Tinubu.




Oshiomhole said this yesterday at his country home in Iyamho, Etsako West local government of Edo State during the post-inauguration/thank you party held in his honour by friends and well-wishers.

He said the people of Edo North voted for him because they wanted him to repeat what he did for the state as governor adding that he would ensure that the district and the state get the dividends of democracy from the APC administration headed by Tinubu.

He said “During the campaign, I told you if you want to give me one vote give it to Tinubu, I said to you it was better he won as a president even if I lost as a senator than for me to win as a senator and he loses as president, in the end I’m very proud to say and to repeat today here and now that in each of these six local governments, every ward Bola Tinubu won, every ward Adams Oshiomhole won.

“Today, I can say I will proudly carry the results of Afemai people and I will say Mr. President this is my certificate, my people voted for you”.

While thanking the people for the overwhelming voting for president Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the elections, he assured that President Tinubu will “change the face of Nigeria” and as president will make Edo State better.”

On his election, Oshiomhole said “I don’t know what would have happened if you have voted against me. My blood pressure would shoot up and that is if I’m still alive.

“The jubilations by the opponent would have been such that they will come and lock my small door and break my small bones and harassed me out, but you said no. I thank Afemai people for that.

“There were sitting governors who contested for the senate across the country and many of them lost, I left office seven years ago and my people still honoured me with victory, how can I thank you enough.

“Take this message home that I will represent Edo North but I have Obligation to Edo State and Tinubu is interest in Edo state”

The election petition Tribunal sitting in Kaduna has adjourned to June 15, 2023 for continuous pre-hearing of the matter between the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Rt.Hon Mohammed Isa Ashiru and the Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani, even as the lead petitioner for the March 18 governorship election of Kaduna State, Ashiru of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) told the election petition tribunal that he shall bring before the tribunal 25 witnesses to testify against the declared winner of the election, Uba Sani, All Progressive Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).


Ashiru and the PDP had petitioned the tribunal to seek redress in order to reclaim victory,following the declaration of Uba Sani by INEC as the winner of the governorship election.

On Tuesday at the pre-hearing of the petition , the lead Counsel to Ashiru and PDP, Samuel Atung (SAN) told the 3-man panel led by Justice Victor O. Oviawe that the petitioner may field a star witness for the rest of the witnesses when the hearing commences proper.

Counsels to the 1st respondent; Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Alhassan A. Umar (SAN) said they will call five witnesses.


The 2nd respondent; Gov. Uba Sani, led by Sanusi Musa (SAN) said they have 18 witnesses, but, “we will subpoena 15”.

The 3rd respondent; APC, led by Mohammed Sani Katu (SAN) said they will present three witnesses, but, “we will subpoena another three, making it six witnesses”.

After deliberations ,Chairman of the panel, Justice Victor Oviawe, alloted 7 minutes to examination in-chief, 12 minutes to cross-examination, while 3 minutes were alloted to re-examination of the witnesses respectively.

Counsels in the matter adopted all documents filed, just as the court directed the PDP counsel to respond within four days upon service of application by the respondents’ counsels, while two days were alloted to respondents’ counsels to also respond.

The court adjourned the case to June 15, 2023 for continuous pre-hearing of the matter.


The 3-man panel headed by Justice Victor O Oviawe with Justice K. Damlat and Justice Nonye as members began sitting on the petition challenging the declaration of Uba Sani as the winner of the last governorship polls in the State,on Thursday June 1st 2023.

Sanusi Musa (SAN), counsel to Uba Sani said in an interview thst ” it is a pre-hearing stage and it is at this stage that it is expected that the tribunal will have an understanding of our cases including how many witnesses we want to call and whether we have motions that we will want the petitions to be dismissed or struck out and also adopt those issues.”

“We have told the tribunal that we have filed two motions on behalf of our client to dismiss or strike out the petition seeking the tribunal to set aside the victory of our client because it is incompetent and filed outside the 21 days required by law. After we filed our petition to the defendants, they filed a reply to our petition which is also against the law.

“We have informed the court that we have filed another application seeking the dismissal of their petition at the preliminary stages and the tribunal adjourned to 15th June, 2023 for the continuation of the pre-trial”.

Lead Counsel to Isah Ashiru, Samuel Atung (SAN) said, “the pre-trial session is normally a cleaning house, each house has stated the number of witnesses it intends to call and time was allotted for the witness in terms of their evidence in chief, examinations and re-examination, issues of documents to be rendered was also deliberate upon and the tribunal gave a direction that the trial will take. But the bottom line is election tribunals have a time frame and the petition should be decided within the time frame provided by the law.

“The tribunal will decide if our petitions were filed outside the 21 days time frame. They have filed their application and we have been given four days to respond to it, so I do not want to comment on the merit since the issue is subjudice. Our prayer is that at the end of the sitting, justice will be served .”

There was heavy security presence at the Tribunal on Tuesday morning while the session lasted.

The presidential candidate of the the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar said the PDP is “government-in-waiting.”

Atiku stated this while speaking at a retreat organised for PDP lawmakers-elect in Bauchi state on Saturday.

He said the party members must remain hopeful while waiting for the resolution of the dispute at the presidential election petition tribunal.

Recall that Atiku, who was PDP’s flag bearer in the 2023 presidential election, was defeated by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The former vice-president and the PDP are currently contesting Tinubu’s victory at the election petition tribunal.


Atiku said, “You’re representatives of the party and your constituents. Do not be tempted to abandon your party just because of temporary setback. In the end, the truth and good shall triumph over falsehood and evil,” Atiku told the lawmakers-elect.

“Therefore, you must please remain resolute. Do not work in isolation from one another. You’re a team and should always work as a team in other to achieve meaningful results and also remain connected to your roots, your constituents and other stakeholders.

“Based on the results announced by INEC and pending the determination of the electoral challenges in the court, our members-elect are not the majority in the national assembly. So, for the time being, they have to prepare to work as an effective, constructive opposition while also preparing for a possible role as the majority party when the cases are resolved.

“Don’t ever lose hope. The role of the opposition is to hold the government and majority party to account. And in doing so, you demonstrate that you and your party are ready to govern in the shortest possible time — a government-in-waiting — so to speak.”

Meanwhile, Atiku, has asked the lawmakers-elect in the national assembly to oppose any attempt by the ruling party to make the legislature a rubber stamp.




He said, “You should not be part of a rubber stamp legislative arm for those who might want to govern as dictators.

“Our democracy must endure; you can and you should help to make that happen. As you know, the PDP remains the only true political party that is owned by its members rather than by one or a handful of godfathers. That no one member or group of members is bigger better or more important than the party in the PDP.”

On the state of affairs of the PDP, Atiku said all members need to work in unity to rebuild the party.

“The work of rebuilding our party involves everyone, including our elected representatives. And it will involve unity of purpose. So, we must work hard in unifying our party. Let’s not continue to fight yesterday’s battle,” he said.

Niger Delta Integrity Group, NDIG has linked media attacks on the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Major General Barry Ndiomu (rtd), to supporters of political opposition.

NDIG Convener, Dr. Boma Horsfall, in a statement, accused those who worked against President Bola Tinubu at the February 25 presidential polls of being behind the recent blackmail of Ndiomu, insisting that their actions were not altruistic but “grossly a show of their anger at the emergence of Tinubu as the President of Nigeria.”

Horsfall said that the reasons adduced by the faceless group against the person of Ndiomu and his leadership were baseless, frivolous and a concoction of fairy tales and primitive.

The statement read: “They should therefore shut their mouths and bury their heads in shame, as it is now crystal clear that the reason why they want Ndiomu out is because he has refused to do their criminal bidding.


“It is sad that the region has become a warehouse of falsehood and self-denial. Those affected by BVN issues are encouraged to look for lawful means to clear their names, as the NDIG will not hesitate to publish the names of these contractors and sponsors soon if they don’t desist from spreading falsehood.

“The NDIG commends General Ndiomu on the recently launched Cooperative Scheme, and considers it one of the best ways to create windows of opportunities for youths in the region.”

The statement added that Ndiomu who is fondly regarded as the ‘People’s General’ is “widely loved and accepted across the region.”

The Wakeelu Muslimeen, SouthWest, Edo, and Delta states, Sheikh Iskil Awwal, on Thursday, urged all Imams and Alfas in the country to hold special prayers during Jumat service (Friday prayer) for the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, and the country.

The religious leader said the special prayer is meant for President Muhammadu Buhari, Tinubu, and the progress of the country.


He said: “For the progress of Nigeria, I urge all Muslims both male and females that on the day of Jumah, most especially, Imams and Alfas should perform a special prayer for Nigeria for President Muhammadu Buhari and the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for God to make Nigeria a better country.

“We need peace in Nigeria. No country survives in hardship and war. We need to pray fervently for peace and progress in our country and for our coming president.”



The Muslim leader explained that the proposed special prayer is expected to be conducted throughout the country, especially, in the South West States, and for God to bring comfort and abundant blessings to the country.

“We should pray that the tenure of Bola Ahmed Tinubu should bring peace to Nigeria. So, all the Imams, Alfas, and all Muslims should coordinate a special prayer throughout the country, especially in the South West states for the country to move forward and make Nigeria a progressive country with abundant blessings.”

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday night said he has been under intense pressure in the last few days of his administration and was earnestly looking to the next six days to exit power.

Buhari, who said he could only cope with the pressure of office, spoke at the commissioning ceremony of the Armed Forces Officers Mess and the last presidential/regimental dinner held in his honour by the Military High Command at new Mess, Asokoro in Abuja.

The President, who was almost an hour late for the dinner, apologized to invited guest, explaining that he had been “under tremendous pressure to keep up with the multitude of activities and festivities planned for the May 29 inauguration, while also meeting up with official obligations of his office.”


He said: “Please, I will like to digress a bit from the prepared speech. I apologise most sincerely for keeping you waiting for at least half an hour.

”Actually, I can hardly cope with the pressure and I’m desperately looking forward to the next six days, before saying good night at about 11pm.”

Earlier, Buhari charged the military, police, para-military, as well as other security and intelligence services not to relent in working to guarantee complete security in every area of the nation, even as he showed appreciation for the sacrifices they had already made.

“Please permit me use to this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to the officers and soldiers of the Armed Forces of Nigeria for their unwavering loyalty, hard work, dedication and selfless service to our beloved nation.

“I’m fully aware of all your sacrifices and commitment in tackling the various security challenges and your contributions to the successful elections in our country.




“However, until the issue of insecurity is surmounted, much more is still desired from the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

“Consequently, the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the other security agencies must always remain resolute in the face of the country’s security challenges.

“In this vein, our administration, though winding down soon, will never relent in providing the needed support to the military to enable them effectively carry out their constitutional responsibilities.

“Let me now thank the chief host, the Chief of Defense Staff, Minister of Defense, service chiefs and heads of other security agencies at this event, for your dedicated service to the nation. I commend you and thank our esteemed guests for coming to this historic occasion.

“Let me now pray for the repose of the souls of our fallen heroes. Their ultimate sacrifice will never be in vain. May the Almighty God continue to grant them eternal rest,” he said.


Decked in Nigerian Airforce Mess Kit with the rank of Marshall of the fleet (5-star-general), Buhari was flanked on the high table by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor and his wife, Vickie Anwuli Irabor, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Mr. Boss Mustapha, and Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi.

The National Security Adviser, Major Gen Babagana Mongonu, retd, service chiefs and the Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, NDLEA chairman, Brig Gen Buba Marwa, retd, Aliko Dangote, Mr. Tony Elumelu, NNPC GMD, Mr Mele Kyari were present at the dinner.

Also present were the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major Gen SA Adebayo, former Chiefs of Defence Staff, Admiral Ibrahim Ogohi, retd; Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petirin, retd; Gen Alexander Ogomudia, retd; and Gen Martin Agwai, retd.

The event was also attended by former service chiefs, including Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, retd; Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai, retd; Principal Staff Officers of Defence and services headquarters, commandants of military establishments, NDA and Tri-service institutions.

President-elect, Bola Tinubu’s spokesman in the south east, Dr. Josef Onoh has asked the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the March 18 election, Mr. Peter Obi to diligently verify the one hundred and ten reason the United States of America, US Secretary of State, Antony J. Blinken called Tinubu on the telephone.

Peter Obi had said that there was lack of clarity on the basis Blinken called Tinubu last Tuesday.

Onoh in responding to Obi clarified to the LP candidate that he was a third runner-up of the presidential elections and that his lack of clarity was his personal lack of acceptance of reality while in pursuit of an indiana Jones adventurous expedition.

Onoh however said that unlike Indiana Jones, Obi will not go home with an Oscar Award for his ongoing lawsuit.


Responding further, Onoh said: “It’s difficult to conceive how a candidate that came third in an election decided to dump clarity in acceptance of the truth and claims he won the elections by just 98 percent of votes garnered from five southeast states, then turns around to force Nigerians to dump clarity and proclaim him the president.


“Where is the clarity when living in self denial same Peter Obi wants to force Nigerians that they must accept him as the winner against the clear votes cast, he played ethnic and religious politics, created an online political militia with a trademark of bullying and threatening anyone with divergent views; he created a so called obidient movement with adrenaline fussed penchant for disobedience.

“He refused to accept clarity of criminality and terrorist activities in the southeast which has brought pain and sorrow to all in the south east.

“After failed attempts to bring the legitimate will of the Nigerian people to disrepute by himself, a certain female literal associate and not limited to a foreign psychologist who’s actions were more of a patient rather than a counsellor.

“Out of frustration he now attempts to accuse the Americans government for not giving legitimacy to his delusional wild goose chase. May I humbly clarity to H.E. Peter Obi (3rd runner-up of the concluded Nigeria presidential election) the basic diplomatic protocol of the U.S. Secretary of State, Antony J. Blinken’s call to our president-elect.

“Peter Obi being versatile in the area of verification failed to verify and clarify that the United States established diplomatic relations with Nigeria in 1960, following Nigeria’s independence from the United Kingdom. Following the 1999 inauguration of a civilian president, the U.S-Nigerian relationship began to improve, as did cooperation on foreign policy goals such as regional peacekeeping.




“In April 2021, the same U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinkens who he now accused of lack of clarity conducted a virtual visit to Nigeria, participating in meetings with President Buhari and participating in a health partnership event, highlighting the United States’ commitment to assisting Nigeria in combatting infectious diseases and advancing global health security.

“Hence the call to the President-elect is aimed at sustaining the progress made so far which has benefited Nigerians including Peter Obi and will be sustained by the incoming administration in fulfilment of our mandate with Nigerians and to the greater good of Nigeria.

“The call was made to the President-elect to the displeasure of Peter Obi who rather than accept the clarity that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu will be our president in few days wishing such call would have been him, failed to understand that Nigeria is an important U.S. security partner in Africa.

“Nigeria is engaged in intensive efforts to defeat terrorist organizations within its borders, including Boko Haram, ISIS-West Africa and IPOB. Nigeria is a vital member of the Defeat ISIS (D-ISIS) coalition and in October 2020, Nigeria co-hosted a virtual D-ISIS conference with the United States. Hence as president-lect it’s import the U.S ensures that such cooperation is sustained as the sad events going on in Anambra state which Obi was governor and hails from is in dare need of improved security which Peter Obi failed to checkmate as governor while enjoying the security foundation Asiwaju laid in lagos as Governor and sustained by subsequent administrations.

“It’s a fact that the United States is the largest foreign investor in Nigeria, with U.S. foreign direct investment concentrated largely in the petroleum/mining and wholesale trade sectors. At $3.2 billion in 2019, Nigeria is the second largest U.S. export destination in Sub-Saharan Africa.


“The United States and Nigeria have a bilateral commercial investment dialogue, led by the Department of Commerce, and was last convened at the ministerial level in February 2020. In 2019, the two-way trade in goods between the United States and Nigeria totaled over $10 billion.


Out of 52 countries that invested in Nigeria, the United States emerged with a capital investment in 2022 to the tune of $286.92 million US dollars.


Hence the importance of such a call to our President-elect and weather you like it or not, your president come May 29th.

“In denial of clarity I wish to remind Peter Obi that Nigeria and the United States belong to a number of the same international organizations, including the United Nations, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and World Trade Organization. Nigeria also is an observer to the Organization of American States. Clearly this is beyond Peter Obi’s Obident movement’s comprehension and understanding.

“The call to the President-elect which obviously has rattled Peter Obi whereas he intentionally misrepresent to mean in his current traumatised mind as political interference by the U.S is rather nothing more than one of the strategic communications tools. The United States applies in advance partner capacities to refute disinformation and mitigate incitement to violence and malign propaganda through digital and conventional media. The United States will highlight that the United States is a force for good, while reinforcing the voices of local, national, and global partners to promote peace, respect for human rights, and social cohesion. Hence the sustained social media inciting Comments and call for anarchy, end inec, end Nigeria, stop the presidential inauguration, kill APC supporters by the Peter Obi led obidient online militia made such call by the US secretary of state inevitable.


“The United States will monitor and seek to counter transnational influence and messaging operations that promote violence or division or otherwise destabilize priority countries. Clearly Peter Obi and his obidient movement has continously promoted anything that will distabilze the country ever since he lost the election. Hence the reason for the call as it’s obvious that with a mindset and disinformation promoted by Peter Obi and his obidient movement their aim is to distabilze Nigeria after all failed delusional attempts by himself and his Obident social media militia to truncate democracy failed.

“They now want to resort to cheap blackmail of the United States government, but sadly the call to our President-elect is a clear sign that the United States have chosen stability and promotion of democracy above one man’s delusional wishful thinking to use his court case to hold a nation at standstill if not hostage.

“Nigerians have spoken and we have elected Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as our president. The world and all other activities won’t be paused because of your court case. May I also warn H.E. Peter Obi that their is a limit to human endurance and also a limit to political rascality by himself, his Obident social media militia as no nation can fold it’s hands and encourage an act of wishful thinking to distabilise or threaten the sovereignty and peace of Nigeria and after may 29th, all political gimmicks and inciting Comments capable of causing instability in our nation won’t be tolerated and the limits of rascality shouldn’t dare the resolve of our security agencies and ally countries in ensuring that Nigeria’s stability and democracy is respected and protected at all cost.

“I therefore advice he allows the ongoing legal process take it’s cause rather than hiding under the shadows of his gangster social media militia the obidients to continuously spread inciting, inflammatory disinformations with a sole aim of distabilising our fragile democracy simply because Peter Obi believes if he can’t be President then Nigeria should burn. If you still live in self denial, you’re free to ask your Daddy or better still, GO and Verify!”

PIONEER National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bisi Akande, yesterday, lamented that failure of successive governments to have a development plan for critical sectors of the economy is responsible for the country’s underdevelopment.

Akande said this at a lecture in honour of Reuben Fasoranti, in Akure, Ondo State.

The former Osun State governor, however, assured Nigerians that “the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is proposing a 20 to 50 years development plan that would end underdevelopment in the country.

He said: “We fail to plan and, yet, we are surprised that we fail in almost all sectors as we are all lapsing into generations of plan-less hypocrites.


“I can assure you, that was not what we inherited. In this same country, we use to have five years capital development plans and seven years capital development plans. Now we only plan for the immediate next election.

“We thank God that this time around; Nigerians have elected a leader who has planned for a long time to be our President.

“Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is a well-known person to Baba Fasoranti and he is also an inheritor of the Awoist legacy of planning and integrity.

“Therefore, it is right and necessary to expect a 20 or 50 years master plan for Nigeria from President Tinubu which would transform this blessed country into a great one.”

Aston Villa forward, Alisha Lehmann recently got into the headlines after a face-off with a mob at a nightclub in Chinawhite, Manchester.

Lehmann, the world’s sexiest footballer, got bailed out by Manchester United forward, Marcus Rashford who happened to be at the same nightclub and had to step in to ensure things to don’t go awry on the night for the Aston Villa star.


It was reported by the Sun that that was the first time both Lehmann and Rashford ever met, an incident that has since attracted applause for the ‘kindhearted’ United forward.

Here are, however, some things to know about Lehmann, ‘the world’s sexiest footballer’.

Lehmann is from Switzerland, born on January 21, 1999.

She has three other siblings and her mother’s name is Sarah Guggisberg.

She was inspired to play football by her brother and two cousins

Lehmann’s zodiac sign is aquarius as she was born on January 21st.

The swiss weighs 55 kg and stands at 5ft 5in.

Alisha Lehmann is the most-followed female footballer in the world with over 13 million followers on Instagram.

She is into modelling due to her stunning looks.
Lehmann who formerly identified as lesbian has since come out as openly bisexual.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has challenged Nigerian military to scale up its electronic combat readiness to be able to defeat terrorism.


The Executive Vice Chairman ifbr Commission, Prof. Umar Danbatta threw the challenge on Monday at one-day Educational Visit of the Computer Science Department in the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) to the headquarters of the Commission in Abuja.

He said that Nigeria must scale up its electronics combat readiness strategy to win war against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other forms of insecurity plaguing the country.


The EVC stressed the need for modern warfare technique, noting that it does not rely on physical combat but on the command and control centres where electronics combat readiness is implemented.


For him, Nigeria needs to increase its electronics combat readiness strategy to secure the country and contain the threats posed by the enemies.

“Our state of electronics combat readiness must be the highest, if at all, we want to win the fight against insecurity, external aggression, maintenance and sustenance of peace within Nigeria.”

The NCC boss also pointed out that the world is moving in the direction of electronics combat readiness to guarantee security of lives and property.

Prof. Dabatta, however, assured that the Commission would continue to support the military and other organisations in the development of Mobile Apps that would bring about the socio-economic development of the country.

In his remarks, the Head of Computer Science in NDA,
Dr. Abraham Evwiekpaefe,
explained that the students were in NCC headquarters on study tour.


He underscored the need for students to have hands-on experience from the telecoms regulatory body to excel in their chosen career.

A group of protesters in Ogun State, led by the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Ladi Adebutu, besieged the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) today, over allegations of foul play in the declaration of a winner in the governorship election.

Irked by what they described as ‘a sham’, the protesters insisted that INEC completely disregarded the provisions of the Electoral Act which allows an election to be declared inconclusive when the margin between the top two contenders is less than the total number of cancelled votes.


Speaking to newsmen, one of the protesters, Stephen Sobowale, described the declaration of a winner in the election as ‘a hasty decision borne out of an attempt to truncate the will of the people.

‘I see this whole thing by INEC and the ruling party in the state as a sham. How can INEC go ahead to declare a winner in an election which had the margin between Dapo Abiodun and Ladi Adebutu put at 13,912 while the total number of cancelled votes is a whopping 33,750? Can’t you see that no winner has emerged yet? This is nothing but a provocation and should not be allowed to stand,” he said.


In his reaction, Adebutu expressed dissatisfaction on the outcome of the election, stressing that it was meant to be declared inconclusive and a rerun ordered.


“Please beg them (INEC) to do the right thing because we don’t want another EndSARS or bloodshed in Ogun. INEC has disregarded the rules that governs this election. We want the whole world to see how some people are attempting to cause a damage to our democracy. This is not what is obtainable in democracies all over the world,’ Adebutu said.

Recall that, earlier in the day, a non-governmental organisation, under the aegis of Vanguard for Democracy and Good Governance (VDGG), had alleged that INEC goofed in declaring a winner in the governorship election in Ogun State.

In a press statement made available to newsmen today, the group maintained that the Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, ought not to have been declared a winner since the winning margin is only 13,912 while the total number of cancelled votes stands at 33,750.

The group had pointed out that a similar scenario played out in Adamawa and Kebbi states, necessitating an eventual declaration of the elections in the two states as inconclusive.

Recall that in the Ogun governorship election, the candidate of the People’s Democratic party (PDP), Ladi Adebutu, polled 262,383, while that of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Dapo Abiodun, polled 276,395.

The leadership of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC, on Friday, announced the dissolution of its Rivers State chapter with immediate effect ahead of the March 18 governorship and state assembly elections.


A statement signed by the National Secretary of the Council, Yusuf Dantalle, said that the state chapter of the IPAC was axed for gross misconduct including the violation of the provisions of its 2021 Revised Code of Conduct.

The dissolution is coming in the wake of reports that the state chapter of the Council has endorsed the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, Siminialaye Fubara.

But rising from an emergency General Assembly meeting of IPAC held at the Council’s Secretariat in Abuja, Dantalle stated that the move to dissolve the chapter was in the interest of neutrality, fairness and impartiality to all the political parties under its umbrella.


He further stated that all political parties whose party officials in Rivers State have been found culpable should take disciplinary actions in accordance with their respective party constitutions.

“The Inter-Party Advisory Council is not a political party but a platform for all political parties saddled with the mandate of promoting and defending the interests of all registered political parties in Nigeria, hence should be neutral, fair and impartial.

“The Council condemns and dissociates itself from the irresponsible act of the Rivers State IPAC executives in endorsing the Rivers State PDP governorship candidate, Sir Siminialaye Fubara.

“Let it also be unequivocally stated that those behind this scripted spectacle are as irresponsible as those who have been used as political pawns.

“All political parties whose party officials in Rivers State have been found culpable are enjoined to take disciplinary actions in accordance with their respective party constitutions.


“Conclusively, we call on the good people of Rivers State to disregard these political renegades and vote for candidates of their choice.”

National Vice Chairman, Northwest,of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC, Salihu Moh. Lukman has advocated the replacement of the party’s National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu with a Christian, as part of measures to balance the incoming administration of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu whose vice is of the same faith as him.

Lukman in a lengthy article titled “APC Internal Dynamics and the Future of Democracy” and dedicated to the National Welfare Secretary of the party, Barr. Friday Nwosu who died on Thursday, equally said the National Secretary, Otunba Iyiola Omisore should be removed as his emergence has caused deep divisions in the Osun state APC.

He said now that the election is won by APC and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, it is important to demonstrate that the Muslim-Muslim ticket of Tinubu and Senator Kashim Shettima was simply an electoral strategy and indeed represented a progressive template for inclusion in Nigerian politics.

He said; “For this to be achieved, APC and its leadership must not allow individual politics of personal aspiration by potential office holders to drive the process of constituting the next Federal Government to be led by Asiwaju Tinubu and Sen. Shettima as President and Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Individual aspirations by potential office holders may only result in unmanageable contests for positions in the next Federal Government and could further complicate the challenges of inclusive politics in the country. Besides, unregulated contest was what produced the rebellious leadership of Sen. Bukola Saraki and Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara in the National Assembly in 2015.

“While it is important to avoid witch-hunting individual leaders of the party for their role during the primary that produced candidates for 2023 elections, including those who supported or campaigned against Asiwaju Tinubu, it is important as a matter of strategy to broaden the scope of opportunity to rectify the outlook of the party and use it to also project the politics of an Asiwaju Tinubu led Federal Government as being inclusive. Also, learning from PDP’s mistake of insensitivity whereby the inability to align the outlook of the leadership of the party with the standard bearer of the party for the 2023 Presidential race, which became a source of deep-seated animosity among party leaders, it is important that APC, even before May 29, 2023 when Asiwaju will be sworn in as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, takes every step to rectify any situation that may be used to continue divisive campaigns and propaganda against the APC and its control of Federal Government.

“With a National Chairman, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, who is also a Muslim, it will be important that every necessary step is taken to inject a change of leadership for the party so that a new National Chairman who is a Christian take over. Part of the advantage of this is that the National Chairman could be retained in North-Central.

“Noting that the current National Chairman has done an excellent job to manage a successful campaign to win the 2023 election with all the attendant challenges, there should be no difficulty in convincing Sen. Adamu to resign as National Chairman to create opportunity for a new National Chairman of APC to emerge who is a Christian. For that to happen may require Emergency National Convention because if the hierarchy of the current leadership is to be followed, the successor to Sen. Adamu will be Sen. Abubakar Kyari who is a Muslim from North-East.


“Apart from changing the National Chairman, there is the need to also recognize that the case of Sen. Iyiola Omisore, National Secretary of the party has become a source of stronger dispute in Osun State.

“Unfortunately, rather than serving as a unifying factor for the party leadership in Osun State, Sen. Omisore is more a divisive factor, which may have been responsible for why APC lost the 2022 Governorship election to a political mediocre whose only qualification in politics may appear to be comic dancing skill.

“To save Osun State and bring it back to its old standard of national political reckoning, Sen. Omisore would need to resign as National Secretary of APC, and a new unifying National Secretary elected. Beyond Sen. Omisore, similarly, any member of the National Working Committee of the party who is not a unifying leader in his/her state should be changed.

“In addition, APC must take of the challenge of reconciling its members across the country. The recalibrated APC leadership with a new National Chairman must take up the challenge of reconciling members from every part of the country. APC must never make the mistake of proceeding with the task of constituting the Asiwaju led Federal Government based on business-as-usual strategy.

“The opportunity of constituting the Federal Government led by Asiwaju Tinubu must be used strategically to reconcile the APC with Nigerians. Every sacrifice must be made by every leader of the party to create the condition for an Asiwaju Tinubu led Federal Government to emerge with strong legitimacy and wider support base by Nigerians.


“Therefore, side by side with the initiative to recalibrate the APC leadership is the need to properly plan the distribution of key positions in the Federal Government to reflect both ethnic, religious, gender and other demographic considerations. As a party, we must consciously avoid any mistake that could be used by our political adversaries to suggest insensitivity to the inclusion of all Nigerians. APC leadership must take steps to regulate the aspirations of individual leaders to positions in the next Federal Government. Some positions, for instance must be deliberately locked to sections and groups in the country.

“Some specific recommendations may be necessary at this point. The offices of Senate President and Speaker House of Representatives would have to be locked. Given that the President and Vice President are from South-West and North-East respectively, nobody from either of these two regions should aspire for any of these offices. Opportunist may argue that in the last four years, the South-West also produced the Vice President and Speaker of House of Representatives. We must correct this kind of lop-sided reality as a strategic approach to dousing ethnic and religious tension in the country. With a National Chairman from the North-Central and hopefully a Christian, the North-Central too should also be excluded from aspiring for either the position of Senate President or Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Zone SP to S/S, S/E

“Accordingly, the positions of Senate President and Speaker House of Representatives should be zoned to North-West, South-East or South-South. With a Muslim President and a Muslim Vice President, it is only logical to zone the Senate President who is the number three ranking leader of government to either the South-East or South-South who would be Christian. Logically, the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives should be zoned to the North-West. This would have the advantage of acknowledging that the North-West gave Asiwaju Tinubu the highest votes of 2,950,393 representing 33.6% of the votes he won. All other positions in government can be assigned by taking bearing from that.

“While it may be important to consider including the position of Secretary to Government Federation SGF as part of positions to be zoned, Asiwaju Tinubu must avoid the mistake of undermining his government by appointing politicians with zero experience in managing public service institutions to serve as SGF. The office of SGF is in fact the brainbox of government and once a wrong person is appointed into such a position, the delivery capacity of government will be weak. Therefore, the choice of where the SGF will come from is as important as the qualification and public service experience of any person to be considered.


“Achieving all these would require institutionalised consultations and negotiations involving structures of the party. Asiwaju Tinubu as the new leader of APC should challenge party leadership to make all structures of the party functional in line with provisions of the constitution of the party. A situation whereby key decisions including issues of zoning are handled outside the constitutional structures of the party is unhealthy, unsustainably, and challengeable.

“APC need to recognize that the Muslim-Muslim ticket it provided for the 2023 Presidential election, if not managed to produce desired outcome of inclusivity to broaden the foundation for wider participations of Nigerians in politics and governance across all divides, could further widen the division among Nigerians, which should be avoided. A successfully well-managed Muslim-Muslim would make a Christian-Christian ticket viably possible. For instance, if a Christian Northerner is to emerge as a candidate for a Presidential contest, the choice of a Southern Christian as running mate should be a viable consideration for a potential electoral victory”, he added.

An SDP Candidate seeking election into the Nasarawa state House of Assembly, Peter Patrick Enna, Friday, faulted the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, decision to shift the Governors and State Houses of Assemblies elections, describing the postponement as financial stress.


Enna said in Lizy village, Nasarawa Eggon Local government area of the state that INEC has only succeeded in adding more financial burdens, and tension as well as overheating the politics by shifting Saturday’s 11th,2023 election to Saturday 18th 2023.

He appealed to the electoral umpire to ensure that Saturday 18th 2023 remains sacrosanct not to bring about voter apathy in the remaining elections


The SDP candidate who was in Lizy village to commission a health center he provided to address the health need of the community, explained that the provision of the health center was in response to the long absence of health facilities in the area.


The lawmaker aside from providing a health centre for his community also purchased a brand new ambulance car for use at the health center for emergency cases.

“I had since completed my campaign and awaiting the math 11 elections only for the INEC to announce the postponement of the elections. With the shifting, candidates seeking elections will be exposed to more financial spending beyond expectation”, he lamented.

In his remarks at the occasion, Ambassador Emmanuel A Engom commended the SDP candidate for rescuing the community by providing them with a befitting health center and urged him to keep the tempo if elected to represent the constituency at the State Assembly.

Governorship candidate of Labour Party, LP, in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhode-Vivour, has raised the alarm over what he described as a plot to defame his character.


He said the aim is to instigate the public against him and attract sympathy for the ruling party in the state.

He explained that the plot is to get people to make confessional statements against him.


His words:” I have just been tipped by a credible source in the intelligence community about a desperate attempt to frame me and malign my character. The plan, as I was told, was to burn another market, pretend to make arrests, and have those arrested make fake confessional statements implicating me in the inferno.


“The architects of this grand conspiracy are convinced that such a damming confessional statement would instigate the public against me and save a candidate from a humiliating defeat this Saturday. Thankfully, some patriotic citizens in the intelligence community have taken great discomfort to reveal such an evil and clandestine plot.

“It is rather unfortunate that a party that claims to have a candidate with so much experience and competence has resorted to crude and medieval tactics to win re-election. Instead of campaigning on policies, programs, and projects that have impacted citizens’ lives, they are fanning the ambers of ethnic bigotry and relying on a vicious propaganda machinery to spread lies, hate, and fear.

“Their deceit notwithstanding, the people of Lagos can see through their selfish desperation to hold onto power. Lagosians now know that they will do anything to keep power just to cover their shady dealings, protect their cronies, and continue to live outlandishly on the commonwealth of the people. And as Chief Bode George announced to the world yesterday in a press conference, these evil people have now placed a bounty on my head.

“But my eyes are firmly set on the hills, and from the deep have I drawn much strength to persevere against the onslaught of the enemies. For on Saturday, there shall be a deliverance of a people, a liberation of minds, and the rebirth of a great city. A city where dreams become reality and where great potentials are made manifest. I’m the architect of a new Lagos, a departure from the old order.

“Together, we can build the Lagos of our dreams. It is possible.”

The Olu of Ilaro and Paramount ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, has lend his voice in support of the re-election bid of the Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun.

The monarch, who made his mind known, when he received Governor Abiodun and his campaign train in his Palace in Ilaro, said “the March 11 poll should not be about voting for the son of the soil, but about voting for the continued prosperity of the state under the leadership of the incumbent governor”.

The monarch who equally noted that the forthcoming election would not be only about politics, but about what can be seen on ground, however, urged the people of Yewaland to totally reject the candidacy of ‘someone’ whose support is coming from a former governor, who during his eight-year tenure did not finish projects he started across the Yewaland.

“It is not a matter of politics, it is about what is on the ground. For eight years before you came, I can’t point to anything that your predecessor started and completed, yet, he is saying we should vote for someone. Except if we want to lie to ourselves, that type of person cannot come out and tell is what to do.

“We can’t afford to give the governorship to another party. It is not this time when we have the All Progressives Congress at the federal level, that all our National Assembly members are also from the All Progressives Congress, and that someone will be saying it is another party. It is clear to us, it is not about someone being our kinsman, let us think about it, don’t vote for kinsman, even our ancestors are not in support, vote for continuity through Dapo Abiodun”.

“The election on Saturday should surprise them, we are doing politics of development, it is not about us, it is about development. Let Dapo Abiodun do his second term, let us support him,” he said.

Oba Olugbenle while calling on the senator and members of the House of Representatives elected from Ogun West to come together and help look at the issue of Idogo rail line, disclosed that the rail line if completed would help boost the socio-economic development of the people of Yewaland.

“You will have to work together, our Senator and members, House of Representative elected from Ogun West, Idogo rail line from Ifo has been taken away again. What is our sin? Your Excellency, help us to ask them what we have done again in Abuja”.

“It is part of the national network of rail lines, why was it abandoned? Are we not part of Nigeria again? That rail line is viable to link some African countries, “the monarch submitted.


In his remarks, Governor Abiodun, while noting that he would continue to be just, fair and equitable, added that his promise not to develop any part of the state at the expense of others would still be respected.

Abiodun who noted that the Ilaro-Owode road would soon be completed by his administration, added that his administration through its transport master plan is poised to ensure that all parts of the state are connected by adequate road network.

The governor who disclosed that the monarch and the people of Yewaland would soon see his administration commence work on the Idogo rail line as well as other rail lines in the state, informed the monarchs that the reconstruction of the Sagamu-Papalanto-Ilaro-Ogbele road has been approved by the Federal Executive Council.

Abiodun further disclosed that the contract for the reconstruction of the road has been awarded, noting that the project which is in partnership with the Ogun State government, Aliko Dangote and the Federal Government, would be done using the tax credit scheme.

“You will soon get our invitation to join us in doing the ground breaking ceremony of the Sagamu-Papalanto-Ilaro-Ogbele road which has finally been approved by the Federal Executive Council.



“It is a partnership between the state government, Aliko Dangote and the Federal Government using the tax credit scheme.

“By the grace of God, once we finish our elections, I will inform you so that we go there and perform the ceremony. That road is going to be a dual carriage way all the way from Sagamu to Ogbele and it’s going to be in reinforced concrete, that will be the first reinforced concrete dual carriage way in the state.

“That will mean that those travelling from Lagos-Ibadan coming to Ilaro will no longer need to come to Abeokuta anymore, they will just come straight all the way to Papalanto to Ilaro, connect to of cause the new Ilaro-Owode road, very soon the entire Yewaland is going to be wearing a new look,” he said.

He added that more of such partnerships would be entered into for the overall development of the state, stressing that the sincerity of purpose and commitment shown by his administration would ensure the overall development of the state in partnership with the private sector.

“Kabiyesi, one would wonder how this didn’t happen before, it is a question to answer. There were administrations here in the state, Kabiyesi, the answer to that is that we have shown a lot of commitment, we have demonstrated sincerity of purpose, we have earned the trust between us and the private sector, they now believe in us.


“Dangote is doing roads in Lagos, he is doing different things everywhere else, but as soon as I assumed office, I beckoned on him and requested that he partnered with us to do this road and he accepted because he believed in this administration. And we have also been in partnership with so many other private institutions to construct roads, build hospitals, primary health care centers, donate ambulances and the list is endless.

“Kabiyesi, by the grace of God, we will continue to see this kind of partnership that will further strengthen and help us in building the future of this great state together,” he stated

Abiodun, while calling on the people of Yewaland to vote him for a second term in office, disclosed that the script being acted by the former governor who did not complete any project started in Yewaland should be thrown away.

“How can someone be saying that he is the person that is going to determine who is going to be your governor from Ogun West, I mean, it doesn’t happen like that.

“This same character did the same thing in 2019 when he was in office and he failed woefully because his intentions were not noble. Now you drop that person used in 2019 and picked someone else again and said this is the person he wants to use to be governor in 2023. Obviously he is still seeking to see how he can extend his tenure in office after finishing his eight years.


“I saw it somewhere that somebody was saying that this person that is coming will come and complete his outstanding projects and I laughed because it is on record that I am probably the first governor that would complete all outstanding projects that are of economic importance to the people of Ogun State,” Abiodun submitted.

The Nigeria Police Force said on Saturday that all allowances due to its officers for security management in last Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections have been paid.

Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Muyiwa Adejobi made this known while debunking allegations that some police personnel were yet to collect their allowances.

He said, “The Nigeria Police force wishes to clear the air on the alleged non-payment of elections allowances to police personnel who participated in the elections held on Saturday, 25th February 2023.


“The Force wishes to confirm in strong terms that it has paid all its personnel the election allowances as the mandate for the payment of the allowances due to all Police Officers has been issued and all lodgements have been made to respective Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) for onward payment to Police Officers banking with them.

“It is, however, astonishing to read in the news that some Police Officers have been denied the payment of their accrued allowances; and such delay has not gone down well with the force.

“In that note, the Force urges all Officers and Men who are yet to receive payment of the election allowances to take up such matters with their respective banks to ensure that the process of resolving the issues responsible for the delays is fast-tracked.

“It is pertinent to reaffirm that issues of non-payment should not be ascribed to the Force as the Police Account and Budget Office have done the needful and preparations are underway to pay the second tranche of election allowances for the Gubernatorial and State Houses of Assembly elections next week.

“We are not unaware of the antics of some mischief makers peddling false publications through their paid bloggers hellbent on dragging the Force in the mud for flimsy issues.”


‘The Nigeria Police Force remains resolute in prioritizing the welfare of our officers and men, which is paramount, and bequeathing to them improved standard of living and better welfare.”

Spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, Festus Keyamo has urged the ruling party’s faithful to be magnanimous in victory and celebrate without insulting their political opponents.

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof Mahmoud Yakubu declared the APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu the winner of the presidential election and President-elect on Wednesday.

Prior to the declaration of the results, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the Labour Party alleged irregularities in the collation of the results by the INEC.

The opposition parties, therefore, called for the cancellation of the election results and resignation of Yakubu.

APC, in reaction, urged the parties to seek redress in court, adding that election is a democratic process that cannot be aborted.

Following, the jubilations that followed Tinubu’s victory in a keenly contested poll, Keyamo urged his fellow party’s followers not to taunt opponents in their celebrations.

Keyamo, who is also a Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, then, called everyone regardless of party affiliations to be united in building Nigeria.

Keyamo made this known on Twitter on Wednesday, saying that all political parties mean well for the country. “As we celebrate, we must do so without taunting our opponents who are great patriots,” Keyamo wrote.

“After all the vitriols during the campaigns, this is a time to embrace ourselves for nation-building. At the end of the day, we all mean well for our country, though from different perspectives,” he added.

Presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has initiated a legal actions to prevent moves by opposition parties to halt the ongoing collation of Saturday’s presidential election results.

The candidate and his party, on Tuesday, filed a suit to restrain the Labour Party and the People’s Democratic Party preventing the continuous announcement and collation of results of the poll.

The suit was marked FHC/KN/CS/43/2023 and filed before the Federal High Court in Kano.

The Action Alliance and the Independent National Electoral Commission were joined as defendants while the APC vice presidential candidate, Kashim Shettima, was also listed as a plaintiff.

According to Daily Trust, the plaintiffs in a motion on notice filed alongside the originating summons asked the court to make the order restraining the defendants from stopping the collation and announcement of the results.



They argued that “damages will not adequately compensate for the injury that may be occasioned on the Plaintiffs if by the Defendants stop the collation of the result.”

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) senatorial candidate for Kebbi South, Alhaji Garba Maidoki, has defeated incumbent Sen. Bala Ibn Na’Allah of All Progressives Congress (APC) for Kebbi South Senatorial District.

Declaring the winner at Zuru, the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) Returning Officer, Prof. Ahmed Balarabe, said the PDP candidate scored 75,232 to defeat his closest rival, Na’Allah who got 70,785 votes.

He said: “By the power vested on me as the Returning Officer of this election, I declare Garba Musa Maidoki as the winner of the Senatorial election for Kebbi South Senatorial District haven scored the highest number of votes and certified the requirement of the law.”

Reacting, Balarabe appreciated the political stakeholders for their decorum and understanding during the election process which, according to him culminated in a hitch-free and successful exercise.

The Senatorial candidate of the Labour Party in Ondo Central Senatorial district, in Ondo state, Hon Folarin Oria, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to cancel the poll

Oria alleged that the logo of the party was not on the ballots used for the election, thereby allegedly disenfranchising his supporters.

The candidate, who expressed his disappointment on the development, therefore, urged the electoral commission, to nullify the election and conduct a fresh poll in the senatorial district.

According to him “it was a great shock and anti-climax to most of our supporters when they couldn’t find our party logo on the ballot.

” Is this a deliberate disenfranchisement of our supporters? Considering a Federal high court has given a judgement on the 2nd of February for INEC to include Labour Party candidates.

” If you remember on June 3rd 2022, Labour Party conducted its primary for Ondo central senatorial district in line with the electoral act, the primary which was subsequently won by Hon Folarin Oria. And also the House of Representatives in Akure’s south and North federal constituency. Hon Elesaodo Olayemi Ruth.

“We urge INEC to look into the matter as it has the mandate to run a free, fair, credible and inclusive poll.


“This development caused a lot of distress to our supporters and gave room for voter apathy among most of our followers.

Oria said that ” We call for the cancellation of the poll, and INEC should reschedule for a later day to be able to accommodate our party, for fairness, equity and Justice.

Recall, that the state chapter of the Party had earlier cried out over the omission of its logo on the ballots that were used for the Saturday election.

It’s state secretary, Mr Agbaje Abiodun, demanded that the INEC should postpone the senatorial and house of representatives elections till another date or “do the needful”.

Catholic Priests on Saturday saved a Supervisory Presiding Officer (SPA) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from being beaten up by youths for trying to stop voting in Enugu.

The incident happened at polling unit 004, 005, 006 and 007 located at Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu.

Trouble started when the SPO visited the polling units and asked the Presiding Officer (PO) to close voting around 4:30pm stressing that it was getting late.

The INEC official and election materials arrived the PU around 12.30pm before accreditation and voting commenced.

Angered by her statement, the angry youths descended on her but the quick intervention of priests around saved her and voting continued.

The Presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP, Sen. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso has won his polling unit in the ongoing Saturday Presidential election.

At the Tandu polling unit, Kwankwaso won with 284 votes.

NNPP 284

APC 112

PDP 0

LP 0

Governor Umahi has called on Ebonyians not to entertain fears on the flight patrol of Officers of the Nigerian Air force across the State.

Governor Umahi made the call while speaking with newsmen in Abakaliki, Friday.

The Governor clarified that the operation was to ensure miscreants do not exploit opportunities to cause breakdown of law and order during the general elections.


“We also got a surprise package from Security Chiefs from Abuja all geared towards having a free and fair election. Ladies and gentlemen, let me inform you we have a flying Officer from the Nigerian Air force, Enugu.




“I want Ebonyians to know that they would be flying low to maintain law and order so you should not entertain any fears.”

Governor Umahi while assuring that efforts have been put in place to ensure hitch-free elections in the State, said the efforts were to instill confidence on the voters, as deployment of electoral materials and personnel have been concluded to ensure free and fair elections.

The Governor expressed concern about possible cases of existence of fake election observers and urged Security Agencies to checkmate the situation.

The Governor also directed Security Agencies to ensure that movement across polling units during elections are prohibited within the State.

“We have also agreed that anybody seen with gun that shouldn’t have gun or trying to disrupt the election processes should be immediately arrested and taken away.


“I have instructed all my party people including those of other parties not to violate electoral laws, anyone doing so must be arrested.”

The Governor also remarked that though the activities of Ebubeagu Security outfit has been suspended, it’s replacements, the Neighbourhood Watch and Vigilante Corps would not participate in Election Security.

A Prominent Niger Delta-born businessman and chief of Warri Kingdom, Chief Ayirimi Emami, has urged indigenous Niger Deltans to come out strongly and vote for the Bola Tinubu/ Shettima Presidential ticket in the Saturday, February 25 polls as ” being championed by APC governors from the Northern part of the country”, saying, “Tinubu’s victory is sure.”

Emami, who made the appeal on Wednesday, while addressing APC and non – APC members in Warri, Delta state, asserted that Tinubu’s presidency would unite the country, by de-emphasizing ethno – religious sentiments and promote excellence above mediocrity in all spheres of our democratic development.


According to Emami, the consistent position of APC governors in the North is that power should shift to the South at the end of Buhari’s tenure May 29 this year, was in tandem with the Asaba declaration by 17 Southern Nigerian governors last year, adding: ” This opportunity to fast-track Nigeria’s progress and upscale our economic diversification drive, which Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu represents, should not be allowed to slip away. Niger Deltans should key into it through our massive votes for the Tinubu/ Shettima ticket, for us to experience revitalization of our ports, rapid development in our coastal communities, and the creation of sustainable industrial growth.”

The APC chieftain opined that Tinubu’s achievements as Lagos state governor and ” his undeniable penchant for unearthing resourceful persons and projecting them in their areas of strength, irrespective of tribe, religion, and political affiliations, are the kind of attributes, Nigeria needs from May 29 this year.”

Former Ogun State Governor, Olusegun Osoba, Yoruba leaders and other political leaders in South West have narrated how they influenced the All Progressives Congress, APC, and Presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu to contest for president of Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi said nobody is above the king in Yorubaland as the kings in Yorubaland have endorsedTinubu as the next President of Nigeria in the February 25, poll.




Osoba, monarch and other political leaders in the region spoke at the Yoruba and South West leaders of Thought Summit at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos on Monday.

According to Osoba, Tinubu joining the presidential race was not his own making but the making of prominent and progressive politicians from the southwest who pressurised him (Tinubu) in 2007 to join the race for president.

The former Ogun governor said the idea of Tinubu should aspire for president of Nigeria was muted at a dinner organised for him after he ended his tenure as governor of Lagos State.

According to him, many prominent and progressive politicians were at the dinner, held at the popular hotel along Awolowo Road, Ikoyi to honour him for his outstanding performance.

Osoba said, “It was at the gathering in 2007, we all pressurised him to aspire for president and he agreed, since then, he had worked tirelessly to justify the confidence we have in him.”


He later moved the motion for the endorsement of Tinubu and was seconded by the Former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Samson Oladokun.

The summit which was attended by many prominent politicians, Yoruba leaders, elders, and market and religious leaders from the southwest, was also used to endorse Tinubu as the sole candidate for president.

Former Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, chairman of the submit, Arh. Bishop Ayo Oladigbolu, Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, Speaker of House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Kabiru Sotobi, and others charged Yoruba to unite for Tinubu.

They all pleaded that Nigerians who felt Tinubu offended him to forgive and forget, but mobilized to support Tinubu’s candidature in the best interest of Nigeria.

The host governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu also charged Nigerians to support Tinubu and vote for him massively.
He said, “Tinubu is the right man for the job of President due to his track record, achievement and plan for Nigeria.”


Sanwo-Olu stated; “The gathering is to remind the sons and daughters of Yorùbá land that the election of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a collective responsibility in the South-West given the disposition of the region to ensure the continued unity and existence of the country.

“The leaders of thought summit is coming barely five days to the presidential election to forge a common front and reaffirm confidence in the capability of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to turn around the fortunes of the country.

“The wealth of experience in public and private sectors stands Asiwaju Bola Ahmed out as the only viable alternative Nigeria needs as the next President.”

Tinubu speaks

APC Presidential candidate, Tinubu responded to the gesture by the South-West leader’s forum


According to him, “I’m happy that every state in the South-West is represented here. I urge you all to get your PVC ready for Saturday’s election and exercise your franchise.”

Tinubu, warned against voter apathy, stressing that the election is one opportunity that the region has in four years.

He commended President Muhammadu Buhari who he said had graciously agreed to leave the office at the expiration of his tenure, unlike a one-time President who was seeking to elongate his tenure.

‘We have done what needs to be done and there is no cause for alarm!’

“‘The race to be President is not meant for the weak, don’t say because you know what is called aboniki or Shea butter, it is not an easy task.”


“We have crisscrossed the 36 states of the federation. I am impressed with the crowd in attendance and I am overwhelmed. May God be with you and everyone.

“Please don’t forget your PVC when you go out on Saturday, my candid advice for you.

“When you cast your votes, leave the rest for us. May God help us to actualise the history we are working on but today is not a day for a lengthy speech.


“You Imams and Pastors, please don’t stop praying for our victory. We will be victorious God’s willing and not be disgraced.

APC chieftain and convener of the summit, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, in his address, also revealed how late Alafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, initiated the summit before his death, to rally support for Tinubu’s candidature.


Olusi stated that all Yoruba traditional rulers were involved in the project to make Tinubu president of Nigeria right from inception, noting that the monarchs’ involvement was the reason Tinubu was accepted by majority of the Yoruba and others tribes.

Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi said nobody is above the king in Yorubaland as the kings in Yorubaland have endorsed All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the next President of Nigeria in the February 25, poll.

Oba Akanbi made the remark at the Yoruba and Southwest leaders of thought summit on Monday, held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Oluwo of Iwo, apparently made the remark in reference to the widely publicised endorsement of another political party candidate by Afenifere Leader, Ayo Adebanjo.

The monarch said; “Nobody is above and older than a king in Yorubaland, and Bola Ahmed Tinubu is our son and we must support him.


“We in Yorubaland have endorsed Tinubu. Anyone in Afenifere that accept Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we accept him, anyone in Afenifere who doesn’t accept Tinubu, we are king over him and it is Tinubu we want.

“The pronouncement of the king have erased whatever they are saying. Who in Yorubaland that is older than a king in Yorubaland, anyone in my kingdom who says he is older than me would have to be patient because I am lord over him.

“I believe in the unity of Nigeria ‘s existent and I believe this is our time. Even the north is with us, you Yoruba, do you want to be a bastard by voting for another person for president

“Don’t be a bastard child. I am begging anyone of you Bola Ahmed Tinubu have offended, please forgive him because we are of the same family.

“I am not someone who prays fervently, if you need prayers go to the church or a mosque, I as a king make pronouncement, let us go out to vote for Bola Ahmed Tinubu on February 25, 2023.”


Earlier, religious and political leaders took turns to express confidence in the leadership of the APC Presidential candidate, Tinubu.

The Muslim Community of Lagos State and Council of Chief Imams and Ulamahs subsequently, offered special prayers for Tinubu and peaceful elections.